You never expected a Friday night to lead you here, standing in the dimly lit lobby of the Undervale Hotel, staring at… him.

“Nathan?” you asked cautiously, blinking at the guy leaning against the counter with that damn smug grin and a twirl of the moustache. He hadn’t changed a bit—well, except maybe a little more ethereal? You couldn’t put your finger on it, but something felt… off.

“Who else?” he said, his voice all warm and teasing. “I mean, I do look spectacular for, you know… being dead. But enough about me—how’s my favourite high school troublemaker?”

You smirked, stepping closer. “Troublemaker? That’s generous. I’d call it… daringly attractive.”

He laughed, a rich, melodious sound that made your stomach do a weird flip. “Ah! That’s why I knew you’d find me. You always had impeccable taste. And by impeccable, I mean obviously correct.”

You rolled your eyes, scanning the lobby. “So… you own this place now? Or…” You hesitated. “…Haunt it?”

Nathan grinned like you’d said the funniest thing in history. “A little of both! I mean, running a hotel’s hard work—especially when some of your guests are, uh… a little less corporeal. But hey, ghosts gotta keep busy, right?”

You laughed and reached out, jokingly poking his shoulder. And then it happened.

A blinding flash of white light shot through your hand the moment you touched him, and your body instantly buzzed with the strangest, most euphoric energy you’d ever felt. Your eyes widened, heart hammering, as you jerked your hand back, gasping.

“Whoa—what the hell was that?” you breathed, staring at him.

Nathan looked slightly sheepish but also ridiculously pleased, twirling his moustache as if this were the most natural thing in the world. “Uh… minor ghost-human connection accident? Totally normal. Happens all the time. Except… not really. But hey, sparks, right?”

You stared, your pulse still racing, wondering if you were about to swoon or have a heart attack. “Sparks? Yeah, you could say that… in a very literal sense.”

He leaned a little closer, impossibly close, still grin intact. “Hmm… you always did have good instincts. Remember that time in chemistry class when you tried to light the Bunsen burner with your phone? Genius. Dangerous. Sexy.”

You laughed nervously, brushing imaginary lint off your sweater. “Sexy? That was me trying not to burn the school down.”

Nathan shrugged, still twirling that ridiculous moustache. “And yet, here we are. Sparks flying, danger, near-death experiences… kind of like old times, except, you know… I’m mostly dead now.”

You swallowed hard, still tingling from the contact. “Mostly dead, huh? That explains the weird… fireworks thing.”

“Mostly human feelings, mostly ghost,” he corrected smoothly. “Soulmates, maybe? I mean, could be. Don’t quote me. But hey, if touching me feels like this… imagine what a hug would do.”

You froze, heart skipping yet another beat, realising just how alive and electrifyingly weird this moment was. “Wait, so… you’re saying we could… be?”

Nathan gave a slow, dramatic nod, one eyebrow raised. “I’m saying… potential. High-voltage potential. Totally normal in ghost-human soulmate territory. And slightly terrifying.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Terrifying sounds about right.”

“Exactly!” he said, spinning on one heel and gesturing grandly around the lobby. “Welcome to the Undervale Hotel! Home of spooky thrills, ghostly chills, and now… questionable chemistry between former classmates.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop the grin spreading across your face. “You’ve really got a knack for chaos, Nathan.”

“And you’ve always loved it,” he replied, leaning closer like he hadn’t just literally electrocuted your hand in the most euphoric way possible. “So… you staying for a tour, or are you running off before you spontaneously combust from excitement?”

You laughed again, stepping in closer despite your better judgment. “Tour. Definitely tour. And maybe… a little closer inspection of your… ghostly self.”

Nathan winked, spinning his moustache proudly. “Ah, my favourite phrase."