Your jaw flew open, but your hand covered your mouth before any sounds could escape. The police were inside cleaning up the less dangerous parts of the mess with their gloved hands as not to leave any fingerprints, there were papers on the floor and the furniture was strewn about...it was a nightmare.
"Honey, I am so sorry about this." You mother hugged you and you broke down on her shoulder, "Where were you last night?" She sounded worried.
"She was with us last night, ma'am." Ray chimed from behind you with a PKE meter ready.
"And you are?" Your mother asked coldly.
"We're the Ghostbusters." Ray said with a smile and his hand out hoping for it to be shaken.
Your mom was still holding you as you cried, "Is he telling the truth dear?"
You nodded in reply and dried your tears on your (f/c) shirt sleeve, "Yeah, I had them check the apartment the say after I called you about the black mist thing."
Egon started to scan the hall and it came up with barely anything, Ray withdrew his hand since he was denied a handshake, and Winston waited for Ray to start talking to the police so they could scan inside. You told your mom what had happened after Ray checked the apartment the morning before and all she could do was whine and coddle you saying things that would embarrass a child, which is what she assumed you to be since you convinced her to move out of the apartment (which she at least agreed to pay for while you lived there).
Ray caught one of the cops walking out of the small living room and told him about their case, the cop let them in for a time limit of 25 minutes to which he replied, "That's more than enough time, thank you sir."
Egon started scanning with the PKE meter and Giga meter which brought up some kind of information you couldn't understand, Winston checked the basics; electric, water, and ventilation systems, and Ray used his goggles to scan the room for anything hidden such as ectoplasm, spectral trails, and other ghostly germs. You just stood with tired eyes and admired them working, especially Egon because he had the most gadgets at his disposal. Your mom just rolled her eyes and walked towards the stairs where there was a window that was open to smoke out of. Out of curiosity you decided to ask Egon a question (also to break the awkward silence,
"How do you get all those cool devices?" You asked with a hoarse voice.
Egon perked his head up from being bent over scanning some disheveled debris, "I make them myself, I take different devices and toys and make use of them in scientific ways."
Your eyes widened in awe, "Really? That seems like a waste of the toys, what else have you made yourself?"
"My PKE meter, all the others are-" You cut him off,
"Imperfect copies?" You finished his remark, "I heard you say that to Ray when I met you yesterday."
"Yeah, I also made the Proton Packs, this Giga meter, and the ghost traps." He continued proudfully.
"Woah, that's cool...what did you make them out of? If you don't mind me asking that is..." You chuckled at your directness.
"The PKE meter is made of normal tech that Columbia University never confiscated when they fired us. The Giga meter is made of scrap metals soldered together to a micro-sized computer board,and the scanning lights are from one of those spinning light toys you can win at a carnival." He explained still scanning.
"You really are innovative, aren't you?" You laughed happily.
"Do you remember New Years Eve of 1989 to 1990?" He asked you with a hint of prideful curiosity.
"Yeah, the whole museum thing. I heard about it on the news, my mom was working that night and I had run of the TV." You snapped your fingers having remembered that event.
"The Statue of Liberty moving? We did that, her controls were built out of an old NES Advantage controller." He looked at you with a raised eyebrow hoping for a positive reaction.
You were flabbergasted, HE did THAT with THOSE simple devices and toys fused with computer hardware...what time era was he from? Surely not the 1900's, you didn't know what to say but from a friendly hand to the shoulder was a rush strong enough to make you feel better. Egon on the other hand got a little light headed,
"Woah, what was that?" He wobbled and tried to steady himself, he felt a shiver of cold and rolled up his jumpsuit sleeve to reveal goosebumps, "Ray! Scan with a higher rate, I just got a shiver, the entity might still be here."
You stepped back, your mind was racing. 'Twice now, I've felt that shockwave since I've been around these guys, this ghost must really be attached to me even when I'm not at home.'
The boys kicked up the pace, yet no one realised the cops had left and they had scanned WAY past the 25 minute limit they were allotted. You walked back in when they had stopped scanning, you looked among the room for anything that could give away a motive or hint of the spectre that had done this...when a whisper of wind had blown through the left-open window and blew an envelope at your feet,
"COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York City, NY" You read the words quietly, then your eyes went wide with nerves. Tearing the envelope open you read the letter one word at a time so nothing would be missed or skipped over.
"What's that (y/n)?" Ray asked walking over to you.
"I...I got in." You said barely audible.
"Huh? What's she saying Ray?" Winston also asked joining in.
"I got accepted to Columbia U.!" You jumped as happy tears filled your eyes.
"That's great, what are you applying for?" Ray questioned in a fatherly tone.
"Family Counselor, so a major class I need is Psychology and Columbia is…" Ray then cut you off,
"...The only college closeby that has it, and did you hear about the…" You cut him off as well,
"...Offer for parapsychology in apologetic honor of you guys and your success? Yes...I know, I was a little bothered by that at first...not anything against you guys though." You blushed and chuckled.
"I figured." Ray chuckled in response, "You didn't know us at the time and it is a bit unnecessary, it's not like they owe us anything...except our dignity" Ray mumbled
"I just can't believe I got in! I mean I'll have to wait until the semester starts, but this is good news...I should tell my mom." You bolted out of the apartment to your mother who was still smoking out the window.
"Well, I guess she'll only be staying with us a while longer...the semester starts in a few weeks." Ray sighed rubbing the stress out of his neck.
"Hey, at least we were able to help her this much, eh, Ray?" Winston consoled him with a pat on the back.
Egon's hidden empathy decided to show itself again cause while he was turned away from the other two a sigh escaped his lips and he massaged the bridge of his nose under his glasses. 'Get it together Egon, you barely knew her...she was just a client that Ray decided to play Florence Nightingale to, there is no need to get in over your head...be rational, mind over matter...only a day, you only knew her a day...mind over matter…" He repeated this mantra whenever things got out of his mental level of science.
Ray and Winston left the apartment and told you they were heading back to the Ecto-1 to load up the gear, you nodded and went back to telling your mom about the whole college thing which she seemed disinterested in. Egon stayed trying to bring back his rational thought, but something kept interfering with his mantra...something he thought would never worm it's way inside...Love.
"Mind over matter...Love...mind over matter...Love over mind and matter." He kept correcting himself...until he finally realised...there was no fighting it…
He was in love...with you, and he didn't know what to do or how to address it in a logical manner...and it was scaring him more than any ghost would or could.
