A/n: this is still an idea for wayyy later but... ---
Y/N's POV ___
"Never thought I'd see the day Y/N Carter would walk into town."
I placed my money in the man's hand, flat and sure.
"Thought a white man would've had you killed by now."
I smiled a little at his honesty.
"They tried." I said. "They just ain't fast enough."
The man huffed a laugh, low in his chest, like he believed me before I finished speakin'. He slid the coins into the register and glanced down at what I'd set on the counter. Some thread, needles, a bar of soap wrapped in brown paper, and a small tin of salve.
"Didn't take you for the domestic type." He said.
"Ain't." I replied. "My wife is."
That earned me a look. Curious, respectful. Black folk got a way of readin' what ain't said.
"She keep me civilized." I went on, tappin' the tin. "Gets bad cracks in her hands this time of year."
He nodded slow. "Town'll do that to you. Dry you out."
"Town don't scare her." I said. "Just inconveniences her."
He slid the bundle towards me, careful with it. "You settlin' here, then?"
I shrugged. "For now."
He leaned in just a hair, voice droppin'. "You sure stirred up a lot last night."
"So I heard."
"Ms. Knowles don't sit with just anybody." He added.
I met his eyes then.
"She free to sit where she likes."
He held my gaze a beat longer, then smiled. "That she is."
I tucked the items under my arm and turned for the door. Behind me, the man called out, not loud.
"Be careful out there, Carter. Town ain't as friendly as it seems."
I paused, hand on the doorframe.
"I'll take your word for it." I said, and stepped back into the town. ___
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Our place sat just past the edge of town. Small house. Solid bones. A porch that caught the evenin' breeze right. I'd chosen it on purpose. It was close enough to hear trouble comin', far enough to breathe.
I stepped up onto the porch and felt the boards answer to my weight.
Inside smelled like clean linen and some warm tea, maybe. Could be bread. I didn't know.
My shoulders eased and I shut the door quietly.
She stood at the table, sleeves rolled, hair pinned loose at the nape of her neck, fingers red from whatever she'd been doin' around here.
The light caught my wife just right. Made her look soft and steady as stone. Folks in town would've called her white without thinkin'. Like all those who meet her.
"Why you sneakin' up on me?" She asked, without turnin' around.
I smiled.
"Habit." I said.
She glanced over her shoulder then, eyes findin' me easy. The smile she gave me wasn't for show. It never was.
"You bring the salve?" She asked.
I crossed the room, set the bundle on the table. Unwrapped it careful. Took her hands in mine before she could protest.
"Cracked worse, huh?" I said, thumb brushin' over the rough places. "You ain't said nothin'."
She shrugged. "Ain't worth the fuss."
I dipped my finger into the tin and worked it into her skin slow.
"Mm." I hummed.
She watched me like she always did when I went quiet.
"How's town?" She asked.
"I don't know." I said. "Quiet. I'm still tryin' to figure it out."
She nodded, then leaned her hip against the table, let me finish. Didn't pull away when I pressed my mouth to her knuckles after.
"You stir up trouble?" She asked, gentle.
"If I did, not on purpose."
Her brow lifted. "That's never been your strong suit."
I smiled.
She stepped into me then, rested her head against my chest like she'd done a hundred times before.
"You're safe here." She said, like she was remindin' me, not herself.
"I know." I said.
I meant it.
She kissed my jaw and eased back first, but not far.
Leaned her hip against the table yet again, arms crossing loose over her chest.
"Sit." She said, noddin' towards the chair.
I took the seat, stretchin' out. From there, she looked down at me with her chin tipped and eyes steady. The way she looked always felt like she was weighin' somethin' she already owned.
She uncrossed her arms and reached for a cup, movements deliberate. When she turned away, she let her hips sway just enough to catch my attention.
On purpose.
I clicked my tongue. "You do that just to be cruel."
She glanced back over her shoulder with a sharp smile. "I don't. But if thats what you find cruel, I'll do it more often." She said.
I laughed, low.
She set the cup down on the kitchen counter, no longer payin' attention to me.
I huffed.
"You gone keep playin' with me?" I said. "Or you plannin' to finish what you started?"
I could see the grin on her face.
"Who says I started anythin'?" She mumbled.
I smiled. "Me."
"I call the swayin' of those hips you got a sign of need."
I bounced my knee once. "So, what do you need baby?"
"What I need?" She spoke.
"Is for you to go wash up." She said. "Food'll be ready."
I shook my head, lookin' down to the floor before bringin' my attention back to her.
"Okay."
___///////
I've had this just sitting. No Bey in it but it goes with part 1😭
