Work Text:
HOMEWORK
It is a pleasant afternoon. The sun is paying them a visit, invading the office windows, bathing Edwin’s arms — exposed with the sleeves perfectly folded on his elbows — in a warmth that Edwin doesn't feel, but remembers how it was like. The office is at peace, with nothing but simple cases that Crystal is starting to lead, exercising her detective skills. Either way, Edwin is immersed in various books and notes spread at his desk.
It is a particular research of his that started with curiosity and transformed into obsession. For Charles, it isn’t anything apart from the ordinary, so when dozens of new books started to appear, he didn't ask. For Edwin, it is a relief. He isn’t ready to talk about this yet with his boyfriend.
The boyfriend who is probably laying on the grass of some park at this moment, exchanging kisses with his girlfriend when no other living person is looking, making her seem insane when she laughs a little too loud with his stupidity, just like Edwin himself does when they are at their late night secret dates.
It wasn't too hard to understand that Charles is full of love, and deserving of a lot more. The trio's codependency goes in various ways, so when months ago Crystal proposed their arrangement, Edwin couldn't say no. He and Charles were already “figuring out what the rest means”, everything else was just labels. He would be lying to say he doesn't get jealous sometimes, but that's just how emotions work.
What Edwin didn’t expect was to have physical problems, and that is what the research is about. When he and Charles hug, he can feel it with his mind, just like he feels the warmth from the sunlight. He can feel the light touches and the forehead kisses, not in his skin but, just like Charles said the first time he kissed Crystal, up there in his head. What he can’t feel is sexual pleasure.
Don’t get him wrong, he likes to be intimate with Charles. A lot. He loves to be able to make his boyfriend feel good, and gets his joy from giving pleasure. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t curious and wants to be capable of feeling more, or at least to understand what's wrong with him. So when the proper time came, he used the excuse of letting Crystal conduct smaller cases to be alone at the office as much as he could.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t know what to do when he finds out the source of the problem. It is one of the hundreds of times he thinks how things would be better if Niko was still with them — he would trust her with his secrets, she would say something unbelievable, and then recommend a cartoon or manga with exactly the same issue.
But Niko is a lovely memory and a heartache now, so Edwin talks to his only other girl friend.
THE OTHER WOMAN
“Crystal.”
It takes effort not to scream when Edwin appears in front of her, inside her room. Crystal is getting used to it by now, rarely shocked by random appearances, but it still makes her absolutely mad.
“How many fucking times did I say to use the fucking door?”
“I apologize, Crystal”, Edwin says plainly, with his hands in front of his body in that triangle position he always does. “I did knock, but you seem to be rather occupied.”
If Edwin could blush, he would, but he has a reputation to uphold so he doesn’t even turn his eyes from Crystal. She is using a silk nightgown that should go til her knees, but is up her thigh since she is with a feet up her bed, exposing her leg to moisturize her skin. She is gorgeous, Edwin knows that. He doesn’t feel any attraction for the girl — or any other — but finds her beautiful like he finds his women disguises beautiful — even though there aren’t any others like her.
Crystal sighs and tells the artificial intelligence gadget at her bedside table to turn off the music, but doesn’t stop moisturizing her legs. “What do you want that couldn’t wait until our meeting at the office? It’s 1 am, Edwin.”
Edwin knows that she doesn't have a proper sleeping schedule, so he isn’t affected by the statement. “I am not here to talk about work, Crystal. It is… personal business.”
That gets the girl’s attention. She puts away the cosmetics at the dressing table and sits on the mattress, patting the space beside her. “In that case, open up.”
Edwin spent days thinking about how to bring this conversation up. He even tried to put it aside, to stop wanting to talk about it, but ever since he started to get in touch with his feelings, it has become hard to hide from them. He sits on the bed, not with his legs folded like Crystal, but with his feet on the floor and his back upright.
“I have been reading psychology books lately. Ghost psychology. It is quite interesting, and can help us with future cases.”
“You said it wasn’t about work.”
“It is not about work, Crystal, but it can be useful. I was not just wasting time on myself.”
She approaches, sitting more like him, and Edwin softens the expression he didn’t even know was frown. “It’s fine to do things just for yourself, you know that. That’s why we have schedules for dates now.”
“In fact, we do have schedules because you and Charles were being unprofessional”, Edwin says, raising his nose just like he did when he had to scold them.
“Yeah, yeah. And also because you can’t fucking relax without a planner to follow up to.”
Edwin looks down to his knees, noticing that his fists are pressing each other. He loses his grip, spreading his hands against his legs.
“So, the psychology stuff. Are you dealing with something?” Crystal tilts her head. “Except all the trauma, and hell and grief?”
“Who would think that there are still issues to discover?” Edwin relaxes. “But, you see, I found out that I’m incapable of feeling pleasure.”
Crystal is taken by surprise, raising her eyebrows. “What?”
“Did Charles ever explain to you how physical experiences are to us ghosts?”
“Yes? I mean, he doesn't talk about the sex with you, but I know it is the same when either of us touches him, the feeling-inside-his-brain thing.” Crystal tentatively puts a hand on top of Edwins hands, caressing. “You can’t feel it?”
“That I can”, Edwin smiles. His relationship with Crystal had come a long way. She is still infuriating and obstinate, but she’s also a dear friend. “In a psychological way. I knew how it is to be touched on my hand as a living being, so my mind can associate and replicate the feeling.” He looks back at her, twitching his fingers so she puts her hand back. “But I have never had sexual intercourse when I was alive. My mind doesn't know what it feels like, so it does not feel anything.”
“That sucks. Have you spoken to Charles?”
“Of course I haven’t, Crystal. He is going to feel sorry for me.”
“Edwin! He needs to know that you don’t like to-”
Edwin interrupts her, raising a finger between them. “I have never said that I don’t like… our intimate moments, Crystal. I appreciate quite a lot that I can make Charles feel things, even if I don’t feel them the same way. My enjoyment comes from other forms, that is all.”
“I think you should talk to him anyhow.” Crystal pats his shoulder, “but thank you for trusting me.”
“The psychology books also said that if something bothers you, talking to friends may help to understand our feelings.”
“And how are you feeling?”
Edwin makes a pause, looking for nothing in particular, like he’s looking inside. “I am frustrated”, he says slowly. “And also relieved. It was good to discover the cause of the problem even if I can’t solve it.”
Crystal hugs him, and Edwin stiffs.
“It is past your bedtime, Crystal. You should let me go now.”
SO MANY TALENTS
It was a rough day, emotionally speaking. An elderly man couldn't go to the afterlife before he could hug his grandson for the first time, so he waited until his daughter gave birth, but even then he couldn’t feel the baby in his arms. He was desperate when he found the agency, and Edwin gave it a long shot, using his new mind studies.
“Mate, it’s brills how you talked with that grandad”, Charles says with a big smile like always. They’re at the rooftop, swinging their legs on the edge.
“He just needed a little guidance.”
Edwin oriented the man to seek around his memories, to recall the first time he carried his daughter, her weight, the texture of her clothes, the delicacy of her skin, and grasp at it like his afterlife depended on it — it actually did. The man cried the next time he invaded his grandson’s nursery. The boys were just at the door, in the middle of the night, and went out running as soon as the blue light started to emerge.
“And you’re aces as a guide”, Charles bumped their shoulders.
“In fact, did you know there are actual studies about ghost psychology?”
“What? Like, medium therapists?”
“Yes, Charles, exactly like that. I guess there are more people doing our work around the world”, Edwin looks at the stars and Charles looks at Edwin.
“But no one does it like you do, mate.”
Edwin smiles, without turning his head. “It is a cooperative work, Charles”, and then he turns, “if you studied our books, you would know what to do too.”
“I have other talents, Edwin, like that.”
To demonstrate his so-called talents, Charles kisses Edwin’s lips. Even not feeling anything but the presence, Edwin finds it a talent. It takes effort to make him — a dead boy — feel goosebumps with a hypothetical kiss — from another dead boy. But it’s the attention that counts, the affection that Charles puts in every movement, in every touch, every soft bite he gives on his inner lip before he deepens the kiss.
This time, Edwin stops him. He puts a hand on Charles’ chest and lightly pushes him.
“Charles, I have to be sincere with you about some matters regarding our relationship.”
It makes Charles suddenly tense, grabbing Edwin’s hands and asking what’s wrong. Edwin explains his experiences and his discoveries, just like he did with Crystal.
“I am glad it is not a problem with me, just a general experience.”
Charles' hands still hold his own, drawing circles on his palms. “Fuck, Edwin, love, you should’ve told me sooner. I don’t want you to do things just for me.”
“Oh, please, Charles. Do not forget that you literally went to hell for me”, Edwin rolls his eyes when Charles murmurs that he would do it again. “And I am absolutely not simply doing it for you. I find it rather delightful too.” He looks at his partner with the same intensity he did when he confessed, to make sure there are no doubts. “I love every moment with you, Charles. I am grateful my first experiences are with my ‘best mate’.”
Charles’ smile illuminates the night, his best talent, and to see it is the only physical experience Edwin needs.
BUT WHAT IF
“I was thinking–”
Charles’ partners interrupt him.
“You?”
“Such a bold thing to do, Charles.”
“Yes, very funny”, he gives a fake laugh, sitting on the office desk. “I was thinking about what Edwin did with that grandad. That case was easy, but what if we get a similar, trickier case and the ‘psychology’ thing doesn't work?”
“Then we try something else”, Crystal shrugs.
It's a work day, and they are getting things ready at the office. Charles is rearranging his backpack; Edwin is reviewing some enchantments; and Crystal is keeping things cool. It is a demonic case — a possession of a dog, not a human, but still creeps her out.
“But what if we already prepare ourselves before shit happens?”
“Do you want to take precaution? That is good, Charles”, Edwin closes his book, handing it to the other boy.
Charles gives him a wink and a gummy smile. “I already have an idea, mate.” He gets at the edge of the desk and eyes Crystal at the other side of the office too, creating suspense before continuing. “Possession.”
Crystal drops her face and heads to the door. Edwin gets his coat.
“No, come on, hear me out.” Charles gets out of the desk. “When ghosts possess living bodies, they can feel, right? I sure felt Esther banging her head.”
“You are suggesting that–”
“Maybe that experience is enough to… What was it, mate?”
“Retain the knowledge, and then replicate it.” Edwin makes some writing in his notebook. “It is a clever idea, Charles. But don't you think Death–”
“Charlie's with us now! If any bell rings in the afterlife, she just does the paperwork.”
Crystal is looking incredulous at them. Not even a year being an extra official agency and they’re already pretentious like that.
“Are you really taking it seriously, Edwin? Where would you find a person to help us?”
The boys stare at Crystal for a moment, and she gives them the middle finger.
“Absolutely fucking not!”
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING YES
Even if they don’t talk about it for days, Charles doesn't stop thinking about the possibility of giving new sensations to Edwin. How is he, an ultimate people pleaser, supposed to not pleasure his boyfriend? They keep snogging as always and Edwin still gives him his best satisfied smile, but Charles isn’t convinced.
“Crystal.”
An egg flies in his direction and passes through Charles, cracking on the wall behind. Crystal sighs deeply, turning back to the kitchen worktop.
“I don’t care what you’re here for, you’re gonna clean it.”
“Did you just… Attack me with an egg?” Charles laughs. “We need to train your defense skills, Crys.”
“You need to train to use the door.”
Charles hugs her from behind. She’s cracking more eggs in a bowl. He wishes he could eat breakfast with her.
“I told you I’m going to the office later, what do you want?” Crystal whisks the pancake dough even with Charles’ arms on the way. She doesn’t usually cook, and it’s strangely domestic to have him there. She too wishes they could eat together.
“Can’t I just want to see my girlfriend?” He kisses her cheek, and Crystal stops the whisking to grab his hand.
“Do I need to take the info from you?”
Charles moves away, sitting on top of the counter at her side. He dances around the proposal because he doesn't know how to ask for it. He doesn't want Crystal to feel like she’s being used, but also… That’s exactly what he is asking for.
“I know Edwin talked to you about his senses.”
That same night he told Charles that he couldn’t feel him, Edwin also told him about his conversation with Crystal. It warms Charles’ hypothetical heart to see his partners being friends, he’s the happiest when the ones he cares about also care about each other — even if said ones keep on pretending they don’t.
“Are you jealous, Charles? Afraid that I will be his new ‘best mate’?” Crystal jokes.
“You’re great, baby, but you don’t have half my charisma”, he jokes back, receiving a slap on his knee. “I like to see you closer, actually. It’s only been a year and he already trusts you like that. It's brills, Crys.”
“Ok”, Crystal flaps a pancake and turns off the flame. “Where are you going with that?”
“I just think that you may trust him just as much, innit?” Charles jumps off the counter and puts his hands on his girlfriend’s shoulders, facing each other. “That’s why I want to propose something.”
“I’m not doing a threesome, Charles.”
Charles stutters, suddenly shy. “What? Crystal! What? I’m not– What?” He hasn't thought about it as a threesome, and almost gives the idea up, but he’s a boy of his word — even if he was the only one who knew about it. “It’s not like that! I was thinking about we helping him to have body experiences.”
Crystal frowns her eyebrows. “Are you suggesting what I’m thinking? Because if it is, I’m gonna kick your ass out of here.”
It’s a lie. Crystal puts herself in danger almost everyday since she started being part of the agency, and she does it because it’s fun and she likes the adrenaline and she loves her friends, but also because she likes to help. Ever since the little girl in Esther’s basement, she feels that need to use her abilities to do good — and to take money from her shitty parents, but whatever. So yes, she has thought about it too.
“We can do it in a safe space, totally controlled by you. And we just do what you previously agree to”, Charles quickly begs. “And I bet you’re so much stronger now, there's nothing you can’t do if you want to stop.”
“Does Edwin knows you want to fuck him in my body?”
OF COURSE NOT
That day, Charles went back to the office with a promise that Crystal would think about it. Aces! He made the first step and just needs to wait. Maybe a few days would do it. He doesn't want to talk to Edwin before Crystal makes up her mind, his partner doesn't need that kind of hope or anxiety without having Crystal’s approval first.
Charles waits two months.
One day, like it’s nothing, Crystal sits sideways on his lap on the office couch and whispers in his ear “let’s do it”. He doesn’t get it at first, but she tilts her head towards Edwin, who is oblivious, reading something at his desk.
“Are you sure?” He whispers back, caressing her cheek.
“I am trying to be amenable here, but can the two of you kindly go to a room?” Edwin interrupts them with an arched eyebrow.
Crystal adjusts herself on the couch, but not before giving Charles a loud kiss because she’s a bitch like that. Her boyfriend calls Edwin to sit with them, get a pause on studies, but he is only listened to when he says they need to talk. Edwin takes it seriously and gets the seat by Crystal.
“Do you remember that talk we had? About senses and possession?” Charles knows he does.
“Of course, because of The Grandad’s case”, Edwin looks at both of them. “Why is that? Do you think this could help us with the current case?” He takes his notebook off his pocket, flicking through the pages. “I do have to say that I cannot see how–”
“No Edwin, it’s not about the case”, Crystal interrupts him. “It’s about you.”
Edwin looks confused, but just enough for Charles to notice it. “I am not following.”
“What if”, Charles tries again, “we make the tests just between us? It's interesting research, and if everything goes right, you win new sensations”, he says cheerfully.
Edwin didn’t keep on thinking about it, except the times he was snogging Charles. It was frustrating, but eventually he accepted that he can’t feel his partner the way he wants to. He has other priorities. But now, to be pushed into thinking about possibilities again?
“Have you talked about it? Without me?” He asks not because he feels jealous, but because he feels ashamed.
“Charles wanted to know if I would be okay with doing it. And we decided to keep it between us in case I didn’t”, says Crystal, always so gentle when she wants to. “And turns out I do trust you Edwin.” Charles is smiling at him behind her, his love for his partners almost palpable. “And I can send you right back to hell if anything happens.”
“Baby, come on, you didn’t need to say that.”
Edwin shivers, but smirks, because he knows it won’t be necessary. “Now I am not sure if I trust you the same.” But he does.
They have talked about the future before, and both of them know Crystal won’t be in the agency for decades, maybe neither in the boys unlifes. She is still so young to not experience what life can give her. So yes, she is here now, and they like each other, but their kind of forever is not for her, she doesn’t want to be a dead girl. So when Crystal’s eyes soften and she gives his hand a squeeze, Edwin knows it’s a present for them, maybe the start of many of her goodbyes.
Crystal was right about Edwin just functioning with schedules, that’s why they plan their “experience” to two weeks from then. During open cases and reunions with the Night Nurse, Edwin studies more about possession, since he never actually did it before. It isn’t as hard as a forceful possession, Crystal will be letting him in, but it can have its own challenges.
“With this kind of voluntary possession”, he says to the others, walking in circles with a book in his hands like a teacher, “the ghost becomes quite comfortable in the vessel–”
“Which is our goal.”
“–and may lose their senses, forgetting that it is not their body”, he closes the book. “So no, Charles. It is not our goal.”
“That’s aces, mate”, Charles reaches his hand and pulls him to the sofa. “I will be the one to make you lose your mind.”
Crystal fake gags on the other side.
DAY OFF
Crystal decides it’s better for her if it happens in her apartment. She’ll feel safer knowing they’re in her bedroom. But a safe space doesn't prevent a — kind of — threesome to be awkward before beginning. Charles is already seated in the middle of the bed. Crystal is at his side, frowning her eyebrows at a too agitated Edwin wandering in the room, fidgeting at her things.
“Crystal, it is better if you meditate before I enter your body. It will make it easy for both of us. You can also hug something that brings you comfort, or maybe a smell… Do you have scented candles? Perhaps I could make you tea.”
When Edwin turns around, he gasps with the scene of his friends making out, an intense snog they never did in front of him. Charles looks surprised, with his hands down his side. Crystal pats his chest and hugs his neck to kneel on top of the bed.
“I’m ready, Edwin”, she pants, turning her face at him. Edwin is taken aback with her half closed eyes and red lips, but goes on anyway.
The possession is easy, he goes behind Crystal and enters her with a hug, she accepts him as if they have done it one hundred times before. And the first thing Edwin feels is Charles' hands in his waist, making him shiver with the touch of a ghost on a living body. Suddenly, he can feel everything. He breathes faster than necessary, and gulps, and almost freaks out with so many sensations, but Charles' hand on his face grounds him.
“How is it, love?”
And all he wants to do is to kiss his dead boyfriend.
Charles’ mouth is cold against his, and every touch comes with goosebumps, but it’s also the best feeling ever. Charles grabs his now curly hair when he deepens the kiss, tasting inside the mouth that he already knows and that feels so new. Edwin pants in the kiss, already feeling Charles’ torso underneath his tank top — he’s not using all his punk pieces now.
They don’t take long to dismiss their clothes during hard kisses and gentle touches, thankful Crystal doesn’t use as many layers as the Edwardian fashion dictates. Edwin should feel ashamed to see her body naked like that, but he is too distracted with Charles' mouth biting down his neck to care.
“Edwin, Edwin, Edwin”, Charles whispers between every kiss, exploring his chest, nipping at his hard nipple and making Edwin moan. It can’t be better than that.
Except, it can. Charles goes down his body, mapping every inch he can, giving Edwin chilling and wet kisses using his tongue and teeth, reaching his legs, that are given the same treatment. He licks Edwin’s pussy, sucks his clit just like he does with the tip of his cock, but this time Edwin feels it.
Edwin grabs his lover’s short hair in desperation, rolling his hips when Charles starts to move his tongue around him the same way he does inside his mouth. He can’t look, or else he will lose his mind — it’s so different than when he needs to look to feel something —, so Edwin squeezes his eyes shut, but it’s impossible not to picture Charles swallowing him up. It’s too much, it’s not enough. “Charles–” Edwin gasps, and Charles finds it the perfect time to hug his legs and pull him, diving his face into his pussy. Edwin arches his back and tenses and explodes.
His body relaxes down the mattress, and Edwin takes several deep breaths while Charles still gives him kisses around his thighs and pelvis, going up until he reaches Edwin’s neck. “I can’t wait to hear you moan like that with your own voice.” Edwin shivers, moaning again during the kiss that follows. His hands touch every part of Charles that he can, reaching between their legs and finding Charles’ cock, giving it a brief massage just before being invaded by him.
Edwin feels full like he never thought possible, Charles’ presence in every part of his body being almost divine, and he gasps with every thrust, his hands on Charles’ back holding him close like they could possess each other.
“Edwin, love–” Charles moans — always panting his name, like a chant, a worship.
He really likes to be ridden.
The thought comes from nowhere, making Edwin confused for a second.
I am not good at it.
He thinks back. And it’s true — for him, at least, Charles loves it —, they use a lot of hands and mouths, but he’s not used to penetration.
With an ability he doesn’t know he has, Edwin turns them, sitting on top of a very amused Charles, whose hands quickly finds his thighs and guides him to his cock again. The new position gives Edwin new sensations and he isn’t sure how he can have control of his movements while he can’t be in control of his mind, but his body knows what to do, like he isn’t the only one controlling it — it feels too good to freak out about it.
You would never feel like this without a pussy.
“Mate, love, I’m clos–” Charles tries to warn but loses himself in the rolls of his partner’s hips.
Charles quickens the pace and moves a hand to massage their clit, creating more friction with every thrust. Edwin bends down, spreading his hands on Charles’ chest and comes again, his partner following him not long after.
Edwin rests down onto Charles, taking a very much needed breath. He closes his eyes and feels a kiss on his forehead, and hands caressing his back, safe as always when he’s with Charles. He questions himself if he will be able to sleep like that, but then remembers something that wasn’t planned.
“Perhaps I should clean the body before giving it back to Crystal.”
“Fuck no.”
Just like that, Crystal slides off, laying beside them, letting Edwin’s ghost body still on top of Charles. Soon enough, he grabs the sheets to cover himself.
“That was easy”, Charles says, with a huge smile on his face.
“I should start annotations right this moment,” Edwin tries to get up, but is trapped by Charles' arms.
“Relax, mate, enjoy Crystal’s huge rich bed”, he pleads with unfair puppy eyes.
“I’m going to take a long bath and you guys better be off here when I come back”, she threatens them with a finger on their faces, but is smiling before leaving the bedroom.
“I truly appreciated it, Crystal”, Edwin says, satisfied, without leaving Charles' shoulder where his head rests. That way, he can give light kisses on his neck. It was a wonderful experience, but he likes to be on the same plane as his boyfriend again.
“Do you think she’ll let me take her body to eat someday?” Charles breaks the silence, gasping when he feels a bite right below his ear lobe.
“I do not think so, Charles.”