For you, i will

chapter III

the time was probably around 3:00am, and ryan found himself suddenly awake. a creaking sound was coming from his kitchen, a realization that sent chills down his spine. then he remembered he had a guest, and assumed shane had gotten hungry and taken to the kitchen for a snack. he decided to join him. climbing out of bed he found himself feeling uncomfortably cold as he made his way closer to the kitchen. perhaps his air conditioning was acting up again. then the thought hit him like a sword. what if shane-the demon-was doing demon things. ryan didn't actually know what demons did, but the thought alone was enough to terrify him. he decided to continue believing that it was only shane getting a late night snack, and continued towards the kitchen, shaking with fear nonetheless.
what he saw as he opened the door of his room he would never forget. shane was completely passed out on the couch. and in the kitchen...
there was a figure paler than anything he'd ever seen, its body almost invisible in the dark room; but its face had such vivid detail. the decaying flesh dropped from the figure's body, it's eyes looked pained as they stared into nothingness, it's mouth hung open and it's messy hair covered parts of its face. the scene carved itself into ryan's memory.
a ghost.
ryan was completely frozen, aside from little whimpers of fear. he was too scared to move or talk, lest the spirit notice him. he began to slowly back up, making his way back to his room, which proved to be a mistake. on his second step back a slight creak caught the attention of the spirit, who slowly turned its head to face ryan, staring right into his eyes.
"shane!" ryan tried to scream, but really it sounded like a whisper. despite this, and to ryan's surprise, shane actually heard him.
"ryan?" shane began to open his eyes, slowly sitting up in his spot, starting to stretch his arms. that is, until he too saw the figure ryan was staring at. the moment he noticed the ghost, shane wasted no time carrying out his actions. immediately, he jumped over the couch and headed straight for the apparition, from which a high pitched scream began to emerge, echoing around the room and filling ryan's ears. the light around the ghost began to grow brighter as its form enlarged above shane.
"ryan, turn around" shane said calmly, and the shorter man obeyed.
shane grabbed the neck of the ghost, pulling it to his level with immense force, causing the squeal of the creature to get louder. ryan placed his hands on his ears and pinched his eyes to hold back the tears fear had brought on.
shane reached his hand into the chest of the ghost, pulling out its heart, which vanished in his hand, flowing upward in a glowing blue dust. the rest of the spirit vanished seconds later, a broken look on its face as it accepted its second, and final, death.

shane made his way over to the trembling man.
"ryan, are you okay?"
ryan turned his body to face shane, whose familiar face comforted him more than it should have. and perhaps it was the traumatic events that had just unfolded, or his heart finally giving into its desire, but ryan wrapped his arms around shane, pressing his head into the taller man's chest.
shane was taken back for a moment, but soon he too placed his arms around ryan, rubbing his back slowly to comfort him.
"ryan, hey don't cry." he could hear the quiet whimpers of his friend come from against his own chest. "it's going to be okay. i'm right here to protect you, always ryan."
ryan tightened his grip around shane's body. he didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. everything was already understood.
•••
less than 30 minutes later, shane had taken ryan back to his bed, where he sat by his side, assuring him that he'd be right there until tomorrow, that he wasn't alone. ryan's last memory before falling asleep again was shane's kind smile and his loving eyes above his. the moment was far beyond perfect. how much he wished this was the norm.

after ryan had fallen asleep, shane stayed by his side for several more minutes, making sure the man was actually alright to be left alone. then he got up, leaned over ryan, and placed a light kiss on his forehead, careful not to wake him.
"goodnight bergara. sleep well." and he made his way, once again, back to the couch.