pretty boy • bradley bradshaw

05

Luke used the squeaky manual handle to roll up the window to his El Camino. He wiped a drop of sweat from his brow with a small sigh before pulling the keys from the ignition. He winced at the creaking when he tossed the door open before shutting it with his hip.

It was a hot day, even though the sun was nearly down. He left his button up in the car, opting for a tank top as he grabbed at the door to The Hard Deck. He paid no mind to the patrons of the joint, instead making his way to the side of the bar.

"What can I do for you, Luke?" Penny smiled at the sight of him, though it seemed out of pity due to the sorry state he arrived in.

"Just be sure to send a few beers down my way." He nodded to a less crowded area in the corner of the room near the pool tables.

"Sure thing. Here's one to start you off." She moved to set a bottle in front of him. He smiled appreciatively, grabbing at the top with two fingers on either side of the cap before heading away from the noise. As we walked, he sighed gratefully at the feeling of the cold drink at his side, bumping along his thigh as he walked.

He had been on his second beer when the familiar hooting of Fanboy caused him to look up. He watched the group for a moment, noticing Phoenix, Rooster, and Payback amongst the group with Coyote, Yale, and Hangman nearby. They hadn't seemed to have been there long. Luke decidedly didn't join in on the fun they were seemingly having. He didn't feel like it, still chocked full of disappointment after how poorly he felt he did at training.

His eyes darted upward from the drink clutched in his hands at the shift of movement up ahead of him. Rooster, who previously was leaning up against the divider between the tables and the dartboards, was headed his way.

Luke slumped further into his seat, avoiding eye contact while the other fluidly slid it the booth across from him.

"Hey, Pretty." He greeted, crossing his arms across his chest and resting them on the tabletop.

Luke merely nodded his head in greeting, giving a meager smile.Bradley cleared his throat.
"Sorry about earlier today." He began.

"Don't apologize. Hangman was being an ass." Luke interjected, sitting up.

"So was I." Rooster elaborated, leaning forward in his seat. "You were helping me out. I didn't see that and I snapped. So, I'm sorry."

"You were angry, perfectly underst—"

"Just accept the damn apology, Kazansky." Rooster huffed with a half-smile, shaking his head incredulously.

"Alright," Luke raised his hands in the air in mock surrender with a light laugh. They fell into a comfortable silence afterward, with Luke fidgeting slightly in his seat every few moments.

"So the cat's outta the bag, huh?" Rooster asked with grimace-like smile.

"Guess so." Luke smiled in sympathy, rubbing at the palm of his hand with the other. Rooster only hummed lightly in reply, eyeing Luke's nervous habit.

"Did you want it to be?" Luke asked after a moment.

Rooster shifted in his seat, tilting his head back in thought. "I guess." He shrugged.
"Never really tried to hide it. I just never actively told anyone about it."

"Same thing to some." Luke supplied cryptically.

"How about to you?" Rooster asked.

"What about me?"

"Did you wish people didn't know?" Bradley repositioned to lean more comfortably in his seat.

"Um," Luke scratched at the back of his head lightly before dropping his hand and looking back at him. "No. Not really. I'll always get a few digs about it here and there, but that's life."