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Olson who messes and teases Barkovitch coz it’s so goddamn easy and he falls for it everytime. Barkovitch who hates it and takes it as a challenge to try and rile up Hank as revenge, but Hanks quick on his feet and manages to throw Barko off his game and have the last laugh

Barko who’s getting pissed instead of Hank and Hank can’t stop laughing about it. That doesn’t stop Gary from trying

and in Gary’s journey to find ways to annoy Hank does he begin to have genuine fun with it. Missed attempts to ragebait Olson instead make him laugh instead and so now Gary is laughing because yeah, okay sure it is a bit ridiculous… he guesses.

Barko who does successfully ragebait Hank so now Gary is laughing whilst Hank is pissed. Gary who gets to tease Hank back and Hank tries to brush it off but goddamn is Barkovitch annoying. But Barkovitch is finally smiling which kind makes it worth it…

Hank ragebaiting Gary who’s mad as shit but as soon as Hank coos at him or gives him a kiss Gary suddenly feels like forgiving him

HOAppreciationWeek Day 3: Oh my Darlin’

Yes I’m predictable and had to do a Barkolson piece <3 They make me insanely sick, okay.

Day Eighteen: Sports

Ship/Setting: Sunray & Barkolson, Baseball/Modern AU

TWs: N/A

Ao3 Link: Sports

i was completely normal drawing this. I swear.

BARKOLSON ASK I CHEERED!!!

It’s Gary. And it’s coz it’s a complete accident.

I get to ramble abt Barkolson now!!!

But Gary and Hank are two emotionally repressed guys. So them having homosexual feelings and it’s eachother. Oh boy. Even when they do begin to acknowledge each other as friends and people they do like hanging out with, when it comes to growing feelings beyond that, they’d both be terrified to admit it. Coz they’re pretty outspoken guys in their own right, which means the idea of rejection has to be so much worse. Gary who takes every little thing personally vs. Hank who likes to be prepared for anything.

So instead they dance around it. They can just be friends. It’s fine. This it’s good. It’s for the better. internalised homophobia moment.

But as tough as they like to act. To hide behind jokes or other means, the two are pretty emotional and sensitive guys. And sometimes, alot, they get defensive. I do think they tend to argue alot which is how the confession begins.

Hank is probably trying to push Gary away but Gary keeps pushing. He doesn’t like being ignored or pushed away, and if it’s someone Gary likes? Hank?! I’d imagine he’d just burst his feelings he’s been trying so hard to deny just so Hank can see and listen to him. And then he realises it’s too late and he’s said it and now he’s terrified. Would switch up and get mad at Hank for making him go to this point.

But Gary was right. A push was what Hank does need for him to feel safe in accepting his feelings. That Gary does like him back. And it’s okay. They can be more than okay.

Coz I don’t think Hank would ever want to admit his feelings first. He’s a stubborn bitch with alot going on inside. If he can avoid confessing what he feels for Gary is real. He would. He’s too “controlled” for that. Convinced that his feelings will go away (despite them only getting stronger). That he has a hold of this. Until Gary confesses.

I imagine that even tho Gary confesses first, Hank following in suit. That Gary would still freak out and think Hank is lying to him. It would be a very messy confession, but Hank would handle it anyways and try to calm Gary down and reassure him that he does like him back. A lot

Ofc there’s still alot to unpack but now that he knows the feelings are mutual he wants to live in this moment. Whatever else comes they can deal with together.

Oooh what a thought, what a thought

I have like a sort of timeline in my mind over this coz I absolutely do believe that Hank would never want to ever befriend, nevertheless like Gary, in any way if he was still actively antagonising his friends. That Gary would have to better his actions before Hank can develop feelings for him, and thus Gary having to “better” his relationships with the others.

But I also see Gary’s antagonism as an another point of turmoil/contention that does help build their relationship. But that’s another thought for another day.

Solely focusing on their friend’s reactions + under the circumstances that Gary is bettering his actions:

Harkness is the only one I think would take it positively. I do like to think Gary and Harkness have an odd sort of friendship built on creative similarities, as well as other things, and him and Hank like to debate with eachother and send eachother different articles. He’d be surprised the two are together, but would be ultimately supportive! Probs annoys both coz he needs to know how they happened coz he was in the camp they were at best frenemies LOL

Stebbins I feel would be indifferent. Probably one of the few who wasn’t surprised and saw it coming. In fact I think Hank and Gary knew that he knew and it annoyed tf out of them. Stebbins likes to tease them just to see them getting defensive but he’s ultimately harmless

Alternatively, I could potentially see Stebbins as being the one Gary would talk too abt his feelings for Hank. How it happens? I’m debating it but I feel it would be Stebbins coz a) He suspects Stebbins knows anyways and b) isn’t necessarily as close to Hank as Ray is. It would be a interesting convo between the two of them but I do see the potential of it happening.

Ray I think Ray would be shocked. He was surprised when they started hanging out, but glad to see that they’re friends, but as a couple? Definitely didn’t see it coming and would be similar to Harkness. Wanting to ask Hank why and how. Not because he doesn’t approve, Hank is a big boy, but he’s just curious how they happened, though he’d be alot less pushy abt it. He’s happy for both of them tho.

Now of the few with some apprehension/tension initially

Collie For him it’s another case of how? Another one who’s shocked. Yeah, it sort of made sense when they became friends. Double the annoying, but I think there would be that apprehension if them together is the best thing. And I do think it is for the both of them, not just Hank. Ofc Collie and Gary have their own grievances between eachother and if Gary pulls his old schtick he’s saying smthing. But in the same right he’d be worried if Hank is the best choice for Gary. However, ultimately Collie has faith in his friends and if they found each other he won’t judge. Maybe he’d have a talk with Hank/Gary too get more info and see if they’re really the best fit for eachother but it’s their choice. As long as they’re happy together he has no complaints.

Art as much as I say that Hank would try to deny his feelings, if any one of the group were to know that Hank does have feelings for Gary, it’d be Art. And I do think it’s Art figuring it out rather than Hank confessing it. It’s a whole can of beans but I do think Hank and Art end up having a long talk over it. It’s a mix of wanting to figure out his own feelings but also wanting to gauge Art’s approval/reaction. Art knows.

I feel Art would try to be respectful, but Hank would push for him to be honest where Art does admit he’s hesitant, but doesn’t want to get in the way of Hank’s feelings. So when they do get together Art carries the same thoughts. He’s happy for Hank, but there is some apprehension that it’s Gary. He wants to trust Hank, but Gary would really have to own up to his actions and change. Really prove Hank’s thoughts that he is changing and letting go of his old ways for Art to really “approve”.

Pete now this. oh boy. Pete wants to be happy for Hank, but if anyone has faced Gary’s antagonism it is Pete. I don’t think he’d necessarily be upset with Hank, maybe potentially sad that Hank didn’t tell him, but he’d figure out pretty quick why he didn’t, but I don’t think Pete was blind sided either. When he saw them getting closer he may have suspected smthing, even pointed it out to Hank, but never really thought it would get this far. So when it’s does it is a bit surprising at first.

Ofc he wouldn’t try to stop them. If that’s what they want sure, but i don’t think his support is there at first. He’s just quiet. So I do think it would involve him and Gary having a talk. Sorting their own issues out and Gary personally having to apologise and reassure Pete he does mean the best for Hank and that he is sorry for how he’s acted in the past. Do i think they’d be friends? Probably not, ideally maybe a bit... But if Pete can see that Gary is changing than he will trusts in that. Lowkey a Zuko and Katara moment if I were to compare it to anything maybe…

But i think what pulls me the most abt their potential dynamic is that:

We have Gary who has this need to be powerful. To show others he’s stronger/better than them. But when he’s clearly shoved to the side/uninvited he crumbles and eventually reaches out for some reassurance that he hasn’t been completely shut off. That he deeply wants these connections but goes off abt it in the wrong way. Coz he inserts himself into conversations. Albeit to mock, mostly, but he uses what he’s overheard in conversation to do so. He cares enough to pay attention. And even during his breakdown he willingly lets go off his previous attitudes, one that hasn’t worked, to reach out to Ray for some semblance of sympathy and reassurance that he has ppl with him before he dies, even when he knows he probably doesn’t deserve it. He still needs it

Whereas Olson is the opposite. He’s capable of making friends and getting along with others. He can keep conversation flowing and get others laughing, but he never truly is vulnerable with even those closest to him. When he begins to struggle he loses his charisma and wit and isolates himself. He only really comes out of it when he’s able to put on his boisterous persona again. Making jokes and dicking around. I think the closest we get to Hank being vulnerable (aside his death scene) is when he drops his food and Garraty helps him. He’s ultimately grateful, but there’s a slight shame there that he keeps quiet. Upset with himself for needing help in the first place. For not appearing strong and controlled in a way he wanted to be seen as. But in the end he still calls out to Art and holds onto him, despite everything

So I think there’s alot to unpack between the two of them. Where they seem dissimilar from each other and whose personalities/attitudes would clash the most. Hell, in the beginning Hank is the one who gives Gary the most shit for the Meemaw thing and shoe thing.

However, to me, they both come off as guys who are trying to appear more than what they seem. Who are trying to fit into that mould of masculinity that their society tries to push on them and they follow.

So the idea that they would clash, but are pulling similar shticks. That Hank possess the charm and wit Gary wishes he has. And Gary has the drive to needle enough at Hank to see deeper than Hank wants people to see.

Then one day Barkovitch makes a comment that happens to make Hank laugh. Hank tries to brush it off, but Barkovitch won’t let him. “You think I’m funny, admit it.” “Fuck off it was one fucking time—“ “And you fucking laughed just admit it—“

Hank can try and cuss him out but Barkovitch just won’t let this go. He keeps trying to make Hank laugh and it’s so obvious that Hank tells him to quit it. But then Barkovitch succeeds again and happens to take a photo. Proof that he did make Hank laugh and now he can’t deny it.

Barkovitch who keeps the photo as leverage but sometimes ends up looking at it for a bit too long. Feels smthing when he realises the smile in that photo is thanks to him. That he made Hank laugh and that secretly he’s always found Hank funny. Who wishes he’d could be a witty when talking to other ppl the way Hank can. But he made Hank laugh anyways

Barkovitch who, despite already having photo evidence, keeps trying to make Hank laugh and Hank can’t figure out why. “Can you get off your fucking high horse oh my fucking god”. But then Barkovitch starts sending stupid photos he’s taken, stuff he’s figured out that will make Hank laugh and it endears Olson in the worst way. How tf did this motherfucker figure out what makes him laugh? There’s no fucking way it’s working (It is)

So it’s inevitable when bits of their humor starts leaking to the other. Nudging each other when they see something stupid to say smthing dumb. Their previous competitiveness becoming more playful. Disguised as attempts to be better than the other, when in reality they’re both having fun at the basketball arcade game. Actually managing to find banter between eachother!! Hank’s surprised that Barkovitch had it in him to be able to banter with another human being, and it just so happens to be him