Chapter Text
During the shift at the dino cafe, Riley, Ivan and Chase are clocking out. Ivan is setting up the chairs and Riley is checking if everything is in order but Chase isn’t anywhere to be seen..
Riley: “ Have you seen Chase anywhere? Its time to go now”
Looking down at his watch and then glancing at Ivan.
Ivan: “ No I have seen Sir Chase. Maybe he’s talking to his lady friend.. again.”
Riley looks down, looking hurt but tries to shake it off.
Riley: “ Right. I’ll look for him, you can go ahead I’ll catch up.”
Ivan doesn’t waste a second, grabbing his apron and dashes to the exit. Riley can’t help but laugh looking at how Ivan was desperate to leave.
He thought to himself, Chase hasn’t spoken much of his girlfriend recently, i mean he used to talk about her to him all the time. What changed?
Riley looks around the cafe. He finally found him in the supply closet. He can hear him on the phone.. with Kaylee?
Chase: “ Well, I don’t get it. If we have a problem we can just talk it out.”
Kaylee (on the phone.) “ There is nothing to talk about.”
Riley could hear how annoyed she sounded like. His stomach dropped. No wonder they haven’t been speaking. Then suddenly Chase spoke. In his annoyed tone.
Chase: “ Fine. Then it’s settled, we’re done. If we can’t even communicate properly what’s the point in this?”
Kaylee: “ It’s for the best.”
Chase looked annoyed. He hung up and walked out the closet but there stood Riley. Chase looked at Riley wondering if he heard anything or everything..
Riley: “You alright bro? I was looking for you because we kinda need to go, Now.”
Chase: “ Yea im just tired.”
Riley looked at Chase wondering how he could cope with this.. He broke up with his own girlfriend. The one he loved the most but it doesn’t matter anymore.
Riley: “ Listen if there’s anything you need to speak about im always here for you. You do know that right?”
Chase looked at him his brown eyes staring at a pair of green eyes. Something felt different.. but what is it?
Chase: “ Yea.. I mean there is something I do need to talk about.”
Riley smiled at him. Both of them started walking towards the door. The strong wind hit both of them. Fresh air at last.
Chase: “ Woah, I needed that. That felt good.”
Riley couldn’t help but smile at him. He finally had some time with Chase. He didn’t have the time since of Kaylee but things were different. Way different.
Riley: “ So what do you need to talk about?”
Chase replied “ Its Kaylee, I mean i try be a good boyfriend but shes acting weird. It seems she doesn’t want to be in a relationship at all. Whats the point? I was just wasting my time.”
Riley listened to everything.
“And we broke up earlier, you heard. Didn’t you.?” Chase looked at the sky. It was pitch black, stars shining and the moon was looking down at them.
Riley was got off guard.
Riley: “ Me? W-What noo..”
Chase gave him that look as he knew he was lying.
Chase: “ Bro you don’t have to lie to me, I can tell.”
Riley’s cheeks started to turn red. He tried to calm himself down but it wasn’t working.
Chase laughed out loud.
Chase: “ See I told you.”
He was wheezing now. But then he stopped to look at Riley. He was flustered.
Riley: “ Okay enough of that.”
He was acting all serious.
“Is that the reason you’ve been acting weird lately?”
Chase looked at the ground “ Yea kinda. Im not doing well after the situation.”
Riley looked deep into his eyes. “You can come to my place tonight if you need too.”
Chase said yes immediately. I mean he does have an extra pair of clothes if he needed him. (You know if he has another grill situation and burn his clothes..)
The pair of them arrived at Riley’s apartment after 10 minutes of walking. The blonde opened his door. His house had a faint smell of vanilla. It reminded Chase of his childhood. It felt so nostalgic, something in his heart felt weird.. what was it? Why was he feeling this? Riley is just a friend.. right?
Riley: “ You can take the couch, if it’s comfortable for you?”
Chase looking at him “ Yea that’s fine, if you keep talking.”
Riley looked at him. Did he really just say that? To him? Riley griffin. Just a friend?..
Riley: “ W-Well i-“
Chase laughed “ Its a joke chill out”
But something in his heart said otherwise. Something he never felt before..
Chase looked around his living room. He saw a nice painting. It was of a velociraptor. Riley walked in.
“Alright imma go to sleep now. Do you need anything?”
Chase looked at him “ No I don’t think so.”
Putting his thumbs up.
Riley walked towards his room and shut the door. Chase started to look at the painting again. Damn this guy really loves his velociraptors. He wondered if there was a Parasaur one. It would go really well for his style.
Riley’s pov:
The boy i like. In my house. He felt weird, his body was tingling. What if he found the diary he kept. The one where he wrote about all the things they did together. I mean the cavity situation made them closer. Don’t you think? He clutched his energem and dosed off.
The next day, Riley woke up early. He headed straight to the kitchen to make some breakfast? Maybe some pancakes. But little did he know..
He opened the door to see Chase cook some eggs. There were two plates both filled with eggs, bacon and some tomatoes?
Riley looked at him astonished. He didn’t know he could make good food. He thought he would burn it (yk the grill situation) but smiled at the end. He would be a good housewife. He thought to himself.
Chase: “ You hungry? I made you a plate help yourself, after all you did help me a lot”
Riley grabbed the plate and said thanks and bolted straight to the dining area. He took the first bite. It honestly didn’t taste bad. Perfect amount of salt and pepper. Finally Chase joined him.
Chase: “ So how was your nights sleep?”
Riley : “ It was okay, I don’t remember much of what i dreamt last night but at least i got a good amount of rest.”
Chase glanced towards the painting of the velociraptor.
“So uhm is there any paintings like that of a parasaur by chance?” Chase asked.
Riley: “ Oh that? I made that”
Chase stared at the painting. It look amazing. He was shocked, he didn’t know that Riley could paint. He thought he would just train or study, he had the time to paint? He was envious on how his schedule was so organised. I mean Chase’s one was really messed up. He would be late to everything, rushes alot but Riley was the complete opposite.
Chase: “You are really talented, i envy you.”
Riley started to turn red. He looked at the Chase. His dark brown eyes were rested, which made him off guard.
Riley: “ Oh thanks. I haven’t really mentioned much about art. I don’t think it suits me, but it is what it is.”
Chase slammed the table. Riley looked at him with confusion.
“I-It doesn’t suit you.?” Chase muttered.
“ITS AMAZING. HONESTLY I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN’T SEE YOUR TALENT.” He now raised his voice.
Riley’s eyes widened. No one ever said that. He used to get made fun of for drawing dinosaurs and he now hides them. Incase he got bullied again..
“I-Im sorry I didn’t mean to raise my voice bro. Im all over the place..” Chase sounded sincere.
“Its okay Hotshot. Besides we have our shift soon, So its better if we get ready now or else Ms Morgan will get mad” Riley said softly.
Chase followed his advice straight away.
After the both of them got changed and were ready to head out. Chase questioned himself, why didn’t Riley get mad at him for crashing out like that? It was strange, he was used to his girlfriend being mad at him for it and they would end up having an argument.
Riley: “ Are you ready yet?”
Chase came back to reality. “Yea whenever you are mate.”
After a moment of walking, they finally arrived to the museum. Chase was doing the cooking whereas Riley was on dishes. Again. Tyler and Shelby walked in holding hands.
Tyler “ Hey guys! Wait Chase you came early for once?”
Both Tyler and Shelby were laughing.
Shelby: “ It’s very surprising”
Both of them teased Chase. Chase laughed sarcastically.
Chase: “ I mean if it wasn’t for Riley I would have been taking another scolding from Kendall. I mean they aren’t bad, just boring.”
Tyler, Shelby and Riley turned pale.
There stood Ms Morgan behind him. Chase turned around and screamed. Ivan was next to her.
Ivan: “ A scolding indeed.”
Chase ran out the kitchen trying to escape Ms Morgans Gaze. Everyone started laughing except Ms Morgan.
She walked towards the base along with Ivan who followed her.
Tyler: “ So what was all that about?”
Riley looked at him acting confused. “ What do you mean?”
Shelby: “ Riles don’t act dumb. What do you mean you made Chase early for once?”
“Oh uhm… Chase stayed over at my place you know just typical friend stuff” Riley hesitantly said.
Shelby looked at Tyler. She had a concern look on her face.
Shelby: “ Can we have a moment Tyler?”
“Of course love.” Tyler said while giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Tyler spotted Koda and both started speaking.
Shelby: “ Okay Riley, there’s something bothering you. Isn’t it?”
Riley: “ No I promise there’s nothing wrong. I just feel weird.”
Shelby gave him a look and said “ Well okay then. But let me know if there’s something bothering you. I hate to see you act like that.”
She walked towards Tyler. Those words hit Riley’s heart. He felt compassionate he knew he could trust Shelby, but what was stopping him? The fact he was gay? Just what if they didn’t like him for who he was? He had a feeling from the start but never fully came out, the person who he only told was Matt. Thats it.
Chase came back running towards the kitchen. “Shes gone.. right?”
He panted, trying to catch his breath. Riley assured him she was gone . He placed his hands on Chase’s shoulders. Chase looked deep into his green eyes. Oh how pretty they were. Chase thought to himself but shook it off.
Ever since the Cavity situation, Chase started feeling weird around Riley. Nothing bad really, just a strange one he never felt.. was it love? It couldn’t be.. Chase never thought himself with a guy. But someone with Riley? Now that was different. He’s everything you would want in a guy. Sweet, soft, mature and smart.
Riley: “Chase?”
“CHASE.”
Chase suddenly snapped back into reality. Riley pointed at the grill. It was filled with flames. Both of them didn’t notice Chase turned on the grill and now the kitchen was nearly torn down to flames . Riley grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the foam everywhere. Both sighed a sigh of relief but there stood Kendall with Ivan.
“Both of you. Go to the base. NOW.” Ms Morgan said with a harsh tone.
Both of them bolted, one of them going to the base , one of them heading for the exit. Ms Morgan noticed Chase and grabbed him by the ear and dragged him towards the base. Koda,Tyler and Shelby couldn’t help but laugh whereas Ivan was astonished on how Kendall was fierce like that. Such bravery, Such courage.
“So not one BUT TWO people get distracted and the kitchen nearly gets turned into dust. What do you have to say for yourselves?” Kendalls gaze fell sharp.
Riley: “ Sorry Ms Morgan I-“
Chase: “ Look Ken- Ms Morgan, it wasn’t Riley it was me and totally the other’s fault they didn’t pay attention so therefore they should get punished too..?”
Chase was smirking but at the wrong timing…
Kendall eyes turned sharp and she hit Chase “DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THIS IS FUNNY?! YOU COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE MUSEUM”
Chase was laughing and screaming from the pain.
After a while of that, Riley got the first aid kit and bandaged Chase’s wounds. Alot of skill from someone who wasn’t a ranger. (not yet iykyk)
Riley: “ You didn’t have to do that for me, i could have handled it”
Chase assured him “Mate it’s worth it, i’d hate for you to get into trouble.”
Riley glanced at him and smiled. His heart was beating to fast it was going to explode. His head filled will countless thoughts. He could feel himself going red. But was he? No.
Riley: “ Its best if you stay at my place for a little while, I’ll take your shifts. Your injuries are not good right now.”
Chase looked at him “ Really? Are you sure, im not fragile like that.”
Riley: “ Im positive. Now let’s go. I’ll ask Tyler to drive us then Imma bring some of your clothes from your place just let me know what i should bring.”
A good twenty minutes later. Tyler was driving them to Riley’s place.
Tyler: “ So thats how Chase got his injuries?”
Riley grinned and said “Yea, he tried to blame it on you guys.”
Tyler felt offended and laughed.
Chase admired Riley again.
Riley: “ Well imma head out, take care of Chase will you Tyler?”
Tyler: “ Sure will bud.”
Chase sat on the couch and Tyler followed him.
Both of them started talking about life and how it was. Chase was giving relationship advice to Tyler.
Tyler : “ So any girls you’re speaking to?”
Chase: “Not at the moment right now. Im taking a break.”
“Oh?” Tyler said surprisingly
“Yeaa gotta focus on myself mate.” Chase said confidently.
“Lies..” Tyler mumbled
“What was that?” Chase asked confused.
“I said Lies. Because someone is in your head right now.. aren’t they?” Tyler said confidently.
Chase looked surprised.. but he had to tell him the truth because what could he do? He never told anyone this..
“I-I do like someone but I don’t know..” Chase questioned himself.
Tyler: “ Take your time. Im here if you’re ready..”
“Its Riley..” Chase finally admitted.