(Ember is this dense idiot. Its gonna be like that meme of the guy looking at a butterfly asking if it's a pigeon. is this just a great friendship where we both deeply care for each other???? she will ask in stupid confusion. 😂)
Ember couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her even as she cried. It was hard to believe that it was just little over a day ago she'd promised him pancakes. "I can't believe you remember that after everything that's happened."
She took a deep breath to compose herself. It didn't work very well. "That sounds so nice." Before Jamie she'd hated the idea of going to the after life alone- but now she looked forward to it.
Ember stayed quiet for a long time, the only sounds their breathing and her occasional sniffle.
"Your stubbornness is gonna be the death of me isn't it?" Her lame attempt at making a joke.
( 😂 😂 😂 Jamie’s in the corner facepalming like: ‘I think I’m in love with you, you gorgeous idiot’)
Jamie made a face, sticking his tongue out playfully. “Pancakes are literally my favorite breakfast food. I never forget about pancake promises.” He mused, laughing along with her.
Something inside his chest had fluttered at that soft sound of her laugh. It was cute. He wanted her to do it more often.
“It does sound nice, doesn’t it? I can’t wait for it.” Jamie could admit that he too was excited for the afterlife now, especially if it was with Ember. He would wait for however long it took for her debts to be paid off and then he would take her out for more pancakes and celebrate with a walk to the afterlife.It sounded like a dream or some far away fantasy. He enjoyed it a lot.
The silence didn’t bother him, in fact it only allowed him to take in his other senses and how they felt. Jamie was both delighted and confused.
Since when did he find her soft, red hair so pretty? When did he decide that her hand fit a little too well in his?
He brushed the thoughts off the second she spoke.
“Course not, it’s going to be the life of you.” He teased, laughing softly. “But come on, you have to admit my stubbornness makes me all the more alluring,”
"oh yes, I'm sure all the girls are after you." Ember rolled her eyes, and laughed again despite the tears.
She wasn't any less afraid of losing Jamie Because of his resolve to stay. His revolve thrilled her. But it was hard to explain.
Losing all her memory when she became a reaper meant she'd lost the knowledge to identify her emotions.
Anger had been easy, so had joy and sadness. But what she felt when she was with Jamie, that was the hard part. If felt almost like what she and Teddy had. Friendship.
But at the same time it didn't.
The way it was comforting to be held, or the way her stomach fluttered when she was around him. That need to protect. It almost hurt.
"You should get some sleep. You still look awful." She'd fully pulled away now, drawing her hands back to herself to wipe away the remaining tears. "I'll keep watch for a few hours, don't fight me on this."
“Oh you bet they are. I have every girl from the next city over to here lined up to date me.” He laughed, shaking his head. “If that were true I’d be dating someone already.” He offered her a sad smile as he studied her face again, taking in as much as he could.
She was beautiful, it was no wonder Audric had wanted her love. Jamie hated the fact that she had ended up with someone as messed up as Audric was.
If it had been Jamie, he would have given her the world.
He shook those thoughts from his brain, ignoring the red that creeped onto his cheeks.
“I do not look awful.” Jamie retorted, taking a fake offense to her words with an amused grin. “But I could go for some sleep… please wake me up in a few hours or so, okay? So that you can sleep too.”
"I will," But Ember wasn't sure if she would be able to sleep when the time came. Thoughts of the Crawler still lurked in the back of her mind, and after everything Jamie had told her- She hopped Teddy was okay.
She stood stretching out her arms, only to pull the injured one back close to her chest. It felt almost unnatural to be healing so slowly. So human. the reaper quickly composed herself, playing it off as something else. She didn't need to give Jamie something else to worry about.
"I'll be in the Living room if you need anything."
Jamie watched her for a moment longer, nodding ever so slightly.
He grinned suddenly, snickering as something clicked inside of his head.
“The living room huh?”
His grin only widened.
“I guess you’ll be safe then, can’t die in the living room.” He stretched himself out and began a causal stroll towards the bedroom. “I’ll sleep, but only because you asked me to.”
(The punsssss. Yessss.)
Embers brows caressed at Jamie's joke. Last she'd checked humans didn't have that kind of power. At least not for.making a room that someone couldn't die it.
Then it clicked, and Ember groaned "that was awful." She laughed anyway. "Goodnight Jamie," her voice was sing songy in a sarcastic kind of way.
(I had to)
“You know you loved it.” He purred, laughing happily.
Jamie snickered to himself, winking at Ember as he turned to shut the bedroom door but not before giving her a soft smile and speaking:
“Goodnight Ember, stay safe.”
(I can just imagine Audric stabbing one of them and being angry they aren't dying, only for them to be like "WerE iN ThE lIviNg ROoM" and then Audric Explodes)
"You too," Ember gave her own small smile, her eyes lighting up. The joke had taken her mind off the crawlers- she'd completely forgotten to tell Jamie about them. Though maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She didn't want to worry him any more then her might have already been.
Ember sat on the couch, pulling her legs up to her chest. Thinking about the Crawlers only made its voice creep back into her head. The scratchy way it had told her to run.
The crawlers prawled through the night searching for the apartment Audric had told them about. He had went back to the reapers realm, leaving them to find it on their own.
(YES I LOVE THAT. The only way to defeat Audric is to kill him by standing in the living room)
Once inside the room he became suddenly aware of how alone he was. He didn't like it. Not one bit. But he could stand it. So he climbed into the bed and wrapped himself up in the covers, staring at the wall.
Maybe sleep was going to be harder to come by than he first thought.
His mind wandered after the first few minutes of laying in the dark.
Jamie was trying to figure out what it was that made him want to stay with Ember so badly. He had a second chance at life. He could leave and live. What else could he even ask for?!
Well.
He could ask for Ember's companionship. For more time to be around her. Jamie didn't want to leave. He didn't want a second chance at life. No. He only wanted to stick by Ember for as long as he could. To see her smiling face when he joked about something dumb or to see that determination that lit up her gorgeous eyes. And the way her hair fell around her pretty face? Uncanny. Beautiful. Absolutely-
Ah hell.
Jamie had gone and fallen in love with his reaper.
(Sorry for the disappearance 💀)
Ember didn't mind keeping watch, but being alone with that awful voice still echoing in her head did. Run. she wanted to.
She wanted to forget she had ever been a reaper, wanted to forget about Audric who wanted to kill her. Again- wanted to kill her again.
Ember changed her mind, it wasn't just the crawlers voice that was driving her crazy.
(Y'all are good!)
Jamie rolled over and groaned before he forced himself to sit up, staring around at the empty bedroom he used to be so content in. He barely had anything in the room besides his furniture and clothing. The walls were barren except for a few complimentary paintings the landlord had used to hide stains or holes in the walls. The cream color taunted him, reminding him that he really didn't have much of anything in this life other than his family.
College was fun and he was moving steadily up towards his dream career but he had no steady friends, no significant other, no one to sit and have those real deep talks with.
He felt lonely.
Jamie subconsciously stood and walked to the door, placing his hand on the doorknob and pausing.
Ember would be upset with him if he didn't sleep. But he didn't want to be alone at the moment.
He pushed all his thoughts away and turned the door handle, sheepishly making his way over to her.
"C-can I stay out here with you? I'll even sleep on the couch. I don't want to be in there alone at the moment."
(Also, Jamie: having a crisis over falling in love - Ember: Sounds of panic over the situation like a normal person would be doing in their situation)
(It's because she's like a baby with her emotions 😂)
Ember jumped at the sound of Jamie's voice. And even though she was upset with him for not going to sleep, a small part of her was happy. She didn't want to be alone either.
"No- I mean yeah, yes." The reaper slid to the far end of the couch, stretching her legs back out. "But you really should get some sleep." She was one to talk
Something inside fluttered a little, Ember frowned. She wasn't sick, but it almost felt like she was. Sick from the fear perhaps? Or maybe Jamie had just startled her a little more then she was willing to admit?
(I love her so much)
He laughed softly as he sat down on the other end of the couch, blushing lightly when he brought his eyes up to look at her.
“I know, I know. But I won’t be able to sleep in there.” Jamie flashed her a small smile as he moved to curl up against the back of the couch, facing her.
“I’m sorry if I scared you, Ember. You jumped a little.”
(I can see Jamie dropping huge hints or even flat out telling her, and Ember still not getting it. A single brain cell is devoted to her emotions 👌)
"No its fine," Ember turned to Jamie, her smile falling. "Your face is flushed, are you not feeling well?" Sicknesses where such a human thing. And considering that she had thought she was sick- perhaps they both where.
The reaper reached across the couch and placed her hand on his forehead. She'd spent plenty of time in hospitals to know how to check for a fever. "Maybe coming back to life shocked your system."
(Ppfffttt I love her so much 😂 😂 She’s so funny)
“Flushed!?” His voice cracked a little more than he wanted it to. “No, no, I’m fine I’m sure it’s just the lighting or maybe I got too hot in the room or-“
He paused right away when she reached across to take his temperature. Jamie’s face went an even deeper shade of crimson, leaving him both mortified and embarrassed.
“M-maybe. That has to be it… right? I mean I was dead for a day or so.”
(Oh my gosh poor Jamie 😂)
Ember frowned, "you're sure you're not feeling sick?" She leaned back, eyes still on his redend face. She didn't know enough about the living to know why his face was actually red. Or why her own stomach was still fluttering.
"Have you had any water since coming back?" Living people needed that to stay.. Living? Ember shook her head. Being a reaper had been so much easier.
(He’s a mess when it comes to emotions 😂 he’s the opposite side of the spectrum from Ember.)
“Y-yeah! I’m fine, really. Just a little warm is all.” He reassured, trying to play it off as well as he could.
When asked about water he paused, opening his mouth to speak but nothing came out.
Had he drank any water since coming back from the dead? He hadn’t ate much either, had he?
“Oh… no I don’t think I have. Or if I have I don’t remember drinking any.”
(Two halves of a whole idiot)
"I'm almost certain you need water to survive" like a plant- though Ember kept that small bit to herself. Maybe that's why the reapers realm was so dead, there wasn't any water.
Ember got up from the couch, made her way to the kitchen and rumedged around for a cup. She filled it with water before returning and handing it to Jamie. "If you're getting sick that won't be good. We have no idea when the physio will show up again."
(Which is what makes them a perfect match, one functional idiot)
“Almost?” He chuckled lightly to himself. “What’s the ‘almost’ part of that? I’m pretty sure the living need water.”
Jamie took the water gratefully, suddenly aware of how dry his mouth was. “Thanks. But don’t worry about me, Ember. I’m not getting sick. I would know if I was. I have this weird thing where when I’m sick the lymph nodes on my neck swell.” He took a sip of the water before chuckling and shaking his head.
“What a weird thing to tell someone. I suppose you are technically my guide and savior, as strange as that sounds.”
Ember raised a brow at the strange information.
"Savior? I'm the one that got us into this mess." The reaper brought her knees up to her chest. God's, she really was responsible. Everything that had let up to this point, and according to what Jamie had told her, She'd brought her own death upon herself too.
She pushed her thoughts away. "You're supposed to be sleeping. Now do so or I'll send you back to your room." She tried to make her voice stern.
Jamie shook his head at her words, frowning. “Not really. If anything you’re more a victim here, Ember. It’s not your fault the dudes crazy.” It was never the one who was harmed that was to blame. The murdered wasn’t responsible for their death. Their murderer was. Jamie believed very deeply in that, as he had been victim blamed before and it was not a pleasant situation.
He gasped when she threatened to send him back into the room, dramatically pulling his blanket over himself and setting down his cup.
“Noooo! I’ll sleep, I’ll sleep. See? I’m sleeping.” He laughed softly as he settled down, closing his eyes.
“Don’t know how well I’ll sleep, though.”
Ember quirked a smile, despite the fact that she still felt like it was her fault. Not that it was, Jamie was right about that. Audric was crazy.
"Oh please, I'll protect you." She flexed her biceps, even though she had little to no muscle. There was absolutely no way Audric was stupid enough to try and attack them when they where together. Besides, they would be ready this time.
"You're a hard man to find Theodore, I'll give you that." Audric grind. Finding him again wasn't as easy with Ember out of the picture. Not that Ember had been in the picture for a very long time.
"You'll be happy to know the crawlers failed at killing her today. And that little friend of hers wouldn't give her up."
Theo grimaced. He never wanted Ember to die, and definitely didn't want Jamie getting dragged into this huge mess. "I wanted her to regain her memories, you sociopath. You're trying to get rid if her for good." Theodore looked to the crawlers that where slowly surrounding him. "Even if she remembered us, the life her and you had, Audric. what makes you think she wants us back? I can already tell she likes that soul." Theodore wanted his old friend to be happy. And Audric was running it.
"Lets talk more on the other side." Audric winked, the crawlers lunged.
(Bruh I laid down at 5, and just woke up now at like 11 I’m disoriented but the only thing in my brain is S O U P)
“Mm I feel so protected,” he rumbled sleepily, flashing her a soft smile. “Thank you, Ember… you’re my savior…” Despite his earlier words, Jamie was soon out cold, cuddling with a pillow with his mouth slightly open.
His rest was mostly uninterrupted, with no clear signs of any nightmares, though he did toss and turn a little.
(THEEEOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOO)
(Dude I've done that before! Last Sunday I was only awake for 3 hours it was so weird. Like I woke up to go to church, passed out in the place, woke up at the end went home, passed out again, woke up bc my cousin came over, then died again after she left. The next morning all I could think about was bread)
Ember never woke Jamie up for a shift change. She wasn't tired. It felt good staying up the whole night, despite the fact that she actually felt like crap.
The reaper had spent most of the night by the window, or close to the door just listening. There where a few moment's when she could have sworn she heard a crawler snarl. But in the end she passed it off as her mind playing tricks.
Little did the reaper know that there where crawlers searching threw the night.
At one point Ember even just sat there and watched Jamie breath. It was still weird to think that they where alive again.
"Hey Jamie," the sky was already turning to a soft orange when she finally decided to wake him.
