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I'm happy people are enjoying this! I'm happy you guys are enjoying this hehe. I'm super happy. I'm in love with writing this story hehehe.

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The gang got back home the next day, and Vivi and Mystery went to bed almost immediately. Arthur and Lewis however, stayed awake, arthur jumping straight into the shower, and Lewis going straight into Arthur's room to wait on him.

Of course, Lewis being Lewis, he grew curious about the room and began to explore it's contents. There was of course the table filled with mechanical parts, and Arthur's metal arm was resting on a holder that held it up off the ground, almost like a trophy. He moved passed it and to the bed, feeling around to try and find anything hidden.

Within the mattress, he did find s rather alarmingly large katana hidden away, incase of a break in most likely, but it was still a bit of a shiver. Lewis made sure not to sneak in so that he wouldn't get chopped. Lewis then, decided to check under the bed for anything, and found himself staring at a carton of cigarettes and a couple lighters just hastily thrown about.

Lewis sat upwards and huffed, staring around the room until those eyes of his landed on the closet, having this odd urge to be nosy, to find anything he wasn't aware of. He sighed to himself and pushed his body up, striding over the the double doors and swinging them open.

He was met by a bunch of hanging clothes. Jackers, swimming trunks, pants and shirts. Even a suit with an orange tie of course. The majority of his clothes were yellow and white, with a few orange and green pieces here and there. The top shelf it the closet held boxes, labeled with different Holidays, most likely decorations for the room. But, on the bottom, in the floor, were different things.

Shoes, skeletons of arm prosthetics and...

Oh...jackpot...

Journals.

"I really shouldn't be going through these." Lewis whispered as he sat down, plucking out one labeled, V.E.N.T. "I just wanna know more about him." Lewis tried to rationalize with himself.

Lewis curiously opened it...and...

Oh...oh....

Lewis felt the floor fall out from under him as the breathe was quite almost literally knocked from. Him. His eyes widened as he stared the first page down. Written on this page...were scribbled out images of a stickman commiting suicide in different ways. One was by medications another was by hanging...even being run through with a katana...

He hesitantly flipped the page, and found there to be a labeled nightmare page. Each having an almost sibling resemblance. Each doodle being a stickman with one arm, and another stickman. It had a scribbled out face and horns. Another doodle was exactly the same, but the thing had wings. The third...was just the stickman..with one normal and, and one smoke looking arm. The arm he was missing.

He flipped the page.

There was genuine writing in this one. But it was just the words selfish, written over and over again, neatly too. Nothing scribbled, just neat handwriting that looked completely unlike Arthur's normal handwriting. This went on for ten pages.

Lewis clothes the journal with a violent shudder, growing instantly more concerned with him. He looked at all the other books, some where labeled adventures. Others were dream journals, except they were thin, and the nightmare journals had extra pages stuffed inside.

One of them however, was severely old. Much older and more worn. This one was labeled..."him"

Lewis listened out for the shower, still hearing it running and Arthur whistling to himself. He liked back at the book and snatched it, getting himself comfortable before opening.

This...was normal writings.

'Day One

Hello journal! This is the first time I've written one of these, but I read that online it was completely healthy, and helps relieve the brain of thoughts. A neutral place to rant.

I've decided to dedicate this journal to Him. My best and closest friend. Lewis Pepper. Where do I even start with him? Well, he's tall, and very muscles heavy, but not body builder heavy, more like a football player kinda buff. He has this cute haircut that makes it look all fluffy and soft. I personally like it best on him, I'm more of a spikey hair kinda guy ya know? I've also started growing a goatee. He doesn't have facial hair. Shaves his face clean.

Lewis is also a very good cook. He's a foster kid...and...he makes me feel less ashamed of the fact I don't live with my actual parents either. I don't have parents...only family I got is an uncle. And he:s the coolest too. Lewis has siblings and they are all a bunch of young crazies lol. Lewis is the most sane, and his mother is seriously intimidating.

To be honest though?

I think I'm in love with him...'

Lewis felt his breathe cease. His eyes widened all the way and he nearly teared up. But he swallowed it down, and flipped through all the pages, to the last one. The very last page written on there.

'Day 445.

I don't think...it's uh...yeah. He isn't gay in the slightest...and...he loves my other friend...Vivi. I can tell. And I'm happy for him you know? Lewis deserves the best, and he probably won't get that with me. I'm a loser after all. It's senior year, and he and her have been radiating towards one another. It's inevitable at this point that they will be dating. He doesn't know I'm gay... So he doesn't think that dating her would hurt me.

That would be selfish. And that's exactly what I am. Thinking I could be with him was a selfish thought. He's gay, and having him to myself is just...fucked up. We all are apart of this ragtag mystery group and we hunt ghosts. It's sorta scary, but hey, why not ya know? Though I'm only good as a ride anyhow.

He's more focused on her than me anymore...the last time we really hung out was about a month ago.

I...think...that he's losing care for me...I'm baggage...a third wheel...I guess I'll be there for them sense they still act like they care...or at least pretend too. But...if I could leave...be forgotten.

They'd be better off.

This is the last time I'm writing about this...to anything...or anyone...

I'm....I'm giving up.'

Lewis frowned as he red the last part and shut the journal. He placed it back and stood up, closing the closet doors and sighing sadly. He felt his head screaming in pain at that he had no idea how much pain he caused Arthur when he as Vivi were together.

That's a long time to forget a friend.

Senior year..!? That seemed so long ago.

Lewis heard the shower in the hallway, bathroom shut off, and tensed. He looked down at his hands, fiddling with them, picking at the bone structure and then began to pat his knees, trying to smooth over his face to seem casual, and did is alarmingly well.

Arthur walked into the room whistling, his hand splinted and bruised to the high heavens. He manages to use it to wash his hair but it sucked. He had pretty much dumped shampoo into his hair for a solid minute before he actually scrubbed and washed it, so it was radiating the sweetest of smells.

"Feel better?" Lewis asked, his eyes flitting down over the fact that Arthur was only wearing pajama pants and his four pack and decent chest was visible in all its broadness.

"Yeah." Arthur smiled weakly. "Showering was a bitch though, but whistling helped vent the pain a bit." Arthur held up his hand before moving over to his desk, grabbing and reattaching the metal arm with a hiss.  "You look a little sad. It's not because of my shoulder is it?" Arthur asked, wiggling his metal arm some.

"N-No, not at all." Lewis smiled and floated into and under the covers of Arthur's bed, patting the space beside him. "Just thinking about the past and everything. And the future as well."

"Yeah, well think about the present. You are here, and no longer lonely. Sounds like a blast of a time. Just got back from a crazy spooky adventure that was fun as it was horrible." Arthur hummed and laid down, getting under the covers with no intentions of sleeping.

"Yeah, it was nostalgic. I really missed doing stuff like that with you all. The only difference this time is being unable to work with my family. I miss them severely... But they probably don't remember me." Lewis frowned heavily.

Arthur winced at those words and turned to him, using his left arm to gently hold his face. Lewis tensed under the touch, but eventually leaned into it, finding the gesture comforting.

"It will all work itself out once the green guy's dead." Arthur nodded confidently.

"You've been exposed to it. And you still are in a way... do you have a guess at how strong it is?" Lewis asked.

"..." Arthur frowned and looked away, shivering. "It's... pretty fucking scary. The thing has no form...so It can take on many looks. A man, a hand, an animal and a shadow...it also has...u-uhm..." Arthur shivered.

Go on~!

"It has this ability to possess people obviously. But it also...overrides thoughts, makes it hard to process or think the more it swallows you. It's...almost like your dying, being devoured from the inside out. I-If it gets into your head it's game over." Arthur looked at his metal arm. "If it does come back I'm useless...I have no powers...and I've already lost to it." Arthur tensed and closed his eyes. "I have no idea what it's capable of..but it does give me strength that's stronger than a normal human's."

"That's a good lot of information to know Kingsman. Trust me. It helps." Lewis smiled reassuringly. "You may have lost a battle, but not the war. We can do this."

"I hope so. Either that or we are dead." Arthur sniffled, looking at Lewis closely. "But I'm sure we can figure something out. We always do." Arthur hummed reassuringly.

Lewis relaxed a little more, nodding. "You should get some rest, you look bone tired."

"I am, but, I don't think I'll be able to sleep." Arthur sighed, raising his hands up towards the ceiling. "I'm tired but not tired. I wish I could just work on something to keep me busy. Out oven needs cleaned..." Arthur then trailed off, thinking on things he could use to kill time.

"Arthur, you need sleep. You have had a long day, Vivi is already snoring away most likely." Lewis chimed.

Arthur looked over at Lewis with a thoughtful look. His eyes searched his face a bit, looking for something, suspicion lacing his features as he stared. Perhaps Lewis could sense his bad mood?

Arthur shook it off and pulled himself out of his bed, stretching. He shook his head and grabbed a shirt thrown in a corner and pulled it over his head. He then brushed his shirt off, ignoring the way Lewis eyed him as he left.

Arthur needed to keep busy, some cleaning and coffee should fix his mood. The oven was disgusting. Then there was dishes, laundry, the backyard porch needed to be swept, as did the floor. Then mopped. The furniture needed to be cleaned and dusted.

Much to do.

"Arthur I'm serious. You look like shit. I'm not going to watch you stay up all night busying yourself." Lewis followed, folding his arms in irritation.

"Than don't watch. You have everywhere but the main area to float about. It's not my problem that you don't like watching me stay up late. Every human being does it. I am no different." Arthur moodily bickered.

"Uh! Was that attitude?" Lewis playfully gasped, floating over to the kitchen to grab the counter dramatically.

Arthur smirked to himself and rolled his eyes as he grabbed all purpose spray and a rag. He lifted his head and snapped his metal fingers, cocking a hip and raising his eyebrows once before letting them drop back to normal.

"I dunno, was it?" He sassily asked, smirking at him.

"Kingsman the audacity!" Lewis placed the back of his hand over his forehead, bending backwards to lay his back over the counter flexibly. "I'm wounded! I'll never forgive you!"

"Oh kiss my ass, Lew." Arthur snickered out and wiggled his eyebrows playfully as he squatted and opened the oven.

"I might just do it." Lewis hummed.

"Ew." Arthur pretended to gag.

"You asked~." Lewis floated over.

"Any closer and I'll spray you with my lemon cleaner." Arthur held the spray bottle at Lewis like a gun, giving him a very exaggerated serious face.

Lewis held up his hands and chuckled to himself. Arthur smiled to himself and returned to what he was doing. He took racks from the oven and began to spray the inside down, scrubbing with his good hand, very skilled in one handed cleaning, having done it for a while before his metal arm was fully functional.

"Need any help?" Lewis asked softly, sitting down beside the blonde.

"Not really." Arthur huffed as he scrubbed stains and hardened bits off from the floor of the oven. "Glad I'm doing this before Thanksgiving. That would be a serious nightmare." Arthur hummed.

"It's in a few weeks right?" Lewis asked.

"Yup." Arthur nodded. "Tis the seasons." Arthur rolled his eyes as he said it.

They sat in silence while Arthur cleaned the rest of the oven, shutting it and shining up the outside of it. He admired his work for a bit until he stood, looking around the kitchen for anything else to clean.

It what here where he felt hands place themselves onto his own, one grabbing the cleaner and rag and the other remaining over them. Arthur tensed at the touch and looked up at Lewis, who was staring him down again, with a soft and calm and collected look. Arthur opened his mouth to ask him why he was staring...but...

He....

Lewis had closed the gap before Arthur could even speak a sound. Burning and dead lips connecting to the living flesh of the other. .

It was like time itself froze.

Arthur stared at Lewis with wide eyes, body beginning to shake as Lewis kissed him, with a deep and longing emotion he couldn't really place. His hands were imprisoned by a larger one, and the other was behind his head, preventing him from pulling away and breaking it. His world flipped upside down it seemed, as his body moved on it's own, as if possessed. His body grew closer, and his lips moved, kissing back, eyes fluttering closed and knees wobbling a little as everything spun.

The kiss made him feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and grief.

For Lewis? An overwhelming sense of relief and warmth. Nothing bad or negative, a growing longing that he needed to feed, he needed to obey. He needed this. He wanted it, and he has wanted it for...years. He would have done this years ago had he known Arthur wanted it too.

Though, he pulled away the moment he felt something wet on his face, finding Arthur has teared up, eyes squeezed shut in pain, mouth slightly patted in order to gulp air back into his lungs.

"L-Lewis we can't." Arthur shook his head. "Vivi-"

"Has no future with me. And if I'm being honest I don't want her remembering us..." Lewis spoke seriously.

"That's just cruel. This is cruel. I-I...I want to but...i-i..." Arthur looked down, covering his flushed face with his splinted hand, using his metal hand to push Lewis at arms's length away.

"Arthur, I care about you, severely. I-"

"I mean it. We can't. Not with me. L-Lewis I...look at you." Arthur whimpered. "I-I hurt you. You hurt me. I-I don't want to cause you anymore pain. I've already killed you. And it's still in me. And still out there. I don't want to hurt anyone close to me ever again." Arthur sniffled, tears flooding down his face.

Don't. You. Dare.

I have too!

I'll make like a hell!

I've already lived through hell.

"I'm not worried about anyone hurting anybody. I don't care about the green thing still having a piece inside of you. It doesn't make you who you are." Lewis griped his shoulders tightly.

"Lewis I-It-"Arthur whispered, feeling dizzy suddenly as his sight in his left eye vanished. "I-It isn't...happy..." Arthur worded, feeling more and more numb, seeing Lewis's eyes dart to his left eye with wider eyes, growing worried instantly. "I...fight so hard to keep him down these days...it's exhausting...and it haunts me when I sleep." Arthur admitted, his head swimming, something forcing his brain to work twice as hard to make sentences.

"Arthur your eye! Easy now... don't let it hurt you." Lewis tensed, cupping his face.

"It continues to get stronger...and if I relax for a moment it invades me like this." Arthur spoke with a rasp, before forcing it back down, fighting against it. "The rest of it's coming."

"Wh-what do you...mean by that?" Lewis narrowed his eyes.

Arthur kept tearing up, shaking his head. "I mean it's already on its way! And I'm not going to start this relationship shit if there is a risk! This kind of risk! I hurt someone, die or something horrible It's gonna hurt worse if we are a thing! I don't want that. I'm just a safe man to be around!" Arthur sobbed out.

"Arthur Kingsman! Shut up now!" Lewis hissed, making Arthur flinch and shrink back a bit, before gasping when pulled into a crushing hug. "I. Don't. Care. That it's coming. Or that it's going to hurt me. I don't give a damn because I'm going. To kill it. I'll kill it in front of you. To prove to you I'm going to let nothing hurt you so long as my flame burns! I love you, Arthur. It's too late to tell me no. I'm a ghost of a man who doesn't take no for an answer once my mind is made up. I'll be right here next to you. Whenever you feel him start to overtake you, just squeeze my hand and I'll give you my support. I'll talk to you, keep your mind focused on me instead of it. Everything's going to be fine."

"How do you know?" Arthur wailed into Lewis's chest, clinging to him tightly, trembling.

"Because I said so."

*Meanwhile in Vivi's room*

"Get dat ass." Vivi clenched her hands into fists, shedding a single tear. "My babies! So beautiful."