not beating the allegations

“You’d get there faster if you’d properly stopped and rested, you know.”

Tango offers an apologetic smile as he pulls his leg back under him, even if he doesn’t mean it, Jimmy doesn’t call him out. Once both feet are planted on the carpet, he pushes himself up, his body already leaning on his good side. The discarded bandages stick to his pants, and are therefore pulled along until their swirl down.

“I’ll get it,” Jimmy says quickly before Tango can lean down to grab it.

Tango smiles, watching him straightening up before making his way over. His boots are loud on the floorboards, muffling once he makes it to the carpet. He doesn’t care much for outside shoes being inside, and though he knows Jimmy very much cares, he doesn’t tease him about it. Instead, their hands graze as Jimmy leans down to grab the bandages, carefully placing them back on the couch.

“Sure it’s getting better?” Jimmy questions, soft and quiet as his arms find their way around Tango’s sides, lightly going to him for a hug where he can rest his head on his shoulder.

“Doctor says so,” Tango shrugs, and returns the hug. His hands trace down Jimmy’s back, from his shoulder-blades down alongside his spine until they settle on his lower back.

His denim jacket is still warm from being under the sun, and once he realizes, he finds himself nuzzling into him, chasing the gentle warmth. A low hum vibrates from his chest, close enough to a purr that Jimmy tightens a little. Easily fitting into the space against his chest, feeling Jimmy’s heart steady on his shoulder.

“Hey, I still don’t need physical therapy, so it can’t be that bad.” Tango laughs, even though he knows Jimmy doesn’t find any humor in that.

As as he suspects, he giggles when Jimmy grumbles into his shoulder, likely with a frown he can’t see but can imagine.

“Either way, I should probably get ready, no? Else we’ll be late again.”

Tango sneaks his arms between them, hands on Jimmy’s shoulders to lightly push, forcing little distance between them as Jimmy clings to him. He giggles as he can finally see his face, or more precisely, Jimmy’s pout.

“C’mon, rancher, Grian won’t be as nice this time around.”

Jimmy finally lets go with a scoff, crossing his arms over his chest as Tango slowly makes his way to the entrance.

“Grian is never nice,” Jimmy huffs, shaking his head. “Plus! Last time he was later than us but why did we get the worse of it? It’s not fair. I bet — oh, here, let me — I bet he will be even later today. He loves making us wait for him.”

Tango shakes his head with a laugh, leaning on the wall as Jimmy kneels down, gently grabbing his good ankle to slide his foot into his shoe. Then, when Tango has a firm grip on the track, Jimmy eases his injured ankle into the other shoe. When Tango is steady on his feet, Jimmy ties the shoelaces with careful fingers.

Tango looks down at the head of blond under him, and before he thinks it, his fingers are already threading through the strands. The last of the sun’s warmth tickles between his fingers.

“You know,” Jimmy says as he looks up, one arm perched on his knee as the other finds Tango’s free hand. He intertwines their fingers, bringing the hand close to his lips so he can kiss the knuckles. “Maybe it’s not so bad if you don’t, you know, heal too quickly.”

Tango laughs, surprised and amused, his hand trailing down the side of Jimmy’s face carefully.

“Why’s that?”

“I mean, I like helping you with this things.” Jimmy admits with a soft blush and a radiant smile.

_____