#fc5bb

—

Washing some of her arrows in a little stream, Elkie was humming “Oh John”. Dammit, this song was catchy !! She didn’t even pay attention to the light footsteps sounds behind her. She was thinking about Staci and how she could free him. To be honest, her coworkers were often on her mind now that she had to save them. She was young and this duty was a lot... Sometimes even too much. She was about to call Hurk Jr. or maybe Wheaty to ask them if they wanted to hang out, relax for a while, when she finally realized she wasn’t alone.

When she turned around, her jaw dropped. She felt her heart pound in her chest as she quickly tried to take an arrow out of her quiver.

“Hey, no need for that. Hands up.” ordered Jacob Seed, who was pointing his red rifle at her. Elkie obeyed, knowing he would be quicker than her and she could be dead in a second. She took a step back when she saw him move forward. “Deputy. I knew we’d meet sooner or later.” With a smirk, Jacob stopped pointing her with his gun and crouched down to collect the arrows she’d left on the ground.

After a moment of tension filled silence Elkie was too surprised to stop herself from talking. “So you’re just gonna steal my arrows ?” she yelped. Jacob didn’t answer and she watched him collect them all, inspecting them carefully.

Her ennemy stayed silent, stoic. Finally, he looked her right in the eyes and smirked. For some reason, it made her burn with rage. Elkie clenched her fists, but her cheeks turned red. She took her gaze off of Jacob Seed, her blood boiling in her veins. When she had the courage to look back at him, he was right in front of her. How had he moved so fast and quietly ? She was breathless and at a loss for words. Emotions were fighting in her busy mind and, even if she tried to, she simply couldn’t erase that little voice in the back of her head that whispered unholy thoughts about her ennemy. Elkie had always found Jacob to be quite good looking, but that didn’t stop her hatred towards him. On the other hand, now that he was right in front of her, the whisper was getting louder and it corrupted her others thoughts... Her breath got caught in her throat when she tried to say something.

Slowly, carefully, Jacob put the arrows back in the quiver attached to Elkie’s back. His hand accidentally brushed her cheek in the process, making her blush even more. She was so confused... “Thank you...?” she whispered, not sure if his action was truly a nice one.

Without any answer, Jacob took a step back, discreetly nodding his head. He cleared his throat, another smirk on his lips, and left. His eyes never left Elkie until he couldn’t see her. And she stayed right there, paralyzed. She should’ve ran after him, taken out her bow and hurt him, kill him. How many chances were she going to have to get directly at Jacob Seed without killing a hundred peggies in the process ? She should’ve called someone and arrested him right on the spot. She was a Deputy, after all, and it was her freaking job ! But she simply couldn’t, too shaken up by the impromptu meeting to even move.

——

During the next few weeks, Elkie simply couldn’t think about anything else than Jacob Seed. Their meeting, his rifle in front of her, her arrows back in her quiver and his stupid smirks. She was angry at herself and, somehow, angry at him. Why did he let her go ? Did he think she was so weak he didn’t even bother to disarm her ? Oh but she was strong... She was strong and she’d show him.

And then, one day, she got captured. The bliss arrow had pierced her legs and she quickly fainted. When she woke up, she was in a small room, on a cot. She tried to stand up but the pain and the handcuffs attached to the wall prevented her to do so. Her head was spinning when she finally noticed the silhouette in a corner of the room.

“Finally up. Took you long enough,” Jacob smirked as he got closer to her. She curled up in the corner of the room, her wrist twisting against the handcuffs.

“I have to say, Deputy.. You almost impressed me. Before our first meeting, you were full of rage, destroying my wolf beacons and taking my outposts one by one. Surprising, for someone like you.” Jacob was walking towards Elkie like a predator sizing up its prey. She felt her blood boiling in her veins.

“But then... Nothing. Three weeks without any news of my little pup, huh ? So what happened ?” He was now squatting in front of her, his hands pressed together in a prayer motion in front of his mouth. His blue eyes were piercing right through her.

“I... I don’t know.”

“You’re not going soft on me, are you ?”

And she was. After her first meeting with him, the only thing she’d been able to think about was him. And not only in a “I wanna kill him” way... Quite the opposite, actually. And, now that he was so close to her again, her heart was threatening to get out of her chest just to be closer to his.

Without even realizing it, Elkie leaned forward and tried to kiss him. Her handcuffs prevented her from actually getting close enough, and Jacob took a step backward, another stupid smirk on his lips. Elkie suddenly realized what she had tried to do, and shame came burning on her face. Oh my god, how stupid was she. A little 22 years old pinning for a man twice her age who, on top of that, was her ennemy ! Jacob’s eyes were wide and scanning her face, the smirk momentarily leaving his lips. He opened his mouth and Elkie prepared for whatever taunt or insult he had in mind... But he stayed silent. It looked like he was actually speechless. But it seemed impossible ! Jacob Seed ? Speechless ? No way. Jacob Seed always had something to say. But, against all odds, not this time.

Too lost in her thoughts to pay attention, Elkie hadn’t notice Jacob’s face getting closer to hers. When one of his hand reached around her back to grab her by the neck, she snapped back to reality. She barely had time to gasp before Jacob’s lips were on hers. He was surprisingly gentle, his kiss sweet, almost tender. But, as soon as she reciprocated, Jacob’s attitude changed completely. He prevented her to move with his grip on her neck -like the handcuffs weren’t enough- and his tongue slipped in her mouth, brushing against her own. She couldn’t help but moan when she felt Jacob’s other hand slowly moving up her thigh. It made him smile under her lips.

This was unbelievable. Totally unbelievable... But so fucking good.

Jacob tried to pull her closer to him, but she winced, the sharp edges of the handcuffs digging into her skin. She broke the kiss for just a second and Jacob’s lips almost drew back in a snarl. “I can’t fucking move,” Elkie spat, looking at her wrists and back at Jacob.

“Not into bondage, huh ?” he smirked. Elkie would’ve hit him if she could, get that fucking stupid smirk off of his face. But then, just like if he had read her mind, the smile left his lips. He looked her deep in the eyes, probably trying to decide what he was going to do next. Elkie couldn’t think straight ; her heart was beating so fast in her chest she couldn’t hear anything else.

“Come on, get those off,” she almost begged, her lips already pressed against Jacob’s. Of course he didn’t trust her, she knew that. But she was defenseless and he would definitely have the upper hand if she tried anything... And, even if she felt a bit guilty about it, Elkie wouldn’t have tried anything anyway. In this moment, the only thing she wanted was to run her hands all over Jacob’s body.

“Fuck it,” he finally said under his breath, reaching for the key in his pocket.

Once Elkie’s hands were freed, everything moved even faster. In less than a second, the paperwork on Jacob’s desk was flying in the dimly lit room and Elkie was laying on the cold surface of the metal table. Jacob’s calloused hands were tugging at her shirt, slipping under it to touch her warm and soft skin. She gasped when they reached her breast. She looked at Jacob and the way awe transformed his face moved her. The guilt she had previously felt disappeared and she cradled his cheeks, pulling him closer to kiss him again.

After this... unexpected turn of events, Jacob had let Elkie go. Just like that. Almost no words had been exchanged between the two of them. But the young woman noticed the change of behavior in Jacob : the soft and discreet smile plastered on his lips while she had gotten dressed and the gentler way his hands moved around her. She left with a unknown feeling in the pit of her stomach.

——

Over the next few weeks, they met more than once. Sometimes at the Vet Center, sometimes in the forest... And, each time, the same thing happened : they both acted all though until their bodies melted together. Elkie promised herself it was just physical. She was just looking for some good time and Jacob happened to be looking for that too, right ? But, slowly, she just couldn’t help but think that the butterflies in her belly whenever she was with Jacob meant something else.

One day, while she was getting dressed next to him, she absentmindedly asked, “Jake, what are we ?” She stiffened when she realized how serious her question actually was. For all she knew, Jacob was just going to laugh in her face before throwing her back in a cage. He had been gentler with her, almost romantic... But she still felt deeply insecure about the nature of their relationship.

He stayed silent for a long time before scratching his beard and sighing, “Dunno, pup. Why you asking ?” His voice was surprisingly sweet and soft.

“I just... I don’t know ; I guess I kinda like you.” She tried to stay as nonchalant as possible... But her heart was once again pounding in her chest.

“Yeah, me too.”

She froze. Was it really that simple ? And, if so, what did that mean ? Was Jacob her... boyfriend ? She couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What you laughin’ at ?” Jacob smiled, grabbing the back of her shirt and pulling her back to bed. His kiss was soft, softer than it had ever been. There was no sexual intentions hidden behind it and it made Elkie’s stomach turn. She looked him in the eyes, amazed at how warmly he was looking back at her.

After that day, nothing had been the same. They started seeing each other just to spend time together, hunting, going on walks... Elkie couldn’t believe that Jacob freaking Seed was being this caring... Of course, they kept their relationship secret. She was still a Deputy and he was still one of Joseph’s heralds. But, when they were together, they were just two people...

—

And that’s how she ended up in her ennemy’s bed.

—

Laying next to him, she thought back to all their time together. She rested her hand on his cheek, brushing his smile with her thumb.

“I gotta go to work,” he sighed, gently stroking her back. She nodded, inhaling his smell one more time before he had to get out of bed.

“I hate it when you have to leave,” she admitted, hiding her face so he couldn’t see how sincere she really was.

“So do I.” His voice was warm, but she could feel the tension behind it. He was just as torn as her, incapable of being entirely together, but wanting to do so anyway... He leaned down and pressed his lips on hers, hard. His kiss translated all the things he couldn’t force himself to say out loud. “Maybe we’ll just have to run away together. How does that sound ?”

She grinned. “It sounds good as long as you stop hogging the covers every night...”

He reciprocated her smirk and kissed her again, playfully, his nose softly brushing against hers. “Then you’ll have to sleep on top of me, huh ? You’ll be my blanket.”

“Jacob. You’re 6’3”... I doubt I’d be a great blanket.” She chuckled and the soft smile he gave her made her heart beat faster.

“Maybe. But you’re the only blanket I need.”

His smile turned upside down when she laughed out loud, “Oh my god, that was soooo cheesy Jake.” Jacob shook his head, pretending not to pay attention to her mockery while he put his pants on. She snickered and continued, “I mean, I know you’re sentimental and dramatic and all... but this ? You’re so cute.”

In less than a second, Jacob was on top of her. His hand was maintaining her wrists on top of her head while his legs were straddling her waist, preventing her to move completely. The coldness of Jacob’s dog tag against her bare chest made her shiver.

“I’m cute ?” he asked in a deep voice, his lips barely brushing her ear. Elkie has to bite her lip to stop herself from moaning.

“The cutest,” she insisted, a malicious grin stretching her lips. Jacob kissed her, almost violently, punishing her for her smart mouth.

“You’re lucky I gotta go to work,” he murmured when he finally let her wrists go. “But don’t you worry pup, I’ll take good care of ya when I get back.” And he kissed her again, biting her lower lip when he had to break the kiss, showing her how much he wanted to stay.

What they had wasn’t perfect. It was messy and confusing and sometimes even infuriating... But, god. Elkie wouldn’t have exchanged it against anything else in the world.

She watched Jacob leave the cabin. He gave her a wink just before passing the door and she couldn’t but smile for the rest of the day.

———

She turned to the side, trying to remain as nonchalant as possible as she saw John Seed standing not a few meters away by the fence-line. Fucker must have somehow managed to sneak up on her - a miracle in itself, and she was surprised he wasn’t gloating about it.

“Didn’t know you could be quiet,” Ash said, leaning back to lazily rest a hand on the post behind her. “Thought being a Seed meant you couldn’t announce your presence without at least a fog machine.”

He hummed - eyes never leaving her - before smiling; stepping forward to run a hand along the side of the fence. He stopped short of her, eyeing the cougar a few meters away and the imposing figure of the horse beyond the barrier. 

There was something about John Seed, she’d noticed, that always made her feel on trial; in every movement, every action, there was something behind his expression that spoke of judgement. The cult’s judge and jury was a fitting title, indeed.

“What are you doing here, Johnny Law?” She asked, eyes narrowed.

He tilted his head, and gave her a once-over.

“I’ll admit I’m surprised you haven’t tried to attack me yet, Deputy,” John said instead of answering, and smiled in a way that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Could it be that infamous Wrath is finally becoming tempered?”

She laughed at the very thought.

“Sure, let’s go with that,” Ash replied. In truth, her nearest throwing knife was safely hidden in her boot, but John didn’t need to know that. Instead, she leaned forwards, hands cupping the side of the fence post for balance as she grinned at John. “What about you? Why haven’t you tried to shoot little old me yet?”

He hummed - possibly thoughtful - and stepped forward again, further closing the distance between them and glanced up at her with his hand trailing by the fence and coming to rest inches from her knee.

“I don’t want to kill you, dear,” John murmured, startlingly blue eyes intense in a piercing trademark expression of the whole family. “I’ve been telling you this from the beginning; I simply want to save you.”

“The river incident could’ve fooled me, buddy,” Ash replied, coolness seeping into her sarcasm.

His mouth twitched in a grimace, and he had the good graces to at least look away.

“A lapse in judgement,” he admitted. “I am, more than anyone, still battling my own sins, and they got the better of me in that moment. I...please forgive me on that.”

Ash tilted her head, staring down at him curiously. Meters away, Peaches was laying down beside the sack of apples; the image of calm despite an enemy standing so close, and Ash took the moment to come to a decision.

“M’kay,” she said, surprising him. When he glanced up at her again - brow creasing somewhere between shock and suspicion - she gave him a dazzling smile and held up a finger. “I’ll forgive you on one condition.”

Ah, there was the suspicion in his eyes; this was the familiar territory for him, in bargaining for forgiveness, for atonement. Pain for salvation seemed to be his modus operandi, after all, but that was luckily not on her agenda today.

She pointed over towards the bag.

“Go get me some more apples,” Ash said calmly. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her, and she could almost hear the cogs in his head creak as they turned. She shrugged, the image of innocence. “What? Aires is hungry.”

Aires helpfully nickered.

John sighed, but began to obey; making his way over to the sack on the ground. He sidestepped carefully to the far side of Peaches, giving her a wide berth, but never taking his eyes off the dangerous predator so close to him. Blindly - so as to not look away from the cat - he reached down and fumbled with the edge of the bag, rummaging inside for an apple.

It was in the split second that he looked down - making sure of his prize - that Peaches gave a loud, sudden chirp.

John let out an undignified yelp and Ash could have sworn he’d jumped a foot in the air as he scrambled to get away, apples still miraculously clutched in his hands. 

She laughed at the sight; the usually so composed lawyer and baptist frazzled at the ends. Peaches watched him go, something smug about her as her tail flicked back and forth and ears twitching as John swore under his breath and stomped his way through the grass towards the Deputy.

Ash held out her hands expectantly, unable to stop her chuckling as John slapped the apples down into her palms. He whirled around, over-intricate coat ruffling with the movement as began to walk away.

“Wait, John!” Ash called out, unable to resist one last dig. “Come back! Don’t you want to feed Aires too?”

John glanced over his shoulder at the bay, who chose that moment to huff and stomp one of her intimidatingly strong back legs.

“No, thank you,” John replied, gritting his words through clenched teeth and a pinched brow. “I’ve had enough of your beasts’ antics for one day.” He sent her a thoroughly unamused glare as he gave a tight wave of farewell. “Keep them under control the next time we meet, if you please.”

Ash grinned.

“You’re forgiven, by the way!” She said, reminding him of why he had gotten himself so frazzled in the first place. “Thanks for the apples, Johnny boy!”

Behind her, Peaches let out another meeping call - her own farewell - and Ash didn’t bother to stifle her laugh at the hiss John let out in return as he sped up; trying to get away quicker from the Deputy and her loyal companions.

“You’ll be atoning for this!” He replied, scathing now that he was a safe distance. “Just you wait, dear.”

Unfazed, she blew a kiss at him.

“Oh, I’ll wait, alright,” she muttered, twinkling her fingers in a wave. “Dear.”

Before he was completely beyond the tree line, Ash was quite positive that he flipped her the bird at least twice. And he called her Wrath.