A/N: It has not been Beta-read. I hope you enjoy it and again constructive criticism please if any. These () aren't me inserting my own views. It's like the characters after thought.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THE CHARACTERS! That should be obvious. This is just for fun and practice.
Chapter 1: Creep
Charlie Prince stood against the wall and peered carefully out the window. It was a habit of course. When you're an outlaw jumping in front of a window is suicide and Charlie isn't all that suicidal. He also had to beware of who was coming in and out of his room as well, because the doctor and the nurses threw a fit whenever they found him standing or moving around. He thought it was a miracle he wasn't hand cuffed to the bed. Hell it was a miracle he wasn't rotting in a cell. The boy, Will, had told him it had something to do with his Pa. That didn't sit all that well with Charlie. But the boss always said 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'. But then the Boss also said 'beware the Greeks baring gifts'. So Charlie tried to do both. He was weary of the Rancher; despite all the things the boy had told him. After all Charlie had shot him. And the rancher was still competition.
When Ben Wade first came across Charlie Prince the boy was blood covered, mad (as in insane), and not too bright. Not to say that Charlie was an idiot, it was just that Charlie never had a proper education. Though he could recite bible verses verbatim, not something he was very proud of then. He learned everything he knew from Ben Wade, and a few of those who had been with the outlaw the longest, like Campos.
Wade had books, most of them were stolen and he rarely kept them for too long, so there was never really more than one or two around. Charlie used to watch him read and was curious about what was so interesting. He knew they weren't bibles, Wade had even confirmed it. One-day Charlie's curiosity got the better of him and he went ahead and stole Ben Wade's book. He spent the next few days feeling frustrated, disappointed and stupid. And when Mr. Ben Wade himself finally (and calmly as per usual) confronted him about the theft (he had been aware of it the whole time and found it all so damn amusing) Charlie felt embarrassed.
But in the end he learned to read.
They inspired him too. Charlie was pretty young when he first joined up with Ben Wade, about twelve or thirteen to be exact. He wasn't allowed to do much either, outside of standing guard, or tending to the horse. On occasion he was allowed to participate in some jobs, but for the most part he was kept away. Not because of his age ("La edad no es nada sino un numero," Campos would say), but because of their first impression of him. Wade wanted to be certain that 1) Charlie wasn't going to turn on them, and 2) that Charlie wasn't going to be liability because of his past. The green eyed youth wanted to prove himself so bad, he desperately wanted to be at Ben Wade's side, and those books fueled that desire, till eventually Charlie became Wade's right hand man.
He was Ben's Mercutio, his Damon. That's how Charlie saw himself and, he was fine with it. But now…Charlie didn't know where he stood. That rancher screwed it all up.
"Doctors gonna have a fit when he sees you ain't in bed Mr. Prince."
"I thought it was to early for you to be in here puttin' guns to my head. You sure are bold'.
Charlie leveled his blank stare on one William Evans. If the kid was anything like his Pa, which based on the two times Charlie had actually met the man he was, then Charlie was certain that he was going to wind up shooting the kid. On principle.
"I'm not stupid, not like them doctors. I saw what Mr. Wade could do with both his hands cuffed. You're suppose to be his second in command, I'm sure your just as bad." The boy gave him a hard look. Charlie didn't bother trying to match him. He just continued to give him the blank stare, and then went back to peeking out the window.
"He ain't there."
"Not looking for him. I don't need too."
"Then what are you staring at?"
"Anything but these damn walls." Charlie grumbled
'Next time the boss says No I'm listening to him.' Charlie cast a quick glance around the room before peaking out the window again. He hated being locked up. Charlie needed to be free to move around, to be in more then one spot for to long. He'd go mad otherwise. Kinter called it wanderlust. Said Charlie was one of them people that needed to see the world just to do it. Jorgenson said Charlie had too much energy, and that he needed to do something with it or else he'd explode. Wade didn't say anything, the boss just observed, stashing whatever he thought was significant away in his head.
"MyPawantstoseeyou." Will says it all in one breath and Charlie gives him a bewildered look as he sorts out the words. Once he realizes what the boy said he gives him a suspicious look.
"The hell he wants me for?"
Will shrugs. The whole time the boy's been standing in that doorway, he's kept his hand near his gun and tried to take up as much space as possible. Charlie thought it was funny that the kid actually believed that he would be able to stop Charlie Prince. He had to hand it to Will though he sure was brave. Stupid, but brave.
"I ain't in the mood to be talkin' to ranchers, or their boys. So fuck off, I'm tired of looking at you." He climbed into his bed and awkwardly settled himself under the covers. The sling and the way his arm was wrapped kept his left limb useless. Something Charlie had to get use to, but not to difficult to get over. He was good with both his hands.
He ignored the boy, who stood at the door a little longer glaring daggers at the back of his head. Finally the kid stomped off, mad as hell that he had been dismissed. Charlie had fallen into a light sleep by then.
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Ben Wade was God. That all knowing, vengeful, patient, and powerful force. One doesn't fuck with God and get away with it. Charlie…Charlie was the Devil. He was rotten to the core, a force to be reckoned with. He served God directly by playing opposite, and because of that people earned their stripes. So the rancher, Daniel Evans, was the best of man. He was the perfect combination of good and evil. He could be fair and just, or he could be downright mean and violent. Charlie had seen that much before, and watching the sleeping man now, Charlie could see it. He could see what drew Ben in so completely.
He could smother him in his sleep. It wouldn't jolt his injuries too much and it would satisfy the overwhelming feeling in him. Charlie was ready to burst. Thinking of killing the man gave the blond such a rush that he had to pull back, away from the bed.
He could rape the fucker. Ruin him, so Ben wouldn't look at him. After all the asshole took his Boss (his Ben). Death would be too quick and too merciful. How would he look at his son then? After Charlie ravished him over and over again, viciously. Who'd want him then?
It was a moment of complete madness and it passed. Charlie didn't have it in him to do that to another man. To anyone for that matter, not after what that preacher and his damn uncle had done to him. His uncle was fortunate that Campos had dealt with him. Because what Charlie did to that priest that last night, the night Ben Wade and his gang found him, was down right inhuman.
'No wonder the Boss kept you at a distance for so long. You were only a kid with nothing but your bare hands.'
The moonlight hits Dan just right. Makes him look like something biblical. Something wonderful, and it physically hurts Charlie that he can see it. He and Wade always could see eye to eye (for the most part). The rancher was just so damn interesting, and the bastard hadn't even said a word yet!
The boy was nowhere insight. He had probably gone to check on his mother and brother (Charlie had seen them once) that or escorted them home. Charlie wasn't sure and he really didn't give a damn either. Just so long at the runt was out of his hair!
Spotting a chair Charlie grabbed it and dragged it to the other side of the room. The side closest to the door. Just in case, and sat in it. His green eyes stared intently down at the sleeping man. Charlie was very observant; at least that was what the Boss had once told him. He could catch on to things after watching them for a while. Not all things but people and animals. He read their body language and could tell you exactly how they were feeling, by simply telling you how it made him feel, and he was hardly ever wrong. He could also stare at a wall for a day and tell you about every nook and cranny in it. Hell he could tell you where the pests were coming in. But he hadn't been able to number the stars yet. Charlie also hadn't quite mastered Ben Wade either. He figured he'd probably never get either of them down, but he liked that. Made life interesting.
He could read the rancher. There was a tightness to him that spoke of stress and wounded pride. Like a dog that had been kicked around and still refused to back down. There was strength in that face, but there was definitely uncertainty. Like he wasn't sure where he stood in this world anymore either. Resilience, intelligence, kindness, and passion. Charlie was sure that was just the tip of the ice burg. Ben was only ever interested in complex things.
Charlie reached out with his good hand and traced the right side of the ranchers jaw, then let his fingers wander low stopping at his neck. His pupils dilated and again a fit of madness washed over him. He squeezed, standing up so that he had a better hold on the man. The ranchers eyes shot open, they were green when Charlie had first met him, now they looked gray. Even the bastard's eyes were fascinating. He squeezed harder.
"S..st…sto….stop." The rancher managed to gurgle out.
Charlie wasn't listening.
"W..Wade. S…sai…said…n…no!" He gasped and Charlie immediately let go.
'Damn it! I did it again!' He thought to himself.
Daniel Evans gasped in big breaths of air, wincing as the very act made his already battered form ache all the more. His lungs were burning him, and even though the hand was gone he could still feel the pressure on his neck.
"Just be lucky this arm's still all wrapped up. I'd have snapped your neck quicker. Just got four weeks and then they'll take the damn thing off." Charlie mumbled.
Dan didn't answer. He couldn't really.
The room went silent. Quitter than Charlie was currently accustomed too. The boy may not have trusted him, but he could sure talk. It was like he never had nothing to say. It was irritating at times, mostly because it was forced, but at others…sound caused Charlie's nerves to settle.
"Wade escaped."
"When?"
"Few weeks back. Butterfield told me. I'm telling you because I think you know what he's going to do next."
"Ain't helping you send him back," Charlie growled at maliciously.
Dan shook his head, " I have no intention of sending him back. He's free and I owe him for what he did…that day," Dan gave Charlie's injured shoulder and torso a pointed look.
"So what do you wanna know?"
"Is he coming back for you?"
'I hope so,' Charlie thought.
"Probably not," he replied.
"You came for him."
"Charlie Prince needs Ben Wade. He serves him as loyally as he can. But Ben Wade doesn't need Charlie Prince. Besides I wouldn't stand for him puttin' himself out there like that for me."
Dan gave him a look, one that told Charlie he didn't quite agree with his logic. But he understood it, or at least where it came from.
"He'd comeback for you though." Charlie Whispered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothin'. Go back to sleep, I'm finish talking to you." He stood up from the chair and headed for the exit as quickly as he could without looking back.
"They shaved your face I see."
"That they did. I ain't happy about it though."
Dan smiled up and turned his head so he could look at the younger man's retreating form.
"Makes you look younger and handsome. I'd have mistook you for a decent young man, if it weren't for the fact that I know better."
"I ain't like the Boss. Ain't nothing subtle about me."