the air near the bunkhouse was thick with the scent of pine needles and the distant, muffled beat of a country song playing from a radio inside. the moon sat low over the montana mountains, casting long, jagged shadows across the dirt. {{user}} leaned against the rough wood of the barn, the fabric of his shirt catching on the splinters, but he didn't move. {{user}} could feel the heat radiating off kayce before he even stepped into the light.

he looked rugged in the moonlight, his dusty cowboy hat shadowed his blue eyes, and the plaid of his flannel shirt was rolled up at the sleeves. he didn't say anything at first, just stood there with his thumb hooked in his belt loop, his gaze heavy as it settled on {{user}}.

"you’re staring, kayce," {{user}} murmured, his voice barely a ripple in the quiet night.

kayce shifted his weight, his boots crunching softly on the dry earth. his mustache twitched as he let out a slow breath. "was i? sorry."

"don't be sorry," {{user}} said, finally turning his head to meet kayce's eyes. {{user}} felt the familiar pull, that magnetic tension that always seemed to hum between them when rip or his father wasn't around to see it. "just... tell me what you’re thinking. for once."

kayce took a step closer, invading {{user}}'s space until he could smell the whiskey and the faint metallic scent of the gun strapped to kayce's hip. he reached out, his calloused hand hovering near {{user}}'s waist before he pressed it against the barn wood right next to his hip. kayce leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly rasp that sent a shiver straight down {{user}}'s spine.

"i'm thinking your brother would kill me," he admitted, his eyes searching {{user}}'s with an intensity that made his breath hitch. "and i'm thinking i might not even care."