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They were standing below the door, staring at the Manager with horror. Hugo sobbed.
- Please, don't!
- I made an executive order. I don't usually retract my decisions.
- I've always done everything you asked me to. And more. But please! Why are you doing this? What is my sin? Is it love for this man?
- I need you to do your work. He's a distraction.
- You never asked for celibacy! I never signed up for a life of a hermit, tied as I am to this place. Wallace is… He's made me happier than I've been for years. Ever since… Please! He's… he's family!
- Humans are messy, I'll give you that. Honestly, I wouldn't bother if it wasn't down in the rulebook that the ferryperson needs to be human. There are more appropriate beings for the job, if you ask me. But no matter. I need the machine to run smoothly, therefore I've allowed some concessions. Nelson and Apollo are here for this exact reason: family. They are more than enough to keep you company. And this man over here… In the few weeks he's been here, he's been nothing but trouble. No, I was happy with how things were before, and I'm going to make it right again. I want him gone. He's not going to suffer, you know. He's off to a better place, and once you're done with your job over here, you can join him. Please do not make this difficult. I know you're better than this. I don't expect you to act selfishly. Do your job and soon enough you'll be reunited. Off you go, Wallace. Let's get this over with.
Wallace hesitated, unable to take his eyes off Hugo. The man was down on the floor, sobbing hard.
It was Nelson who spoke.
- So you need me and Apollo to keep your ferryman up and working? Now this is unfortunate because I'm happy to say I'm finally ready to move on. I've lingered long enough.
Wallace and Mei gasped in unison when they realized what he was saying. Hugo raised his teary face at his grandfather.
- Grandpa, no!
- Shush. It's my decision to make. I'm old. I'm tired. I'd love to finally get some rest, knowing that my grandson is in good hands. Wallace. I trust you to take care of him, as I have. No, I expect you to do much more than me, if you know what I mean. Make him happy. Give him a shoulder to cry on... figuratively. Be there for him when I'm gone. He needs you more than he needs me now.
He glanced at the Manager who stood there with an incredulous smile on his face.
- Well? It's been getting too crowded here lately. I'll gladly give the lads some privacy. And one less ghost in this place will satisfy your need for order, surely?
- So you're offering yourself instead of him? Now that's interesting.
- You bet I am!
- Grandpa...
- Not a word. I've made up my mind. I couldn't live with myself - okay, "live" might be a stretch. I stayed to keep you safe and happy. And for the love of me, I can't imagine you staying happy without Wallace.
He turned to the Manager.
- Now get me through that door, and let the boys be. Wallace has done so much good these last few weeks, he's going to make a great asset to the team. Surely you can see that. Actually, if you ask me, you should add something about a dead team member to this rulebook of yours. The humans sleep. What is a lonely, confused ghost to do with themselves during the night? That's where we ghosts come in. We're indispensable!
- This is all very well, but I've seen more than you. I've seen them pining and hurting, unable to cross the barrier between the living and the dead. Humans are carnal creatures. Living on different planes of existence will only bring them pain. Which is a distraction. Better end it early. I'm not unreasonable, I will allow Hugo and Mei adequate time to grieve.
- So the only reason you're going to force Wallace through the door - an offence you once disintegrated a Reaper for, may I remind you - is that they cannot TOUCH? Is that it? Surely, as an all-powerful being you can do something about it?
The Manager gave him a long, thoughtful look.
- I can sort of see that. He'd need some adjustments, though.
- Adjustments?
- Well, if he's going to be part of the team, I can't have him fall apart the moment he steps foot outside the tea shop. I need someone more... durable.
Wallace was offended.
- Haven't I proven myself? I'm going to be fine!
- This is for me to decide. It's tempting - a ghost team member, helping other spirits move on, sharing their lot. But, Wallace, is it worth it? You're dead, you don't belong here and you'll always be reminded of it, as long as you exist in this plane. You won't share the experiences of the humans. You'll watch them eat and sleep, feeling lonely as only a ghost among the living can feel. There must be a part of you that wants to move on to your final destination. You're being called.
He glanced at the door. Wallace followed his gaze, suddenly remembering the light, and the voices, and the promise they carried. Beyond the door lay eternal happiness, all he needed to do was take this small step forward towards the future that awaited him out there.
Then he turned to Hugo. The ferryman sat beside him, tears flowing from his eyes, despair etched on his face. And suddenly there was no door, no voices, no future outside this man. He wanted to dry those tears, and hug him, oh, hug him and keep him safe, forever. There was nothing more he wanted from his afterlife. Then, the reality of the situation hit him. He'd never be able to hug Hugo. Not here, not while he was still alive. He felt the weight of that thought, dragging him down from elation to absolute misery.
The Manager nodded, as if he'd been listening to his thoughts.
He'd do it, though. They'd figure it out. They'd find cozy rituals to feel each other's presence. They'd be there for each other in so many other ways. They could make it work, Wallace knew it.
The Manager smiled.
- So you'd gladly spend decades just beside each other, disconnected, never touching, constantly overlapping? No, I won't have that. I'm not a cruel being.
- Manager, please!
- I'm not a cruel being but I'm a capable one. Here, let me think.
And with that the boy took a flower out of his hair.
- There you go, Wallace. Take it.
- What?
- Take it before I change my mind. Put it in your hair.
And Wallace did, the flower latching on instantly, emitting a faint glow that seemed to envelop his whole immaterial body.
- There you go. I figured you'd do with a little bit more substance.
- Substance?
- Well, yes. From now on the flower will keep you safe outside the tea shop. No more loose fingernails for you. Although I'd advise you not to go very far and get mixed up in your former human affairs. That life is gone. You're still dead and burried, and there's no need to get involved. Use this gift to seek out Husks that might need your help. You and Hugo. They can be found all over, so you'll get to travel on certain assignments. I'm sure Hugo won't mind.
- But --
- The flower will have another long-lasting effects you'll probably enjoy, carnal beings as you are. Wallace, consider yourself hired and on probation. Prove to me that you're worth the trouble, and you can stay for as long as your services remain useful.
Wallace was reminded unpleasantly of the talks he used to have with his new employees, and hoped the Manager wasn't as unforgiving as he used to be.
The Manager nodded, and turned.
- Nelson.
- Right on it. Let me just say my goodbyes.
The elderly man leaned down and placed a hand gingerly on Hugo's shoulder, his fingers sinking slightly through his flesh. He sighed. Hugo raised his tear-filled eyes on his grandfather, shaking with stifled sobs. Nelson smiled.
- Now, don't be like that. It was supposed to have happened long ago. It makes sense. You're safe. And I'll go knowing Wallace will be there for you. He still needs to learn a trick or two in the ghostly department, but seems talented enough, he'll figure it out without my guidance.
He turned to Wallace.
- I trust you. You've come a long way. Make the best of your chance, the both of you.
He turned to the door. Apollo was yelping quietly by Hugo's side, the ferryman looking as if he was about to fall apart completely. Wallace moved forward without a though, and placed his hand where Nelson's hand had been a moment before, right on Hugo's shoulder, wanting to comfort him as best he could.
He gasped as his fingers pressed against Hugo's shirt. He yanked his hand away, his expression of utter shock mirrored on Hugo's face.
- Hugo! You... I... Did you feel that?
Nelson and Mei watched them, eyes wide.
- Yes! Was it...? Wallace, did you just TOUCH me?
Wallace didn't speak. He kneeled in front of Hugo and extended his hand once more. And - marvel of marvels - it stopped on Hugo's shoulder. He could feel the fabric under his skin, and - oh! - the heat of Hugo's skin right beneath it. He squeezed his shoulder lightly. Hugo took a shaky breath. He raised his arm hesitantly and pressed his fingertips against Wallace's hand. It was quite solid, quite real, skin smooth and warm.
- It's not there, you know. - the Manager said. - Not really. His hands, along with the rest of his body, are in a burried casket right now, decaying slowly. I could show you if you'd like. Now that could be fun!
Wallace felt a bout of nausea at the thought. He rarely thought about his body, lying there, probably being eaten by worms at this point. He had a sudden vision of a sunken, decaying face, eye sockets already hollow. He swallowed.
- I think we get the idea, thank you. What's this then? Why can we touch?
- The flower. It brings you a little closer to the doorway. You can pull away if you need to, take a step back into the plane of the dead, but as long as the flower is there, it will pull you back towards the living, closer than a ghost would normally be. Hugo, he's dead and don't you forget it. But for all intents and purposes, you can satisfy your need for physical connection with this shadow of a man. If this is what you want then --
He stopped mid-sentence as Hugo lunged himself at Wallace, pressing his body tight against his. Feeling the ghost of a man with every nerve fiber. The warmth, the softness, the rough threads of his ridiculous t-shirt, he was taking it all in, incredulous. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the smell of Wallace's cologne. Expensive cologne, must have been, from his other life, not something he'd normally care much about. He didn't care now. He didn't even care if it was all in his head. It was Wallace! And he was THERE. He pressed his head against his chest, the silence within very, very obvious. But what was one heartbeat against years and years of THIS!
Hugo was crying, and then Wallace was, too, embracing the ferryman and squeezing him tightly, to make up for all those weeks of just being there, like a whisp of smoke in the air, bodiless, useless. They were taking each other in, their bodies so familiar, and yet so new. And oh, it was almost too much. Wallace never wanted to pull away. He ran his hands along Hugo's arms, back and forth, incredulously, studying every centimeter of skin and muscle beneath, marvelling at the feeling. Finally, he cradled the man in his arms, pressing his face to the top of his head and giving in the the bliss of connection, while Hugo broke up into sobs again.
Now, Mei's cheeks were streaked with tears, and Nelson's grin was wider than ever. It took them all a long time to compose themselves. The Manager watched them curiously.
- Humans are weird creatures, but you're growing on me. I'm having fun!
Hugo raised his head slowly, his body still cradled tightly into Wallace (he tried not to think: Wallace's body, the thought of the actual body made him shiver). He pulled away slightly. Wallace looked down at him, and smiled warmly.
- Hello, Hugo.
- Hello, Wallace.
And feeling like he couldn't take this anymore, like he couldn't waste one more second, he carefully leaned down. Their cheeks brushed, sending sparks through their bodies, tear streaks mixing together. Their hands met, fingers intertwined. And there were Hugo's lips, full and soft, the lips he'd spent hours studying, wondering how they'd feel on his, yearning, crushed with sorrow that only the finality of death could bring. The river only flows in one direction. Yet here they were, in a little river bend right before the waterfall. The water was calm here and as long as they didn't float into the current, they were going to be okay.
Their lips met, and it was bliss like he'd never known before. In that moment nothing existed except for Hugo's lips, Hugo's cheeks, Hugo's nose brushing against his while they moved their lips slowly, giving in to the sensation.
The Manager cleared his throat.
- I sincerely hope these bodily pleasures won't distract you from the tasks at hand. I'd be very dissatisfied of they did. I expect you to act professionally.
The men pulled apart, and nodded in unison. They stood up, their fingers still tightly intertwined, still scared the boy before them could change his mind.
- Nelson.
The old man gave Mei and Wallace one last crushing hug. He kissed his grandson on the forehead.
- Let's get this over with. I hate goodbyes.
He pulled at something at his chest, and with a last fleeting smile rose up towards the ceiling. Hugo lunged forward and opened the door.
- See you later, Grandpa!
- Take your time. I'll be waiting. I have all the time in the world. Now isn't this wonderful?
Nelson looked up, smiling in awe.
- Oh my... This... I never thought! Hello!
And then he had eyes only for those awaiting him on the other side. He was rising higher and higher, his head and torso already through the door. There was a yelp somewhere at Hugo's feet. Apollo. The dog jumped frantically, watching Nelson's hips disappear through the door. He ran to and fro, barking at Hugo, then back at Nelson.
Hugo kneeled.
- I'll be fine, I promise. You keep him company.
And he untethered the dog. Apollo took one last look at his master, and bounded towards Nelson, his paws rising into the air, as he lunged at the door. A moment later they were both gone.
- Ah, that's going to be some satisfying paperwork - said the Manager. - Those two had been in my in tray for way too long. Well, I'll leave you three to it. I'll be back in a fortnight with your next assignment. You boys need your honeymoon.
With that, the boy turned around and trotted happily downstairs, the tap-tap-tap of his bare feet turning slowly into a deep sound of hooves as they heard him move towards the door downstairs.
Soon they were all alone. They looked at each other. Hugo sunk to his knees again, then sat right down on the floor. Mei and Wallace followed him.
- Now that's a bummer! - cried Mei. - I mean, I'm happy for you guys, I can't even start to imagine how you're feeling. But really, I wish he'd given Wallace his life back. You'd make such a great Reaper! And you could man the counter! And taste my scones! For a moment I thought... I'm sorry, man.
Wallace moved closer and hugged her.
- It's okay, Mei. If he could've, he'd probably have done it. Less of a bureaucratic aberration. If he hasn't, it's probably because he can't. My body isn't in any working condition at this point, I can't imagine bringing it back. - He shuddered. He'd have to shake that image, it was too distressing. He brushed his fingers against the flower in his hair. It sat there snugly.
- But look, I'm here. Does it really matter? Your scones smell amazing and the good thing is, I don't get hungry so it's not like I ever really crave them. Sure, people can't see me so I won't be able to take orders at the tea shop, but on the bright side: I don't sleep so I'll be able to do all the paperwork at night. Paperwork is kind of my thing, you know. We'll make it work. I know we will.
Hugo sighed.
- I'll grow old, Wallace. And you'll stay like you are. What will you want with an old man?
- Then I'll match you! I'm sure I'll be able to learn how. If I can change clothes, surely I can change my age. Or I can go the other way and get myself a rejuvenating treatment. Whatever rocks your boat. I can't see myself in the mirror anyway, so it doesn't matter to me either way.
He felt a twitch in his chest. He'd never see himself again. He hadn't thought of that before. Still, why was Hugo worrying about such small things?
- You'll grow old and you'll die, and I'll be there all along. We'll cross the door together. Isn't that something to look forward too? Until then, we have so much time. It's all I could have asked for! We're tea shop partners!
He glanced at Hugo, who seemed calm enough, pressing his arm against his.
- And were getting a new service dog.
Hugo spluttered. For a while they sat right there on the floor, taking in the enormity of the situation. And then, slowly, gingerly, they moved downstairs. They'd talk over tea. The living might get some sleep (Wallace reminded himself to get Hugo to borrow him some books from the library to pass the time). There was a new day ahead of them. They'd open the shop, Wallace working in the kitchen (he was determined to learn to bake). They'd hug and kiss a lot, in passing, and then, in the evening, Wallace and Hugo would take a long scooter ride, all on their own, to explore their newfound freedom. And at night, they could finally be together fully, body against immaterial body, takich each other in with wonder. Wallace wished they could fall asleep together afterwards, but a night alone was a small price to pay for what they had. Which was all the time in the world.