tags: 800 words, ghost!johnny x reader, aftermath of him showing himself for the first time.
Pt One || Pt Two
You'd felt your breath hitch in worry when the broad man pinned you to the door that night only to crash in relief as he faded away like a will-o-wisp after his statement, like he didn't have the energy to hold his body together any longer. A there and gone flicker leaving only the echo of himself behind.
You'd shakily called out into the silent house but there had been no response. It seemed his temper tantrum well and truly wore him out. Just like a toddler.
You were hesitant to celebrate your good fortune too soon but it was relaxing to clean up the aftermath in a quiet environment. The first time it'd been truly quiet in weeks. Still, you couldn't help replaying the vision of him becoming visible in your mind. You didn't think you'd ever seen a man so handsome. It was a shame he was a ghost. And an annoying one at that.
Finished boxing up the food you started on the dishes.
You were a little concerned with what would happen once he came back and the fact that he seemed to be able to touch you now, too. He hadn't been able to do that before. Just like you hadn't ever seen him physically. And then him pinning you to the door? It stressed you out to think about, but you figured you'd cross that bridge when you came to it. It wasn't like you could move out so you two were stuck together unless you found a way to exorcise him.
There was a thought.
Maybe you should see if there were any occult shops near you.
—
Johnny was pissed.
Right after he'd made that statement and pinned you against the door he'd lost all energy and faded right back into the incorporeal realm. He wasn't around to watch you call out 'Hello?' into the empty house and have silence bounce back.
He felt like he'd been rung out to dry. He'd never expended that much energy in one go before and that combined with forcing a physical body had sapped him. He wasn't aware of who or where he was for a while, content to just float as he regained his strength.
His sense of self came back first. A faint, flickering light that reminded him he used to be human, used to have wants and needs that he worked towards. Goals and desires alike. He used to be willful. Driven. Determined. These were the first flavors that seeped back into his psyche and he latched onto them with a fervor.
Next, unsurprisingly, were thoughts of you. Thoughts of how you looked, sounded, acted around his house. You saturated his mind with your brightness and he felt himself craving more. Yearning to be near you. To be in your presence.
Where were you now? He needed to get to you. To find you. Needed to make his presence known again. To touch you. Talk to you.
He needed to get home.
That was enough to bring him back to consciousness, albeit barely. He looked around the living room with bleary eyes, searching for you. Finding it empty he floated into the kitchen where he found you stocking groceries into the fridge and cabinets.
How long had he been gone?
"Did ye miss me?" he cooed exhaustedly cockily, cheeky smile playing across his face only for you to ignore him and continue emptying bags. His smirk dropped into a frown as he pouted. Moving around to the cabinets in front of you he tried to close one to get your attention only for his hand to pass right through.
Pulling back, he looked at his hand then the cupboard then his hand and tried again. It had been ages since he couldn't manipulate items, especially something as simple as a door. Same result. He passed through the wood like it wasn't even there. Or rather, like he wasn't even there.
"You've gotta be kidding me," he said crossly. "You can't hear me at all, can you?"
No response from you.
He let his head drop back with a groan, scowling up at the ceiling in frustration. Why'd this have to happen now? He just realized he could touch you and now you were being dangled just out of his reach? How was that fair?
Turning to glare at you like this was your fault, he took joy in the shiver that skittered down your spine. Pleased that you could still feel his displeasure even if you didn't know he was there. He'd just have to wait until he regained all his strength. Then he could greet you properly.
He could be patient.
Especially if you were waiting at the finish line.
