Ghostly Presence|| Ghostface x Reader

The Return

Danny had been panicking. As he walked through the doors of the gazette he put on his big fake Jed smile and gave everyone a friendly hello despite the fact that he was crumbling inside. After his unsatisfying kill the night before he drove to her home. He didn't go inside. He just watched from her backyard. She had spent most of her time writing and watching TV. Danny wanted to go inside at that moment, but he knew he couldn't. It was far too risky. Not to mention he was covered in blood. He was worried about scaring her more and he knew it wasn't a good idea to get blood in her home. That wouldn't have been good at all. He set his things down at his desk as he watched the TV in the office play.
"Did you hear about the newest one?" Bob gruffed behind him.
"No, there's been another?" Danny feigned surprise.
"Yeah, this ones up in another town though," Bob replied as Danny gave a confused look.
"Is it the same guy?" Danny asked as he continued to play the part.
"They think so. No photos or anything, but the stab wounds are the same as his usual victims," Bob said as he stared at the TV.
"Any other signs that could've lead to them thinking it's him?" Danny asked as he settled in his desk.
"No, I think everyone just assumes its him now. If he's moved on this paper is gonna take a hit," Bob huffed and Danny couldn't help as the irritation filled him. There it was. The truth that so many people lacked to admit. Danny knew Bob had cared about it because it brought his terrible small town newspaper some money. He didn't care in the end as he caused it, but he cared that people lied. They loved to pretend that they found it horrifying, but in the end they read it and clung to the news like a new episode from their favorite drama series. It entertained them.
"Better for the people here. I don't think this town could take much more," Danny responded trying to take the side of compassion.
"Yeah, maybe your girlfriend scared him off. With what she wrote and all. I've seen people less afraid now," Bob responded as Danny had to bite his tongue. Now is not the time for sarcastic remarks.
"Yeah, she's a tough one," Danny replied boastfully. He didn't like her stubbornness when he went over as Ghostface, but she was a lot tougher than she knew. Even behind all of her anxiety.
"Speaking of which, she's a bit late today," Bob said and Danny stared ahead at the TV.
"Yeah, she is," he replied as his panic returned.
"Don't blame her though. With what she went through at that party and all. Young people really just don't get how serious this is do they?" He said as he shook his head. "Well, I gotta go make some calls. Looks like you have to find something new to write about," Bob said as he pat Danny's shoulder.
"Looks like I do," Danny responded as he grimaced internally at the man's pats. When Bob had walked away Danny took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. Emotions were never good especially in times like these. Though he couldn't seem to quite get through it. He had rarely ever been like this. Sure, there were times he acted on his impulses, and there were times he had waves of anxiety. He rarely had times like these though. Where he couldn't calm himself. Why the fuck was she late? He questioned as he chewed on his pen. She was rarely ever late. Even on the times he visited her as Ghostface the night before. He chuckled to himself at the memory of those days. All fatigued and worn out and yet she put on a fake smile almost as well as he did. Though he knew it was a pretense.
And just as he continued to think about her the door to the Gazette opened and Danny's head shot over quicker than he intended. He knew he had to calm down. It was her. She looked all panicked and frustrated.
"Hey Samantha! Rough morning. My alarm didn't go off," she said awkwardly as Samantha greeted her in return. She looked a bit more weary than usual. Her hair a bit messier and he could see her anxiety was getting to her again. Just as she looked over at him he could tell she calmed a bit. Ever so slightly. Her chest didn't puff out as much with every breath and her smile spread across her face. That was Jed's affect on her. Her knight in shinning armor.
She rushed over to him her hands fumbling with her bag she always brought to work. She adjusted it on her shoulder as she approached and it was then he could see the fear rushing through her eyes. It gave him a high almost every time, but this time he was a bit worried. What had gotten her so frightful? Had she seen the news yet? No, not likely she rarely watched TV in the mornings before work.
"Hey hon, you ok?" He asked as he stood up furrowing his brows both in act and also somewhat genuine to her reaction.
"Yeah, no just had to rush for being late and all," she replied scratching the back of her head.
"Is that all? You seem a bit worried," he said in a quieter voice. Last thing he needed was easedropping from his nosy coworkers.
"Yeah, just don't wanna be late and all. Not a good look," she said as something had caught her attention. The TV. It was still the news station reporting on the newest Ghostface murder and he looked from the corner of his eyes to see hers widen. He wanted to smile from how fearful she looked but instead he forced his lips into a frown. "Oh-" she said as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
"Hey, it's fine," he said as he placed his hand on her shoulder to try and calm her. This was the game. She turned to look at him and though she seemed scared she didn't seem very surprised. He didn't like that at all.
"D-Do we need to go to the scene?" She asked and he shook his head.
"It's in a different town. About an hour from here," he said and then he saw it. The look of confusion. Though it hadn't only been that. She looked almost... sad.
"W-what?" She asked as she stuttered from her fear again.
"Yeah, they're thinking he's moved on from Roseville," he began as he kept his hand placed on her shoulder. Then he noticed it. She began cycling through her usual emotions as she always did. He almost wished he could be that upfront with his.
"W-well that's a good thing right?" She asked as if she needed the reassurance. There it is. Danny thought. Always so fucking sad when he left. Why did you tell him to leave then?
"Yeah, listen if this is too much for you then you should go home. I'll talk to Bob for you," Danny started to say but she shook her head.
"I can't miss work now. Not with all of this," she started and he gave her his worried filled eyes.
"Honey it will be ok. You don't look like you're up for this right now," he replied in his softest voice.
"O-Ok," she started as he noticed the tears start to form in her eyes.
"I'll walk you to the car ok?" He said and she nodded.
So he did. He walked her as he held her closely by his side. She was a bit trembly and Danny wondered if it would be a good idea to let her drive alone like that. He wanted to go with her. Just go home with her and ignore everything, but he couldn't. He had to act normal and not let anything down. He had to pretend he was Jed, and Jed was a hardworking man. He had to be Jed for as long as he could handle it. He wanted to puke at the idea, but he couldn't. He had already decided. His jaw tightened as he reminded himself of the night before. That would be his last. He knew it would be. It had to be. He wanted to be with her.
"I'll make us some dinner later. For when you come home," she said as they had reached her car. It pulled Danny from his thoughts and he placed that smile on his face again. That fake Jed smile. Though, he was worried she had noticed. She seemed a bit weirded out.
"Yeah that sounds great. Are you sure you want to cook though? I can bring something home if you want. You seem stressed," he started and she shook her head.
"No, it's fine. It helps distract me anyways. Um Jed... are you ok?" She asked and he screamed internally at himself. He slipped up. No, he was just a normal person. Even Jed had to be worried sometimes.
"Yeah, it's just a lot of things right now. Especially with this news," he said feigning worry again and he watched as she ate it right up. She threw him off when she hugged him though he appreciated it nonetheless. Her warmth.
"I know it sucks. Everyone thought he was gone," she said and he rubbed her back as he could hear her sniffles. He hated when she cried. That was one thing. He didn't mind it at first, but now he just got angry. Though it was all at himself. This was all because of him and it angered him.
"He is," he replied. He knew what he had meant. Even if she took it differently. Ghostface was gone. He had to be. She looked up at him and he rubbed his thumb softly against her cheek wiping away a tear that had fell. "Don't worry ok? I'll get home as soon as I can and we can just watch movies or do whatever you want. I'l stay over too. If you'll let me," he smiled and she nodded as her face mirrored his.
"You know I always want you to," she smiled and he chuckled before he kissed her forehead. It's for the better. That's was Danny told himself.
"Ok, drive safely. I love you," he said his chest tightening at the words. They weren't an act, and Danny had been scared because of it. He had never felt this before.
"I love you too," she beamed before he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. This time she had been his comfort.