discord said hangster pioneer au and my brain went ‘a vibe!!!!’
historical accuracy does not exist here, 850 words written for funsies || daily create 7/365
“It’s dangerous, you know,” Bradley says quietly, carrying the pot of freshly warmed water to the tub in the corner of the room. “The journey west. Even more perilous when you’re trying to make it alone.”
Jake winces as another pulse of pain shoots up the length of his leg, masking it quickly as Bradley glances back at him over one shoulder. The cabin’s grown colder around them with the loss of sunlight, but Jake finds that the warmth in Bradley’s brown eyes eases the chill he can feel on the back of his neck.
“The fencing outside is new,” Jake points out, watching with sharp eyes as Bradley dips one hand into the water to test the temperature. “I take it you haven’t been here long? Maybe it’s you that couldn’t make the full trip yourself?”
Bradley’s mouth quirks up sadly, throat working as he swallows and stands to his full height again, drying his fingers off on the rough fabric of his pants. “Like I said,” he murmurs quietly, eyes shifting to the small table near the bed on the other side of the cabin, “it’s a perilous journey.”
Jake’s eyes follow and his breath catches at the sight of photos on the table. Hesitantly, he says, “You were making the trip. With someone.”
“With my mother,” Bradley replies, nodding. “She fell ill and I didn’t see much reason to go any farther than where I am.”
Jake swallows. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Bradley clears his throat, glancing back at the tub and then at Jake. “You’ll be next if you don’t clean the wound on your leg,” he says, pointing at the blood-stained fabric clinging to Jake’s calf. “I’ll get a fresh towel for you and give you some privacy.”
Jake blows out an anxious breath, shaking his head. “Wait, I’m — I’m terrible with blood.”
“Are you now?” Bradley asks, grinning ruefully. “How is it that you planned on making the trip out west alone if you’re afraid of a little blood, Jacob?”
“I’m not afraid,” Jake snaps. “It’s just much safer for a man like me to head west than to stay on my father’s farm.”
“A man like you,” Bradley repeats, head tilting. “Meaning…”
Despite the ache in his calf, Jake spreads his thighs wider, able to see the way Bradley’s eyes slowly fall to track the movement. Even in the dim lighting of the oil lamps between them, he can see the way Bradley’s lips part. “Meaning exactly what you think it does.”
When Bradley moves again, it’s with a cautious step toward where Jake sits at the small table. “Or maybe what I’m hoping it does.”
“They say we’re all just dreamers heading out west, right?” Jake says, sitting up a little straighter as Bradley kneels at his feet.
Bradley’s fingers tenderly pull at the fabric of Jake’s pants, loosening it around his calf. His gaze lifts to meet Jake’s as he curls both hands around the boot on his bad leg. “They do,” he nods, not breaking eye contact as he works the other boot off as well. “What do you have to say to that, Jacob?”
“Jake,” he corrects gently. “Call me Jake. Please.”
Bradley smiles. Scoots a little closer on his knees as he reaches for the buckle of one of the suspenders Jake’s wearing. “What do you have to say to that, Jake?”
Jake clears his throat softly, lifting a hand to rest over Bradley’s where it’s warm atop his thigh. “I say you should dare to dream, Bradley.”
Bradley’s smile widens. Jake finds that he can’t help but return it.
“I can help you wash up,” Bradley offers, sliding his free hand beneath the pant leg of Jake’s injured leg. He rubs a thumb over Jake’s ankle, calloused against the thin skin over bone, and Jake shudders. “If you’d like.”
“I would,” Jake says, nodding. “I’d like that very much.”
//
For all the calluses on Bradley’s hands, his touch is incredibly tender.
Jake sinks into the warmth of the water, eyes falling closed as he carefully tips his head back against the edge of the basin. He can feel Bradley’s fingers working to carefully scrub away the dried blood on his calf, massaging the muscle there and drawing a sigh from Jake’s exhausted body.
“It isn’t too deep, thankfully,” Bradley tells him, voice low. “Still. Better that you stopped to rest it for a night.”
Jake’s eyes open, focusing on Bradley through the haze of steam rising from the water. “Y’think I need to rest it longer? Give it more time to heal?”
Bradley grins, but doesn’t look away from Jake’s leg. The arms of his shirt have been pushed up over his elbows, but Jake can see the fabric has still gotten wet from the water, clinging tighter now to the muscles beneath. “Is this you taking advantage of my generous hospitality?”
“Among other things,” Jake replies. “If you’d like.”
Bradley smirks. Slides a hand farther up Jake’s leg, much higher than the cut goes. “I would,” he says, eyes darkening. “I’d like that very much.”