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]

Chuck leaves when it's clear the brothers need some time. He presses a kiss to Raleigh's mouth and leaves him to explain to his brother how he ruined himself financially to keep Yancy's life going.

Chuck goes home, because he needs some proper shower and he needs some proper sleep. He manages to hide his left hand from Herc and stares at the ring in the shower.

[unbreachable]

He squeezes Chuck as he leaves, then he's left to fend for himself against his brothers raised brows and questioning eyes.

It's a long talk. A lot of are you sure? He left you. He wasn't coming back. He's only here because of guilt, baby bro. I don't want you hurt.

In the end though, Yancy knows Raleigh has to make his own mistakes, possibly again and again and again before he learns those grand old lessons about life. Yancy knows sleigh is a grown man and it's time to spread his wings and leave, if that's what calls to him. Yancy won't stop him, but he does make him promise to visit.

After, Raleigh's exhausted and takes a can back home, texting Chuck on the way Going home, need shower and rest. Call me.

[simplepuzzle]

It's not that Chuck wants to claim alcohol and pretend it didn't happen. He wants to be with Raleigh as much as Raleigh can't lose him again.

But as he's sobering up he starts panicking on the inside. So Raleigh said yes to following him to California when he was drunk, what if he hates it? What if he resents Chuck for making him move so far from what remains of his family?

He's confused. And hungover. And it's a pretty shitty feeling all around.

Still. He gets the text and calls him, flopping back on his bed and rubbing a hand over Max's head.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh is resting on his back and nursing a headache when Chuck calls. He's running low on sleep and energy, but he figures that talking on the phone will be fine.

Right?

"Hey, babe. How're you feeling?"

They didn't go light on the wine.

[simplepuzzle]

"Awful. Did you wanna talk now?"

If he wants to sleep Chuck more than understands it, he's been up for so long.

They can talk later.

[unbreachable]

He huffs a quiet little laugh.

"Now is fine. Do you wanna...I dunno. Meet for lunch or just...talk on the phone?"

[simplepuzzle]

"I don't wanna move right now and you need to get some fucking sleep."Chuck sounds almost fond but he's also pretty firm.

"What's the word on Yancy, is he in the clear?"

[unbreachable]

Raleigh laughs at that and sprawls on the bed, crossing his legs at the ankles.

"Yeah. The doctors say that he's good. He's gotta stay in the hospital a little while longer, make sure everything ticks right, but he should be out in a week."

[simplepuzzle]

"Great." The relief is evident in his voice.

"...Rals, I don't wanna talk about this over the phone, but--do you think we're rushing this?"

[unbreachable]

He doesn't really want to talk about this over the phone either, but. Alright.

"No. I think that I've waited a long time for this. Do you think we're rushing?"

[simplepuzzle]

"...maybe. I still want it," he adds so Raleigh doesn't start panicking about that instead. "I do--I love you."

And he closes his eyes because it's never not been true but it's still kind of hard to say out loud. "I wanna do this, wanna do this with you, but--I think we gotta talk about stuff. Look but this can wait until after you get some sleep, okay?"

[unbreachable]

"I love you, too."

It's always been easier for Raleigh to say, but there's hesitation in his voice now, because he's not...he's not sure what Chuck's trying to say and he's tired and emotionally drained and worried about his fucking up and down relationship now.

"...Sure. I'll talk to you later."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's just not sure he wants exactly what they talked about when they were drunk off their asses.

He takes the ring off around Herc, just because he doesn't want to tell him until there's something to tell him. He brings coffee and lunch over to Raleigh's place after a day or so of giving hims pace.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh's not sure what the whole conversation means and it's ripping him into pieces thinking about it, so he sleeps. He sleeps a lot and visits Yancy and he's home when Chuck shows up, but he looks kind of bleary eyed and defeated.

"Hey."

No babe, and he's wary. Are you here to dump him, Chuck?

[simplepuzzle]

What--no, he said he loves him, he said he still wants to do this.

But Raleigh's wary and he's giving Chuck a weird look so...Chuck doesn't go in for the kiss. "Hey." No babe? Okay. "I brought sandwiches. How's Yancy?"

[unbreachable]

Yeah, but...he didn't sound all that sure.

"Thanks. He's doing good. Ready to go home."

He opens the door wider.

"Do you wanna come in...?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Yeah, I thought we could eat together? Unless you wanna be alone?"

He steps in cautiously, not sure how much of Raleigh's personal space he wants Chuck invading right now.

[unbreachable]

"No, that's fine. What kind did you bring?"

He's moving out of the way and shutting the door behind Chuck, keeping the cold air out.

[simplepuzzle]

"Turkey and swiss."

He takes the opportunity to lean in and brush a kiss against Raleigh's mouth. He also takes the opportunity to hand him the bag of sandwiches so he's not juggling that and the two coffees in the carrying tray.

[unbreachable]

"One of my favorites."

He smiles and enjoys the little tingle that thrills down his back at the kiss, and takes the bag and leads Chuck inside. They can at least eat over the table like civilized people.

"Feeling better today?

[simplepuzzle]

"Less hungover, yeah." Tables are good.

He makes himself comfortable at the table, shrugging off his coat and hanging it on the back of the chair along with hat and scarf (and gloves! he found gloves). "You?"

[unbreachable]

Raleigh's warm and cozy in his pants and sweater. Chuck...is adorable as always. Coat and hat and scarf and gloves. Raleigh's grinning at him by the time he sits down.

"Much better, thanks. Even more now with turkey and swiss."

[simplepuzzle]

His nose and cheeks are flushed and sharp from the cold.

"Good." He grins over at Raleigh and there's--conflict. Still, he takes a beat and waits for Raleigh to get settled before asking, "do you still want to marry me?"

He's wearing the ring, still, only has been taking it off around Herc. He's not ready to tell him, doesn't want to talk about it with him yet. He's touching it now, thumb moving over the band and stroking it like a worry stone.

[unbreachable]

"Course I do."

He picks at his sandwich and looks down at it, pulling it apart like he always does to add spicy mustard in the middle.

"...Do you still want to marry me?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Yeah." It's not even a question.

"But--do you want to do it like this?" He's toying with his sandwich. "You love it here."