[ He hesitates, because what he wants to say is yes. abso-fucking-lutely. But for as little time as they've spent apart, it's still enough to make them different people – maybe not on a large scale, but in little ways that matter.
For Peter's part, he's fallen back on old habits. He was never a saint when Charlie was around, that much is certain, but he had tempered some of his selfishness, at least a little, had forced himself to be a little more mindful. Not as much, these days. ]
... Consider it a trial run. [ He tries to make his voice light. ] Make sure the two of us can actually stand each other after all this time.
[ Peter blinks at that, trying to recall where Lastonbell is. His own assessment seems to match up with Charlie's, at least, and he winces again. ]
Shit. That's a ways away.
[ He sighs quietly, his free hand pinching the bridge of his nose. (His other hand still rests in Charlie's, and either Peter's forgotten, or he's unwilling to let it go.) ]
Not unless you somehow teleport yourself there before me and blow the whistle.
[ He gives a one-shouldered shrug. (His hand is still clasped with Peter's, and in spite of Peter's reluctance to give him any sort of answer, he takes it as a part of one anyway.) ]
But a couple of weeks is a good trial period, don't you think?
[ That little brush of contact sparks something in Peter's chest, makes his smile widen a little, and he swallows around a nervous sort of lump in his throat. ]
See? This is why you should've taken up farming. Would've had the animals for company.
[ Because that weird little feeling is too scary to explore, so he falls back on his default smart-ass mode, instead. ]
We already established they aren't half as witty as you.
[ This is dangerous, sitting here like this, with Peter smiling at him like that. He might throw Peter's whole idea of a trial period out the window- hells, he might throw this whole thing out the window- if he gives in to the building temptation to kiss him. ]
[ He shrugs a little. ] I guess I’ve got a good memory.
[ Granted, the fact that his thoughts near constantly drifted back to Peter in their time apart might have helped as well, but admitting to that probably bordered on creepy. ]
I’ll try not to do it again if I can help it. I know it freaked you out.
[ He falls quiet at that, lips pressed together in thought, before he gives a slow shake of his head. ]
It’s fine.
[ Peter at least manages to sound more certain than he feels. ]
It worked, after all, right? [ As much to convince Charlie as himself, though his tone doesn’t betray much of that. ] Could’ve done with a bit more warning, though. Or at least a couple seconds to appreciate how devastatingly handsome I am.
[ He can’t tell if Peter is placating him or just trying to get over his own hang-ups about magic or what, but Charlie at least counts it as a good thing that Peter acknowledges that it was useful. Charlie’s illusory magic is pretty slapdash and far from perfect, but it was what they needed in the moment. ]
Sorry. I was under the impression that we were kind of in a hurry. I can get you a mirror if that would make you feel better.
Always time to appreciate my good looks. Even if I’m running for my life.
[ He allows himself one quick little smirk before glancing at the opening of their little hideout. It’s as comfortable a place as any to camp out, especially with Peter exhausted by the crashing adrenaline and the wound in his back – tingling now, rather than actively throbbing. There are hours yet before sunset, though, and the part of him that’s spent all these years just surviving tells him it’s better to keep moving.
Peter takes a breath, rallying himself, and starts collecting his things. ]
[ Charlie rolls his eyes, but when Peter moves to sit up a bit reaching over to collect his things, Charlie gives his hand a squeeze. It would be smart to keep moving, there’s a lot of daylight left to burn, but he could keep them hidden if he needed to. ]
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[ It comes out in a sigh, part exasperated, part fond. ]
This is a decision I made ages ago. If you really don't want me around, I'll go, but if you want me to stay, I'll stay in a heartbeat.
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For Peter's part, he's fallen back on old habits. He was never a saint when Charlie was around, that much is certain, but he had tempered some of his selfishness, at least a little, had forced himself to be a little more mindful. Not as much, these days. ]
... Consider it a trial run. [ He tries to make his voice light. ] Make sure the two of us can actually stand each other after all this time.
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All right. It's going to take us a while to get back to the village anyway.
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Where's this quaint little village of yours?
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Um, well. If I figured out where we are correctly, it's north. Way north, a few days walk out of Lastonbell.
It'll probably take us a couple of weeks to get there by foot.
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Shit. That's a ways away.
[ He sighs quietly, his free hand pinching the bridge of his nose. (His other hand still rests in Charlie's, and either Peter's forgotten, or he's unwilling to let it go.) ]
Don't suppose you've got a shortcut, huh?
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[ He gives a one-shouldered shrug. (His hand is still clasped with Peter's, and in spite of Peter's reluctance to give him any sort of answer, he takes it as a part of one anyway.) ]
But a couple of weeks is a good trial period, don't you think?
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Fair point.
That village of yours. Not gonna collapse without you there, is it?
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[ He had notes prepared well in advance as well, in the event he needed to disappear. ]
Honestly, I spend most of my time alone in the woods. I don't interact with the villagers too much aside from a few things.
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You know, when I figured you were going in for a quiet lifestyle, I didn't figure you'd become a hermit.
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[ He flashes a small smile at Peter, brushing his thumb over the back of his hand again ]
But like I said, it got pretty lonely.
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See? This is why you should've taken up farming. Would've had the animals for company.
[ Because that weird little feeling is too scary to explore, so he falls back on his default smart-ass mode, instead. ]
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[ This is dangerous, sitting here like this, with Peter smiling at him like that. He might throw Peter's whole idea of a trial period out the window- hells, he might throw this whole thing out the window- if he gives in to the building temptation to kiss him. ]
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And I'm pretty sure we also established you would've just yammered at them. Constantly. Hard for a guy to get a word in edgewise, when you're around.
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[ Though he has been known to ramble now and again. It happens, especially when he's talking about magic. ]
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So if I ask you about that illusion you made earlier, the copy of me. You won't end up talking for the rest of the night?
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I guess that depends on what you want to know.
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It was a decent likeness. That all came from your head?
[ An invitation of sorts, if Charlie really wants to talk about it, which he clearly does. ]
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Pretty much. I basically took a mental image of you and projected it into the real world.
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[ Granted, the fact that his thoughts near constantly drifted back to Peter in their time apart might have helped as well, but admitting to that probably bordered on creepy. ]
I’ll try not to do it again if I can help it. I know it freaked you out.
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It’s fine.
[ Peter at least manages to sound more certain than he feels. ]
It worked, after all, right? [ As much to convince Charlie as himself, though his tone doesn’t betray much of that. ] Could’ve done with a bit more warning, though. Or at least a couple seconds to appreciate how devastatingly handsome I am.
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Sorry. I was under the impression that we were kind of in a hurry. I can get you a mirror if that would make you feel better.
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Always time to appreciate my good looks. Even if I’m running for my life.
[ He allows himself one quick little smirk before glancing at the opening of their little hideout. It’s as comfortable a place as any to camp out, especially with Peter exhausted by the crashing adrenaline and the wound in his back – tingling now, rather than actively throbbing. There are hours yet before sunset, though, and the part of him that’s spent all these years just surviving tells him it’s better to keep moving.
Peter takes a breath, rallying himself, and starts collecting his things. ]
Ought to keep moving.
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Are you sure?
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