Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Note: These were written in a notebook as a writing challenge for June 2019. The goal was thirty days, thirty prompts, thirty minutes (which is why some might seem abrupt: time limit). I'd hit a bit of a dry patch and just wanted to write. These are unedited and mostly just fluff pieces, but I really enjoyed some of them and hey: what's the point of fic if you don't share, right? Even if it's goofball trash.

12 June 2019

Prompt: Tight-Knit

Fandom: Beetlejuice

Character/Pairing: Beetlejuice, Lydia Deetz

Rating: M / PG-16 / Teen

Notes: Deals with mass shootings and hardcore character death, though not in a graphic way. Rating more for language. June is a month of goodbyes and partings.

"So what do you think happens now?"

He was halfway through conjuring a cigarette when she asked. His eyes slid over to her to find she was staring up at the moon. It was almost full.

"What d'ya mean, what happens now?" he asked. Scoffed, really. It was a ridiculous question.

"I graduated today, BJ," she said, running a hand along the spider silk of her dress to flatten it. As if pointing out the fancy clothes would accentuate her point. "I leave for college in two months. Like it or not, things are gonna change."

"Says who? They don't have to," he grumbled. He took an extra-long drag of his cigarette to avoid saying anything else. This was all getting dangerously close to sentimental for him, and that just made him want to vomit.

"They have to," she said. "It's not like I can take you to school. I'll have a roommate, Beej. No summoning in the dorms."

"Betty always fit in fine around here," he scoffed. "Colleges are full of freaks. I'll blend in no problem."

"Even if you can visit, it won't be the same. No more popping off to the Neitherworld whenever we like. No more random appearing in my mirror. It won't be like this again," she sighed. She leaned against his pinstriped shoulder, and he frowned down at her.

"Like this?" he asked.

"Like this," she said, nodding. "Just us. You're my best friend, Beetlejuice."

"Easy on the B-word, babes," he chuckled. He nudged her a bit with his shoulder before flicking his cigarette off the roof. Those things would kill him, anyways. "And what are you going on about? Nothing has to change. It'll still be you and me, babes. You and me against the living and Neitherworld."

"I'm cold, BJ," she sighed. He wrapped an arm around her but doubted it would do much good. "And tired. Maybe I'm just talking crazy…but I don't want us to change."

"Hey, c'mon, now," he said, shaking her slightly. He glanced down at the field below before looking back at her. "Stay with me."

"I can't, though," she mumbled. The space behind them flickered, and Juno appeared. He glared at the look she was giving him. He didn't want her damn sympathy. "That's what I was just telling you. I'm leaving town, and you can't come with me. Sure, I'll be back on breaks, but it won't be the same. College is going to change everything, Beej."

God, but this whole fucking town was cursed.

"I don't think college is what's going to change everything, babes," he said, and she followed his gaze to the flashing lights below. To Charles, holding an inconsolable Delia, as he confirmed that yes, the graduate on the stretcher was his daughter. There were so many stretchers, so many ambulances, so many cops…

"…oh," she mumbled, and he sighed as Juno sat next to her. Didn't the bitch have anyone else to bother?

"Tragic, when it goes down like this," Juno said, conjuring her own cigarette. "You always hope they off themselves in the privacy of their own bedrooms instead of making a public spectacle like this. Twenty-six of the graduating class dead, not counting the shooter. That's a shit-ton of paperwork."

"Juno," he said, tightening his grip on Lydia's strangely still shoulders. Not even a shiver. Hadn't she been complaining of being cold? He wondered if she was going into shock. If it was even possible.

"What happens now?" Lydia asked. Her voice sounded smaller than he was used to. He didn't like it.

"Well, Miss Deetz, you are a special case," Juno said glibly. "We've been expecting you for a while now, so most of your paperwork is already done. Fast-tracked, if you will."

"Fast-tracked?" Lydia parroted, and he growled at Juno. Expecting this? Expecting this? That pencil-pushing son of a –

"So just sign here, and I'll release you to the custody of your friend here," Juno continued, handing a stack of papers and a pen to Lydia. She signed them robotically, expression blank, and Juno grinned as she took them back. "So sorry for your loss, dear, and enjoy your afterlife. Beetlejuice, take care of her."

"BJ?" Lydia asked after Juno had disappeared in a puff of greenish smoke. Her eyes were still wide, glassy. "What do you think happens now?"

He had no fucking clue.