“So, tell me then, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?” Luna asked cooly. She was wearing a light blue, long sundress with a white long-sleeve underneath, and had her hair down so when the breeze pushed her curls, it blew her sweet smell right into Conan. She looked peaceful and had a light in her eyes that captured the setting sun. Conan thought she looked the opposite from the night prior.

The night before was a lot. Conan helped himself out of her apartment but asked for ice cream the following day as a last-ditch effort. Luna, brightly said yes. Conan could not believe it. And here she was. They were walking together around the outskirts of campus with their cones. Usually, Conan would avoid cooling down his core at all costs, but he felt he could be himself around her. Plus, he always enjoyed a good vanilla, while Luna was licking a blueberry shortcake swirl monstrosity.

Conan smiled at her. He began, “Well, I would say hiding from the feds,” Conan joked. “No, in actuality, after I left my friends, I wandered for a bit. I saw the world, went to every place one could dream of, even some restricted places,” Conan winked. “My favorite place, by far, was Athens, Greece. The temples were so beautiful and the food was beyond incredible. But, the world is only so big. So, I figured with my powers, I could be a superhero.”

Luna held a laugh, but her eyes still squinted.

“Yes, yes I know. How stereotypical of me. But yeah, I spent a few years playing hero. I would stay in high crime areas and stop muggers, help firefighters, you know. I loved helping people. It was so fulfilling for some time, and I thought that was my purpose. But, it was still really lonely. A thankful hug after one’s life is saved doesn’t make up for a life with little connection.” Conan trailed off.

“But,” Conan snapped out of it, “weird things began happening. I noticed these high-crime areas also provided high-spirited sightings. I began meeting other ghosts. I mean, full ghosts. Most of the time, ghosts just want a quiet existence and remain in peace. Many spirits just want to watch their families or their obsessions before passing on. However, it was the spirits that became enamored with their obsession with keeping things a certain way, or the ones that refused change, that would create issues. These are the ghosts people usually hear about and give us a bad rep. These toxic ghosts and demons prying on humans' souls created some issues. This includes the demon that fought you the night I walked you home. So, I switched to only fighting these enemies and returning them to hell or wherever they go after they dissipate. I lived like this for years, I kept getting stronger, but so did they. It seemed when I killed one, two more would take its place. I was tired. I couldn't keep fighting them, so selfishly, I left and retired. I came to the only place I felt safe, which was here. I stopped using my powers and got comfortable, I accepted the rest of my fate of just going through the motions.”

“I decided to go back to school because I never finished due to the accident. Originally, I hated it, but I stuck it out and learned how amazing this place is. I was able to continually learn about the changing times and study anything I wanted. So, I technically have quite a few Doctorates if I ever add up my course loads, but listening to professors' stories is better than playing video games till I rot. Plus, I noticed since I stopped using my powers, the evil activity disappeared. Either I have shut it out or this town really is a safe pocket. That is, until that one nasty thing attacked you,” Conan looked over at Luna.

Luna had somehow finished her cone and was staring ahead with a crumpled look. Conan looked at her questionably until she noticed.

“Sorry, brain-freeze,” she responded with a smile. Conan sighed with relief.

“I know I should probably be freaked out by all this, but is it weird I’m not? Like, I just love hearing about your life. You have truly lived lifetimes. You have experienced everything the world has to offer, learned everything, you literally have superpowers, but yet you choose to go to school? You are such a freaking nerd,” Luna laughed.

Conan could not help but also laugh. It was ridiculous when she put it that way.

Conan was a man stuck in time. Stuck being 22. Stuck on going to classes, finding a girl, and spending the day getting her into his apartment later that night for distraction. Stuck rarely using his powers. Conan was stuck in life, well, until Luna.

“Well, if you had eternity, what would you do,” Conan questioned her.

“Hmm. Well, for one, I would avoid the hero phase,” Luna smirked. “I am not sure though, I guess I would want to purely spend time on my hobbies. I would try to paint every landscape, sing every song, collect sea shells from every coast, and live in a million different cities… But what I would really want is a companion to share it with,” Luna shied away.

“The loneliness is the worst part,” Conan added somberly.

“Maybe I can help you out for a bit then?” Luna asked with a slight flirt.

Conan smiled in return. “Well, I have met many, many people, what makes you so special?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Luna scoffs. “What do you mean? I am fucking fantastic.”

Conan threw his head back in a laugh. He could not remember the last time he genuinely laughed like that.

Luna also smiled, and Conan felt a slight surge of power while looking into her eyes. He shook it away, and they continued walking.

“I like watching your eyes change color,” Luna said quietly. “Don't get me wrong, I like your green eyes, but I am a sucker for that bright blue.”

Conan hid a smile. He did not realize she saw that. She was paying more attention to him than he thought, and he felt his chest slightly tighten.

They continued walking and talking of sweet nothings. Conan loved learning about Luna and hadn't felt this excited about someone in a long time. The last person he felt a strong association with was Stella, but their relationship never moved past friendship because of his broken promise. Conan vowed to himself at that moment, that no matter what happened, he would try his best with Luna. Plus, he couldn't make her forget him, even if he wanted to.

Luna tossed her empty cup into a nearby trash can. She swept her hair over her shoulder and looked back at Conan. “So, what else do you have planned for us today?”

Conan looked at her questioningly. “This was my only plan. I only asked you out for ice cream. Is there something else you would like to do?” Conan smirked.

“We should get somewhere with a heater,” Luna joked. “Wait, I think I have something that will lift your spirit,” Luna said with a grin.

“A ghost pun, hilarious,” Conan said sarcastically.

“Oh, I have plenty more, I wouldn't want to come across as boo-ring,” Luna giggled at herself. Conan plainly rolled his eyes.

They walked back to Conan’s car and Luna continued to make ghost puns that got exceedingly more terrible. If Conan had a favorite fruit, it would be a boo-nana and his favorite game had to be hide-and-shriek. Conan was not amused, but he did enjoy watching Luna make herself laugh.

When they got to the car, Luna insisted on driving. She wanted their next spot to be a surprise. Conan, very reluctantly, handed her the keys after she insisted she was an excellent driver. Conan found out within two minutes in the passenger seat she was not. Conan clutched the side of the seat for his afterlife as she whipped between cars. She took a sharp left turn, and may have caused an accident behind her, and took a side road up through a neighborhood. They continued up the street until the houses decreased and the green whoosh of trees increased. They climbed up a steep mountain for a few minutes and eventually pulled off on the side. She turned off the car and opened the door. Conan tentatively followed suit. He closed the door and looked to the side to see they were on the face of a cliff.

The view showed the whole town, from the beautiful mountain and forest ranges encompassing the city to the university right in the middle. All the cars and lights looked like specks among the fading background. It was astounding.

Conan put down the hitch of his car and sat in the trunk. Luna sat beside him and they watched the sun set over the city and the stars begin to sparkle. They laid back and purely watched the sky. The Milky Way slowly began to emerge.

“I wish I could touch them,” Luna said to herself.

Conan looked over at her and watched the stars shine in her big eyes. He sat up and hopped off the bed. He felt his eyes burn bright blue and let the electricity in his body burn until he transformed and changed. Luna looked up with her mouth open.

“That is incredible!” she said. She jumped off the car and walked around him. She held up a hand to his chest and watched in amazement as her hand went right through his cavity. She pulled back the cold, blue smoke and wiggled her fingers.

“I want to try something. I have not tried it in a long time so it may take a moment,” Conan said as he smiled.

He felt a joy and wildness in his eyes and Luna smiled excitedly back. He went to hold her hand and he focused his energy. He discovered in his experiments with Stella and Terrance he could incorporate others into some of his powers. He entered a half-state between the two forms; he could access a solid state and still use his powers. He focused his energy until he was no longer transparent. He held out his hand and Luna was able to hold it. He guided her close until she was right in front of him. He slowly guided one hand to her back and another to her knees and slowly carried her into his chest. She inhaled sharply but looked into his eyes with trust. He bent his knees and leaped off the cliff.

Luna squeezed her eyes shut and looked like she expected to feel the falling feeling, but it never came. They hovered over the cliff face, only a few feet horizontal off the ground. She opened her eyes and laughed. Conan tested the air and went skyward. He carried her through the clouds and high above the mountains. They flew over the city and she moved her arms from death gripping his neck to leaning her head back and waving her arms lazily in the air. She could not help but laugh.

They flew for a little while, and Luna began to shiver. So, Conan flew back to her apartment building and landed on the top of the parking structure. He lightly touched down and gently removed his arms from under her legs. She took a few side steps and regained her footing. Her hair was wild with knots and sticking out in strange angles. Her dress was crumpled, but she had a wild look in her eyes. She turned around and tried to throw her arms around Conan, but she went right through him. Her confused look made Conan double over. He then succumbed to his tiredness and powered down to change back into his human form.

He turned around and was met with a tight hug. She slightly pulled back and Conan leaned down and met her for a kiss. He wanted to kiss her deeper and deeper, but the tiredness hit him like a truck. Luna seemed to notice and kissed his chin.

“Get home safe,” she smiled as she began walking to the stairwell to go back down to her apartment.

She looked back once and smiled and descended the stairs. Conan felt like he could punch the air. He transformed again and leaped high into the sky.