Tag: TBO-era

  • Time Skip

    Time Skip

    hook, Amnesia!Charlie, sad

    Charlie sits, leaning against the cabin wall. Why’d he come out here?

    The leaves of the forest tremble with the wind, and he breathes it in deeply. There had been a longing. A want. A need. Now that he was here, though, what was there for him to do?

    The stars are bright. They twinkle at him, bringing a sort of peace with them. Actually, stars aren’t supposed to do that: twinkling becomes flashing, brightening, swirling, growing.

    He straightens from his lean and watches in awe as it seems a hole appears just above the treeline. What in the world?

    There’s a shriek and something white falls. Charlie runs and dives, hands reaching out, and the full weight of this thing lands on him. They slide on the ground and he realizes in the next moment that he’s broken something catching her. The pain lances up through him and he’s thankful that it’s at least him this happened to. The bundle in his arms wriggles and pulls a hood down from her head. Her eyes grow wide.

    “Ch-Charlie?”

    He blinks. “Um… yes, uh… th…”

    Her eyes are swollen from crying and it’s now that he sees that she’s covered in blood. Her hands are shaking as she reaches out and touches his face, runs her fingers through his hair.

    “Charlie… oh, gods, my Charlie!”

    “Ma’am… clearly you’ve been in an accident… are you okay?”

    “You’re alive…”

    “I have been all my life. Er, may I have access to my arms? They’re. Um. Broken. And the adrenaline is wearing off.”

    The woman obliges, already weeping over his arms. Charlie, meanwhile, takes a breath. Bones crunch and slide back into place. Bruises bloom backwards and his fingers tingle. He hisses with the pain and pushes himself off the ground, only to be hugged tightly by the strange woman before him.

    “Charlie! I’m so relieved! When you fell…! When they cut you…! I thought… you were dead…”

    “This is… awkward. I don’t know you, ma’am. Is it ma’am? Mixter?”

    Her face pales and she reaches out, yanking his shirt up, touching his stomach as she sees a long scar across him. He steps back and pulls his shirt down, looking ill. She points, mouth agape. “It is you… but… you…” Tears start to form and her lip trembles. “…you’ve forgotten…”

  • Blushing Fool

    Blushing Fool

    Charlie’s thoughts (the Big One)

    Before meeting Thandi, Charlie could hardly be said to blush. It was a rare occurrence, and he often removed himself from caring about anything at all which would normally prompt a blush.

    He was used to humiliation, being a frequent victim, and it didn’t do more than irritate him any more. Potential partners didn’t have the ability, the looks, or the wit to catch him off guard; rather, Charlie paid them so little mind he barely spoke more than needed. If he spoke at all, it was to insult or deflect them. In fact, he hardly spared a smile for most.

    So, when Thandi managed to coax a blush out of him, it was a shock. He’d managed fairly well to distance himself from the party, but Thandi insisted on his company. There wasn’t much place to run without her tailing him, and she chastised and advised and touched him with little regard to his status.

    And then, Charlie couldn’t stop blushing when she got involved. She teased him, and he enjoyed it. She touched him, and he adored it. She told him off, and he valued it. Logically, he knew it shouldn’t be the case, but something clicked in him every time she approached.

    She is magnetic. He can’t help being pulled in. She’s different, she’s clever, and she can be adorably ignorant at times. Something about her made him want to care for her and coddle her and treat her special, and he couldn’t not do it. Even when he became furious at her, his heart wasn’t in it for long and he just wanted to make up and be close again.

    To him, she’s the ideal picture of a wife for him. Her tolerance is high, and she doesn’t get cowed easily. He enjoys talking to her, even when they disagree, and she wasn’t bad to look at. He wouldn’t mind engaging in the child making process with her.

    That thought surprises him.

    It’s obvious, certainly, by how his body reacts around her, but to want to do such a thing with her, beyond lustful fantasies? With growing unease, he recounts his past instances.

    Thandi.

    Thandi.

    Thandi…

    Oh, gods damn it all. He might love her.

  • Fragile

    Fragile

    pining, confession

    “I love you.”

    Thandi stops in her tracks, looking at Charlie over her shoulder. He’s staring after her, rubbing an arm, looking… pained? Hopeful? Frightened?

    “You… love me?”

    “…yes…”

    It’s puppy love. It’s because he has no one else right now. It’s because he needs the comfort and security she offers him. Whatever the case, Thandi is certain that if it were tested, he’d leave her in a heartbeat.

    “Charlie. I can’t. You know I can’t…”

    Hair slips in front of his eyes as he bows his head. He takes a deep breath, and for a moment, Thandi thinks he might spiral into an anxiety attack. Instead, Charlie nods.

    “I know. I know. I just… want you… to know. I do. I love you. And… and… all I want is… for you to… not get hurt. I can’t take seeing you bleed and break.”

    “What can you expect while we’re on a journey? It’s part of the work. Besides, you’re an excellent healer!”

    “I don’t like healing you.”

    Thandi blinks and tilts her head. “You mean, I’m a chore?”

    “No!! I just!! Um!! It. It…”

    Thandi shakes her head, severe in her words. “You shouldn’t be worrying about only me, either. A party is your family on the road! You should be taking care of everyone equally!”

    “Yes, but, I love you.”

  • Momentary Distraction

    Momentary Distraction

    sleep, pining, fluff, sad

    Charlie’s face presses to Thandi’s chest as he sleeps. It’s not uncomfortable, since they twine their legs and he takes care to avoid making her uncomfortable as he falls asleep. She’s got a leg hoisted over his side, while one of his knees slips tween her legs.

    He is very attached. Every night, Charlie slinks in, pulling their bedrolls together and settles in next to her. She’s come to look forward to these tender moments, since outside of their privacy, it seems he becomes all spikes and no rose. She teases him at times, calling him Briar.

    He’s grown fond of the name, using it to refer to himself in private. This earns him her laughter and teasing, so he keeps on with it and she obliges. In their lovemaking, too, she’s taken to teasing him with the name, and it seems to pull a very favorable response from him.

    Thandi strokes his hair as she thinks on all of this. She’s taking a big risk, one that he might not fully appreciate the scope of. Despite this, though… she feels like a treasure to him. There’s something wonderful about being treated with as much reverence as he gives her. Granted, he still oversteps bounds by presuming to know what’s best for her, but even this defect is fading. She certainly chastises him for it.

    Would it be worth leaving everything behind just so that she could be coddled and loved on?

    No.

    The memory will comfort her later on, she’s sure. So she must make as many as possible before she’s got to begin following her master’s steps more closely.

    A kiss distracts her from her thoughts. Charlie shifts, laying kiss after kiss on her chest before settling down again, barely moved but certainly more comfortable. The stroke of the bracelet on her skin is a nice, soothing touch, and she finds herself becoming more drowsy.

    The dark, the warmth, and her lover’s even breathing lull her to sleep. Enjoy the peace.

  • Secret Lovers

    Secret Lovers

    fluff

    It was normal now, for Charlie and Thandi to be a set. They rarely ranged out of one another’s sight unless asked, and even this was done rarely.

    It is insufferable.

    Charlie, usually abrasive and shy, chattered incessantly to Thandi; meanwhile, Thandi occupied her time proposing to him theories and problems that they would each puzzle out loud.

    Granted, there are quiet periods. Sleep. Eating. Sneaking about. Despite all this, they are adjoined.

    It’s grating to see them cuddling up at the fire, giggling to one another, settling into the tent together. And the noises they made sometimes!!! The rest of the party discreetly began to isolate their tent.

    The worst part? The two seemed to think that what they had was a secret!

  • Drunken Cuddling

    Drunken Cuddling

    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.

  • Lap Pillow

    Lap Pillow

    fluff

    Thandi takes a deep breath as she shifts. Her pillow is warm. She opens her eyes with a yawn and sees Charlie above her, fast asleep, leaning back. This is his lap. Of course. How could she have forgotten?

    She’s been lulled to sleep by his quiet reading, and she imagines that he hadn’t the heart to move her, so he was stuck. A quiet giggle escapes her as she pulls up her blanket—his vest thrown over her carefully. It wasn’t even cold, but Charlie does seem to enjoy fussing over her constantly.

    Her fingers touch his cheek gently, going from cheek to his hair. It’s nice, when he looks peaceful like this. Much less stressful. And he was always stressing about every little thing. Thandi smiles and turns over, pressing her face into his hip. For warmth. It smells nice, too. Sleep comes back easily.

  • Borrowed Coats

    Borrowed Coats

    modern, fluff, sleep, trading clothes

    “Where’s my coat?” Charlie looks to and fro at the closet. “I could have sworn I hung up my coat here…” He’s speaking more to himself than anyone else; Thandi has fallen asleep on the couch, and he’s not keen on waking her before he’s ready to go.

    The rattle of hangers gets on his nerves until he finds his coat. The thing is, it’s not the coat that he arrived in. He misplaced it just last month… in much the same situation… Is Thandi stealing his coats? Or worse, everything inside his coats? He pulls it on and explores the pockets. Everything is here. Hm.

    Buttoning up, he’s got everything he needs, and it’s time to say goodbye to Thandi. He kneels by her face, shaking her shoulder gently, and his eye catches the edge of a sleeve peeking from under her pillow. Why would she…

    Ah.

    Oh.

    A smile breaks across his face. It makes him feel warm, actually. It’d be fun to tease her a little later, so rather than trying again to wake her, he pulls the coat from under her pillow and lays it over her. He pauses for a moment. If he’s not waking her, then he should at least make sure her hair is wrapped or she’ll be irritable about it in the morning.
    And if he’s doing that, he may as well tidy up a little.

    Thandi stirs in the wee hours, surprised to feel as warm as she does. Two coats lay over her. She blinks, aghast, and looks about the room. The lights are out, their meals are tidied, her hair is wrapped, and—there he is. Charlie is asleep on the floor, borrowing her pillow and blanket from the bedroom.

    He looks so sweet like this. Carefully, she reaches out and tangles her fingers into his hair, scratching his scalp lightly. The sound of his breathing deepens, seeming to calm from what she hadn’t realized was a fitful sleep. It must have been agonizing, waiting for her to wake. He always did love to poke fun at her. Thandi weighs her options. He’s no longer so touch averse with her, and he seems to know. Besides… that’s *her* pillow, and it’s *her* blanket. Perfectly justifiable. And perhaps he is a little cold.

    She slides off the couch and settles in beside him. It’s best to go straight to the source for this smell, this warmth, this comfort.

  • Sunny Nap

    Sunny Nap

    sleep, dreams, fluff

    Charlie stretches out on the ground with a yawn. Sunshine and grass are perfect for naps alone, and today is no different. He’s lulled to sleep easily.

    He dreams, of course, but of nothing much important, not until the end. A soft hand strokes his hair, his cheek, down the center of his chest. He hums in pleasure, enjoying this rare touch. People are rarely, if ever, permitted to touch him. The anxiety it gives him is immense. But this is soothing, loving, and most of all: a comfort. The hand strokes his chest again, massaging him.

    It’s so wonderful. Gods.

    He feels the touch lighten and slip down to his stomach, rubbing him gently. It’s like being pet and coddled. It turns him into a fool for it all, and he bites his lip. He wants desperately for it to be her in his dream. “Thandi…”

    “Yes, darling?”

    One eye cracks open and he sees his darling leaning over him, a hand still on his stomach, stroking away as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He shakes his head and closes his eyes with a smile. “Nothing. I just wanted to say it.”

    “My name? Whatever for?”

    “I like it.”

    She giggles and rewards him with an energetic rub across his belly, pulling a laugh from him as he wiggles under her touch. They grin at each other. Adorable.

  • Long Night

    Long Night

    modern (lab), fluff, sleep

    It’s late.

    Thandi has stayed late with her fellow researcher, Dr. Vanderbee, and they’ve been entrenched in the last big problem for hours. The lights had dimmed as they discussed it over a table spread out with dozens and dozens of notes.

    They agreed to a five minute break to refill their mugs and hit the bathroom, but when Dr. Vanderbee leaves, she found that she’s more tired than she thought. Her watch explains why: it’s tickling one in the morning. How had they spoken for so long?

    Her eyelids are heavy and she yawns. One second. She’ll close her eyes for just one second.

    When she next opens them, she’s pressed to warmth and gently placed down on the couch in the breakroom. A blanket seems to appear for her, but it isn’t quite so warm.

    “’M cold,” she murmurs, reaching out for that elusive heat.

    “You’ll warm soon enough, Dr. Kahsu. Good night.” She watches the form of her colleague move away for a moment before being draped in something warmer. Far more pleasant than the scratchy blanket. She buries her face into it and sleeps on.

    The morning is greeted with the beeping of the coffeemaker. It had been her idea to attach it to an alarm so that it’d start brewing for the team before anyone has arrived. It’s 6:45AM and she’s wrapped up in not only the scratchy pink blanket of the break room, but a green sweater and… is this Dr. Vanderbee’s labcoat?

    Thandi grips them both, taking a greedy sniff of them. She often wonders what it is about him that attracts her senses so. Pheromones, maybe? It would explain how someone like him remains so attractive still.

    She pulls the sweater on, shuffling out and grabbing a toothbrush. Dr. Vanderbee’s idea to keep hygiene kits in the lab. Considering how often he stayed, he may as well be paying rent anyhow. She shuffles to the bathroom and back, yawning as she puts herself in order. Pills in her purse, check. Phone… charged, how thoughtful. Spare clothes… she’ll save those for another time. It’ll be an early day for her.

    She goes into the lab and gasps a little to herself. Dr. Vanderbee is asleep over the notes they had made to illustrate the problem. It appears he’s cracked at least two thirds of the problem. A sticky note on the papers read,

    Dr. Kahsu—need your brain for the rest. Did what I can.

    This pulls a little giggle from her. The last bit is nearly unreadable, and the final penmark slides down and over onto other sheets of paper. He fell asleep working once again. She reaches out and brushes his hair away from his face. His cheek is freezing.

    His coat is draped over his shoulders. The rest of the team doesn’t start working until 9 anyhow. She grabs herself some coffee and sets to work finishing the problem, working peacefully beside her coworker.