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“Fuck!” An accented voice exclaims, their words travel out with puffs of white air. The freezing air and their warm breath mixing.
A thumb brushes against the friction wheel of the zippo lighter in their hand, trying to spark it. The zoot hanging limply out of their mouth.
The sound of a flame igniting is accompanied by a victory shout. Crackling sound of the joint being lit. Charlie sighs as they take a drag.
The muffled sounds of music behind them coming from the shitty dive bar. They and their band had to decided to celebrate at it after their set had ended.
The street they stand on is mainly empty. Which isn't surprising considering it's early in the morning on the outskirts of the city. Though once in a while a lone figure would slink down the street.
Sounds of two voices enter Charlie's ears.
There's fuck all else to do out here so if they tune in a little who can blame them?
The voices are heated. A deep rough masculine and a second more feminine voice draws Charlie closer to the pair. It wouldn't be the first time Charlie would have to chase off some overzealous drunk bloke. Though the main thing that catches Charlie's attention is the magic seeping from the alleyway where they were.
The closer they get they can see shadows bouncing of the walls, depicting their actions like a fucked up puppet show.
When they get closer it's no better. The man back is facing them, obscuring his face. The dim light cloaking most of him in shadow, only enough light for Charlie to see white hair and a 3 piece suit. The shadows fair much better on the woman bouncing off her slender features just right.
“What's going on here mate?”
The woman jumps at their voice in surprise. The man doesn't, he must have sensed their presence already.
“None of your business.”
He's American, judging from the accent as he speaks with a clipped tone.
“Considering your conversation mate seems like she would rather be anywhere else, makes it my business.”
The man turns around in anger ready to address them, the feeling of magic energy spiking. But it gives the woman behind him a chance to make a rush past him.
Before she can make it completely past him though, the man grabs her arm in what looks like a painful grip.
“Let her go mate.”
Charlie steps forward, a spell ready on the tip of their tongue just in case. The women's posture also seems to shift, rearing for a fight.
The man seems ready for the challenge until a loud sound of a door opening and a group of peoples voices hits the air. Surprising him enough to let go of the arm. The prospect of an onlooking audience seems to dim his will to fight and the spike of magical energy dulls back to a simmering unease.
“This isn't over, I will find you again.” The man says menacingly before walking into the shadows of the alley way, disappearing.
The sounds of boots walking away catch Charlie's attention. They pick up speed trying to catch up to the receding figure of the woman.
“Why are you following me?”
Her accent is American too. Charlie notices that while a lot of the magic energy had disappeared with the man, it hadn't gone away completely, interesting.
Also that the moonlight and street lights do more favors for her features than the dim alleyway light did.
“I'm not.”
Despite saying that Charlie kept in time with her every step.
“What do you want?” The woman turns abruptly toward them, annoyance evident on her face.
“Harsh way to talk to your saviour but considering you've been through a lot, I understand.”
“You are NOT my saviour.”
“Well whatever.” They brush off like it doesn't mean a thing. Reaching into their leather jacket and pulling out something.
“Well if you ever need anymore NOT saving then take this.”
Charlie replies, handing her something.
Looking down at the card she realizes it has a messily scrawled phone number on it. With the name “Charlie” written above it.
Before she can respond to Charlie giving her their number she looks up and notices they're already gone. Adding another weird ending to this already abnormal day.