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[ Raleigh exhales -- it's a difficult thing, this entire snarl that is Herc and Chuck's relationship with each other. It's impossible for things to be fixed overnight, and she knows this too; Chuck's carried too much pain and too much anger for too long and it's not entirely his fault. ]
You know that's not true. He wanted to see his son. [ pause, then a cocky little smile. ] The pretty girlfriend is just a bonus.
You know that's not true. He wanted to see his son. [ pause, then a cocky little smile. ] The pretty girlfriend is just a bonus.
[ Fifteen minutes, or maybe more if he's good. And he's always good, though -- and when he pulls her over him, she straddles his hips, pulling her shirt over her head and dropping it over the edge of the bed.
At his words, though, she hesitates. She's never been one to want kids even before she knew she couldn't -- but not wanting kids and not being able to have them, to a woman, are two entirely different things. The news had been quietly devastating, even if she knew Chuck doesn't care about whether she could have kids anyway. Her smile fades, and she looks back at him contemplatively, accepting his kiss and returning his softly.
To be able to conceive Percy -- that was a miracle, and that was the most fearful time of her life because what if she lost the baby anyway? What if her body failed the life that was knitting itself together in her womb? He's her little hero, she thinks, and she exhales. ]
...I know. Would you really have been okay with it if I couldn't?
[ Would any man really be all right with it? ]
At his words, though, she hesitates. She's never been one to want kids even before she knew she couldn't -- but not wanting kids and not being able to have them, to a woman, are two entirely different things. The news had been quietly devastating, even if she knew Chuck doesn't care about whether she could have kids anyway. Her smile fades, and she looks back at him contemplatively, accepting his kiss and returning his softly.
To be able to conceive Percy -- that was a miracle, and that was the most fearful time of her life because what if she lost the baby anyway? What if her body failed the life that was knitting itself together in her womb? He's her little hero, she thinks, and she exhales. ]
...I know. Would you really have been okay with it if I couldn't?
[ Would any man really be all right with it? ]
[Okay that last spoonful only really got half into his mouth, the other half dribbled down his chin and he waves her off when he moves to wipe it off because his stomach is not... that happy anymore suddenly.]
Oh, alright. I confess. It's your sister.
Oh, alright. I confess. It's your sister.
[ Water spills out all over his hand as he's shoved backwards, but Raleigh ignores it, setting the half-full glass aside on the counter to grab the hand closed around the collar of his shirt.
Raleigh doesn't try to pry the fingers away, but he keeps up his glare. ] You're gonna have to make me.
[ Nevermind that Chuck kind of already did. Raleigh digs his back in against the counter; he's not moving anywhere. ]
Raleigh doesn't try to pry the fingers away, but he keeps up his glare. ] You're gonna have to make me.
[ Nevermind that Chuck kind of already did. Raleigh digs his back in against the counter; he's not moving anywhere. ]
Edited 2013-12-08 05:51 (UTC)
[ His face is a little slack in its surprise, but he rolls with it. Raleigh's grin is a slow thing growing, bright with content in his current position and the promise of an awesome breakfast in the morning. ]
Okay, okay. Tomorrow.
[ He pauses, brows furrowing. Considering. ] You think we can go tonight?
Okay, okay. Tomorrow.
[ He pauses, brows furrowing. Considering. ] You think we can go tonight?
[ ...This is going to be weird for a long while. Like not quite noticing your nose sometimes then your nose gets pointed out and you can't help notice it anyway.
Still, she helps to lay out two stacks of still-warm pancakes. ]
Get me the chocolate sauce while you're at it, too. And cream.
[ She's going to eat and eat and not get fat. ]
Still, she helps to lay out two stacks of still-warm pancakes. ]
Get me the chocolate sauce while you're at it, too. And cream.
[ She's going to eat and eat and not get fat. ]
[ That's because you're a giant idiot, baby. And if she doesn't take care of you, who will? She'd wipe that tear from the corner of his eye if she could, but she's sluggish, and moving seems like an impossible thing.
She squeezes his fingers, with just a little more strength in them now, and she closes her eyes briefly. ] Stay?
She squeezes his fingers, with just a little more strength in them now, and she closes her eyes briefly. ] Stay?
Ugh.
[ She punches his arm lightly, because that's not funny. And because Yancy slept one dude Raleigh really liked that one time. It's a million years ago and he hasn't stuck around but it's still a sore spot. She frowns, setting the bowl aside to hand him a tissue. ]
Don't say that.
[ She punches his arm lightly, because that's not funny. And because Yancy slept one dude Raleigh really liked that one time. It's a million years ago and he hasn't stuck around but it's still a sore spot. She frowns, setting the bowl aside to hand him a tissue. ]
Don't say that.
[Oh no. No, no. This conversation is not very conducive to what he had in mind. Raleigh wears her heart on her sleeve, always has and he can just tell that she's heading toward melancholic. They've been over this, a few times, the only person in the world that wanted kids less than she did-- was him.
He loves Percy-- now-- but he was definitely more like wary until that little bundle of poop was handed to him in the hospital.
Chuck sits up more and presses a long kiss to her mouth.]
Yes. For the hundredth time, Raleigh. Yes.
He loves Percy-- now-- but he was definitely more like wary until that little bundle of poop was handed to him in the hospital.
Chuck sits up more and presses a long kiss to her mouth.]
Yes. For the hundredth time, Raleigh. Yes.
Do I bloody look like I'm joking?
[Spoiler-- he looks pissed off. No one should ever look this pissed off about the idea of getting married and he's not. About the marriage. He's pissed off at Raleigh's stupid fucking country and Raleigh's stupid fucking refusal to move to Australia. So actually, maybe he is mad at Raleigh right now because if his partner wasn't such a fucking stubborn old man, this wouldn't be an issue.
The Australian government loves him.
And for the record, there is a hole in the wall of the living room right now.]
You want me to move to Alaska, that's the only way.
[Spoiler-- he looks pissed off. No one should ever look this pissed off about the idea of getting married and he's not. About the marriage. He's pissed off at Raleigh's stupid fucking country and Raleigh's stupid fucking refusal to move to Australia. So actually, maybe he is mad at Raleigh right now because if his partner wasn't such a fucking stubborn old man, this wouldn't be an issue.
The Australian government loves him.
And for the record, there is a hole in the wall of the living room right now.]
You want me to move to Alaska, that's the only way.
[Why do you always have to be such a prick, Raleigh. A constant pain in the ass (not the good kind). Maybe if Chuck were a better person, he'd feel bad about taking his anger out on Raleigh, when he's really just angry at himself for being so fucking loser but he's not. A better person, that is.
This is who he is. Someone who pushes everyone he loves away as hard as he fucking can, purely for the sake of it. Because he can. Because it's something he controls.
Chuck makes a disgusted noise, throwing Raleigh's hand off and giving him a little shove before he steps back-- and then around him to reach for the cabinet.]
This is who he is. Someone who pushes everyone he loves away as hard as he fucking can, purely for the sake of it. Because he can. Because it's something he controls.
Chuck makes a disgusted noise, throwing Raleigh's hand off and giving him a little shove before he steps back-- and then around him to reach for the cabinet.]
[ He hates fighting with Chuck.
Raleigh doesn't budge or try to make it easier for Chuck to step around him at first, but he grips the counter behind him harder and exhales all at once, hating the anger that's still -- even after all this time -- an instinctual response to Chuck's aggression. Chuck plays him easier than anyone he's ever met.
Raleigh turns towards Chuck, finally moving away from the cabinet, if only to look at him better. ] Chuck, look --
[ He tilts his head a bit to the side, like a perplexed mutt. Remember, he's more than a little drunk himself. ]
Yeah, we do. It's a 24/7 joint.
[How about fuck you instead.
Chuck's fists clench and loosen at his side a couple of times. Seriously having a pissing match with his dad all night is tempting, because he really, really cannot stand the idea of leaning on Herc for anything.
But he also thinks he might throw up again if he has to stand for longer than five minutes and he knows damn well that velcroing with his dad is the only way to keep that from happening.
Vomiting has never been so appealing.
But in the end, he is serious about not hugging it out in the fucking bathroom, so he stalks off towards their bunk.]
Chuck's fists clench and loosen at his side a couple of times. Seriously having a pissing match with his dad all night is tempting, because he really, really cannot stand the idea of leaning on Herc for anything.
But he also thinks he might throw up again if he has to stand for longer than five minutes and he knows damn well that velcroing with his dad is the only way to keep that from happening.
Vomiting has never been so appealing.
But in the end, he is serious about not hugging it out in the fucking bathroom, so he stalks off towards their bunk.]
[ he knows where to put it!!
The flush on his face is only partially because of the alcohol now. Raleigh's always been a sucker for Chuck, so there's not much to do but settle. ] Yeah? What kind of plans?
The flush on his face is only partially because of the alcohol now. Raleigh's always been a sucker for Chuck, so there's not much to do but settle. ] Yeah? What kind of plans?
He's with you, isn't he?
[ Never mind that Raleigh is too, and that says more about his taste than Chuck's. But he grins, acquiescing by catching Chuck's chin to guide him into a kiss. It's just a quick one - one that lasts not long enough and probably isn't at all what Chuck wants, which is exactly what Raleigh wants.
Raleigh's grinning wider when he pulls away, tucking his chin back atop Chuck's stupidly broad chest. ]
[ Never mind that Raleigh is too, and that says more about his taste than Chuck's. But he grins, acquiescing by catching Chuck's chin to guide him into a kiss. It's just a quick one - one that lasts not long enough and probably isn't at all what Chuck wants, which is exactly what Raleigh wants.
Raleigh's grinning wider when he pulls away, tucking his chin back atop Chuck's stupidly broad chest. ]
[ Raleigh does.
He yelps a laugh and belatedly ducks his head to avoid the slap, which only mashes his face into Chuck's shoulder. Classy. ]
You can't say shit. I know you eat microwave mac-n-cheese.
He yelps a laugh and belatedly ducks his head to avoid the slap, which only mashes his face into Chuck's shoulder. Classy. ]
You can't say shit. I know you eat microwave mac-n-cheese.
[ Raleigh tilts his head back to avoid getting poked in the face, but he fixes Chuck with a hard stare around Chuck's finger, only just barely refraining from batting it away.
The frantic fervor of Chuck's anger both desperate and pointless. Raleigh is gearing towards anger too, if he's not there already, but for all the wrong, selfish reasons. Raleigh tries calming himself. He's gritted his teeth up until now, but he gentles his tone. ] You gotta know that's not gonna help.
The frantic fervor of Chuck's anger both desperate and pointless. Raleigh is gearing towards anger too, if he's not there already, but for all the wrong, selfish reasons. Raleigh tries calming himself. He's gritted his teeth up until now, but he gentles his tone. ] You gotta know that's not gonna help.
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