[IC] Day 37, very late evening

[thexfactor]

[ knocking on Epona's door ]

Comments

[grandstanding]

[exhales quietly]

And today was something else.

[thexfactor]

Yes. . . . It certainly was. I guess we got overly confident after our last victory. We'll have to rethink our strategy.

[grandstanding]

...

[he turns to Charles and wraps his arms around him, silent.]

[thexfactor]

I should have never encouraged the wolves to confess. I'm sorry. I know it's not . . . my fault or anyone's but I should have been more careful.

[grandstanding]

Charles, do you honestly think your speech was the thing that drove Star to what she did?

[thexfactor]

No, of course not. She never would have hurt anyone. She doesn't have it in her.

[grandstanding]

None of them wanted to. I was the one making the decisions.

But as soon as that Echo forced me to choose your team, I was done. If Star hadn't done that, I would have.

[thexfactor]

[ sucks in a shaky breath ]

[grandstanding]

So don't apologise for what my team felt.

[thexfactor]

[ . . . leaning against him ]

[grandstanding]

[kisses his temple lightly]

[thexfactor]

[ murmurs ]

Thank you.

[grandstanding]

Mmm.

[thexfactor]

[ cupping his face and kissing him lightly ]

[grandstanding]

[kissing him back, arms loose around his waist.]

[thexfactor]

[ keeping it slow and gentle ]

[grandstanding]

[no one is after intense. not tonight.]

[thexfactor]

[ pretty much ]

[grandstanding]

[he breaks the kiss after a time, placing a hand against Charles's cheek.]

[thexfactor]

[ tilts to kiss his palm ]

[grandstanding]

[uses his other hand to trace the line of Charles's jaw.]

[thexfactor]

[ closes his eyes at that ]

[grandstanding]

[his fingers stop under his chin, and he tilts his face up to kiss him again.]

[thexfactor]

[ kissing back ]

[grandstanding]

[he keeps it light, but steady.]