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Charlie and Vaggie left Angel’s room with a promise to check on him later. Vaggie rubbed comforting circles on Charlie’s back as they walked back to their room.
“How you feeling, honey?” Vaggie questioned gently.
“Tired and sore and kinda disgusting,” Charlie answered.
“Yeah, interacting with Val will do that for you. Do you want a shower or bath?” Vaggie asked and Charlie sighed.
“A shower but I don’t want to stand that long. Would you help me?” Charlie asked and Vaggie smiled.
“I would love to,” Vaggie answered and helped her stand and move into the bathroom.
Charlie sat on the toilet as Vaggie got the things that she would need. Including a towel and clean clothes for Charlie. She turned on the shower head waiting for the water to warm up. While the water warmed up she turned to Charlie and helped her get undressed. Her hands were gentle as they helped her slip her jacket off. She carefully unbuttoned her shirt brushing it off her shoulders with barely a ghost of a touch. Charlie watched Vaggie take in the bruise on her arm from Val grabbing her when she tried to push him off of Angel. She skimmed her fingers over the bruise. The touch barely there. Vaggie leaned down and brushed her lips over the bruise gently. She moved on helping her to remove her pants and underwear. Her eyes caught on the bruise that was slowly fading on Charlie’s hip. Charlie recognized the flash of anger in her eyes upon seeing it. But the bruise was something that she could address later. Vaggie reached behind her to unclasp her bra with practiced ease. Vaggie cupped her face with both hands pressing her lips to her forehead. She then moved behind Charlie to release her hair from her ponytail. Vaggie gently brushed Charlie’s hair.
It felt nice to be treated with such care. The past couple of weeks had been chaotic, to say the least, but at least Charlie had Vaggie. Vaggie was always there to help. And she was so gentle with Charlie. Vaggie grabbed the shower head down and turned it to the wall so that Charlie could climb into the tub and sit down. Vaggie threw some soft music on her phone.
Once she was seated Vaggie turned the shower head so that water ran over her legs. The water was warm and comforting. The tension that Charlie was holding melted away with the warmth. Vaggie moved the water up so that it was spraying her chest. She relished the feeling of the dirt and grim being washed away. Vaggie’s gentle hands tipped Charlie’s head back so that she could rinse out her hair. Rainbow by Dodie was playing in the background. Vaggie started singing to it quietly. Her voice was soothing.
But to say that I'm a rainbow. To tell me that I'm bright
Vaggie passed Charlie the shower head and she held it so the water was on her chest. Vaggie grabbed the body wash and squeezed a bit into her hand. She rubbed it in circles up Charlie’s legs, massaging the soap in and soothing the tired muscles. She ran her hands under the water to rinse them before grabbing the shower head from her and rinsing Charlie’s legs off.
When I'm so used to feeling wrong. Well, it makes me feel alright
She handed the shower head back to Charlie. She portioned more soap onto her hand and then rubbed the soap in circles on her stomach. She moved gently over the bruise on her hip. The song ended and switched to Fearless by Taylor Swift. Both girls hummed the tune as Vaggie continued to soap up Charlie’s body. Before she went over Charlie’s chest she looked at her, eyes searching. A silent question of whether or not it was ok to touch her chest. Charlie appreciated her concern. Even though they had been dating for years Vaggie still checked in before touching her. Charlie nodded and Vaggie’s hand worked their way up her chest.
And I don't know how it gets better than this
Vaggie moved on rubbing the soap into her shoulder. She massaged the soap down her left arm. It worked both to clean her skin and as a massage. She held Charlie’s hand gently and kissed her knuckles.
You put your eyes on me. In this moment now capture it, remember it
She glided her hands back up her arm and across her shoulders and repeated the process on the other side.
You take my hand and drag me head first Fearless
Vaggie rinsed her hands again before running the water over Charlie’s chest. Charlie breathed out a sigh of relief watching the water sweep the suds away. Charlie adjusted so that her back was to Vaggie. Vaggie gently moved Charlie’s hair so that it was sitting on her chest instead of her back. Charlie held the shower head on her chest as Vaggie gave her a back massage. She could feel the tension leaving her body. It felt so good. It was at moments like that that she was reminded of how lucky she was to have Vaggie. They complemented each other well. They cared for each other. Vaggie stood by her when no one else had. For that, she was eternally grateful. The music shifted again moving onto I Walk a Mile in My Room by Miki Ratsula. This time it was Charlie’s turn to sing as Vaggie rinsed her skin of soap.
Will you take me as I am?
Will you love me still tomorrow?
You know this is who I am
Will you do your best to follow?
'Cause you deserve somebody who takes care of themselves
Charlie sang the words like a question to Vaggie. The past few weeks had left her feeling a bit broken. She felt like she wasn’t the girl that Vaggie had met. Of course, Vaggie disagreed. She was just as kind and caring as she had been when they first met. Vaggie once again tilted Charlie’s head back to better access her hair. She smiled at Charlie and gave her nose a quick kiss before squirting shampoo into her hands and running it through her hair. She shampooed Charlie’s hair twice then ran conditioner through the ends. This process relaxed Charlie. She liked it when people played with her hair. Her mother did it to help her go to sleep when she was a child and the comfort of it never truly faded. Finally, Charlie was clean and Vaggie helped her out of the tub she got dressed feeling much better than she had before.