Quinn wasn’t sure how long he’d been staring at his reflection, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from it.
Eligos hadn’t been wrong when he’d said Quinn hadn’t been looking after himself. The gaunt features, pallid skin, and sunken eyes barely looked like him anymore.
Quinn brushed a hand down his side, noting the jut of ribs and hip bones that hadn’t been so pronounced before. Even his abs looked sharper; all angles instead of strength. His skin was paler than he remembered, too. Still not as pale as Air, but definitely more sickly-looking.
His skin felt warm and familiar beneath his fingertips, but the face staring back was virtually a stranger’s. It would take time to reconcile this true reflection with the one his mind still clung to.
“Fuck,” he breathed, shivering when he realised he wasn’t too far off the state he’d been in when he’d begun his recovery after being at death’s door all those years ago.
The shower cut off and Air strolled out, towelling himself off and stopping next to Quinn. His arm came around Quinn’s back and he leaned against him.
“You okay?” he asked.
Quinn blinked and glanced at Air's reflection, meeting his eyes.
“Yup.”
Air narrowed his stare.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Quinn scowled.
“I think I have.”
Air glanced down at the reflection of his bare torso and realisation dawned. He followed Quinn's gaze, then looked at him again, more closely this time. He sighed and held Quinn tighter.
“Oh. I guess you look a little different from the last time you saw yourself, huh?”
Quinn nodded slowly. He wasn’t much broader than Air anymore. How had he gotten this bad? His appetite hadn’t been great, but he’d been eating. Hadn’t he? Enough, at least? Surely someone would’ve said something...
Oh. They had. Air. Earth. He’d just chosen to ignore them.
“It's just a shock, I suppose. Seeing it for myself.”
Air’s expression softened and he cupped Quinn’s cheek, turning his face towards him. He leaned in and kissed him sweetly before pulling back.
“Well, you are still beautiful. But you haven’t exactly been hitting the gym lately. And you’ve eaten like a bird since you lost your sight. We’ve all tried, but we figured it wasn’t so bad because you haven’t been as physical. We made sure you ate enough. If you’d really struggled, then I would have intervened. But I guess all the worry took its toll on you, too.”
Quinn didn’t reply. He stared into the mirror and wondered how he hadn’t noticed himself wasting away until now. Even without his sight, he should have known.
He hadn’t just seen a ghost. He’d become one.
He sighed, turning his back on his reflection to focus on Air. The smaller ghoul smiled up at him, resting his chin on Quinn’s chest.
“Welcome back, sweet.”
They dressed and ate in comfortable silence, then made their way out into the lair. After their few hours of private reconnection, then the shower and breakfast with just the two of them, it was time to go public.
Air had texted Secondo to let him know about Quinn’s sight returning, and their summoner had insisted they meet him and the Doc at the infirmary.
He must’ve messaged the group chat too, because as they left their apartment, Fire, Water, Earth, Zoe and Rin greeted them in the hallway.
YOU ARE READING
Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)
FantasyMxM Follow up to Essence of Quinn Parts 1&2. Quinn must face his past to be able to move on with his future. He's overcome most of his demons since he was summoned by Secondo and he's gone up against destiny itself, but a past transgression will co...
