Here is the first chapter of my first experimental story in Off the Map. Please give me your feedback.

Warnings: Slash/Strong language/adult themes


Working at the clinic seemed to become more and more eventful for everyone, but Charlie. Going back to the condo he was watching, Charlie reflected on the relative lack of responsibility he had, that most teenagers would kill for. But he was so tired of being independent, with nothing living or dying because of his presence or the lack thereof. He'd tried a pet, but that didn't go too well. There had to be something that could help him. Everyone at the clinic seemed to have something that kept them alive, something that, no matter what, could get them through it. It had to be the dependence of lives upon them, right? That was one of the reasons someone became a doctor, wasn't it? So why was it that even having something like a fish or other small animal depending on him didn't seem to make it any better?

As Charlie pondered this, he wandered down the road of the village and looked around at the people walking by. Standing out of the crowd, was a thin, white boy about the same age as Charlie, attempting to converse with the locals, but only getting exasperated glances and mutters of 'turistas estúpida' as the villagers continued on their ways. Charlie walked up to the struggling boy, with a broad smirk upon his face.

"Hola gringo!" This didn't seem to sit too well with the boy.

"I may only know three words of Spanish, but that's one of them," he replied with a scowl as he continued to walk past the teenager.

"I don't mean it as an insult, amigo. Let me help you. Where are you going?" he replied, genuinely trying to help the boy now.

"Okay then," he replied with a slight smile towards Charlie. "I'm looking for Condo-miny-ous Buh-eh-na Vista." Charlie couldn't help but stifle his laughter at the boy's pronunciation. "What! That's how it sounds!"

"Condiminios Buena Vista," he managed to squeak out between fits of laughter. When he calmed down, he took the boy's arm and began to run towards the condominiums.

"Where in the hell are you taking me!"

"Calm down, gringo. I'm taking you to the condos."

When the two arrived at the building, Charlie let the other teenager's arm go and faced him. "Here it is." He was smiling. And it was… sincere. It wasn't something that the boy was used to.

"Thank you," he replied. He couldn't stop himself from smiling back at the other.

"Sir. Are you checking in today?" the women at the reception desk asked.

"Yes ma'am. The reservation is under Cox."

"Ah, yes, Mr. Cox. You are room 506, as I'm sure your father informed you. We'll have someone escort you and your bags up."

"Thank you."

Charlie smirked as this 'Mr. Cox' walked away. He was personally invested in this now. He had to figure out how to mess with this guy now, and learn a little bit more about him. Charlie decided now would be a good time to go up to the condo he was taking care of for some old, rich couple: room 505.


As Charlie went through, yet another, day at the clinic, it was all pretty much the same, except… it wasn't. Having both Keeton and Clark gone was like the clinic being empty. Sure, there was still Zee, Cole, and the Americanos… and Lily, but it just wasn't the same. Keeton was practically a father to Charlie, or the closest thing he'd had to one since he was nine, and having him gone was kind of strange. But he would always have Tommy to mess with, and Lily to… stare at. At least now he knew that Lily knew his name, but it still wasn't enough. Not to mention that now he couldn't wait to go and mess with Cox. Or perhaps learn his first name.

It wasn't like he would normally haveto be at the clinic, but with the absence of Keeton and Clark, he had to help pick up the slack, which he would've normally been thrilled about, but it was bittersweet today. Even catching a fleeting glimpse of Lily lost its luster today. He still needed to find that thing that made him feel alive, but it wasn't anything that he could see the doctors having. But they still seemed to have it, but it wasn't something that he could spot. What could it be?

Charlie's thoughts were interrupted by an exasperated Zee. "Chico, please help me with this patient. Gringo never stops bitching and whining about this and that. He's about your age, so see if you can deal with him."

"Si, señora." Zee smiled at the boy before leaving to deal with her other patients before she went back in there and bitch slapped the teenager in the room.

"Can I please get a doctor in here? " Charlie recognized that voice and couldn't help but smirk.

"Señor Cox! How nice of you to visit." The boy's face went from one of extreme self importance to a completely blank, stupefied expression.

"You're kidding me right? Are there no labor laws here? Do you even need a medical license in this awful country to start a clinic or medical practice?"

Charlie simply shrugged off the less than complimentary comments thrown his way. "So what brings you here, Mr. Cox?"

The teenager simply stared at him. "Marcus. Marcus Cox." He extended his hand to Charlie before he returned to his bitchy self. "The food in this shithole is practically poisonous," he spat out with more venom than he claimed the food contained. "I had some at some rundown cantina and I think they managed to give me cholera or something."

"You're in a pleasant mood. Well I doubt its cholera; we haven't had any major floods lately."

"Oh, good; they do require you learn something before they give you a license." Charlie smirked at the pale boy's paranoia.

"I'm not a doctor, smart ass. I'm just helping out around here before I get my medical license. It sounds like you have food poisoning. I'll send a doctor in soon."

"Thank you…" the silence seemed to imply that he was searching for a name.

"Charlie. By the way, I have to ask you something," the boy nodded in response, "why didn't you go to the only American pizza stand in the village instead of going to a local restaurant?"

"Two reasons. They don't serve alcohol there, and the first time I walked in, a couple years ago, the guy smiled. I left."

"Two questions. Aren't you a little young for alcohol?" The boy flipped Charlie the bird at this, "and why would you leave because he smiled? You weren't like that when I smiled." Marcus' face became serious at this.

"It was one of the fakest smiles I've ever seen. Your smile was real, and sincere, and you…" Charlie cocked his head to the side, urging Marcus forward with his eyes. "You're kind of cute." Charlie's eyes went wide, and then a sly grin stretched across his face.

"So señor Cox likes-"

"Say it and you won't have one." Charlie stopped, but he couldn't quit smiling.

"So I'm cute, huh? How cute am I?"

Marcus simply shot Charlie a dirty look as Mina walked in. Charlie left the room, and as Marcus noticed the rather pale skinned doctor, a shout of "Thank god, an American!" could be heard throughout the clinic.

Charlie now had something to make him feel alive, and it was fucking with Marcus Cox.


Thank you for reading, and I know that it says that this is a romance, and it is, but there will be an explanation of Charlie's orienation and everything. I'm attempting to make this as IC as possible, so bare with me. Feel free to criticise, but try to steer away from "Charlie isn't gay" because it will all be explained later in the story, thank you.

Translations

Touristas estupidas: Stupid tourists

Gringo: Slang for white person. Usually used in a vulgar/derogatory way, but not with Charlie.