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Means the world.

Raleigh smiles softly. He's had such a weird day and this makes it so much better.

Though he does have a sneaking suspicion maybe Chuck had something to do with it. Him and Nile are the only people he can think of that know his birthday. He thinks Nile knows.. He's not sure anymore. But apparently people have profiles on the network? And it gives out that information?? So honestly who knows. It could be anyone. It could be Deerington itself.

So they'll eat and it's amazing an.. really actually restaurant quality. Made with love. Specifically for him.

"Honest to god I think this is the best meal I've ever had." Once they're done and through more wine and sat back happy and full and warm.

It's totally, definitely Deerington. Not Chuck.

And...shit, it's good. Chuck did a damn good job -- all his practicing paid off, and it's fucking amazing. Not just edible, but amazing.

He's proud of himself. Yes, he is.

He smiles at Raleigh, pouring wine into his glass, eyes glittering with the praise.

"Yeah? You pulling me leg?"

Raleigh gives him a wry smile. You know he isn't. but he's happy to give the praise and nudges his boot against Chuck's under the table.

"On my mother's grave. You should be proud of yourself."

He half smiles, a sharp flash of a dimple as he hides his face.

"I wanted you to have something good. Are you ready for your first present?"

Leaning back in his chair, stance nice and wide, he watches Chuck with a mix of deep, warm appreciation, intrigue and mild cockiness.

"I'm lookin' right at him, aren't I?"

He laughs, surprised and turning a little pink.

"Shut up, no. Yes. I mean-- godammit, Ray," grumble!

Is his present a lap dance? Because he could be into that.

Raleigh laughs! Whaaat! Reaching out for him, c'mere. Get up and c'mere.

"I can't help it. Look at you."

LAter, maybe.

"Look at me," scoff. "What are you even saying, don't be silly."

Raaaaaay. What are you doing.

"I am lookin' at you, and I want you to c'mere," he purrs and gestures to his lap.

You are ridiculous.

But he obeys, and saunters over, sliding into Raleigh's lap.

"Your gifts are on the couch," he says, lips twisting up. "If you want them."

"I do," he says and settles his hands on Chuck's hips, tugging him close for a kiss.

"But I want this first."

Just a kiss or three. Slow and lapping. Warm. Centering. Grounding. He's had a very strange day and he needs cuddles first.

Then he'll let Chuck break the kiss and bring him to the couch with excitement, Raleigh's tags clinking under his shirt. All these months and he hasn't thought to take them off. That they're no longer needed.

Then again, maybe they are. People die here. Bodies are found.

Well that.

Is morbid, and not what's on Chuck's mind.

But he grins, against Raleigh's mouth, nipping his lower lip before sliding off and going for the two gifts.

One is a in a big tube roll, the other, a small little box.

"Here."

Raleigh gets the tube first, because...it's bigger and while still personal, less...intimate. Maybe.

He's had a lot of morbid shit on his mind lately.

This is a nice distraction.

Raleigh takes the tube, turning it over in his hands carefully as he examines it and then opens the end, sliding out what looks to be a poster before looking up at Chuck with silent question. What did you do..

He smiles, a little shy, settling into a chair to watch him.

Take it out of the tube and you’ll see, Raleigh. You’ll see it’s that beautiful poster of you and yancy, and across both your names, scrawled signatures from each of You.

"Oh my god.." soft and full of awe as he unrolls it and sees what it is, full of flashbacks. He remembers signing this in Manila. He'd held it up against Yancy's back and then turned for him to do the same. He can still feel the sharpie gliding across his back.

The same way his finger glides so reverently across his brother's signature.

It's like an arrow to his heart and he finds a sudden lump in his throat he wasn't expecting. It keeps him from saying anything else as he swallows, jaw suddenly tight but only to keep it from trembling.

It's his prized possession, Raleigh. It always has been.

"I, uh. I figured you should have that."

It means the world to Chuck, truly. It means more to him than anyone could know - save maybe the people who drifted with him, and that includes Raleigh, now.

"Do you..like it?" God he hopes he didn't overshoot and fuck up, here.

"No- I-" breaking himself out if his silence with a sudden breath.

"This is incredible."

It leaves him breathless. His heart hurts but it's a good hurt. He's lost everything he had of his brother when he came here except his photographs. He doesn't have the words to describe how much this really means to him. He hopes Chuck can see that and understands when he looks back up- eyes full of emotion.

"Thank you," it's almost breathless.

He suddenly feels a lot more sure if himself, relieved that Part One doesn’t go over horribly

“Good,” he says, relieved. “I wanted.. I wanted you to have it. When I got here, I had loads of my old memorabilia. But this...this belongs with you.”

Raleigh nods dumbly and swallows hard again, holding the poster like he might damage it if he isn't so extremely careful. Like it would be damaging Yancy in some way. This was their last successful deployment. It's extra potent.

"I can't, um-" a wheezed laugh. Oh man, he's really getting emotional now.

"Fuck"

He smiles, a little emotional himself, as he reaches to squeeze Raleigh’s shoulder. Chuck comes to settle beside him, gently nudging shoulders.

“One more,” he says quietly, handing him the little box.

Carefully, so, so carefully, Raleigh rolls the poster and puts it back in it's protective tube before setting it aside to take the box. It's small but not small enough to confuse with a ring box. And light. Very light.

He nudges shoulders back before opening it and moving the lid aside.

Chuck smiles, but he's a little nervous about what's in the box.

When Raleigh opens it, Chuck's dog tags are sitting there staring up at him, nestled inside.

Oh that..

If there was one thing that could top the other gift this is it.

Raleigh takes a moment to read the tags, though they're obviously Chuck's, and digests what the gesture means. It's a claim. It's like giving someone your letter jacket but ten times more potent, especially for men like them.

The emotion in his throat wells up again. Behind him Yancy says something quietly and Raleigh nods, though his words and undistinguishable. Carefully, he picks the tags out of their box and lets them rest in his hand, the cold metal warming against his skin.

Raleigh glances up at Chuck as if to ask are you really sure?

Chucks eyes click over Raleigh's shoulder briefly, like he sees Yancy, but then zeroes back in on Raleigh, entirely focused and hoping he doesn't...throw them in his face or something.

"I, uh. Wanted you to have them." He clears his throat, shifting in his position next to Raleigh, fidgeting, but trying not to look like he's as anxious as he feels.

As if he could. As if he would. But it's a big risk to do something like that and Raleigh understands Chuck's anxiety.

He takes a breath and turns them over in his hand before clicking open the chain.

"This is pretty big."

Which doesn't need pointing out but he does.

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