Cʜᴀʀʟᴇs 'C H U C K' Hᴀɴsᴇɴ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
suicidemission) wrote2013-10-30 02:58 pm
suicidemission) wrote2013-10-30 02:58 pm
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[ Raleigh breaks Chuck's nose and practically wrenches his shoulder out of socket and Chuck's fucking pissed off, and hurt and angry and then his stupid fucking father comes and tried to pop quiz him about why Chuck isn't a better person and he's so goddamn angry that he wants everyone to just shut the fuck up and leave him be so that he can mentally prepare to go on a fucking suicide mission.
Which comes sooner rather than later and they're standing there on top of Striker and he's pretty fucking sure they're gonna die but it's okay, right? IT's okay because they're giving ten million people another three seconds to get to safety and when you deal with kaiju this size that's a big fucking deal and three seconds can make a hell of a difference
so maybe
it's okay, you know -- it's just fine, and him and Herc stand there and aim those guns and shoot flares into Leatherback's face and he's mentally prepared to be smashed into oblivion by the rage of a kaiju and then--
foghorns. foghorns and bright lights and it's Gipsy fuckin' Danger come to their rescue and Chuck's so goddamn relieved he's not gonna die that he could literally cry and maybe he does but it's hard to say it's just rain on his face, really -- honestly.
Herc doesn't buy it but he doesn't say anything.
They're brought back via chopped with their jaeger while Gipsy beats the piss out of Leatherback and Otachi both and Chuck's pretty fuckin' impressed and grateful, God so grateful he doesn't want to die, not really -- not even though he's literally got nothing else to live for beyond his jaegers and the PPDC who owns him.
He should visit medical at some point, grab some shit because Raleigh fucked his face up pretty good and his arm hurts and he needs some painkillers or something because his shoulder aches, especially now.
But he doesn't. Not yet. He's sitting in Striker's bay after the heroes triumphant return after chasing off the techs, snapping that he can handle these repairs himself, needing a moment alone because Her'c injured and --
now what?
Chuck's eyes snap up from his hands when Max sits and he scowls at Raleigh's presence but it's sort of half-hearted and he gives him a weary look that's loaded with suspicion. ]
He. Striker's a he.
Which comes sooner rather than later and they're standing there on top of Striker and he's pretty fucking sure they're gonna die but it's okay, right? IT's okay because they're giving ten million people another three seconds to get to safety and when you deal with kaiju this size that's a big fucking deal and three seconds can make a hell of a difference
so maybe
it's okay, you know -- it's just fine, and him and Herc stand there and aim those guns and shoot flares into Leatherback's face and he's mentally prepared to be smashed into oblivion by the rage of a kaiju and then--
foghorns. foghorns and bright lights and it's Gipsy fuckin' Danger come to their rescue and Chuck's so goddamn relieved he's not gonna die that he could literally cry and maybe he does but it's hard to say it's just rain on his face, really -- honestly.
Herc doesn't buy it but he doesn't say anything.
They're brought back via chopped with their jaeger while Gipsy beats the piss out of Leatherback and Otachi both and Chuck's pretty fuckin' impressed and grateful, God so grateful he doesn't want to die, not really -- not even though he's literally got nothing else to live for beyond his jaegers and the PPDC who owns him.
He should visit medical at some point, grab some shit because Raleigh fucked his face up pretty good and his arm hurts and he needs some painkillers or something because his shoulder aches, especially now.
But he doesn't. Not yet. He's sitting in Striker's bay after the heroes triumphant return after chasing off the techs, snapping that he can handle these repairs himself, needing a moment alone because Her'c injured and --
now what?
Chuck's eyes snap up from his hands when Max sits and he scowls at Raleigh's presence but it's sort of half-hearted and he gives him a weary look that's loaded with suspicion. ]
He. Striker's a he.
[ The lights of the bay behind them blind him, crack his head open again and bleed migraine pulses from the front of his eyes to the top of his skull. The exhaustion he feels after Leatherback and Otachi doesn't really compare to the igniting of synapses brought about by Knifehead, though, so Raleigh only scrubs a gloved hand over his face, grateful for the shadow provided by Striker.
He's grateful that Chuck can't see his expression, too. Raleigh turns his head down, busying his hands with setting the first-aid kit down on the crate in the space beside him, where Chuck can see it.
Raleigh'd known that Chuck wouldn't have had his injuries treated, carrying them instead out of spite or anger, he doesn't know. It shames Raleigh as much as it exasperates him.
A mission this big, this important, it was amazingly stupid of him to jump on Chuck and potentially compromise him like that.
He was just so angry.
Raleigh nods, amicably agreeable. ] Striker's your baby. [ He props open the kit, looking for antiseptic wash. ]
He's grateful that Chuck can't see his expression, too. Raleigh turns his head down, busying his hands with setting the first-aid kit down on the crate in the space beside him, where Chuck can see it.
Raleigh'd known that Chuck wouldn't have had his injuries treated, carrying them instead out of spite or anger, he doesn't know. It shames Raleigh as much as it exasperates him.
A mission this big, this important, it was amazingly stupid of him to jump on Chuck and potentially compromise him like that.
He was just so angry.
Raleigh nods, amicably agreeable. ] Striker's your baby. [ He props open the kit, looking for antiseptic wash. ]
Edited 2013-11-04 00:29 (UTC)
[ The suspicion increases as Raleigh paws through that kit he brought and Chuck's wondering what the hell he's thinking, what he's planning on doing because he can't possibly be thinking that he's gonna come in here and sweet talk Chuck and --
and help him.
People don't help Chuck Hansen. ]
Yeah. [ His voice is flat, guarded and wary and exhausted. ]
What're you doing here, Becket?
and help him.
People don't help Chuck Hansen. ]
Yeah. [ His voice is flat, guarded and wary and exhausted. ]
What're you doing here, Becket?
[ Chuck Hansen helps himself.
The way he operates, he almost has to, is the thing, and Raleigh knows how difficult a burden that is to shoulder alone. Raleigh doesn't know shit about Chuck, but he sees an exhaustion and fear in Chuck's eyes that mirror the regret in his own.
Raleigh gets up from the crate with a creak of polycarbonate armor, a little stiff and sore still, but he carries the supplies over to Chuck without so much a visible wince. Raleigh briefly holds up what he's got in his hands so Chuck can see it. ] Took it out on you pretty bad earlier. [ Max hauls up off Chuck's feet and tags Raleigh as he takes a seat next to Chuck; Raleigh smiles, reaching over to ruffle his ears.
His voice is purposefully light and as casual as he can make it. ] So I figure I should give you a hand. Fair's fair.
The way he operates, he almost has to, is the thing, and Raleigh knows how difficult a burden that is to shoulder alone. Raleigh doesn't know shit about Chuck, but he sees an exhaustion and fear in Chuck's eyes that mirror the regret in his own.
Raleigh gets up from the crate with a creak of polycarbonate armor, a little stiff and sore still, but he carries the supplies over to Chuck without so much a visible wince. Raleigh briefly holds up what he's got in his hands so Chuck can see it. ] Took it out on you pretty bad earlier. [ Max hauls up off Chuck's feet and tags Raleigh as he takes a seat next to Chuck; Raleigh smiles, reaching over to ruffle his ears.
His voice is purposefully light and as casual as he can make it. ] So I figure I should give you a hand. Fair's fair.
Edited 2013-11-04 05:00 (UTC)
[ Chuck's still watching Raleigh with a wary eye, muscles tight and corded, a taught line of tension that runs all the way down his spine. He doesn't know what Becket's playing at, if he's playing at anything and if he isn't, Chuck's even more confused.
He'd said some shitty things, deserves to get socked in the face. He'd been jonesing for a fight anyway - he doesn't need Raleigh to come down here and apologize and try to...do whatever the fuck it is he's gonna do.
Doesn't need him. Doesn't need anyone. He's got Striker. He's got Max. He's got everything he needs, right here in this hangar bay. ]
Save it.
He'd said some shitty things, deserves to get socked in the face. He'd been jonesing for a fight anyway - he doesn't need Raleigh to come down here and apologize and try to...do whatever the fuck it is he's gonna do.
Doesn't need him. Doesn't need anyone. He's got Striker. He's got Max. He's got everything he needs, right here in this hangar bay. ]
Save it.
[ It's not the fight he's regretting, but the timing and the circumstances. Raleigh's come down to meet Chuck here to extend a hand and - optimistically speaking - fix things before they can back each other for Pitfall, but Raleigh still has to swallow down the urge to snap back at Chuck, because --
-- No. Chuck is bleeding tension into the very air between them; Raleigh is again reminded that both of their systems are still firing up synaptic pathways and sensory echoes, brains cleaved in two where Mako's and Herc’s minds had occupied not hours before.
They're exhausted.
Raleigh puts the supplies down on the floor, runs gloved hands over his face and through his hair, hands knitting over the back of his neck like he's trying to catch his breath after a run. He looks at Chuck with his shoulders locked tight. ] I'm not here to apologize. [ Don't go looking for another fight. ]
-- No. Chuck is bleeding tension into the very air between them; Raleigh is again reminded that both of their systems are still firing up synaptic pathways and sensory echoes, brains cleaved in two where Mako's and Herc’s minds had occupied not hours before.
They're exhausted.
Raleigh puts the supplies down on the floor, runs gloved hands over his face and through his hair, hands knitting over the back of his neck like he's trying to catch his breath after a run. He looks at Chuck with his shoulders locked tight. ] I'm not here to apologize. [ Don't go looking for another fight. ]
[ That confirmation has a bit of the tension easing – not all, but enough that some of his muscles relax, though his shoulder still aches from where Raleigh’d nearly popped everything out of socket and broken his goddamn elbow. He’d been riding an adrenaline high from earlier and now that that was fading, weariness and exhaustion was starting to set in. He’s still twitching inside in anger because not only did they lose two jaegers, they lost five people.
Two entire piloting teams gone – just like that. Five people’s lives just snuffed out of existence and they didn’t have time to mourn, didn’t have time to do anything but push forward and hope that two jaegers were going to be enough to do the job and Chuck—
Chuck’s on edge. He’s not afraid, not really, but he knows that there’s no good outcome of the mission now – especially with his dad hurt. What are they supposed to do? Who the fuck is he supposed to jockey with? He isn’t wild about the idea of someone else in his mind he doesn’t know and to be perfectly frank he’s fucking pissed at Herc for screwing this shit up.
They were supposed to go down together – as a team. Chuck never had a lot of expectations about what would happen after the war – he’d been so wrapped up in it for so long that it’s part of him and he literally doesn’t know what he would do with himself without it.
Chuck Hansen doesn’t want to die – but he expects to.
His shoulders sag a little bit and more tension eases and a few walls come down because Becket just saved his fucking ass so he can continue existing long enough to drop a bomb down in the breach. Some of the sharpness drops from his tone. ]
Then why’re you here?
Two entire piloting teams gone – just like that. Five people’s lives just snuffed out of existence and they didn’t have time to mourn, didn’t have time to do anything but push forward and hope that two jaegers were going to be enough to do the job and Chuck—
Chuck’s on edge. He’s not afraid, not really, but he knows that there’s no good outcome of the mission now – especially with his dad hurt. What are they supposed to do? Who the fuck is he supposed to jockey with? He isn’t wild about the idea of someone else in his mind he doesn’t know and to be perfectly frank he’s fucking pissed at Herc for screwing this shit up.
They were supposed to go down together – as a team. Chuck never had a lot of expectations about what would happen after the war – he’d been so wrapped up in it for so long that it’s part of him and he literally doesn’t know what he would do with himself without it.
Chuck Hansen doesn’t want to die – but he expects to.
His shoulders sag a little bit and more tension eases and a few walls come down because Becket just saved his fucking ass so he can continue existing long enough to drop a bomb down in the breach. Some of the sharpness drops from his tone. ]
Then why’re you here?
[ Hansen relaxes, so so does Raleigh, unwinding the tension in his shoulders and arms until his hands slip away from the back of his neck, falling open in his lap. Under the shadow of Striker, the world feels very far from them. Raleigh wonders if that’s why Chuck comes down here so often – why he chose to come down here now.
You grow up with Jaegers, and Jaeger pilots are living legends; Raleigh’s never felt that way about himself, not even back when he jockeyed in Alaska, but he used to watch after the older, more experienced pilots as they walked around the cavernous launch bays, virulent and loud and demanding in presence, filling up the Shatterdome with the immensity of their reputations. They looked invincible to him.
Raleigh knows better now, but the sting of the Wei Tangs’ and Kaidanovskys’ deaths don’t hurt any less. They put him on edge like he’d been back on the Wall watching the newsreels report the felling of team after team—
—But Raleigh is a good Ranger, and nobody still working on the warclock's countdown can afford to mourn now.
The mourning will come later, if Raleigh makes it out alive. He’s not expecting to, hasn’t since Stacker made it clear he could be lost to the mission and Raleigh took up his offer anyway, so he isn’t afraid or regretful of the outcome like Chuck isn’t, either. Raleigh thinks he might be a little disassociated with the concept of death. He wonders if he’ll think differently at Pitfall, like Yancy did in Anchorage, when he was sure he was about to die.
He doesn’t want to think about that.
Raleigh scoops the supplies up from off the floor again, and turns so he’s facing Chuck instead of giving him his side. They’re close enough that Raleigh could probably -- tend to Chuck from here, but it's not ideal, so he shifts a little closer on the crate, stiff in his drivesuit. Still not close enough, but he gets the feeling that any closer and Chuck'll be spooked. ] 'm not here to punch anyone this time.
[ He keeps his voice low, free of barbs, more from weariness than care, but it's with a faint hint of amusement that he speaks now. It fades as he glances at Chuck's shoulder.] I kind of figured you hadn't seen anyone about your shoulder, so I brought over some things. [ As an afterthought, he gestures to Chuck's bruised face. ] Some of it's for that, too.
You grow up with Jaegers, and Jaeger pilots are living legends; Raleigh’s never felt that way about himself, not even back when he jockeyed in Alaska, but he used to watch after the older, more experienced pilots as they walked around the cavernous launch bays, virulent and loud and demanding in presence, filling up the Shatterdome with the immensity of their reputations. They looked invincible to him.
Raleigh knows better now, but the sting of the Wei Tangs’ and Kaidanovskys’ deaths don’t hurt any less. They put him on edge like he’d been back on the Wall watching the newsreels report the felling of team after team—
—But Raleigh is a good Ranger, and nobody still working on the warclock's countdown can afford to mourn now.
The mourning will come later, if Raleigh makes it out alive. He’s not expecting to, hasn’t since Stacker made it clear he could be lost to the mission and Raleigh took up his offer anyway, so he isn’t afraid or regretful of the outcome like Chuck isn’t, either. Raleigh thinks he might be a little disassociated with the concept of death. He wonders if he’ll think differently at Pitfall, like Yancy did in Anchorage, when he was sure he was about to die.
He doesn’t want to think about that.
Raleigh scoops the supplies up from off the floor again, and turns so he’s facing Chuck instead of giving him his side. They’re close enough that Raleigh could probably -- tend to Chuck from here, but it's not ideal, so he shifts a little closer on the crate, stiff in his drivesuit. Still not close enough, but he gets the feeling that any closer and Chuck'll be spooked. ] 'm not here to punch anyone this time.
[ He keeps his voice low, free of barbs, more from weariness than care, but it's with a faint hint of amusement that he speaks now. It fades as he glances at Chuck's shoulder.] I kind of figured you hadn't seen anyone about your shoulder, so I brought over some things. [ As an afterthought, he gestures to Chuck's bruised face. ] Some of it's for that, too.
[ His shoulder hurts. His elbow hurts.
He hurts and he’s so fucking -- weary after all of this, after years and years and years of piloting and fighting and tearing kaiju limb from limb and spending time in Shatterdomes and medical bays and practically living in the goddamn Drift and watching pilot after pilot die and Chuck is so fucking tired that all he wants to do is just—
Lay down. Go to sleep. Never wake up.
Death is peace, death is easy. It’s living that’s a bitch and when you live in a world like this, when you look death in the eyes every single fucking day and mock it openly, tear it down with your bare hands and leave it writhing and raw on the floor, all cold and lonely like but still somehow peaceful and quiet and beckoning and at ease and tempting, that sometimes—
--sometimes.
Not that Chuck Hansen wants that peace, no no – make no mistake he does like his life, loves it, actually – would like more than anything to keep it, to grip it with his hands and hold it close to his heart and never let it go, like a lover he’s never had.
But sometimes.
sometimes. ]
Great. [ No punching. Fuck off, Becket – that’s what he wants to say but he doesn’t, he just looks at Raleigh, looks at the kit, then looks away, shoulders slumping. ]
Whatever. [ It’s the closest thing Raleigh will get to any sort of acquiescence, the closest thing to any sort of agreement or go ahead or permission that Chuck’s gonna give. ]
He hurts and he’s so fucking -- weary after all of this, after years and years and years of piloting and fighting and tearing kaiju limb from limb and spending time in Shatterdomes and medical bays and practically living in the goddamn Drift and watching pilot after pilot die and Chuck is so fucking tired that all he wants to do is just—
Lay down. Go to sleep. Never wake up.
Death is peace, death is easy. It’s living that’s a bitch and when you live in a world like this, when you look death in the eyes every single fucking day and mock it openly, tear it down with your bare hands and leave it writhing and raw on the floor, all cold and lonely like but still somehow peaceful and quiet and beckoning and at ease and tempting, that sometimes—
--sometimes.
Not that Chuck Hansen wants that peace, no no – make no mistake he does like his life, loves it, actually – would like more than anything to keep it, to grip it with his hands and hold it close to his heart and never let it go, like a lover he’s never had.
But sometimes.
sometimes. ]
Great. [ No punching. Fuck off, Becket – that’s what he wants to say but he doesn’t, he just looks at Raleigh, looks at the kit, then looks away, shoulders slumping. ]
Whatever. [ It’s the closest thing Raleigh will get to any sort of acquiescence, the closest thing to any sort of agreement or go ahead or permission that Chuck’s gonna give. ]
Edited 2013-11-12 17:33 (UTC)
[ It’s not exactly approval, but he’ll take it.
Peroxide first, shoulder later. Chuck smells of seasalt and brine – they both do – so he’ll need his cuts wiped down, and thoroughly. Raleigh gets the fingertip of one glove between his teeth to pull the whole thing off, uncapping the bottle with newly stiff fingers that don’t shake at all as he dampens a soft cotton ball.
He guessed with the way they've been talking that Chuck wouldn’t tend his own wounds, that there’s a mutual understanding Raleigh would, but he’s still unsure how to proceed, hovering. His pause doesn't last too long - not more than a second before Raleigh slides closer, careful not to let the supplies tumble out of his lap.
Chuck’s expression is unreadable. Raleigh wonders what he’s thinking in there.
The cut's on the other side of Chuck's face; Raleigh eyes it from this angle, hands out in front of him. ] Here -- [ Chuck's still not facing him. ] Gotta look at me me for this.
Peroxide first, shoulder later. Chuck smells of seasalt and brine – they both do – so he’ll need his cuts wiped down, and thoroughly. Raleigh gets the fingertip of one glove between his teeth to pull the whole thing off, uncapping the bottle with newly stiff fingers that don’t shake at all as he dampens a soft cotton ball.
He guessed with the way they've been talking that Chuck wouldn’t tend his own wounds, that there’s a mutual understanding Raleigh would, but he’s still unsure how to proceed, hovering. His pause doesn't last too long - not more than a second before Raleigh slides closer, careful not to let the supplies tumble out of his lap.
Chuck’s expression is unreadable. Raleigh wonders what he’s thinking in there.
The cut's on the other side of Chuck's face; Raleigh eyes it from this angle, hands out in front of him. ] Here -- [ Chuck's still not facing him. ] Gotta look at me me for this.
[ Out of the corner of his eye, Chuck watches Raleigh pull the glove off with his fucking teeth.
What -- the hell is Becket playing at? Maybe -- okay, Chuck can concede that Becket's got a lapful of shit and he's trying to hold it all together and maybe Chuck's being a brat by not helping or offering any kind of assistance but that is still no goddamn excuse for Raleigh to do shit like that.
It's not fair.
And -- he's not...sure why he's even allowing this to happen. Is he actually going to let the guy that punched him in the face doctor him up?
Apparently he is, because he's shifting to face Raleigh, expression still masked (though there's a tightness in his jaw that's hard to hide), chin tipped up.
There. He's looking at Raleigh - as requested. ]
What -- the hell is Becket playing at? Maybe -- okay, Chuck can concede that Becket's got a lapful of shit and he's trying to hold it all together and maybe Chuck's being a brat by not helping or offering any kind of assistance but that is still no goddamn excuse for Raleigh to do shit like that.
It's not fair.
And -- he's not...sure why he's even allowing this to happen. Is he actually going to let the guy that punched him in the face doctor him up?
Apparently he is, because he's shifting to face Raleigh, expression still masked (though there's a tightness in his jaw that's hard to hide), chin tipped up.
There. He's looking at Raleigh - as requested. ]
[ Christ, Hansen looks bad.
He's locked down tighter than Raleigh's ever seen him, jaw tight, teeth probably clenched hard enough to hurt, but it's the bruises under Chuck's eyes that command Raleigh's attention. He doesn't think he gave Chuck those.
-- Raleigh nods once to himself, and takes the cotton ball to Chuck's cheekbone.
The angle's still a little off and Raleigh's anticipating Chuck's wince, so he sort of -- leans in, off-center, wiping off the more prominent cut on Chuck's cheek and moving onto the smaller abrasions that dot along his jawline. Those aren't as likely to get infected, nor should they be bothering Chuck much, but Raleigh finds himself wanting to be thorough.
Raleigh's also very determinedly not looking into Chuck's eyes for whatever protest or irritation he could find there. ]
He's locked down tighter than Raleigh's ever seen him, jaw tight, teeth probably clenched hard enough to hurt, but it's the bruises under Chuck's eyes that command Raleigh's attention. He doesn't think he gave Chuck those.
-- Raleigh nods once to himself, and takes the cotton ball to Chuck's cheekbone.
The angle's still a little off and Raleigh's anticipating Chuck's wince, so he sort of -- leans in, off-center, wiping off the more prominent cut on Chuck's cheek and moving onto the smaller abrasions that dot along his jawline. Those aren't as likely to get infected, nor should they be bothering Chuck much, but Raleigh finds himself wanting to be thorough.
Raleigh's also very determinedly not looking into Chuck's eyes for whatever protest or irritation he could find there. ]
[ ... Raleigh is incredibly thorough.
It makes Chuck's insides twinge a little, something pulling at him that he can't define, that he doesn't know how to fucking deal with.
It's almost enough to make him knock Raleigh's hand away, demand the goddamn cotton ball because he can do this himself, no problem.
He doesn't, though. He just lets Raleigh continue to do what he's doing, eyes resolutely staring ahead, right...at Raleigh's face.
Raleigh might not look him dead in the eye but Chuck does. If Becket gets the balls to look up, he'll see what he expects; irritation and annoyance and protest but it's coupled with tension and apprehension and, most important of all --
fear. ]
[ It’s a little like handling a ticking bomb, because while Chuck’s still and quiet under Raleigh’s hand, he’s also strung tight, taut, a rubber band about to snap. Raleigh’s not afraid of what could happen if Chuck did, but he’d like to avoid that outcome, if at all possible.
He slides his other hand around Chuck’s nape.
Probably not the best of his ideas, but it’s what Raleigh's seen people do to skittered animals that need calming. Over the years, Raleigh’s found that it works just as well on some people, but maybe Chuck’s not in that category. If Chuck asks, it could be for balance.
Raleigh finishes wiping down the cuts on Chuck’s cheek with a hand on Chuck’s nape, thumb idly and intermittently brushing the soft, short hairs there; there’s a cut on the bridge of his nose that needs attention, too, so Raleigh targets that one next.
Raleigh glances up, meets Chuck’s eyes. ] I’m gonna do th—
[ He pauses.
Fear.
Raleigh's mouth falls open a little, unsure. He --
-- doesn't want to say anything to spook Chuck further, so he doesn't. Say anything, that is. Raleigh sucks in a quick breath, carrying on like he'd tried to before, gentle with the cotton ball. ] —'m gonna do the nose, and then we can take a look at your shoulder. Sound good?
He slides his other hand around Chuck’s nape.
Probably not the best of his ideas, but it’s what Raleigh's seen people do to skittered animals that need calming. Over the years, Raleigh’s found that it works just as well on some people, but maybe Chuck’s not in that category. If Chuck asks, it could be for balance.
Raleigh finishes wiping down the cuts on Chuck’s cheek with a hand on Chuck’s nape, thumb idly and intermittently brushing the soft, short hairs there; there’s a cut on the bridge of his nose that needs attention, too, so Raleigh targets that one next.
Raleigh glances up, meets Chuck’s eyes. ] I’m gonna do th—
[ He pauses.
Fear.
Raleigh's mouth falls open a little, unsure. He --
-- doesn't want to say anything to spook Chuck further, so he doesn't. Say anything, that is. Raleigh sucks in a quick breath, carrying on like he'd tried to before, gentle with the cotton ball. ] —'m gonna do the nose, and then we can take a look at your shoulder. Sound good?
[ Raleigh slides his hand around the back of Chuck's neck and his jaw tightens, his eyes flash and this --
This is so...so tender. He doesn't expect this out of Raleigh, doesn't expect himself to continue allowing it to happen because Chuck doesn't allow himself the luxury of tenderness and affection and wouldn't know what it was if it bit him in the ass.
Chuck doesn't deserve nice things. Everyone knows that, everyone knows he was born and bred to kill things, smash things up with his father -- that's it. This...he doesn't know what to do with. Doesn't know how to handle it. Doesn't know how to treat it because he thinks maybe it should be handled with care and he's never, ever known how to treat a situation with any kind of delicacy.
He appreciates Raleigh not calling him out, though. They can both pretend that that fear isn't there, that Chuck isn't actually terrified both of what's happening here and of dying.
Sometimes, I'd like a rest. ]
Sure, whatever.
[ He tries to stay cocky, arrogant but his voice shakes, just there, at the end of his sentence. ]
This is so...so tender. He doesn't expect this out of Raleigh, doesn't expect himself to continue allowing it to happen because Chuck doesn't allow himself the luxury of tenderness and affection and wouldn't know what it was if it bit him in the ass.
Chuck doesn't deserve nice things. Everyone knows that, everyone knows he was born and bred to kill things, smash things up with his father -- that's it. This...he doesn't know what to do with. Doesn't know how to handle it. Doesn't know how to treat it because he thinks maybe it should be handled with care and he's never, ever known how to treat a situation with any kind of delicacy.
He appreciates Raleigh not calling him out, though. They can both pretend that that fear isn't there, that Chuck isn't actually terrified both of what's happening here and of dying.
Sometimes, I'd like a rest. ]
Sure, whatever.
[ He tries to stay cocky, arrogant but his voice shakes, just there, at the end of his sentence. ]
[ Helping Mako save Chuck hadn't really changed Raleigh's opinion of him, but Chuck's shying away from standard medical care like it's something to be afraid of, and Raleigh's - thinking around the sentiment in that. Physical contact with your co-pilot's a big part of the comedown after Drifting, so Raleigh doesn't know why -
- Ah. Right.
Raleigh can do his best to treat some of Chuck's cuts and pains, but he hasn't got the right equipment for those hurts. Just his hands.
One of which he uses to cup around Chuck's neck, rubbing fleetingly into the dip behind his ear. It's intended to be soothing, a reassuring reaffirmation that Chuck's here with him now and not out there alone, and while Raleigh might not like Chuck, Raleigh thinks he's starting to see into him a little more than he had an hour ago. ]
Okay, Chuck. [ Raleigh drops the cotton ball, removes the hand around Chuck's neck. ] Take your shirt off.
- Ah. Right.
Raleigh can do his best to treat some of Chuck's cuts and pains, but he hasn't got the right equipment for those hurts. Just his hands.
One of which he uses to cup around Chuck's neck, rubbing fleetingly into the dip behind his ear. It's intended to be soothing, a reassuring reaffirmation that Chuck's here with him now and not out there alone, and while Raleigh might not like Chuck, Raleigh thinks he's starting to see into him a little more than he had an hour ago. ]
Okay, Chuck. [ Raleigh drops the cotton ball, removes the hand around Chuck's neck. ] Take your shirt off.
Edited 2013-11-19 02:58 (UTC)
[ This...is hardly fair. Raleigh wants Chuck to get half naked in front of him while he sits there in his armor and this is bullshit. He asks Chuck to bare himself, bare his scars and Chuck clenches his teeth and nearly tells him no and that he should just get the hell out of here but he doesn't.
Instead, he pulls back, and pulls his shirt off and over his head and balls it up on his fists. He sits there bare chested, staring straight ahead, muscles in his arms and upper back tense and rock solid. ]
Instead, he pulls back, and pulls his shirt off and over his head and balls it up on his fists. He sits there bare chested, staring straight ahead, muscles in his arms and upper back tense and rock solid. ]
[ Nudity is something Raleigh's never had an issue with, but apparently Chuck isn't the same. When Raleigh turns back with his supplies, Chuck is wound up even tighter than he was before, if that's possible, stiff and tense all over.
Raleigh stifles a sigh, filing away a mental note not to touch Chuck extraneously again.
He's got a shoulder to think about, anyway. It's mottled blue and purple, tender-looking and sure to be sore, and while Raleigh's not guilty about dealing out his blows, he still winces. ] You feelin' any pain in the joint? If it's bad, you should get it checked out in the medbay. [ Raleigh sets the supplies on the floor, tugging off his other glove after. ] Dunno how good I'll be to you if I did some actual damage.
Raleigh stifles a sigh, filing away a mental note not to touch Chuck extraneously again.
He's got a shoulder to think about, anyway. It's mottled blue and purple, tender-looking and sure to be sore, and while Raleigh's not guilty about dealing out his blows, he still winces. ] You feelin' any pain in the joint? If it's bad, you should get it checked out in the medbay. [ Raleigh sets the supplies on the floor, tugging off his other glove after. ] Dunno how good I'll be to you if I did some actual damage.
[ It's...just because it's in front of Raleigh - the man that kicked his ass and the man he'd idolized as a teenager. It's awkward for him, but he sets his jaw and deals with it like a man, cause that's what he is. A man.
He shifts a little, lifting his good arm and touches the bruises, rubs his fingers into it a little and winces. ]
Nah, mate. 'S fine. It's just -- bruised.
[ He's pretty sure Raleigh didn't crack or break or dislocate anything -- it just hurts like a motherfucker and is beyond sore. ]
didn't know you liked to stare so much, ray