Japhael || Shadowhunters || Japhael || Shadow Saloon || Japhael || Shadowhunters || Japhael
Title: Shadow Saloon – Writer's Month 2021
Fandom: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments
Disclaimer: All rights to the Shadowhunters show reserved to Ed Decter, the books the show is based off and its characters belong to Cassandra Clare. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, Western AU
Main Pairing: Raphael/Jace
Shadowhunters Characters: Jonathan 'Jace' Herondale, Raphael Santiago
Summary: Prompts: Sword | Western AU
Raphael ran the local casino and he set out to be on the law's good side. He didn't expect to make Deputy Herondale fall for him, much less for himself to fall for the blonde.
Shadow Saloon
Writer's Month 2021
There were a new sheriff and deputy in town. The sheriff himself seemed stern, unapproachable, kept to himself and his family. The deputy however seemed something else. Some pretty boy who was very popular with the ladies, a flirt. Spent a lot of time at the saloon.
Raphael Santiago ran the local casino. Casinos were natural trouble-magnets. Outlaws, cheats, bandits. Either as gamblers or trying to rob it. So as the owner of a casino, it was good to have the law on his side. Greasing some hands could work, but it cost money. A more mutual, casual relationship was much more beneficial. Raphael had been aiming for a friendship there.
He sought the blonde out in the Shadow Saloon, where he had gotten his intel from the bartender, Maia Roberts. He'd found the deputy at the bar, nursing a whiskey, his hat drawn into his face, sword resting menacingly on his side. The department preferred swords over guns; Raphael had been skeptical in the beginning, until he first saw them take down criminals with their swords.
He'd paid for Jace's drink. Talked, pleasant small-talk, asking how well Jace had settled in. The conversation turned more casual the more alcohol they drank. And by the end of the day, he invited Jace over to the casino to play, enjoy a good show – Raphael had the greatest dancers at his casino.
After that day, Jace started dropping by. Playing a hand here or there, enjoying the show, or the liquor at the bar of the casino. Yet beyond games and shows, Jace mostly seemed to seek him out.
"You're a handsome fella, Santiago," Jace's voice had been a dark whisper.
They were in the backroom of the casino and the blonde had him backed into a wall. That explained why Jace kept coming back. Raphael ran his hand over the rim of Jace's vest before gently pushing him back. The blonde looked confused, which was oddly endearing on him.
"What? You've been flirting with me for two weeks now. Don't tell me I misread that."
And hm. Perhaps he had. Perhaps courting Jace into his casino had been... more than just that.
"I might have. But I am not... interested in that kind of relationship, deputy," replied Raphael, averting his eyes. "I don't... experience carnal desires like that."
"Okay. That's new. Can I still kiss you though?" Jace leaned in, tilting his head.
"...I suppose, kissing would be alright," Raphael smiled bemused.
Who would have thought that the womanizer deputy from the big city was quite content as the soft cuddler. Raphael found himself enjoying every time his boyfriend came to the casino to be close to him, every night they fell asleep in each other's arms. The best way to have the law on his side.
~*~ The End ~*~
Author's note: Thiiis was short because I hate Westerns. I knew I disliked them, but actually writing in that setting made me realize that nope that is 100% not for me :D" Which, good to know, I suppose xD
