For brains_before_bullets

[simplepuzzle]

They've landed in Hong Kong, and Chuck's seen the 'great' Raleigh Becket for the first time in years, and Chuck

Chuck needs a drink.

So yeah, he's grabbing Jax and dragging him out to a bar. The weirdo scientists' predictions for the next event are in enough time for him to get wasted and get over the hangover, so he is taking fucking advantage of that. He needs beer and he needs to rant at someone who isn't all fucking gaga over the has-been, and Jax is perfect for that. Even if he could be his twin.

"He can't be th only surviving mark three pilot," he's muttering into his third pint.

Comments

[brains_before_bullets]

No, but that joke is Jax's cue to try and shove Chuck off of his.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck yelps in protest and grasps Jax's arm to steady himself as he's pushed off. He doesn't hit the floor, but he does push him back.

"You're such an arsehole," he mutters. "Why do I like you."

[brains_before_bullets]

"I was thinkin' the same fuckin' thing."

Jax had to grab the bar in order not to lose his balance. He was still sitting, but he's planted a foot on the floor as he tries to pull his arm free.

"Let go."

[simplepuzzle]

"Because people pay your tab," Chuck smugs, keeping his grip on the limb but shifting it to his elbow as he takes his seat again.

"And I'm cute, and you think I'm funny." He said 'hang out with', right?

[brains_before_bullets]

"Let go or I'll punch ya in the fuckin' face."

This said as he takes a gulp of his beer.

"We'll see how cute you are with a broken nose."

[simplepuzzle]

"A-fuckin-dor able."

But he lets go and leans against the bar.

[brains_before_bullets]

"Whatever."

Have a half-hearted shove agains the side of your head, Hansen, before Jax moves to stand.

"Gotta use the bathroom."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck just grins at the shove and takes another pull from his beer.

"Have fun pissing," he says cheerfully.

...he might check out Jax's butt as he passes.

[brains_before_bullets]

It takes about ten minutes before Jax comes back, leaning against the bar. He reaches over to finish his beer, before looking at Chuck.

"Can we go?"

[simplepuzzle]

Okay but Chuck has dragged his gaze away because Jax has made his feelings--or lack thereof--very clear and Chuck needs to move the fuck on.

"Yeah." Chuck drains his own bottle and gestures to the bartender; despite the bravado and bragging, he's totally willing to pay his own way.

[brains_before_bullets]

And Jax moves to pull his wallet out to pay his half.

Something seems... different about him.

[simplepuzzle]

Well he was gonna pay for Jax but if he really wants...

Drunk as Chuck is, it's a little hard for him to tell that Jax is acting sort of off. It does starts to penetrate the haze as they walk out of the bar and he peers at the man.

"Hey." Nudge. "Hey, you okay?"

[brains_before_bullets]

"Yeah."

They round the corner into an alleyway shortcut and Jax just stops.

"Actually, no..."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck stops with him, turning to face him with a frown.

"...okay."

That doesn't necessarily means he wants to talk about it, so Chuck's not going to ask. But he won't say anything either, in case he does.

[brains_before_bullets]

Jax sighs and leans against the wall, looking up, before back down to Chuck.

"I've been trying to find them. Tara, Abel... My mom. I've been doing it since the PPDC trusted me enough to use the internet." He pauses, looking down. "I've been so hung up on finding them, I guess I don't know what's right in front of me."

[simplepuzzle]

"Jax..." Chuck's stepped forward so he can lean his hands on his shoulders--not leaning into him, more a weird combination of using him to keep himself upright and offering comfort.

"Hey, maybe we can get you back to Charming," he suggests carefully because that 'right in front of me' is full of too much meaning for him to really be able to think about at this level of drunk. "Somehow. Eventually."

[brains_before_bullets]

"I checked. It'd be pointless." If it even exists any more. California was on the Pacific Coast after all.

"I mean you." He says it, looking back up. "I mean, it's obvious how you feel about me. I just... couldn't see it."

[simplepuzzle]

"Oh."

Well, that's...depressing.


....and.
"..Jax I've literally thrown myself at you a few times."

[brains_before_bullets]

"I know."

He's running a hand through his hair, because, fuck, this is hard.

"I know, and I'm a dick for not accepting it."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's mirroring the motion, rubbing his palm over his face.

"You weren't a dick, you're straight," he mumbles, because it's something he's had to remind himself several times.
"...unless you're saying something different now."
Which shouldn't piss him off, it's just. Emotional whiplash. And maybe some frustration.

[brains_before_bullets]

"Maybe for you."

Because he doesn't know. Chuck, for all his flaws, has been there for him since the start. Since he was found washed up on the beach.

...And it's now painfully clear that Chuck likes him more than just as a friend.

"I've... I've been holding onto the past." He looks down. "It's time to move on." Whether it's with Chuck or not.

[simplepuzzle]

No, seriously, it's okay to not be interested in someone who's interested in you, it's not the end of the world if that happens.

...and is Jax seriously just getting now that Chuck has feelings for him? He's not exactly been hiding it. And Chuck's been trying to move past it, and thought he was doing pretty well at it but Jax's words send an annoying beam of hope through him.

"Okay," he says quietly.

[brains_before_bullets]

The issue is that he is interested... but his kid... he doesn't know whether Abel is dead or alive. That was the main concern.

Still, he looks up to Chuck. "I'm sorry."

[simplepuzzle]

Yeah. Chuck wouldn't ask him to stop looking for his kid even if he wanted to. And he's pretty sure he comes as a package deal with Tara.

...and that sounds pretty final and Chuck's pulling away, face going flat. Why'd he even say all that shit to Chuck if he wasn't--but. "Okay," he says again, stiffer.

[brains_before_bullets]

A slight frown there. Because, what?

"...Did I say something wrong?" Because he's sobered enough with the confession that he can notice that.