Barney didn't look up for a while, and when he did, there was absolutely no evidence on his face that he might have been crying - even if his eyes weren't quite so clear. "How'd you handle it?" he asked Dad. "How do you just... keep on going?"
He couldn't even begin to phrase what he meant, but he knew he wouldn't have to. And for that, he was quietly grateful.
In the meantime, Ghastly took the opportunity of Dad stepping away to wink at Allie, moving a little closer to her on the bed. "I do a lot more than just believe in it. If I show you something, you have to promise never to tell anyone else - not even your father."
He kept his hand close to his body, hidden, twisting so that only Allie would see what was in it. And then, very carefully, he snapped his fingers and a small flame flared in his palm.
He held it for maybe ten seconds, growing it and shrinking it, letting it dance over onto the back of his hand, and then he closed his hand and snuffed it out. Somewhere in the back of Ghastly's mind, a version of him from two days ago was staring in quiet disbelief, but he ignored it. Showing a sick child what she would inevitably grow up to explain away - assuming, he remembered with a jolt, that she grew up at all - was not going to ruin her life. In point of fact, it may just give her some of the happiness she would be craving.
Ghastly glanced back up, and couldn't help grinning as he used the same hand to push some air towards Allie's face, a quick and quiet blast that made her hair fly out behind her. That, however, was where he stopped, and drew the line - that was a little too conspicuous.
no subject
He couldn't even begin to phrase what he meant, but he knew he wouldn't have to. And for that, he was quietly grateful.
In the meantime, Ghastly took the opportunity of Dad stepping away to wink at Allie, moving a little closer to her on the bed. "I do a lot more than just believe in it. If I show you something, you have to promise never to tell anyone else - not even your father."
He kept his hand close to his body, hidden, twisting so that only Allie would see what was in it. And then, very carefully, he snapped his fingers and a small flame flared in his palm.
He held it for maybe ten seconds, growing it and shrinking it, letting it dance over onto the back of his hand, and then he closed his hand and snuffed it out. Somewhere in the back of Ghastly's mind, a version of him from two days ago was staring in quiet disbelief, but he ignored it. Showing a sick child what she would inevitably grow up to explain away - assuming, he remembered with a jolt, that she grew up at all - was not going to ruin her life. In point of fact, it may just give her some of the happiness she would be craving.
Ghastly glanced back up, and couldn't help grinning as he used the same hand to push some air towards Allie's face, a quick and quiet blast that made her hair fly out behind her. That, however, was where he stopped, and drew the line - that was a little too conspicuous.