Chapter Text
“I think we all need this after all we’ve been through,” Luke said, holding in his hand a paper bag filled with beer on the verge of ripping at the bottom, the weight causing it to sag. His other hand was wrapped in a sling holding his elbow at 90 degrees, at least it was just a sprain. It took a long time to finally be able to go to Neo’s apartment. What followed next at the house wasn’t the end, they had to cleanse the whole place to make sure that nothing was left by mistake just in case. There was no way they were going through this all over again. In the end, the original owner’s body or what remained of it that is was burned along with the house hoping to leave not one single residual thing left. It took a long time for the building to turn to ash seeming to hold on to what’s left with everything it had, but finally, it was done. It was finally all gone, and the entire team can now rest easy.
Later, Neo who always wants answers did some digging of his own, he was adamant to find the reason as to why this all happened in the first place. Maybe finding the reason for it would give them some closure. Turns out everything wasn’t as happy as it all seemed. The owner didn’t really go abroad to live with his family. In fact, they never wanted him in the first place, He was a disgrace to them, someone insignificant in their lives and they wanted nothing to do with him. He never bothered them, until he received a letter from them. Even though the paper was soaked and tinged with blood, it was still readable, still placed in the upstairs study room when Jan had found it after everything ended. The letter is probably the highest reason for all that happened after, his family wanting to strip his house from him, they needed money it said and in the end, the house didn’t belong to him, so he had no say in the matter. Enraged and desperate that now the only thing he had is being taken away from him lead him to sacrifice his body to be the host of a malicious spirit hoping it did his revenge for him. Neo and Earth found countless books in the upstairs bedroom, the bedside table practically overflowing with varying books filled with rituals and information about body sacrifices. There were countless mistakes in them Earth noted, they weren’t really books of a reliable source which explains why the owner bit more than he could chew. He summoned something so much stronger to do his bidding and in the end, it turned on him and wanted to do what it wanted, his body just a vessel for it. None of this would have happened had the family taken care of this poor man, yet it wasn’t meant to be. The family not hearing any response from him still sold it, the woman who bought it asked no questions. She received every document she needed but when she went up to the house in question it would not let her enter, instead giving her such a bad feeling of evil that frightened her to contact Neo. And the rest of what happened followed. At least it was finally over.
Phuwin and Boom, their heads both bandaged toasted to each other with their beer cans, clinking them together, their injuries now much better after the physician’s visit, while Jan and Neo sat on the opposing armchairs reclining their backs wanting to finally relax.
“Everyone is exhausted” Mix commentated, leaning back on the sofa cushion, his head resting on Earth’s shoulder and their thighs touching. “Well, it was a very exhausting day” Earth replied sarcastically feigning to feel pain after Mix punched him in the chest at his comment. He brought his arm around Mix’s head and then rested it on his shoulder, getting into a more comfortable position. After Mix finally woke up at the house, Jan brought Mix his amulet back to put on, only on the way she didn’t see that the floor was uneven causing her to slip and drop the amulet accidentally. Earth didn’t even have to think about it, he just immediately outstretched his hand and caught it. Realising what he did, he waited any second for the chain to start burning his hand. However, the pain never came instead the amulet glowed brightly for a moment but then went back to its clear pearl colour as if nothing had happened. Both Earth and Mix stood shocked at that moment, even more so as Earth came closer and put the amulet around Mix’s neck himself locking it into place. Now determined, they looked at each other before Mix took Earth’s hand waiting for any sign of burning pain. It never came, the amulet didn’t ward off Earth anymore!!!
“You know what we need,” Mix said into Earth’s shoulder, both of them dozing off on the couch, Earth turned to look at him waiting for him to continue, “We need a vacation”
Earth thought about it for a moment, “I’ve always wanted to go to London”
A year later:
It took a full year later for them to actually go on a trip, what with the constant ghost hunting cases keeping them busy. Mix fell completely in love with it, the thrill of success, the slight fear and rush when they faced something they had never seen before. He wouldn’t change it for anything, no way was he going back to being holed up in his house afraid to go out. He loved helping the spirits the most, one of his gifts he came to find out was making terrified souls feel relaxed in his presence enough to make them feel comfortable to be laid to rest. The big cases are exhilarating but helping was Mix’s favourite part for sure.
Earth was worried when everything had been solved, afraid that now Mix would find no reason to continue doing this with him, but he was severely mistaken. Mix was a natural at the entire thing, a valuable aid with his gift as well. Going on cases together and teaching Mix everything was the best part of it all, helping each other to succeed and relying on each other for protection together, they made an unstoppable team and Earth wouldn’t change a single thing except for maybe one small matter.
“Errrddddd The line is too long, let’s just get something to eat!!” Mix whined, lips pouting as he pulled on the sleeve of Earth’s blue sweater. They have been standing in line for over twenty minutes now to get on the Ferris wheel, the queue moving very slowly.
“I promise we’ll go eat afterwards, I really want to try this Mix” Earth answered with a pout of his own, they were being very loud and clingy, but he didn’t care. “Going on a Ferris wheel was on my list of things we could do together, it’s romantic”. Earth had made an entire list before leaving writing all the things he wanted them to do, they had already ticked off going to various parks and going to the beach, trying all the food that they could and going on a late-night boat trip, a personal favourite so far, the next stop being the amusement park they were at now.
At this Mix blushed, hiding his face in Earth’s shoulder, Earth knew he got him, “Ugh, fine I’ll wait but you are buying me popcorn after this”. Mix punched Earth’s shoulder lightly as the latter went to kiss his cheek in reply. Mix muttering to himself that they are being one of those annoying couples. He felt Earth’s tug then as he pushed him forwards as the line finally started to move.
It took another ten minutes but finally, they got on, Earth already looking excited as he almost vibrated in place. The Ferris Wheel started to move then, bringing them up and up reaching the highest peak. It took a long time to get on, but Mix can admit that the view is breath-taking, the sun going down and seen off in the distance, the city lay in front of them, lights twinkling. Earth took his hand, smiling as if to say see wasn’t it worth it. Mix smiled back nodding, he leaned forward giving Earth a brief kiss, just a touch of lips and then proceeded to lay his head back on Earth’s shoulder looking at the view together. “Not complaining but that could have been a bit longer” Earth whispered, as he brought their connected hands to his lips. Mix looked at him to answer, “Buy me popcorn first”.
After the Ferris wheel and multiple photos later, something about Earth wanting to capture every single moment of their trip, Mix is finally satisfied with his popcorn in hand, the tub almost empty as they make their way through the rest of the park. Earth wanted to play many of the games there to win prizes including the ring toss and shooting games but after losing consequently and Mix beating him each time he gave up, holding on to the three cat plushies that Mix had won for him, one white, the other grey with stripes and the last brown with folded ears. Mix was eyeing three little kitten plushies too, but Earth stopped him saying that that would be too much and there’s no way they can carry them all. They made their way through the crowds, Mix disposing of the empty tub and taking the brown cat plushie from Earth seeing as he was struggling a bit to hold them all. Earth turned to him then “Do you want to go someplace else or?”
“I think that’s enough for today, my feet hate me right now for all the walking” Mix said,
“Then let’s go to the hotel, I miss the bed”
“Why did you say that so cryptically”, Mix laughed, as Earth started to lift his eyebrow and repeated that the only reason was that the bed was comfy and soft and no other hidden motive.
“You’re such a dork,” Mix said as he pushed with the palm of his hand Earth’s face away from him as he leaned forward puckering his lips and smacking them exaggeratedly to tease him.
“But you still love me” Earth replied cheekily connecting their unoccupied hands and swinging their arms side by side as they continued to walk in the direction of the hotel.
“Mhm, for some reason I still do” Mix answered, trying not to break character in front of Earth’s dramatics at hearing this. They continued to walk together, sometimes stopping to look at shop windows, they were only ten minutes away from their hotel.
Earth kept looking back over his shoulder sometimes and then shrugging everything off as he continued ahead. Mix thought nothing of it at first but after the sixth and seventh time with no intention of stopping Mix called Earth on it.
“Ok..I might be wrong but there has been something that’s been following us ever since we left the park” Earth whispered.
“And by something, you don’t actually mean a living person right? “Mix questioned now turning to look behind him himself but seeing nothing. His amulet was doing what it was supposed to do.
“Definitely dead, it’s a man, pretty evident what he died from considering there is a big knife pierced through his chest, probably felt our auras, that’s why he is following us”
“Should we be worried?” Mix asked next
“He hasn’t done anything right now let’s just continue to wal---Uh never mind MIX RUN!!!”. Earth grabbed onto Mix’s hand tightly, tugging him along into a sprint, the man now running after them. They continue to run through the busy crowded streets, the rest of the people there completely unaware of what’s happening. They make their way through various streets, not stopping once but increasing their pace every time Earth looks back to see where their guest was. The cat plushies in their hands bouncing with their hurried movements. Earth was about to turn them into another street when Mix stopped him signalling to a small children’s park instead not far from there. Better to take care of this where there are no people, Mix hoped that the children’s park would be empty due to the late hour, he took the lead urging Earth on. The park entrance was thankfully open and luckily empty, the swings and slides bare and laying still.
“Where is it now Earth?” Mix asked into the silence.
“He’s facing us and just staring at us right now; the knife isn’t plunged in his chest anymore it’s in his right hand” Earth replied.
Mix nodded; he couldn’t see the man, but he still kept looking forward to where Earth was pointing “So Plan Blitz?” Mix asked Earth.
Earth smiled casting a quick look sideways at him “Plan Blitz it is”. He put the two cat plushies he was holding on the ground looking at Mix do the same.
Earth took off into a run, running as fast he could, leaving Mix behind, the ghost armed with the knife in his hand dashed towards him ignoring Mix completely due to his amulet hiding him. Mix calculating that it wouldn’t take that much time for Earth to cover the perimeter of the park they were in, he walked calmly to one of the swings, sitting on one of the tires present. Next, he pulled out a small knife with a white hilt from his pockets, his favourite blade to use since it was quick and fast. Mix figured that enough time had passed by now and Earth should be arriving soon. He crossed his legs, keeping his knife in his right hand while going to his neck and unclasping the amulet, putting it on the ground beside him. He took a deep breath in, counting from ten slowly and waiting.
He finally sees him in front of him after counting to four, a man who was probably in his early forties quite haggard in appearance and holding a knife dripping with blood. Even though he was a spirit, he still had a shocked expression on his face, unable to resist Mix’s presence without his amulet and so appearing in front of him even if against his will. As soon as Mix sees the ghost lunge for him, he throws the blade in his hand. His aim is perfect even from sitting down, hitting the man exactly at the side of the neck causing the spirit to scream in pain as the specialised knife did its job. As a result, the man dropped his own knife, too busy trying to stop the burning pain emanating from his neck.
Mix didn’t even need to see what happened next instead he got up from his sitting position and picked up his amulet from the floor, putting it on calmly as he looked at Earth. He had finally arrived and when the man was busily distracted trying to get the knife stuck in his neck, Earth delivered the final blow behind the man’s back attaching an amethyst star and whispering a few lines to get the job done.
“Even on our vacation, we can never stop,” Earth said taking Mix’s hand.
“We can’t help but attract trouble to us” Mix joked, “I don’t mind, I think we make quite the team”
“Indeed, we do” Earth smiled at Mix, tugging on his hand to leave the park already, it was already late, he had to plan quickly now he thought as they grabbed the plushies from the ground.
“Earth, wait, I think I stepped on something”, Mix removed his hand from Earth’s crouching down to see what he had felt under his shoe. It looked like a small box, a deep dark blue with gold decoration on top. Mix picked it up, clearly shocked and then turned him.
Earth was at a loss for words, as he looked between Mix and the blue box, that was supposed to be in his trouser pocket. It must have fallen when he took off running to distract the spirit, he was too caught up in the thrill of their little hunt to realise that it was missing from his pocket. He sighed then looked up sadly at Mix “I’m sorry that the surprise is ruined”.
Mix’s smile only got bigger at that response confusing Earth more “What surprise, I don’t know what’s in this box”, He gave Earth an exaggerated wink when the latter caught on to what Mix was doing, smiling himself as he took the box from Mix’s hands.
“This was definitely all part of my plan, I intended for you to find it” Earth continued trying not to laugh himself while Mix was having a hard time keeping in his laugh. “I also purposefully picked out this old children’s park as well, the most romantic place I could find”, He had to stop for a second laughing for real this time, shushing Mix to let him continue. With tears in his eyes, Mix nodded, straightening himself and pretending to act surprised with what was happening.
“In all seriousness I wanted this to be more special because you are very special to me Mix, this is my thank you for sticking by me and loving me, I just want to..“Earth can’t hold the tears then, Mix walks up right in front of him and hugs him, “Thanks for loving me too I wouldn’t change a single thing,” Mix says into their embrace while Earth holds on to him even tighter. Mix runs his hand through Earth’s hair twice before stepping back, looking at Earth’s eyes with the biggest smile on his face, his eyes glistening. Earth opens the box, revealing the ring inside, a stone the colour of Mix’s amulet on a simple silver band. Mix loves it. He can’t help but move forward to connect Earth’s lips with his, trying to show just how much this means to him and them. “I didn’t actually ask you the question, but I think it’s a yes right?,” Earth says when they break apart, he picks up the ring and puts it on Mix’s finger “Do you like it?” he questions.
“Yes to both questions” Mix answers for him, he can’t help but kiss him one last time before taking their hands together and finally leading them out of the park, he tugs on Earth’s hand increasing their pace when they join the crowd again.
“What’s all the hurry for?” Earth questions, almost accidentally stepping on a poor lady’s foot, Mix increasing their pace even more.
Mix looks slyly from under his lashes, trying to stop himself from outright grinning “I don’t know about you, but I just got engaged and I want to celebrate”, he winked suggestively at Earth on the last word. Realising what he meant, Earth grabbed on to Mix’s ringed hand even more tightly breaking out into a run towards their hotel. The sound of their laughter echoing behind them as they ran hand in hand together.