Part 1: Duncan Page's Tent – New Vegas
Charlie has her gun trained on the smirking brunette who clearly knows Monroe very well. So this is Duncan. Charlie hates her on sight. She doesn't dwell on why. The why is unimportant.
Bass holds out a hand, "Charlie put the gun down, now."
Charlie ignores him, her eyes on Duncan.
Bass's voice becomes louder, more fierce, "NOW!" He looks at Charlie for a moment, silently imploring her to behave. Satisfied that she's gotten the message, he turns his attention back to the war lord.
Charlie slowly lowers her gun, her eyes moving from Bass to Duncan and back again. Ah, so that's how this is. Son of a bitch. Charlie's blood boils.
Bass watches Duncan, his expression hopeful, like a puppy dog waiting for a treat.
"I'm going to be sick." Charlie mutters, shoving her gun into her belt. She turns, catching Junior's eye and motioning for him to follow. Clearly Bass wants some alone time with his old girlfriend.
Charlie stomps away from the tent, Connor on her heels. "I can't fucking believe this." She fumes.
"What's wrong with you?" he asks her.
"Nothing…. Everything… He shouldn't have been like that. I could have helped him."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Connor says, shaking his head with a little smile.
"What the hell is so funny?" Charlie whirls on him, poking a finger into his chest.
"You are. First of all, I don't think he wanted any help. Secondly, if you were any more jealous, your skin would actually turn green."
"I'm not jealous."
"Or truthful, it seems." He mutters. "Whatever, I'm gonna go find a girl who isn't panting after my old man, no offence."
And then he's gone, and Charlie is even angrier than before – at herself for letting Bass get to her, and at Connor for being right. "God damnit." She growls.
"You're out of your mind. Ten a head." Bass counters Duncan's offer of thirty diamonds per mercenary. There is no way they can come up with thirty a head – they just can't. If they want to take enough guys back to Willoughby to make a difference against the Patriots, he needs the price to be a lot lower.
Duncan's gaze is steely, "Thirty diamonds a head."
"Come on, cut me a break here. Twenty?" He pauses, but when she stays quiet, he says "Twenty-five?"
She shakes her head ever so slightly, not willing to budge. "Thirty." Her tone says this argument is over.
"Well…" he hesitates. The honest truth is he's struggling to focus on this negotiation. His mind keeps wandering somewhere else entirely. He can't stop replaying Charlie's exit in his head. She's looked angry and also…
"So, thirty then?" Duncan asks, tilting her head sideways, a smirk plays across her lips. "Jesus Sebastian, you aren't even paying attention. You know how much I hate that." She shakes her head at him.
Bass runs his fingers through his hair, clearly torn. "Thirty…" he mutters, still not really in the conversation. Charlie hadn't just been mad. There had also been something else, something…
"You must really like that one. Got your panties all in a twist." Duncan is trying not to laugh, but it's difficult. "The mighty Sebastian Monroe has fallen for a little girl. How adorable."
"She's not a little girl."
Duncan tosses her head back and cackles, "I knew it. You've got it bad."
Bass is shaking his head no, but on the inside he is still seeing Charlie's face and he suddenly knows what it was he'd seen in her expression. Hurt. Hurt and maybe…. Jealousy?
"Awfully brave of you to let her go like that." Duncan says, still grinning.
"Charlie is tough. She can take care of herself."
"Yeah, I'm sure she can…but right now she's pissed, and at least a little jealous. She might want to work out some frustration and that young guy who couldn't keep his eyes off her? Well, he might want to help her do that…" Duncan shrugs, "But like you say, she can handle herself. You don't like her that way anyway…"
Bass is standing, his mind now filled with all the flirty comments Connor has been throwing Charlie's way for the duration of this whole damn trip. Charlie wouldn't go there, would she? Surely not. Bass is halfway out the tent's opening when Duncan gets his attention. "So the killers? You want em or not?"
"I'll be back, okay? I have to deal with this right now."
Duncan nods knowingly, "You know where I'll be."
Charlie is sitting in a dim bar, sucking back a drink while the crowd surges around her like a living thing. She's beyond pissed at Bass for not warning her about Duncan, and at Connor for being an ass, and at herself for letting any of it get to her. "This is bullshit." She mutters, not for the first time. Without looking up, she taps her empty glass on the bar. The bartender takes the hint and refills the glass.
She feels a presence and then a warm hand settles on her shoulder. "Get lost. Already told you I'm not interested."
"No, you actually never have told me that." Bass's voice is smooth and silky as he leans in close. He settles onto the booth beside hers and nods to the bartender with an 'I'll have what she's having' motion of his head. Charlie had stiffened when she realized it was him, but now she's consciously calming herself down. She does not want him to know that his appearance means anything to her.
"That was quick." She says, staring into her drink. "Only left you ten minutes ago. Your ladies' man reputation must be a bit exaggerated."
"Funny." Bass chuckles, "That is not what was happening back there. There's nothing like that between Duncan and me."
"Not anymore?" she asks, still not meeting his eyes. "Clearly there was something at one time."
He sighs, "A long time ago. A really long time ago."
"Whatever." She shakes her head, "Did you get the killers?"
"Not yet. Gotta go back and negotiate."
Charlie snorts, "Of course you do."
"Jesus, Charlie. It's not like that. I am not interested in anything she has to offer other than mercenaries."
Charlie doesn't answer, staring at the whiskey as she swirls it in her glass.
"I'm sorry I shut you out back there. I should have let you stay. You've more than proven yourself? It was habit. I've been working on my own for a long time." He reaches out and places his hand on hers, stilling her. "I'm sorry. Okay?"
She feels a jolt of heat where their fingers touch. Charlie takes a shaky breath. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me." He squeezes her fingers gently. "You matter to me, Charlie."
"Yeah, right."
A drunk staggers into Charlie and Bass can see they're never going to have a decent conversation here. "Come on. Let's get out of this hell hole."
She doesn't argue. They finish off what's left of their drinks and Bass leads her out of the bar tent. "Where's Connor anyway?" he asks.
Charlie shrugs, "Think he went to find some female entertainment."
"Figured he was hoping for a chance to get to know you better, rather than hook up with some stranger."
Charlie finally looks him in the eye, "Connor knows that would be a waste of his time."
"Oh?" Bass feels his heart begin to race, "Why's that?" She pushes past him, walking briskly. He is at her side again in moments. "Why Charlie? He's your age. He's interested. He's good looking like his old man." Bass is going for flippant, but his voice has an edge.
Charlie is walking fast, her head down. She mumbles something but Bass doesn't catch it. "What?"
She stops and turns without warning. He stumbles into her, catching himself by grasping her upper arms. Her eyes bore into his. They are standing close – far too close.
"What did you say?" he asks again, his voice softer now.
"He's not the one I want." She whispers.
Bass's fingers tighten on her arms, "Who do you want, Charlie?"
She shakes her head, answering his question with one of her own, "Why didn't you correct Duncan back there?"
"What? Correct her how?" He's having a hard time focusing. Her lips are so perfect and kissable and right damn there.
"She implied that we were together. You didn't correct her..."
"Neither did you." He moves closer. He can't stop staring at her mouth. Her tongue darts out, wetting her lips nervously and he groans. "Neither did you." He says again. "Why didn't you correct her yourself?"
"I guess…" she pauses, unsure. "I guess I didn't mind."
"You didn't mind what? That she thinks we're together?" Pretence gone, Bass yanks her body flush with his. "Didn't mind that she thinks we're fucking? Maybe even more than fucking…" his lips brush the shell of Charlie's ear and he feels her shudder. More confident than ever that he's not alone in this attraction that is overwhelming him; he bites down lightly on her ear lobe. "Didn't mind that she thinks you're mine?"
"Yours." Charlie says. It's not a question as her hands snake around his back, welcoming his close proximity.
When his mouth crashes into hers for the first time, it is in the midst of a dirty New Vegas street. Hookers and drunks and gamblers weave around them as if they are just part of the scenery. Neither Bass nor Charlie even notice. This kiss is intensity and passion - pent up feelings of need and unrequited desire roar through their every movement. His tongue slides through her lips and he possesses her mouth heatedly, exploring her depths, and memorizing her taste. Charlie buries her hands in his curls, pulling him closer, relishing his hard body against her softer curves and the way his kiss sets her on fire.
They break apart, breathless.
"We should…"
"The killers…"
"Yeah, we need to…"
"Duncan."
"Talk to her together."
"And then later?"
"Yes. Later." It's a promise, and in the heated gaze they share, both Charlie and Bass recognize it's a promise they'll be keeping. But for now, they need those mercenaries.
"Later." He says again, grabbing her hand and dragging her back toward Duncan's tent.
Duncan looks up, not entirely surprised to see either one of them returning, "Sebastian, back so soon? And you brought your little girlfriend…how adorable." she smirks.
Bass smiles at Charlie and takes her hand in his, pulling her close, "I didn't introduce you properly before. Charlie this is my friend Duncan. Duncan… this is Charlie."
Duncan sees their entwined hands, and nods in understanding. Clearly this girl means much more to Monroe than she'd assumed. Interesting.
Charlie smiles, flashing a dimple. "Nice to meet you Duncan. Sorry about before, but we really need some killers. Any chance you can help us with that?"
The war lord sighs, and surprises even herself when she says, "You know what, I'm feeling suddenly generous. How about fifteen a head?"
A/N Hope it worked for you KimberlyHavey. Happy birthday!