"Boy?" A worried voice speaks as they observe a curled up young male crying in a corner on the far side of the living room. "It's okay now." Hyunjin whispers as he crouches down next to the ghost. He goes to touch their shoulder but the boy flinches away—burying his head deeper into his knees.
Hyunjin doesn't say anything else. Instead, he sits down beside the ghost and wraps an arm over their shoulder. Again the boy is trying to resit and get away, but Hyunjin persistent and pulls the boy into his chest.
The ghost finally gives in and lets the reaper hold him. It's been ages since he's been held, like properly held. Felix has given him hugs and cuddles plenty of times, though he doesn't always hold the ghost. The last time the boy held was probably when the last tenant left.
Felix came that night and found the boy bawling his eyes out in the basement. He was frantically bashing his arms against the blood splattered walls when Felix pulled him away. The ghost was crying then just like he is now. Felix swaddled the ghost in his arms, rocking them gently as they sat on the floor.
"I'm here." Hyunjin whispers again the same way Felix had done. "They can't get you." He slowly pats the ghost's hair as he lets all their tears fall onto his chest.
The ghost sniffles as he tries to stop crying so he can speak. It doesn't work. Thinking of the words he wants to say only gets his emotion's riled up again, and he's back to crying.
Hyunjin doesn't tell the ghost to "stop crying", instead he keep repeating that "he's here" and "it's okay". He's got the ghost wrapped tightly and lets the cries to go for as long as they need to.
The ghost eventually relaxes and releases the grip he had on the reapers cloaks. Even though he'd been crying there were no stains on the cloak as his tears dried instantly. The ghost choked up, almost crying at another reminder that he is dead. "Who... w-who was thar?" His voice is croaky, strained.
"No one to worry about." Hyunjin reassures, one hand stroking the ghost's hair while the other rubs his back.
"You're lying." The ghosts whines. If they were nothing to worry about the reaper wouldn't have banished him from the basement.
Hyunjin sighs knowing he's going to have to explain himself. "I'm not lying."
"—you are." The ghost cuts him off. His voice cracked when he did so. "They were another reaper, weren't they?"
"No!" Hyunjin barks. "That was not a reaper. Not in the slightest." Hyunjin knows that he's upset the ghost but he did to make it clear that the one he fought was not a reaper.
Continuing, Hyunjin lowers his voice. "They're a soul that has refused to go to the Afterworld. I knew of them but never thought they would find their way here."
The ghost has so many questions and he doesn't know where to start. "I could f-feel them staring at me. It was full of r-rage and pain. I couldn't move."
Keeping his voice soft to not upset the ghost, Hyunjin keeps holding him tight. "They couldn't have harmed you if I was or wasn't here. They aren't looking for you..."
The ghost goes to say something but as if on cue, a loud roar of an engine comes from outside. "He's here." He whimpers, knowing now what the reaper meant.
"He is." Hyunjin replies, scowling out the living room window where he can see the van come to a stop.