Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a rainy day, everyone inside the hotel, Nathan had been wandering around, searching for any way of entertainment, when he saw Esther and Ben sitting on the floor looking at Abaddon, who was in front of the chimney, telling a story with the heart of a keeper, the kids seemed to be actually listening, and the ghost couldn't help but be curious about it...

- "I had a place in hell- I was powerful, fearful! one day I will be free again, and show you humans the reality of the world that you all underestimate!"

Said Abaddon, fake-dying on the floor like a slapped fly, Esther was quick to reply with a laugh-

-"We do NOT underestimate hell... but looks like an interesting place to visit- whatever Abaddon! You told us you were going to tell us the story of your vessel, you have been rambling about your amazing past for an hour!"

Nathan chuckled, sitting in a couch close enough to keep hearing the kids, after a small banter, Abaddon cleared his throat and continued speaking.

-"So I possessed this boy that you shall see as my present body-or as I prefer to call, vessel- that was my horrendous mistake, I was soon discovered by this man!- his father! damned him and the ones that proceed him... He tied my body to his child's, decided to end us both, but I threw us both from a really sharp tall risk and killed him in the process!"

Abaddon laughed hysterically, to which Ben looked over him concerned and worried, clutching a little poppet he had been sewing, he crossed arms, glaring at the demon in almost a reprimand.

-"Well you were technically right... you damned him and the only one that proceeded him... this kid- did he even have a name?"

-"As if I would care- this was supposed to be temporary, a tool for my destruction! but I'm tied to it now! I would've preferred to anywhere else-" he took the poppet from Ben "even this insignificant thing could be scarier than this boy... like the one from that movie... I met them once-"

Ben rushed to try to take the doll from him, but Abaddon threw it to Esther and they decided to just tease the teen, who ended up getting it back, mumbling under his breath "oh you guys ruined my gift for Anabelle..."

Returning to Nathan-who is going to get a lot of focus from now on, I promise...-he was intrigued, and really bored, incredibly bored, and this story Abaddon had just enlighten them with? It sounded like adventure.

or a daily walking around the hotel territories... because you can't get far when you're a tied ghost.

The rain had ceased, but the sky was still dark, probably another one was coming, but who was Nathan to care? he decided to go by himself. Ben seemed very concentrated on the poppet he had been making for Anabelle, Katherine never really enjoyed going out, and Esther was trying to conjure something else with Abaddon, "bring new wonders for the hotel" they said, probably something unpleasant... but that was a problem for the Nathan of the future! this one was going to explore a bit further than he had ever done before.

Nathan walked over the forest with great spirit, humming some song from a fruit loops commercial that Abaddon had been obsessed with, he almost tripped with a rock... then remembered he couldn't physically trip, the tall trees hovered over him and the leaves of them didn't allow him to notice that the clouds had cluttered again, rain was coming... but who cares!

A weird sound intrigued him, was it a meow? a squeak? a bark? footsteps? can you even mix those sounds?

He followed, very stupidly for sure, some drops of rain were already falling, but no, he didn't feel them, and his dedication on finding the source of the sound had derived his attention from it as he now ran laughing, trying to "feel alive" again- when he stopped, all so sudden, how has he never seen this before?

Sharp shaped rocks that were almost like spikes, his eyes widened in intrigue and interest, he looked up, only to notice the rain, and the at the very top, a risk, he chuckled, remembering how familiar it was to Abaddon's tale, but was interrupted by a loud thunder hitting him, he fell on the floor screaming, curling in pain, almost crying-

"oh... right, I'm a ghost" then he started laughing again, but it died down back again, turned into a scream when he saw a taller figure hovering over him, he couldn't see their face with the hat they had on, and even if it was visible, he had closed his eyes like a terrified baby, not noticing the hand that had just been extended towards him.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaah...oh" Nathan's scream died down when he opened and he confirmed-again-that he was safe and untouched as a ghost can be, the figure in front was a man, not incredibly tall, but since Nathan was on the floor... he couldn't really say much about it. Trying to take his hand, he slipped again...

-"Aye.." said the deep voice, Nathan had never heard something like it, it inspired so much... authority, somehow.

He continued: "It had abandoned my mind... I find myself dead…" he chuckled awkardly before fixing his posture and standing straight again, his gaze was strong, but if you looked close enough, you could notice the cracks of remorse, guilt, and even shame in them, those were the eyes of someone really interesting, I must say, or well, Nathan must say.

Chapter Text

He had died from words, all of the sudden, Nathan's throat was completely dry. He looked at this new ghost with shock, intrigue, and most important out of all, curiosity. The ghost's expression twisted into confusion too, as the other didn't speak and rather analyzed him visually, in response, he cleared his throat, which successfully snapped Nathan out of his mind.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Nathan chuckled lightly. "I just wasn't really expecting to find anyone here- I mean, I thought I had explored all, or at least, most of the territory in this place but- GEEZ! you're definitely new, are there more new ghosts with you? Is not usual to find friendly ones in the forest that are not completely... you know, cuckoo of the head... oh and- oh hey... you surely do look sightly familiar don't you?..."

-"Thou surely speak a lot..." The 17th-century-looking man mumbled, looking at him up and down with an inquisitive gaze.

Nathan couldn't contain a snort, he smiled "Well... I guess I kinda do, you know, speak... a lot... but hey- I'm Nathan, the co-owner of the Undervale hotel, really close here" He said with a hint of proudness in his words. "What's your name?"

The man thought for a second, as if thinking his words-and processing Nathan's too- "Thou shall call me Reverent, I was a priest from... uh..." His eyes suddenly wandered, as a small hint of panic rushed through him, Nathan recognized that in his gaze, and tried to get his attention again.

-"Hey- hey... It's alright... when we die it's common that we don't remember most stuff... specially how we die..." Nathan took a breath, a hint of remorse on his eyes

"Or... or other details, you know? the longer you don't talk about them, the faster they leave, and you my friend, look like you haven't had contact with people in a loooong long time" He said after rapidly putting up a smile, ""patting"" his back.

The priest smiled faintly, his mind now focused on the other ghost's words, he nodded.

The rain had ceased and the sky was clear, sun shining on and through them, that also lightened the mood. Both of their expressions were softer as they shared a few moment's of silence, that were interrupted only by a leaf falling in front of them, which woke them up from their thoughts.

-"Oh! right..." Nathan said with a sigh "I gotta go back, things are probably going crazy without me at the hotel, I'll make sure to come visit you, just so you have more... human interactions" his eyes scanning the awkwardness in the other's mannerisms, it was a tad sweet, cute, even. He looked so out of place, all pale with that weird clothing, intimidating but... lost as well.

The Reverent tensed, his eyes widened and pupils contracted as he tried to stop Nathan from leaving, somehow, he felt like he needed to, his hand extended to try to grab his wrist even if they were both ghosts.

-"Hold... pray, do not leave me here alone..." his gaze was yearning, Nathan's breath hitched with confusion and pity, he sighed.

-"I... could take you with me to the hotel..." Nathan was just going to, but as he examined the priest's face and features, he suddenly realized "but- could you again... tell me how you died? If you can remember..." He felt sightly afraid of the answer he could receive, as if he knew what was coming.

-"Damn right I remember... I was killed!" his gaze darkened, something told Nathan that this man could forget everything about his past, but his death kept haunting him. "My own son... possessed, it hurt my soul... yet I had to stop him, I bound him and the demon together- tried to kill their madness from ourn world- he jumped on me! making both of us fall from this cliff..." He opened his priest robe, revealing a big hole in the middle of his body. Nathan cursed himself when he thought he looked like a human donut, but as he realized, he froze.

-"So... killed..."

"by a possessed child..."

His eyes widened, as he chuckled awkwardly and rapidly gave a step back, talking faster than usual he rested his forehead on the palm of his hand "oh dear God..." he muttered, then spoke again.

"I really have to go"

-"Is it really necessary...?"

-"Yes... it is"

The priest took a deep breath, he frowned with troubled expression, until Nathan spoke again.

"But I promise I will come back..."

Their gazes meet again, both sigh as Nathan steps close again, "taking" his hands and patting them, the priest seemed to relax, but as soon as he realized their position he immediately retracted, almost offended, but he hid it, clearing his throat.

-"Promise...?"

Nathan, who too late had realized that taking the hands of this probably conservative priest was maybe not the best idea, swallowed and nodded, a small smile across his lips.

-"Yes... promise..."

They both nodded and Nathan left, he walked until he was sure the Reverent couldn't see him anymore and then ran back to the hotel, it was lunch time already, so they were in the kitchen, good for him, he barged in and yelled.

"Guys! I found Abaddon's father!"