(Not) Cute

Date/Timing: 21 January 2019
Setting: Hansen-Vos suite, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Something moves behind him and the little hairs on Chuck's nape twitch.
He tilts his head back, bumps his crown against Pietr's diaphragm.
Pietr grins.
"Any reason you're looming?"
Pietr pulls over a kitchenette chair, drops in. ::Can't read lips—or sign—upside down. Again, please.::
Chuck sets his pencil aside. ::Why're you hovering?::
::Wanted to see what you're working on.::
Huffs. ::You could ask.::
Pietr shrugs, tilts his head for a better view, signs something Chuck doesn't recognize.
::What was that?::
Pietr jots 
- Logo? -
on a corner of the paper.
Nods. ::For /Striker.::
::It's 'logo'.::
Chuck tries.
Pietr pinches 'so close'. ::Logo.::
::Logo.::
Pietr beams.
Chuck grunts.
::That's Max, right?::
Picks up the pencil, nods, adds some shading.
::It's a little cute?::
Chuck snaps, "It's /not /cute!"
Pietr sighs. ::My Princess would call it /very cute.::
Chuck scowls, crumples the paper. ::What do you think we—::
Pietr's not looking; he's messing his mobile.
Chuck sighs, taps the pencil against the table.
Pietr smiles, slides the mobile over.
[Chuck scans, raises an eyebrow. ::Fighter planes?::
::For ideas.:: Grins. ::Cousin Lucas' suggestion.::
"History buff?"
Pietr shakes his head. ::He likes planes.::
"Huh. It'd be kinda like the Beckets', but ...."] Chuck shrugs, swipes through a few screens. Ponders.
::Well?::
"Max chewing on a missile?"
Thumbs up!
Chuck fights a smile, scratches at a fresh sheet of paper.
Pietr reclaims his mobile, taps away.
When he's mostly happy, Chuck spins the paper around, pushes it into Pietr's sight.
Pietr thumbs up again—
Chuck preens.
—beams. ::Just the right amounts of scary and cute!::
"It's /not /fuck—"
Pietr pokes his nose.
Chuck grabs his hand.
Pietr glares, hisses, yanks away.
"If ye don't like it, stop doing that!"
Pietr cringes. ::Sorry.::
Chuck grinds his teeth. "I'm not a little kid, so don't treat me like one."
::But—:: Pietr flattens his hands against the tabletop. 
Chuck crosses his arms.
Pietr takes a deep breath. ::I understand. It's hard not being taken seriously.::
Chuck scoffs. "What would /you know about it?"
::I'm deaf and stupid and poor and play kids' games.::
"But you're a—"
::Wasn't always.::
Chuck deflates. ::You really like the logo?::
Pietr brightens. ::I love it.:: Grins enormously. ::It'll look great on our clothes.::
::Yea, it'll look awesome.:: Chuck tries for a scowl. ::/Not cute.::
::Definitely not cute.:: Pietr pushes to his feet. ::Let's show Derek!::
Chuck schools his face out of a smile, follows Pietr out of the suite.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H's POV
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Max (mention)
Category:Lucas (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Team Striker Eureka (mention)
Category:Becket boys (mention)