WinterSpider Week Day Four
A romantic ghost story, with a non-graphic mention of suicide.
Peter moves into his first home. Before long, he starts dreaming of a man heâs never met, or even seen. It doesnât seem strange to him until the dreams become more vivid and more intense until he thinks he can feel the strange man around him, occupying physical space.
Once he comes across a box of old photos stashed in the walls, he knows itâs no coincidence. Someone or something is reaching out to him.
âSargeant James Barnes of the 107, 1944,â Peter reads aloud. âWho are you?â
Peter is breathless, but not fearful when the light flickers. James himself appears, his form waivering before disappearing completely. He swears the man whispered, âPeterâ, but it had been so faint that even in the quiet of the old house, Peter couldnât be sure.
From then on, Peter pays attention to his dreams more closely in an attempt to understand the phantom James and his desperation. He finds himself calling out James in the night after the man shows him scenes of his life. A violent dream ends in Peterâs conscience screaming Bucky at him until he says it with his mouth.
As if it were a magic spell, the word Bucky unleashes a new wave of imagery in Peterâs mind, and James appears to him even more vividly than before. This time, James says, âPeter, stay here with me.â
Peter doesnât feel any threat to the words, only loneliness and sorrow.
âIâm alone, too, Bucky.â Of course heâll stay.
Jamesâ body flickers and disappears for a moment before reappearing more clearly, as if someone adjusted the dial on an old TV.
Peter can sense the manâs presence while he falls asleep and wonders how many times Bucky has been sleeping next to him without him realizing it. He wishes he could feel him.
Over the years, Peter becomes more withdrawn from the outside world, electing to stay hidden inside with Bucky, the man lost in time. The longer Peter stays away from the public, the easier it is to see Bucky. The spectre becomes more real to Peter than anything or anyone else. Peter craves to be on the same plane as his love, to stay with James Barnes for the rest of eternity.
Peter is willing to end his physical life to be with Bucky spiritually, but the man does not want any harm to come to Peter no matter how badly they long for one another. Because Bucky died as a young man, Peter knows he cannot wait until he is withered and grey to meet Bucky on the Other Side. He has to do it now, despite Buckyâs apprehension.
âDarling Peter,â Bucky sighs. âI was willing to wait for you.â
âI know,â Peter says. âI didnât want to be an old man by the time I was finally able to touch you. To truly feel you.â
âI understand, love. Did it hurt?â
Peter looked at his new body and then to Buckyâs. It wasnât transparent now that he was perceiving it from the same side of the veil.
âIt was worth the cost,â Peter explained. He reached out and took Buckyâs hand. In death, he had finally come alive. Peter could feel Buckyâs skin against his own.
âAt last,â Bucky hummed. âYouâre here.â
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