[[ mixed muses-verse // ben-tiwa ]]

[almosthonorable]

whitetextiswhite

[ "we could go someplace where you're not wanted" ]


He caved.

(Caved like a dynamited rock tunnel.)

His only stipulation had been that Tiwa had to wait for him to move his door to Mexico.

Which is why he's smirking as he strides into the bar and finds Little Miss Magic curled on one of the couches.

"Found us the perfect place," he says, tipping his head toward the Front Door.

Ascensión awaits.

Comments

[piwakawaka]

She kisses his cheek and with a curtsy, starts dancing with one of the young men who's gathered around them.

He starts to say something in Spanish but she just dances and all he can do is try to keep up.

[almosthonorable]

Tiwa's obviously enjoying herself and Ben's right foot is tapping in time to the music, but as his eyes skim the onlookers, he lets his gaze darken just enough to send a clear message to every man in the room.

[piwakawaka]

The young man she's dancing with quails a bit under that look and as they turn Tiwa spots Ben and sighs, sometimes he's worse than her brothers.

Sadly the look doesn't quiet everyone especially not the man who comes swaggering in with a colorful serape and a look that claims all he sees and he does want her.

[almosthonorable]

Ben's expression doesn't change, but he goes stone-still as he locks his eyes on the peacock.

"Buenas tardes, señor."

[piwakawaka]

Ben is given a nod before he asks with ease in Spanish,

"She is yours? How much?"

Quiet starts to descend on the cantina and the musician stops and Tiwa looks over with a worried look to Bar.

[almosthonorable]

Ben catches Tiwa's glance and gives a barely perceptible shake of his head.

Just as easily, "She's not for sale."

[piwakawaka]

The man she's dancing with is given a smile and a curtsy as Tiwa moves to stand beside Ben as the man in the serape leans closer to Ben,

"I want her, you will give her to me."

[almosthonorable]

His smile is lined with flint and steel, and one hand hovers casually over the Colt at his hip; he doesn't bother with Spanish this time.

"'Fraid she's nobody's property, hombre."

[piwakawaka]

Now Tiwa does tense and sets her face as hard as she can, its not as hard as Ben's as she moves behind him.

The other man waves his own men forward and the musician frowns as he sees his money go away.

Tiwa whispers to Ben, "Run or fight?"

[almosthonorable]

Ben shifts his weight, shielding Tiwa as best he can.

"I'm thinkin' we can resolve this peacefully."

The words are light, damn near cheerful, his tone dry as dust.

"'Cause I mean to keep you outta trouble, little 'un."

[piwakawaka]

"Its alright, we'll figure something out."

The man just waits before glaring at Ben, most men don't wait or question,

"Who are you to not obey me!"

[almosthonorable]

Ben quirks an eyebrow.

"I'm savin' you a whole mess of trouble, 'cause I'm the man you're gonna let walk outta here. With the little lady."

[piwakawaka]

Suddenly a number of guns are pointed at them and cocked as Tiwa slips slightly behind Ben and into her pocket to get her poi going. The man just laughs,

"No one has ever taken from me what I wanted."

[almosthonorable]

Ben smiles.

"Can't take somethin' you never had in the first place."

His palm itches as he resists the urge to draw, counting on Tiwa to provide a necessary distraction first.

[piwakawaka]

She starts chanting low and deep in Maori which catches the man's attention but Ben still has most of it.

As they posture, suddenly the air is heavier and then full of strange spirits, creatures that slither and move.

A few of the shotguns go off and some of the pellets of one graze Tiwa but she keeps chanting.

The man yells in Spanish to his men trying to calm them but they're too afraid of the evil spirits here.

[almosthonorable]

Ben takes the opportunity to draw, spotting the barman duck behind the counter in the corner of his eye.

"You shoulda let us walk out."

He fires -- once, twice, three times -- and three men fall; there's a sharp, hot burn below his ribs, but he knows the gash beneath his vest and shirt is more shallow than deep.

"You'd best get goin'," he says to the bull of a man in the serape, Hand of God trained on the man's stomach. "Unless you wanna join these fellas."

[piwakawaka]

"No, no, senor, but I will not forget your face."

He does his best to look strong as he walks out and Tiwa is quiet as the creatures fade to shimmering lights,

"Guess we should leave."

[almosthonorable]

"Sounds like a promise, hombre."

He curbs his glare as he turns to Tiwa.

"Truth be told, I'd rather take you to the Gulf, anyhow, let you see the -- "

He's frowning now.

"You get hit?"

[piwakawaka]

Her smile is too bright but blood's seeping through the cotton of the shirt,

"Nothing bad, and I always want to see the water, let's go."

[almosthonorable]

"It's bad enough that you're bleedin'."

His own graze is barely more than a scratch; it's not worth his attention.

But this --

He shakes his head.

"We gotta hustle, but as soon as we're clear of town, I wanna see the damage."

[piwakawaka]

"You're worse than Mum and I told you I was fine. So is Gabriel outside?"

She's waiting for him to move them outside but she'll move quickly.

[almosthonorable]

"But I'd put good money on your mama bein' even scarier'n I am."

He wraps an arm around Tiwa's shoulders and leads them outside the cantina, where Gabriel's waiting patiently in the shade.

[piwakawaka]

"That's cause she's Mum. Hey, Gabe."

She's very good and doesn't even wince once when she climbs on, because she won't let him see that there might be some hurting.

[almosthonorable]

"Yeah, well," Ben says with a soft grunt as he hauls himself into the saddle, careful not to jostle Tiwa, "I'd hate to see what she'd do to me, knowin' I've got you hurt twice now."

[piwakawaka]

"You never got me hurt, things just get dangerous sometimes is all. She knows that and you helped me get out of the worst danger that I ever got into."