[Generation Kill] [Brad/Nate] Still Standing
Title: Still Standing
Subject: Generation Kill | Brad/Nate
Rating: PG
Summary: Choking, not breathing.
Notes: Sequel to Catamaran and Reflex. HS!AU except now they've graduated! So. Not really! For the prompt Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers; it starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters. TY to Nadia for helping me brainstorm a little <3
WC: 499
It's not like the burning anger of Amber breaking up with him for Stephen, Nate saying I got accepted to Dartmouth is harder than that, it pulls at his stomach and he chokes on his words and he doesn't want to say it, but his eyes are burning.
But, he wants to say, that's too far away. But, he wants to say, that's not what I had planned.
He doesn't say either of those things because they leave the bitter taste if you're too fucking weak, Brad in his mouth and that's worse than the choking.
"I guess that's it then," he says, instead. "Was it even worth the effort?" he says and slams the door behind him before Nate can barely say his name.
Ray gets him drunk, drags him down to the cove between their houses and plies him with cheap vodka he bought with his new fake ID and expensive whiskey he stole from his step-dad's liquor cabinet until Brad is alternating between wanting to bitch about Nate and wanting to punch Ray for bitching about Nate.
They sleep on the beach, curled up in their shorts and t-shirts between the rocks and Brad's head pounds in the morning. He's not quite sure how to say thank you and I needed that so he claps Ray on the back and buys him pancakes for breakfast and he goes home. Head still spinning, he signs the paperwork that's been sitting on his desk for a few weeks.
He avoids Nate, doesn't run past his house, doesn't answer his texts, doesn't hang out with Ray and Walt if they're with Nate. He pushes himself physically, focuses on the near constant burn in his biceps instead of the way the choking feeling refuses to go away.
Nate comes to him a couple of times, sits out on the curb like they used to but Brad ignores him, ignores his sister coming in with that look on her face and ignores the way she says Brad like she's sick of it. She doesn't know what there is to be sick of.
He pushes himself, and he doesn't think of Nate, packing his bags to move to the other side of the country. Walt and Ray leave him to it.
He tells his parents about the Marines over dinner and his dad is proud and his mom is worried and that's the way it's supposed to be. His mom asks what Nate's doing and Brad shrugs his shoulders like he doesn't know and Sarah tuts like she does but nobody asks.
The summer ends and Nate goes and Brad's waiting, waiting for San Diego and a future different to Nate's and slowly, he's forgetting what it's like to breathe normally.
Subject: Generation Kill | Brad/Nate
Rating: PG
Summary: Choking, not breathing.
Notes: Sequel to Catamaran and Reflex. HS!AU except now they've graduated! So. Not really! For the prompt Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers; it starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters. TY to Nadia for helping me brainstorm a little <3
WC: 499
It's not like the burning anger of Amber breaking up with him for Stephen, Nate saying I got accepted to Dartmouth is harder than that, it pulls at his stomach and he chokes on his words and he doesn't want to say it, but his eyes are burning.
But, he wants to say, that's too far away. But, he wants to say, that's not what I had planned.
He doesn't say either of those things because they leave the bitter taste if you're too fucking weak, Brad in his mouth and that's worse than the choking.
"I guess that's it then," he says, instead. "Was it even worth the effort?" he says and slams the door behind him before Nate can barely say his name.
Ray gets him drunk, drags him down to the cove between their houses and plies him with cheap vodka he bought with his new fake ID and expensive whiskey he stole from his step-dad's liquor cabinet until Brad is alternating between wanting to bitch about Nate and wanting to punch Ray for bitching about Nate.
They sleep on the beach, curled up in their shorts and t-shirts between the rocks and Brad's head pounds in the morning. He's not quite sure how to say thank you and I needed that so he claps Ray on the back and buys him pancakes for breakfast and he goes home. Head still spinning, he signs the paperwork that's been sitting on his desk for a few weeks.
He avoids Nate, doesn't run past his house, doesn't answer his texts, doesn't hang out with Ray and Walt if they're with Nate. He pushes himself physically, focuses on the near constant burn in his biceps instead of the way the choking feeling refuses to go away.
Nate comes to him a couple of times, sits out on the curb like they used to but Brad ignores him, ignores his sister coming in with that look on her face and ignores the way she says Brad like she's sick of it. She doesn't know what there is to be sick of.
He pushes himself, and he doesn't think of Nate, packing his bags to move to the other side of the country. Walt and Ray leave him to it.
He tells his parents about the Marines over dinner and his dad is proud and his mom is worried and that's the way it's supposed to be. His mom asks what Nate's doing and Brad shrugs his shoulders like he doesn't know and Sarah tuts like she does but nobody asks.
The summer ends and Nate goes and Brad's waiting, waiting for San Diego and a future different to Nate's and slowly, he's forgetting what it's like to breathe normally.