Little Red (Jacob Seed)

21. The Cages

"I know that, they keep talking about you and assuring me that you will come" he spoke, his voice rough and scratchy. "But why are you here?" He asked.

"I am here to help you" she smiled, throwing away the bloody cloth.

"No. Why are you here? With the cult?" He asked, his voice slightly hushed.

"I am not 'with the cult', I am with my family. I am just doing my part" Rieka smiled before beginning to rummage through her bag.

"Are you another sister?" Deputy asked, watching her and her movements carefully. Jacob sat on the chair outside of the cage, watching them, smirking slightly at how wrong the Deputy was. Pratt stood by the door, watching them carefully as well.

"No" she chuckled and shook her head, still searching through the bag. "I am not their sister" she smiled as she pulled out some bandages.

As Rieka turned to him, the Deputy took the chance to reach out and grab her by the throat. She let out a gasp as she found herself laying on her back on the dirty, damp floor, under the Deputy who was tightening his grip around her neck. The woman gasped for air and clawed at his hands and arms.

Jacob shot to his feet and hurried to the door of the cage, unlocking it. Pratt watched Jacob unlocking the cage, he looked back at the struggle on the ground and jumped into action. Pratt scurried over to the Deputy and pulled him off of Rieka, luckily he had gotten weak during his time in the cage so it was easy for Pratt to pull him off. Rieka gasped and rubbed her neck, she sat up and shuffled backwards until her back was against the wall.

Jacob burst into the cage and grabbed the Deputy by the collar, slamming him backwards against the bars of the cage. Pratt took the chance to rush over to Rieka's side and kneel beside her. "You fu-" Jacob began to spit in the Deputy's face.

"Jacob" Rieka quietly pleaded as she calmed herself down, Pratt patted her shoulder awkwardly in an attempt to comfort her. "I'm fine" she assured the soldier.

Jacob's jaw clenched as he glared at the Deputy, Rieka's voice always calmed him down but after that performance he didn't know if he could contain his wrath. "Jake...please" she looked up at his back.

Jacob grunted before throwing the Deputy to the ground, he groaned in pain before struggling to sit up. Jacob kicked past the Deputy and walked over to Rieka, he crouched down beside her and pushed Pratt away. Pratt fell backwards before climbing to his feet. "Are you alright?" Jacob asked roughly.

"Yeah, just a little shaken" she smiled before beginning to stand up. Jacob was quick to stop her and pick her up bridal style. "I can walk" she assured him, finding his concern a little cute and very endearing.

"I don't care" he almost growled as he carried her out of the cage. "Let's move, Peaches" the soldier called and Pratt rushed out of the cage, allowing Jacob to lock it behind him. Leaving the Deputy to more time alone, to contemplate his next move.

Jacob carried Rieka back to the truck, Pratt following behind them with the medical bag, before driving back to the cabin. Jacob allowed Rieka to walk into the cabin, she began to take off her coat and Pratt began to assist her. "No touching" Jacob growled as he pulled Pratt away from his Little Red.

"He is just trying to help" Rieka smiled, standing on her toes and reaching up to kiss her soldier's cheek before taking her coat off and hanging it up. The three of them walked into the living room in silence. Pratt was thankful for Rieka saving his ass...again. Jacob sat in the armchair, Rieka lay on the sofa, and Pratt sat on an uncomfortable wooden chair in the corner of the room.

"Come here Red" Jacob ordered when he noticed her rubbing her neck silently. Rieka looked over at him before smiling softly, she slowly stood up and walked over to him. Even after all their time together she can be so shy around him, he thought it was a adorable so he didn't mind at all.

She shyly climbed onto his lap and Jacob shifted her so that she was curled up in his lap with her head resting on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as she smiled to herself and drew little patterns on his chest with her fingers.

Pratt watched from his corner and tilted his head at them, he has noticed that when they are at home they seem like the perfect couple. Even if they are 'the Soldier' and 'the Healer' to everyone outside of their little bubble. In the end they do what they do for each other and always end up by each others side. Pratt felt some...jealously?

What could Jacob have possibly done to deserve to hold her like that? To comb his fingers through her hair like that? To have her look at him with so much admiration and love? In Pratt's mind Red could've become a real doctor, got married, had beautiful children, get out of Hope County. Instead she was with him, always with him. Pratt watched the couple, wondering what it would be like to be in Jacob's place. To be loved so unconditionally by such a beautiful woman. Pratt wondered whether Jacob even knew how lucky he was.

Of course Jacob knew how lucky he was, he thought about it every time he saw Rieka. Every time he woke up to her smiling face. He knew that he was lucky, he knew that she deserved so much better and that he didn't deserve her. But that didn't change his love for her or the overwhelming need to protect her that he felt.

Later that night, after Rieka had fallen asleep in Jacob's lap, he had some of his men take Pratt back to the cages before carrying Rieka to bed and laying down beside her. They had both made a silent agreement that no matter how busy things got with the Deputy they would always have time together.

(A/N: First chapter of the Far Cry 5 Oneshot and Preference book is up now!)