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American Love Song

Benny Cross x gf reader

Summary: Benny feels he's broken his promise to protect you and begs Johnny for a second chance to right the wrongs of the past.

A/N: Inspired by "American Love Song" by Momo Boyd.

Warnings: mention of SA, mention of a weapon

"Can't let you do that," Johnny pronounced with a solemn shake of his head.

Unwilling to give up his fight, Benny gritted his teeth and asked, "Why? If you want me to give this up, you gotta tell me why, damnit!" Slamming his beer bottle against the table, he fixed the leader of the Vandals with a determined glare.

Johnny reached for the cigarettes in his pocket, taking his time to select one and light it, but Benny recognized the stall tactic of the soft spoken leader, demanding more.

"Do you have any idea what you're doin'?" Benny asked, bitterness dripping from his tongue. There had been a time he hadn't questioned anything Johnny said, believing his word gave you all protection. However, recent events proved otherwise. Now it was time to challenge the authority of Johnny's position.

"I said leave it," Johnny pushed back, the deep tremor of his voice issuing a clear warning.

But Benny couldn't, thoughts of you stumbling home in a torn dress, bleeding and shaking. Someone had to pay for what they'd done to you and he wanted to be the one to deliver justice. "My girl didn't deserve that, Johnny, and you fucking know it!" Benny pushed back, finger pointing in Johnny's direction accusingly.

Johnny responded in kind, leaning forward to shove Benny's hand from his face. "You think you got it all figured out, don'tcha?" he provoked the younger man. "You'll rough 'em up and come home a hero," he sniffed indignantly. "Well lemme tell ya somethin' hot shot, if you go back with guns blazin', they'll only do worse next time."

"Worried about your woman now?" Benny shouted back, hoping Johnny might understand the pain behind his piercing blue eyes.

Brucie placed a strong hand to Benny's shoulder, forcing him back into his seat. "He ain't sayin' it was right," the ginger haired man clarified in a soothing tone. "But you know as well as I do, they won't take no beatin' without retaliation. It'll be all of us next, specially the women."

Slumping down in his chair, Benny bit down hard on his lip, nodding in reluctant understanding.

--------------------

The roar of the bike engine signaled Benny's return, the startling sound fading into the incessant song of the crickets outside the bedroom window. You laid awake in the dark, covers pulled to your chin as you shivered despite the warm breeze pushing past the curtains.

Listening to the sound of Benny's boots thudding against the wooden floorboards beneath your head, you maintained your frozen posture. When you heard his footsteps on the stairs, your eyes slammed shut, feigning sleep so you wouldn't have to face the despair that flooded his eyes when he looked upon you.

To your great relief, he remained ignorant of the ruse, fumbling with his jeans for a moment before falling into bed next to you. The warmth of his body was undeniable as he inched closer to you, his strong arm falling over you seconds later. Despite your best effort, you stiffened at the contact, giving away the carefully crafted scene.

You heard his breath hitch before he spoke, worry seeping into his low voice as he ventured, "Didn't mean to scare ya, baby."

Giving up the pathetic charade, you turned to face him as you mumbled, "you didn't."

"S'okay," he muttered, pushing the hair from your eyes. "You don't gotta pretend with me," he whispered, thumb stroking gently along your forearm.

Feeling a lump rise in your throat, you only nodded in agreement, thankful he understood. Resting your weary cheek against the steel cage of his chest, you listened to the steady drum of his heart and the steady rhythm eventually lulled you to sleep.

-------------------

The next morning you awoke to the creak of the old dresser drawers, giving way to Benny's strong pull. Sitting up with a start, you glimpsed the light dawning over the window sill and the slight glimmer appearing on the wall.

"What have you got there?" you questioned, afraid of the answer he might give.

"Nothin'," Benny replied with dismissive shake of his head.

Glimpsing the butt of a revlover in the adjacent mirror you urged, "Don't do anything stupid because of me."

He spun around the moment he heard the words leave your trembling lips, eyes wild with fury. "I can't let it be," he confessed, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"But you gotta, this time," you answered willfully, aware of the trouble brewing.

"I won't let 'em get away with it," he hissed, looking away to hide the emotion swelling within his chest. "Th-they gotta...p-pay for wh-what they did," he pronounced through a violent stutter.

Rushing from the bed, you slotted yourself behind him with arms hugging his waist with crushing force. Shushing him with a softness only you could posses, you felt him collapse, but only for a moment before he pitched forward in despair.

"What's wrong with my love? That you choose to give it up?" he demanded with a gulp.

"M' not," you assured him, squeezing tighter and hoping he'd understand.

"What's the matter with my heart? You decided it's not enough?" he whispered.

Pressing your cheek to your his back, you tried to quiet the insecure voices in his head. "You once told me, I'm your angel sent from up above. Let me save you from all of this," you offered in desperation.

For a moment, it had the desired effect, his body pressing back against yours in a show of surrender. It wasn't to last, the harsh jolt of the clip sliding into place that made you gasp.

"It's all gonna be okay, baby" Benny promised you, turning to face you with a look of determination. "I'm gonna make us safe again," he promised before bolting down the stairs, leaving you grief stricken on the landing.

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