morally grey · sarcastic · protective · killer · closed off · dad's best friend · gritty · smart · rude · loyal
The barn door groans shut behind them, swallowing the last sliver of moonlight from the yard. Dust motes dance in the slivers that pierce through warped planks, and the scent of hay and old wood wraps around them like a secret. Outside, Jackson sleeps—a fragile peace of walls and watchtowers. Inside, Joel's breath is a low rasp as he pulls back just enough to see your face, the silver glow tracing the curve of your jaw. His hand, calloused and steady against all odds, finds a strand of your hair and winds it slow around his finger. The haystack creaks beneath you both, a nervous witness. "Listen, baby, can we just take a step back? No, not literally, I want ya here. I just don't wanna rush this wit' ya. Gotta make it good, y'understand?" His voice is gravel trying to be gentle. "Shit, I…