Under The Mistletoe

[simplepuzzle]

 
*

*

 

Comments

x3

[unbreachable]

Yancy'd been there first, as usual. His smooth, suave, slicked hair brother had always gotten there first.

It's just a Christmas party, nothing major and certainly nothing that should be a big deal but Raleigh's been stewing for months - quietly, and without really realizing that he was doing it. He hadn't realized it until now, that things weren't right, that he didn't feel right anymore, and the moment that he saw their lips meet under that stupid, poisonous plant, something had twisted in his stomach and left a foul taste in his mouth.

He had to go. He had to at least get out of the room, and he roughly shoves through the crowd and makes a beeline for the balcony, barking at the couple out there to get out of his way and go back inside.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck hasn't noticed anything off. Sure, Raleigh can be pissy and he can be petty and borderline jealous--of his own brother, which Chuck hadn't thought had been a problem for a while now--but he's thought everything was going well. He was happy, with the Beckets, and he thought they both are too.

He comes in with both of them, and it hadn't been a conscious decision to kiss Yancy first under the mistletoe, but the older brother had reached for him first so he'd gone with it.

He pulls away from Yancy with a lazy smile and turns for Raleigh only to find the second Becket gone. There's an uneasy pang and on any other night he'd shrug and let him cool off before looking for him, but...Chuck squeezes Yancy's hand and lets go to go find him. It's easy, he just follows the trail of confused people who were pushed out of the way.

"Hey," he says, stepping out on the balcony. "We missed you at the mistletoe."

[unbreachable]

Chuck didn't grow up with a brother. He doesn't know what it's like to share everything, to lose everything, all the time, to the older, flawless, and more perfect version of yourself. To Yancy.

Raleigh's not looking at Chuck, just over the edge of the railing and out at the landscape before him.

"It seemed like it was pretty under control to me."

He grips the metal of the balcony and takes a deep breath, fingers flexing.

[simplepuzzle]

"Fuck no." Chuck smiles, a little cautiously because Raleigh seems to be in a weird mood. He reaches to grip his shoulder. "Come on, it's bad luck to stand with someone under it and not kiss them."

Come on Raleigh kiss your boyfriend in front of a crowd of people.

[unbreachable]

He shakes the grip off, and shakes his head.

"I'm sure Yancy will be happy to kiss you again."

[simplepuzzle]

"Yeah I bet, but I wanna kiss you." He leans back, arms crossed. "Ray come on, just come back to the party with us."

He doesn't understand the problem because Raleigh never tells him when something's bothering him, he just stews and sulks and Chuck'e left to wonder what the fuck he did. He'd done this before they got together too, when it was just him going between the brothers for sex.

[unbreachable]

"I--no."

He takes a deep breath.

"I can't do this anymore."

There. He said it. Are you happy?

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck feels cold, like someone poured a bucket of ice straight down into his stomach and chest.

"What are you talking about?"

But. But they were happy. And Yancy knows Raleigh better than anyone he'd have noticed, he'd have told Chuck.

[unbreachable]

"I'm talking about the three of us."

He gestures between them, and then in the direction of the party.

"I just can't. I'm not -- it's killing me. I can't."

Businessman/Student

[simplepuzzle]

It's a holiday party at the office.

Well it's not at the office, because the company can afford to rent out some ballroom or another, Chuck wasn't really paying attention because it's a fancy party and it's public and Raleigh's going to be there. And even if he can't actually go with Raleigh, because his dad will probably murder and then fire him, there's nothing saying they can't spend time together.

And if they happen to get caught underneath the mistletoe that's hanging all the fuck over the room well, it's not anybody's fault, dad, it's tradition.

He does flash Raleigh the wickedest of looks before dragging him in by the tie to kiss him in front of everyone, though.

[unbreachable]

Oh, fuck.

Those are Raleigh's last thoughts before their lips meet, before there's gasping in the crowd before a smattering of applause from the people that happen to be around.

He's so dead. He knows it. He's fucking deader than dead.

And jobless.

[simplepuzzle]

It's cool it's cool Chuck has it all under control.

He doesn't keep it as involved as he'd like, letting just a slip of tongue to sneak in before he's stepping back and smirking at him smugly with his hands on his hips. "Who's next?"

Which is when Herc pushes him out from under the mistletoe with a scowl. "Nobody's next, go stand by the refreshments and help with the punch."

[unbreachable]

God he's...so gonna make you pay for his heart attack later. With a lot of really, really rough sex.

He's wiping his mouth for show as Chuck is shooed off and towards the refreshment table, Herc glaring after his kid with a scowl.

"Sorry about him, mate...dunno what gets inta him sometimes."

Raleigh coughs politely, and takes a sip of his drink to calm his nerves. Definitely going to kill you, Chuck.

"No harm done, sir. "

Herc just nods.

"Enjoy the party, boy. Try not to let the little sprog catch you by surprise."

Gulp.

"Of course."

[simplepuzzle]

Ohhhh noooo aaanything but thaaaaat.

Chuck smirks over the room at Raleigh while he ladles eggnog into glasses.

Gonna need a refill on that pretty soon, huh Ray?

[unbreachable]

He should avoid you, but instead he wanders over a little later and holds his cup out.

"Refill me?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Sure thing, babe," he purrs, leaning his hip against the table and reaching over to curl his hand around Raleigh's wrist to 'steady' him as he fills his cup.


"How's the party so far?"

[unbreachable]

He smiles a little, flicking a look towards Herc, who isn't paying them any mind.

"Eh. It's a holiday party. If someone doesn't get plastered and dance with a lampshade, it's boring."

[simplepuzzle]

[[CONTINUED FROM LINK BECAUSE CAPTCHA]]

Chuck smiles ruefully at Raleigh instead of scowling at him--he's pretty sober, since he's only been drinking the one cup all night, but it's still gotten him a little warm and looser than he might be. He's still not sure how to act around him and he's pretty sure Raleigh still thinks he hates him, but he can probably make small talk at a party, right?

"Hey Ray," he drawls. "Come to check out the shadows?" Because while the whole house isn't precisely lit well, for party reasons, Chuck's still in a pretty dark part. It sounded more clever in his head. It's his first time drinking rum.

[unbreachable]

Yeah Raleigh thinks Chuck doesn't like him much, but...well. He keeps trying.

And he tries tonight, because he's had a shot or two of rum and he's feeling equally ballsy and chatty.

"Yeah. Thought I'd come and see who was over here lurking."

[simplepuzzle]

"And you didn't think it was the only sophomore on the varsity team, who's got nothing in common with anyone here except American football? Good thing you've got sports going for you." Chuck smirks insolently and leans back in his seat, rum made his tongue loose and easy over his usual embarrassment and blush.

And Raleigh has to know Chuck's giving him shit, they're in a couple of the same classes, Chuck knows Raleigh's a good student. They wouldn't let him stay on the team if he wasn't.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh snorts and takes a seat next to him, arm brushing against Chuck's.

"At least there's that~"

Raleigh excels in the humanities. He's not great with mathematics, but he loves the arts.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck moves a little to allow Raleigh space, but it's a small seat and they're still brushing against each other.

Raleigh's warm against him, and it feels like there's electricity burning along Chuck's side--not unusual, but instead of jerking away like he normally does Chuck lets himself relax. His dick's definitely getting interested in what's happening, not enough for Raleigh to notice in the darkness so he's not worried about it.

"And I mean, you're pretty enough that it won't matter either," he says carelessly.

[unbreachable]

It's a typical high school party with loud music, parents on vacay, and loads of dark corners. No one is paying them any attention.

"Pretty," he says, voice deepening and dropping to a murmured purr. "You think I'm pretty..?"

[simplepuzzle]

There's more electricity running through Chuck at Raleigh's deepened voice, sparking up his spine and Chuck licks his lips reflexively, glancing over at him.

"Shut up, pretty boy." He smirks. "You know you are."

[unbreachable]

"Maybe," he says, shifting in his chair to face Chuck properly, eyes dropping to watch that tongue wet plush lips.

"Takes one to know one, I guess."