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]

He blinks, inclines his head to hear what Raleigh has to say. And smiles, slow and shy and a little fond.

"I want you to too," he assures Raleigh in a low voice, leaning in to brush a kiss to the side of his mouth. "...but good. Thanks." He doesn't want them to wake up with regrets either, as much as he wants to climb into Raleigh's lap and ride him.

[unbreachable]

He gently presses their foreheads together gives him a brief smile, then drops a kiss to his forehead before he leaves Chuck to go grab a few logs out of the garage.

There's some food in the kitchen if Chuck pokes around, but not really a lot. There's glasses for their wine, water bottles in the fridge. He's been eating, though it's obviously been only recently that he's remembered to start buying groceries.

[simplepuzzle]

Way way back in the cupboard Chuck finds a box of macaroni and cheese. It's pretty perfect drunk food, easy to make and easy to eat. He sets a pot to boil and pours them each a glass of wine.

"Do you think we should microwave those?" He calls out, squinting at the wine glasses.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh comes back inside and shivers; it's cold in that garage and he had no jacket on.

"The glasses? Yeah, start with like, ten seconds, babe. Should be good, if not, do another ten."

He stomps around to get feeling back in his toes, then dumps the logs by the fireplace and arranges two before leaning in and lighting them.

[simplepuzzle]

"You keep calling me babe." Chuck goes to microwave the wine, staring at the numbers to be sure he got the time right before pressing start.

He saw Raleigh shivering out of the corner of his eyes and follows him into the living room, reaching to cover his hands with his when he pulls back from the fireplace.

[unbreachable]

"...Yeah. Feels nice." He'll stop though, if Chuck wants.

Chuck's there when he gets to his feet and encasing his hands, warming them up and Raleigh leans in to kiss him - not thinking, because really, they've already been making out, why stop now?

[simplepuzzle]

"It does." Chuck can't argue against it.

Raleigh leans in and so does he, catching his mouth and just kissing him gently. The microwave dinged a while ago, but he's been busy. With this.

[unbreachable]

"Mmm."

Raleigh had heard it ding but it was sort of inconsequential in the face of their embrace, so he doesnt' comment on it. He's not really inclined to let Chuck go at the moment, so instead he contents himself with kisses him slowly, thoroughly, tongue tracing over his lips as his hands lift to slide through Chuck's hair.

[simplepuzzle]

"Wine," chuck mumbles against his mouth with a little grin. He pulls away with another squeeze to his hands and another soft kiss to his mouth.

He could stay here all week, he's pretty sure, distracting Raleigh and just luxuriating in his touch. It's good--it's happy--ad he could be for the next two weeks, really.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh complains about it via a nibbled lip and a little whine, but he gives Chuck a final squeeze and releases him to go get it.

"Go on. I'll get some blankets and turn on the heat."

Since Raleigh's a freak and doesn't run the heat much, at least not until it gets pretty cold.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck thinks about telling Raleigh to not bother with the heat, they'll have blankets and the fire and possibly each other, not to mention the wine, but he's pretty cold.

So he'll grab the wine and dump the box of macaroni into the pot, and go wait on the couch for Raleigh.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh knows how cold Chuck gets. Still, he doesn't crank the heat, and if there's any sort of chill it's a good excuse to come back and cuddle with Chuck.

Which he does anyway, sitting on the couch next to him and opening his arms tentatively.

[simplepuzzle]

He smirks at the sight of Raleigh with his arms open and scoots closer, pushing a glass of wine into his hand.

He just leans back against his chest, fitting into him like they used to and oh but they still fit so well. Chuck leans his head back to nuzzle at Raleigh an lets out a sigh.

[unbreachable]

He takes the glass and slides his arm around Chuck with his other hand. He fits just like he ought to, like a puzzle piece, like they were made for one another.

Raleigh drops a kiss to Chuck's temple and lingers there, just breathing him in, lips light against his skin.

[simplepuzzle]

"Hey." Chuck takes a short sip of wine, leaning into Raleigh's soft kiss.

"...were you really going to ask me to marry you?" He asks it quietly, rubs his palm against his thigh in nervousness.

[unbreachable]

Chucks voice has him glancing at him, his free hand lifting to touch his hair. He's sort of expecting a question like that and when it comes he sort of breathes against Chuck's skin, eyes closing.

"Yeah."

Had a ring, too but -- they were so young. So, so young and Raleigh felt like he was fucking things up--

He ruined everything.

[simplepuzzle]

He takes another sip and leans into Raleigh, letting his eyes drift shut.

There's no use in picturing what would have happened if Raleigh had asked, if Chuck had said yes. It would have been great for all of a day (during which they likely would have taken all the time having sex in celebration) before they started arguing about the future. If Chuck should move back, if Raleigh refuses to go with him. If they should wait until they finished school.

....but man the celebration sex would have been great.

[unbreachable]

It would've.

Raleigh sips at his wine -- it's kind of awkward, the way Chuck's leaning against him, but he doesn't move him and sort of works around him.

"I still have the ring," he mumbles into Chuck's hair. "I could never...bring myself to return it."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck drains his glass and sucks on his lower lip.

"...can I see it?"

Is that weird. He doesn't have to see it.
But he wants to.

[unbreachable]

"...Sure."

He's not sure Chuck actually wants to, but he asks, and Raleigh can't tell him no. He drops a kiss to Chuck's forehead and untangles himself from the embrace, finishes his wine and sets the glass aside.

"Be right back."

And he'll -- go get it. And...bring it back, feeling a little unsure about this because...

Well, of a lot of reasons.

He settles back on the couch and sort of clutches the little black box, then slowly opens it, revealing the ring inside.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck reaches to run his thumb over the band of metal, breathing out slowly.

It's probably the wine and the emotions and the...everything that's happened, all night and all week, but Chuck feels strange. Longing, for what could have been, what they don't have. "Can I try it on?" He asks, voice rough, low to keep it from wavering.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh has trouble answering because it feels like a huge lump has settled in his throat, so he nods instead, and carefully tugs the ring free of its confines and tentatively reaches for Chuck's hand, not sure if it's something Chuck wants to do himself, to fuck around or if he wants--

Raleigh to put it on him, slide it over his knuckles and press it into place, like he would've done five years ago.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck holds his hand out, but he pulls Raleigh's hand closer with the other, both letting Raleigh slide the ring on and doing it himself.

"It's gorgeous," he mutters, turning his hand this way and that to look at it under the firelight.

Seeing it hurts, more than he thought it would. He should take it off, put it back in the box, but can't bring himself to do it, yet.

[unbreachable]

They put it on Chuck's hand together and Raleigh's pretty sure he's going to cry.

"Thought you'd like it."

He'd picked it out special, saved up everything he could get his hands on, worked his ass off for it.

He reaches for Chuck's hand, rubs his thumb over skin and metal, presses his lips together. He's clinging, desperate, afraid, horribly in love and the words tumble out and he can't stop himself.

"I love you, Chuck -- please, marry me."

[simplepuzzle]

"Yes-" it's out before Chuck can think about it, before he has a chance to form the words.

He squeezes Raleigh's hands, laces their fingers together. "Come with me," he urges, pulling Raleigh close to him. "You'll love it there, you'll do great." They'll be great there together he knows it, he wants to be a family with him so badly.