Aquatic AU

[simplepuzzle]

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[simplepuzzle]

"Why?" he snaps, because he should go but he can't because he's not done being angry.

"You left. I waited Raleigh, I waited every summer for you, even after it was obvious you weren't coming. The pod stopped coming, did you know that?" he snorts. "Well of course not, but I kept coming back."

It was a huge fight, too, and one of the only instances Chuck will admit that his dad was right. It wasn't worth staying. He doesn't even know if Herc knows what's happened to him now.

[unbreachable]

"Because my mother died and my dad left, Chuck." He understands why Chuck's angry - sort of. He can't pretend to know the things that have happened beyond their summers, beyond what chuck clearly thinks is abandonment.

"We were orphans. Jaz ran away and Yancy and I joined the military."

[simplepuzzle]

--Well.

"Why?" it comes out a little less angry. Why didn't Raleigh come to him when his mother died, like Raleigh had been there for Chuck when his mother was killed?

He'd never met Dominique but Raleigh had talked about her a lot--her and Yancy and Jaz and their dad, and it sounded...nice.

"I'm sorry."

...but he's still angry.

[unbreachable]

"I couldn't. We don't live within walking distance, there was no car and then I got deployed..."

He sighs, and he can't really look at Chuck and he just stares down at the sand under his boots, vacantly watchign the water lap at his feet.

"I don't have an excuse. I'm sorry."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck kind of feels like shit there. Making Raleigh feel bad for having his life swept up in tragedy.

...not that his has been a bunch of roses either.

"I didn't know where to find you," he mutters, sticking his hands in his pockets--and this is probably the most clothed Raleigh's ever seen him. "...you're leaving again?" he came to say goodbye, he said.

[unbreachable]

His eyes follow the light on Chuck's hand until it disappears into his pocket.

Certainly no reason to stay, now.

"Those jobs, the president talked about?" He tips his head, and he shrugs. "I've got one. My position moves with it."

[simplepuzzle]

That's really something he should ask Chuck about; the selkie doesn't seem happy for someone who looks like they're married.

"Yeah, I'm keeping up with human news more lately." Not like he has a choice. "...where are you going?"

[unbreachable]

"East." He gestures. "Towards Sitka."

He rocks on his heels, and finally--

"So. Married, huh?"

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck pulls his hand out of his pocket and looks at his wedding ring.

"...If you want to call it that."

[unbreachable]

...he blinks in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck looks up at Raleigh, his first kiss, his first real friend, his first love...

and sticks his hand back in his pocket.

"Nothing."

Raleigh's leaving, isn't he?

[unbreachable]

"...you don't seem happy for someone that's married."

Just saying.

[simplepuzzle]

He looks around the area, looking for...he's not sure. "I wasn't kidding about this being a private beach, we should move."

If he's going to talk about it.

[unbreachable]

"Okay. I, uh. We can go to my motel?"

Or whatever Chuck wants.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck hesitates. If he's seen going to a motel with someone...

"No." Public's better.

"The diner has great pie."
It seems he's gone native.

[unbreachable]

He nods.

"Is it the same one?"

Cause if so...then definitely. He loved that pie.

[simplepuzzle]

"I think there's only ever been the one so, probably?"

He's not really in a mood to be smiling, so he just turns and expects Raleigh to follow him.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh trails after him, stomping his boots free of wet sand once they're on solid ground.

He remembers the way to the diner but he's silent as he follows Chuck. It's overcast and cold and it feels like his mood is following him everywhere he goes.

[simplepuzzle]

People greet Chuck, waving to him and asking him how Sam's doing or to send their hellos. Chuck knows people too, actually cracking smiles for some of them.

He hates why he's in the situation he's in, the people are okay.

He's even on first name terms with the waitress, who recognizes Raleigh from years back as well. Free pie for them!

[unbreachable]

He nods his head at the waitress, and free pie is great.

But who the fuck is Sam.

"So what's going on, Chuck?"

[simplepuzzle]

"He has my skin." Chuck pulls his glass to his mouth as he speaks; it's not that he doesn't trust anyone in town to report back to Sam, but he's no longer trusting humans with what he is.

Raleigh left, and Sam imprisoned him. Humans suck.

[unbreachable]

"What, like he's..."

Raleigh's frown deepens, the lines in his face practically turning to trenches with the anger that resonates.

"Keeping you against your will? Why?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Because I'm a novelty and he doesn't want to let go of me."

He rolls his eyes and plays with the ice in his glass.

"I don't know, it was all right when we started dating," he says quietly. "And I trusted him and I told him what I was and he wanted me to show him."

[unbreachable]

Raleigh's teeth are grinding in his head so hard they might crumble.

"A fucking novelty--"

Raleigh has to take a long drink of water before he can continue.

"And he forced you to marry him? He forcing you to do anything else?"

[simplepuzzle]

"That's how it works and no and keep your voice down, would you?"

He doesn't need the whole town knowing everything.

The waitress is coming back and Chuck is leaning back because there's pie coming and he manages a smile at her, thanks so much Mavis.