(A/N: Coincidentally this is my favorite Charloe chapter and it just so happens to be number thirteen, my lucky number!)
Bass watched as everyone, one by one, left the Great Hall, leaving to bask in his own misery as he watched the sun dip into the horizon and disappear. Not even the sun could brighten the darkest always seeming to follow him around.
He relieved Jeremy and his other personal guards of their services for the night so they may start the celebrations early. Truthfully he was just tired of everyone for the moment and wanted nothing more than to be away from them all.
Since the war broke out the moods often slithered their way back into Bass' mind, the same feelings and moods that led him to do dangerous things in the beginning. As the years went by he was able to distract himself better, but those feelings always came to rear their ugly head eventually, granted he no longer allowed them free reign over his actions.
Pouring himself a generous portion of alcohol into his goblet, he leaned against the back of the chair and greedily gulped it down until he depleted the entire bottle of its contents.
Eyeing another bottle resting on the windowsill, the one he instructed Jeremy to find and leave before turning in, he waited a few moments before he made his attempt to retrieve said bottle.
Those few minutes of rest turning out to be a grave mistake, it allowed the alcohol more time to settle, inebriating Bass and making even the simplest task, such as walking, a difficult feat.
Nevertheless with a great amount of effort, Bass made it to his goal, eyeing the prize as he wrapped his hands around the bottle. Saving it for a special occasion, which he first intended to be Connor and Charlie's wedding, he decided now was as good of a time as any to break it out.
Alcohol was by far scarce, but this particular one was potent and fermented for decades, and the alcohol only got better with age.
Inwardly cheering, he almost made it back to his seated position when his foot caught on the edge of Charlie's chair, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Shit," he muttered, bending down to pick it up, but he gave up after the second attempt. Even when she wasn't presence she was causing a disturbance and being a royal pain in Bass' ass.
Sighing, he sat down heavily, popping the top as he filled his goblet up for the fourth time that night.
Charlie's physical body dashed into the Great Hall upon hearing the loud bang echoing throughout the halls. Assuming everyone to be in bed at this hour, Charlie held her breath and quickly released it when she found the source of the noise was none other than the king himself. Probably for the best it was only him, seeing as how she rushed in without even thinking of a weapon.
The goblet sat in front of him as his finger traced the edge and the other hand draped over his face, making the only visible part his tousled tresses.
Cautiously, she took a few steps forward until she was a mere few feet away from his motionless body, "are you alright?"
It had been hours since she last saw him. They parted ways after that atrocious, theatrical dinner show and hadn't seen him since. She assumed he retired for the night in order to be well rested for the tournament tomorrow, just as everyone else had.
"Couldn't be better," sound muffling from where his lips barely moved underneath his hand.
"What are you doing down here so late? It's past midnight," she looked outside the window to see shadows of darkness, the only illumination coming from the moon perched high in the sky. Even then the moon was hardly enough to light up the room, but it was enough for her to see his face as he removed his hand and his eyes peered up at her.
"I'm well aware what time it is Charlotte," he commented dryly from where he was slumped over in the chair, gulping down the last remaining bit of alcohol in his goblet.
He hadn't intended to get this drunk, but one thing led to another and alas, here he was…drunk as a skunk.
Standing up, he pivoted back and forth on his feet, reaching securing the edge of the table in his grip to steady his swaying body.
Charlie, could immediately tell he was intoxicated. Coming to his aid, she placed her arm around his muscular back, ignoring the feel of his stout body, indicating for him to lean on her.
"I'll help you to your room," as she briskly stated as she walked holding a firm grip on his side so that he had no other choice but to comply. Not without protest.
He growled, pulling out of her stronghold, "go to bed Charlotte, I don't need your help."
Taking another step forward, he stumbled, knocking down another chair, wincing as it clattered to the ground again. She was surprised it hadn't drawn more attention to them, but he did give everyone a night off.
Out of instinct, her arm rapidly shot out, pressing against his chest before he landed flat on his face, "I don't care if you want my help or not. It's obvious you need it," she barked at him, going to put her arm back in its previous stance.
This time he didn't pull away but she could tell he was less than enthused with her assistance. He would be even more embarrassed if he fell on his face though, which is part of the reason he indulged her.
The other reason had to do with the close proximity of her warm, delicious body to his. Something he had been dreaming about since she first arrived, and Bass wasn't picky, this was enough to satisfy his craving for now.
It took them a lot longer to make the usual trip, but finally she arrived outside his door, not thinking as she pushed it open and led him in.
None too gently discarding him on the bed, she turned her back intending to get some sleep herself, plus she was still angry and confused. If she didn't quit while she was ahead, she could very well say something unkind.
Bass had other plans.
Reaching out, he shot up from the bed, grabbing her forearm, "what was the matter earlier?"
For a minute she was puzzled, she hadn't mentioned a problem, but then she recalled her rude behavior and snide remarks during dinner.
Her body went rigid, and he could tell, "nothing was the matter, I was just not having a particularly good day, I was tired."
It was an unconvincing excuse, but it was the only thing Charlie could think of on the spot. Avoiding a fight the only thing on her mind. There was no logical reason she should be unhappy, not with her family visiting.
"You should be over the moon, your family is here."
When she said nothing, he sighed and rubbed his temples, "What more do you want? I'm trying here Charlotte—"
"Like you tried with Nora?"
She couldn't help it, the words slipped out in an accusatory tone. Shocked, Bass immediately let go of her arm as though her very touch burnt him.
He felt as if a tub of icy cold water washed over his body, instantly sobering up his mind, "what are you saying?"
She shook her head and took two paces backwards, "nothing, forget I mentioned it."
"I asked you a question and as your king I demand an answer Charlotte," steadfast, he stood up from the bed, slowly walking towards her with more balance than before.
As soon as he rose Charlie's feet fumbled backwards until her butt hit the end of a small table in his room.
She looked him square in the eyes, refusing to be intimidated, "or what? You're going to do to me whatever it is you did to Nora?"
A cold snarl ripped through him, "and what exactly is it you think I did huh? Why must it always be me to blame? Did you ask your beloved father about the matter?"
She didn't answer, which told him she didn't speak to Miles first.
He scoffed, "of course you didn't because Miles could never do such a thing, Miles had never done anything wrong, Miles could never be a monster, no, that crown goes to me."
For the second time that night she demanded, "What did you do to Nora?"
She couldn't help blurting it out, he kept dancing around the answer and Charlie had no more time for silly games.
Invading her space, he gritted his teeth, "I didn't do anything to her."
"She said you held her captive," she remained strong.
"Now that I will admit to, but I didn't do anything else to her. If you don't believe me, why don't you try asking your father what happened? Instead of going around and accusing all the bad things on me? First you accused me of killing my own wife, and now you accused me of forcing myself on Nora and torturing her. Why are you so intent to make me out to be this appalling person?"
Her mouth stood agape, "I'm not making you out to be anything, if you feel the need to defend yourself it's because you feel guilty. I'm only commented on what I've seen firsthand."
"I have been nothing, if not a hospitable from the moment you arrived. I bought you a horse, allowed you free reign, and ensured your safety more than once. "
"Because one of those times you put me in harms way and you put me in a dungeon," she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
"It's obvious you think I'm an evil, malicious, and brutal man so why bother even asking me?"
That was a very good question indeed, why did she ask him, and truthfully she started to wonder herself. After a few minutes she finally spoke.
"I asked you because I knew you'd tell me the truth," her voice quietly pierced through the deafening silence over the room.
"And where do you get the idea that I'd be so candor with you?"
Curiosity dripped from his voice, as his eyes gleamed with every step he took towards her.
She was right, if anything he was always honest, but especially with her. It physically pained him to be anything other than straightforward, especially when her doe eyes looked up at his and her lips conveyed a hint of a pout.
Her voice shook as he came nearer to her, "I don't know," her tongue darted out to wet her lips, "because you said you cared for me."
He bared his teeth at her, "don't mistake my caring for a weakness, I will not be manipulated by some silly little girl."
Enraged, he watched her chest heaving with every shallow breath she took, her lips parting as her eyes darted to his own pair of lips. He had never met a more infuriating person, with the exception of Miles, but even he couldn't hold a candle to Charlie. She knew just how to rile him up so the worst side of him would show itself, and prove to her he was nothing but a monster.
Within moments, before he had time to come to his senses, he smashed his lips against hers; roughly shoving her further into the desk, it slid along the wall as Bass' arm snaked around Charlie's lower back.
Her hands rested on his shoulders, while his other hand tangled itself her golden waves, gripping tightly.
When she responded to the kiss he pushed his tongue passed the barrier of her teeth. Letting out a hum of delight, he was pleased Charlie gave just as good as she got.
Her body drifted closer to his, as Bass' hand left the security of her hair and trailed down her body, trying to memorize every square inch. Landing on her hip, he roughly squeezed there, hard enough to leave fingerprints. Biting down, he sucked her plump lip into the hot caverns of his mouth, letting out a grunt when his cock came in contact with her center. He could practically feel the heat through her thin layer of clothing.
It wasn't until she moaned out loud he realized what he was doing and jerked away from her, running his hands through his hair.
Pulling at the strands, he turned around, trying to calm himself down. This was not meant to happen. He thought having sex with Duncan would fix everything, but he should've known better. A taste of something else wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger for the real thing.
Her hand rested softly on his back as his body stiffened underneath her touch, "I think you should go to bed now Charlotte."
"Bass, please," she muttered softly, but it was no use.
He turned around quickly and extended his finger towards the door, "I said go to bed. Now," he shouted.
Frightened by his loud voice, she complied, heart clenching tightly with every stride. She paused for a brief second at the threshold of the door, but refused to glance back at him. She would not give him that satisfaction.
She was only going to tell him it was alright, and that it wasn't his fault, he had been drinking. It was pure accidental and Charlie harbored no ill feelings. Of course most of that would've been a lie. It wasn't an accident. He sobered up long before the kiss. While she was no angry with him directly, she was mad at herself, not for letting him kiss her, but because she desperately wanted to do it again.