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[dowhatisays]

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kore verse; what, this page was lonely

[dowhatisays]

They seriously need to invest in curtains. This is the first thought that reaches Charlie sleep-addled mind. A bright stream of hot morning sunlight it staring him right in the face, waking him up at what is probably a painfully early hour. He rolls onto his side, trying to hide his face from it, bumping his legs into Meyer's as he does.

The second thought that hits him is that they're not exactly in a place where he can just go out and buy curtains, and that makes him just want to bury himself under the covers further and not go anywhere for days.

He reaches a hand out for Meyer, resting it on the small of his back, liking the way his skin feels unusually warm in the early mornings.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Early mornings are about the only time his skin is actually warm at all, so he can't really blame Charlie for seeking it out then. He's already awake, has been for a little bit, although he's been drifting in and out of sleep, not really committing to fully waking up yet. Charlie's hand, though, jars him into a little more wakefulness, and he's rolling towards him, not bothering to say anything or give him any warning at all before leaning in towards Charlie's neck and pressing his face into it, rubbing slightly.

This would probably be almost endearing if it weren't for the fact that he hasn't shaved for a day. As it is, though, it's probably going to be less endearing and more prickly. At the very least, it'll make Charlie wake up and take notice. He does it again, just for good measure, making sure to really press his stubble against Charlie's skin.

[dowhatisays]

Normally he is all for a little early morning cuddling. Fuck, Meyer is so rarely in the mood for it that he'll take it when he can get it.

But generally it doesn't feel so much like cuddling with a hedgehog. He awakes fully with a start, the hand on Meyer's back suddenly a lot less affectionate with his fingernails added into the mix.

"Jesus Meyer, you got a porcupine fucking glued to your face? Get off." He punctuate with a good hard poke in Meyer's stomach for emphasis.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He obviously finds all of this deeply amusing, and though he rolls to the side a little to protest the poke to his stomach -- he has no idea why Charlie always goes for his stomach, but it seems to be a trend -- he's rolling back as soon as he can, with the express purpose of rubbing his cheek and chin on Charlie's shoulder.

"What, you can't handle a little stubble?" He'd shaved maybe a day and a half ago, but he doesn't keep up with it here like he did back home, and from Charlie's indignant reaction to his prickly face, that's pretty obvious.

[dowhatisays]

"That's not a little, asshole. When's the last time you fucking shaved?" He goes for your stomach because it's hilarious to watch you react to it, Meyer. In fact he's going to do it again, and harder.

This page felt the need for grumpy all over it

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[There're good meetings and there're bad meetings. And then there're awkward meetings. Nobody could've described that meeting as good, but it could certainly have been described as both bad and awkward. Sitting across from Charlie and not even getting the chance to talk to him had been excruciating. So by the time he finally gets back to their apartment, he's an irritated, chain-smoking wreck, and he slams the door a lot harder behind him than he'd really meant to.]

yep it was asking for it

[dowhatisays]

[Charlie doesn't get home until some time later. AR had been a punctual man to work for, annoyingly so sometimes, but he had a brusqueness and efficiency to him that meant Charlie never had to hang around much longer than he needed to.

But Masseria has this way of talking to him... of slinking in under his skin and sitting there like an itch he can't scratch. He's tried to learn to not it show as much, how much he just wants to be the fuck out of there because one thing he learned early on was that he's just likely to keep going if he knows it's having an effect, if he's making the hairs on the back of Charlie's neck stand on end.

Being in a room with AR again, seeing Meyer sitting there like the fucking king of the castle - Masseria clearly took it all as a signal that Charlie needed reminding of who he works for and it couldn't peel himself away for hours.

By the time he gets home he's exhausted and his skin won't stop crawling. He needs a bath, a drink, and a bed. Preferably not alone, either.

He's still not used to it, these days apart. He hadn't realised how familiar it had become, spending all day with Meyer. Having it taken away feels like a bucket full of cold water to the face.

He doesn't say much when he gets in. Just a muffled 'hey', and hes getting out a cigarette of his own.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[Needless to say, Meyer doesn't like Masseria, and he doesn't envy Charlie the fact that he's the one stuck with him. He has problems with Rothstein for personal reasons -- or rather, personal reasons that relate to the way AR had treated Charlie; he hadn't had any delusions that he had an attachment with AR himself, but Charlie had actually cared about the guy -- but at least AR isn't a creep. Usually.

It had been almost laughable, the way AR and Masseria had postured and compared Meyer and Charlie like they were their goddamn property. And it had taken all Meyer had had not to slap AR's hand off of his shoulder when he'd patted it awkwardly. It clearly hadn't been a sign of affection; it had been a sign of ownership, and he'd been able to get away with it because Meyer was quiet and well-behaved in meetings.

He knows Charlie's probably in an even worse mood than he is, but that doesn't mean he can shake off his own gloom. He just takes a long drag on his cigarette -- he's lot count of how many he's had, but there's more than one overflowing ashtray around the apartment -- and nods at Charlie.]

Hey.

[dowhatisays]

[Looks like Charlie has some catching up to do. Challenge fucking accepted.

It has such torture, being in that room with Meyer, having not seen him the whole trip down, and having to pretend like they didn't even know each other. Which is probably why Charlie comes straight in to sit next to Meyer and lean his forehead into his shoulder.

It's always had a calming effect on Charlie - that familiar smell of smoke and the sweet scent of whatever Meyer ate last and something else he can't place but is just so distinctly him. He breathes it in, not ready to move just yet.]

[dowhatisays]

[Charlie hasn't really been doing much all day. Masseria tends to expect him to hang around waiting for a phonecall, like he ain't got a life of his fucking own.

Although it ain't like much is going on here. After sending out Benny for their collections, all he can do is hang around listening to the radio and working his way through a pack of cigarettes.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[It's amazing how long the thrill of a fight can stick with you. The whole trip back to New York has him antsy, unable to sit still, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He barely even acknowledges AR, except to feel a certain sense of satisfaction knowing that he stole AR's deal right out from under him. And now he needs Charlie, because they don't have long to make this happen.

So there's determination on his face as soon as he opens the door to their apartment, and he's immediately making his way to the living room, looking for Charlie, not even bothering to take his jacket or hat off.]

[dowhatisays]

Hey.

[He knew which train Meyer was scheduled to be on, so he's not surprised to see him when he does come in. Although he does a double take from rummaging around for more cigarettes to give Meyer a more probing look.]

What's with yous?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He offers Charlie a smile, and really, it's amazing how even his genuine smiles can look so sharp and predatory sometimes.]

It was a good trip, that's all.

[There're quite a few other things to say. They can wait. He's not in the mood for explanation. Which is why he finally makes all the way over to Charlie and grabs a fistful of his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss.]

Happy birthday, Chawlee

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He's trying to ignore the fact that the weekend will be over soon enough and Charlie'll disappear back home. And it's pretty easy to ignore that, because he has other things to think about, like the fact that it's Charlie's birthday today. How convenient, that it had worked out that way.

So that morning, while Charlie's still sleeping -- it had been a damned long time since they'd slept in the same bed, by his perspective, at least, but they'd gotten the hang of it quickly enough -- he gets out of bed very quietly, so as not to wake him up. He doesn't exactly have birthday plans for him, but he can think of a couple things to do for him. The first thing to do is bring him coffee. That's a nice way to wake up, right?

Fifteen minutes later, he's back in the room, setting a cup of coffee on the bedside table next to Charlie, and touching his cheek in an oddly gentle way.]

Wake up. It's your birthday.

Re: Happy birthday, Chawlee

[dowhatisays]

[It's way too early for Charlie to remember exactly where he is. Except in bed, with Meyer near by, and none of that is out of place enough to pull Charlie from sleep. He rolls over, mashing his face into the pillow.]

Hmmm. Not waking up yet.

Re: Happy birthday, Chawlee

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Okay, I guess you don't have to.

[He's successfully delivered the coffee. That means he can crawl back into bed and scoot a little closer to Charlie, rolling onto his side to wrap an arm around him. That level of affection might give Charlie a hint as to where he is, because this probably wouldn't be his natural inclination if they were back in New York, but stuck here, he's going to take every excuse to be in physical contact with him.]

[dowhatisays]

[It is a little unusual, it's true. But he's not going to argue it. He shuffles in a little closer, pulling Meyer in tight against his body.]

S'not really my birthday, is it?

I swear at this point I just kinda pick a random page to tag on

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[Why is he here right now? Oh, right, because it's Charlie's birthday -- his nineteenth, which means yes, Meyer gets to make fun of him being old forever now -- and because Charlie had thought it'd be a good idea to get a whole strip club. Because just one or two strippers clearly wasn't enough. The sheer amount of glitter and loud music in this place was just about overwhelming, along with all the gratuitious nudity. But hey, Charlie seems to be enjoying himself, and it's his birthday, so that's what counts.

There's also a lot of alcohol. A lot of it. And he's on his way to get another drink.]

Hey, you want another?

[He'll bring Charlie one, too, if he can distract his attention away from all the boobs long enough to find out what he wants.]

it's a good system

[dowhatisays]

Yeah, totally.

[Hey, boobs are validly distracting, okay. Especially when this sparkly. But he does tear his eyes away for long enough to give Meyer a manic grin. Guess who's enjoying himself? THIS GUY.}

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[It's not like he's opposed to boobs, himself. It's just that there're a whole lot of them, and they're incredibly sparkly, and he's not quite sure which ones to look at first. So drinking seems like a safe bet. That's one thing he's good at. He makes his way over to the bar -- a little wobbly, but trying to walk steadily -- grabs them both a rum and coke (hey, Charlie hadn't said what he wanted, so anything's fair game) and comes back, holding the cup out for him.]

Here. Enjoy.

[dowhatisays]

Thanks, man.

[Meyer brought him booze, which means he gets yanked down for a quick kiss. Hey, It's his birthday, he does what he wants.]

[dowhatisays]

It's been a long time since either of them has had to use the secret code. That four number text they worked out a while ago that means 'I'm fucked, and I need back-up'. And yeah, maybe the worst is over now, and he could just call. But his hand is shaking as he pulls out his phone and he doesn't think he could manage right now.

So he just punches in their code, followed with a simple

'come get me'

[recognize_an_opportunity]

That code isn't something he ever likes seeing pop up on his phone. It's like a punch right in the gut, a confirmation that things are serious enough to require his intervention, and since neither of them particularly like asking for help, that's a bad sign. He know where Charlie is, or at least, knows where he's supposed to be. Obviously, something hadn't gone as planned. The familiar gnawing worry starts to set in almost immediately.

I'll be there.

He'll take the car. Finding parking'll be a hassle, but if Charlie's badly hurt -- shit, please don't let him be badly hurt -- it'll be easier to manage than a taxi or the goddamn subway.

[dowhatisays]

To say this didn't go as planned would be a serious understatement. He'd shown up, expecting an easy drop off and exchange. The same thing he'd done tons of times. But when HE walked out... Charlie closes his eyes, breathing heavily through his nose. He feels nauseous, and like an idiot for letting himself get set up like this. He runs a hand down his face, and comes away with blood. There's probably a lot more he can't see. It was three guys against one.

The bricks of the old warehouse are rough behind his back, but he's grateful for them. Standing seems difficult right now. And he's grateful this alley is out of the way - the last thing he wants is someone seeing the state he's in and calling the cops.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He has to consciously convince himself not too drive too far above the speed limit. The last thing he wants to do is get pulled over and delay his getting to Charlie any more, but he also wants to be there as soon as he can be. Every second that he's not there finding out what happened and getting Charlie home safe is torture. Frankly, he's surprised he can drive quite so well when his mind is obsessing about every little thing that could have possibly gone wrong.

He has to circle the block twice to find parking, and even then, it's in a spot that probably isn't legal. Oh well, he's gotten parking tickets before, he'll get them again, he's not too concerned about it. What he is concerned about is finding Charlie. The logical place is the alley behind the warehouse.

He's walking quickly, hands shoved in the pockets of his coat, trying to hide how concerned he is. But as soon as he gets into the alley, seeing Charlie sitting there... yeah, he's not hiding it too well all of a sudden. In fact, he's running over to him.

"Shit."