December Challenge of Awesomeness

by Alosha135

. . . as organized by Hades Lord of the Dead. A series of drabbles, short stories, etc. for random prompts assigned by other writers in the fandom. The first chapter is actually Chapter 33 of my Drabbles from the London Fog series, due to reasons. I have no idea what's going to turn up (all depends on the prompt) so I'm rating it T to be safe. Read, review, drink cocoa and enjoy.

2. Charlie

3 December's prompt is another from Madam'zelleGiry: a man like a patch of black ice

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He had cold, dark, endless eyes. If it was true that eyes were a window to the soul, his would reveal that he didn't have one. The man wore his dark hair slicked back, every bit as smooth and oily as he was. His face might have been handsome, if not for those cruel empty eyes. A hint of beard grew around the tight, thin-lipped mouth with a kind of off-hand disregard that all too many found attractive. His clothes were of the night: deep grey, harsh black, like suits tailored of expensive shadow. Charlie always thought of fire when he saw those clothes. It was appropriate; everything this man touched crumbled and turned to soot. Not that Charlie said so to his face - this man was dangerous, and it was never wise to insult an employer with a knife.

Charlie did not bother bemoaning his fate anymore, even to himself. He could not have been smarter or more careful; he knew now that it wouldn't have mattered if he was. This man was like a patch of black ice - slick and dark and deceptive. Once he had dragged you down, there was no hope of getting up.

For his part, Charlie no longer even tried. It was too bad about his mum, though - she did not deserve this kind of pain.

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This is a bit obscure, sorry. For those of you who have read Drabbles from the London Fog, you know that Charlie is the son I gave Mrs. Hudson. Someday I *will* write that continuation. Or not . . . sigh. Anyway, I hope you like it :)