Chapter Text
~~~~~~~~~
It didn’t take Lydia long to find her father who was standing near the main entrance wiping his brow frantically with a handkerchief.
“Lydia! There you are!” Charles sighed in relief before taking a more serious tone, “Would you care to explain what on earth has been going on this evening?”
Lydia swallowed harshly, he couldn’t know what happened in the garden or more recently the janitors closet.
“What do you mean, Dad?”
Charles shook his head as he threw up his hands, “What I mean is how did my daughter who quit ballet after one lesson suddenly learn to swing dance? Why is she with some older gentleman I’ve never seen before when she spends almost the entirety of her time in her bedroom? And finally how is it the daughter of the mayor, someone I know my own daughter despises, is currently bald and weeping in the middle of the dance floor?”
Lydia bit her lip as she thought of a way to explain.
“Just- don’t tell me.” Charles raised his hands in defense, “I suspect a certain basement freeloader is the root cause so all I ask is please get him out of here.”
She stifled a laugh as she knew Beetlejuice was attempting to appear nonchalant a few feet behind herself.
“Okay.” Lydia sighed in agreement, she was already having her own crisis regarding the aforementioned demon and heading home sounded incredibly delightful.
Charles wrapped her in a quick hug, “Thank you, you can go grab the gallery keys from Delia and wait for us there, shouldn’t be more than hour.”
Her father let go and gave her a stern look, “And Lydia? Keep him under control.”
Lydia chuckled at the realization that her father had no idea as to why she had any modicum of control over her monster but she gave him an encouraging smile nonetheless as she went to find her stepmother.
It only took a moment to find the eccentric red head who was speaking encouragement to the weeping Claire who now looked like a dog with mange, no semblance of the long blonde locks she previously had anywhere to be found on her head.
“Hey! Delia!” Lydia waved to get her step mother’s attention who quickly rushed to her side.
“As you see there’s been a situation.” Delia pointedly looked at Claire wailing as her gathered entourage tried to assure her she looked fine.
“Yeah I heard….” Lydia trailed off, “Dad said to get the gallery keys from you?”
“Oh yes!” Delia dug through her clutch before handing her the crystal keychain she always had on her.
Lydia held out a hand but Delia drew back momentarily, “I did want to speak to you about something before you go.”
The brunette shrugged in response, “Okay, shoot.”
Her step mother seemed to shift uncomfortably as she cleared her throat, “Perhaps I should just tell you about my evening?”
“Sure, why not?” Lydia couldn’t help but snort a bit in response.
Delia opened and closed her mouth a few times before draping her arm along Lydia’s back, drawing her close, “Well as you know I have medical marijuana, for my anxiety.”
“Yeah….”, her stepmother did indeed have a vape she would smoke from constantly, a lot of time just while watching tv or eating snacks.
“Well, you see, in respect to your father’s wishes I obeyed the no vaping indoors rules, after all this deal is very important to him.” Delia rubbed Lydia’s arm slightly in nervousness, “So I went outside……. to the back garden.”
A piercing ringing immediately shot through Lydia’s ears as every atom in her body went frozen in fear.
But there’s no way, Beetlejuice locked the doors and made people forget where they went, Delia couldn’t have been there at the same time.
“It was funny, I was back there sitting on a bench when a woman who looked an awful lot like you came out the double doors holding hands with a gentleman I could almost mistake for a certain housemate of ours.”
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Delia awkwardly laughed, “They seemed to be having a private conversation so I tried to leave but the doors had suddenly locked.”
This could not be happening, this should not be happening. Lydia wished a sandworm would appear and swallow her whole before her stepmother could say another word, but unfortunately she wasn’t that lucky.
Delia was starting to turn as red as her hair, “Anyway I sure do hope that young woman realizes that there’s nothing to be ashamed of with expressing her sexuality just that I think you- I mean her should be careful.”
Lydia chewed her lip, face and ears burning, “Careful of what?”
“Just that-“ the older woman took a steadying breath, “Powerful people getting their feelings hurt don’t have the greatest track record for healthy coping.”
“And do you think, that woman is in danger or something from him?” Lydia didn’t want to break away from the pretend but what Delia was saying was making her nervous.
“No I don’t, I think she’s probably the only person who doesn’t need to fear him.” Delia answered with a tilt of her head, “In fact it’s not her I’m so much worried about, I’m worried she doesn’t realize how much she can hurt him.”
Lydia hurting Beetlejuice? That was ridiculous, he wasn’t even alive! Which admittedly was her fault, but still how could she hurt him? They’d had some fun tonight, sure, but by his own admission he didn’t have feelings which was why Lydia herself was at a loss for what to do with hers. She liked Beetlejuice, in fact she wanted him in a way that made her question her own sanity, but he was a demon he didn’t have a use for that.
“Thanks, Delia but uh I don’t think he has the capability.”
Her step mother released her before fixing her a strange smile, “Maybe not. Anyway your friend seems to be wanting your attention, so I won’t keep you.”
With that Delia pressed the keys into Lydia’s grasp before she rejoined the fray around Claire saying something about meditation calming ones nerves.
Lydia glanced behind herself and sure enough Beetlejuice was still lounging against the wall staring at her intently. She didn’t know what to do with him at this point, he was her closest friend but they also just engaged in something more than friendly with one another and it left her unsure where they stood once the evening was over.
“C’mon lets head out, I got them!” Lydia offered with a shaky smile as she jingled the keys in her hand.
Beetlejuice nodded his head in agreement, his expression unreadable, “Let’s blow this joint.”
This time he didn’t offer her his hand or arm he just shoved both fists into his pockets as he followed Lydia to the exit.
The awkward silence didn’t dissipate once they were outside but the cool night air helped calm her nerves, it had started to sprinkle rain and Lydia shivered as the water hit her skin.
“Here.” Beetlejuice shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her apparently noticing her discomfort, laughing humorously as he did so, “Not like I need it.”
She took the garment and draped it over her shoulders as they walked. Lydia quietly turned to press her nose to the fabric, it smelled like him, that fresh earthy scent that made her think of tilled soil.
“Ya know I could just teleport us there?” Beetlejuice offered with a shrug.
Lydia felt nervous still, her conversation with her step mother still replaying in her head, “I know I just thought maybe we should talk.”
“Bout what?”, her demon turned his face up to the sky letting rain mist his face as he walked.
“About the gala?”
Beetlejuice kept walking, still not glancing her way, “Whatabout it?”
That heat was burning her face again in embarrassment, “What- what we did- together?”
He gave her a nonchalant shrug, “Yeah it was fun.”
Lydia felt her heart lodge itself in her throat, “Fun?”
Beetlejuice finally glanced at her quickly out of the corner of his eyes, “What else would it be?”
The young woman bit her lip as she nodded her head in agreement not trusting her voice not to crack if she spoke.
Lydia’s eyes started to sting with unshed tears, that’s all it meant to him after all, just a bit of fun with his human. It wasn’t surprising, she’d finally given in, given Beetlejuice a taste so to speak of what he’d alluded to constantly and now he was satisfied. Lydia had just been a curiosity to him after all.
She desperately wanted to go home, to get out of this stupid dress, and most importantly get away from Beetlejuice, but she was trapped. Asking him to take her home meant teleporting and Lydia genuinely didn’t think she could handle the tight press of his body against hers at the moment without her retching. So she focused on walking, they had less than two blocks left before they reached the gallery, at least there she could hide in the bathroom for a bit maybe get a good cry in before her father picked her up.
Beetlejuice cleared his throat, “Ha, quite the mess we left Brewster in, yeah?”
Lydia tried to steady her voice and sound nonchalant, “Yeah you- you really got her, Beej.”
Her heart wasn’t in the conversation it was instead currently in the pit of her stomach burning in acid while her brain screamed about how stupid she was.
“We- we should fuck with Red’s sculptures when we get there!” Beetlejuice tried to cajole with a bump of his shoulder against her.
“Sounds great.”
Lydia couldn’t find the enthusiasm to pretend she cared at this moment and it wasn’t fair to Beetlejuice. He was a demon, a monster, why she thought his nature would change because her, the knock-kneed little nobody, blew him she didn’t know. She knew he didn’t have emotions like a human and she let herself pretend otherwise like a fool.
They walked in strained silence for awhile, the gallery quickly coming into view as the rain increased from the occasional drop to a full downpour. Lydia ran the last half block or so to avoid being soaked without sparing a glance behind herself to see if Beetlejuice did the same. She didn’t care if he did, a part of her wished he wouldn’t.
But there he was leaning casually against the glass doors reading “Deetz Gallery” in elegant script.
Her demon looked up through his golden eyes a mischievous grin on his face, “Damn babe, never thought I’d see you get so wet twice in one evening.”
Lydia didn’t appreciate the teasing or the reminder of what they did together.
“Whatever, Beetlejuice.”
She was frustrated as she fiddled with putting the key in the lock. As she pulled the door open a larger hand shoved it back closed.
The brunette closed her eyes and took a steadying breath, “Can you not? I’d really like to get out of this rain.”
Her demon fixed her an unreadable expression unblinking.
“Lydia, what’s wrong?”
Was he seriously asking that?
“Nothing’s wrong, just- I’m tired Beej, let me in.”
He didn’t remove his hand, “Bullshit.”
Lydia’s eyes were burning again; why was he making this so difficult? She tugged again at the door to no avail.
“Lydia……”
Beetlejuice saying her name like that, so soft like it was something treasured broke the dam inside of her keeping her emotions in check.
“Fine! You know what’s wrong?” Lydia shoved him as hard as she could in the chest, “YOU!”
He furrowed his brows in confusion as hot angry tears started to spill from her eyes.
“I- I knew it was dumb to think- I mean honestly you’re what you are and-“ Lydia sighed feeling broken and stupid, “I’m just me.”
Beetlejuice seemed even more genuinely lost, “You’re- you?”
Lydia was ranting now as she threw her arms wide, she didn’t care, “I get it! I’m probably nothing to you! A fucking speck on the timeline of your eternity.”
She took his suit jacket off and threw it at him, “So I’m sorry, I didn’t think things through tonight, and hurt my own feelings like an idiot, so can I please just go now? You got what you wanted from me, just leave me alone.”
Beetlejuice seemed distressed, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Lydia shoved him again, “I’m talking about you! About how it’s just ‘fun’ for you. How-“ she trailed off barely above a whisper, “It didn’t even matter.”
The demon threw down his suit jacket as both his hands rushed to grab her arms, “Hey! Who said I didn’t think tonight mattered?”
She closed her eyes trying to keep more tears from falling.
“Lydia, please look at me.”
Lydia turned her dark eyed gaze to a pleading Beetlejuice.
“What do you want from me?”
She was taken aback by the question.
The demon shook his head while he continued, his grasp on her arm tightening slightly, as his voice shook, “I don’t know what you want.”
The anger was starting to be doused inside her almost like the rain was putting out her metaphorical flames and a deep sadness took its place.
Lydia bit her lip before letting the words tumble from her mouth, “What am I to you, really? Am I a curiosity to you? A conquest? Simple entertainment? Just tell me the truth, that’s what I want from you.”
Beetlejuice seemed to look deep in thought for a moment before answering, “You’re- you’re my Lydia.”
“Real fucking helpful.” The brunette sneered as she tried to free herself from his grip.
“No! Listen!” Beetlejuice didn’t release her, his eyes were pleading and desperate as he asked and Lydia stilled her movements.
“I- I don’t know what you are to me! I don’t have a comparison or a word to describe it just I-“, her demon was breathing heavy now as he spoke, “Lydia, you’re not a speck in my eternity you’re the whole goddamn sun.”
The young woman watched as the human facade fully crumbled away leaving Beetlejuice looking exactly how he always did sans striped suit, his hair burning a bright pink.
“I need you to say what you want, okay? Whatever it is I’ll do it, just please don’t make me go away.”
If Lydia didn’t know better she’d think he too was starting to cry.
“Beej, I’d never order you around like that and besides you should do what you want not-“
She wasn’t sure what the end of that sentence was as Beetlejuice’s mouth crashed against hers. He let go of her arms to grab either side of her jaw pulling her in tightly against his lips moaning slightly as he did so.
After far too short of moment Beetlejuice moved away by a small breadth, “That’s what I want then, I want you.”
Lydia felt herself blink owlishly at the admission, “Like permanently?”
He smiled wolfishly back at her, “As permanent as you’ll allow.”
The young woman found herself shoving him yet again, “Then why did you just call it ‘fun’ earlier?”
“Because it was fun?”
She hit his shoulder.
“Because Lydia, I’m a demon, and not even a very good one if I’m honest. And look at me! Someone as beautiful and amazing and funny as you has no business giving a schmuk like me the time of day.”
Beetlejuice swallowed hard, his hair starting to crawl with deep purple, “I didn’t think you could ever want more from me than fun.”
“Beetlejuice-“ Lydia cradled his scruffy cheek as he closed his eyes with a sigh, the next words left his lips like a dying confession, barely audible above the falling rain.
“Lyds, I love ya and I’m sorry for it.”
She didn’t move for a moment, frozen in place, her hand still pressed to his cheek, his hands hanging useless by his side as his hair deepened to an even darker violet.
“Wha-?”
Beetlejuice shrugged defeatedly, “Have been since we tossed Chuck out from his own dinner party. Tried to stay away.” Her demon looked up with sad golden eyes, “I just couldn’t.”
Delia’s warning came echoing back in her skull, this is why she could hurt Beetlejuice, because she had his heart in the palm of her hands and it was up to her what to do with it.
Lydia licked her lips tasting the lingering earthy flavor of Beetlejuice still there, “I thought you didn’t have feelings?”
Another shrug while avoiding her eyes, “Hate to tell ya but I’m one hell of an unreliable narrator.”
“Beetlejuice look at me.”
Once again he looked up at her with sad golden eyes like that of a wounded animal.
“Say it again.”
He was taken aback for a moment, “Huh?”
Lydia grabbed his forearms, “Tell me how you feel.”
“Oh.” Beetlejuice glanced down almost bashful, “I love you.”
She leaned slightly to peak up at him from his hanging head looking down at his chest, “Good because I love you too.”
This time Lydia wasn’t exaggerating things when she said the world froze. A part of her wondered if he had heard at first as he didn’t react but then the palest pink went shooting through his locks, making his hair stick up on end as if he were electrocuted. The strangest part was the rain, it had been pouring but suddenly silence and when Lydia looked out to the street thousands of droplets were being suspended in mid air like tiny balloons.
“How are you-?”
Beetlejuice’s hands were suddenly grabbing either side of her face, “Can I kiss you again!?”
Lydia started to laugh, “Yeah, you don’t have to ask- ummf!”
Her monster barely paused after the first word and the second his lips touched hers, the rain resumed with a heavy woosh sound like that of waves on a shore.
Beetlejuice broke away to press his forehead against hers smiling wickedly, “I may have it backwards but don’t you Breathers usually kiss on the mouth and not the dick first?”
Lydia closed the gap to kiss him again, biting his lip this time as she leaned away earning a yelp of surprise, “Haven’t you heard, Beej?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck as she tilted her head, “I’m kinda strange and unusual.”