Chapter Text
Part of Charles wished he could say it was a case gone wrong. In reality, it was almost entirely unrelated to the case. Maybe that was why no one else seemed to notice he was gone.
Charles had been chasing the soul-napping witch through an abandoned warehouse. The problem with a lot of witches was that they got too used to using magic for everything, so when it came down to a fistfight they were pretty much done for. Thankfully, this was one of those witches. Charles was able to catch up with her and tackle her to the ground with ease.
He had been so focused on grabbing the pendant, he didn’t pay much attention to the shattering of glass.
The witch had taken notice, “Shit!” she hissed before shaking off Charles. He let her sprint off this time, he had retrieved the pendant that was keeping ghosts from moving on, so case closed.
He had stood up feeling accomplished and at ease. He brushed off some of the glass that had shattered, it looked like some kind of jar had been broken. Who the hell runs around with a glass jar strapped to them? Talk about a safety hazard.
Only then had he taken notice of the withering black mass gathering itself up from the wreckage. It looked a little like smoke, but it seemed to be shimmering and expanding without a source.
“What the hell?” Charles had wondered aloud. He really should have taken a step back first, because the mass had immediately shot at him.
What happened next, Charles wasn’t sure.
The mass had flung itself at Charles, and it kind of felt like he’d been shot. Or what he thought being shot might have felt like. When the mass hit him, it felt like Charles was getting shoved through a wall. It burned for a moment, before washing him with a cold sensation. Before he knew it, he was on the ground.
The first thing he had noticed was his jacket was missing. His favorite one with all the pins and patches he carefully had decorated it with. It was no longer on his person, leaving him feeling a little naked in his red polo.
The second thing he noticed was that the jacket was still very much floating where he had been standing. Then he noticed the black smoke grow and shift until it took a form that fitted the jacket.
Slowly, the form adjusted and rippled and changed colors until it resembled a person. A person with dark curls, brown skin, and an earring dangling on one ear. At that point Charles realized the form looked like him.
It was strange, watching yourself move. Not just because Charles was unfamiliar with his own reflection. It was hard to keep track of what you look like as a ghost. The only time he has seen himself since he died was that brief moment in Hell.
He didn’t think this time counted, because he was pretty sure this wasn’t Charles.
Sure he looked like Charles in every way, but Charles was currently on the floor.
Not-Charles was feeling his jacket and looking at his hands. He took a few tentative steps, spun around and grinned. “Not bad,” he said to himself in Charles’ voice.
“What the fuck,” Real-Charles had said, “What in the bloody Hell is this.”
Not-Charles ignored him, or maybe couldn’t hear him. He picked up the pendant Charles had dropped.
“Hey! Don’t touch that, it’s dangerous,” Charles yelled. He stood up and reached for the pendant, but his hand went through it. “What?” he whispered.
“Charles?” Edwin called from further back in the warehouse.
Charles had turned to see Edwin running towards him like his life depended on it. “Edwin!” he called back, running towards him. “Edwin, something's wrong.”
But Edwin didn’t stop running. He moved straight through Charles to reach the other form. Charles gaped when he did, and turned around in time to see Edwin throw his arms around Not-Charles.
“Charles, oh thank goodness,” he breathed. The hug was short lived, because Edwin then pushed Not-Charles away, “What on earth were you thinking? Running off like that! Need I remind you that the witch has a contraption that consumes ghosts.” he scolded.
Not-Charles smiled sheepishly, “Sorry mate, but she was getting away. And huh, look what I got,” He held up the pendant, “Case closed right? No harm no foul.”
Edwin pinched the bridge of his nose, “Do not do that again, it worked this time but won’t always.” He sighed and took the pendant, “I’ll let Crystal know we are ready to wrap up the case, well done.”
Not-Charles beamed at Edwin then got sheepish again, “Sorry for scaring you, mate. Won’t happen again, I swear.”
“I sincerely doubt that,” Edwin said immediately, but he no longer seemed angry.
They started to walk away, leaving the actual Charles standing in shock. He couldn’t do anything but stand and stare, watching his life in third-person.
Charles had been snapped back into action when Not-Charles flung an arm around Edwin’s shoulders and said something that made him laugh. He took off running after them, “Wait! Edwin, wait that’s not me, that’s not me! Hang on,” he pleaded, voice tingeing on desperate.
But Edwin didn’t hear him. No matter how loud Charles shouted, Edwin didn’t hear him. Charles tried tugging on his arm, his jacket, and tried shoving him a little. Every single time, his hands would pass straight through like there was nothing there at all. Like Charles wasn’t there at all. He was forced to sit there and watch that thing act and talk and laugh like him.
He had been able to follow them through a mirror back to their office with little issue, but that was the only remaining sense of normalcy. Crystal arrived shortly after them and Charles hoped she could at least help. She was a powerful psychic, surely she would be able to see him. Or at least sense something was wrong.
“Crystal!” he gasped, reaching for her when she arrived, “Crystal listen to me-“ but his hand passed through her too.
“You got it?” she asked, taking the pendant before showing it back in Edwin’s hands, “Woah, Jesus Christ that is a serious piece of magic.”
“You alright?” Not-Charles asked and Crystal nodded.
“Yeah, just a lot of anguish in that little thing. Let's go free some ghosts.”
It was ironic because in that moment, Charles had felt like a trapped ghost filled with anguish. He watched his friends wrap up their case without him. He watched them free four different spirits and he watched as Death collected them. He watched Crystal say goodbye to an imposter and no matter how hard Charles tried to shake her, no matter how many times he said that’s not me, Crystal you have to hear me, something’s wrong, nothing changed.
That’s the life Charles has been living for the last week. A week of watching someone else live his life with no explanation. Maybe Charles has just gone mental. Or maybe the witch casted a spell on him to make him have a nightmare. Any second now he was going to wake up and find Edwin next to him surrounded by spell components used to save Charles from this. But that never happened.
Maybe Charles was in Hell.
He watched Edwin say goodbye to Not-Charles on his way out to pick up spell ingredients they were running low on. Charles tried to follow through the mirror- following Edwin around had to be better than watching this fucked up fake version of himself- but found himself blocked. He pressed his hands to the mirror and tried to focus, but nothing happened. He couldn’t go through.
Charles screamed in frustration, because it didn’t matter anymore. It wasn’t like anyone could hear him-
“Bloody hell, you are obnoxious,” said his own voice from behind him.
Charles whirled around to see Not-Charles smirking at him. It was unsettling, not just because it was his face but because Charles always thought of himself as a friendly guy, but this thing wearing his face was smiling so cruelly at him. “You can see me,” Charles breathed, “You can see me.” He felt anger boiling under his skin. This whole bloody time that thing could see him. He lunged at Not-Charles.
He passed straight through him and tumbled to the floor. Not-Charles laughed, “Nice try. Thought you would know by now that it won’t work,” he sneered.
“Who the fuck are you,” Charles spat, “What did you do to me.”
Not-Charles narrowed his eyes, “I am you.”
Charles stood up quickly, “Fuck off.”
“I’m not lying, I am you. I wasn’t you a week ago, but now I am. I have your face, your job, your friends- all your memories. There’s no difference between us.” Not-Charles spoke airily, like this whole thing was beneath him and he was just being gracious enough to explain it all to Charles.
“Bull shit. You aren’t me and someone’s going to notice.”
“Hm,” Not-Charles hummed, “I wouldn’t count on it.” Charles ignored him and walked back towards the mirror. Before he could try to step through again Not-Charles spoke in a sing-song voice, “That’s not going to work. You can’t go anywhere without me.”
Charles snapped his head back to look at him, “Why,” he hissed.
Not-Charles grinned, “I told you, I am you. Well, maybe a better version of you.”
“What does that mean?” he snarled. Charles wasn’t arrogant enough to pretend there was nothing wrong with him, but what did this… this fucking copy of him have that made him so great.
“Well, for one, I’m not the one that’s been throwing his fists around uselessly for days. Or the one that ran off on his own during a dangerous case. But I am also not a coward.” He got up close to Charles’ face.
“I’m not a coward,” Charles mumbled.
“No? Do I need to show you what I mean? Maybe I should start with Edwin.”
Charles’ heart dropped, “Leave him alone. Don’t- If you fucking hurt him I swear,” he choked.
“Aw, I’m not going to hurt him. I think he might like this new development,” Not-Charles teased. The mirror started to ripple and Not-Charles smirk widened, “Speak of the devil.”
Edwin stepped through the mirror carrying a couple of small boxes, “Apparently, pixie teeth are out of season,” he grumbled, setting their goods on the desk, “We never used to have trouble finding them.”
Not-Charles leaned on the desk next to him, “Maybe we should go collect your own,” he suggested. He fell straight back into acting like Charles Rowland rather than some face-stealing creep.
“The last time we tried that you nearly lost an eye,” Edwin reminded him.
“Hey! That was a long time ago, I am a different man now.”
Edwin gave Not-Charles a small, crooked smile. It was a smile that was almost exclusively reserved for Charles- the actual Charles. “Perhaps we should consider it then.”
Not-Charles laughed then got quiet, “Hey Edwin? Can I talk to you about something? It’s important.”
Edwin’s smile dropped into something serious, “Of course, anything.”
Not-Charles took a deep breath, “Okay so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and- I guess I just wanted to come clean with you. This doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to anymore and-“ his voice trailed off, “Shit, this is hard.”
Edwin’s face softened, “It’s alright Charles,” he tentatively reached for Not-Charles hand.
Not-Charles looked at Edwin with an expression Charles could only describe as adoring. “You know what? Fuck it.” Before Edwin could react, Not-Charles surged forward. He wrapped his hands around his head and pulled Edwin into a kiss.
“What the fuck are you doing.” Charles hissed, “Let go.”
Edwin sniffed in surprise then melted ever so slightly into Not-Charles’ touch. He brought a hand to his shoulder and broke away slightly, “Charles,” he gasped, “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
Not-Charles pulled away so they were face to face. He moved his hands down to rest on Edwin’s back. “Right, sorry about that mate. Felt easier than just words.” He took a deep breath, “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I am definitely in love with you.”
Edwin blinked, “You can’t be serious,” he said disbelievingly.
Charles brought a hand to cup Edwin’s cheek, “Of course I am serious. I am completely one hundred percent in love with you. I think I have been for a while.”
Charles had realized that a few months after getting back from Port Townsend. It took a little while after to get used to the idea. He had definitely been in love for a while, and part of him had always known that. In the end, Charles had decided not to tell Edwin. Their friendship had remained strong after Hell, Charles wasn’t going to ruin that. Charles didn’t know how to be a good partner, he didn’t have any idea what a good partner was even like. He had flings before, but they were always short lived and casual. Being with Edwin would not be causal because Edwin didn’t do that sort of thing and this was about being in love, not just attracted to someone. It was the serious kind of thing, which meant it could be seriously ruined.
Besides, even if he was going to risk blowing up their friendship, he wouldn’t do it like that. He’d make it nice for Edwin. Would tell him exactly how much he meant to Charles before asking to kiss him. Not this confusing, jumbled mess. If Charles Rowland would make a bad boyfriend, whatever this guy was wouldn’t not be any better.
“Oh,” Edwin said, “I don’t know what to say.”
Not-Charles face dropped, “Am I too late? Do you not-“
“No,” Edwin said quickly, pulling Charles hands to his chest. “I love you, that’s never going to change.”
Not-Charles smiled and pressed their heads together, “So we can give us a go?” He asked sweetly.
Edwin nodded, “Though I’m afraid I don’t know how it works.”
Charles laughed lightly, “That’s okay, we can figure it out. We have forever, right?” Edwin nodded and smiled at and Not-Charles kissed him again.
“Stop it,” Charles rasped, “Don’t mess with him like that.” Edwin deserved so much better. So, So much better than some supernatural creature playing with his feelings to fuck with Charles.
They broke away and embraced. Edwin’s head faced away from Charles. Not-Charles, who had his face tucked in Edwin’s neck, shifted to look over at Charles in a way that wouldn’t disturb Edwin. He grinned at him, wide and cruel.
Charles had to be in Hell.