(Untitled)

[teenagerenegade]

He's singing to himself as he shrugs out of his coat. He's been at the compound for most of the day, sorting out paperwork in the office. He's not particularly happy with the set-up, clothing or house. It's hard to get comfortable in this many layers of clothes. In the kitchen, he peels out of coat and gloves, loosens his tie and rolls up his

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[eldest_king]

When you've had a very tiring day, there's not much that works so quickly to put you to rights than a proper bath, especially if that day has involved you doing battle and getting quite dirty, as Peter's had. Not even a great deal of hot water could relieve how weary he felt, but it went a good way toward improving his spirits after his fight with Edmund, which was incredibly helpful as he was about to find himself in a very awkward position

[teenagerenegade]

"Hmmm?" says Charlie, turning from what he's doing and then...freezing. Sort of. He stares, for a moment, at the boy standing in the doorway, all but naked. Which really is not a problem; Charlie sees a half naked boy in his house all the time.

The problem here is that this is not the usual half naked boy.

"Uh...hey?"

[eldest_king]

"By jove, you must be Charlie," Peter finally said, and stepped forward to offer his hand, because that is the proper thing to do, even if you're introducing yourself whilst only wearing a towel. "This must be a bit of a shock, a strange person bathing in your house. I'm Peter, I don't suppose you've seen Ed skulking about? He was going to bring me some clean things to wear."

[teenagerenegade]

Yeah, okay, he's definitely staring. Charlie would probably never go so far as to describe himself as 'gay' but, Jesus. He blinks and raises both eyebrows before he takes Peter's hand.

"Hey, Peter. I'm Charlie. And I...haven't seen Ed since I got home, but I can totally sort you out something to wear."

[eldest_king]

The towel began to slip a bit, but Peter caught it with quick fingers and refastened the fabric a little tighter before he gave Charlie a show.

"If it's not too much of a bother, that would be brilliant, thank you," he replied, and he managed a winning smile despite that the entire situation was incredibly odd for him. "I'd arrived from a battle," he clarified, and motioned to the pieces of armour piled atop one of the kitchen chairs. The matter of Sopespian's head he thought better kept between Ed and himself.

[teenagerenegade]

He'd have to be dead not to notice that. His eyes flicker and then he flushes, slightly, before he clears his throat. He's always really uncomfortable with the idea of battle, but he can't expect Peter to know that. He scrubs his hair back through his hair.

"You'd...uh...probably be more comfortable in Ed's stuff? But mine wears a little bit bigger."

[eldest_king]

"Best borrow something of yours if that's all right," Peter replied after a tick of hesitation. "My luck, I'd choose something Ed had planned on wearing, and then I'd be in for it. He never was terribly keen on sharing, even when he was older." After the row they'd had earlier, treading with caution seemed to Peter like the best plan all-around.

[teenagerenegade]

"Mine. Okay," says Charlie, and he disappears off to their bedroom without another word. It's not like there's much to choose between his and Ed's stuff this month. He misses his jeans and his sneakers.

He comes back with a a couple of pairs of pants and shirts.

"I can do underwear too if you want it, but I totally thought that'd be...you know...super weird."

[eldest_king]

"I think I'd rather go without, at that," Peter admitted with an apologetic smile. "There's only so much I can ask before I start feeling well guilty about it, and I think that line is drawn several paces before 'sharing underthings.' Thank you for the offer, though."

[teenagerenegade]

"Super weird," confirms Charlie, draping the things over the back of the chair and then turning back to the dinner he'd been making. "I guess Ed's stoked that you're here? It's been a long time since he had family around."

And Charlie Bartlett is the kind of the boy with the kind of heart that he doesn't feel jealous, but he does think of his mother, for amoment.

[eldest_king]

"He says he is, but it's a bit difficult to be sure," Peter allowed, not imagining himself so high in Edmund's esteem to think himself the preferred sibling. Especially not after earlier. "We had a row not twenty minutes after I got here," he admitted as he reached for the things Charlie had so kindly laid out for him. "I suppose there's a certain comfort to be had in that. I don't rightly know what we'd do if we didn't fight. Still, I'd rather I had been a bit less thick, at least until after I'd bathed." Fighting is even less pleasant when you're tired and covered in battlefield dirt.

[teenagerenegade]

"That sounds like him," says Charlie, his smile fond all the same. Charlie's lived with Edmund long enough to know what he's like when he's in the mood for an argument. He glances at Peter, arching an eyebrow.

"I'd love to say I'm sure he'd settle down, but you know him better than I do, so I'm sure you wouldn't buy it. Tea?"

[eldest_king]

"That would be brilliant, thank you," Peter eagerly replied with a nod. There wasn't a great lot that a cup of tea couldn't make right, and while Peter had his doubts as to whether Charlie could manage a proper one (Edmund's boyfriend was clearly American), he'd be grateful to have any at all.

"I'll just go and get these sorted, then," he said, motioning with the clothing, and hurried from the room before his towel could begin to slip again.

[teenagerenegade]

Charlie takes his time with the tea. Edmund's got him well trained. He actually almost prefers it to coffee some days. He's not admitting to that.

Once the tea's in the pot, he sits down at the table, opening the comic he'd been reading earlier.