Back to School: lunch
Slash September: Charlie
Character Appreciation: saving someone's life
Dark Lady's Lair: radishes
Showtime, Angel of Music: frightened
Sophie's Shelf: CharlieTheo
Arcade, Vector: green, boss, hat
Lowdown, Sokka: instinct
Sewing 101: knife, gold, smile
Feline Fair, Siamese Cat: Write about a helpful person
Word Count: 376
"You can sit here," Charlie offers.
He isn't surprised when Theo turns away and finds an empty table. Charlie has tried to make the younger man feel welcome. After all, they're the only ones from England working on the reserve, and it's only polite. Bill swears Charlie has ulterior motives. Maybe he does; only an idiot would deny how attractive he is.
Shaking his head, he returns his attention back to his lunch—a plate of leafy green spinach, radishes, tomatoes, and grilled chicken. Just as he lifts the knife, however, there's s sudden clatter. When he looks up, fear makes his body grow cold. Theo's face has turned purple, and he gestures desperately at his throat.
Charlie forces his fear down and jumps up, rushing forward. He acts on instinct, wrapping his arms around Theo's slender body. Though he doesn't know exactly what he's doing, Charlie vaguely remembers seeing his mother do this to George once. He recalls the memory, mimicking the motions as best he can.
"Fuck…"
Relief floods his body when he hears Theo's voice. He lets go and moves in front of the other man, a small smile on his lips. "Good," he says, and his voice is still so small, so tight from his panic. "You're… You're good."
Theo touches the tips of his fingers to his throat, eyes wide. "You saved me," he says, wincing as though speaking hurts him.
"I couldn't just let you choke," Charlie says, reaching down and grabbing Theo's black hat with a gold pin attached.. It must have fallen off during the chaos; he places it on the other man's head with a grin.
"Let me buy you dinner," Theo says, still massaging his throat. "As a way to say thank you."
"You don't have to do that," Charlie assures him.
"Well, let me buy you dinner as a date."
The words hang in the air, and Charlie blinks rapidly, wondering if he's heard him correctly. Finally, he nods. "Dinner sounds good," he says. "Eight o'clock work for you?"
Theo salutes. "You're the boss."
Once the panic and chaos is over, and plans have been made, the two men sit down at a table together. They manage to enjoy the rest of their lunch in peace.
