Prompt Post: ROUND SEVEN
ROUND SEVEN IS CLOSED
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<< ROUND SIX | ALL ROUNDS | ROUND EIGHT >>
Rules post.
Posting Guidelines.
Flat view.
Updates Post (WIPs only)
Fills Post (completed Fills only)
damalur's firstclasskink on Delicious.
Volunteers always welcome.
There is a delay on comments appearing when there is a URL in the message body. This is due to an LJ anti-spam ( Read more... )
“Charles, shut that thing up before I get up and do it myself,” came a muffled grumble from just off to his left, bringing him back to reality.
Charles blearily lifted his head and blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. Erik was laid out beside him, his face half buried in his pillow, and Charles suddenly remembered. His alarm. That’s where the sound was coming from. He rolled over onto his side, reached across to his nightstand and tapped the little button atop the device, throwing the room into silence once more. He sighed as he looked at the green numbers staring back at him from the clock, glowing far too brightly in the darkness of predawn. It really was too early, but he didn’t have much time. He couldn’t afford to be late for work again.
Charles carefully slid his side of the covers away from his body and swung his legs around to hang over the side of the bed. His toes brushed against the floor, and he grumbled. The heater must have switched off during the night again. That or Erik had been stealing blankets. He could barely feel his feet as he pushed himself away from the bed toward the bathroom.
The toothpaste stuck a bit in its tube as he squeezed it out onto the fraying bristles of his toothbrush. He’d need to replace it soon. Erik could probably do with a new one too from the looks of it. The man that stared back at him from the mirror looked tired, absolutely miserable and he frowned around the toothbrush in his mouth as he studied the dark rings circling the bottom of his eyes. He ran a hand through the disheveled ends of his hair and let out a heavy puff of air through his nose. Today was going to be miserable, wasn’t it? At least a shower would help him wake up.
Erik was still asleep when he emerged from the bathroom, his towel wrapped around his still dripping waist, and Charles smiled at the sound of the man’s gentle snores. Erik might be a morning person, but this was early even for him. Especially after the long night they’d had.
Charles didn’t bother flicking on the light as he shuffled over to the closet for his work uniform in an effort to let Erik sleep in just a little longer before Charles had to leave. He always hung the damn thing in the same place anyway. He shouldn’t need light to figure out where it he’d left it.
As he fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, he suddenly found himself wrapped up in a pair of strong arms. Erik’s breath was warm against his neck, and his stubble was more than a little abrasive against his skin as he nestled his chin into the dip of Charles’s shoulder. Charles couldn’t help the breathy little laugh that escaped his lips. He hadn’t heard Erik get up.
“Good morning.”
“The ‘good’ in that statement is completely relative,” Erik mumbled against his neck.
“I suppose that’s true. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Charles finished with his shirt and slowly extricated himself from Erik’s hold.
“Not really, but I will admit that the bed did get cold pretty fast without you there.”
“Sorry.” He lifted a hand to brush a finger over Erik’s cheek. Erik leaned a little into the touch. “At least you can get your run in a little early today.”
“Not sure that’s a plus. It looks like it’s freezing out there.”
“Make sure you wear a jacket then.”
“Very funny.” Erik yawned and stretched out his back. “Do you have class today?”
“Yes. At two. But I can still make lunch today if you’re not busy.”
“I think I’ll be free." Erik smiled at him. "I can always give you a call if something unexpected pops up.”
Charles pulled Erik down for a quick kiss, his face pulled into a wide grin that mirrored that of the man in front of him. “Then it’s a date.”
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“It’s Charles, Tom. How many times do I have to tell you that?” He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it up beside the one other that was already there. He spared a quick glance at his watch and frowned. “And no, I’m not late. You know the clock here runs slow.”
“Whatever. You’re still cutting it close. Ed would skin you alive if he was here.” He tossed a small ring of keys to Charles, who just barely caught them as they sailed past. “Now get your butt up to the front. You’re opening today.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled under his breath as he tied on the cream apron he was required to wear when he was behind the cash register. At least it had pockets that he could keep the keys in. His manager would kill him if he managed to lose them. He trudged out of the back and checked the cash register. Tom would be busy in the back for a while with the pastries while he got to work with coffee. Fun. At least this meant he didn’t have to make sandwiches today for the lunch crowd.
Charles sighed and started up the first pots of coffee to flush out the machines from anything that might have settled there overnight before he pulled out one of the cleaning rags from its nook near the sink and wet it down. The tables had to be cleaned and the floors swept before he could open the doors. His shoes shuffled lightly as he made his way over to the tables nearest the bathrooms. He’d need to check those too, make sure they had enough toilet paper and hand soap.
The sun was rising outside, painting the sky with the first hints of red and orange through the windows and throwing colors all across the inside of the small café. The smell of coffee and the pastries baking in the back filled the air, and Charles sighed contentedly as he swiped his rag across the table. He didn’t particularly like the hours, and Tom could be a pain in the ass, but he really did like his job. With his college expenses covered by his inheritance, his wages combined with Erik’s allowed them to live comfortably. Erik had been right. There was no reason to throw money around right now. Not even for Raven. Especially not for Raven. Or more specifically, Raven’s new beau.
He scowled and scrubbed harder at the table, trying to worry away a stain that had been on the table longer than he’d worked there at the shop. It was best not to think about these things. Raven could sort herself out for now. He’d be there with arms wide open whenever she needed him, but his pocketbook would remain shut.
Tom emerged from the back with the first tray of pastries, and he shot Charles a look before tilting his head toward the clock. He needed to pick up the pace. It was almost time to open.
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Also, yaaay! Coffee shop!Charles!!! XD
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