Recklessness
Hallways of Terra led to many rooms. Sleeping quarters for beginners and expert gunslingers. Meeting rooms for passing out and receiving assignments. Dining rooms to eat.
A room exists for graduated and veteran gunslingers. Out of sight, out of mind. Here the gunslingers entertain themselves. Boards to throw knives at. Tables to strike colorful balls with numbers. Tables with cards players and chess players beside each other.
At the bar, which happens to be a gunslinger's favorite spot, sat Rath, Cort, and April cooling off their throats.
Throwing his arms around Rath and April's necks, "What…friends?" said Cort.
"Met your limit," stated Rath.
"Limit? Liquors like women there's no limit."
Turning towards April, "You need a man."
"That's my business," sipping her drink, "Why you think I need a man?"
"Surrounded by this," mockingly waving his hand, "Bet you would like to be reminded what a woman you are?"
Staring into his drunken eyes, "Know someone who could?"
"Well…keep wearing that rose fragrance and lure," sharply pointing towards Rath, "him."
"Not wearing rose fragrance."
"Yes, you are."
"Then you're breathing in this," tipping her glass.
Staring at the reddish tint liquid, "Forgot. You drink rosemary," laughing and slapping the counter, "Well guess this ass needs to be corralled so you lovers can break bunks," standing up and then dropped to the floor.
"Guess, he reached his limit," said Rath.
"Yep," agreed April.
"Better drag him to his bunk."
"After the next round," refilling her glass.
His lips touched her ear as her hand grasped the doorknob.
"Don't," she said, "You need to get back to Cort."
"He'll sleep off the round," he whispered, "thought you like this."
"Headache from the rosemary killing my appetite."
Sliding between her and the door, "Cort said it was time for you to be reminded you being a woman."
Smiling, she opened the door letting him stumble into her room.
"Now, return to your bunk and stop trying to crawl into mine," walking past him.
Closing the door, he watched her remove her holsters and put them on a chair. Her hat rested on the bunk post.
Standing before a mirror, she watched as Rath wrapped his arms around her.
"Go back to your bunk."
"No," kissing her neck, "until you tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing," she said.
"Then this shouldn't bother you," unbuttoning her shirt to reveal her corset.
Sweat and dirt covered her corset, but he didn't mind.
"For a man scared of being caught, you're sure taking risks," as the straps appeared from him sliding her shirt to her elbows.
"Liquor affecting the brain," kissing her shoulders.
"You don't drink much," turning to face him.
Kissing her forehead, "Enough sense," his lips touching her cheek, "to love you," finally stopping on the exposed skin of her collarbone.
Her hands landed on his ears and pulled his head back. Their eyes met. The passion in her brown eyes revealed her defenses came down.
"Help me take this pants and boots off," unbuckling his holster.
Their lips parted. It wasn't April's before his, but the face of a redhead. Before a word could be spoken, he's violently pulled away from her. She yells, "David!" as darkness swallows him.
Calmness covers his body. Quickly his eyes opened. His brain registers him sitting down. Difficultly moving his head. He's naked and strapped to a stone chair.
A man in robes steppes from the darkness. The man reveals that Rath will save the world.
By saying Rath's not his name, the man responds, "Will be now," then pain shot through Rath's body.
Quickly sitting up, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Sweat covered his naked body. Sheets draped over his legs. Looking to his left saw April laying on her stomach. Her face turned away from him.
The nightmare plagued him. The infrequency of it drove him slightly mad. He laid on the side of the bunk near the wall. He slid towards the foot of the bunk. His bare feet touched the cold floor. His clothes and hers littered the room.
Getting up popped joints as he went towards the window.
Pushing open the shutters, "Why didn't Terra have glass windows?" he wondered. No one had answer.
Slight breeze brushed over his bare skin. Stars decorated the dark sky. He slept under skies like this much like the sheets on April's bunk.
She was right. Boldness started to grip him. He acted like spring came early.
Turning away from the window, he located his pants under April's bunk. He slipped them on and sat on the chair. April's shooters dug into his back. Shifting them, rested against the chair back.
Sight of black hair blanketing over April's cheek made him chuckle. That sight was the reason why spring came early. Getting up from the chair, he located the rest of his gear. Staring out the window, again. The moon was setting. Time to return to Cort.
After buttoning his shirt up, leaned close to April. Kissing his fingers then touched her cheek.
His belt rolled up in his duster. He peeked out the door. No one walking the halls. Slipping out quietly closed the door. He hurried back to his room.