whiskey lullaby- j.y.
genre — cowboy/sheriff
pairing — sheriff Yunho x reader
word count — 1.6k
warnings — blood, alcohol/drinking, classic cowboy stuff not too bad really
summary — whiskey lullaby inspired fic </3
Its been months now. You had broken up with Yunho, and he still didn’t understand why. No, he knew why. You were the best thing to ever happen to him, and he took you for granted. He’d leave for days and always expected you to be waiting for him.
You were there for him when he needed you, but he was never there when you needed him.
He downed another glass of whiskey. He’d lost count of how many he had, but he still remembered how many times he left you.
A big hand rested on his shoulder and the deep voice of his lifelong friend spoke softly, but he didn’t register a word. He just threw another bill on the table for another glass.
The bartender looked concerned, and he busied himself with another customer instead. Mingis muffled voice echoed again, but Yunho didn’t listen. He felt his friend lift him off the barstool and he blacked out.
He woke up in his bed the next morning, his boots still on. He groaned and rubbed his race, a searing headache throbbing intensely. He sat up too quickly and rushed to the bathroom to get sick.
He washed his hands and splashed water on his face before staring at himself in the mirror. He hadn’t shaved in weeks and he reeked of alcohol. He stumbled back to his room and flopped onto the bed.
His gaze fell on the broken frame that held your picture, and he couldn’t stop himself from sobbing. He cried until his throat hurt, until his nose burned. He cried so hard It felt like his lungs collapsed.
His stomach was sore from drinking himself sick then crying until he fell asleep over and over again. The days became a blur of pain. His self neglect only made him feel worse.
A knock on the front door woke him back up. His eyes were still puffy and red, his lips swollen and his nose plugged. He pushed himself to answer the door.
It was Mingi again. He didn’t say anything, the two old friends staring at each other.
“You can’t just fade away,” Mingi finally said. “You have to keep going.”
Yunho didnt respond. He’s heard this shit from everyone in town. he didn’t need to hear it again. couldn’t they see that he was nothing without you in his life?
“I’m fine,” he said.
“No, youre not. that’s why I’m taking you with me.”
“What?”
Mingi didnt give Yunho time to protest, shoving his hat into his hands and stomping down the stairs.
Yunho didnt want to follow him, but he did. Mingi already had both horses saddled and ready. He stared at the man atop his red steed, waiting for his friend to join him.
“Get on,” Mingi said.
Yunho numbly grabbed the reins and pulled himself up. He swayed for a moment, but years of riding saved him from falling off. A cowboy never forgets how to ride a horse, and the memories of teaching you how to ride flooded his mind.
Mingi kicked his foot and lead the way, Yunho’s mare following him without command.
“Even your horse knows you need this.”
Mingi smiled in hopes of cheering him up, but it was pointless. Yunho felt as if hed never smile again without you, so whats the point?
The two rode on, to where Yunho had no idea. Mingi made several jokes, tried to start a conversation, anything to get his friend to say something, but Yunho only gave him grunts and head nods. They rode through the town and past the gates. The dry desert heat was harsh, but it was nothing compared to life without you.
They rode for a few hours until the sun started to set, finally Yunho spoke up.
“Where are taking me?” he asked.
Mingi’s body rocked with the beat of his horse’s steps, keeping his narrow eyes on the invisible path in front of them. He didnt answer.
Yunho gave his horse a small kick, speeding up to stop in front of Mingi.
“It’s getting dark, where are you taking me?” he asked again.
“Away from her before you kill yourself,” Mingi answered.
Yunho furrowed his brows and shook his head. How could he do this? Didnt mingi have any idea how much he still needed you?
“No, no I cant leave her.”
He kicked his horse and rode back to the town, Mingi spinning around and gaining on him quickly. It only took half the time to get back, and once the soft glow of the town was in sight Mingi pulled in front of Yunho’s horse.
Before Yunho could protest, Mingi jumped down and pulled yunho onto the ground. He fell with a thud as dust clouded around him.
“I’m not going to watch you do this to yourself,” Mingi said stubbornly.
“Will you let me be?” Yunho said, dusting himself off.
“No! Im not going to just stand idly by while you do this to yourself!”
“It’s not your place to interfere!”
“I dont give a damn, you’re my partner, my brother. Whether you like it or not im going to keep pestering you until you get your shit together.”
Yunho didnt have the time to argue before the gunshot echoed through the air.
yn!
Yunho and Mingi jumped back on their horses, galloping towards the town. The townspeople were in a panic. A group of burly men atop sleek black horses were making a mess of the town, firing their guns and busting through the shops’ wooden doors.
Yunho frantically searched you amidst the chaos, but he couldnt see you. Maybe you were inside, and safe. He redirected his focus on the criminals, reaching for his gun. But it wasn’t there, he must have left it home.
Mingi stayed close, skillfully shooting at the riders. With each man that fell, the horse would go wild. These were wild horses, barely tamed and dangerous.
“Mingi! Get the horses out of here!” Yunho shouted over the firing shots.
Mingi nodded and fired one last time before wrangling up the wild horses. In that split second, a man already shot off his horse aimed his gun at Mingi, shooting him off his own horse.
“Mingi!” Yunho shouted, rearing his horse around.
Before he could reach him, an ear piercing scream made his blood run cold. It was you, and you were in danger.
“Go, I got Mingi!” said a voice from behind.
Hongjoong ran to Mingi with San right behind him. Yunho tipped his hat and rode towards your cry. He jumped off and busted through the door. This was his house.
A rukus upstairs told him where you were. He climbed the stairs two sometimes three steps a time. The door was hanging off its hinges, you were cornered by a man with a bloody shoulder.
“Yunho no!” you shrieked.
But it was too late, Yunho barged in and a second man hit him behind his head with his gun, knocking him out.
When he came to, he was tied up in the corner with a gag in his mouth. Everything was blurry for a minute, he could taste blood in his mouth and the sweat burned his wounds. You were unconscious next to him, he couldnt see your face but you didnt look injured.
He could see out the window, watching from above. The townspeople had retreated to vacant porches, watching with terror. The men who had been attacking were gathered and tied in the middle of the dirt road. The wild horses were rounded out of the town.
Yunho tried to avoid the bodies of his people on the ground for now. He had to get you out of here.
A sharp kick in his chest made him cough up blood, turning his attention to the two men in front of him. did The others not know these guys were still here?
“You should’ve minded your own business sheriff,” said one of the men. “You just had to come be a hero.”
The two men blocked Yunho’s view of the window, muttering their plan to escape.
“We just gotta stay up here till those bastards finish their little gathering. We can sneak out when it’s a little darker and quieter.”
“We’ll take the bitch with us, just shoot the sheriff.”
With a final burst of adrenaline, Yunho lunged towards the men. He knocked him with his shoulder through the window, the other man was quick with his gun and shot him in the back.
Yunho grunted and bit down on the gag, running to the second man and pinning him against the wall. His arms were still tied behind his back, but he used his bigger frame to keep the man from running away.
The man shot him again with the last bullet, the empty barrel clicking rapidly against his wound. Yunho pushed the man harder against the wall, and finally someone had come to help.
Hongjoong shot the man once and he went still, falling to the ground when Yunho backed off. Hongjoong caught Yunho when he swayed, and leaned him against the wall.
As soon as the gag was out of his mouth, Yunho gasped.
“yn, is she okay.”
Hongjoong went over to your still body, rolling you onto your back. Yunho watched with heavy deep breaths. Hongjoong placed his fingers against your neck and sighed.
“She’s breathing,” he said.
Yunho smiled and closed his eyes. You were safe, you would be okay.
i’m already almost done with part two i’ll post it soon🙏
taglist: @vampzity @scarfac3 @h4untedgrl @losrpark @dollywoo @jjongibears @velvetmoonlght
