Big Cats and Cowboys | A Striker x Reader Series

A General Distaste

I slumped in the computer chair as I took a swig of the beer I kept stashed in the back of the mini fridge under the desk. It wasn't anything fancy, just something I had picked up on sale several weeks ago. Striker leaned against the doorframe, his own bottle in hand, watching me with calculated curiosity.

"Take a picture, it will last longer," I finally said, making him grin.

"You don't like people, do you?" Striker replied, chuckling with amusement.

I considered ignoring the question, but figured he would just bring it up again, "When you're so-called friends send you six feet deep into an early grave, then yes, a general distaste for people tends to occur."

My answer was accompanied by several minutes of uncomfortable silence. I had figured it would, but he had asked and I had given him an honest response. My two best friends had brought some stranger over to buy from me, and in turn, he had shot me, robbed them, and given me a new series of trust issues. 

After what felt like forever, Striker replied in a more serious tone, "Makes sense. Stupidity is a disease that unfortunately impacts anyone near patient zero."