Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

Context: Your relationship with your family has never been great, largely thanks to your father. A good ol' boy and ex-military, he convinced everyone your acts of rebellion were good enough reason for all of them to cut you off or assume the worst. Except for Charlie. Ten years your senior and an ex-squadmate of your father, Charlie was able to see through those lies as you started college. He's come to your aid plenty of times, protected you, and encouraged you. It's hard not to appreciate him and all he does for you, or how hot the dummy is. You made your move and kissed him, and he's just as hungry for you. The only problem? Your nightmare family getting involved.

Setting: Charlie's house

Tags: [M4F][Friends to Lovers][Older Man Speaker][Younger Woman Listener][Controversial][Kisses][Protective][Old Friends][History Together][Cuddles][Military Boy][Angst][SPICY][Confession][TW: Implied Abusive Family/PTSD/A Shitty Dad][CW: Older Man x Younger Woman]

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[C] = Charlie

[Scene opens in Charlie’s bedroom]

[SFX: Early morning ambiance]

[You reach out and turn your alarm off before it has a chance to start yelling. You have to reach over Charlie’s bare chest to get to it, but it’s not the worst compromise]

[C] “Mrlgr… I told you you should’ve just kept your phone on your nightstand, Shortstack. I could’ve cleared it up for you.”

[Pause]

[He snorts and rolls over to face you, arms around your waist]

[C] “Yeah, yeah, I worry too much… Mmh! Ergh, stretching hurts! Mlem. I’m gonna run a shower, Shortstack, but I promise I’ll save you all the hot water. I like mine cold.”

[...]

[He turns a bit red]

[C] “OK, in my defense, guys can’t help their morning conundrums, and what have you. And yes, that is what I’m going to call it, so hush.”

[Pause?]

[Somehow, he turns redder]

[C] “As romantic as it would be to have you join me, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Things already went… pretty far, last night, and we’re meant to be taking things really slow. I love being around you, and Lord knows I enjoyed being close to you last night, I just… This is a lot for both of us, you know?”

[Pause…]

[C] “Oh, you know I can’t take that pout. C’mere, c’mon… Right in these big ol’ arms.”

[SFX: The bed shifting]

[He pulls you into a gentle embrace, rubbing your back]

[C] “Shhh… It’s OK. You’re still in shock over your old man passing, and let us not speak about Jim fucking visiting. You’re allowed to be shaken up and confused. Least that’s what the head doctors told me once I came back from active duty. You ain't a soldier, but you’ve got the shoulder demons of one…Real heavy, ain’t they?”

[...]

[Charlie sighs and pats your back]

[C] “Sweet girl… You’re such a good girl, you know? Worst you ever did was mouth off and lay out a few boys here and there. You didn’t deserve any of this… Uh, Shortstack? You spaced out for a second. You alright?”

[Pause]

[C] “Ohh, you like being called that. Huh… I mean, I’ve always thought you were a-hey wait a second! Is this a kinky thing?!”

[Pause <3]

[C] “Oh, godamnit… I SWEAR I’m not trying to be seductive, you KNOW what me trying to be seductive looks like, and it ain’t pretty or effective! Closer to a, ‘Tries to say hello, forgets mouth full of chicken wing sauce’ sort of move!”

[Pause <3]

[C] “I am not protesting too much! Damnit, I’m trying to be considerate and compassionate, not seductive. You think I wouldn’t do something from your fancy romance novels like, I dunno, toss you on the bed, pin you down, growl in your ear, and this is not helping my case at all, is it?”

[Pause!]

[He huffs, though it’s good-natured, but pauses as he sees you looking at the scars on his chest]

[C] “Hmph. Figures I’d be in for a world of getting roasted. Shortstack, you gotta… Hey, c’mon, don’t fixate on the scars on my chest. You always get so damned sad over them, look, baby girl, it’s done. They don’t hurt anymore.”

[Pause?]

[He shudders as you trace one closer to his heart]

[C] “Yes, even the one close to my heart… You always were curious about that one, and I was always curious how much your Dad actually talked about what happened over there…”

[...]

[Charlie sighs and rubs his face]

[C] “Only about his own experiences, Jesus… Yeah, perfectly appropriate to talk about with your damned kid. I mean, there ain’t much to tell about it. I was the last man uncaptured in our squad, I was told to retreat but… my brothers were getting tortured in there, I… I-I couldn’t. So I went in, took out everyone, ‘cept for one guy who came at me with a knife… People become scary strong when they’re desperate, so he managed to knock me on my back and stabbed me. Managed to get him off of me, but…”

[His fingertips brush over the scar]

[...]

[You rest your hand over his and he shivers]

[C] “...There’s something in that primal fear, you know? That fear that comes from your body not wanting to die. Like a scorpion swarmed by ants. You keep stinging and flailing and trying, but you know you’re a goner, and you’re just trying to ignore the pain til Death shows up… He was a civilian, trying to scare off the big, mean soldiers, and he stabbed me, and I shot him. And you don’t need to rest your hand over mine, sweetheart. I’m OK, I promise.”

[SFX: Social media notifications, and a lot of them]

[You both pause as your phone starts blowing up. Then Charlie’s phone starts blowing up. You exchange grim expressions]

[C] “And there goes the social media blips. Fuckin’ mistake, every single one of them… Let’s see. Ah, yep, an entire page dedicated to calling me a cradle-robbing, manipulative beater of poor, innocent Jim who was just concerned about his grieving niece, only to have some sicko with PTSD take advantage. How about you?”

[You just show him. He turns a violent red from anger]

[...]

[C] “...Turn off your phone, sweetheart. I’ll handle this once I’m clean, shaved, and in the proper clothes to bury some meddling, HOA-loving, Church-faking, poor BBQ skill-having, six out of seven kids fuckin’ pregnant hoarding FUCKS.”

[Pause]

[C] “Huh? You know a faster way to handle it? How?”

[You take your phone, hop into his lap, and take a few pictures]

[C] “S-Shortstack, hey! Now ain’t the time to be cuddling up in my lap, you’re confusing my rage boner! Though it is already pretty confused… Like a fucking flag in a hurricane. Oh, now why are you snapping selfies?”

[Pause]

[C] “You’re gonna respond with just the pictures and you flipping the bird…? Uh, Shortstack, you know you’ll start a wholeass war with your family, right? That’s a whole Hell of a lot of people with stupid fucking opinions.”

[Pause]

[He appraises you for a moment, unreadable]

[C] “If you’re gonna date me… you don’t want to hide, because you’re not ashamed of us…?”

[Pause?]

[He scoffs]

[C] “Hell no I ain’t ashamed of us! I just wanted to be careful while we navigated this whole mess… But if you want to blow the lid off of it, I won’t stop you, sweetheart. I just know they’re gonna try and ruin us both…”

[Pause]

[C] “You ain’t worried? How come?”

[Pause]

[He must have seen your devious smirk because he’s responding in more ways than one]

[C] “You got the receipts, huh…? Hehe, my smart Shortstack. Sweet girl with revenge on the mind! How’s this gonna play out, then?”

[Pause]

[His eyes turn sultry. Appreciative]

[C] “You’re gonna post the pictures, we’re both going to turn off our phones, and then have a nice shower and breakfast together, huh?”

[<3]

[SFX: Social media posting noises]

[C, breathy] “Yes ma’am.”

[To be continued]