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

[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.

[simplepuzzle]

Nah he only really hates Chuck.

Yeah, he's giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming he's bi. And willing to cheat on the people he's dating.

Oh please show up, Chuck won't be working with him and Herc is starting to get suspicious.

Whatever though he's just really tired of dealing with Raleigh. He does his best not to be anywhere near Raleigh at work, even when picking up extra shifts and he'd really appreciate it if Raleigh did the same. Like, actually ask the person whose shift he's picking up no he'll end up working with.

[unbreachable]

He didn't mean to cheat. It was a kiss, and a mistake.

And they weren't exclusive yet anyway, not like Chuck had given Raleigh any kind of opportunity to explain.

They break up anyway, and it's amiable. She still comes in occasionally and orders a drink.

Raleigh swaps shifts when they're scheduled together and looks for another job in the meantime. Maybe this time he'll go big guns and deliver fucking pizzas.

[simplepuzzle]

Raleigh didn't exactly go out of his way to try and explain.

Chuck scowls at her when she comes in when he's working but he doesn't spit in her drink. That would be petty.

But no, he works in the coffee shop and avoids Raleigh and it's all fine. Just fine.

[unbreachable]

You told him to leave, Chuck. He'd started to explain it.

But now you're being an ass and this is just unbearable so one day Raleigh just doesn't come in because fuck you Hansen he's getting a desk job so he can get a rusty old chevy and nape it Gipsy Danger because that's a cool fucking name.

He'll even get a license place with that shit on it -GpsyDgr.

Fuck the haters.

[simplepuzzle]

He hadn't exactly pushed for it.

Y-yeah, most of the cafe is sort of giving Chuck the cold shoulder for running him off.

You know, if they weren't happy he had a job that doesn't involve customers.
Chuck's pouting a hell of a lot and pretending he isn't.

....plus seriously, a desk job?

[unbreachable]

What was he supposed to do? She was knocking, you were being an asshole, and he'd been stuck in the middle trying to figure shit out. Plus, it's not like Chuck'd made his interest known. Raleigh'd made that move.

And good. You deserve it -- though tbh Raleigh really hates his desk job. A lot.

He comes in to visit every now and then, though usually in the mornings when Chuck's not there to get something on the way to work.

[simplepuzzle]

Call him maybe?

And maybe he'd been about to let his interest known before he realized there was already someone he was seeing.

Yeah, and when he waits to talk to people they know he's fucking miserable. Chuck's only working during the break, and he's about to start his last semester, why doesn't he ask Herc for his job back?

[unbreachable]

Because that's admitting defeat :| Raleigh's already done that once.

But man. He really does hate his desk job.

So maybe he'll chat with Herc and it'll come up and he'll get asked back because it's always there waiting if he wants and you know, Raleigh's got just enough saved for his truck so fine.

Fine. He'll come back and work.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck finds out, obviously, and wants to roll his eyes so hard oh my god, would you make up your fucking mind already.

He wants to come in and punch him in the face again.

And what the hell is that thing about to fall apart parked outside, is he serious?