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The sun had just began to set, the night settling in with gentle shifts in the colour of the sky. Croki leaned against the side of their home and adjusted her hat, her boot tapping gently as she took in the feeling of the evening breeze.
It had been a long couple of years. The bounty, the distance, the drama.. everything had finally settled. They could finally settle at home. And home, as far as Croki was concerned, meant Famine.
Lonesome pushed open the door, stepping into the coziness of their shared space. Famine had been busy with sewing again, it seemed, because there weren’t any dishes to clean up or mess to clean outside of the sewing room.
Croki was just starting to get used to having a life like this again, really; a life filled with peace, tranquility, love.. and, most importantly, her wife and their happiness.
Famine was curled in her rocking chair, humming quietly while she worked on stitching a seam. Upon hearing steps at the door, she’d paused to peek at who it was. Not even a second passed before her lips curled into a soft smile that melted the weariness of the day right off Croki’s shoulders.
« Hi honey, »
Famine hummed sweetly, admiring her lover from the other side of the room.
« Back so soon? Only took you about seven hours, »
The blonde gently teased. Croki chuckled softly as she made her way over, tossing her hat onto the coatrack and rolling her shoulders out from the day’s work (well.. more like a hobby.).
« Hey, doll. Didn’t do nothing wild, I promise. Though.. I was thinkin' we could do somethin’ a little different tonight, if.. that’s alright with you. »
The blonde raised an eyebrow, a spark of worry and curiosity flickering in her eyes.
« Mm? What, uh.. did you have in mind? »
Merciful asked, setting her fabric and needle aside. Croki grinned, a mischievous little grin that Famine could interpret as something lighthearted, no pressure at all. The blonde’s shoulders eased up as Lonesome went to take her hands.
« Well, er.. I was thinkin’ we could.. roleplay, a little? »
Famine blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion, and Croki could feel a warm blush creep up to her cheeks. It wasn’t like they hadn’t joked around before, but this was different. This was a whole new level of unexplored territory, things they hadn’t done before. It was a little scary for the both of them.
« I mean, we’ve been through thick and thin together,, literally. but maybe it’d be fun to pretend we’re meeting for the first time again, and.. under better circumstances, too. Re-live everything good, and stuff. Er.. »
Croki said, her voice teasing as she leaned against the desk, folding her arms across her chest now like she usually did when she was getting rather shy.
Famine only sat up straighter, excitement flickering in her gaze when she realized.
« Awh, Croki..! I love the sound of that. Though.. »
She paused, pursing her lips for a moment. She seemed to flicker through a mix of emotions; embarrassed, nervous, distraught.. and several others that she couldn’t place her finger on.
« Though.. I don’t think I can put the dress back on, it’s kind of.. ruined, and— »
The brunette’s eyes widened, quickly shaking her head as she held her hands up.
« Nonono!! I, uh— Oh, stars, doll; You don’t gotta do that. You can wear anythin’ else you want; we’ll pretend it’s the first time we meet. Make it as fun as we want, you know? »
Croki was quick to reassure the other woman, sighing in relief when she seemed to settle.
« Well.. alright, then. What brought this on, though? You want to charm me again? »
Famine teased gently as she reached for Croki’s face. The brunette hummed softly and kneeled before her mercy, allowing her wife to cup her face and hold and admire her for as long as she wanted.
« Mm.. I don’t have to try, sweetheart. I’m pretty good at charmin’ you already, aren’t I? I bet you’ll ask me to marry you all over again from nowhere, just like the first time. »
Famine’s eyes sparkled with a mix of affection and mischief, and she pressed a kiss to her love’s forehead. Croki took it as a sign to get up, standing and watching as her beloved stood up in turn. Famine smoothed her skirt down as she got up, humming quietly.
« We’ll see about that, lover. »
Later that evening after a little bit of discussion, the two of them were dressed and off to the local saloon. Famine left a few minutes earlier than Croki, keeping her outfit a surprise as she changed and got ready in the other room. The brunette was practically trembling with excitement, though contained it in favour of keeping the roleplay going smoothly.
As soon as Croki arrived, she adjusted her hat in the reflection of the saloon’s dusty mirror, tugging it juuuust so, until it shadowed her sharp eyes in that effortless, bordering on outlaw-ish sort of way. She flicked a bit of trail dust from her coat, checked the cuffs of her button-up, and grinned at herself.
Tonight wasn’t for gunfights or talk of bounties; no, none of that mess. Tonight was for her and Famine.
The saloon flickered with warm light, laughter rolling out through throughout the place. Croki treated the evening just like the first time, her boots thudding softly on the wood floor as she walked and took in the scenery. From there she spotted the blonde almost immediately, noticing the gentle, awkward little wave she gave.
Famine sat at the far end of the room at the far end of the bar, just how she always liked it. But damn it, Croki wouldn’t have known that yet at that time. But there she was. She sat there, all dressed in a pretty blue dress she’d worked on a month ago, her bodice snug and secure with lace trim just above each hem. She’d done her hair, a few curls framing her flushed cheeks. A glass of whiskey sat in front of her, untouched; most likely for Lonesome.
Croki cleared her throat, making her way over from across the room. Damn those eyes of hers.
« Evenin', miss, »
She drawled, tipping her hat. Tonight was playful, mischievous and sweet and exciting. More than just a quick “will you marry me?” that she wouldn’t have turned down anyway, in any universe out there.
« You sittin’ alone or waitin’ on trouble? »
Famine looked up slowly, pretending oh so convincingly that she didn’t know her wife of three years was under that cowboy hat. Her smile curled like a secret.
« Well, »
The blonde began, her voice light as honey,
« that depends. Are you trouble? »
Croki stepped closer, resting a hand on the back of the empty chair across from her.
« Most folks’d say so. But I clean up alright, and I ain’t shot no one in this saloon. Yet. »
Famine snickered at that, batting her eyelashes.
« Then maybe you can sit down. »
Croki did. She leaned in on her elbows, eyes never leaving Famine’s. The air buzzed between them; That silly, electric kind of energy just like the first time, though without the frantic and flustering feelings from then. Lonesome played her part well, if she said so herself.
« You from around these parts? »
Famine gave her that soft, slow smile; the one she only used when she was head-over-heels. Comfortable, safe.
« ..Not exactly. Ran from a place I shouldn’t have been. Lookin’ for something better. »
Croki reached across the table and gently took her hand, humming quietly in thought.
« Well now, ain’t that lucky. ‘Cause I think I’ve been waitin’ on you. »
They sat there and conversed like strangers falling in love again, faces flushing with the cheesiness of it all. The silly pickup lines, the false confidence from Croki’s drink and the placebo effect from Famine’s seltzer only making things better all the while.
The piano started up in the background after a little while, a few folks dancing lazily. The sound of boots dragging across the old floor caught Famine’s attention. When Croki offered her hand, she didn’t hesitate.
They swayed together in the middle of the saloon surrounded by a few other couples, slow and sweet with Croki leading; her arms gentle and sure. Famine rested her head against Croki’s shoulder, murmuring quietly,
« You’re getting real good at this, you know. »
Croki chuckled, her breath warm against her ear. Famine nearly shuddered, pressing herself a little closer.
« Well, I had a good teacher. And.. a hell of a reason to learn. »
They stayed like that for a while, at least until the music faded and the rest of the world fell quiet. Then, and only then, would Famine pull back; just far enough to look Croki in the eye.
« I know I might sound a little crazy, »
Famine started, hands coming to rest onto the brunette’s shoulders. Lonesome blinked, caught off guard in the best way.
« Ask what? »
Famine’s face heated up, glancing around the room for a moment. ‘There it was,’ Croki mused to herself. After a few heartbeats, Merciful met the other woman’s gaze and asked,
« Will you marry me? »
And dear, sweet Andromeda, Croki’s whole face lit up, heart thudding in her chest like it did the day she met Merciful. She smiled wide and kissed her wife right there in the middle of the damn place, where folks were too polite to stare and too used to love to mind.
« Well.. sure, why not, »
Croki whispered against her lips; the same word she used all those years ago. This time, something extra.
« Hell, I’d marry you a thousand times. »
Their boots echoed on the boards of the porch as they reached their home, a soft sigh of content escaping from them both. Famine slipped her arm around Croki’s waist, waiting while Croki unlocked the door. Once done, she turned to look at her wife, her thumb moving up and brushing a stray hair from Famine’s face.
« You sure know how to charm a stranger, miss. »
Famine grinned, leaning into Croki’s touch.
« Good thing I married one. »
Croki kissed her again; softer, slower now. Familiar. But when they stepped inside and shut the door behind them, something shifted. Not in a bad way, of course; just.. heavier. A little more real.
The house was just as they’d left it; soft, gentle, comfortable. Maybe a bit of a mess of clothes in the sewing room, as per usual.
Croki toed off her boots, then helped Famine out of hers. They moved in their usual dance they’d done a hundred times, but tonight, there was something unspoken hanging in the air.
Maybe it was the way Croki lingered; watching Famine from across the room like she didn’t deserve to touch her. Or the way her smile faltered just a bit too long. Famine noticed, like she always did.
« What’s wrong? »
Croki hesitated. Her fingers curled into the brim of her hat, awkwardly fiddling with it for a heartbeat.
« Nothing.. Just thinkin’. »
Famine huffed softly, tugged the hat from her hands, and set it aside.
« Tell me, love. We can fix it, can’t we? »
Croki let out a long breath, nodding slowly.
« It’s.. foolish. Just… sometimes I think about those two years I was gone, and.. What it must’ve been like for you. Waitin’. Alone. »
Famine’s face softened with that oh so familiar ache, but she didn’t interrupt.
« ..I remember what you looked like when I came back, »
Croki continued, voice low.
« You were wearin’ those dresses you hate. And you had your hair tied up like you do when you're too tired to care. And.. you looked at me like I was a ghost, »
She swallowed. The hurt started etching itself onto her features, fears coming into the light.
« Sometimes I wonder if you forgave me too easy. »
Famine touched her face, gentle as a prayer. No, not like those desperate, anguished ones she’d mutter to herself when Croki was gone. The kind ones, filled with love and care for others, empathy and compassion.
« ..You didn’t leave to hurt me. You left to keep us alive. You did what you had to, »
Merciful muttered softly, tugging the woman closer to her.
« I should’ve come back sooner. »
« You came back, »
Famine’s voice cracked, just barely. Tears threatened to brew, but she held them back. Tonight was soft, sweet. Playful, remember?
« That’s what matters. »
They stood in the quiet for a moment, basking in eachother’s embrace. Lonesome’s hand slipped around Famine’s waist, anchoring herself to the one merciful thing that never changed. If she did, it was for the better.
« I’d wait again, »
Famine whispered quietly.
« But I’d really rather not have to. »
Croki pulled her closer.
« You won’t. I’m home for good, I’ll always make sure of that. »
The kiss that followed was slower than before; deep, desperate in a way that only comes from people who’ve almost lost each other and know how precious time is. Famine led them toward the couch and Croki let herself be pulled down, fingers tangled in blue satin and sighs.
Clothes stayed mostly on. It wasn’t about that; not tonight, at least.
It was about the way Croki kissed Famine’s knuckles and murmured, ’I missed you, every night.’ Or how Famine traced the scars along Croki’s skin and said, ’You came back with this.. and I hated it, but I love you.’
It was the soft, quiet kind of love that didn't need proving; and yet still asked to be held. It had been proven time and time again, anyway.
Later that evening, the two were curled up into each other. Famine gently held onto Croki, Lonesome’s arm loosely tossed over Famine’s side so she doesn’t fall off the bed again. The blonde sighed quietly, muttering something to the other.
« Hey.. Can I tell you something? »
Croki hummed.
« Always. »
« ..I didn’t just ask you to marry me again tonight because of the roleplay. »
A pause. Croki raised a brow, slowly pulling away to look at Famine a little more clearly.
« I needed to hear you say yes again, I suppose.. I don’t know. maybe I needed to know you still choose me, or.. something stupid like that. »
Croki blinked hard. Her voice was a little rough when she replied.
« You kiddin’? I never stopped, doll; I’ll always choose you. And if you asked me tomorrow, or the day after that, or when we’re old and gray and bickering, I’ll still say yes. »
Lonesome reassured, running a hand through golden locks of hair. Famine smiled softly and clung back onto her wife, a soft chuckle escaping from her as she pressed her skin against Croki’s.
« Then I guess I’ll have to keep askin’. »