#i originally just answered with “rafe and barry are evil so it doesn't matter!! <3” but that felt dismissive

[keyh0use]

Don’t you think the maturity difference between Rafe and Barry is a little weird? I mean Barry lives alone and sells drugs while Rafe is so dependent on his dad. And isn’t the age difference also a little strange?

I don’t mean this as hate just genuinely asking.

Canonically? Not even a little bit. Almost everything about Barry is speculation. How old is he? We don't actually know because the show never confirms it, if he celebrates his 24th birthday in season 4 we can't argue he's actually 27 just because fandom says he is. He refers to the trailer(s) as his, but does he own them? Were they passed down when his parents died or were they foreclosures or is he renting or did he scrounge up enough cash to buy the property? Again, we don't know. In the first episode, Rafe and Barry clearly know each other but they aren't chummy. When Rafe gets himself into trouble he runs to Barry both to get high and to get help from someone who's just as loose with their morals as he is, and in turn Barry gets money. I won't say what formed between them is platonic because that would be a lie but I also don't think it was intentional, especially on Barry's part.

Is there a power imbalance? I don't really think so. Does Barry appear to have way more life experience? Yeah!

I think that's something Rafe would be attracted to (no matter how he views Barry; as a partner or a friend or a brother, etc.) because he thrives on guidance. And yes, Rafe is mentally ill and struggling with addiction while his father neglects and physically abuses him. He wants affection and reassurance and help which he has outright asked for only to be told very coldly to "man up." (and I want to take a second to point out so it's not glossed over that RAFE IS AN ADDICT. Rafe needs to get high often, drugs require money, Ward gives it to him. In what world would Rafe have the capacity to turn away offerings that carry little to no expectations from him? Houses, cars, money, etc., it's provided for him so what's the point of going to school or working hard like Barry has to?) At such an uncertain time in his young life it makes sense, at least to me, Rafe would be trying his hardest for approval. Especially with Sarah pulling away from the family and potentially making room for him to weasel his way into Ward's unfeeling heart. So I don't think Rafe's relationship with his father should be used as an example of why he's unfit for a relationship with someone more stable. If anything, I feel Barry and Rafe's lives would be better together, mainly because I feel Rafe would be pushed to get help and have the support to do it.

okay, but In fanfiction? Where they're dating or fucking? Sure, the age difference is a little off. As someone in their mid-twenties I sure as shit wouldn't date someone with 'teen' in their age. BUT I think it's fair to assume Barry The Drug Dealer didn't have the greatest moral compass to begin with, worsening after time with Rafe. Would he take advantage of Rafe's vulnerability? depends on what I'm writing, but probably, yeah, at least in the beginning. Would he use Rafe for status or money? same thing, probably in the right circumstances. There's probably more I could say but I feel like I'm rambling and I'm not sure I'm doing a good job at answering this anyway. But thank you for asking (: