Charles Smith x Reader

Twenty-Two

"Mind if I scoot in?", you asked, pointing at the empty side of the bed. "Nights get colder."

With a quick glance from the corner of his eyes, Charles shrugged. He had listened to your request and had spent the past few days not moving at all. Or only for the absolute necessities.

The bandages around his torso were still bloody though not as bad as they used to. The wounds seemed to heal just fine and his strength returned by the hour.

"It's your bed.", he simply said and returned to the book you had thrown him this morning for his own entertainment.

"True.", you lifted the covers to slip underneath, surprise by how much heat his body radiated despite the gap between the two of you. "But it's also your comfort."

He frowned, obviously not understanding.

"How so?"

You shrugged, a soft smile on your face as you snuggled into the preheated coziness.

"You not uncomfortable with some stranger next to you at night?", you asked, one eye open to glance at him.

"I grew up... different than others.", he closed the book to place it on the nightstand and lowered himself to lay next to you. "And my gang... well, privacy isn't really a thing."

As he said so, a sour but also slightly sarcastic expression spread on his face. The golden strands of the oil lamp illuminated his features and made his dark skin glow like tinted copper.

Brown eyes turned into raw, natural amber.

You had felt from the beginning that Charles was a soft soul, one that did not desire violence and only ever saw it as a last resort. But the past days had shown you just how patient he was.

Even when you had ordered him around he wouldn't complain and tend to his own well-being instead of helping out around the farm. Although he had tried plenty of times before giving up.

He wasn't just willing to help out, he was grateful. Not just for saving his life but also because you treated him like a quest rather than an intruder in your home.

It seemed that did not happen often to Charles.

"God I'd hate to...", you had to consider your words before expressing how little you desired the life of an outlaw. "...be included in EVERYTHING. Voluntarily or not."

A soft chuckle of his made the blanket tremble that the two of you shared to keep the nightly cold at bay.

"Yeah I used to sleep a little away from the camp a lot.", his head turned to throw a glance into the dark night. "Just under the stars."

Humming with agreement, you smiled. Soft pillows pressed into your cheek as you lay down to close your eyes with a sigh.

"I remember nights under stars...", you muttered, tired. "Cold but... I dunno..."

"Free?", all of a sudden there was this heavy nostalgia audible in his soothing voice, mixed with a smile that tugged at his lips.

As you peaked up to catch a glimpse you wondered how it would feel to kiss him. Somehow it seemed like his lips would be softer than anything you could have imagined.

Confused by your own thoughts, you frowned.

He noticed, his eyebrows knitted together.

Why did he always need to be so grim?

He was way too gentle looking to always be in a stage of anger. Or perhaps not anger but silent displeasure. As if he didn't want to be where he was.

"You don't like being outside..?", Charles tilted his head to look over your shoulder.

Why did it feel like he wanted to see your face?

Why did you have all these thoughts?

Perhaps living all by yourself in such a remote area started to catch up to you. Maybe it was time to think about moving closer to people. Although you did not feel any strong desire to be around the settlers.

They weren't as kind as the natives. Though, the natives didn't want you in return. They were friendly. But they wouldn't make you family.

"It's not that I don't like it.", you had to take a deep breath to keep your words from stuttering. "Just not by myself."

"Don't the natives take you hunting?"

"No. I ask for necessities and they give me permission. I need to hunt for myself. Only Aponi accompanies me. To make sure I respect the land."

For a brief moment he eyed you. His gaze lingered on your face, stopping just a little longer at your lips.

Something inside your chest sunk. It wasn't unpleasant but surprising to feel how your heart reacted all of a sudden. Heat made your cheeks burn.

"You're alright, you know.", suddenly, out of the blue, his lips curled and a smile appeared.

It was so soft, so gentle and honest that it healed your soul.

"Uh...", sucking in a sharp breath you threw yourself around to avoid Charles. "Nah... I don't think so..."

And even though you felt like a total idiot you couldn't help but smile into your pillow.

Letting out a soft breath, Charles leaned back again and closed his eyes. You could feel how he relaxed next to you, his heavy body sinking into the pillows.

Somehow it felt nice to know someone slept next to you for this night. Especially someone you didn't need to fear.

Charles was calm and kind.

With a soft sigh you allowed yourself to relax as well and tried to drift off into sleep. But it only took a few moments for you to get a strange sense of discomfort.

Frowning, you raised your head only to see that Charles also was up, staring at the door, his eyebrows drawn together.

His fingers clawed into the blanket. Not out of fear but because he needed to still figure out whether or not this moment could call for violence.

"Something's odd, isn't it?", you asked with a glance into his direction.

His lips pressed into a thin line he lowered his head, face as grim as you had never seen before, and let out a hum.

"I'll be right back.", without waiting he slipped out of bed and headed for the door.