Work Text:
“Liz.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“Just don’t, Cassidy. ”
The man chuckles wryly, smiling at her. Ashe wants to punch his teeth in. She wanted to do a lot of things to him, actually. But mostly punch him.
“Okay, fine. Ashe.” His tone is saccharine, sending a chill down her spine. She hates when he’s sweet, she throws a glare his way. It doesn’t phase him.
Cassidy scratches at his beard, tipping his hat back so he can peer out at her. His eyes watch as she reclines in her seat, boots propped up on the wooden counter of the bar. There’s an empty beer bottle in front of her and one held loosely in her hand. She takes a sip, avoiding the eye contact.
“C’mon now, don’t be like that.” He coos, taking a seat on the stool beside her. The bartender idles at the further end of the bar, cleaning a glass. Cassidy motions him over, asking for two more bottles of beer. Ashe watches out of the corner of her eye, suspicious of his friendly behavior.
They hadn’t seen each other in years. “You’re not even old enough to drink.”
“Neither are you.” He retorts, smirking. She groans, placing her bottle down on the counter with a thud. Her body turns to face him, a deadly look in her piercing eyes.
“What do you want, Cole Cassidy.” It’s not really a question, venom dripping from her voice. The man chuckles again, sipping from his own drink, and side eyes her. “A man can’t enjoy a drink with an old friend?”
Ashe scoffs and turns back around, reaching for a pack of smokes in her leather jacket’s pocket. “We ain’t friends.”
She stands up, throwing a loose bill on the bar and heading outside. Cassidy shakes his head with a smile, finishing off his beer before he follows after her. She’s leaning against the outside of the dingy saloon, puffing on a cigarette. She looks beautiful in the natural light, gray smoke flowing out between her pursed lips.
“Still have the same habits.” He muses, shacking up beside her and pulling out a cigar of his own. He holds it between his lips, quirking an eyebrow at her and she holds up a chunky silver lighter, lighting the end of his cigar with an annoyed huff.
She doesn’t further the conversation and Cassidy remains quiet at her side as they smoke. There’s a stiff, awkward energy between them.
“I’m sorry I abandoned you all those years ago, Ashe.” He breaks the silence after a moment, hanging his head low and sighing. He stamps the cigar out on the side of the saloon, tucking the remaining half behind his ear once the end stops smoldering.
The white haired woman throws her own finished cigarette out, rubbing it into the dirt with the tip of her boot. She doesn’t look over at him, her hat obscuring the top half of her face. But he can see her bright red lipstick pressed into a tight line.
“ Liz. ” He presses, turning his body toward her and lifts the hat off her head. Her brows are furrowed, eyes scrunched up as tears fall silently. She looks distraught, thick black eyeliner starting to smear and run down her wet face.
Anger and sadness flash over her features, and she clenches her hands into fists. “You abandoned everything, everyone. Me, Cassidy!” She yells.
Her fists tremble at her side, her shoulders stiff and hunched over. She can’t look at him, she can’t bear it or else she won’t be able to hold back. Years of emotions flooding to the brim, threatening to spill over.
Cassidy looks at her softly, understanding. He takes his own hat off, letting it fall to the ground while he reaches out to gingerly tuck messy white hair back. Ashe flinches at his touch, but doesn’t jerk away like she wants to. She allows him to tuck the hair behind her ear, glossy eyes staring into his.
He has such a kind, gentle expression on his face, she wants to punch him even more. He smiles, “It’s okay, darlin’.”
There’s no more words spoken between them as he pulls her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. One of his hands cradles the back of her head, holding her face in the crook of his neck. She sniffles, punching weakly at his chest but he just quiets her, holding her close.
His free hand rubs at her back in a soothing motion, trying to calm her. He presses a kiss to the top of her head, “It’ll be okay, darlin’.”