Charlie Pace (l_a_t_e) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-09 15:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, charlie pace, verity |
Who: Charlie and Verity
When: Early September
Where: Verity’s place
What: A second date
Rating/Warning: Lowish, with kissing
Status: Complete
Charlie offered to come over and grill breasts chicken at Verity’s place. She’d threatened to dip her corn on the cob into ketchup. (What? It sounded delicious!) Things had been very busy at work for Verity, so they’d had to delay their date until early September, but then, on a night that River was out, Charlie had come over.
Verity greeted him at the door. She was smiling; her hair was tied up in a handkerchief and she was wearing the cutest maternity blouse and capris she owned. Her feet were in flip flops. They were almost the only pair of shoes she had that still fit.
“Hi.” She said, beaming, and leaned forward to hug him and kiss his cheek. “I need your help getting the charcoal out of my trunk.”
The fact that he found Verity so attractive made Charlie worry about himself. Just a little bit. After all, that wasn't his baby in that belly--this whole deal wasn't...typical. Maybe he was just impressed by her bravery, maybe Claire and his dreams has more to do with it then he realized, but to him Verity, pregnant or not, was super cute. He hugged her warmly, careful not to smash her with his bag of groceries. "Hey, you. Sure, I'll get it. Where's it at?"
Verity was finding that nothing in her life was typical lately. But that didn't mean it was bad, just different. Sometimes good. The way she was starting to feel about Charlie was good, anyway. She reluctantly released him from the hug, and motioned. "In the drive way," she said, then reached to take the bags from him. "It's unlocked."
Charlie traded the light shopping bag to fetch the heavy charcoal sack. He followed Verity back into the house and wherever the grill might end up being. It has been a long time since he had the chance to barbecue. He was looking forward to it, looking forward to doing something for someone that wasn't his brother for once.
Verity stood in the doorway--okay, so she leaned against it--and watched him hop out to the car and grab the charcoal from the trunk. It was hard for her to keep her eyes from wandering--okay, so she didn’t really try. He had wonderful shoulders. And a nice backside.
She was pink cheeked when he came back, and she led him into the kitchen to prepare whatever it was he needed to prepare to cook. “Thanks for coming over. It’s taken a while for this place to really start feeling like home.”
What Charlie needed was a good knife and a cutting board, and as usually he made himself at home as he started looking on his own. “Yeah, I get that. I’m thinking of moving in with a friend, too.”
Verity pulled a water bottle out of the fridge. She had to remember to drink, to keep herself hydrated. It wasn’t something she normally thought about, but it was totally important while pregnant. So she’d read. “Oh yeah?” She let him dig around for a bit, then pointed out where the cutting boards were once he found a knife. “I was living alone before…” She motioned to her tummy. “But I can’t afford a bigger place on my own, so. I like not being alone.”
Charlie pulled the package of chicken from the groceries and began to unwrap it. His touch was delicate, even with the visible calluses on his fingertips. “I never lived on my own until my brother left,” he said, a little sad.
Verity caught on that that was a sad subject. She stepped closer and brought her hand to rest on his upper arm in a show of support. Best not to dwell on it, unless he wanted to talk about it. “Well, now you won’t have to. You’re moving in with your friend.”
Charlie nodded. Good old, Roland. A truer friend, there wasn't; even if the guy was kinda otherworldly and creepy sometimes. "His idea. I'm just lucky he asked." He set to work slicing the chicken.
Her hand moved away when he started slicing the chicken. Verity nodded and sipped from her water bottle. “You didn’t have to make a pathetic plea on Valarnet for someone to please share a home with you like I did.” She chuckled softly. “It’s almost funny how pathetic I feel sometimes.”
He turned his head to look at her while his nimble hands kept working. Verity’s laugh and her words didn’t belong next to each other, and his eyes expressed the disparity “Everyone has low times.”
Yeah. Definitely not something to dwell on. This was a date. It was supposed to be fun. Verity forced herself to perk up a little bit, giving her head a gentle shake. “Well, those low times aren’t now. Now is a good time. So. What can I do to help?” She asked, then stepped to the sink to wash her hands.
Really, Charlie didn’t mind talking about serious, even sad things. Opening up to one another, letting yourself be exposed--that kind of stuff was important. (Mia had never been able to be totally honest with him, which was one of the reasons why their relationship was doomed from the start.) “You could shuck the corn. Well, don’t pull off all the leafy bits. Just pull them down and get rid of all the stringy things.” He paused for a moment. “I’m glad things are looking better.”
"I can do that," Verity said, them moved to start shucking the corn. Her fingers weren't as nimble or slender as they'd been a couple months ago, but they were still working mostly properly. "I have a long road ahead of me," she commented solemnly. "But at least now I have some pretty amazing people walking with me." She gave him a little smile and a blush.
Charlie wasn’t sure he ought to consider himself one of those people. They hadn’t known each other very long. The people who had given her a place to live and job security, they were the real heroes here. “This is a nice place,” he commented.
She was considering him one of those people. Him and Obi and Alice, Jefferson, Roland, Esme, Thor, River, Fred, George, Abigail... She really was blessed.
"Thanks." She said. "Though I can't take any of the credit, really. It's River's place."
“Hey, if you’re paying rent, it’s your place, too,” he said with a smile, as he moved the chicken to a bowl and proceeded to wash his hands. He ripped off a paper towel and walked to the trash can to throw it out. He was standing beside Verity now. “I’m sure it will feel like home soon enough, luv.”
“Well, that’s true. I just mean… she did all the decorating.” Verity finished with the corn and turned to look at him. She nodded once, examining his face. He had a very pleasant smile. Her cheeks were burning again. “I’m sure you’re right. Soon enough.” The way he said Luv made her think of Oliver for a moment. He was Scottish, he’d said things like that to her before she left. But Verity wasn’t letting thoughts of him get to her. She held up the last ear of corn. “This good?”
“Yeah…” Charlie replied, lifting his hand to take it from her. He sounded a little dreamy and he stared a little longer than he should have. He touched her fingers as they wrapped around the ear. “You’re so pretty...”
Verity blushed deeply when he called her pretty. She tore her eyes from his face and looked down between them, unable to stop grinning. “...thank you?” She wasn’t really sure how to respond to that. It was so flattering. He was so… wonderful. The brush of his fingers over hers sent goosebumps up her arm. Her eyes came back up to meet his a moment later, soft and warm.
Charlie was short and clearly wasn’t built for muscle, but he was decidedly fearless. Being brave was a choice he routinely made, or else he wouldn’t have the guts to play in front of thousands of people. Or even a handful in a small cafe. When Verity lifted her head, he moved in and stole a kiss.
If she’d thought her cheeks were burning before, it was nothing compared to how they felt now. Her whole face, her neck, her chest, it was all blushing deeply. But one kiss definitely wasn’t enough. No, sir. She wanted more. It might have been a little awkward with the baby in her tummy between them, but she didn’t let it stop her from leaning in and stealing another, just as he stole the first.
Okay, so she was biting--metaphorically. He’d put out a line and she wasn’t swimming away. Charlie moved the ear of corn to the countertop behind him so that he had both hands free. He placed them on Verity’s shoulders, clenching a little. It had been so long since he’d last kissed a girl. Even Mia had never let him do that much. It’s had been so long since anything like this.
Kissing was good. It felt good. Verity trusted him--funny, because she barely knew him. But still, she knew enough to know that he was a good man. Strong, kind, funny, caring. She lowered both hands to wrap around his sides, pulling him closer against him as they kissed in the kitchen.
It was a little difficult to get close with the baby between them, but Verity made it work. She grinned against his lips.
His heart was pounding from the rush of everything. Charlie gently pulled away, knowing he was capable of taking this much further, considering how hungry he felt, but also knowing it was a delicate situation. And it was only their first kiss, a first kiss that was plenty sexy for him.