Austeled one-shots

Ghosts.

Context: they're more than frenemies less than friends.
3rd person:

The two had been "living" as ghosts for a while. Well, if you count a week as 'a while'.

They hadn't yet left the confines of Sam's house. Not because they were trapped, but because neither of them were mentally ready yet. It would feel too real. Feel like they were alive again.

That and they felt somewhat.. bound to the house. Not literally, but emotionally. That and to each other for yaoi purposes.

Sam's house was ordinary. Bland, even. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the place. It was a pretty standard American home. Albeit slightly smaller.

Although it could be said that it was almost like a children's dollhouse, as the stairs were almost straight across from the front door, with the living room to the left, and a kitchen to the right.

Austin often spent his time staring out the window. He wanted to leave, to smell the cool evening air or feel the breeze against his.. oh right. He's a ghost. He doesn't have skin. You see what I mean? It got too real just from looking.

He sat up on the windowsill, staring for hours every day. When he wasn't there, he was sleeping on the floor near the window.

Henry- or.. Eteled? Either/or - would occasionally wander around Sam's home like a stereotypical lost soul. However, he mostly stayed in the living room, which was ironic. Since he was dead.

He usually remained huddled up on the old black leather couch that was blanketed with.. blankets. Soft, faux fur blankets of all colours.

They both remained in the living room for the most part. They hated each other, yet the idea of being apart made their adrenaline spike, though they'd never admit it to the other.

And then one day, in the late afternoon, it started to rain. It wasn't light, but it also wasn't heavy. It woke Austin up from his silent nap on the cold carpeted floors. His eyes pried open, staring up at the window like he had been for too long already.

He slowly picked himself up off of the floor, dusting himself off (even though there was no dust on him). The rain splattered against the transparent panel before slipping down to the ground.

Outside you could see a load of other houses, and beyond them a molten diamond sky that melted in through the window dusted with the grim blush of the ashy clouds.

Austin turned away from the window, looking over at the black haired translucent individual curled up on the couch.

He stumbled toward him, his body too light for any normalcy. Although he was basically just light and air, so it would also be kind of strange if he had any weight to him.

He shook the taller man's shoulder.
"Henry." He called, voice completely monotone. "Henry."

Eteled groaned, body- or soul- momentarily tensing up as his aqua eyes pried open.
"Fuck.. what??" He murmured, rubbing his eyes.
"Henry. It's raining."
"What— so??"
"I wanna go outside."

That made Eteled pause.
"What?"

"I want to go outside." Austin repeated plainly. "I need to go outside."
Eteled sat up, gaze sharp with a hint of vulnerability behind it all.
"Come with me." Austin tugged at Eteled's T-shirt.
"Why-?? We- we don't need to go out-" Eteled insisted with a dose of anxiety.

"I need to." Austin begged. "Please."
"Why?? It's just fine in—"
"Henry!"

There was a pause. Austin's hand gripped tightly to the others T-shirt.

"Please..."

There was a moment of silence.

"Okay." He sighed. "Fine."

Austin didn't even hesitate before grabbing the others wrist and whipping him up to his feet.

"Hey—" Austin dragged him to the door, both of them phasing through like air.

Outside was.. serene. The soft drumming of rain pattering against the Earth was like a calming marching band. Droplets of water refracted light off of their surface, creating a faint rainbow in the distance.

While technically Austin couldn't feel the cool breeze, the placebo effect did wonders in making him feel a cooling tingle prick against his "skin" every time a gust danced past - as well as chilling water droplets plop against him.

Sam's front lawn was all grass and natural beyond the faint desire path straight down the middle, not fully formed yet but clear.

A sharp noise ripped from his throat. A sob. His knees gave out and he slumped down onto the damp grass - not that it would get him wet anyways.

"Austin?!" Eteled dropped down beside the other. "Are you okay??"

Austin sobbed again. "I missed this... so much..." Even while speaking, his emerald eyes never left the surroundings.

It was meant to be a happy sentiment, but it made guilt twist in Eteled's metaphorical gut. He was the reason Austin had missed this. Why Austin didn't get to experience it more.

"I know.." He lightly hushed, laying beside the other. "I know..."

Eteled stayed outside with the other, lying in the grass together until Austin's tears turned to snivels which then turned to soft breaths as he fell asleep.

Slowly, hesitantly, Eteled sat up, carefully picking up the shorter man and bringing him inside before gently plonking him on the couch.

He took Austin's life too early. So maybe, after 20 years, he could make up for it by making his afterlife a little better...

All this talent for a bloody grade 6 in GCSE English language 🥀💔 /sar