drunk!charlie, fluff, painful kisses, tbo offshoot, sleep
The familiar tilt of the world after drinking would upset him if he was sober. Unfortunately, though, he isn’t, and won’t be for quite some time. People always manage to keep the drinks coming at parties like these, and then he drinks. It’s in his hand, he must, and gods.
He’s lonely.
Of course he is. The party never seems to understand him. And, well. He’s not sociable enough to be able to make friends with anyone else they just met. Despite this, he searches for someone. Anyone. Anyone will do, just to keep him company for the night.
He pauses.
That’s simply not true. There is only one person that he wants to spend the night with, and only one person who he trusts will still remain with him in the morning.
And there she is.
Why does she always look so worried when he drinks? That’s not an expression that she should be wearing.
“Thandi… my love… what troubles you so?”
“Oh, darling, you’ve gone and done this again…” Her hands reach for him. Please! Touch him. Make everything better. Make him feel like someone cares. “Thandi… you’re so beautiful.”
She is. Look at how bright her face is. Look at how her dress swirls around her. She’s the picture of grace, the picture of elegance, and such a beautiful example of perfection.
Even her quirks, those little things she does, they’re so lovely. They add to her charm.
Her fingers meet his cheek, and he presses his face to her hand. The other hand fixes his hair, and gods… what a comfort. The world isn’t so bad as long as she’s in it. He’s got to make sure she knows.
So he reaches out for her, touching her waist—so soft, so perfectly made for him—and he can’t help but sigh as he pulls her to him. “I love you… I love you… you’re the sun in my sky… the stars of my night…” His embrace is tight, and he presses his face to her stomach. Imagine! Would she allow him to have children with her? That’s amazing. A miracle.
“You don’t mean that, darling… you’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re saying!” Despite her words, she cradles him against her, allows him to remain snug.
“My dearest. My truest. My one and only love. I do know. We will marry, and it will be phenomenal.” He kisses her stomach, squeezes her tight.
“Darling… I think it’s time for bed…”
Bed? With her?
Amazing. He stands and sways her in a sort of dance, excited to be wrapped up with her.
“Yes! Yes! Let’s go, my love, a thousand pardons for my enthusiasm!”
She takes his hand and leads him. No one else exists. It’s only her. He can’t stop telling her all the ways she makes him feel. How he feels like she’s the only one that will ever treat him like he matters. The only one who understands him.
She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t need to.
Is she crying?
He must reassure her. He’s got to be the one she can turn to!
“My love. My dearest darling. What’s wrong?”
“We can’t, Charlie. I’ve told you time and again, my life isn’t mine to give.”
“Allow me to be a temporary reprieve! Oh, Thandi, I want you to feel loved, even if it is only the humble me. You’ve melted my heart of hearts. I only want you to be happy, even if only for a short time!”
She pulls him into the inn as he waxes on, guiding him carefully into her room. As soon as the door clicks shut, Charlie wraps her in his arms, lifting her slightly off the ground. She’s got to know how much he would sacrifice for her. How important she is. How wonderful.
He puts her down and leans close to her face, hands stroking her cheeks now. They’re nose to nose. He sees her eyes dart down and up. “I love you. I would lay myself down in front of death’s door if it would buy you even a minute more—”
“No! I don’t want you to die for me!”
“I would live to be so fortunate as to die in your stead! I would count my blessings with every lashing I keep from you! My heart aches when you hurt. And my heart always aches.”
He kisses her nose and is struck with that horrible pain, like needles sliding into his skin, ten thousand razors across his palms. Thandi holds her breath in horror as he hisses, waiting for the pain to ebb away.
“Charlie—”
He kisses her nose again. It’s like the worst migraine that’s ever haunted him, like an explosion of shattered bone in him. His knees buckle. He feels ill. Thandi begins to panic.
She tries to pick him up, get him to the bed.
“I love you,” he mumbles. He allows himself to be sat onto the mattress, holding tight to Thandi’s hands. She stoops, looking into his eyes.
“Like… the finest gems… the sky is trapped in your eyes…” He leans forward and their lips brush. Again, he is seized by the pain. Thandi weeps. He can’t understand her words through the intensity of the ache. Organs removed, tendons cut, heart stopped. “Nothing… compares to the pain… of my losing you…” he breathes.
Thandi is shaking her head. Her voice seems far away. He would die for a real kiss.
“Charlie, I know you love me! I love you. But this—this isn’t—”
He grabs her, elated over her confession. One more hug! One more kiss! Stay, stay, stay, don’t let the wretched darkness and the horror of loneliness take him!
“I will sleep with you! But no more kisses, darling.”
“Thandi…”
“I’m not happy to see you in pain!”
He nods, staring up at her. She drifts away and with a gesture, indicates that she is going to change. Charlie lays down, kicks off his shoes, and buries his face in her pillow. It’s nowhere near as soft as she is.
Aaah, to embrace her again. To feel her weight. Her warmth. Her.
A hand on his shoulder indicates Thandi’s readiness for him, and he turns. She absolutely gorgeous. He loves how she dresses.
Thandi settles into his open arms, laying on his chest, and he feels blessed by her. Like his own personal goddess.
“I love you. I love you. I love you…”