meeting Rust at the bunny ranch had been an odd experience. shutting down his partner had been fairly easy, but judging whether or not the Texan was a threat to her girls or not was difficult at first. he had a predatory shell, but after some investigation, she discovered it was merely painted on, and not by his own doing. there were cracks in his shell, patched over, certainly, but cracks nonetheless.
she let him embrace her with a single arm, brown eyes closing slowly. he was always the slightest bit cold, and she was always warm. it was a pleasant contrast. she put a hand in his hair, brushing the strands into place with a simple swipe of the palm. “Thought you didn’t believe in Jesus, Rust,” she whispered jokingly, even if her voice was slightly weak.
Sharon sat down on the bed, allowing his arm to stay around her middle. “I’ll reserve the room for you, and if Sam gives me shit, I’ll sort it out. Got it, cowboy?” she leaned against his shoulder for a moment before going behind him to lay on the sheets. “Got it cowboy?” she whispered, sleepily.
no one had ever seen through him so easily. it scared him a little, how sharon just knew. He felt selfish sometimes, for spending time with her. it always lingered at the back of his mind that at any time whatever it was between them would sour. everything soured. that was the way of the world.
he watched her, nearly expressionless. he let out the smallest of breaths when she brushed through his hair. a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth at the joke, and he nudged her, swaying their bodies in answer. "I don't." he let himself smile, just a little one, just for her.
Rust nodded slowly. "Got it, you nut." he rubbed her back for a while before standing. "You want me to leave you alone so you can get some shut-eye?"
