Chapter Text
He was offering up his hands to her, staring with an intensity that made her want to avert her gaze. But she was a junior deputy, trailing along to earn her keep, especially to get Pratt and Hudson off her back. No way was she turning this opportunity down. Rook was starting to get sick of going on coffee runs, which she was sure wasn’t actually a thing that normal stations made people do. Being forced to make each call, no matter how small, was getting old too. This was a nice big middle finger to them all, she was the one who had stepped forward to go in the church. And now she was the arresting officer, Burke was right, they were getting their names in the paper. That was surely worth locking eyes with Joseph Seed. Everything else dialed down until it was just him, his offered wrists.
Her periphery was blackened, blotting out Burke and the Sheriff. Leaving her with the picture perfect family that she tried her hardest to ignore. The tallest one was giving her the stink eye, glancing between her and his siblings. Shaking his head almost as if he was disappointed with the scene playing before them. His thick, reddened, blotchy arms were crossed dominantly over his chest. He was a soldier, a warrior. The brute strength that got them so far without anyone being able to fight back and push them out of Hope County.
The female, looking the youngest, had her arms swinging by her side. A smile loose on her lips. Flowing white dress spanning out around her, decorated with ribbons and lace. The physical embodiment of innocence. All the girl needed was a flower crown to complete her ensemble for Christ’s sake. She exuded an air of comfort and solace. It was a trick, Rook had a great bullshit detector and that girl was full of it. She was probably the one who drew them in, made them believe this cult was good for them. In the end when the inevitable happened and they realized their big mistake and took off their rose colored glasses and saw past the girl’s facade, what made them stay was fear.
It was hard not to notice the third man, the one who proudly displayed himself on the podium at the front of the church. He was bouncing on his feet, eyes on her the entire time. It was a little uncanny to say the least. And now that she was acknowledging him seemed to make him more excited. He walked forward, pushing the army man’s hand away when he tried to hold him back. Probably to stop him from getting shot considering the hostility of the marshall.
Oh, but he sauntered up, a gleam in his brightly colored eyes that she could almost mistake for interest. With her gaze shifting behind Joseph’s shoulder, he half turned. Mouth turning downward when seeing his brother.
The immaculately dressed brunette stood beside Joseph. A soft smile dressing his features nicely. That moment it took for her to drink him in made her miss the marshal’s next command. As rough and biting as his tone was, she was in her own world. The Seeds did that to her, they were an intimidating bunch.
“Rook, put the cuffs on him.”
Her not stepping forward had nothing to do with having second thoughts. It was more towards the man with blue glasses perched atop his head that had her feeling uneasy. Like he was one step from raining hell on her if she laid a finger on The Father.
“Goddammit Rookie.”
The brunette leaned closer, shoulder pressing into his brother’s back. A looming presence who was staring as if seeing her for the first time, as if he was glad that his God had placed them there. As if this was all meant to be
“Sometime it’s best to leave well enough al--”
“Shut up!” It came out clearly, she was shocked her voice didn't warble. That she sounded strong. Like the authoritative figure her badge declared her to be. She took his wrist, wrapping her slender fingers around his skin, handcuffs waiting in her free hand. With a calming breath she was about to snap the metal shut, seal their fates. Ignore Joseph’s ramblings that God was watching, that she could take her friends and leave. She glanced up at him, at the emotionless cult leader who has killed and harmed. This was the right thing to do, besides, it’d make for one hell of a story back home.
Joseph was nudged--well--more like shoved, violently, to the side. It happened in a second, a single exhale and now the mystery man had taken his brother’s spot. Despite the yelling of the marshal and the sheriff, who was trying to play mediator, she had time to think that this man was noble. Saving his loved one, though it was delaying the inevitable, the thought was there.
In her periphery she caught sight of Burke, holding tightly onto Joseph's upper arm as if the man was going anywhere. He looked surprised, bun coming loose and glasses hanging lower on the bridge of his nose from when his brother had jostled him, but he was plaint. Remaining still as Burke used his own handcuffs, winding them too much, she realized from the light clicks it gave off each time it got tighter.
But her focus was mainly on the 6ft man stomping towards her looking utterly pissed. At her? What had she done but been an observer in this mess? Excuse were already tripping on her tongue, hands flexing near her gun, the same one she was warned never to draw unless absolutely necessary. Though now she was considering it with each step he was taking. His arm shot out, allowing her to get a better view of his scars.
He was veering towards his brother. Not her. That made her relax, shoulders drooping. At least one person in this family understood the severity of this situation, that they were cops, the ones in charge now. No matter how untouchable they usually where, they weren’t above the law. Even if their congregants worshipped them like Gods.
“Cuff me instead, Rookie.”
What?
His brother stopped, arm falling back at his side and lip quivering like he was fighting back a laugh at the sudden silence in the church. Because everyone heard that. And now everyone was staring at her, making her cheeks turn pink, noticed by the man who was offering his wrists. Holding them close to his chest as he took another step near her. He was smiling, too wide, his pupils were dilated, so damn giddy. She didn't even know the man, he had lost his mind after one encounter and the first words he said to her was a request to place handcuffs on him. And she almost wanted to do it. The cuffs meant for Joseph were dangling limply, begging to be used. So why not this one, he wasn't the one the cops were after, but it couldn't hurt right?
The words of ‘yes,’ signaling confirmation, was ready to spill out into the darkened area, mouth parting, lips curling.
“Jesus Christ, let's get the fuck outta here.” Burke was scowling, brushing past her and gesturing for her to follow. “Whole damn family has lost their mind.”
The sheriff didn’t give her a chance to make any sort of move, though she wasn't sure what that would have been. He snapped the cuffs on her belt for her when she proved too shocked to move. He assisted in guiding her out, whispering when they were far away enough for them to not hear that it was okay to be frightened but to not let this scare her out of being a cop. That crazies do that all the time, going as far as to joke around that when they got back to the station that Hudson and Pratt wouldn't let her live this one down. That had her smiling already, chuckling as he pulled away to push open the doors.
She wished she hadn't looked back before the large white doors knocked shut with a resounding boom. The face of that man was one of love and desperation all at the same time. There was a few choice words ringing in her head to describe that look he was giving her. Though the ones that came to mind, that stood out above the rest made her tremble from fear.
Pure, devoted infatuation.