Under The Mistletoe

[simplepuzzle]

 
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[simplepuzzle]

"Me neither."

He takes another swig and pulls back again, heading indoors.

"Tell Raleigh goodbye."

He doesn't want to lose it. But being around Yancy means never seeing Raleigh again, likely.

Chuck grips the bottle neck tight enough to turn his knuckles white and his shoulders shake only a little when he walks away from Yancy and out of the party in search of a cab.

[getcocky]

"Chuck--"

Fuck. Fuck--!

He gets it. He gets why Chuck is doing this and it's better because...if they stay together then Raleigh would hate them both and he can't have that, but that doesn't make this hurt any less.

Yancy's left standing on the balcony by himself, a hand on the railing, watching Chuck go. He doesn't know where Raleigh went, and for the first time in his life, he doesn't know what to do.

Raleigh has actually gone home, gone to get his things and get out because he can't be there any longer. He knows Chuck doesn't understand. Yancy probably won't either. But it hurts...and he feels so second rate. Chuck was always calmer and more easy going around Yancy and Raleigh always just made everything so difficult, didn't he? Even now, he was the one tearing them apart because he can't handle sharing the person he loves with the other person he loves.

God he's so fucked up. And he's sorry. And he's selfish. And he's leaving.

[simplepuzzle]

Hey he can't leave, Chuck's leaving, he'll leave the two brothers alone to actually have some semblance of a functioning remaining family.

Chuck'll stand by his promise to leave them alone, to stay away until Yancy texts him to tell him it's clear to come and get his stuff away from them. He's not sure where he'll go--he can get work anywhere at least, maybe he'll go home to Australia, somewhere as far from here as he can.

[unbreachable]

He's already leaving. Got his things packed and he's gone by the time Yancy gets home.

Which is when he texts Chuck. Jesus Christ, he's already gone.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's checked into a hotel by that point and is just about ready to sink into the jacuzzi with the rum and settle in and he really doesn't want to hear this so he texts back,

so call him and tell him I'm leaving, he doesn't have to go anywhere

[getcocky]

i've tried to call him, he wont answer. i got home and his stuff is just...it's gone.

[simplepuzzle]

Well I can't go after him he BROKE UP with me remember I'm at the hotel just text him and tell him I'm leaving too so he should feel free to go home

[getcocky]

and I'm telling you i've TRIED. he's not responding to my calls or my texts.

[ you love him? YOU go after him. Raleigh's done chasing. ]

[simplepuzzle]

He doesn't have to reply, you sent the text he got the fucking message now leave me alone I broke up with you too remember

Chuck's hurt and sad and getting drunk and lashing out.

I'll be over around 4 to get my crap then be gone if you don't want to see me.

[getcocky]

Except why would he go home the the place with all the memories? And talk about giving up. Chuck accuses Raleigh of it but doesn't even send a text.

okay

What else is Yancy supposed to say?

[simplepuzzle]

Because Raleigh doesn't want anything to do with Chuck--not while he was with Yancy, and Chuck can't....can't just break up with Yancy and go to Raleigh, that's bullshit. He's angry at Raleigh for breaking them all up and doesn't want to speak to them.

He's not supposed to say anything. Chuck'll be by when he said, to pack his shit and get it gone. Yancy can be there if he wants or he can avoid Chuck.

[getcocky]

No but he could call. He could do...something. Anything.

Yancy will be there. He's not a coward like the both of you. He'll be there to help in silence.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck doesn't want to talk to Raleigh.

He's rented a car and just sort of nods awkwardly to Yancy when he sees him. "You don't have to help."

[getcocky]

Then he doesn't want to fix it.

"I know." Quiet.

[simplepuzzle]

There's nothing to fix, is there? It's Raleigh's problem, not Chuck's.

"...Thanks."
Yancy has this fucking way of making Chuck calm and he hates to give that up.

[getcocky]

Of course it is. Its always Raleigh's fault. It's always his problem. It's always because of him.

Which is why he's gone.

"Here."

Passing him a box, eyes down.

[simplepuzzle]

Goddammit that's not how it is. He had two people in his life who didn't care, who loved him and tried to make sure he was happy.

"...Don't suppose you wanna stay friends."

[getcocky]

It's exactly how Chuck makes him feel, regardless of if he means to or not.

"I wouldn't mind."

[simplepuzzle]

Then he didn't just leave because watching Chuck with Yancy tore at him, he left because Chuck was bad for him.

"...not for a while," Chuck adds, looking down again. "I gotta--I need time to get over you two."

He hates this. He hates this so fucking much.

[getcocky]

Chuck you blow everything up. If you'd call him...

"I..yeah. Same."

This hurts him too. He didn't just lose his boyfriends. His brothers disappeared, too.

[simplepuzzle]

Does Raleigh actually want to hear from him?

"I'm sorry." He does surge forward to hug him tightly, face in his shoulder and arms around his waist.

[getcocky]

Maybe.

"Hey..I know, kid. I know. Me too."

He's wrapping Chuck right up and holding him tightly, pressing his nose into his hair.

[simplepuzzle]

Then he shouldn't have broken up with him and left.

At Christmas, either. Come on.

Chuck doesn't want to go, he wants to stay, he wants to be with Yancy and he wants to be with Raleigh and he can't have that so he's leaving. "I'll see you around the business," he says, finally pulling away from Yancy and picking up the last box of his crap.

[getcocky]

All his fault. Maybe this is best.

"You can call," he says quietly. "Any time. For any reason."

[simplepuzzle]

"Sure."

He doesn't plan to.

He makes the arrangements to go home, sets up work, tries...tries to remember how to be with two pieces of his heart missing.