#ghosthalfa / 04

[uwps001]

@ghosthalfa

"You doin' alright?" After they had separated, things had only gotten worse. Based on his own experience with the nightmares he faced between Hiyori, his own problems, and dealing with some shadow being, he's learned that others may have gone through something of the same.

Was Danny okay? Did it affect him badly with what happened?

[uwps001]

Constantine only felt that it was the right thing to do. To share something a part of himself with Danny. It was better to feel like you weren't alone after all.

"Hmff," he scoffs and shakes his head, "I didn't make fun of you for the star lights. I wouldn't make fun of you for anything else." Hell, if it weren't for Danny, his ceiling in his own room would be so bare.

"And if I ran away from learning what you were, then that'd just make me a hypocrite, mm?" He may not know what it's like to have your body split into two worlds, but he knew what it was like to be looked at as other.

"But you're welcome," he says with a nod, "you can come to me for anything. You know that."

          danny peeked out from behind his arms almost shyly at the affirmation, shoulders loosening slightly. he could tell his eyes were glowing acid green from the way they lit up the space between his curled elbows, an automatic response when he felt too strongly, but he found he wasn’t worried. there had been no judgement from constantine this entire time, and the halfa had stopped expecting any sometime during his confession. what he hadn’t expected, however, was an admittance in return.

     ❝ Oh. ❞ a blink of surprise, as danny slowly straightened from his curled position. ❝ I—thank you. For telling me. I won’t… I’ll try to keep that in mind, too. ❞ his hands reached forward, wrapping around the warm mug of tea and pulling it back towards himself. ❝ And thank you, for… listening, and not making fun of me. Or, y’know, ❞ a huffed laugh, an attempt at lightening the mood. ❝ Running away screaming or whatever. ❞

[uwps001]

"I understand," Constantine says, watching as the boy curls and hides. To help Danny feel more at ease without the feeling of embarrassment, Constantine then says, "I get scared too. "Of bright lights."

Constantine takes a sip from his cup and sighs, "I don't like not being able to see and when it's bright, I'm blinded. It scares me. Your fear is understandable. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I promise not to use it around you again." He didn't want to see that fear in his eyes again.

          at the statement, danny turned his head, pressing his forehead into the counter to hide the bright flush of his cheeks. embarrassment battled in his throat, and his arms came up to circle around his head to further cover his face. he knew it was stupid—everyone got scared, it was normal. but it was this fear, specifically, that made the halfa want to curl into his own personal little ball. he didn’t want to talk about it, not ever, but he at least owed constantine an explanation. even if it was muffled by his arms, and spoken into the marble beneath him.

     ❝ Ghosts can… ❞ danny trailed off, sucking in another deep breath before forcing on. ❝ They—we—can have specific fears. Related to… that. And I didn’t—I didn’t fully die, really, but it’s still. Y’know. ❞

[uwps001]

While Danny displayed awkwardness, Constantine casually shrugs. "Everyone has a different energy. has to do with the electricity and all that." Danny's was different from the others. As Danny talks about it though, it makes sense now. He wasn't ENTIRELY alive. He has one foot on the living and the other foot on the other.

And then it clicks...

"You were scared back then."

Did electricity have something to do with Danny? Did he have a near-death experience with it and that was why he was the way he is?

          there was another burst of relief, the moment constantine confessed what danny had already suspected. he did know. well, that made things simpler, at least. there were still explanations danny was sure he’d have to fork over, but the actual telling him part—he was grateful he got to skip that, at least. ❝ My ‘energy’? ❞ he laughed, quiet and amused. ❝ I guess that makes sense. The ghostliness, it can… seep over, I guess? Into my human form. Most of the time it’s pretty lowkey, but if you’re sensitive enough… ❞ a shrug, awkward with the way danny was sprawled across the counter. ❝ You can pick up on it. ❞

     ❝ Long story short, though? I’m… half ghost. Half dead, you could say.❞ the jibe had the tone of a well-used inside joke, despite the slight frown to his lips. ❝ Other ghosts call me a ‘halfa’, at least when they’re not attacking me. ❞

[uwps001]

Constantine dries off his hands with a kitchen towel when finished washing them and turns to face the kid who, by the time he's looking at him, the boy is resting his cheek against the cold surface.

"I knew it was you the moment I saw you," He admits with a light shrug. "It took a moment, I won't lie...but your energy was still the same."

          the mug was warm under danny’s palms as he held it, slipping into the offered seat at the island quietly. he already had a cookie in hand, stuffing it unceremoniously in his mouth to spare him another few moments. he was relieved, at least a little, that constantine seemed to already know the confession eating at him. it put a little bit of weight off of danny’s shoulders, let the nerves making his hands restless settle a bit. because it was easier to say it if the older boy already knew, right? at least, that’s how it seemed to be shaping up for danny.

     an explosive sigh left the halfa as he slumped forward, resting his upper body on the table as his hand reached for another cookie. less to eat, and more to give his hands something to do.

     ❝ No, no, if I don’t say it now I’m gonna chicken out. I know myself better than that. ❞ danny’s head turned, fixing constantine with a stare even as he smushed his cheek into the wood of the table. ❝ You… knew that was me, right? The ghost kid. ❞

[uwps001]

Constantine is preparing something light both snack-wise and calming beverage-wise. That'll be some cookies and a choice of a calming kind of tea. It's probably what Danny could use with how nervous he is, after all.

"Yeah, I have an idea."

Constantine turns around with the plated cookies and sets them on the island table in the kitchen and motions for the boy to come sit. The tea is prepared shortly after and the warm cup is placed by the cookies side.

"But I'm not in any rush. You have me for as long as you need. Take your time."

          he slipped inside without protest, ducking around constantine before lingering in the doorway. his eyes were curious, flickering around the house. it was different than danny's place, and the first time he'd seen a dwelling in spirale outside of his own. it was only a momentary distraction from his anxiety, though, as the teen turned back to constantine with a small shrug. his stomach still felt tight, fluttering with nerves, but he knew better than to turn down a snack at his age.

     ❝ I mean, I guess if you're offering. ❞ danny let a small smile flicker across his mouth as he trailed behind constantine into the kitchen, trying his best to snatch a sense of casual normality. ❝ But, I mean, do you... ❞ he leaned against the counter, shoulders creeping up towards his ears as danny fished for info. ❝ Do you know what I want to talk about already? ❞

[uwps001]

"Yeah. We can talk." It sounds like the two were wanting to talk about the same thing, judging by the anxiety that boiled at the pit of the kid's stomach. "But maybe inside. Come in," he steps aside to give Danny room to enter into the home.

Celine has stepped out and there is no one else in the building but Constantine.

"You eat anything? You hungry? Want something to drink?" He's making his way into the kitchen and gestures for the kid to make himself at home.

          an awkward shuffling of his feet, danny's head ducking down almost sheepishly. anxiety roiled in his gut as he stood at constantine's doorstep, trying to dredge up enough courage to actually speak. he'd made up his mind already, had done it shortly after they'd parted last time. he just had to... actually do it, before his nerves got the better of him. before he chickened out spectacularly and did something dramatic that would usually have jazz yelling at him.

     ❝ I'm—I'm okay. But, um, hey, can we... ❞ a nervous laugh, his hands come together before him as danny clasped them together nervously. ❝ Can we talk? ❞