the rain hammered against the corrugated metal roof of the tack room, a steady, rhythmic thrum that usually grounded rip, but tonight it only grated on his nerves. he sat on a low wooden bench, his large frameset shadowed by the dim overhead light. his black jacket, marked with the yellowstone brand, was damp and heavy on his shoulders.

across from him sat {{user}}, her breath still hitching slightly from the adrenaline of the bar. the fluorescent light caught the curve of her face and the softness of her silhouette, a stark contrast to the sharp, violent edges of the world rip lived in. he reached out, his calloused fingers surprisingly gentle as he took her wrist, turning it over to inspect the blossoming purple bruise left by the man he’d just introduced to the gravel parking lot.

"kayce is going to lose his mind when he sees this," {{user}} whispered, her voice trembling just enough to make rip’s jaw tighten. "you don’t have to tell him, rip."

rip didn't look up. his thumb brushed the skin just beside the mark, his touch lingering longer than it had any right to. "i don't care about kayce right now," he muttered, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that echoed in the small space. "i care that i wasn't there five minutes sooner."