Watching for Comets

Sage sighed as he watched the robot Master and his shiny Noivern leave. He rubbed his face as he went to recline in his chair.
"That robot sure packs a punch."
"I'll say."
The sound of a second voice surprised Sage, causing him to look around. "What… who's there?"
"You don't recognize my voice? After so long, Sage? I'm a little disappointed."
Sage recognized the voice all right. It's a voice he'd never forget. But… it couldn't be him! He died years ago thanks to that stupid Ampharos!
"I've got to be imagining things." He concluded, trying to ignore the voice.
But the voice decided to make itself known. Like a ghost, someone seemed to 'phase' into the real world, right in front of Sage's recliner. The long-lost but familiar shape of a Braviary started to phase into existence.
"A Braviary?" Sage thought. "But… Braviaries aren't Ghost-types. They can't phase into view… unless… no way."
Sage's thoughts were confirmed, as the Braviary was now in full view… and it was someone he never thought he'd see again.
"HIAWATHA?!"
Sage stood up from his chair, in disbelief of what he was saying. Did Hiawatha… really come back as a Ghost-type? But how?
Sage didn't even waste time with any more questions, running up to straight up hug with his long-lost love.
"H-How is this possible? You're dead! I had always hoped you'd come back as a Ghost-type, but… I didn't think it could actually happen…"
Hiawatha was quiet, simply hugging Sage as he started to cry softly. Sage was almost never one to cry, but… this was just too much.
"Does this mean… that you can come back? To the mortal realm, in your body? Or as a Gengar or something? I don't care if you're a freaking Drifloon!" Sage asked.
Hiawatha shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sage. My time here is temporary. I got one visit here, and I knew I had to see you. Only those that Arceus deems to have important purposes get to go back as a Gengar or some other Ghost-type. And me… heh. It's not like I have some sort of destiny to fulfill. At this point, everyone's accepted my death. But the reason I begged Arceus for a visit was so I could tell you that you can move on from me, Sage."
Just as quickly as Sage was in disbelief of Hiawatha coming back from the afterlife, he was in disbelief of what Hiawatha was telling him now.
"But… why can't you come back? If you died of old age or something, I'd understand. But… that stupid Ampharos… that damn son of a bitch… he killed you! While we were in high school! It's not fair!" Sage screamed, his usual calm and collected cool being completely lost.
"I agree, Sage." Hiawatha replied calmly. "It isn't fair. But… it's how the world works. It's cruel, but I was killed. I'm in the afterlife now, and… I have to help you accept that. Don't lock yourself out of loving another just because I died so young."
Sage wiped away his small tears. "Is… is that all you wanted to say?"
Hiawatha shook his head. "No. I'm here for one more thing. As a spirit, I saw you on Senior Prom Night. You were there by yourself. You didn't dance with anybody. You missed out on that."
Sage chuckled sadly. "Can you blame me? The guy I would've spent Prom Night with was murdered by an Ampharos asshole."
"I want one last thing before I head back up to the afterlife. I want one final dance with you. I want to experience that."
Sage didn't even hesitate. Throughout all of Senior Prom Night, he had desperately wished Hiawatha was there. This was the chance he had to embrace him for the final time. And he wouldn't pass it up for the world.
"…Will I see you again?" Sage said, holding back tears as Hiawatha offered himself to dance.
"You will, Sage. You will when you enter the afterlife."

Time seemed to freeze as the duo danced. Nothing else mattered now. Just the soft footsteps of the two as they danced in the living room. While anybody else would've heard only soft footsteps, the sound of hauntingly beautiful music filled the ears of the duo.

Sage felt himself… crying? He was completely SOBBING now. But… he hadn't been this emotional since Hiawatha's death. Maybe because this was almost unreal. He was dancing with Hiawatha's ghost. Maybe because he couldn't have this love back. He knew he'd never see Hiawatha again until Sage himself died. He'd lost this once in a lifetime love, all because of that stupid Ampharos.
Sage laughed, trying to mask his tears while still dancing. "Look at me. I'm a total wreck."
Hiawatha only smiled softly, knowing what he could say to comfort him. "Do you remember the night we went watching for comets?"
"How could I forget?" Sage said, closing his eyes and recalling the memory. "We were both 15 at the time, and it was a big school event. Rayquaza's Comet was supposed to be soaring in the air that night, and it only happened every 200 years. That… that comet was gorgeous. I still have the pictures. Time just seemed to stand still that day."
"That's not what I'm talking about Sage. Do you remember what we said to each other when the comet soared past us?"
"I love you." The duo said in perfect sync.
"That was the day a lot of things changed for us. We came out to our parents, and even the whole school pretty much knew. But I suppose you becoming the star quarterback for the whole high school destroyed any sort of attempt at bullying." Hiawatha admitted, laughing.
"That, and I'm as strong as a Machamp." Sage smirked confidently. "I could've sent anyone flying six ways to Sunday."
Hiawatha smiled. "Now there's that cocky Sage I know and love."
Sage chuckled a bit… before sighing. "And I still love you. I wish I could just go with you if you can't come back… Maybe I…"
"Sage, I know how you were going to finish that sentence and I don't want to hear it. The absolute last thing I want you to do is anything suicidal."
Sage sighed. "I agree. You're right. I shouldn't even be thinking that way. But… if not you… then who?"
This time, it was Hiawatha who had a confident smirk on his face. "Oh, I don't know. Someone as kinky and submissive I am. But still a generally nice guy. He's a cute Dragon-type and a bit… batty."
Sage could connect the dots. "You mean that shiny Noivern? The one I tried to sell? The one whose Master punched me in the face?" he said, rubbing at his head again as he remembered the injury. Turned out that being hit in the face with metal hurt. A lot.
"Looks like you still have both your brains AND your brawn." The Braviary laughed.
"I'm not going to deny the idea's appealing. But… I don't think that Noivern would ever really forgive me for kidnapping him. And his Master DEFINITELY wouldn't." Sage sighed.
Hiawatha looked at the coat the Noivern left behind, never letting go of Sage as he led the dance.
"Well… who knows? I doubt he'd leave his coat behind if he wasn't interested in ever seeing you again."
"Yeah, he said it was his grandfather's. No doubt he'll be coming back for that."
"But… that still leaves the issue of his Master…"
Hiawatha smiled. "Trust me, Sage. It'll all work out."
Sage looked at Hiawatha suspiciously. "Do you get to see the future or something when you're dead?"
The Braviary laughed. "Something like that, yeah."
Finally, the dance ended. Sage wished that dance could've gone on for all eternity. A lack of sleep and food meant nothing to him if he could just dance it all away with Hiawatha.
Sage managed to finally wipe his tears away as well. "This is… still so unreal. I just danced with the ghost of my dead boyfriend."
"Not something you hear every day." Hiawatha joked. Even in death, he was similar to how he was in life.
"Before you go, Hiawatha… can I ask something?" Sage said curiosity.
"Yeah. Go for it."
Sage paused a little bit. Did he really want the answer to this? The answer that Hiawatha possibly found… someone ELSE to love in the afterlife? But… if Hiawatha was happy… that should be all that mattered, right? And it's not like Sage could be boyfriends with a dead guy. Still, a tinge of possible jealousy went through his veins.
"Did you… ever find some sort of boyfriend or girlfriend in the afterlife?"
Hiawatha smiled. "Yes. I have, actually."
Sage sighed, thinking to himself. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised…"
"But… she was more than OK with me coming down to see you." Hiawatha informed. "When you pass… of natural causes, no suicide shenanigans…"
Sage nodded. "Yeah, I got that. I promise not to."
"But… she'd like to meet you. She's a hell of a dom as well. My first time with her was… whoa. I mean… unforgettable. Let's just say that she gives you a run for your money, Sage." Hiawatha winked flirtatiously.
Sage laughed. "Well, if your predictions are right, I've got many more years to perfect my domming. By the time I die, you better be prepared to be dommed by me like never before."
"There's my Sage. I'm so glad to see you back to being… well, you."
A pillar of light appeared behind Hiawatha. "Well, that's the cue from Arceus. My time here's up. I better get going."
"Promise me one thing, Hiawatha." Sage said firmly.
"What would that be?"
"…Be sure to introduce me to ALL of your kinky friends when I get up there!"
Hiawatha laughed. "It's a done deal! Good-bye for now, Sage. We'll meet again in the afterlife."
The Braviary backed into the pillar of light. Hiawatha himself shone with a brilliant light before a blinding white flash forced Sage to shut his eyes. By the time the flash died down, Hiawatha and the pillar of light were completely gone.
Sage briefly wondered if he had just imagined the whole thing or had a hallucination. But something within Sage, whether it be faith, guts, or instinct, told him in no uncertain terms that what happened was indeed very real. He looked at the coat Hiawatha had motioned to.
"Looks like I have a coat to return."