Work Text:
Charles, Edwin and Crystal where on a case in a bookstore in the center of London. The bookstore was apparently haunted, the owner of the bookstore came to them for help because she couldn't take the objects moving anymore. Charles and Edwin where in their basic disguises, Edwin was off somewhere looking at books while Crystal was talking to one of the employees and Charles was standing near the door. It was at this moment that a man came over to him, the man looked to be somewhere in his 50s he was tall and had graying hair and a beard that was also turning gray.
"God don't you hate it when you're wife takes you too a bookstore?"
Oh yeah mortals can see him like this, it's weird that he keeps forgetting that.
"I don't mind actually, I may not like books but seeing her happy makes my day."
"There's no way you actually mean that? I mean I don't even know what you see in your wife, she looks like such a nerd I'm honesty surprised she found someone willing to date her"
God Charles couldn't stand the way this man was talking about Edwin. That's his bestfriend, no one gets to insult him like that.
"Would you shut up! She's amazing, she always knows how to help me, she's so incredibly smart and that's part of her charm oh and I actually like my women smart. If you didn't want to be married to a women who likes to read maybe you shouldn't have married her, but keep your business out of my love life"
It's a miracle Charles kept using the correct pronouns, he was so mad that he was scared to accidentally switch to he/him.
The man scoffed "you're pathetic, insulting another man's wife. Who do you think you are? "
"Well you insulted mine way before I insulted yours so maybe shut you're cake hole"
The man walked off looking redder then a tomato.
"What was all that about Charles?" Edwin asked
Huh, when had Edwin gotten here.
"He insulted you and well we can't have that now can we?"
"We can Charles, he may have known something useful"
God Edwin was so cute when he got angry.
"He probably didn't, and he only insulted you because he thought you where my wife and he doesn't like it when his own wife brings him to a book store"
"That's still not a good enough reason to get into a fight with him"
"But he insulted you"
"It's not like that has never happened before, besides I can defend myself"
"I know but you shouldn't have to, that guy was a massive jerk"
"Would you two stop fighting or so help me God I might start to believe you're actually a married couple. Also I saw something when I touched the wall, it looks like our ghost is in the storage area"
Charles definitely hadn't forgotten about the case. He was just so mad about everything that man had said about Edwin.
"Alright let's go" Charles said
The ghost was something they took care of quite quickly. She just wanted a really specific book but for some reason couldn't leave the storage space, so Edwin went into the bookstore to tell the owner of what they discovered and to get the book.
"Charles?"
"Yeah?"
"What was all that about with that men you where talking to before we came back"
"He insulted Edwin, well no he insulted "my wife". And we can't have that now can we?"
"Edwin can protect himself, especially if it's just from an insult"
"I know but he shouldn't have to. And well one of the things he said is still bugging me, he said that he's surprised anyone would date Edwin because he looked like such a nerd. Why would you insult someone on that?"
"People who aren't satisfied with their own love life's insult another's, it's sad But it happens"
"But thats the thing, we aren't even married. He'll we aren't even dating"
"Do you want to be?"
And honestly Charles had no clue, sure he liked Edwin but that was just as friends right? Sure Crystal had called them a married couple when they first met but that couldn't be how they actually come over right? Edwin did confess in hell and Charles hadn't stopped thinking about that since.
"I don't know"
"Try figuring that out first"
"I'll try"
And honest to God he did, he kept thinking it over for a week untill he realised he needed to talk to someone to figure out his own thoughts. So he went to Niko, she would know what to do. Out of all of them she knew emotions the best.
Charles knocked on her door, he was scared. Why was he scared? It's just Niko, Niko who is Edwin's best friend, Nico who doesn't know him that well and Niko who probably didn't want to have this conversation about her best friend.
Shit shit shit, what was he doing? This was a bad idea. He should run. But before he could Niko opened the door.
"Hey Charles, what's up?"
"Uuh hey Niko, could I talk to you? But you have to promise not to tell Edwin"
"I won't, what's up?"
"Uhm okay so in hell Edwin confessed his love for me and ever since that happened I've not stopped thinking about it. Like he's so pretty and so smart and I just love it when he gets sassy. But also during our case a few days ago someone insulted him and I just couldn't help defending him when I know Edwin can defend himself. I don't know, I feel like I'm going crazy"
"It sounds like you're in love, but I can't decide that for you"
"I'm not sure if I do, I mean I would do everything for him. But does that mean I'm in love or is that just how friends feel about eachother?"
"Well try thinking about it, is that how you feel about Crystal or me?"
And Charles thought about it, sure he'd do a lot for Crystal and Niko but he probably wouldn't go to hell just to get them back. Shit he was in love with Edwin, how could he confess? Should he confess? Yes he should, Edwin told him he loved him so he should do the same. Oh shit I'm in love with my bestfriend.
"I think I figured it out, thanks Niko"
And then Charles walked into Crystal's room. He had barely closed the door when he yelled.
"I'm in love with Edwin!"
"Congrats you finally figured it out"
"Wait you knew?"
"Everyone did, except you and Edwin"
"Am I really the last to figure this out?"
"Well unless you told Edwin before you figured it out no"
"I haven't told him yet"
"Why the fuck haven't you"
"What if he doesn't love me back?"
"Jesus Charles, that boy looks at you like you hung the moon, the stars and the goddamn sun"
"Really?"
"Yes, now go talk to that boy"
It still took Charles 3 weeks before he tried telling Edwin.
It was a calm afternoon and Edwin and Charles where in their office in the attic, they moved there after Jenny learned about ghosts and about the agency. Charles was so nervous but he knew he had to do this.
"Hey Edwin, could I talk to you for a minute?" Charles asked breaking the peaceful silence.
"What's wrong Charles?"
"Nothing, I just well. God I really don't know how to say this"
"Charles that is not helping, I'm genuinely getting worried"
"I'm in love with you, I realised a few weeks ago but I got scared you didn't feel the same anymore so I kept quiet"
"I do still feel the same, but what made you realise you felt the same?"
"Well remember the case of the haunted library?"
"Yes of course"
"Well than you must also remember how I got really defensive of you when truly that wasn't necessary"
"I do, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well uuh Crystal asked about it and than asked if I wanted to date you, because I got kinda pissed that man made a comment that no one would want you. Which is so stupid btw you had the cat king and monty both liking you when we got here so. Anyway, a few days later I went to talk to Nico cause I thought she might know more about feelings than Crystal and well I couldn't really go to you. She ended up asking me if how I felt for you was how I felt for any of my other friends, which I don't and that got me thinking and I finally realised I like you"
"Oh Charles, I'm just glad you return my feelings"
"Yeah me too"