Chapter Seven
Her hair draped across his face the way it used to all those years ago. Magenta hair caressed him awake, tangling in his nose and fingers as they slept naked side by side.
Her naked form enticed his fingers to dance across her smooth exterior. Drawing swirls across her pale hips and thighs.
As she turned to him her smile grew. "Good morning Handsome." She smiled at him, fingering his hair out of his eyes. Twirling it softly between her silk like fingers.
"How are you?" she asked softly, the depths of sleep still hanging heavily on her face. He didn't answer her however, just nodded and smiled at her.
She leaned across him and kissed his chest. It wasn't as scarred then, its smooth freckled surface was vastly different from the weather beaten and dragon teethed appearance he harboured now.
Her kisses danced across his arms and up his neck. Drawing happy chuckles from his jaw line.
Her naked form was pressed so closely to him that he couldn't even imagine a life without her, a moment without her in it. A second without her naked form pressed so heavenly into his side.
But that was it, Charlie realised it was heavenly, not arousing, or attractive. Just peaceful. Her naked form granted him so much happiness and peace that it seemed almost unbearable to tarnish it with something as sinister as arousal. He couldn't tarnish it.
"Charlie, is tonight a good night?" She asked the question she'd been hoping for, for weeks now. He shook his head though. It wasn't meant to hurt her. But it did. The platonic nature of their bedroom routine had lulled her into boredom and thoughts of illicit affairs with other men plagued her once innocent mind.
Her hurt became overly evident on her now weeping face.
"Tonks, please. Don't do this." He begged but it was already done.
"You monster of a man," her emotions erupted, mimicking the day this dream represented "I hate you. You're so immature. You think I'm a toy you can play with." It was then that Charlie realised this was a dream. "Stop playing with my emotions Charles Wea.."
Before she could finish his name he awoke to the sound of Roxanne calling for his mother, Molly, her Grandmother.
"Gamma," she shouted "Gamma, he's…" she didn't finish her sentence, Molly scooped her up into her arms and carried her hastily out of the room.
Re-entering moments later with a pot of steaming chamomile tea and some raisin toast.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Molly placed his breakfast on the night stand, sitting at the end of his bed with a stern look etched into her wrinkled face.
"Yeah Mum, just a bad dream. I'll be fine." He took his watch from the night stand and begin fiddling with the clasps. Smiling knowingly, Molly took the wrist watch from her son and buckled it securely for him.
Charlie smiled his thanks taking the toast and tea from the nightstand and beginning his ritual of dunking chunks of his toast into the cup.
"Somethings never change," she smiled at her second eldest son. As molly opened the door Charlie could hear the distant screaming giggles of his nieces and nephews. Until this visit Charlie hadn't been able to grasp how his siblings had time for large families and very successful careers. He now knew their secret. The 'Molly-Day-Care-Centre' run daily, it actually seemed to be a rare occurrence that there wasn't a child for her to parent.
Charlie felt for his mother. She had stopped being a 'Mother' when Ginny had finished school seventeen years ago, only to be replaced as 'Gamma' two years later. Charlie supposed this was the Karma Molly reaped as a result of her persistence for Grandchildren.
As Charlie descended the stairs he placed the cup and saucer back into the sink and made his way silently to the floo network. He decided that if he flooed to work earlier than he knew they opened, he shouldn't be caught. He just hoped that he wouldn't run into Alex today as she opened the doors.
Although, Charlie thought, there must be someone there to do the overnight shift. Otherwise the kids would be left unattended all night. This thought would have to wait until he got there. He just made a mental note to ask Adam about that, in case he ever needed to contact them during the night hours or he found himself sneaking past unaware muggles.
As he arrived he noticed that yet again the children had switched bedrooms, some even slept in the hallways, meters from their assigned cots. Assisting them back into their beds was an easy task as most of them were beginning to wake and walked themselves back into their rooms.
Charlie headed back to the crew table that he had sat at now for almost a month. He had noticed during his time at the orphanage that the crew took turns at brewing the coffee each morning. This ritual seemed easy enough for Charlie. Although, as he reached the table he noticed the lady from the first day.
Terri was it? He asked himself.
Her plump form hung over the table in a lazy sleeping position. Charlie took this opportunity to honestly 'sus' her out. Her heavy form seemed to be lacking any form of muscle content, Charlie worried about her lifting the toddlers each day. She's got to be killing herself lifting them each day, right?
Subtly ignoring her presence, Charlie started boiling the kettle and began the preparations for the staff that should arrive in just under an hour.
"You're early" Terri stated rudely, waking from her previously slumped position. "You're not supposed to be here until eight."
"Yeah, I left home a little early this morning, figured a little extra set up couldn't hurt." He lied.
It suddenly dawned on her. "Hold on, how'd you get in here? The door's locked."
"Oh, one of the kids was wandering around and let me in when he saw me," he smoothly lied. The lie seemed to work as she nodded and rested her head back against the table top.
A few moments later a cheerfully humming Adam waltzed through the door, grinning from ear to ear.
"What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" Terri groaned miserably.
"Ahh, Charlie you made coffee. White with one please." He half asked half demanded. "I'm happy because my boy got awarded the highest marks in his grade this year. And I somehow managed to get eight hours sleep. The sleep bit always helps."
Charlie smiled, and handed the man his coffee, eager to make himself useful.
Work seemed quite dull to Charlie, he cleaned the tween unit again, assisted some children with their clothing choices for their interviews and assisted with the lunches and dinners provided to the kids.
At the end of the day Charlie sat at the crew table with his head in his hands. How could he get this tired from working with children? Dragons and other magical beings never tended to drain his energy this much. He's slept for twice as long last night and still managed to be tired. Damn Kids. He thought, honestly glad for the first time in his life that he couldn't conceive his own.
Adam entered the room gleefully. "Four more just got adopted. Making that…" he fumbled with some papers. "Ten tweens, eight five to tens and three under-fives. Twenty-one kids to go." He cheered.
Alex having just heard the news clapped her hands merrily, kissing Adam on both cheeks. Her kisses ventured awfully close to the corners of his mouth making Adam shrug her off awkwardly.
"So Charlie, we should celebrate whilst we have this meeting. How does Pasta and a fire whisky sound?"
He was so excited that he hadn't noticed the wizard's word. Alex screwed up her face in confusion
"Love," Adam winced at the pet name. "Did you mean a fire ball?" she corrected.
"Yes, I think he did." Charlie laughed, quickly covering for his new friend and co-worker.
Adam Blushed at his stupidity and quickly strode out the front door. Expecting Charlie to follow him.
As they reached the restaurant at the end of the muggle street it became clear to Charlie that this part of Romania was not used to having tourists. All of the signs were in full Romanian rather than having English subtitles. He tapped Adam on the shoulder quickly stating.
"You know, I can speak Romanian quite fluently, but dragon taming never requires you to write anything overly complicated… not in Romanian anyway."
Adam had a flash of understanding dance across his face. "It's alright, I can read it to you if you'd like. There's not really that many options here anyway?"
Charlie nodded, what's the worst that could happen? Charlie wasn't a fussy eater either so regardless of what Adam ordered him he should still be able to enjoy it.
In the end Adam ended up ordering them a fire whisky and lasagne each. Reading each item on the menu had become quite tiresome for the pair, Charlie ended up insisting that Adam picked the meal claiming that he would end up picking something at random and be heavily disappointed. The safe option for tonight would work in his favour.
"So are you sure that lasagne is fine?" Adam fussed.
"Seriously its fine Adam. Would you calm down?" Charlie laughed at the man who had become increasingly nervous since ordering their food.
"What's wrong with you anyway? Why are you so stressed?" Charlie added.
Laughing, Adam replied. "I'm not sure." He slumped into his seat. "I just feel on edge for some reason."
"Well, don't alright? Everything is fine."
Adam nodded. "Before we talk business, do you mind a few personal questions?"
Charlie shook his head, "No by all means ask."
Adam nodded, smiling as the waitress delivered their drinks.
"Are you married?"
Charlie almost choked on his glass. "No." he coughed, "not at all, not even close."
"And why's that?" Adam sussed. "You're a good looking man, wealthy enough I'd suppose? You must be fighting women off with a stick."
Charlie blushed slightly, coughing down his awkward tension. "Um," he started. "I've never really been the 'settle down' man that most women desire. My love for danger and Adrenaline sets them all on edge I think. There's no point having a husband if all you do is worry about him, right?"
Adam seemed to contemplate his response for a moment. "Yeah I suppose. Emily, used to worry about me constantly during the war. Said she'd neck herself if anything ever happened to me. I guess it's all a little ironic now, given the circumstances." Charlie nodded.
"I'm not going to ask what happened if it's too hard to talk about." Charlie started. "But if it's any consolation I've lost quite a few loved ones in my time. If you ever need an ear."
"Thank you." Adam nodded. "That's kind."
Charlie was about to continue the conversation when the waitress brought over their food. "Here we are Sir's, I hope you enjoy your meals." She stated politely.
Both men echoed a "thank you." To her as she left causing them to smile at their timing.
"So business…" Charlie started. A blue flaming arrow shot threw the restaurant, rudely interrupting their conversation. "Fucking Merlin."
Charlie screeched as it pierced his left shoulder, exiting on the other side. As trained, Charlie reached for the arrow, attempting to secure it on both sides of his body to ensure minimal bleeding. But, as he grasped the arrow in his hands it faded from existence, eliminating the previous pain with it.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked in horror. "What on earth just happened?"
"I'm not sure, that was honestly the weirdest thing I have ever experienced." Charlie admitted. He had expected the pain to continue, to worsen or to simply poison him. But the pain seemed to vanish with the arrow. How bazar. He thought to himself. "Could it have just been a patronus?"
"I guess so." Adam agreed doubtfully. "Remind me to check on it later?"
Charlie shook his head in confusion, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. "Oh well. Let's eat." He stated hungrily devouring his lasagne.
The two men sat in silence, the only sounds shared between them were the empty mashing of cutlery on the ceramic plates. Adam smiled at Charlie tiredly. "It's been a long day." He mused.
The two men fell into a comfortable silence again. Both drifting off into their own private thoughts. Charlie disappeared into his thoughts about Tonks. Her hair, her arms, her chest...
Charlie moaned at the thought of the young girl he'd once known. Rubbing his chest at the fond memory he noticed a sharp pain erupt from the puncture wound.
"What the.." he stated, pulling down his t-shirt to expose his chest to himself. Charlie inspected the wound with curiosity. His fingers drawing circles around the blistering skin.Why is it blistering? Wait, when was there ever a wound? In this moment Charlie realised his stupidity and began to panic, dismissing the arrow was obviously the worst thing he could have done.
"Shit." Adam cursed. "That's a hex. Charlie we need to get that treated."
"Nah. It doesn't hurt so it'll be fine." He lied to himself. As the last word left his mouth an agonising pain rippled through his body. Causing him to scream in agony. Clutching his chest in horror, Charlie looked pleadingly across to Adam.
"Make it stop." He cried, feeling the tears well under his lashes.
In record speed, Adam was by Charlie's side, lifting the shorter man into his grasp and hurriedly apparating them to St Mungalo's.
Adam apparented them to his personal office. Within said office, Charlie could see a multitude of chemicals, potions, tablets and many instruments that he didn't know the name of. He took a deep breath, willing himself to gage his surroundings. Adam moved expertly throughout the room, weaving from one side to the other grabbing and mixing potions as he went.
"Can you move?" he asked harshly, gaining a pain filled nod from Charlie. "Take that off." He pointed towards Charlie's now blood covered shirt.
Charlie nodded and began the task of removing said clothing. Each time he moved he erupted with an agonised scream, bringing tears to both men's eyes. "I'm sorry Charles, that needs to come off." He stated through broken tears. Charlie's screams had alerted a nurse from the ward.
"Sir are you… Oh Adam, what's happening? What do you need?"
"Get that off him while I make this treatment." He demanded, fiercely wiping tears from his own face as the man across from him screamed in terrorising pain.
The nurse pulled out a pair of scissors and sliced open Charlie's shirt. "I'm sorry, I'll get it mended." She stated without emotion, continuing to tear the clothing from his body.
"Doctor, it's spreading." She warned. Motioning for Charlie to stand so that she could remove his jeans.
"Shit," Adam cursed, "It's a Curse. Some moron's gone to great lengths to create this Charles." He shook his head sorrowfully. "I don't know what we are going to do." He whispered.
The nurse's head shot up at the defeated sound of her superior. "I'll run the tests," she supplied, pulling out her wand to analyse Charlie's state.
"Adam," She started. "You need to work faster." her tone gained a grim sense of urgency.
"I'm sorry Sir." She stated to Charlie. "Stupefy."
Charlie opened his eyes a moment later. Suddenly realising that he was no longer in the St Mungalo's hospital. The all too familiar burning sensation raced over his body like a red rash. Bubbling and blistering as it caressed each freckled piece of skin. He hissed, rubbing his fingers across the red blistered skin. It was then that he noticed it. A faint scar etched into his shoulder. The longer Charlie observed it the clearer the words became. 'Dragon Scum.' It read. Charlie ran his hand across the words hoping that it was an illusion from the medications he'd taken.
"Oh you're awake. That was quick." It was Adam. Charlie felt a flood of relief at seeing the familiar man.
"Where are we?" Charlie questioned. "And what's this?" he pointed to his chest.
"We are in my apartment, you didn't seem too keen on staying at the hospital and I didn't want to let you go home alone." He started. "And that is a new scar to add to the collection." He smiled weakly sitting in front of Charlie with a bowl of soothing balm in his hands.
"May I?" he asked, Motioning towards the bowl and Charlie's scarred chest. Charlie nodded and tilted his head so that Adam could reach the entirety of the blistering wound.
"This," Adam rested his hand on the words. "Is the craftsmanship of a psychopath. Charles it won't come off. I may be able to make it fade, but it will never disappear. You've managed to really upset someone with this dragon business of yours." He said grimly.
"Have you seen the rest of my torso?" Charlie asked lightly. "It's covered in scars, what's one more to the collection?" he joked, "It's not like I'm trying to impress a girl into marrying me now is it?"
"Charles don't joke. This isn't funny," Adam scolded. "This man intended to kill you. Thank god you were sitting at dinner with a Doctor and not your mum. You would be dead."
"Adam, but I'm not," Charlie informed him. "I'm very much alive. A bit beaten, and maybe a tad tired, but alive regardless."
"Charles." Adam scolded, an evident amount of rage fumed of the man, "What would I have done if you had died?"
Charlie couldn't answer that one, he had no idea what would have happened. He really didn't want to think about his death. The thought of it scared him more than the thought of having permanent scarring.
"Live?" he answered quietly.
Adam didn't answer him, he just continued to massage burn creams into his skin, causing Charlie to wince in pain every so often. The painful winces didn't bother Charlie or Adam they had become accustomed to them after the first dozen. Adam moved behind Charlie, continuing his treatment on his back.
Charles' groans and grunts continued for the next hour or so. Every so often Adam would apologise for his pain, but continue to apply the ointment that would 'kill the rest of the curse'.
The feel of Adam's expert touch soothed Charlie. Despite the pain that he felt the man's touch was causing ripples of pleasure to surge through him. A pleasure filled moan startled them both.
Charlie froze in terror. What in Merlin's name was that? He scolded himself.
Adam however, just continued, massaging the same spot that had caused the said moan. Which in turn caused Charlie to release a string of pleasurable groans deep from within his chest.
Disgusted with himself, Charlie hung his head in shame. Hiding his face that was now the same colour as his hair. Even though he was disgusted with himself, he couldn't seem to contain the pleasure the man sitting behind him was causing. He didn't know if it had something to do with the potions Adam had drugged him with, or the heavy pain relief he'd taken on arrival.
The only thing he did know was that if Adam stopped his assault on his back it was bound to either become painfully awkward or dreadfully painful for Charlie's now growing member.
Wait what? He chastised himself, Why is that happening? Adam's a man for Merlin's sake.
It was then that he felt Adam's hands caress a scar across his neck. Charlie groaned in pain and in pleasure as the man worked the obvious knots out of his muscles. Charlie enjoyed the feel of Adam's arms, the ointment and his lips. Wait, his lips?
Adam's mouth grazed the scar on Charlie's back causing a deep moan to rip through Charlie's chest as he threw his head back in pleasure. No one had ever been able to get this kind of reaction out of him before.
"Charlie," Adam whispered. "Is this okay?" Charlie could only nod as he felt the man's hands wander further down his abdomen following a scar under the hem of his briefs.
~Okay I admit this isn't my favourite Chapter... But it is an update :P
Love always, just another AnonymousAmature~