Seems Charlie isn't as shy about it

The look on Charlie's face revealed plenty before he even started speaking. Airing their grievances would be a relief for both of them, not just her. "Well, when I tried to turn the dick dial to zero, the system malfunctioned. Apparently they 'weren't prepared for someone to seek that option.'" He actually made the air quotes with his fingers, letting some buried irritation seep out. "Like, I get that TTP was even less refined back then, but geez... So instead of having next to nothing, the thing cycled all the way around and gave me the biggest damn wang that wouldn't cause heart problems." He had to laugh when little Adrienne's face turned beet red, but quickly apologized.

"Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't be vulgar. It's almost funny now, looking back on it, but boy was I mad. And with all the extra testosterone shocking my system, I was reeaaal mad. Probably a good thing I wasn't this built, yet, or I might have hurt someone. Not that I'd wanted to, not really..." The grin slipped from his face as memories settled him down into a more thoughtful state. "More than anything, I was devastated. TTP was supposed to be a game-changer for good reasons. Solve problems, make people happy. I didn't feel like such a huge mistake fell under their advertised 'slight margin of error.' And since, y'know, we only get one shot... I'm stuck like this. And that was _before _I learned that they got my hormone balance wrong, so I was going to end up more masculine than I'd wanted, too." Worried he was bringing the mood down a little too hard, he tried to cap off with a joke. "So, I guess you could say I literally got shafted by TTP."

Any grin or chuckle in Charlie's chest died when he finally looked back up at Adrienne. Her face still glowed, but now because she was crying openly. Her eyes bubbled with tears, falling fat and heavy onto the café table. **** not to make noise, she held herself tightly to keep from shaking, stifling little sobs and hiccups rattling her core.

Charlie's heart shattered at the sight. Fighting his reflexes, he willed himself not to approach her.

"I don't really like it when guys try to touch me..."

Still, his hands crept forward along the table, as if just leaving her to crumple in on herself was physically hurting him. "Adrienne, I-"

Cut off, Charlie looked down at a small, shaking hand resting on top of his. A veil of soft black hair masked her downward face, but her voice crackled out just for him. It was just a mutter at first, but slowly the words became clearer.

"...same. We're the same." Her inhales were shaken whispers; exhales hard, aching whines. But she kept talking. "They got me wrong, too. They got it so, so wrong...! I was going to have a new life, a second chance! Sure, it was going to be different, but not like this...!" Whatever wind kicked up her sails left in the same rapid swing. "Not like this..."

Charlie sat frozen, unable to find the words to say and totally unwilling to take his hand back from Adrienne. Minutes passed. What few patrons that meandered the store awkwardly avoided staring at the duo, assuming the big guy was probably breaking up with her. Charlie stayed silent, giving Adrienne time to just let it out.

Finally, after a hard sniff and several wet napkins, she drew her hands back down into her lap, pushing to make herself look up at Charlie. His eyes were locked onto her, brow tense with worry. Not that Adrienne could think of a guy who wouldn't worry about a girl bursting into tears in public like that. Honestly, girl, pull yourself together.

"I... I haven't breathed a word of this before. I didn't think I could, o-or if I even wanted to. Thank you for listening." Charlie just nodded, not about to compromise Adrienne's fragile momentum.