[ he considers asking if the kid is going to get some sleep, but the question never makes it passed the thought. they would be words to fill empty spaces, and Herc has never been good at it— he doesn't do small talk. they don't do small talk, and even though he wants to offer a branch to mend that bridge, he knows there are ways to do it and ways to avoid.
Chuck hands him a cup of coffee. the steam collects in his boy's palm, curling into the concave place he's created. this, too, is it's own branch.
Herc takes it and shifts to his left, opens up space on the bench for him. Chuck may or may not take it, the coffee might be as far as they get tonight— but it's more than they usually do, and Herc has settled for far less from his son before. ]
[ the question goes unasked because the answer is the same for them both. chuck isn't any more likely to sleep than his old man is- which means they will. for a few hours, instead of having breakfast. there isn't anything to fill the void with the exception of porcelain mugs resting against the wood, or a slow swallow.
but chuck takes the seat beside him- where they're nearly folded into one another and simultaneously not near enough. ]
[ Chuck sits close enough Herc can feel him from ankle to shoulder, a strong hard line built out of years of training, of manhandling a behemoth into the sea to fight down the demons others couldn't face. built on top of tragedy and on a father who maybe didn't make the right choices, but did what he could with what he knew how to do.
Herc is proud of him, every day. was proud of him in that Jaeger with Stacker. still was.
he doesn't say it, couldn't say it when they were parting ways, but the thought clenches in his chest. this is the second time someone has gone missing in the time they've been here, and while he could come back, there was a chance tha the might not. it makes fear stick in his stomach, something cold as ice and forces his heart to beat faster.
Herc doesn't sleep so well these days. not since the Charon pulled in. he doesn't know if Chuck has noticed; hasn't tried to let it be obvious.
the quiet stretches, but between one swallow and another, Herc lets his hand fall to the boy's knee and squeezes it— grounds himself in the sensation, because they don't have the drift anymore. ]
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heracleidae) wrote2013-09-06 11:57 pm
( x i i : d 2 )
Chuck hands him a cup of coffee. the steam collects in his boy's palm, curling into the concave place he's created. this, too, is it's own branch.
Herc takes it and shifts to his left, opens up space on the bench for him. Chuck may or may not take it, the coffee might be as far as they get tonight— but it's more than they usually do, and Herc has settled for far less from his son before. ]
( x i i : d 2 )
but chuck takes the seat beside him- where they're nearly folded into one another and simultaneously not near enough. ]
( x i i : d 2 )
Herc is proud of him, every day. was proud of him in that Jaeger with Stacker. still was.
he doesn't say it, couldn't say it when they were parting ways, but the thought clenches in his chest. this is the second time someone has gone missing in the time they've been here, and while he could come back, there was a chance tha the might not. it makes fear stick in his stomach, something cold as ice and forces his heart to beat faster.
Herc doesn't sleep so well these days. not since the Charon pulled in. he doesn't know if Chuck has noticed; hasn't tried to let it be obvious.
the quiet stretches, but between one swallow and another, Herc lets his hand fall to the boy's knee and squeezes it— grounds himself in the sensation, because they don't have the drift anymore. ]