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[He stares down at their hands or rather Gansey's hand over his. The other's hand was actually warm over his own. Something that he wasn't expecting. Then again, he wasn't expecting any of this.]

Ronan's your best friend. You should've at least told him. I... don't want him to get upset with you.

[Or think Gansey's losing it and decide to try and throw him out the window again. Especially when, this time, it would do some damage.]

I'm going to tell him, Noah. After we're inside.

[He doesn't think Ronan would begrudge that time. Noah needs a few minutes to compose himself without questions. He also may need a few minutes to blame Gansey for whatever happened.]

I didn't think you'd want everyone here at once.

Okay.

[Noah just didn't want Ronan to get upset over finding out about him being alive. Would he angry or...]

I don't. But Ronan's not everyone. He's your best friend.

[He takes a deep breath before letting it back out.]

Lets go inside.

[As soon as they're in Monmouth and he knows Noah isn't going to freak out, he'll call Ronan.]

He's your friend too, Noah.

[Giving Noah a reassuring smile, he unbuckles his seat belt, waiting for Noah to do the same.]

It'll be all right. We'll figure this out.

But he's your best friend.

[He had one of those once, look where it got him.]

I know we will.

[He takes another deep breath then lets it out, then unbuckles his seatbelt and slips out of the Pig into the nice fresh air. It was going to be weird being physically in Monmouth.]

He's not going to be angry that we waited.

[Ronan isn't going to begrudge Noah the time it takes to get used to become functional through his shock. If he does... Gansey will deal with it. Noah needs time to breathe, and get used to breathing, before having to function like a normal human being.]

Remember I know a little something about coming back. I needed time to get used to things without everyone around me.

[It's not something he'd ever admitted to the others. They'd been so relieved that their bargain had worked, but Gansey had needed time to feel like he belonged in the world, in his body. He's not going to rush Noah, especially when he'd been about to have a panic attack.

When Noah gets out of the Pig, Gansey locks the Camaro and follows him inside Monmouth.]

Does it look different?

[Noah was still a bit worried where Ronan was concerned.]

I know you do.

[When they get inside Monmouth, he looks around a bit. He does, however, stop a bit before his bedroom door. A bedroom that was... well, would probably need more homey things to it now.]

It feels different. Looks kind of different too. Like it's... bigger, somehow.

[He watches Noah, afraid of some sign of shock or an anxiety attack. He seems overwhelmed but not so much that he can't function.

As he follows Noah, he wonders how different Monmouth seems and if Noah is disappointed in his home now that he's alive. It functions well for Ronan and Gansey, but Noah might want a more civilized home.

The comment about bigger surprises him. That isn't the reactio he expected.]

I thought it would seem smaller than it did bfore.

[Noah had spent quite a bit of his ghostly days in Monmouth. As a ghost things felt small, tiny almost. Especially when someone lacked energy. Or maybe he was remembering that wrong. Maybe he wasn't meant to remember now.

He turns giving Gansey a smile.]

It seems bigger than it did before. But the concept could be lost on me right now.

[Gansey isn't sure if he can understand what Noah's going through. He understands coming back, but he hadn't been a ghost. Or, if he had been, he doesn't remember it. Whatever Noah's experiencing must be strange and confusing so Gansey will work with that assumption.]

That's all right. Do you need to...

[He's not sure what...]

Shower? Change into clothes that aren't a uniform?

[After his own resurrection, he'd felt like he had to scrub himself down, remove the traces of what had happened from his skin. He isn't sure Noah will feel the same way but it's the only thing he can think of suggesting.]

[If Gansey were to ask, Noah would try to explain it to him. However, his mind is running in circles at the moment and going a mile a minute. So it might come out a bit weird.]

... Do we even have clothes for me to change into that would fit?

[A shower and changing out of something that wasn't a uniform definitely sounded like a really good idea. One he could get behind. Get the feeling of... well, dead, off himself.]

My clothes should fit for now.

[They're about the same height. Gansey's shoulders are more broad thanks to rowing team, but that shouldn't be a problem.]

And I can get Adam or Blue to pick things up for you.

[For some reason he doesn't want to leave Noah, even after his friend is settled. He knows Ronan may feel the same way. Even if he doesn't, he knows better than to send Ronan shopping for Noah. Everything will be the wrong size and all black.]

You can use any of my things. Or Ronan's.

[He knows Ronan wouldn't complain about that.]

Alright.

[He could handle Gansey's clothes, for the moment.]

Either one of them would work.

[Noah gives Gansey a small smile, brushing fingers through his hair.]

We should probably pick clothes out, so I have them after I get out of the shower. And then we're burning these.

Probably Adam would be best. Blue might decide to improve her selections before giving them to you.

[After being stuck in the uniform for years, Noah might not mind the change, but it should be one that Noah decides on. Adam would probably get the minimal basics, but he'd focus on what Noah requested.

Heading for the wardrobe that was tucked behind the desk, he started searching for something that might fit. Sweat pants, one of his t-shirts... a hoodie just in case Noah is cold, socks. He doubted that his shoes would fit. He hesitates over underwear.]

Um... do you mind wearing my boxers? I think I have a new pair that I've never worn.

I'm not sure I'd want to wear Blue's clothes. Even if they were improved.

[Just the idea has him shuddering a bit. Not that there was anything wrong with what Blue wore, but he wouldn't wear it. He'd wear Ronan's all black outfits before wearing anything that Blue had.]

I don't mind, Gansey.

[He's not really even thinking about underwear at the moment. All he knows is he wanted out of what he was in. He didn't want to see it ever again either. Too many bad memories attached to it. Yes, there were some good too, but ultimately, he wanted nothing to do with it.]

[Despite his concerns, he smiles at Noah's reaction to Blue's clothes. He didn't mind them, for her, but they were an acquired taste. At least if Noah was commenting on Blue's clothes, it meant that he's aware of what's going on around him.

When Noah confirms that wearing someone else's underwear isn't weird, he digs through the back of one drawer to pull out a pair that is laundered but has never been worn. Adding the boxers to the stack of clothing, he offers it to Noah.]

That should be most of what you need. There should be a towel in the dryer. I'll get it for you and call Ronan while you're showering.

Edited 2020-05-18 16:44 (UTC)

[Noah takes the offered clothes and gives Gansey a small smile.]

Okay.

[Gansey gets another smile before he heads off to the bathroom, so he can strip down and get that shower. Nice hot water and soap to scrub off the feeling of death.]

[Once Noah's headed toward the bathroom, Gansey grabs the towel, leaving it where Noah can easily reach it. Then he calls Ronan, not really sure what he's going to say.

As soon as his best friend picks up, Gansey blurts out.]

Noah's alive.

[Gansey knows that Ronan hates the phone, but he does eventually pick up. Those words throwing him off.]

What do you mean Noah's alive?

[Gansey half-expects Ronan not to answer, but he also knows that after everything that's happened, Ronan is more willing to answer his calls. Which is a relief because he might not b worried about Ronan not learning about what happened until they were home, if it was hours later, Ronan might be furious.]

Noah's alive. He's as solid as I am. He has a pulse. He's breathing.

[Gansey glances over toward the bathroom.]

He's showering right now.

[No more uniform. Of all the details that's muddling his thoughts, it's that one that he's not sure how he'll process.]

[There's silence from Ronan's end of the phone. He's not sure what to make of what Gansey is throwing at him. Honestly, if he could he'd disbelieve what he was being told.

However, things had happened. Hell, he could do things that shouldn't be able to be done.]

Do we know how this happened? Is he alright?

[Just because Noah was showering didn't mean that he was fine. Did it?]

Do you all need anything?

[Gansey's trying to decide if the silence is because of shock or some other emotion. It is a shock. Gansey had hoped to use his wish for Noah, but once that hadn't been possible, he'd assumed Noah would be a ghost until he decided to move on.]

I have no idea what caused it. He seems to be physically all right. But mentally...

[Letting out a sigh, moves to one of the chairs in the main room and almost falls into it.]

I think he's trying not to freak out. Eventually he's going to need clothes and all the basics. Right now he's borrowing my things. I assumed you'd want to be here as soon as possible instead of going shopping.

Mentally, he's not good.

[Who would be good mentally if they'd come back from the dead. Especially after years of being dead.]

I'm on my way. I'll send a text to Adam and he can grab the basics of what Noah needs.

I'm sure that he's not. I just don't know what aspects of it are the worst for him.

[Gansey can't draw conclusions from his own experiences. He was too young the first time he came back and the last time had a whole set of issues that don't relate to Noah's situation.]

Thank you. Noah said he'd rather Adam picked them up than Blue.

[Tipping his head back, he closes his eyes briefly, trying to sort out his own feelings.]

I'm not sure how to process this.

We won't know until he tells us.

[Ronan wasn't even sure how to handle the situation. The fact that Noah was well and alive. Walking around and breathing.]

It shouldn't take me long to get there.

[Noah? He was actually, probably, almost done with the shower too.]

Day by day, Gansey.

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