I think I'm getting too involved
See, now I don't know how my Able-bodied Men 'verse is going to turn out, because I'm getting really, really attached to these guys. I think maybe it's going to completely fail as an AU with recognizable characters. It's disjointed, written in drabbles and double-drabbles with threads to connect it, and I don't know if there's a plot or not. It's completely from John's pov. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a disaster, and yet I am so very, very in love with it. Seriously. Also, Cadman occasionally breaks my heart. (the "he" in the below snip is not Bates by the way, because Bates and Cadman are, like, thick)
“Shit,” Cadman whispers, then giggles and presses her fingers to her mouth, her other hand shackling John’s wrist.
John is only half as drunk as he was ten minutes ago. He’s also not sure this is a good idea anymore, but it’s a little late for second thoughts. The fire licks from the inside out, the smell of gasoline high in the air, and when the tank blows he covers Cadman’s head with his arm.
Cadman can’t stop laughing.
“You realize we just committed arson,” John says. He’s absolutely certain Bates will kill him if he finds out. No, not if. When. There is no way he won’t find out about this, and there’s also no way he’ll blame Cadman.
“He,” Cadman gasps into John’s shirt, “he fucking loved that car.”
“Okay.” John nods, even though she can’t see it, hand still cradling her head. “Okay, let’s get out of here, though, all right?” He can hear the wail of sirens getting closer.
She tightens her grip on his wrist. “I wish I could see his face,” she says fiercely. “I wish-”
“Yeah.”
She tips her head back to look up at him. Her eyes are sparkling, damp, and she’s not exactly happy, but she doesn’t look miserable either. John’ll take that.
“Yeah,” she says, and grins. “Yeah.”
“Shit,” Cadman whispers, then giggles and presses her fingers to her mouth, her other hand shackling John’s wrist.
John is only half as drunk as he was ten minutes ago. He’s also not sure this is a good idea anymore, but it’s a little late for second thoughts. The fire licks from the inside out, the smell of gasoline high in the air, and when the tank blows he covers Cadman’s head with his arm.
Cadman can’t stop laughing.
“You realize we just committed arson,” John says. He’s absolutely certain Bates will kill him if he finds out. No, not if. When. There is no way he won’t find out about this, and there’s also no way he’ll blame Cadman.
“He,” Cadman gasps into John’s shirt, “he fucking loved that car.”
“Okay.” John nods, even though she can’t see it, hand still cradling her head. “Okay, let’s get out of here, though, all right?” He can hear the wail of sirens getting closer.
She tightens her grip on his wrist. “I wish I could see his face,” she says fiercely. “I wish-”
“Yeah.”
She tips her head back to look up at him. Her eyes are sparkling, damp, and she’s not exactly happy, but she doesn’t look miserable either. John’ll take that.
“Yeah,” she says, and grins. “Yeah.”