It's been a while....

[simplepuzzle]

 It's been five years since Chuck left. Left his home, left his dad, left his dog, left Raleigh. 

And he hasn't looked back.

Because if he looked back he'd have to think about what he's left behind and if he thinks about it he'd have to do something about it. But it didn't work and they tried, they tried so hard. And it didn't make a damn bit of difference, so Chuck...throws himself into school. And he tries. 

Occasionally, he tries to date. A girl here, a guy there. Every time he tries to make an effort at a relationship it ends with a lot of anger. Chuck's not really good at this. Nothing's compared to Raleigh, and Chuck's not sure he'll ever have something like it again. And he refuses to settle. 
Love isn't everything. Chuck focuses on school. It's okay. 

And he's good. He's really good. That and the occasional one night stand satisfies him. 

And then he gets a call from Herc. Yancy's been in an accident. He's broken a few limbs, and he hasn't woken up. Herc isn't saying he should come back, and Chuck's been staring at Raleigh's number when Mako calls him. 
He needs you. 
Come home. 

Comments

[simplepuzzle]

Raleigh is close and literally clinging and Chuck's feeling a little weird about it. Though that might be the two hours of sleep he's had. He doesn't have the heart to push him away, anyway.

He gets them a table outside so Raleigh can get some sunlight and so they can shift the seats so he can continue to cling if he needs. Which he seems to need.

Also a pot of coffee.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh needs a lot of things right now and he's so, so grateful for Chuck being here that he doesn't know how to properly articulate it. He's emotionally vulnerable and Chuck showed up when he needed him most and got him out if that hospital room and he just --

Fuck, he doesn't even know.

He sinks into the chair, keeping contact with Chuck but not leaning heavily on him. The coffee is well needed and the food is appreciated.

[simplepuzzle]

This cafe is down the street from a hospital. It knows how to do comfort food.

Chuck doesn't know where to go from here, just knew he had to get Raleigh out of there for a couple hours at least. He's still not sure what good he's doing, not convinced they're just being unhealthy here.

But he's still not sure what to do, so he starts talking. About his new job, school. He talks about his work, his classes, stays away from the personal life that lead to the split. Just trying to distract Raleigh.
Or put him to sleep, either way.

[unbreachable]

Chuck is the best.

Raleigh orders whatever comfort food he can find, then settles in to listen to Chuck talk. He asks questions when necessary, prompts him to keep the conversation going and listens to everything he has to say.

Just hearing his voice has helped immensely and Raleigh wants him to talk forever.

[simplepuzzle]

Well he's trying.

He talks until his throat starts to get raw. He'll pass the palm of his hand over Raleigh's shoulders now and then, a reassuring gesture.

"What about you?" Because if he keeps talking he's going to lose his voice.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh pulls in a breath, leans into the hand on his shoulders, though he's careful to keep the sore one out of reach.

"Well--"

He swallows, then carefully starts talking about what he's been doing, what he's been up to, how he's gone to school and gotten degrees of his own, set up shop, tried to make a living. He just -- has sort of been throwing himself into things and trying not to think about Chuck (though that isn't something he's voice, though really -- judging by what he's saying it's kind of obvious that's what he was doing).

He talks for a while, as long as Chuck will let him.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's going to let Raleigh talk until he doesn't want to any more.

He might start fingercombing Raleigh's hair, petting him gently like he might have while he did homework years ago. It might not be his place, it might be too far when it's been so long, but he can't leave Raleigh right now.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh relishes the touches, leans into it and against Chuck as he talks.

He rambles until he runs out of steam, his mouth is dry and he needs water.

[simplepuzzle]

"You want to go home?" He suggests almost tentatively, one hand on the back of his neck. There's not a lot of expectation for that but maybe if he gets Raleigh to spend a night in his own bed he'll feel less guilty about leaving.

...not that he's planning on leaving immediately.

[unbreachable]

He hesitates and his eyes dart in the direction of the hospital but he's so tired, so worn out.

"Yeah. Will you stay a while? Are -- are you able?"

[simplepuzzle]

--fuck he can't say no in the face of that.

"Yeah. I'll be around for a few days." As long as Raleigh needs, he wants to say, but that might not be possible. "You want a ride home?"

He's also fucking exhausted himself and is sort of about to drop off.

[unbreachable]

"Yeah. I don't think I can drive."

His car hasn't moved from the hospital lot on days. It'll be fine.

"Thanks, Chuck. Seriously."

[simplepuzzle]

"It's no problem." He takes care of lunch and walks Raleigh to his own car.

He's just all right enough to get them to Raleigh's place (once he gets the address), and he's seriously considering passing out in the backseat of his car.

[unbreachable]

"Come inside?" He says, leaning a little on the door of the car, giving Chuck a slightly guarded but hopeful look.

"You look exhausted."

[simplepuzzle]

"Shouldn't."

They're still not really--they haven't talked really, about...what they are now.

.....but he so. Fucking. Tired.

"..okay, thanks." It's helped by a giant yawn.

[unbreachable]

"C'mon."

He pulls Chuck's door open, and offers a hand to pull him out, smiling faintly.

Stay with him.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck follows Raleigh in, looking around his place a little.

But mostly focusing on his couch. He would love any soft surface that he could bed on.

[unbreachable]

"Want a pillow...?"

He'd like Chuck to curl up in bed with him but that's inappropriate, right?

Right.

[simplepuzzle]

It'd be.........

.....not on. They haven't talked about that. About them. And this isn't the time, either, not with Raleigh's brother laying in a hospital bed.

"Yeah, thanks." Maybe a blanket. He's sort of just about to unconscious with little warning.

[unbreachable]

"Sit, babe," the word slips out and he doesn't even notice. He reaches for chucks arm, guides him to the couch.

"Sit before you fall. I'll be back."

And be bringing pillow and blanket.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck barely twitches at the name, like he wants to say something but doesn't.

All he can do is couch right now. And Raleigh's in a rough place so he's got a couple passes.

It's not that Chuck doesn't want to sleep curled around Raleigh like they used to, it's that....it's been five years.

[unbreachable]

They...may have to talk about things. Certain things.

Later. When Raleigh isn't emotionally fucked up.

He gives Chuck both pillow and blanket and resists touching him, then practically crawls into his room to collapse.

[simplepuzzle]

Maybe. Or they could keep stretching it out.

Chuck can't stay here for the whole time he's in town. But tonight's okay. He may be curled around a pillow as he sleeps heavily.

[unbreachable]

Can't he? Can't he stay with the emotionally destroyed ex boyfriend the whole time? Doesn't that sound like fun?

He crashes hard, sleeps for ten hours and wakes up groggy, stumbling into his kitchen to start coffee.

He might've forgotten Chuck is there.

[simplepuzzle]

Nnn...noo. No. Not without talking.

Chuck'll be up before then. He doesn't want to just leave, yet. Not without saying goodbye.

So there's already a pot of coffee. And Chuck might have helped himself to food (if Raleigh gets his panties twisted he'll replace it), and made a grilled cheese. He might make another for Raleigh if he wants.