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“How could ya want someone….something like me? I mean look at me.” The Ranger shrugged, eyes shifting to the floor.
“I’m just ah chunk of metal.”
“I can’t give ya what ya rightfully deserve darlin’, what ya need..” His voice trailed off, juxtaposed to its usually bombastic brilliance.
“I don’t care about that.” You gently retort, a hand reaching out to cup the side of his face. Fingers gently tracing through his bangs.
“Boothill, all I want…all I need…is you.” Your thumb gently smooths the course skin of his face, drawing his line of sight back to you.
“I love all of you Boothill. Every little facet of your being.”
“Your flaws and imperfections. Your strengths and virtues. Every single piece of you. I love it all.” You continue, voice soft and oh so sweetly sincere.
The cowboy remained quiet, his mind unable to come up with a way to respond; how unlike him. Finally, he simply closed his eyes, no longer able to hold your gaze, and nuzzled into the warmth of your palm. Resting his lips on your wrist, appreciating the strong pulse, the rhythm of you, as blood flowed past.
Then, oh so subtly, his shoulders shuddered and his breath fell out of synch; going from calculated intakes to more ragged puffs of air. Even if he could still shed tears he wouldn’t have to for you to understand what was happening. You could tell in the minuscule downturn of his mouth or the slight tension of his closed eyelids. After all, you knew Boothill like one would know themselves; perhaps better than that even. His mannerisms and little intricacies, you could read and recognize with such ease.
“Boothill…” You drawled, voice still strong yet kind.
“You are worthy of love…you deserve love, deserve everything, the whole cosmos even.”
A beat passes.
“Please, allow me to love you…”
A soft whimper is your answer as the ranger buries himself more into you; to hide his cracking exterior. By now, you can feel that hot prickle of tears in the corners of your own eyes. Seeing him like this breaks something within you.
“Boothill?” You ask gingerly.
A period of silence lapses before he finally speaks again.
“I…I love you.” The gunslinger breathes at last. Though it was so soft, were it not for the already present silence, you could have missed it.
You had never seen him this vulnerable, so quiet and subdued. The desire to fully embrace him was practically overpowering, but you held out; not wanting to overwhelm him further. You’d let him take the lead now.
Boothill exhaled a deep breath to calm himself and clear his head; slowly he opened his eyes. The red dot at the center of his target pupil didn’t burn with its usual hot intensity. No, this time it smoldered with a tender warmth and gentle glow; displaying his bare and worn soul only to you. The walls that he worked so hard, over so many years, to place around himself had crumbled before you. Brought down by your fortitude, your unwavering loyalty and unconditional love for him.
“I love you.” He repeated, more sure and confident this time.
“I love you too.” You answered; calm, steady, and inviting.
Ever so gingerly the cowboy leaned forward, making sure to keep your hand on his cheek, and nestled himself in the curve of your neck. Enveloping himself in the comfort of your warm, smooth skin and relishing the familiar scents he always associated with you. He was grounding himself in the security your presence brought him.
He hummed against you, corralling all of his swirling thoughts. The gunslinger mentally went over what all of this meant now. Despite the chaos still active in his neurochip he found himself less uncertain than before, because now he has you. In a way, he always knew this to be true and Aeons how he loves the sound of that; you and him together. He pressed himself further into your warmth and softly smiled, lost in all that was you.
A caring smile makes its way to you too as you watch your beloved relax, basking in the radiant glow of your affection. You bring a hand up and start absentmindedly carding your fingers through the locks of his hair. You couldn’t wait to shower him with all that he so rightfully deserved.
For now though, a night where you held him secure in your embrace, whispering sweet words of affirmation and love sounded perfect.