The Name's Datta

"No. I'm not very interested in anyone," he repeated slowly.

"...Is that even possible?" He asked, obviously not convinced at all.

"Apparently," he replied with the slightest of smiles. "To be quite frank, I haven't wanted to get off with a date in years--though I suppose it's none of your business. I don't know why I'm telling you all this; it's pivate and rather dull."

Charlie shook his head.

"I'd rather know every little detail about you than nothing at all."

He sighed, chuckling softly.

"Ah, but I can't quite trust you that much yet--you seem like a chatterbox, too."

He smiled brightly.

"That's fine! One day, we'll know everything about each other! We'll be perfect partners."

"You honestly believe that?" he asked, surprised. "That's rather...naive."

Charlie just smiled at him.

"I don't think so." He paused. "Though, I wouldn't really know. Isn't it normal for people to want to be close?"

"Not coworkers, no," he said, frowning. "As a matter of fact, I've never really been close with anyone like tha...no, never mind, I take it back."

"We're more than coworkers." He insisted. "But go on. You were close with someone else?"

"Forget I said anything," he said, his voice unusually stern.

Charlie fell silent, for the first time in quite a while.

"...Kettle's almost ready," he said quietly to break the silence.

He smiled, but it looked somehow empty.

"That's...good."

Benoit sighed awkwardly.

"...Will you be able to sleep tonight?"

"Am I sleeping next to you?" He asked, smiling more fully at Benoit.

He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I can't sleep next to someone else."

"Then no." He sighed slightly. "I have very specific sleeping habits."

"I'm sorry...I can imagine I'm not the best flatmate."

"Maybe I'll hire someone to sleep next to me at night..." He suggested.

He went to fetch the kettle from the stove, happy to have something to do.

"You are not to bring any sort of slave, prostitute or stripper into this house--if you're going to purchase someone, sleep at a hotel."

"What if it's just a woman I pick up at the pub?" He asked. "I won't pay her. Is that okay?"

"How about no guests period? Yes, I think I like that better--you want a guest, you bring them to a hotel, but they aren't allowed in my house."

He sighed.

"...Do you at least have spare pillows for me to cuddle and pretend are warm and smell like you?"

Benoit nodded.

"Yes, I have pillows--but why on Earth do you want them to smell like me?"