Eyes narrowed at the man, the UNMISTAKABLE, piercing glare of a Poe. He had mastered it long ago, starting from the time that some asshole on the playground shoved him to the floor and demanded that he hand over his lunch money. Such a cliché, but then again, his whole life was one. Austin had given him the same glare he now gave Asher, a WARNING to his opponent that would convey more emotion than any slew of curse words ever could. But then again, this was Asher, and Austin’s version of intelligent didn’t coincide with this man. He was smart, but not in a way that Austin could appreciate or even agree with. In his eyes, if Asher was so smart, he would have been able to put two and two together and REALIZE that Cassidy Poe was his fucking sister, and he would not stand for any disrespect aimed towards her. Even if it was a stupid theory about her running off with that Russian or whatever his conspiracy theory was. It didn’t matter to him because, in the end, family was family, and he was not going to allow him to speak ill of her—especially not when she had been the first one to start the tradition of beating up Austin’s enemies and bullies.
❝ You better back the fuck up before I pull the trigger and MURDER you, ❞ Austin snarled with that same bite he used when he first met Asher. ❝ You ain’t as charmin’ as you think you are, so lose that goddamn smug attitude, ❞ He demanded, REFUSING to lower his weapon. The redhead took a step forward, pressed the barrel of the gun deeper into the man’s chest. It wasn’t until then that his eyes began to narrow in on his features more closely—the darkness surrounding his eye could only be explained by BRUISING, and while his need to beat the absolute shit out of Asher had dulled slightly, the overwhelming ache to kill the little shit for leaving him was still very much alive. Nevertheless, the corners of his lips tugged downwards in CLEAR disappointment. He had never been a fan of having another’s sloppy seconds. Even as a kid, beating up another guy who just had his ass handed to him never seemed to have the same appeal as a guy whose skin was not yet bruised. Perhaps it was the sadist within him. ❝ And clearly, I ain’t the only one that thinks that, ❞ He mumbled under his breath, head nodding to his black eye. ❝ Nice shiner. Did the Russian do that to ya ? What was his name again ? Alex or whatever ? ❞ With each question, his voice grew slower, dragging out each syllable in faux-contemplation as an attempt to get under Asher’s skin. Of course, Austin knew that the man did have a higher tolerance than he did—though, perhaps it was just because Asher had a natural way of being the most intolerable human alive.
At the time, Cheyenne had been practically filthy with wild redheads, running amok through the camps. Nearly all of which Austin could never seem to stand. The redhead in question seeming to be one of them. Asher had been about to ask exactly about why Austin seemed to act like his so called 'sister' had incurred such wrath but at a quick look at Austin's dark expression at the time, he'd known better. Asher's idea of family wasn't exactly warm and loving, but it wasnt as violent as a wildfire either. His idea of family was lavish gifts at it's best and cold, unwavering.. unforgiving disdain at it's worst. Austin didn't seem to have a frigid bone in his body, everything the redhead did, it seemed he did with volatile force. In fact, that was part of the young man's appeal.. who's gaze wasn't drawn to a devastating explosion? It was enthralling to watch. Destructive.. but beautiful.
Speaking of destructive. Asher tensed, his smile freezing but not quite faltering as Austin snarled those low, volatile words. Leveling that familiar, murderous look upon Asher as he pressed the cold end of the gun harder into Asher's chest. "Aren't I? Never failed to grab your attention." He quipped, though his hands lifted, palms bare to Austin. Then his gaze met Austin's own. That look, was something incredibly familiar. Bearing all the wrath of a cornered bloody animal, with the promise of an intelligence behind it to get vengeance on whatever slight Austin may have concocted in his mind. Whatever way Asher had insulted him now. Usually, Asher would think it was endearing, or at the very least, sexy as hell. But with the last week, Alexi's absence still fresh in his mind, a black eye and bloodied nose and the exhaustion from his trek back to Cheyenne, his own tolerance was wearing uncharacteristically thin. His own features twisted slightly. The smile still there, but pretty blue eyes became cold as his chin jutted forward at the moment he heard Austin's deliberately mispronounced words. Who the hell was he to taunt Asher with that name after turning him away?! Nostrils flared as Asher's head inclined and his features curved again into a smile. Though this time, it seemed more a baring of pearly, perfectly aligned teeth. A refined form of hostility to match Austin's trademark feral appeal.
"Did you forget? You made certain I wouldn't find him in our last interaction." He stated, tone haughty and provoking. Two fingers of his raised right hand pushed the muzzle of the gun away from his chest. "Besides.. strike me? ...Alexi?" His nose wrinkled, before lips pursed and Asher's shoulders tensed defiantly. Bruised blue eyes meeting Austin's head-on. He was not ignorant to the powder keg that the redhead was capable of becoming. He was not deaf to the thrumming temper within the man, like a dangerous electrical wire. But that didn't stop him from retaliating. "Alexi's never struck me a day in his life. Real men don't feel the need to beat their fists on things like bloody barbarians." If Austin had wanted to needle Asher, that was exactly what he'd done, and it was apparent in the absolute lack of velvet coating the blond's tone.
