tinstar | Text Overflow: It's just a flesh wound

[He almost dared to look proud as he rolled his shoulder, ambling over to collect the axe and return to Malcolm's side, making a face at the story being retold.]

Batting is the most fun of it all. I'm gonna have to take you to the batting cage. Swinging and hitting balls coming forty plus miles an hour at you isn't not fun. Helps vent some of that steam too. The positions are fun, if the game is gettin' played well.

Edited 2020-05-06 14:54 (UTC)

I batted once at school, but the kid pitching threw the ball at my head on purpose and then I had to sit out the rest of the game with ice on my face. [He looked at Raylan.] I know you're getting the impression that I was really popular at school and you're right. Does a machine throw the balls in a batting cage?

[He backed up several feet, then turned and threw the smaller axe hard at the tree. It landed in the centre with a 'thwump'. He walked over to get it.]

[Raylan's jaw said all he needed to say about that, but still, he added:] Assholes.

[But all high schoolers were.]

Yup. You set it and it goes. A ball every 10 or so seconds. If you get hit in the head there, you did it to yourself.. Even though we are supposed to wear gear in there.. [Raylan was not the type to wear it.

He spun the axe in his hand again as he moved to the throwing spot, waiting for Malcolm to get clear before he tried again, this time a little more confident in a one handed throw, though the throw itself would argue the point. Raylan tsked softly as he went to collect it.]

I'm going to end up practicing this when I'm alone out here now. Thanks for that. [It was a little dry, but his lips curled in a smile.] Like I didn't have enough on my eventual to do list.

[Malcolm grinned.] This is more fun than painting siding, though. [And maybe it was something to remember him by when he was back in New York, throwing axes at his own wall, trying to make himself not text Raylan at three in the morning.] And you'll have a terrifying new way to startle intruders. [He moved back a few feet more and threw his axe again. It hit a little low this time. He shook his head.] Didn't give it enough of what my coach referred to as 'oomph'.

Nah, the tree moved, I saw it. [Raylan grinned back.]

I suppose it is. [It totally was - House cleaning and painting were boring, responsible tasks.] It'll be a nice change of pace to make a guy shit himself via axe and not gun. Don't think I'll be replacing my service weapon though.

[There was no way to miss the slight dampening color on Raylan's shirt as he started to sweat under the exertion and effort but he liked it. He stepped up again, swung again, and hit again, same as before which was progress, in his opinion.]

Little sad I didn't think to grab a beer or something before heading out here. We'll have to go back soon and hydrate. The sun out here does weird things to a body.

[Malcolm's shirt was also suffering the consequences of heat and sun, but he'd done worse to full expensive suits than sweat through them and this was just the shirt.

But it wasn't what the sun was doing to his body that was distracting him.]

Mm. How about one more throw each? I'll try to put enough 'oomph' on it from back here.

[He raised the axe and gave it a good, hard heave. It hit that time.]

Yeah, that's what I call 'quitting while you're ahead'. [Joking as he retrieved it.] Do you want the small one or the big one for your last throw?

[ Raylan nodded to the suggestion and stood back, watching the way Malcolm's suit shirt clung to him and noting the lack of undershirt underneath - the kind of thing you might wear into a lawyers office but not out here.

He had to admit it; he liked watching Malcolm work, as strange as it was for the everything that Malcolm wrapped himself up in.]

I'll take the big one. Might as well see how hard I can throw it - maybe it'll help.

[Taking off his hat, he tossed at Malcolm with a 'Catch' in warning as he steps up to the 'plate', feeling more and more like he's pitching again. Maybe that'd help too. The axe head was brought up over and past his head with both hands and Raylan took a breath that was caught halfway out as he stepped and snapped his arms forwards. The axe landed in the crotch of the tree, however crooked, and Raylan let out a little 'Yes' of self affirmation.]

Quit while we're ahead, right? Before my arms figure out what we've just done with 'em.

[Malcolm caught the hat and put it on his head as he watched the throw, grinning widely at Raylan's success.]

Your arms.... will probably be okay. [He was looking at Raylan's shoulders again. It was their fault for being shiny and capable-looking. He lifted his gaze to Raylan's face.] A break well earned. [He took off the hat and handed it back to its owner.] Maybe I'll have a beer with you.

[Once the axe was collected and Raylan had his hat back on, he lifted his eyebrows in surprise.] Its the throwing things, isn't it?

[Smirking, Raylan headed them back towards the house, axe propped over his shoulder.]

If I wake up tomorrow and am sore, I'm blamin' you... And then getting you back when we hit the cages.

[He laughed.] No, it just seems like a nice afternoon break. Though, in the interest of full disclosure, it will take me three hours to drink it.

[He looked over eagerly when Raylan mentioned the cages.] Do they have some around here? [Then he remembered where they were and who shouldn't be seen around (him) and amended that.] Or... better yet: somewhere we have to drive a long way to.

Taste goes down, warmer it gets, [he warned, lips curling again at the laugh and the eager look at greeted him.]

There's some decent ones in Lexington. We can go back a day early, hang out in the motel and wear out your shoulders before we send you home. [Frankly, Raylan was looking to get Malcolm out of Harlan as soon as he could, without panic, but it wasn't urgent enough to spirit him away this minute.]

If you can stand to be out here for another two nights.

[Oh right. Going home. But that was a good plan and he nodded.

Until 'If you can stand to be out here another two nights.' He huffed a self-conscious laugh.] I'll try to persevere. [It was clearly no hardship. He looked over at Raylan.] I'm having a great time. [Completely sincerely. There was obviously one notable exception, but Raylan was aware of it, so he was fine with letting it be. Raylan still wanted to spend time with him. He found Raylan's presence comforting and warm. He'd have still been having a good time if all they did was sit and talk. All this? More than he expected when he got on that plane.]

[Raylan broke into a grin.]

Wait til we run outta things to busy your hands.

[They were both long legged, and made short work of the remaining space. As they headed inside, Raylan took off his hat and tossed it on the counter as he reached into the fridge and pulled out two beers. With that done, he headed over to the sink and turned on the cold water before bending to stick his head under it with a satisfied sound.]

I don't know how you're still in a tie,[He said from the sink, happy enough to let it run over him for a minute. ]

[Malcolm gave him a cheeky look.] Why? Are you going somewhere? [Raylan was plenty for his hands; everything else was a bonus.]

[He loosened his tie when Raylan mentioned it, smiling with a huff of a laugh.] I've been wearing a tie on a pretty much daily basis since I was six. I'm pretty used to it. [He twisted the cap off his beer and took a small sip.]

[Raylan hummed a note of interest, face curling as he turned the tap off and pushed as much water out of his hair as he could before standing back up and slicking it all back.]

Six? Jesus. I only had to wear a tie on Sundays. And it barely survived the sermon.

But it feels weird to talk about God and follow up with a question about what your hands can do to me.

[Now he could pop his own beer and take a pull. ]

[Malcolm laughed lightly, looking up at him from his seat at the table.] We never went to church.

[He got up and stepped around the table, setting his bottle on the counter next to Raylan's elbow before sliding his hands up Raylan's chest and leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his mouth.] Thanks for... dealing with that situation this morning.

That doesn't surprise me.

[They were too affluent to believe in God like that, and New York was a far cry from the bible rich hollars of Kentucky.

Raylan watched Malcolm walk up and breathed a little deeper as his hands slid up his chest. It felt like he hadn't had his raw fill of the man and Raylan was doing his best to not let it overtake him. Leaning into the kiss, Raylan hummed again, keeping their faces close.]

I told you I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Even if you pretty much asked for it. Plus,[he continued, caving to himself, slipping an arm around Malcolm's waist,] while I don't doubt how rugged you'd look with a busted lip, I think that might cause you more questions than not when you get back home. You're not supposed to return from days off looking worse than when you left.

Iiit would probably not surprise anyone if my mouth got me punched in the face. [Admitted with a wince. It was something he needed to work on. He recognized that.] Gil's been cross with me for not shutting it before. More than once. That's definitely... personal development that I need to do. [He brushed his nose along Raylan's jaw before lifting his head to kiss him again.] I don't want to make myself unwelcome where you are.

Hmm, no but- [His thought was sweetly interrupted by Malcolm's lips and he sighed into the kiss a little.]

You're making it awfully hard to think you know..[Raylan kissed him again, this time deeper, beer getting set on the counter so he could have a free hand to wrap back around the man in his arms.]

And you're welcome most everywhere I am, I'll promise that too. Can't imagine more than one or two places where that might be broken.

[He grinned broadly, pleased with himself, when Raylan told him he made it hard to think.

He slid his hands from Raylan's shoulders to wrap his arms around his neck, leaning into that kiss, opening up to it.]

I can be discreet. When I'm not being distracting. [Or stupid.

He slid a hand up into Raylan's hair, running his fingertips along his temple and past his ear.] I'll follow your lead on where it's safe to be, as long as I end up here at the end of the day. [He wasn't talking about the house or the town or the state.]

[ Raylan knew promising the moon was stupid - he was a Marshal; he got shot at, his family got shot at and targeted, but he would and know that Malcolm wouldn't blame him for the scum that decided to take it out on others. Hell, if there was anyone in the world equipped to handle it..

He liked the fingers in his hair, head moving into the gesture a little as he took in the meaning of the words.]

I like the sound of that. [How did this even happen? It boggled Raylan's mind, more than a little.] If we keep making out like this, we're gonna have a couple of decent sized problems on our hands.. But it is the best way of spending an afternoon...

[The suggestive look on his face was almost devilish but edged just enough on the side of amusement that he could run that way with it if he needed.]

Pr...? [His eyes glanced down then lifted back to Raylan's face with a breathy laugh as he caught the meaning.] Oh, those problems. [He smiled, his hand trailing along Raylan's shoulder, fidgeting with the strap of his undershirt. He'd wanted to touch his shoulders since he'd been watching them flex under the weight of the axe.

He noticed Raylan tended to leave them both little outs, like breadcrumbs of escape, but he knew it wasn't because he didn't want this. He was the one talking about them living in Miami. He suspected there was a part of Raylan still not entirely comfortable with what this made him question about himself, but that would come in time.

And if Malcolm was a pleasant distraction from uncomfortable thoughts... well, he would just kiss Raylan again and see if he could make a couple of decent sized problems for them.]

[Raylan was not entirely comfortable with the questions Malcolm had stirred. Raylan wasn't entirely comfortable with what he was doing but that didn't quell the desire to do it. He did want this. He just wasn't sure how to go about it. There were too many questions about what was the same and what was different, and still his body was pressing forward, guiding Malcolm away from the counter.

He wasn't sure what wall they hit, but as soon as they had, his hands were tugging Malcolm's perfectly sweaty shirt out of his waistband before he said fuck it and hoisted Malcolm up onto his hips, keeping him pressed against the wall as one hand came around and up to Malcolm's neck, both to balance his weight and break the kiss a little.]

I want to fuck you and I don't know what to do with that.

[Raylan backing him up to the wall stirred arousal in his belly, but when he lifted him up, his heart sped up and he gripped Raylan's waist with his knees. When the kiss broke and Raylan uttered those words, he felt like he couldn't breathe for a moment. He swallowed, his eyes drifting over Raylan's features.]

I can, um. Help you with that.

[His hand slid up into Raylan's hair and kissed him again, pulling back only slightly when it broke.]

I have to get something from my bag, though, to do that.

[His voice was a little breathless. He set a finger against Raylan's chest.] So no judging me for maybe having had some hopes. [He knew if things got this far, someone had to be prepared and it wouldn't be Raylan.]

[Normally, Raylan wasn't one to talk like but the heat left behind the gentle touches on his shoulders and the fingers in his hair and the new path he was on had him bluntly confronting the obstacle he'd been circling around since New York. He wasn't sure he knew how to be sweet about this, just now, not with Malcolm looking the way he did, agreeing the way he was.

And he was right - being prepared for this would be like asking it to happen for Raylan and he hadn't been at a spot yet to accept that it might happen.]

More thankful for your hopes than not, [He replied huskily as he pressed a more gentle kiss to Malcolm's lips. He wanted to go upstairs.. He also didn't want to set Malcolm down.. or fall down the stairs trying to something stupid. With a little rumble of protest from the back of his throat, Raylan gently set Malcolm down, one hand on his leg firm and sure in its guidance.]

Right behind you.. [And he would enjoy the view the whole way. ]

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