(Untitled)

[homerinexile]

Donald Maclean was good at avoiding things. Avoiding issues, avoiding people, except of course, when he felt the need to tell all, to deal with things now and in the immediate. To say he wasn't a man built of contradictions was a lie

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[1000_cranes]

Charlie wasn't running, but she was walking, with headphones in her ears, listening to a song which her Momma had loved as she walked. She'd been running so much she'd got blisters, and she was barefoot, walking through the cool grass, with her hair in long braids.

When she saw him sitting outside the hut, she waved her hand and she smiled, and she ignored the way that her stomach both lurched and went tight at the same time.

Girl, pull yourself together.

[homerinexile]

His fingers tightened around the glass, but when he saw her smile, her braids swinging slightly... Donald returned the smile and waved back, beckoning her over.

At the same time he felt another pang of guilt, this time in his choice of hut. He'd known it was close to Charlie's, and subconsciously, it may have been why he'd chosen it.

[1000_cranes]

Charlie unhooked her earbuds, letting them dangle against the front of her dress as she walked towards him, her skirt swirling around her legs.

"Whatcha drinkin', sugar?"

[homerinexile]

"A very nice scotch, and some ice. Sipping more than drinking." It was his first but he was considering having a few more. "Would you like something? I'm well stocked."

[1000_cranes]

Charlie blushed, faintly, at the memory of the taste of the champagne.

"Whatcha got?"

[homerinexile]

Donald smiled, things were easier with the conversation on this sort of neutral topic. "There's very little I don't have actually," he tried to think of what all was there. "Gin, vodka, bourbon, even a bottle or two of wine in there."

[1000_cranes]

"Bourbon," said Charlie, instantly, with a flash of a smile. "Bourbon would be nice."

She walked over and sat down beside him.

"This place is nice."

[homerinexile]

"Thank you," he disappears inside to fix her drink, a liberal splash of bourbon on ice, bringing the drink back to her and talking all the while. "I ah... Just moved in. Recently."

[1000_cranes]

"Did ya?" said Charlie, taking the glass and giving him a look, stretching her bare legs out in the sun.

"It's nice. You can hear the water up here too."

[homerinexile]

"Last week. Just after the snow went away," He adds by way of explanation, sipping somewhat nervously at his drink. "You can. I've grown to like it a great deal."

[1000_cranes]

"Told you," said Charlie, sipping her drink and closing her eyes with pleasure. "It's my favourite thing after runnin'."

[homerinexile]

"I believe I can understand that now." Perhaps not the running, but the water, "It's soothing."

[1000_cranes]

"Yeah, it is," said Charlie, turning her glass slightly to hear her ice chink against the edge of her glass.

"Sometimes you need to be soothed."

[homerinexile]

"Yes." Just one word, though his eyes were likely heavy on her as he watched her for a moment. He was unsure of what to say, or if he should explain himself further. He decided to do neither, closing his eyes, and leaning back with a deep breath.

[1000_cranes]

She wiggled her toes, the sides of her feet reddened and blistered from her running shoes, and then she looked up at him.

When she touched him, the hair over his ear, it was almost hesitant.

"Wow, sugar. That was heartfelt."

[homerinexile]

He turns into her touch with an embarrassed smile. "Some days aren't as eloquent as others I suppose."

Donald pauses, not sure what else he can say. "You're well?" A horrible thing to ask, but he knows no other way to say things.