a little more lilacs

[maderr]

The tower didn't look nearly as old as he thought it should, but a sign just inside said it had recently undergone restoration. It smelled like dust and rock, and also like too many people had tramped through.

Oddly, at the moment, it was totally empty.

A flash of purple caught his eye, and Gene looked up reflexively – a small bundle of the purple flowers, dried, hung from the top of the archway.

Lilacs mean it's safe to come.

"What in the hell?"

Teddy just looked at him, then turned away to snap pictures.

Gene put a hand to his forehead, willing away the headache that had come up out of nowhere. Maybe he just needed more caffeine; he hadn't had that much in the way of coffee or pop, and normally he drank a great deal.

Shrugging it off, he shot a disgusted look at Teddy's camera happy back, then started climbing the stairs to get a picture of the plaque hung where the bodies of William and John had been found.

At the top, he shivered. Fuck, wasn't heat supposed to rise? Why was it so damn cold? Still shivering, Gene moved across the small space to the plaque, which was set before a roped up area behind which mannequins or dolls or whatever they were called had been arranged in an attempt to recreate how the bodies had been found.

Morbid, but he supposed it wasn't much worse than what he saw in the million and one museums to which he'd been dragged as a child.

Shaking his head, Gene snapped the necessary picture, then wandered around. Near the fake people was a stand. Beneath heavy glass was the journal of Thomas Northfield. Gene couldn't read the worn chicken scratch – well, he didn't feel like trying – but a handy little plaque nearby provided a transcription.

It described finding the bodies long after the fire had finally stopped, the grief that came with knowing if not for the fire, they might have been able to save them. Gene frowned. If he recalled correctly, it was only later on that they figured out John had been a traitor – or, he supposed, a true American. It all depended on which side of the fence you called home.

Jeez, was he losing his mind or was it getting a hell of a lot colder?

He could see his damn breath.

Man, it was so past time to go.

Wrapping his arms around himself, Gene turned to go – and screamed.

Stumbling back, he cracked his head against the wall. "Fuck!" His eyes watered with pain, and he swore he saw stars.

Of course, he'd take stars over ghosts any day of the year. Not that he'd seen ghosts, 'cause he hadn't. No way. He was not a crazy person.

When he opened his eyes again, everything seemed normal. The room was still cold, but his breath wasn't visible – and there were no ghosts.

Not that there had been before. Deny deny deny.

Shaking his head, making a note to hunt down some damn aspirin when they got back, he strode to the door – and ran smack into Teddy.

This time his head cracked the floor, and Gene half wished it had knocked him unconscious cause his head really fucking now. Sitting up with a groan, he gingerly touched the back of his head and glared at Teddy. "Watch where you're going."

"You watch—dude, why is it so cold up here?"

Gene groaned and carefully did not think about the ghosts he had not seen. Instead, he kept glaring at Teddy for good measure.

So far he'd been too busy trying not to kill the bastard to really look at him. Now, though – now he was remembering that he really had always thought Teddy was too goddamn pretty. He'd always liked the pretty ones.

More than once that summer, he'd guiltily thought that if not for the fact he and Robert were the real deal, he would so have been hitting on Teddy. Strawberry blonde curls and a face not quite girly, but not super masculine either. If David was anything to go by, he'd acquire a distinguished look about him as he got older – assuming his prissiness didn't turn him into a wrinkly sourpuss.

They'd gone swimming once, god he hadn’t been dumb enough to repeat that. He was not a fan of torture – or pissed off boyfriends, and Robert had been pissy that whole evening after.

"It is really cold up here," Teddy said. "Are we done? Can we go?"

"Who the hell was just getting on me for impatience?"

Teddy sent him a withering look.

Returning the glare full measure, he started to finally stand up. He paused as Teddy held out a hand, and reached out to knock it away – and just as the backs of their hands collided, he could abruptly see his breath.

I give you fair warning, sir. If you kiss me, I shall know you love me.

Well, there is no help for it, because I fully intend to kiss you.

Jerking back, Gene struggled to his feet and then moved further away from Teddy. "What the fuck—"

Teddy was white. Like, turned into a snowman white. The hand holding his camera was trembling alarmingly. He lifted his other hand, shaking just as badly, to point at Gene.

Or rather, Gene suspected, pointed behind him.

He didn't bother to turn around and look. The fact he could see his breath was more than enough for him. "Run."

Teddy turned and fled, and Gene was hot on his heels. They bolted from the tour and ran down the lilac-strewn path, down the hill and across the field that led back to the city proper.

Bracing his hands on his knees, Gene gasped and panted for breath.

"What. The. Fuck." Teddy said between gulping down air.

Gene shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "I didn't see a goddamn thing."

Teddy looked at him, then nodded. "Yeah, fuck it. Let's go get a beer or something."

Part of him started to protest, because this was, after all, the asshole who'd taken his boyfriend – but then he remembered seeing his breath, and the ghosts, and Teddy's white face--- "Fuck beer, I'm going straight for the tequila."

Comments

[bleedtoblue.livejournal.com]

I love the juxtaposition of the old and new! This is most entertaining.

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

Wah! Spooky! I agree. Start with the hard stuff.

I like the cold and seeing their breath. It adds a creepiness to the atmosphere.

I think the only think I feel is lacking is a bit more description of the setting. The tower seems rather vague in my mind. Like whether there are electric lights, if there are windows for enough sunlight, if the plaque is in a room at the top of the stairs, or a side room, or if it's a mere alcove or something.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Heh. Description noted. Will fix at some point.

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

Heh, you know what though? I snickered when he fell. I thought he WAS going to crack his head open and join the ghosts. But this is better. ^_^

[macteague.livejournal.com]

This is really interesting! I'm looking forward to hearing Teddy's version of events with Robert.

I really liked the tower scene, with the snippets of the ghosts, and the fact that we know that Gene saw the ghosts because he says he didn't see them, if that makes any sense. You saw the reaction before the reason. It worked well. :)

[mechante-fille.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm... I love that this bit you. I love you on vacation. We'll find a way to get you writing for a living; we must.

Also, yay ghosts! And yay Gene forgetting a little bit that he is supposed to hate Teddy. ^__^

[alice_montrose]

This was fun and all, but... Am I the only one who wants to see more of the ghosts? XD

[maderr.livejournal.com]

No, no, the writer would like to see more of the ghosts as well. The bloody ghosts, however, do not want to cooperate.

[alice_montrose]

Bad ghosts! No cookies, kisses or sex for them until they cooperate.

I'm doing drabbles. Want one?

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I got a little bit more talk out of them, but I don't know if they'll ever show more than that. ARgh!

Yay, drabble!

[alice_montrose]

Would naughty Ai no Kusabi screencaps help? (Well, as naughty as they can be with some subs displaying in some of them.)

Drabble requests are here. New characters accepted, and they'll likely be posted either tomorrow or, the latest, on Sunday.

[avalon13.livejournal.com]

I give you fair warning, sir. If you kiss me, I shall know you love me.

Well, there is no help for it, because I fully intend to kiss you.

There are no words to express how much I love these lines. There's something about this story, precious, and it's...I dunno, you really get to see your flair for writing here. The flashback bits, oh honey, oh honey you make them shine. The potential here makes me dizzy. <3

[maderr.livejournal.com]

^^;; Let's hope I live up to the potential. Story isn't over yet, after all.

[avalon13.livejournal.com]

I BELIEVE IN YOU MEGGIE-POO. <3333 IN MY OPINION, ALL YOUR STORIES SHOULD GO ON UNTIL FOREVER.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Meggie-poo?

[avalon13.livejournal.com]

Would you prefer sweet cheeks honey butt snuggle muffin Meg Darling? Because I can TOTALLY do that too.

[lokiloo.livejournal.com]

She calls me Loki-poo as well.

[allseeing-spydr.livejournal.com]

XD ghosts, fun fun.

Poor Gene though, headaches are no fun.

[bitchypixii.livejournal.com]

The flashback rocked my socks.

That is all I have to say.

[tygati.livejournal.com]

I should not be laughing at them, but I so am. ^___^ Ahh, poor dumb boys who are too stubborn to know what's good for them. <3

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

<3

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

*pets you* I love you. *whispers* write more.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I finished it an hour or so ago. It's being beta'ed ^^