Slingin' from the hip, never the heart. | Open Post

[tinstar]

Raylan's job took him everywhere, from Harlan to Los Angeles to Paris. The Marshals service was demanding but Raylan leaned into the work, traveling as needed to get to get his man.

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[stallfortime]

For a second, she's a kid again.

She's had too many moments like that, lately.

It leaves her frozen, hand on her firearm still, staring at him like she did the very first time they met.

"...What the fuck."

Yeah, he knows that voice, too.

[tinstar]

That place felt like three lifetimes ago and when Raylan thought about it, which he did often enough despite the time, it had always been fondly. Sure they'd had some terrible horrible no good times but - he'd found people he loved. People he still worried about now and then in the idle quiet of a stake out.

People he was sure he would never see again.

A long beat passes as he clears his mouth before: "Athena? I-"

He steps forward one arm half out like he would have when she was younger or like he might set a hand on her shoulder and stops halfway, unsure if it was welcome or even wanted.

"What- Are you okay?"

Wasn't that always his first question, making sure she was okay?

thoughts on Raylan ending up in her neck of the woods...

[stallfortime]

"You got fuckin' old, cowboy." The teasing is raspy with emotions she's trying to hold back, smother. Squeeze into submission.

But for a second, maybe even sixty whole seconds, she'll let herself have the simplicity of a goddamn fucking hug.

We love it; let's do it

[tinstar]

God she was a sight for sore eyes. Raylan grins as he wraps her up in a tight hug like he was trying to prove he was as young as ever and softly laughs out his answer.

"Apparently I ain't the only one, darlin'."

He couldn't believe it was her and, after a long beat, he pulls back, one hand lingering on her shoulder as he takes her in before it drops with a pull of his grin. She hadn't gotten much taller, but the muscles were hard to miss - she was firm. Strong. She wasn't an awkward teenager any more.

"I don't know what's goin' on, but if you're here, I ain't gonna question it too hard. Either Somethin'™ has happened, or my burrito had LSD in it."