Couldn't roll me a seven if you gave me loaded dice

[assassinwithahairpin]

They arrived in Reno in the early evening, the sun glinting gold and red on the Sierra Nevadas to the west. The last time Billy had seen those mountains, he had been young, and it had been from the western side looking east. Not long after, his family and he had headed north to Oregon, then Washington, until he was sold into his indenture.

To consider the mountains from this angle was to consider his traveling companion. Goodnight had already gone in to get them a room at one of the various hotels while Billy saw the horses tended to in a stable near the common. It was better to house them there, Billy knew. Reno had a reputation for thieves, and he'd prefer they not encounter that with their horses.

He made his way back to the hotel, contemplating the makeup of the city. There were more blacks and asians here than in most places they'd stopped over the past months. Billy felt considerably less out of place.

When he reached the hotel, he found Goodnight sitting out on the front porch, contemplating the street. Billy did not walk up the steps yet. He considered Goodnight from that angle, the line of his jaw and the sweep of his hair around his ear. Billy had known he was in trouble about this for weeks, at least. He just didn't know what else to do. But these past few days, working their way toward Reno, he'd been feeling it more and more.

Comments

[goodnight_robicheaux]

"Without falling out of bed, how novel." He shook his head, smiling. He only hoped the bad dreams stayed at bay tonight; he didn't want to ruin this with unwanted memories.

"If you don't object... might I propose sharing a room for the rest of our stay?" Maybe it was too much to ask too soon.

[assassinwithahairpin]

Billy rolled onto his side, and dragged Goodnight's arm over him, across his middle. He ought to get dressed again, he was sure. If a maid came in in the morning--did they do that in nice hotels like this--it would be one thing to be caught in the arms of another man, and another thing entirely to be caught in his arms still clad in nothing by the sheet.

Still, he did not make an effort to find even his underpants. The touch of skin on skin was a balm to his nerves, for the moment. The warmth of their touch sank through him.

"Fine by me," he said softly.

[goodnight_robicheaux]

Goodnight couldn't help his smile when Billy voiced his consent. Perfect. He kissed Billy's forehead, lingering there a moment.

"Why didn't you say something before uh... diving right in?" There was a laugh on the edge of his voice but he was curious. Surely there was a less risky way of getting his attention.

[assassinwithahairpin]

Billy was quiet. He rested his forehead against Goodnight's jaw, let himself be all tangled up like this. They were the same height, but he rather liked being made to feel slighter than Goodnight, he found.

"Hadn't shot me yet," he deadpanned. "Figured I could run the risk."

[goodnight_robicheaux]

Goodnight huffed a soft laugh. "Not in the business of shooting people anymore," he murmured, though that probably wasn't overly reassuring to hear. He relaxed back against the pillows, looked up at the ornate ceiling tiles as his fingers threaded through Billy's hair.

"Well, we've sorted each other out now. You didn't get shot and I didn't get stabbed. I'd call this a good start."

[assassinwithahairpin]

Billy nodded, and let his head slip down to Goodnight's chest. He closed his eyes and listened to the steady beat of Goodnight's heart, let it lull him to sleep rather seamlessly. He curled his arms over Goodnight's middle and held him, content and satisfied, and hopeful that the morning would be gentle with him.