Charlie cried into the pillows. She didn't care if she got snot and tears everywhere. She hoped that asshole would lay in it. She finally rolled out of bed and dressed. She had no intention of running away right now but she needed to get out. She slipped on her shoes and was at the front door. She went the opposite way this time with only the moonlight guiding her way.

It was weird there were no street lamps out here but it was out in the middle of nowhere. She normally jogged but her mind was clouded by emotion so she ran, stomping against the ground harder than she should. She knew her feet would hurt tomorrow when she got up but she didn't care. The cool air through her hair felt so good.

After a while, she swore she heard flapping like wings of a bird but she couldn't see anything. It had to be an owl. She had heard some species of owls were huge. There were trees and it made the road darker but that was fine. Maybe she would get lucky and be able to disappear. Disappearing sounded nice. She could have some control in her life for once.

At this point she would join some bandits just to get away.

The thought made her snort and she laughed to herself. That would be hilarious. Virgin princess becomes a bandit. Her parents were already embarrassed by her so why the fuck not, right? No one in her country liked her. They thought it was strange a princess would be so hands on.

The only ones who appreciated her were the knights, Vaggie and the old man she worked in his fields for. The man was an old farmer, wealthy but he was going to lose money and so at fourteen Charlie took to the fields working from three in the morning until three in the afternoon. She had gotten used to running. She always ran those fields.

Alastor and Niffty were quite nice. Niffty made the loneliness bearable for the short time she met her but she felt it all over again with the Duke started acting like a fucking prick. He acted like a child. She wasn't trying to suggest anything. She would walk at a slow pace with him.

Charlie threw her head back and sighed.

She stretched her legs again and started running down the road through the trees. She swore she was hearing the trees rustling but she wasn't sure. Her eyes caught a look of headlights and she darted into the woods to wait. She heard the car slow down but it picked up speed after a few minutes. She sat down in the spot where she was standing. It was hard to tell what she was standing in but it sounded like old leaves and twigs.

Why didn't I wear a watch?

She wasn't even tired yet but she was itching to run back. She stood up and brushed her bottom off and took off through the woods. If that car was still around, it would be hard to see her in the dark like this. It felt like forever since she wasn't running when she saw the woods were finally clearing out. Her eyes scanned the area but she didn't see a car.

Another hour and she was home safely. The dark didn't scare her but that car did. They could've been slowing down for deer but she wasn't stupid. Vaggie had told her to look into the eyes of the person you're facing and you would know their thoughts almost as well as they do. No one had dared to attack her with her knights but she wasn't known here. Also, she had no knights or guards.

The worse would be if someone raped her. It had been a nightmare of hers when there was a serial rapist near the castle and it kept her up at night for weeks.

Next time I need to bring a knife or a gun. That would be better.

After another shower, her nerves were settled. She saw the clock read 4:43 AM and just rolled over. She felt better despite the mini heart attack. Maybe night time runs would be the best thing for her for now on.

X

X

"You certainly look horrible."

The Duke looked up at Alastor and gave him two middle fingers.

"Didn't sleep last night?" the younger man asked, ignoring the rude gesture.

"No I didn't. Not a lot anyways."

"What happened?"

"I heard her crying last night and she took off outside."
The man's smile dropped and he frowned.

"She left?"

"Yea she took off running to the left side of the road and into the woods."

"She should have more self preservation than that! Are you going to do something about it?"

"I followed her…. She was... fine."

Husk looked down at the stack of papers he had to read and sign. He actually felt guilty because he didn't know why she had been crying. He hadn't asked her anything personal much. He hadn't asked her how she felt being here. She seemed to just accept everything with stride but last night she just wasn't ok.

"Would you like me to talk to her?"

"No. Just leave her alone."

He placed his hands on his face shamefully. How in the hell could he marry some so damn young? He was almost forty. He didn't have any kids and he wasn't sure if he could at this point- for a few reasons. He never took care of himself. What if Charlie decided after she married him she wanted some?

He never planned to marry but his country had been in some uproar over him still being single. That he needed to produce an heir or some bullshit. Once he marries the princess, the pressure would be on. It seemed she was ok with having sex with him if he was clean but could he do that? Angel was only two years younger than him and the women he did have once in a while were at least in their thirties.

It was just stressful because he felt like he would be ruining her dreams. She sounded like she wanted to be some helpful pirate or some shit but she was dragged to his doorstep looking pissed off and she had no issue with showing her discontent. She wasn't a bad person. She was nice, caring and she talked back like a man… Hell she was strong like one too.

If he kept up his mouth she would probably knock him the fuck out and he found that thought slightly amusing.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…. It was my fault she was pissed off. She looked mad when she was running so it's not surprising."

"Ah."

Alastor rocked back on his heels for just a moment before clearing his throat.

"What four eyes?" Husk spat glaring at the pile of papers.

"May I suggest something?"

The older man groaned.

"What?"

"She seems to like you. Your abrasive attitude compliments hers quite well but maybe you can tone it down just a tad? She doesn't seem like she wants to run away from here and she hasn't fought anything. She only retaliated when you called her that…. Word. Perhaps you can try being nicer? Maybe see how she feels being here. Make some changes…. Things like that."

"Why in the hell would I take advice from someone who never touched another fuckin' person huh?"

"Oh yes…. Because your way of being an utter prick is certainly moving."

Husk growled and looked back at his paperwork.

"Just think about it-

"Mr. Alastor!"

Niffty came bouncing in with a bright smile.

"Hello there my little darling! How are you?"

Alastor patted Niffty's head and she beamed up at him.

"Charlie wants to see the man named Travis and then go into town. Is that ok?"

"She needs a wedding dress right?" Alastor asked with a smile, "Maybe that would be something fun to do?"

Her eyes grew wide with wonder, "You're right but isn't that something she should do with her mother?"

"I highly doubt she wants shit to do with her mother," Husk said tiredly.

The short woman frowned.

"It was that bad?"

Alastor chuckled, "It was. Miss Charlie had other ambitions than becoming a display...mannequin."

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"I think she believes she's to dress pretty to be put on display for the world to see and that's not what she wants. She's not your average princess."

"I noticed! She made a map of the mansion so she wouldn't get lost. She was up in the room updating it when I asked her what she wanted to do."

Both men looked surprised.

"Alright then! Off we go!"

X

X
Charlie drove since Niffty couldn't see over the steering wheel but the maid gave her directions. The small woman laughed at the princess when they stopped at the grocery store and grabbed ten boxes of mac and cheese. The young woman was serious about her yellow pasta.

"I was wondering if you wanted to look at wedding dresses."

The princess stopped in her tracks.

"Why?"

"You and are engaged, yes?"

"I find it hard to tell if we are or not," the princess said bitterly.

"Do you want to be with Mr. Husk?"

Charlie bit her lower lip.

"I didn't want to be with anyone. I thought I would travel the world and meet someone that way. To be free. I didn't want to be shackled down but here I am. Pawned off. I always read that people disliked the royal families and I wanted to be different. I wanted to show them I was just like them but they hated that more or so I heard. I wanted a different life."

"Miss Charlie…."

Charlie threw the bags in the back of the car and got in the driver seat.

"Mr. Husk can give you a different life."

"I didn't want someone to give me anything! I wanted to get it myself. I worked hard for it. I worked hard for everything I had. I just thought maybe seeing how he was with my parents, it would be different. Instead, I was called a bitch. I thought maybe he would understand me more but I was wrong about that."

They sat in silence for a while until the princess was ready to start the car. The maid placed her hand on her arm making Charlie look at her.

"Did you ever dream of being married?"

Charlie shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Did you ever want a big white dress?"

"No. If I got married, I wanted to be different. I didn't want white or silver. I wanted something else. Something ocean blue…. I wanted to just be me. I want that person to like me too and that they adored how different I was."

"Then let's look at dresses together. You can pick one and we can dye it together."

"What…?"

"You want to be different. There was nothing wrong with wanting to stand out. So let's make you stand out."

Niffty gave her the directions and they made it to a large wedding dress shop. Charlie's eyes felt like they were assaulted by the sea of white dresses. Niffty definitely looked like she belonged there but the princess didn't in her ripped blue jeans and V neck T-shirt.

"I need more flip flops and running shoes."

"We can do that after we have fun!"

Charlie gave her a weak smile. Niffty went through some of the dresses but most were too poofy for Charlie's tastes. She didn't want to drown in fabric but she did try things on that the small woman got excited about. She didn't mind since Niffty was being so nice but she just wasn't feeling it.

"I think I found one!" the small woman said from the other side of the store.

Charlie sighed softly and went to her side.

"Lookie Miss Charlie!"

Niffty got up on a chair and held it out. It was a satin white with a corset back. It was very simple, very plain but Charlie loved it.

"I love it."

"You do?"

The princess nodded quickly.

"Are you sure we can dye it?"

"I am one hundred percent sure!"

Charlie looked at the price tag and the dress itself was more expensive than the others she had looked at.

"This is a lot for a dress….."

"I have to agree but it's the only one you liked. Don't worry Mr. Husk is paying for it."

"N-no that wouldn't be fair…."

"Nonsense!" Niffty said as she dropped her voice to a very quiet whisper, "He spends too much on hookers anyways! I'm sure as a princess you know what you're doing!"

Charlie almost choked on her spit.

"Niffty, I've only made out with one person and it was a woman. I never did anything else."

"Oh my gosh! That's so dirty and innocent!" she nearly screeched out.

"Shhh!"

The maid started snickering.

"Let's pay for this."

The lady at the counter kept staring at Charlie and she knew why. She was probably wondering why the princess of Hellvian was buying a wedding dress in Prideton.

"Are you Princess Morningstar?"

"No."

The woman did not believe her and it was clear as day. Charlie sighed.

"Why are you buying a wedding dress? Isn't your fiance supposed to do that?"

"I'm cosplaying."

"Excuse me?"

"I am going overseas to a convention where we dress up as fantasy characters and I want to be Elsa. This was the best dress I could find. I was hoping to keep my hobby low key so can you not say anything? This was the best shop I could find and I came all the way from home to find this."

"Y-yes ma'am! Thank you for stopping by!"

The woman bowed.

The woman zipped the dress into a protective dress bag and handed it over. Once they were in the car, Charlie let out a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want my parents finding out. I don't want a huge ass wedding or anything like that."

"You don't?"

She shook her head.

"I don't want to talk to them. I rather no one knows until afterwards."

X

They got Charlie several pairs of flip flops, running shoes and some new clothes. She even bought Niffty a few dresses for hanging out with her. It seemed Alastor was waiting for them because he came outside the moment Charlie parked the car.

"How was your outing ladies? I made some lunch for you as well."

"It was so much fun!" Niffty shouted happily.

Alastor lifted the trunk.

"Good lord!"

Charlie cringed.

Is it the wedding dress?

"You bought this processed crap?" the man asked, holding up the bag of mac and cheese with the look of repulsion.

"I love that processed crap!"

"I will learn to make homemade mac and cheese. Please, do not buy this anymore. Please…. I'll get on my knees and beg princess-

"Alright I get it!" she said, laughing, "Last time I swear!"

Niffty carefully folded the wedding dress so no one would see and she took off for her room.

"Can you give this bag to Niffty? I got her a few dresses."
"Oh, Husker doesn't buy us clothes. That's why he pays us."

Charlie arched an eyebrow.

"I have my own money Al. I was treating her out because she's nice to me."

The princess grabbed all her bags and slammed the trunk shut harder than she should have. She tossed the man the keys before storming off to her room…. Well the room she shared with her fiance. She put everything up and headed for the bathroom.

My feet are killing me now. No running for me tonight. I think I pushed myself too hard…

Charlie placed her feet in the burning hot water and her muscles relaxed after a few seconds. It felt good she almost moaned out loud. She was no longer hungry but annoyed. She needed to stay awake so she could finally sleep tonight without issues.

X

"Are you a stupid man?!"

Husk looked up from the last form he was doing when Niffty started shouting at him.

"What the fuck-

"How dare you call Miss Charlie a bitch!"

"I apologized-

"Did you?! Because you had her all upset, it was hard to get her to look at wedding dresses but we managed to pick one out!"

"Wait- you managed to pick one out?! I thought that was a fucking joke-

"Nope!"

Husk leaned back in his seat.

Fuck, I didn't think she would actually do it….

"She thought you would understand her. Instead you're acting like a big meanie! What did she say to you to piss you off so bad? What was so bad?"

"She…. she complimented me."

"Really? Because she was nice it caused you to act like a big dick?"

The Duke said nothing.

"Men are so stupid. I will never understand it-

"Miss Charlie is soaking her feet and will not be having lunch. Would you like to dine with me Niffty?" Alastor asked entering the room.

"Sure Mr. Alastor!"

Niffty glared at the Duke one last time and left him in his office alone.

What did I do to deserve this?

X

The Duke scratched his head and headed up to their room. Alastor had mentioned she was still in there and didn't want to come out. He felt bad as he remembered the expression on her face as she went down the road and through the woods.

She hadn't rejected him one bit but she wasn't willing to put up with his shit and she made that clear. He opened the door to hear her humming and singing softly.

"I'll stain those white flowers,

But not with my blood-

I'll set the pace and raise my blade,

I will die trying and that's my promise,

I'll have your back and you'll have mine,

Until the sun rises on the next day,

We will live and exist-

Not for the King,

Not for the Queen,

But for our people,

Those stained flowers will be

The reminder our enemies need,

Don't be afraid,

I'll have your back and you'll

Have mine.

We are the knight in arms,

The force of our people,

The soul of the country.

Not for the King,

Not for the Queen

But for our people,

It'll always be the knight's promise

I'll keep"

Husk was near the bathroom door as she finished the song.

"That sounds nice."

Charlie turned around on the bathtub to look at the Duke. She had a neutral look on her face.

"It's the Hellvian Knight's Promise. We sang it every single time we went to the knight's bar in town. Vaggie and I always sang it before we dueled. It was a nice song because I didn't do it for the king and queen but for my people. I wanted to change things."

"Is that why you helped the hobo?"

Charlie gave him a dirty look, "Any of us could end up like that. You shouldn't look down on him."
"How do you know he didn't do anything bad to warrant where his ass is at?"

"Does it matter? People should be given the chance to change for the better. No one should be punished for bad things all the time. We all make mistakes."

"That sounds like some shit from a Disney movie."

Charlie snorted as she leaned over and pulled the plug in the tub.

"Do your feet hurt?"

The princess looked up at him.

"Yea."

"Let me help ya."

The princess allowed him to pick her up bridal style even as shocking as the action was. He took her back to the bedroom but stood in the middle of the floor.

"Don't go out in the dark anymore."

Her eyes snapped upward to meet his.

"I saw you leave…. Just don't do it again alright."

"Why? I had thought about becoming a bandit last night."

"Like fucking robin hood?"

"Maybe."

He chuckled before walking again. He placed her on the bed.

"I was thinking about it. I don't want you to hate me for keeping you here so I'll marry you and you can go do your happy helping pirate shit."

Charlie's eyes widened some before she looked at her lap.

"You could get in trouble for doing that. What if I do and something happens to you? Wouldn't I have to come back? I couldn't do that to your country. The same goes for my own. My father cannot rule without my mother…. They could execute you."

Husk shrugged.

"I don't give a damn about it. Just do what you want afterwards."

"Why though? You're not getting anything out of this…."

"Do I need to? You can go out and do what you want. Fall in love with someone else and be happy helping all the homeless people you want."

"If I marry you then I'm married to you. I'm not going to be with anyone else."

The older man looked shell shocked. Charlie gazed up at him with pink cheeks.

"I'm not religious but if you promise to be with someone then you promise it. Just like the Knight's Promise…. I won't be breaking it."

The Duke looked down at the carpet.

"If you don't want me, I can leave. I'm sure this was a big way to get rid of the backlash you were getting for being single all this time."

"That was some of it."

"Sorry you feel like you have to marry someone you don't love."

"Princess, I don't even love myself so I don't expect you to love me at all. I understand how you feel though. It's a load of bullshit and it isn't fair."

Charlie smiled brightly.

"Thanks…. That means a lot."

"So, I guess pick the day you want and we can do the whole thing."

"What whole thing?"

"The marriage shit."

"Oh… I guess whenever. I don't really want anyone there."

The Duke arched an eyebrow.

"You don't?"

"Only one person I would want there but she can't leave the country too often. I'm fine with just Alastor and Niffty there."

"Isn't it every girl's dream to have a big ass flashy wedding?" he asked.

The princess smirked, "I'm not every girl though."

"I guess not."

Charlie fidgeted with her fingers.

"I won't go out in the dark alone anymore if it bothers you that much."

"Yea, um thanks."

Charlie scooted towards the edge of the bed and stood carefully on the carpet despite her aching feet. She wrapped her arms around him, making him jerk a little at the sudden affection.

"Thanks," she whispered against his shirt.

Husk awkwardly patted her back.

"Yea, sure."

I decided to do a bunch of random oneshots on Ao3. I typically hate reading them but to give my brain a way to think for my other stuff I feel a little stuck on... i figured it would be fun.
So far, Angel/Charlie and Husk/Charlie. It's safe to say I love Charlie a lot lol

I lost a little of my mojo so I figured the oneshots would help!