Even the Dark Side: 2P England and Reader:

There's a place that I know
It's not pretty there and few have ever gone
If I show it to you now
Will it make you run away?

You slowly crept down the hall, the smell of medical supplies made your eyes burn and you could see the old dust and soot float through the flashlights' beam. A board creaked under foot and you flinched back.  You stilled for a moment listening to the sounds of the abandoned hospital….nothing.

The last room was your main focus, where it had all started; the fire that consumed the entire hospital and left it in shambles leaving people badly burned and some dead. The hospital still stood, an empty shell with burn marks and mold, casting its gloom over the town as a reminder.

You shivered when the cold October air smoothed through the hallway, leaking in from the many holes in the walls.

A terrible sob brought you back.  It echoed through the hall and made you doubt your purpose. Yet you continued on, taking step after careful step, looking for the one who set the fire.

Or will you stay
Even if it hurts
Even if I try to push you out
Will you return?
And remind me who I really am
Please remind me who I really am.

It was a town mystery, a mystery you wanted to crack. You had just moved to the city, freshly graduating from detective school. This case itched at your mind.  Looking over the papers, none of it made sense, clues mysteriously disappeared, paths leading branching out to either murder or accident, and the only witness being a nurse, the others had died in the fire.  

You had brought it up with your partner several times.  He was an energetic man as fresh out of school as you.  He was from the town and was around when it happened, but every time you brought it up he would fall silent and rub chills from his arms.

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

You edged closer to the end of the hall. The sobs grew louder; their chilling sounds rocked you to the bone, and you thought of doubling back. You checked your watch, it was nine o'clock. No way would he still be there, he would probably be upset the next time you talked to him, but would hopefully understand and forgive you.

It was too good of a lead, and the sudden cries at the end of the hall confirmed your suspicions.

You had done some snooping, checking old video cameras, spent hours in the library going over newspaper articles, and finally you got a break. Nearby the hospital was a bank, with an old guard who had scanned the perimeter for years. You asked whether he had seen any activity over the past few years at the old building.

He said a bunch of realtors and company businessman came by every few years; looking to tear the place down and build a mall, but somehow were scared away with their tails between their legs.

Like a diamond
From black dust
It's hard to know
It can become
A few give up
So don't give up on me
Please remind me who I really am.

Your next stop had been the realtors' office, checking out who had wanted to buy the plot. It had taken you all day, but with a cup of your boyfriend's famous hot cocoa and turtle cupcake, you had called all of them.

In the end your notepad was filled with clues, spray paintings of company buildings of red letters reading "Go Away," raids at cooperate offices, and threats done in cut out magazine letters, even personal attacks on the company owners' homes.

One company was able to tell you something.  Unknown to the realtors, they had sent someone to sneak inside to check out the place to see how much it would cost to tear it down and if the land was actually worth anything.

Their spy had reported strange shadows and sounds and felt like someone was always watching him. At the end of the hallway in the last room, he found a sleeping bag and a mountain of flowers, a shrine of cards filled the walls, all written with the same red "ink" and all filled with names and "I'm sorry".

The spy was curious and came back the next night, along with a buddy on the force. The last thing they remember was a flash of silver and an attacker in the shadows.  After a brief struggle, they were knocked out and woke up in the new hospital, with several stiches and bruises.
Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

You reached the end of the hall, feet away from the door.  The sobs were loud and haunting. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, trying to picture yourself in a better place and bringing up enough courage to reach for the door.

You drifted off into another place, trying to imagine yourself on your could-have-been date with Arthur, or as most people called him, Artie, your longtime boyfriend and cousin of your partner.

You had meet Artie when he had come to deliver cupcakes as a surprise birthday present for his cousin, your partner, who had a sweet tooth. Luckily he hadn't been there and Artie decided to stay until he got back, wanting to wish him Happy Birthday in person. The two of you had started to talk (and eat cupcakes) and in the end, to your partner's frustration, had eaten most of the cupcakes and planned a date for the end of the week.

You swore his freckles were sprinkles and his hair cotton candy.  It was the only way you could explain why he was so sweet. He was nice to everyone and constantly volunteered, reading to children at the library (they loved him), working at the animal shelter (he loved animals, especially cats), delivering groceries for the elderly, and working in the soup kitchen. You had found it hard to believe he actually did all of these things, at first doubting someone could be so helpful and sincere.

That was until he had asked you to help out delivering turkey dinners to the poor. Bundled in clothing and waddling through the snow, his rainbow colored scarf dancing close to his feet as he carried a box to the house, you saw how truly happy he was. You always thought those people were fake; trying to be good to impress people, but he never really talked about it and always seemed truly happy.

And as long as his freckled face was smiling, you were happy.

Don't run away
Don't run away
Just tell me that you will stay
Promise me you will stay
Don't run away
Don't run away
Just promise me you will stay
Promise me you will stay.

In your mind you were outside the restaurant.  You reached for the grand door handles (hospital door knob), your long dress swished around your heels (your sweatpants tucked into your boots), your foot met the soft red carpet when you stepped in (your boot made the floor creak), the restaurant went quiet (the sobs stopped), and you went over to Artie who was sitting at the table, dressed in a tux and smiling.

Will you love me? ohh
Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

……You went over to the shivering form, his red hair sticking out from the sleeping bag. You took your jacket off and laid it across him. He flinched and his sobs came back. You lay down next to the bag, hoping for bright blue bloodshot eyes to peak out, and a dripping freckled nose to peak over the bag.

"Artie," you whispered.

Artie slowly eased himself up, the sleeping bag falling away. "I'm sorry," he cried softly, "It was an accident…I never meant…." His teary eyes looked up at you, "I knew when you didn't show up…that you knew," he rasped.

You removed the thermos from your bag, poured the steaming chicken soup into the lid, and held it out to Artie who took it with shaking hands. After a sip he broke down into tears again.

You sighed and fiddle with the tassels on your scarf, hand knitted by Artie, "Do you want to talk about it?" He shook his head and downed the rest of the soup, "Do you want me to tell anyone?"

He took the thermos from you and poured himself another cup, "Most…most people already know…they act like they don't, but they do."

"Oh," you said. Silence fell between you, the creaks of the settling hospital sent shivers up your spine. "Why did you help me? You were right there when I talked with the companies."

"I wanted you to find out," he said, "Please…please…please don't hate me," he rasped, "I don' think I could handle it…." He rubbed his chest, "It hurts…it always hurts…except when you're around,"

"Artie….it was an accident…"

"But?" he snapped, squeezing the cup in his hand and gripping the sleeping bag.

"But nothing," you whispered, leaning over and cupping his face, "I still love you," you said, kissing away the tears, "Even with your dark side."

In the dark of the old hospital, on a chilly October night, a muddled case everyone denied the answer to, was solved and the real victim finally found peace.