Charlie: At LEON restaurant in Farringdon. Save you a seat :)

John glanced at the time, he had enough to make it after a day with the crew.

Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he grabbed his keys, left his flat, and started the 23-mile drive from South Kensington to Farrington to meet her.

When he arrived and parked his truck near LEON, the restaurant's large glass windows revealed a cozy interior adorned with warm lights hanging from the ceiling.

These lights cast an inviting glow over the tables. People moved about, and each time the door swung open, the scent of fresh, wholesome food wafted outside.

John had rarely visited this place because it had a casual charm, featuring rustic tables and the soft murmur of conversations that added a comforting layer to the warm atmosphere. He pushed open the door, scanning the room until his eyes landed on her.

Charlie sat on a table near the back, her laptop open in front of her. She was absorbed in her work, typing away with her fingers while lightly biting her bottom lip. Her eyes focused on the screen as she scrolled on the touchpad.

Her head lifted just as he approached, her face breaking into a grin that lit up the room.

"You made it," she said, closing her laptop halfway. "Figured I'd have to drag you alone if you don't show up."

Taking a seat across from her, John leaned back against the chair. "Didn't peg you for the impatient type, but here I am."

"Impatient?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Hardly. Just making sure you're ready for your new role as my study buddy."

"I'll do my best to make your evening smooth," he said, folding his arms across his chest and smiled cheekily.

"Well," she said, tapping her fingers on the edge of her laptop. "I'll keep your word, but I'm not about to make it easy."

"Mhm," he nodded and his gaze moved to her back laptop. "So what's the problem?"

Charlie exhaled before she turned her laptop to him. "Okay, so every time I write, I find ten more things to tweak. It's like trying to catch smoke."

John leaned forward, his attention shifting to her screen. "Let's have a look."

She began scrolling through her document, pointing at sections as she spoke. "It's about conflict resolution strategies in foreign politics. Middle East, parts of Africa, Eastern Europe... I've got case studies and theories. But it feels shallow. Like it's missing something. I don't want it to sound boring."

He nodded, absorbing the information before he points out.

"You've got a solid start. But maybe you're focusing too much on what happened. Try digging into the why," John paused and continued, "what's motivating these countries or leaders? It's not always about peace—you have to have strategy, resources, alliances... sometimes hidden agendas are included."

Her eyes widened as realization dawned. "Hidden agendas?"

He nodded. "Take a look at who stands to gain and how. You're not just listing what happened but showing why things happened the way they did. Makes it a lot stronger."

She blinked twice before her eyes drift back to the screen. "Well, I've been so focused on surface-level."

"It's easy to do," he said with a shrug. "But once you start diving deep, you'll find there's more to the research."

Her gaze lifted to meet his, and she smiled. "You really know your stuff, don't you?"

"I know a thing or two, yeah." John said nonchalantly. "Comes with the job. Seeing things from every angle."

"Right," she said. "The good news is that I can now tackle this. Thanks to you."

John shrugged. "Glad I could help."

"Is this really your first time doing a study date?" Charlie asked, curious.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I won't help you with whatever you need, Charlie girl," John said before giving her a quick smile.

She looked away and back to him with a shy smile.

"Then, if you're going to be my study buddy. I'll need to take full advantage of you." Charlie said cheekily.

"Don't tempt me," John said, though his gaze held a steadiness that made her heart skip. "You might not like how much I know."

"Agree to disagree," she added. "I'd love to ask you three questions and know your thoughts on today's political mess."

"Oof, that's a lot to tackle," John said with a lopsided grin until they faded. "You'd be surprised at how, many centuries ago, they still have no fucking head for common sense."

Charlie winced, and John paused, noticing the subtle change in her expression. A small wrinkle of surprise and discomfort crossed her features before she quickly masked it. But it was enough for him to notice.

"Sorry," he said immediately. "Didn't mean to put you off with that."

"It's not... it's just..." She hesitated and then shrugged slightly. "I didn't expect you to curse, that's all."

John rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.

"Noted," he said with a small, apologetic smile.

"It's fine." Her lips quirked up into a soft smile, her shoulders relaxing. "You don't have to walk on eggshells for me. I am weird when... you know... I can't handle anyone cursing around me. It's not my cup of tea."

"No," he said, shaking his head to himself. "If something bothers you, you let me know, yeah? I've got enough bad habits as it is. Don't need to add makin' you uncomfortable to the list."

"That was kind of you to say," Charlie said, taking note of his sincerity.

John then smiled back, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Good. Now, where were we? Hidden agendas or me convincin' you I'm a half-decent study buddy?"

"Both." Charlie grinned. "Here's my first question: if you had to pick one political mess that you think is the worst right now, what would it be? And don't give me the vague 'it's all bad' answer."

John raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I have time to sit around ranking the world's disasters?"

"You've got firsthand experience, right? Your role gave you a front-row seat to the worst. If I guessed it right."

"Okay, you've got me there," John said. "If I had to pick, I'd say the people who get dragged into things they don't understand or expect—where the innocent on the ground pay the price for someone else's greed or ambition."

Charlie stared at him, her expression softening. "Proxy wars?"

"Yeah," he said, his tone steady. "Someone else pulls the strings, and civilians get caught in the crossfire. Happens always—in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, you name it."

Charlie pressed her lips into a line, and she mulled over his words.

"It's horrible," she said. "The way some leaders treat their people like pawns."

His gaze darkened, a flicker of something sharp and personal crossing his face.

"Horrible doesn't begin to cover it." John said, his gaze darkened when a flicker of sharp and personal crossed his face. "I've seen the fear. The loss. And for what? A bigger pile of cash or another strip of land?"

Charlie studied him before she added. "You care a lot more than you let on, don't you?"

He paused, then shrugged. "Caring doesn't change anything—not on its own."

"Maybe not," she said gently, "but it matters to the people who've seen you stand up for them."

Her words struck a chord with her, and he averted his gaze. A faint blush tinged his cheeks as he stole another glance at her.

"You're giving me too much credit, lass."

"Am I?" she pressed. "Maybe you're not used to people calling you out."

He chuckled, his tense shoulders relaxing a bit. "You have a knack for noticing things that others overlook, don't you?"

"And you've got a way of underestimating yourself."

"Not all the time," John admitted. "It's a good trait to have. Especially these days."

"Comes with being a student of politics," Charlie said proudly.

They lapsed into a brief silence before she broke the spell after leaning against the booth.

"Alright, I've got a second question for you."

"I'm starting to think you're just using me for all the answers tonight," John said, smirking.

"Of course I am," she shot back, her tone playful but warm. "You're like a walking think tank."

He shook his head and continued. "Fire away."

"If you could fix just one global issue," she began, tilting her head thoughtfully, "what would it be?"

His lips quirked into a grin and said, "I'd start with education. Give people the tools to make better choices. To understand what's going on around them."

A spark of admiration flickered in her gaze. "How so?"

"Education empowers people--gives them options, helps them think critically. A lot of the world's problems come down to lack of understanding. People turn to extremism when they feel powerless, oppressed. If more blokes had access to quality schooling, they'd have a chance at better lives. Might make them less desperate, less prone to manipulation."

He paused. "And the kids--we're the ones who'll inherit the mess we leave behind for the children to endure. If we want to change things for the future, we need the skills to do it right. To spot propaganda, analyze information. Make informed choices. Isn't that what children are meant for? For the next generation?"

Charlie nodded slowly. She hadn't expected such an insightful answer from this gruff soldier across from her.

"True," she said. "Though some would argue the problems run deeper than just education."

"Oh, there are layers upon layers," John continued. "No single solution. But teaching--passing on knowledge--it strikes at the heart of so much. Ignorance breeds fear. Fear breeds hate and violence. If you want a chain reaction in the other direction, education is a solid bet."

"That's an interesting perspective." Charlie added. "I wouldn't have taken you for the philosophical type."

John huffed a quiet laugh.

"Now don't go spreading it around. I've a reputation to maintain," he said, the corner of his mouth quirked up.

"I mean," she said quickly, "in my defense, I thought at first, you strike me as the 'kick down the door and fix it' type."

He then laughed heartily. "Doesn't work that way, lass. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is help people help themselves."

She nodded in agreement. "I like that. It's practical but hopeful. Very you."

John was silent. How she said it made him look around briefly before returning to her. It was strange for someone like her to see through him like she was the first to take note. He cleared his throat and made himself comfortable enough to continue.

"Thanks. And for the record, I think you've got the tools to make a difference—this thesis of yours? It's a start."

"I'll hold you to that," she said sheepishly. "When I'm drowning in citations and revisions, I'll remind you that you said it's worth it."

"You do that," he said. "And I'll remind you why you started in the first place."

Charlie averted her gaze, a slight flush appearing on her cheeks. She casually moved a lock of hair behind her ear before meeting his eyes again.

"Moving on," she said, her tone lighter as she leaned forward. "One last question."

John gave her a slight nod. "Go on."

"Why do you always wear that beanie?" She tilted her head, her eyes scanning his face.

That caught him off guard, and he blinked. "Why do you ask?"

"I mean, I love it," she said quickly, "but seeing you without it is kind of a nice change. You look more—" Her cheeks flushed pink and said last, "Well, different."

John hummed. Slowly, he nodded.

"I wear the beanie out of habit. It helps me stay warm," he explained, flashing a grin. "But it's comfort for me."

"A comfort?" she echoed, leaning forward with her arms crossed. "The big, tough soldier needed a beanie for comfort?"

He gave her a mock glare, though the smirk on his lips betrayed him. "Careful, Charlie. You're treading dangerous ground."

"Oh, come on," she teased. "Admit it. It's your security blanket."

He leaned close and his voice dropped in a way he hadn't left her gaze.

"Maybe I like to keep people guessing," he said smoothly. "And if I were to take my hat off all the time, I'm sure many would be just as distracted by my hair as you are."

Charlie stared at him before she looked away briefly, and then looks back to him.

"Yes, because your hair is definitely what grabs everyone's attention."

John flashed a grin, obviously having fun teasing her. "You have a point."

She shook her head and moved on. "Okay, okay, I'll give your beanie a break... for now."

"For now," he repeated, leaning his elbows on the table as his demeanor softened. "My turn. How old are you, by the way?"

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You're just going to ask me that point blank?"

He shrugged. "Just curious."

Charlie exhale softly, reclining in her chair. She thought about answering it to him but hesitated. Until she smiled shyly.

"Well, since you asked politely. I'm twenty-five."

John let out a soft hum, his lips pulling into a smirk. "That makes sense."

"What do you mean?" Charlie inquired, squinting her eyes.

"You're young, intelligent, and attractive," he said casually with a hint of intrigue. "Not many people your age are brave enough to tackle such heavy topics."

Her cheeks flushed again, though she tried to brush it off with a nervous laugh. "You're too nice to say that. Now you have to tell me—how old are you?"

"Take a guess."

Charlie squinted at him, tilting her head to get a better look. "Um... thirty?"

John let out a deep chuckle. "Try again."

"Thirty-two?" she tried again, her forehead creased.

"Wrong again. Seven notches."

Her eyes widened when she took a moment to do the math before making her last attempt.

"Thirty... nine?"

Then he smiled cheekily without saying a word.

"Oh," Charlie said, her face turning even redder. "You don't look that much older."

When his smile faded, he blinked before he chuckled again. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Um...yeah," She stuttered, the blush creeping up to her ears.

"That's good to know," he said. "But now, I have another question for you."

Charlie blinked twice. "Okay."

"Imagine that you were in a position with someone, like your boyfriend... or a partner, call the shots," John said, his tone dropping low. "Would you be okay with that arrangement? Or would you rather have an equal footing?"

She held her breath before responding to him, watching as he leaned forward with his forearms resting on the table. The way his gaze focused on her. She couldn't read his expression, which only added to her unease.

Charlie took a deep breath and locked eyes with him.

"If I trusted him, then I would let him lead."

His gaze remained intense as he considered her words.

"If you trusted him," John repeated, emphasizing the word 'if,' "that's quite a big step, lass."

"Well, yeah," she said, a defensive edge creeping into her tone. "Trust doesn't come easy, does it?"

"No," John said, almost frowning but he continued, "but when you do trust him, you give him everything."

She held his gaze, her pulse quickening. The way he said it—it wasn't a casual conversation anymore. Charlie swallowed again.

"That's the point, isn't it?"

John leaned back in his chair, studying her with that steadfast, unreadable expression.

"You say that now," he murmured. "But trust means giving up control. Means lettin' him make decisions for you. And not just the easy ones."

Charlie pressed her lips together before she nodded. "I get that."

"Do you?" His eyebrow raised, challenging her.

Charlie shifted in her seat, suddenly feeling too warm.

"Yeah," she admitted.

John hummed in agreement. "And if it was me?"

Her breath hitched.

She knew he was teasing her, knew he was playing the game of seeing how far he could push her thoughts—it didn't stop the rush of heat from crawling up her neck.

"You?" she started carefully.

He smirked. "Yes?"

Charlie hesitated, but she knew the answer too quickly.

"... Yes."

His smirk deepened, but his eyes darkened, like he wasn't expecting her to say it.

"That's a dangerous thing, sweetheart," he said, his fingers drumming lightly against the table.

Charlie gulped. She became aware of every tiny movement between them—the subtle tension, the way his voice had lowered, the way his hand twitched like he was holding himself back from something.

"I'm not afraid," she said, though her voice was softer.

"That's what they all say."

Her fingers curled against the table, and she forced herself to break eye contact. She looked down at her laptop before she cleared her throat.

John watched her for a second before he leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose.

"Let's get back to work. Don't think I've forgotten about your homework," he said gruffly.

She looked back at him, nodding.

"Right. Back to my thesis."

"For now," John said with a smug smile. But in his eyes told her this wasn't the end of the conversation.

Not by a long shot.

-----

Hey Readers!

Looks like our "study date" turned into a lot more than just research talk. 👀 John Price, Study Buddy Extraordinaire, came in with some seriously deep takes on global issues—but let's be real, that last part? The "trust" conversation? Whew. Someone open a window. 🥵

Now, it's time to hear from you!

Let's Chat! 📝

If you had one chance to ask Captain Price a deep, thought-provoking question, what would it be? 🤔

Study dates: Super productive or just an excuse to flirt? (Be honest! 😂)

Would you be the type to let someone "lead" in a relationship, or do you prefer an equal partnership? (John Price is clearly asking the important questions here.)

Real talk—do you think John is fully aware of what he's doing, or is he lowkey testing Charlie to see how she reacts? 👀

Updates!

🌟 I release 3 new chapters every Friday!

🌟 If I'm feeling generous, I might surprise you with a bonus chapter on Wednesday! (Keep an eye out!) 👀

So, what did you think of this chapter? Drop a comment—especially if you're still recovering from the tension at the end. 😂💙✨