Though there was no sunrise or sunset in the ghost zone, Ghostwriter seemed to respond to the coming of day in the human world when he stirred. He could still feel that weight in his arms, telling him Sidney was still there, and probably still asleep. He sighed, he would let the poor kid sleep. In that monochrome school he resided in, he probably never got the chance to sleep, let alone rest.
It sickened him. Ghostwriter's eyes opened and glowed a little brighter and he held Sidney closer. He growled a little at the very thought of those bullies. He quickly calmed himself and sighed, looking down at the ghost in his arms. Sidney was still very pale even for his monochrome form, and he was more transparent than normal.
The stronger a ghost was, the less transparent they were. Sidney had always been more transparent than the other ghosts, even the Box Ghost who did have some transparency to him. Now Sidney was so see-through Ghostwriter could barely see him. He knew Sidney needed to gain some energy and fast.
He lay the weak and ill boy back in the bed, watching him for a moment before he went downstairs. He took some of the apples he had and mushed them into a pulp, then he threw it in a pot with some cinnamon and a little sugar, making some homemade applesauce. It had some nutrition and would be easy for the boy to eat in his weakened state, so Ghostwriter figured it was the best option. He also poured a glass of milk before he went back to his room.
Sidney was still fast asleep, but he was shivering. Ghostwriter paused with the bowl of applesauce in his hands and watched, concerned. Sidney whimpered in his sleep, shifting around and trembling. He seemed to be murmuring things like "no", "stop" and "it hurts". The taller ghost felt a pang in his chest again, feeling so bad for the other ghost.
He set the mushy meal down with the milk and leaned over Sidney, touching his cheek and stroking his hair. He hummed a little to soothe him, to a mournful familiar tune he knew all too well. Soon the whimpers, quiet pleas and shivers subsided, the boy's night terrors seeming to be vanquished. It wasn't long before those sorrowful grey eyes opened and he whispered, "It's time to eat, Sidney.."
Ghostwriter sighed and sat by him, gently propping him up on the pillows in a sitting position, not wanting him to choke on his food. He took a small spoonful of applesauce and put it to the boy's lips. Sidney hesitated before he took the spoon in his mouth, swallowing the applesauce and making a soft noise. It felt good to have some warm food in his cold body.
He became less transparent as he ate his mushy, warm breakfast, being fed by the older ghost. Sidney finished the applesauce before too long and gazed eagerly at the milk, and Ghostwriter helped him drink it. He smiled a little seeing a faint glimmer in the young ghost's eyes. Then he realized something.
"I should get you out of those clothes and wash them...and help you wash up too. Don't worry, I have some spare clothes about your size. They shrunk in the wash and I figured if I ever did have guests..might do good to have spare clothes for them."
Sidney was quiet for a while as though thinking it over, then he nodded. "..yeah...I probably still smell like my own sick..."
He started to pull the blankets off and try to get up, but Ghostwriter stopped him. "Sidney, you're not recovered enough to be walking around. Let alone be left unsupervised with objects you could potentially use to harm or kill yourself with..."
Sidney flinched and Ghostwriter sighed. "I'm sorry...I'll help you." He gently untied Sidney's bowtie and set it on the bedside table, before he lifted him in his arms, carrying him to the bathroom. He drew a warm bubble bath and undressed the boy, respectfully not looking at his private parts. He sent the clothes down the laundry chute and waited.
Sidney bit his lip and chewed on it a little, rubbing his arms nervously. He had a feeling Ghostwriter knew about the cuts already, but hoped he wouldn't ask. He looked around the room, eying the razors Ghostwriter had. Of course, the writer noticed and quickly stowed the razors away. Sidney sighed, looking away. He wasn't sure if the other wanted to start a conversation, but he wasn't sure what they'd even talk about. 'So you wanna kill yourself. Tell me about that.' wasn't exactly a good conversation starter, after all.
The small, underweight ghost closed his lifeless grey eyes and bowed his head, his black hair falling into his face. He took off his glasses and set them aside, reminding himself to replace the tape later. Soon the bath was ready, and Ghostwriter set Sidney in the tub, handing him a sponge and carefully monitoring him. Sidney washed himself, getting the smell of vomit and dried ectoplasm off his body. He was hesitant to wash his cuts, but he did, wincing softly. It hurt badly when the soap got into the cuts, but Ghostwriter assured, "It means its doing its job, cleaning the wounds...Be glad it's not peroxide."
Sidney did give him that. He sighed and he got to his hair, Ghostwriter stopping him as he reached for the shampoo. "I'll take care of that, Sidney. Don't strain your arms."
The ghost nodded and did as told, staring at the bubbles in the water, watching them pop slowly. Ghostwriter lathered the shampoo into his dirty, greasy black hair, frowning a little. For hair so neatly combed, it was very dirty. He assumed the bullies rarely ever gave him a chance to bathe. His suspicions were confirmed when he rinsed out his hair, the water turning a mucky brown color.
He grimaced and got Sidney out of the dirty water. He figured Sidney's body was kept clean by splashing sink water on himself and using the school bathrooms to clean himself. He took a warm, fleecy towel and wrapped Sidney in it, gently rubbing his body with it to dry him off. Sidney felt it tickled and he let out a quiet little giggle.
Ghostwriter smiled. That laugh was adorable! He wrapped the towel around him to keep the boy warm as he carried him back to the bedroom, setting him on the bed. He went over to his closet and rummaged around to find the shrunken clothed. He let out a cry of triumph when he pulled the Sidney-sized clothes from the closet, grinning. He went over to him, and helped him get dressed.
The clothes were soft, warm and comfy, and they fit Sidney perfectly when he put them on. The boy smiled a little and closed his eyes. "Thank you.." he whispered, taking Ghostwriter by surprise.
"Um...you're welcome..?"
Sidney looked up at him. "For..for taking me in. You..you really meant that, right..? That I could stay here?"
Ghostwriter blinked, then he smiled and nodded. "Of course I meant it. I can't very well let you go back to that horrible environment, can I? It wouldn't be right."
He gasped in shock when the boy wrapped his thin arms around him, nuzzling into him. He had to fight to keep the growing blush on his cheeks hidden. He could feel the nerdy ghost was relaxed, so he just let him hug him. It was a rather pleasant surprise. He smiled a soft smile, and stroked the boy's now silky black hair. "I'll never let anyone hurt you...A promise is a promise."
Sidney nodded and sighed softly. "I know...I..I promise I won't try to kill myself...You made a big promise to me..so it's only fair I make one to you."
The author's eyes widened...that was a big promise that the depressed and bullied ghost was making. He got a little worried. "Are you sure you'll be able to keep that promise..? You still have a long way to go in recovery..."
He just nodded again. "I'd be a real square if you were the only one having to keep a promise. Besides...I guess I owe you for making sure I wasn't gone permanent-like."
Ghostwriter suppressed a chuckle from the boy's 50s slang. He found it rather endearing. He sat with him on the bed and let the tired ghost continue to hug him and soon fall asleep on him. He rubbed his back and watched over him. "It was only the right thing to do." he murmured and smiled.
A/N: Two chapters in one day?! Wow, I'm on a roll! Sidney will be rather tired all the time due to the suicide attempt, but he will recover. In the next chapter, Ghostwriter will take Sidney on a trip to the library of the human world to cheer him up! Of course, you have to expect Danny to be there if a ghost is near. I predict Ghostwriter will have to make good on his promise to protect Sidney, even if it means a trip to Thermos-town.
Review reply time!
Dr. Strawberries: I'm so glad you like the story so much! When I get compliments like that, I get this fuzzy feeling and I get confident to write more. x3 Worry not, the chapters will get longer as it progresses! Be ready to tune in next time! Thanks so much for the support!