#luckily they're super open to widowers bc they see death as like. a holy rite

[holdmecloser-gandydancer]

#29 for the 101 ways to say I love you with blupjeans except it's after they've turned into liches lol please? 💜

Barry kneels down beside the hastily tilled earth. He pulls his jacket a little closer to him as the wind weaves through the trees. The ground on this plane has started to firm up with the impending cold season, though the inhabitants, who are keen on honoring the deceased, made quick work of digging the grave. He gingerly lays down a large bouquet of odd flowers, all muted blues and greys in varying shapes and sizes. He’s not sure where they’re from. They smell nice enough, though.

The lump in his throat must be the size of a small planet, he thinks, and the wall of eyes at his back isn’t making it better.

“Lup, babe. I can’t believe you’re gone. I-“ he breaks off, shaking his head and wiping at his face. It feels weird, having his grief observed. Judged. Evaluated. But who is he to argue with the customs of the plane? He lets out a sigh. “You died as you lived. Radiant. Joyful. And a little reckless,” he says seriously. He hears murmurs from behind him and it takes everything in him to not turn around and investigate them. Instead, he lets his shoulders relax as he just stares at the place where Lup’s body is entombed.

He startles when he feels a cold, bony hand on his shoulder. A gaunt looking human man nods gravely at him. “We are sorry for your loss, Mr. Hallwinter. Please, feel free to join us at the temple this evening,” he says, voice low and solemn.

Barry nods. “T-thank you, Father Eliot. Um. I’ll be by later. But I would like some time here alone. My wife and I had been together for such a short time and… I just don’t know what do to without her,” his voice is thick with what Father Eliot presumes to be grief.

“I understand. We’ll leave you. Don’t grieve out here too long, you’ll catch your death,” Father Eliot says without a hint of irony.

Barry waits a minute. Then five. Then ten, until he’s certain they’re gone. And then he starts laughing wildly. He stands up from beside Lup’s grave and looks around the vast cemetery, giving a little wave. “Coast is clear, babe!”

He grins as he sees a familiar red form float out from behind a nearby tree. Lup floats so near to him, warming him in an instant. She rests her spectral head on his shoulder. It doesn’t really work but it gives them both a little comfort.

“That was a beautiful performance, Mr. Hallwinter,” she says, her wide grin evident in the lilt of her voice.

“Why thank you, Mrs. Hallwinter. I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“Oh yeah?”

Barry nods. “Yeah, it’s probably lame but I always tried to leave you flowers when I could.” He gives her a sidelong glance, hoping he hasn’t just admitted to something weird or embarrassing.

“Babe, you had that big a crush on me?” Lup asks gleefully, doing her best to wrap her arms around Barry.

Barry ducks his head but smiles wide. It feels so silly to still be embarrassed around Lup but sometimes he just can’t help it. “I mean, yeah, but I’m not really telling you anything you don’t know, am I?”

She hums for a moment. “Mmm, ‘spose not. You think they bought it?”

“I mean, they invited me back to the temple so I think so.”

Lup lets out a victorious whoop. “Man, we’re so fucking smart. You’ve got the Light on lock, Bar.”

“I hope so, I’d hate to think you had to go ghost for nothing.”

“I do think you forget that I am now the only one on the team who knows what it’s like to touch lava so I would hardly say it’s for nothing.”

Barry barks out a laugh and looks at Lup softly. “Have I said how much I love you lately?”

“You haven’t and frankly I’m feeling a little neglected.” She says haughtily.

“Now however can we rectify that?”

Lup flashes him a mischievous grin. “We really can’t while you’re still fleshy. How about you go get the Light and we’ll see what can be arranged afterwards.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Barry says, dusting the dirt off his pants. He pauses before leaving the cemetery. “Do you think you’d also be willing to tell me what touching lava’s like?”

She giggles brightly. “Well now you’re asking an awful lot of your dead wife.”

“But you’ll tell me because you love me so much?”

Lup heaves a heavy sigh. “I suppose that could be arranged.”

Barry grins at her once more before heading to the temple near the cemetery. The Light is well within his grasp this cycle.