Chapter Text
Oliver and Mable were sitting on Oliver's couch when suddenly Charles came rushing in, completely out of breath. Oliver looked up at Charles surprised.
‘Are you okay, Charles?’ Oliver asked and Charles looked at him, startled.
‘Oh! Oliver, I didn't expect to see you here!’ Charles replied.
Oliver couldn't stop himself from snorting in amusement.
‘Charles, you're in my flat. Why shouldn't I be in my flat?’
‘Ah right- You've got a point there.’ Charles said, slightly confused.
Oliver and Mable continued to look at him expectantly. They hoped he would finally come clean about what was making him look so stressed.
‘Erm, yes, well. It doesn't really matter. It's nothing important.’ Charles simply said, took a deep breath and sat down in the armchair opposite Mable.
‘Are you sure?’ Mable finally asked and Charles looked at her for a few seconds, but then finally nodded.
Oliver sighed in resignation.
‘All right, where were we? Ah yes, the murderer.’ Oliver finally said and everyone focussed on the case again.
A few hours later...
‘And that's why it could’ve only been the dog.’ Charles finished his absolutely complicated and illogical conclusion.
Mable and Oliver both looked at him in absolute confusion.
‘Okayyy. I think that's enough for today. I have to get up early tomorrow because I'm going to my mum's for the weekend. That's why I think we'll make a cut here and think about which of our suspects REALLY comes into question and meet again on Sunday. Yes? Wonderful!’ Mable finally said and got up to leave.
‘Wait! Did I say something weird again?’ Charles asked, completely confused by her reaction to his totally logical conclusion.
‘Charles... Please. Let it go, Buddy. It's not going to get any better.’ Oliver interjected from the side. Charles huffed audibly.
‘Okay Alright. Maybe you're right. We should postpone this until Sunday.’ Charles finally agreed.
Oliver and Charles said goodbye to Mable at the door and when Mable was gone, Oliver looked at Charles expectantly.
‘Fancy a glass of wine?’ Charles then asked.
‘You read my mind,’ Oliver replied.
The two of them went back into Oliver's living room and Oliver prepared two glasses of wine and then gave one of them to Charles, who had sat down on the couch in the meantime. Oliver sat down next to Charles.
Some time passed with the two of them just sitting there and sipping their wine.
‘You know, I don't think I've ever said it before, but I really like our night-time investigations.’ Charles finally said quietly, and Oliver hummed in agreement.
‘And to be honest, I like it even more to sit here with you afterwards, drinking a glass of wine. Just, you know, “chilling” like the kids say these days.’ Charles finished.
Oliver looked at him from the side with a surprised smile. But before Charles could see it, the smile changed to a smug grin.
‘Oh, you do like spending time with me. That’s interesting. I didn’t think I would hear such kind words coming out of your mouth for once.’ Oliver said smugly and Charles rolled his eyes.
‘Oh, you’re the one to talk- You never say anything nice, ever. Thought I start. Maybe this will give you some kind of heart or something.’ Charles retorted and poked Olivers chest. Oliver snorted in amusement.
‘Yeah, right. Because I’m the mentally instable one here.’ Oliver said.
‘Well, you’re at least as unstable as me. If not more. I bet you couldn’t say anything nice about me or Mable even if you wanted to.’ Charles replied.
‘Oh! You bet I can! I could be so nice to you that you would blush like a little girl afterwards.’ Oliver exclaimed, feeling challenged.
‘Try me.’ Charles said. Oliver huffed and leaned forward to Charles.
‘You, my dear Charles are the most funniest, kindest, adorable and handsome man I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. You are the reason I don’t feel lonely anymore. And the reason I feel alive again. You give me everything I need to live. Spending time with you is like breathing for me. Easy and necessary to survive.’ Oliver whispered into Charles ear.
Charles felt how indeed a big bright red flush appeared on his face. Feeling Olivers breath on his skin this close in combination with those words addressed directly at him made him feel things he thought he had buried a long time ago.
Oliver realized the impact his words had on Charles and managed some distance between them again. He cleared his throat audibly while Charles still sat there, completely overwhelmed with his feelings.
Oliver looked at Charles a little bit worried. He didn’t now what happened there and where all of those words he said came from, but he somehow felt good saying them. It also gave him a funny feeling seeing how Charles reacted to his words.
Still, he had the feeling he had overstepped a line there.
‘Look, Charles I’m sorry if that was too much? Was it too much?’ Oliver finally said but before he could apologise any further, Charles was kissing him. A surprised moan escaped Oliver but when he finally registered what was happening, he couldn’t resist the urge to return the kiss. Charles felt Olivers hand sliding into his hair. His stomach made a flip when Oliver returned the kiss. After a while they stopped and slowly looked at each other.
‘You know… I think I won this bet on every level there is.’ Oliver said, with a raspy voice and Charles couldn’t help but laugh.
‘You idiot.’ He replied and kissed Oliver again.