[Look, it's hard shit having a long distance relationship no matter what. But it is what it is, Raleigh can't leave his mom when she's sick and Mako needs to go to school in Boston because she's brilliant and she deserves it and she's going to make big things of herself and he's the last person to hold her back.
He trusts her. He really does. Raleigh just doesn't trust the boys she goes to school with because he knows what boys are like, he is one and he's one of the grossest and Mako is pretty and smart and can kick a lot of ass and that's a huge turn on, you know. He knows she won't do anything, that it won't even occur to her because she's a chronic workaholic and he loves that about her but he just wants to make sure that other guys know she's spoken for.
Which is why on her last night before her spring break ends (his mom flew her back again and Dominique Becket spoils them both rotten and Raleigh loves her so much for it) he's curled around her in his bed, their shirts are long gone and he's got a leg hooked over both of hers, and he's turning his attention to making the most spectacular hickey on the side of her neck. Because he can. Because he's not a saint, and he's usually pretty laid back but turns out he's pretty territorial when it comes to Mako Mori and people just need to be aware of that.]
[ Mako knows it's hard, and she's sorry -- and while Mako adores and loves Dominique like she would her own mother, she knows, too, that the woman will not forgive her if she puts her studies on hold to come back. Dominique is the mother she's never had, and Mako does her best to help out wherever and whenever she can, sending back contacts to various specialists, helping out with the household and the cooking whenever she's back in the Becket household.
Raleigh's having a tough time, and so are his siblings, but he's always been strong and Mako knows it -- and besides, she's sure that he's dealing with another sort of problem: their long distance relationship. It's tough, and the statistics so far are disheartening, but Mako is Mako and Raleigh and Raleigh and they're more than determined to make it work, which means it's Skype during their breakfast and dinners, and Mako keeps to them religiously, no matter how much work she has.
But all the same, Raleigh is jealous and she knows it. Mako tells him that there's little he has to be jealous about; she doesn't return those attentions anyway, varied and many as it may be, but Raleigh, well...
Tonight, after dinner is done and the dish is cleared, Mako settles together with Raleigh for their last night together, feeling a sense of bittersweetness as she holds him and kisses him, basking in his affection before that talented mouth roams and she feels -- well. Mako jerks, startled, but doesn't push him away. ]
Raleigh! [ A light nudge to the shoulder anyway. ] What are you doing? People can see that!
[To be honest, Raleigh wouldn't forgive her either if she tried to put school on hold and come back now anyway. He misses her like hell when she's in school and totally across the country but she's going places and she needs to keep going those places, he'll catch up when the time is right. He's not made for higher education anyway and he doesn't like to think about what time is the right time because it means that most likely, his mom won't be with them anymore and he doesn't want to make it sound like he's waiting for her to die so he can go be with Mako.
Because he's not. Not at all.]
I know. [Raleigh murmurs against her skin, right before he bites her again, soothing the skin with his tongue a moment later. She's not pushing him away, so that means keep doing it, right?]
[ No, definitely not. Dominique needs Raleigh here, and she can't imagine him leaving her side -- they have to make her last days count, and Mako is dreading going back, trying not to think about whether this would be the last time she would see her alive. She clings to Raleigh a little tighter for it, and perhaps that's why she doesn't fight him too much on it this time.
Raleigh's dealing with his own problems, and long-distance is stressful on them both too, even if they regularly spend dinner or movie "dates" over skype together. It's just not the same when they can't touch each other like this. Mako shudders, before she finally nudges him away -- not that she doesn't like it, but when he's like this, it's often because something's bothering him.
She shifts to get him to look at her properly, her fine brows knitting in concern. ] Raleigh, what's wrong?
[What if he really just wants to kiss her neck, what about that? What if that's really all that's going on here?
It's not but-- it could be.
Raleigh shakes his head a little, more or less nuzzling her in doing so. He doesn't want Mako to go back to Boston, or he wants to follow her and he's just pouting that neither is going to happen, that's all. He'll get over it eventually.]
I just want to make sure those boys in Boston know that you're spoken for.
[ Mako pauses, cupping his face in her hands so that he's looking at her. There's a hint of possessiveness right there, and she doesn't mind that so much as the underlying things he doesn't say -- is Raleigh insecure?
She kisses him briefly, because he's an adorable pouter and she loves him so, so much. She wishes she didn't have to go. ]
[He admits quietly. It wouldn't be the first time that high school sweethearts broke up because of distance and changing into different people and meeting someone else. Some people would call it settling, but Raleigh just knows what he wants and he wants her. He loves her. He doesn't need to go meet all the girls in the world to know that his best friend and soulmate moved in next door to him when he was ten.]
[ Oh, the sweet boy. Mako looks briefly surprised, before she's shifting, wrapping her arms around him so that she knows how he's loved, how there is no one else but him -- she fears it sometimes, that they'd grow apart in their time away from each other; but there are the couples who survive it, whose relationships grew stronger after absence.
Mako wants this to be them.
She kisses his nose, then his cheek, then his lips, rubbing her hand over the expanse of his chest, sweet and gentle. ] No. [ She promises. ] How are they ever going to do that when you're all I see?
[She's perfect and awesome and so great, in so many ways, how could he not be a little paranoid that she's going to find someone better while she's at school. Because Mako is going places, she's brilliant and ambitious and she deserves to go there but Raleigh is just Raleigh.
All he has are his abs.
It's still good to hear, to have Mako run her hands all over and place kisses all over his face, and tell him that he's all she wants. His ego could use the boost every once in a while. Nothing wrong with that. He smiles at her softly, touching her cheek.]
Are you really trying to talk me out of kissing your neck?
[ If you asked Mako, she'd tell you that Raleigh is selling himself short, that he's only here because of his mother -- and he should be; you can only have one mother, and Dominique is the best of them. He's intelligent in different ways, able to work with his hands and create things from scratch, and Mako... well, Mako doesn't want to be without him.
If she goes, she'd definitely get him to come along (just not now), and she's more than willing to give him all the ego boosts he needs because has he seen how gloriously delicious his abs are?
She gives him a slow, gentle tummy-rub, pulling away just a little so that she can expose her neck to him. ] You're leaving lovebites, that's not kissing. [ A beat, then. ] I really love you, you know.
[Since technically, hickeys come from him kissing her neck, just a little too much and with too much teeth. When she turns her head slightly, he grins, knowing exactly what she means by that, it's permission to keep on doing it if he wants and he so wants to.
He wasn't done with the one he was working on before anyway.
Raleigh doesn't waste any time in attaching his mouth to her neck again, right over where he was working before.]
[ Well, both it is, and it hurts and tickles in the sweetest ways that make her thrill, and she doesn't want to fly back; he's too much of a temptation for her, stupid Raleigh. He keeps tempting her to just stay here with him, in the warm circle of his arms, where she'll never miss him, where she always knows that she's loved, forever and always by the boy of her dreams.
She's wriggling against him, whispering softly, a warm blush on her cheeks. This should be a night they'd never forget; because she won't be back for another three, four months. ] Take your shorts off first.
[Yes, Mako, keep telling him that you love him. He likes it, sue him, he's a big romantic sap and a walking Taylor Swift song and he's not sorry. Yancy gives him shit for it constantly but fuck him, he's just jealous anyway. Because who wouldn't be jealous of a girl like Mako anyway.
What she says next distracts him from his work on her neck, and Raleigh actually moves to look at her, the surprise clearly evident on his face. He was just looking to make out with her all night, honest.]
[ Let's do the math, shall we? Raleigh's a randy teenage boy in the prime of his years, and possibly making very good friends with his right hand when Mako isn't around -- you know, boy things.
So Mako just looks back at him dryly. ] It's my last night here with you and I won't be back for four months. I give it four days before you clog up Yancy's sink with your unmentionables again.
[ ...Yes, Yancy did actually tell her about it. She's taking one for the team here, Becket, work with her here. ]
And let's be honest, it's him, so really, it'll be like forty eight hours.
Raleigh gives her a sassy look back, such sexy, and doesn't move to take his pants off. But instead he moves his fingers through her hair, and he might be a little red as the next words tumble out of his mouth, because it's going to sound a little girly, he's a total lesbian here but--]
[ THEN DON'T DO UNMENTIONABLE THINGS TO HIS SINK, YOU STUPID PUPPY.
Mako loves it when he's sassy, when he's sweet and loving and then he turns shy and she loves him, she loves him so much it aches. How could he think that anyone could possibly take her away from him?
She grins and wraps her arms around him, nuzzling his cheek before kissing his mouth again and again. They can both be lesbians together. ] I never feel like I have to. We don't have to if you're not up for it right now.
[You're right, he'll stop doing that. Enjoy the jizz in your pillow from now on, Yance.
Raleigh can't help but smile when she wraps around him and kisses him. Is she kidding? He's pretty much always ready to go, he just respects her and loves her and if she's giving it the green light, then he is hitting the gas pedal hard.]
I want to. You don't really plan on sleeping tonight, do you?
[ Ugh, you're the grossest person in the world, Raleigh.
Fortunately, Mako doesn't think that way, and it's sweet the way he asks her if she wants to -- not many boys think that way. It's another of the many things she adores about him, and her fingers trace over his lips lightly, lovingly. ]
Not really. [ She sobers a little, leaning to nuzzle at him. ] I wish I didn't have to go. I liked being here.
Me too. [Both doesn't want her to go and he liked having her around again too. Even if it's going to super suck tomorrow after dropping her off at the airport, because she'll be gone and he won't have anything to do and he can't even talk to her until she gets off the plane to distract himself.
Maybe he can bug Yancy into a movie or something.
Raleigh turns his head to kiss her, just cause.] You're almost done with the semester though? And then maybe I can come out there.
[ Mako will text him as soon as she's landed, like she always does -- it's become a habit with her to text him now and then, occasionally the idle, rambling thoughts, or pictures of things she knows he'd like.
Mako mails over little gifts sometimes, things that remind him that she loves him. ] Not for a few more months. [ She hesitates. ]
[He does the same, only his snapchats are even stupider shit and he tells her about the burrito he's having for dinner and how much Jaz bugs him.
Raleigh looks at her curiously, moving up on to his elbow. Because this is the first that he's hearing about it and he's a little disappointed, yeah, what if he had big plans for the first part of summer for them (he doesn't but he could) and she could have told him earlier.]
[ But she likes his snapchats, she likes the way he takes pictures of regular things, because it feels like she's a part of his life. She knows how much he loves his burritos and Jaz, even if they have fights.
Mako sighs -- there's nothing much to tell when she hasn't even taken it yet; she'd wanted to broach the subject but all this time, it's always seemed a little inappropriate. ]
I was offered an internship at one of the leading robotics industries for the summer.
[He's not really sure how he feels about that, honestly. No, like he's excited for her, immediately? And happy that her super brilliance is being recognized and that she's doing stuff with her life and getting these chances.
But taking the internship means that's three months she won't be spending here and he'd be lying if he said he hasn't been looking forward to that and he's a pretty shit liar anyway so he won't even try.
Raleigh's silent, for a few moments, making a face like he's got to take a shit and isn't sure how he feels about it.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
normal au.
[Look, it's hard shit having a long distance relationship no matter what. But it is what it is, Raleigh can't leave his mom when she's sick and Mako needs to go to school in Boston because she's brilliant and she deserves it and she's going to make big things of herself and he's the last person to hold her back.
He trusts her. He really does. Raleigh just doesn't trust the boys she goes to school with because he knows what boys are like, he is one and he's one of the grossest and Mako is pretty and smart and can kick a lot of ass and that's a huge turn on, you know. He knows she won't do anything, that it won't even occur to her because she's a chronic workaholic and he loves that about her but he just wants to make sure that other guys know she's spoken for.
Which is why on her last night before her spring break ends (his mom flew her back again and Dominique Becket spoils them both rotten and Raleigh loves her so much for it) he's curled around her in his bed, their shirts are long gone and he's got a leg hooked over both of hers, and he's turning his attention to making the most spectacular hickey on the side of her neck. Because he can. Because he's not a saint, and he's usually pretty laid back but turns out he's pretty territorial when it comes to Mako Mori and people just need to be aware of that.]
ilu
Raleigh's having a tough time, and so are his siblings, but he's always been strong and Mako knows it -- and besides, she's sure that he's dealing with another sort of problem: their long distance relationship. It's tough, and the statistics so far are disheartening, but Mako is Mako and Raleigh and Raleigh and they're more than determined to make it work, which means it's Skype during their breakfast and dinners, and Mako keeps to them religiously, no matter how much work she has.
But all the same, Raleigh is jealous and she knows it. Mako tells him that there's little he has to be jealous about; she doesn't return those attentions anyway, varied and many as it may be, but Raleigh, well...
Tonight, after dinner is done and the dish is cleared, Mako settles together with Raleigh for their last night together, feeling a sense of bittersweetness as she holds him and kisses him, basking in his affection before that talented mouth roams and she feels -- well. Mako jerks, startled, but doesn't push him away. ]
Raleigh! [ A light nudge to the shoulder anyway. ] What are you doing? People can see that!
ilumore
Because he's not. Not at all.]
I know. [Raleigh murmurs against her skin, right before he bites her again, soothing the skin with his tongue a moment later. She's not pushing him away, so that means keep doing it, right?]
That's the point.
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Raleigh's dealing with his own problems, and long-distance is stressful on them both too, even if they regularly spend dinner or movie "dates" over skype together. It's just not the same when they can't touch each other like this. Mako shudders, before she finally nudges him away -- not that she doesn't like it, but when he's like this, it's often because something's bothering him.
She shifts to get him to look at her properly, her fine brows knitting in concern. ] Raleigh, what's wrong?
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It's not but-- it could be.
Raleigh shakes his head a little, more or less nuzzling her in doing so. He doesn't want Mako to go back to Boston, or he wants to follow her and he's just pouting that neither is going to happen, that's all. He'll get over it eventually.]
I just want to make sure those boys in Boston know that you're spoken for.
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She kisses him briefly, because he's an adorable pouter and she loves him so, so much. She wishes she didn't have to go. ]
Are you afraid they'll take me away from you?
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[He admits quietly. It wouldn't be the first time that high school sweethearts broke up because of distance and changing into different people and meeting someone else. Some people would call it settling, but Raleigh just knows what he wants and he wants her. He loves her. He doesn't need to go meet all the girls in the world to know that his best friend and soulmate moved in next door to him when he was ten.]
Okay, maybe a lot.
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Mako wants this to be them.
She kisses his nose, then his cheek, then his lips, rubbing her hand over the expanse of his chest, sweet and gentle. ] No. [ She promises. ] How are they ever going to do that when you're all I see?
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All he has are his abs.
It's still good to hear, to have Mako run her hands all over and place kisses all over his face, and tell him that he's all she wants. His ego could use the boost every once in a while. Nothing wrong with that. He smiles at her softly, touching her cheek.]
Are you really trying to talk me out of kissing your neck?
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If she goes, she'd definitely get him to come along (just not now), and she's more than willing to give him all the ego boosts he needs because has he seen how gloriously delicious his abs are?
She gives him a slow, gentle tummy-rub, pulling away just a little so that she can expose her neck to him. ] You're leaving lovebites, that's not kissing. [ A beat, then. ] I really love you, you know.
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[Since technically, hickeys come from him kissing her neck, just a little too much and with too much teeth. When she turns her head slightly, he grins, knowing exactly what she means by that, it's permission to keep on doing it if he wants and he so wants to.
He wasn't done with the one he was working on before anyway.
Raleigh doesn't waste any time in attaching his mouth to her neck again, right over where he was working before.]
Keep saying it.
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[ Well, both it is, and it hurts and tickles in the sweetest ways that make her thrill, and she doesn't want to fly back; he's too much of a temptation for her, stupid Raleigh. He keeps tempting her to just stay here with him, in the warm circle of his arms, where she'll never miss him, where she always knows that she's loved, forever and always by the boy of her dreams.
She's wriggling against him, whispering softly, a warm blush on her cheeks. This should be a night they'd never forget; because she won't be back for another three, four months. ] Take your shorts off first.
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What she says next distracts him from his work on her neck, and Raleigh actually moves to look at her, the surprise clearly evident on his face. He was just looking to make out with her all night, honest.]
Are you serious?
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So Mako just looks back at him dryly. ] It's my last night here with you and I won't be back for four months. I give it four days before you clog up Yancy's sink with your unmentionables again.
[ ...Yes, Yancy did actually tell her about it. She's taking one for the team here, Becket, work with her here. ]
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And let's be honest, it's him, so really, it'll be like forty eight hours.
Raleigh gives her a sassy look back, such sexy, and doesn't move to take his pants off. But instead he moves his fingers through her hair, and he might be a little red as the next words tumble out of his mouth, because it's going to sound a little girly, he's a total lesbian here but--]
I don't want you to feel like you have to.
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Mako loves it when he's sassy, when he's sweet and loving and then he turns shy and she loves him, she loves him so much it aches. How could he think that anyone could possibly take her away from him?
She grins and wraps her arms around him, nuzzling his cheek before kissing his mouth again and again. They can both be lesbians together. ] I never feel like I have to. We don't have to if you're not up for it right now.
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Raleigh can't help but smile when she wraps around him and kisses him. Is she kidding? He's pretty much always ready to go, he just respects her and loves her and if she's giving it the green light, then he is hitting the gas pedal hard.]
I want to. You don't really plan on sleeping tonight, do you?
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Fortunately, Mako doesn't think that way, and it's sweet the way he asks her if she wants to -- not many boys think that way. It's another of the many things she adores about him, and her fingers trace over his lips lightly, lovingly. ]
Not really. [ She sobers a little, leaning to nuzzle at him. ] I wish I didn't have to go. I liked being here.
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Maybe he can bug Yancy into a movie or something.
Raleigh turns his head to kiss her, just cause.] You're almost done with the semester though? And then maybe I can come out there.
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Mako mails over little gifts sometimes, things that remind him that she loves him. ] Not for a few more months. [ She hesitates. ]
I have a lot happening for me there.
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Raleigh looks at her curiously, moving up on to his elbow. Because this is the first that he's hearing about it and he's a little disappointed, yeah, what if he had big plans for the first part of summer for them (he doesn't but he could) and she could have told him earlier.]
Like... what?
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Mako sighs -- there's nothing much to tell when she hasn't even taken it yet; she'd wanted to broach the subject but all this time, it's always seemed a little inappropriate. ]
I was offered an internship at one of the leading robotics industries for the summer.
no subject
But taking the internship means that's three months she won't be spending here and he'd be lying if he said he hasn't been looking forward to that and he's a pretty shit liar anyway so he won't even try.
Raleigh's silent, for a few moments, making a face like he's got to take a shit and isn't sure how he feels about it.]
You're gonna take it though, right?