We Got Each Other: Rattlesnake Jake x OC

Chapter 2

A/N: the pic is a rattlesnake pic i found online, I DON'T OWN IT

Warnings: guns, snakes, swearing, alcohol

Word Count: 1018 (IT'S TOO SHORTTTTT 😭)

As we slink into Mud, I hear the familiar cry that sounds wherever I go in the desert folk's land. I watch, my predatory instincts kicking in as a small mouse shrieks and runs.

'Snake! Snake!'

And then an old crow flaps overhead, squawks in shock, and starts cawing. 'Snakes! Snakes!'

A green foot appears around the corner.

'What do ya mean, snakes? There's only one snake around here - ' The green chameleon's eyes widen when he sees Jake and I. I grin savagely and glide forward, tongue flicking in and out, scenting his fear.

''Sup, li'l buddy?'

His eyes widen even more. 'Uh...' He glances over my shoulder. 'Hey, Jacob!' He waves, but I can see him trying not to cringe. My fellow snake shifter moves beside me, dipping his head so he can stare the chameleon in the eyes.

'Hello, brother,' he glances over at me. 'This is Rango. He's my brother, according to him. Our mother had a very active... social life, apparently.'

I smirk, flashing my teeth again. 'Well, Rango, nice to meet ya.'

'It's - it's Sheriff Rango,' he replies, adjusting his hat. I narrow my eyes.

'Let's get this straight, Sheriff, ya don't tell me what to do. No one in this town does.' I smile darkly. 'Not even yer brother Jake.'

Rango gulps. 'Yes, missus.'

'It's Death's Angel, actually.'

I watch in amusement as Rango's eyes widen even more than they already are and his knees start knocking together. I've only had a gun for a year and everyone knows me - or my name. Winking, I tip my hat and make sure that my Gatling gun that replaced my rattle jangles a little louder than normal, and watch as gratifyingly, the little chameleon flinches. A female desert iguana with long lashes emerges from the doorway of the house close by and goes pale. But she approaches anyway, glaring at Jake. Which shows a hell of a lot more bravery than her fellow lizard. It isn't easy to glare at a six foot rattler with eyes made of flame.

'Rango,' she says sharply. 'Are ya gonna treat our guests to a drink or what?' The chameleon nods, and noticing the other townsfolk, straightens his spine and yells to a mole.

'Scruff, get my brother and his girl a dri - ' My tail is around his neck in a second, the cold metal of my Gatling pressed against the soft scales at his throat.

'I am not his girl.'

'Yes, of course,' he squeaks, trembling. 'Scruff, get my brother and - and Death's Angel a drink!'

I tilt my head, gulping down the contents of my shot glass. I notice Beans, the desert iguana, drag Rango around a corner. The hiss of my scales on the ground wakes Jake, who dozes with his hat tipped over his face, a few of his empty shot glasses on the table nearby. One hellish eye snaps open as I start moving, and he looks over at me.

'Where are ya going?'

'None of ya beeswax,' I hiss, gliding around the corner, catching the last of Beans and Rango's conversation. I close my eyes so they don't see them glowing in the shadows - or Beans doesn't, anyway, I don't think Rango is sharp enough.

'We can't let them stay!' - Beans.

'But they'll kill us if we don't!' - Rango.

'Exactly, ya ass!' - Beans.

'But - ' - Rango.

'No buts! One snake is enough, two is awful! Both have gallons and gallons of water on their heads! Have ya seen, the townsfolk are scared, and you've heard the stories, every time Jake comes, he takes a soul with him, back to hell!' Screeches Beans. At this point, I snap open my eyes.

'Who's soul it'll be, I wonder,' I hiss.

Rango turns around and jumps. 'Uh... What about ya, Miss Death's Angel? What do they say about ya?'

I smile. 'I think ya know.'

'Yes,' he nods. 'Death's Angel doesn't take souls to hell, she brings hell.'

Suddenly, gunshots sound in the bar, and I whip around, Gatling gun rattling in warning. Jake's rattles in reply, and I hear the precise rhythm, the code he taught me years ago - Senna, get the fuck over here. Hissing, I round the corner and find him facing a ragged, dead porcupine. I smell blood and notice a small patch where one of Jake's scales has been twisted, a piece of glass embedded there. I put it together immediately - Jake's slightly tipsy and was boasting about his sharpshooting, this drunk porcupine laughed, shot the glass in Jake's hand, Jake shot him and called for me, because I'm probably the only one in the whole world which can get him to stop shooting. And I'm better at disposing bodies, a talent I learnt a few years ago when he visited regularly.

Unfortunately, however, Rango and Beans just turned the corner and gasped. Beans freezes up, and Rango looks like he's going to hurl up his guts. Growling, I wrap my tail around Jake's and yank out the glass shard with my teeth, flicking it away. I feel him twitch at the slight pain, his head swivelling as he searches for any more 'danger'.

'God, I hate it when ya drink,' I snarl, shoving him towards the door. Smiling over at Rango, I nod towards the body. 'Sorry about the stain on the floor.'

When we get outside, I rise to my full height and glare down at Jake, who lazily blinks at me. I hiss.

'Ya dumb bastard,'

'His fault. Anyway, gotta take my souls.'

'So, that's yer excuse,' I snap. 'Wanna start brawls wherever ya go? Cause one day, I ain't gonna be there to clean up after ya sorry ass.'

'Don't ya speak to me like that, Senna,' He hisses, rising up, and because he's half a foot longer, I have to look up. I growl.

'Don't speak to me like ya still know me, Rattlesnake Jake.' And then I glide away in the dust, not caring if he follows or not.