Burrowing
Chris sits at the computer lab desk, bored, his phone games bare and tedious, head hanging between his shoulders as he tries not to sleep. There's a woman typing in the corner, murmuring out quick phrases in mandarin, a bowl of egg scramble situated in front of her. Chris thought about saying no food allowed but he's tired and lazy and the only reason he's here is because he owes Jess.
"Sleeping on the job, Chrissy? Unprofessional."
Chris startles at the sound of Ashley's voice, her high giggle trailing afterward and he straightens, wiping at his face roughly. Chris fights back a yawn, stretching in his seat as Ashley saddles up to the desk, a glasses case in hand.
"Here you go. Special delivery." Ashley smiles, pushing the case into Chris' outstretched hand.
"You're a lifesaver, Ash. Thank you." Chris pops it open, his glasses folded neatly inside, mended and normal.
"Emily must've punched you really hard. They were pretty broken." Ashley comments, leaning against the desk, arms folded underneath her. "What were you guys fighting about?"
"Just sibling stuff."
Chris slips his glasses onto his face, blinking out of habit because honestly he didn't need them, the clarity still crisp and clear. Ashley regards him closely, pouty, pink glossed lips pursing.
"Sibling stuff?" She doesn't sound like she believes him, eyes narrowing slightly, questioning. Chris hadn't talked to anyone about what happened aside from Emily, who was there, and even she didn't want to talk about it. He skimmed Predator's Anonymous to see if anyone had concerns but the ghoul community remained quiet and unaware.
"You know how Em is. She doesn't get what she wants, she gets mad." It wasn't true, at least hasn't been for two years but Ashley hasn't known Emily very long and preying on how little she likes her seems to be the way to go because Ashley rolls her eyes, a long "ohmygodchrisyes" hurrying out her mouth.
"Just one of those."
Ashley nods. "She's such a bitch sometimes."
"Yeah." Chris agrees weakly.
"Anyway," Ashley taps her fingers against the desk. "Mike told me that you have a boyfriend."
Chris groans, head falling back. "Mike needs to keep his mouth shut. All the time. Every time. Until I die."
"So it's true then." Ashley grins, hopping up on the desk. She crosses her legs, leaning back on her hands, grin widening. "How cute. Is he cute?"
"You have class with him apparently." Chris tells her. "I think it's...? Um, class with flash fictions?"
Josh didn't talk about Ashley, ever, but he had flipped through Chris' Instagram, pointing out every person he recognized. Ashley was one of them.
"Creative Writing?"
"That!" Chris says excitedly. It doesn't last long, Ashley staring at him like he's the most stupid thing she's ever encountered in her life and he thinks, maybe, if Emily and Ashley got passed this thing they're going through, they could be really, really great friends.
"Jesus, Chris." Ashley sighs. "Okay? There's, like, twenty people in my class."
"Josh Washington." Chris informs her.
Ashley's head snaps to him, eyes blown wide, mouth falling open and there's something there, some awful suspicion that makes Chris' insides turn. She swallows audibly, a weak smile on her face.
"You guys know each other long?" Ashley inquires, eyebrows furrowing.
Chris shrugs, unsure how to take this shift in attitude. He tries to think of where the conversation went wrong. Josh and Ashley had the same class, they both knew Chris, Chris had met Josh through Matt, Josh gave Chris his number, they had date plans.
Chris tenses up, schooling his face as quickly as the thought surfaces. No one knew who the human was who survived the ghoul attack, the CCG came in too fast for anyone to get information, but Josh still went to school that week. He had class with Ashley. Ashley wasn't stupid.
Fuck. Fucking fuck.
Ashley licks her lips. "You know, he got mugged, like, a month ago. It was pretty bad."
"I heard. I checked up on him the next day. We were supposed to go on a date." Chris tries to keep his voice level, his heart rate even but he's never been good at lying like how Emily is, or Mike. Ashley doesn't say anything for a moment, tucking locks of red, red hair behind her ear. She turns away, hands rested on her knees.
"That's nice of you, Chris." Ashley says quietly. "Did you hear about the ghoul attack last month too? Coincidentally, the mugging happened when the ghoul attack did. I don't know if you read my blog but there have been concerns about it. I mean, how crazy is that, a ghoul eating other ghouls."
Ashley looks at him as she says it, scanning his expression, searching, hunting and Chris nods, slowly. She reaches out to touch his shoulder, squeezes it harder than usual and pulls away, slipping to the floor. It feels like a warning, makes his heart stutter and his jaw lock up.
"Be careful, Chris." Ashley says, her expression hard. "The Doves are in town."
"Yeah, you too." Chris watches Ashley leave, shoulders wound up tight and there's an itch under his skin, writhing and twitchy and he's trying not to panic. They were friends and Ashley liked him way more than she liked Emily but what did that mean if she found out her suspicions were real?
"Shit." Chris breathes. He texts Emily.
From: Child
I think Ashley knows
About me
It takes her a moment.
From: Ice Queen
????
You're going to have to be specific
From: Child
The ghoul, Em jfc
Emily calls. Chris glances at the woman in the corner, watching her laugh quietly at the screen. He answers.
"Spill." Emily says, her voice tired and there's a yawn.
"Were you sleeping? You sleep? That's crazy."
Emily clicks her tongue. "Christopher, I swear to fucking-"
"Okay, okay. Sorry." Chris amends. "Mike told her I had a boyfriend. I told her who it was."
"Okay? So?"
"Josh and Ashley have class together, Em."
Emily doesn't say anything, the shuffle of sheets static against the receiver. Chris can hear Jess' tired murmur, Emily's soft "go back to sleep" then the click of the door shutting.
"What did she say?"
"She asked me if I knew that he got mugged. If I knew about the ghoul attack."
Emily sighs heavily. "God.."
"Is she... Is she going to do anything?" Chris asks, glancing around the room. He stares absently at a poster, noting it's tacky comic sans font.
"She won't." Emily says. She sounds confident. It quells some of the nervous energy pooling in Chris' guy.
"But.. The thing with Jess-"
"Ashley's an idiot, but she likes you." Emily says quickly. "She'll probably dig around, see what's what and she might, might talk to you about it. But.. I don't think she'd do anything, Chris, and if she did.."
Emily doesn't continue, lets her words float around in Chris' head, the unspoken threat, that familiar tone. Chris wants to tell Emily that he can handle it himself but he knows, knows if he did she'd say, why did you call then.
It makes him feel cowardly, useless, hiding behind Emily's burning aura and watching as she took everything down in front of her. She's been taking care of him for a while, too long. Chris wants to say that the other day, the second time he's consumed another ghoul is the first time he's ever been able to match Emily's fire with his own.
Chris tries not to think about it, the taste still resting heavy in the back of his throat.
"I can hear you thinking." Emily snorts.
"Sorry." Chris pinches the bridge of his nose.
"It's fine. We'll be fine." Emily tells him. "I got your back."
"The Spider protecting her kin."
"Jesus, please don't ever say that again. I'm hanging up." But he can hear the laugh in her voice, the way her tone rises just a bit higher. "Bye, bitch."
"Later." Chris chuckles, waiting for the click of the line before setting his phone on the desk. He feels better, a little less worried, a little less like he wants to throw up. Chris texts Matt through rest of his shift, tossing various emoticons until Matt texts him: pls stop god.
Josh doesn't text him, Chris doesn't text Josh. He wasn't exactly sure what their relationship was beyond the badly 'I wished it was a dream' situation Chris found himself in or the frequent late night visits that usually involved Josh on top of him, bathed in the light from the street lamps, with Josh's hand wrapped around Chris' dick, two slow pumps and Josh would milk him dry, a lovely sigh whispered in Chris' ear after that tastes like come and he'd get to see what Josh looks like picked apart, a hand braced on Chris' shoulders as he fucks up into his fist. It's a pretty picture, watching tan skin flush red, watching expressive eyes grow dark and heavy.
Chris tries not to think about it. Emily mentioned recently that he'd been "glowing", whatever the fuck that meant, but Chris thinks it's mostly because he's getting laid and mostly because Josh is really, really good company.
"Chris, you can leave. I'm late." Chris' relief, Demetri, calls, wedging himself between the desk, thick coarse dark hair spilling down his shoulders. He gives Chris a small smile before urging him out of his designated seat.
"You guys need to stop manhandling me." Chris whines, nearly tripping over his own feet trying to get out from the small space. Demetri flaps his hand, grinning widely.
"It's why you enjoy working with me, cuz."
"Yeah, yeah." Chris dismisses, grasping his book bag from a compartment behind him. "Some Macs came in. You should fix 'em."
"Or," Demetri drags the word. "We could let Jess fix them."
"Good plan, man."
They high fave, wide grins mirroring one another, Demetri turning away to plug his phone into the nearest socket.
"Oh! Chris, come to this party we're having this weekend. Er, I'm having. Jackie doesn't know yet."
"Your roommate is going to kill you."
Demetri coughs, "Probably. Be there or be," He makes a square shape with his index fingers, winking dramatically. Chris chuckles lightly, says he'll think about, shouldering his bag.
Chris mock salutes, heading for the exit. He passes a few students he recognizes as regulars during the graveyard shift. Chris has only worked it twice, each time because Demetri decided life was worth living, and Chris hated it both times.
The courtyard is scarcely populated, a couple of students sitting at stone tables, bent over thick textbooks, pencils jotting down sloppy notes. A couple of young men toss a football back and forth, sweat beading along their foreheads.
His father once said that cohabitation would be possible, that humans would be accepting of ghouls in society, but Chris wonders if the man diving to catch the football would feel the same towards the friend he's playing with if he knew that he was a man eater. It's an Emily way of thinking, a constant fear Chris has always had, being discovered, being feared.
Chris swings by Matt's apartment, mostly because there's an 80% chance Matt is actually home, mostly because he wants to see Josh. He knocks on the door, tap t-tap his father taught him. Two meant safe, one meant run, use the backdoor, more than three meant someone else, a neighbor, the mailman with a package, check the peephole. Chris has only heard his dad use one knock once and it was the last time he'd heard it.
Josh answers the door, eyes tired, neck exposed, revealing fading reddish burgundy bruises. He's in a pair of knit leggings, sweater baggy on his tiny frame. Chris sniffs. It smells like Sam. Josh's face brightens, a smile sliding onto his face.
"Hey, wasn't expecting you to drop by."
"Figured I'd bother Matt for a bit."
Josh's smile falters, "'s that the only reason?"
"Probably not." Chris agrees, nose twitching as an unfamiliar scent floats out from Josh's apartment. "Someone with you?"
"Just my dad. Wanna meet him?"
Chris considers saying no, it wasn't a good idea because it wasn't. He didn't do parents, wasn't good with people over 30 but that mostly had to do with Patrick and other members of the Petty Goats Chris never wanted to encounter again.
"Just one meeting, Cochise." Josh hums, reaching for Chris' hand. He tugs once, twice, grip light and pleasant and Chris sighs, allowing himself to be pulled inside.
Josh leads him down the short hallway, hand still folded around Chris'. His dad sits in Matt's recliner, legs propped up on the coffee table, scribbling in a thin black notebook. He looks up at the sound of them entering the living room, a wrinkled smile on his face.
Josh's dad looks a lot like Josh, jaw a bit sharper, bit more angular but his eyes are Josh's, soft and expressive pools. He rises to his feet, tucking his notebook into the back pocket of his jeans and holds out a hand to Chris.
"Bob Washington." There's a hint of recognition in his eyes, some old memory stirring underneath.
"Chris Cohen." Chris grasps it firmly, one shake, taking in the casual grandpa attire Bob wears. It's mostly knit, white strands of cat hair sticking out from the sweater, slacks loose and cotton. Josh squeezes Chris' hand before he lets go, walking towards the couch. He plops down.
"Josh has told me a lot about you. You work with computers? Fascinating stuff, my guy." Bob beams, gesturing for Chris to sit on the couch. Chris does so stiffly, hands on his knees, nervously watching Bob return to the recliner. He doesn't put his legs up, leans against his knees, eyes wide and curious.
"You said your last name was Cohen?"
Chris nods.
Bob sits back in his seat, tapping his chin ponderously. He lifts up slightly, taking the little black notebook out. Chris glances back at Josh, who is curled up against the arm of the couch, yawning into his elbow. Bob flips through pages, eyes squinting slightly. Josh clears his throat. Bob glances up. Josh gestures to his forehead, tapping lightly.
Bob lifts his hands, feeling the glasses that rest there. "Ah, thank you."
"Sure." Josh yawns tiredly.
"Here we go." Bob grins, glasses on the tip of his nose. He hands the book to Chris. Bob waits patiently, noticing Chris' hesitance on taking it. Chris holds the tiny book in one hand, a sketch drawn on lined pages. His insides twist uncomfortably, reading his last name in the upper corner, followed by Elise and Don.
The sketches are detailed, his mother's smiling face peering up from the page, her rinkaku, Chris' father drawn beside her, expression gentle and fond as he stares at her, his koukaku wrapped around his arm.
A hand touches Chris' leg, startling him slightly, Josh pressing into his space to stare curiously down at the page. He tenses up, mouth pursed as he turns to his father, who smiles pleasantly.
"Cohen isn't a popular name." Bob explains. "I've met three in my whole life, a husband, a wife and their son."
"Dad-"
Bob's eyes narrows. "I imagine that you hold similar morals that your parents did, otherwise my son would be dead, yes?" He's speaking to Chris, holding up a hand to Josh. Chris swallows thickly, nervous energy crawling under his skin. He forces himself to nod. Bob smiles, face softening. He reaches for the book, Chris hands it back.
"That's good. I've been worried." Bob sighs, sitting back. He stares at the page. "Marvelous people. They helped me out of a very bad situation with other ghouls." Bob glances at Josh, "I wouldn't tell your mother though."
"I wasn't planning on telling you." Josh mutters, slouching back on the couch, arms folded across his chest.
"Mm, yes I can see why." Bob chuckles, snapping the book closed. "I was sad to hear of their passing. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks," Chris replies, unsure of what really to say. His parents have been dead for a while now. They had never mentioned having human friends or acquaintances but maybe Chris just didn't know his parents very well, too young, too caught up in a sixteen year old bullshit to notice anything.
"Please don't be nervous. I meant no harm." Bob says, voice apologetic.
Chris forces himself to relax, nails digging into the tops of his knees. Josh places a hand on the small of Chris' back, fingers dancing along his spine. Bob grins widely.
"Glad we didn't invite you to dinner. That was the original plan." Bob tells Chris. "Joshua fails to mention little details, for good reason of course, and he does love talking about you."
Josh groans. "Please. Stop."
"Yes, yes. I understand, princess." Josh rolls his eyes at that, a small smile on his face.
Bob stays a while longer, asking Chris questions about what's happening in the east side, if it's dangerous. Chris answers as best he can, completely ignorant to what else is happening beyond the Petty Goats being in town and Patrick kidnapping humans. Bob seems fascinated by all this, says he's going to use it for inspiration and Chris wants to ask how exactly the man met Chris' parents. He feels like Bob wouldn't tell him and judging by the aloof personality Bob Washington is forcing out, Chris guesses it's not something he'd want to know.
"See ya Monday, kiddo." Bob tells Josh, both standing in the foyer. He pulls Josh into a tight hug, Josh hesitating briefly before sliding his arms around Bob's torso. Chris turns away, feeling as though he's stepped in on something awfully private. He tries to think of the last time he hugged his own father before he died, Chris can't find a memory.
The front door clicks closed.
"That was exhausting." Josh sighs, wandering into the kitchen, tab cutting on as water is filled into a glass. Chris lifts up from his seat, stretching, bones popping along the silence.
Chris pads over the the kitchen, leaning against the breakfast bar, watching Josh's throat work down a tall glass of water, an opened prescription bottle sitting on the counter. Josh sets the glass down.
"Probably the best parent meeting I've ever had."
Josh smiles. "You meet a lot of people's parents, Cochise? I'm jealous."
Chris straightens, tapping his fingers along the counter as he rounds the breakfast bar, stepping up into Josh's space, eyes locked on freckled red bruises that decorate the other's neck. Chris lightly touches them, pads of fingers smoothing along the colors, and Josh tilts his head slightly, skin warm and soft.
"I'm glad it went okay."
Chris meets Josh's gaze. "This mean I'm your boyfriend?"
"If you want it to mean that." Josh answers simply, a coy smile on his face. "Or not. You don't have to be my boyfriend to keep fucking me."
"I wasn't trying to say that." Chris frowns. "The Parent thing. I wasn't expecting it." Chris sighs, taking his hand away. He steps back, leaning against the adjacent counter, arms folded across his chest.
"Yeah, me either." Josh nods and there's hesitation there, hesitation and a nervous energy that makes Chris' heart speed up. Chris exhales through his nose, mouth twisting to one side.
"Your dad's nice."
Josh glances at him. "Yeah, he's been like that since my sisters went missing."
"You wanna talk... about it?" Chris inquires, nearly sighing at the crestfallen look that flutters across Josh's face makes Chris' insides turn and twist. Josh bites his bottom lip, clearing his throat, scratching the back of his neck. It's endearing to watch, burns Chris' skin up.
"No." Josh answers.
"That's okay too."
Josh lips twitch into a smile. "You're a weird guy. I don't think I've ever met anyone this..." Josh flaps his hand. "Understanding. Or maybe you're not, maybe you just don't want to push it. This thing we have going. Can't get invested with an idea right?"
Chris doesn't understand what Josh is talking about, what he's insinuating but it mostly seems like he thinks Chris doesn't care enough to push the subject.
"It's not right for me to force you to talk about anything, Josh."
"Yeah," Josh agrees. "Wanna tell me how your parents died?"
"Nah." Chris smiles. Josh chuckles.
"Match made in heaven. I almost invited you to get Italian with us but then I remembered." Josh says absently.
"Garlic is a vampire's worst enemy."
Josh cringes, "That's the worst thing you've ever said. Please don't make vampire jokes."
"I vant to suck your blood." Chris chortles thickly, voice throaty and dramatic, fingers wiggling as he lifts his arms, and Josh laughs at it, tension leaving his shoulders, his face, sliding out with a slow inhale. Josh flicks his wrist, gesturing Chris over.
"You wanna do a bit more than that?"
Chris closes the distance between them, crossing the kitchen in one, two steps that have never felt so easy to make. Chris vaguely registers the smug look on Josh's face, gazing on the part in Josh's lips, slow and easy and Chris kisses him.
This is a bit different, a little more Josh clinging to Chris as he pushes Josh's leggings down, a little more soft pants when Chris presses Josh into the counter, hand in his sweater, teeth marring up skin and Josh grasps a fistful of Chris' hair, moaning deep in his throat when Chris dips his hand under the waistband of Josh's briefs.
Josh's head bumps his shoulder, groaning weakly and he's easing Chris' hand away, an embarrassed look on his face. "We should do this not here."
"Or, hear me out, we could do it here." Chris suggests, nudging Josh's head with his own. Josh shakes his head, smiling, but he lets Chris kiss him a few more times.
"Yeah, yeah we could do that." Josh agrees, wrapping his arms around Chris' neck. "Yeah. We could do that."
"That's what I'm talkin' about." Chris takes the end of Josh's sweater, lifting it up slowly with one hand, the other grasping bony hips.
"You better not be fucking." Matt's voice startles them both, Josh's entire body clamping up, jaw tensing and bites Chris' tongue, hard. Chris winces, blood filling his mouth, metallic warmth coating his tongue.
"Oh shit, Chris, I'm sorry." Josh panics, grasping Chris' jaw, eyes wide as he tries to asses the damage. Chris waves him away, face scrunched up and Matt stares at them with one cocked eyebrow.
"Josh, we talked about this." Matt huffs. "Kitchen is off limits."
"It's Chris' fault." Josh responds, tugging his leggings up.
"It's my fault." Chris agrees, scratching the back of his neck nervously. Matt's eyebrow only seems to grow higher and higher until his expression relaxes, a sigh escaping his lips. He sets his book bag on the table, slumping down in a chair.
"I'm surrounded by animals. I don't know whose worse. You, Jess or Mike."
Josh snickers. "Probably Jess."
Chris and Matt share a look. Matt shrugs, seeming to agree. "Yeah, okay. Chris, kitchen is off limits. I eat in there. Fuck somewhere else."
"Yes sir."
"Plus counters hurt." Matt adds.
Josh side eyes him. "Matt is just tired of getting pounded against things that aren't his bed." He whispers to Chris.
Matt glares weakly at him. "You're all assholes. I hate all of you."
"Are you two even dating?" Chris inquires, enjoying seeing the usual smug look on Matt's face diminish into a quiet blush.
"Kind of."
Chris raises an eyebrow at him.
"God, I'm going to my room." Matt grumbles, forcing himself out of his seat. He storms away, running a hand over his face and pushes his bedroom door open just as Mike is climbing through the bedroom window. Matt slams the door closed when Chris and Josh start laughing.
"Come over?" Chris asks.
"Yeah okay." Josh smiles. "Probably for the best. Believe it or not, Matt's really, really loud."
Chris could've lived without that information. He follows Josh to his bedroom, leaning against the doorframe as the other bustles around the cluttered room. There were clothes on the floor, beanies strewn about, bed messy and unmade but Josh kept his closet clean, the floor clear. Chris asked him once if there was a specific reason, Josh simply shrugged so Chris didn't bring it up again.
"We can watch your dumb anime bullshit tonight if you want." Josh mentions, shouldering his book bag.
"You love Parasyte."
"I like you." Josh quips, grasping Chris by the collar. He tugs lightly, pressing a kiss to Chris' mouth. Chris grabs Josh's forearms, leaning back in when Josh pulls away.
Matt's closed door thumps, a suggestive noise Chris isn't about to decipher coming from it. Josh chuckles. "We should go."
"Yep." Chris agrees.
"Did you want to try it?" Josh asks once they're out of the apartment, punching the down arrow for the elevator. He turns to Chris, worrying his bottom lip nervously.
"Try what?"
"Being my boyfriend." Josh states.
The elevator door dings open, Josh heads inside, turning to face Chris, hand curled along the strap of his book bag, gaze soft and expectant. Chris isn't sure what to say, isn't a hundred percent in what he wants from this but he knows he likes Josh, likes how he feels and talks, the raspy way he sounds in the mornings.
Josh's eyes flicker away. "Just think on it, Cochise."
Chris steps into the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby. He doesn't grab Josh's hand, but their fingers brush as they wait, as they walk, skin barely whispering against skin. It feels a bit awkward, or maybe Chris just feels that way because Josh still rambles at the mouth about various topics, throwing words around Chris doesn't fully recognize. He wishes he had an answer, it'd be easy to say yes, forget about how shit this past week has been and how jittery he's been feeling.
"Jack called. The Hound or whatever, you and Matt call him. But he called." Josh informs Chris as they walk. Chris stiffens beside him, turning to Josh, waiting for the other to continue.
"He said he had some information on the ghoul who attacked me. The woman. Said her name was Callie and she worked at a nursing home." Josh shrugs. "I don't know why he called. He's under the impression that I'm being hunted or something. Because of my sisters."
"What does that mean?" Chris asks quickly. "Your sisters are missing right?"
Josh nods. "He doesn't seem to think so. Mentioned those Farm people. What is it? Goats? Cows? Whatever, dude talks fucking fast okay." Josh huffs. "He said he's got this theory and he's looking into because of my mom."
Chris heckles, unsure of what to make of all this. He hates the feeling, the paranoia, the constant nag of wondering if he can actually trust Josh.
"You okay, man?" Josh inquires, grasping Chris' wrist. He pauses on the sidewalk, mouth wrinkled with worry. Chris studies him closely, searching, nostrils flared and he wants to ask how the fuck Josh's parents are connected with his parents and the CCG. Chris wants to trust Josh, has too. If not.. Emily... Jess..
"How does your mom know him?"
Josh shrugs. "I have no idea."
It doesn't seem like a lie, Josh holding his gaze the entire time. Chris forces out a sigh. He couldn't start doubting now.
"I killed another ghoul." Chris tells him.
Josh tenses up, dropping his hand. "When? Was... there a reason?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Is this bad? Did you..." Josh doesn't finish, staring down at his shoes. Chris knows what he wants to ask. Did you eat them? Rip open skin until the bone shows, white stained red, murky insides that taste a lot like rotting fruit.
"Yeah." Chris answers.
"Okay." Josh says. "... I'm sure you had a good reason, Chris."
"I did." He didn't, not really, when Emily's been able to take care of them for years, alone, up against the world as it clashed around them. Chris didn't have a good reason for eating another ghoul, just felt the power of their essence fading as he swallowed red bits and pieces, the overwhelming need to protect his own resting heavily in his chest.
It makes him anxious, makes him feel more monstrous than he is and Emily ate another ghoul too. He doesn't know why, doesn't want to know, but she held his hand most of the way back and it felt like a promise, felt a lot like family.
"Then," Josh forces a smile. "It's okay."
"Is it?" Chris asks, dragging his eyes up to meet Josh's. He watches the smile falter, dwindle and fall and Josh stares down at his feet.
"It's gotta be, Cochise." Josh whispers.
A few people pass them on the sidewalk, glancing back when neither Chris nor Josh move. Chris stares at Josh, Josh staring at the concrete. The air is colder, still and it smells like fall melting into winter. Chris shrugs off one of his jackets, draping it around Josh's shoulders when he notices the slight shiver.
"Thanks, Cochise."
"It's fine." Chris dismisses.
Josh smiles up at him, lightly pulling at their joined hands, leading the way to Chris' apartment. Chris smells it then, again, that precarious whiff of a half ghoul, human, something. He glances at the tops of buildings they pass, barely catching the glittery blackened wing before it disappears.
Chris still didn't know who it was, what it was but it followed Josh around, to campus, to Matt's apartment, never staying once Chris manages to spot it. He didn't know if it was malicious or friendly but it watched Josh, stayed a quiet distance away and watched. Chris stares down at Josh's scarred wrist, the dangling beaded bracelet that rests against his skin.
"Has anyone ever told you that you think really loud?" Josh turns back to him, smiling. "It's cute. How much you think. Like your mind has its own combination of noises it doesn't know it's making."
"Em's said something like that."
"You'll get wrinkles." Josh tells him.
"Good thing you like me right?"
Josh chuckles softly. "True facts, man."