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Alejandro Vargas wasn’t a very possessive person.
He was never controlling over his partners or soldiers, and never pulled rank on someone. He hated when he had to.
Tonight however, was the night Alejandro would never let Rodolfo out of his sight again.
After the destruction of Los Vaqueros’ base, he and Rodolfo had gone out to a local bar. Of course, they invited the 141 to go with them. After all, it was Soap and Rudy who had personally taken Graves down.
Valeria had been put behind bars soon after Graves’ death. God, that had been so satisfying. For Alejandro to finally see the bane of his existence locked away was a feeling he’d never forget. Valeria was someone he didn’t have to worry about. And it was a long time coming for that.
Alejandro watched proudly as Rodolfo and Gaz chatted, their voices growing louder and echoing throughout the bar with each drink. About what he didn’t know, but that was irrelevant. He couldn’t be happier. Las Almas was safe, and in this moment, that’s all that mattered.
The alcohol was starting to hit, but it only made Alejandro smile wider. He turned to Price, who of course, had the same grin sat soundly upon his face. After all, they were both leaders of their respective teams. It was only natural for them both to share that pride.
Alejandro turned back to face the others sat around the table, settling in for a long night of drinks and slurred conversations.
The bar they were at wasn’t anything too special. It didn’t have insane décor, or killer drinks, but it was right in the heart of Las Almas. The only place Alejandro really wanted to be. Well, he also chose this place for the pool table and outstanding tequila shots, but no one else needed to know that part. The six of them sat around a booth towards the corner of the bar. Soap, Ghost, and Gaz, on one side, Price, Alejandro, and Rodolfo, on the other.
An hour or so into this drunken night, conversations were slowing, but still just as loud. More and more people trickled into the bar the longer they all stayed. The soft beat of the music settled quietly over everyone’s ears, and the occasional click-clack from the pool table created a comforting atmosphere around the group’s table.
Alejandro looked up to see Soap practically drooling over Ghost. God, the Scot was smitten for his superior, and with the alcohol, it certainly showed. Soap couldn’t help but poke fun at his Lieutenant, taking every opportunity he got to flirt with him. Ghost, however, only replied with his usual single word response or a quiet grunt. Alejandro found it almost humorous how those two got along.
To his left, Price was staring to fall asleep, his hat covering his eyes to shield the bright lights of the bar. Ale couldn’t blame him. It had been a long day of filing reports and meetings. All of them going out was the best way to let of some steam. That, or going to the firing range, but they were all tired of hearing gunshots.
Gaz looked about the same as Price did. His eyes starting to flutter closed from exhaustion. Alejandro guessed the two of them would be the first of the six to leave, and if Alejandro could be honest, he wouldn’t mind going with them.
“Well boys, what do ya think? Should we order another round or is everyone already at their wits end?” Soap asked, gesturing to the large gathering of shot glasses in the middle of the dark brown table.
Alejandro knew he was drunk. He didn’t have a high alcohol tolerance, but he would never back down from doing shots with his friends.
“I could do another round or two, hermano,” Alejandro replied, jabbing Rudy in the side to get him to answer, “What about you, Rudy, think you can handle a little more?”
Rudy groaned in response. He knew he was wasted and drinking more wasn’t going to help with that, but alas, he needed to let off a whole lot of steam from his last mission.
Killing Graves and putting Valeria securely behind bars had been so satisfying. Los Vaqueros had finally one the seemingly never-ending war in Las Almas, and 141 had been right along side them. The two military forces were truly brothers in arms. Rodolfo could only name a couple of times he felt happier than seeing the tank with Graves inside blow to smithereens. Of course, Soap had been standing there right along side him.
With a heaving sigh, Rodolfo stood from the table to get his friends more drinks. It took him a moment or two to gain balance, drinking so much had caused him to stumble as he stood. After blinking a few times, Rudy finally started to make his way over to the bar.
He slouched as he set his arms atop the bar, grimacing slightly as his sleeved touched the slightly sticky surface. Rudy ignored the couple people that laughed under their breath at his drunken state.
The peaceful chatter and music only blessed Rodolfo’s ears for so long before he was disturbed by a voice next to him.
“Hey sweetheart, what’s a pretty thing like you doing in a dump of a bar like this?” Asked a man who was now standing next to Rodolfo, turning his head to look at Rudy as he spoke. This guy didn’t look amazingly attractive, but he wasn’t bad looking. His hair was slicked back like Alejandro’s, although his stature wasn’t as intimidating. The sleeve of his jacket covering up an intricate tattoo on his left arm.
Rudy couldn’t lie. The deep growl of this man’s voice sent butterflies to his stomach and caused him to blush, though Rudy’s face was already pink from the countless shots that night.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the other man started speaking before he had a chance to get a word out.
“I won’t lie, amor, you’re beautiful,” the man had now turned his attention fully to Rudy. Standing up he said, “If you’re not careful someone might whisk you away.”
Rodolfo only blushed deeper as a response. He hadn’t been spoken to like this in a long, long time. And if he was completely honest with himself, it felt nice to be complimented so.
The other man leaned down, his mouth grazing the tip of Rudy’s ear as he whispered into it, one of his hands coming up to grab Rudy’s chin and lift his head, “Turns out,” there was a brief pause, “that someone is gonna be me. So, what do you say, amor?”
Rudy gasped slightly as he grabbed onto the other’s arm. This voice was making him lightheaded. Rodolfo hadn’t gone to a bar with the intent to get laid, but he wouldn’t be upset if that’s what happened.
He looked back over to the table where he had previously been sitting. Everyone was still there besides Alejandro. Soap still teasing away at Ghost, slowly but surely breaking down that man’s walls. Gaz had moved over to sit next to price, the younger’s head laying atop his captain’s shoulder. Both were fast asleep, from alcohol and exhaustion. So where was Alejandro?
The man Rudy had grabbed onto started to turn and lead both of them towards the exit.
Suddenly, Rodolfo felt someone grab his shoulder. He turned to see Alejandro opposite him.
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Alejandro watched painfully as Rudy stumbled away from the table they all sat around. He already missed the forever warmth that was next to him. Turning back to the others, he mumbled something about not wanting Rodolfo to leave.
Everyone else was absorbed in their own conversations. Well, at least Soap and Ghost were talking. Gaz still looked like he was about to pass out, Price was already at that point. Both their hats covering their eyes to shield any sort of light. Soap was very much awake and still pestering Ghost. Although Ghost’s arm was strung around the smaller one’s shoulder, so Alejandro doubted he minded the not-so subtle flirting.
A quick glance at Rudy turned into a longing stare. God, Alejandro was so down bad for his best friend. It had been that way for a number of years now. Since his fallout with Valeria, Alejandro had known his feelings for her were never real. They were more of just an outlet of need and want for Rodolfo.
Alejandro eyed Rudy carefully as he saw another man approach his friend. He was unable to avert his gaze as this person started getting a bit too friendly with Rodolfo. Alejandro’s foot began tapping along the floor as the two men inched closer together.
Fuck it. Alejandro was not going to just watch as a stranger took a hold of the man he had loved and cherished for so many years. He was not going to allow any of it.
Abruptly, Alejandro stood from the table. He walked over to Rudy and the person he was with just as they were starting to leave.
“Alejandro, what are ye-” but Soap shut his mouth when he saw the enraged expression that covered the colonel’s face and Rudy with some asshole-looking person. Soap knew well enough to leave it alone.
Alejandro grabbed on to Rodolfo’s shoulder a little harder than he meant to. He spun Rudy around to face him, and then glared at the jackass holding Rudy’s hand.
“Lo siento hombre, have I done something wrong?” a cross between cheeky and confused look was on the taller man’s face.
“Ale, please, it’s okay,” Rodolfo did not want this getting out of hand. He recognized the glare on his best friend’s face and knew it would be better if Alejandro left them alone. Another moment passed before Rudy gestured back towards the table, “I’m fine. Go back and sit down.”
“Rudy…” Alejandro breathed out, “I don’t want you going off with some stranger.” Alejandro’s eyes were now completely fixated on his Sergeant’s face, ignoring the man behind Rudy.
Alejandro bit his lip to stop himself from saying anymore. He knew he didn’t have power over Rodolfo in a public place like this. And he should really stop thinking he did. Alejandro couldn’t force Rudy to sit, but he sure as hell wanted him to.
“Look man,” the stranger said, “I don’t think you get to make that decision for him. He’s a grown man he can handle himself.”
“Yeah? You know him that well, pendejo?” Alejandro spat, “God, you’re so full of it.”
“Woah now, I just want to have some fun. What’s got you bent out of shape? As far as I can tell, you don’t own this guy.” He gestured his arm towards Rudy.
Alejandro was fuming now, jealousy rising in his body and taking control of it. This asshole was unbearable. All Alejandro wanted was for Rodolfo to not get hurt. Although, showing a more possessive side to him didn’t sound so bad. But Rudy would hate that.
The last thing Alejandro would want to do is upset the gorgeous man standing in front of him.
“Alejandro. Drop it.” Rodolfo was angry now. Though it was most likely the alcohol talking than anything. At least, that’s what Rudy was going to believe.
“It’s fine, Rudy, I’m just going to take care of this little pendajo and then we’ll be on our way.” Alejandro had cracked his knuckles as he said that.
Rodolfo had enough. He didn’t want to stick around to see a fight over something stupid. Besides, he should be able to make decisions for himself. Alejandro had no need to get involved in his personal life.
At least, that’s what Rudy told himself. He wanted Alejandro to be his personal life. He craved it.
Without another word, Rodolfo stormed out of the bar, the bell on the door chiming as he left. The faint yelling of Alejandro heard from behind him. God, that man drove Rudy crazy sometimes, in more ways than one.
It was winter in Las Almas, the crisp chill of the night air covering Rudy from head-to-toe. Rodolfo knew he wasn’t thinking properly, but the argument had sobered him up enough. Rudy turned past the front door of the bar and headed down an alley next to it. Standing in the frigid temperature probably wasn’t a good idea, but Rodolfo needed the time to clear his head.
What exactly had Alejandro so bent out of shape?
Sure, Alejandro was protective over his soldiers, as any good colonel should be, but this wasn’t that. There was feeling in what Alejandro had said. Rudy almost considered blaming Alejandro’s strange actions on the number of shots they both had that night. Although, there had been more to it than that. There had been something fiery in Alejandro’s eyes that Rudy had never seen before.
After a couple minutes of thinking over the argument, it clicked.
Alejandro was jealous. He was jealous of Rodolfo leaving with some other guy. Jealous over someone else getting touchy with Rudy. Hah, this is insane, Rudy thought to himself.
He couldn’t lie, Rodolfo had enjoyed his and the colonel’s close friendship these last 20 years. It brought some much love to his heart. And that love had flourished the last few years. It grew and grew into something that Rudy was unable to describe.
Alejandro had started as Rodolfo’s neighbourhood friend. As kids, they would spend any free time they had climbing around cliffs and exploring the forests of their beloved home, Las Almas. Now, Alejandro was someone Rodolfo couldn’t live without. This love enclosed Rudy’s heart and he gripped onto it with everything he had.
Alejandro shared these feelings, but Rudy didn’t know that for certain.
Rudy blushed deeply with this rush of feelings. Of course, he’d known it for some time, but just the idea that Alejandro could love as deeply as he did got Rodolfo flustered.
Suddenly, the bell of the bar door chimed a second time.
Rodolfo recognized the footsteps of that followed. Alejandro. He had memorized that pattern a long time ago.
Rudy took a deep breath as he heard the footsteps getting closer, desperately trying to rid himself of the blush that settled comfortably over his cheeks.
“Rudy! Oh, thank God. I thought you might have gone home.” Alejandro did sound genuinely worried about him. It warmed Rudy’s heart a little.
“No, just wanted to cool my head. It was getting a little too much for me in there.” Rodolfo let out another breath, thankful for the steady conversation.
“Oh…sorry. I didn’t mean for things to get so out of hand. Guess I just didn’t want you going off with someone else tonight,” there was a brief pause and Rudy opened his mouth to say something. But before he could, Alejandro continued talking, “Or any night, really.”
That left Rudy speechless. Had he been right? Was Alejandro really jealous?
“Ale, I…” but Rudy was at a loss for words. Or more like, he couldn’t find the right words to say.
“Listen Rudy, I really am sorry for what happened. I…overreacted. What you wanted to do tonight was none of my business. I see that now.”
If Rodolfo struggled to find the right words before, not even one came to mind now.
“I care about you so much, Rodolfo. It hurts sometimes, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Tell me, Ale, tell me where it hurts.”
Fuck, was this really happening?
Only a second passed before Alejandro had grasped Rodolfo’s hand and placed it on his chest.
Right where his heart would be.
It started with only his fingertips before Rudy pushed his palm flat against the other’s chest, Alejandro still held his wrist. Rudy couldn’t help the blush that consumed his cheeks and spread over his nape. The fast pace of Alejandro’s heart filled his ears. Rudy just stared at the floor, too embarrassed to look at Alejandro.
Fuck, this was really happening.
“Tell me you feel it, Rudy. This is all I feel as you stand next to me.” Alejandro whispered close to his ear. Rodolfo shivered under his close touch.
“I feel it, Ale, all of it.”
Rodolfo had spoken under his breath, but Alejandro was more than close enough to hear it.
A delicate hand was placed under Rudy’s chin. It lifted his face to meet Alejandro’s. Both of their eyes were filled with love.
Nothing had to be said. They both knew. Anything felt was pure bliss.
Alejandro leaned down only another inch or so to meet Rudy’s lips.
Kissing Alejandro wasn’t rough or harsh as Rudy expected. Instead, it was soft. His lips parted slightly but it didn’t go farther than that. Rudy wanted to savour this moment as long as he could. He wanted this elegant feeling to never cease. A hand came down to Rodolfo’s waist, causing him to grip harder to Alejandro’s jacket. God, Rudy had never been happier than this. It was perfect.
Alejandro moved forwards to deepen the kiss, gently bending Rudy backwards a bit. Neither of them could get enough of it. They had both waited so long for this blissful moment.
After a few more moments, they broke apart. Although Alejandro had held on for as long as could. The two of them were slightly breathless as they pulled away.
Rudy rested his head atop Alejandro’s shoulder. Relief had flooded over him. Nothing had to be said between them. At least not right now. Alejandro smiled as he took Rodolfo’s hand in his own and led them back towards the bar.
“We’ve both been out here a little too long,” Alejandro huffed out a small laugh, “It was worth every second, though.”
Alejandro turned back around, brought Rudy’s hand up to his mouth, and kissed it softly. Rodolfo flushed at the sudden action but couldn’t help his heart growing.
As they reached the door of the bar, Alejandro threw one last smile at Rudy. A reassuring look that they would have a conversation about all this tomorrow.
Rodolfo already knew that.
Rudy knew that his love for Alejandro Vargas would never fade from his life.