milliways_bar | ...check the username, folks.

...check the username, folks.

David walks in, a large, leather-bound copy of Paradise Lost in his hands. He takes a look around, obviously hoping to see someone, before sighing tiredly and settling down by the couches to read.

[ooc: another Loki-trick for David, but wander over into the fun and watch me flail. Loki's not the only one hoping he gets it right...]

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He gives a little smile. "Always."

David nods, full of sympathy. He reaches out as if to touch, to stroke in comfort, but seems unsure if it would be welcome.

"I know. It's all right. None of us are handling it well, and it's understandable that you're in the worst shape of all, Love. Considering..."

"On the whole I think I'd rather put up with a hellfly," Charlie says dryly and pulls David's arm over his shoulders so he can lean against him. "Better than this wondering.

"Still no reason to take things out on you. Or expect you to fix me. I don't. I know nobody can fix me but me. Still . . ." He sighs. "Don't mind me. I'll get all this figured out eventually."

David smiles sadly and leans forward to press a kiss to Charlie's cheek.

"Yes, you will. I'm sure of it. And while you do, I'll try my best to keep my mouth shut about my own happiness."

"I don't mind you being happy. I want you to be happy. And since Loki-the-god makes you happy, yay." He leans his head against David's shoulder again. "One of us should be, at least."

He laughs and presses a kiss to the top of Charlie's head.

"Is it a balance system now? Up and down? I think I missed the bulletin that announced that, love."

He smiles warmly.

"And as you said, you'll figure it out. Just give it time to get through that thick skull of yours."

"I'd prefer both of us to be happy at once but the universe doens't seem to work that way. You find Loki, I lose B . . . bet when Bartleby comes back Loki'll decide to go back to his children's mother or summat . . ."

He sighs, relaxing. God, David's comfortable.

"And my skull is very thick," he mumbles. "It's self-preservation."

He laughs, giving a slight squeeze to Charlie.

"I see you haven't read the Eddas either, love. She's a monstrous giantess. I like to think I'm a little more fun than that, Charlie."

And then he's quiet for a moment.

"Besides, he told me that she never... never got his heart."

David squeezes Charlie again, pressing a kiss to his cheek again.

"It's all a little daunting, you know. The love of a God. But I'm happy."

"I'm appalingly undereducated," Charlie murmurs, his face thoughtful. "And you are a lot more fun than a monstrous giantess."

He pauses. "I haven't told you about what happened on Monday, have I?"

David blinks.

"No, no you haven't. What happened Monday? Nothing bad I hope."

Charlie sighs. "Well. Apparently there was a Valentine's Day prank going around--various people falling in love for a day with people completely unsuitable for them, that sort of thing. And myself and a bloke from the island who's here--I don't think you've met Sawyer yet, have you?--got caught up in it.

"It's left me a bit thrown."

He shakes his head sadly.

"No, I haven't met him, but..."

He leans forward to press a kiss to the edge of Charlie's lips, as far as he can reach, one hand lifting to run down Charlie's cheek.

"Oh, love. I'm sorry. He isn't... didn't... he isn't going to do anything... stupid about it, is he?"

"No, no . . . we're actually getting along better than we ever have . . . it's just . . . I know it was the spell or whatever it was that made me fall in love with him, but I'm--well. Bothered at how easy it was. Wondering if maybe I've been kidding myself about being in love," he finishes quietly, picking at a fray in his jeans instead of looking at David.

"Don't, Charlie. Don't start thinking like that. It's an easy way out."

He shifts Charlie to the side so that he can somewhat look into his eyes.

"That wouldn't be fair to anyone, especially you, love."

"What if it's not love, just gratitude?" Charlie murmurs, still unable to meet David's eyes because if he's right there's so much pain he caused without reason and he can't bear to think how much he hurt David before.

There's a strange genuine quality to David's look, something not so much notably absent before as present now. He runs a hand along Charlie's jaw, down his cheek.

"You can't do that to yourself, love. You can't. If there is anything I've learned over the years, it is that 'what if' is the most dangerous and destructive question you can ask yourself."

He leans forward and presses a light kiss to Charlie's lips, nose nudging his face up just enough for David to look at his eyes.

"Please don't?"

Charlie's eyes close and his head moves closer to David's, as if he wants the kiss to continue without realizing it. "Maybe it's just that I miss you," he says quietly.

"Maybe you miss the idea of us, what you remember we were."

He is just as quiet.

"Maybe." He pulls away and leans back on the couch with a sigh. He looks at David. "Am I pathetic?"

David shakes his head.

"No, you're human. That's all."

He reaches a hand out to touch Charlie carefully on the shoulder.

"You've got a big heart, love. It's no wonder you keep so much and so many inside of it."

"And here I thought I was just promiscuous," Charlie says and nudges David's knee with his own.

David nudges back with a laugh.

"That too."

Charlie chuckles and moves his head closer to David's shoulder again, if not resting on it entirely.

David sighs a little tiredly and turns to press a kiss to Charlie's forehead.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Charlie murmurs, looking at him through half-closed eyes. "Anything you want to tell me?"

He shakes his head, carefully so as not to knock into Charlie.

"No. Just concerned about you and a few others. You know how this place is... always something going wrong."

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