sick charlie, fluff, tbo offshoot
Charlie coughs, bleary-eyed and sweating from fever. He flips through a grimoire, cross referencing it with older druidic scripts. Vitani had loaned him books on his particular brand of magic, and so long as he kept them in Thandi’s room, he could use them as he pleased.
The combination of studying and Thandi pretty much made him a permanent guest in the little pocket dimension. Sometimes she just left him there as he studied, for once barely noticing when she came or went. It was nice to see him focus.
Well, usually. Winter was taking a toll on him, and he was supposed to rest in her room while the party continued their trek to the next town. The man can’t stand to be idle for long, with exception to summertime naps.
So, when Thandi walks from the inn, she gasps in outrage. “Charlie Vanderbee! What are you doing?”
“Ah,” he wheezes. “Just. Studying.”
“You’re supposed to be resting!”
“I am!”
“Charlie. Come now. If you were your own patient…”
He grumbles his reluctant agreement. “…fine. I couldn’t sleep. The… the ceiling freaks me out. Still. I can’t get used to it.”
“Oh, darling. Me neither. Come along, now—”
“It just feels like something is going to come out of the… void.” She sees him stare upwards, unsettled, and reaches out to take his hand. Gods! He’s still burning up!
“I’ve used this room for a long time, Charlie. It’s safe, I promise.”
“Hmmm. I still think that you should stay with me…”
Thandi laughs it off. He’s a little off from his fever. She lays him down in her bed and pulls the blanket up for him. Quickly, she wipes his face and neck, leaves the rag there to cool him, and he stares at her.
“Thandi. I really would like to…”
“Why don’t I read to you, darling?”
His heart jumps as high as his eyebrows do. There’s a grin sneaking onto his face, pulling his mouth to one side. That’s a yes if Thandi ever seen one!
She pulls a book out of her nightstand, and as she passes him to regain her seat, she feels a tug on her dress. Charlie’s eyes are wide. “Thandi dearest,” he breathes. “Please? Come closer? So I can…”
Thandi gives him a small, sad smile. Hopefully Vitani approves. She moves her seat closer, within Charlie’s reach, and opens her book. His hand grasps a small amount of fabric at her knee, and his eyes are already drifting shut.
She reads. She reads splendidly. Every character has a voice, and her delivery is theatrical. Award-winning, even. At least, she’s sure that Charlie would say so, judging by the smile on his face. She leans forward and brushes his hair back.
“My darling…” She can’t seem to help the feelings that bubble out of her now. If only she could kiss him like this, pneumonia and all.
“Thandi…”
The smile on her face has no equal.