PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

xiii. feel-good morning

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2014

Two pairs of footsteps create a rhytmic pattern of scratches against the pavement, basking on the soft rays of light casted down by the sun which takes over its throne on the firmament for the day.

Harry and Charlie walk alongside each other -- until his strides change their speed, unabling her to keep up with him as she walks a safe distance behind him.

Charlie smiles as her gaze darts down to the brown boots covering Harry's feet, scuffed and worn as it collides to the rough concrete.

It seems as though Harry is oblivious about Charlie's presence as he navigates the streets by himself; like the both of them are total strangers who just happen to take the same route.

The truth of the matter is, Harry has been this way for a very long time that it has become a serious habit hard for him to break. He always walks ahead of everyone else, taking the lead, knowing people are always trailing behind. Oblivious enough to the fact that he is not in his office as of the moment, rather, with Charlie -- and Charlie knows these streets better than his self.

She doesn't mind, though. If anything, she finds the instance even more amusing.

Charlie finds Harry (or Aiden) a very interesting persona. He's so quiet, to the extent that she has to ask him things first before he willingly speaks his mind. If he does, it would only consist three to five-word sentences. She knows that it just takes him a little bit more reaching out and time spent with before Harry opens up his self.

"In a hurry, aren't we?" She jokes, breaking the smooth silence that has fallen between them.

Harry stops his fast pacing, dead on his tracks once he realizes that the words are directed to him. He turns to face Charlie within one quick turn, mentally face-palming himself as he notices the distance between them -- at least, a few feet away. In fact, Charlie's casual steps are still approaching him to cover it, stopping once they stand in shoulder's length.

Harry scratches the back of his head, grimacing at her coyly, to which Charlie finds pleasure at the sight of his apologetic face. She keeps a straight face.

"Mm'sorry. I'm not in hurry." He shakes his head profusely. Pissing Charlie off is the last thing to ever occur in his mind.

If she intends on making him feel guilty, she's doing a great job about it. The back of his ears are already heating up, miniscule of sweat dripping beneath the curls by his temple. He grows even more nervous when Charlie folds her arms in front of herself, her brows raised at him in a challenging manner.

"Sorry, Charlie. I was just--"

"Well, slow down, superman." To his utter surprise, Charlie burst out into a melodious series of chuckles before sauntering ahead of him.

He shakes his head while chuckling to himself and starts to jog forward to keep up with Charlie.

---

"This is my favorite place. Their pancakes are amazeballs." The beautiful blonde girl begins to say as she and Harry make their way towards a vacant booth inside the small diner.

The foreign word -- to him, at least -- she uttered causes his brows to pull together but the smile that comes with it makes Charlie's heart to flutter. He nods at her as he steers Charlie to her seat (to make up for the earlier incident). Settling in across each other, a plus-size black woman approaches their table with an obvious grin on her face. She stands in a baby blue uniform, her highlighted soft afro framing her round beautiful face.