For the Fic Title meme: Where Do We Go From Here
Paddy has been walking for a good hour before he sees a silhouette on the horizon, tall and walking down the sand dunes towards him with determined steps. A grin pulls at Paddy's lips, relief at the sight of those dark curls whipping in the wind and Eoin's unmistakable gait flooding his veins until he feels like he's floating. His legs carry him as fast as if they were wings, and soon he's standing in front of Eoin, a winded laugh escaping him as he restrains himself from pulling the lad into a hug just yet. Instead, his eyes roam over Eoin's form, looking for any gashes or bruises but Eoin looks.. nothing like a man who's just jumped from a plane in a sandstorm. Save from the wrinkles the wind has creased in his uniform, he looks pristine, not even a bead of sweat darkening his brow.
"Fall got you easy, then?"
Eoin flinches before he coughs, looking over himself seemingly for the first time. His jaw locks and Paddy blinks, for the first time noticing how rigid Eoin stands before Eoin shakes his head with a weak smile that Paddy puts on the adrenaline — he too can feel his limbs grow heavier as the relief of seeing Eoin safe and in one piece leaves place to exhaustion.
"Looks like it, yeah," Eoin finally says, voice faint. "You alright?"
"Oh, I'm grand," Paddy laughs before he pulls Eoin in a hug, heart settling at the solid weight of him. For a second Eoin does nothing, arms limp at his sides before a choked out sound leave him and he buries his face in Paddy's hair, shoulders shaking. Hands stroking Eoin's back, Paddy pulls him closer, closing his eyes against the wave of emotions coursing through him.
He'll just hold on for a few seconds more. Even if nobody is there to witness it, Eoin would think nothing of it if Paddy held him for a bit longer than he usually would — they did jump out of a plane during a sandstorm after all. Surely Paddy can hug him for a few seconds more, reveling in Eoin's scent that floods his senses as Paddy tilts his head into Eoin's neck, inhaling deeply.
At the back of his mind, he makes a note of the lack of sweat or dirt in Eoin's scent as though the elements themselves didn't dare taint him, but Paddy cannot be bothered to think about that right now. His time is up; any longer and Eoin is bound to notice how long the hug has gone on.
With great reluctance, Paddy forces himself to take a step back though he can't resist squeezing Eoin's shoulder one last time. Eoin clears his throat, standing straighter.
"We better get going then," he offers, something distant in his eyes that Paddy cannot name. Still he nods because Eoin is right, and shots a fire in the air. There's no echoing gunshots, so they start walking in the direction Eoin came from — Paddy really should scold him for going back instead of trying to find the others, but the little hour he'd spent wondering about Eoin's whereabouts and safety had felt like an eternity; he can't fathom it having lasted longer.
They walk in silence for the most part, unwilling to drink their water just yet, but Paddy can't help but notice the way Eoin fidgets next to him, picking at his nails like he is trying to draw blood. Lips pursed, he considers saying something before electing not to; Eoin wouldn't appreciate his nervousness being pointed out. Instead, Paddy recites Brooke, and that pulls a half-hearted smile from Eoin, which is enough for now.
The desert stretches on all side, and Paddy can hardly tell the difference between one dune and another, but as they approach a steep mount of sand, Eoin stops abruptly, shaking his head as though it would wake him up. Worry seizing his heart, Paddy reaches out, closing a hand around Eoin's elbow.
"Everything okay, lad?"
Eoin doesn't answer, and in the silence that stretches between them, Paddy can hear the rustle of fabric fighting against the wind.
"I can't go over there with you," Eoin whispers hoarsely, eyes fixed on the sand dune over Paddy's shoulder.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Paddy asks, bewildered. Eoin only shakes his head again, eyes wide, and Paddy edges closer. "Did you hit your head on the way down?" His hand grabs Eoin's chin, turning his face sideways with more gentleness than his tone would suggest, and Eoin lets him, obediently tipping his head down so Paddy can make sure no bump has formed below his hair. Finding no sign of harm, Paddy lets Eoin go, though a frown still remains on his face.
"I didn't hit my head, Paddy," Eoin assures, mouth pulled down in something sad and rueful. "I broke my neck."
The words echo in Paddy's mind, and a rough laugh erupts from his throat even as his heart thunders.
"The fuck are you playing at, boy?" Eoin's mouth quivers.
"I'm not— Paddy, please. You have to believe me," Eoin pleads, brown eyes glinting with raw honesty. "I'm dead."
Scoffing, Paddy turns his back on him to walk over the sand dune, unwilling to entertain Eoin's twisted idea of a joke. There's a sharp, pained inhale behind him though, and Paddy can't help but look up from his feet, hand tightening on his pistol to see what had caused Eoin pain, already raising his arm to shoot.
The gun falls with a dull sound as he staggers, one hand clutching at his chest while Paddy's legs threaten to give out under him.
He's just been talking to Eoin.
Eoin has been walking with him for the past twenty minutes. Paddy had even touched his face, felt the warmth of it against his fingers. And yet, there's no denying that Eoin McGonigal lies a few feet below, bloody sand surrounding him like a bed of roses, torn parachute blowing in the wind.
Loosely inspired by Dead Boys Detectives <3 I had this idea of Eoin being a ghost trying to escape Death to stay with Paddy and Paddy having to come to terms with the fact he's now in love with a ghost but never could make much of it, but this was the perfect opportunity to dip a toe in that AU!! Thank you very much 🥹❤️