Horse Eden : Belle X West

August 12, 2025 10:45 AM

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Raegan left quietly after that, the quiet itself almost a relief, though it wasn’t the usual kind. They hadn’t been loud or particularly cheerful before, but this was a different sort of silence. She didn’t let herself think too hard about it, not wanting her face to give her away. She was terrified of what would happen if she actually broke down in front of him. He wouldn’t know what to do with it, not really. And how selfish would it be? He was the one dying. He was the one carrying all of it. The least she could do was keep her own grief out of his sight. She lingered at the doorstep longer than necessary, drawing slow breaths before calling an Uber. Her heart wouldn’t calm, thudding against her ribs as her thoughts looped back to him again and again. To his future. If he even had one.

She didn’t agree with him about the company. Not in the slightest. Hurting it would only hurt Konig too — the man who had spent his entire life building it, the same man dying alongside his son. That would be what Konig remembered at the end: Axl destroying it. That would be what Axl remembered of his father. She winced at the thought, pushing it away with a small shake of her head. No. All wrong. But she wasn’t about to send him an angry text over it now, not when she wasn’t even angry so much as tired and raw, and his plans weren’t helping.

She got home quickly, but the stillness there didn’t make anything easier. That sick, unsettled feeling stayed with her, the way he’d told her replaying in her head until it was all she could hear. Why tell her at all? He could have kept it to himself and they could’ve stayed the way they were. Another selfish thought. He needed to tell someone, didn’t he? But then he’d told her and asked her not to change anything for him. As if she could stop herself. She hated all of it. She needed sleep.

She showered, changed, fell into bed — hoping for enough rest to get through tomorrow without running on fumes. That hope didn’t last. When she woke, it was 10 a.m. She should’ve been at the hospital three hours ago. She scrambled to get ready, called a cab, and sat through traffic that couldn’t care less about her lateness. By the time she arrived, another hour had passed. The questions started almost immediately. Not everyone there was Blue Ridge clan, but most of them were. They knew who Axl was, and thanks to Konig, they knew why he was here. She stuck to the story — old friends, dinner — but the looks said they weren’t convinced. Thankfully, not many of them were from her specific branch of the clan, and so they didn’t know exactly what had happened years ago. That would have made everything worse.

She pushed through the rest of the day, doing her best not to crack. That fell apart when she had to tell a young boy’s mother he’d been put into a coma after an attack from a rogue gang. He’d probably be fine, but the way the woman reacted got under her skin. When she left the room, she was already tearing up, unable to figure out why this, of all things, had tipped her over. Everything felt wrong.

That night she made it home in record time, collapsing into bed without much thought. It was too much and not enough all at once. She hated all of it. At least it was Friday.

She woke slow the next afternoon, dragged from sleep by the familiar light knock that could only be her mother. An invitation to dinner. She agreed without thinking, though something nagged at her. It wasn’t until she checked her phone that she remembered Axl’s message from the night before — they had plans in less than ten minutes. She wasn’t even showered. She rushed to get ready, sent her mother a quick “I’m sick” text, and waited in her living room for Axl’s knock. Instead, her phone lit up again: her mother, saying she was coming over to take care of her.

The knock came. It could only be one of two people.

It was Axl. And just beyond him, her mother walking down the hill toward her house. Her eyes went wide and she grabbed him without explanation, hauling him toward the exit of the little community. She was embarrassingly winded after only a few houses. When they were finally out of sight, she leaned over slightly, hand pressed to her chest as she fought for breath. “My mo—” She stopped, inhaled sharply, wheezed like a dying accordion, then tried again. “My mother was coming over.” She straightened enough to offer him a lopsided smile, still catching her breath.

August 12, 2025 11:07 AM

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Axl was thinking about the evening ahead while he waited. Hopefuly they could both have an enjoyable time and she would enjoy meeting Charlotte and Whiplash, the horse, and everyone would be happy. They wouldn't have to think about him dying and he could tell her some other time about ... well, the thing. He wasn't going to ruin their night tonight. Maybe he could get her cotton candy and wait till the correct stickiest moment and take a picture to get her back for the pizza pic. The mere thought brought a smile to his face. Yes, he decided. This would be a good night.

He had remembered to bring water, and he had her food, and coffee just in case. He definitely needed it. He was still tired, even after two days of almost all just... sleeping. He had also brought raincoats, just in case, and other than that, he thought they were good. He had an easy, quick way to put the roof on the car in case it rained, but for now he thought they'd both enjoy feeling the wind. It was only about 30 minutes to the horse thing, anyway. Once they got there he could give her a tour, and do whatever she wanted. They'd chat and joke, and it'd be awesome. That was what he had decided.

That was all halted when Raegan through open the door and bolted, dragging him along with her. He almost fell flat on his face before quickly getting his legs into motion, feeling almost lethargic against her scrambling. With his longer strides, however, he easily caught up and kept up, confusion racing through him. It turned to flat out fear when they stopped and she was wheezing. Was that his fault? He knew she had trouble breathing sometimes. Of course it probably was. Could they ever get away from that night? "I- I'm sorry, you should've just told me not to come, I didn't mean to show up at the wrong time." Guilt swamped his face, hiding most of the fear that would likely linger for a while. "Are you okay?" He finally ventured with a look with enough concern to raise someone from the dead. "Why was your mother coming over?" His curiosity quickly got the best of him. He was too focused on her to realize he likely fricking pulled a muscle, since he hadn't exactly ran in a little while- he had been sleeping for days. Actually, now that he checked, he felt fine. Good.

His head tilted and he watched her for a moment. "If you're trying to get me killed you could just wait." He teased with a grin, then realized- some people didn't deal with trauma with humor. It was likely too soon. He winced and tried to cover it up. "So, um, I really hate to say this, but you look like you haven't slept since we were last together. Please tell me you've slept. I've slept. I followed your instructions." He was so worried about her well being that it gave him whiplash to remember- her mom was likely at her house.

"Wait, Raegan, if she arrives and finds you gone, she'll get way more concerned. Plus she can very likely smell exactly who was there. My pine scent does not fit in with you guys, however nature-y it is. You really should go back." His eyebrows knitted together and he shifted slightly to peer down the street they had just bolted. Her house was right around the corner. If her mother even tried to look around the house, they'd be caught. He tapped his thigh with his fingers, turning his gaze back to her and waiting for her to decide what she wanted to do.

(Sorry it is shorter, I have to go)

August 12, 2025 12:01 PM

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Raegan damn near doubled over when she finally stopped running, the whole thing making her feel like some kid sprinting off from trouble. Which, she guessed, was exactly what had just happened. Honestly, she wouldn’t be surprised if they’d been in this kind of situation before — it felt like the sort of thing they’d manage to get themselves into. When he started to speak, she just lifted a palm in his direction to shut him up for a second, a small laugh escaping as she tried to get her breathing under control. She was fully aware of how ridiculous this was, and she was still half asleep, so her brain wasn’t processing much of… well, anything. “I’m sorry,” she murmured lightly, rolling her eyes, though when he kept going she couldn’t help the way her own eyes widened. Yeah. He was right. “It’s my fault — I told her I was sick to get out of a dinner thing I agreed to go to, I completely forgot about all this,” she admitted, finally straightening up. She hadn’t meant to startle him, not really. She just… really, really didn’t want him getting caught.

When he pointed out that she looked like she hadn’t slept, she rolled her eyes again, this time pouting in a way that was about as deliberately playful as it got. “Of course I slept. My sleep schedule is important to me. Whether I slept well or not is a different story, but thank you for asking,” she said, and then, with a small sigh, decided to elaborate. “I just woke up. That’s probably the problem. If you let me sleep on the way I’ll love you forever,” she added, rubbing at her eyes like she was auditioning for a role as ‘most tired person alive.’ “By the way, you get brownie points for sleeping. I’m so proud.”

Her head tilted when he started joking, a smile tugging at her lips. A run-in with her mother — yeah, that’d probably kill him faster than what was already killing him. “Not yet. I like you,” she teased, snickering under her breath. It would’ve been less funny if he wasn’t dying, but still… he’d definitely be dead if her mom caught them together. She didn’t want the woman seeing her literally run off with him. When he mentioned her mother’s worry, and then his scent, her eyes went wide in a way that could only be described as startled-wild. “Oh my god,” she breathed, turning her head just in time to see her mother wandering up the path. She couldn’t exactly go now, not without it looking suspicious — she was already dressed to leave, and it’d just seem… bad. Fine. Whatever. She couldn’t just ditch her. “Okay, uhmm… sit. Stay… uhh… wait here,” she mumbled, rubbing her forehead before jogging around to the back of the house and slipping in through the rear door.

She made it inside just before the knock came, answering it immediately. She tried for surprise at her mother’s sudden appearance, but she wasn’t sure it landed. Her mother, on the other hand, did look surprised. Understandably. “Raegan? I thought you were sick — you look like you’re going somewhere,” she said softly, brows knitting. Poor woman. Raegan felt awful. She’d lied, overthought everything, and now nothing lined up. She just nodded, searching for the least disastrous way forward. “I… yes. I am going to… a date. I have a date,” she blurted, deciding it was close enough to the truth. She could’ve just said she’d made other plans, but her brain was running too far behind her mouth to come up with anything better. “I’m sorry, I completely forgot about it until right after I accepted your dinner invite,” she added, her tone softening with sincerity. She did feel guilty. But she also wanted to spend time with Axl. They’d been planning this for a while.

Thankfully, her mother looked genuinely delighted by the news. “Oh! Rae, you could have just said so. Tell me about it when you’re back, okay?” she said, giving a little wave before heading off. No suspicion. No questions. Just blissful, oblivious approval.

Raegan let out a slow breath and wandered back to where Axl was, blinking at him in tired relief. “Come on,” she said quietly, starting toward the exit with a yawn that made it very clear she was still dragging herself into full consciousness.

August 12, 2025 01:17 PM

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Axl almost felt like he was having de ja vu, as his mind reminded him of a night a couple years ago when they were doing almost this same exact thing. Just to go watch a movie. To be fair, it was only in movie theaters THAT NIGHT, as they had missed all the others. What movie had it been? He could've sworn it was one of the Pirates of the Carribean movies, but he wasn't sure.

His eyebrows lifted as she shushed him like a cartoon character, letting out a small huff of offense. How dare she shush him. This was a free country. He did not deserve to be shushed. Her laugh confused him more, but her apology sent him over the edge. "For what?" He asked incredulously. It wasn't her fault her mother was there. A moment later, the exact opposite words came out of her mouth. Nevermind. It was her fault. Honestly, he understood. "That's fair. You are dealing with a lot." He smiled crookedly, a bit thankful now that she had dragged him out like that. If she hadn't, his comment may have just come true.

He let out an amused snort as she defended her sleep schedule. He wasn't the one to talk... his sleep schedule was absolute shit. He didn't even have one. He just slept when he had time, which wasn't often. Many times he had found himself konkes out in the middle of the day, having fallen asleep out of pure exhaustion. He had to say, it wasn't fun what he did. "Oh. So you didn't sleep well?" He asked with another concerned look, then shut up as she continued. "Ohhh." He hummed, nodding slightly. "You can sleep. Or I can just take you around the block and wait for your mother to leave and bring you back home so you can sleep more." He offered quietly, proving yet again that what she needed and wanted was more important. "You don't need to come to the horse thing if you need to rest." He didn't want to wear her out. That seemed like it'd defeat the point of her making sure he was alive, but to be fair, she saw him alive right now. It was fine. "Thank you very much. I did try. For you." He stated with an air of kingly regalness. He wasn't lying, but he would've fallen asleep anyway. He was obviously dead tired.

"How utterly kind." He chuckled quietly as she said 'not yet' feeling very thankful that she DID like him because if she didn't he'd be very dead by now. No disease needed. All she had to do was yell and every person within earshot would come out and personally murder him. He winced as her eyes widened, mentally apologizing again, but immediately taking it back as she told him to SIT. AND THEN STAY. "Raegan! I'm not a dog!" Great offense filled his tone as she ran off. To make his point, he stepped to the side, purposefully moving just because she told him not to. How dare she. It's a good thing HE liked HER.

He waited idly, walking in circles and probably looking like a madman, likely the only thing keeping people from approaching. Oh, and that they all recognized him. He saw someone glance out the window and close the shades, which really made him feel amazing, and someone else walking down the street took one look and went the other way. Splendid. He was a walking no go area. No one wanted to go anywhere near him.

Axl stewed in grumpy silence until he watched Raegan walking back, his head tilting. "What'd you tell her? That was fast." He commented, following near her as they went out and looped around back to his car. Her mother was obviously very smart, so it'd have to be something convincing and somewhat true. Maybe. Or just really convincing. He shook his head and when they got to the car, opened the passenger door. "Madam, your wraps and coffee awaits. I'm starting to feel glad I got the latter." He stated, waiting till she got in before closing it in an amazing gentlemanly act. He went around to his side and got in, taking a sip of his own coffee. "Rest away. It's about 30 minutes to the barn." He commented, glancing around before putting the car in gear and slowly pulling off the side of the road.

August 12, 2025 02:24 PM

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Her brows shot up when he acted scandalized about being told to sit and stay, though the effort to keep her face straight lasted all of two seconds before a laugh slipped out. “Don’t be dramatic, you’d make a great dog,” she said, shaking her head. “Loyal, stubborn, little bit too aware of your own charm.” She let the tease hang there, not bothering to wait for his rebuttal before slipping off toward the house.

The whole interaction with her mother had taken maybe a minute, but it had left her pulse running faster than she wanted to admit. She wasn’t out of breath from walking — it was the mental gymnastics she’d just done, and the lingering sting of knowing she’d just lied to someone who trusted her. A part of her still felt like a kid getting caught somewhere she shouldn’t be, fumbling for a story that didn’t sound entirely fake. And of all the possible excuses she could have pulled out, her brain had chosen a “date.” Brilliant. She’d told herself it was close enough to the truth to not count as a real lie, but the warm flush still creeping up her neck begged to differ.

Her mother’s face had lit up so fast, so purely, that the guilt had doubled. No suspicion, no second-guessing — just immediate excitement for a daughter who’d apparently decided to go live her best romantic comedy subplot. Raegan had smiled, nodded, promised to tell her about it later, and then slipped out before she could be talked into staying for a “quick chat” that would inevitably spiral into questions she had no real answers for.

She didn’t bother explaining herself until they were both moving again, looping back toward the car. “I told her I had a date,” she said, as casually as she could manage, though the sideways flick of her eyes toward him betrayed that she was fully aware how that sounded. “Worked like a charm. She’s thrilled for me. So congratulations, apparently you’re my mystery man now.” She tried to make it light, but the admission carried that small, restless guilt, the one that made her wish she could’ve found any other explanation. But if she was being honest, there’d been a selfish streak in her decision — the kind that just wanted to keep this morning, this time, uninterrupted.

When they reached the car, she didn’t fight the smirk tugging at her mouth as he opened the passenger door with more ceremony than necessary. She gave him a small, mock-curtsy before sliding into the seat. “Why thank you, sir,” she murmured, taking the coffee with both hands. The warmth soaked through her fingers almost instantly, settling into her like an anchor after the adrenaline spike from earlier. “You’re dangerously close to spoiling me,” she added, but her voice had softened, the teasing edged with something quieter — gratitude she didn’t want to put into too many words just yet.

By the time he got in on his side, she had already curled into the seat, shoulders sinking back into the leather like it was the first truly comfortable place she’d been all morning. The coffee steamed up toward her face, and she inhaled like it was the only thing tethering her to the moment. Thirty minutes to the barn wasn’t long, but it was enough to let herself drift.

“That’s perfect,” she murmured when he mentioned the time, already feeling the pull of sleep settling heavy against her. “Wake me if we pass anything interesting… or if I start drooling, whichever comes first.” She let her eyes fall closed before she could see whatever expression that earned, tucking one knee up toward her chest.

Her mind wandered even as the hum of the engine began to lull her. She thought about how easy it was to fall into these moments with him — the quiet, the small rituals, the shared humor that managed to survive even under the weight of bigger, sharper things. Maybe that was why she’d lied so quickly without thinking. Because she knew that if she’d stayed, if she’d let her mother convince her to sit down for dinner or “just a quick tea,” the day would have unraveled. He’d have gone without her, and the space between them — already fragile in places — would’ve stretched a little too far.

There was a lot she didn’t say out loud. Things about how much she noticed his tiredness when they had their little adventures, or how she sometimes caught herself checking the curve of his smile just to reassure herself he was still in this with her, whatever “this” actually was. Things about how she didn’t just want to make sure he was alive; she wanted to make sure he knew he was wanted, that even if she wasn’t always good at saying it, she’d choose days like this over anything else.

So she’d take the little guilt over a white lie. She’d take her mother’s knowing smile, the flush in her own cheeks, the quiet drive with coffee between her hands. She’d take all of it if it meant keeping this — him — exactly where he was for just a little longer.

With the warmth of the drink seeping into her palms and the low hum of tires on asphalt, the knot of nerves in her chest eased just enough for her to exhale slowly. Sleep didn't come long after, admittedly just... glad to get some rest.

August 12, 2025 03:11 PM

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Axl's jaw dropped and he looked even more offended. "I- the audacity- THAT IS 43 TIMES MORE OFFENDING AND RUDE." He called at her retreating back, throwing his hands up in a dramatic gesture. "Why do I even try." He muttered to himself, sighing. He would make a terrible dog thank you very much.

After she came back, he could tell that whatever she had said was bothering her. He understood... she very likely lied, even if only a little, because saying 'Oh I'm running off with Axl Jager' probably wouldn't be very smart. Which meant she likely felt guilty about the lie. Which only made him want to know what she said more, but if she wanted to disclose the information, she would, and if she didn't, she wouldn't. There was nothing else to it. He did feel bad that he was technically causing her to lie, though, in turn making her feel bad. She could tell the truth if it was literally anyone else. They could've stayed at the front door if it was anyone else. He was just cursed.

He blinked when she spoke, doing a double take. Had he heard correctly? Yes, he had. Well that was unexpected. When he was thinking of what she could've said, that didn't even begin to come into his mind. Huh. Honestly, it probably wasn't the best idea, because now her mother would be excited and want to know all about it. Of course, his mind first went to that. Hoping she had a good explanation stored up her sleeve. A moment later, however, it seemed like the universe was smacking him in the face. He realized he loved her, Harrison told him to tell her, and now she had coincidentally decided to have that as her excuse. He didn't believe in stuff like that, but holy crap. He was being mocked for his silence.

Axl nodded very slowly, his nose wrinkling. "Oh wonderful. I always did want to be someone's mystery man." He said flatly, his voice carrying all the enthusiasm of someone just told to go clean manure. He could hear the guilt in her tone and it made him feel worse about being.. him. If only he was normal. A moment later, the torrent of jokes thundering against the walls of his mind finally broke through. "I knew I'd manage this sometime, with my dashing good looks and all." He mused with a self satisfied smirk, looking more than a little amused now.

"You're so very welcome." He had responded. After he got in the car, he saw how she just melted, so he didn't speak again. He just drove. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, which he was glad about. Axl stayed quiet as he drove to the event, found a parking spot, and left the car running so the quiet rumble stayed there. All part of his plan, technically.

He let her sleep for a whole hour, then nudged her shoulder. "Raegan. Wakey wakey." He mused teasingly, just loud enough to hopefully break her out of her slumber. When she did come to, he continued. "I must confess... I lied. The event actually starts an hour later than I told you. I guessed something would go amiss and that you'd likely want to sleep, so I told you early so we could go and you could sleep. I'm glad it worked." He flashed her a gentle smile. "But now it's been an hour and a half, and we'd best go if you want to see the show." Honestly, it was one of his smarter ideas. If thoughts were eating away at her like they were at him, she definitely needed the sleep.

Now he started thinking about when he should tell her. Not here... he didn't want to ruin it. He wanted her to feel as safe as possible. In his home seemed wrong because she was unfamiliar with it, but in her home also seemed wrong because she may start to feel like she was trapped and he was intruding. Maybe he would invite her to the bar they usually went to. That way it was public and she could leave at any time. He just wanted to make it as easy as possible for her. The thing was, he didn't want to do it at her house in case it was another traumatizing memory and it ruined the space. He didn't want her to be reminded of it every time she walked in her living room. Maybe he could ask her... if he were to speak possibly traumatizing information where would she want to be. She'd be majorly skeptical but if he did it right away, then she wouldn't have to wonder for long.

August 12, 2025 03:59 PM

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Raegan’s lashes fluttered at the sound of his voice, and for a few seconds she stayed in that warm, blurry half-sleep where everything felt soft around the edges — the quiet hum of the car, the faint aftertaste of coffee, the way the seat seemed to cradle her. She groaned softly and shifted, cheek still mashed into the upholstery. “You’re lucky I like you,” she mumbled, voice scratchy from sleep, “otherwise waking me up would’ve been hazardous to your health.” The threat was slow, lazy, and just believable enough to be dangerous… or at least it would’ve been, if not for the sleepy little curve tugging at her mouth that ruined the whole effect.

It took a second for his words to actually sink in — and when they did, her brows shot up. “You… lied to me so I’d sleep?” she asked, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand like maybe she could scrub the sentence out of existence. But no, she’d heard him right. The incredulous laugh that slipped out of her was half amusement, half disbelief. “You could’ve just told me to take a nap like a normal person,” she said, narrowing her eyes in mock suspicion, “but nooo, you had to go full psychological warfare.”

She sat up straighter, eyes scanning his face like she was trying to catch him looking too smug — which, unfortunately, he absolutely did. “You realize this means I owe you,” she said at last, with a dramatic sigh. “And I’m not happy about that. I don’t like being in debt. I’m already picturing the favor you’ll cash this in for, and it’s going to be terrible, isn’t it? You’re going to make me do something awful like hold your coffee while you flirt with the barista.”

The truth was, she felt lighter than she had all morning — the frantic sprint from the house, the ridiculous date-lie to her mother, the simmering guilt she’d been carrying — all of it had been cracked open by his little stunt. She hated that it worked. She hated more that she appreciated it. “Also,” she added with a smirk, “I bet you'd be the best get away driver ever. You hid in the perfect spot back at the clan.”

She felt a small grin cross her face as she looked back over at him, eyes lighting up. “She’s thrilled, by the way- my mother. Apparently I’ve been keeping my ‘mystery man’ a secret. So, congratulations — you’re now the star of every phone call I’m going to get for the next week.” She mused as she took a glance at her phone, already bombarded by messages from the woman, asking how things were going or what this non-existant man was like. She'd have to either tell her this was also a lie, or go with it when she got back. She could just say she had a shit time and that'd be the end of it.

She finally pushed the door open and stepped out into the air, stretching long and slow like a cat before looking over at him again. The sound of chatter and the occasional whinny carried faintly on the breeze, and her whole expression brightened. “Okay, see, this is exciting,” she said, practically bouncing once he joined her. “I haven’t been to a horse show in - well, not since I was little. And I’m counting on there being at least one dramatic moment — like a horse doing the little sideways prance thing, or somebody falling off in slow motion.” Her eyes sparkled with the kind of giddy energy that came when she let herself actually look forward to something. "I feel like I should’ve brought a ridiculous hat." Her eyes shone as she whipped her head around. "I'm gonna get one," she giggled.

She took a sip of her now-cold coffee and made a face, shaking her head with mock disappointment. “Next time you trick me into a nap, bring extra coffee. Hot coffee. Bribery makes everything easier.” The grin she gave him was wide and genuine now, all trace of the earlier heaviness stripped away.

With a final glance toward the entrance, she nodded toward the barn like it was some grand reveal. “Alright, mystery man. Let’s go meet Charlotte and fill me full of all those sweets you'd promised would kill a child," she chirped, giving a little stretch with a rather amused look across her face.

August 12, 2025 04:47 PM

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Axl was, admittedly, a wee bit scared of what would happen if she woke up in a bad mood, but it seemed he need not be. "I plan on getting you to like me enough that I don't even have to worry about that. Long term goals." He hummed quietly, a small smile lighting his face at the tiny curve of her lips. The fact that he could make her smile even in the most grim circumstances was like music to his ears. She could be worrying about the fact that he was dying but instead she was smiling at him and he was very pleased about it.

He waited patiently while she woke up and grasped the full meaning of his words, his smile spreading into a grin at her half amused half debelieving laugh. He knew it was a weird-ass thing to do, and he knew he could've just told her to nap... and she probably would've. But he wanted her to not worry, to just slip into a peaceful rest and think everything would be fine when she awoke. And he would make it right while she slept so that when she woke everything truly was fine.

He realized this was the best thought he had for a couple years. Worthy of a poem. He planned for her to lull herself into a quiet dreamy sleep, thinking she would awake to a perfect world. And when she was asleep, he was going to make it a perfect world for her to wake up to. That just about summed up how he felt about her. Saying he'd give her the world meant nothing, no... saying he'd fix it while she slept just so she could wake up to a perfect world was the true pinnacle of love languages, in his opinion. She may never see it, but he did things like this because he did love her.

"You may not've napped. You may have argued. You'd've fallen asleep thinking about how you needed to wake up and get to the event and you'd rest much worse. I only make sure that you slept without mental restraints." He pointed out, his smile becoming softer, less teasing and more ... just ... him. Caring, even. It disappeared a second later and was replaced with a teasing grin, almost so fast that it wasn't seen. Almost.

"No, we're even now. You paid for the Uber and food two nights ago. This is my treat." He stated with a shake of his head. "I'm paying you back with this. Accept it." He huffed, taking a sip of his coffee- and nearly spitting it right back out when she said 'making me hold you drink while you flirt with the barista'. He half choked and managed to gag it down, wheezing. "Raegan. What insane things do you think about me?! I do not flirt with everyone I meet!" He sputtered, his tone indignant. actually, he flirted with no one, and hadn't for years now, so there. Okay, maybe months. There was a cute barista at one of the bars he had went to when depressed that he may have given a second glance, but it was literally nothing more than that, so it didn't count.

He was enjoying the way she looked- in a not creepy way. She looked happy, to elaborate. Light. Like a fluffy cloud. It made him happy to know she was happy. Now, at her commetn about him being a get away driver, he didn't know whether to be insulted or flattered. "... thank you?" He replied tentatively, not sure what it was meant as.

Axl blinked and again was a bit flabbergasted of what he was supposed to say to that. If she kept speaking his pride would likely take over, but for now he felt like a floundering fish. "I really don't want to be what you and your mother discuss on your weekly phone calls. That seems dangerous and horrible. I do not need to be the topic of anyone else's conversations." He huffed, sounding almost terrified. Thank god she just meant as a random person. "When it does come up, however, make sure to note that the mystery man is hilarious and very good looking." He added with a wide grin, his joking side taking over.

He stepped out as she did, shutting the door and slipping his sunglasses on before the sun had a chace to burn his eyeballs off. His neck audibly cracked as he twisted it, making him wince. Obviously he was stiff from sitting still for so long. He rolled his shoulders and locked the car, slipping the keys into his pocket and rounding the vehicle to stand on her side. His expression grew rather delighted as well when hers did, her joy infectious. Mostly because he was joyful when she was joyful. "You want to see someone fall off? Tsk tsk. So evil." He shook his head, snickering. "I can assure you, something dramatic will happen. Always does." He added, his smile growing somehow wider when she kept talking in that giggly bubbly tone. She reminded him of a soda can that someone had violently shaken.

"I apologize. Next time I will do better." He mused solemnly, a quiet chuckle escaping. "Let us do that, then." He took up his normal place on her left, walking towards the barn in the distance. As they got closer, smells much like a fair met their noses, dust settled finely upon their skin, and they started getting the full horse show experience. Since he said he was going to, Axl did have on a long sleeve black button up collared shirt, just because it was exactly what they would require for a class. It was plain and faded, wore darker stains from various things, but comfortable. Even though today was hotter, with the sun beating down and it being in the upper 70's - lower 80's, he always wore the long sleeves. On account of the burns. Just like everyone else, he had dark jeans on, his normal boots crunching in the gravel as he turned into the barn.

He led the way to a specific stall, where a tall black gelding stood, a young teenage girl brushing them. 14, maybe. "Gd'evenin, Charlotte. Tis your lucky day, as I brought someone to interrogate you. Meet Raegan." He greeted them with a smile. They paused their work and poked their head out of the stall, grinning. "Hi Axl! And nice to meet you Raegan! I'll be glad to be interrogated. I actually have a couple minutes right now if you'd like to make sure I'm worthy to be in your delightful ..." She paused, eyeing them. "Dates? Friends? Presence. Okay, that was confusing. You two..." She totally semed to get distracted, narrowing her eyes like she was in a biology lab studying some bacteria.

Axl lifted his brows, waiting patiently for her to figure out life.

"Huh. That's weird." Charlotte gave Axl a pointed look and folding her arms. "Frrrrriiiiieeeennnnddddssss." She drew out the word for literal centuries, looking highly scruntinizing. She waited for a moment more before turning back to Raegan. "So?"

Axl let out an aggrieved sigh and waited for them to talk, knowing he likely wouldn't be roped in on whatever delightful conversation they decided to have. 14 year old girls were the literal worst for the whole... romance, everything. However, they were also like fucking bloodhounds, and he could TELL that Charlotte sensed a difference in him. The little annoying delight of a human was likely going to give away everything, and he was not going to be happy. He narrowed his eyes at her for half a second in warning and walked up tot he stall, greeting the horse.

August 12, 2025 05:31 PM

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Raegan didn’t even hesitate — her mouth curved into that slow, wicked grin she usually reserved for moments when she was about to make someone regret giving her an opening. “Oh, don’t worry,” she said sweetly, clasping her hands together in mock sincerity. “When it comes up, I’ll make sure to paint you as a full-blown hero. You know, the kind that rescues orphans from burning buildings, saves puppies from floods, and probably does all his own stunts in slow motion. Really lean into the myth-making.”

Her eyes flicked over him, deliberately exaggerated, as though assessing whether he could convincingly pull off the role. “Of course, I’ll also have to mention the mysterious past, the occasional brooding stare, and the fact that you wear long sleeves in eighty-degree weather like you’re hiding some kind of tragic sword-fighting scar. Oh, and I’ll make sure she knows you’re devastatingly handsome — her word, not mine — and that you’ve got a smile capable of persuading the most stubborn of people to… I don’t know, join a revolution or take up competitive knitting.”

She leaned in slightly, dropping her voice like she was confiding a state secret. “Basically, by the time I’m done, she’ll be ninety percent convinced you’re the lost heir to some European throne. Which means you’re going to have to start working on your royal wave, Your Highness.” Her giggle came directly after. Of course, she wasn't talking about Axl at this point - just some dude that never existed, and the only dude her mother would ever approve of.

Raegan fell into step beside him easily, though it wasn’t exactly a graceful process — she had to sidestep a patch of uneven gravel at one point, muttering something about how she was “born to wear sneakers, not navigate medieval cobblestone death traps.” But her grin never wavered, and if anything, the closer they got to the barn, the more animated she became. “Evil?” she scoffed at his earlier comment, shooting him a mock-offended look. “No, no, no. Evil would be hoping someone falls off. I’m just… prepared to appreciate the moment if it happens. There’s a difference. It’s called being an opportunist. You should try it — makes life way more entertaining.” She gave him a sidelong glance, catching the faint sound of his quiet chuckle, and her own smile deepened. She liked that sound more than she wanted to admit.

The barn loomed closer with every step, a wide structure painted in that deep, weather-worn red you only saw in rural postcards. People milled around outside, some in crisp white shirts and neat braids, others in jeans and boots that looked like they’d seen actual battle. Somewhere nearby, a horse let out a loud, guttural sound that made her freeze mid-step. “Was that—?” She pointed vaguely toward the noise, eyes wide. “That sounded like a dragon. Do they come with subtitles, or am I just supposed to guess if that was a happy sound?” Axl didn’t answer — or maybe he did, but she was already scanning the barn like something with hooves might come charging out at any second.

Inside, the air shifted, cooler and denser with the scent of hay and leather. Dust motes danced in slanted beams of sunlight, and the rhythmic shuffle of hooves on packed dirt was oddly hypnotic. It was all so… much. The sheer size of the animals in the nearby stalls, the quiet murmur of riders brushing down coats, the metallic jingle of tack being adjusted — it was the kind of place that made her feel both out of place and ridiculously alive at the same time.

They wove through the rows until Axl stopped at a particular stall, and Raegan’s attention snagged instantly on the enormous black horse standing inside. It wasn’t just the size — though the thing looked like it could probably carry a small car on its back — it was the way the animal turned its head, slow and deliberate, like it was evaluating her just as much as she was evaluating it. “That’s… not small,” she murmured, tilting her head. “Does it have a name? Or are we in a situation where if I know its name, I’ll get attached and then inevitably die in some tragic accident trying to save it from a burning barn?”

Before she could get an answer, she noticed the girl in the stall, a teenager with the kind of casual confidence Raegan could only dream of having at that age. She was brushing the gelding’s coat in smooth, practiced strokes, like she’d been doing it her entire life. Axl greeted her easily, introducing her as Charlotte, and then — in the same breath — cheerfully informed Charlotte that Raegan was here to interrogate her. Raegan straightened like she’d just been handed a microphone and a spotlight. “Oh, well, if that’s the case…” She propped an elbow on the stall door, doing her best impression of someone about to conduct a very serious investigation. Charlotte poked her head out to greet her, and Raegan met her grin with one of her own, already warming to her.

Then Charlotte tilted her head, studied them both for an uncomfortably long moment, and dropped the word “Friends” in a tone so drawn out it could’ve been part of a ballad. Raegan could feel Axl stiffen beside her, and it was all she could do not to laugh. “That’s… a lot of syllables for such a short word,” she said finally, keeping her voice light. “You good? Need some water? Little snack? You might’ve pulled a muscle saying it like that.” She gave Charlotte her best mock-serious look, but there was no hiding the amusement in her eyes.

If Axl was going to panic over a teenager trying to stir the pot, that was entirely his business. As far as Raegan was concerned, the whole thing was hilarious. She’d known him long enough to tell when he was uncomfortable, and watching him try not to react was like finding a hidden blooper reel in real life.

“So, Charlotte,” she began, shifting gears into her full faux-journalist persona, “couple of very important questions for you, and I expect honest answers. First one: do you believe the moon landing was faked? Because I have a feeling Axl here believes the earth is flat and he say's you're the smartest kid around, so you must know," she mused, knowing the first bit was a flat out lie and the second bit was stretching the truth just a little. She didn’t wait for any kind of response — that wasn’t the point. “Because I personally think it’s suspicious that we have, like, Marvel-level CGI now, but somehow, no one’s been back to the moon in decades. And I’ve seen the pictures — I’m just saying, that flag looked a little too crisp for space.” She tapped the stall door twice, like she was marking down a point in her mental notes through attempts not to giggle.

“Second question: how long have you been riding? And before you answer, just know — I’m going to judge you based entirely on how cool your answer sounds. No pressure, though.” She took a slow sip from her coffee, eyes glinting over the rim like she was genuinely prepared to grade the reply. “Like, if you say ‘since I could walk,’ that’s at least a nine out of ten on the cool scale. If you say ‘since last week,’ it’s still a solid seven because you’re here brushing a literal skyscraper, and I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

She let her gaze wander back to the horse, tilting her head slightly as if trying to figure him out. “He’s not gonna bite me, right? I mean, he looks polite, but so do a lot of people right before they ruin your life.” She glanced sideways at Axl with an innocent smile, letting that one hang in the air just long enough to count as a jab. It was, sort of, trying to turn the whole situation into a joke without letting it on.

The truth was, she didn’t know the first thing about horses — couldn’t tell a gelding from a stallion, wouldn’t recognize a bridle from a belt — but that didn’t dim her fascination one bit. Everything about the barn felt alive in a way that cities never quite managed. She could already imagine the energy of the show, the stomping hooves, the applause, maybe even a little chaos if she got lucky. She didn't think you'd have to even ride to enjoy this.

August 12, 2025 06:10 PM