A/N: Hope y'all like this fic. Special thanks to Ash-Castle for alpha reading this, and for making the aesthetic. Thank you to Disillusionist9 for cheerleading!
Come find me on Tumblr: Chiseplushie
Featuring:
+ Post War
+ Naturalist!Luna
+ Made up stuff about Magic LOL
+ Lots of swearing
+ For more, go read my fic Long Days (which takes place completely after this fic... but can be read as a stand alone piece.)
Stars and Bold Coffee (Charlie x Luna)
Chapter 01 - December
Charlie scrunched his face as he stepped out from the small wizarding hotel. He thoroughly scrubbed his face with one freckled hand and then blinked at it It was stained from one of last night's pranks and … well other rubbish, he supposed. He grunted in mild disgust as he wiped both hands on his trousers and trailed down the walk, doing his best to avoid the clumps of snow.
He drew his traveling cloak tighter around his shoulders and shoved his hands into the deep pockets of the dark grey winter coat as he trudged along. Charlie internally grumbled to himself again at whomever decided it was a fucking fantastic idea to hold a Stag party in England during the middle of fucking winter, instead of where the climate was warmer in December. Merlin, he was cold and was definitely no longer drunk and warm and drunk and fucking hell he was cold.
Sighing, Charlie rolled his broad shoulders against the sharp biting wind, and tried to tug the dark knitted beanie past his ears-as if the woolen hat would stretch any lower.
He briskly walked passed shops, idly glancing into the store's display windows. He caught the reflection of his face and stopped abruptly to do what he hadn't done in his haste to depart from the hotel room. He took a long look at himself, growling at his reflection.
The man who reflected back at him was slightly tanned, which he expected from his life back in Romania. His full face beard was at the length Charlie knew his Mum would start nagging him about as soon as he got home, but his Mum wasn't here right now to tell him to 'trim your beard, Charlie, you look like a woodsman.' He looked hungover, very much so, and sleep deprived, which was also very true.
Honestly, he couldn't remember much of what happened last night. But he was sure he shagged last night, even though he was alone when he finally awoke and stumbled out of bed this morning. It was probably for the best. Anyways, he wasn't ready to face his Mum and her insistent nagging, the loud chittering that was always set at the highest volume. Merlin forbid people spoke without yelling at each other. No, it was much too early to go straight home.
Whatever time it was. He didn't want to know.
He couldn't keep walking around wizarding Britain looking like a bum.
He couldn't walk around without coffee, he remembered a moment later.
Charlie withdrew his wand and first cast a Cleaning charm on himself and then a Freshening charm before pocketing it again. His hair stuck out a bit less wildly from under the hat, shorter in length than he liked and any evidence from last night's victories and losses were scrubbed away. He was pleased to have clean hands and a clean face again. Even if he still looked as if he had been up to no good last night.
It cheered him that the other boys must look the same, and he had no sympathy for George. If he couldn't remember what happened last night, he figured it was fair the groom-to-be probably fared just as well.
Feeling minutely better, he continued his way again looking for a coffee shop, any coffee shop, just please Merlin let there be a place that sold coffee nearby. There was a quaint coffee shop a few blocks away. Charlie slipped on the icy step ("For fuck's sake!") before catching the chilled door handle and finding his balance.
The bell dinged as the door slammed shut behind him, and he gave an involuntary shiver as he took the next place in the queue. He really should have cast a Warming Charm when he left the hotel, he thought blurrily.
The shop smelled strongly of coffee beans, almost strongly enough that Charlie reconsidered whether or not he actually needed a cup for himself. Almost. No, nevermind. Not even close.
He snorted and rolled his eyes at the ridiculous thought, because of course he needed a post Stag night cup of coffee. Or firewhiskey. Or both. At least he wouldn't look thoroughly hungover and shagged when he faced the rest of the family later. He really didn't want to hear his Mum's good intended clucking about his appearance or that it was time for him to 'settle down soon while he was still in his prime'. Charlie made a face at the thought before turning his attention to the menu board.
Blinking slowly, he squinted at the words and told himself he was no longer drunk, therefore the words were not running together or… apart. Well, maybe they were a bit. But it was because of the poor lighting in this shop and the fact that he was at least a dozen people deep in the queue. His pounding headache didn't keep the words from blurring together either.
Charlie fingered the few loose coins that jingled in his pocket and moved up a few paces in the queue. He firmly told himself that he wasn't regretting George's offered vial of Sober Up potion at the beginning of the previous night. He loved his little brother, but Charlie didn't want to know from personal experience if the Wheeze's New and Improved Sober Up potion was better than the common brew you could buy or make at home. He didn't want to track down a shop to buy the stuff and to be honest, he was 100% sure there was some stocked at the Burrow. And Charlie was 100% sure his Mum would more likely withhold the potion, rather than give it up without a fuss. Coffee would have to do for now, then.
Merlin, who the fuck needs so many options for fucking coffee? He glared at the menu board again, deciding to go with simple black coffee because he was a simple man, who liked simple things like brisk nights on the dragon preserve, warm fires and the deep drum of a dragon's roar. And a decent shag, with no strings or expectations attached.
Yes, black coffee, because he was a simple man. Not because there were too many fucking words on the menu board that he still couldn't read.
Charlie was scrubbing his face for the third time when he finally stepped up to the counter to place his order.
He waited impatiently in the Pick-Up station for his drink, because why the fuck does it take ten minutes to pour him a cup of pre-brewed coffee. Wizards. He rolled his eyes.
He nodded politely at the barista when his drink was ready, because he wasn't that much of a prick, his Mum taught him to be a better wizard than that. He drew his gaze around the shop, searching for an empty seat. Sighing, he looked out the windows thinking he might head straight home afterall.
Of course it was fucking snowing right now. Charlie didn't want to venture out into the snow, even if it was a short walk to the next Apparition point.
Trying to suppress his souring mood, he swept his blue eyes around the shop again and spotted an empty seat at a small round table for two.
He stood, debating if he should swoop in and make himself comfortable.
Cons: the woman who sat at the same table could be saving the seat for someone, possibly her friend or boyfriend or husband. Or, if she wasn't saving it for someone and he could take the seat, but he wasn't really up for making conversation.
Pros: the seat might not be taken and he wouldn't have to head home quite so early. Maybe she wasn't the talkative type and he could enjoy his coffee in peace.
He ambled over to the table, because it couldn't hurt to ask.
More than half the surface of the table was covered in parchment, a few books and a cup of coffee with a silver spoon gently stirring itself. The patched satchel which was slung over the back of her chair was brightly colored and well used, as was the traveling cloak underneath. There was a long knitted scarf that had thick stripes which looked handmade and at least ten feet long, piled on the back of her chair, the ends brushing the floor.
The woman's small hands were smudged with ink stains and she was currently twirling her quill around in one hand in a thoughtful manner. Her gaze was a bit off to the side, not quite across the shop and out the window but not directly at other customers either. Her hair was long and blonde, her skin as pale as her hair. The only bit of jewelry he could see were earrings which were medium length in the shape of chandeliers, made of thin silver metal and red and yellow beads. And small feathers.
And tiny radishes?
Well, at least there wasn't a wedding band.
He cleared his throat when it was apparent she wouldn't acknowledge him otherwise.
"Excuse me. Is this seat taken? Everywhere else is full." Charlie gestured with his coffee cup.
She looked up at him with large pale silvery eyes and for a fleeting moment, Charlie thought she looked vaguely familiar. Just as quick, the thought was gone and forgotten.
"Are you the one meeting me for coffee this morning?" The radishes swung from side to side as she tilted her head. "If you are, then I suppose I forgive you for being an hour late. I did get some writing done while I waited, so it wasn't as though time was lost. Oh, the confusion on your face is telling me that you aren't the wizard I was supposed to meet. In that case, I think it's fortunate that the seat isn't taken after all."
Charlie blinked owlishly at her, and unable to follow her train of thought in order to string together a polite reply, he decided to acknowledge the only part he definitely understood.
He sat down.