I decided to write the entire relationship lore of Chips and Wheezy !
From their friendship to their eventual relationship. I included both of the evil and good version of their relationship. It’s like how you choose routes for characters in a visual novel I think! Anyways.. let’s get into it （˶′◡‵˶）!!
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STARTER RELATIONSHIP:
As coworkers, Chips and Wheezy got along pretty well. It was a cordial relationship that blossomed into a friendship.
While at the start, Wheezy preferred to keep Chips at arms length (as he did that with the other casino crew). However, Chips just kept on pestering him and since the cowboy is his next door neighbor, the pestering continued. Wheezy felt so much pity for the cowboy, because it was evident that Chips had no way of living on his own.
Wheezy didn’t think Chips was helpless, he just recognized that Chips looked confused and lost most of the time. He was surrounded by no family, and wasn’t familiar with the 3rd isle. Chips was entirely on his own. So, Wheezy just allowed Chips to keep pestering him, to drop in and hangout, to eat with Wheezy, and so on.
In a way, Wheezy liked the company and constant pestering. It was annoying at first to have his boundaries ignored and have this loudmouth cowboy up in his face 24/7, but Wheezy, himself, was also alone. While he did have his family nearby, he just kept his distance from them for obvious reasons. So having someone who wasn’t tied to his past or knew of it, felt pretty good. It was like Wheezy was starting fresh, just as he wanted.
Then through the years, the two men gradually got closer. They became drinking buddies, play games together, even bet against each other, and share stories with each other about their former lives (but Wheezy is not ready to reveal too much about his past, but Chips reveals a lot about his !!).
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TOXIC YAOI:
When they realize their feelings for each other, Chips and Wheezy start out as a fling. Like friends with benefits type of deal.
Then down the line they became somewhat toxic, cause if it’s a fling why should they care about each other in a way a couple would?
Sometimes, Chips would go out and have his own flings, as a way to showcase to Wheezy that they’re not that serious. That Chips just thinks of Wheezy as another guy he could just mess around with (and as someone who can fill the ever present loneliness and emptiness within him).
Wheezy wouldn’t care, because he knew that Chips just wanted them to be casual. He also believed that his love for Chips would fade or become unrequited down the line, so he really couldn’t be bothered. Besides, Chips is a grown man that can do whatever he wants.
They were both actively pushing each other away (given their pasts and fear of bringing each other down into their own troubles). On the outside, both viewed each other as friend’s with benefits that still cared for each other.. in their own way. On the inside, both were pining for each other, wanted to show their love for one another… but the casualness was a boundary both couldn’t cross, not unless one made the move to knock that wall down. Unfortunately, both men didn’t have it in them to truly show how much they cared for the other, as fear of their past and their self deprecation was holding them back.
The two would get into fights, Chips was the one starting most of them. Sometimes he accused Wheezy of not loving him and being like all the other men out there who just want to cop a feel, then leave. Which is hypocritical, because Chips was doing exactly that. He was just projecting, wanted to blame Wheezy for not being man enough to voice his love for Chips (which is also another case of projection on his part).
Maybe it was insecurity laced in there too, because Chips wanted Wheezy to love him. Love him enough to make them official, so they could just stop this whole fling nonsense.
When faced with Chips’ hypocritical accusations, Wheezy would distance himself from Chips, ignore him at work, and have his own fun, then flaunt it in front of the cowboy. Which would force Chips to apologize and they go back to whatever the heck they were.
Then it all boils over when Wheezy gets into trouble, is harmed, and hospitalized.
Their dynamic changes immediately after.
Chips begins to be soft and protective of Wheezy. He stops pushing Wheezy away, saying or doing hurtful things to him, and becomes more vulnerable towards the man. Chips makes a realization that because he was thrown into life so early; he saw connection/intimacy as escapism, a way to fill the void of loneliness and emptiness within him. Chips also realized that he was afraid of love, as love is what got him into his current position in life (as in being blinded by it and the desire to protect his family, which pushed him to commit the crimes he did when he was younger). Which explains why he constantly pushed Wheezy away, because he associated love with loss.. and he didn’t want to lose Wheezy.
Wheezy, on the other hand, doesn’t distance himself from Chips when they get into fights. Instead, he comforts and reassures the cowboy. Wheezy becomes even more patient than he ever was with Chips, recognizing that the cowboys behavior may come from a place of self loathing and insecurity. Wheezy was always an empathetic and respectful man, despite his upbringing. That’s why he never pushed for his relationship with Chips to become something more, he was fine with just sticking in his own lane. The other reason is that Wheezy didn’t want to get Chips caught up in his family drama. He feared that the cowboy would be targeted by his father if they had a deeper connection. Wheezy was also very used to the terrible treatment, as his past relationship with his ex was somewhat similar.
Through the months, the two men learn to be more loving, kind, and patient with each other; which makes them both realize that pushing each other away was the reason why their relationship was so complicated. So they work things out and become a healthy, loving couple.
So loving that they often forget what they used to be like.
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FLUFF YAOI:
When they realize their feelings for each other, Chips and Wheezy are awkward at first (well, specifically Wheezy).
Their pasts and fears eat at them, and it results in them often pushing each other away.
However, they continue to always make things right with one another, because they deeply care and love each other.
Chips is suffocated by his past, his fear of loneliness and love, but he finds himself comforted by the fact that Wheezy is patient and listens to him. He’s comforted by the fact that Wheezy’s presence makes him feel less lonely and empty.
Wheezy is similar to Chips, he’s also suffocated by his past and fear of Chips getting caught up into his family drama. Wheezy fears that his father, ex, or other people associated with his father will find out. He fears that the cowboys life will be put into danger because of him. Wheezy knows Chips isn’t fragile, knows that the cowboy isn’t someone who backs away from a fight, but there’s so many “what ifs” that make Wheezy feel sick to his stomach.
Their relationship doesn’t really change from how they were as friends. They still drink together, share cigars/cigarettes, share stories about themselves (with Wheezy having more of an open heart to share everything about his past), and eat together. Except, they do those things with a hint of playfulness, kisses here and there, and a look of genuine affection for each other.
Chips enjoys it when Wheezy lets go of his stoic front, because that means he can take care of Wheezy, it’s like returning a favor. Chips personally enjoys it when Wheezy is clingy, holds him close, or clearly wants affection. Chips has learned to read what his lover wants through body language. Chips loves to take care of the man that takes care of him, loves to shower his man in appreciation and affection. No one but him gets to see this vulnerable side of Wheezy, and that makes him happy.
Wheezy lets his vulnerabilities show, specifically to Chips. It was awkward at first, despite how many years they’ve been good friends, Wheezy just wasn’t good at showcasing his vulnerability. Now, he trusts Chips with a lot of things he’d never show or tell anyone. He also likes to give a lot of affection to Chips, practically spoiling his cowboy with any chance he gets. Wheezy also likes to comb his fingers through Chips’ hair and say sweet things to him. Chips is practically his beloved and the light of his life.
When it boils down to their issues, the two men talk it out and listen to each other. To them it’s best to get everything that worries them off their chests, rather than bottle it up.
Unlike the toxic route, The two men are sickeningly sweet for each other. Although, Wheezy tries to act nonchalant and pretend he doesn’t care. Chips sees through Wheezy’s facade, cause he knows that as soon as they go home, Wheezy will cling to him. They’re quite literally a healthy, loving couple, because their love outweighed everything negative.
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Whew… that was a lot of writing. I felt like I was getting repetitive with the fluff ver of Chips and Wheezy’s relationship. There’s not much to really type about the fluff ver of them, cause the toxic ver makes both of these two very complex and in balance .. in a way. Though I guess the fluff ver also does have its complexities at the start. As I did mention that they attempted to push each other away, because of how persistent their past and fears haunted them. But unlike the toxic ver of them, Chips and Wheezy (in the fluff ver) communicated and were honest with their feelings about each other.
All they needed from the start was to just communicate honestly.
I do like both versions of their relationship, but ig I favor the fluff ver more, cause the toxic ver makes me sick to my stomach and UPSET.
Anyways, if ya’ll read this entire post.. thanks for reading my very normal rant about Chips and Wheezy !!
Take this funny photo I made of them as a reward