đżđđđ§ đżđđ¨đĽđđ§đđđ¤
âââ ｼ ･ďžâ: *.â˝ .* :âďž. âââ
There was always a natural hustle and hustle on the neighboring civilized planet near Penacony, whether it was broadcasts, cars driving up and down the busy streets, or simply the people walking to their destination via sidewalks.
Boothill liked the commotion of this planet. It wasnât too exhilarating, yet it still was an inhabited planet where people lived their own lives off from the Planet of Festivities.
Though it was a bit ironic⌠considering the fact he was scaling one of the many large buildings to arrive at his destination. One so high up that the chatter of the city would eventually be reduced to white noise from his place high above ground.
Eventually landing his feet on the patio, he stood straight up to look out towards the city and its skyline. It was always a treat to see⌠every bit of the colors and buildings that kissed the sky. The occasional bird fluttering past to make it to its nearby nest.
The man chuckled to himself at the thoughtâŚ
âThis penthouse could surely be Mariâs nest for all I knowâŚâ he murmured to himself before looking to the glass door leading inside. The way into âher nestâ that only he knew how to make an entrance of.
Inside the penthouse, its inhabitant was sitting by herself in her hobby room surrounded by her books and being serenaded by the music from her record player. Recently getting home from work not too long ago, she seemed to be washing away any sort of lingering worries of the day and week. Her head was leaned into her hand, a glass of signature sweet Penacony originated wine sitting to her left on the side table.
Her eyes were shut, not because she was sleeping or whatnot, but she was indeed in thought⌠wanting to get out of her stump.
Itâs been a few months since sheâs seen her Ranger friend⌠and yet she didnât know why she felt the way she did.
Mari didnât like this feeling too well. Not only for the fact that Boothill had been gone for the longest time since theyâve met, but also because of the fact that she was being like this towards a friend.
It was shameful, the crush that Mari had for Boothill. Starting with the swelled feeling in her chest that she got when he was around. The feeling of wanting to be seen and perceived by him. And most of all⌠how she thought she could simply imagine a world with them being together. After all, they were living very different lives.
Mari, a teacher at one of the most prestigious schools in the cosmos. Boothill, a Galaxy Ranger who was wanted alive by the IPC. A woman that shouldâve gone for the classy and sophisticated partner, and a cowboy that was rough around the edges. She valued their friendship. She absolutely did⌠but yetâŚ
Boothill had a beautiful soul, a handsome face, and a charm that she was so captured by. While she found him interesting because of his reputation before, she had learned to love more of him that wasnât seen on the surface. It felt as if the Harmony was trying to guide her to him, but alas she thought of herself as delusional while thinking of her previous reasons.
Mari was certain was zero chance he felt anything romantic towards her. The Ranger valued his relationships well, ensuring that his friends were never troubled or down when he was around. That his allies were protected, a truly loyal friendâŚ
The way he would bare his teeth to her in a smile whenever she talked about her daily life as if despite his own path. How he would hum soft tunes when their conversations grew idle, the robotic static in his voice adding a strange comfort to her ears. How he would call her such sweet names, but knowing they didnât mean anything special⌠Of course heâs going to treat the women in his life with respect.
Mari knew she needed to stop thinking like this. She needed to stop being so damn needy and quit yearning for something she knew she wasnât going to getâŚ
The woman sighed, shaking her head to rid the banter in her brain to reach for her glass, only to be broken out of her thoughts from a familiar chime behind her chair.
âYour mindâs seriously that cloudy, Counselor? Iâve been standing here for minutes.â Boothill spoke from the doorway.
Mari took in a small breath, deciding not to take a sip of her wine. She withdrew the same breath as she turned her head in the direction of him.
âAh⌠my apologies. Just thinking to myself is all. It was an eventful week at the University.â she explained, her eyes closed as she still took in his appearance with the Harmony.
His usual self⌠a few small scratches there and there on his metal plating. A small scratch to the cheek hidden under his black and white bangs that she could only seemingly see despite it being covered. Boothill himself was aware of this too, noting the small details about the Halovian woman long ago.
Mari slowly rose, brushing her long skirt as she stood up height.
âBut⌠anyways⌠We havenât seen each other in a while. You should tell me about your travels.â she said trying to break the ice, hopefully to get her mind off of things.
Though somewhere in her mind she knew his words would inevitably make her feelings even worse.
The man looked down to her, his own eyes darting around her comfortable space.
âYeah. Youâre right as always. Iâve been itching to talk to yaâ.â he murmured, already turning around. She couldnât see it, but his lips pressed together, as if he was about to say something else.
While he did say something, it wasnât what the cyborg was initially going to say.
âItâs pretty nice out on the patio. Letâs get yaâ some fresh air.â Boothill spoke, not leaving room for discussion as he was already backtracking his steps through her home to make it to the outdoor area.
Mari smiled as she followed him. Considerate as usual. Though she did need air⌠perhaps that really would help her.
Making it outside, he went to the small portion that didnât have a fence and went to a drop off. It was what he used to get up here and was a convenient spot she used if she wanted to stretch her wings for a quick fly.
Boothill sat down, his legs hanging off the ledge. Mari mimicked, sitting beside him. The cyborg leaned back on his hands, looking out towards the city of multiple lights and colors. Mari pushed up her glasses, tilting her head to look at the man beside her rather than the scene. Both knew the other would be fine if things were going haywire, but as if something like that would ever happen within the othersâ presenceâŚ
âWell⌠go right ahead. Iâm all ears.â the lady spoke, a small smile blooming on her face to show he had her undivided attention.
Boothill took a small breath, then sighed out. Turning his head, he looked at her glasses, the chains that connected them to the accessories by her ears, her heart shaped freckles, and the familiar dark lashes that covered her eyes⌠His lips pressed together to brace himself.
âCan you⌠open your eyes⌠please?â he muttered, his own desperately wanting to look away out of embarrassment.
Though to Mari, she was a bit surprised. It was rare of people to genuinely want to see her eyes. Though, she knew well enough that Boothill was different from âpeopleâ in many ways.
Alas, she listened, opening her eyes for the Ranger.
Though when his own scoped eye landed on the pink sea of her eyes, he felt even worse for what he was about to say.
âIâve⌠been gone for so long because Iâve been avoiding you, Mari.â he spoke, feeling his cybernetic insides pulse in disgust at hearing his own words.
He was not good with his darn feelings, yet there wasnât any better way for his vocabulary to put it.
The look on the womanâs face made him want to leap off the edge and have nothing save him, her eyes as wide as saucers.
â⌠Avoiding me?â Mari muttered in confusion. âWas it something I did? That I said to you? I-Iâm sincerely sorry if I was, BoothillâŚâ she asked in concern and fear, her hands balling into fists from worry in her lap.
âN-No⌠you didnât do anything wrong to me. It was entirely my fault. Me⌠and beinâ careless.â he continued, looking out towards the city to think of his words.
âAs a Galaxy Ranger, my life is a wheel that just canât stop spinninâ. Meetinâ different folks, visitinâ different lands, and seeinâ so many walks of life. Real eye openinââŚâ he talked, eyeing a bright star in the sky.
âBut⌠I started to realize I had a habit of coming back to this darn planet⌠Itâs close to beinâ Penacony, but it just ainât. The foodâs similar, the musicâs the same little jingle, everything here is just Penacony but double. If I wanted to go there and stay at that hotel, I would. ButâŚâ
Boothill murmured, turning back to look at her.
âYou wanna know why I donât go to Penacony?â he whispered, looking into her eyes.
The woman was silent for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts. It was a tidal wave in her brain from the amount of things swirling withinâŚ
âWhy?â Mari responded, wanting to hear his own words.
The cowboy braced himself, hoping he wouldnât screw himself over.
âCause youâre here.â he finally spat out. âI could find you in Penacony, but youâre usually busy there with your teachinâ and counsilinâ. But here, youâre free. Free as a darn bird.â
He dared to lightly smile.
âNo one in the galaxy has your wings, your exact mannerisms, your pink and brunette curls, sense of clothing⌠and those fudginâ pretty pink eyes of yoursâŚâ he confessed, but he still had to get another thing out.
âI was avoiding you cause I got infatuated to you. When I realized⌠I felt like a darn puppy⌠so I got away from yaâ. But⌠being away⌠It only made me want to come back to yaâ even more.â
Mariâs eyes seemed to grow wider and wider with every word he spoke to her. Her lips lightly parted, muttering a few short wordsâŚ
âSo⌠what youâre saying isâŚ?â
âI like you⌠love you even.â Boothill murmured, continuing even further. âItâs silly, yeah⌠but I just thought I needed to tell yaâ. You donât have to give me anything on return.â
He scoffed to himself, looking down at her hands.
âYeah⌠I love you, MariâŚâ
In his mind, he didnât know if this was either the best thing that he couldâve done or the absolute worst. Mari was a damn Counselor, after all⌠she preached more than anyone to speak your true feelings rather than bottling them up and keeping them to yourself.
Boothill loved this woman⌠She had accepted him, listened to him, and saw him for who he was rather than rolled her eyes and befriend him out of fear or pity. Even if she somehow did⌠he didnât want her to be in danger. To be targeted like those who heâs loved prior. He loved her⌠yet he didnât know if someone like her could truly love someone like him in return.
It was then Boothillâs turn to be broken from his thoughts when he heard a sniffle, along with perking up his face to see those eyes he loved so very much to be shedding stray tears. The cyborgâs face dropped in sheer horror.
âH-Hey! Whatâs this for?!â he exclaimed, yet not too loudly to scare her. His hands reaching out to gently take her shoulders under his metal palms.
âMy big mouth didnât overstep right? I donât need those eyes to have tears in them after I just called them pretty, yaâ hear?â he spoke moving a hand up to her chin to make her look at him.
âI told yaâ⌠Donât feel obligated to return anything to me. These are just the things that I feel when I look at you⌠when I talk and listen to youâŚâ Boothill whispered, his eye scanning her features.
Only the Aeons could witness how stupidly shameless Boothill was with this âconfession.â Mari wiped her eyes, pushing her glasses slightly in order to reach them.
âI-Iâm sorry⌠Itâs just⌠I donât think anyoneâs told me that before.â the woman spoke, sniffling just a bit.
Mari closed her lips. She didnât know why she felt so scared to say this out loud when he just confessed to her so bravely.
âI-I⌠like you too, Boothill⌠Love youâŚâ she whispered.
âI love you, BoothillâŚâ she spoke, looking up to his eye.
âYou⌠have been crossing my mind a lot lately. I missed you⌠dearlyâŚâ
She now finally had the bravery to smile, her head tilting up to look him in his eyes. Or⌠eye as his bangs were covering his right one.
She wanted to change thatâŚ
Mariâs hand slowly raised between them, the movement seen in his peripheral vision. Rather than speaking a yes or no, he leaned his head near her hand. They both knew she would catch him.
As her left hand touched his cheek, her thumb slowly pushed his bangs out of the way to see both eyes of his. Then along with the slight stubble, a slight scratch along his cheekbone, and a light bag in his eyes.
The soft gray scopes looked into her own.
Her lashes blinked, not daring to leave his vision. She lightly smiled again.
âI like seeing both of your eyes⌠especially when theyâre looking into my own.â Mari whispered softly, her thumb caressing his cheekbone and being careful of the scratch. Yet⌠it seemed the cowboy couldnât care less about a small, feeble scratch.
While her gaze was looking at her own thumb on his cheekbone, she didnât realize that his own was eyeing her smiling lips. Boothill honestly didnât mean for it to happen, yet here he was being shameless about that too...
âMariâŚâ he murmured, looking back up to her. âCan I..?
âYes. You mayâŚâ she whispered back. âYou honestly didnât need to askâŚâ she chuckled softly.
Boothill rolled his eyes, already leaning in.
âThat wouldnât be gentlemanly of me, darlinââŚâ he whispered against her lips with a grin before slowly making contact with them.
The city sounds from below seemed to fade for the two in that moment and in the seconds ahead. Both sets of eyes shut to focus on the person in front of them. While Mariâs one hand stayed on his cheek, the other came to rest on his shoulder to hopefully urge him to stay in place. Meanwhile, his own metal hands came to her waist to urge her closer to him. Their proximity shouldnât be too spacious anymoreâŚ
Mari smiled against his lips from the action, finding it endearing. Boothill seemed to purr against her from the small action against his lips. His pride swelling in his artificial chest.
She was unfortunately the one to break away, though she chuckled as the Ranger trailed kisses down her neck to keep himself occupied now that her lips were gone.
âHey⌠quit that!â she exclaimed slightly, only to be met with Boothill nuzzling against the small wing at the side of her neck he was against.
âNope. Now that I have you Iâm not letting go, darlinâ.â he whispered, leaning his head back only to take his hat off the top of his head and put it on her own. His signature smirk appearing on his face.
âYouâre mine⌠darlinâ angel.â He said softly, tilting his head as he kept his bigger hat on the ladyâs head.
Mari hummed, reaching out to his hand and taking it in her own.
âI donât want it any other way, handsome cowboyâŚâ she spoke softly once again, slowly leaning her own head down and resting it against his shoulder.
Boothill smiled, leaning his head against hers as he shut his eyes. An arm came around her to bring her closer to him. A soft hum coming from the woman.
âI can get used to you being close to me like this⌠Looking out to the city⌠and having a thousand feet drop below us.â she lightly teased, peeking up to him.
Boothill smiled back in return.
âMe too, angel⌠I want to start keeping you close whenever weâre together, yaâ know? And something tells me thatâs what youâd like as well.â he teased, lightly poking her side.
âHeheâŚâ she chuckled softly. âI like when you call me all those names too⌠Iâll have to catch up with youâŚâ she spoke as she peered up to him once more.
âYou really donât have to match me and my snappiness. ThoughâŚâ he whispered leaning down to gently peck her nose. âItâll probably make my day if you didâŚâ
Mari listened, lightly nodding to his words. She slotted her hand into his and laid them between the non nonexistent space in their laps.
âYouâve got my word, BoothillâŚâ
ââŚThank you, Mari.â
âââ ｼ ･ďžâ: *.â˝ .* :âďž. âââ
