Chapter Text
It had taken a while to adjust to the new bearings that Max had found themselves into. After all, attending university was sure to have some issues relating to adjusting to a new town, new responsibilities and worst of all new people. Max wasn’t too worried about the meeting people part, if anything they preferred to stay away from most, social anxiety would for sure make it a barrier in order to say anything. But, the thing that scared them the most was not the fear of meeting new people, no it was the fact that the university they had been admitted to; was one that no one-not even themselves had ever heard of.
From the email that Max had received just short of their high school graduation, was from a university calling themselves “The St. Bartholomew’s University for Equality” it boosted it had an excellent art’s program, which Max admitted to themselves they did want to try for an art’s teacher position. As well as many extraordinary extracurricular activities which had a swimming pool, furnished tennis courts and an indoor and outdoor track and field. It seemed like a great match so Max decided to keep it in mind as they decided they wanted to work a year after high school before deciding what path to go on. So the email had stayed stashed in the draft file for a couple of years before Max even remembered about it.
That felt like so long ago, but now finding themselves at a train station in a rather weird new town. Bags in hand as they looked around and realized something quite peculiar about the people walking around. An alien? Was she a vampire? Why was that person floating..it wasn’t until Max realized…they were the only human waiting for the campus bus to pick them up.
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“You know that would have freaked me the hell out as well…though consider yourself lucky that a human was summoned to be here” always such a soft voice came through your apartment kitchen that comes from your roommate.
“Well, it certainly was a startle I will admit. But, how was I even allowed to come here? How was I supposed to know about these ‘portals’ no other human has heard of them” Max was sitting on the couch and flicking through the channels. Despite being in another world, the cable still sucked as far as they were concerned. They flopped and groaned on the couch before a piece of pizza and a beer can was floating in front of them. Max chuckled and grabbed them both, before quickly placing the pizza into their mouth.
“Thanks Nolan, it must be simple to do tasks with that skill” At this you saw your roommate seemingly appear in the doorway, his opaque looking skin and his bright eyes staring at you. He leaned against the doorway, always looking hipsterish, with his plaid checkered shirt and his denim jeans and converse looking shoes. His hair was a light brown and he wore a small beanie cap on. He rolled his eyes and chuckled before he disappeared again and then sat right beside you on the couch.
“You make me feel like superman y’know. Every ghost can do this” He summoned the remote out of Max’s hands and then grabbed it, while sticking his tongue out. Max chuckled and threw a pillow on his shoulder.
“To be honest, even meeting you was a bit scary. I mean…ghosts in the human world are usually…souls of the dead? And uh..well, it’s hard to explain” Max scratched their neck awkwardly as they watched Nolan flick through the channels with a sigh as well.
“That’s in your world. At least in this one ghosts are alive and their own species. I mean you met my family over that online call. They seemed really excited to see an actual human.” Max hummed in thought, the online call that happened at the beginning of the semester. Nolan’s mom wanted to meet you and ask what kind of food you liked. She wanted to take care of you both, since it was near impossible to send messages to your own family, something to do with the way time worked in this area. Regardless she seemed like such a sweet woman, her curly hair and rimmed glasses and the cute way she squeaked when she got excited, almost reminded you of your own mom at times.
“And I hear that you are going to be a big brother again soon, from the last call your mom and dad seem really excited.” Max saw a soft flush appear on Nolan’s face before he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Well..yeah, I’m surprised my folks wanted another kid, especially after the trouble I put them through as a child.”
“Oh? You were a misbehaved child?” A teasing voice came from Max as they shifted closer to press on Nolan’s cheek. They loved how they could feel Nolan’s skin despite how wispy and cloudy he would look. Nolan’s skin felt almost like a refreshing dip in a pool, never too warm or too cold. His face puffed up into a fake pout before he moved your hand off of him.
“Not like you think! I was born premature and my mom was really worried about me. She was super sick during her pregnancy and she thought…well..that I wouldn’t be here. I grew up very sickly amongst my peers and spent a lot of my childhood indoors. So to pass the time, my folks would buy me art supplies and I became pretty good at it”
Nolan’s art pieces were always on display at the university’s art exhibits. His watercolor paintings were always a massive hit with the community and he even managed to sell one for a big sum of money, hence why he was at university on a scholarship. One of his newest creations was sitting in the corner of the living room, what looked to be an explosion of color was left for a couple of days. Nolan always enjoyed painting landscapes and still life.
“I can tell, I still remember you laughing at me in the intro art class that day. Not my fault hands are hard to draw”
Nolan chuckled again and looked over at Max.
“Well practice does make perfect after all~ I just never seen such an innocent and childlike drawing done by a 20 year old before. To be honest, it inspired me to create my newer piece I passed in”
There was a soft silence, a soft blush spotted on Max’s cheeks, before they let out a soft “O..oh”.
Suddenly, the phone rang and Nolan disappeared to answer it. Max’s face still felt a bit warm. It had been around nearly a year? A year later they had moved into the apartment with Nolan when they asked if they were interested. Despite initial hesitations, Max felt at home with Nolan, sometimes he could be a bit creepy with his ‘ghost abilities’ such as his eyes glowing in really dark lighting. His voice which would sound as if it was right near your ears.
“Hey, it’s for you. Isabella wanted to know if you wanted to go hang out with them” Max startled before they saw Nolan appear in front of them with the phone in their hand. Max gave a small thank you before taking the phone and trying to calm their voice down.
“Hello?”
“Hey! I was trying to get a hold of you earlier but I guess you were busy! The group was wondering if you wanted to go out bowling for a couple hours!” Isabella’s excited voice made Max smile just a bit. Isabella was a vampire, she had promised she had never drank human blood to calm you down just a bit, but if you were ever stressed she would remind you she could still hear your beating heart. She was one of the student council members along with the others you had befriended, to be honest not even you had any idea of why she wanted to hang with you.
“Ah yeah! I’d love to go bowling. Can Nolan come as well?” Nolan looked confused and then began to shake his hands in front of you, whispering “No..no it’s all right”. He then disappeared and went into what you assumed would be his room, as you heard the door close.
“I mean if he wants too for sure! But, yeah it’s just gonna be the group here so I figured you may want to get out and see the town for a bit! I can send you the bus route if you need directions”
“Sure, yeah that would be great! I’ll see you in 20!” The phone call had dropped and Max began to grab their things to get ready, before leaving they knocked on Nolan’s bedroom door.
“Hey you need me to pick anything up on the way or..?”
“Nah, it’s all good. And..um sorry I don’t always do well in crowds of people, but uh…have fun!” You could hear his voice behind the doorway and a small smile blossomed on your face.
“Alright, I won’t be out too late!”
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At least bowling was the same as it was in the regular human world for you. Max had showed up to the bowling alley and found it right smack-dab in the city center. Inside you found the majority of the student council sitting by a table, eating some pizza and wings and having a couple beers amongst themselves. Isabella always stood out, she had her hair curled at the end with soft streaks of red at the bottom of her blonde hair. She was drinking a cooler when she saw you and her red eyes softened into a smile. She waved for you to come over which you did. Once Max approached, Isabella gave them a soft kiss on both cheeks and smiled.
“I’m so glad you came! All of us suck royally at bowling by the way! But after a couple of beers I think I can do it” Max could tell she was a little drunk already. Her apple colored dimples were a dead giveaway. Max chuckled and hung up their coat before grabbing a cooler themselves and sitting on the sofa.
Up next was Lana, Lana was a red-dragon hybrid and she was the vice-president. She had curly red hair and wore small glasses and loved the color pink. She was wearing a bright pink jumpsuit and bright green scarf to match. Sometimes your eyes would hurt looking at her. Through Isabella you learned that Lana and her used to be rivals in everything, sport teams, academic achievements you named it. They both had competed to be president of student council but once the votes came out to be a tie, they both decided to end the silly rivalry between them. If anything the two were a good pair and were liked by virtually everyone in the university, if there was anything there wasn’t a problem neither of them could solve.
You watched as Lana had rolled the ball and watched as it went directly into the gutter much to her dismay. You could have sworn you saw a bit of smoke come out of her nostrils, before Isabella had handed her a cooler of her own and patted her back. Lana tried to be angry but laughed it off, before taking a small sip and waving to you. Lana sat beside you and began to gossip like she loved to do.
Corey was the secretary of the council, he was a small elf boy with long flowing white hair and pointed ears. He was certainly full of himself as he went up, already swaying to throw the ball, only for it to go into another lane and interact with the adjacent party's game. Isabella began to cackle madly before Corey, ashamed and embarrassed, went to apologize. He came back with red-tinted ears as he took a seat beside you and sighed.
1 of the voting council members made it. His name was Ben and he was…well you weren’t too sure what his species was because you never saw anything like it. Ben was always the soft spoken one of the group, he mostly liked to wear suits with dress shoes, but tonight he was wearing an oversized knit sweater and a pair of shorts. His skin was a coal black with long sharp claws at the end of his fingers, his head was what looked to be an old cow’s skull with white animated eyes with light gray pupils, he usually liked to place flowers in his horns, but tonight he decided to leave them empty. You learned from Isabella that Ben’s species was extremely rare and would go by the umbrella term of “eldritch”. If anything, Ben reminded you of an older brother and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He always liked you to feel included and was usually the one to invite you. Tonight he was being a bit silent which was different.
When he went up to go grab his ball, Lana had turned back to you and then back to Ben and chuckled.
“You know Ben has a huge crush on you right?”
Max was startled and nearly choked on their drink.
“R..really? But why..?”
“That’s not for me to decide, but holy hell he has something for you. Ben usually isn’t this helpful to other people, if anything he tends to pass it off, but when it comes to you though…oh boy he’ll drop anything to give you what you need”
Max flushed and then tried to smile.
“I..uh I’m flattered but..I don’t even know how a human could have a relationship with you guys…not in an offensive way but..”
Isabella nods and smiles.
“Love is love I suppose! But don’t feel obligated to try Ben out. Is there someone else you fancy?” Lana was all ears at this point as her face turned to look directly at Max.
Max fumbles for a minute and then shakes their head.
“No? I mean…I don’t think so…” Liar.
Isabella chuckles and takes another sip of her drink.
“To be honest, me neither. It’s been nearly the end of what the first semester and I have not found someone to lay with and guys I need to be honest…It’s driving me crazy”
“Izzie! Not so loud!” Lana scolds, “I thought you wanted to go out with Ash? He seemed to be all over you”
“Not really interested. Jocks aren’t really my type..” Isabella twirls her fingers in the ends of her hair. “But there is someone I may want to try out~” Her eyes twinkle mischievously at Lana to which Lana flushes and smoke bellows out of her nose.
“No..you..”
Isabella chuckles and nods as she holds onto Lana’s hand.
“Are you just saying this because you are drunk?” Lana’s voice waivers for a minute. Isabella shakes her head and whispers something into Lana’s ear. The dragon girl squeaks and bites her lip for a minute before she jumps up.
“E..excuse us…we need to step out for…a bit” Isabella chuckles as Lana grabs a hold of her hand and runs out of the bowling alley. Max sighs and shrinks into their seat, feeling a bit confused and rejected.
Max was feeling a bit lonely after all, no partner to be with…the only person they felt even comfortable talking about this stuff with was…Nolan. But, Nolan and them are just friends and chances are..
No. Why even think of this? You were not going to sleep with Nolan. You were not going to sleep with Nolan…you were not…going to..
Oh fuck it. You wanted that ghost boy’s ass when you first saw him. Max jumped up suddenly and told Ben and Corey they had to leave and they apologized for having to head out so soon. With a spring in their step and some beer circulating throughout their head. Max headed onto the bus and back to their apartment.
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When Max arrives back home there was a hot pang of shame that was going through them. First of all, how exactly does one just propose this type of thing? Especially, when they weren’t even sure how the other party felt about them in the first place. Max sighed and ran a hand through their hair before kicking off their shoes by the door.
“Ah you’re back, how was bowling?” Max turned and looked to see Nolan was in the living room, eating something out of a bowl, only wearing a pair of pajama pants and his typical beanie hat. You couldn’t tell if the liquor was making you hotter or if it was just staring at his chest. Nolan just stared at you before he looked down at himself, you could already see him starting to disappear.
“Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t realize you’d be home so soon, I can put on a shirt if that makes you more comfortable” By God…he had abs.. You always thought he was a lanky boy, but no as you mentlaly chastised yourself for feeling aroused. You shook your head and tried to explain to him that “No, it’s all good! I just really wanna plow you right now would that be okay..?”
“Max? You don’t look so good..you look pale as a…well as pale as me” His hands had come to touch your forehead and you felt like moaning at this. God, these feelings must have been settling for a while. But feeling how close and real he was to you..was just too much.
"Nolan?"
"Hmm?"
“How would you feel about…I dunno let’s say hypothetically…”
“Y..yes..?”
“Could you and I…I dunno…sleep together?” Max closes their eyes and waits for something to break the silence. Instead, nothing happens. Nolan’s hand is still on their forehead and Max can still hear him breathing in front of them.
“....W..what?”
“I’m sorry…we were talking about stupid stuff at the bowling alley and then stuff happened and I couldn’t think because I think I’m slightly drunk and…uh..yeah..”
“No I mean…you really want to have sex…with me?” Nolan pointed awkwardly at himself. His blush was all over his face and even up to his ears. His body flickering like a candle in the wind. You flushed yourself and tried to hide your face. You gave a nod.
“O..oh wow..I mean..I never would have thought…”
You both chuckled awkwardly and then looked up at each other. Nolan’s hands were on your shoulders before he placed one hand up and then moved your bangs out of your eyes. His eyes were light and soft, his smile even softer somehow while the flush was still on his face.
“Hey…I don’t feel entirely comfortable right now while you’ve had some drinks. But, if you want you can spend the night with me in my room. We can cuddle. I won't do anything, I just want to make sure that in the morning you can look at me and still decide you are comfortable with this.” Max flushed and nodded, before they bit their lip and looked up at Nolan.
“Would it be okay if I slept in the nude with you?” Nolan’s eyes flashed for a minute and he turned to the side to look.
“Make it more tempting..but if that’s what you want.”
You both decided that cuddling naked was on the menu for tonight, but nothing else. Max hurriedly jumped into the shower to get cleaned before walking into Nolan’s room. It was new territory as Max had never been in Nolan’s room. As the door opened and they glanced inside, they couldn’t help but chuckle at the decor of his room.
Most of his posters were from various artists. Van Gogh, Picasso most of whom Max recognized from their world. His bed was made up neatly with what appeared to be a quilt, most likely from his mother. He had a small work table with his laptop and various textbooks scattered across. He also had a small retro looking TV with a game console connected to it. There in the corner of the bed you watched as Nolan had appeared.
He laid under the bed covers and he flushed a lot when he saw your body.
“Um..well..welcome!” He tried to awkwardly say but his voice cracked a bit. Max chuckled and scrambled under the blankets and settled in right beside Nolan. His skin was nice and soft to the touch. Max settles in comfortably and looks up to see small star stickers across the ceiling and smiles.
“I used to have these in my room as a kid as well!”
Nolan awkwardly coughed and then gave a chuckle.
“I wanted to try to remake Starry Night but well…all I had were these stickers mom gave me” He tried to pull the blankets up over his face but Max had stopped him to look at his face.
“I like it. It’s cute just like you” Your foreheads touching and his flush breaking out even more.
“Thank you..”
There was a silence again as both lay there in the silence. The soft sound of breathing coming from both. Max stretches themselves to lay comfortably as Nolan stays still as stone beside them.
“This is nice actually..” Nolan finally responds. “I never thought I would actually get to do this” He turned to Max and gently held them close to his body. His hand coming and brushing through their hair. Max shuttered softly and found themselves moving to lay on top of Nolan’s body. Nolan’s eyes drop down and a soft curse comes out from his lips.
“Can I kiss you?”
"Please…"
Lips had pressed together softly, Nolan’s feeling nice and smooth against Max’s. A soft groan came from both of them as Nolan’s hand had moved down Max’s back, a feeling of cool water flashes down their back. Nolan’s erection peeking through as it presses against Max’s core, causing the latter to gently bite down on Nolan’s lip giving the other a hiss. Nolan pulls away, looking absolutely pleasured and conflicted.
“Please..don’t tease me…” A soft whine came out of his lips and he instinctively thrust his hips up, catching against Max’s clit causing them to hiss and whine as a wetness had started to coat the inside of their thighs.
“Hey we are just kissing~” Max teases and gives another soft kiss to Nolan. The ghost completely under Max’s spell. He feels so real underneath Max, his skin is warm and flushed, still with the wisps of his body that happens. Nolan sighs and then pushes Max down onto the bed so he’s on top. His hands gently squeeze across the peaks of Max’s breasts, causing them to sigh again. Nolan licks his lips and then a flick of awareness comes across his eyes. He looks down at Max. While Max looks up with a look of confusion.
“We can’t go too far…I think we should wait. I uh…”
“Something wrong?”
“I don’t have any condoms..and uh..I don’t think we want any accidents” Nolan’s face looks like it's about to spontaneously combust at this time. Max gently chuckles and nuzzles into his face.
“Well I’m on birth control so long as it works well with uh…other species gametes I suppose?” Max’s ears and face light up at this and Nolen begins to chuckle a bit as well, before he moves and gives a soft kiss onto Max’s nose.
“Guess we will just have to find out then~” For some reason that turned Max on even more than it should have. Their arms come up to reach around Nolan’s neck to keep him pinned onto their body. “Mm..for sure, but yeah let’s wait until morning…I am feeling a little bit tired”
“Of course, sleep well” Nolan gave a final kiss onto Max’s forehead before pulling the covers up and cuddling into Max. Max begins to drift off into a nice relaxing sleep.