Work Text:
"Thoughts?" Charles Rowland, the ghost boy with whom Crystal shared a flirtatious and somewhat confused friendship, inquired after laying out his elaborate plan for breaking into the house of the Dead Boys Detective Agency's latest client. He reclined on her bed, his arm serving as a makeshift pillow to support his head.
A chuckle escaped Crystal's lips, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes as she sat on her bed, her back resting against the wall.
"As crazy and daring as it sounds... I kind of like it," she confessed after a brief pause, her thoughts aligning with the audacious plan Charles had outlined. Her gaze drifted back to him, lingering longer than necessary, a playful glint sparkling in her eyes. "It's rather clever," she admitted with a smirk, a subtle flirtatiousness tingeing her smile as she acknowledged the ingenuity of his scheme.
Charles couldn't help but smile softly, his attention drifting away from her words. He knew he should focus, that what Crystal was saying might be important, but he found himself lost in the delicate details of her presence. Her skin, reminiscent of coffee kissed by cinnamon, held a captivating allure, simultaneously smooth and potent. Every feature of hers seemed to enchant him, even the way her eyeliner smudged beneath her eyes only added to her irresistible charm. Words failed him, but Crystal was the kind of girl who inspired poetry and songs.
"Oh, do you really think that's a good plan?" Charles's voice broke the silence, his words a mere echo of his thoughts, yet imbued with a depth of emotion only Crystal could evoke. Caught in the gravity of her gaze, he awaited her response, his heart beating in sync with the rhythm of her presence.
Crystal's gaze faltered, a warm blush painting her cheeks as she became aware of Charles's intense stare. His penetrating gaze never failed to send her heart racing and her palms clammy. She shifted uncomfortably before clearing her throat, mustering a smile as she met his eyes once more.
"I do think it's a solid idea," she managed, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "It's... definitely unconventional, but sometimes that's exactly what we need to crack a tough case." She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing, her words steadier this time. "We have to be willing to think outside the box if we're going to have any chance of solving this."
"Convincing Edwin might be the toughest part," Charles remarked, his tone thoughtful yet distracted, his fingers absentmindedly raking through his hair. His gaze drifted back to Crystal, drawn irresistibly to her, his thoughts momentarily scattered by the mere sight of her.
Crystal couldn't help but chuckle as she agreed with him. "I'd say that is going to be damn near impossible, considering all we've got to go on is a rumor and a hunch."
"He's my best mate, leave it to me" Charles stated confidently, sitting on the bed, pushing a pillow to lean against the side of her bed.
Crystal chuckled, she knew that when it came to persuading Edwin, Charles held a unique sway, a knack for getting through to him in ways no one else could. As she observed him, noticing the casual way his unruly hair framed his face and how effortlessly at ease he appeared, even in his seated position, a fond smile tugged at her lips.
"Once we have Edwin on our side, when do we make our move?" she inquired, her voice laced with anticipation.
"Uhm, I didn't think that far, it's usually Edwin who does the thinking part" Charles confessed scratching his neck, he was the muscles and Edwin the brains of the team.
Crystal's laughter bubbled forth at his confession, her amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Well, it seems Edwin's going to have to put his thinking cap on, because someone has to orchestrate this break-in," she teased, her smile widening with each word.
"And just so you know, your input matters," she added earnestly. "I know you play the 'get things done' role, but you're clever too." Her words held a gentle sincerity, a reassurance that his intelligence and contributions were valued in their partnership.
Charles remained silent, but a smile involuntarily spread across his face at her words. He was so used to playing the role of reassuring everyone, that when someone else does it he seems a little strange.
Crystal couldn't help but notice the soft, bashful smile that graced Charles's lips, his gaze momentarily drifting away from her. It was moments like these that made her pause, reflecting on the complexity of their dynamic. Despite his role as the muscle in the Dead Boys Detective agency, he possessed a gentleness and vulnerability that tugged at her heartstrings, reminding her of the depth his emotions are.
The urge to reach out and tenderly brush away the stray strands of his hair or to lean in and press a kiss to his cheek was almost overwhelming. But she resisted, mindful of the weight of their responsibilities and the potential complications that could arise from pursuing a romance with a ghostly detective. As much as she longed for those intimate gestures, she knew there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Well anyway, we'll have to wait until later, apparently Edwin had some business to take care of with the Cat King, whatever that means" Charles commented, craning his neck before letting his head fall back onto the bed.
"The Cat King?" Crystal asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "What in the world kind of business could the Cat King want with him?" She was about to ask more questions, but she decided to keep them to herself for the time being. Edwin had his secrets, that much was obvious, and she was content to wait until later to pry.
"Honestly, I have no idea. But, if Edwin thinks it's a good idea to get involved with him, we'll just have to have faith in his judgment," Charles mused, shifting onto his side and propping himself up with his arm folded beneath his head to better face Crystal. He harbored a deep trust in his best friend, confident that if Edwin required assistance, he would reach out, and together they would navigate whatever challenges lay ahead.
Crystal nodded as she agreed with his statement, and then she couldn't help but think back to the way she caught herself staring at him earlier. He really did have such a calming and distracting presence.
"So what now?" She asked, changing the subject. "Anything you want to do while we're waiting?"
"I've got a few ideas swirling around, though I'm not sure they'd be as appealing to you as they are to me," Charles murmured, his fingers grazing his neck in a shy gesture. He glanced at her through lowered lashes, his gaze lingering on her features, tracing the lines from her eyes, down her nose, across her cheeks, until it rested on her inviting lips. A flirtatious smile played on his lips, hinting at the unspoken desire to close the gap between them with a kiss.
Crystal couldn't help but felt the way her skin flared with heat from the way he was looking at her, his flirtatious smile and the teasing glint in his eyes. She wanted nothing more than to lean across the space between them and pull him close with her hand, but she was also terrified of what that kind of intimacy might lead to, especially considering how much problems they had to get done.
"Like what?" She finally managed to ask, feeling her words get caught in her throat and coming out a little quieter than she had intended.
Charles's smile softened as he leaned closer to her, his hand instinctively reaching for her cheek before hesitating and retreating back to his side.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice tinged with regret as he met her gaze. "I know you're still reeling from what David did to you." His apology carried a weight of embarrassment, acknowledging his lapse in judgment as his own emotions momentarily eclipsed the paramount importance of Crystal's well-being and recovery. "I don't mean to take advantage of you"
Crystal's heart ached when he pulled back. If he'd moved any closer, she knew that she would have responded, even though it probably wasn't the smartest or safest thing at this moment. After everything that had happened, she should be worried about her own mental health instead of getting herself wrapped up in whatever this was between them.
"It's..." She started, but her words faltered and she struggled to come up with an appropriate response. Her gaze was on his hand, on the way it rubbed nervously against the fabric of the bedsheet. "I want you to kiss me, Charles," Crystal's voice was a whisper, her words carrying a quiet urgency as her tongue slipped between her full lips. In that moment, she didn't dwell on the potential consequences; all she craved was comfort, a connection that felt undeniably real.
"Crystal," Charles breathed her name, his voice barely audible above the gentle hum of the room. His hand reached for her cheek, his touch tender as his thumb traced soothing circles against her skin. His eyes locked with hers, silently seeking affirmation, a reassurance that this shared desire was genuine and mutual.
"please," Crystal breathed, she stared intently at his thumb as it stroked against her skin, and she was entranced by his gaze and the way he looked at her. Her heart was beating furiously, but she didn't seem to mind, in fact, she almost kind of liked the rush. Her fingertips brushed against his shoulder, reaching upwards until she was able to slip her free hand over the back of his neck.
As Charles pressed his lips to hers, a surge of warmth enveloped them both, his hand tenderly cradling her cheek as he drew her closer. With a gentle tilt of his head, their mouths found each other in a soft, lingering embrace. As his tongue met hers, a wave of sensation washed over Crystal, causing her to melt into the kiss, her body responding instinctively to his touch.
Though Charles existed as a ghost, unable to physically feel the kiss, the depth of emotion stirred within him was undeniable. In that fleeting moment of connection, he experienced a profound sense of longing and belonging, as if every ghostly fiber of his being resonated with the intensity of their shared kiss. It wasn't the physical sensation that moved him, but rather the profound emotional connection they shared, leaving him awash with a bittersweet mix of desire and yearning in the depths of his incorporeal heart.
Crystal wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him and pulling him even closer. Her mind was clouded by the intensity of their exchange, she wasn't even conscious of what her body was automatically doing. She was just letting herself become lost in the feelings and desires that were washing over her. Charles's kiss was gentle but passionate, and for a moment he was the only thing who mattered. There was nothing else, nothing but their two bodies and their two hearts connecting as one.
As they parted from the kiss, Charles's smile radiated happiness, his eyes alight with joy. With tender affection, he peppered her lips with a few more fleeting pecks, each one a silent expression of his adoration. As he pulled back ever so slightly, he allowed himself the pleasure of studying her face, savoring every detail as if committing it to memory, cherishing this moment of intimacy shared between them.
"That was..." Crystal let out a breath, feeling almost breathless with desire as she spoke. Her heartbeat was still pounding in her chest, her cheeks flushed with heat and her gaze lingering on the space between them and the faint brush of his lips against her cheek.
"I..." She started, then faltered again, not knowing how to put into words what that just was or what it meant. To her, it felt like a lot of things at once: desire, connection, passion, and desire. She wanted more, but she also felt guilty for wanting it.
"It was amazing," Charles affirmed softly, his fingers lingering on her lips, tracing the contours with a tender reverence that mirrored the intensity of their shared kiss. Each touch carried the weight of cherished memories, etching the sensation of their connection into the recesses of his being, a testament to the profound impact she had on him in that fleeting moment of intimacy.
Crystal's breath caught in her throat again as she felt his touch. Her heart throbbed in her chest as his fingers traced the outlines of her mouth and cheek. If it was possible for her to feel even more intimate with him after that kiss she just experienced, she knew this was it.
"It was amazing," Her whispers were soft and shaky, and she felt a little bit of remorse for how much she wanted him to press his lips against hers once again. But she also didn't want to let go of these moments, of these feelings of new understanding of wanting each other.