Aquatic AU

[simplepuzzle]

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[simplepuzzle]

"...you promise me something."

He grips onto Raleigh's hand like an anchor, heedless of anyone seeing them for the next few minutes as he holds Raleigh's gaze.

[unbreachable]

He tilts his head, stares a little.

"What is it?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Take care of yourself."

He presses his thumb against Raleigh's palm.

"Okay?"

[unbreachable]

He hasn't been - is it that obvious. He hesitates, but he nods.

"Okay. I will."

[simplepuzzle]

It's so obvious, Raleigh.

"Good." Chuck pulls his hand back and moves to finish his pie.

....He could be free.

[unbreachable]

He nods, lets Chuck go when he pulls his hand back, and goes back to work on his pie.

"It might take me a while," he says quietly. "Can't just walk in there."

[simplepuzzle]

"I know."

It's why he tried to object; it's not going to be an overnight thing. Hell, Chuck doesn't even know where it is and he's been looking for it for years.

[unbreachable]

He tugs his cup closer again and takes a sip of his water and squints, wishing he'd ordered coffee. He's chilled down to his bones, anything with heat would be nice right about now. He's always so damn cold these days - poor circulation, his mother had the same problem - and heating up is a bitch.

When Mavis wanders back by, he asks for coffee.

"You want any?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Tea, please." He smiles faintly up at Mavis, curling his fingers in on themselves.

"....Why did you come back?" he asks when Mavis goes to get their hot drinks.

[unbreachable]

"I thought maybe I'd see you. Chances were slim, it's not summer, but...I don't know. I wanted to see you again."

Probably not the answer he wants or needs, but there it is.

[simplepuzzle]

It really isn't.

It's unfair of Raleigh to come back after all this time to just try and see Chuck again. It's unfair for him to come back too late like this. Chuck shakes his head, but keeps his mouth shut about it. For once.

[unbreachable]

"I'm sorry."

He can only say it so many times before it starts sounding like jibberish.

He sighs, but he looks slightly happy when the coffee is set down in front of him and he immediately wraps his hands around the mug with a huff of relief.

[simplepuzzle]

And it's not all the way Raleigh's fault so Chuck can't even be as mad as he is. Which is extremely frustrating.

"Thanks for coming back," he adds quietly, lips against the warm mug.

[unbreachable]

"You mean that, or are you saying that because you feel like you have to?" He half smiles from behind his mug, hunching over it and breathing in the scent.

[simplepuzzle]

"....Why would I feel I have to?"

Why wouldn't he mean it?

[unbreachable]

He huffs.

"Because I came back too late, came back just to see you...it's not fair of me."

[simplepuzzle]

"It isn't," Chuck agrees, scowling faintly and pulling his teabag out of his mug.

"But you're here now. And you want to help me." Unless it's with the hope that Chuck will be his afterwards.

....No, Raleigh wouldn't keep the skin for himself. Chuck's not sure he would want to be with Raleigh, even considering the last time they saw each other. Even considering lingering feelings.

He just wants his freedom back. He misses the sea.

[unbreachable]

"I do."

He can kind of sense that -- sense that there is maybe some doubt and he can't even fault Chuck for that a little bit.

"I'll give it back. I swear."

[simplepuzzle]

"I know."

But it helps to hear the words out loud.

He drinks his tea slowly.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh nods and goes back to his mug of coffee and sips at it, not adding anything to it.

He's got a lot to think about, a lot to figure out.

It's going to take months of puzzling this out, of integrating himself into the society here. He has to get a job, has to blend in, has to get people to trust him.

It's not hard to do; Raleigh's a likeable guy even though he's a little melancholy these days.

He becomes pretty good friends with everyone, and while Chuck might not like it, he has to befriend Sam.

Which.

Is.

Torture.

But he does it, because he needs to get access to the office, to where he's completely sure that Chuck's skin is being held.

[simplepuzzle]

It's hard for Chuck, watching Raleigh and Sam become friends, having Raleigh over for dinner and pretend to just be meeting him--or, at least, to pretend he just met him on the street and had a slice of pie with him and had to introduce him to his husband.

It's hard to have him around for so long; he didn't think it would take this long. Though he knew it wouldn't be fast and easy, it still feels like the days--weeks are dragging by.

Sam doesn't seem like a monster; he's proprietary, keeping an arm around Chuck's waist or a hand on his back or arm. Gestures that would be affectionate if the relationship was actually equal. He's rich, from family money, side businesses that manage to keep afloat even in trying times such as these which aren't completely ethical. If Raleigh's interested in any of those, he'd love to have his help.

[unbreachable]

It's fucking terrible. Raleigh hates every minute of it.

He gives up the government job and works in the shipyards until Sam asks if he'd like to get involved in any of his businesses to which Raleigh of course agrees, why wouldn't he?

In order to not be a complete third wheel, he starts dating a pretty brunette with curly hair that works at one of the local restaurants, starts bringing her around for dinners and the like.

It's a pretty fucking terrible months, but so far as Raleigh can tell, neither Sam nor Janine can tell.

Just a few more weeks, Raleigh thinks, and he'll be right where he needs to be.

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--He's put his life on hold, Chuck didn't realize that would happen. He wants to yell at Raleigh, but they don't get a lot of time alone; he didn't mean for him to drop everything like this, if he'd known Raleigh was going to do that he'd just keep trying to find it on his own.

And Janine.

Janine. Who Chuck was on smiling terms with and is sweet and--

sweet.

It's unfair of Chuck to be jealous, when he doesn't know himself whether or not he even wants to be with Raleigh when the dust has cleared, but he knows he doesn't want to have to see him with other people.

[unbreachable]

She is sweet. It's why Raleigh asked her out - she seemed nice, and she's good to him, good to everyone around.

He's going to feel like an asshole when he inevitably breaks her heart, but he made a promise and he wants to do this for Chuck, wants to help him.

So he stays, works for Sam, keeps dating Janine and eventually starts sleeping with her and moves in with her. It's a cozy little apartment she's got and he could appreciate it, would even consider settling here with her after all was said and done - but he's...pretty sure that Sam is going to be out for his blood after he frees his husband.

At the end of the sixth month, Raleigh's pretty sure he's got an 'in' to the office. There's a banquet there - a big hullabaloo, and he's invited.

Chuck, even as the husband, is not invited.

[simplepuzzle]

It's not that Chuck thinks Raleigh's abandoned him...again...but--

--he moves in with her?

They've already been trying not to spend too much time alone together, but Chuck starts outright avoiding Raleigh.

Whether or not this is all a part of Raleigh's big plan it hurts, a lot more than he thought it would be, and it feels like nothing's getting better and he's pretty sure he's going to die on land on this land with Raleigh down the street with his adorable children with curly dark blond hair.

It's not that he's not invited, Sam tries to excuse it away, hands curling around Chuck's and mouth brushing his ear. It's that it's a political thing, Chuck'll hate it. He's doing him a favor, really.