fighting, conflict resolution
Charlie slinks into camp, walking back as a panther. He sits at the edge of the firelight, eyes on Thandi. She stares back at him.
Every time he does this, she understands that he has something to say and no way to say it. He has a habit of finding a form that seems to pass the message on better than what he could say. Thandi opens her arms to the panther, who stands and walks into her embrace. She feels the rasp of his tongue on her neck and cheek, the heavy purr rolling out from his chest, one large paw pulling her as close to him as he can.
Thandi strokes the fur of his neck, mildly amused by his clothes. Even as a literal animal, he’s so shy. Unless it’s her…
As she strokes, she realizes suddenly that she’s not stroking fur now, but tangling her fingers in Charlie’s hair. He hugs her close, silent. Savoring her against him.
“Thandi,” he mumbles. “Please. Please… I don’t want you to get hurt. I… just want you to be… a little less reckless. Okay, a lot less reckless. When you get hurt, I get… anxious.”
“I’m sorry, darling.” Always the magic word. She feels his hands tighten on her back as he nuzzles her. She feels her cheeks heat— so affectionate! “I just know what I need to do and do it.”
“Sometimes we have to let people do stuff for us. It’s okay to fall back some. Please, Thandi.”
She smiles and continues to rub his back. “I’ll do my best.”
“You terrify me.”
“Terrify?”
“I… yes. You scare me.”
“I don’t understand… am I…?”
Thandi feels him press her closer to him now, and it’s comforting despite his clear anxiety. His hair is soft. He’s warm. Hot, even. She can feel his stuttering breaths as he considers his words.
“I… as I’ve said before. What am I to do if you die?”
What can she say? She can’t promise not to get hurt. And dying, well, she doesn’t want that, either. “I won’t die, Charlie.”
“You could. You could, and that is the most frightening thing I’ve ever… ever. Been frightened of.”
He cares that much?
“Will you… help me?”
He pulls back now, enough to look into her eyes. Studying her. Tracing a line around her face, lingering low before his eyes meet hers again. He leans close, lips parted slightly, and a well of fear rushes up inside of her. Does he intend to kiss her?
It’s with some relief that he pulls her back, hand pressing her into his shoulder. “Always. Always, always, always. Even if I don’t know how.”
This gets a laugh from her. Thandi clutches at the back of his vest and lets herself laugh, lets herself relax in his arms. “Thank you.”