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It took a few months, but with a new sense of rejoice and pride, the town of Rose Creek had officially finished being rebuilt. To celebrate the victory against Bartholomew Bogue, a day full of partying was held by the town. A large gathering was held at the town square, featuring dancing, singing, music, drinking, and a lot of fun.
The town wouldn't be where it was without the Magnificent Seven, and the townsfolk were forever grateful. People were still expressing their thanks, either through gifts, words, or from the bolder of women, flirting.
Billy watched from afar as Goodnight worked up a crowd. All around him as he joked and conversed, a group of women, giggling and egging him on.
Billy and Goodnight were standing at the sides, distancing themselves from the dancers and drunkards at the center of the square. Sam was talking to Teddy and Emma, and Red stood with them. Jack was sleeping in and Vasquez and Faraday were amongst the dancers and drunkards.
Billy and Goodnight were having a good time, people-watching, laughing at each other's comments, having a drink or two; within each other's company, it was always a good time. It was in the middle of one of Goodnight's stories when a lady and her friends approached the two. Though, it was clear that they were more interested in one than the other.
It wasn't long until they were dragging Goodnight away and into the crowd, where more women would end up surrounding him.
“I’ll be a short moment, Billy!” was the last thing he told him before leaving.
He took a long drag from his cigarette, watching in annoyance as the group laughed for the umpteenth time.
It was so superficial. It almost made him mad that Goodnight was among them. He would've left a while ago if it wasn't for him. He was the only reason that he kept watching. Anything Goodnight was involved in, he was too, directly or indirectly, whether he knew that or not.
He noticed one woman in particular; the one in the pink and white dress, fanning herself and standing strangely close to Goodnight. Whenever she laughed, she'd put her free hand somewhere on his arm. It might've just been him, but Billy could've sworn she looked at him a certain way. He didn't quite know.
All he did know was that he didn't like it. Not one bit.
He decided he had enough when Goodnight returned her touch, putting his hand over hers. He found himself not in the mood to socialize anymore, so he went behind the inn, where no one could bother him.
Billy leaned against the wall, throwing his head back in barely contained anger. He let himself slide down until he was sitting on the ground, fixing his gaze to look at the vast land in front of him. He had his thoughts to keep himself company, but the only thing he could think about was how Goodnight basically left him. Didn't even protest about being dragged away, hell, he was probably having the time of his life right now without him. How long had he been talking to those women, anyway? Did he even remember that he left him standing there? He didn't even bat an eye towards him.
Billy took another cigarette out of his pack and placed it between his lips; maybe a smoke’ll calm him down. Help him come to his senses, maybe.
He struck a match and cupped his hands around his cigarette, letting the small flame ignite the end. He was probably a quarter of the way finished when he heard footsteps approaching him on his left.
“Ah, there you are,” Goodnight murmured, walking up to Billy and sitting down next to him. “Look at you tryna sneak away.”
“How'd you know I’d be here?” Billy averted Goodnight's eyes, looking down at his lap instead. He was kind of relieved that he finally came back, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't annoyed at him.
“I just kinda knew,” Goodnight said.
Goodnight put his hand out, and Billy let him take a drag of his cigarette. There was a moment of silence, all the while, Billy was expecting some sort of apology from the other.
“You left me,” he muttered, getting Goodnight’s attention.
“I know it was a lot longer than a ‘short moment’, but I’d never leave you.” Goodnight shook his head. “You know I wouldn't do that, Billy.”
Felt like it, Billy thought.
“You looked awfully close with that blonde lady.”
“You were watching?”
“Was I watching? Watching her touch you like that? Yeah. Of course I was watching.”
It took a moment for Billy to realize how pathetic that sounded, and it hit him like a train. He exhaled sharply and rubbed his face, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“Ignore what I just said.”
There was another silence, more awkward than it was tense.
“...You saw me touch her, too?” Goodnight mumbled, and Billy nodded.
He pursed his lips together, thinking of what to say. If he was being honest, he didn't expect him to get so worked up about it. He thought it was a bit uncalled for, maybe a bit endearing. But for the most part, he felt bad for getting carried away and practically leaving him.
“Look, Billy. I—I was just trying to be friendly. And for leaving for so long, I’m sorry. I got carried away.”
“Wherever I go, you go, too. I already left you once and damn it, shame on me for leaving you a second time. It won't happen again.” Goodnight promised.
Billy looked up from his hand. “Yeah? You mean that?”
Goodnight nodded. “I mean it.”
Billy couldn't help but smile a bit, huffing a bit of a chuckle. “You make it real hard to be mad at you for long, Goody.”
Goodnight laughed. “Mad? You sounded more jealous to me.”
“What? Oh, don't put it like that.” Billy flushed, hiding his face again.
“Look at you getting all pissy at a little touch! Sounds like jealousy to me.” Goodnight teased, nudging the other.
Billy turned to face Goodnight again, opening his mouth to say something in denial, but held his tongue when he looked at him like that. Looked at him with that shiny grin and that gleam in his eyes. Billy sighed deeply.
“Maybe just a bit.”
They stared at each other for a moment, just the two of them sitting behind the inn, away from everything and everyone else. Knowing that, they both leaned in.
Billy felt his lips wrap around his cigarette again. He opened his eyes to give Goodnight a dead pan stare, who just laughed in response.
“Very funny, Goody.” he frowned, pressing the mostly-burned cigarette into the ground.
Goodnight snickered. “Désolé, monsieur.”
Billy sighed, then decided that they had been sitting here for a while now.
“Come on. Let's go before someone starts wondering where we are.”
He got up and dusted himself off, Goodnight following suit. He was about to turn the corner, but stopped when he felt Goodnight grab his wrist. When he turned around, he was surprised when he felt his lips against his. They stayed like that for a second, before Goodnight pulled away.
“Felt bad for tricking you earlier,” he smiled, softly. “Sorry. Again. For tonight.”
Billy smiled back at him. “Just don't let it happen a third time.”
Before they went back to the square, he stole one last kiss from Goodnight, and they turned the corner.