RDR2 ONESHOTS ;; REQ ➥

𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. ;; 𝘒𝘋

SUMMARY : You and Kieran have your own reasons to not swim with the others, so you entertain yourselves otherwise.

WARNINGS : mild potty words (ooo) references to body parts (crazy I know)

RATING : gender neutral / queer implied

The weather was relatively enjoyable, the air flowing with gentle wind, temperatures being not too cold, not too warm. The sun had warmed up the water by camp, leading a few members to sneak away from Guard Duty to frolic; as one does when you're living on the run.

Only so many sources of entertainment, after all. One does love a hint of variety. For, it is the spice of life, is it not?

You sat at the edge of the water, long untamed hair falling past your eyes. Pants slightly rolled up your calves, shirt hardly unbuttoned, you could hardly bare the thought of skinny dipping among people you saw as your friends. Allies. Fellow gunmen. The idea that other people had the same anatomy as you, the same parts, even if slightly altered, bothered you. Like, What do you mean your close friend, Javier for example, walked around packing a goddamn penis?

Regardless, you couldn't stand the idea of exposing yourself among the others. And it seems Kieran felt that very same way.

See, he was a strange boy. Always quiet, kept to himself unless someone hassled him; to which he never stood up for himself, at least not effectively. He sat on the bank, just like you. Likely for a similar reason, how silly it may be.

Glancing over at him, you kept your arms tightly crossed across your chest; to which Kieran mimicked you, as if trying to be your reflection. Wordlessly, the two of you had a lengthy staring contest, as if unsure how to start the conversation.

"You goin' in?" He sheepishly asked, vulnerable eyes searching yours for some kind of reassurance, a reason to go in himself. It seemed you were one of the only people who didn't make his life a living hell.

In response, you nodded your head in contemplation, an awkward look crossing your face. Were you? Was that seriously worth it?

He could tell you were still contemplating it, so he just sort of nodded and looked back over at the water, outstretching his legs.

"Naah, I get it. I.. I don't wanna go in neither, they's scary 's high hell." He said through an awkward, breathy chuckle. His hands rested on his knobby knees, slightly rotating his legs to and fro, like a bored tween trying not to seem bothered.

Rolling your tongue between your teeth, you side-eyed him. You could feel your skin baking beneath the sun, warmth simmering. It was starting to grow a little uncomfortable, so you finally spoke up.

"...Wanna move to the shade? Sun's startin' to hurt." You invited, raising your brows as your eyes studied his expression. The way it shifted from morose to hope in a few seconds was miraculous.

"Yeah! Yeah, I'd.. Yeah, I'd be real glad tuh' join you," He cheerfully answered, your name naturally slipping out as he quickly moved to grab a loose towel, and drag it under a tree.

-

The two of you just sat and talked for hours while the men played like school boys, Karen and Tilly playing chess nearby the bank, as if just trying to be part of the conversation. 

Had Kieran always been this friendly? You coulda sworn he was supposed to be awful, given what all the others had said about him being O'Driscoll Scum, The bane of their existences. Yet, he didn't seem half bad. Kind, even.