Chapter Text
Barry-
Barry is doing pull ups when Rafe walks in. “Aye Country Club, I ain’t expect you home so soon,” he says as he drops down and moves to sit up on the wooden ledge of his porch. Rafe had plans to play golf with Topper and Kelce which usually led to lunch and day drinking so Barry figured he would be alone at the trailer for most of the day.
“Oh sorry to inconvenience you, I’ll just fuck off,” Rafe snaps. Oh good. He’s in a bad mood.
“Now I didn’t say all that, Rafe”, Barry rolls his eyes. He’s been with Rafe for months now and is pretty good at dealing with his moods. He’s always been good at it if he’s honest. Rafe reaches into the fridge and grabs two waters, tossing one to Barry. “Thanks,” he smiles. “Now you wanna tell me what's got you fired up?”
Rafe is quiet for a moment, drinking some water and pacing. Barry knows he’s trying to organize his thoughts before he speaks so he just waits patiently. “Top was running his mouth about Sarah. How she really fucked up choosing John B because now she’s homeless, unemployed, and, the fucking cherry on top, pregnant. I know me and Sarah don’t get along or whatever, but she’s still my sister.”
“Yeah I get it, man” Barry says in support. Rafe continues, “I’m glad dad is dead because it would kill him to see her like this.” Barry tries not to smile because he knows Rafe is being serious but that boy, his boy, can be so unintentionally funny sometimes. “Anyway, I got pissed off and just wanted to come home,” Rafe says, tossing his empty water bottle into the trash can.
Rafe comes to a stop right in front of Barry, between the older man’s legs. With Barry sitting on the ledge, the two are eye level. “Well good thing you did. I was startin’ to miss ya,” Barry says, reaching a hand out to pull Rafe to him. Rafe’s hands come to rest on Barry’s thighs. He scoffs but Barry catches his grin before it disappears.
“You should let her stay at Tanneyhill,” Barry suggests. “We ain’t ever over there and it really is a pity a place like that sits empty.”
“You think I should let her and John B stay there for free after all the shit she’s pulled? What kind of message does that send, huh?” Rafe says pulling away from Barry and beginning to pace again. “No, No I’m not gonna reward her behavior like that.” Barry finishes his water and hops down from the ledge. “You ain’t her daddy, Rafe, it’s not your job to be teaching her lessons and shit. She’s your little sister and she’s carryin’ our niece or nephew. Just help her out, man.”
Barry didn’t mean to say it. Didn’t mean to insinuate he would also be an uncle to Sarah’s baby, it just slipped. Barry makes himself busy by setting ingredients out on the counter to make sandwiches. He feels awkward. He knows he and Rafe are very much together but they don’t talk about the future all that often. “You hungry?” he asks, eager to change the subject.
“Uh no, I ate at the club.” Rafe is standing in the living room just staring at Barry. He can feel Rafe’s eyes track his movements but he doesn’t dare look up. “I’m gonna take a shower,” Rafe finally says before heading into the bedroom to get a change of clothes. When Barry hears the bathroom door close and water turn on, he exhales audibly and his shoulders fall a few inches. He isn’t sure why he still worries about coming on too strong. He knows Rafe loves him but sometimes Barry feels overwhelmed by the thought of losing Rafe and he second guesses how much of his feelings to convey. It’s a defense mechanism and it’s really fucking annoying.
Proud of his self-reflection, Barry decides to abandon his sandwich and go talk to Rafe.
“Hey, I’m in here”, Barry says, trying to give warning and not spook Rafe. “Okay” is all he gets in return. Rafe probably thinks he just needs to grab something so he adds, “can we talk?”
“Uh yeah, do you want to wait until I’m out?” Oh right. That would be the logical thing to do. “Nah” Barry says. “I just wanted to say I didn’t mean to say…I didn’t mean to suggest…I know Sarah’s baby ain’t my family, I didn’t mean it to sound like that.” Barry finds that talking to Rafe with the shower curtain as a buffer is helping so he presses on. “I know we haven’t really talked about the future but I want to be there for you and help ya with whatever shit you gotta handle and that includes your sisters… that’s all I meant by it.”
The water turns off and the curtain is yanked back. Barry doesn’t even try to avert his gaze as Rafe steps out and begins drying off. “I thought it was sweet,” Rafe says. “Yeah?” Barry quirks an eyebrow. “You ain’t freaked out?”
Rafe pulls on a pair of clean briefs and flashes Barry a smile. One of his real smiles that gives Barry butterflies. “No, I'm not freaked out. I do like seeing you flustered like this though. That never happens.”
“Yeah…well,” is all Barry can get out before Rafe is pushing him against the wall, hips pinning him in place. Barry’s arms instinctively come up to circle Rafe’s waist. “I want your help, Barry. Fuck, I need it, okay.”
Barry can’t respond because Rafe’s lips are pressed against his. Nothing will ever beat the feeling of kissing Rafe Cameron, well except for fucking him.
Rafe pulls away from the kiss and rests his forehead against Barry’s. “You are my family,” he says. Barry can’t speak past the lump in his throat so he just nods and pulls the taller man in for a hug.