[CLOSED] goodbye means nothing at all.

[chandler teague rowlf]

Chandler was back home, had spent the first few days alone in a hotel room just to get used to English voices again. He was so used to hearing German he had started speaking it. He had decided to go to the gym, get a little work out. Maybe go and see his mom and dad and brother. He hadn't decided yet. But he did know he was tired of sitting around. So he had gone to the gym, lifting a few weights. He didn't do enough to get sweaty, just enough to clear his mind. Images continued to haunt him, probably would for the rest of his life. He wondered when he would be called back, where they would station him..

He pulled out the military issue phone, messing with it for a bit. He didn't understand it for awhile, was entirely too used to reading German. He wandered over to a bench in the locker room, pulling a folder out of his bag. He had at least gotten his phone numbers back, raided from his old phone. He put in the number for his brother, and raised the phone to his ear, hoping he hadn't changed his number.

"Terance?" He asked, messing with one of the pockets on his fatigues.

[terance jayrod rowlf]

Terance was running on the track as usual, collapsed onto one of the bleachers, fumbling with his ringing phone and a water at the same time. "Hello?"

He took a swig of water as his name was questioned. Something about the voice was familiar but-
"Yeah? This is him. May I ask who's calling?" He stretched his legs out with a huff, draping a towel over his shoulders and gazing down at his scarred chest a moment before he clambered down the bleachers to walk a cool down lap.

[chandler teague rowlf]

Chandler didn't really know what to say. In English anyways. He felt like he had ran away, like he had deserted his family. They didn't deserve to take him back, even if he was doing it for his country. It was just as bad as leaving for no reason, right?

"Uh, it's Chandler.." He said, realizing his little brother sounded a lot older now. "I'm back.. Kinda, I guess. Uh.. Do you wanna go get lunch or something?" He looked down at the watch on his wrist. It was kinda past lunch, but he hadn't eaten all day.

[terance jayrod rowlf]

Terance nearly dropped his phone as he fell to a dead stop. "Chan?" He laughed in disbelief. "Ah, yeah. I'm at the college. You want me to come pick you up or...?"

Damn, how long had it been? Chandler had been what, seventeen? Terance only fifteen at the time.. Now he was legal to drink, drive.. Seven years, no contact.

He knew it hadn't been Chandler's choice to lose contact. But suddenly it all came rushing back and he rubbed at his face, pulling his tee shirt over his head. Chandler didn't know about the cancer finally taking their mom, about their father disappearing.

It had all turned around in the past few years. He was coping, he supposed. But he'd grown up, matured, wasn't that freshman, teenage boy any longer.

[chandler teague rowlf]

Chandler shook his head, then realized he couldn't see him. Too many nights skyping with your superiors did that. It was a close as he got to contact with the Marines. "No, uh.. I'll walk. They should have me issued my car sometime by the end of the week." 'If I'm here that long..' He thought.

"Just uh, meet me at Dairy Queen, okay?" It was the only place he remembered, probably because he had snuck off to it so many nights. But back then, it had been brand new. He mumbled a goodbye, then put the phone in his pocket. He undid his belt, pulling on his jacket. He tucked it into his pants, zipping it up to the neck. It was hot, yeah. But he couldn't just walk around without it. He fixed his belt, looking in the mirror to make sure his gig line was in order, then started out the door, putting his hat on his head. He walked to the small place, watching the people as he went. A few smiled at him, but he kept a straight face. He walked in the doors, nodding towards the cashier as he took a seat. He took his hat off, messing with it for a moment before letting it rest on the table.

[terance jayrod rowlf]

"Yeah, sure," Terance murmured distantly. He was having lunch with his brother. After seven years of no contact at all. He hung up, nerves getting the best of him. He had always looked up to him..realized now, maybe he wouldn't be so proud.
He gathered his things, scooping up his jacket and scarf, and tossed his things into the passenger side of the hummer. He toweled any sweat from his hair and hauled himself up into the large truck, twisting the keys in the ignition. Rent was due tomorrow, he still needed to run to aeropostale and get his paycheck at some point. Most could guess where he worked considering what he wore.

He pulled up to Dairy Queen and drew in a slow breath, opened the door and glanced around. He wasn't sure how he recognized him, but then again he stood out the slightest bit. A hesitant, crooked smile passed his lips as he approached. "Chandler?"

[chandler teague rowlf]

Chandler looked up, a smile passing his lips. "Wow. You're.. a lot bigger than you were when I left.." He breathed, amazed at just how old his brother was now. Maybe it was a bad idea, seeing his brother if he would just be shipped away soon. But he hoped he wasn't. He stood up slowly, then wrapped his arms around his little brother, hugging him tightly. He pulled away after a moment, looking over at his brother.

"You make me look like the milk man's kid now." He said with a smile, hugging him again before he sat down at the table. He tapped his fatigue hat on the table before draping it on his knee.

"Happy late birthday. And all the other birthdays I missed. How old are you now? Six?" He smiled, running his hands through his dark hair. He sometimes wondered if he was adopted, then remembered how much Terance looked like one side of the family and Chandler looked like the other.

[terance jayrod rowlf]

"Well duh," Terance huffed, hugging him time. Damn...
He dropped down across from him after the second hug, chuckled. "Nah, twenty-two, actually."

He let out a slow breath, saying it made things so much more..prominant. "Damn, wow..yeah." He rubbed at the back of neck a moment, just studying his brother, then ghosted a hand over his jaw as he leaned back.

"It's been what? Seven years?"
You didn't just...do this. Say goodbye to your brother and expect everything to go smoothly. He hadn't realized it would be so hard to actually cope with such emotions.

"Well uh, I guess you're little bro has to be bearer of the big news, uh.. Sorry, I don't..talk a lot anymore," He shrugged. Morals changed, he supposed.

"So..that can wait. Uhm, how have you been?" 'Stupid question, you're a fucking idiot. This is why you sit back and let people think you're mute.'

[chandler teague rowlf]

"Yep, seven years.." He nodded slowly, looking out the window. He had counted the days up until year four. Then he lost count, forgot what the days were. That was when he started staying up for three and four days on end, learning not to sleep.

"I don't talk much either.. Not being around anyone who speaks English kinda.. does that to you, I guess.." He shrugged, watching a few people pass. He could tell one was a human, his eyes flashing red before they turned back. He dropped his gaze to the table.

"I've been alright. Tired. Wired. Worn. Nothing I can tell you about." He pushed up his jacket sleeve, pointing to his watch. He turned his wrist over, the small mic barely visible. He wasn't allowed to say a thing about what he done, or they would have a sniper after him. And he didn't want to be the one on the other end of that gun.

"I got a tattoo for you." He said, looking over at him. He had a lot more tattoos than when he left. He tapped his left rib cage, glancing over at his brother. "I always had you with me. You're the only one I could actually talk to.."

[terance jayrod rowlf]

"Yeah, I figured that much when we weren't alliwed to even hear from you," He shrugged. "I don't expect such answers, it's okay." Hell, his brother was out with the military and he worked at Aeropostale. He stretched a bit, watching him silently, smiled.

"Yeah? That's cool." Tattoos. He'd never really got one, considering he preferred hiding his scars. His next words caused Terance's eyebrows to furrow.

"Yeah well..guess that won't be too much a problem when it comes to family, at least. Just us two now." He gazed back over him. "Mom didn't exactly win her battle with cancer."