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wildroseofarran · 5 years

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Angel Rules || Luna, Oliver, Pete, & Logan

Luke: Luke set aside his laptop and sighed, leaning back on the couch until he was staring up at the ceiling. The TV felt like a faint buzzing noise in the distance, the document on his laptop a jumble of words. He couldn't concentrate on anything at the moment, just the dull grinding ache in his chest and arms that he'd come to recognize as loneliness.

The profound sort of loneliness that settled into your bones and your heart, making it hard to breathe. Hard to not break down and sob every moment of the day.

He could ignore it when he was in Edenton, when he was safe for a while in the loving arms of people who cared for him. But here, with no distractions and no company there was nothing to keep it at bay.

Dana: Long it had been since Dana Tolvin had made his presence known. For months he had forgotten the brilliant and terrible world of life. Life as he had known it. The Umbra was vast and much like a labyrinth. Knowledge was just as elusive as the maze world, and yet saturated. What he didn't want to know he could find. With enough persuasion he could extract information from the dust covered elders. His people. Trial and error was unforgiving. What he sought in earnest had been kept silent. Forbidden, he'd been told.

Dana Tolvin stepped into the elevator. The appropriate button was pressed. The light awoke; the doors slid shut. He breathed a slow, painful breath.

"Fifth floor," a sultry voice said over a tiny speaker. The doors opened.

Quintin Traxler knocked on Luke Graham's door.

Luke: Luke glanced toward the hallway leading to the door and considered not answering it. It was probably one of his coworkers from the firm trying to lure him into socializing again.

"Go away, Carl," he called. "I don't want to go to whatever gay club you found."

Dana: "Is that anyway t'greet a mate?" a familiar voice in a familiar yet unassociated accent.

Luke: He lifted his head, brow furrowed in confusion. Not Carl.

"Q?"

Dana: The door was silent. No verbal response. They took too much out of him this early.

Luke: Luke eased himself off the couch and headed for the door, miserable, confused expression falling away when he laid eyes on his pretend boyfriend.

"Hey," he said softly, holding the door open. "Did I know you were coming?"

Dana: Q's smile highlighted his laugh lines more than usual. He stepped through the door.

"No. You didn't know."

Luke: "You're a surprise then?" He shut the door behind Q and immediately turned to go into those arms.

Dana: "I'm a surprise." More than one. Luke was so ready for those arms. They symbolized peace and love...and none of it was real. He paid for this man. He was a replacement for what he should have been.

Large skinny hands held to Luke's shoulders.

Luke: "The best one." Snuggled against Q's chest, Luke was finally able to relax. "I missed you," he said softly.

Dana: "Do you miss Tolvin?"

Luke: Luke's brow furrowed again as he tilted his head back to look at Q. "What?"

Dana: "That was his name, right?"

Luke: "His last name, yeah. Why...?"

Dana: "Do you love him still?"

Luke: "You know I do. Why are you asking me about this? We don't usually talk about him."

Dana: Hands, weak, slowly slid down Luke's shoulders and arms. "Why don't we?"

Luke: "Because it still feels....raw."

Dana: "That's what...this is for."

Luke: "Not entirely..." He tilted his head. "Are you all right? You seem...off."

Dana: His mouth opened, ready to reply, and then snapped shut. Hands fell limply to his sides. His usually sun-kissed skin seemed paler than usual. Autumn might have been to blame, if not for the emphasis of veins, the shade under his eyes.

"I'm alright."

Luke: "Are you sure? You're pale. Here, sit." He took Q by the hand and led him through the doorway to the left and into the kitchen.

"I'll get you some water."

Dana: The man followed behind, fingers hardly gripping the lovingly commanding hand.

"I don't know what to say to you."

Luke: "What are you talking about? It's just me." He waved Q onto one of the barstools while he poured him some water and grabbed some aspirin.

Dana: "But it's not just me."

Luke: Luke's expression was etched with concern as he placed the glass and two tablets in front of Q. "What do you mean? Q, are you sick? Do you need me to take you to the emergency room?"

Dana: His mouth opened again. Snapped shut. "It's...me."

Luke: Rather than clear anything up, that just confused Luke more. "Of course it's you. Who else would it be?"

Dana: "Dana Tolvin."

Luke: "Q, come on. That isn't funny. What's wrong? You never show up out of the blue, you always call."

Dana: "February, 2017, you lost a fight with a bathroom sink. I hated that you were half-naked. Anyone could look at you. I told you I smoke like a chimney. You made Stella spend over a hundred bucks on cigarettes once. You kept hiding them and she kept buying more. We kissed and I pushed you away."

Luke: Luke's eyes widened slowly as Q spoke, some unspoken, brutal emotion squeezing at his chest more and more with each word until he was breathless and shaking.

That had been a private, bittersweet moment he'd locked away in his memory after Dana's passing. He didn't speak of it to anyone, ever; it was only revisited when he was in bed on nights like tonight, when he was lonely and miserable.

There was no way--none--that Quintin Traxler could possibly know that.

Dana: "I don't have long. What I'm doing is against the rules of Arcanoi."

Luke: He waited for....he didn't know what he was waiting for. A laugh. An explanation. A revelation that Q was drunk off his ass and all this was a joke made in questionable and inebriated taste.

But nothing came. And when nothing did, it began to sink in.

"....You're....s-serious......you--you're...."

Dana: "Is it really so far-fetched after hearing my voice? Knowing I still exist? Can you not suspend your belief for an hour and accept that I did this for you?"

Luke: "I haven't heard your voice in a year. A whole year of telling myself I was crazy and that Logan and I were having one of those shared delusion things they talk about in true crime shows. I thought we imagined we heard your voice because we wanted to hear it so, so badly and that's why we never heard it again."

Dana: "We had an entire conversation together. I'm not an illusion, Luke."

Luke: "Then where the hell have you been? Weeks of throwing shit and making the lights so crazy and chest poking and then nothing. Nothing! Like none of it ever happened!"

Dana: "I've been somewhere I hope you don't see for a very long time. There's so much...so much." The body swallowed, eyes drifted. "I had to learn how to do this."

Luke: "How to do what? Make yourself look like someone else?" He needed a drink. A beer from the fridge would have to do. "What, didn't think I'd open the door if you looked like yourself?"

Dana: "This isn't an embodiment. This is puppetry, Luke."

Luke: "....Puppetry? What does that..." Luke's voice trailed off as the second revelation of the night clicked in his head.

"You're controlling Q's body?!"

Dana: "I can't recreate my own body yet, Luke, and I've missed you. I've been studying everything I can and doing so much to get to this point."(edited)

Luke: "Oh, Dana." Luke set the beer aside and grabbed his hand. "I've missed you, too. So much that it hurts every day. But you can't do this. You can't just hijack someone's body without their consent, that's not okay. I know you know that's not okay. We could've found another way for you to be able to talk again."

Dana: "Stop being a lawyer for one minute. He sells his body for money. He won't know what I've done. I'll put him back exactly as I found him. You have my word. I couldn't stand it. Time moves differently where I'm from. I didn't realize."

Luke: Slowly, he released Dana's--Q's--hand. "What does that have to do with anything? He's still a human being. He should have control over his body, same as you or I. Taking him home doesn't make it okay that you took him."

Dana: "Do you even know what he is?" Tolvin said coolly.

Luke: "It doesn't matter what he is. He's a person, and no matter how much you miss me you can't hijack him. You can't just use him while you're turning up your nose at him, Dana. He's been kind to me and he's been kind to your sister."

Dana: He continued evenly. Luke had to under. ”He's not a person. He's a demon."

Luke: "Dana, stop it. Just stop. I don't want to hear it. Take him home."

Dana: "He's a demon! An incubus!"

Luke: "Dana, stop! If you care about me at all, and I really want to believe you do, take him home. Please."

Dana: "Then come with me. I don't like driving his - whatever it is. I'm telling you the truth. I wouldn't lie."

Luke: Oh, god, he'd driven Q's car here. He was driving Q. Luke buried his face in his hands. This was so wrong in so many ways. Q didn't deserve this. Dana didn't deserve to be dead and not even be able to have his own body. Logan didn't deserve to be alone. It was all so goddamn fucking wrong and he felt sick with it.

"Fine," he said at long last, voice soft and tired. This felt like another layer of invasiveness, but he'd do it if it meant Q got home safely.

He went to turn the TV off and grabbed his keys and wallet.

Dana: "Luke," he said softly, "look at me. This wasn't a whim. I've worked-" his jaw clicked again. Q's jaw. "so long on perfecting this. Years, Luke. Years I've held my patience for this moment."

Luke: "I would've been happy with your disembodied voice." Luke looked over at him. "More lights flickering. More chest poking and practicing Morse code. Because it would've been you. That's all I ever wanted. Just you."

Dana: "I wouldn't. That's nothing. That's not holding you. That's not seeing you clearly behind the veil. That's not being productive and being in your life or my daughter's or Logan."

Luke: "Logan." He sighed. "She's bought so many books about death and spirits and the afterlife. I told her my brother was going to New Orleans and she wanted to go so she could talk to hoodoo practitioners about contacting you."

Dana: Tolvin stared at the hands, arms he possessed. He tugged at the shirt to see the chest. What an ugly body.

"She shouldn't be here. She should be home. How is she earning income at this point?"

Luke: "She won't go home until she can take you with her." And if they never found Dana's body, well....

"Father Patrick gave her a job, organizing the church office. She babysits sometimes. I've been helping her."

Dana: "Odd jobs? She's a huntress. That's not -" Q's lip was bitten into, but not enough to bleed. "She's not going to find it."

Luke: "She went back once and that was enough for her to feel alone and out of place. You were her home, Dana. Not the orphanage."

Dana: "Her life can't come to a halt because I'm gone, Luke. You can't encourage that."

Luke: "Why do you think I talked to Father Patrick about giving her a job? Were it not for that she'd still be holed away in the cabin and only leaving to go to mass."

Dana: "You talked to Father Patrick? The Church isn't going to fund her for sitting around doing nothing. This -" Q's jaw clicked and tightened uncharacteristically. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I came to you for a reason."

Luke: "The church isn't funding her, this isn't a 'Church' job. It's a normal job. As normal as babysitting and going to choir practice."

Dana: "She's abandoned the Church completely?"

Luke: "No, but like you said, they can't pay her for doing nothing."

Dana: "...We're supposed to be leaving."

Luke: Luke nodded. Right. "After you."

Dana: Tolvin headed to the door, but not without glancing back at the man he had puppeteered for.

Luke: He'd find Luke dutifully following him, face set in sad, weary lines.

Dana: This was meant to be a beautiful night. Messy, but memorable for the romantic effort. That demon had weaseled too deep where he didn't belong.

The keys were offered, fingers curled and cryptic.

Luke: Luke took them carefully. "Are you going to see Logan?"

Dana: "No. Not like this. I'm still ... honing my new skills. It's not ready."

Luke: He nodded, locking up after them and heading for the elevator.

"Can I tell her I spoke to you? If you don't want me to I understand."

Dana: "...It's been so long for me. I don't know anymore. Memories...aren't always the same where I am. You two," he swallowed, "tether me here."

Luke: Luke blinked. "We do?" he asked softly.

Dana: "You do. You have since I stopped breathing."

Luke: "Because we love you?"

Dana: "Because I love you."

Luke: Luke felt his entire soul burn in his chest, and tears prick at his eyes.

"We'll help you," he whispered. "I promise we will."

Dana: "What will you help?"

Luke: "To make you stronger. To help you always find your voice, and your body."

Dana: "My body is - that's the least of anyone's concern."

Luke: "It's our concern."

Dana: "Then stop." Despite the body, Tolvin managed to manifest an all too familiar stern tone.

Luke: "I swear to God, Dana, only you could tell your loved ones to stop worrying about you after you've just told one of them they tether you to this earth. Get in the elevator."

Dana: "I'm not saying it's shit! At no point did I say this tether - it's the only way I can see you!"

Luke: "I refuse to believe that. There is a way, and dammit I'll help Logan find it."

Dana: "A way to what?"

Luke: "For you to see us." Emphasis on the word you. There would be no more hijacking.

Dana: "It's as forbidden as what I'm doing."

Luke: "If this is forbidden and you still did it I have no doubt you won't pass up an opportunity to have more freedom. You're certainly stubborn enough."

Dana: "You never stopped bein' a thorn in my side."

Luke: "And apparently you haven't gotten any better at sweet talking me in the past year." He jabbed the button for the lobby.

Dana: "I never had to before. Being dead didn't make me Casanova."

Luke: "That much is obvious. What man doesn't love being called a thorn in someone's side?"

Dana: Enough. Luke was taken by his arm and yanked into a hug. "Shut up."

Luke: Luke clung to him, feeling a lump forming in his throat. Why did their tender moments always have to come about after so much contention? Why did it always have to be this way?

Dana: It wasn't the same kind of hug as Q. There wasn't a gentle little circle of fingers against the center of his back. There was a bear claw for a hand between his shoulders, a monstrous squeeze of a man afraid of the action itself, of what it meant with this man.

Luke: Dana could squeeze him as tightly as he liked. Being held by him had always been a rare thing; it was something Luke had to treasure, for the opportunity to experience it again might not come for a very long time.

Dana: "I've missed you."

Luke: Luke clung tighter. "I missed you, too," he whispered. "So much."

Dana: "I didn't...give...enough."

Luke: "You gave what you could."

Dana: "My daughter... How's my daughter?" Despite his questions, he wasn't letting go.

Luke: And Luke wasn't inclined to let him. He swallowed around the lump in his throat, lest his voice betray him. "She misses her dad."

Dana: His daughter. He missed her the most. He saw her the least. "You've spoken to her?"

Luke: "Logan has a few times. She sent her a gift for her birthday, along with some of your things."

Dana: "What things?"

Luke: "Pictures, books, your scapulary, one of your scarves."

Dana: "My life boiled down to things."

Luke: "Things are all we have left of you. We don't have a grave to leave flowers on or to visit when the pain of losing you gets to be too much."

Dana: "And you never will, Luke. You won't have that. This right now, is all I have to give you."

Luke: He swallowed again, though this time he couldn't keep his voice from breaking. "I know."

Dana: He didn't like that sound. He'd rather the fighting. It was so much easier than this. "I want to kiss you."

Luke: Luke wouldn't. No matter how much it hurt, he'd rather have moments like this. Moments like this were what he'd always wanted with Dana, what he used to daydream about and imagine when he'd let his mind wander. His mental version of Dana was so different and somehow so similar to Dana himself.

Luke took a shaky breath. "Go on then." And may God and Q forgive him this moment of weakness.

Dana: His brash and bear-like body language and manner seemed to fade. Had he been alive he would have been as feral as their first kiss. This body was not his own and he knew; he knew Luke would feel guilt. He knew he should have felt guilt and yet felt nothing towards this demon but repugnant jealousy. His lips, the body's lips found Luke's with a desperate search.

Luke: He'd feel guilt enough for both of them soon, but for now he would take this small gift he'd been given and make the most of it.

He'd take that face gently between his hands and kiss those lips in the same manner, trying to pour a lifetime of love into it.

Dana: There was another noise unlike the original host body. A growl, purr-like in its nature. The elevator dinged. The door opened. Tolvin felt blindly for whatever button, letting the door shut again.

Luke: The sound wasn't made by Dana's voice yet it sounded so much like Dana that Luke felt his heart squeeze painfully in his chest, enough to make twin tears slip past his closed lids and roll down his cheeks.

"I love you so much," he whispered.

Dana: He'd already said the words. He had years in the underbelly of the Shadowlands to sort his thoughts, and yet here behind the veil he felt the familiar twinge of uncertainty. Should he...what would happen...

"I don't deserve it."

Luke: He shook his head. "Don't think about that. We don't have a lot of time. Just...tell me how you feel. It'll get me through the worst of it when you're not here."

Dana: "I wish I had...I wish..." The door dinged again. He pressed the button. No. I'm not done.

"I wish we'd had more time. I wish I'd been here under better - but it wouldn't have made a difference."

Luke: "Dana." Luke held on to him once more. "I wish I knew how to make you believe that...that just having your presence means the world to me. Even if I can't see you or touch you or kiss you....knowing I'm not alone is enough."

Dana: "I'm not talking about now. I'm talking about when I was alive. I should have been with you."

Luke: "If I think about that, my heart will break. The time I had with you is precious to me." Even though he sometimes believed he'd only imagined some of that time, that the sweet, loving moments they'd shared had only been in his daydreams.

Dana: "If you meant what you said, would you really have gotten emotional letting me hold you and kiss you? Don't kid yourself. I'm nowhere near done but I'm doing this to be with you all."

Luke: "I did mean what I said. That's why I'm taking him home and why I'm telling you that something like this can never happen again, no matter how much we miss each other or how badly we want to be together. I feel like this making me lose you somehow."

Dana: Firm fingers held to Luke's chin, as they'd done well over a year ago.

"You're not going to lose me. Death didn't make you lose me."

Luke: Luke just looked at him with teary eyes, feeling all the more pain because it wasn't Dana's face he was looking at.

He had lost him. If not all of him, then part of him.

"Promise?" he asked softly.

Dana: The animated head nodded. "I'll have my own body someday. We can tell Logan together."

Luke: He nodded, resting his head against that chest that was so familiar and so foreign at the same time

"Okay."

Dana: This time when the elevator dinged, Tolvin looked. Wrong floor anyway. His fist tapped for ground floor.

"So, we leave now. We'll see her, and I'll put him back."

Luke: Another nod. "Okay. Will he...does he....know?"

Dana: "No. Although, what I understand is for humans. I've told you, he's not. I don't know what he'll feel, but right now he's asleep."

Luke: He didn't want to start that fight up again, he just wanted to make sure Q wasn't in any pain.

"Okay. " He stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, taking Dana's hand and leading him out. "Where did you park?"

Dana: Their fingers would not be laced together. Rather, he continued to hold firmly to Luke's hand, walking ahead. This body felt too light.

"...Over there. Why is everything he owns small? This body, the car, that apartment..."

Luke: "He likes his apartment." He headed in the direction of Q's car, feeling another pang when he saw it. I'm so sorry, he thought. I'll make this up to you somehow.

He unlocked the car and opened the passenger's side door for Dana.

Dana: That doesn't tell me anything. He likes small things. You're small, he thought.

Which caused him to fight a smile while getting in.

Luke: Small enough that even Q with his lean frame could pick him up with ease and make him feel safe, which was definitely a thought best left in Dana's head. Luke's size wasn't exactly a point of pride to him.

He started the engine and pulled out of the parking garage, already thinking of how he'd get home. Maybe he'd just stay with Logan for the night and ask her to drive him home tomorrow.

Dana: The drive to Raleigh had taken so much of his time. Already he was exhausted. So much time wasted. He closed the eyes of his host and breathed. What a beautiful tedium.

"The world is so much more than you see."

Luke: "What I see is almost more than I can bear. Probably lose my mind if I saw what you see."

Dana: "I did for a time."

Luke: "What made you return to yourself?"

Dana: "Time. It just took time and...a lot of exploring. Curiosity brought me back."

Luke: "Time. People like to say time heals everything." He scoffed. "Big fat lie."

Dana: "Time healed my sanity. Time will heal Logan."

Luke: "How much of it," Luke wondered quietly. "She's my best friend. I love her. And I can't think of a single thing to take her pain away. What kind of friend does that make me?"

Dana: He wondered who Luke claimed as closest friend before their arrival.

"Makes you human."

Luke: He hadn't really had one, before Logan. He had his brother and Callum and his football friends and work friends, but no one he was able to pour his heart out to quite like he did with Logan.

"Then being human in a fucking curse."

Dana: "If this is what maudlin is I'm going to smack your stomach."

Luke: "This is what my life is."

Dana: Stomach smack, then.

Luke: "I'm driving, Dana."

Dana: "Then don't be dramatic."

Luke: Luke turned to give Dana a familiar stern look. Drama? This wasn't drama. He was a man undone by grief, only able to find joy and ease in small pockets and who believed everything he said.

Dana: Yes, well, Tolvin took hold of the nearest hand and squeezed. Though he wanted to kiss his knuckles he didn't. Old habits, years later. Years later to him.

Luke: Luke squeezed back, drawing every ounce of affection he could. He wouldn't have turned away that kiss. He never did, and Q knew that well. Tane Lukela was perhaps starting to learn that as well.

Dana: "You love this man?"

Luke: "We don't consider that word." If they felt it in any way, and perhaps in their own way they did, they didn't voice it aloud. It was said with touch, with action.

Dana: "We?" he frowned. "You've discussed it?" So exposing.

Luke: "We have an arrangement."

Dana: "A hooker demon. I know."

Luke: "Don't call him that."

Dana: "Why does the truth scare you?"

Luke: "Why do you assume I'm afraid?"

Dana: "You don't want to accept it."

Luke: "Maybe I just don't like that word. Maybe I think it's degrading and maybe I think you have no business degrading someone whose body you're currently in without permission."

Dana: "I'll pay him somehow if that's what you want."

Luke: "That is absolutely not what I want." That would make it so much worse.

Dana: "I can't pay him in money."

Luke: "I said no."

Dana: "Are you actually trying to boss me around?"

Luke: "I'm not trying to do anything, Dana," Luke said softly. "I'm begging you to just take him home after we see Logan and leave him be. I'll get on my knees if you want me to."

Dana: Tolvin studied Q's hands. They seemed so boney. These could not hunt. These could not kill with strength alone.

"He means that much?"

Luke: "He's been kind to me. He's been kind to your sister. No one knows better than me how far a little kindness can go."

Dana: "And if one day he decides to eat you, you'll be with me before you should."

Luke: "Dana, for the love of god, please."

Dana: "Have you ever fucking trusted me?"

Luke: "Have you ever stopped to think about how the things you say affect me?"

Dana: "I was a goddamn hunter! What I say should have fucking weight!"

Luke: "It does, Dana." He wouldn't cry. If he cried he wouldn't be able to see the road. If he cried, this would be yet another time he'd humiliated himself in front of Dana Tolvin and his heart just couldn't bear it. " All of what you've ever said has had weight and at least half it runs through my mind every time I see you like some broken record player that's mocking me and breaking my heart over and over and over again!"

Dana: "How have I mocked you? Mocked - Really?" Anger through a voice not his own still carried weight. The host's skin felt hot. His cheeks, palms, and crotch especially. "All I've ever wanted is you safe!"

Luke: It was a good thing they weren't on the highway surrounded by other cars yet because Luke slammed on the brakes.

"How is telling me you don't want me in front of a waitress looking at me with all the pity in the world keeping me safe? How is making me feel like a bother and a burden keeping me safe? How is calling me pathetic for needing comfort and a kind word from someone keeping me safe?" Luke was sobbing now, and there was no stopping. All his grief and insecurity were pouring out and nothing in the world could've stemmed the flow. "All I wanted to do was love you! I would've moved Heaven and Earth for you to look happy to see me! Why didn't you ever let me love you? Why? What did I do wrong, what was wrong with me?"

Dana: What was all of this emotion. He couldn't recall there being so much when he was breathing. Wasn't that tiresome?

"I wanted you hardened. You're a lawyer. I expect resolve for the very reason I died. Something could happen. Something did happen. Here I am still trying to help. I do love you or I wouldn't be here now!"

Luke: "I'm a lawyer, I'm not made out of fucking stone! And I'm not hard like one! You hurt me!" Luke turned away from Dana and hid his face in his arm.

He said he loved him, but he never said it gently. Never said it in the gentle, sweet romantic way Luke had always imagined. The way the Dana in his dreams said it. Even so, a part of him did feel that love. But a greater part just felt pain.

Dana: "I'm sorry!" Something said to quiet this argument, but something also truthful. He didn't want Luke to cry. He didn't want this pain. He reached for him, for his arm.

Luke: Unfortunately, the ship had already sailed on the crying front. His sleeve was soaked through and there was no end in sight, not even after the apology. If anything, it made the tears worse.

Cursing the fact that he'd inherited his mother's coloring, he wiped his eyes and turned. His face was red, eyes already swelling.

Dana: "Come here," said firmly, face grim. "Just...hush and come here." He didn't know how else to approach this, not in a manner which he would be comfortable. He loved him, and he hated him for this weakness. Not only in himself but what he caused the wraith. The human was pulled to Q's chest.

Luke: It wasn't the usual sort of comfort, not the manner in which it was offered or the unknown thoughts running through Dana's mind that accompanied it, but it was comfort. And comfort was something Luke Graham didn't turn down.

Tentatively, he leaned against Q's chest. He knew this chest. There was an endless well of comfort embedded in it.

Dana: He didn't know what to say. This was why his ex had left him. This was why they were never able to mend. Being a hunter was only half of the equation. This was simply too much.

"Come on. Tighten that chest, mate."

Luke: And just like that, the delicate bubble burst. The comfort his heart and soul craved wouldn't come today. Perhaps not for a very long time.

"Your father taught you that boys don't cry, didn't he."

Dana: The body swallowed down and rubbed between his shoulders. "He taught me to fight. Not to break down."

Luke: "My dad would've decked him."

Dana: "He was why I became a hunter. Help those too weak to do it themselves."

Luke: "Is that what you think I am?" Luke whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Dana: "I think...sometimes ya need help. I think you're so full of love ya let danger in."

Luke: "Letting love in means letting a lot of other things in, too. I know that. I also know I'm not in danger. I'm a lawyer, I know how to trust my gut."

Dana: "Do you...believe me...when I tell you what he is? Don't circle the subject with what you love about him. I'm inside of him. I know what I'm talking about. I need you to be aware of what I'm saying. Please. For just a moment listen to me. Acknowledge this."

Luke: "I am aware of it and no, I don't believe it. Even if you're right and this man who doesn't hiss when he sees a crucifix and can walk in front of a church just fine is somehow a demon, I'm not in danger. Not from him."

Dana: Thick healthy, short nails dug into flesh. Indention was made by the effort. With enough force, so would bruising on the host's arm.

Luke: "Hey, what are you doing." He pulled that hand away. "Stop."

Dana: "Kiss me."

Luke: "Now?" After that display? After he'd humiliated himself?

Dana: "Yes. Now."

Luke: Luke closed his eyes. We can't. I can't keep indulging myself when his body's not his own. He deserves more than that from me.

"I can kiss your cheek. Anything else and I'll burst into tears again and neither of us wants that."

Dana: "I'm trying to prove a point, Luke. I'll go away after this if that's what you want. Just give me this."

Luke: What point? his gaze asked.

Dana: He kissed Luke's hand. He kissed his cheek. He nuzzled into his skin. The gaze was not answered.

Luke: Dana would find Luke's cheek wet with freshly fallen tears. This was...so unbelievably unfair. To spend so much time wishing for Dana's affection, his love, and to get it now when he didn't even have his own body...

He broke down again.

Dana: Slowly, he began to kiss all over Luke's face. No inch would be left untouched. A gentler apology was offered between the affection.

Luke: Luke tried to take deep breaths while Dana continued his ministrations, trying to steady and calm himself. But every kiss just seemed to make the tears come harder, and when the apology came, he dissolved altogether.

Whatever point Dana had been trying to make, Luke hoped that was it because his heart couldn't take anymore.

Dana: The point...it mattered so much. He couldn't trust the owner of this body. Years in the Shadowlands and he was still too weak to fight. Not the way he intended. All he could do was smother Luke in affection while he had the energy.

Luke: As long as Dana didn't mind smothering a man who was currently on the verge of blubbering and hyperventilating, Luke didn't have enough fight in him to stop him.

Dana: "Come on," he tried to soothe. "Take a deep breath and let it out from your mouth. Gotta breathe for me."

Luke: Luke tried his best and managed a hitched breath. The next one came a little easier.

Dana: "Keep doing that. In and out."

Luke: In and out. In and out. In and out.

Very slowly, Luke managed to catch his breath. And even though he was a little calmer, he was just....drained. He wanted to go to bed and sleep for three days and not see or talk to anyone.

Dana: The indentions created on Q's arm had begun to fade. The point he was trying to make. His nearness, his heat, his body had healed the host. But...Tolvin was going to have to let this go. If Luke noticed, then he would explain, but he doubted the man could see through those blurry eyes.

Luke: Luke didn't notice anything except the rhythm he was trying to keep with his breathing. It was such a simple task and yet it felt so exhausting. All of him was just exhausted. Emotionally, mentally, physically.

"I'm so tired," he said quietly, resting his forehead on the steering wheel. "I'm so tired."

Dana: Tolvin glanced around. He gestured towards the nearest sign yards away. "A hotel. A few hours of rest..."

Luke: He shook his head. "Can't. We have to get back to Edenton."

Dana: "Don't rush yourself. This body will be fine. It's been so long since I've seen you. Can you even see?"

Luke: Luke wiped his face on his sleeve and pulled back onto the road. "I can see fine."

Dana: "Luke, let me-" he sighed.

Luke: "I have to drive, Dana. I need to do something with my hands and head."

Dana: He felt the place on his arm which had healed. This was still his fetter, but he felt distanced from him. He looked out the window in silence.

Luke: It was a good half hour before Luke's breathing had returned to normal and he trusted himself to speak again. The tears never really stopped, however. They just became softer. Silent.

"I'm sorry," he whispered after a long while.

Dana: "Why are you apologizing?"

Luke: "I always feel like I have to when I cry in front of someone." Especially you.

Dana: "Depends on the person... Don't do it with me."

Luke: Luke nodded. "Okay." He probably still would, but he felt a little better.

Dana: A hand reached for Luke, paused, and dropped.

Luke: Luke's own reached out and twined with Dana's. There were so many gaps between them; he didn't want another.

Dana: "This feels as awkward as I imagine it would have been had I been alive."

Luke: "It wasn't all awkward."

Dana: "What was best?"

Luke: "That day with the sink."

Dana: "I pushed you."

Luke: "Not the whole time. There was a while when we were just talking and there wasn't any weirdness. It was just us."

Dana: "I enjoyed our last day."

Luke: "I should've stopped you. Stayed with you."

Dana: "You needed rest."

Luke: "I needed you more."

Dana: "Don't talk like that."

Luke: "It's true. I stayed up for days anyway. Didn't get any rest."

Dana: "I miss," he almost said past tense. He never thought this would work. "...my forehead to yours."

Luke: "I miss it, too," he said softly. "I still have your jacket, the one you gave me that day with the sink. Logan told me some things to try to get the smell of smoke out, but I never tried any of them. I like that it smells like you."

Dana: "I don't remember the... addiction of it. The Shadowlands have their own addictions."

Luke: "Spirits can have addictions?"

Dana: "Yes. We can."

Luke: "I thought death was supposed to bring peace."

Dana: "It's just another stage."

Luke: "Is there another, beyond it?"

Dana: "Reincarnation or nonexistence."

Luke: "Reincarnation? That's real?"

Dana: "Of course it's real. You don't have to. No one has to. Almost everyone does."

Luke: "So....all the people that are currently alive are reincarnations?"

Dana: "It's more complicated than that."

Luke: "How so?" This wasn't exactly a cheerful topic, but it was interesting enough to distract him.

Dana: "Find out on your own in...80 years," the wraith sighed.

Luke: "What, are the secrets of reincarnation only known to the dead? That's crap."

Dana: Ah, he managed a smile from his should-be lover.

Luke: Well, at least there was that.

"So reincarnation is real and there's something beyond death that sounds scarier than death. Cool. Very educational night."

Dana: "Not worse. Not better. Just different. I suppose the worst of it is not being able to be with you properly. Give me time."

Luke: "The worst of it is that you're dead. Not being able to have you properly even after discovering you're still here is God just adding insult to injury."

Dana: "Give me time, Luke."

Luke: Luke took a deep breath and nodded. "I will. And you need to promise me that dead or not, you won't lose who you are."

Dana: "I'm trying. But..."

Luke: "...But?"

Dana: "I'm...older. I've lived another lifetime."

Luke: "You're still you."

Dana: "People age. Even things like me."

Luke: "They age but they're still themselves, unless they literally get turned into something else."

Dana: "Well by that logic you shot me in the foot," he smirked.

Luke: "You're disembodied but you're you, Dana."

Dana: "You're...again, not listening to me. You're trying to enforce your own beliefs."

Luke: "My beliefs give me hope, Dana. I'm not trying to enforce anything, I already know that doesn't work with you. You need time and I need hope."

Dana: "Ain't my being here hope?"

Luke: "It is hope. But it's been a long time. Another lifetime for you. We both need all the hope we can get."

Dana: "And right now you need to feel safe and responsible by taking this body home."

Luke: "Right now....I need a giant long island iced tea."

Dana: "Alcohol was my vice."

Luke: "Been trying not to self-medicate."

Dana: "I would rather you didn't."

Luke: "That's been the general consensus."

Dana: "Can I trust leaving you again?"

Luke: "I can't promise I won't have a shot of something, but I can promise it'll only be one."

Dana: "Lawyer."

Luke: A very small, faint smile.

Dana: "How can you love me?"

Luke: "That's like asking the sun why it rises in the morning."

Dana: "I've done nothing but push you away. I've done nothing to earn it."

Luke: "And yet I fell in love with you anyway. Surely as that sun rises in the morning."

Dana: "That makes it sound predictable. I don't want poetry. I want truth. Why."

Luke: "If I had a logical answer I would give it to you. All I know is that from the moment I saw you, you pulled at me. I saw how you are with Logan, how much you care while pretending you don't, how passionate and protective and intelligent and stubborn you are."

Dana: "You see all of that...but still we fight. I don't want to fight. I'm tired of it and I've only just gotten back."

Luke: Luke sighed. "I don't want to fight either. I've never wanted to fight."

Dana: "I don't know how to stop us."

Luke: "I don't either." He was silent for a few moments. There was something he wanted to ask, but he was afraid to hear the answer. He was afraid there was no answer.

"....Can I ask you something?"

Dana: "What's that?" he asked after a moment.

Luke: "You asked why I love you...why do you....love me...?"

Dana: The wraith leaned back on his seat and looked away. A mile of silence. Nearly a mile more.

"In another life...I would have been kinder. I loved...fighting with you. The way you stress your brows. The thing you did - do with your hands. I wanted to be around to laugh at your anger...and make it better."

Luke: During that mile and the one after, Luke felt his worst fears being confirmed. There was nothing about him that Dana loved, there was no reason Dana loved him at all. He'd just been worn down by Luke's no doubt pathetic attempts to win his affection and interest.

Somehow the answer didn't make him feel any better.

"You want to stop fighting with me but you love fighting with me? So you can mock me for being upset?"

Dana: "Not those kinda fights. The ones that end with...what we did in the bathroom."

Luke: "That end with us kissing? Sky isn't going to fall if you say it, you know. I was wet and shirtless and you got hot and bothered about it and kissed me."

Dana: That was taboo, even now. He didn't want to talk about that. A lifetime later, some words, some thoughts, were simply too much. Elegance was only recently learned. "I wanted you to myself."

Luke: I was right there, Luke thought. You had me. I was ready to offer you everything I had. Myself. My heart. You had it all, and in return I just wanted a tiny corner, a tiny sliver of yours.

"You had me. You pushed me away."

Dana: "I had...my daughter came first. Her mother would never let me see her again if she knew..."

Luke: "I would never begrudge you that or resent you for giving your daughter pride of place. She should have it. And unless her mother hates gay people, what would the problem be?"

Dana: "We're all very Catholic. She knows what I do - did. She prayed for my soul. She was - is very conservative. It's what I - it's - I've explained before."

Luke: "Your sister is gay and still manages to be Catholic."

Dana: "It's not the same. That's not me."

Luke: "What if her mother wasn't conservative? What if she was totally fine with gay people? Would you still have pushed me away, been ashamed and embarrassed to be seen with me?"

Dana: "...Yes," said the body quietly.

Luke: Luke gave a short, humorless laugh. "Great. That's great." Another stab of humiliation as his voice broke. "Bickering is the only thing you like about me and no matter what, you would've always been ashamed and embarrassed of me. Fucking great."

Dana: "Not of you, Luke. The majority of my shit wasn't about you. It was me."

Luke: "Even better, every gay boy dreams of falling in love with someone who hates themselves for liking them."

Dana: So easy it would have been to fall into old habits from decades past. Instead he sighed. "If you can cut the drama for a moment and listen to me, Luke. I'm telling you I was afraid."

Luke: Tell me I'm wrong, Luke thought. Tell me you don't hate that you like me. Tell me there are actually dozens of things you like about me.

He fell silent, letting Dana say what he needed to say.

Dana: "I didn't give myself the opportunity to learn you. We barely spent time together. In between my fear and paranoia was untapped curiosity. We didn't get that chance."

Luke: "I wanted us to have more time," Luke said quietly. He wanted them to have more dates. More bonding experiences. More chances to actually get to know each other. "I tried to give us...some more time."

Dana: "We still have a chance."

Luke: "Do we? It feels like there's an ocean between us that keeps getting bigger and bigger."

Dana: "Because of death?" he smirked. "A trifle."

Luke: "Not because of that." His voice remained quiet. Sad. "Not entirely."

Dana: "We have more road," so talk.

Luke: "What else do you like about me?" he asked after a long while.

Dana: "What are you hunting for?"

Luke: "You asked me why I love you and I answered. I just want the same from you. Why do you love me, Dana?"

Dana: "I told you. It was...so much physical. Your body language told me of a man I wanted in my life. You're stubborn in a way I both love and hate. You're gravity."

Luke: "Gravity forces us down and we spend our entire lives fighting against it. Is that prophetic or just a coincidence?"

Dana: "Ya keep me from floating away and never coming back."

Luke: "Doesn't feel like I'm doing a very good job."

Dana: "I'm still here. You're a fine fetter."

Luke: "Yeah. You're still here. And so is the ocean between us."

Dana: "Is it really that much?"

Luke: "You can't even say that you wanted to kiss me that day with the sink out loud."

Dana: "Fifty years in the Shadowlands didn't fuck with my conservative mouth."

Luke: "So god really does have a sense of humor."

Dana: "That you'd fall in love with a man afraid of PDA?"

Luke: "It's not about the PDA. That was never the most important part." He sighed. "I spent so much time just....wanting you to be nice to me. To maybe look glad to see me and not just....vaguely annoyed. To smile at me."

Dana: "Do you understand what I've done for you to be here? The lengths I've gone to be able to hold your hand?"

Luke: Luke shook his head. "Probably not," he said, honestly but not unkindly. "It's hard to wrap my mind around it. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm diminishing your efforts. I don't mean to." His mind and his heart were just so tired and so wounded and so sad.

Dana: "You won't hear me about death and I'm right beside you, Luke. You won't hear me about anything. Do you actually love me, or an idea of me? Some fantasy you created with my body."

Luke: "It's hard you hear you when you're not you. I know you would be you if you had a choice right now, but it's true. Part of me is going to wake up tomorrow and think I dreamed this and I don't know how to stop it. I want to hear you. I want to understand. I hate that you were taken from me. I hate that we didn't get more time."

Dana: "I'm going to do this again, Luke. I'm not going to waste my knowledge when I could see you and Logan and my daughter. If I have to find a homeless junkie to see my daughter again I will."

Luke: Luke had no doubt about that. Dana was a determined man, perhaps even more so now than when he was alive.

"Can I ask something else?"

Dana: His gaze returned to the many trees and homes outside his window. "Go ahead."

Luke: "Whoever you decide to...you know, borrow for a minute. Could you ask first? I know that'll probably make it harder but if borrowing people is as forbidden as you say, asking might make it a little better. I don't want you to get in trouble and there's no telling what kind of punishments spirits can get. They're probably awful."

Dana: "They are. I've seen them." He sighed, considered. "You're going to shy from me if I do. You won't let me hold you and make up for lost time."

Luke: Luke almost wanted to ask, but he knew better. Some things weren't meant to be known.

"There might be some initial weirdness, but I'd feel better knowing whoever it was let you."

Dana: "...If that's what you want, fine. Then you're gonna help me find someone."

Luke: "I don't know a whole lot of people who wouldn't chuck me in an asylum if I asked if they'd be willing to let my dead boyfriend borrow their body for a while so I could cuddle him."

Dana: "Boyfriend?" he coughed.

Luke: Luke felt himself flush and was suddenly immensely grateful it was dark.

Dana: "Say it again."

Luke: "Boyfriend," he said carefully.

Dana: "I'm still that? I was ever that?"

Luke: "Maybe not officially but I always kinda--" he cleared his throat. His whole face was hot. "--thought of you that way. Sort of."

Dana: A hand reached out, hesitantly planted over Luke's cheek.

Luke: Luke chanced a look over at Dana, hoping to read his expression. He'd never admitted that aloud before. Even thinking it was hard.

He always imagined that if Dana knew, there'd be hell to pay. But maybe...not?

Dana: Q's body sighed. "I told you. I wish there'd been more time. I wish I'd been brave for you, n'not just work."

Luke: He nodded and took a deep breath. "I know," he said softly. "I wish we had more time, too." He leaned into that hand. "You were as brave as you could be."

Dana: "So help me find someone t'make this easier."

Luke: "Where do I even start?"

Dana: The wraith considered. "...Someone with nothing to lose. Someone with no home. Drug addict, maybe."

Luke: "Do you really want to borrow the body of a drug addict?"

Dana: "If it's what I have to do for you then so be it."

Luke: "Would you happen to know any?"

Dana: "We're driving away from Raleigh."

Luke: "....Yeah?"

Dana: "That's probably where one will be."

Luke: "Probably, but that doesn't get us any closer. I don't know any. I think."

Dana: "We can look. Sooner is better than later."

Luke: He considered for a few moments. It was a long shot, but they did say if something sounded crazy enough to work, it would.

"I think I might know where we can look. In Edenton."

Dana: "In Edenton?"

Luke: He nodded. "Did you ever go to a bar called O'Charlie's?"

Dana: "All the time."

Luke: "That's where we're going to look."

Dana: "Not exactly homeless there. Bikers, truckers, bottom barrel but not that desperate."

Luke: "Depends on the day."

Dana: "You have a particular man in mind you want to kiss?" he smirked.

Luke: "Not really. I generally try to avoid O'Charlie's."

Dana: "So you want someone local."

Luke: "I guess? I don't know. I feel like it's going to be weird either way, so it might as well be a weird I'm vaguely familiar with."

Dana: "Shall I drop this body off first?"

Luke: "Do you want to go tonight?"

Dana: "Yes. I'm not satisfied. I don't want to leave you. I'm exhausted but...I'll try."

Luke: Luke nodded. All told this was quite possibly the weirdest night of his life. "Okay. We'll take Q home and go to O'Charlie's. Do you still want to see Logan?"

Dana: "After. If we find someone. I'll be with you, but not. Do you understand what we're about to do?"

Luke: "We're about to go find someone who's sad and hopeless and feels empty and we're going to ask them if you can borrow their body." And now that he thought about it, "Will they know what's going on?"

Dana: "I've told you no, Luke."

Luke: Another nod. "Okay. Just wanted to make sure. Do you think there's a difference if the person you're taking over knows about it beforehand?"

Dana: "Probably resistance, if they don't want it. Easier if the Qui - if the person thinks it's all just a dream, like this host will."

Luke: "Well, this person--whoever they end up being--is going to know. We're following angel rules."

Dana: "Angel rules?"

Luke: "Angels need consent before they take a vessel."

Dana: "Where did you hear that?"

Luke: "Read it. Told you, Logan and I have been doing our research."

Dana: "Don't believe everything you hear."

Luke: "It's been corroborated by several more sources, Father Patrick, and a few people with firsthand experience with angels."

Dana: "Why do you care about angels?"

Luke: "I didn't really, it was just something I came across that was interesting. We've corroborated everything we can, not just that."

Dana: "Everything?"

Luke: "Everything we can, yeah."

Dana: "Why?"

Luke: "Research is pointless if you don't have the correct information." He was a lawyer, remember?

Dana: "I mean why any of it. What were you looking for?"

Luke: Luke turned to him. "A way to get you back."

Dana: "Eyes on the road," he said quietly.

Luke: Back on the road they went, but not before giving Dana a meaningful look.

Dana: "Humans don't turn into angels."

Luke: "I know," he said softly. And a part of him had been crippled by disappointment when he'd found that out.

Dana: They had to move on from that subject. "Do you...have a preference, body wise?"

Luke: "You mean apart from you?"

Dana: The wraith blinked. "Um...yes."

Luke: "Not really." Although looks grabbed his attention, he was drawn to the person they belonged to first.

Dana: "So a drug addled man from," he had to think a moment, "Peru, it' ain't gonna matter?"

Luke: "As long as he gives his consent."

Dana: "You're not being choosey at all."

Luke: "Beggars can't be choosers."

Dana: "I'm not skinriding on a hideous bag of shit."

Luke: "You are if that's the only person we can find that'll give you permission. What they look like isn't the important part of all this."

Dana: "I'll do sit-ups while wearing them."

Luke: It felt so wrong to laugh, but he couldn't help it. A small laugh managed to escape.

Dana: His passenger soon followed, though he covered his mouth, wiped that away.

Luke: Luke smiled. "We'll find someone. It really doesn't matter to me what he looks like as long as we follow angel rules."

Dana: "I want to kiss you. You deserve someone kissable at least."

Luke: "You're kissable. They don't necessarily have to me as long as their teeth are regularly brushed."

Dana: His wraith smiled again. "I'm not getting in a fat fuck. Or someone diseased between the legs."

Luke: "........Okay, I'll give you that one."

Dana: Tolvin fell back into his silence while Luke drove, closing Q's eyes, the body went still, breathed evenly.

Luke: Luke turned the radio on low to keep him company while Dana and Q slept, wondering how on earth he was going to make this up to Q, debating whether to tell him or not.

Would Q even believe him if he did? Or would he call him crazy and yell and storm out of his life?

And even more insane than all that, there was the raging ethical debate on the fact that he was driving to O'Charlie's to pick out a vessel for Dana to hijack so they could have something resembling a future.

The drive wasn't going to be long enough for him to sort it all out.

Dana: As Luke pulled into the gravel covered parking lot, the body in the passenger seat began to stir. The soft noise of life was heard many nights before. A sound usually followed by a stretch, and a kiss into Luke's hair, whispers of good morning before the body slipped away for yoga and a shower. This time the moan deepened, sanded roughly around the edges.

"He dreams of sensations, not images," he whispered.

Luke: I swear I'll make it up to you, Luke thought with a pang as he watched that beloved body stir to wakefulness. My sweet, beautiful, sexy teddy bear. I'll make this up to you. I'm so sorry.

"Okay," he whispered back, nodding. "We're here. O'Charlie's in all its desolate glory."

Dana: "Well, I wonder how many of these this body's been with."

Luke: "That doesn't matter. Let's not go down that road again, okay? How are we gonna go about this?"

Dana: "Does that make you jealous?"

Luke: "I'm not the type. Can we focus on the ethical issue at hand? How do we pick you a vessel?"

Dana: I prefer the ethical issue I'm living in, Tolvin thought.

"The one alone, the one forgotten, the one stumbling around with enough drugs to stop an elephant? We'll just have to be patient."

Luke: Luke took a deep breath. "Right. Okay." He undid his seatbelt and eased off his hoodie. "Put this on, hood and everything. No one in O'Charlie's sees anything but the drink in front of them but I don't want to risk someone seeing your current body and have it be an issue later."

Dana: Would that even fit? The new layer was added. "You could seduce someone and bring them outside."

Luke: Dana was given a patented Luke glare.

Dana: "What? Don't gimme that look."

Luke: "Do I look like the type of man capable of seducing someone on a normal day?"

Dana: "Yes."

Luke: "What? I can't seduce anyone! Have you seen me?"

Dana: "Why do you think I was always trying to cover you?"

Luke: He just blinked.

Dana: His sigh was nothing like his host's. "You can't possibly be that blind."

Luke: "I'm just me, I'm not a Calvin Klein underwear model."

Dana: "Your only limitation is your height," he smirked.

Luke: "Ugh." Luke shook his head. "I'm short and hairy, that's well established. So is the fact that I'm not seducing anyone. We're going to watch and wait."

Dana: The human was suddenly taken by the collar of his shirt and pulled into a chaste kiss.

Luke: He very nearly squeaked in surprise, blinking again before his eyes closed of their own accord.

Dana: "I love you," he whispered. "I love your body just as it is."

Luke: "I love you, too," he whispered back, feeling the prickle of tears.

Dana: He didn't need it ask why there was moisture in his eyes. Life was already so goddamn depressing.

"Come on. Let's go find a better body."

Luke: He was going to ignore that little comment and just focus on the nice moment.

"Okay. Let's go. Pick out a booth."

Dana: It was one thing driving to Raleigh, learning the body on his own time. This had taken weeks of skinriding, but he dared not confess to his companion. Having to negotiate with a stranger with God knows what in his veins; he couldn't believe he had followed along with Luke's tearful pleas.

As usual, O'Charlie’s was packed with miscreants. The large rectangular room, carpet stained with alcohol, bodily fluids, and mud, thick with smoke from hidden cigarettes, had once been a second home.

"So many choices."

Luke: The charm of the room was precisely why he avoided O'Charlie's. Why everyone tended to avoid O'Charlie's. This was and had always been a place for desolation, a place where you went when you were out of hope.

How ironic that now he was walking in to find some.

"If they can be called that," he said softly. "What do you want to drink?"

Dana: There was a moment in which he'd forgotten. Years bound to Luke, remembering his smile, his scent, his voice, yet his favorite drink was lost. It had been over fifty years since alcoholism.

"Any beer is fine."

Luke: He nodded, leaving Dana to choose a seat while we went up to the bar, greeted Charlie, and ordered them a couple of beers.

Dana: Backed into a corner didn't feel as safe as he imagined Luke would prefer. He took a seat by a window near the door. Escape routes took precedence.

Luke: Safety was a relative term in this place. Some of the mysterious stains on the floor were blood; faced with that, a booth near the door seemed fairly harmless.

He got their beers and brought them back to the table.

"Any promising candidates at first glance?"

Dana: "A guy over there...looks like John Leguizamo. High as a kite, great. Too popular, though."

Luke: Luke looked toward said popular man. "That's Carlos. Definite no."

Dana: "Went to school with that?"

Luke: "He went to school only to sell weed and acid and fuck everyone."

Dana: "Sounds like someone who'll be missed."

Luke: He nodded. "Yep. Plus, he falls under the 'diseased between the legs' category."

Dana: "How do you know that?"

Luke: "Whole town knows. He's had the clap on and off since high school."

Dana: "Moving on, then." He sipped his beer, frowned, and set it aside. One woman center of the room continued to stare. He forced the hood of Q's jacket down over his brow. This was going to take forever.

"Just point out too-familiar faces."

Luke: Luke did, pointing out a few people he'd seen often, some he knew, and some he only knew of. The rest of the patrons were unfamiliar, which reminded him that Edenton was larger than it seemed.

Dana/Oliver: One, two, three, four, five perfect strangers. Ones with faces he could stand to see in a mirror. Three off on their own; two of which men. One slipped away to the restroom with the broken door. Good height; decent skin despite sun damage; dark circles under his eyes; chapped lips. Twitchy, aching fingers.

"Stay here." He wanted a closer look.

Luke: He followed Dana's gaze, spotted the man walking toward the bathroom. He looked....exactly like someone who drank at O'Charlie's. Was he Dana's prospect?

Luke nodded. "All right."

Dana/Oliver: The woman's gaze remained as Tolvin passed by, slipping into the bathroom just in time to hear the tell-tale snort. A series of sniffles followed. Idly, he washed his hands, waited for the human to emerge from the stall.

Three minutes later, finally his glimpse as he was brushed past for the door. A tacky pastel shirt covered in anchors. Jesus, that would have to go. Hair long ago neglected. Whatever he was running from wasn't his concern. He would suffice. He followed behind the curious creature as he unwrapped a Dum-Dums lollipop and paid his tab at the bar.

Luke: Luke tapped his fingers nervously on his bottle, waiting for either Dana or the man to emerge, vaguely wondering if Dana was just doing recon or already asking for permission.

Dana: Tolvin made his way back to the table long enough to whisper, "You paid for the grogs?"

Luke: "You and your damn Australian lingo. Yeah, I paid."

Dana: "Gonna follow our friend here and see what I can see."

Luke: "Am I going too....?"

Dana: "Do you want to?"

Luke: "I mean...I probably should. Me and him are gonna get kinda close, sort of."

Dana: "I'm just godsmacked that you're allowing this."

Luke: "Remember what I said. Only angel rules."

Dana: "The lengths I go for you," he sighed.

Luke: "Apparently I'm lousy with charm."

Dana: The wraith tilted his head. "Charm? Where?"

Luke: "Exactly. You're over here thinking I can seduce someone so that means I must have a lot of charm. Enough to get you to ask someone for permission before you borrow them."

Dana: "Yeah. Give it a go. Come on. Up," he gestured.

Luke: "I won't seduce," said Luke, sighing as he stood. "But I'll try to charm. Or at least plead our case."

Dana/Oliver: Only a man like Luke could believe so little in his obvious attraction yet demand justice from the legal system with such confidence. Mismatched bravery, he thought. So infuriating.

The man at the bar signed his receipt and tucked away his copy. The sucker back in his mouth, he headed for the door.

Luke: "How long do we wait before going after him?" he whispered. He didn't think they'd draw attention if they followed right away, but again, he didn't want to risk it. Especially with that woman staring.

Please don't let her recognize Q's face, Luke thought. Please God. I'm begging you. Do me a solid, just this once.

Dana: "I say you strike up something now. He's leaving."

The woman, deep brown hair in French braid, clothes one size too small, drew her attention back to her friends.

Luke: "Do I just start talking to him or do we actually follow him and then talk to him?"

Dana: "I'd rather go the Meet Joe Black method of this."

Luke: "The what now?"

Dana: "...Is that too old for you?"

Luke: "I have no idea. Gimme the highlights."

Dana: "No body. At all."

Luke: "I thought you didn't want to be a disembodied voice and that you wanted to kiss me and touch me."

Dana: "Not forever. I mean to talk to him. Get him talking. I'm going to shed this quick."

Luke: "If you're getting out of Q then I need to drive him home."

Dana: "I'll walk him home. I'll find you. We're wasting time."

Luke: "I need to take his car back anyway. It'll give me time to figure out how the hell I'm going to start a conversation with that man. It'll be quick."

Dana: "Luke. He's leaving now," said the waith flatly.

Luke: God fucking dammit. "Fine, I'll go after him. But promise me that you'll leave Q exactly how you found him."

Dana: "Tangles and all," he swore. "He was parked in the third spot next to the young tree. Good luck." Q headed for the door, which was caught by their target.

Luke: "I'm gonna need it," Luke sighed, taking another swig of beer before following after them. Subtly.

And made sure to walk a little too closely so he 'accidentally' brushed against him.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Oliver: "Yeah," muttered the human, doing a quick spin looking for what he had dropped. Three various colored keys and a single lion locket keychain.

Luke: Finally, God threw him a bone.

Luke bent to help the stranger pick up his things. The keychain was offered.

Oliver: The keys were immediately snatched back. The man had yet to look him in the eyes.

"Thanks," said in the same fashion. Stumbling, he headed for a beaten 1978 Ford pickup.

Luke: The stumble gave him another opening.

"Hey, I know it's none of my business, but are you okay to drive? Do you need a ride?"

Oliver: "M'not leavin' my truck here."

Luke: "I could give you a ride in your truck if you want?" If I really have charm, let it kick in.

Oliver: "S'fine. I'm - I'm good t'drive." Not really, but like hell he'd have a stranger in his truck with god knows what weapon.

Luke: "Um, no offense, but I don't think you are." He offered a small smile. "Sheriff's on patrol tonight and I don't think even I could convince him you were okay driving. I'm a lawyer, you see."

Oliver: "Ah, great. That's - That's great. What are ya, workin' for Uber?"

Luke: "Something like that. So, what do you say?"

Oliver: "No offense, man, but I dunno ya," he said to the ground. A moment later, a sniff.

Luke: "None taken." Dammit, make eye contact. People connect with eye contact. "Must be a small town thing, wanting to randomly help out. I grew up here. My brother owns the pub. I'm Luke. Luke Graham."

Oliver: "You're related t'O'Charlie’s?" Still, no eye contact. The ground must have been fascinating. He began to sway on his heels.

Luke: "Oh, no," he chuckled softly. "Sorry, I meant the pub in the center of town, across the street from the pawn shop. Pete's. Ever been?"

Oliver: "M'I like, under arrest or somethin'?"

Luke: Luke shook his head. Lord, this was a stubborn man. Which was perfect really, considering the man who could potentially be borrowing him.

"Nothing of the kind. I'd just hate for you to get into an accident."

Oliver: "So you're gonna let me go?" he asked, eyes glancing up for barely a second. Almost contact.

Luke: "Sure. Soon as you walk in a straight line to your car and convince me you're okay to drive." He tried for another smile, kept his tone light and casual and as not-pushy as possible.

Oliver: Crap and a half. Oliver looked to the grass and gravel with a frown. Surely he could walk a straight line. His goal was just there. His pick-up was the gateway to sanctuary, his ugly crumbled trailer with its wet wood scent. The mattress with the hole in it. His bottle of Belvedere waiting patiently for his lips.

He attempted a straight line. Too much effort was placed on perfection. His arms fanned out for balance.

Luke: Luke sighed softly. He was trying too hard, focusing too intensely on the ground. He definitely wasn't fit to drive.

After a few moments he said, "....you know what I'm going to say, right?"

Oliver: "I'll just walk home."

Luke: Dammit. He was so stubborn! Luke was dangerously close to sounding pushy.

"Sure you don't want a ride? It's a lot faster." You can go do whatever you want to do that much sooner. Come on, man.

Oliver: The stranger leaned against his truck and opened the door. The driver's window was rolled up and the truck locked from the inside. Seemed he was dead set on walking himself home.

Luke: ..........Well if he was going to walk, then he was going to have a companion to keep him from stumbling into the road.

Oliver: "Whatareyadoin'?" Yes, one word.

Luke: "Walking with you."

Oliver: "Ya don't even know me."

Luke: "I know. Don't have to know you to want you to get home safely."

Oliver: "You're fuckin' weird," he sighed, rubbing his face and the back of his neck.

Luke: "Not the worst thing I've ever been called."

Oliver: "Nosy, weird, scrupulous..." The pause lingered, and then, "Short."

Luke: Oh, good. Even this stranger was going to point out his height. "Still not the worst. Or the most original."

Oliver: "Scrupulo - Scrupulous was already used?"

Luke: "Well, I am a lawyer with a reputation for representing the underdog so..." Another smile.

Oliver: "So ya try t'help, like, drug addicts or people that yell they didn't do it?"

Luke: "I try to help the drug addicts that yell they didn't do it because they actually didn't do it but no one believes them."

Oliver: "But they're drug addicts n'ya wanna get paid."

Luke: "You really think the lawyer who takes the cases no one wants gets paid the big bucks?" Luke shook his head. "If I was in it for the money, I'd be the kind of lawyer who lands big fish clients who are guiltier than sin and puts them back on the street. That's not why I became a lawyer."

Oliver: "No one becomes a lawyer t'make the world a better place. Who are ya tryin' t'kid here, man," scoffed his walking partner. "Man, I am glad I never married. See shit all the time 'bout guys payin' out the ass for kids that ain't even theirs."

Luke: "I'm not delusional enough to think I can make the world a better place. The world's been shitty for thousands and thousands of years and it's going to keep being shitty for another few thousand. But I can make it a little less shitty for people who truly deserve it. For people in abusive relationships who want to protect themselves and their kids. For people on the cusp of losing their homes, for people who lose their jobs for no good fucking reason. And even for people whose partners want to use them as their own personal bank."

Oliver: "...Well," he felt in his dark brown denim jeans, offered a perfectly wrapped grape flavored Dum-Dum. Not that he believed him, but maybe it would quiet a block of his march back to the trailer park. Fuck. He had to make this trek back in the morning.

Luke: Luke blinked as he accepted the lollipop. Not exactly the response he'd expected. "Um, thanks. I can feel your skepticism from here." He unwrapped the Dum-Dum so he'd have something to do with his hands.

Oliver: After a block, the human sighed through his nose. "Ya gotta name, or should I just call ya Stubborn?"

Luke: Right back at you, he thought. "Luke Graham. You?"

Oliver: "Oliver." You get no last name.

Luke: He nodded. Oliver. It suited him. "Nice to meet you, Oliver."

Oliver: "Yeah, sure. M'waitin' for the surprise still."

Luke: "What surprise?"

Oliver: "Like, some other guy is gonna jump from behind a tree n'y'all think y'all gonna get my wallet. Or ya gonna try n'fuck me n'scar me for life."

Luke: "I don't want your wallet, Oliver. And I'm not going to fuck you."

Oliver: "Then what d'ya want from me?"

Luke: "To walk you home."

Oliver: "Bullshit."

Luke: It was and it wasn't. He did want to see this man safely home, but what he really needed to ask....after that 'scar me for life' comment he doubted he'd get a yes.

"You wouldn't believe me or even entertain my explanation, so I'm walking you home."

Oliver: "I think I'm just the right amount of buzzed, M'lettin' ya walk with me, ain't I?"

Luke: "Fair enough." He took a deep breath. "All right. Do you believe in spirits, Oliver?" Might as well jump right into it.

Oliver: "Like, the Holy Spirit n'shit?"

Luke: "Partly, but I meant spirits as in ghosts."

Oliver: "M'I your long-lost wife from the 1920s? Lemme guess. Ya were a saxophone player, n'ya got killed by bootleggers."

Luke: Luke's brows rose in surprise. "Isn't that a very specific example. That a yes?"

Oliver: "No." Just his imagination on coke. "I guess? I dunno."

Luke: "All right." That was about the level of belief he was expecting. "What if I told you ghosts were real?"

Oliver: "Seen one?" he scoffed.

Luke: "In a manner of speaking."

Oliver: "No shit?" Enthusiasm was injected for the sake of being polite.

Luke: "No shit." He vaguely suspected Oliver was humoring him, but at least he was listening. "Spoke to him. Touched him. Hell, I'm even tethering him to earth."

Oliver: "How'd ya do that?"

Luke: "By loving him."

Oliver: "...What's that?"

Luke: "He's tethered to earth because I love him and because his sister loves him. And because he loves us."

Oliver: "You're... serious, ain't ya?"

Luke: Luke simply nodded.

Oliver: "What's - Why ya tellin' me this shit?"

Luke: "Because he was murdered. Someone took him from me and didn't leave me so much as a grave to leave flowers on. They just left me a ghost who can't have his own body."

Oliver: "What - That don't -" he sighed. "The fuck does any of that mean, man? Why ya layin' this on me? Fuckin'..." No. For some reason he couldn't finish that sentence. He couldn't call him psycho.

Luke: "Any other day I wouldn't be. Believe me, I wouldn't be saying this to anyone on a normal day and I'm sorry I am today. And I'm sorry about what I'm about to ask you but you can say no and your no will be respected."

Oliver: "...You're freakin' me out, man." You need to go. He couldn't bring himself to say what he thought. Try though he might, he could not cease the memory of his daughter and the night she was born.

"...Hurry up."

Luke: "I'm sorry for that, too." He took a deep breath. "Know how I said my ghost couldn't have his own body? He can...borrow other people's bodies. It doesn't hurt them, I promise. They basically sleep through the whole thing."

Oliver: "...I think...you're on better stuff than I am." The subject was sobering to say the least. Surreal and just so goddamn strange. "You're sayin' ya believe in ghosts n'your boy toy was killed with no body and ya - what? Want mine?"

Luke: "I almost wish I was but I am stone cold sober, Oliver." He could only imagine how he sounded. He didn't even know if it was a good sign that Oliver wasn't running for the hills.

"That's what I'm saying. Ghosts are real, my boyfriend is one, and yes, I'm asking if he can borrow your body so I can have some kind of future with him."

Oliver: "Some - Some kinda what?" Oliver's brow crinkled. "...Luke. If what your sayin' means anything t'ya... he's dead. The dead don't get a second chance. That's it. Man...ya gotta move on from that. Just...go talk t'someone professional, okay, man?"

Luke: Luke took another deep breath, trying to center himself before he burst into tears in front of this man.

"That's what I thought. When his sister called me and told me he never came home that night, when I saw the blood in the woods...." He paused to take another breath. "It felt like my heart was being torn out of my chest. I thought, that's it. He's gone forever and I didn't get to say goodbye. But right when I was finally ready to let go of denial, he appeared in the living room and his sister and I both witnessed it. A year ago I would've agreed with you; not anymore. If I can't bury him, I'm going to help him have some kind of life even if he's dead. He deserves that. His sister deserves that. His little girl deserves that."

Oliver: A child. His weakness as a father. Children didn't deserve heartbreak. But the rationale...he couldn't let that go. Perhaps it was the tears in the stranger's eyes which led him to his next statement.

"Say...I suspend my belief for a minute. How d'ya know it was him? How d'ya know ya saw - or heard or whatever - a ghost?"

Luke: "He's proven it. Told me things only he would know, things I only ever told him. Plus it...feels like him, you know? It's an aura only he has."

Oliver: Oliver took to squatting on the side of the road. Hands clasped as though in prayer, pressed to his lips as he thought about what the hell situation he'd managed to find himself in.

"What if ya just thought ya heard it?"

Luke: "I wasn't the only one. His sister did too. And my friend Callum and Callum's dog."

Oliver: "Callum's...dog?"

Luke: "Dogs--and all animals really--can perceive things people can't."

Oliver: "N'ya wanna use me t'talk t'him again."

Luke: "Yes. If you let us."

Oliver: "Say all of it. The whole shebang again."

Luke: "All right. I am asking you if my dead boyfriend can borrow your body so I can be with him and so his sister and his little girl can have him back and if you say no it will be respected."

Oliver: Now he just wanted to see how far this man would go with this belief. It fascinated him. There was an angle there somewhere. "Impress me first. How 'bout that?"

Luke: Luke stared at him for a moment. "....Impress you?"

Oliver: "Yeah. Ya want my body. Prove ya deserve it."

Luke: "How?"

Oliver: "What ya got for me?'

Luke: "How am I supposed to impress you if you don't tell me what you wanna be impressed by? What, am I supposed to dance for your entertainment?"

Oliver: "Integrity, if you're honorable, tolerant, if the guy ya think exists is a tool n'and asshole."

Luke: "He's neither of those things. He's a good man. He saved and protected his sister, he adored his daughter."

Oliver: "How'd he do that?"

Luke: "He rescued her from the house where her parents were brutally murdered in front of her. They died trying to protect her."

Oliver: "A good Samaritan?"

Luke: "A good man, who couldn't leave a defenseless broken child in hell."

Oliver: "How did he know she was bein' attacked?"

Luke: "He was a hunter, and he'd been sent to deal with the two vampires who killed her parents. When he got to the house he killed them, but Logan's parents were already dead. He scooped her up and took her to where she'd be safe and became her mom and her dad and her brother and her best friend. When she grew up, she became a hunter. Just like him. Then he was taken from her and she lost the center of her universe. She still hasn't recovered. She really feels like an orphan now."

Oliver: Suddenly, Oliver got to his feet and waved off Luke's words like dust in his face. "Get the fuck outta here with that shit. S'one thing tryin' t'make me feel sympathy, n'I got that t'give. The rest is just bullshit."

Luke: Luke remained silent. Should've known this was hopeless. Any normal person would think he was a lunatic and here was the proof. He couldn't even blame Oliver; Luke knew he sounded crazy. He probably wouldn't believe him either if their roles were reversed.

Sighing, he started walking in the same direction they'd been heading before they stopped. Might as well take Oliver home and then...hell if he knew.

Oliver: Slowly, he found himself turning and following behind. Despite being the one going home, he felt as though he was the one assisting. This man needed a life, needed to move on. He pitied him.

"Ya got someplace t'be after this?"

Luke: "I'll probably crash at Logan's and go home in the morning. I live in Raleigh."

Oliver: "You're here for her?"

Luke: "In a lot of ways, yes. She's my best friend. But tonight I'm here because my boyfriend borrowed someone's body without permission and I made him put them back."

Oliver: "...How...have ya gotten t'this state of mind?"

Luke: "Losing a loved one to a violent death does a number on a person," he deadpanned.

Oliver: "I guess. I wouldn't know. Not really."

Luke: "Well lucky you."

Oliver: "How many ya lost, 'sides the dude?"

Luke: "Just him. But I nearly lost my dad a while back. He was in a bad car accident."

Oliver: "Have ya seen anyone 'bout what happened? Or...like...tried anything?"

Luke: "No," Luke said softly. "I don't need a shrink to tell me what I already know." The second question wasn't answered. He hadn't, but that wasn't to say the thought hadn't crossed his mind.

Oliver: Oliver began inadvertently chewing his lip. So dry. An easy task. "Ya need help, man. Ya can't go through somethin' like that without talkin' t'someone. Not the sister, either. Someone who, like... Someone whose lost someone before."

Luke: "What good is that gonna do? Talking to someone won't bring Dana back. Talking to someone won't get him a body. Logan has her faith, she has the church. And she's got me."

Oliver: "N'askin' me for my body ain't gonna do nothin' 'cause...it ain't..." Oliver sighed. "Sorry, man, but this shit ain't real."

Luke: "Yeah, that's what I should've guessed you'd say."

Oliver: The road suddenly seemed colder. This was too much.

"M'good the rest of the way. You're good t'go back, man."

Luke: "Already walked this far, might as well walk the rest of the way. Unless you don't want to be seen in public with the short blond lunatic lawyer either."

Oliver: "I mean, what else ya got for me? Can't be worse than that. But uh, I got shit t'do in the...mornin'..."

Slowly, Oliver rubbed all around his throat, the back of his neck. He breathed in deep and sighed through his nose.

"Fuck," he groaned.

Luke: "And I'm walking you home so you can sleep and then get up and do it." He looked over at him. "You okay?"

Oliver: Something was lodged in his throat. He swallowed and swallowed again. No, that wasn't it. It felt as though he was in a turtleneck one size too small.

"...Yeah, fine. Just...go on, now. M'fine."

Luke: Luke's brow furrowed in concern. "Oliver? What's happening? What's wrong?"

Dana: 'You did your best, Luke. Let me take over from here,' whispered a familiar voice in Luke's ear, as though right behind him, leaning down to accommodate.

Luke: Oh shit. Shit shit shit!

"Dana, no! Angel rules, you promised!"

Oliver: "Wh-What?" Bewilderment drew Oliver's brow tight.

Luke: God fucking--would nothing go right today?

"He's trying to borrow you without permission, which is the exact OPPOSITE of what he promised me!"

'Dana,' he added mentally. 'I swear to god if you get inside Oliver I am going to be so fucking pissed at you.'

Dana/Oliver: "S'just a sore throat! Stop with the-" he coughed.

Whatever Luke was thinking was beyond the wraith's capacity of understanding.

'He's going to do everything in his power to rationalize. That's what your kind do. He won't hear me right now, either.'

Luke: "Then we wait! You are not going to do this, Dana! Leave him be!"

Dana/Oliver: "Stop talkin' t'yourself!" No, fuck whatever this was. Oliver turned to his road and began a healthy jog towards the trailer park entrance, narrowly missing a dented blue Camry.

'He's getting away.'

Luke: Luke didn't follow. That would only encourage Dana to follow, too.

"Let him. I am not going to let you take him or anyone else by force."

Dana: 'Am I the man you love or an enemy now?'

Luke: "It's because I love you that I'm not letting you! That's not you and I'm not going to let that become you! You promised."

Dana/Oliver: After a firm blast from the horn, the Camry sped away down the road towards the path they had taken. The human seemingly tripped onto a knee, hand over his throat.

'I didn't spend another lifetime building up to this moment to be blocked by your morality! Fog or no Fog, I'm going to take him.'

Luke: "Fog? What--Dana, please! We can find someone else!"

Dana: 'Then negotiate with him, Luke. Help him into the house. Play the hero.'

Luke: "This isn't about playing the hero! This about mitigating this incredibly fucked up thing we're doing! You think I want to lose you? Again? To some godawful spirit punishment? I'd rather fucking throw myself into the river!"

Dana: 'Do not ever say that again! Do you hear me? Never!'

Luke: "You think this is the first time it's crossed my mind? Logan isn't only your tether, Dana."

Dana/Oliver: 'Do not ever tell her you've said or thought that. She has enough on her shoulders. Do not add more weight.'

Slowly, Oliver had stumbled to his feet.

Luke: "If you think I ever would then you really don't know me. I wouldn't put all this shit on her. She's my best friend, I love her. My demons are the last thing she fucking needs."

Dana: 'I don't, Luke. I don't know you enough, and neither do you of me. Tonight was meant to be the start. Do not let this man get away. We need him.'

Luke: "I know we need him. And I know morality is all dust in the wind to you and I understand why but it isn't to me. I just don't want them to hurt you for taking him by force. Taking him at all is already forbidden."

Dana: 'Luke. Stop, please,' said the voice in the calmest manner it could muster. 'Just...make friends with him, get on his good side. Try again.'

Luke: "He thinks I'm insane. He wants to send me to therapy. I can practically feel the pity oozing out of him."

Dana/Oliver: 'And right now he's recovering from my hand. Right now he'll accept anything.'

As it were, the human was shuffling his way towards a beaten beige colored trailer. Three rows of seven trailers each. Despite the dishevelment, the lot felt like a community. To the left, a party loud and clear full of laughter and country music. The middle row was silent and dark, tolerant and sleeping. Oliver's sanctuary was to the right, closest to the forest.

Luke: "He's going to punch me in the face," Luke murmured to himself, cautiously approaching Oliver.

Oliver: "Ya done talkin' t'yourself?" croaked the human, feeling in his pockets for his keys.

Luke: He nodded. "I'm sorry I freaked you out."

Oliver: "Ya need t'go home n'clear your head." Finally, the keys. "Thanks for the walk, I guess."

Luke: "You're welcome." He sighed. "I know you don't believe me, but everything I've told you is true, Oliver."

Oliver: "I think ya believe that."

Luke: "I do. And....I might be crossing a line, but I think you might be starting to think I'm not entirely full of it."

Oliver: "...What makes ya think that?"

Luke: "You felt something just a while ago."

Oliver: "Ya wanna know what that was?"

Luke: "What was it?"

Oliver: "I snorted fuckin' coke 'fore comin' outside. S'just...musta been somethin' shitty in it."

Luke: "Does bad coke usually feel like something is trying to climb inside you?"

Oliver: Oliver's nostrils flared. He looked inside his dingy living room and back out, rocking on the stairs. "Just a sore throat."

Luke: "But is it actually?" Luke asked softly.

Oliver: A sigh. "Ya want a beer?"

Luke: He nodded. "Sure."

Oliver: "S'Coors. Ya good with that?"

Luke: Another nod. "Coors is fine."

Oliver: The light was flicked on, the door left open. From inside came the howling bark of a basset hound.

Luke: The sound of the dog was a welcome relief. Animals dispelled tension.

"What's your dog's name?" he asked as he stepped inside.

Oliver: "Humphreys." The moment Luke was inside, a can of Coors Lite came flying for his head. A five-year-old black and white basset hound came bounding from behind for a curious sniff.

Luke: It was a good thing Luke had guarded a goal more than once in his life, otherwise that can would've knocked him right in the face.

"Jesus," he hissed, just barely catching it. "Little warning next time, would you please?" He lowered to greet the dog. "Hey, pal."

Oliver: Humphreys sniffed all around the newcomer's palm before giving an approving lick. His attention was brought to the doorway, staring outside... supposedly.

Quietly, a can was being chugged in the kitchen.

Luke: Luke scratched the dog's ears, briefly followed his gaze. "Good boy."

He opened his own can and took a sip. He wasn't really in a drinking mood but if it gave Oliver a sense of normalcy, he'd go along with it.

Oliver: Whatever was in the doorway prompted a soft warning growl from the hound.

"Humphreys," Oliver said sternly, assuming the intimidation was meant for their guest.

The trailer had seen better days. The leather couch was riddled with tears and worn patches. The only new-looking item was the pristine forty-inch television next to the window. The carpet, once a soft tan plush had flattened from high traffic, sprinkled with various stains. Only one door across the living room. Another on the other side of the kitchen. Simple. His. Oliver was content.

Luke: Luke knew differently, but he wasn't about to start up again and make Oliver freak out again. Instead, he went the subtle route.

"It's okay, buddy," he said soothingly, petting Humphreys again. "Nothing's going to hurt you. It's okay."

It wasn't the nicest or the most well-kept home he'd ever been in, but there was no doubt that it was a home. Oliver was comfortable here. He'd probably feel more comfortable if it was clean and a few things were replaced but that was probably just Luke projecting.

Oliver: "He was the runt of the litter," Oliver sniffed. "I think, anyway. They were all really small. Always wanted one."

The aluminum was crushed and tossed in the overflowing trashcan. Out came another.

"Maybe ya should get a dog."

Luke: "I've thought about it before. I think I'd need to get two though, so they could keep each other company while I'm at work."

Oliver: "Neighbor comes by t'spend time with him. Her husband's gone all the time so why not?"

Luke: He nodded. "What do you do?"

Oliver: The question was the cause of silence. He stared into his beer. "Work at the docks."

Luke: Another nod. "Helping the fishermen or the cargo boats?"

Oliver: "Cargo. Fisherman if available, I guess. Anything for a buck."

Luke: "You should hit up Tristan Seger. He's been looking for help. His partner's wife is having a kid and he's going to be taking some time off soon."

Oliver: "Ya friends with em?"

Luke: "Yep. Known him since we were kids."

Oliver: "He think like ya do?"

Luke: "What do you mean?"

Oliver: "Ya know. Believes in ghosts."

Luke: "I don't know."

Oliver: "So just ya n'the sister?"

Luke: "And Callum."

Oliver: "Callum....?"

Luke: "Another friend. The one who also knows about Dana."

Oliver: "So...why don't ya ask him t'use his body?"

Luke: "He's married."

Oliver: "So? Oh. No!" Oliver frowned. Whether he believed or not seemed to dangle by this statement.

Luke: "I'm not going to marry you or have sex with you."

Oliver: "Then what did ya want?"

Luke: "To kiss him. Hug him. Be held by him."

Oliver: "That means kissin' me."

Luke: "It does, yes."

Oliver: "So ya wanna kiss me."

Luke: "It would appear so."

Oliver: "I'm straight."

Luke: "That much is obvious."

Oliver: "Obvious?" he seemed offended.

Luke: "Earlier you said something about fucking you and scarring you for life."

Oliver: "Yeah. So go pick your Callum friend."

Luke: "He's married."

Oliver: "But it ain't 'bout sex, so what's it matter?" he asked with raised brow.

Luke: "It's about love, and that does matter."

Oliver: "But it wouldn't be him. What's your logic?"

Luke: "My logic is that I'll take what I can get."

Oliver: "N'I'm the best ya got."

Luke: "My only choices are having him in someone else's body or not having him at all."

Oliver: "N'it's gotta be me?"

Luke: "I'd....like it to be, yes."

Oliver: "Why?"

Luke: "I'm not sure. Gut feeling I guess."

Oliver: "Yeah. Sure. Just had t'be me."

Luke: "Yeah. Sorry."

Oliver: "No. Don't gimmie that. I talked 'bout this integrity shit already. What made ya pick me?" A darkness seemed to cast over his eyes. "Ya tell me why ya picked me n'put me through this or get the fuck out."

Luke: "The same reason you go drink at O'Charlie's," Luke said softly. "Dana wanted to find a random drug addict. O'Charlie's was the only place I could think to look. It's a place without hope, where people go to disappear. He spotted you and thought you were the best choice and believe me when I tell you I know how fucked that sounds."

Oliver: "Ya picked me...because I look hopeless n'pitiful? That's what you're sayin' t'me? Ya followed me home 'cause ya wanted t'fuck a random at a bar, n'ya made up this elaborate story t'make me feel somethin' for ya? The fuck is wrong with ya?!"

He was going to give himself a nosebleed, he just knew it, but that wasn't important. He pointed to the door. "Out. Get outta my-"

Again, he coughed.

Luke: Luke shook his head. "I didn't follow you home to fuck you, I didn't make anything up. Everything I've told you is true. All of it. I know it's fucked up. Even without the reason for choosing you it's fucked up. You can think I'm crazy all you want but I have not lied to you, Oliver."

Oliver: "I said get out!" shouted through coughing.

Luke: Was Dana trying to enter Oliver again? Would he tell Luke if he was?

It didn't matter. This was a lost cause.

Luke turned to leave. Under his breath he said, "Don't, Dana. We'll find someone else."

Dana: 'He's going to learn.'

The overhead light of the living room snapped and fizzed a violent death. The door slammed shut before Luke could reach for the handle. Humphreys, realizing the severity, began his restless howl.

Should Luke turn to face the sound of Dana Tolvin, he would find Oliver's back to him, head hung loosely against his shoulder.

Luke: Luke jumped as the door slammed closed. He suddenly thought back to Dana's display in the sheriff's station a year ago. He felt very much like he'd felt then.

"Dana, please. It doesn't have to be him." He bent to try to comfort Humphreys. "We'll find someone else, I can ask Callum if he knows someone."

Dana: "No point," said Oliver softly.

Luke: "What do you mean there's no p--fuck." Luke sighed. "Dana?"

Dana: "Jesus Christ Almighty, this head is static."

Luke: "He snorted a whole mess of cocaine and chased it with beer." He got to his feet. "This went about as bad as it could've possibly gone."

Dana: "Coulda - Could have been much worse. Could have tried to assault you, or worse." Oliver looked over his own hand. Tolvin's new hand. "Can't read him at all. Don't know how long I have. It's a noise I can't shake."

Luke: "He wouldn't have assaulted. He would've called some guys with tranq guns and giant butterfly nets to come get me."

Dana: "You don't know that," Tolvin said sternly. "And neither do I..."

Luke: "Sure I do. He thinks I'm a lunatic."

Dana: "Well, he knows I'm real now."

Luke: "Then instead of thinking I'm crazy he'll just hate me."

Dana: "You asked. You'll be fine. Nothing doing for now. I'm inside. He's buried safely behind his drugs. Hell. He might now even remember."

Luke: "I asked and he said no."

Dana: "I'm already in."

Luke: "Yeah. You are." He sighed again. "What now?"

Dana: "Now we just...you take a moment to breathe."

Luke: Rather than do that, he just petted the dog some.

Dana: Slowly, with a slight stumble, Oliver's body began to roam the living room, touching various items, feeling textures, closing his eyes and breathing.

Luke: Luke sighed and rested his forehead against the dog's. This was such a damn weird night. He was so tired. So...drained. He just wanted to go to bed and stay there for at least three days.

Dana: Humphreys' licked Luke's hand with purpose. Something was wrong with his human. Surely, this one could help.

"It's been a lifetime since I felt any of this. I nearly..." wept as the demon.

Luke: He scratched the dog's ears. "I'm sorry, buddy. He's not hurt, I promise. He's just sleeping. I won't let him get hurt, okay? I'll keep him safe. Don't be too mad at me."

Luke glanced over at Dana. "Are you okay?"

Dana: "...Yeah. Just adjusting. I spent the bulk of Q driving. It's just nice to just feel again."

Luke: Luke nodded. "How's your...is it spirit energy? You did a lot just now."

Dana: "I'm barely hanging on."

Luke: "You need rest. We both do."

Dana: "You help. Doesn't mean you have to be awake."

Luke: "You sure? You've got to be exhausted. You said you were barely hanging on."

Dana: "Can you sleep here?"

Luke: "Not very well. Do you wanna...."

Dana: "Do I wanna what?"

Luke: "Go home. To Logan."

Dana: "I don't have the energy for that walk."

Luke: "We're not walking. I'll go back for Oliver's truck and drive us."

Dana: "You're not walking alone."

Luke: "I'll be fine. It's not a long walk. I can take Humphreys with me."

Dana: "He's...I don't want to see her."

Luke: "Dana. We can't keep this from her. She's part of the reason why you did this."

Dana: "But not tonight. Just give me tonight. She won't understand."

Luke: Luke sighed. He couldn't argue that. This whole thing was a lot to take in, even for someone who did believe ghosts and things existed.

"Okay," he said after a few moments. He pulled out his phone. "I know where we can sleep."

Dana: Surprisingly no argument. The catch, which he had been waiting for, was just around the corner.

"Why not here? I have to put him back before daylight."

Luke: "I can't sleep here, Dana. I won't get any rest. I'll make sure you get him back here when you need to but I cannot sleep here."

Dana: Tolvin rubbed between his new eyes. The body seemed to twitch. He popped Oliver's neck.

"Where, then?"

Luke: "My brother's house."

Dana: "That'll be a barrage of questions."

Luke: Luke shook his head. "It won't be."

Dana: "How you think?"

Luke: "Just...trust me. He won't ask questions."

Dana: "...Fine. Fine. The dog stays. Just...find its food and water bowl."

Luke: He nodded. As much as he wanted to take Humphreys along, being in a new environment with new people and a cat would probably stress him out even more than he already was.

"I'll make sure he has both. See a dog bed anywhere?"

Dana: "Probably just takes the couch. These doors are closed for a reason." He headed for the front door to let the thing out. He didn't necessarily hate dogs. Tolvin had little experience with them. Too busy to have ever considered in his lifetime.

"Your heart is too big."

Luke: "Better that than too small," he sighed, going through to Oliver's bedroom. He came back out a few moments later with a pillow and several shirts, which he fashioned into a little nest on the couch.

"Oliver's smell will comfort him."

Dana: "I'm gonna laugh if he flips his shit over those shirts."

Humphreys sniffed around the yard for a while, relieved himself, and returned.

"Good boy," came almost naturally from the former hunter.

Luke: "Owning an animal comes with having their fur all over your clothes. I'm sure he's used to it."

He found the dog food and filled Humphreys' bowl, gave him some fresh water, found treats and gave him one of those.

Dana: Oliver's body leaned against the wall, eyes closing.

"How far is it to your brother's? Distance don't really feel the same here."

Luke: "Not too far." He shot Pete a text. "He'll be here soon."

Dana: "What do you mean he'll be here soon? Why is he coming here? What did you tell him?"

Luke: "That I needed him to come pick me and a friend up and we needed to stay at his house tonight."

He pulled up Pete's response and showed Dana his phone.

Pete's text--which had come almost immediately after Luke's--simply said: I'll be right there.

Dana: "Hell ask questions we can't answer."

Luke: "Can you please trust me, Dana? Please. Just this once."

Dana: Slowly, the eyes fell closed once more.

Luke: "I'm going to take that as a 'fine'."

Dana: "Mm." The body slumped forward, slid against the wall to land firmly on his rear.

Luke: Luke was immediately at his side. "Dana?"

Dana: "Just resting, Luke. Calm down."

Luke: He gave a huge exhale. "Okay." His nerves were so shot. He definitely needed to go to bed.

A few minutes later, Luke heard a car pull up and exhaled again. "Pete's here."

Dana: "Do you want this?"

Luke: "Do I want what?"

Dana: "Me. Here. In your life. Don't think about fetters right now. Answer me honestly. Would you rather be with the demon?"

Luke: "Dana." Luke knelt beside him. "Q is my friend. He's helped me. I know the relationship is hard for you to understand and I know you don't approve of it but I love you. I'm in love with you. Not having you in my life has been pure hell."

Dana: "...I...know it's not just that man," said the wraith in quiet tone, new eyes looking down at their feet.

Luke: He tilted his head. "What do you mean?" he asked just as quietly.

Dana: "He was just asleep. Not...fucked up like this body. I saw you."

Luke: "My reaction to Q's body was different because I know him. I don't know Oliver, but he seems like a man with a lot of demons. And who doesn't believe in them."

Dana: "Not - That's not what I'm talking about! I saw you with two men! At the same time!"

Luke: ....Oh. Dana had seen...oh.

Luke could only nod. There was no denying. No explaining it away. He had been with two men. And Dana had seen.

Dana: "I don't understand why I'm here. Why you're my tether to this realm."

Luke: He felt a lump slowly forming in his throat. "Would you rather I not be?" he whispered.

Dana: "This whole night. We have done nothing but argue."

Luke: "We're in a fucked up situation. We left so many things unsaid because we thought we'd have more time." Very slowly, very carefully, he lifted a hand to Dana's new face. "I don't want us to argue. I want us to be okay."

Dana: That hand felt just as warm and inviting as with the demonic body. "You want this struggle for the rest of your life?"

Luke: "It won't always be a struggle. We'll find our rhythm."

Dana: He didn't want to argue with that. Not tonight, despite how easy it could be. Instead the body sighed and was forced to its feet.

"Your brother's waiting."

Luke/Pete: Luke nodded, helping Dana up.

Pete meanwhile was hovering near his car, debating whether to go up to the door or wait for Luke and his friend to come out.

He'd taken a few steps closer to the trailer, wondering again what the hell his brother was doing in Edenton without his car when the door finally opened.

"Hey," he greeted, sighing with relief.

Dana: Tolvin kept his eyes to the ground as he passed the elder brother. He paused at the passenger door and stared. He took a deep breath and frowned.

"S'a very... masculine scent." Not his best imitation accent, but it would do.

Luke/Pete: "Pete's a very masculine guy," said Luke, opening the door for Dana. He turned to his brother with a grateful smile.

"Hey. Any room at the inn?"

"Always is."

Dana: "Rollin' 'round in the woods kinda masculine." So, Luke doesn't know, or Luke doesn't want me to know.

"Always ain't a good sign," he smirked. Blame it on the drugs. Easy out.

Luke/Pete: Pete considered his brother's....friend. "Hmm."

"Pete's always liked the woods." Luke kept his tone light, trying to quell any tension.

He went back to make sure the door was properly closed before getting into the car. "All right, let's go."

Dana: Luke was waited on before taking his place nearest the window. Was that even a subject worth approaching? Fera were extremely dangerous. Worse than many vampyre. But would he turn claw against family?

"Don't think we've met," he said cautiously. "Everyone in the family as tall as ya are, or are ya the exception?"

Pete: "We haven't," Pete said evenly, glancing at Luke's friend in the rearview mirror as he pulled out of the trailer park.

"I'm Pete, and yeah, I'm an exception. Most of the family is average height. And you are?"

Dana: "Average height for a man," he smirked.

Luke/Pete: Pete almost smiled. "Very funny. Meant your name."

Luke gave Dana a subtle poke.

Dana: Tolvin closed his eyes for a moment. That drug-addled fucking brain.

"Oliver Cole."

Pete: "Nice to meet you, Oliver Cole." And that would be the extent of his interrogation. Anything else could wait until later.

Dana: Luke's hand was taken and squeezed. Don't poke me, his frown said. Still...that hand was brought to his lips. How would this body react to his soul? Warmth on his cheeks.

Luke: Luke met that frown with a smile. For a moment, it was almost as if he was looking at Dana's real face.

The kiss made his heart clench in his chest, and his hand squeeze Dana's.

Dana: The remainder of the drive was silent. This was more trouble than it was worth in Tolvin's opinion. They could have stayed at the trailer; when he was finished with the body, he would have dropped it on the bed, where it would go about its business with the truck and the rest of his life until needed once more. This was love. Love meant compliance.

Luke: They could have, but something about that place weighed on Luke's soul. He wouldn't have been able to rest. And even though he knew there would be tension and questions to answer in the morning, he could rest at Pete's house.

A few minutes later, they were pulling into a neat driveway in front of a well-kept house in a well-kept neighborhood. An orange and white cat waited for its owner on the porch and the windows glowed warm and welcoming.

Dana: Something within the wraith stirred. No, that wasn't himself. That wasn't his pessimism and concern. That was Oliver Langdon Cole.

"Now that's interesting," Tolvin muttered.

Pete: "What is?" Pete asked.

Dana: "Nothin'." Back came the accent. "Just not what I expected. S'nice."

Pete: "Thank you. I built a lot of it myself."

Dana: "Good job," he nodded, excusing himself from the car.

Luke/Pete: Luke followed after, then Pete. He scooped up Midas as he headed inside, leading the way upstairs and to the guest bedroom.

Dana: Tolvin followed behind the trail of people, glancing into each room he could. Old habits. Windows, doors; any means of an exit. The house had good bones, but he wasn't interested in that.

Pete: Pete held the door open for Dana. "There's towels and extra blankets in the closet. Bathroom's down the hall. There's fresh sheets on your bed, Luke." The bed in the room that was Luke's. Because surely, Luke was going to stay in a separate bedroom. Surely.

Dana: "Rolled out the red carpet for him, didn't ya?" A good brother. Tolvin could see that. He took to a corner of the room, arm around his ribs, fingernail between his teeth. He'd seen a glimpse of this behavior at the bar. Consistency felt utmost.

Pete: "He's my brother," Pete said simply. "Every carpet he steps on is red if I can help it."

Dana: "That's sweet," he muttered.

Pete: "It's my job."

Dana: Tolvin took to silence, deciding it was the safest bet.

Luke/Pete: Pete gave his brother a look as he turned to leave. "I'll let you get some rest."

"Thanks, Pete," Luke said softly.

Dana: Quietly, he waited for descending footsteps. Holding his breath felt like a new concept again.

"How'd that go?"

Luke: "A lot better than I was expecting."

Dana: "It's not without his worry. That's, as he said, his job."

Luke: "Yeah. And he takes it to heart. I'll be getting the third degree over breakfast."

Dana: "It's still me, but doing this and bringing your brother into this I have to play a role."

Luke: "Just be you. He doesn't know Oliver Cole."

Dana: "But he'll see him when he owns this skin again."

Luke: "Not necessarily."

Dana: "You don't know that for certain. Besides, fifty years gone I still sound Australian."

Luke: "You do." And damn if that didn't make him smile. "How is that even possible?"

Dana: "Time both stands still and leaps forward in the Shadowlands." The wraith smiled once more. "What's that look on your face?"

Luke: Luke just shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. I just love that you still sound Australian."

Dana: "Well, Oliver doesn't. So it's a treat only for you and Logan." Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, he began to stare at the door.

"He's waking up, by the way."

Luke: Oh, hell. "Does that mean it's time for you to sleep?"

Dana: "He has opinions on the house and your brother."

Luke: "I'm sure he does. He can keep them to himself." Oliver could think whatever he wanted about Luke, but not Pete. Luke wouldn't allow it.

Dana: Tolvin smiled again, an action which highlighted Oliver's voluptuous lips and almond eyes.

"I love you."

Luke: Luke stepped closer, took that face between his hands. "I love you, too," he murmured, placing a gentle kiss between his eyes.

Dana: Eyes which closed. The body sighed. So that's what he'd been missing.

"What now?"

Luke: "Now, we rest. It's been an intense day. My room is across the hall if you need anything."

Dana: Oh, no. The wraith deadpanned. "What?"

Luke: "A glass of water or a snack or someone to shoo the cat away when he scratches the door."

Dana: "I don't want our effort to go to waste. If we're going to be separated I might as well have stayed where it was safe."

Luke: Luke blinked. Did Dana want...? "You...do you want me to stay?"

Dana: "Of course."

Luke: "....Oh. Okay."

Dana: "What is it you want?"

Luke: "I just wanna be near you."

Dana: "I'm not asking for sex."

Luke: "I know."

Dana: "If being near is being across a hallway then by all means."

Luke: "No, I just didn't want you to feel overwhelmed or...smothered.'

Dana: "I've been gone fifty years."

Luke: "You have. I don't wanna sleep across the hall from you."

Dana: "Then why-" the wraith sighed as though defeated. "I'm just going to lay here."

Luke: Luke nodded and took a seat on the other side of the bed. How could this still feel so new after everything they'd been through?

Dana: Because. Despite the years of separation, more for one than the other, this was their first experience in bed. Nothing more than lying together in bed.

He offered Oliver's hand.

"Do you want to label this?"

Luke: "Labels and I haven't historically been friends," he said softly, taking the hand and holding it. "Do you want to?"

Dana: "There are enough labels in the Shadowlands. I don't want to add Skinlands to that as well."

Luke: "Then we'll be label-less. We'll just be us."

Dana: Is that enough? he mused. "Mm." Eyes closed. The body began to relax.

Luke: Luke tentatively rested his head against Dana's shoulder. Despite his tiredness, he wanted to enjoy this rare moment of closeness before sleep took him.

Dana: The body itself was not the true source of exhaustion. How long had he been here, was the question, followed by calculation of what he had missed at home.

Eyes opened. He turned ever so slightly towards his fetter to watch him sleep.

Luke: The further Luke slid into sleep, the more relaxed and peaceful his face became. All the worries and burdens that weighed on him in his waking hours lifted away, leaving him looking light and very nearly carefree. As carefree as Luke ever got, anyway. There was still the tiniest furrow between his brows.

And though his mind rested, his body was still very aware of Dana's presence. It curled closer to him, held his hand to his chest, tried to draw warmth and comfort and safety.

Dana: Tolvin's gaze altered between the man in his arms and the door. He was meant to rest. Soulful sleep could wait, surely, until tomorrow. The brother was near, curious, waiting. He would have done the same. Peter was of similar blood and principle.

Pete: Pete's curiosity, though rampant and relentless, had been temporarily put aside in favor of focusing on his evening prayer. It was a ritual he'd begun in France and one he often still practiced. Pagan prayer--Druid prayer--helped him keep the inner peace he'd found at his mentor's side.

Inner peace and focus, both of which he'd suspected he'd need very soon.

Dana: 'You can't keep me forever. Can you?'

The wraith scoffed. He was awake. How interesting. Why hadn't the demon regained consciousness while used, he mused.

"Keep quiet," he whispered. "I'll be done with you in a few hours."

Luke: Luke stirred a bit, cuddling even closer. He'd always been a light sleeper, no matter how tired he was.

Dana: Oh. He just learned something new...from a man he'd strived to touch in the span of a weak man's lifetime. He shut his mouth and caressed his blond hair. He would deal with the human when alone.

Luke: He sighed softly in his sleep. The furrow in his brow was easing a bit at Dana's touch, for although he was in a difference body, he was still him.

Dana: Off and on throughout the night, Tolvin faded from the body. His host slept peacefully beside his companion. His dread was sunrise. When the unwelcoming light kissed Oliver's skin, he frowned.

Gently, Luke was pulled to his chest.

Luke: Luke remained glued to Dana's side throughout the night, scarcely moving a single inch unless it was to move closer to his almost boyfriend.

Rather like he was doing now. He was so easily guided by Dana's touch it was as if he'd been waiting for it. He was going to have a hard time untangling himself from Luke's grasp.

Dana: "Luke," he whispered. "We need to go. Come on." Their first time together, and his number one concern was his best impression when Luke opened his eyes.

Luke: He made a small noise of protest, not fully awake yet and not willing to be. He clung tighter.

Dana: New tactic, forehead to forehead, he breathed in a scent he thought so unlikely to enjoy again.

"Come on, Luke. I have to put him back."

Luke: Luke just nuzzled in and held tighter. "Mmmmmm....."

Dana: The human would hear a gentle laugh. "Enough now." The softest bite he would ever experience was placed on his neck.

Luke: He gave a small sound of surprise that sounded very nearly like a squeak and was followed by another sound that was distinctly a giggle.

Dana: "So you are awake, you liar."

Luke: "Am not," he slurred.

Dana: "Are you dreaming?"

Luke: "Nu-uh."

Dana: "Then you're awake."

Luke: "Not awake until I open my eyes. Science."

Dana: "I have to go, Luke."

Luke: That had his eyes finally opening.

Dana: "You don't have to come with me."

Luke: "I should," he said softly.

Dana: "You don't have to do anything."

Luke: "I want to."

Dana: "Then we need to go. Oliver will wake soon."

Luke: Luke nodded, rubbing his eyes as he reluctantly untangled himself from Dana.

Dana: "We're walking?"

Luke: Another nod. "Pete'll definitely ask questions then."

Dana: "Drama." Softly, he bit his lip. "How many... abnormal creatures do you know personally?"

Luke: "That I know of? Just you, and you're not abnormal or a creature."

Dana: "You've never seen anything else?"

Luke: "Not unless it when I was really little and don't remember."

Dana: His brother could have shown him. Delirium could have overwhelmed him. He would hold his interrogation for now.

"Quietly, then. Let's go." He wanted more. Kissing the side of Luke's mouth felt appropriate.

Luke: Appropriate and completely welcome. He wanted more, too. One night spent sleeping side by side wasn't nearly enough after such a long year.

"Okay. Let's go."

Dana: Luke would be gestured to lead, watching the hallway, checking the doors and windows within view for their path. It was the crack of dawn; surely the Fera was asleep.

Luke: He moved as silently as a cat, carefully stepping over the creaky board at the top of the stairs. Pete's sleep may have been far more profound than his, but Luke still didn't want to risk it.

Only when they were out and headed down the street did he relax.

Dana: "You slept well?" he finally asked down the road.

Luke: Luke nodded. "I did." Better than he had in days. "You?"

Dana: "I didn't... sleep."

Luke: His brow furrowed. "I thought you needed to rest. Regain your energy."

Dana: "I wanted to watch you."

Luke: ".....Watch me?"

Dana: "Sounds crude, I guess. I haven't seen you in years."

Luke: Luke found himself wanting to take Dana's hand, but perhaps that wouldn't be welcome.

"You watched my sleep," he said softly. "Doesn't sound bad at all."

Dana: "Did you dream?"

Luke: "I don't think so. Can't remember if I did."

Dana: "What will you do now?"

Luke: "Walk you back, go get Oliver's truck and bring it back, then go back to my brother's, ask him to drive me home, and get interrogated on the drive."

Dana: "Do you want to go it alone?"

Luke: "Pete's brand of relentless isn't something I'd subject you to."

Dana: "I can follow, if you want."

Luke: "You don't have to."

Dana: "You should stop doing that."

Luke: "Stop doing what?"

Dana: "Treating yourself as secondary."

Luke: Luke just blinked.

Dana: "You speak incredibly passively for a lawyer standing up for others."

Luke: "Just don't wanna put you off. Pete doesn't pull his punches."

Dana: "You're an adult. Youngest or not. You're perfectly capable."

Luke: "Of plenty of things, sure. Explaining all this so he doesn't think I'm insane? Maybe less so."

Dana: "He won't think you're insane."

Luke: "What normal person wouldn't? 'Oh yeah, Pete, my dead boyfriend is in this guy Oliver's body for a bit and Oliver has a lot of opinions about it'."

Dana: "That's under the assumption he's normal," he said quietly.

Luke: "He's one of the most normal things in my life. He's my rock, my dad's, Stella's, my mom's. He's the sun, keeping us warm and safe and making sure we don't float into the abyss of space."

Dana: "Normal is relative. I'm normal. There's...more to your brother."

Luke: Luke frowned. "What do you mean?"

Dana: "You'll have to ask him."

Luke: He'd do no such thing, but he nodded anyway.

Dana: The wraith scoffed.

Luke: "You ever hear the story of Pandora's Box?"

Dana: "I don't want to hear you're a coward."

Luke: "It's not cowardice. My family's been through enough, coincidentally because of something very akin to Pandora's Box. I'm not going down that road again. If Pete has secrets, he can keep them."

Dana: "The white picket fence doesn't exist, Luke. Learn to accept what's in front of you."

Luke: He gave a humorless chuckle. "Believe me, I know. God knows I know. Those white picket fences don't exist for anyone, especially not my family. We've all had a lot of accepting to do."

Dana: "Then accept this. Just like your demonic lover. Just like Callum MacGillivray, and a quarter of this town."

Luke: "If he wants me to know, he'll tell me when he's ready."

Dana: "You can do better than that."

Luke: "Whatever it is he's apparently keeping secret, it's his, Dana. He gets to decide who knows. My feelings about it don't matter. It's not my choice. It's Pete's."

Dana: "Vampires get the same luxury as your brother." Tolvin rubbed the back of Oliver's neck and sighed. What a perfect way to decompress.

"Then stay in the dark."

Luke: "I don't wanna talk about vampires or Pete's closet skeletons."

Dana: "Why?"

Luke: "Because we only have a few minutes until we get to Oliver's house."

Dana: "Then what do you want to talk about?"

Luke: "How this all works. After you leave him, how much energy are you going to have?"

Dana: "Minutes, perhaps an hour on your own. I don't know. I will be watching Oliver. I'll be on the other side. I'll still be with you."

Luke: Luke nodded. Speaking of Oliver, "Is he in denial or does he finally accept you're real?"

Dana: "He was raised Christian. Believed until recently. He argues with himself over his Arminianistic upbringing. He's accepting me as a parasite. An Australian parasite," he smirked.

Luke: "If he was raised Christian he should be superstitious. Denial must run deep if he can write off a spirit as a parasite."

Dana: "Don't be surprised. That's the purpose of the fog. Those that believe are labeled with mental illness."

Luke: "What's this fog you keep mentioning?"

Dana: "The denial humans create when faced with things like me. You experienced it, too. Most unusual creatures have a variation of it. Keeps humans in check."

Luke: "Is it ordinary denial or a special kind of denial?"

Dana: "Special," he scoffed.

Luke: "Will it ever completely lift?"

Dana: "Mhm. Takes patience."

Luke: Luke nodded. "If the fog lifts for spirits, will it lift for other things? Like, is it across the board?"

Dana: "Experience plays a very large role. I would assume so."

Luke: Another nod. Despite everything that had transpired between them, he wanted Oliver to be okay mentally.

"This a hell of a situation we're in," he sighed.

Dana: "It doesn't have to be," said Tolvin quietly.

Luke: "Just going to take some patience, right? Patience and time."

Dana: "I hardly abode patience before. What I meant was I don't have to be here. You can denounce me."

Luke: "Out of the question," Luke said without hesitation.

Dana: "That was instinctive."

Luke: "Out of the question. Don't ever say that again."

Dana: "You're overwhelmed."

Luke: "We had an intense night."

Dana: "Every night will be."

Luke: "Not necessarily. This will get easier." Right? his eyes asked.

Dana: "... We'll see. What are you going to tell your brother when he interrogates you?"

Luke: Luke took a deep breath. "That Oliver is a friend and I'm helping him out." Not the most elegant explanation but the most believable."

Dana: "And you slept in the same bedroom."

Luke: "He's slept in the same room as his friend. He won't think that's weird."

Dana: "He probably knows something's amiss."

Luke: "Yeah. I'm hoping he's just curious about me calling out of nowhere."

Dana: "Do you want me to hear?"

Luke: "I don't mind if you do. Just don't take anything personally, okay?"

Dana: "What's that mean?"

Luke: "Anything Pete says. Told you, he doesn't pull his punches."

Dana: "So long as he doesn't degrade you."

Luke: "He wouldn't. He's not a cruel man, just a protective one."

Dana: The trailer park entrance slowly came into view. This was it. The last stretch of road before disembarking.

"We'll see."

Luke: "Yeah. We'll see."

...Fuck it. He was about to go back to not being able to hold or see or kiss Dana for who knew how long. He had to get it all in now.

He took Dana's hand and squeezed.

Dana: His laughter had always been deep, but nothing compared to Oliver's voice. Like a near bottomless pit, scratched from years of military discipline.

Luke: Luke smiled, not letting go. "What's so funny, huh?"

Dana: "I didn't do this much in life."

Luke: "Hold hands, you mean?"

Dana: "I think once with my daughter's mother."

Luke: "Just once? Really?"

Dana: "While we slept."

Luke: "That's a nice moment to have had with her."

Dana: "We fought the next day. Moments don't make a relationship."

... He kissed Luke's hand. Quickly.

Luke: Luke smiled again. "Maybe not," he said softly. "But they do a hell of a lot."

Dana: Tolvin felt for Oliver's keys and opened the front door. Humphreys rushed down the tattered steps and towards the woods to sniff.

The trailer park stunk of burnt wood, alcohol, and motor oil. The party had run late.

Luke: Luke looked around the park to give himself something to do. He was starting to feel anxious, and he didn't know whether it was anticipation over what was to come or something else.

"Should I go before you leave him? Is he awake?"

Dana: "It's best you do." Though if Luke will listen he wasn't sure. Oliver could take the day off and stick a needle in his arm, snort something, whatever. In the same instance, Luke would want to check on his well-being.

"Bring the dog inside." The weight of the body had grown exponentially. He had to force himself towards the bedroom. The stench of beer cans and marijuana hit him like a weak slap. He collapsed on the bed, attempted to kick off the host's black boots.

Luke: He nodded. He'd suspected as much. There was a decent possibility Oliver would decide to throw things at him over last night's episode.

After making sure Humphreys did his business Luke ushered him back inside, filled his bowl and his water quickly so he could go into the bedroom and get a few more parting moments with Dana.

"Here, let me," he said softly, helping Dana ease the boots off before bending to place a kiss to his cheek. "I love you."

Dana: "You're a gentle soul," he whispered, pulling the human closer to his chest. The bed stunk with age. The sheets and pillow cases - no, everything needed to be changed.

"Love you."

Luke: Luke was quick to nuzzle in, trying his best to savor the affection while he still could and not think about the lack of it that was coming his way. Dana was given another kiss, then two. "I love you so much, Dana."

Dana: "Fair dinkum," he smiled.

Luke: There, a smile. "You and your foreign lingo." One more kiss. "I'll see you, okay? I'm going to go get his truck. Rest."

Dana: This was their physical goodbye. He couldn't take his eyes off of Luke.

"I'll see you soon."

Luke: Nor could Luke stop kissing him. "Yes you will. Very soon."

Dana: "Get a headstart, before I close my eyes."

Luke: "Okay." Just one more kiss, one more I love you, and off he went to get Oliver's truck.

Dana: He waited for the door to shut, for the footsteps to fade. The count of one hundred, eyes closed, the body's chest sank with expelled air. More than an out-of-body experience, Tolvin began to pace the length of the trailer, ticking off every imperfection, avoiding thoughts of the woman on the other side of town. The woman he had helped raise.

Logan: That woman was currently in the process of starting her day. There was no work at the church today, but there was still work. The cabin was crying out for a clean, as was the truck. Laundry needed doing, a cake needed making for a party later on today.

And of course, prayers for Dana Tolvin needed to be prayed.

But first, her usual good morning text to Luke.

{Text} Don't forget to eat breakfast!

#Angel Rules chapter #lukebgraham #danatolvin #olivercole #loganriley

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