augh I have NOTES in my NOTES APP and they're all GAY

"Dead Herbert" au

TW/CW mentions of suicide, od, death in general ofc this is reanimator

"Hello? Is this "Daniel Cain"?"

"Yes? Who is this?"

(Police officer from wherever Herbert was living idk im lazy)
"Are you familiar with a man by the name of Herbert West?"

"Yes... why?"

"He's dead."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Dr Herbert West was found dead is his home this morning, sir."

Dan fell silent, these weren't words he ever expected to hear, nor were they words he'd wanted to hear. The officer on the other end of the line continued, un prompted. "It was believed to be a suicide. An overdose on drugs stolen from the hospital he worked at."

Dan let out a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, massaging his eyes. "Look, how much would it take for you to make sure everything in that house, including him, remains as it was when you found it."

He heard the grin on his lips as the officer spoke, "How much do you have?"

(Chpt 2 ig)

The train ride over was melancholic to say the least. He'd hardly had enough for a ticket after paying the officer.

At every free moment, his mind wandered back to West. What would've pushed him to do something like that. Someone so dedicated to immortal life killing themself seemed nonsensical. Dan cursed themself everytime they started welling up at the thought. "You're better without him." They reassured themself multiple times.

"So, why are you going to see him?"

"All he did was cause you problems."

"You're better off this way."

Tears spilled out of them finally as they began to near their stop, they did all they could to stifle their sobs as they stepped off into the station.

He called a taxi that brought him to the home he'd helped Herbert to find. They felt dread swell in their stomach as they stepped toward the door, he pulled the key from under the mat, and smiled weakly as they recalled Herbert scolding them for putting it in such an obvious spot. After breaking in because he couldn't find it.

As he cracked the door they braced themself for the familiar corpse smell, shocked when he was greeted by clear air. They trudged reluctantly to the master bedroom, were Herbert, no. The body. Was found. The door was left ajar and the guilt in their stomach climbed up their throat, causing their jaw to tighten. It lay in the bed, it appeared so peaceful. Gently they pressed the back of his hand to the door, widening it for them to step in. "Dr West." They greeted, trying to crack a joke, though the only thing to crack was their voice. They urged themself closer to the bed. "Glad to see you're finally getting some rest." They forced out a breathless chuckle and tears began trickling down their warm cheeks. He sat himself on the edge of the bed, still facing it. "I didn't spend any money on flowers. I know you wouldn't want me wasting my time with pleasantries." They spoke in a voice mocking how Herbert had sounded in life.

"You were that tired?" Their voice softened, they put a hand on his leg, massaging it softly with their thumb. They forced a gentle smile, looking over his resting expression.

He remained unmoving, despite how long Dan looked at him. Waiting for him to spring up and say it was all some sick prank, or awake frightened from what was only a deep sleep. Of course neither of these happened. Dan sat, staring at his corpse