Work Text:
Jacob Fuller is acting antsy. For all his talk about following rules and doing what the Gecko’s say, Seth can just tell he’s starting to plan something. His hero switch is no longer firmly in the off position. And that is going to be a problem.
Seth needs to rein the old man in. He glances to the back and sees Kate sitting there. Kate, who the preacher seems slightly more protective of than his son.
It’s an easy decision. Seth goes back to grab Kate. “Come with me.” She obeys as he walks them back up to the front of the RV, stopping right behind the driver and passenger chair. He holds Kate in front of him, arm around her shoulders and chest, keeping her pinned to him.
“What are you doing?” Jacob asks, shooting a wary glance at the duo.
“Just wanted to remind you of our deal.” He pulls his gun out, pointing it at Kate. “Everyone keeps their hero switch in the off position. We play our parts, and no one has to get hurt.”
A loud groan comes from the back of the RV. “Cut it out Seth.”
“Cut what out?” He calls back to his brothe
“We all know you won’t actually shoot her.”
Seth pulls a face, then turns back to Jacob. He needs the man to believe the threat to keep him under control. “I’ve put a bullet in people for less.”
“Yeah but Kate’s not some random girl.”
Seth’s eyes fall closed in exasperation, gun pointed up to the roof. “I swear to god Richard, if this is more of your-”
“She’s the future Mrs. Gecko.”
Seth whips him and Kate around, away from Jacob to look at his brother in disgust. The gun is now held between himself and Richie, not pointed at anyone. “Is this some sort of fucked up jailbait fantasy you got going on Richard?” His arm subconsciously tightens around Kate in a protective gesture. “Because I told you,” he pulls Kate closer, turning her into him rather than held in front, “you’re not going to touch her.” There’s an unspoken threat in the tone of his voice.
“Right. Sorry, I should have been more clear.” Richie starts walking towards the front of the RV. “She’s the future Mrs. Seth Gecko.”
“I’m sorry what?” Seth doesn’t have the gun pointed at Richie, but it’s a little tempting. Having to deal with all this bullshit
“Your future second wife!” He grins at Kate. “You know what they say, second time’s the charm.”
Seth lurches away from Kate, staring at her in shock and horror. “Richard I know you’ve got some fucked up shit going on in your head, but this is not funny.”
“Just stating facts.”
Seth looks Kate up and down. “She’s like fifteen or something.”
“Seventeen, almost eighteen.” Kate snaps back, only to clap a hand over her mouth. The last thing she wants to do is encourage whatever the hell Richie is going on about.
“Richard, it's time to stop joking around.”
“I’m not. I was right about where we needed to pull the RV around, and you even said you agreed that I could see things.” Richie points at Kate. “You’re gonna marry that girl.”
“She.” Seth is looking between Kate and Richie. “She’s jailbait Richard.” He can’t believe he’s actually having this conversation.
“You heard her, almost eighteen, she won’t be jailbait for much longer Seth.” He then turns his attention to Kate. “Is it too early to start calling you sis?”
“What?” It’s the first thing Kate has said since stating her age. “Oh my god, no! don’t call me that.”
Richie simply nods. “Wait until after the wedding then. Got it.”
“Oh dear father in heaven I beg you not to let this man take my daughter.”
“Trust me padre.” Richie claps a hand on his shoulder. “She’ll do her own fair share of taking .”
“That’s disgusting!” Comes Scott’s voice from the back.
“Anyway.” Richie brushes him off. “I was thinking green.”
“Green?” Kate asks
“Yeah. For the wedding.” He pats her cheek. “Matches your eyes.”
Seth collapses onto the couch, elbows on his knees, face in his hands. “This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.” He continues to repeat his mantra.
Fed up with the Gecko’s bullshit, and upset that Richie has touched Kate, Scott starts to barrel up towards the front in defense of his sister. Before he can reach her Richie’s pulled him into his side by the shoulder.
“Don’t worry future bro, we know people who can get you a fake ID for the bachelor party.” He rubs his fist on the top of Scott’s head. “Wouldn’t want you to miss all the fun.”
The RV comes to a screeching halt. Jacob turns to face everyone behind him. “I am not going to allow you to corrupt my children!”
“It’s not like you haven’t set them up for it anyway old man.” Before Jacob can respond Richie’s smirking at him. “You know what they say about preachers' kids. Rebels, the lot of them.”
He takes his gun out, motioning towards Jacob once again. “Keep driving.”
Jacob’s not sure why he does. Perhaps because this entire situation is so ridiculous he can’t help but do so. His mind still reeling from everything coming out of Richie’s mouth he doesn’t have the time or mental energy to consider not following the command.
“Right.” Richie stuffs his gun back in his pants. “So.” He squeezes Scott’s shoulder. “I’m going to be the best man. Obviously . But since we’re both their younger brothers I’m thinking you could be the, uh…”
“The what?” Scott is almost fearful to ask.
“The…” Richie is tapping his chin with his finger, deep in thought. “Man of honor?”
“Richie stop.” Seth finally breaks his mantra.
“Yeah, you’re right. That doesn’t sound right.” He ponders for a moment more. “Brother of honor! That’s what we’ll call you!”
“For fuck’s sake Richard.”
Kate falls back on the couch. She’d already known there was something wrong with Richie. But this. She would never have expected this.
Richie is still babbling about wedding plans, currently discussing flavors of cake. White might be traditional, but also boring. Lemon or raspberry could be an interesting choice. They absolutely must have horchata available.
Kate lets her right hand fall to the side to rest on the couch cushion. She immediately turns to look at Seth when her hand instead lands half on top of his. He searches her face for a moment, registering the fear and anxiety. She feels his hand shift, wrapping his fingers around hers, giving her a reassuring look.
“No bumps or scrapes.” It’s quiet enough that only she can hear it.
Kate gives a small nod, squeezing his hand in thanks.
“Anyone got any dietary restrictions?”
Seth lets his head drop with a groan, eyes squeezed shut. He keeps a hold of Kate’s hand, both to comfort her and to ground himself. And maybe, just maybe, to keep himself from shooting his brother.
-
The night starts with Richie insisting they toast the ‘happy couple’, and ends with fighting for their lives against culebras.
When Kate asks if he wants some company he agrees. Because fuck Richard and all his prophecy bullshit, and leaving him. There’s also that protective streak towards Kate that rears up. She’s all alone too.
Richie is stuffed as close to the back of his mind as possible. Which includes his words about Kate being his future second wife. He knows his brother’s crazy. Ran off with the snake queen after all. He might’ve been right about moving the RV but Seth doesn’t trust anything else he’s said.
He doesn’t think about Richie’s words when he finds himself genuinely smiling at Kate while he teaches her to hustle pool. Or when, after the rush of her first successful heist as his partner, he kisses her, and more importantly she kisses him back. Doesn’t cross his mind when they’re curled up on the motel bed together watching an old western that Kate does her best to translate for him. Not even when his heart swells as he hands her the passports he’s managed to procure and she smiles up at him with a ‘Where to next partner?’.
When he sees Richie again after going back to Eddie’s, all he’s focused on is the rage and hurt of his brother abandoning him. How it feels like a knife in his gut when he sees Richie is still with Santanico. He doesn’t bring Kate with him to that dinner because he still doesn’t trust them. Deep down he knows Richie is unlikely to kill him, but there is no way he’s risking Kate if things go south.
After defeating Malvado Seth can’t seem to let go of Kate. He almost lost her. He has his face buried in her shoulder. Still trembling as Kate whispers reassurances to him. That she’s still here, they’re alive, that she could never leave him. Entirely misses the knowing look and smile on Richie’s face as he takes in the scene.
Richie manages to bite his tongue until the night of their engagement dinner. A small affair with family and friends. He stands up with his wine glass, tapping it with his fork until everyone has turned their attention to him. “First I just want to say.” He smirks down at his brother. “I told you so.”
He watches Seth’s face change as he goes through different emotions. Confusion, understanding, and finally settling on extreme agitation.
Richie manages to get out “So I’m thinking green for the wedding.” before Seth’s lunging at him.
“Get the fuck back here Richard!”
But Richie’s already halfway to the door cackling. This is going to be more fun than he thought.