From the conversations Shadow had had with his two friends, he knew that they could see people who were no longer there in their physical form, and while there were other ghosts in the old house, the one ghost lady was their favorite. And from the sound of it, she had been going through tough times recently.
Knight pushed his hands into his pockets and shrugged, still watching the wall. “Gray’s in a bad spot right now. You know, because of the arm he lost.”
Shadow’s breath quickened, and he started pacing. “But I could cheer him up if he only wanted to talk to me. I’m not a bad… creature. Person. I might be hasty with some decisions at times, but I’m learning. Right? You have fun with me?”
Elliot smiled. “Yes. Definitely. You’re something else.”
Did that mean Shadow was completely unlike humans? He needed to try so much harder if he wanted to become acceptable. He became mildly frustrated when the two men waved at the wall, but at least that meant he was alone with them at last, without having to share attention with a woman he could neither see nor hear.
Knight cleared his throat. “What I mean is that Gray is a great guy, but he can be difficult. And he doesn’t open up to people easily. Or at all. He will come around, but you need to give him time. And never mention his h-holes again,” Knight said, cracking up at that last sentence, which came out as a snort.
Shadow backed off into a dark corner and hugged himself, comforted only by the softness of the shirt he’d gotten from Beast. Apart from the sparse visits, he was all alone down here, constantly suffering of a hunger that couldn’t be sated by mouldy roaches, and yet Gray didn’t seem to think he needed the comfort of someone’s presence like everyone else. In fact, Knight was so certain Gray wouldn’t have appreciated anyone visiting Shadow that they’d decided to keep him in the dark for fear that he’d disapprove and cut Shadow off even from that.
“I only said what I feel,” Shadow said in resignation.
Elliot raised his hands. “We get it, you have a… bond? Because you started out as his shadow?”
Shadow nodded weakly. “But he doesn’t feel it. I’m all alone. He doesn’t think he needs me.”
Knight shook his head. “It’s good policy to keep some of what you feel to yourself. People get uncomfortable when someone is perfectly honest about everything. Maybe try being a friend to Gray first, and lover second?”
“What’s the difference? How do I make him like me? Everything I do is wrong. Are friends not honest with each other? Is that what you’re saying?”
Elliot pulled out a notebook and measuring tape. “They are, but… how about you just start with being so pleasant that he allows you out of here? Then he could start getting to know you.”
“What’s the point of being out if I can’t have him?” Shadow slid down the wall, his heart too heavy for him to stand anymore.
Knight rolled his eyes. “That’s dramatic.” He glanced Elliot’s way and pinched his nose. “I can’t believe that I’m the one to tell you this, but physical closeness and being close with someone platonically doesn’t always go hand in hand. And Gray… well...”
“He’s a prude,” Elliot finished.
Knight shrugged. “Yeah. He has incredibly high standards. Always had. And if you just say stuff like this to his face, you’ll end up scaring him off.”
Shadow pushed his fingers into his hair and pulled on it in frustration until the ache in his scalp became a distraction from the pain inside. “So I have to stay away to get close? It makes no sense!”
Knight squatted in front of him and unwrapped a bag of old fast food tacos, which he pushed Shadow’s way. “I know it seems illogical, but some people are very picky. They won’t sleep with you just because you look hot, and they want to be romanced first. Gray is one of the tough cases.”
“But he’ll let you out soon enough. We’ll talk to him,” Elliot added quickly. “And you’ll want to impress him then. So get up, because I need to measure you for a sun-proof jacket. You’ll need one once you get out of here.”
“When will I get out?” Shadow asked, pulling himself up with the aid of the damp wall.
Knight shrugged. “Hopefully soon. Maybe I’ll talk to the prez. You need a bath.”
Shadow gasped in terror at the memory of icy needles of water prickling his skin. “No! Please! I don’t want one.”
“But you stink. If you want Gray to like you, you need to smell nice. He’s such a neat freak,” Elliot approached with the measuring tape.
“Fine. I’ll do it.” Shadow huffed as Elliot instructed him how to stand for being measured. He’d do anything to make Gray appreciate him, even if only a little bit. This forced separation was never-ending torture that made his heart bleed every second of every day.