Uh, he's not gonna lay a finger on you. Not if I have anythin' to say about it.
[ much as she hates to pull the dom card, she'll do it in this instance, because the last thing she's going to put up with is anyone else hurting charlotte and the idea of it makes something twist in her stomach, makes her rage but also realize faintly that she can't go running off to deal with this now while charlotte's here needing her. ]
He what?!
[ she doesn't even hear the rest of it, really, and it's not that she'd care much about the fine either because she makes enough to cover it, but that makes her spring to her feet, fingers clenching into small fists before she has to will herself to sit down again, this time joining charlotte on the couch. ]
No. [ she draws in a breath, trying to calm herself down. ] No, you're right. He can't — I'm not gonna let him get away with that, okay? But this is what I'm here for, gorgeous. To deal with it when you can't. You gotta let me take care of you.
[ she leans forward, smoothing a hand against charlotte's face. ] I know you gotta play nice and all that bullshit, and I know you're good at it. Right? You wouldn't have gotten to where you are without knowin' how to pretend. But anybody who crosses you is crossin' me too, and I wanna protect you as long as you let me know what's goin' on. Let me handle it when you can't.
no subject
[ much as she hates to pull the dom card, she'll do it in this instance, because the last thing she's going to put up with is anyone else hurting charlotte and the idea of it makes something twist in her stomach, makes her rage but also realize faintly that she can't go running off to deal with this now while charlotte's here needing her. ]
He what?!
[ she doesn't even hear the rest of it, really, and it's not that she'd care much about the fine either because she makes enough to cover it, but that makes her spring to her feet, fingers clenching into small fists before she has to will herself to sit down again, this time joining charlotte on the couch. ]
No. [ she draws in a breath, trying to calm herself down. ] No, you're right. He can't — I'm not gonna let him get away with that, okay? But this is what I'm here for, gorgeous. To deal with it when you can't. You gotta let me take care of you.
[ she leans forward, smoothing a hand against charlotte's face. ] I know you gotta play nice and all that bullshit, and I know you're good at it. Right? You wouldn't have gotten to where you are without knowin' how to pretend. But anybody who crosses you is crossin' me too, and I wanna protect you as long as you let me know what's goin' on. Let me handle it when you can't.