almightythirst | Deerington Inbox

You got me all wrong. I'm sayin' that makin' you do my paperwork would be a Christmas present for me.

[ She figured he could make the front as welcoming as he wanted. Finally, she comes to a door and, she can feel her heart picking up with excitement as she goes to unlock it. ]

Don't really own this one, technically, but I convinced some people it would be in everyone's best interest to let me use parts of it. They agreed.

[ The lock clicks into place and she pushes the door open. It's dark inside for a only a moment before she flicks on the light to reveal a very well put together indoor shooting range. It has everything he could want and it's extremely professional. There was rows for shooting and cases full of all sorts of weapons, most guns and rifles, but throwing knives and bows too. A lot of care when into the place, and she stands back to let him take it in, eagerly waiting for his reaction. ]

[ Jesse snorts out a laugh, muttering a ‘should’ve known’ to the paperwork comment. She could try and make him do it, but then she won’t be able to blame anyone but herself when she can’t find any of her relevant documents months down the line. Not even due to any purposeful deception on his part. He’s just bad at it.

He steps inside the open door and outright gawks at the facility on the other side. It’s nicer than any he’s seen around here, nicer than most places he’s used back home even. He could spend weeks with those guns alone.

He turns back to her, shaking his head with the start of a grin on his face. ]

Gift’s somewhere in here?

[ … you’re in love with an idiot Ashe. ]

[ So that was why she was always the one dealing with Deadlock's paperwork. It's so much easier to just do things yourself.

He seems to be enjoying it, and she's getting more excited as he takes it in.

And then...he misses the mark. She really was in love with an idiot. Staring at him incredulously, she shakes her head. Sure it had been hard to tie a bow on the place, but did he really not get it? ]

No. Jesse. This is your gift. [ She waves her arm a bit as she begins to walk in and try and make it clear she'd done all this for him. ]

All of it. Your makeshift shootin' range in the backyard is great and all, but you need somethin' proper to be trainin' people with and leadin' them in learin'.

So Merry Christmas! I designed you a shootin' range.

[ Shock wipes his expression clean, and all he can seem to do for a moment is stare at Ashe. Then, after a few seconds, he manages to turn his head and stare out at the room.

She’s managed to do this to him just once before. They’d been kids then, little things. Well before either of them had even considered running away from home, much less to start a gang. Much less with each other. She’d given him a gift for his birthday for the first time. Something small, but it was more than he’d gotten in the years since his mama passed. He’d stared at it then like he’s staring at the room now: wide-eyed, almost uncertain, trying to believe what he’s seeing despite having already decided that the reality of it is impossible.

He turns to her the same way too, his voice soft and quiet as it ever gets. Touched. ]

… This is all for me?

[ There is something that's so gentle about his reaction that she feels a hint of shyness from it all. She didn't often do the right thing to make someone happy and where he is concerned she feels a sense of desire to make up for some things. She'd had a feeling he would like it, but she remembers this peaceful exchange of gifts between them in years past, and once again it's like coming home.

She gives a small nod. ]

Yeah, all for you. I might use it sometimes, but I've got the deed in your name.

[ She fished into her pocket and pulled out a letter with the deed folded in half, and handed it over. ]

I even paid for the space. [ With the money she'd made illegally, but why be nitpicky. ] You like it?

[ If Jesse were nitpicky about where his funds come from, he’d never eat back at home. Most of those credit cards were stolen off of individuals deserving of it, but stolen is still stolen.

He doesn’t take the paper. Instead, he grasps the wrist of the hand holding it and tugs her forward, his other hand tilting up her chin so that he can kiss her. When it ends, he’s grinning, eyes shining with genuine happiness. ]

That answer your question?

[ She wasn't sure she'd ever stop being surprised by such overt displays of affection, but she wasn't sure she wanted to either. Every part of her loved this; being wanted and feeling like she belonged to someone. They still hadn't vocalized whether or not they were a couple, but she felt like they were and they certainly acted like it.

Though he eyes went wide at the kiss, she closed them quickly and melted into it. When he pulls back and she sees her happiness mirrored in his eyes, she'd smiling like a fool, and her cheeks are rosy. ]

Yeah. [ Her voice is a little breathless. ] It does. I'm glad. Merry Christmas.

[ That’s a conversation they’ll have to have one day, after Chloe remembers who she is and they are no longer in the position of having to pretend anything at all. Now though, it feels like it goes unsaid. He cups her cheek in one hand and leans his forehead against hers. ]

Good. Thank you, Liz. And merry Christmas.

[ It's yet another moment when pure happiness floods her system and she feels safe despite the chaos of Deerington. Her eyes close at he leans his forehead against hers and she moves closer to him. ]

Merry Christmas Jesse.

[ She lingers for a moment longer before pulling back and smiling brightly at him. ] So, you wanna play with the guns or what?

[ Jesse grins right back at her with all of the enthusiasm of—well, a kid on Christmas. ]

Sugar, wild horses couldn’t drag me out of here without givin’ at least one of ‘em a shot.

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