Longshot

Thunk.

Late.

Thunk.

Late.

Thunk.

Still late.

Smellerbee was sitting on a fallen log, half-heartedly throwing knives at nearby trees. She got up...

Simple Tastes, Simple Wants: Thunk.Late.Thunk.Late.Thunk.Still late.Smellerbee was sitting on…

#smellershot #justmesmellerbee

After Longshot's fingers wrapped around the container full of honey, he found himself tensing. He listened to the sound of the knife that flew past him. He waited for the thud of the blade digging into wood, before releasing the container back into the bag, not even caring to bring it out. He swung the bag over one of his shoulders, and clenched his fists. He gave the girl a disapproving look.

"I got it, because I like honey on my bread, and I know you do, too," he told her. His voice remained calm, although it was obvious that his patience was slowly beginning to run thin. He was tired of her being mad at him for things he did that were meant to please her. It was not like he meant any harm by any of the presents he had purchased for her. It was just so nice to be able to buy whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He just felt he should grab small items when he could, ones that they normally would have only dreamed about having.

"I'm tired of your attitude," he finally sighed, not wanting to continue on acting as if there was nothing wrong with either of them. "I do all of this for you, only to have you mad at me. I know I should have told you sooner that I was leaving, but I did tell you. You are pissed when I buy you presents, but I buy them because we never had them when everyone was together," he turned away from her. He adjusted the bag on his shoulder before crossing his arms.

Thunk.

Late.

Thunk.

Late.

Thunk.

Still late.

Smellerbee was sitting on a fallen log, half-heartedly throwing knives at nearby trees. She got up to collect them, still wincing a little every time she put weight on her leg. The wound was mostly healed up, really, but it would take a while...

#smellershot #justmesmellerbee

Longshot was happy to have finally returned to Yu Dao. He was two days late, and he hated having to leave Smellerbee for so long without being able to sort out their fight. Now that he had finished his job, and escorted another group to the town, he was ready to try and fix the broken relationship.

He nodded to the family after receiving his payment. He watched them make their way toward the large gate that led to Yu Dao. He waited for them to disappear before walking toward the large collection of refugee tents. He nodded at people as he passed by familiar faces, but did nothing more. He needed to find Bee. The week had been hard knowing she was mad at him. He wanted to apologize quickly.

Longshot peeked into her tent, clearing his throat as he did. He glanced around, only to find it was empty. One of his brows rose, and he slowly turned away from it.

"She went that way," a small boy told him as he came face to face with the child. "I was told to keep an eye out for you."

Longshot tipped this hat in thanks to the boy, and began making his way into the woods. He was alert as he walked along the path. He glanced around him and watched for any sign of the girl. It took him a while, but he finally caught sight of her brown hair. He smiled, relief washing over him as he picked up the pace, and raced over to her. He slowed down once he knew she could see him. He moved toward her cautiously, his eyes on the knife she was balancing.

"Hey," he called, letting her know it was him, and not some stranger. He came to a stop a few feet from her. He did not want to get any closer, in case she was even angrier with him. There was no doubt in his mind that his being late would make her even madder at him.

"I'm finally home," he sighed. He pulled his bag off his shoulder and fished out a small box. "I found some honey while I was there. The town is known for it, so I got some for us," he told her, as if nothing were wrong in the first place.

Longshot stared at her as she grabbed onto his shirt. He put a firm hand on her wrist to prevent her from doing anything she would regret. He stared at her, her gaze becoming an icy stare. “I just warned you. I hate leaving you, I really do, that’s why I couldn’t figure out...

Longshot held his breath. He did not exhale until the girl snapped at her. He felt his heart sink. He gave a solemn nod before turning from her. He grabbed a couple of the bags to pass the time. He wanted her to turn around and tell him not to leave. He had wanted to spend the night with her before the few days would pass between them, but he could see that would not happen. If he stayed any longer, there was no telling what the girl would do. He could sense her anger, and he had seen the hurt in her eyes.

He sighed. "I'll see you in a few days, then. Stay off your leg," Longshot murmured as he finally made his way toward the slit in the tent. He pushed the fabric forward, and silently slipped out. His tent was only a few steps away, since he had moved it a few days prior. He moved into it, ready to prepare for his travels. He needed something to get his mind off the fight.

He was irritated, but mostly upset. He had been trying to keep her from getting mad at him, but it had all backfired.

Aw! What happened?

She didn't like that I sprung my leaving tomorrow on her...

Snuggle anyways.

I would prefer not to be stabbed.

Snuggling might not make them go away, but we love it when you snuggle.

Smellerbee would bite me before she snuggled me right now.

She's not exactly happy with me.

Dropping the chocolate onto the table, Longshot sighed. He took a seat in front of it, and then gazed up at her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t know how to tell you,” he admitted. He glanced away from her, slightly ashamed the he had not been able to tell her...

Longshot stared at her as she grabbed onto his shirt. He put a firm hand on her wrist to prevent her from doing anything she would regret. He stared at her, her gaze becoming an icy stare. "I just warned you. I hate leaving you, I really do, that's why I couldn't figure out what to say," he replied calmly before releasing her wrist.

He did not expect her to tell him to leave. Disbelief filled him as a distraught look overtook him. He rose to his feet before moving close to her. He put a shaking hand on her shoulder. He had been trying to avoid making her angry. Everything he had done was to appease her, yet there she was, angry and upset with him. He pursed his lips. He should have told her sooner, but he knew they would have been in the exact same situation, even if he had told her.

He did not want to leave her as much as she did not want him to leave. That was a fact, but Longshot had to go. He pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry," he apologized again, his eyes drooping.

You should go protect Smellerbee from the anons by snuggling with her.

Would snuggling really get the anons off her?

Dropping the chocolate onto the table, Longshot sighed. He took a seat in front of it, and then gazed up at her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I didn't know how to tell you," he admitted. He glanced away from her, slightly ashamed the he had not been able to tell her right away. "They gave me a little bit of money up front for supplies." He motioned to the bags he had brought with him.

"It was all I could find. I hate leaving you, but money is money, and they're paying well," Longshot defended himself. He sat up straight and stared at Smellerbee. His eyes were intense. He really believed this was best for them, and he wanted her to see that. He also wanted her to see that he truly felt guilty for having to leave her again.

Longshot I think the Anons are teamed up against us.

Yeah...well, let's hope they stop. If not, I have a few arrows to spare.

Bee sure is getting a lot of awkwawrd anons tonight, so here's one for you! What's the most you've ever seen of a girl/have you ever done anything with anyone?

*slight blush* As I said before, just Bee in her underwear, but all I have ever done with a girl is kiss one...and again, that would be with Bee.

Fighting a war left little time for such frivolous things... *shrug* Now, I'm too busy trying to work to take part in such a thing...not that I even want to.

Have you ever seen Smellerbee naked? Or in any compromising sort of position sort of thing?

I have never seen her naked...but I have seen her in her underwear, but it was never in a... compromising position sort of situation.

*intense stare becomes a glare at the anon*

It had been close to a week already and Bee was getting more and more anxious.

She hated being confined to a certain area. She hated not being able to move around without feeling pain. Hated that she still had to use that stupid walking stick or else she’d falter when she put weight on her leg....

Longshot could finally see the tent come into view. It had been a long day of doing odd jobs here and there so he could collect the supplies Smellerbee would need while he was gone. He had a few bags slung over his shoulders, each filled with things he thought she would need, as well as supplies he would need for his job the next morning. He had a family that he needed to lead to a small village just west of Yu Dao. He was to stay with them, and then lead them, as well as any other groups, back to the town. He would protect them, and be their guide. It was the easiest job he could come up with, and one that would pay well.

However, he had not told Smellerbee about the job. He had no idea how to bring it up, and had found himself staying completely silent the past few days. He wracked his brain for the words, and searched himself for the courage to tell her. He was afraid of the look she would give him, the one that said she hated that he was leaving her. It was a look he associated with abandonment, and that was one thing he could not stand. He did not abandon people.

He pushed the tent flaps apart before slipping in. He glanced over at Smellerbee, giving her a nod to greet her. He made his way to the small table that sat opposite of the girl's bed. He dropped the bags onto the table, and then took a seat. He pushed his hat off his head. He kept silent, his gaze away from her as he went through these motions. He needed to find the words, even if it was a simple "I'm leaving". He needed to give her fair warning, but all he could imagine was the look of abandonment he feared seeing.

Longshot gulped as he sorted through the bags. He pulled out an object wrapped in paper. He turned, and inched toward the girl. He held the present in an outstretched hand. Waiting for her to take it, he sold her, "It's chocolate."

His gaze remained intense as he took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly. "I have a job. I won't be here for a few days. I leave tomorrow morning," he finally tells her with an even tone. It was short, and to the point. The only way he could sugarcoat it was with real candy. The chocolate he offered her was to keep her from getting mad. He hoped a gift would be enough of an apology for having to take such a job.

“I’m not that worried,” Longshot quipped, his voice incredulous. His worry would just make her feel guilty. He had seen the look in her eye before he separated himself from her. Her promise to stay still did ease him a bit, though. His body slowly started to relax. He would...

Longshot accepted the shawl that she was holding out to him. He snatched up one of the cushions, and took a seat next to her bed. He reached for the pile of bags and pulled out a loaf of bread for them to split. Neither had eaten since that morning, and his stomach was beginning to growl. Besides, he needed to keep himself moving. He needed to keep his mind off of how tense the air between them was.

He broke a chunk off the loaf before offering the other half to Smellerbee just as she stated exactly what was on his mind. He stared at her in disbelief. She had been so against him running off earlier, but now she was fine with it. He knew it was because their situation had gotten worse, but knowing that he could tell her he would be leaving for work settled him. He would not have to leave her in the dark. Longshot knew exactly where to go to look for people who needed to visit the distant towns that people from Yu Dao traveled to.

"I'll earn enough money to not have to leave too often. One trip will transport two groups, one to the city, and one back," he explained. Longshot had made up his mind on what he would do. It would be easy money. He was too old for someone to want to take him on as an apprentice, and he had no special skills, other than his archery. It was all he could use to keep them afloat. Smellerbee would have better chances. She was younger, and people would be more willing to take her in than him.

"I'll be safe," he promised her. He cracked a reassuring smile, but it disappeared quickly. His gaze, however, remained intense.

Longshot frowned slightly when she refused his offer, but he did not press it further. He was happy to hear her quickly accept. “Of course,” he assured her with a nod. He slipped his quiver and their bags off of him, and handed them to the girl. He took hold of her cane...

"I'm not that worried," Longshot quipped, his voice incredulous. His worry would just make her feel guilty. He had seen the look in her eye before he separated himself from her. Her promise to stay still did ease him a bit, though. His body slowly started to relax. He would worry about paying for her medicine, and gauze, but knowing she would not fight the doctor's orders took a lot of the weight off his shoulders. It was better to have her lay in bed doing nothing than to risk her hurting herself further, and increase the time she would be off her feet. They both needed jobs, but not to the point where she needed to injure herself finding one.

"We can pool our savings together. We need to start doing this together," he stated. "I can leave first thing in the morning and get a job, then we won't have to worry." He was already formulating a plan. If he took his arrows, he could at least find someone who would need a guard. If anything, he could offer to travel with some people, and protect them. Just because the war was over did not mean that there were not people hiding in the woods, waiting to attack unsuspecting victims. He would hate being away from Smellerbee if he had to go that route, but it was better than having no source of income, and he would be right back.

He ducked into her tent. He gently set her down next to her cot before pushing his hat back off his head. He watched her cautiously, waiting for any signs of discomfort. "Can I get you anything?"

Longshot frowned slightly when she refused his offer, but he did not press it further. He was happy to hear her quickly accept. "Of course," he assured her with a nod. He slipped his quiver and their bags off of him, and handed them to the girl. He took hold of her cane before turning. He braced himself for her to climb onto his back, his arms already positioned to carry her. "I'd rather just carry you to your bed," he admitted, his voice but a whisper. Even if she had been looked at, it did not mean they were in the clear, but for now he would not let himself worry.

As soon as she was on his back, he collected her bag of medicine, and began the trek back to their tent. No, it was not theirs. It was her tent. He shook his head in disbelief. There was no they at that moment.

He felt a bit happy to be out of the clinic. He hated the scent of herbs that filled the air inside it. He knew the scent was covering the stench of spilled blood that should fill the rooms. He also hated how the air felt stagnant in there, and how he was always filled with so much worry anytime he entered one. Then, there was the bill that he would have to pay off. He did not mind paying for it, but he did not know where he was going to get the money. He needed a job, and quick, but he also needed to stay behind and take care of Smellerbee until she could move on her own.

His jaw clenched as the thoughts swirled in his head, each conflicting with one another. He had no time to think of any other girls, even if they invited him to come back to them. He had a living he needed to make, and a special girl to take care of.

Longshot did not believe her. He knew Jet had to be dead. There was no way that their friend could have escaped that mess without being caught or crushed. Of course, he would never disclose his pessimism to her. He did not want to crush the last shred of hope she was clinging...

Longshot did not respond to her. He would wait until he could look her in the eye and let her know exactly what he wanted to say to her. He felt that he could not clearly express what he wanted to say to her without his overwhelming sense of worry causing his words to come out muddled. Instead, he focused on clearing his head. He listened to the singing birds and the sounds of insects that were hidden by the thicket of leaves above them.

Every so often he would glance back at Smellerbee to make sure she was awake, but that was all he did until they finally reached the doctor's. After checking her in, and setting her down on one of the cots, he had made himself comfortable on the other side of the room. He kept his eyes on her for the longest time, until a nurse came to his side.

He had turned his back to Smellerbee to listen to what the woman was telling him. She was young, and very pretty, but the man paid no mind to those two details. All he cared about was the information she was giving him on how to take care of the injured girl, and what he could do to help the healing process.

"Your little sister is going to be fine, but you should take special care of her," the nurse told him with a big smile.

"She's not my sister," he corrected her calmy as he rose to his feet. He pulled his hat back onto his head, having had slipped it off once they entered the building. "Thank you, though," he quickly added. He gave a slight, appreciative nod.

She giggled and glanced over at Smellerbee. "She's all patched up. Well, whatever you are to her, she's lucky to have someone so worried. Feel free to stop by, even if you aren't hurt," she cooed before fleeing Longshot, leaving him utterly confused.

He stood there. He was completely baffled by the woman's words. He took a deep breath, and turned toward Smellerbee, figuring it was better to just ignore what she had said. Longshot walked toward her, the worry finally having left his intense gaze. "Want me to carry you?" He asked her once he was within a reasonable distance.