Red right hand…

A Revolution fic: Bass Monroe/Charlie Matheson. Charloe. Blackout AU. Post S2 (no comic). Set in the same universe as another story of mine, 'Halloween dreams'. While Miles, Rachel, Aaron and Priscilla head to Bradbury to investigate the nano threat there, Charlie and Bass are working for President Blanchard, hunting patriot remnants but with a special mission to track down the rest of the nanotech pendants created by Ben and Rachel Matheson and Randall Flynn's scientific team. They've heard a rumor out of the Plains Nation of a travelling healer, a shaman who could do things no one could explain…

Rating M

Author's note:

Hi there, and thank you so much for reading. This turned into a kind of 'what if' story, and I hope you enjoy the journey :) The title is from a lyric by Nick Cave.

'Red right hand…

'So tell me again why we have to wear this stuff?' Charlie looked at herself in the crazed, full length mirror on the wall of their tiny but surprisingly clean hotel room. Her image was fractured but clear enough that she could see herself even in the dim, late afternoon light coming in through the window. 'I look like something from a really nasty war clan.'

She twitched the tattered and patched leather corset that only just held her breasts in, jiggling to get a little more coverage, the movement making her skin-tight and torn jeans tweak the hair on her pussy and tease her clit. Her lips curved, going commando was part of the disguise – women from nasty war clans rarely had access to underwear, but it had its compensations… A shiver zapped its way to her belly button, and she sucked in a breath, twisting so she could see her ass and the temporary tattoo that curled in a tribal dance above the band of her jeans, twining up along her spine, over her shoulders and down her arms. Her hair hung in long, crow dark waves to her waist, so different to her usual rich blond and her own chain belt hung on her hips framing a heart shaped rear that she had to admit wasn't half bad.

Bass chuckled from where he was sat on the bed doing up the buckles on his boots, 'you know why, we're getting too well known even here in the boondocks. This way no one'll shoot us on sight. And your hair looks great dark.' His eyes swept over her, hot and vibrant blue, and a dark red eyebrow lifted, 'the rest is pretty ok too.'

Her eyes glinted at him as she swung her hips in a slow shimmy and pushed a long, curling, inky strand back behind one ear. 'Just ok?' Her skin was pale and luminous against the black and her eyes glowed. She glanced back at the wild, exotic stranger in the mirror as the dark strands swung around her shoulders. The hair had been a shock at first but she kind of liked it now. 'I look like Duncan.'

He moved behind her, a tall, broad shape in the mirror. His hair was dyed deep henna red with a thick, shaved line curving above his left ear and a black henna tattoo of swords, warrior stripes and vines trailing from his temple, over the ear to the base of his neck. His moustache and beard were oiled and dark and earrings, piercings, neck-chains and cuffs caught the light as he moved. His tall, hard muscled body was framed in a frayed black biker vest over inked arms and his bare, tattooed smoothly muscled chest was crossed with bandoliers and sheaths for his guns. Swords hung from a heavy belt on either hip and framed the long, heavy bulge of his cock above strong legs in worn, patched black leather. He was loaded for bear and looked formidable, dangerous…

Charlie smiled, her eyes meeting his in the glass, 'you look pretty ok too'.

His hands slid around her waist, thumbs trailing along the wide strip of skin left exposed between her pants and top, fingertips skating forwards over the taut belly and twin bumps of hip bones. 'Duncan was a good looking woman…' He bent and nibbled the soft skin behind her ear, 'but you're gorgeous, Charlie, whatever color your hair is.'

She leaned back against him, tipping her head to give him more access. His hands and the feel of his body on hers sent shivers of sensation over her skin, pebbling her nipples and making the leather between her legs slippery and hot. She shivered. The temptation to just throw him onto the bed and fuck him and to hell with the mission was almost irresistible. 'How long before we go?'

He laughed low in his throat, his cock a hard ridge against her hips, teeth biting down gently on the slope of her throat and tongue leaving a cool trail behind his lips. His hands tightened, 'long enough if we hurry..'

There was a loud knock on the door. 'Hey guys?'

Bass hissed out a breath, 'shit.' He turned to the door, hands hard on her waist, 'coming, Sanchez.'

Charlie smirked up at him, rubbing her ass against his thigh, 'haven't yet.'

He grinned back, lips close to her ear, voice full of promises. 'you will.' One hand slid down between her legs to grip her pussy, the other held her hard against him, lifting her just enough for his leather covered cock to fill the valley between her ass cheeks. 'Don't forget, Blanchard's promised us two days furlough as soon as we get this job done.'

'He said that the last time, and we nearly got sucked on by vampires.' She squeezed her thighs together over his hand, loving the feel of his cock tight against her ass, of his big fingers between her legs. She wriggled a little, sucking in a breath as he slid his fingers down either side of her clit and squeezed…

His eyes laughed down at her, little blue flames dancing in them, 'you gotta admit that was a fun gig.' He bent down and kissed her, lips warm and firm on hers, his scruff stiffer than usual with the oil, lightly scratching her cheek and leaving goosebumps behind.

'It had its moments.' She kissed him back, eyes hazy with arousal. 'So do you think this Shaman guy really is a witch like they say?'

He pulled back a little, eyes dancing, 'I think we should wait and see.' His hand slid out from between her legs, stroking her clit on the way, fingers sliding up and lingering on the soft skin of her waist. 'The Plains are full of people who think they're witches or shamans of one kind or another. But if this one has a pendant, it'd look like he really had magic powers, to some people anyway?'

There was another knock at the door, louder this time, 'Guys?'

'I guess we'll find out soon enough,' Charlie took another look in the mirror, then buckled on her sword and gun belts and grabbed her crap. She smirked back at him, 'ready?'

He reached down and adjusted his pants, grinning as the bulge of his dick refused to settle down. 'give me a minute.'

She came close and cupped him with a hand, fingers wrapping around the thick, hard leather covered column of his cock, feeling him stiffen even more under her fingers…

He sucked in a groaning breath, his eyes burning blue, hungry sparks down at her. 'Not helping, Charlie.'

She laughed then reached up and kissed him, her lips lingering on his, 'let's get this job done fast, ok?' She let go of his cock and ground her hips against his crotch, one of her legs snaking up around his thigh, 'then we can finish this...'

He pulled her towards him, hard, her breasts mashing against his chest, one hand spreading over her ass, hard and urgent, the other hooking her knee and pulling her closer, his breath hot and whisky sweet on her face, 'you're reading my mail...'

….

In their cover of a war clan remnant, Sergeant Sanchez and the dozen other Texas Rangers who made up their troop were dressed in ragged, patched leathers and homespun cloth, their weapons made to look rough, weather beaten and ready-made. The horses were disguised too – the troops riding on rough pelt saddle pads with rope and rawhide tack but like the seasoned fighters they were, the men and several women were relaxed, jokes and insults flying.

Sanchez rode over to where Bass and Charlie were almost ready to mount up. He passed a slim leather bag down to Charlie, his velvet brown eyes dancing, 'got a package for you' He grinned, teeth very white against his dark skin, 'I'd have given it to you earlier but it sounded like you two were busy.' He looked her up and down, 'you look great by the way.'

Charlie's lips twitched, 'a couple more minutes would have made me look even better…' She glanced up at the young Latino, which wasn't hard. Even in his disguise Sanchez was ridiculously good looking as well as smart and very capable. His partner, a tall, muscular Viking type was the troop medic and the pair were highly respected – and inseparable. She took the package, 'but thanks anyway, Sanchez.'

Bass looked over, yanking the strap holding his saddle bags on, cursing when he realized the horse had bloated its belly. He yanked again, pulling the strap tight. 'Is the rider still here?' The horse snorted, shaking its head as the buckle snapped into place.

'Nah, she was headed straight to Austin, wanted to give Blanchard the news.'

'News? What news?'

Sanchez opened his mouth but Charlie spoke first.

'This one's from Aaron, and there's another from Blanchard.' She had Aaron's letter open, frowning as she read. Then a relieved smile curved her lips, 'Miles and my mom are ok,' She looked up at Bass, he hadn't said much but she knew how worried he was about his son, even after the guy tried to kill him, 'and Connor too, they found him on the road, heading back to Texas, he said Neville had gone to Bradbury but he'd been acting crazy, all the people there were acting crazy. He said to tell you he's sorry…' She huffed, 'Aaron said to tell you that Miles is keeping a very close eye on him and doesn't let him take watch yet.'

Bass came over, the relief and deep emotions plain in his eyes. He nodded, 'Miles is right to be careful after the stunt Connor pulled, but I'm glad the kid's ok. So what's the plan?'

She passed him Blanchard's letter, then read further from hers, 'my mom wants to go into town, confront the Nano,' she looked up at him, worried, 'but Aaron said Blanchard told them to wait and gather as much intel as they can, that he has an idea about using the pendants against the Nano, to short circuit it or something.' Her lips tightened, 'Aaron wants to know how many we've found.'

'Blanchard's sending us more men, he says he has some intel about another one in Denver,' Bass had broken the seal and was scanning the rest of the page, 'and the Magician's agreed to take her pendant to Bradbury. She said we'd need at least three to make the plan work and he wants us to get this one as soon as we can, if there is one of course.'

Sanchez nodded, his face grim, 'I'll get everyone ready, we'll leave in five.'

...

AN: Thanks so much for reading! I'd love to know what you think so far :) next chapter up soon as I can...

Magpie