Heir
Prompt: #296, Heir
Summary: Before leaving for a mission, Ian has a very important, delicate task to complete.
"Charlie, Babe, I know you aren't happy about this, but it needs to be done." Ian was almost pleading, watching his lover, who was doing his best to lose himself in the complex equation already scrawled over three-quarters of the garage.
Charlie steadfastly ignored him, though the chalk was hitting the board harder and harder now, sending up little clouds of chalk dust every time the two made contact.
Ian slipped up behind his lover, sliding strong arms around his waist and forcibly calming some of his frantic movements. "Babe." Ian murmured, his voice low and soothing.
Charlie gasped and crumpled back into Ian's supportive hold. "I- I just can't-" he couldn't finish, too upset to translate thoughts and feelings to words.
Ian turned Charlie gently, not releasing his hold - which was good, because it was the only thing keeping Charlie upright, at the moment - to look him in the eyes.
"It's not a suicide mission, all right? It's-" Ian broke off, knowing that mentioning how 'unlikely' it was with Charlie would require actual numbers. "It isn't a very dangerous mission, but I will be away - and out of touch - for at least a month."
Charlie's face twisted into an expression that Ian called a pout - though not generally aloud, for fear of spending the night alone in bed while Charlie worked out his irritation.
"We should have done this earlier." Ian added quietly, almost to himself.
"Why?" Charlie asked.
Ian sighed. This was a good sign - it was the first time Charlie had managed to get past the implications of what Ian was asking to wonder about the why.
"You're the most important person in my life, Charlie. If," Ian paused, catching Charlie's eyes meaningfully, "if anything happens to me, I want anything I have to go to you."
~Fin~