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Aleks felt like he was on a bad trip.
Impossible since he’s been sober for quite a few years, but sometimes he wonders if it messed him up more than he’s willing to admit. The reason he thinks he’s tripping? John Duncan. Or now as Aleks knows him, as he stands before him on the altar and behind the alleged prophet, John Seed.
Aleks always knew their relationship wouldn't last too long. It couldn’t last too long with the kind of history they belonged to. But God did Aleks pray that it would last.
While John would never truly speak clearly of what happened with the Duncans, Aleks knew it hadn’t been good. He would wake up some nights with John sobbing in their bathroom begging God for answers. And God forbid they get into an argument because John would shut down and just repeat yes, scratching at his arms until Aleks was concerned he would break skin again.
When John disappeared from their apartment one November Aleks looked for him, of course he did. They dated for almost 4 years. He wasn’t just going to throw it all away because John left him a ‘sorry I can’t stay but I’ll always love and thank you for how you cared for me’ note pinned to his pillow.
The police investigation went on for a few months but by that point, they had found out John was using, so they blamed the coke and said he probably chased after it.
Aleks couldn’t believe that answer considering he was also using and didn’t disappear suddenly. So he listened to his dad’s advice, if you want someone to do something don’t be such a pussy and just do it yourself.
So he got sober. He earned the nickname Rook from rehab because he kept the chess piece John carved for his birthday on him at all times. He enrolled in the army rangers and did a tour and a half before he was taken out for making out with a man. He’d long-range shot over 9 men. But he kisses a man and suddenly he can’t do his job? Insanity if you ask him but that just means he can create his own life now.
And boy has he created a life.
The marshal is still blathering on when John finally looks up at Rook. And then the room truly tunnels down to the two of them. Fuck Joseph, Fuck Jacob who’s been watching him since he first saw John, and fuck Faith who is obviously a bit too in her comfort zone. All Aleks sees is his John.
Not John Duncan, not the lawyer John persona, and definitely not John fucking Seed.
His John. Who would wake up before Aleks to make coffee and bring a line of coke because he knew Aleks was too twitchy if he didn’t have any stimulants for his adhd in the mornings.
HIS John. Who found a cat and brought it home after seeing it only had one eye. Even when he muttered something about culling the weak he trimmed her fur out of her eye so she could see better.
HIS JOHN. Who would come back after a long day and curl up on top of Aleks who had also just come home from the mechanic shop. John would tell him about the things that happened at the firm, and they would end the day by taking each other apart teeth biting into thighs and tongues running down scars. Whisper ‘I love you’s’ into each others mouths when coming down from the highs of coke and cum.
“Enough.” The marshal’s head whipped around to Rook. “Excuse me?” He steps forward and shoved a finger into Aleks’ chest “No, you don’t talk Rookie, now you cuff this man and we can go back to non bumfuck Montana.”
Rook looks back to John. He looks like he might step off the alter to him if it weren’t for Jacob's hand gripping his arm over the newer tattoos, Aleks is planning on seeing those up closer later.
“No.”
Whitehorse turns to look at Rook, “Now Rook think about this-“
Aleks sidesteps around Joesph who is looking mildly annoyed and mostly entertained. He takes the two steps up to stand next to John who is looking the most shocked of everyone in the church.
“Aleks..?” John reaches up with confidence, touching the scars running across Rook’s face, the ones that Aleks got because of a dog that his father let maul him.
Aleks leans into the touch. A striking difference from all the other people over the years who’ve touched it with pity.
The marshal has started making a much louder noise now. And Rook can see Pratt getting a bit twitchy in the back of the church.
“Leave now, go with God and peace sheriff.” John whips his head around to his brother clearly also having forgotten they have an audience for this. Joseph is watching the two of them closely when he says this but the stare feels more like an older brother’s warning than anything else in Aleks’ opinion.
Whitehorse looks back and forth at them for a minute, clearly debating whether it’s worth it for a man he’s just met less than three hours ago who clearly knows the youngest Seed.
He drops his head nodding and turns to the doors. “Sheriff you can’t just leave them both here-“
“He’s an adult Marshal we might not like it but it’s what’s goin' to happen.”
Marshal whips around to Joseph who is still standing with his arms out, he grabs Joseph’s wrists yanking them forward. “I will come back. Don’t doubt me.”
Jacob rips the Marshal’s hands from The Father’s wrists without a word. He sends him with a shove backward to where Pratt catches him stumbling.
John who has stayed close to a statue the entire time slides a hand down the length of Aleks’ arm and locks their fingers together.
Aleks watches as Whitehorse and the Marshal leave. Pratt lingers for a second before Aleks nods at him to go. Staci looks over to Jacob who is standing with his back to him dismissing him as a threat. Pratt slides out the door where you can hear the Peggies cheering at them leaving.
John turns to Aleks, lightly pulling his arms to keep him close.
“I knew God would bring us together again.”
Aleks snorts, putting a hand on John’s face and leaning down to touch foreheads, drawing him into a hug. “I don't know if it was God or a sheer horror of coincidences but John you aren't ever getting rid of me that easy this time around.”
John laughs nodding in agreement and pulling away much to Aleks’ hate. “Come, meet my
Brothers and see the reasons why I left you so harshly that night.”
Aleks sighs and smiles down at John, knowing his life is about to get a lot more interestingly complicated but he can't bring himself to care now that he has John back.