“ hush, “ kate winces past the pain in her side, using the last shred of strength she has to pull armistice into her lap, bloodied fingers pausing just over the bullet wound. the last robbery hadn’t gone as planned, & by no means had katherine barlow ever planned to die in the middle of the desert, bleeding out from a gunshot wound. what’s more, she had never meant for armistice to follow her into this inevitable end.
there’s no denying they’re both going to die here, either finished off by the following mob, or from blood loss. “ m’ afraid this is it, little daydreamer. “ her head tilts back, eyes closing when her head rests against the rock she’s positioned herself next to. “ do you remember what ma’ always used to say? about how she wished daddy didn’t have t’ die alone? “
“ i think she was right, i’m glad i have you here, in th’ end. i just wish – “ that her sister didn’t have to die as well, “ what does that look like t’ ya? “ her eyes are on the clouds again, big white fluffy masses floating past without care for the world below. at least if they’re going to die, they can do it doing what they loved to do most together.
There is a grunting rasp with the lift of her weight and scrunching features with the shriek of pain scattering throughout her chest. A suppressed outcry as her head props along sister’s arm and chest lifts and falls rapidly. A hand lifts and clasps into sister’s pressing along the bloody shots scattered along her chest. An inhale and straighten of her back with another shuddering gasp and adjust of her head; a small pained sound and blue eyes wander across sister’s face as she takes in each of her words. Always listening, always at attention when she spoke. Even when strength had left her and a grand escape had ended with the collapse from her horse, and ushers to be left had gone ignored. Kate insisted, even in death.
A smile twitches at her lips with the old nickname, the old term of endearment, squeezing Kate’s hand. “I remember-” Another cough, a shiver of her tone, “the smell of ma’s pies after she rang that bell ‘n- ... the stories she had of daddy. always said he was one for a fight, yeah?” Words drawl with the shiver of her jaw, a tremor of her hand. “I remember- soft grass ‘n you readin’ ..” She tried for a smile, but only winced, with the rapid rise and fall of her chest begin to steadily slow in this blazing heat.
“I’d do it all again-” She manages, finally managing that smile before a silence settles. Before she listens to Kate’s wish, eyes moving from her face to the scattered white across the sky. She thinks she can hear it, it’s faint- just off in the distance. But Armistice thinks she might be able to make out the ringing of Ma’s bell, a sound that told her it was time to go home. Yes, Armistice thinks she might look at the clouds just a little longer with Kate, and answer that call. She always loved looking at the sky with her. Breathing steadies as a trembling hand comes to a slow rest, blue eyes settle forward with a weary dim, and soon shoulders rise with her chest. A long exhale as grip falls lax and movements stop.
it was time to go home...
