Darling

In Charlie's defense, they told their partners that they had a feeling they'd be home late. They solidified it with a text message at about 11 pm.

Darling: still in the lib! will probably be here until a stupid hour, so dont stay up for me! love you all <3

Frog: No promises honey, let us know if you need anything and text us when you're on your way. We love you, darling.

Charlie always got butterflies in their stomach when they were called pet names by their partners. They all have specific ones for them, like Matt calls them Sweetheart, Karen calls them Bug, and Foggy calls them Honey, but all of them call Charlie darling.

Charlie has names that are sometimes sarcastic and sometimes serious, because while they can call Matt love, in the same sentence they can call him "one of the lawyers that lives in my apartment" or calling Foggy frog, and "my live-in government-subsidized tax inspector" in the same sentence. Karen, however, has consistently been sunshine, not having a deviation (yet).

The other three don't really understand their humor, but they'll take the confusion any day if it means they hear Charlie's giggle afterward.

*

They really didn't anticipate staying out this late.

They're about to start midterms, it's the fall semester of their senior year, and they're stressing the fuck out about grad school applications.

They call it quits for the night and puts their belongings in their backpack, grabbing their phone to text everyone they're coming home.

03:47 is what their phone reads, and all they can think of is how mad their partners are gonna be that they're out at almost four in the morning.

Matt, Karen and Foggy never got mad at Charlie, and although they reassure them after every late night study session or early morning seminar or even random work shifts (that Charlie's only really working for autonomy, because they have been told multiple times that the others working at the firm will bring enough income to the household so they can just focus on school, but the poor kid guilt eats them alive), they know that Charlie is always prepared for fight, flight or freeze, because that's the unfortunate reality of their upbringing.

Darling: oh shit i didnt notice the time, im leaving now!

They put on their backpack and keep the taser that Matt gave them in their hoodie pocket, within easy access.

Sometimes Charlie thinks back to that moment, they had just began being quote unquote "courted" by the trio the fall of their Junior year, and Matt nearly shit himself when he found out just how late Charlie will stay out to study at night. So, without consulting Foggy or Karen, he did the only thing Matthew Murdock would do as a love language.

He bought them a taser.

So you can imagine the lack of shock that ran through Charlie's body when the rest of the polycule sat them down to break the news to them that Matt was Daredevil.

"You... don't seem surprised learning this information, Charlie." Foggy said, grabbing their hand from where he sat next to them.

They looked back and forth between Karen and Matt, then to Foggy, then back to Matt, raising a finger in his direction.

"Literally, before we even started dating, homie bought me a taser. I think having proof that he isn't the infamous 'devil of hell's kitchen' would be more surprising than this" they said, raising an eyebrow. To prove a point, they stood up and walked to their little workspace in the corner (that the three insisted on putting there), and opened the front zipper of their backpack, taking out two black, bulky blocks. "I want you to guess, from afar, which is a charger and which is a taser. Literally, go for it, because even I get them confused."

Per literally everyone's requests, Charlie has stopped listening to music on their way home, and rather use minor noise-cancelling earbuds. They muffle the overwhelming sounds, like the buzzing of the street lamps, but allow noises like close cars and footsteps come through.

They bound up the steps to their shared apartment, formerly Matt's, then Matt and Foggy's, then Matt, Foggy and Karen's, and now Matt, Foggy, Karen and Charlie's. They freeze to take their earbuds out, leaning an ear close to the door to gauge who might be awake. After hearing nothing, they're hoping, praying, that they open the door and walk down the hallway to a dark living room, only illuminated by a huge ass billboard.

Charlie's life can never be truly that simple.

They take their keys out and separate the apartment key, using it to (silently) open the door. They close and lock the door behind them and hang their little keychain on one of the hooks by the door. They take off their outside shoes and put on their inside shoes (the only place Charlie can really go barefoot is the bedroom, because it has carpet, and the idea of dust on the hard floor freaks them out. The shoes are big enough to easily come on and off, but not too big to where they trip with every step.)

They walk to the edge of the small corridor, take a deep breath, and turn the corner.

All three of their partners are sitting on the couch, looking at them. Charlie stares back, and in a flustered and anxious state (because they should have taken their anxiety meds hours ago), the first thought in their brain comes out of their mouth.

"Has the council made a decision on my fate?"

Matt tilts his head, able to hear Charlie fidgeting.

"Sweetheart, when were you supposed to take your meds?" 

"Um," they gulp, realizing just how much they're shaking while they check their watch, "a while ago."

"Mhm, and how long is a while ago, baby?" Foggy says, propping his chin on his palms.

"Um," taking another shaky breath and checking their watch again.

04:15

"Minimum seven hours and forty-five minutes ago" they pause, checking their watch again, "forty-six" they finish, looking back up.

Theres a sigh from Karen before she opens her arms and motions for Charlie to join them on the couch, which they do, and everyone can feel the shaking as Charlie straddles Karens lap, hiding their face in the junction between her neck and shoulder. Karen wraps her arms around her youngest partner, and Matt and Foggy follow suit by leaning into them, running hands up and down Charlie's back.

Charlie mumbles something incoherent, and while the others are usually pretty good at deciphering the mumbles and gestures they make when their brain stalls on proper words, all they could hear was noise.

"You're gonna have to speak up, baby" Karen says, knowing that that particular term of endearment makes them flustered. Matt and Foggy slightly lean back as Karen and Charlie slightly separate, the youngest staying on her lap, trying to focus on Karen's hands on their lower back, Matt's hand on their left knee and Foggy's hands holding their right hand, rubbing small circles into the skin. They look down and take a shuddery breath, trying to focus on self-grounding.

They close their eyes and tense up their body on impulse, before saying something both anticipated and heartbreaking.

"Sorry for making you guys worry, I'm sorry I stayed out so late, please don't b-be mad at me" they say as their body tries to close in on itself.

Various things like "Oh, baby", "Char" and "darling" are muttered. Matt reaches a hand out, gently bringing his knuckles next to Charlie's cheek. Everyone tries to not let their hearts break as they momentarily flinch away, before leaning into the affection. He adjusts his hand, cupping their face as they lean farther into it, closing their eyes.

"We aren't mad at you darling. We always worry about you when you stay out late, but we worry whenever you're out of sight for more than five minutes. We trust you and know you have a good head on your shoulders. You've done nothing wrong. C'mon, let's get you to bed" Matt says, stroking his thumb up and down their cheek. Charlie wiggles out of Karen's lap and stands up on their feet, stretching their back as everyone else stands up. Foggy walks up behind Charlie, wrapping his arms around their torso and pulls them to his chest, slowly rocking them back and forth. Charlie leans into the contact, leaning their head on his shoulder.

Karen walks by, giving Foggy a quick peck on the lips before they separate. 

Charlie walks into the kitchen where the medicine cabinet resides and takes out their pill organizer, grabbing the previous nights medicine before grabbing their water bottle and taking them. They exit the kitchen, water bottle in tow, and walk to the bedroom to get a change of clothes.

After changing (and throwing clothes at their partners for the loud flirting at four in the morning) they walk around to a night stand to put their glasses down before crawling into bed, between Karen and Matt. Foggy climbs into bed on the other side of Matt, making him and Charlie in the middle, Karen and Foggy on the ends. Charlie wraps their arms around Matt, as if to become the big spoon (if everyone was more awake, someone would have called Charlie a human backpack, but everyone was too tired), and Karen wraps her arms around Charlie. Foggy turns to face Matt and puts an arm around his waist, resting his hand on top of Charlie's.

Variations of goodnight and i love you mumbles were said, various kisses planted onto whoever they could reach, and the four softly drifted off to sleep.