Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

Who's in charge?

Request – The Reader see Kayce after he and Rip fight for who's in charge of the Wranglers and she takes care of him.

You stared as Kayce tried to sneak into the foreman's cabin front door. You were on the couch, the only light coming from the dying fire in the corner as Kayce gently shut the door. When he turned around, he stopped, his eyes resting on your form.

The two of you looked at each other for a few seconds before you saw his shoulders sag forward. Even from the couch, you could see Kayce's face covered in bruises and cuts, a large gash above his right eye. His shirt was wrinkled and covered in dirt with some blood from either him or someone else. Kayce reached up and removed his hat, hanging it by the coats next to the door.

"Where did you go?" You asked slowly.

Kayce took a few steps forward, coming into the soft light from the fire more. You didn't move from your spot though.

"Baby, I don't wanna fight tonight," Kayce sighed.

"Clearly," You nodded to his appearance.

"If you're just gonna give me shit I can go to the bunkhouse," Kayce's eyes looked defeated.

"I'm sure the others there look just like you," You frowned. "What happened?"

"You don't need to-"

"I swear to God, if you tell me I don't need to worry," You stood up. "Look at you, Kayce!"

"I'm okay," Kayce held up his hand.

"Okay?" Your eyes narrowed. "You're not fucking okay, Kayce...you look like you got the shit beat out of you."

"Kinda feels that way," Kayce mumbled.

"I see you for two seconds when you come home from work and then you have to leave because of some bullshit reason," You snapped. "And this is what you come back as, and you tell me that you're okay? That I don't need to worry?"

"At least I came back," Kayce said.

You blinked back at him.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" You asked, stepping over to where you were in front of Kayce.

"Said I didn't wanna fight," Kayce growled as he walked around you, heading into the bedroom.

"I know it wasn't for work," You followed him. "You left your badge...so why do you look like you got the shit beat out of you?"

Kayce kicked off his boots and walked into the bathroom connected to the bedroom. You stood in the doorway as Kayce unbuttoned his shirt, standing in front of the mirror.

"You can't not talk to me," You said, lowering your voice.

"I told you I ain't fighting with you tonight," Kayce bit back.

"I'm not fighting you," You frowned. "I'm trying to figure out-"

"Why I look like I got the shit beat out of me," Kayce turned around. "Yeah, heard you pretty clear the first time, baby."

You stared at him for a few moments. There was something different in his eyes. Sure, this wasn't the first time Kayce came home with a cut lip or bruised eye. But this was different in the sense that he almost seemed like whatever he went to take care of, wasn't taken care of. He looked defeated like he lost or something. You swallowed hard as you crossed your arms.

"Please tell me what happened," You asked softly.

Kayce sighed as he stepped to the left to sit down on the edge of the tub. His elbows rested on his knees as his eyes looked at the tile on the floor. You waited a few seconds before you walked over to him slowly, kneeling in front of him between his knees. Kayce's eyes looked into yours.