Chapter Text
After that lazy Sunday of gaming, Dean didn't hear from Charlie for a few days. So he didn't think anything of it when she called on Thursday and asked him to swing by her place after work.
"So this is an indoor system, so that you can see the bees, like an ant farm but they use the tubes to enter and exit through the window adapter. But THIS one has this neat design for collecting the honey without destroying the hive so it's way less stressful for the bees and causes them way less work, as they can just repair the cracked cells rather than rebuilding a new comb from scratch, as well as being way more efficient for the humans too. So I was thinking if I ordered THIS one, could we modify it to be an indoor set up? So I can see the bees?"
"I mean, it looks doable... but I'll need to check the details. You sure you want bees indoors though?"
"Yeah, I don't have enough outdoor space for a hive. Plus, you know how indoorsy I am, I'd never see the lil gals otherwise."
"I meant more about them escaping..."
"Then I'll help them get outside again. But if you make it, I have every faith there will be no escabees!" Charlie chirped.
Dean looked at her. "Goddamn, you owe me a drink for that pun."
Charlie rolled her eyed "Oh hush, you love me. Soooooo....?" Charlie waggled her tablet at him.
"I just have one more question..." Dean rubbed his neck a little self-consciously "Are you sure the bees will, you know, like, being inside?"
"Aww look at you, worrying about the bees!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah; I got a big ol' heart. Shut it and answer the question."
"Well, I won't be trapping them inside. And even if i was the type of person who would, they have to be able to go out and collect nectar and pollen. If it's not a good home for them, the Queen will leave and find somewhere else - it's as simple as that."
"Fair enough. How'd you get into this anyway? I feel like I missed a step here."
"Well, I've always low-key liked them. I mean, come on, a society made up of mainly women led by a Queen, what's not to love? But then I started researching them for something else and it kinda backfired on me coz then the old hyperfocus kicked in and hello new obsession! Which is why I'm going to wait a bit before actually ordering anything; I know better than to commit myself straight away. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun with the planning!"
"That makes sense. Well, let's get designing then."
Charlie squeaked and pulled up a different app on her tablet, quickly sketching out her ideas whilst Dean chipped in, pointing out details as needed.
After half an hour or so, Charlie went to grab them beers from the kitchen, leaving Dean with a few minutes idling in DIY mindset.
"You know you should really install your curtain rails at some point." He opened with on her return. "Anyone can see straight in and check out all the goodies worth burglaring. You want a hand putting them up?"
"I don't think burglaring is a word, but sure, I will take you up on your very kind offer. Hopefully before I get burgled. When were you thinkin?"
"I dunno, uhh, this weekend? Sammy finally returned my drill so it's not like we gotta wait for something. You've got the fittings, right?"
"Yup, I got 'em on sale. Even have the curtains already too!"
"Sounds like we got ourselves a DIY date."
"It does indeed! You wanna hang out for a bit or do you have an actual date to get to?" Charlie asked.
"Now or on the weekend?"
"Now? I haven't kicked your ass at MarioKart in a while."
"I can hang, but the implication that you ever kicked my ass at MarioKart can get out."
"I stand by what I said. You wanna order?"
"Sure, I'll do it if you wanna set up MarioKart. The usual?" Dean offered.
"You know it! Hey, you wanna crash again tonight?"
"Nah, I'm too old for two nights on your sofa bed in one week. Especially when my own bed is so damn good-"
"It remembers you, yeah; and you'll never let anyone forget it." Charlie teased him.
Hours later, after their meal and many MarioKart wins for each of them, the two friends parted with plans to see each other bright and early on Saturday morning.
Saturday morning rolled around and Dean rocked up at Charlie's place once more. He knocked loudly, knowing how deeply Charlie slept, and managed to rouse her. The door was opened by a shuffling zombie who kinda looked like Charlie. He followed her through to the kitchen, where she poured then both coffee from the automatic coffee maker.
"Y' wan' toast?" She yawned through her hand.
"Never say no to carbs Charlie. That is a steep slope to Samsville." Dean instructed. She huffed a small chortle and put four slices on.
Charlie became more alert as the bread toasted and her coffee dwindled. Sliding two plates of toast onto the kitchen table, she refilled the coffee cups before joining Dean.
"Good night?" He asked
"I was up until 3am doing a 25 man raid on WoW last night. Took a few wipes but we got her eventually."
"I didn't realise you were still playing Warcraft; I thought Final Fantasy was your latest thing?"
"A girl can multitask. WoW will always be my first love."
"Your first love was Leia Organa and you know it."
"Truth. But hey, very different categories."
"Yeah, that's fair." Dean conceded.
"What about you? How was your night?"
"Had a few beers with Benny. Newlyweds are plenty sunburnt but married life seems to be treating them well. He's real happy."
"Awww that's lovely."
"He deserves it, he's a good man. And a good buddy."
"It is known." Charlie quoted her agreement before draining the last of her coffee.
"Right, you get dressed and I'll grab my tools."
"Aye aye Cap'n Sir!"
A fair amount of measuring and wielding of Dean's electric drill later and they managed to get the curtain pole and curtains up. They moved on to assembling the ikea bookcases Charlie had ordered for her living room before breaking for lunch.
Dean was absent-mindedly checking his emails on his phone when he heard a blood-curdling scream from the kitchen.