Debts, Dates and Denial Ch 16 (Charlie/Shark NC-17)

[alassenya]

In which Charlie and Rory reach the end of the Agreement and go their separate ways.
For introduction, warnings and disclaimers please see Chapter One.

Comments

[mystery_ink]

Did I not comment the first time? Guess I was too overcome! *G*

After reading it again, what really hits me is that last real fuck - so long, intense, incredible, and the feeling that Rory is touching and holding onto Charlie not just out of lust, but because this means something to him. And then - the abrupt change the next morning, when Rory puts on the full mask and more, to pull back and try to protect himself from what he's going to feel when this month is over.

Poor Rory - spending his whole life doing and acting what he has to because of how and where he grew up, and because of his father. He's a brutal hard case - but even those people need to love and be loved, and now he's had the chance to know what that really feels like, even if it's a pretend relationship and he knows it's too dangerous to continue it. And there's Charlie, seeing through him and feeling that need, and wanting to fulfill it - but lord knows what it would do to him to be committed to a man to has to be this bastard loan shark because it's the only thing he knows, and because Rory's own father would probably kill him if he tried to get out. I keep wondering if Rory lives so simply because he's saving up money so that he can afford to get out of his father's reach.

It makes sense, Charlie acting as he does - wanting Rory so much, but hating himself for wanting somebody who keeps switching back into cold bastard mode, and hating Rory for doing so. Both so upset that they end up spitting venom at each other, while aching inside.

I have to admit: as I tried to imagine what would happen the last day, my little "wish-fulfillment" daydreams took over. Not in a gooey sort of way, mind you, but I did imagine that, at the very end, Rory might let the mask drop a bit and show a little sadness, and concern. I thought he might gruffly tell Charlie that he'd done what was promised and more (referring to taking care of Rory while he was sick), so he was going to grant him one favor - whatever he wished (within reason) - at which point Charlie was going to be torn between asking for his guitar or - yep, this is a bit gooey - a kiss. A real one. And after that, they'd wrench away from each other without a look back. But, oh... that kiss! *G*

[alassenya]

You are extremely perceptive, young lady. I did toy with the gooey schmoopy type of farewell, and then the hard and fast fuck type of farewell, and neither of them seemed right, so I was left with this anti-climactic (in both senses!) version that actually seemed to fit the characters a little better. And the contrast between the Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was quite deliberate.

Don't despair, though. There are two chapters to go, and you never know what might happen...

Thanks for commenting - I love how people are reacting to the story!