and it's not because chuck isn't angry. there's a fuse in him that's always lit. a fire that never goes out because it's burned hot and bright since scissure made land and because chuck doesn't know what to do if he lets it go out- doesn't know who he'll be the day he throws water of the thing and leaves it. it's instead that mako just keeps looking at him, and doesn't expect anything. or maybe if she does, it's played close enough to the chest that chuck can't sort it out. it's been years since either one of them tried for something like understanding, and maybe it's been for the best.
his gaze sweeps her once, from head to toe.
he doesn't know what he's looking for, but concludes that she seems to be in one piece. nothing broken. nothing missing. nothing burned up. maybe it means she's lived through pitfall. maybe it doesn't. chuck has only a smattering of bruises and a torqued knee for the end he'd met. sort that out.
their eyes meet and chuck doesn't sway. ]
He isn't here. [ he offers instead. because it's the only thing he knows how to work with. the only thing he can think of to do. ]
no subject
and it's not because chuck isn't angry. there's a fuse in him that's always lit. a fire that never goes out because it's burned hot and bright since scissure made land and because chuck doesn't know what to do if he lets it go out- doesn't know who he'll be the day he throws water of the thing and leaves it. it's instead that mako just keeps looking at him, and doesn't expect anything. or maybe if she does, it's played close enough to the chest that chuck can't sort it out. it's been years since either one of them tried for something like understanding, and maybe it's been for the best.
his gaze sweeps her once, from head to toe.
he doesn't know what he's looking for, but concludes that she seems to be in one piece. nothing broken. nothing missing. nothing burned up. maybe it means she's lived through pitfall. maybe it doesn't. chuck has only a smattering of bruises and a torqued knee for the end he'd met. sort that out.
their eyes meet and chuck doesn't sway. ]
He isn't here. [ he offers instead. because it's the only thing he knows how to work with. the only thing he can think of to do. ]