Let Me Make It Up To You
Who: Chase and Justin When: Late morning Where: Their tent
Chase knew there was a conversation coming. He'd seen that look in Justin's eyes when he made his way to him the night before, knowing that his tiny little scheme hadn't worked as expected and he was going to hear it. He had already been thinking of ways to make it up to him, but then all hell had broken loose and they'd been focused on not dying because of rampaging wolves and birds and chipmunks of satan. The only reason Chase had made it out without major injuries was Justin, which had him lingering closer to the man the next morning, the tiny crush pushed into something bigger with the display of heroics.
Justin didn't feel much like a hero. He felt like someone who had beaten of scores of rabid animals with a damn candlestick, and ended up covered in scratches, his clothes ripped half to shreds. He, Chase and a couple of random maids from the banquet had ended up hiding out in a linen closet until the first light of day. At least they'd managed to patch themselves up though.
Justin said nothing as he and Chase made their way back to their tent, his mind more on taking in the disaster zone before them. He couldn't believe the fact that clearly that King had people working hard to put things back together again. Apparently, the tournament must go on. "I am so glad I don't have to fight today," he said, at length.
Chase found himself reaching out to touch the ripped part of Justin's shirt, frowning. He'd helped him patch up, but the guy had still gotten hurt trying to protect them and god that was both sad and sexy and Chase who didn't date because he was usually surrounded by losers, was thinking of trying to convince this man that he'd have just as much fun with him as he would with some bimbo of a girl. "I don't know if you could hold up in another one," he said with a frown, trying to keep his tone level.
Justin snorted a laugh. "I very much doubt it. I didn't think I'd be able to even before we were attacked by the rapid Disney horde, never mind now," he joked. Sure, he hurt all over, but none of his injuries was all that severe. There were just so many of them.
"At least they weren't singing," Chase pointed out with a small smile. It was harder to joke about it because it had been terrifying, but he did his best to shrug it off. "You were very impressive though."
"Impressive? I was scared witless and just swinging at everything that came our way. You're lucky I didn't brain you by mistake," Justin joked as they reached their tent, which was thankfully still standing. He paused at the entrance, glancing over at Chase in consideration. "Actually, maybe I should have done just that. Payback for trying to set me up with a girl who was clearly not interested in me," he said, before ducking inside.
"No, no you were great," Chase was saying as Justin stopped and countered with the bit about Kennedy. He looked skyward for a moment because he was alone and then followed after Justin. "Alright look, I'm sorry about that. I was helping a friend out and look at you, you're stunning, who wouldn't like you?" He looked sheepish for a moment. "Was it that bad?"
Justin pulled off his ripped shirt and put on his spare. Straightening it with a sigh, he looked at Chase. "So, total set up then? For a friend? Which friend - because I'm telling you now, it clearly wasn't her." He sat down on his bedding roll, looking up at Chase, resting his arms on his raised knees. "It wasn't that bad - save for the part where she blanked on offering me her name, immediately forgot mine, started calling me by some kind of dismissive nickname and basically gave me every 'not interested, so fuck the hell off' signal you can imagine. Right up until the part when I mentioned what I did for a living and suddenly she was all ears." He grimaced. "I kinda hate that, y'know? When someone thinks your the shit on their shoe until you mention that you do something they see as 'glamorous' and then suddenly they just want to eat you up." So, sure, at times, Justin had used that very fact to get laid when otherwise he wouldn't have had a hope in hell, but that didn't mean it didn't piss him off when he thought about it rationally.
"Total set up," Chase admitted trying hard not to stare at Justin. He had to know what kind of sight that was right? "Her name was Kennedy and I swear the fact that she was so disinterested doesn't bode well for my friend who was trying to keep her off his boyfriend." Chase ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head and feeling really guilty. "I don't know how someone just dismisses you off hand, though I'm not sure I get it that the interest changes because of what you do. It's not a 'glamorous' thing on my part."
Justin laughed at that. "She's after some guy's boyfriend?" he asked, half in disbelief. "Has someone sat her down and told her how these things work? Why is your friend worried anyhow? Oh - unless his guy likes girls as well? Is that it? Well, if that's the case, either your friend's boy has really bad taste in women, or she's totally into him. Because, usually? I get slightly more interest than this Kennedy showed me last night. Not to sound big headed, but..." But he knew what kind of shape an active career on the water gave him. He'd never felt insecure about the way he looked, though he wasn't arrogant about it either. "As for the changing interest... People equate yachts with money. Which they should. I'm not rich, or glamorous, but some of the people I work for are. And the places I get to go can be. That's... attractive to a certain kind of person. It's like they think they can live vicariously through me."
Chase nodded. "I think it's an interest in women and she's into him. And apparently he's one of those 'doesn't realize he's a catch' types." He shrugged and waved Justin away. "Yes, you're gorgeous and everyone looks at you," he teased, though there was truth behind it. "I get that. Of course, I get the reaction of thinking I'm trash because of the strip club and porn. Though i don't blame anyone for wanting to live vicariously through you a little. I could go for a life a of a handsome pirate."
"Does the guy realise he's been caught? I mean - how much is he into his boyfriend?" Justin paused, then shook his head. "Doesn't matter - I just don't like situations that I can see ending in an unholy mess. Look, you ever need me for something like that again? Do a guy a favour and actually tell me what you've got me walking into. I don't appreciate being lied to. I would have helped you out if you'd just told me what you needed. Least then I would have known why I was getting the cold shoulder. For the record though - you're not trash. Any more than I'm a pirate. Clearly that's our lot. To be misunderstood by the world."
"Well Kyle's clearly in love with Adam, but I've not met Adam yet." Chase went to sit with Justin, giving himself so that he wasn't sitting too close. "Good to know you would have just helped. I guess I thought I was helping you too. I seriously didn't think she'd turn you down. Don't hate me." He really wasn't sure he could handle that. Especially not when Justin was saying he wasn't trash. "At least we get each other?"
"I don't hate you, but for future reference, I've made a decision. That's not my type," Justin said, wryly. "And, yeah, I guess we got each other," he added. Justin didn't see Chase the way Chase saw Justin, but he thought the guy was okay.
"Duly noted. No more like her." Chase smiled and looked at Justin. "I'll let you pick the next one you hook up with on your own. Just tell me when to get lost."
"Likewise, when you get lucky," Justin replied.
Chase laughed darkly and ran his hand over the back of his neck. "Not going to happen," he said. It just wasn't in the cards. He hadn't been dating for years, he wasn't about to start now.
Justin laughed a little at that. "Wouldn't be too sure. I mean, I don't exactly know what you go for, but you're far from a bad looking guy."
Chase smiled at the compliment before shaking his head. "I don't go for anything."
"No?" Justin asked, surprised at that. Especially at the way Chase had put it. He wondered for a moment if the guy was asexual or something and, if so, how that sat with him job choices, under the circumstances. Then he decided it really wasn't any of his business, whatever Chase's sexuality was. "Well, their loss then. So, what plans do you have for the day?" he asked, diverting the subject. "Tracking down Kyle and letting him know that your cunning plan for turning Kennedy's head away from his boyfriend crashed and burned?"
Chase shook his head. He was surrounded by people that were a bad choice for dating, he was definitely aware of that, and after swearing that off, he really didn't many other options. As a result he'd gotten used to being alone. It wasn't fun, but at least he was used to it. He did smile at the compliment, taking it to heart. "That's on the list. After making sure you have everything you could ever need or want in return both being a good sport and putting up with Kennedy and saving my life."
"I don't need you to wait upon me. Seriously," Justin said, waving him off. "Never had that before - usually it's the other way around."
"All the more reason for it to be this way around right?" Chase said, getting up and going through Justin's things to find clean clothes for him. He couldn't give Justin a proper 'thank you for saving me the damsel in distress' thank you since Justin wasn't interested, but he could do something.
"Do I actually get a choice in this?" Justin asked, ever the peacemaker. He didn't pick fights, or argue a point without a damn good reason. What was most important was ensuring that people got along. So, if Chase really wanted to do something, Justin would let him.
Chase held out the clean clothes, watching Justin for a moment. "I'm not trying to take your choice away, just trying to do something nice for you, that's all."
Justin took the clothes with a wry smile. "I know that. It's nice of you. Not necessary, but nice," he explained.
Chase smiled, wanting to move closer, but not letting himself. "So there's nothing I can do for you?"
Justin shook his head, a frowny type smile on his face. "No, really. I guess you could come with me and we could go check that things don't need doing. I've never been very good at just sitting back and not doing anything, and with the amount of chaos happening, we could probably lend a hand somewhere," he suggested.
Chase watched the other man for a moment, clearly impressed. Not many people were like that. Most who'd been through what he'd gone through would just be fine to hide out somewhere and recover. Not Justin apparently. "Sure thing. I'll let you get changed and we can head out?" he suggested, nodding towards the entrance of the tent, intending to give Justin some privacy.
"Sounds good to me," Justin said, getting to his feet. "And - you could have a look round to see whether there's anyone who's got food going. Been a long night," he added. His stomach was definitely telling him he was hungry right now.
Chase nodded and started towards the tent opening. "You got it. Food and then we'll help out." He didn't mind being sent on the errand, especially considering it would have been on his list of things to do to dote on Justin anyway.