drunk!charlie, fluff, sleep
Oh no.
Someone had started Charlie on the drink. He’s a dangerous drunk for everyone—not in the way that he would get violent, but rather… violently affectionate. She’s got to get him away and tucked into a bed before he goes beyond tolerable.
Thandi sighs as she approaches him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Charlie…”
“Thandi! It’s you. I love you. Hello!” Great. He’s already beyond tolerable. It’s always a sure sign, when he starts declaring his love for anyone and everyone.
“Charlie, it’s time to go to bed…”
“So forward today, my love! My darling. Ooh, look at you. Eyes like gems. Skin! So soft. Let me hold you…”
“Charlie, no, we should really—” There he goes, hugging her around the middle, swaying her back and forth. He kisses her stomach and rubs his face into her. “Darling…” Well. Now it’s the only way to get him to bed. “…of course, darling. Let’s get going, shall we?”
“Thandi! Such a flower.” Charlie stands at her words, taking her hands in his to give each of her fingers a kiss. “Such a wonder. Such grace, such beauty, oh, I love you so.”
“Mm-hmm. Come on, darling.”
She leads him through partygoers, tugging on his hand as he waxes poetic nonsense. It truly is nonsense, and she is sure that he has no idea what he’s saying. Into her room, then, or else he’ll faff about, trying to get himself ready for bed rather than just passing out. She shuts the door behind them both, to better get him to sleep, and she yelps as she’s swept up into his arms.
“Thandi! My love, the shining star of my life, the only one I live for, oh! I do love you so.”
“Charlie—”
He squeezes her again before collapsing into the bed, her still in his arms.
“I love you! I love you! I love you!!”
“You mean that?”
“Who else could I ever love but my beautiful wife-to-be?” He kisses her cheeks and her nose. Thandi feels her face get hot and a smile tug at her lips.
“Well then, would you do your wife-to-be a favor and sleep peacefully tonight?”
“If she’s feeling up to keep me company, I shall sleep like war never existed, my love!”
That gets a giggle out of her. She pushes herself off of him and tugs off his shoes as he fawns over her, fascinated by a lock of hair, or the shape of her hips, whatever it is. One more night next to him isn’t going to kill her, but he’ll certainly die of embarrassment. She shakes her head and grabs out her sleeping clothes.
“You know the drill, darling.”
Charlie turns away obediently, burying his face in the pillow as she changes. He only turns to see her when she touches his shoulder. Obedient to a fault, at times. She leans down and taps his nose with hers, smiling as he flushes that funny shade of red. He reaches out and pulls her into his arms, kissing her forehead as she settles in for a warm night.
It’s good. It’s peaceful. It’s safe. It’s a shame it can’t last.