Chapter Text
For Edwin, the days slowly drag by, and he can’t shake the constant reminders of Charles' touch. The man’s hands and arms always seem to find a way to persist on his body and in his thoughts. Charles has been prolonging touch, not letting go unless he must. Yet when Edwin actually wants to reach for him, he is just out of range. He’s disappearing, suddenly gone, practically walking through walls like a ghost with a job.
Edwin doesn’t understand in the slightest where this has come from—his roommates flirting and touching is now a constant that Edwin’s unable to walk straight; he’s blushing non-stop. When he can, he follows after Charles for more, like a dog looking for a bone.
Handholding, caressing, massaging, and now cuddling—what is Edwin to do?
“You’re either solving a complicated equation or getting miffed about something; which is it, mate?” Charles whispers to him.
Edwin looks up to see Charles' curious eyes and the hint of a smile pulling at his lips. Edwin tries to keep from straying from Charles’ gaze but can’t help himself, glancing at those divine-looking lips. He then averts his eyes down to where Charles' arms are wrapped around him. Edwin frankly still doesn’t know how he ended up here. As in here, he means Charles' arms, atop his lap, holding him back around his middle, and resting his head against Charles' shoulder.
“I’ll have you know; I’m rather well, thank you,” Edwin states shortly.
Charles chuckles and nuzzles in against his temple. Edwin can feel Charles' breath, warm and steady against his ear.
“If you say so, Win,” he whispers.
Edwin feels all the hair on his arms stand up as he suppresses a shiver.
They stay like that for a good long while. Edwin lets himself sink into the familiarity of Charles' smell—vanilla and smoke and his arms—thin, though sturdy. When they separate, Charles acts like his usual bright self; he squeezes Edwin tight with a grin and moves to the kitchen to help him with dinner. Edwin follows behind him, baffled and flustered.
The entire situation had been the perfect opportunity for a kiss.
He quite honestly needs to get his head on straight—he knows Charles doesn’t feel any real romantic feelings for him. Charles was just being tactile and complimentary—his usual shiny self. Edwin acknowledges he might be reading too much into Charles' flirting and touching. Charles was like this with everyone; this was his usual demeanor. However, on the other hand, Charles hadn’t gone out with anyone in weeks. He was staying home more often and being very... attentive.
Surely, it was just Charles taking time for himself and, by extension, looking out for Edwin because of how intertwined their lives are, right?
Edwin Payne is not optimistic; he’s certain Charles could never think of him in any way other than as his best mate. Charles will never return Edwin’s feelings; they are too much, and he absolutely hates it.