righthemisphere | IC CONTACT

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.

And, of course, Chuck takes that completely the wrong way. He turns bright red, defenses immediately up.

"You don't have to accept them," he snaps, reaching for them. "It's not a requirement-"

"What? No-" holding them out of reach before chuck can snatch them.

"They're mine!"

He does try, but he misses.

"Oof-" he grunts, steadying himself. "Are--are you sure? You seem- I know it's big, is it too much? It's probably too much-"

Oh my god shut up and c'mere. Raleigh shifts slightly to catch Chuck before he can retreat entirely. They're already touching and unknown to them that cuddle bug going around is sure keeping them extra cozy and warm on what is already a beautiful birthday date.

"Shhh, shhh shhhh-" straight up catching Chuck by his cheeks, hands flat against them before the relax to cup, the tags dangling from his right hand.

"Big is good, it's okay. It's good."

"Are you sure?" He stares at Raleigh, eyes big and darting between Raleigh's blues. He leans in, pressing close, wetting his lips. "It just...seemed right. Like..I dunno. I jsut wanted you to have them."

"Thank you." He means that. "I'm honored." and he means that, too.

"Chuck, I'm so lucky. I dunno why you like me but I'm so glad you do."

Coulda backfired big time. They say never meet your heroes. And they've been through so much. But like he said to Woody at Thanksgiving, he's proud to see Chuck have the opportunity to live and grow and blossom and he's honored to be included in that. That Chuck chose him. Continues to choose him.

And yet he isn't sure how to say that to this man he's holding. Not exactly. It's a little different saying it to someone as opposed to about them.

"Here," gently letting his hands fall to fiddle the second tag of the chain. Easy seeing as it has it's own smaller loop. He takes it off and pulls off his own tags where he hooks it around the main chain, then does the same thing in reverse with his own second tag. Only then does he give Chuck back one set.

"I think it would be better if we matched"

He flushes, looking embarrassed, but he doesn't deny it. He likes Raleigh. A lot. Maybe more than likes, but that's not some shit he's gonna say out loud just yet. It's more actions, for the time being. The dog tags say volumes.

Even more so when Raleigh gives him a matching set, their names tangled together.

"You know," he says, slipping them over his head. "Kinda defeats the purpose of my gift." Not really.

"How's that?" Putting his on and tucking them safely under his shirt. against his chest. Against his skin where they belong.

"Pretty great gift from where I'm sitting."

"Well. You being all sweet and shit and giving me one of yours," he says, smirking a little. "I'm glad you like it."

"I do.. c'mere."

C'mere, c'mere, c'mere, nice and close, get up against him, into his lap, whatever. Come fucking kiss him. Let him slip his hands up the back of Chuck's shirt and then down the back of his jeans and take firm hold of his ass. Press chest to chest, tags to tags, and lips to lips when you belong.

Chuck grins, eyes bright as he slides into Raleigh's lap, straddling him properly, draping his arms around Raleigh's neck. He'll kiss you, Raleigh Becket, with the force of a thousand suns behind him, Sydney's son burning so brightly when he's happy.

Chuck's warmth soaks into his cold, weary bones and makes him feel so alive. As much as chuck's been growing and blossoming it's been inspiring Raleigh to do the same. Let people in. Let the ice around his heart melt a little bit.

They breathe in sync, lips warm and plush, fingers wandering and claiming.

Eventually, Raleigh will slide to lay down on the couch and drag Chuck on top of him. This really is the best birthday he's ever had. Coming home to Chuck is just so nice. Relying on him. There's.. man, there's really something here.

Chuck sprawls on top of him, heavy and warm, nosing into his neck. They're full and happy - and have so many beans they don't know what to do with them.

"Happy birthday," he murmurs, sliding a hand up Raleigh's shirt, tracing his fingers over his skin.

"Thank you," a purred murmur. forehead to forehead, just soaking in the affection.

"It's been a weird day"

"Mmm...weird?"

Busy, for him.

For a few reasons, ha. But. He's more interested in feeling Raleigh up a little.

"Yeah.. like.. ten people put beans on my doorstep? And when I was in town people kept cheering at me. It was weird."

But this makes it all better. And he's definitely feeling Chuck's ass up.

He buries his face into Raleighs neck.

Fuckin...success.

"How odd."

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