I don't own anything. I always wanted a good Meg story, and I never found what I actually wanted, so I wrote this. I don't own her, or her friends and I have to admit that just because I want it to be cannon, does not make it so. There. That was hard. I don't know where this story is going. It just evolves and I type words. so I'm just as surprised as you will be. I also watch a lot of Schitts Creek because of the pandemic lock down and I feel like she would quote Alexis. Anyway, cheers, thanks, read, or don't. not your boss.
Nadir and Charles light up their cigarettes with a shared flame. Jules moans from his position on the floor.
His heart is broken.
Again.
Meg kneels next to him, holding both of his hands squeezing them to show support and comfort.
"Jules," her voice like a cool pool of water," you'll live through this."
He cries out in agony. He pulls his hands away and angrily beats at his heart.
"I am broken! She ripped out my soul! I can't breathe without her!"
Nadir and Charles laugh like a pair of barking dogs. Charles falls to his knees dramatically, reaching out.
"My Sun! The star of my universe has betrayed me for the moon! I'm a left with only a black hole." He bows his head; he weeps melodramatically and exaggerates the sounds. Nadir takes a long drag from his cig before he pats his friend on the shoulder.
"Stick to architecture."
Meg turns and frowns at the pair.
"Your friend is on the floor writhing in pain and the two of you stand in the corner, smoke and mock him."
"Yeah." Charles shrugs.
"And?" Nadir takes another drag of his ciggy.
Meg exhales deeply, ashamed of the two. She caresses Jules cheek.
"That's something Erik would do."
Nadir and Charles exchange glances and accept this.
"Someone has to pick up the slack when he's not around." Charles shrugs. Jules scoffs and pushes Meg's hand away.
"They know nothing of love!" He cries and hisses at them.
"What was her name again?" Nadir tries to make fun shapes out of the smoke.
"It was like a rock, or a mineral or something." Charles says.
"Pearl, Shale, Opal, Ruby," Nadir starts.
"Or maybe Faith? Hope?" Charles taps his chin in mock pondering.
They both snap their fingers.
"It starts with a," D,"
"Delores, Denise." Charles counts with his fingers.
"Delilah!" They both shout and break out into laughter.
"It might as well be!" Jules snaps. He raises his head glare and sends rude gestures.
Meg tries to remain cool and collected. Ever the mature and noble one.
"You've known Destiny," the two quietly shout, "Destiny," for a week. She was not the one for you. She didn't treat you very nicely, remember?"
"Didn't she invite someone over while you were in the shower?" Charles asks knowing the answer.
"In your own house."
"Remember? Erik face-timed us because he thought you were going to have a surprise threesome and he didn't understand the concept."
"But you didn't though."
"Which made the face call so much better!"
"His commentary!" They both laugh. Jules curses them out in German, knowing that they do not speak it.
"She kicked you out of your own bed to fuck someone else."
"Now that's a boss bitch."
"I'm dying. I don't want to live anymore, there's no point." Jules laments.
"I get his record collection."
Nadir waves that notion away and clicks his tongue.
"I get the collection."
"Don't think so."
"Known him longer."
"Quantity has nothing on quality."
"I can hear you!"
Meg is nearing the end of her rope.
"Jules, you're going to stand up now." She tries her best to pull him up to his feet. Seeing the need for an assist, Nadir and Charles walk over and both manage to get Jules to his feet.
"We're going out. It's going to be fun." Meg gets up on her tippy-toes and kisses Jules on the cheek.
"I'm sad, can I have a Meg kiss?" Charles pouts.
"I think we're confusing sad and pathetic." Nadir mutters.
"Is it just us?" Jules asks. He pouts. He does not want to go out, be seen. He wants to lay down and die.
Nadir shakes his head and pulls out his phone.
"Me: Hey E, we're going out to the usual place. Jules got dumped—again," Jules mumbles a, "nice," do you want to join us? Be around 11."
Nadir pauses for a moment.
"This is his reply, translated by yours truly. Erik: Pretentious unneeded poetic condescension. Obscure references to art and culture. Random vulgarity to spice this up. Fucking Christine. Will meet you after."
Nadir closes his phone and the others clap.
"Fantastic translation!"
"Brava!" Charles whistles.
"So, he's back with songbird?" Jules is not so sure about that.
"Christine left Raoul—again, a week or so ago." Meg smiles sadly. The atmosphere changes.
"Should we support this?" Charles fumbles for a new ciggy. Nadir shakes his head and plays with his lighter.
"Christine will remember he's an insane psychotic sociopath in a week or two." He shrugs and lights Charles new cig.
"They break up so much." Jules groans.
"Christine is confused. A lot has happened to her in a short amount of time. Erik also, does not make it easy. You know how he manipulates people, us included." Meg finds the floor interesting.
"Should we worry about you?" Charles puts his arm around her.
"Me?"
"We can guess what happened."
"Guys, don't." Jules protests weakly.
"You were in E's bed and everything is going well." Nadir starts.
"Then a message from Christine and he kicks you out of the bed violently."
"And then prepares himself for her."
"You know, the woman he "loves,"
"Wrong." Meg says gently.
"Wrong?"
"We were out. He was taking me to a jeweler."
The temperature drops.
"Well, fuck."
"He paid for my Uber." Meg laughs bitterly, fighting back tears at the memory.
"The least he could do." She says quietly.
"He was going to-?" Jules hates his best friend/puppet master sometimes.
"Your wedding would have been interesting." Nadir muses.
"Lots of Fosse."
"I'm sure his wedding to Christine will be magical." Meg can be a big girl and wish them love and happiness and she does. Both deserve to be happy and have love.
A knock on the door breaks the tension.
"Erik said he'd meet us there." Charles says confused.
"Erik doesn't knock. He just appears." Jules walks over hesitantly.
Raoul looks like hell. He walks inside without waiting for the invitation. Jules hisses at him from behind.
"Hello,' Nadir says slowly. Charles waves awkwardly. The men turn to Meg for answers.
"He's sad too. He deserves a night out with good company." Meg has her spine up. The others mumble compliance. Raoul scoffs. He is feeling very bitter.
"We're going to have fun, fun, fun," Meg stomps her feet at each, "fun."
"How about some laughs?" Jules says in a bored tone.
"Don't you want a good time?"
Meg is pleased.
"Let's go out and get ourselves a big spender." They cheer, jeer, and whistle. Meg drags Jules and Raoul out the door. Charles stops Nadir.
"Raoul is with us."
"Yes."
"We're meeting E later."
"What is our Meggy planning?"
"Clever clogs she is."
"Indeed. Anything else?"
"If Meg is free again."
"She's not free. She is the most imprisoned out of all of us. Forget about her. Won't happen."
"He's going to be distracted."
"He won't let her go. Never. Even if it does work out with Christine, he will keep Meg shackled. Remember he loves her. This is how he loves."
"I'm going for it."
"Not a good idea." Nadir hates being the Dad of the group.
"I have to. My blood and heart demand it." Charles goes out without his blessing. Nadir follows quietly, praying it does not turn into a Red Night.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Get the fuck out." The Bartender is about to jump the island that separates them. Nadir smiles brightly.
"Still annoyed about the other night?"
"Like it was yesterday." He narrows his beady eyes. Nadir is unfazed and unafraid. He knows the truest and purest evil; its name is Erik and they are best friends.
"Get over it. It is a new day! Glory to God!" Nadir opens his arms wide.
"Can I get a vodka soda?" Jules cuts in, he is bored of the display. He waves his hand, vying for attention.
"Gin, double." Charles waves money to invoke interest.
"Fuck you and your friends." He crosses his arms to show off his gym progress.
"There will be plenty of time for that later, my friend."
"Joey," Meg's voice is soft like silk. His entire affect changes abruptly. His scowl melts away. It is impossible to be a grump or angry when Meg is around you. She has an angelic glow.
"You're better than this. Drop their line. You don't need to play their games."
Joey can never refuse her.
"Can my friends have their drinks, please?" He nods.
"Thank you." She means it. Her friends get their drinks, they mumble gratitude.
Meg slides him a nice tip. He catches her wrist and holds it tightly. Nadir's cop senses tingle and he wags his finger and shows his badge. Meg is released, she rubs her wrist.
"We're cool, it's fine." She says, out of breath.
Charles finishes his gin as soon as it is set in front of him, he hails for another, and another.
"Slow down mate, E isn't even here yet." Nadir is still on his first beer.
"You're Muslim." Charles says, looking at his friend's glass.
"Kind of." Nadir drinks.
"Theory of a Muslim."
"In-between." He twists his hands in a so-so way.
"infidel influence?"
"My son died."
"Fair point."
Charles leans back and looks down the bar. Meg, Raoul, and Jules are chatting happily. Raoul says some big joke and the other two laugh boisterously.
"Freak!" Meg laughs/shouts. She playfully hits Raoul's shoulder.
"Don't do it. Not going to end well." Nadir frowns.
"Won't know without trying."
"Erik will, and I mean this as an absolute, kill you."
"He has to pay attention to her first."
"Whatever fucked up relationship he has with Christine, it is nothing compared to his with Meg. He won't blink or think twice, if you fuck with his game, you die."
"We'll run off somewhere."
"He will follow you to Hell."
Charles has had enough of this. He walks up behind her. Nadir pushes him out of the way and pulls Meg to her feet.
"Show me your moves." He leads her to the dance floor.
"Oh, let's do that tik tok one." Meg and Nadir are mirror images of dance moves. There is a freedom and euphoria Meg feels only when she dances. No more darkness or chains.
"Not a good idea." Jules says softly.
"Hey, is that Destiny?" Charles points off in the distance.
"Fuck off." Jules slams his head down on the bar, only to be yelled at and sits right back up.
"I don't understand what happened." Raoul says into his drink. His turn for consoling.
"Try threatening her, but you know, sing it, so it's romantic." Charles massages Raoul's shoulders.
"Ha. Ha." Raoul hails for more booze. Nadir returns with Meg.
"Oh no. Too much grump. Come on, we're supposed to have, fun, fun, fun." She moves her body rhythmically to the left. She smiles something stupid.
"Doncha want a good time?" Fosse pose.
"No? How about a few laughs?" She pulls at her face.
Charles feels brave.
"I could use a good time."
"Well, let's get to it then," She holds out her arm. He accepts and they go back to the dance floor.
"That's not going to end well." Jules sighs. The others agree.
For Charles it is pure bliss. Intoxicating. She moves with the music, like water. They are in sync, became one. The universe is theirs alone. He is happy. Everything becomes slow. A gloved hand pulls her away into the shadows. He is alone.
Time speeds up. His world ends and begins at once. He is lost, feeling empty. He is knocked about by the others. He hears curses, drinks are spilled onto him, the music is terrible, and the colors hurt. With his head low he joins his friends.
"Chuck, where'd you go?" Meg pokes hm.
"Me?"
"Rude, leaving a lady all alone." She turns her head up in mock disgust.
He is about to respond when time slows once again and his heart falls to the floor. A long arm, donned in black rests against the bar counter, white gloved fingers tap in annoyance. Charles inhales sharply. Meg is trapped by the newest arrival. She looks down, the floor is of great interest. She thinks of ballet and killer klowns from space.
Erik is behind her, pressed against her, his other hand plays with her hair. Tonight's mask is all gold and covers the entire face. His outfit? Black tie event, his jacket comes included with an attached hood, that is up. Because of course it does and is.
Charles bites his lip. He clenches his fits. He will not say anything or make any sudden movements. He will not show weakness or true signs of interest in Meg. He does know and understand he will die if he betrays himself.
"Erik!" Nadir welcomes his bestie. He raises his glass.
"Did you kill anyone today? Remember, I am an officer of the law. You have to tell me."
"Today?" Jules scoffs.
"I'm still entirely too sober." Charles hails for more gin. He nods his greeting to his friend.
Joey fulfills the request but freezes.
"Oh, fuck me." He feels the life drain from him when he sees Erik. He turns and places a bottle in front of Meg and Erik.
"On the house, leave me alone." He hurries off.
"What? He refuses to serve me, and you get a free bottle?" Nadir curses in his mother tongue.
"Well, to be fair you did fuck his wife in the back." Jules says.
"And you weren't shy about it." Charles says.
"Didn't you also start a fire?" Meg asks.
"That fire wasn't me! It just happened."
"Right."
"You knocked over the requisition cart and dropped a lit match." Erik speaks for the first time. He looks for an empty glass to pour his liquor.
"You're supposed to be my on side. That is the rule of best friendship Erik. No exceptions." Nadir glares like a child.
"Stating facts isn't picking a side."
"Facts that are against me."
"You fucked his ugly wife and started a fire. Facts. If you want me to back you in a fight that is completely arbitrary and a waste of time, sure I'll be in your corner." Erik settles for an empty glass in front of Charles and pours his drink. He offers to Meg, who declines.
"Thank you!" Nadir, somewhat buzzed at this point, walks over and kisses Erik's mask before going back to his stool.
"You were really wasted that night." Meg stretches the "r"
"You propositioned Meg." Jules remembers.
"I did?" Nadir does not remember that.
"Several times." Meg's face turns pink
Nadir feels for a pulse.
"And yet I'm not dead."
"You were drunk, gave you a free pass." Erik wishes he had something stronger than this to drink.
"I get free passes?"
"Only you."
"Heh! Well, I'll make sure you won't get arrested if you commit a crime—er, more crimes."
"I know."
"Fuck, Erik. Can't I just offer you something? You do not have manipulate everyone all the time! Sometimes we just want to do something nice for you!"
"Nadir, you're getting—"
"Oh, fuck off."
He turns away and drinks angrily.
"This is why we can never take you anywhere nice," Charles smacks the back of Nadir's head.
"That's why?" Jules scoffs.
"I mean he is partly why we had to leave France." Charles misses France so much. They all do, except Nadir. He misses Iran.
"I miss Nice." Jules closes his eyes and remembers.
"How about just being able to speak French and everyone understands you." Meg swirls her drink.
"The food." Jules misses proper cafes.
"The culture."
"Fashion." Meg moans.
"France." They all say in longing.
"We had to leave because they were asking questions," Raoul says, the others forgot he was there." Charles never got around to changing his name, or you know, leave the city. "
"Yeah, that was brilliant."
"Hey! I wasn't that known or popular."
"Chuck, you entered every architecture contest, you took every commission and tried to start a school."
"You designed the most famous cathedral in that city."
"You're in history books."
"Except for that."
"Except for that."
"Erik, we talked about this! Don't do that!" Charles would throw his drink at him, but then he would have no drink.
"I think I'm folding. I perform tomorrow. Tonight, was my only day off." Meg salutes and leaves the bar. Charles is about to offer her a ride, but Erik walks with her.
"Let her go." Jules says. Charles does not and he follows them.
Meg has her arms crossed and tries to be confidant and cool. Charles watches from a distance. He could walk right up, say he is calling it a night too, but something holds him back.
"I'm cool." Meg says, not looking at him or anything. She sways with the wind. She likes the cold air.
"Your actions say otherwise." Erik counters. He is leaning against the brick wall of the bar.
"What did you expect? It hurt, but I'm over it now. We can be friends if that's what you want. If Christine makes you happy, then I am glad. You deserve to be happy." She says this, looking at him directly. She means it. She wishes him all the best and love.
This angers him deeply. He pushes off from the wall and stops in front of her, grabs her throat with both hands. She does not fight or flinch. She waits. Allows. He doesn't squeeze. Just holds. Headlights distract him. Her ride has arrived. He takes a step back, releasing her.
"Goodnight Erik, I'm happy for you. I mean that." She reaches out for his hand, holds it for a moment before she lets go and gets into the car.
Erik opens the door, pulls her out and into him arms, he takes off his mask and kisses her madly. She is hesitant at first but responds eagerly. When oxygen becomes necessary, she pats him, and he pulls away.
"I really do want to go home."
"You'll need an escort. You never know what will happen with these," he indicates the Uber.
"You'll protect me from the monsters, right?" She doesn't want to let go. He nods.
"It easy when you're the Devil."
"If you're the Devil, what does that make me?"
"Mine."
Charles has had enough of this and turns to go, only to run into a group leaving. They push back and he must manipulate momentum to stay on his feet.
"Fuck off," one says and makes a move like they will hit him. Charles steps away. Others curse at him loudly as they pass.
"Charles?" Meg calls out to him. He waves awkwardly. Erik puts his mask back on.
"Do you mind if we share a ride? I'm over this too." He smiles.
"Erik is the one who is paying—"
"You and Nadir are usually the last ones to leave." Charles tries to keep smiling. A suspicious Erik means he lost, and he has to keep face somehow.
"We have to drag you out." He tilts his head to the side, like a puzzled animal.
Charles nods.
"Tonight, I don't feel it." Charles tries his best to remain chill. He waves his hand, like he wants the night to go away.
"No?" He turns his head to the other side. Not a good sign. Charles has to think of something clever fast.
"Bad memories. Bad beer."
"Her?"
Her. Charles blinks, confused. Then it clicks.
"Oh. Yes. Her."
Erik accepts this and allows him passage.
Charles is dropped off first. As he leaves the he hears a voice in his ear:
"Don't let the bitch in. She's too much and you become a dying addict." Charles gives his friend a thumb's up as he turns and closes the door behind him. He walks up the steps to his front door, it feels like an eternity.
He goes through the motions of preparing for bed. He takes a little too much of his sleeping aid before he collapses face first onto his bed.
Meg wants to be surprised, but she can't. She shakes her head. Of course, he would take her to his. She laughs bitterly. Of course. What a way to end the night. If only her body and mind would work together, and she could stay in the car. Then she would need her mouth and tongue to cooperate and that is already asking too much.
She doesn't really need to be led around the crypt of a home. She has the layout memorized at this point.
"It's like a witches house in here, David." She says to herself, laughs at the memory and reference. Good times. That gets his attention. She didn't know he stopped, and she runs into him.
"Who's David?"
"Huh?"
"You called out to, "David."
"I was quoting something."
"Quoting."
"Yes."
He is hesitant but he continues to lead her along the path. He opens the door to his grand bed chamber and pulls her inside.
"What about Christine?" Meg eyes the exit as she is pushed gently, firmly, backwards onto the bed.
"She's not here." He takes off his coat with great care.
Meg could run while he his distracted. He hates messes, and will not damage his clothing, so while he neatly puts his personal garments away, she could leave. She would have seconds, and sometimes that's all you need, a few seconds.
She sits up. She shakes her legs nervously. She clenches her fists. She could call someone; they would be there as fast as they could. She could run and hide in a corner.
Her heart beats like a drum and her stomach is full of a swarm of butterflies, moths, and any other creature that represents her ill-fated sick, twisted arousal. She wants the ground to swallow her up.
The bed shifts, he is next to her. If she closes her eyes and plays her favorite ballet in her mind, then nothing can hurt and none of this is real.
Except she can feel him. She turns her head away from him. He moves it back to face him, gently, but he makes sure she knows he has the power.
"Wouldn't you prefer the company of Christine?"
"You're here, you'll do." He starts his assault with her neck. She tries to come up with plan.
"Chris—
"Shut up."
She is surprised by the force as she her back hits the mattress. She forgets Christine and her mind is replaced by pleasurable things and memories. This won't last and with the cold light of morning, her happiness will turn to ash and she will be alone, but in this moment, she is the Sun, Moon, and entire system.
He's gone when she wakes up. She's not surprised. He's not usually the one for post sex cuddles unless he has an ulterior motive. She's glad for once, he's not here. She picks up her clothing from off the floor and dresses herself as she makes her way to the bathroom.
She stares at her reflection. That face. The lie. The forever girl. She died on her eighteenth birthday, something else replaced her. That's how she can cope with each day.
"What do you want for your birthday present?"
She thought it was an innocent question. She was so young then. Naïve and sheltered from the world. She didn't know that monsters were real. She only vaguely believed in God and the Devil, she didn't know she'd meet them.
She turns on the water and splashes the cold against her face. Trying to wake up, to forget, move on.
"To be with you. Forever."
She can hear the girl's laughter, bright, bubbly, and so damn pure and innocent. Of course, she was food for a manipulative—
She shakes her head. She holds on the sides of the sink. He asked her what she would like in her ideal house. He wanted details, what would she want in her bathroom, bedroom, kitchen. She thought he would design something for them to live together, to have that forever.
He asked Christine the same question and cherry picked their ideas. Christine's bedroom design won, Meg got the bathroom. Her safe place.
Meg walks over to the shower, turns it on and walks in and slides the curtains closed. She sits down on the tile, hugs her legs to her chest and just exists.
"I'd like that."
Christine knew this would be awkward. She literally runs into Meg as they round the corner in the dressing room.
"So much for grace." Meg says. She regains her composure and smiles at the other girl. Christine wants to cry and hug her friend. They stand there in silence. Meg starts to speak but stops as Christine also starts. They mumble for the other to continue. Neither do.
A few more awkward moments pass.
"I don't hate you." Meg says slowly.
"Oh. I. This is stupid and awkward and—"
"You were my friend first. Ho before bro."
"I."
"We're not going to let Hell's Villainer Eyes-Wide-Shut host come between us. That's stupid. We're having dinner later, same place. Your turn to pay."
Christine bursts into to tears and grabs her friend.
Yup. Meg always felt like the more mature and motherly one, even though she's a few years younger.
The other dancers call Meg and she breaks up the love fest and follows her fellows. Christine prepares for the night as well.
"You're distracted." The dance captain is not pleased. She stomps her foot for Meg to pay attention. She moves her body into the appropriate position.
"Stop lowering your head."
Meg keeps her head straight, focused forward.
"Show me."
Meg nods and she goes about the ballet. She is behind the others by half a second, something that does not happen.
"You're sloppy! Slow! What is wrong with you! Are you a dancer? Are you here to waste our time! Again, all of you and move together!"
Again. She's still behind slightly.
"Do you not rehearse? Again."
Meg exhales deeply. She is determined now.
Better.
"Great. So you can do it. Don't fuck this up out there, I've a lot riding on you lot performing gracefully. If you make me look stupid, I will kill you all. Now one more time before you can break for water."
"Are you ready?" Rose, the dancer on her left asks. They hear their cue and they enter the stage and perform their ballet. Something in Meg's head starts to buzz. She tries to focus. She steps on someone's foot.
"Hey!" They are quick to recover and add a move to appear like it was intentional. The lights become very bright and hot, Meg tries to focus, to look up, but her vison is becoming very spotty. She cannot see!
"Meg!"
The music stops as she falls off the stage and her neck snaps when it hits the edge. The production is stopped, the stage manager calls for a doctor. Christine is held back by her cast mates
Christine paces the waiting room. Nadir, Charles and Jules were there. They always attend their shows. They support the girls.
"So, they said she's dead." Jules whistles. Charles pulls at his face.
"This is going to be awkward to explain."
"How long before she, you know." Jules out stretches his arms and moans.
"An hour, so we have fifteen minutes." Nadir looks at his watch. The only one in the group who still wears watches.
"Does he know?"
"I called him. He said, "I'll take care of it," and then we disconnected."
"So, let's get to work."
They walk in separate directions.
Erik feels festive and others should experience his joy, and it would be rude of him, if he did not spread joy. Which is why he is wearing the executioner's hood and his red velvet suit, it's like Christmas!
He's Red Death Santa!
It's fun!
He's going to spread fun.
He blesses these sad pathetic souls with carols as he makes his way to his destination.
The morgue.
He has fond memories of morgues. Lots of research. He must focus. He has work to do. He pushes through the doors, ignores the cretins who call out to him and he enters where they keep the actual dead.
"You can't be here."
Erik looks at himself, then around. He shrugs and picks up the logbook.
"Who are you?"
"Read a book." He flips through a page and back to the other.
"Is this the latest log? No one new in the last hour?"
"I can't answer that."
Erik puts the book down and checks the body that is on the table.
Bingo.
Meg.
She is so young.
Pure.
He quivers, but quickly recovers.
"What are you doing."
"Nadir." He whispers.
He turns around and quickly snaps his neck before turning his attention back to Meg.
He cups her face in his hands and remains like that for a minute. The lights in the room flicker before the powers goes out.
Meg's body arches, she sucks in air, chokes, coughs. Erik takes a step backwards and watches. She turns so violently she falls onto the floor. Erik drops to the floor.
"You promised to be careful." He clicks his tongue and wags a finger. Meg tries to scream, but nothing comes out.
He jumps to his feet and carefully lifts her off the ground, steadies her. His arms hold onto her waist.
"You remember me?"
Meg nods slowly. She wants to scream. To cry. To run. She feels sick. Her brain hurts. It's screaming.
"That's all the matters now, everything will come back. No food for 24 hours, stay out of the Sun. We'll figure out some way to explain your miraculous return."
Meg makes no move or indication she understands or is paying attention. His ire starts to rise, he roughly pulls her head back.
"A show of gratitude is the least you could offer."
"T-thank you." She says fast and fumbles with the words. Somewhat satisfied, he taps her cheek, amused.
"There we go. Not so hard. We're not rude or selfish people, are we?" She tries to move her head. He moves it for her.
"There is of course, the matter of payment." He says slowly, he waves his free hand around. He likes to gesture when he speaks.
He can feel Meg's discomfort rise and he finds his arousals slightly up as well.
"We'll discuss that later. I won't ask for much."
He leads her through the wilderness. She relies entirely on him, she still cannot quite stand on her own, and needs his support.
Finally. They are free. They are out of the fire. Meg tries to pick up the pace. Charles steps out and opens the door for her, and she is helped into the car. Christine appears next to Erik. She looks sadly at her friend.
Charles is stopped by Erik's hand on his shoulder.
"I trust you remember the care instructions?"
He nods.
"Excellent!"
He bids them leave. He puts his arm around Christine as they watch the car leave.
"Will she be okay?" Christine is worried. Seeing Meg lifeless, so still. Even though she knew . . . She became so cold.
"You doubt me?"
"Never."
He pulls her close and begins to walk to their next grand adventure. The night just started and he begins a new song.
Charles shows Meg to his spare room. He turns on the light and leads her inside, she follows. He gestures to the bed. He puts his hands behind his back and tries to think of something clever to say.
"Thank you." Her voice is rough and quiet.
"There are towels in the hall closet."
"Do you have anything I can borrow?"
"Borrow?"
"To wear."
She looks at him.
"Oh, um. I'll see if I can find something. Hang on." He leaves the room quickly, goes into his and tears though his wardrobe. He finds a long shirt and sweat pants. He goes back, but falters. Meg is biting her hand and crying. He doesn't know what to do. She looks up, quickly wipes her tears and waves him inside.
"I'm sorry, I'm confused I think."
"ReDeath does that."
He hands her the clothing. He starts to leave.
"Charles," she says, he stops and turns.
"Thank you. You've always been there when I needed a friend. You're the only one I can count on. I-you're beautiful." She stands up. He is frozen. She walks over, kisses his cheek.
"There, your Meg kiss."
He leaves the room as fast as he can.
He goes into his room and runs around like a fool. He dances, fists pumps in triumph and then he grabs his phone,
Me
She kissed me!
Nadir checks his phone as his pocket vibrates
Chuck
She kissed me!
Me:
Who?
Chuck
Meg!
Nadir feels his bones sting. This is not good. This is the opposite of good. He puts his phone away and rubs his face. Something else that he will have to deal with. He is sick of being everyone's shield, mother, father, babysitter. He's not paid to preform any of those roles anymore. Hasn't for years. Things were so much simpler when he was paid to babysit Erik when they first met. Just give a false report to a shah and then you call it a day.
Can't he have those days back?
He sighs.
He never had much luck.
He drinks his beer and bangs his head on the table. As long as Erik doesn't find out it'll be fine.