They finished their meal and it was decided: Charlie will spend a few days at Alastor's house. When they arrived at the hotel, Charlie gave a very quick explanation to Lorraine, not saying Charlie was going to be with 'Dean' for a while, but that she was going to return to her home for a few days. And maybe she would come back to the hotel right after.
It wasn't true, but she needed to give some excuse in case the bad-aura-man went to the hotel to interrogate Lorraine. This way, Charlie was protecting her. She knew what her father's subordinates were capable of… especially if a human was involved.
Alastor helped her with her baggage, since it had… a few bags, they had to ask for a taxi.
As soon as they entered the cab, the driver recognized Alastor's voice.
"Hey, aren't you Alastor? I hear you every day, man! And I must say, what a fantastic work-"
Politely, Alastor raised his hand with a half-smile.
"My good Sir, I get that all the time, but in fact, my name is Dean. My voice does sound like Alastor, I know, but I assure you it's just a coincidence. Actually, I could even be an impersonator of him." Alastor laughed and adjusted himself at his seat.
"Man, you should. You would get so much attention from, well, everyone around here. Alastor sounds like a great man! I mean, c'mon, I hear the guy every day while I'm driving! Very inspirational." The taxi driver laughed and adjusted his rear-view mirror.
"Precisely, it still wouldn't be right of me to get such credit for work I don't do." Alastor smiled, crossing his legs while the driver started to drive to the address Alastor gave him.
"I'm sure if Alastor heard that, he would love to know! Why don't you write him a letter? He reads fan letters in his shows, no?" Charlie leaned towards the chair in front of her with a smile. 'Dean' just watched her.
"That's actually a nice idea! Thank you, lady!" The driver gave a little bow with his head and Charlie backed to her seat with a sweet smile as she had accomplished something.
Alastor just gave a silent chuckle, looking at her by the corner of his eyes.
Not too long, they arrived in a street that was unfamiliar to Charlie. She frowned her brows but didn't question Alastor. He seemed calm. If they were in the wrong street, he would say it, right?
They got out of the car, Alastor helped Charlie to get out, and then he got the baggage. He paid the driver, and waited for the driver to drive away.
Alastor started to walk with the baggage, a little clumsy, but he was walking like it was nothing.
"Hm… Are we far away from your home?" She asked shyly, looking at the man.
"A little bit, but don't worry, we will get there soon", he said with a smile.
"Why did we stop here?" She tilted her head.
"I would prefer the taxi driver not know where I live. Some people don't buy the 'Dean' stuff. That way, I don't take the risk of one of them coming to my house to stalk me." He chuckled.
"Smart." She gave a little smile at him, but at the same time, she was a little concerned since he was carrying all the baggage.
Even though the look in his eyes seemed normal, his body carrying the baggage seemed a little clumsy.
"Can I help you?" Charlie leaned the top of her body a little bit to look at him.
"Don't worry. I got this, dear." He smiled at her and continued to walk. Charlie was by his side, ready to help him if he needed. Though, he seemed confident, so she didn't question him any further.
A few minutes later, they arrived at his house on Killdeer street. He then opened the door. Charlie walked through first, and then offered to get the baggage again.
"Just close the door for me, darling." He smiled and walked in clumsy steps until he reached the room Charlie slept yesterday.
She did what she was asked to and she heard a loud noise. Probably Alastor releasing the baggage over the bed. Soon, he appeared in the living room with a few hair strands over his face. He was caressing his wrists and making circular movements with his fists.
"I will separate some bedding sets for you and you can use the wardrobe to set up your clothes if needed." He smiled at her and walked to the kitchen. "Just give me a minute." He got a glass and filled it with water.
Charlie looked around and gave a shy smile. She looked at him leaning over the sink with his sleeves folded. She remembered the little moment they had in the alley. How close he was and how her heart was beating against her chest.
She again looked up at him and shyly walked in his direction. His back was turned to her.
"Al?" She called him almost in a whisper.
"Huh?" He turned at her but kept one of his elbows over the sink, so he was leaning against it while the other hand was holding the water glass.
She just went for it. She hugged him, entangling her arms around his body which made him raise his eyebrows.
"Thank you for helping me with everything… This, the thing earlier… For not judging me and accepting me at your house yesterday. No one has done anything like this for me before." She shoved her face against his chest and slightly tighter her arms around him. She could feel a few tears starting to form on her eyes.
Charlie could easily picture any of those situations with the demons in her homeland, and she knew no one would help her, besides her parents… Probably others would make fun of her or laugh, as they always did. It was so annoying, but Charlie always was left with one single choice; to deal with it and get the help she needed on her own… without anyone by her side. This time, she had help… Alastor's help.
It felt different. It felt nice.
As she was thinking, she felt a tear fall from her face and land on Alastor's shirt.
Alastor slowly hugged her back with his free hand, caressing her back. He still held the glass over the sink with his other hand.
"No need to thank me." He gave a few little taps. It was true, the situation early that day was very awkward but it was less awkward with her, if that made any sense, which it didn't.
As he felt his shirt getting wet, he raised one of his brows and gently pushed Charlie away. She tried to hide her face, but his hand went to her chin.
"Oh, no. Don't cry, dear. Doesn't fit you." He smiled and cleaned her tears with his thumb.
"Doesn't fit me?" She tilted her head with another tear rolling down her rosy cheeks.
"Yes… Smile, dear. You are never fully dressed without one." He winked and chuckled.
She giggled and closed her eyes. To Alastor's surprise, Charlie rubbed her cheek against his hand and held his wrist. His hand was warm, and she appreciated how gentle he was. It made Alastor slightly uncomfortable at first, but seeing her rosy cheeks being squished against his hand, just made him want to pinch them, which he didn't do, of course.
He frowned his eyebrows. He didn't know if he found it awkward or adorable. It was the very first time anyone did that. He couldn't look away; he was mesmerizing the situation, confused.
Charlie opened her eyes slowly and looked at him, giving a little giggle.
Why was she giggling? His confused face just got even more confused.
Charlie's hand went to his face. At first, he backed up a little even though his shoulders tensed. Then, she touched his cheek and caressed it, just how he did with hers.
The confusion in his eyes was priceless, but for Charlie, it was adorable. She didn't quite understand that he was uncomfortable.
Her hand went up and fixed his hair, pulling the hair strands back to where they were before.
"I won't cry. Thank you, Al." Charlie's smile was big, sweet, and beautiful. It was a genuine smile.
She slowly released him and gave a few steps back, making him release her cheek as well. "I will set up my stuff, if that's okay."
He just nodded.
She turned her back at him and went to her room, closing the door behind her.
Alastor remained there; his eyes were lost with a quite vague look in them as he tried to process what happened, and why it didn't bother him as it should. He shook his head, and passed his fingers through his hair.
Was it a good idea to offer her to stay with him? He didn't know… but he would have to figure out. He turned again to the sink and drank his glass of water.
He looked around the kitchen, and with a few nods, he looked to the corridor. He still had to get a few bedding sets for her in his room.
Alastor headed to his room and walked to a small chest of drawers under the window in his room. As he opened the middle drawer, he saw a pair of black gloves. He got them and raised his eyebrows. A small smile appeared on his face as he looked at them.
Soon, he hid them under all the other clothes in the back of the drawer. He closed and opened the last drawer, getting the few spare bedding sets there.
Alastor walked to visit's room, which, for now, would be Charlie's room. He gently knocked with one hand, while the other held the bedding sets.
"Come in." Charlie said while placing her clothes inside the wardrobe.
"Here we go, Miss Magne." He walked to the bed and placed the sets over it.
Charlie gave a slight giggle. "Al, you don't need to call me 'Miss Magne'. Charlie is okay." She looked above her shoulder to the man who was adjusting his bow tie.
"I know, dear. Just felt right for the room's service." Alastor smiled at her while the blondie got a pile of clothes from her baggage and placed it in the wardrobe. "Do you need any help?" He tilted his head, placing his hands behind his own back.
"Actually, yes." She released the pile over a little horizontal separation the wardrobe has. She was going to separate the clothes inside the drawers. They were pajamas, nightgowns, underwear, and even swimsuits.
"Could you help me with the towels? I want to put them there-" Charlie pointed to the higher part inside the wardrobe. "- But as you can see, I can't reach it." She showed him by being on tiptoe and stretching her arm. She could barely touch the horizontal wood there.
"Of course, dear." Alastor bowed his head a bit and got by her side.
She got the towels inside her baggage, a pile of it, and handed it to Alastor. "Thank you, Al." Charlie's smile was warm and gentle, and she even tilted her head a bit to the side.
For a second, Alastor had a funny nostalgia feeling, which made him mesmerize the blonde for this moment. Soon, he woke up from the thought and blinked a few times. "No need to thank me." He corresponded with her smile and got the pile to place up above.
"Anything else?" He adjusted the pile, separating it in half to organize it.
"Not for now. I will be in the living room in a moment. I'm just going to finish here." She smiled, and started to place the early pile of clothes inside the drawers.
As Alastor looked down, he saw Charlie getting a few of his underwear. Tensed, he looked away with an uncomfortable smile. Charlie saw by the corner of her eyes that he turned his face abruptly, which made her look.
"I will be- there." He turned his body to the same direction his face was facing and walked away. For a moment, Charlie could swear he was a little red on his cheeks. He was blushing?
"Did I say something wrong?" She whispered to herself, and then looked down. She was holding a pile of panties. "Oh-" Now, it was her turn to blush. She didn't even notice. She was doing everything, so automatically, that she didn't see what she was holding. Still, it was adorable how Alastor felt shy about it.
After she was done organizing her things, she walked to the corridor to get to the living room, where she found Alastor in the kitchen, cleaning something in the sink. As he raised it, she could see it was a knife. He passed his fingers on it, sliding them with the water that was dropping from it. He turned to his right to begin to cut something in the counter. Probably, it was some vegetables.
Charlie progressed one more step into the living room and the wooden floor made a creak sound. Alastor turned his head to her direction, which made the girl smile at him while placing her hands together in front of her body. She was holding her wrist with one of her hands.
"I'm done! Do you need any help?" Charlie once again got on her tiptoes to try to see what Alastor was cutting. There were some green leaves and next to him, there was a piece of meat.
"No, dear. I'm just preparing food for tonight's dinner. Just make yourself at home." He smiled, adjusting his glasses and turning his focus to the food once again.
"Thank you." She said shyly and looked around. To her right, there was a fireplace that was turned off, with the couch in front of it. A red, beautiful couch with three seats, and by the side of the fireplace. Further away from her, there was a bookshelf.
On her left side, there was a big window, a gramophone player in a small table, together with a small radio, and a shelf full of gramophone records. She noticed those things before, but she didn't truly pay attention as she was now.
She walked curiously to the records shelves. Alastor had so many there that she was enchanted. Her fingers touched their covers, and she started to check them out, every now and then taking one out to see what record it was.
"If you want to play, feel free to. I enjoy some music while cooking." Alastor's voice echoed across the room, making Charlie jump a bit.
"S-Sure!" She smiled and without even looking at the record, she just placed it at the player and put its needle over it.
I can't sleep at night
I can't eat a bite
'Cause the man I love
He don't treat me right
The music started to play, and Charlie's eyebrows frowned as she was hearing the
lyrics.
He makes me feel so blue
I don't know what to do
Sometime I sit and sigh
And then begin to cry
'Cause my best friend
Said his last goodbye
The music was delightful, but the lyrics made Charlie shrink a bit… It reminded her of Seviathan…
There's a change in the ocean
Change in the deep blue sea, my baby
I'll tell you folks, there ain't no change in me
My love for that man will always be
Charlie slowly pulled up the needle from the player, and took the record, putting it inside the cover again and returning it to the shelf.
Alastor looked back at Charlie. She didn't like the music at all?
Charlie got another cover, took the record, and placed it on the player.
As it started to play, she once again paid attention to the lyrics.
I'm not one of the greedy kind
All of my wants are simple
I know what's on my mind
I'm not resting until I find
What would make your eyes glisten with joy
Now listen, big boy
That sounded way better to Charlie, at least by now.
I wanna be loved by you, just you
And nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you, alone!
Boop-boop-a-doop!
Charlie's eyes went directly to Alastor, who was moving his head in the music's rhythm, and his foot was tapping the floor.
I wanna be kissed by you, just you
Nobody else but you
I wanna be kissed by you, alone!
As he was 'dancing', Charlie's eyes couldn't get off him. She was mesmerizing him together with the sound, and her heart started to race with flashes of the alley once more.
Boop-boop, I couldn't aspire
To anything higher
Than, filled with desire
To make you my own!
Boop-boop-a-doop, boop-boop-a-doop!
Charlie turned her attention to the gramophone, and pulled up the needle of it.
'She didn't like this one either?' Alastor blinked, looking at the meat he was cutting. But the music started once again. It was the same song.
He was about to look at the blonde, but he was grabbed by his wrist.
"Dance with me?" Charlie smiled at the man, who looked confused.
"I-" He was with the knife in his hand while the other held the meat.
I'm not one of the greedy kind
All of my wants are simple
I know what's on my mind
I'm not resting until I find
What would make your eyes glisten with joy
Now listen, big boy
Charlie's eyes got a different spark on them, and her smile shone to Alastor's eyes.
"Sure." He chuckled, and released the knife and meat. He cleaned his hands over the sink, and dried them with the kitchen's cloth.
All happy, Charlie pulled Alastor in a hurry to the middle of the living room.
I wanna be loved by you, just you
And nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you, alone!
Boop-boop-a-doop!
Charlie's hand entangled with Alastor's and her other hand went to his shoulder.
At first, the way she was looking at Alastor made him a little uncomfortable. But as her cheeks became slightly red and her smile even warmer, he relaxed his shoulders.
They began to dance to the music in a fun way, which helped the man relax even more.
The only thing he didn't notice was how their eyes never left each other's.
I wanna be kissed by you, just you
Nobody else but you
I wanna be kissed by you, alone!
Alastor spun Charlie, and their bodies collapsed. She got on her tiptoes and placed her nose against his. The music didn't help her desire to try it since the alley. Alastor smiled and pushed her away while still holding one of her hands. Her body was 'hanging' just being held by her hand, and she pouted a bit to be away from him.
Boop-boop, I couldn't aspire
To anything higher
Than, filled with desire
To make you my own!
Boop-boop-a-doop, boop-boop-a-doop!
He pulled her back, but instead of turning to him like usual, Charlie spun. This way, her arm went around herself just like his arm. Her back was glued with the front of his body as he was hugging her from behind with one hand. She looked up and gave him a smirk. He looked down at her. The way she was there, so close, was… different. He was getting used to having her that close.
She then pushed him away, spinning back, before holding his other hand and starting to dance, just like they danced at the jazz club. He couldn't stop smiling at her. He forgot how much he missed that day. He never had such a pleasant dance partner like Charlie. They were amazingly in sync.
As the music ended, their final move was Alastor leaning Charlie in the floor's direction with his hand holding her back. Whereas Charlie's hand was on Alastor's neck, caressing him slowly, and he relied over his bent leg. It was a pose for the end of a performance. It was like they were performing to an invisible crowd.
Slowly, Alastor pulled Charlie back, her hand still rested on his neck, caressing the small hair he had there.
"That was good… I missed dancing." Charlie giggled, resting the other hand over his chest as she adjusted her feet on the floor.
"You didn't dance in your home?" Alastor had his hand over her back while his other hand held her arm.
"No…" She pouted and looked away. "I always enjoy dancing, but my-" She was going to finally say 'ex-fiancé' for the first time.
"But your fiancé doesn't." Alastor tilted his head as he was looking at her. Her eyes went directly at the man.
"Yeah… He never liked it. Neither when I sang and I love singing." She gave a sheepish laugh. Her eyes wanted to look away with shame, but before she could, Alastor smiled at her.
"I think you are great at both." He gently caressed her arm to recall her attention.
"Y-you do?" Her eyes sparkled once again, getting all shiny.
"Yes, I could dance with you all day long, and sing." He chuckled.
"Al- No one ever told me that before." Her cheeks blushed, but her eyes were locked on his.
"Crazy ones, I would say." He chuckled once again, and Charlie's hand caressed his neck very slowly, making the man shiver and change his expression abruptly.
"Al-" The girl slowly started to stretch her body, getting on her tiptoes to reach the man's face. Her hand slid from his chest to his face.
Alastor's eyes widened with the sudden change in Charlie's behavior. She was pulling him even closer and her eyes were closing.
He felt extremely uncomfortable, feeling his heart start beating up fast and his cheeks growing warmer. He was panicking. He looked around in desperation, until he noticed how close she was, her lips were peeking. For a moment, curiosity got its best. She was trying to kiss him, wasn't she? He felt the curiosity to try, leaving the uncomfortable feeling by the side, but his focus changed as he saw her rosy cheeks.
In a panic move, he pinched her cheeks gently, holding her there while he stepped a little back.
"You are adorable, darling!" He smiled and Charlie opened her eyes, all confused with her lips pouted and her cheeks being pinched and squeezed by the man.
"Now, I need to continue cooking our dinner. It won't be ready by itself, you know! HAHAHA!" He nervously laughed as he was squeezing her adorable cheeks, so rosy, so smooth. He could stay there doing that for longer, but he released her and walked to the kitchen, almost like he was still dancing. "Feel free to put on any other record, as I said, I like doing chores with good music." He raised his index finger before gluing his body against the kitchen's counter.
Charlie was there, just watching the man. Her shoulders were down and her cheeks extremely warm. She went too far, didn't she? She thought… Well, what did she think anyways? Charlie gave a sheepish giggle and turned her back to the player, placing her hands over it for a moment.
She contemplates how silly her behavior was around the man. She was going too far with him, but she couldn't help. She placed her hand over her chest, pressing her fingers against her shirt's fabric.
"Everything's good, Charlie?", Alastor asked as if nothing happened.
"Huh?" She looked behind her shoulder. "Oh, yes. I was just taking a breath." She held the fabric even more. "One month without dancing, that's it." She lied and turned her face to the shelf.
"We can dance here more on the days you spend as my guest, if you wish", he said, chopping the last slices of meat and putting it into a bowl to place in the fridge.
"Of course, I would love to." She grabbed a record and placed it on the player. The music started and it was just instrumental, no vocals at all. It was jazzy, fun, and vibrant.
She began to dance on her own in the middle of the living room.
Alastor peeked at her. She was very animated. The house's mood was vibrant as she is now, which made him smile. For so many years, he didn't feel that energy in his own house, which he missed dearly.
Few minutes later, he was finally done with the pre-preparation for tonight's dinner, which means that he had a little time to enjoy that energy… He placed the kitchen cloth over his shoulder.
Charlie was still dancing by herself with her eyes closed as the fourth song of the record started to play.
Soon, a pair of hands touched her. She opened her eyes and Alastor got her hand, entangling his fingers with hers, while the other hand held her back once more. He was smiling and she looked surprised.
"Well, I hope you don't mind if I join it once more, mademoiselle." He held her still.
"Of course not! I do like to have a dance partner." She entangled her fingers with his, and placed her free hand over his chest once more.
"Dance partners, I like that." He chuckled as he began to tap his feet, getting the music's rhythm and began to properly dance with her.
'Me too…', she thought, but didn't say it; she just smiled and followed his lead.
The day passed quickly; Charlie dared to see his bookshelf but in the end, she was so entertained dancing with the man that she forgot about it.
The dinner was delicious, even more delightful than the ones she had in the restaurants. Alastor was a very splendid chef.
Both were in their beds, and Charlie was sleeping. Alastor on the other hand woke up from a nightmare that he remembered quite vividly. He sat over his bed, panting and sweating. His eyes were widened, and his vision was shaken for a moment. The only light source was the moonlight entering his room. He looked around as he was desperately searching for something.
With his hand shaking, he touched the bed table and got his glasses. As he put them on, he raised his hands to see them better and he was shaking even more. Alastor, with caution, got up and walked to his chest of drawers, leaning there to face the moon through the window.
His mind was rushing and body shaking. He opened the window. As soon as he felt a cold breeze hit his face, a nostalgic feeling hit him like a bat on the head. He let his head hang down, while his shoulders were sustaining it, all tensed.
A sensation he felt early that day got the best of him. He felt his heart pounding fast. His adrenaline rushed through his veins, just like he felt with Charlie. Slowly, a smile formed in his lips, and his eyes opened. He was facing the floor and the drawers. He opened the drawer in the middle and his hand went in the back of it, getting his black gloves.
He knew what he had to do. He knew exactly what that feeling was about.
He left the gloves over the bed and changed clothes. He had a black overcoat, a white old shirt with a red vest, and a dark gray pair of pants.
He folded his pajamas and let it over his bed, getting the gloves and wearing them. He walked to the chest of drawers and in front of the last one, he kneeled down. Alastor didn't open the drawer, he put his hand under it, removing a piece of wood from the chest. He got a black leather kind of bag from it and closed it again.
He got up, put the thing inside one of the overcoat's inside pockets and got out of his room.
Alastor's steps were firm but not loud, not at all… It was like he was walking in the shadows. He didn't even look at Charlie's room, he just headed out locking the door behind him and hiding the key inside the lamp-case hanging above his door.
Alastor disappeared in the street.
_
Charlie suddenly woke up. It must be 4 in the morning and she couldn't sleep anymore. She had a dream with her father, but she quite didn't recall if it was a dream or nightmare. She tried sleeping again, but the minutes passed and the sun was slowly rising.
She eventually gave up and got up. She was thirsty, so decided to sneak to the kitchen and get a glass of water. Charlie looked at the robe she had placed over the chair but… It would be quick and probably Alastor wouldn't be awake, right?
She opened her door and peeked through it. The house was extremely quiet, and as far as she could see, Alastor's door was closed and no one was in the living room. She quietly got out and went to the kitchen to get her glass of water.
As she was drinking it, she heard the front door opening. She was in her pinkish nightgown with black details. She froze, and slowly turned her head back.
Alastor entered the house, carrying something in a black bag, something huge and he was covered in blood.
Charlie's eyes widened and she placed the glass over the sink. Quickly, she walked to the man's direction and stopped in front of him. "Al! Are you okay?" She was truly worried. She was examining his outer appearance: He had blood stains all over his clothes, but not in his face or glasses. He didn't seem hurt, but it was definitely blood.
Alastor on the other hand seemed extremely surprised by hearing Charlie's voice.
"I'm fine, dear. Why are you awake so early?" He tilted his head, confused.
"I- I couldn't go back to sleep so, I decided to get some water, if you don't mind." She shyly smiled and kept looking at his clothes. She placed her hand over his shirt's collar. "Is that blood?" She looked worried at him.
"I don't mind. As I have said, make yourself at home." He smiled and adjusted the bag over his shoulder. "And yes, it is! But don't worry, I couldn't sleep myself, so I went out to do a little hunting." He was about to walk to the backyard, when he saw her in her nightgown. He blushed, looked to his right, and got his red overcoat that was hanging in the entrance. "Here, it's cold today, dear."
She got the overcoat, blushing as she realized she had just her nightgown and dressed the overcoat. "Thank you." She giggled and gave him space to pass.
He thanked with a nod, and went to the backyard, putting the bag over the ground and slowly opening it. Charlie followed him to see what that was, and it was a huge dead deer with his horns cut.
Alastor got up and went to the kitchen to get some tools. He was about to clean his prey. "If you don't want to watch, that's fine. It can get pretty ugly." He kneeled in front of the animal to start to remove its skin.
"I'm fine with it." She smiled and crossed her arms. In fact, she has seen so much worse already from her people… That was easy to 'handle'.
"Are you used to this?" He looked at her above his shoulder.
"Kind of… I saw other hunters working before coming back home." She smiled, remembering a specific section/state of her home. She saw many butchers, many hunters… many…. killers.
"Well, but still. I would recommend you to get inside, due the cold weather." He gently smiled at her, starting to cut off the animal's skin.
"Sure…" She was about to get inside when she stopped and looked back. "Al…?"
"Yes?" He turned his head to her once again.
"Today is Monday, so you will work, right?", she shyly asked, touching her cheek against the door's frame.
"Yes, soon I will. I will just finish with it, take a shower, make us breakfast, and go", he informed her.
"I can… Make us breakfast today, while you take a shower. And… Do you think you will take long with it?" She pointed to the animal's corpse.
"It's an excellent idea, dear. And yes, probably a few minutes."
"Can I go ahead and take a bath first, then?" She squeezed her cheeks even more against the frame.
"Of course." He smiled and she smiled back.
"Okay, be right back!", she said in an excited tone and went to get her clothes.
As Alastor got out of his shower, he was buttoning his sleeves, his hair was wet, drying slowly and he went to the kitchen.
Charlie was serving their plates with toasts and butter.
As he took a seat, he looked down and his plate looked simple, but very well done.
"Hm, toasts. Simple, but delightful." He smiled at her, and got the toast to give a bite. As his tongue touched it, his expression changed, there was a bitter and burned taste in his tongue. When he took the toast from his mouth, he saw it was burnt below it.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm quite new to cooking…. I think I toasted them too much." She shyly looked at hers. Hers were completely black. She brought it to her mouth to bite it, already doing a face, but Alastor put his hand over hers.
"No, no. Hold on." He made her place it back on the plate and he held her hand. "I can teach you." He pulled her up. "If you want."
Charlie never needed to cook on her own, Razzle and Dazzle did that for her, or any other servant of her family. When she tried, they always backed her away from it.
"Really?" She smiled all excitedly.
"Of course." He pulled her to the kitchen and got two slices of bread. "It's quite easy, you will see." His warm smile made her smile even more.
In a few minutes, Alastor teaches her how to make toasts without burning them. It was quite easy as he said and they were back eating their breakfast together again, letting the burnt toasts aside.
Alastor was looking how excited Charlie was talking about learning a new thing, and how she wanted to do that for a while ago. It was adorable how passionate she seemed about, well, almost everything.
"You know what…? Why don't you come with me to my work?" He sipped his glass of juice.
"Today?" She swallowed the last part of her toast.
"Yes, I mean, unless you want to explore the city on your own." He got a napkin and cleaned his lips.
"I want to go with you! It would be an honor for me!" She gave a little jump in her seat and smiled.
"So, as soon as you finish up your glass, we go-." He was done with his breakfast and got interrupted by a desperate Charlie drinking the orange juice in a blink.
"I'm done!" She smiled widely at him, already getting up and getting his hand. "Let's go!" She almost made him fall and he just chuckled. She was so energetic; it truly was an interesting thing to see.
_
Corrections:
Beta Readers:
Mary: Mary Smith
Sierra: user/iced_coffee_11