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His atoms were surely being ripped apart. Being unraveled and unmade in a place not quite hell not quite heaven, somewhere he did not belong. It was the closest to pain he’d ever experienced, because up until that moment, he had never felt. Quintessence ghouls were never created with the intention of being anything more than stardust and shadow. Certainly not created with the intention to feel , to ever exist in a state of being such as this.
Agony was a foreign concept that overwhelmed each of his newfound senses. Drowned by the onslaught of awareness forced upon him as the essence of his form was bound to a carefully crafted vessel. A body that felt constricting as it was heavy.
His head spun. This was what dizziness must have felt like. It replaced the pain of being reshaped into something corporeal at the least. Another feeling that was decidedly unpleasant. This whole ‘experiencing’ thing wasn’t off to a great start in his eyes. The world met his ears for the first time and introduced itself with a muffled yet sharp ringing sound that rattled in his skull and vibrated into his teeth. A reedy, distressed sound bubbled out of him, facial features twitching before screwing up. Nerve endings responding entirely on their own.
Around him, the muted sounds turned to proper silence in response.
Opening his eyes was a fight. Met with dark hazy figures and dull flickering orange lights before his eyes pulled shut again. The second time, two of the shadowy silhouettes had moved closer. Inside the apparent ring of candles he realized he was situated in.
“— is he? ” The taller of the two asked with an audible reluctance, voice soft as a whisper.
“ Probably not .” The shorter responded and knelt in front of him. Close now, he could smell smoke tinged with something unidentifiable yet sweet. “ Don’t think he’s dead at least .”
Two sets of hands found his body. One took him by the arms and the other supported his head in anticipation of his uncooperative limbs, he was a rag doll in their hands, but at least he was upright. He blinked sluggishly, vision struggling against him.
“ No ,” the taller sighed in relief. “He’s perfect.”
Blue eyes and a soft smile came into focus as a thumb stroked along his cheek. Another sensation he slowly tuned into, the unnatural cold of his hands overtaking the residual heat lingering from an eternity in the pits. It almost felt nice compared to everything else up until that moment. Compared to everything else he was currently experiencing; the flickering lights, the whispered chatter just outside the ring of candles the three of them resided in, the overwhelming scent of chemical and ash burning in the back of his throat. All of it was too much, but this touch, the tender grace against his cheek, kept him from drowning in it.
The other ghoul’s face still held worry. Concern creased his sharp features, the furrow between his brows almost looked like it belonged there. Stayed that way until the glassy-ness in his eyes began to fade, until there was a spark of recognition to them. He ran a hand through his long hair with a breathy laugh of disbelief, the soot on his fingers darkening the red at the roots. Black powder smudged both of the ghouls before him, and glancing down, he realized it dirtied him the same. Coated the stone he sat on.
”There you are…” He breathed, reaching out to replace the cold touch with one much warmer. It settled into his skin. Drove away all the tension stored up in his body, ease washed over him. “Rain, the sheet.”
“Oh—“ Rain’s smile turned a touch sheepish, withdrawing entirely. He couldn’t help the sad sound rising in his throat at the loss of contact. It didn’t last long, Rain returned and he suddenly found himself being wrapped in something soft. ”Think he likes you, Dew…The other one tried to scratch Mountain’s eyes out but you’ve got this one practically purring for you already.”
Dew shrugged easily, and shot Rain a grin. Attention flitting briefly away from him. Those mismatched eyes left and their absence welcomed a sensation akin to gnawing in the confines of his chest. Desperate as it was insistent.
Wait .
The quiet plea echoed and both ghouls appeared to jump. Startled by the whisper that slipped past their ears and straight to their skulls.
“Did he just…?” Rain started, letting out a breath of laughter. The question hung in the air. Neither Dew nor the other shaded figures behind him answered. “ Fucking quint ghouls , truly they never cease to amaze, do they?”
“We aren’t going anywhere, wisp.” Dew assured with a softened tone. “You’re home now.”
Home.
It was one simple word, unfamiliar to him yet sparked to life like an ember finding kindling. Not just heat. Warmth that bloomed at his core and began to spread, to trickle through his veins. Ultimately it covered him, swaddled him like the sheet Rain had delicately wrapped him in. Another new feeling, but he wanted to get lost in it. The feeling took him in, held him carefully, just like Dew did. It felt good to feel it.
“Do you remember your name?” Rain asked.
Phantom .
”Phantom.” He repeated and that warmth bubbled up, the stardust he was created from twinkling and burning eagerly. His tail moved on its own, thumping against the stone floor, displacing the fabric draped over him. “ Oh— “
“Well would you look at that…I think he likes you too, Raincloud.”