Work Text:
“Was that a giggle just now?”
It had been nearly a year since Charles and Edwin had met. Nearly a year since a dead boy had escaped seventy years of undeserved torment and gave a dying boy the first, and last, truly peaceful hours of his life.
Charles knew that Edwin was unaccustomed to touch. Specifically, he was unaccustomed to gentle touch, touch that had no ill intent, touch that didn’t set out to hurt him, but instead worked to comfort and soothe.
He’s been trying to very carefully reacquaint Edwin to touch. It started with sitting close enough on the couch that their knees occasionally brushed. Then came the occasional tap on the shoulder to get his attention. Charles would let their fingers collide when passing Edwin whatever book he needed.
Eventually, the flinching slowed. Now, it was only after a particularly bad day that Edwin reacted negatively to Charles’ touch, although he never does reach out himself.
That’s why Charles does it. He needs to make sure that Edwin knows that it’s okay, that he’s safe with him. And this is something that Charles is willing to put in the effort for, because he knows that, one day, Edwin won’t remember to fear an outstretched hand.
This is how they got to where they were now: Charles had been reaching for the rubix cube that sat on the table next to the couch. Edwin was sitting between Charles and the table. Charles decided to reach over Edwin instead of just asking him to hand it over, and brushed his hand over Edwin’s side in the process.
Edwin had giggled.
Charles has never heard Edwin giggle before, and he thinks that it might be his new favourite sound.
Edwin was looking at him, eyes wide and colour rapidly spreading across his cheeks. “Pardon me?”
Charles slowly sat himself up, cogs turning in his head as he did his best to appear non-threatening, and said, “That sound you just made. Was that a giggle?”
“I haven’t the foggiest idea as to what you’re referring to.” Oh, but he did, Charles could tell. Edwin’s mouth tightened the slightest bit when he was trying to work his way out of a pickle just like it was now, and he drew his arms ever so slightly closer to his sides in defense.
Charles lifted his hands in supplication, “Of course not, mate. I just gotta test something. For research purposes, you know?” He moved his hand, slowly enough for Edwin to see it coming and move away if he chose to, and wiggled his fingers under Edwin’s chin.
In response, his head snapped down and his body jolted away. But there it was again, that sound that Charles would bottle up and get drunk off every night if he could.
Edwin himself was a sight to behold. His chin was still tucked against his chest with his shoulder hiked up enough that Charles could almost see a turtle retreating into its shell. A shy smile adorned his face, softening his features enough to make him look like the boy that he was and tugging to corners of Charles’ lips up in turn.
But his eyes. His eyes shone like stars, dancing with mirth and squinting in playful warning.
Charles would give up eternity if only to give Edwin a reason to look like that again.
“Charles,” Edwin pleaded, although he remained seated, “you don’t have to do this.”
He did. He might actually explode if he didn’t do it right now, but he had to make sure. “And I won’t if you’re not okay with it.” Edwin’s smile dipped in what seemed like disappointment and Charles rushed to continue, “But I really want to, and I think it might be good for you! You should see yourself, mate. You look, well, you look happy.”
Edwin’s mouth dropped open slightly at that, but he recovered himself quickly and said, “Well, if you must.” Then, with a quirk of his eyebrows, he added, “Consider it your next step in acclimatizing me to physical contact once more.”
Look, Edwin’s a detective! Honestly, Charles is just surprised that he wasn’t called out on it sooner.
There was no need for anything big, Charles could save that for when Edwin was more comfortable, so he stuck to trailing his fingers along his neck. Edwin’s shoulders shook with restrained laughter and the effort of not pushing Charles away.
While he appreciated the second one, he just couldn’t have the first. So, he snuck in a few sneaky pokes to Edwin’s side.
That seemed to do the trick when he half-snorted in surprise and tumbled into gentle giggles once more.
Charles only kept it up for a minute or so, occasionally jumping back down to his side to hear that half-snort again. Edwin’s laughter was bright and contagious and Charles couldn’t help but join in, the happiness of the two boys intermingling in the office.
After Edwin caught his breath, not that he needed to, but old habits die hard, he turned back to Charles and said, “Ah, thank you for that, I suppose. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to just…laugh. It wasn’t an unenjoyable experience.”
And before Charles was able to respond with a well I sure hope not, Edwin had laid his hand on Charles’ knee.
The touch stole the words from his mouth, all his focus converging on that one point of warmth. He only realized that he was beaming when Edwin’s lips slowly twitched up to match and he wished that he could exist in this moment forever.
Instead, he laid his hand over Edwin’s and said, with all the conviction in his heart, “Of course, mate. Anytime.”
No, that wasn’t quite right.
“Always.”
Yeah, Charles thought as Edwin’s smile grew just a little wider, yeah, that’s the one.