Fic: Inspiring Meetings, Magnificent 7/Pretender
Title: Inspiring Meetings
Claim: Vin Tanner (Magnificent 7)
Fandoms: Magnificent 7/Pretender
Prompt: 066 - Rain
Summary: Vin meets a man who changes his life
Table
Vin wraps his coat around him just a little tighter, but it still doesn’t prevent the cold trail of water trickling down his spine. The rain pelts against him, flattening his hair against his head. He has quite a bit further to go to get to his admittedly rundown apartment across town. He sees a bus stop just a block away and thinks that even if he isn’t going to take the bus he can still take shelter until the rain lets up a bit. He walks everywhere these days so that he could save what little money he earns, which isn’t all that much anyway. He barely finished high school and the only job he’s managed to keep was packing the shelves at the local Walmart and he knows that it’s not something he can do forever.
When he collapses down on the bench, wiping wet hair and water from his eyes, he realises that he’s not alone. He glances briefly at the man, quickly taking in the uniform and sharp brown eyes. He’s never liked authority figures - the result of being hauled into the police station every time they could get away with it. He turns to look out into the night once more. Now that he’s stopped moving he can feel the cold slowly seeping beneath his skin and into his bones.
“Lovely weather,” the man in uniform comments. Vin’s surprised by the fact that he’s sincere and not sarcastic at all.
“Yeah,” Vin replies noncommittally. For the first time Vin notices the darkness and loneliness that swim close to the surface of the man’s eyes. Beneath that he’s sure there’s a deep well of strength and endurance. He can’t help but feel some sort of connection to this stranger who seems so like and unlike him.
It’s the man’s bearing rather than, or perhaps in spite of, his uniform that leads Vin to feel some degree of respect or maybe admiration for the man. He can see that this man is confident in himself and his skills and Vin can’t remember the last time he felt that about himself.
“Army?” he says, and it feels awkward because he can’t remember the last time he sat down with someone and just had a casual conversation. His days usually consist of getting orders from the manager and avoiding everyone else. He doesn’t have any friends. The majority of those that he had considered friends a year or two ago are either dead or in prison. He’s distanced himself from the others because he can see it’s just a matter of time for them and he wants something more.
“Ranger,” the man clarifies. “Just finished an assignment actually.”
Vin frowns warily because there aren’t any bases in the area and he hasn’t heard anything about a military presence. He’s curious, but he doubts asking will uncover any of the answers he’s interested in hearing, so he remains silent.
“I’m Jared,” the man continues, ignoring the awkward silence. Jared smiles warmly, and there’s only kindness and friendliness in his expression.
“Vin,” he replies bluntly.
“Nice to meet you, Vin,” Jared says and once again Vin’s surprised by his sincerity. He hasn’t met all that many people who are so candidly honest, who don’t have ulterior motives. He was starting to think that there weren’t any people like that left. Jared extends his hand and after a long, almost tense, silence Vin reaches forward to shake his hand. Jared’s hand is firm in his and the warmth serves to remind Vin just how cold he is. He can’t quite prevent the shiver that wracks his body.
Jared’s expression turns concerned, but it’s quickly masked by that openly affable expression, as though he’s aware that concern and pity will only be rejected. They lapse into silence once again, but it’s not quite so uncomfortable or tense. A few minutes later the bus arrives and the rain lets up just a little. Both men stand and Jared climbs aboard the bus. Vin’s once more struck by the man’s confidence and self-assurance and he wonders if maybe he should reconsider joining the army.
Claim: Vin Tanner (Magnificent 7)
Fandoms: Magnificent 7/Pretender
Prompt: 066 - Rain
Summary: Vin meets a man who changes his life
Table
Vin wraps his coat around him just a little tighter, but it still doesn’t prevent the cold trail of water trickling down his spine. The rain pelts against him, flattening his hair against his head. He has quite a bit further to go to get to his admittedly rundown apartment across town. He sees a bus stop just a block away and thinks that even if he isn’t going to take the bus he can still take shelter until the rain lets up a bit. He walks everywhere these days so that he could save what little money he earns, which isn’t all that much anyway. He barely finished high school and the only job he’s managed to keep was packing the shelves at the local Walmart and he knows that it’s not something he can do forever.
When he collapses down on the bench, wiping wet hair and water from his eyes, he realises that he’s not alone. He glances briefly at the man, quickly taking in the uniform and sharp brown eyes. He’s never liked authority figures - the result of being hauled into the police station every time they could get away with it. He turns to look out into the night once more. Now that he’s stopped moving he can feel the cold slowly seeping beneath his skin and into his bones.
“Lovely weather,” the man in uniform comments. Vin’s surprised by the fact that he’s sincere and not sarcastic at all.
“Yeah,” Vin replies noncommittally. For the first time Vin notices the darkness and loneliness that swim close to the surface of the man’s eyes. Beneath that he’s sure there’s a deep well of strength and endurance. He can’t help but feel some sort of connection to this stranger who seems so like and unlike him.
It’s the man’s bearing rather than, or perhaps in spite of, his uniform that leads Vin to feel some degree of respect or maybe admiration for the man. He can see that this man is confident in himself and his skills and Vin can’t remember the last time he felt that about himself.
“Army?” he says, and it feels awkward because he can’t remember the last time he sat down with someone and just had a casual conversation. His days usually consist of getting orders from the manager and avoiding everyone else. He doesn’t have any friends. The majority of those that he had considered friends a year or two ago are either dead or in prison. He’s distanced himself from the others because he can see it’s just a matter of time for them and he wants something more.
“Ranger,” the man clarifies. “Just finished an assignment actually.”
Vin frowns warily because there aren’t any bases in the area and he hasn’t heard anything about a military presence. He’s curious, but he doubts asking will uncover any of the answers he’s interested in hearing, so he remains silent.
“I’m Jared,” the man continues, ignoring the awkward silence. Jared smiles warmly, and there’s only kindness and friendliness in his expression.
“Vin,” he replies bluntly.
“Nice to meet you, Vin,” Jared says and once again Vin’s surprised by his sincerity. He hasn’t met all that many people who are so candidly honest, who don’t have ulterior motives. He was starting to think that there weren’t any people like that left. Jared extends his hand and after a long, almost tense, silence Vin reaches forward to shake his hand. Jared’s hand is firm in his and the warmth serves to remind Vin just how cold he is. He can’t quite prevent the shiver that wracks his body.
Jared’s expression turns concerned, but it’s quickly masked by that openly affable expression, as though he’s aware that concern and pity will only be rejected. They lapse into silence once again, but it’s not quite so uncomfortable or tense. A few minutes later the bus arrives and the rain lets up just a little. Both men stand and Jared climbs aboard the bus. Vin’s once more struck by the man’s confidence and self-assurance and he wonders if maybe he should reconsider joining the army.