Chapter Text
This evening was calm. It was quite unlikely for there to be calm at any point in this town. Local hooligans and bandits liked to play tricks on the sherif, so it was a pleasant change. Of course, universe liked to play tricks on him instead, for, just as he was about to drown his sorrows in alcohol, a new face walked through the door.
Through the buzz of the tavern, he heard the stranger say "Whiskey, neat" to the bartender, who did not fail to comply. After a moment the bartender showed up before him.
"And anything for you, sheriff?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Find out what you can about that man, CG. We don't need any hooligans here," Trevor replied with a low voice, swirling the liquid in his glass slowly.
"And get him a drink on my tab while you’re at it," he added, eliciting a smirk from CG.
"I'll get that done, then," he said and went away.
Trevor is once again left to his own thoughts.
Another drink was slid across the counter to him some time later. Another stolen glance he sent to the strange man.
Trevor studied him. His shoulders broad and body lean. Hat graciously casting a shadow on his face, but his eyes glowed through the darkness. They were sharp with intent and mission. Beard rugged and shoulders tense. Without even realising, the eyes were staring back. Trevor adverted his gaze. The mysterious man smirked and moved closer to him.
‘’How you doin this fine evening, sheriff?’’ he asked. Trevor turned to look at him. Now that he was closer, he could admire his attire. The stranger’s hat was toped of with a single wildflower, jacket adorned with multiple colourful patches. Trevor smiled at the sight.
‘’Just fine. But tell me, what are you doing here, stranger,’’ he asked, ‘’this is not a place for the light-hearted.’’
The stranger chuckled. ‘’It ain’t indeed. For now, I’m making my way east. Trying to find somewhere to belong.’’
‘’Who’s to say this ain’t the place?’’ Trevor tried to coax more out of the guest.
The man shook his head with a smile. ‘’No no, this ain’t it. I’ll know when the time comes.’’
The sheriff nodded and the discussion turned to silence. Both men stared at the beverages before them. Somewhere in a corner of the tavern a faint roar of laughter emerged. Talks bubbled behind them. Trevor mustered up some courage to resume the conversation.
‘’So, what’s your name?’’ he asked. The man beside him kept staring down the glass.
‘’Where I come from, they call me Zag,’’ he responded, not giving any other information. Zag looked up at him suddenly, with a hint of urgency. ‘’Say, would you know a place to stay for the night?
Trevor raised his eyebrow. ‘’It’s quite late, but I suppose the tavern could have some free rooms upstairs. Might cost ya a bit. Better talk to the bartender,’’ he said.
‘’I’ll be right back then,’’ Zag smiled slightly and went closer to where the bartender was working.
Meanwhile the sheriff continued to study the strange man. There was something very captivating about him. Maybe it was the way he walked or talked, perhaps it was how he talked about himself, but that man was irresistible. With curiosity Trevor noted a navy-blue handkerchief in his back pocket. And his beautiful backside.
When Zag was done conversing with CG, he returned to his seat next to the sheriff. He raised an eyebrow at the funny expression Trevor had.
‘’Turns out they have one free room for tonight. Luck is on my side,’’ he said. Trevor hummed.
‘’I uhm… noticed you have a handkerchief in your back pocket. It’s… stylish,’’ the sheriff tried to find the right way to approach the subject. Zag’s eyes shifted to him in an instant.
‘’Yeah…really stylish. Real silk too,’’ the man’s eyes curiously studied him. Trevor hummed again.
‘’Maybe we can go try to find your room for tonight. Might need my help, the numbers on the doors are quite faded,’’ he clapped a hand on the stranger’s shoulder. The man looked up and narrowed his eyes.
‘’Oh really? Well, we better get going, I’d hate to intrude in the wrong room. Mine’s number seven,’’ he stood up with far too much ardour and theatrical movement. Trevor cringed a bit.
‘’Tone it down,’’ he whispered and lead the way upstairs. Talking from downstairs became quieter as they climbed up the stairs. Some singing could still be heard faintly in the hallway, but it was soon replaced with snores coming through closed doors.
‘’Here’s number seven,’’ the sheriff said, waiting for the other man’s lead.
‘’Well, thank you kind sir. Maybe you’d like to come inside for a quick drink?’’ Zag asked, the lie obvious, but instead of pointing it out, Trevor just smiled.
‘’I’d like that,’’ he said and walked in the room. Zag followed. As soon as the door closed, Trevor found himself pinned to the door.
‘’You do know I’ll be out of here as soon as sun rises, right?’’ the stranger asked. Trevor just nodded and captured their lips in a hungry kiss.
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Faint sunrays danced on the floor as Trevor opened his eyes. The covers did little to cover his naked body, the morning cold seeping into his bones. The space beside him on the bed was empty, but still warm. With great effort the sheriff sat up and looked out the window. The world around was beginning to wake up. The sun casted its golden shine on the mountains and roofs, but the only thing he noticed was a small figure on horseback, riding into the sunrise.
The sheriff was distracted that day, his thoughts straying to a certain man. He had discovered a lone wildflower stuffed in his jacket’s pocket. It had stayed there, not visible to anyone, but Trevor was still painfully aware of it as the nature’s beauty laid there.
After a hard day he was sat at the tavern again, aimlessly looking around and hyperaware of the object in his pocket. The bartender noticed his strange demeanour.
‘’Ya alright, sheriff? Need a drink?’’ he leaned on the counter, ‘’Might it be related to the man who was here yesterday?’’
Trevor scoffed. ‘’No, had a hard day. Now pour one of your finest, will ya.’’ He nudged a glass towards the bartender. CG followed the request. When he got the glass back to the waiting customer, he suddenly spoke up.
‘’You know, there is a bandit going round’ these days. A traveller let me know. Apparently, he’s heading east. They know him as Zag,’’ CG said, carefully eyeing the sheriff.
Everything in Trevor’s body broke like glass shards, yet his face stayed rock solid. The wilted flower burning a hole in his pocket. Still staring at his drink, he mumbled. ‘’Oh. Is that so?’’
‘’Yeah,’’ the bartender nodded, ‘’better watch out these next days. He might start a fuss and steal something.’’
The sheriff hummed, deep in thought. It was already too late. The bandit had stolen something far more important than livestock or gold. He had stolen the sheriff’s heart.