#guttcrson

@guttcrson SENT "Don't be such a baby. It's just a flesh wound." FOR Richie

Initially, Rachel had been relieved; a six hour round trip for prisoner transport is a decidedly unfun assignment. The annoyance had only been lessened by Art deciding it was best that she and Tim go together.

But instead of the good company she'd expected, they've spent the trip so far in silence.

Her fingers flex around the steering wheel. "You haven't said a word in an hour," she observes, voice tight. It's not anger that laces her words, though she thinks she'd be perfectly right to feel it, but there's no denying something complicated lurks in her tone. "And the first thing you imply that it's my fault?"

Rachel doesn't bother pointing out that he'd been late, he hadn't been waiting on the front steps like she's come to expect whenever she picks him up. He hadn't answered his phone nor did he rush out the door when she honked. Using the key was the logical next step.

"make sure deputy gutterson gets home safe."

he had done what art asked him to do. made sure tim got home. but he hadn't left. he'd gone inside with him and stayed, making a decision that he knew was a terrible one.

but if he's being honest, it seems as if this had been inevitable. he liked tim and enjoyed the weird fucking shit that came out of his mouth and maybe he had wondered what else that mouth could be used for. and then tim rolled up to the va half way to drunk and he flirted with the god damn bouncer while looking like...that.

and he'd been ready to fight arlo givens and maybe that was the point he knew he was fucked.

now, waking up the next morning in a bed that isn't his own, he knows he done the worst thing possible. he should leave. but tim's truck is back in harlan and they're going to have to deal with that at some point too.

“Brought coffee—uh, highly suggest cutting it with something though.”  

Though nothing like powering through the last few files that should be considered books with a substance that could legally qualify for gasoline. It wasn’t ideal in any sense of the word but nothing wrong with some team building and a second pair of eyes to lower down potential common threads between murders. 

And the boss couldn’t ever claim Manny wasn’t a team player. Really, it was like a win-win for everyone. 

He does his research, the full background check and a little further, he has always been one to rely on when it comes to critical missions. Jonas and Armando too(he misses them god dammit, when can he return to his family, announce he is alive for those who don’t know yet? orders are orders, he always follows them), but there is something about him so mischievous that makes him more of a candidate for such jobs. He enjoys them anyway, so why not two birds with one stone? The same approach is used with his new prey. It is not the first time they meet, he has let them warm a little bit first, still cautious when he approaches though, the smile on his face is as playful as usual. ❝ Ready for the promised news? ❞ He shakes their hand welcoming before giving a few pats on their back, offering the chair next to him for them to rest. ❝ Now, not to scare you off-you don’t strike me as a coward anyway, but I have an offer for you. A job. ❞ He doesn’t care if he gives his intentions of committing criminal activities away for he is prepared to GUT them the moment he senses hesitation and danger. ❝ So, I hear you’re quite the sniper, mm?~ ❞ He knows they are. ❝ Wanna hear the rest or you’re backing out already? ❞ It is implied in his speech: either in or out, entirely.

jyn is selfish. it's one of the reasons she's survived so long on her own –– if her skin is the only one she worries about, then there's less opportunities for danger, less chances for her to risk her own neck for someone else. but as much as she's tried to snuff it out, she has a heart ; and these days, there are too many things she can't just let slide, not when she can do something about it. she doesn't have much power anymore, just scraps of what she'd used to hold, but that doesn't mean she's entirely without it.

tucking her fingers into the pockets of her jeans, the blonde shifts her weight from one foot to another, before she feels a shiver work it's way up her spine at the sound of tim's speaking.

"that place looks like it hasn't been touched in years. "

she nods over to him, pulls a hand out and points to the second window on the top floor.

"ain't nobody kept up with it after the murder suicide. that's where it happened. people say the house is haunted though, i don't know if i believe in ghosts, but i believe there's some bad energy in this place.

she takes a step on the porch and listens to the sound of creaking stairs, seeing if it can hold her weight before taking more steps along the inside.

"i don't remember him much, my grandpa, or my grandma for that matter. his second wife was younger - hence the two young kids while my dad was already grown. sometimes i feel like he's haunting me for my choices - y'know, giving up against the whole cult-kind of bullshit that they were involved in."

as she mentions him, she shivers again, this time feeling a presence press against her throat, a gruff whisper in her ear of unintelligible noise.

"i don't think we're alone, anymore, tim." she says, glancing back at the man who's stayed off the porch. she takes a few steps further, before reaching the front door.