Chapter Text
Jimmy sat by the pond, watching the soft ripples glide across the surface. Only a few steps behind was Scott, his eyes on Jimmy. During peaceful moments like these he could easily pretend the both of them were still green. without war and bloodshed raging outside their home.
“Hey, Jimmy,” Scott said as he approached.
“Hello petal”, Jimmy replied, warmly smiling at Scott.
Scott calmly walked beside Jimmy, taking his spot beside him.
“It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” Scott commented. You could see the more blue than ash in the sky, and clouds that were almost white rolling from above.
“it is quiet lovely. I wish it could stay this way” Jimmy said, knowing it will only get worse. His gaze fell back to the pond, with a look of grief. Most days ash seemed to fill the air, and the smell of blood was not too far behind.
The two fell into silence, a shared mourning of the past. Then Scott spoke up once again, "I have a gift for you".
“Oh, you do?” Jimmy perked up at the prospect of receiving a gift. They did not have much time to spend on gifts for each other. Each moment spent trying to survive.
Scott pulled out a poppy. Almost pristine in shape, a contrast between the destruction that surrounded them, “it’s for my love of you”.
“This isn’t the same flower I gave to you in the cave, is it?” Jimmy jokes, taking the flower. He smiled down at it, twirling it between his fingers. Blood red petals that let you imagine one’s heart. Almost Letting them forget the world outside of their own paradise.
"You weren't supposed to figure it out," Scott jokes. He brings his hand to his, guiding it to jimmy’s ear, “It looks better on you”.
Slow moments like this lets a part of Scott relax. This let the scars of war fade from his mind, able to enjoy his lives with Jimmy. If he closes his eyes he can remember the vibrate green Jimmy’s eyes used to be. He could pretend Jimmy's skin wasn’t now dull and ashen, and without scars laid across his skin, he could pretend Jimmy’s eyes hadn’t turned red, along with his last life.
The sky would never show a vibrate blue again, clouds wouldn’t return to a prefect white, no matter how hard it tried. The air would never fully clear. Even with the small moments he cherished with Jimmy, the game of death could not be fully forgotten.
———
Scott and Jimmy sat beside each other in a cave. A soft moss covered the ground and climbed the walls. Fish swam in slow circles in the pond. Sending ripples across the surface. The two rulers were in a small picnic blanket. With a cake between them, waiting to be shared.
Scott had picked this spot for their 'alliance meeting' because the cave was said to help strengthen bonds between (romantic) relationships. Letting him hope for the best of this meeting(and a shared future). Of course Jimmy was none the wiser, he was from the Cod empire and was unaware of Rivendell folklore and superstitions.
“You alright Scott? You’ve been staring,” Jimmy asked with concern.
“Oh! Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, lost in thought” Scott quickly replied, slightly flustered.
“Uhm, alright,” Jimmy a little unconvinced, “how did you find this cave? It’s so peaceful down here”
“it’s, uhh, popular spot for cou- friends, because of the atmosphere” Scott said, stumbling over his words a little. Grounding himself, he took a seep breath before speaking again, “I got something for you,”
He turned his gaze to the pond as his face turned pink. Was that fish always that color?
“What is it?” Jimmy asked. He moved a little closer to Scott.
Scott could do this, it’s not like he was asking Jimmy out(yet), “It’s just poppy, I just thought it would be appropriate” he got a little quieter when speaking. He held up the flower, half expecting Jimmy to scoff or to call the gift stupid. Gifts were mentioned to be something extravagant and expensive, especially between kingdoms. Though something inside him, something small, seemed to believe a poppy would be a better gift.
“That’s so sweet! Everyone says you're so cold, but you aren’t”, Jimmy said, grinning. He took the poppy from Scott’s hand and inspected it. “Wow, it’s so… perfect”
”I’m glad you like it.”. Right, Jimmy was too kind to deny a gift. Scott was relived Jimmy liked the small gift. It was appropriate after all. He watched as Jimmy carefully tucked the flower behind his ear.
Jimmy looked perfect like this. The lights inside the cave seemed to surround him in a golden light, like an angel. The red blossom seemed to pop against his skin. At this moment he didn’t seem care to about the rest of the world, about ruling a kingdom or his evil brother. He was able to feel at ease beside Jimmy. Something about all of this felt right, as if this was all meant to be, he was supposed to be here right beside the Codfather.
———
Scott laughed as he hid behind the gunpowder cart. He was visiting Tumbletown and decided to mess around with the Sherif. It was almost too easy to rile up Jimmy, and way to assuming.
“SCOTT!” Jimmy yelled, “GIVE ME MY HAT BACK!”
“Gotta find me first!~” Scott called back. This could almost be his favorite activity, and it never got old.
“Come on! Just give me my hat!” Jimmy called again. This time he had popped around the corner and spotted Scott.
“Hmm, no.” He grinned, placing the hat on his own head, “I like it quite a lot.”
“Scottttt! That’s my hat, this is against the law!”, Jimmy declared, approaching Scott.
“Oh, is it? Enough to get those handcuffs out”, Scott tased. He watched as Jimmy's face flushed, laughing.
“Just give me my hat back already!,” he complained again.
“Hmm, fineee,” Scott said, taking it from his head, passing the hat back.
“Finally!” He huffed, taking the hat back. He looked down at it, “uh, Scott, why did you place a poppy in my hat?”
He looked back up to see Scott wasn’t there anymore, “Scott? Where did you go?” He questioned, looking around.
Scott had gone around the cart and watched Jimmy from around the corner. He didn’t really know why he had given Jimmy a flower, just a spur of the moment thing. He hadn't even realize he had a poppy on him until giving the hat back. He hated the stupid flower so he wouldn't normally have one in his inventory. Yet he had one to give to Jimmy, what did that seem to be how it should be?
Jimmy had taken it from inside the hat and placed it behind his ear before putting his hat back on. Scott had kinda just expected Jimmy to throw it away, but it looked good on him.