venus🪽

“ Since when do you frequent fuckin’ diners? “ Marty’s voice cut through the patrol car, the two of them had parked in front of the diner. Rust had brought up the idea of going, said something about wanting to eat breakfast there. Truthfully, he just wanted to see you. Last night still burned hot on his mind even the mere thought of the robe around you made him swallow thickly. 

“ It’s not that I frequent them Marty, just want a good breakfast is all. “ The man shot his partner a stern look, trying to prove a point but it was lost. Marty could tell something was up, Rust had been burning holes through the windshield trying to get a glimpse of who was inside. Before Marty could spew out another smart remark, Rust was stepping out of the car and making his way inside.

The morning rush had just died down, you were finally getting a chance to catch your breath. Your shift wasn’t even halfway over and it was already chaotic. Leslie, your coworker, had borrowed your car- she mentioned something about her kid getting sick at school. “ I’ll come pick you up in the morning, you can take us to work! “ She assured you with a frantic look on her face. You felt bad for her, she rode the bus to work or walked. Of course you were going to lend her your vehicle to get your kid. 

Pushing a smile back onto your face, you stepped out from the kitchen to get back to your table. It was a younger guy, probably about your age and his friend. You assumed they were college students or freshly graduated. They looked eager, the glee of a degree still on their faces. “ Hey sweetheart, can we trouble you for a refill? “ The guy’s hand had settled onto your wrist as you stepped up with a coffee pot. The nickname made your eyeballs twitch, you weren’t sure what gave him the right. If it weren’t for your sanity, you’d pour the hot coffee into his lap. 

“ Gotcha, ‘course I can.. “ His grip loosened and he pulled back, watching you pour the dark liquid into their empty mugs. As you did so, your gaze caught something. More like someone. Rust fucking Cohle was sitting inside the diner. He wasn’t alone either. A man sat with him, he looked a few years older than Rust. Maybe you had underestimated him, Rust might’ve not been as lonely as you believed him to be. If that was the case, then you had just sexually harassed your neighbor. The idea made you a little nauseous, you wondered how he felt. He seemed to be quite entertained at the moment. Maybe you’d play with him a little. A slow smile slid onto your face at the idea, you’d always liked to bother others. 

“ You two let me know if I can do anything more for you, okay? “ You flashed a smile to them, too polite. You knew how to play your cards just right. Most guys were the same, a small smile and pretending to listen would get you very far. It was a lesson you learned over time and how you managed to get into bars at the ripe age of nineteen. The two guys shared a small glance with each other before one spoke up. “ What time do you get off? “ You blinked. It was a very forward question and you couldn’t come up with a reason to give them the truth. “ Well, aren't you a smooth talker? I close, wont get off until late. Sorry boys. “ The look of sadness on your face was just a ploy, you hoped your answer would make them back off. You didn’t stick around to see what they thought or had to say, taking the pot of coffee and scurrying away.

Rust had watched the interaction, your sweet smile made him almost nauseous. His eyes boring into your side until you pulled back to meet his gaze. Marty was talking beside him but Rust wasn’t listening at all. Too interested in what you were doing, he knew he wasn’t being exactly subtle. At the end of the day he didn’t care too much about what the other man had to say. A man who cheated on his wife wasn’t worth listening to. Rust’s cool stare wasn’t lost by you, in fact it made you feel almost bad. Maybe a little excited. Judging by his clenched jaw, what you were doing was clearly pissing him off. The sound of your manager pulled you out of your not so holy thoughts. “ Go ahead and get your break in honey before another rush comes in. “ Susan stood behind the counter practically shooing you outside. 

For once, it wasn’t as sweltering outside. The morning brought a somewhat cool yet sticky air, not as unbearable as it would become in the afternoon. You were leaned up against the wall toward the side of the diner, cigarette hanging from your lips. Small clicks came from your lighter as you soon realized it was out of fluid, a groan leaving your mouth. Before you could be too sad about it, the sound of footsteps caught your attention. Rust stood in front of you, already pulling out a lighter to light the cigarette for you. “ Jesus, you scared me.. “ You muttered, trying to play it cool but you felt as though you might have a heart attack. The way he stared at you in the diner only a few minutes ago was drastic compared to how he stood in front of you now. He looked as he usually did, stone cold. 

The blonde didn’t speak at first, he just watched you take drags. Eyes mesmerized by your lips around the filter, the smoke pouring from your mouth. Finally, he spoke up yet he wasn’t pleasant with his words. “ You just go ‘round entertaining men? “ He was blunt, too blunt. The words hit you in a certain way, your chest tightening at them. 

He was right in a way, you did intentionally entertain the men in the diner but it was only to gain a reaction from him. Guess it worked out. “ Not really. Did you feel entertained last night, Rust? “ What a tongue you held on you, a tongue Rust so desperately felt the need to bite into. Maybe it would get you quiet. A slow, sly smile spread across your mouth as you watched the older man stiffen. 

Rust sucked in a sharp breath, eyes fluttering shut. He didn’t want to give into you, not there. You were purposefully doing these things to him. Laying out in your bikini, stripping naked and being overly polite to random guys. When he opened up his eyes, you still had that stupid grin on your face. “ Your car isn’t here, I’ll pick you up. “ Of course, he had noticed your car wasn’t in the parking lot. The man had looked for it and almost left when it wasn’t there, he was thankful to have caught you in the window. You wanted to argue with him, you were trying to prove a point yet he left you no room to do so. You let out a small sigh, giving him a small nod. “ Sure, how do you know my boyfriend isn’t picking me up? “ That caused a small chuckle to leave his mouth, it sounded almost like music. The man was almost a statue, rarely showing any emotion and when he did it felt like a gift. While his laugh was beautiful, it was also insulting. “ Laugh it up, I get off at six.. “ You rolled your eyes before stubbing out your cigarette. You wish you had the time to linger more outside with him, to make him laugh a little more yet you didn’t have that grace. Tables and impatient customers were waiting for you inside. 

By the time six came around, you were impatient and looking forward to Rust taking you home a bit too much. You stepped out of the diner, giving yourself a once over before you had left. In the bathroom you’d managed to pull your hair back, taming it a little so you looked a little less of a mess. You weren’t sure why it suddenly mattered what you looked like, tonight felt different. Earlier when Rust had been standing in front of you, the tension between you two was growing. To you it was, you just hoped he felt it as well. 

Rust’s pickup sat in the parking lot, you figured he had gone home and gotten his truck or something. You hadn’t noticed it when he came earlier that morning. The door creaked as you pulled it open, tossing your bag in before pulling yourself in. “ Hey, thank you for the ride- a coworker borrowed my car. “ Rust sat, still in his work clothes. He looked good in them, you’ve seen him walk in and out of his house in them on the way to and from work. Admittedly, you watched him just to get a glimpse. It felt a little creepy but you tried to ignore that fact. Rust didn’t look at you as you settled beside him, he couldn’t. He worried if he did, he might not be able to keep himself together. He only grunted in response to your reasoning. Rust thought it to be a little odd you were sparing your car to someone you rarely knew yet he had no room to talk. The older man had found himself almost infatuated with you and he didn’t even know that much about you. It wasn’t his fault, it was yours. You’d been prancing around him trying to get his attention and it worked. He was only a man.

The ride to his place was eerily quiet, he refused to speak. His knuckles clenched against the steering wheel, almost turned white at how hard he was gripping the worn leather. Even as he parked in his driveway, he said nothing. Rust just sat there, unmoving and staring forward. It bothered you, worried you even. Was the man having some kind of stroke? “ Rust? “ You spoke up first, a small frown on your mouth. This was a different kind of demeanor. Your eyes flickered to his shoulders, he seemed to be breathing slightly heavier. “ What’s the- “ “ What do you want from me? “ His voice quickly cut you off, finally he turned to look at you. Tired blue eyes flickering around your face as though your skin held all of the answers. His question threw you off guard, the words causing you to stare at him for a few seconds trying to process it. What did you want… you weren’t entirely sure. You’d been toying around with him in hopes of a reaction, finally you were getting one. 

“ I don’t want anything from you, you told me you were giving me a ride home. “ You spoke, your voice slightly soft. Rust looked worked up, his eyes had a wild look in them. “ That’s not what I meant and you know it. I mean…last night? “ He let out a weak laugh. “ That wasn’t exactly nothing now. You’re confusing me, I just don't understand you. “ Rust was speaking more than you’d ever heard him speak before. Perhaps you broke him. You broke Rust Cohle. The blonde looked stressed and part of you felt guilty to have caused such an emotion within him. “ Today too. There’s something wrong with you, girl. “ He shook his head, pulling back to run his hands through his hair. 

The sight was almost to bear and suddenly you realized how hot you had grown. Your bare thighs sticking to one another and the neck to your uniform suddenly itchy against your skin. “ Rust. “ You spoke up, trying to get him to look at you yet he refused. Eyes gazing down into his lap, the man didn’t budge. He’d lose it all if he did. The sound of a seatbelt unbuckling made him turn and suddenly you were right beside him. Close. You’d crawled over from the other side of the bench seat. Hands settled in your lap and you sat atop of your legs. “ What do you want from me? “ You echoed his own words back to him with a small smile. It seemed so innocent yet he knew it wasn’t. The man froze up where he sat, watching you carefully. “ Do you want a friend? “ You wouldn’t shut up, you just continued to talk just as he had been rambling moments ago. “ No, I think you want more than that. Otherwise, you would’ve looked away last night. “ Hesitantly, you reached out to touch him. Your hand meeting his jaw, thumb pressing against his cheekbone. “ Talk to me, Rust. “ 

Rust wasn’t used to this. The lack of control or dominance in the moment. It didn’t exactly bother him though. The sultry in your voice made him sit up straighter, the warmth of your hand on his face made him feel almost dizzy. He was never the one to be taken care of yet you were almost halfway into his lap. The man found himself leaning into your touch a small groan leaving his mouth. He’d give up his control for you. “ Don’t know what you want me to say. “ His hand reached out to grip at your hip, his other digging into the seat beneath him. Rust was doing his very best to ground himself, his fingers tight against you.

His fingers felt right against you and you wished they'd explore your body even more. Not resign to your hip only. You wanted to see just how far he would allow you go, your hands coming to cup his jaw. “ You don't say anything if you don’t feel like it. “ You muttered, leaning forward to press a kiss to the side of his mouth. A simple test. Rust was stronger than you by a landslide, if he truly wanted you off- he could get off. You could feel his fingers smoothing out over your lower back, a smirk spreading on your mouth as you pressed another kiss to him though this time you didn’t stop. Your lips pressed kissed from the side of his mouth to his jaw, your tongue dragging back up the skin to meet his mouth. All while you did this, the man’s hands dipped beneath the back of your shirt. Splaying on your back, the warmth enough to remind him he was alive. “ Rust, tell me what you feel. “ Your words caused goosebumps up and down his arms. 

A sharp exhale filled the truck as Rust attempted to gather the words, he didn’t have them. He tasted them. Maple and cigarettes. The blonde shook his head quickly, hands pulling out from under your shirt to grab at your face so he could pull you close. His mouth met your own with pure hunger. The kiss was tongue and teeth, both parties attempting to eat one another whole. You couldn’t help but moan into his mouth, leaning forward to press him into the window. Hands tangled into his blonde hair to get a firm grip on him. 

Before you could remember the taste of him, he was quickly pulled backward. His head hitting glass with a soft thud, pants escaping out of him. “ Christ… “ He held up a hand in front of him. The sight made you frown, he was just trying to eat you alive. What was the issue? “ You need to go. “ He shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut with a hiss. It was almost like the thought of you burned him up from the inside. You wanted to argue but it was clear the man wanted you out. Rust refused to look at you, he couldn’t bear to do so and it made no sense to you. Quickly, you slid out with a sickening feeling in your stomach. “ Asshole. “ You muttered quietly under your breath. You wondered if you had pushed him too far yet you remembered how tight he was holding you. Trying to push you closer and closer into him. You weren’t sure what had gone wrong. Maybe you didn’t want to know. 

Rust wasn’t sure how long he had sat in his truck for, his skin burning and breathing ragged. He knew he shouldn’t have pushed you away like that. It happened too fast. The last thing he wanted to do was take you in his truck like that, like you were some cheap whore. You weren’t, he wanted you to know that but instead of just opening his mouth he chose to push you away. 

It was now Rust’s turn to repay you.

________________________________

A few days had passed since you’d last seen Rust, those few days had been bland. Too bland for your liking. The morning after his chivalrous deeds you had called up the nearest mechanic company to fix your car. The next few days were spent at the diner. You couldn’t help but think of the man. His Southern drawl constantly ringing in your head, the smell of his truck. It was all too much for you. 

It was your day off, finally. You’d worked almost for a week straight. You were sure that the diner was trying to suck the life out of you. It didn’t matter at the moment. It was almost five in the afternoon, you found yourself sprawled out on an uncomfortable lawn chair in the front yard. The Louisiana sun beating down on you, a bikini on and a cigarette hanging from your mouth. Maybe Rust really was a bad influence. One ride with him and you went and purchased a pack of those addicting Golds. You couldn’t help yourself, drawn right back to the taste. Part of you felt a little skimpy, your bikini showed a lot of skin- almost too much for the neighborhood to see. It wasn’t everyday you went flaunting your body around, you didn’t have the time or reason. Your eyes had been pressed shut for a while, the box radio you got at a nearby thrift store playing some George Strait song. 

The sound of tire meeting gravel had your eyes peering open, a slow smirk resting on your mouth as you saw the red pick up truck pull in next door. You’d been plotting, trying to figure out how to have Rust open up and accept a simple favor. You were only trying to be a kind neighbor, there were no other motives. So you claimed. Your kindness was purely innocent. Deep down you knew it was a ploy. A plan to try and get into the man’s pants maybe.

Rust noticed you when he was pulling onto the street, the scene made his jaw clench. He was only a man at the end of the day. He couldn’t help but wonder if you were trying to do something to him. The man pulled himself out of the truck and made his way to the edge of his lawn where the grass met yours. “ Thought you didn’t smoke like that? “ Rust tucked his ledger underneath his arm. Blue eyes raked over your legs then back to your face.

The cigarette was pulled out of your mouth to hold out for Rust to take, he seemed more talkative today and you liked it. “ I don’t, just felt like it after that ride. “ You watched as Rust hesitantly took the cigarette, the way he touched it made the thing seem like a nuclear bomb. “ I ain’t got no diseases. “ You let out a small snort, practically laughing in his face at his actions.

Rust, on the other hand, was not so amused. His face pulling down with his lips just as they wrapped around the cigarette. “ Yeah? I wasn’t paying no mind to that. “ He passed it back to you, face scrunching up. He preferred Camels to Marlboros and it showed. Rust knew what he liked, clearly it wasn't was you had. 

The two of you said nothing for a short while, Rust averted his gaze from you to somewhere else. You thought he might’ve spaced out or something. You noticed if the conversation was over, Rust was quick to flee. He had no business being places where he wasn’t talking a bunch. You didn’t mind his company, his statue-like demeanor was funny to watch. An amused smile sat as you watched him blink then take a step backward. “ ‘kay, evenin. “ He bid you a small nod and turned. “ Bye Rust.” You matched him, to speak a full sentence would be a waste of air when it came to conversing with Rust Cohle.

Sometime during that night, your AC had decided to give out. The old building clearly could not keep up with the summer heat outside. When you awoke the next morning, you found yourself practically drenched in sweat. The lacy gown you’d worn to bed practically sticking to your skin. A lazy sigh left your mouth as you pushed yourself up from the bed. “ Goddamnit… “ You dragged yourself to the thermostat only to see the entire screen was blank.” Piece of shit, what's the point of this place if nothin fucking works?! “ A frustrated hiss left your mouth as you smacked your hand against the device. Clearly, that didn’t solve the problem. While you could solve a lot on your own, this was something that stumped you. First your car, now this? You weren’t sure how much more your wallet could take. The diner paid but not that much to accommodate two separate heavy transactions in one month. You brought yourself into the kitchen to ponder, no matter where you went in the house you might’ve been standing outside in a sweater and jeans. You peered out the window to stare at Rust’s house. It felt like you’d bothered him enough but you didn’t want to drop a hefty dollar again if you didn’t have to. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to ask the man for help. 

With your nightgown hugging your body and houseshoes on your feet, you found yourself outside of Rust’s house. You were grateful he was there, his truck in the driveway giving you the affirmation. You raised your fist and knocked it heavily against the door in hopes he wasn’t a deep sleeper. The sound of shuffling made you stand up straighter, the chain unlinking behind the wood before the door swung open to reveal Rust. His hair was messy and he held bags under his eyes, you came to the realization he likely had not slept since you last saw him. It took a minute for him to truly realize who was on his doorstep, when he did a slow huff left his mouth. “ What do you want, girl? “ He grunted, not pleased to see you so early, especially in the slightly see through cotton you wore. 

“ I-uh…I need your help? Somethin’ is wrong with my AC. “ You sighed, your eyes not really meeting him. You hoped he could see the shame on your face, you were embarrassed to keep running to him for help. Slowly, you looked up to face him only to see the same exhausted look on his face. For a second you thought he was going to shut the door so quickly you opened your mouth once more. “ I already spent a shit ton on my car, Rust… I just really want you to look at it. Just see if you can fix it, if you can’t I’ll call someone to do it. Please? “ It was pitiful how desperate you sounded but he needed to know how much you needed him to look first. 

Rust let his hands run from his hair and down his face, dragging the skin. He wasn’t that annoyed with you, he was also just exhausted. It was rare he slept at all let alone got a full night's sleep. He spared his home a look before turning back to you. “ Give me a few minutes. “ Those words made you release a sharp breath, quickly bouncing off his steps and back to your house. In those few minutes, you did damage control to your house. Boxes lazily unpacked and clothes strewn around, hopefully he didn’t think you were dirty.

The man stepped through your screen door, he didn’t bother announcing himself. Rust was still in what you figured was his ‘pajamas’, a white tanktop and jeans. You liked the look on him, you couldn’t help but gaze as he took in your small home. “ It’s kind of a mess, I’ve been too busy to really unpack. “ You stood, leaning up against the dining table. Slung over his shoulder was a bag of tools you guessed, it looked reliable. Hopefully whatever was in the bag could fix the AC. 

He didn’t say anything about the mess, in fact you weren’t sure if he was even truly aware of his surroundings at the moment or ever. Rust always had a sort of glazed look in his eyes, you wanted to see what he saw. The blonde was quiet as he peered around until finding your unit, crouching down to take a good look at it. You sort of stood behind him until he shot you a look that could kill. To give him his space you made your way back into the kitchen, part of you wondered if he was hungry. If you were a good enough cook you might’ve even attempted to make him something but there was no guarantee he’d eat it.

Nothing was wrong with the unit and Rust realized that quickly. He was no handyman but he knew too much from his father. Back home in Alaska, the older man would drag a young Rust around to stranger’s houses so he could fix whatever issue they had. Leaky pipe? No problem. He stood with a rough grumble, making his way over to the thermostat to pop it open. What he saw made him close his eyes, a small attempt to try and pull himself together. The batteries inside were fried, the smell stinging his nose. An easy fix but something so easy, he was slightly peeved you couldn’t have figured it out on your own. Were you trying to bug him? Rust pried the blackened batteries out and made his way into the kitchen. “ Batteries cooked themself. “ He held them up for you to see. “ You didn’t think to check that first? “ Rust wasn’t sure why he was that annoyed, it’s not like he was sleeping.

Your mouth fell agape at the sight. You felt stupid, very very stupid at his finding. Batteries, fucking batteries. “ Jesus, ‘m sorry Rust. I’m no… AC man. How was I supposed to know?! “ Your hands slid to her hips in a way of trying to defend yourself. Part of you disliked his tone but there was something in it that made you shift as well. It felt perverted to even think of how you liked your grumpy neighbor dumbing you down over batteries. 

Rust clearly wasn’t bothered by your shift in attitude, in fact he just grimaced at the sight. “ Right. Can I leave or are you gonna burn down the house in the meantime? “ The man started to take a few steps back, his eyes on you as he watched to see if you had anything more to say. He knew you would but he hoped you didn’t. 

The man was getting to you with his words, you shot him a harsh look as he slowly started to exit as if he was evading some sort of wild animal. “ Oh screw you. “ Your arms folded against your chest as you couldn’t help but smile. At least he had some form of humor, you were beginning to worry there was nothing but existential dread inside of him. “ Thanks for your help… once again. “ Your words trailed off quietly, as you spoke you realized he helped you out once more. You owed the man big time in your mind. It was always engraved in your head to return the kindness others gave you though you weren’t sure if it applied- Rust wasn’t exactly kind when it came to the deeds he did for you. His sharp tongue and cool gaze kind of took away the softness of the act. 

The thoughts of just how much Rust had been doing for you was eating you alive. You felt like some kind of freeloader or something, that wasn’t you. You always returned favors for other people and they liked it yet Rust wanted nothing to do with you. The entire day you pondered over what to do, trying to think of something that would make him pleased. A scoff left your mouth at that, was there even a chance Rust Cohle could be pleased? You knew he was home, his truck sat in the driveway. Maybe he was off today? Cooking was out of the question unless he wanted burnt crisps. 

To try and shake the guilty feeling off your mind, you’d take a hot bath. Hoping the scalding water would maybe wash the guilt out of you but as you got out to wrap your silk robe around you, you realized it still stayed. You felt like a child waiting to be noticed and forgiven, you knew Rust didn’t care but you wanted him to. It bothered you with how isolated he was, he didn’t have any friends to your knowledge. If he did you’d be a bit surprised on how that happened. Your damp feet padded against the wood floors as you made your way to your room. The moonlight peered through your window but something else caught your gaze, your bedroom window looked out into what looked to be Rust’s living room. More like the concept of one. From what you could see it was barren, as if nobody lived there. A mattress sat on the ground and a lawn chair sat in the middle of the room. Inside, you could see the man. He sat hunched over with a beer in his hands, a folder in his lap- something dealing with work you assumed. Slowly, a smirk spread across your mouth as an idea struck in your head. 

Rust couldn’t sleep once again, instead of trying to, he decided to throw himself into a pile of files. Photos of bodies and information that wouldn’t help him sleep is what he chose to fill the night with. Taking a swig out of the bottle, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A flickering of light. Turning his body to face it, he saw you and his throat seemed to close up momentarily. There you were in a robe that was lazily tied around you, he could see how loose the strings were. “ The hell is she doin…? “ Even with his confusion, he didn’t tear away his eyes. He felt almost frozen and shackled to the chair. A deep breath left him, he didn’t know what you wanted. What was your goal with him? You’d been driving him, invading his space and day to day life. He was realizing you might’ve been doing it on purpose. That made him grit his teeth, stirring in his chair. Rust felt wrong watching you. You wanted him to watch. You were purposely fucking with him. 

You knew Rust was watching, the man had shifted his chair to face the window directly. You’d assumed he was lonely but not that lonely. One had lazily gripped the bottle of Old Milwaukee while the other dug into his thigh. Perhaps if he gripped it hard enough, it would ground him and make him not feel so hot. You couldn’t help the grin that laid on your mouth, you had him where you wanted him. Hands smoothing down the silk just slow enough to tease. Your fingers found a way of the tied strings, pulling them apart. Quickly, the silk slid off your still damp body. Droplets of water still lingering on your collarbones, hair still dripping water down to the floor below you. The robe pooled at your feet, now you stood bare and the older man still sat watching. You could’ve sworn he winced as he watched the scene unfold. If it weren’t for dignity and fear, you would’ve gone even further. Maybe your hands would’ve slipped between your thighs to truly give Rust a show but you didn’t. You wanted to torture him and really give him a reason to talk to you. Leaning forward, you sent a small wave to him. It made him ache with how pleased you look, a shit eating grin on your face as you tugged the blinds down. 

Rust was left sitting, jeans tight around his lower half. He felt disgusted with himself, like some sort of dog. He leaned back into the chair, a deep breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding finally leaving his mouth. You were a nuisance, some kind of minx sent to throw off his balance. The normality of his life was gone, now he was in a cat and mouse game with you. Only he believed he was the cat and you were the mouse to be devoured.

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NOTE:

It seemed as though Rust Cohle could not catch a break. His usual routine driven, bland everyday life had been turned upside down. It was all thanks to his new neighbor. You had moved into the run down house next to him not too long ago yet you were already driving him mad. He wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe it was the fact that every other neighbor up and down the street was always too afraid to speak to him. Rust did his best not to give others the assumption he’d like to talk to them. Always rushing in after a long day, half-drunk and half-awake. He rarely even noticed anyone else around him. Until you came along. You were younger than him, he could tell by the joy that was still in your eyes. If he had to place a guess on how much younger, he’d say ten years. It left a slight bitter taste in his mouth every time he caught himself staring. Did you always have to run around town in a tank top a size too small for you? Whatever it was, it bothered him a lot more than he wanted to admit. 

 It was almost eight, Rust was already late for work. He’d had a late night, too many drinks and the photos from a case still sat on his mattress. Getting ready, he could hear some form of commotion outside. It sounded like the sputtering of an engine and a string of curses. He wanted to ignore it, he really did but as he stepped outside of the house he saw you. Bent over and half way into the engine, your skirt ridden up to reveal something he’d rather not see. A scowl left his mouth. He didn’t have time to deal with whatever your problem was. Even still, he found himself stepping over his lawn to meet yours.

“ Need a ride? “ The sudden voice caused you to jump, smacking your head up against the hood. “ Fuck! “ A hiss escaped your mouth as you turned to shoot a look at whoever the perpetrator of your assault was. Your attempt at mean mugging whoever it was faded as you saw the man standing in front of you.

Rust Cohle. You’d seen him around, shooting him a friendly smile every time you saw him even if he never returned the gesture. He seemed lonely and you felt bad for him. Part of you wanted to be company and maybe more. An awkward laugh left your mouth, you had already forgotten what he had previously said. “ Sorry, you said somethin’? “ The Louisiana heat seemed to beat down on you even more, you looked down to see if you were already sweating through your work clothes. Hopefully you didn't look as greasy as you felt.

A grunt left his mouth, he seemed annoyed at having to repeat himself.  “Just asked if you needed a ride. “ His gaze moved to the car behind you. You hadn’t expected him to offer, he’d never really spoken to you before but you nodded quickly.

The car ride was quiet, Rust was not a talkative man and you quickly learned that. Your eyes occasionally flickered over to him then around his truck. It smelled of cigarettes and wood, you found yourself often inhaling that scent in an attempt to be able to remember it. Fingers trailed around leather that seemed to be peeling back on the bench seat from wear and tear.

“ How long have you had this? “ You turned to look at him, trying to strike a conversation. Rust blinked, temporarily closing his eyes as if the answer was deep in the roots of his mind. “ Almost seven years. “ His answer was short, just like every sentence he’d spoken had been. What you didn't expect was for him to speak again. “ You work at the diner on main street, right? “ You were about to open your mouth and ask how he knew that but he quickly interrupted you. “ Your uniform. “

A small laugh left your mouth as you glanced at the attire. Red and white striped top and skirt paired with a name tag, dead giveaway. You felt stupid but you tried not to show it. “ Oh, right. “

The pick up let out a small groan as he parked in the diner’s parking lot, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel impatiently. Rust was going to assume you had someone to pick you up but then he thought once more. You’d only just moved there. He hadn’t seen any family help you move in. He only watched through the window of his apartment as you struggled to pull all the boxes in, he felt a little bad but it wasn’t his problem. Now it was different. Rust had taken you there, he could pick you up. He didn’t want you to walk. You'd become his responsibility very quickly.

“ What time do you get off? I’ll pick you up. “ His words made you turn, you were half way out the truck with your bag slung over your shoulder. The last thing you wanted to be was a bother.

“ You don’t have to do that, I’ll find a ride. “ It was a lie, you’d probably just walk home. Rust sucked in a sharp breath, he was already thirty minutes late and the last thing he wanted was Geraci on his ass about it. All he did was nod and wait for you to close the door so he could drive off.

Your entire shift you couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. Rust Cohle was a very attractive man, his cool demeanor didn’t drive you away. In fact, it seemed to pull you closer. Just as he’d been watching you, you’d been watching him. Sure, people talked about him. They said lots of things. Your manager had even watched the man drop you off and decided to throw her two cents in. Susan was an older woman, kind but Southern, meaning she loved to gossip.” Honey, you don’t want to get involved with him. He’s bad news. That kind of guy don't care about nobody but himself. “ You appreciated her words of wisdom but truthfully, they meant nothing to you. “ I’m not involved with him, it was just a ride to work. My car broke down! “ A quick attempt to defend yourself did not really get across to the older lady. “ That’s how it starts. “ is all she said before scurrying off to help a couple that had just walked in. Her words lingered in your head. You pondered on what she meant by 'it'. A singular car ride could not turn into something more, especially when it came to a man who hated everyone including himself.

Around nine you were finally walking out, a heavy sigh leaving your mouth as you stepped outside. You felt disgusting, one of the customers accidentally spilled syrup all over you and with your luck, there were no extra uniforms. Before you even began your walk back home, you noticed a familiar red pick up truck in the barren parking lot. Inside sat Rust. The man was no fool, he knew you were lying. The last thing he wanted was to see you pop up in a casefile and put that on his conscience. It was almost like he could see the news article in his head. Woman new to town murdered walking home alone at night ( All because Detective Cohle failed to give her a ride home! ) He shivered at the thought. Rust hated that it bugged him so much.

Your tired, aching feet managed to pull you to his truck. The headlights casting upon your face, hopefully he saw the confusion on it. Though knowing Rust, he likely wasn’t looking. The door opened up with a creak of the hinges, causing the dirty blonde to lift up his head.

“ What’re you doin’ here? “ You stood with an accusatory look on your face. Did he not think you could hold yourself? He barely knew you. The mere thought of it made you grumble. You weren’t sure if you were dreaming already but you could’ve sworn you saw a stretch of his mouth. It looked nice on his face, his usual brooding stare temporarily replaced for something more human. Maybe he liked that you were challenging him, not letting him to whatever he wanted.

“ Figured you didn’t have a way home. “ He spoke up, sparing you a small glance as he waited for you to climb into the truck. A few seconds passed as you pondered on his words, you didn’t want to waste anymore of his time so you pulled yourself in.

“ Right, thank you. You didn’t have to though. “ You huffed, dropping your bag onto the floor board so you could lean back into the seat and try to relax. Rust only blinked, would you have rathered to walk in the dark? He could let you out if that was the case but he didn’t. His nose wrinkled as the scent of maple filled his nostrils, it was sickeningly sweet. It made him almost nauseous, his hand moving to crank the window down. He felt almost trapped with you, his face tilted out the window to try and get fresh air.

Just like earlier that morning, the truck grew silent as he began to drive. At some point your eyes peered open and found themselves watching Rust drive. He looked worn out, it made you feel hot inside. Your skin quickly heated up at the realization, you snapped your head to look out the window but the sound of a lighter flicking made you turn back to him. You should’ve known he smoked. The smell wasn’t exactly discrete, not that it bothered you. If anything, it was comforting.

The older man must’ve felt your staring because his eyes slid from the road to you. A look sat on his face that spoke for him ‘ what? ‘. You shook your head. “ Nothing, I just- Thank you again. “ Your eyes stayed fixated on the cigarette, it had been a while since you smoked. When you were freshly eighteen it had been more of a habit but it was really a way to rebel against your family.  “ Can I? “ The words left your mouth too quickly before you realized what you were saying.

Rust seemed slightly surprised by your words. He wanted to have more self control when it came to you but he lacked it at the moment. Reluctantly, he pulled the cigarette out from in between his lips to pass it over to you. He wondered if you’d ever smoked before, did you share cigarettes with other strange men or was he an exception? Rust didn’t even want to acknowledge that the question made his skin crawl. The road was long forgotten as his eyes fell to you. He knew them well enough to watch you. Your lips pressed just where his mouth was, he felt like a damn teenager. The red lipstick you had on you stained the cigarette.

You inhaled with a wince, whatever he smoked it was strong. The nicotine taste and musk made you choke slightly but you recovered with a cloud of smoke pouring out of your mouth.  “ Jesus, what the hell is that? “ You held it back out to Rust but he only shook his head. No way was he taking it back now.

A chuckle left his mouth, something rare. You’d never really seen him laugh or smile so it was nice to see he could actually express joy. “ Camels. You smoke? “ His eyes were fully pulled back to the road.

You twirled the cigarette in your fingers before taking another drag. “ Used to, Marlboro Golds. I smoked them just to piss off my family. They thought too much of me, made me mad. “ The logic wasn’t entirely there but to your eighteen year old self, it made perfect sense. You were always deemed the golden child, it caused people to think you were some kind of angel. You weren’t, you felt like the furthest from Heaven you could possibly be.

Rust must’ve read you wrong, he wasn’t sure what he thought of you but he didn’t think you would purposely poison yourself to get people to leave you be. He didn’t say anything else the rest of the ride home. The only sounds that filled the truck was the sound of the janky radio that was mostly static though occasionally a country song would buzz in. 

As he pulled into his driveway, you turned to him trying to pull your words together. He’d done a lot for you already. Being on your own meant that you were used to figuring things out for yourself, it had been years since you let someone else take the wheel. You wanted to show your gratitude but Rust was already stepping out of the car, quickly you jumped out and stepped in front of him as he rounded the front of the truck.

You grew to realize just how tall he was, you weren’t super short nor super tall but as he stood in front of you, you felt small. His eyes practically boring into you as you stood, he was clearly waiting for you to spit out whatever you were struggling to say. “ I wanted to thank you again, really I mean it. I don’t know anybody here just yet. “ He knew that. “ I’ll call someone to come look at my car tomorrow. I owe you one, anything you want okay? Breakfast at the diner can be on me. “ You were rambling, your fingers pushing into your hair to twiddle with the strands as you anxiously spoke. The last thing you wanted was for his chivalry to go unnoticed.

“ You don’t have to do anything, ‘s fine. “ He shook his head, stepping aside from the nervous mess you’d become to make his way to his door. It was clear he was done for the night, no longer wishing to speak or be near you. Your feet still stood planted in his driveway, the cigarette burnt up in your hand. “ Goodnight! “ You spoke before stepping over to your own lawn, gaze still on the cold man as he stepped inside his own home. Mentally, you cursed yourself. You sounded like a child bidding the man a goodnight, so loudly and even more cheerfully. The sound of cicadas and wind chimes from a nearby house filled the air as you stood, still in your syrupy uniform. 

No matter how much he detested the idea of a favor, you’d find a way to repay him. 

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