Time to suck it up and deal (rp with liam_did_it)

[marcusisaspaz]

Saturday afternoon.When Aunt Cait finally dropped Liam off at his uncle's home-away-from-the-city in Long Island, Rory met him in the foyer and ushered him up to his usual room. Cait herself vanished shortly thereafter to head back to the city, but she said she'd be up again the next day for dinner. "Give me a call if you need help settling him

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[liam_did_it]

"Hey, yourself. Finish that oh so important crap in the city?" Marcus, unlike his cousin or his new friends, was wearing more than a pair of swimming trunks. He also had a tshirt on as well as a pair of sunglasses while lounging on a deck chair under an umbrella. Sun and redheads don't usually mix too well. Didn't keep him out of the pool on occasion nor did it keep him from making friends with the neighbors, neither of which had been too impressed with Rory aside from the usual nod that the MacEibhirs weren't losers if one of them was a rock star.

Marcus tossed a handful of ice at the blonde he'd been chatting up and then turned his attention to Liam, seriously. "Liam meet Misty and Christy...girls, this is my cousin Liam. Make his pathetic Montana ass feel welcome in New York, huh?"

Misty, the blonde, looked at Liam over the rims of her barely lowered sunglasses and smirked. "They grow them nice, if short, in Montana. We'll keep him." She wasn't really interested of course, leaning over to drop that handful of ice in Marcus' lap.

"Jesus COLD!" Marcus. Leaping up and nearly falling into the pool with his antics, because really. Ice crotch...not fun. Then again, the girls were laughing.

And Christy was giving Liam a thoughtful look. More like his chest...a very thoughtful look. "Hi..."

[marcusisaspaz]

"Hi. Pleasure to meet you." Oh boy. The last time his chest had gotten that particular sort of look, a half-naked Becky Sorenson had been busy pulling him into her dorm room. Chuck had never looked quite that ... speculative. Dammit, stop jumping to conclusions and behave yourself.

Giving both girls an affable smile, Liam walked to the pool edge. "'Scuse me for just a minute. It was a hot trip up." And so it had been, but that was only half the reason that he took a racing dive into the pool and did a lap's worth of crawl. Jesus God, how did he wind up in these situations?

Once back in the shallow end, he stood up and slicked his hair back out of his face. "So, I think Marcus said you two just moved next door recently?" Polite first might help sort out any awkward later.

[liam_did_it]

And now both girls were looking at him that way. Wet, muscled and slicked back hair...Misty's sunglasses came off and she leaned forward to study the young man waist-deep in water. Christy had to remind herself to close her mouth after watching him dive in and resurface.

Marcus said the guy was single and hot damn was she going to see about changing that right now. She sat at the edge of the pool, letting long, tanned legs dip into the water just in front of where Liam stood. "Yeah, couple weeks ago. Parental units got tired of the L.A. scene and since Dad's new series is going to be filming on-location in New York, here we are."

For his part, Marcus took Misty's scooting forward on her chair as an invite to sit down behind her. She didn't complain but did hand him a bottle of sun screen. Sure, he could smear more of the goop over her back. No problem.

[marcusisaspaz]

Long, tanned legs ... Liam forced his eyes up to Christy's face, ruthlessly not allowing them to linger on any intriguing territory on the way. "New series, hm?" He nodded and smiled at all the right places as the brunette talked about her actor father, but at least half his mind was involved in an internal argument between intellect and libido.

What did I tell you about behaving yourself?

But she's pretty ... and obviously interested ...

Cut it out. You're not Marcus.

No, but I could do a pretty good imitation for one night.

Oh the hell you say.

Determined, he summoned up a picture of Chuck's brown eyes as he saw them that morning, sleepy-sweet, soft and trusting. She trusted him, and he wasn't going to screw that up. Not like this.

Holding up one hand to forestall Christy, he said, "Sorry ... don't mean to interrupt, but I have to--" Placing both hands on the pool ledge, Liam levered himself out of the water. "Pardon me, Misty, but I need to borrow my cousin for a moment." Both the blonde and Marcus looked equally surprised as he grabbed his cousin's upper arm and tugged him toward the gate. On the way he muttered in Gaeilge, "We need to talk."

[liam_did_it]

"Yeah sure--" And she was left staring again at Liam's retreating back. Maybe he was going to tell his cousin that he was ever so grateful for the hook up, she knew she was. Hello, farm boy.

While Christy mentally drooled over the prospect of getting Liam out of those clinging, wet swim trunks, Marcus was considering strangling the shorter boy as soon as he could get loose form Liam's grip. "What the hell's wrong with you? She was going to let me give her a full rub down there if you know what I mean..."

Marcus was giving Liam another disgusted look, best friend and cousin or not, he couldn't seriously already have an issue with the pretty amazing girls who were very friendly. Maybe Ambria was right. Maybe Liam was more than a little queer after all. Geez. "Did Aunt Cait step on your head on the way here or what?" That, at least, was asked in Gaelic.

[marcusisaspaz]

"Very funny. And your rub-down can wait." Liam kept the conversation Irish as he tugged Marcus around the corner of the house. Unobtrusive as they were, the house did have staff who might happen by, and there was no knowing if the girls might follow them at some point.

Information. He needed it if he were going to do damage control here. "Marcus, I have to know what the hell you told those girls about me. Because if Christy is thinking what I think she's thinking, it's not going to happen." Enough. Deep breath and spit it out time. After taking the requisite breath, Liam said simply, "There's someone else."

[liam_did_it]

Marcus pushed his sunglasses up and into his curly red hair, fixing Liam with intensely interested dark eyes. Well, well, well..."Who? Spill it, man. She cute? Where'd you meet her?" And then a second thought, just in case, "It is a she, right?"

Misty and Christy were thoughts somewhat removed for the moment. Hornball or not, he was talking to his cousin about something potentially more important than a weekend's worth of good time. He didn't really care if Liam hooked up with one of the neighbors or not so long as he had someone in his life. It has been disconcerting to see Liam's constant disinterest in anyone tossed his way, this was more like it. "Is that why you stayed in the city last night? Oh, hey...did you finally give in and hook up with Val's cousin? She's pretty amazing."

[marcusisaspaz]

Oh, for ... rolling his eyes, he all but growled, "Yes, she's a she. Yes, she's the reason why I stayed at the loft last night. And no, I'm not talking about Ambria." A stone bench sat facing nearby beds of flowers and herbs; Liam hauled his cousin over to it and sat down. He didn't think he could get through this standing.

"She's someone important. Special. Someone I don't want to hurt, okay?' Now that the moment of truth had arrived, he still found it difficult to push the name past his lips and trigger the resulting Spaz-flailing. Looking into his cousin's eyes, Liam tried to will him to understand. "She's someone you wouldn't want to see hurt either."

[liam_did_it]

"Okay, geez..." Marcus glared, not enjoying being shoved around and pushed and pulled around by one of the few people actually capable of doing so against his will. "Quit it.'

He was running through the very short mental list of people he'd care that much about and that Liam would possibly be interested in...Marcus was coming up blank. "...And you couldn't have told me this before we left to come up here?" Special and important, sounded serious to him and well, how'd Liam manage that over night? "You've been keeping secrets, no fair. I tell you everything."

[marcusisaspaz]

He released Marcus' arm with a muttered apology. Dammit, he wasn't getting it, he wasn't going to get it on his own, and Liam knew why. Frustrated, he raked the fingers of both hands through his drying hair.

Fuck it. "Yeah, I kept secrets. Because at first she was saying we should keep it to just friends, and then I wasn't sure she'd want you to know just now." Elbows on his knees, he watched the tall redhead through narrowed eyes. "After all, you rag on Chuck more than enough as it is."

There. Bomb dropped, Liam waited tensely for the explosion.

[liam_did_it]

Marcus furrowed his brow as he listened to Liam. Then he smirked. And then Liam said Chuck's name and Marcus scoffed. There was a pause filled with very heavy silence as he studied his cousin's expression and posture.

And then the redhead slapped Liam on the back and howled with laughter. "Ooooh, man. You had me going there for a minute. Jesus. That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Chuck. You and Chuck. You dating Chaz...she good in bed?" Oh, yeah, he thought this was funny.

Hysterical even. "Man, the only one I'd rag on is you if I thought you were serious." Marcus forced himself to turn it down a few notches, just chuckling and a random giggle here and there. "Come on...Christy is way into the idea of getting 'frandly' for the weekend but if you don't want to, whatever. More for me. Chuck...baha...God. You're really twisted, man. Really."

[marcusisaspaz]

... yeah.

Liam could have predicted Marcus' laughter, would have had he been thinking a little more clearly. This was the Spaz after all, who refused to take much of anything seriously until he had his nose rubbed in it. The one who thought of his Pixie Girl as an asexual perpetual child. Of course he'd laugh.

Didn't make the words or the hooting one bit less infuriating though. Twisted?

Liam's spine straightened in slow motion, vertebra by vertebra as he listened to his cousin's jeers. He finally spoke in a quiet, icily controlled tone that rarely got used and always meant business. "Keep laughing and I swear to God I'll deck you." On his thigh, his right hand started to curl into a fist. "And as for me being the only one you'll rag on ... I'll hold you to that, Marcus."

[liam_did_it]

He...was...serious?! Oh, dear God. Marcus knew the tone of voice and didn't miss the fist in progress but--"Bahaha...no way! You are not....CHUCK?!?"

And the laughter was right back to hooting and howling and even turning a bit red in the face. If he were capable of it, there'd be tears rolling down his face. The idea of the guy who'd been with Becky the Cheerleader amongst other very comely girls being serious about Charlene Worth, toothpick midget--Marcus couldn't help the laughter. Or the jokes. "Come on, Li. If this is your way of telling me you prefer blondes...geez. You can have Misty. I didn't think you'd want my leftovers but however you want to roll."

Another snort. "Chuck. Your special frand...someone else...yeah, no kidding she wants to stay just friends. It's Chuck. Do you think she even knows what to do with a guy? You kissed her once..."

Oh. OH. Ooooooooooh. Holy shit. He WAS serious. Chuck. Liam. Liam and Chuck.

Marcus shut up and stared. He even got to his feet and backed up a bit as he realized he'd probably seriously pissed his cousin off.This wasn't funny any more, it was disgusting and gross and Marcus was suddenly regretting the half a pizza he'd down for lunch.

"You're...you...Chuck?! Why?"

[marcusisaspaz]

Right. They'd gotten through stage one, the disbelief, and skidded straight into stage two, the revulsion. If only he could call that progress. But it was the derision in Marcus' attitude that kept Liam's hand locked in a tight fist. He didn't deserve it. More importantly, Chuck didn't deserve it.

Nor did his tone thaw even one iota. "Why is really none of your business. How and what are even less so." Not that you really want to know. "But Chuck and I are a couple, and one way or another you'd better figure out how to deal with that."

Liam stood, both hands now clenched as he faced his tall cousin. Faced him down. "But if you're so hot after reasons, then answer my question. Why not?"

[liam_did_it]

He wasn't going to laugh. Much. If Liam could see the way he looked, so indignant and puffed up and...having to look up at his cousin. It was sort of funny but then it was also guaranteed to get him punched pretty damned hard too.

"A couple? Are you insane? I mean really and I'm not joking here, Li. Think about that. One, she's not even eighteen yet, still in high school and you're in college. Two, you see each other how often? Hardly ever. And three...you can't tell her about Things. You know you can't. She'll go all sorts of bugfuck on you." Was that actual concern coming out of Marcus' mouth? Maybe.

"So that's why NOT. And besides, nothing personal against Chuck but you can so do better than that." Ooops, two steps forward, fifteen back. "And it's just gross. She's Chuck. You want to make out with someone who is practically my sister."

[marcusisaspaz]

Liam stood quietly and listened to his cousin's litany. Having to look up at the taller boy affected his demeanor and thoughts not at all, except for a moment's idle consideration that he'd get a more effective angle punching Marcus in the gut rather than the jaw. If it came to that, which it would if the boy kept running his mouth.

"I have thought about it, cuz. Given the other age differences between couples in this crazy family of ours, somehow I don't think two years makes for all that big a deal." Liam's voice shifted to something light and not exactly conversational, a tone that the redhead last heard in the stairwell with Special Snowflake Jer. "The distance is a point I'll grant you with for now added on. As for Things, I'm gonna have to take the time to show her she doesn't have anything to be scared of." Thanks to you did not pass his lips, but it glittered in his eyes.

"And perhaps you'd care to explain to me how 'you can so do better than that' is anything but something personal against Chuck?" Liam's shoulders tightened and one foot dragged slowly along the walk. "Oh that's right, I keep forgetting. Just because you won't even look at a girl smaller than a D cup, huge boobs must be the highest ambition of the entire male gender."