For unbreachable

[simplepuzzle]

 Chuck saunters into Pacific Roast with his backpack flung over his shoulder. There are perks to being the son of one of the co-owners of a corner coffee shop/cafe, and free drinks are one of them.

No free fresh pastries, unfortunately, though if it's still there by the second day it's fair game. 

Which is awesome for Chuck's study-induced sweet tooth. 

...and would be less awesome for his waistline if he wasn't as active as he was.

There's someone unfamiliar behind the counter, but that's not too surprising, Herc had said he and Pentecost were looking to hire some new blood since losing all three of the triplets to better jobs (not begrudging, nobody wants to barista forever). Chuck just drops his bag into his favorite armchair, staking his claim at the table before making his way to the counter and nodding at the stranger in greeting.

"Hey, mate, can you get me a flat white? Thanks." And, without waiting for a response, heads back to said staked table to unpack his books.

Comments

[unbreachable]

There's always been something about Raleigh's hair being pulled and ever since he'd met him, there'd been something about this little shit head that had a knot in his gut.

He doesn't know if he wants to punch him in the face or kiss him.

So he settles for a rough shake, then dragging him in to roughly kiss him, teeth clicking against Chuck's.

[simplepuzzle]

--oh so that's what was poking into his leg.

Chuck's surprised, to say the least, but he doesn't shove him off. He does kiss back though, mouth opening easily under Raleigh's with a rough sound.

He's even surprised enough to let go of his hair, dropping his hand to his shoulder instead.

[unbreachable]

Damn you, Hansen. Damn you for provoking him, for pushing him, for picking a fight. Damn you for dragging out his emotions and fuck it all he's got a girlfriend, finally, after so long he'd finally taken someone out, made an attempt and now--

He's roughly making out with Chuck Hansen on the floor of the fucking coffee shop.

Asshole.

[simplepuzzle]

This really wasn't how Chuck foresaw this evening going.

He's sort of surprised that he doesn't really mind as much as he probably should. But it turns out Raleigh isn't a shit kisser. Chuck's kissing him roughly, presses his palms against his back to hold him in closer and even sort of rocking up a little, to really get into the makeout spirit.

There's a jingle as the door opens and some complete moron sticks their head in past the CLOSED sign. "You guys open?"

"Fuck off," Chuck snarls at him.

[unbreachable]

He's making out with Chuck and he likes it, tongue demanding entry past his lips to tangle with his, hips driving down into Chuck's, a hand lifting to fist tightly in his hair and--

What the Fuck some stupid shit--

Fuck this.

Raleigh pushes himself off of Chuck and takes his apron off and wads it up, throwing it on the ground and he just.

Stomps out.

"Consider this my resignation!"

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck doesn't even have time to shout after Raleigh before he's gone, pushing past the stupid customer who can't read signs. "My dad's going to kill me," he mutters, sitting up and picking the apron off the floor.

He gets the moron out of the door and actually locks it what the hell Becket, that should have been the first thing, and then goes through closing alone. He knows what to do, he's worked it and he's helped out enough times. Though it takes him longer than it should tonight, and not just because he's cleaning up the mess he and Raleigh made; he's dragging his feet sullenly.

Because he's gotta tell Herc Raleigh quit. He says it's because they got into a fight though, no need to go into details.

Raleigh's going to get a call from Herc apologizing for his dumbass son and asking him to come back. He'll schedule him around Chuck's study times so he doesn't even have to see the kid. Also he'll make him apologize if Raleigh wants.

[unbreachable]

At first Raleigh declines the invite to come back, because yeah, his punkass son is not someone Raleigh needs to be around.

For multiple reasons that Raleigh isn't going to go into details about.

And no, he doesn't want an apology. He does agree to come back, though - only on the promise that he's scheduled around Chuck's study times so they don't have to interact.

He cancels his date, too. She's pissed.

Fuck everything.

[simplepuzzle]

Yeah, Chuck gets chewed out by Herc. If he could get away with it without looking ridiculous, he'd probably ground his kid.

And he sort of gets it, he might not have been the most sensitive of people when it came to inciting the fight, and maybe Raleigh wants to cool off before seeing him again but--not at all? Really?

And now Mako's on a lot of closing and is treating him coolly which is. Whatever.

He stays out of Raleigh's way, going so far as to waiting an extra couple of hours after his shift before going into the cafe to get work done.

Of course, semesters end, and Chuck picks up a couple shifts at the cafe for extra cash, and while Herc and Stacker are careful not to schedule them together, there is the awkward shift-end shift-start pass by.

And maybe a shift gets covered without asking who they'll be working with.

[unbreachable]

Oh, great.

Great. Raleigh walks in for his shift, sees Chuck, and has half a mind to walk right back out because there's no way they're gonna be able to fucking function around each other for a few hours.

And yeah, really. Why would he want to see Chuck again? Jerk.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck rolls his eyes heavily and tilts his head forward.

"Hey."

He'd wanted to apologize, actually. He might've wanted to get into a fight but that was a really stupid way to go about it. The look on Raleigh's face has him bristling on the defensive automatically.

"If you wanna skip, Tuesdays are slow," he says flatly. "I won't tell Herc." If he'd rather not be around Chuck, Chuck doesn't want to be around him while he's radiating not-wanting-to-be-around-Chuck.

[unbreachable]

"It's fine."

He's already tying the apron around him, his gaze on Chuck equally flat.

They can work together, right? Just so long as they don't talk. People who don't like each other work together all the time.

[simplepuzzle]

Well they have to talk to call orders to each other, but yeah they don't actually have to interact more than strictly necessary.

Chuck's at ease behind the counter, mixing drinks and almost being amiable with the customers.

Unless they're rude fuckers. Then Chuck gives them exactly what they deserve.
He hasn't made anyone cry yet, but it's early yet.

He's also watching Raleigh whenever he's not looking. When he is--if he ever looks back at Chuck--he's looking away.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh's pretty comfortable behind the counter; he slides by Chuck, works around him, doesn't cause any problems. He doesn't avoid talking to him or looking at him - anyone on the outside would think they got along well enough. He presses a hand to Chuck's hip when he needs by him to get milk from the back fridge, but other than that, there's no contact.

And if they're staring at each other when the other isn't looking, then.

Well. That's how it goes.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck goes still when Raleigh puts a hand on his hip and he glances at him out of the corner of his eye. If it makes him smile it's hidden quickly with a shake of the head and an eyeroll.

He's not off his guard though, not thinking for any second that they're friends.

And that's act isn't pissing him off at all.

Though he might quit on the latte art closer to the end of the day.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh likes the latte art and makes cute little designs. Cat faces and shit. Kids love him.

The day comes to a close and it slows to a crawl and Raleigh's fucking with his phone, shooting off a text before getting busy closing down.

[simplepuzzle]

Yeah Chuck does cooler shit than that, like superheroes and robots.

Though at the end of today's shift he just doesn't feel like it. He's wiping off the counters while Raleigh's fucking around or whatever and dragging the trash out.

"Hey," he mutters, once the door's closed. "Herc said you didn't want an apology but--I'm sorry. Not for the fight, that was awesome." He smirks, and he could be talking about the fists or the kiss. "But that was a shitty and clumsy way to start it. So. Sorry." And seriously, he'd prefer Raleigh be outwardly hostile, this whole faking-amiability thing is grating on his nerves.

....also he kind of wants to bring up the part where they made out.

[unbreachable]

"Yeah it was. You wanna brawl with me, just say so," Raleigh grunts, flinging a look at Chuck that's clearly annoyed.

And yeah, that kiss had been hot and Raleigh doesn't even know where he'd been planning on going with it -- maybe its best some douchebag walked in and broke it up.

"Don't worry about it. Just lemme know next time you feel like getting a bloody nose."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck starts stacking chairs and tosses a cocky smirk at him.

"And hey, likewise. Correct me if I'm wrong but you had about as much fun as i did."

He'd been the one to kiss Chuck, after all. And Chuck uh. Wouldn't be adverse to doing that some more. In fact, he's sort of trying to figure out how to bring it up, but it looks like someone else thinks they might not be closed; some woman is walking up to the shop and Chuck is bracing himself for her to ignore the dimmed lights and CLOSED sign.

[unbreachable]

She's still outside and Raleigh doesn't see her; he tosses Chuck a smirk and a wink before he says,

"Yeah, might've been a little fun."

But then she's tapping on the door and smiling and waving and tapping her watch before going to sit in one of the chairs. Raleigh waves back, and scrubs a hand through his hair.

[simplepuzzle]

--heh. Chuck runs his tongue over his lower lip before the whoever-she-is actually knocks on the door, and then he's frowning. Because there's waving.

"Friend of yours?" He hoists another chair, tilting his head in curiosity.

[unbreachable]

"...Sort of girlfriend," he mutters, picking up a chair to stack - he sets it a little hard, but nothing breaks. It's just loud.

"She's taking me home."

[simplepuzzle]

That's--

She's--

..oh.

Chuck's grip tightens on the next chair. "Sort of," he repeats, turning his back to face Raleigh. It's hard to say what he's feeling right now, except worse than when Raleigh was pretending to be friendly.

Pretending to like him.

"You can go on," he says shortly. "I can finish closing without you."

[unbreachable]

"Just a couple dates," he grumbles, frustrated beyond measure - especially when he gets a reaction like that out of Chuck.

Fucking shit, when did his life get so complicated?

"It's fine. I have another ten minutes." He can finish.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck is not going to argue about what are the parameters of a relationship with Raleigh and not now. Or ever.

"I'll make sure it's on your time sheet, just. Go."

Seriously, he really doesn't want to hang out with a guy who makes out with him with a girlfriend waiting for him. Either he's willing to cheat on her, in which case, fuck off, or he's closeted and using her, in which case fuck the hell off.

[unbreachable]

Oh you asshole, turning this around on him. You know, this is the worst. Raleigh is really starting to hate this job a lot, and he takes his apron off and tosses it on the table and leaves without another word.

He IS allowed to be bi, by the way.

And you know, maybe he'll show up tomorrow -- maybe he won't. Depends on how he feels in the morning.