The Baudelaires (Unedited)

17: "You look better"

Klaus was just humming a tune, trying to keep us both calm. We were both together and not separate, so that was one good thing.
I suddenly felt a sting on my hand, I looked over and Carmelita had cut between my fingers; I was bleeding.
Klaus put his head next to mine, looking into my eyes, I looked back at him, afraid.
We were way too close to each other, noses and foreheads nearly touching.
"It's going to be okay." Klaus whispered.
I nodded slightly.
Esme slapped Klaus around the head, "quit whispering!"
He shuddered.
I glared at Esme.
She noticed and grabbed my head, squishing my cheeks. She slapped me, then put tape across my mouth, "are you mad, Charlotte?"
I nodded, slapping her back.
"Where's the Meducoid Myselium?" Esme asked.
"No, Esme. Don't do it. Please." Klaus said.
"And why not?"
"Give her another chance." Klaus suggested, "she's just...distressed."
"Fine." Esme rolled her eyes.
I put my head on Klaus's shoulder, his head going on top of mine.

All I could see was the Mortmain Mountains, they were going to leave us there.
Soon enough, they had thrown us out of the car, leaving us in a cave.
Esme then shouted, "you do realize that the tape on your mouth, Charlotte, has traces of the deadly fungus!"
I stared at her, afraid.
"Don't even think of going back home! We'll find you!"
They drove off, laughing as they did.

Klaus ripped off the tape over my mouth instantly, "oh no!"
I stared at him, confused, "what..?"
"You're green."
I sighed, making my eyes droop, I was tired.
"Whatever you do, don't fall asleep. It's not tiredness."
"Easier said than done.." I sighed.
"We need wasabi." Klaus informed.
"I haven't got my-"
"Bag."
"No."
"You've got hours left, we have to act quick."
I teared up, "you can't help me, Klaus."
"Why?"
"You'll catch it."
"I don't mind."
"No, Klaus. I mean it."
"Charlotte."
"Klaus." I shook my head.
He grabbed my bag off of the floor.
"There's one cube that fell out of the sugar bowl." Klaus sighed.
"Half each."
"But-"
"Klaus, half each. We need to be sure that you don't get it as much as me."
"This won't last long, if it's only half. A whole one would last a long time."
"Just...take half...unless you want a whole one." I sighed.
He reluctantly broke the sugar cube in two, eating one half.
I took the other, feeling better almost instantly.
"How do you feel?"
"Better." I smiled, "because you listened, no matter the consequences for me."
"You look better."
"It worked straight away."
"I don't feel any different."
"It didn't spread."
"No, it didn't."
"I don't know why, we're thirty centimeters apart."
"Maybe were an exception."
"But for what?"
"For liking each other so much."
I stared at him, smiling a little.
"What?"
"I don't know."
"I'm only owning up to it."
I laughed, "I guess so."
"You too?"
"Y-Yeah." I blushed, I could feel it.
"Oh wow." Klaus laughed, "you learn something new everyday."
I looked at the ground, trying to avoid his gaze. I felt embarrassed.
"Don't be like that, it's okay."
"Sorry, Klaus, I'm... shy when it comes to things like this."
"Same here, you just need to study the book on Confidence."
"I've read that several times and nothing changes."
"I'm changing the subject."
"Good, you're taking away the embarrassment."
"That's a bad thing."
"Not for me."
"Touchê."
"Yep."
Klaus was bright red, he took of his glasses, wiping the condensation off, "am I annoying you?"
"No, why?"
"Because you have that expression."
"Of what?"
"Nuisance, that face when someone embarrasses you too much."
"I'm not annoyed. Just, blatantly thinking that I shouldn't have admitted."
"Why?"
"Because now we have something obviously in common instead of it being under the surface."
"We don't have to tell anyone."
"I know, but anybody is bound to figure it out."
"So? Let them."
I laughed, "That summed it up."
"Yeah it did!"
I got up and hugged him, going quiet.
"Hey!" He laughed.
I smiled and looked up at him, "what?"
"You're knocking my glasses off!"
"So?"
"I can't see!"
"But, I can see your face...better.." I laughed.
"I'm not that good looking honestly."
"Then why did I admit to liking you?"
"I'm not sure."
"Because I love everything about you."
He laughed at my response, "I disagree."

He grabbed my hand and we started to walk up the mountain, following the sign back to Mount Fraught.
He was in his arms as we walked up, we weren't talking.
I looked up at him and smiled, he smiled back. He was happy even in this bad situation.
We got to the top, I sat close to the edge and looked down, "wow.." I mumbled, grabbing on to the sides.
"Don't slip." Klaus said as he fell over.
"Don't slip, Klaus." I rolled my eyes laughing a little.
I got up and helped him up.
"I told you not to fall and I go ahead and-"
"Prove that you're a little more accident prone." I laughed.
"Yeah."
"I love this."
"Even if the others are somewhere unknown, and we are somewhere they don't know."
"Yes, maybe it's a little more.. free."
"I agree." He smiled, hugging me.
I laughed, looking up at him, adjusting his glasses.
"Thanks." He smiled.
"Your welcome."
He kissed me on the cheek. I looked down at the ground, most likely going red, confused.
"I didn't mean to. I acted by instinct."
"No, it's fine." I smiled, "I liked that."
Klaus smiled, as if he had won again.
"You win." I laughed.
"Do I?" He laughed and looked down at me.
"Yes."
"What's my prize?"
"I don't know."
"Home?"
"I guess." I laughed, "A sanctuary."
"That would be nice."
I got out my spyglass and looked at the surrounding area.
"Bingo." I smiled.
"What?"
"Yellow cab heading toward Dark Avenue."
He smiled, "With the empty elevator shaft."
"It was ersatz wasn't it."
"Yeah, it was ersatz due to it keeping the Quagmires in there."
"Should we attempt to get there?"
"If that's Frank-"
"It's Frank."
"Then we should go."
"Quickly, they're entering the town."
"How far?"
"About a hundred miles."
"We can't make that."
"It's worth a try, isn't it?" I looked at him.
"Obviously." He smiled and grabbed my hand again, "let's go."