#thacsecretsanta14

Happy THACmas everyone!

... Alex?

I was secret santa for the awesome kayleigh-makara and they requested a Timlex, high-school/paranormal hunting team AU! I've decided to split it into chapters as this fic was WAY too fun to write! So it's going to be like getting multiple gifts!

Ao3 Link Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 /

It Begins Like This

Tim sat, slightly hunched over in the uncomfortable chair. This was torture. He was forced to sit through this every day for six hours, and all he wanted to do was get out. There was so much more he could be doing. These people would never understand all he’s done to make sure they can sit here, and learn whatever it is they were learning about today. The bell sounded, and Tim shot up from his desk. He gathered up his things and shoved them into his bag, wincing slightly as he heard paper crunch and what sounded like a pencil snapping in two. “Remember to cite your papers!” Ms. Murray called to the retreating teenagers. Tim barely heard her, he was already halfway into the hallway. He wove through the crowd, arriving at his locker. He opened it, grabbed his keys and jacket, and slammed it shut. As soon as he got outside, he breathed a sigh of relief. The bright sunshine warmed him and helped to ease the tension in his shoulders. This was where he felt at home, outside and away from the confines of Marble Heights High School, home of the Hornets. Just one more month, Tim thought. One more month and then he would never have to come back here again. Graduation just couldn’t come quick enough for Tim.

“Tim!”

Tim turned towards his name and couldn’t help the smile that came to his face. Alex was jogging towards him, his backpack slung over one shoulder and his ever present camera bag on the other. As Alex pulled up beside him, Tim reached out and took some of the papers that were threatening to topple out of Alex’s hands. “What is all of this?” Tim asked. “Research.” Alex answered, “I’ll tell you about it in the car.”

The two walked out into the parking lot and to Tim’s car. Alex wasted no time to start complaining. “I don’t know why you always have to park so far away.” He whined and draped himself dramatically across the trunk. Tim grinned and pushed him off, opening the trunk and tossing in his backpack. Alex did the same with his own and the camera bag. Tim shut the trunk and got in the car. Alex dropped into the passenger seat and took the papers from Tim’s hand. “You know, if you would drive your own car you wouldn’t have to worry about parking far away. I know if it were up to you, you’d get here before the teachers.” Tim teased as he turned the key in the ignition. “But no, I have to suffer because my boyfriend insists on getting here five minutes before the last bell.” Alex sighed deeply and looked out the window. He couldn’t resist peeking at Tim though to see his reaction.

Tim was smiling as he reached to grab Alex’s hand and laced their fingers together. “Maybe,” he said as he started backing out of the parking spot. “this boyfriend is just trying to make sure you get some walking in to your busy schedule of research and video editing.” Alex laughed and squeezed Tim’s hand, “I think I get enough exercise from our hunts.” “We haven’t been on a hunt in weeks Alex.” Tim glanced at the other man and gave him a look. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about!” Ales said suddenly, pulling his hand away and starting to rifle through the papers on his lap. “I got a lead.” Tim slowed for a stoplight, “On what?” “Remember last year, I think it was a few towns over, those teenagers disappeared?” Alex said. “Yeah, yeah I remember.” Tim accelerated and flicked his blinker on, changing lanes to get around a particularly slow truck. “They all went into the woods and just, didn’t come back right?” “Five of them. All they found was one of their phones and a little handheld camera. But the strange part was that the things were almost completely unusable. The footage was entirely corrupted, all static and white noise, except for a single frame.”

Tim pulled into Alex’s driveway and took the paper from his boyfriend’s hands. The picture was black and white. In the center was something vaguely resembling human. The figure was extremely skinny and, from the angle the camera had been at, looked very tall. The limbs were stretched, its legs entirely too long for its torso and its hands resting just above its knees. The graininess of the photo blurred it so bad, the thing appeared to not have a face, which added to the overall unsettling feeling Tim got from it. He handed it back to Alex and shut off the car. “Where did you get this? And what does it have to do with us? You usually ignore anything over six months old.” Alex grinned, “Where I get my information is a secret, known only to me and my computer.” He opened the car door and got out. Tim did the same and popped the trunk so they could retrieve their bags. “But what is it to us?” Tim repeated as he walked with Alex to the door. “Someone posted pictures to the ParaForums last night. It’s the same thing, I’m sure of it.” Alex replied. He nudged at a box in the porch with his toe. “Can you get that?” Tim nodded and suppressed a laugh as Alex carefully opened the door without dropping the papers.

“Hey boys!” Came a female voice from further inside the house. “Hi mom!” “Hey Mrs. K!” The two shut the door and kicked off their shoes. Alex’s mother peeked her head out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. “Tim, your mom called and said something’s come up at the office and she wouldn’t be home until late. I told her you were staying for dinner.” “Mrs. K, that’s not necessary! I’ve got food at home I can make.” Tim said. Mrs. Kralie gave him a look that only moms could, “And how much of that doesn’t involve a microwave?” “Uh…” Tim shifted on his feet. “I thought so. Dinner’s in an hour.” “Thanks Mom.” Alex said and he started up the stairs, Tim close behind. “And boys?” The two stopped on the stairs and looked over the railing. “Door open and no summoning anything.” “Mom that was one time.” Alex said, sounding exasperated. “I thought we were over that.” “Not until you get the scorch marks out of the ceiling.” Tim laughed and pushed Alex, encouraging him up the stairs, “Don’t worry Mrs. K, I’ll keep him in check.”

Alex dropped his backpack on the floor of his room after pulling out his laptop. He sat on the leather desk chair and powered up the machine. Tim unceremoniously let his bag fall next to Alex’s before flopping on to the bed and letting out a sigh. “You’re getting stuff off the ParaForums again?” Tim asked, “Last time we used those we got a werewolf that turned out to be a stray Labrador with a case of mange.” “This is different.” Alex said as he navigated to the thread he wanted, “Look.” He turned the computer towards Tim.

Time sat up and squinted at the screen. Two pictures were set side-by-side. Both showed figures similar to the one on the paper that Alex was now holding up next to the computer. “How do you know it’s not just a photo manipulation?” Tim asked, suspicious of anything on this specific website. “The OP says that he and his buddy were out exploring in the woods around their town. They were checking out this old hospital they had been hearing stories about since they were kids. He says that they weren’t even in the building for five minutes before things started happening,” Alex began to read the text that accompanied the photos, “’Both of us got these splitting headaches at the same time, it felt like my head was going to explode. Neither of us could stop coughing. Nate could barely stand and I had to practically drag him outside. I don’t even remember half the walk back. When I could actually function again, I looked at the footage on the camera we had brought with us. It wouldn’t turn on, even after I charged it. The memory card was barely working and all of the footage was messed up. The only clear thing was this, whatever it is. It only shows up for a second on the recording. Neither Nate or I remember seeing anyone else there and we definitely didn’t see that.’ “They’re the same Tim. This picture,” He wiggled he photo in his hand, “was never released to the public. And, to top it off, it was in Tuscaloosa.” “The same place the kids disappeared.” Tim said quietly. “Exactly.” Tim leaned back on his elbows, “What do you think it is?” Alex shrugged and set the paper down, “I’m not really sure. I was thinking just your standard spirit, it matches the electronics spazzing out.” “But the disappearances, the headaches, coughing, and potential memory loss along with it? That’s a lot for a ghost.” Tim replied. “Rakshasa? That would explain how it looks.” “Rakshasa don’t ruin electronics and they don’t make you sick either.”

The two settled into silence as they brainstormed what they were looking at. Tim watched Alex open and look through his own records, trying to match anything to this new monster. Tim let his arms collapse beneath him and he settled onto his back, staring at Alex’s slightly singed ceiling. He felt the bed dip and a warmth pressed into his side. Turning his head, Tim glanced at his boyfriend, noting the frustration that pinched the corners of his eyes. Alex never liked it when he couldn’t find the information he wanted. Tim’s fingers searched until he found Alex’s. He squeezed, happy when Alex returned the gesture. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.” Tim said and he bumped his elbow into the other man’s side when he didn’t respond. “Hey,” Alex looked at Tim and sighed, “I know, it’s just annoying.”

done working on it for now. Have some flat colors. gay-potato-fun