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Ruben sat on a log near one of the campfires; it was late, really late, but what started as some simple wondering on past actions ended up snowballing into a whole session of overthinking, which now had the mixed man incapable of sleep.
Usually he'd ask his hidden lover, Javier Escuella, for some comfort but...the man was nowhere to be seen. Ruben was sure Javier told him where he'd go but he found he could not remember for the life of him.
He wondered where Mac Callander, one of his closest friends was, (the other person who'd usually bring him some sort of comfort too) but Ruben was advised by Sean Mcguire not to wait...
Of course, this had Ruben thinking Mac had gone out drinking again.
And he soon found out he was right.
First, he heard horses, then...it almost sounded like someone fell of their horse...then grass and eventually some very angry gaelic muttering. Ruben giggled to himself.
" ya alright? " He asked towards the darkness where the noise came from.
" Feck off " the darkness answered
" 'm just worried 'bout cha " Ruben huffed as he got up, dusting his pants off
Mac rolled his eyes and stretched, hard enough Ruben could hear his back popping.
" 'm fine, 'm alright...don't worry so much " He grumbled, stumbling a little and nearly falling.
The mix of smells on his body was pretty disgusting...tabaco, alcohol, sweat...Ruben was sure he'd gotten into some scuffle, given the blood on his knuckles.
" i can't help it " Ruben answered, crossing his arms over his chest " do ya want some water? i can guide you to your roll otherwise.. "
Mac gives a scoff, waving his hand dismissively when Ruben mentioned resting...though, his drunken self is starting to get more and more tired...
" don't need to go yet, 'm fine. And I don't want yer damn water " Mac retorted, but he was already swaying on his feet.
Ruben sighed " Mac...c'mon, lemme help ya scotsman " He gently moved his hand closer and offered it to Mac, giving him puppy-dog eyes.
Mac grimaced, scoffed, and took his hand.
Ruben beamed with happiness as Mac accepted his offer. He led the larger man to a log and playfully nudged him to sit down, to which Mac shot him a glare but didn’t say anything more..he's too tired (and a bit too drunk) to argue anyways.
" i'll be back, okay? " Ruben reassured, as if worried Mac would grow antsy.
" mhm... " Mac hummed, crossing his arms. The reassurance felt stupid to him, but he knew Ruben was the nervy type, so at some point he stopped complaining.
Ruben sprinted toward the water bucket nearby, and he would've crashed into it if he hadn't had a few remaining neurons working.
He sighed, grabbing a probably clean mug and filling it up before he trotted back to Mac, hand over the top of the mug, so no water spilled out.
" here ya go, scotsman! " Ruben gave him a smile as he handed him the mug
Mac yawned as he opened his eyes and looking up at Ruben. He grabs the mug of water with both hands, bringing it to his lips to take a big sip.
" ...thanks " He mumbles with the smallest of voices, clearing his throat afterward. When he looks up at Ruben, his face looks softer...though that's probably just the drunkenness.
Ruben hums a response, tapping his foot on the dirt below his feet twice before looking back at Mac.
He tilted his head. Mac was confused.
" so...you okay? " He asked again, licking the pad of his thumb and wiping the corner of Mac's mouth clean.
Mac stiffened up at the touch. He was even more confused now. At the gentleness, the intimacy...something he was not used to. Once he recovers, he grunts and smacks his hand away...
" I'm fine " He mutters " stop touchin' me "
" oh--sorry " Ruben pulled his hand away, a wave of worry running over his face. Mac was weird about touch...some days it was fine, others Ruben could swear Mac would snap his neck if he tried anything.
" i..uhh... " He scratched his neck nervously " do you...want me to leave? "
Mac sees his uncomfortable expression and immediately sighs.
" Nay... "
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. After some moment of silence, he sighs again and glances at the space beside him on the log.
" Sit down."
Ruben nods and waddles closer, sitting next to him " how...uhm... " He scratched his hand " how was drinking..? " He asks, unsure, just trying to keep the conversation going.
Mac shifts a little so he's sitting straight, trying to make himself more comfortable as Ruben sits next to him.
" ...whiskey was great...an' fighting was great too...not a good combination though "
He says with a scoff, looking off into the distance for a moment. It's as if he's thinking about something...but he quickly snaps out of it and looks back at Ruben.
Ruben follows his gaze for a second, a little lost on what Mac's looking at, before looking back at him with a little smirk " you sure like to do it, though " He giggled, poking Mac's side " i thought Davey would've gone wit'cha...? "
Mac lets out the slightest of chuckles, flinching a little. He shakes his head with a scoff. He mumbled something about Davey being a dumb idiot before responding with
" Nah...said he got things to do, didn't wanna go out to drinkin' wit me "
" aww...he's finally leaving the nest " Ruben said, playfully mocking Mac " how do you feel, mother hen? "
Mac scoffs, a hint of a smirk on his face. He gives Ruben a smack in the back of his head.
" Shut yer yap, Connor, don't call me that " He says in a light-hearted grumble, shaking his head.
Ruben pouts, rubbing the back of his head " rude "
Mac snickers. He shifts a little on the log, trying to get comfortable.
" Aye, I ken."
He sighs, picking at his nails.
" You really worry too damn much. " He says in a matter-of-fact tone, leaning back, eyes closed.
" whatever.. " Ruben huffs.
He keeps quiet for a few moments before speaking again. " Seriously, though, why you care so much "
Silence settled in once more, the only noise filling the air was crickets, other critters of the night and some gang members snores...
" can i not care about my friend? " Ruben eventually asked, fixing his hair before he crossed his legs " i don't know...i just care about you "
Mac lets out a scoff, although it's not exactly aimed at Ruben, per se. It's more of a scoff towards himself... he doesn't really know how to accept being so openly cared about apart from Davey, it's something he's foreign to.
" You care too damn much...you're gonna get hurt one day. "
" if it's for you guys, i don't mind " Ruben shrugged, yawning " i wouldn't mind doin' anything for you guys... " He adds, looking down at his hands like he's seeing something on them.
Mac silently agrees; he'd do most anything for the gang...for Davey and Ruben, specially.
He understands the feeling. The blood, there but also not.
He just hums and nods, looking off into the distance again.
It's gonna be a long night.