Bang! Bang! Bang!

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

“Well, as I was saying.. I think it’s a good thing you’re getting medicated, Charles. I’m sure it’ll help.” 

“Wait, uh.. what- what did this have to do with Jay?” 

Melanie gave him a surprised look. Then she shrugged, folding her hands in front of her again for a lack of a better action to take. “What doesn’t it have to do with him? …Oh,” She said, voice softening. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d realized.” 

“Realized what?” 

“I don’t want to get into it. It’s not my place to talk about your.. delusions, is it?” 

He didn’t know what to say to that. He felt sick all of a sudden, and he didn’t know if it was because Melanie evidently still thought he’d been involved, or if.. 

No, no. He’d never been violent. That wasn’t part of it, that wasn’t anything he’d experienced. Sure, he’d gotten black out drunk and ended up in a barfight or two, and he could certainly recall a fight back in highschool, but beyond that, there wasn’t anything he had done. Drew had called him dangerous once, back just before he’d been admitted, but that had been in a different context. Hadn’t it? He looked away from her and down at his arm, frowning when he realized he’d scratched a red, almost raw place under the tattoo, and was about to speak again when she cut him off. 

“Buster looks comfy.” he said and gave a quiet laugh, his gaze lingering on the sleeping dog. As much as he was willing to keep his spirits up for now, he wanted nothing more but to tug back Charlie into bed and hold him for a while. He felt tired and sick again– His husband would have to go knowing he’d gotten hurt and it was going without punishment again. Vee squeezed the hand he held, swallowing down his guilt and leaned against him.

He found himself hoping Melanie would leave soon. He needed to be able to leave the damn room and put himself back together, and he couldn’t do it while she was smiling at Vee like she hadn’t just suggested that his husband was capable of.. what was she suggesting? 

He let go of Vee’s hands to cross his arms and stepped back out of Melanie’s way to the door, flashing her a brief, nervous smile as he watched her take Vee’s hand. She smiled in return, then readjusted her jacket as she looked back to Vee. “That sounds perfect to me. And.. thank you for letting me come. I.. was almost certain that I’d lost all my chances. I’ll call, soon.” She moved to step out of the room, then gave Charlie’s shoulder a small squeeze before she left. He gave Vee a glance before he decided to follow her and walk her out. 

Vee grew quiet like he was unsure of he really wanted to speak. He chewed the inside of his cheek and swallowed, burying his face in his neck for minute. “Your case isn’t… dropped, but they’re putting it on the back burner and that’s usually..” Sighing, he held him closer. “..a death sentence.” he said, “Everything came up empty. They don’t have anything else to go off of. I’m… sorry, love.”

me:

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

“Well, as I was saying.. I think it’s a good thing you’re getting medicated, Charles. I’m sure it’ll help.” 

“Wait, uh.. what- what did this have to do with Jay?” 

Melanie gave him a surprised look. Then she shrugged, folding her hands in front of her again for a lack of a better action to take. “What doesn’t it have to do with him? …Oh,” She said, voice softening. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d realized.” 

“Realized what?” 

“I don’t want to get into it. It’s not my place to talk about your.. delusions, is it?” 

He didn’t know what to say to that. He felt sick all of a sudden, and he didn’t know if it was because Melanie evidently still thought he’d been involved, or if.. 

No, no. He’d never been violent. That wasn’t part of it, that wasn’t anything he’d experienced. Sure, he’d gotten black out drunk and ended up in a barfight or two, and he could certainly recall a fight back in highschool, but beyond that, there wasn’t anything he had done. Drew had called him dangerous once, back just before he’d been admitted, but that had been in a different context. Hadn’t it? He looked away from her and down at his arm, frowning when he realized he’d scratched a red, almost raw place under the tattoo, and was about to speak again when she cut him off. 

“Buster looks comfy.” he said and gave a quiet laugh, his gaze lingering on the sleeping dog. As much as he was willing to keep his spirits up for now, he wanted nothing more but to tug back Charlie into bed and hold him for a while. He felt tired and sick again– His husband would have to go knowing he’d gotten hurt and it was going without punishment again. Vee squeezed the hand he held, swallowing down his guilt and leaned against him.

He found himself hoping Melanie would leave soon. He needed to be able to leave the damn room and put himself back together, and he couldn’t do it while she was smiling at Vee like she hadn’t just suggested that his husband was capable of.. what was she suggesting? 

He let go of Vee’s hands to cross his arms and stepped back out of Melanie’s way to the door, flashing her a brief, nervous smile as he watched her take Vee’s hand. She smiled in return, then readjusted her jacket as she looked back to Vee. “That sounds perfect to me. And.. thank you for letting me come. I.. was almost certain that I’d lost all my chances. I’ll call, soon.” She moved to step out of the room, then gave Charlie’s shoulder a small squeeze before she left. He gave Vee a glance before he decided to follow her and walk her out. 

Vee grew quiet like he was unsure of he really wanted to speak. He chewed the inside of his cheek and swallowed, burying his face in his neck for minute. "Your case isn't... dropped, but they're putting it on the back burner and that's usually.." Sighing, he held him closer. "..a death sentence." he said, "Everything came up empty. They don't have anything else to go off of. I'm... sorry, love."

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

“Well, as I was saying.. I think it’s a good thing you’re getting medicated, Charles. I’m sure it’ll help.” 

“Wait, uh.. what- what did this have to do with Jay?” 

Melanie gave him a surprised look. Then she shrugged, folding her hands in front of her again for a lack of a better action to take. “What doesn’t it have to do with him? …Oh,” She said, voice softening. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d realized.” 

“Realized what?” 

“I don’t want to get into it. It’s not my place to talk about your.. delusions, is it?” 

He didn’t know what to say to that. He felt sick all of a sudden, and he didn’t know if it was because Melanie evidently still thought he’d been involved, or if.. 

No, no. He’d never been violent. That wasn’t part of it, that wasn’t anything he’d experienced. Sure, he’d gotten black out drunk and ended up in a barfight or two, and he could certainly recall a fight back in highschool, but beyond that, there wasn’t anything he had done. Drew had called him dangerous once, back just before he’d been admitted, but that had been in a different context. Hadn’t it? He looked away from her and down at his arm, frowning when he realized he’d scratched a red, almost raw place under the tattoo, and was about to speak again when she cut him off. 

“Buster looks comfy.” he said and gave a quiet laugh, his gaze lingering on the sleeping dog. As much as he was willing to keep his spirits up for now, he wanted nothing more but to tug back Charlie into bed and hold him for a while. He felt tired and sick again– His husband would have to go knowing he’d gotten hurt and it was going without punishment again. Vee squeezed the hand he held, swallowing down his guilt and leaned against him.

He found himself hoping Melanie would leave soon. He needed to be able to leave the damn room and put himself back together, and he couldn’t do it while she was smiling at Vee like she hadn’t just suggested that his husband was capable of.. what was she suggesting? 

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

“Well, as I was saying.. I think it’s a good thing you’re getting medicated, Charles. I’m sure it’ll help.” 

“Wait, uh.. what- what did this have to do with Jay?” 

Melanie gave him a surprised look. Then she shrugged, folding her hands in front of her again for a lack of a better action to take. “What doesn’t it have to do with him? …Oh,” She said, voice softening. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d realized.” 

“Realized what?” 

“I don’t want to get into it. It’s not my place to talk about your.. delusions, is it?” 

He didn’t know what to say to that. He felt sick all of a sudden, and he didn’t know if it was because Melanie evidently still thought he’d been involved, or if.. 

No, no. He’d never been violent. That wasn’t part of it, that wasn’t anything he’d experienced. Sure, he’d gotten black out drunk and ended up in a barfight or two, and he could certainly recall a fight back in highschool, but beyond that, there wasn’t anything he had done. Drew had called him dangerous once, back just before he’d been admitted, but that had been in a different context. Hadn’t it? He looked away from her and down at his arm, frowning when he realized he’d scratched a red, almost raw place under the tattoo, and was about to speak again when she cut him off. 

"Buster looks comfy." he said and gave a quiet laugh, his gaze lingering on the sleeping dog. As much as he was willing to keep his spirits up for now, he wanted nothing more but to tug back Charlie into bed and hold him for a while. He felt tired and sick again-- His husband would have to go knowing he'd gotten hurt and it was going without punishment again. Vee squeezed the hand he held, swallowing down his guilt and leaned against him.

You know I loved you more and more, But I am scared of what I’ve done and I am scared of what’s to come But I know I’ve done nothing wrong– since the night we met Because you kept me alive and gave me reasons to survive And I’ll take you away from here by any means I can

But I’m not gonna lie to you,  Lately I’ve been thinking of giving up Using the gifts that I’ve surely squandered on something less reliant on luck And I haven’t slept properly since 2006 But I’ve had some of the most glorious moments of happiness

Charlie let out a quiet breath. They sure as hell did. Turning to look at Vee from where he sat on his side of the bed, he offered a small, nervous smile. He’d already finished getting dressed for the day, and for the first time since he’d gotten home, he’d woken up without a noticeable ache, but none of that meant he was ready to face this.

It’d been… going on three and half years, now, since he’d talked to his mom. Since Jay had gone missing, at least. The fact that she’d reached out at all was shocking, but Charlie was even more surprised with himself. He hadn’t expected to want to see her. But after a few near-death experiences, a marriage, and everything else he’d been through.. he figured it was about time.

“She said she’ll be here around noon,” he answered, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He frowned to himself. “So we’ve got… about an hour? …I- I guess, if there’s anythin’ you need to ask, now’s the time.”

Stepping out of the way for her, Vee glanced back at the sound of trill from the bird in the corner. “Don’t be naughty, we have a guest.” he tutted before Griffon responded in a few choice words, thankfully not in English. Ears hot, Vee traced the sun on the back of his neck and hummed out a nervous laugh while the bird squawked out a few snickers of his own.

She hummed softly and looked at Vee again, brows furrowing. “I’m honestly surprised Charles stayed here. But, I suppose if the house was already in the middle of being paid for..” she trailed off to look around again, snorting softly at the sight of the bird. Charlie gave her a small shrug.

“I’ve always liked the place,” he replied. “And it’s.. got enough room for us. Oh! You should see the garden- it’s, uh, where we’re plannin’ to have the wedding. Y'know, when everythin’s in bloom?”

“Maybe later,” she said offhandedly, before glancing at him with another smile. Something about it made Charlie feel like a kid again- she was almost talking down, he realized. Maybe it’d been so long that she’d fogotten he was a damn adult. Maybe she didn’t realize it, he amended. He chose to ignore it. “It’s-”

Melanie looked around as she followed them in, her eyes eventually landing on the only photo on the desk; a picture Charlie had given Alice to keep of the two of them together. She leaned close and sighed softly. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen her,” she said softly, before chuckling. “She’s gotten big. I bet she’s just like you, huh? She looks it.”

“..Maybe we could show her our room next?” he mused, tracing over Charlie’s fingers with his own. Vee took in a breath and took a step towards the door before stopping; his chest was vibrating. Patting his breast pocket with a curious frown, he pulled his phone out and glanced at the screen. “Oh, it’s Nero!” he said and squeezed the hand he held, “My brother.. He’s handling Charlie’s case.” Glancing up, he flashed a brief apologetic smile and let go of his husband. “I’m so sorry, I promise I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Uh.. yeah. They’re still lookin’ for the two guys who, y’know.. took me.” He swallowed and looked towards the door again. Part of him wanted to follow Vee out to learn if something had happened- Melanie would be fine for a minute on his own- but he decided to let Vee handle it. If it was related to the case, Vee would let him know. He cleared his throat, then nodded towards the door. “C’mon. I’ll, uh.. show you the bedroom.” 

Leading her just down the hall and stepping inside, he felt an embarrassed warmth creep up his neck as he looked around. They hadn’t exactly left it in a mess, but the bed was still unmade and their clothes from the night before were still abandoned on the ground. Buster had taken it in himself to sneak back in and sprawl over the bed, snoring softly into Vee’s pillow while the rest of him took up most of the bed. He heard Melanie laugh quietly as she followed him in and took that as a good sign; maybe she was beginning to warm up to.. this.  To him. 

Charlie turned to look at her, smiling while he fidgeted, tracing his fingers over the sunflower on his arm. “Y’know, uh, I- I dunno if I mentioned it, but the paintings we’ve got hangin’ up, uh, in the living room and all.. most of ‘em are ones we did.” 

“Really?” She asked, pulling her gaze from the dog to look at him. He felt a nervous flutter in his chest. Maybe she was warming up to them. “That one in Alice’s room, too?” 

“Yeah. N’ she helped, with that one.” Charlie felt himself grin. “Me n’ Vee have kinda.. I dunno, just been tryin’ different-” 

“Charles, what’s this?” 

Charlie blinked as he was cut off, expression fading. He watched her as she walked over to the end table on his side of the bed, brows furrowing as she picked up a pill bottle. It occurred to him that she likely didn’t know about.. well,  concerning that. He scratched as his arm and hummed. “Oh, uh.. that’s- it’s- it’s mine.” 

“It’s..” 

“An anti-psychotic.” Might as well get it over with, he thought. He reached up to rub at the back of his neck, if only to stop himself from scratching at his skin, and looked up to meet her gaze as she turned back around. She looked.. surprised? “I, uh… A few months ago, Vee and I…” He sighed. “It’s just- we’d been through a lot, and I.. I dunno. I got weird. And it’s not the first time it’d happened and he- he helped me go see a doctor and, well, I.. I was diagnosed. Um, schizophrenia.” 

“Oh,” she said softly. She set the bottle back down and looked at him, gaze searching his own. He couldn’t read her expression, but he wanted to think that she almost seemed concerned. “That must’ve been hard.” 

“Well, yeah. But I had Vee. Oh, actually, I- I meant to ask you, about, uh..”

“But I guess it makes sense.” 

He paused. He’d meant to ask about his grandmother- from he remembered, he’d started to think she was where he’d gotten it from. But Melanie’s words had surprised him into forgetting what he’d wanted to ask. “Makes.. sense?” 

“Well, you’ve always had a.. violent streak, haven’t you?” 

“No, I- that doesn’t have a damn thing to do with-” 

"You sound happy." Nero replied, but his tone wasn't exactly chipper either.

With a soft breath Vee explained to him that Charlie's mother had come over for a visit and then in hushed words, expressed his worries about her. She wasn't exactly snooping more than he felt like a fish in an aquarium with her around. It was like she was observing the two of them. And the teasing he got for it helped his mood. Credo had always been the same way-- He was overprotective and inquisitive and watched Nero like a hawk even now despite he and Kyrie being together for so long. Maybe he was overreacting? He wasn't sure, but he doubted she was out to purposely cause Charlie trouble.

Playing with the cross hanging from his ear, he felt his stomach sink back low as he listened to Nero talk about the case. Every. Single. Lead. Each tip and clue had lead to one place; the mafia, but went no further than that. They were at a block and now it was official, Charlie's case was being put on hold. Vee held the cat closer to his chest and frowned. "...There isn't anything else we can do?"

"Not unless someone nudges us in the right direction. We've gone through everything, Vee." Nero's voice was soft and apologetic, "I'm keeping the file on me and I'll keep poking around, but the department is done unless we get something else. I'm sorry."