Soooooo it took me a very long time lmao but here’s a little piece 💖 Hope you’ll enjoy it. Not sure I’ll keep writing much but I had to share this (even this it’s not my best work). Let me know what you think !!
The radio suddenly stopped and, within a few minutes, a familiar song came on. As “We Will Rise Again” filled the car, there were no more doubts : she was in Hope County. Peggy territory, Rook thought to herself. She had left almost three years ago, but the scenery had remained the same. It seemed like it, at least... Until she stumbled onto one of the silos that now had a big white crosses on them. She had heard about the rise of The Project At Eden’s Gate, her friends Joey and Mary May had kept her updated. And so, in search of a familiar face, she headed to the Eagles Spread.
She had barely opened the door when Mary May almost tackled her. “I knew it was you,” she cheered while hugging the former Junior Deputy.
“Mary, I called you like 10 minutes ago saying I was almost there,” she chuckled in response.
Neither of them really cared, they were just happy to meet again.
Mary May’s face went blank. She let go of Rook, looking at her feet for a few seconds before focusing on her again.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about... The peggies, they took over the police station and the jail. Hudson... she’s... she’s been taken.”
It simply couldn’t be. Rook had trouble understanding what this all meant. “I’m sorry ?” was all she was able to answer.
“When the peggies took over, the deputies obviously fought back... So Joseph abducted them, sent them to his brothers. Joey’s at John’s ranch, I think.”
Rook’s heart was pounding in her chest. When she had left, The Project was nothing but a small religious movement. People found them quite weird, but they were rather harmless... She couldn’t understand how all of this had happened. But she knew who she had to find. She quickly explained herself and hurried out of the bar, Mary May watching her leave with worry in her eyes. Back for less than 10 minutes and she was already on a mission... Hope County hadn’t changed that much.
She couldn’t believe the center was closed and full of people... Last time she’d come there, the building was practically empty and Jacob was more or less the only inhabitant of the place. She remembered watching him work in the yard, building furniture for that abandonned place he had decided to make a home out of. He had really done it... For a second, she was proud. But then, screams got her out of her silent admiration. What was going on in there...
The bearded man keeping the door seemed hostile. He glared at her and, for a second, she was scared he would use the gun strapped to his pants. Fuck... This was more serious than she’d thought.
“What ? Tell him it’s the rookie, he’ll know who I am. And hurry up, please.”
Another man approached, they whispered something to each other and she heard the sounds of a talkie walkie.
“Sorry, Brother Jacob isn’t available. You need to leave this property now.”
Even if she wanted to stay, to fight... The men stopping what they were doing to look at her menacingly convinced her to get back in her car as quickly as possible.
If he wasn’t there, she knew where to find him.
Not thirty minutes later, she had the redhead in sight. He hadn’t seen her yet, of course he hadn’t ! She had always been more stealthy than him... She smirked.
“Three years and your hunting spot remained the same... Don’t you think the animals figure it out by now ?”
He didn’t even flinch. He stayed focused on his rifle like he hadn’t heard anything. She was almost about to repeat herself when he calmly said, “Animals are weak. They know it’s their destiny to be killed. Natural selection and all that.”
“Nice to see you haven’t changed either.”
He finally moved, settling his rifle on the ground and turning around. His movements were deliberate, slow. She found herself aching for him to go faster.
“Well here’s a pretty face I didn’t think I’d see again.”
Red went to her cheeks and she immediately felt dumb for letting a small compliment have so much impact on her. Compliment ? Maybe not, seeing the grave look on Jacob’s face.
“Aren’t you happy to see me, Red ?”
“I thought you’d left,” he said without any emotions. It was a fact, nothing more. For a moment, she wondered if he was still capable of emotions... Because it didn’t feel like it. He didn’t look like the man she had left.
“I did. But I came back.”
His tone made her took a step back ; he seemed so indifferent. All their memories came back to her and it hurt even more to compare his old, caring, self to this stoic stranger she was now facing...
“I don’t know... I missed it ? I missed my friends. Missed you, maybe.”
She felt so insecure in front of him. It was like the last three years hadn’t happened and she was still the young woman she was when she left Hope County. But she was 28 now, and she felt like an adult... Until his eyes settled on her. Now, she felt like the dumb kid.
“Hm, alright. Why’d you come here ?”
He didn’t even seem to care... She felt the blood boiling in her veins. She could’ve slapped him. She stayed out.
“Hudson and Pratt, what’s all that about ?”
“Free them. Tell Joe to stop his bullshit.”
“Bullshit ? You’ve been gone for the last three years, you have no idea what we’ve been building here !”
Finally, a little emotion...
“No idea ? Jake, I saw you build the center from scratch. I saw you fix every goddamn building in this shithole !”
“I’m not talking about all that.”
“So what, you’re talking about your little rebellion ? All those guys with guns inside the center ? No, I don’t know what’s all that. But I know it’s a terrible idea and it’ll end like shit.”
“You don’t know whatcha talking about.”
He did. Maybe it was the simplicity of the request, but it left him dumbfounded. His breathing was heavy.
She felt a sudden urge to get closer to him. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him for the last three years. It was like she was finally able to breathe after holding a breath for a very, very long time. Wondering if it would work a second time, she ordered, “Kiss me.”
He did. He did and it was glorious. His hands wrapped around her like he was never gonna let her go again and she stood on the tip of her toes so she could reach his neck. She felt home, she felt safe, she felt loved. And, weirdly, Jacob seemed even more moved by the closeness than she did. His hands were digging in her back, clawing their way in like he was actually scared she was going to back off. The kiss was long and got softer and softer. From their initial rage to a state of surprised pleasure, their lips never left the other’s.
When they finally broke the kiss, they were both panting and their cheeks were flushed. Jacob’s hands were still on her back. Simultaneously, they sat down on the ground like their legs weren’t strong enough to lift them up anymore. She fell in his arms and let her head rest on his chest.
“What now ?” he whispered after a while.
“Now we wait for the sunset, Red. Enjoy the moment while we still can.”
The answer seemed to please him and she felt him nod discreetly. It was all she could offer for now. After a comfortable silence, she still added, “But you still have to let Hudson and Pratt go.”
baratheonpilled
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