It's Father and Daughter!
In the blistering heat of the SouthWestern United States, a lone man was stumbling across the arid desert. His glasses were wet as sweat poured down his forehead. His short, scraggly brown hair was shaded by his cowboy hat, but that didn't do much to help his situation.
"How...did...I...even get here…" He croaked, his throat cracking. "Why...does...this...happen to me?"
The man reached for his canteen; it was empty. He cursed. So this is how the great Texas goes, alone in the middle of nowhere, dying in the heat of the desert. He didn't want to die yet; so many rodeo shows to attend…..
His eyes slowly closed as he lost consciousness, darkness enveloping his entire vision….
His eyes snapped open to see the bright blue sky. He felt his forehead; there was a bag filled with ice on him. He slowly rose from his seat, and found himself in the back of an open jeep. Where am I...he thought.
"Oh, you're awake," Texas turned his head to the driver's seat, where a woman was currently occupying. She had long black hair that was twisted into a ponytail. She also wore a black cowboy hat, with a bandana covering her nose and mouth. She wore a brown leather jacket, and blue jeans and boots with spurs. Texas noted the whip and pistol tied to her hip.
"Arizona?" Texas exclaimed. "What are ya doing here?"
She said. Arizona turned her body to face Texas. "Hey dad," She said, "Saw you on the road a few miles back. I patrol the area to pick up idiots like you that decide to go camping out in the desert."
Texas looked down Arizona's body. Underneath the leather was nothing-he could clearly see her cleavage and stomach, where a large belt wrapped around her waist.
"Are ya not wearing anything?" Texas's eyes bulged. Arizona looked down at her own exposed chest, and shrugged. "Not like anybody's here to see them," She replied nonchalantly.
"As a woman ya should be more modest!" Texas shouted. Arizona rolled her eyes. "I don't care," She mumbled.
Texas put his fingers against his forehead. "Don't tell me ya dressed like this when ya lived with yer brother…" He groaned. Arizona shrugged again. "He didn't seem to mind,"
"That doesn't matter. Ya should always cover yourself-" Texas stopped when Arizona drew out her pistol. "You can walk if you want," She said in a bored tone. Texas shook his head. Arizona turned back and resumed driving.
"Ya know, ya remind me of yer mother sometimes. That hotheadedness of yers…" Texas let out a chuckle. Arizona rolled her eyes again. "I got that from you, dad. You're the hotheaded one of the family."
"That reminds me, how long has it been since you talked to mom?" Arizona inquired. Texas sighed. "I really don't have the right, you know? She has her job, I have mine. It's not like she has time for me. She has to deal with the drug cartels and such…"
"I talked to her on the phone the other day, she says she misses you," Arizona said. The ride turned bumpy as the jeep began to drive over a particularly rocky path. Arizona pulled out a water bottle and tossed it to Texas, who caught it with his palm. "Thanks," Texas took a swig out of the bottle, gulping down nearly half of it before putting the cap back on. "I see, she still…" A look of melancholy washed over him. "Sometimes I do regret leaving her, in such a…"
"A violent way?" Arizona suggested, and Texas nodded. "I wish I could go back, but I know that's impossible," He said.
"Why does the rest of the family always gets to meet mom, when I haven't seen her in decades," Arizona grumbled angrily, "That's not fair."
"I know, she's just more busy than all of us," Texas replied, "She loves you just as much."
He sighed. "So how are your brothers? Have you been with them recently?" He asked.
"New Mexico is probably torturing aliens in 51, and California is probably drowning in the middle of the Pacific." Arizona replied.
"That's some predicaments they're in," Texas replied with a grin. "Ah, where are we going?" He asked.
Arizona waved her hand. "My place. You can stay the night," She said.
"I don't think I've been at yer house for at least three decades…" Texas whistled.
"Well, don't be expecting anything big," Arizona muttered, "And I hope you like cacti."
Arizona pulled up to her house. It was quite small, two stories high and made out of hardened clay. There was an assortment of flowers and plants lining up the sidewalk to her door.
Arizona unlocked the door and went inside, Texas quickly following her.
The insides were beautiful: the floor was covered by intricate carpets, paintings adorned the clay walls, and there was a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Cacti pots were placed everywhere.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Arizona muttered, throwing off her jacket.
"Arizona!" Texas shouted, "Just because yer are in yer own home-"
"Ugh, I'm an independent woman, just leave me alone," Arizona grumbled as she took her hat and bandana off.
"I feel uncomfortable!" Texas exclaimed. Arizona rolled her eyes. "Fine," She ran up the stairs, and after some loud rustling, came back down wearing a bra.
"That's a bit better," Texas gritted his teeth.
He felt something slither around his leg, and looked down to see a snake around 20 inches wriggling up his body. His eyes widened as the snake slowly moved up. "Um, hey," He called out to Arizona. "There's a snake in here."
"Oh, Draco," Arizona scooped the snake up from Texas's leg. "That's my coral snake. I own a lot of pets." She draped the snake over her shoulder. "Don't worry. He doesn't bite." She reassured him.
"Okay…" Texas carefully extended his hand.
"Well, he does, but if he does bite you, I have some medical supplies, he's only a little bit poisonous," Arizona quickly added, and Texas swiftly retracted his hand as the snake lunged his head towards him. "Jesus Christ!" He shouted, "What kind of dangerous animals do ya keep? What are ya, the Florida of the Midwest?"
"Ugh, it's so hot…" Texas groaned as he fanned his face on the couch.
"That's not something that can be helped, dad," Arizona replied. Texas groaned again. "Come on, turn the ac on," He complained. Arizona looked at him. "We could, but I'd rather not pay high electricity bills," She said. "Why don't you drink some water instead?"
"And I will," Texas declared as he got up, leaving a trail of sweat behind him. He lumbered towards the kitchen when Arizona stopped him.
"Oh yeah, right now I'm kinda in the middle of the drought so please don't take that much water. I need it to survive," She said, and Texas gave her an incredulous look. "Are ya serious?" He asked. Arizona nodded. "Yup. My sources are going out."
"Oh my god," Texas muttered as he sat back down on the couch.
Texas looked out the window; it was dark and cloudless. "Man, its already this late…" He said. He yawned as he got up. "Hey Arizona," He called out, and Arizona peeked over from her book. "Can I take a shower?" Texas asked. Arizona nodded in approval.
Texas was about to go to the bathroom when Arizona stopped him. "How long are your showers?" She demanded. Texas thought for a minute. "Around fifteen-thirty minutes," He replied.
Arizona stood up and followed Texas into the bathroom.
"Um, what are ya doing?" Texas asked worriedly. Arizona looked straight into his eyes. "Water. Is. Scarce. I don't trust you," She replied as she began taking off her clothes. "We might as well take one together."
Texas felt his face go hot. "Wait...no! What are ya doing?" He exclaimed, "This isn't right!"
Arizona let out an audible sigh as she got in the shower. "Well, if you're not going to get in now, you're not going to take one for the rest of the night," She declared.
"Do ya not have any humility?" Texas grumbled, but as a man that needs a shower to be comfortable, he had to oblige by her request.
The two stood back-to-back in the shower, letting the water rain over them. Texas was burning with embarrassment at the situation he was in.
"Move forward a bit," Arizona commanded, "You're hogging most of the water." Texas shuffled forward, and he felt Arizona's hair across his back as she moved backward. "Um," He started, and Arizona turned her head. "What?" She asked. Texas gulped. Arizona smirked. "Making you uncomfortable?" She asked, and Texas nodded. "Hey, we used to do this as a family when we were little, remember?"
"That was when ya were all kids! This is different, yu're an adult," Texas replied.
"Then just think of me as mom. That might calm your nerves a little," Arizona suggested. Texas shuddered. "That'll make things even worse!"
"Well too bad for you, because If you get overwhelmed by arousion it'll be clear as day," Arizona teased. She had to stifle a laugh at Texas's expression. "Sorry sorry," She said. She then pointed to the shower valve. "Could you turn off the water? I don't have the water on while I soap up."
"Jesus, ya really are hardcore," Texas muttered as he turned it off. Arizona got herself a bar of soap, and handed Texas his own bar. "Not gonna share this one," She mumbled as she scrubbed herself.
"Why are ya so calm about this? Ain't this the least bit awkward for you?" Texas questioned. Arizona let out a little laugh. "Dad, it's not like I'm in some random motel room with some sweaty old geezer," She paused before adding, "I am in a shower with one though."
Texas put his hands over his head. "I don't know how ya grew up to be this way," He shouted.
"That's because I lived with you instead of mom," Arizona answered, "You were carefree and wild back in the day."
Texas sighed. "Yeah, I sure was," He said.
"You done with the soap?" Arizona asked. Texas nodded and turned the shower back on. Instantly the cold water enveloped both of them, the floor becoming bubbly as the soap was washed off their bodies.
After a few minutes Arizona leaned over Texas to turn off the shower, and Texas instinctively covered himself. Arizona stepped out of the shower. "I'll go get a towel for you, so wait a bit," She said, before disappearing into the hallway.
I hope she's not one of those people that sleep naked, Texas thought to himself, before he was hit in the face with a towel.
"Woman!" He exclaimed as he rubbed his face. When the towel came off his face he saw Arizona in a white bathrobe. "Finally, at last you have some decency." He said in exasperation.
Arizona blushed. "Well, I can't defend myself when I'm asleep," She whispered, but her eyes narrowed. "If you come into my room at night, Draco will puncture your throat." She warned.
"Ah…" Texas was not really surprised at that unveiled threat. Arizona tossed a bathrobe to Texas, who put it on.
Once out of the shower, Arizona pointed down the hall. "The guestroom is down there. You can use it if you like," She said, yawning. "I'm an early bird, so I'm going to bed."
Texas smiled. "Ya know, ya really did grow up to be a proper adult."
"What does that mean?" Arizona raised her eyebrow.
"Well it was only a little while ago when we left yer mom," Texas reminisced, "And ya were the only one to support me during the Civil War-I suppose New Mexico and California were still mad at me." He looked down at Arizona. "Ya were always by my side. I'm grateful for that."
Arizona trotted over to Texas and embraced him. "Dad," She whispered. Texas wrapped his arms around her. "I was thinking, we could get the entire family together," He said, "With ya mom of course."
Arizona looked up with wide eyes. "You'd do that for me?" She asked, tears welling up. Texas nodded. "We haven't been like a real family, and I've decided we should act like it, even if it's for a little bit."
Tears rolled down Arizona's face as she clung to Texas, who stroked her long hair.
"Dad..is mom…" Arizona choked out. Texas kissed her forehead. "She still looks beautiful, and she still loves all of us. I love her too," He whispered.
Arizona pushed herself off of him, but not before kissing his cheek. "Goodnight dad, love you!" She laughed as she ran into her room.
"I love ya too" Texas silently replied. He walked to the guest room, before stopping. That was her first genuine smile, He realized. She really does look like her mother. He looked back at Arizona's room before closing the door.
Hey! It's me again. Yeah, this chapter was odd, to say the least. I kinda went with the flow with this one. But hey, I guess it worked out in the end. Well, until next chapter!