Love

"As you slumped on the couch, staring at the blank TV, you thought to yourself that 'this would be the last' time you'd forgive Charlie for her shitty temper. She had the nerve to almost raise her hand at you! Out of all the people, you were the one who truly cared for her."

"You were almost dozing off into sleep as you suddenly got jerked back into the waking world by the sound of your shared bedroom door being flung open. It was Charlie, her expression still bitter from the recent argument between the two of you. She was clad in a gray hoodie and black trunks."

"I'm going out for a walk," "She said with a tone that was just as cold and distant as her tough exterior" "Without another word or hesitation, she started heading towards the door, but she stopped after you called her name." "What now?" "She asked, her hands in the pocket of her hoodie, not even bothering to turn around and look at you, and the annoyed expression in her voice was easily noticeable."

'Leave me alone!' Charlie thought, her face twisted into a mask of annoyance and anger. She wanted to punch something, or someone, but she knew that Ciel wouldn't be an appropriate target for her frustrations.   Biting her lip, Charlie took a deep breath and turned around slowly. Her eyes locked with Ciel's pleading ones, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt wash over her. But damn it, she just needed some space!

"I don't need your permission to go for a walk!" she snapped, stomping her foot like a petulant child. She crossed her arms under her breasts, pushing them out slightly as she tilted her head back defiantly. "You always think you know what's best for me," she huffed, trying to hide the fact that his concern was actually kind of sexy when he cared this much.

Taking another deep breath, she softened her tone slightly. "I'll be back soon, alright? Just... don't wait up." With that, she stormed out of the room without giving him another chance to protest or discuss their issues further.

As she walked down the street, fists clenched at her sides, Charlie tried to clear her mind. It wasn't fair that Ciel always felt the need to control every aspect of her life, especially since he had no idea what it felt like to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. She understood why he cared so much—she did love him after all—but sometimes it felt like he suffocated her with his protectiveness. Maybe if she gave him a little scare...

Charlie struggled against Ciel's embrace, fists still clenched tightly. She wanted to hit something, wanted to burn off the frustration and anger still coursing through her veins. But as she breathed in his familiar scent, felt the steady beat of his heart against her own racing one, her fury began to ebb away.

"I didn't need your help," she muttered, though there was no real heat behind the words. Deep down, she was grateful he had shown up when he did—those men could have overpowered her if he hadn't intervened. Still, her pride stung at the realization that she couldn't handle it on her own.

Pulling back slightly, Charlie's eyes widened in horror as she noticed the knife handles protruding from Ciel's body. "Shit!" she gasped, hands fluttering uselessly over the wounds. Blood was soaking through his shirt at an alarming rate. "Why would you do something so stupid?!" Tears welled up in her eyes as panic set in.

Trying to take control of the situation, Charlie shrugged out of her hoodie and pressed it firmly against the deepest stab wound. "We need to get you to a hospital," she said shakily. As much as she wanted to be mad at him for getting hurt protecting her, seeing Ciel injured and bleeding out brought all her latent fear and love bubbling to the surface.

"Just hold on, okay?" she begged, voice thick with emotion. Slipping an arm around his waist, she helped him start walking—he was losing too much blood to waste any more time arguing. Her feelings for him were a tangled mess, but in that moment all Charlie knew was that she couldn't lose Ciel.

Charlie's heart clenched painfully at the sight of Ciel's scars, old wounds she knew little about but could easily imagine how they were inflicted. Her anger towards him melted away completely, replaced by a fierce protectiveness.

"Don't talk like that," she chided gently, though her voice wavered. The hand not supporting his waist came up to clasp his fingers tightly, grounding them both. "You're going to be fine. I won't let anything happen to you."

Spotting a taxi up ahead, Charlie waved it down urgently. She helped ease Ciel into the backseat before giving the driver terse instructions to step on it. Climbing in after, she pulled his head into her lap and pressed her hoodie more firmly to the stab wounds, ignoring the blood soaking into her clothes.

"I'm sorry too," she said softly, brushing her fingers tenderly through his hair. Her earlier frustrations seemed so petty and small in the face of Ciel's injuries. All that mattered now was getting him medical help.

As the taxi sped through the night, Charlie leaned down to press a lingering kiss to Ciel's forehead. "I love you. Just hold on a little longer, okay? We're almost there." She refused to give in to panic, focusing on keeping him awake and monitoring his condition closely until they arrived at the ER doors.

Charlie tensed at the doctor's line of questioning, a flash of anger rising within her at the implication. But she took a deep breath, knowing this was procedure—and that Ciel's scars did indeed look like the aftermath of prolonged abuse.

"Those scars aren't from me," she said firmly, meeting the doctor's gaze without hesitation. "Ciel...he had a bad past before we met. But he's never told me the full details." Running a hand through her hair, Charlie sighed. "We've had our issues same as any couple, but I've never laid a hand on him. Hurting Ciel is the last thing I'd ever want to do."

Her tone softened as she added, "All I've tried to do is support him, be there for him. We look out for each other." A small smile touched her lips as she remembered Ciel's actions tonight. "He got stabbed protecting me. That should tell you all you need to know about where we stand."

Charlie knew she had a temper, but the love she felt for Ciel was deeper than any anger. She hoped the doctor could see that—and that Ciel would be okay. "Can I sit with him?" she asked, anxiety gnawing at her stomach. "Even if he's still unconscious, I just...I need to be near him." Being apart while he was in surgery had been torture.

The doctor studied her carefully for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I believe you mean him no harm. You can wait for him in his room." His expression softened. "He's very lucky to have you looking out for him too."

Charlie huffed out a soft laugh, half exasperated, half relieved to see Ciel awake and making jokes despite his condition. "Speak for yourself," she retorted, crossing the room to take his hand gently in hers.

Up close, the extent of his bandages was sobering. But his smile warmed her, easing some of the lingering tension and fear coiled tight in her chest. She brought his knuckles to her lips, holding his gaze. "You scared me tonight, you idiot."

Releasing his hand, Charlie sank into the chair beside the bed, exhaustion catching up to her now that the immediate danger had passed. She studied the scars marring Ciel's torso, old wounds that told of unspeakable pain. Ghosts from his past that she longed to lay to rest, though she knew some scars ran too deep to ever fully heal.

"The doctor thought we were married," she said with a soft snort, changing the subject. Marriage was far from her mind, but the assumption gave her an idea. "Maybe next time some thugs try jumping me, I'll just flash a fake wedding ring. Might make them think twice." Her tone was light, but underneath ran a current of steel—a promise to always protect Ciel, as he had protected her.

Reaching out, Charlie took his hand once more and lifted it to press a tender kiss to his knuckles. "Get some rest. I'll be right here when you wake up." Where she belonged—by his side.

Charlie huffed out a soft laugh against Ciel's lips, shaking her head even as she leaned into his touch. "You're incorrigible."

But his words warmed her more than she cared to admit, chasing away the last lingering chill from the night's trauma. The love between them, for all its flaws and difficulties, was something she cherished deeply—a sanctuary in a world that had shown them little kindness.

She considered his offer, chewing her lip in thought. Getting some rest did sound heavenly...and being close to Ciel, feeling the reassurance of his steady breathing and heartbeat, might help chase the lingering shadows from her mind.

"Alright, you've convinced me," she said at last, rising to shuck off her bloodied hoodie and kick off her boots. The hospital gown provided was thin but clean, and she slipped beneath the sheets carefully, mindful of Ciel's injuries as she curled against his unmarred side and draped an arm gently across his waist.

Settling her head in the crook of his shoulder, Charlie sighed contentedly. "Comfy husband," she teased, pressing a kiss to his collarbone. Her eyes drifted shut as the tension and adrenaline finally released their grip.

"Thank you for staying with me," she murmured, already half-asleep. Where she felt safest was right here in Ciel's arms—injuries and all.