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dameronscopilot · 24 days

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reticent desire

— alhaitham x f!reader

summary — despite your best efforts, you never quite could catch the attention of the akademiya’s aloof scribe. at least that’s what you thought, until an expedition goes awry and you find yourself pressed up against him within the confines of a small, dark closet with little room left for the secrets that linger between you.

18+ ONLY

wc — 2.4k

content — fingering, dirty talk, semi-public sex, unprotected p in v, creampie, oral fixation, finger sucking

“I notice everything when it comes to you.” Alhaitham’s nose brushes against the back of your neck, and your legs nearly give out at the feeling of his soft lips ghosting over your skin as he sighs, “Even if I may not show it.”

“Stop fidgeting.”

Alhaitham’s breath is hot against your skin as he murmurs the words, lips just barely brushing against the shell of your ear. Eyes falling shut, you inhale silently, palm pressed firmly against the door in front of you as you bite back a retort about counterintuitive circumstances and the like. His tone is laced with his usual dose of annoyance, though it’s also pitched with something else you can’t quite put a finger on.

At least not while you’re crammed together in a small storage room inside of a run down old shack deep in the woods outside of Sumeru City. Hiding.

This was, for all intents and purposes, meant to be a run-of-the-mill expedition. A brief afternoon spent traipsing through one of the safer paths in the Avidya Forest to gather crystalflies. However, stumbling upon a rogue group of Eremites was not on the agenda.

There’s a sharp prick on the sensitive skin of your inner thigh—fucking Sumerian bugs—and despite the sweltering weather that inspired it, you’ve sorely begun to regret the dress that you slipped on earlier this morning before hurrying to meet Alhaitham outside the steps of the Akademiya. You can’t help but let out a strangled gasp, unintentionally pressing back into Alhaitham as you rub a hand over the bite, but your pained noise is cut off by a hand clapping over your mouth just as the outer door to the hut swings open.

The stinging pain fades to a dull throb as boots scuff along the floorboards, though the relief only lasts for a moment before it begins to itch. Your fingers flex against your skin as you trap your hand between your thighs in frustration, like that’ll make it stop.

And then all remaining thoughts swiftly exit your brain at the feeling of Alhaitham’s free hand joining your own, fingers interlocking with yours as he grasps your thigh and holds your hand still.

“It’s like you want to get caught,” he mutters chastisingly, and you nearly shudder at the sudden sensation of a kiss of elemental energy skittering along your skin.

Alhaitham’s not a healer, not even close. But the bit of dendro power that he’s carefully channeling through his fingertips is just enough to take off the edge, the feeling akin to stepping outside into the soothing caress of a cool evening breeze. You can’t help the way your head drops back against his shoulder, his hand sliding over your jaw and coming to rest against your neck as your lips fall open in a pitiful little exhale of relief.

The two of you stay like that long after the cabin goes silent, luck clearly on your side as the Eremites prove not to be thorough enough to check behind each and every door. Alhaitham’s chest rises and falls against your back, and you’re half certain you’ve begun to hallucinate when you feel his thumb trail over your collarbone.

You can’t deny your attraction to the silver-haired scribe, the feeling something that’s lingered passively in your consciousness from the very day you first shook his hand in the Akademiya’s library when one of the scholars introduced you to him.

But despite your somewhat embarrassing attempts to garner his attention in those days—from dresses that hardly earned a second glance to comments that couldn’t be construed as anything less than outwardly suggestive—he remained aloof and indifferent. Undoubtedly uninterested.

It’s why you try not to put too much stock into his actions now, which are hardly worth overthinking given the lack of square footage to be found in your current circumstances.

“I don’t believe this outfit was the best choice for an expedition,” he breaks the silence, the sound of the Eremites hooting and yelling growing further and further away by the second.

(You should reach for the door knob.)

You roll your eyes, though he can’t see it from where he’s situated. “I’ll be sure to find something more to your liking next time,” you retort, though you know he’s referring less to the way the fabric looks and more to the way you’d had to abandon most of your modesty during the initial chase with the Eremites, skirt billowing every which way as you dashed through the woods beside him.

(You should really reach for the door knob.)

He huffs, tongue clicking against his teeth. “I didn’t say I don’t like it.”

Warmth blooms in your chest, your mouth going dry. This time, it’s Alhaitham that shifts slightly behind you—and you can’t blame him, given how long he’s been a stock-still, solid presence behind you. The model example of how not to get caught, really.

But it’s then that you finally feel it, something undeniably hard pressing against your backside. Your insides go molten, the heat curling in your abdomen coiling into something tangible and insistent, something that has you arching back into him on instinct before you can think better of it.

Alhaitham’s erection catches between the globes of your ass, the thin cotton of your dress leaving little to the imagination, and he groans. It’s a rough, gravelly sound that rumbles in his chest, complemented by a heavy exhale that sends a shiver down your spine as it hits the back of your neck.

(And though you’ve imagined that exact sound far more times than you’d ever admit, it pales in comparison to the real thing.)

He trails one hand along your bare shoulder, fingertips just barely grasping one of the thin straps lying there. “It’s been a while since you’ve worn this.”

It’s completely silent outside of the shack now, and the two of you could easily move this conversation to somewhere less confined.

Less dark.

Less intimate.

“I’m surprised you noticed,” you reply carefully.

Your mind reels, racing to catch up with the liquified remains of your nerves.

A sound that borders on frustration leaves his lips as he hooks a fingertip under the strap of your dress, sliding the digit along the fabric until the knuckle rests against your shoulder blade.

“Your little scholar wouldn’t like this situation very much, I don’t think.”

You swear you feel him shudder with restraint, ever so slightly.

“That’s long over,” you tell him softly, reaching one hand back and weaving your fingers into Alhaitham’s hair, barely sparing a second thought for the fellow scholar you’d spent a few nights occupied with months and months ago.

(In an attempt to get over him.)

He inhales sharply, one large hand now splayed across your abdomen. The strap of your dress falls from your shoulder, and his lips are a scorching brand of heat as he presses a kiss to the side of your neck, his tongue pressing into your pulse point.

There’s noise again, likely coming from the well-trodden dirt path just outside the cabin, and both of you stiffen for a moment.

And then his hand dips a bit lower, fingertips grazing the sensitive heat between your thighs, and you have to bite back a whimper. Danger be damned, you’re helpless to resist the urge to grind back into the insistent, hard cock that’s pressed firmly against your ass. Alhaitham growls, bunching up the skirt of your dress and cupping your sex through your panties.

Your very soaked panties, which audibly squelch under the pressure of his fingers.

“Archons…” he rasps, teeth grazing the hinge of your jaw before he begins to suck and nip at the sensitive patch of skin.

Alhaitham nudges your legs further apart with one booted foot, and your muscles tighten as you whine when he pushes one finger inside of you though the barrier of your underwear, the cotton material slick against your dripping walls. He sounds nearly reverent as he vocalizes how wet you are for him, and both of you moan in unison when he tugs your panties aside and finally sinks a bare digit into your tight cunt.

“So fucking wet,” he exhales roughly, his hips twitching as he rocks into you.

You reach backward, palming at Alhaitham’s erection, and your mouth waters as your fingers feel out the sheer size of his thick, achingly hard cock. A hand grasps your chin, turning your head back as well, and a pair of lips comes crashing into yours in a hungry, frantic kiss.

Alhaitham moans into your mouth as you stroke him through his pants, swallowing down your own mewling noises as he slips a second finger into your pussy, wet, sticky arousal generously dripping down the inside of your thighs.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve thought of this,” he breathes out, momentarily breaking the kiss, saliva trailing between your lips. “How many times I imagined taking you right over my desk in one of those little dresses you love to wear.”

You’re fighting a losing battle with the last dregs of your composure at the bare honesty of his words. He tugs down the other strap of your dress, groaning appreciatively when your breasts spill out, and he wastes no time as he begins to knead them, dragging a thumb over your sensitive, peaked nipples.

Your arousal is a living, breathing thing—a maelstrom of need.

“I wish you would have,” you sigh.

He crooks his fingers inside of you, stroking a spot that leaves you gasping and trembling, nearly careening over the edge. Meanwhile, you take it upon yourself to free his cock from the confines of his pants, swiping a finger over the precum beading at the tip before stroking his warm, bare shaft.

“It’s depraved,” he laughs darkly, pressing greedy kisses down your neck, “the way I’ve dreamed of filling you.”

Your mouth falls open in a silent cry of pleasure; you’re borderline sobbing at this point. You’re certain you’ve never been so aroused in your entire life, every other intimate encounter you’ve had reduced to nothing more than a hazy memory as Alhaitham continues to murmur between messy, hungry kisses—

“...to know that when you walk through the halls of the Akademiya, catching the eyes of every fucking scholar, it’s my cum leaking from your cunt all the while…”

You may very well lose your mind if he doesn’t fuck you right here, right now. And you whimper as much while he continues to fuck you with his fingers.

“...please.”

“You’ll have to be quiet,” he intones, hiking your dress up further as he grasps his thick cock between his fingers, your cunt greedily taking in the head as he notches it at your entrance.

He cups your jaw with his free hand, fingertips grazing your lips, and you swipe your tongue over one of the digits. Tentatively, he begins to slide the digit into your mouth, and an appreciative sound leaves him as you take him even deeper with a hushed moan, tongue wrapping around his finger.

Alhaitham slowly begins to slide his cock inside of you, your soaking wet walls easily giving way to the stretch of his shaft. He slips another finger into your mouth, breathing heavily as he bottoms out within the plush heat of your cunt, murmuring about how fucking good you’re taking him. How incredible you feel.

“So perfect,” he rasps into your ear, steadily pulling his cock out of you before driving back in balls deep.

Drool slides down your chin, the wanton cries of pleasure bubbling up inside of you muffled by the sloppy, wet sounds of you eagerly sucking on his fingers as your body vibrates with pleasure.

With each stroke of his hips, Alhaitham’s thrusts grow more rough, more desperate. You’re throbbing with desire, with need, with the unbearable urge to moan and scream for him until your throat is raw.

And he must know it, must want that as badly as you do, because he rasps, “I want to hear you next time.” Your walls flutter as he drags his cock out of you before slamming back into your needy hole, cock bullying its way through the tight grasp of your pussy as deep as it can go. His spit-slick fingers stay lodged in your mouth as he continues, “I want to know every sound that I can drag out of these pretty little lips of yours.”

You’re helpless to hold back your answering moan as your thoughts stray to the promise of Alhaitham fucking you elsewhere, beyond the confines of this small, dark closet. He drags his fingers over your throbbing clit as his shaft massages your inner walls at a pace that’s rapidly becoming frenzied.

He pulls your lips back into a kiss that’s all ravenous tongues and teeth, and his tone is somewhere between a command and a plea as he groans, “Let me feel you come on my cock.”

With the circles he’s rubbing into your aching bundle of nerves and the continuous sink and drag of his shaft in your plush hole, you part your lips further and let him lick his way into your mouth as you comply. Cunt spasming, your entire body trembles and shakes as you gush on his cock, going lightheaded with the force of your orgasm while you whimper his name.

“Fuck,” he gasps, his thrusts growing erratic until he plunges deep inside of you one last time, your kiss reduced to heaving breaths against one another’s lips as you feel hot ropes of cum spill into your cunt, filling you to the brim.

You’d collapse to the floor, probably, if there were room to do so.

Alhaitham wraps his arms around you, holding you close for what could be minutes or hours, you’re not quite sure how to measure the passage of time with your mind reduced to a hazy fog of pleasure and bliss. When he eventually pulls his softened cock out of you, he groans quietly as he briefly slips a finger into your cum-filled cunt before quickly pulling up your panties.

You finally turn to face Alhaitham. He flattens down the skirt of your dress, one hand lingering against your hip bone as he presses his lips to yours once more.

“I’ll clean you up when we get back,” he murmurs, a promise in the filthy, hungry, broad stroke of his tongue as he parts the seam of your lips.

likes, comments, &/or reblogs are appreciated<3!

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dameronscopilot · 1 month

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i just want to write stories that read the same way that noah kahan's songs make me feel

#noah kahan

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dameronscopilot · 1 month

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Thank you for the rec & for putting this lovely list together! ❤️

Garrett Hedlund Character Masterlist WIP

In honor of March Madness, I created this master list of Garrett Hedlund character fanfics and may update it even after March. This may not be mobile/tablet-friendly.

Note: This may not have all of the stories posted on Tumblr and/or elsewhere since I am only one person and could only find as much as I can and unfortunately get distracted by Garrett along the way. Also, these do not belong to me. These stories belong to these lovely fanfic writers credited below and to the people behind the original source material. Do keep in mind that many of these fanfics are targeted for 18 years of age and older, so reader discretion is advised.

Tagged: @the-blind-assassin-12 (the person behind March Madness 2024)

Key: ❤️‍🔥 = Smut(ty)/Explicit 🍬 = Fluff ❤️‍🩹 = Angst

Updated as of March 12, 2024

Special Events

@/triplefrontier-anniversary (A fanfic and art event to celebrate Triple Frontier's 5th anniversary which is run by @romanarose and @for-a-longlongtime that goes from March 1st-March 14th. Take out the slash to go to their page)

Masterlists

Mitch Keller x F!OC Waitress Oneshot Masterlist by @marmie-noir [Content warning: violence, sex, and 18+ content] ❤️‍🔥

TriFRambles’ Masterlist by @triframbles

Delta Landscaping Mainlist by @rhoorl ❤️‍🔥

Benny Miller Masterlist by @dameronscopilot [some 🍬, some ❤️‍🔥]

Benjamin "Benny" Miller Masterlist by @musings-of-a-rose [Some Fluff, Some Angst, Some Smut, some all of the above]

FishBen Rec List by @thirstworldproblemss [Some fluff, some angst, some smut, some all of the above]

more TBA

Individual Stories

Triple Frontier

"Every Kiss Begins With A Mistletoe" by @kittyofalltrades [Santi and Benny x Reader] ❤️‍🔥

"Not So Silent Night" by @kittyofalltrades [Benny x Reader]❤️‍🔥

"Office Party Love" by @kittyofalltrades [Benny x Reader] 🍬

Sleepy Benny by @pilothusband [Benny x Reader] 🍬

"I’m gonna keep you in love with me for a while" by @pilothusband [Benny x Reader] ❤️‍🔥

"An Unexpected Discovery" by @pilothusband [Benny x Reader]❤️‍🔥

"Benny's Favorite Librarian" by @kittyofalltrades [Benny x Reader]❤️‍🔥

"Before I Go" by @cowboystokes (deactivated) [Benny x Black!Reader (Co-Parents)]

"Drunk Poetry" by @violentdelightsandviolentends [Benny x female reader - Content warning: cursing and alcohol mention] 🍬

"I see my shot" by @writefightandflightclub [Benny x female reader - Content warnings: alcohol, mildly steamy making-out, swearing, “unrequited” feelings and implied possible public sex acts (fade to black).] ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥

"I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want them all." by @bullet-prooflove [Benny x Reader]

"Disinhibition" by @busycryin [Benny x Reader - Content warning: Injury, bad words, mentions of sex] 🍬

more TBA

Four Brothers

"Hopper saves a boy’s pieces, Joyce puts him back together" by @imeanwhynotbruv (Jack Mercer Stranger Things AU/crossover - TW: abuse)

"Number" by @jackmercerenthuiast (Jack Mercer x Reader - Content warning: Mentions of drugs, alcohol, suggestive language, and gang violence)

more TBA

Tron: Legacy

"Masks" by @ivorydragoness44 [Sam Flynn x Reader] ❤️‍🩹

"iii. morning kisses. waking up next to your significant other and pulling them up and capturing their lips to yours." by @solar-siren [Sam Flynn x Tron] 🍬

more TBA

Tulsa King

more TBA

More from other movies/shows/projects soon

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dameronscopilot · 1 month

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the rhett abbott drought officially ends in two months MY BODY IS READY

#rhett abbott

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dameronscopilot · 2 months

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Arguing with Benny and then you two fall into a silent treatment tell he send this message.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C34Mz3-sFtW/?igsh=MWh4Z2szYm14dGtiNQ==

The Benny vibes are off the charts. Accurate.

#answers from the cockpit #benny miller

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dameronscopilot · 2 months

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He must be stopped!!!! 😭😭😭

he is a MENACE. the absolute definition of a menace, in every regard.

#answers from the cockpit

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dameronscopilot · 3 months

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hihi hello i hope you're doing well<3!!!!

#answers from the cockpit

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dameronscopilot · 3 months

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She whispered aggressively through her teeth. “Okay, now's not the time to be cute. What the fuck did you do and how much bullshit do your wife and I have to dig through to get you out?”

Dying a little visualizing this.

Walker trying and failing to shoot his shot, we love to see it 😂.

“Or maybe you brought Stella here.”

HOOOooooooooo girl.

Steady Heart

Chapter 7: Lucky Seven

* Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton x OFC Stella Daniels

* Rating: M? (Still figuring out the rating system) (might eventually be M anyhow)

* Warnings: brief mention of murder, language, I think this chapter is pretty tame?

* Word count: 5,496ish

I would love to give credits to @dameronscopilot and @deanscroissant for being a sounding board for me during this whole process, giving outsider insight, being cheerleaders, and allowing me to screech at them about things that have happened during the writing process. Seriously couldn't have gotten this far.

Author's note: I hope everyone is enjoying so far! I hope you love this chapter as well! Also oof this one is longer than normal 😂. If you stick around until the end, kudos to you and thank you!

Stella frowned when she heard her phone ring from across the room. She just finished getting ready in her bathroom to head to the ranch for the day. It was 5:30 in the morning. ‘Someone better be dying, or in jail.’ Running to grab it before the last ring, she saw it was Monica.

“Hey Monica, what’s wrong?” Stella quickly questioned. It wasn’t usual for her to call her this early. She normally didn’t call her to begin with. Typically it was a text that came through.

The tinny, muffled sound came through the speaker. “Stella? Kayce was arrested.”

“What, why?!”

“I don’t know, but I need your help to get him out.”

“Okay I’m on my way. Are you home?”

“Yes. And thank you.”

Stella hung up the phone and shot a text to her brother. I’m gonna be late this mornin. Monica needs my help with something. Hurrying, she grabbed her keys and back pack, and ran out the door.

Monica stood with Tate outside of their house when Stella arrived. Once she got her son in the backseat of Stella’s SUV, she jumped in the car herself. Stella looked at her questioningly.

Monica explained. “We’ve gotta go to Chief Rainwater.”

“Monica, I’m gonna be real with you here for a second.” She side eyed Tate in the backseat and nodded to Monica to meet her outside of the car.

Monica faced her son. “Hey Tate? Me and Aunt Stell are gonna go talk outside really quick. Stay here.” Both of the women hopped out and stood at the front of the car and faced away from the little boy so he couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“So you were gonna be real with me?”

“Yeah.” Stella sighed the word. “The easiest solution to get him out of there as quickly as possible, is to go to his dad. Not me. ”

“Yeah I know, but I would rather not. Unless absolutely necessary.”

“Which I get, but they have a lawyer on their roster. I’m not that lawyer, Monica. I don’t have that kind of firepower. Chief Rainwater only knows me as the off Rez girl that hangs out with you and Kayce. My argument isn’t gonna change his mind. Especially since we have no idea what they picked him up for in the first place.” Stella shrugged. “Kayce is probably already thinking of getting Jamie involved anyhow.”

“We have to try, Stella. Rainwater has respect for you. He’ll at least listen.”

Stella made a face. That was news to her that he had respect for her. She wasn’t exactly sure how much the Chief would actually listen. “I’ll give it my best shot.” She looked directly at Monica. “You take your car. If I’m not having any luck, one of us is gonna have to go to his dad. Jamie will be able to get him out of there for sure if I can’t.”

“How will I know?”

“I’ll come outside. I’ll stay just in case they try anything funny before Jamie would get there.” Monica went to work and switched Tate into her car. She gave Stella a thumbs up signaling she was ready to pull out.

They arrived at the Chief’s office about 15 minutes later. Stella breathed deeply, trying to boost her confidence. She was good with people for the most part, but not everyone loved her. Monica said Rainwater respected her, but Stella wasn’t sure how true that was. Being the troublemaker’s best friend didn’t exactly keep her high on the list.

Stella jumped when Monica tapped on her window. She opened the door and registered Monica’s serious face.

“Are you sure you can do this?” Monica questioned her.

Stella stepped out of the car, locking it behind her, and shook her head. “I have a little faith in myself, but I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep.” Monica patted her on the back as she walked away, heading into the Chief’s office.

When Stella stepped through the threshold, the few people milling about stopped to look at her. She smiled at the folks still looking at her puzzled. She took in all the regalia displayed around the office for a minute. She noticed the secretary, Rebecca, and made a beeline for her desk.

Rebecca noticed the movement and greeted Stella with a smile. “Hi Stella, what can I help you with today?”

“Yeah, hi. I heard Kayce Dutton had gotten picked up and I was wondering if I could place bail for him or something.”

“Yeah, all of us know who you are Stella.” The woman behind the desk chuckled. “Why are you acting like you’ve never met me before?”

Stella sighed. “I guess I’m just trying to keep it professional. I dunno, Rebecca.” She shrugged.

Rebecca continued. “As for Kayce, I don’t have much information about that. At least information that I’m permitted to give you, anyhow.”

“Yeah that’s completely fine. I was just wondering if I could talk to Chief Rainwater for a moment?”

“He’s actually in a meeting.”

Stella frowned at the rejection. She heard the door open to her left and saw the Chief’s head of security, Mo, stick his head out. He was looking for the secretary to tell her something, but he never got the chance.

“Oh hey Mo! Just the person I was looking for.”

He whispered to himself, “oh no,” and he stuck his head back inside the room. “Stella Daniels is here, sir.”

“Wait, Stella’s here?” She heard Kayce’s surprise. She excused herself from Rebecca and made her way to Mo.

He snapped his arm across the door frame to stop her. “Stella you can’t come in here.”

“Well it just so happens that I’m actually here to talk to you about the resident guest you have in there.” She pointed to the room. “Well, you and Mr. Rainwater.”

The muffled voices of the men in the room drifted out from behind the door. Thomas’s voice gave direction to his head security officer. “Mo, let her in.”

Mo swung the door open with a sigh and stepped aside to let Stella by. These two always found a way to give them all a headache. Kayce smiled cutely at her from the chair and she gave him a stern look. She quickly switched to a saccharine smile when she directed her gaze at Rainwater. Her smile faltered when she saw Officer Waters posted beside Thomas, but she regained her composure and continued with the facade of confidence.

“Ms. Daniels.” Thomas waved to the empty chair in front of his desk. “Please have a seat.” Stella seated herself and crossed her legs at the knee. She waited for Thomas to continue. “So Kayce is what brings you here today, is that correct?”

“Well, not just him.” She heard Kayce scoff because he didn’t catch her meaning. “Primarily though, yes. I was actually wondering if I could talk to him really quick.” She side eyed Kayce.

Thomas accepted the request. “By all means.” No one made a motion to leave.

Stella chuckled and scratched her temple. “What I meant was, may I speak to him alone for like two minutes?” She did her best to put on an innocent doe eyed face.

Sheriff Waters began to object. “I don’t think that’s a good idea sir.”

Her attention whipped in his direction. When their eyes locked he looked like he wanted to escape. “What am I gonna do, Ben? Climb out the window with him and run?” Stella had a mischievous glint in her eye and a small grin in a challenge to his objection. Ben’s mouth opened and closed for a moment. The look on her face made him sweat. “I just want to talk to him really quick. I promise. No funny business.” She made direct eye contact with Thomas.

Thomas looked at Mo and then back to Stella as he contemplated. These two were known for being troublemakers. Tricksters. By everyone. There was a time when Thomas wouldn’t have put climbing out the window and running, past them. He still wouldn’t, but he didn’t think they were that stupid. Their energy now versus when they were younger, was very different. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

“Fine. Two minutes.” Ben and Mo headed to the door with Thomas following not far behind. He stopped and pinned the pair with a stern gaze. “The door stays cracked.” Both of them nodded and smiled.

Stella remained seated for an extra second after everyone left and intently watched the door. Once she felt that they were in the clear, she snapped to her feet and stalked over to Kayce. He braced himself against the chair as far as he could without tipping it. He thought she was going to land a solid crack to his jaw. She placed her hands on the arms of his chair effectively boxing him into his seat and huffed.

She whispered aggressively through her teeth. “Okay, now's not the time to be cute. What the fuck did you do and how much bullshit do your wife and I have to dig through to get you out?”

Kayce felt his eyes cross at Stella’s close proximity. He blinked to refocus. “People were trying to hurt Danny Trudeau’s daughter. I helped her, and stopped them. Then Danny and I took care of the fall out.” He whispered back.

Stella’s eyes widened as she whispered angrily at him again. “Stopped them?! Like permanently?” He nodded back at her.

Stella stood straight, put her glasses on top of her head, and rubbed her forehead. She drug her hand down her face. “Shit. We need Jamie.” The three men loudly re-entered the room. Stella placed her glasses back on her face.

“So did you two have your talk?” Thomas asked.

“Yessir.” They both answered in stereo.

Thomas looked between them. “So what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?” He walked back around his desk and seated himself.

Stella sucked in her bottom lip and held it with her teeth. She wasn’t exactly sure where to go from here. Especially when she knew the reason for him being held.

Thomas interrupted her train of thought. “I know what you’re going to ask, Stella, and the answer is no. We cannot release him into civilian custody.”

Kayce tried to defend Stella. “I mean, you know I’m not going to run anywhere. Monica or Stella wouldn’t let me do that. I don’t even think I would.”

Thomas put his foot down. “That’s a chance I’m not willing to take. It happened here.” His gaze moved from Kayce and back to Stella as he put his finger on his desk. “He can’t leave tribal land.”

Stella sighed. “Is there any way I can convince you to give him over to me, at all?”

“No Stella. We appreciate the effort, and I’m sure he does as well, but unfortunately this isn’t something you can fix.” Thomas let her down easy.

The best friends made direct eye contact. There was a subtle nod between them and Kayce looked at Thomas. “I’d like a lawyer.”

“Gentlemen, that would be my cue.” Stella nodded as she left.

Making her way out to the front steps, she searched around to see where Monica was. The women saw each other and made their way to meet in the middle.

“We need Jamie.”

Monica groaned. “Damn it!”

“I know, but it’s something I can’t undo. I don’t have the legal power. Whatever it was, it happened on tribal land. They don’t want him to set foot off the Rez. I can take the hit for you, if you really want to avoid talking to John?”

“No, I should be the one to go. Maybe call him so I don’t have to explain as much?” Monica requested.

“Yeah. I’ll do that. I’ll let them know you’re on your way. I’ll stay here out of sight, just in case.” Stella watched her walk off and hop in her car.

Stella cringed. This was definitely not the situation she thought she would be in this morning.

The phone rang four times before John answered with confusion. “Stella? What’s wrong?” She only called him if it was an emergency. After the fiasco of the last few days, he didn’t think she would try to contact him on purpose for a while. Unless they ran into each other on the ranch.

“It’s Kayce, sir. He was picked up by Rez police. They’re holding him down at the station. We need Jamie.”

“What do they have him for?”

“Something that happened on the reservation. They wouldn’t tell me. I just know this is something neither Monica nor myself have the power to fix. She’s on her way to you now with Tate.”

“I’m gonna make some calls.” John ended the call abruptly.

Both John and Jamie talked hurriedly on the phone with people to figure out Kayce’s situation.

“Well, they gotta transfer him somewhere, and if they haven't… If they haven't called you for the transfer, then it's gotta be federal, right?” John questioned. He remained silent while the person on the other end explained something to him. “Okay, well can you reach out to the BIA and FBI, see if they've had any transfer requests? Be vague, all right? Don't use Kayce's name. I don't want to… I don't want to open a door we can't close. Hold on a second.”

Jamie interrupted. “I checked with the federal court in Billings. No warrant was issued there, and nothing from the Park County Court either.”

“Walter, get back to me on this.” John ended the call and turned to Jamie fully. “What do you think they got him for?”

Jamie replied hopefully. “Fingers crossed it's the Rez thing.”

“Yeah. Take the chopper. Don't waste time in a car. Jamie…,” John paused. “Don't leave there without him, son.”

“I won't.” Jamie pulled out his cell phone again and called their pilot. “Viggo, I'm gonna need the chopper.” Monica walked up just as Jamie was leaving.

John focused all his attention on her and his grandson. “Had breakfast?”

“Not hungry.”

“How 'bout you, Tate?” He gave the boy a second to answer. He shrugged noncommittedly. “Or maybe just skip straight to dessert?”

Tate’s eyes lit up. “Like, what kind of desert?”

“Well, there's some cookies in there the size of pie plates.”

“Big cookie!”

“Well, they ain't small. Go ahead.” John ruffled Tate’s hair affectionately and gently guided him in the direction of the house as he ran by.

John waited until his grandson was completely out of ear shot. “Wouldn't say what they picked him up for.”

“They wouldn't tell me or Stella at the station either.” Monica shrugged.

“No arraignment date?”

“Mm-mm.”

“Sounds to me like they're—,” John interrupted himself. “—They're looking, that's all.”

Monica let out a humorless scoff. “Don't have to look far with Kayce.”

“We'll get him out of this, don't you worry. You have my word.” He took a moment. “And after I do, you two need to think about what's best for your family.”

“I'm not sure what you mean.” She tilted her head.

“Living day to day isn't living, Monica, it's surviving, with no regard for tomorrow.”

Tate came out and interrupted. “Boy, you weren't kidding.”

John thought quick on his feet to get Tate back inside. “Yeah, well, you should've brought two. Let me see that one.” He grabbed for the cookie in the boy’s hands. “Yeah, you're gonna have to go get another one, 'cause this one's mine.”

“Hey!” Tate giggled and wandered back into the house.

John looked after his grandson and then focused back on his daughter-in-law. “Tomorrow's the only thing a parent is supposed to live for.”

Stella heard the chopper coming before she saw it. She had parked a little ways off to the side. Once she saw it safely landed, Stella climbed out of her car. Racing around to the other side of the chopper caught Jamie’s attention.

Jamie stopped walking and waited for her. “Kayce dragged you into this too, huh?”

Stella raised her eyebrows at the accusation. “I was actually the first person that called your dad. So if anybody drug anyone into anything, it was me.” She pointed to herself.

“They wouldn’t let you take him?” There was an air of self-importance in his voice and he smirked.

She shot back quickly. “Of course not, Jamie. I’m not a lawyer.” She focused her gaze on him. “I was able to talk to him privately long enough for him to tell me what they’re holding him for.”

“What did he tell you?”

“Well, he saved a girl from being abducted and may or may not have stopped the people from doing it again. Ever.”

“What?! Why didn’t you tell my dad that?”

Stella quickly changed the subject. “So do you want me to stay in case things get weird, or meet y’all back at the ranch?”

“What would you be able to do if you stayed?” He asked her incredulously. Something in her eyes changed. Jamie would have called them crazy eyes out loud, but he hadn’t planned on being uppercut today.

Her voice came out soft, deceptively innocent. “Do you mean in the aspect of Kayce?”

“Yes. What could you possibly do that would help me?” He was frustrated with not only her antics, but his brothers as well. His whole family.

“Oh Jamie.” She pushed the front side of her glasses. “That is a heavy hypothetical question with an even heavier hypothetical answer.” Stella gave him a look that asked if she was picking up what he was putting down.

Jamie shook his head. “Nevermind. I shouldn’t have even asked.” He knew that when it came to his little brother, Stella would burn the whole state of Montana down if it meant Kayce would be safe.

Stella smiled and her eyes became normal again. “I’m glad you see it my way, bud.” She patted his shoulder. “I plead the fifth.” She cleared her throat. “So, do you want me to stay and wait, or not?”

He shook his head again. “No you go home. I’ll have him out in less than 30 minutes.”

“Okay sounds good.” She watched Jamie walk away. When he was out of earshot she whispered to herself, “good talk.”

She sent a text to Monica quickly before she hopped in her car. Jamie’s here. He said he’ll have him out in 30 or less. I’m on my way. You still at the ranch?

When Stella buckled her seatbelt her phone vibrated in the cup holder. Monica replied. Yep we’re still here. Thank you Stell. Smiling to herself, she put her car in drive to get a head start.

••

Stella made it back to the ranch in record time. At the very least, she beat Kayce and Jamie home. She pulled up to the big house. John was out with Tate and Monica sat off to the side. Not wanting to interrupt the duo, she made her way to Monica. She seated herself across from her best friend’s wife and sighed.

“I’m really sorry I couldn’t get him out.”

Monica shook her head gently. “You showed up and tried. That’s what matters.”

“It’s the least I could do.” Stella shrugged. “I think Jamie will have him home soon.”

John watched the women talk amongst themselves while he excused himself from his grandson. He got some type of comfort knowing these two had Kayce’s back.

Monica gave John a look. “You know you don’t act like the man from the stories.”

“That's the thing about being a grandfather.” John groaned as he sat down. “I get to do all the things I wished I'd done with my children.” He watched his grandson for a second and looked back to the women sitting with him. “The things I regret, I get... I get to do different.”

“It doesn't change the things you did, though.”

“No, it doesn't.” John agreed. He looked at Stella sitting there silently. She looked everywhere but them. “Thank you for trying to help her get him out.”

“Of course, sir.” Stella picked at the corner of her thumb nail.

Everyone heard the helicopter approach and started to stand. John yelled for Tate. “Come here grandson!” John walked forward to meet Jamie.

Stella rolled her eyes at the sight of Kayce’s older brother. There was just something about him that really irked her soul. She didn’t hate him, she just wanted to punch him in the throat a few times. ‘Yeah I’d probably feel better after that.’ Kayce always used to give her a hard time when they were younger, saying she had a crush on him. That honestly couldn’t be further from the truth. The only thing she could do was deny it and keep moving. Kayce caught her attention as he walked to his wife and son, and best friend.

She smiled and waved at him. Monica and Stella gave at each other a look. Stella decided it was time for her to sneak off. This was a reunion she wasn’t involved in.

Stella could see from the top of the hill that the wranglers were out in the pen working with some of the herd that needed doctoring. Ryan caught her eye as she made her way down the hill and nodded to her. She waved at him and leaned against the outside fence, content to just watch today. Something was going on with Jimmy, but Lloyd seemed to take him under his wing.

Kayce and his father also came down the hill not far behind Stella. Kayce looked out over the pen and watched the men work on the herd. He spotted Stella off to the side and smiled in her direction. He enjoyed seeing her happy here. His dad spoke to him, bringing him out of his reverie.

“Spent all morning pricing stallions. You can buy a damn house in town for what they cost now.”

“I just gave you a stallion.” Kayce stated.

“No one can ride him, Kayce.” John objected. “He's smart and mean. That's a bad combination in a horse.”

“Stella said she’s been doing just fine with him. He ain't got a mean bone in his body. She’d be the first to tell you. She’s just gotta finish him.”

“Well, that was Lee's job.”

“Which I thought you’d given to her? Have you even talked to her about it, or have you just left her hanging?” Kayce got angrier the more excuses he heard from his dad. Stella was most likely giving him free labor at this point.

“I don’t know if I want her to do it by herself. I don't have the time to finish him. Rip, he doesn't have the temperament.” John explained.

“I can pull him back down to my place and work on him with Stella then. She’s got the perfect temperament for it.”

“Why don't you work on him here? You're a horse trainer, aren't you?” John asked. “Aren't you? So train mine.”

“I won't work for you or steal Stella’s job. Why don’t you want her working the horses so bad? She does a damn good job.” Kayce defended her. “I know for a fact Lee wouldn’t have even bothered working with her if she didn’t have a knack for it.”

“I might need her to be in charge of the broodmares if we were to start a breeding program. That’s a full time job itself, let alone having to worry about breaking them. But you know what?” John waved his hand dismissively. “Just take the horse back. I don't want him.”

“The horse is me saying I'm sorry.” Kayce said quietly.

“You don't have anything to be sorry for!”

“I should've been there sooner.” Kayce paused looking at the ground. “I shouldn't have been there at all.”

“You gotta stop looking backwards, son.”

“I'll fix the horse for you. Ain't no gift if you can't ride him, but I won't let you pay me.” Kayce agreed.

“Yeah.” John scoffed. “That's a good deal for everybody but you.” He walked off and left Kayce to ponder their conversation. Kayce wound his way to Stella. She could help him out with Tank.

She smiled at him. “Hey, you,” she said gently budging his arm. “Welcome home, Vigilante.”

“Hey.” Kayce scolded her and gave her a look. “You got a minute?”

Stella made a face. “Yeah, I’m free as a bird right now. What’s up?”

“Let’s go get Tank.” He made a face back at her. “That’s what you named him, right?”

“Yes, actually.” She laughed, pleased that he remembered. “Today was supposed to be his off day. He might be pissed.”

“Well dad wants me to work on him with you.”

“Oh? Does he think I’m not doing it right?” Stella looked frowned.

“No, I just think he’s worried about you not having Lee to bounce off of.”

“I’m guessing he decided against giving me the position, huh? Sending you to tell me was smart on his part though.” She huffed. “Makes it sting a little less.”

“I think he’s got something up his sleeve for you. Don’t get bummed out yet.” Kayce patted her shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s go get that stallion.”

Stella watched Kayce while he trotted around the round pen with Tank. He looked pleased. That must have meant she’d done something right. ‘Not good enough for John to keep you in the position though,’ the nasty little voice in the back of her mind surfaced.

Footsteps crunched through gravel behind Stella. Looking over her shoulder she could see it was Monica and Tate. “Hey y’all.”

“So how is he?” Monica asked.

“The horse, or Kayce?”

Monica snorted a laugh. “Both, I guess.”

“Well, I thought Tank was doing just fine. Not so sure about how John feels though.” Stella tapped the fence. “Kayce? He seems alright. Quieter than normal, but I think being here does that to him.”

Monica and Kayce smiled at each other. Monica questioned. “Didn't buck you off?”

Kayce trotted over to the women. “There ain't nothing wrong with this horse. Stella’s done just fine.” He smiled at his best friend. “I'm gonna wash him up and get out of here.”

Tate interrupted. “But Grandpa said we can stay the night.”

Kayce looked like he was about to object, but Monica interrupted. “Look, he got no sleep last night.” Monica interrupted. “If we go home, he wonders where his cousins are. I just need to recharge so I can have that conversation.”

John walked up. “Tate, you're staying in the main house with me. You two take the trapper cabin. Give your minds a vacation for a night.” He pivoted on his heel. “Tate! Tate, come on.”

Stella smiled at the couple. “Y’all have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t!” She scurried off to the bunkhouse.

Walking in, everything got quiet. Stella’s hand remained on the door, her eyes wide as she looked around. “Shit don’t everyone talk at once now.” There was a man here she wasn’t familiar with. Her brother was here, so she didn’t feel too threatened. “I know I’m not supposed to be in here, but I’m gonna make it quick. I promise.”

The man in the rounded cowboy asked. “Who’s this?” He sauntered over to Stella in the kitchen.

She could practically hear her brother steaming from across the room. Ryan bored a hole into the back of the man’s head, challenging him. “That is someone you’ll be leaving alone, Walker.”

The man, Walker, tipped his hat at Stella with a charming smile. “Walker ma’am. Who might you be?”

She barked out a laugh. “Pfft, I’m Stella. Ryan’s sister. Resident horse hand.”

“Well it’s mighty nice to see a pretty face around here.”

Stella stood there speechless. She couldn’t do anything but stare at him. Stella’s brows pulled together. Ryan’s shoulders dropped with a feeling of dread. He thought she was falling for his thick layer of charm.

She looked left and right, behind her and past Walker. “I don’t know who you mean, but sure. I just work with the horses, my guy.” Everyone chuckled and she weaved her way around to her brother and Colby.

Walker asked from behind her, “do you stay here?”

“No, thank god. I mean sometimes, but I have my own house.” She let out a groan while she seated herself in Ryan’s bunk.

Colby cut in. “That means you’re not invited.”

“Okay, okay I get it. Off limits.” Walker receded his advances.

Stella watched as all the men in the room hawked the new guy. She smirked, mostly to herself, knowing they would jump him if he batted an eyelash at her wrong. It wasn’t necessary. Walker’s gesture was appreciated and made her feel like she could still have the ability to get a man. If she went out on the town and didn’t work her life away, that is. Walker smirked back at her. ‘Ooo I smell that trouble from a mile away.’ She smirked again at her thought.

Ryan decided to change the subject. “Stell, what did you mean when you said you’re not supposed to be in here?”

Her lips folded together as she looked to the ground. “Well you see,” she cut herself off with the glare Ryan gave her. “So Rip found out about me trying to fight Fred. I’m banned for however long he decides since I broke the rules.”

Ryan sighed, but knew nothing could be done. Rip’s word was final usually. He zeroed in on the new guy. “You play that guitar?”

“No,” Walker scoffed. “I just like to drag this fսckin’ thing around.” He propped the guitar case up on his knee. “Why, y'all want to hear one?” No one answered him. “Yeah, I guess you do.” Strumming a few chords to check the tune, he asked everyone, “happy or sad?”

Stella called out to him. “Happy.”

Walker gently pulled out his guitar and fiddle with the tuning for a minute. He cleared his throat and began to sing.

Monica leaned back against the cabinet and smiled at her husband. “I wonder how many poor farm girls you snuck into this cabin.” Kayce sat up straight to listen to her. “I can just see you now in your shaggin’ shirt, wooing some lovestruck blonde.” She watched Kayce stand up. “Or maybe you brought Stella here.”

“What is a shaggin’ shirt? And if you mean to escape the crazy that is my family and our wranglers? Have a place to sleep so the adults didn’t know we took forever to come home? Yes. Never like how you’re meaning though.”

“You know, it's your fanciest shirt, your get-the-girl shirt. The one you never work in.” Monica straightened herself. “And come on, you can’t tell me that you and Stella never messed around with the idea.”

“I don't know if I own a shirt that I've never worked in.” He busied himself, not wanting to talk about his best friend and the things they may or may not have done as stupid young kids. “And no, I don't think we did.”

“I'm trying to remember what I was wearing when I met you.” She changed the subject.

Kayce smirked. “All I remember was you weren't wearing it for long.”

“You think it's selfish, keeping Tate from a life like this?”

Kayce’s jaw tightened. “That sounds like my father.”

“It is.” Monica admitted.

“He has a life like this. It's just simpler.”

“It's not simple anymore, Kayce.” Monica argued.

“I thought we were forgetting tonight.”

“I'm just having a conversation.” Kayce stalked away to the bedroom. He closed the door with force. Monica yelled out. “Well, I guess the conversation's over!”

Stella was just about half asleep on Ryan’s bunk when the door opened and startled her. She sat up and blinked heavily. Rip and Lloyd were calling for the new guy. Rip discovered her sitting in the back. He fixed her with a look.

Her eyes found her brother and he smiled warmly at her. “Good mornin’ sunshine.”

“Hey doofus. I think I’m gonna head out, okay?” She started to work her way to the edge of the mattress.

“You sure you're not too tired?”

“Yeah I’ll be alright.”

He gave her a stern look. “Okay, but you text me the second you get home.”

She hopped down off his bunk and gave him a quick squeeze. “Yes mom.” She smirked. She grabbed her keys off the kitchen counter. Rip grabbed her arm gently to stop her.

“I thought I told you to stay out of the bunkhouse for a while?”

“You did and I heard you. I came to talk to my brother before I left. I’m leaving right now, okay?”

Rip remained silent as he observed her. Stella stared up at him. Her eyebrows tightened and her face fell into an annoyed resting face.

“I’m leaving now.” Stella emphasized and weaved around Rip and headed off to her car to make the journey home.

#fic recs

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dameronscopilot · 3 months

Note

Hi 💝 yuta okkotsu + coffee + green

yuuta okkotsu x reader

c: timeskip yuuta, fluff, feels

It’s not the warm, gentle breeze filtering in through the window that stirs you from sleep—nor is it the insistent chittering of the birds perched in the tree nearby, or the bright morning sunlight that floods across your rumpled sheets.

—it’s the fragrant smell of coffee wafting through the house, your tired eyes flying open the moment the scent hits you.

You don’t drink coffee.

Throwing back the sheets, you stumble out of bed and dash out of the room.

You don’t drink coffee.

The laminate flooring squeaks beneath your bare feet as you skid to a stop in the kitchen, heart clumsily skipping a beat at the sight of the man leaning back against the counter, an ugly, green mug with a chip in it clutched in one hand.

It’s hideous, really—it looks woefully out of place amongst every other cup lined up in your cabinets.

It was presumptuous of whomever made it in the first place, to think someone would want to drink out of something such an unpleasant shade of green.

—that’s exactly what you said when you plucked it up off of the shelf in a flea market stall years ago, laughing so hard at the agreeing frown on Yuuta’s face that it went clattering to the ground. Still not quite past the boundaries of friendship at the time, you’d both been flustered when you bumped heads and brushed hands as you dove to the floor to rescue it before the old woman sitting at the register nearby could notice.

And naturally, rather than letting you sneak the ugliest mug in the world back on the unfortunate shelf from whence it came, Yuuta insisted on buying it once he realized that you’d chipped it.

It’s such a goddamn ugly mug.

—and you’ll keep it forever, probably.

He smiles at you conspiratorially over the rim.

You don’t drink coffee, but he does.

“You’re home,” you whisper, biting your lower lip to suppress the size of the grin spreading across your face as you look at Yuuta. “A week early.”

The black strands of hair that frame his face have grown longer in the months that he’s been away, and you step forward, unable to deny yourself the need to card your fingers through the soft locks. Yuuta hums, his posture relaxing under the weight of your familiar touch, the looseness in his shoulders at odds with the dark circles that linger below his lower lashes.

You’ve missed him so much—so much that it hurts, a splintering ache that’s settled deep in your bones.

“And you’re up early,” he muses, eyes sparkling with mirth as he reaches up and prods at a rogue strand of your sleep-mussed hair.

One of his hands comes to rest along the curve of your hip, the steady, seeping pang in your chest giving way under the warm pressure of his touch fluttering along your nerve endings.

You roll your eyes fondly and lament, “I just couldn’t resist the smell of hot bean water.”

Yuuta’s tongue darts out, passing over his lips, and he huffs, fingertips skating along your collarbone. A shiver dances down your spine as he drags them up the side of your neck, middle finger tracing the curve of your jaw before he finally takes your chin between his thumb and pointer finger.

“Morning breath,” you grimace, despite the emotions swelling inside of you at the soft promise of his mouth hovering inches away.

“Don’t care,” he murmurs, brushing his thumb over your bottom lip. “Coffee breath?”

“Don’t care,” you echo.

Yuuta laughs, the noise reverberating through the kitchen and dripping like honey down the taut, yearning strings of your heart.

It’s a rich, beautiful sound.

One you’d do anything to hear.

One you’d trade for nothing—save for the quiet that follows when his lips finally find yours.

#icymi

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dameronscopilot · 3 months

Text

I’m forever here for Stella & Kayce’s dynamic. “I’ll announce myself to the conversation with bells and confetti.” 😂 10/10.

And Jimmy is essentially all of us sitting here patiently on the edge of our seats watching these two dance around each other.

Steady Heart

Chapter 6: The Devil Takes Care of His Own

Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton x OFC Stella Daniels

Rating: M? (Still figuring out the rating system) (might eventually be M anyhow)

Warnings: language, I think this chapter is pretty tame?

Word count: 2,255ish

I would love to give credits to @dameronscopilot and @deanscroissant for being a sounding board for me during this whole process, giving outsider insight, being a cheerleader, and allowing me to screech at her about things that have happened during the writing process. Seriously couldn't have gotten this far without y’all! 💛

Author's note: I hope everyone is enjoying so far! I hope you love this chapter as well! 💛🤓

Stella pulled up to the ranch. When she had gotten a text from Rip last night to come in today by noon, she had wanted to die. Breathing out loudly, she shut the car off and prepared herself for the potential heartbreak that was about to happen. She looked to her left and realized she had parked next to Kayce’s truck. ‘Shit. What’s he doing here?’

She immediately felt her chest tighten. What if John had lied to get him here to back him into a corner and to help make sure she would stay in line when he fired her and kicked her out?

“Fuuuuck,” she drug the syllable out quietly. She shook her head. ‘No. There’s no way Kayce would let that happen.’ Sliding her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, she hopped out of the SUV.

Glancing around, Stella could see a lot of activity for the day in full swing. It looked like they were separating steer prospects they didn’t want to keep. She didn’t see Kayce, but she did spot her brother. She smiled affectionately seeing him doing the work he loved to do. When her eyes landed farther to the right, she saw Tate leaning on the fence watching with childlike wonder.

She wandered over to the little boy. “Hey bud!”

“Oh hey Aunt Stell! Isn’t this cool?”

“Yeah it sure is. I love watching them.” She smiled. She whispered conspiratorially to him. “It’s even more fun to do it though.”

Tate looked at her with wide eyes. “You’ve done this before??”

She smiled. “Yessir I have. Plenty of times. With my brother and your dad, and your grandpa.”

“Woaahhh! That’s awesome! I wanna do it too!” Her best friend’s son practically started to levitate with excitement.

“Well you’ve gotta be just a little bit bigger for that, bud.” She chuckled. “Speaking of your dad, do you know where he went?”

“I think he went to talk to grandpa.”

Stella sighed. “Okay I’m gonna go find them. Stay on this fence and not the inside one, alright?” She ruffled his hair gingerly and he giggled. Stella knew Tate knew better, but she couldn’t help herself to give the warning anyhow.

Stella circled around and gave everything a passing glance. It was almost like an out of body stream of consciousness. Her eyes stopped as they landed on the two men in question looking in her direction. She was sure she turned seven different shades of pale. Stretching her neck from side to side, she walked toward them. Little did Stella know, they watched her from the moment she pulled in.

“Is this my judge and jury pair?” It was spiteful of her to say that. She cringed and started again. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be like that.”

“What are you talkin’ about?” Kayce asked, surprised at her rough greeting. Stella’s eyes darted to John, whose face was stoic, but his eyebrows raised slightly. He hadn’t told Kayce.

She tried to smooth past her slip. “Nothin’. Y’all just seemed like you were ready to make big decisions for everyone’s day. So the judge,” she motioned at John, “and the jury.” She finished pointing to Kayce. “I’m also just in rare form today apparently.”

Kayce decided to ignore that and looked at his dad. “How’s that stallion treatin’ ya?”

“It’s the gift that keeps on giving.” John snorted and looked around.

Stella laughed quietly. “He’s definitely giving everyone a run for their money. And I’m almost outta money.”

“Kayce, let me borrow Stella for a second.”

The younger Dutton stopped shifting on his feet. He passed a look between his dad and his best friend, confused. “Sure. Don’t need my permission.”

John waved his hand for Stella to follow him. Kayce caught the sight of her wiping her hands on her legs. Why was she nervous to talk to his dad, of all people? This is the girl that told his dad to ‘go fuck himself and get off his high horse, it’s not just about you’ when she defended him back when she was 18. He reached out to grab her arm, but his fingertips barely brushed it. She fixed him with a look that made him stop any form of question.

When the eldest Dutton and Stella walked around the corner, she let out a heavy sigh. She leaned her shoulder on the wall while she placed her hands in her back pockets.

“Well, let’s have it, sir.” She tried to brace herself for the hit.

John pinned her to her spot with a look of warning. “I heard your conversation with Rip last night.”

“And I meant every word.” She answered confidently. “If you think I’d have loose lips, you really don’t know me like I thought you might have.”

Kayce had snuck up behind them. “What the hell are you accusing her of?”

Stella threw her hands up and let them slap back on her thighs. She hadn’t planned on telling Kayce, but he inserted himself into the problem.“Well, now is as good a time as any. I overheard a conversation, and decided to sneak out instead of making my presence known. Your dad saw me leave, and then I lied to him about it because I didn’t know he saw me.”

“So you’re questioning her integrity?”

“No, son, that already happened. I’m telling her she’s allowed to stay. My men trust her. My son,” he paused to look directly at Kayce, “trusts her. I’ve never had any issues. So I’m letting it slide. Once. I think she’s learned her lesson. But Stella?”

She looked at him wide eyed. “Yessir?”

“Lie to my face again?” She understood the hidden meaning of the slippery slope. “Now, I’m going to go see my grandson.”

“Stella, c’mon.” Kayce left her no room for argument. The way he turned and walked off told her he was definitely pissed. She rolled her eyes and fixed her glasses. “Come on.” She heard Kayce press.

Stella picked up her pace to catch him. “I’m comin’, I’m comin’. Jeez.”

Kayce whipped around at her when they got to the tack room. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?!”

She placed a hand on the middle of his chest to keep him out of her face, “woah woah woah there, cowboy. I didn’t keep anything from you,” then removed it just as fast. “You were dealing with a lot. It’s not your responsibility to mend my busted fences.”

“But he’s my dad, and he should fuckin’ know better. Especially when it comes to you.”

“Those kinds of things get forgotten. Especially when it wasn’t happening to his family, Kayce. Of course he remembers yours.” Both sets of eyes glazed over for a minute, recollecting the memory.

“I could have reminded him. I could’ve made your life so much easier.”

“Yeah, but how will I learn anything if you’re fixing things for me all the time?” She raised her eyebrows at him. “You won’t always be there to save me. Also, just because I’m your best friend, doesn’t mean I should get preferential treatment either. I’m still an employee here, ya know.”

Stella went to lean against the work table against the back wall. She leaned back on her hands and gazed at Kayce. “You know, this is the same exact conversation you helped me have with my brother when I turned 18. I’m not doing it twice.” She scoffed out a humorless chuckle. “Everything is fine, Kace. Next time I’ll announce myself to the conversation with bells and confetti.”

“That’s not funny, and you know it. This could have been bad.” He scoffed back at her, but still came to lean next to her. Touching shoulders like always.

“Rip wouldn’t have let it get there.” Stella defended.

Kayce had a sudden realization. “Wait, is that why you thought I was here? To help kick you out? Do you really think I would have let that happen?!”

She sighed harshly. “No Kayce. I don’t. I do, however, think your dad would have lied to get you here and back you into a corner. I’ve seen him do it before.”

“Also wait a minute, Rip?! I could stop the problem at the starting gate.” Kayce ignored the accusation about his father. He knew she was right.

She joked. “So now we’re derby runners? I thought we were cowboys.”

“Stella…” He let her name fall off in a warning.

She put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. It’s not funny. If I saw things start to really go sideways, I would have come to you. I promise.” Stella fixed her glasses while she played with the bottom of her T-shirt. It was time to change the subject. “So how are you? How’s Monica?”

“I’m alright. Day by day, you know. Monica…? She’s holding on, but I can’t talk to her.”

Her face scrunched up. “Since when can’t you talk to her? I would expect that to happen between us before it happened with you two.”

“There’s something I did that can’t be forgiven.”

“Kayce… I highly doubt there is anything you could do, that she wouldn’t forgive you for.”

“Not this.”

“So what is it?”

“I can’t tell you either.” He looked down. Defeated. Stella observed him for a minute. He looked lost. Scared almost. The look reminded her of that day they snuck out and got trapped by a brown bear and she threw herself in front of Kayce right as Rip came galloping up to save them.

“Well, I know when you’re ready, you’ll tell me. But you’ve gotta talk to your wife, Kayce. You can’t leave her in the dark. It probably hurts her that you’re avoiding her.”

“You think I don’t know that? I just, can’t break her heart like this.” Stella reached over and patted his back between his shoulders.

“Whatever it is, cowboy, we’ll get through it. I’ll be here to help as long as you want me to be.”

Kayce pulled out his phone to check the time. His dad and son had been gone for quite some time.

“I gotta go get a horse. I need to find Tate.”

Stella practically jogged to keep up with Kayce. He was headed Rip’s way. Ryan and Colby walked in the opposite direction towards the friend pair. They were headed to dinner. Ryan could be heard calling Fred a dipshit. She let out a hearty laugh because it was the god's honest truth. As they got closer, they could hear Rip talking to Lloyd. He told him to give Fred his wages and send him on his way. ‘Oo shit.’ Her eyebrows raised. Jimmy limped by them.

She shouted at Jimmy. “What the hell happened to you?!” She stopped following Kayce to talk to Jimmy. In her peripheral vision, she saw Kayce stop and glance back at her and Jimmy to watch the interaction. Stella reached out to examine the bloody lip Jimmy acquired and the nice goose egg on his forehead. Kayce exhaled loudly, and Stella was all but sure there was an eyeroll and clenched jaw attached to it, but he continued moving.

Jimmy side eyed the youngest Dutton. “Uh, it’s nothing. You go catch up with Kayce.”

Rip yelled at Stella as he and Kayce went into the barn. “Don’t you dare fuckin’ clean ‘im up! Let everybody see!”

“I’m at least gonna give you some Tylenol. Rip can suck my ass if he gets pissy about me going to the bunkhouse for that. C’mon.” She pulled Jimmy along to the bunkhouse.

As Stella searched for the Tylenol, the air was tense between them. She could feel he wanted to ask her something.

“Go ahead and ask Jimmy. I’m mostly an open book.” She nosed around in the top cabinet.

“Oh it’s nothing.”

She looked at him disapprovingly above her lenses. “Yeah and I’m Miss America.”

“Okay so I’m probably wrong, but is there something going on between you and Kayce?”

If she would have had water in her mouth, it would have been spat across the room. “What?!”

Jimmy fidgeted around. “Well you guys are really close and I’ve seen how you look at him.”

Stella found the bottle in the back of the cabinet. She turned to face Jimmy with as much seriousness as she could muster and a deadpan face. “For the love of god, don’t repeat that thought to anyone else. I’ll be dead in 24 hours. Whether from embarrassment, or Monica murdering me herself, I don’t know.” She snapped the cabinet shut. “No, there's nothing going on between me and a married man. He’s just my best friend. Always has been, always will be.”

“Oh yeah definitely. I just maybe thought —,”

“— Well you thought wrong.” Stella interrupted, and roughly shoved the bottle at Jimmy. “Here’s your Tylenol. Keep those thoughts to yourself. Clear?”

“Crystal.” Jimmy watched as Stella stomped off. He heard the telltale jingle of her keys and the front door slam.

Stella stormed past the picnic tables where everyone had gathered. Ryan and Colby called out to her as she stalked by, only to be ignored and left perplexed. Even Rip and Lloyd shared a look.

By the time she made it to her SUV, she reached a boiling point. She huffed and puffed while blindly searching for the unlock button. Hopping in, she jammed the key into the ignition. Stella was ready to go home and get away from this cursed place for the night.

She felt like a child with how she reacted. If anything, her reaction made her seem guiltier than she was.

#fic recs

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