The second time Otto saw Emmett, the man had his trousers rolled up to his knees and he was wading through the river, head turned down as if he was searching for something in the murky depths. Otto watched him, a smile playing at his lip as he leant against the low wall for a moment.

"Afternoon, Emmett. Lost something?" he called.

Emmett flinched and- "Ah!"

Splash.

Otto's face fell and he jogged to the bank, grimacing at the sight of Emmett awkwardly sprawled in the water. "Er- Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you," he apologised, feeling a heat singe the tips of his ears.

Emmett pushed himself upright, dripping water and draped in algae, still mostly submerged. The man gazed up at Otto, tipped his head back and started laughing, waving his hand as he picked himself up again. A nearby duck quacked indignantly at them.

"There's no harm done," Emmett replied, resembling a human sponge as water rained from his sodden clothes. Glancing down, he grimaced balefully. "Well, no harm to me- my jumper, on the other hand, seems a little worse for wear."

Otto offered him a hand out of courtesy and helped him back onto dry land. The contact was brief, yet memorable, Emmett's hand warm and a little calloused against his own. "I am really sorry," Otto repeated, rubbing the side of his nose. "Do you want a lift home? You should probably dry off."

Emmett hummed and glanced up at the sky, clear and blue. "The sun is out, so I might just try to dry out what I can. Would be a shame to waste the day."

And that was how Otto found himself sat under the shade of a tree with Emmett laying beside him. His damp jumper and shirt were hung over the wall to dry, while the man himself had his arms tucked behind his head.

"London, huh?" Emmett murmured, nodding sagely. "I've never been myself. Bit of a change moving to the middle of nowhere, I'm guessing?"

Otto slouched against the tree trunk, enjoying the soft breeze and the rustling of the grass around them. "It's very different," he agreed. "So quiet and slow in comparison to the city. Loads of country bumpkins out here as well." He dropped his voice at the last line, leaning a little closer and enjoying the way Emmett sent him an exasperated glance.

"You're a menace." There was nothing serious about his tone. "People have been gossiping about you, by the way."

"Really? Only about good things I hope."

Emmett snorted. "Mrs Hamsted had a terrible fright thanks to you zooming around in that car of yours. You also apparently made young Miss Johnson swoon when you bought some milk on Tuesday, but I think that's embellished."

"Oh? Am I not swoon-worthy?"

The impish look on Emmett's face was very endearing. "I couldn't possibly say. Your ego may never recover."

Otto muttered a crude word under his breath, but it only served to make the other man snort and tease him further. Eventually the conversation faltered, and they settled into a peaceful hush, side by side.

Otto bathed in the light, closing his eyes and relishing in the sun's tender touch. He finally understood why snakes enjoyed basking as the heat pressed into him like a long, warm hug, easing the tension in his muscles. After the silence reigned for a while, he peeked through the grass towards Emmett. The man was still stretched out, but his head was turned away and there was an out of place tension to his poise, more like the coiled fright of a deer than anything else. Otto followed his gaze.

The bridge stood a distance away, partially obscured by the leafy canopy of trees. The uniform, carved stones were formed into tight arches that hovered above the river, each dusted modestly with tinges of yellow and emerald.

What caught his attention though, was the pale figure stood atop it, leaning over the edge and peering into the water below. Ghostly tendrils of translucent hair shielded the spirit's features from the scrutiny of her observers. She barely moved, seemingly content to stand and linger there.

Ghosts were hardly a rare or unusual sight for Otto, and he tended to simply pretend they didn't exist. However, what intrigued him was the fact that his human companion seemed transfixed on her as well.

Humans weren't supposed to be able to see ghosts.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "I hope I'm not boring you."

Emmett seemed to snap out of his reverie and blinked several times. "Huh? Oh- No, I was just with the faeries, sorry."

Otto knew a lie when he heard one, but he just smiled, and their conversation started up again. By the time the sun had begun to dip, Emmett's clothes were dry, and Otto's stomach had begun to loudly complain (much to Otto's embarrassment and Emmett's amusement). Finally calling it quits, Emmett pulled on his shirt and they walked to the road together.

"So," Emmett said, standing by the wall, jumper tucked under his arm,"will I be seeing you around?"

Otto nodded, drumming his fingers against the stones, stacked in a chaotic arrangement that didn't quite make sense. "I imagine so, I'm staying here for several months and you mentioned that you spend a lot of time around here."

"Yes, I'll be back this time next week actually."

Otto couldn't stop himself from beaming like an idiot. "In which case, I might see you then."