[ Peter shakes his head, before he huffs out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. ]
Shit.
[ He falls forward a little, scrubbing his face with his hands. ]
Hell. I thought you were just— tired of it all. I assumed you were just ready to settle down somewhere without having to worry about someone trying to arrest you. I assumed you just— once the bounty was out of the picture, I assumed you didn’t—
[ —didn’t need me anymore.
Because Peter had been something like his bodyguard, for a while there. The muscle, the street smarts, though admittedly, Charlie’s magic had gotten them out of more than a few binds. And once Charlie didn’t have his family’s knights breathing down his neck, once Charlie finally decided to leave, Peter felt that pang of loss, but outwardly shrugged his shoulders and let Charlie be on his way. He wasn’t going to force the guy’s hand, after all. Peter wasn’t in the habit of making anyone stay where they didn’t want to stay.
Peter lets out a trembling breath, drops one hand to peer up at Charlie. ]
no subject
Shit.
[ He falls forward a little, scrubbing his face with his hands. ]
Hell. I thought you were just— tired of it all. I assumed you were just ready to settle down somewhere without having to worry about someone trying to arrest you. I assumed you just— once the bounty was out of the picture, I assumed you didn’t—
[ —didn’t need me anymore.
Because Peter had been something like his bodyguard, for a while there. The muscle, the street smarts, though admittedly, Charlie’s magic had gotten them out of more than a few binds. And once Charlie didn’t have his family’s knights breathing down his neck, once Charlie finally decided to leave, Peter felt that pang of loss, but outwardly shrugged his shoulders and let Charlie be on his way. He wasn’t going to force the guy’s hand, after all. Peter wasn’t in the habit of making anyone stay where they didn’t want to stay.
Peter lets out a trembling breath, drops one hand to peer up at Charlie. ]
Why didn’t you just— tell me?