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”You're late." The words fall out before Hook can stop himself.
Danhausen flashes him a wry smirk, as he lowers himself to the bench. He still looks the same as he did the day they'd met- it's remarkable. One hand snakes over, resting on Hook's knee. "Traffic. Danhausen hates it."
Hook holds back a laugh, as he rests his hand on top of Danhausen's hand. This is the sort of thing he misses-the way Danhausen blurts out exactly what he's thinking.
"Interdimensional travel has traffic?"
"Well-" Danhausen squeezes Hook's fingers. "When you can only leave one day a year..."
One day a year.
4 simple words that still manage to break Hook's heart.
It's been close to 50 years. One would think he'd be used to this by now.
Apparently not.
"Don't remind me." Hook clears his throat. "47 years is... too long."
"Feels like a minute to Danhausen." Danhausen shifts in his seat, focusing harder on the crashing waves. "How is Jack?"
His breath catches in his throat. He'd expected he'd have to tell him eventually but definitely not now.
Maybe next year?
"Ah." Danhausen nods knowingly. "Danhausen is sorry to hear that."
Hook will never understand how they're able to communicate without words.
No one else has ever been like that.
"Thanks." Hook stares forward, breathing in the salty sea air.
How'd it all come to this?
One misplaced move- something he'd taken dozens of times. One second flying through the air. The next surrounded by frantic people shouting at him not to move.
He hadn't the heart to tell them he couldn't.
Then, darkness.
He can't tell you where he'd been or how he'd gotten there. An all-white room and Danhausen, looking extremely impatient.
Am I dead?
Ah, Danhausen is not a doctor. He doesn't think so though. Not yet anyway!
Reassuring.
Danhausen knows there isn't much time.
Time for what?
My gift.
They called his recovery miraculous. They'd never seen anything like that. It defied medical science. From practically dead to perfectly normal- things like this just didn't happen. All they could do was release him from the hospital, and tell him to enjoy his new lease on life.
His mom thanked St. Raphael the Archangel for bringing her boy back. His dad didn't say anything directly, just thanking the doctors for helping his son, even if they weren't quite sure what they did.
"Why did you do it?" Hook turns his head, meeting those eyes he knows oh so well.
"Do what?" Danhausen chews on his lip.
"You know." Hook gestures down, indicating his presence.
It had taken several months for his dad to broach the subject.
You're here because of Danhausen.
What?
He disappeared the day you woke up.
"It was an accident." Danhausen tightens his hold on Hook's hand. "You didn't deserve that. I gave you a gift."
Hook doesn't know how to tell him it's a gift he's never been able to repay. All of the years he lived- they technically belonged to someone else.
A simple thank-you had never sufficed.
"I love you." It's the first thing Hook can think of, as he focuses harder on their intertwined hands.
His skin is wrinkled, marred with age. There's a bruise, probably from the blood thinners he takes for his atrial fibrillation. They're a sharp contrast to Danhausen's perfect skin, minus a tiny scary here and there.
"I love you too." Danhausen sighs, his head resting on Hook's shoulder. "That's why Danhausen did it."
It had taken Hook almost a year to meet Danhausen again in the all-white room.
Not again.
Oh no. This is just how Danhausen has to communicate now.
Are you dead?
Doubtful. Just... home. Imagine being 3000 and living with your parents.
Well, why'd you come?
It turned out there was a day every year when the portal opened between Danhausen's home dimension and Earth. It would take copious amounts of paperwork, especially since Danhausen had renounced his citizenship, left for Earth and come back. The good thing was that once he had a permit, he would never have to apply again.
They would just have to pick a place to meet, as the permit was only good for a single day at a predetermined location. It could be <i>any</i> branch, they would just need to know what type of space it was.
Danhausen did not pretend to understand demonic law.
They chose the beach.
"Did Hook have a good life?" Danhausen's voice drops to a near whisper.
"Well, I didn't have you." Hook exhales, tears threatening to fall. "But..."
He'd shown up to the beach, not expecting Danhausen to actually show. Dreams were just that- dreams. It didn't matter if they mirrored your near-death experience.
Still, Hook knew he would never forgive himself if he didn't try to find out.
To his amazement, Danhausen had wandered up to him, like no time had passed at all.
You came.
Danhausen keeps his promises!
Can I come with you?
Not yet.
Why not?
Hook would waste Danhausen's gift. And Danhausen knows Hook is not a rude person!
Danhausen instead suggested Hook finally say yes to that lovely Jumping Jack Jungleman. He wanted Hook to be happy. They would be good together.
Hook reluctantly agreed.
"Danhausen wants to know."
"You already do."
"Tell me again."
And he does.
Hook, still focusing on the waves crashing against the dunes, begins to speak.
They'd been together 45 years, and married for 40. Jack understood about the whole '1 day a year to be with my ex- the demon' thing. He still hadn't gotten over Luchasaurus betraying him. It was honestly just one of those things. They loved each other in a way that really only made sense to them. Hook loved being the weird couple on the block. There had been kids- 3 of them- 2 girls and a boy- in a small house on the end of a quiet street. They could have afforded something much more opulent but neither of them had wanted that. Their kids grew up, and one by one left the house. Then, it had just been the two of them with a spaniel puppy. Eventually, they couldn't deal with how quiet the house was and so, they traveled the world. Then, the kids started having kids.
They had built something beautiful on the solid affection they had for each other even with the lingering ache they each had for someone else.
All in all, it hadn't been a bad life.
Hell, it had been downright marvelous.
"Hook looks tired." Danhausen sighs.
"I am."
"Can Danhausen ask you a question?"
Hook stiffens. Part of him wonders if Danhausen's about to ask the question. He'd dreamt of this moment for as long as he could remember, and yet, he hadn't quite believed it would actually come.
"What?"
"Are you ready to come home?"
Hook nods.
"Close your eyes."
Hook does.
Danhausen pulls his hand back, and cradles Hook's face between his palms. He leans in, and covers his mouth in a chaste kiss.
It's the first time they've kissed in almost 50 years.
The next time he opens his eyes, they're off the beach, and in an airport lounge.
Hook gives him a questioning look.
"Danhausen has to declare Hook's arrival." Danhausen shrugs. "Technicality."
It's then that Hook realizes he's young again.
-fin-