Prompted Affection

Charlotte closed the refrigerator after getting an eye full of the number of blood bags and stocked food. She was thinking about what she wanted to cook for later but realized that the time that she had left with Vincent and Stone while still being conscious was very limited with their resting time approaching.

The chill that the refrigerator prompted her to close faster than she was expecting ended with a soft click before she turned to face Vincent who seemed to grow more and more tired by the second. She cocked her head to the side and smile when she saw his head starting to sway as if he was actually sleeping.

Charlotte understood well since she was also tired to the core, but there were many questions pertaining to the vampire anatomy that she knew she would rather not bother with considering that she was often watching over him anyway. But that didn't stop her from drawing out her thoughts out loud.

"I know you're not sleeping," Charlotte said slowly before leaning forward to brush away the hair that was getting into his eyes.

His eyes fluttered open, and she watched his dark eyes carefully, but they didn't share any thoughts that she was curious to know inside his head. He leaned his cheek into her hand, and she patted his cheek a few times in a reassuring way because she didn't know what else she could offer him from her end.

What she wanted to give him, she knew that if she went too far, then she wouldn't be able to go back anymore. But at the same time, she was still trying to figure out what it was. Was it her time and energy that she wanted to give in amidst all the strife that had occurred in her life onwards after he walked into her life?

Was it truly worth it in the end with all the ambiguous aftermath that would eventually crumble around her? She was worried but right now wasn't the best time to dwell on such matters.

She retracted her hand back to her side, and she wished that in these moments, Vincent would put his calm demeanor aside so that she was able to think coherently. 

When he was staring at her like that with an odd mix of warmth that would rarely come out at the most random times that would often be hidden in the depths of blackened ice that he had built around himself, she wanted to give him the world that he worked so hard for yet didn't have the grace to see.

He loosened up his tie with the silk material falling out to hang around his neck but at the same time didn't bother taking it off. "You can get started now."

She raised an eyebrow. "You would like me to cook for you when you have lovely bags right there?"

Vincent smiled. "Thank you for offering."

Charlotte reached forward to grab his tie that was loosely hanging around his neck and wrapped the silk fabric around her wrist to toy with the fabric. "Ha, wishful thinking on your part. Delicacies plated by me."

"No, please do. Don't feel burdened to use anything in the house," Vincent said.

"Downstairs has some combat training, but once Stone gets back, we'll show you and Lucia down there if you both want to kill some time."

"Oh, speaking of that, where did Stone head off to?"

He waved her off. "Stone's just sending a message."

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

"It's a burner phone per usual. Don't fret. What we should be careful about is the internet usage here, because it can easily be traced back here."

"Ground rules are starting to pile on," Charlotte said.

"It's for the overall safety of everyone here along with maintaining the house."

Now it was time for her to wave him off. "Yes. Yes. Don't worry too much on my hand. I won't be doing anything dangerous."

"That also pertains to not snooping."

Charlotte placed an innocent smile on her face. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

Vincent shook his head. "Sure. Sure. Don't be going to look for information without anyone by your side."

"Where would I even look?"

"Charlotte, please."

"So, Lucia's fine to take with me?"

"Not right now," Vincent answered. "We are at the safehouse for a reason."

Charlotte nodded to not give him so much of a headache. "Okay. Fine. I get it."

"You better keep your word."

She winked at him before dipping her chin down in acknowledgment. "Yes. I will try my best."

Vincent stopped it at that, but his eyebrows came together in a worrisome pinch while his eyes closed once more making Charlotte start moving to figure out if his condition was something that she would be able to help with. He was always ice cold, but even now, it has become such a prominent aspect with his complexion becoming duller slowly over time.