Chapter Text
At one point Boyd had wanted to kill them both. Wanted to end them with his own hands. Ava first then Raylan. At one point he had loved Ava, at one point he had yeared for Raylan. Maybe he still did. Boyd blamed Ava, he had wanted to leave Harlan once. To get away and start over but Ava pulled him back. He blamed everyone but mostly himself. At one point his family would have been there when he got out to welcome him into their arms. At one point Raylan would have been there to bicker with him as he proudly walked out. But not now... now he was the changed born-again prison pastor who was being let out on good behaviour alone.
This time there was no father to hug, no Ava to sleep next to, No Raylan to feel safe with. It was just Boyd Crowder and the buzzing of the street lamps. A warm summer night when the trees buzzed with the sound of cicadas the only light in the dark tree out of the prison primssis was this small gas station a few miles down the long road. One foot after another Boyd walked. Not even completely sure what time it was. But it was late he knew that.
By the time He had made it to the gas station, he felt like he had walking for hours and he could have he wasn't one hundred per cent sure he hadn't been. The door chimed signifying his entrance to the small shitty gas station that looked more run down than it should. The clerk hardly looked up from the magazine he was reading and simply motioned to the back right. "Beers back there," said the clerk in a gruff smoked-out voice. Boyd blinked and moved up to the counter.
"Hey now, I'm in a world of trouble, I'm sure you understand. Yous have a phone I can borrow by any chance?" Boyd asked. That got the clerk's attention and he looked up from the Magazine. He narrowed his eyes before he leaned over and picked up an old landline phone slamming it down on th counter. "Too many idiots takin my mobile to trust that shit." Said the Clerk and Boyd would have been offended but he had just gotten out of prison.
"This is just fine, Thank you." Polite despite his hick-sounding accent. He picked up the headset of the landline and pressed it to his ear. The Clerk flicked the magazine as he got back to reading from it. Boyd turned to the side as he stared at the phone. Who did he even have to call? No one he loved was alive or most were dead anyway. Raylan... christ Raylan
His hand nearly shook as he dialled the last number he knew was Raylan's. His breath caught in his throat as the phone rang, long tones vibrating the headset on his hand. Then there was a click and a rough voice rumbling through the phone. "Deputy Marshal Given's speaking." A Grin Twitched on Boyd's face failing to grow. There was that tug at his heart every time he heard this man's voice. There was a rustle and what sounded like another body breathing.
He wondered who Raylan was sharing his company with. There was no sound of a bar it was quiet the rustle sounded like sheets. Who oh who was Raylan-
"Hello?" The voice sounded amused followed by the second body breathing an amused laugh. probably egged on by Raylan's insistent teasing no doubt. Boyd finally answered. "Raylan..." Was all he could muster and the breathing on the other end went quiet and there was more rustling probably the sounds of Raylan sitting up.
"Who is this?" Raylan's voice was harder now less breathy and obviously light-hearted. He had gotten Raylan's attention as Boyd always did. "Now Raylan don't tell me yous forgotten bout me already." Boyd's voice played almost sing song like. The breathing now from Raylan seemed to go almost completely quiet.
"Boyd how ar-" Boyd cut Raylan off but tripped over his words in the process. "I- I- Well I got out today," Boyd said and glanced up at the Clerk who had glanced up at him out of curiosity. Boyd closed his eyes as no answer came from the news. He knew this much would be a shock to Raylan. But some congratulations would have been nice. Boyd breathed out a breath he hadn't remembered he was holding.
" Well I-...Thought you'd like to know," Crowder added his heart beating fast as no answer came again but there was most rustling and the light jangle of a belt buckle. "I also thought, you'd like to know that we're cool. No hard feeling on my end." Again the sounds went quiet.
"I'm not playing your game Boyd," Raylan said His voice was a mixture of annoyance and firmness. It almost hurt but he was right he had been playing a game to keep Raylan interested so long he couldn't remember the last time that there wasn't a motive to their interaction.
"No Game here Raylan. Now you're just being rude I thought you'd enjoy the fact that I had been let on good behaviour." Boyd sang into the headset to keep his emotions from peaking through. He was interested to hear Raylan's response but there was none. Another click and then a long dial tone. Raylan had hung up. Boyd should have expected that much at least. It didn't mean that it didn't hurt.
Boyd sighed and set down the landline. The clerk cleared his throat and flicked the Magazine. "Went better than some I've heard" The clerk chided and Boyd shook his head. "Some boys will always pray on your downfall," Boyd responded in what seemed to be high spirits. "Thank you for lettin' me use your phone." Boyd finished and the clerk made an acknowledging grunt in response. Nobody didn't know what to do with himself.
Boyd waited around outside the gas station for hours before he finally hitched a ride from someone. He was leaving. Getting as far away as he could well that the court would let him. He wasn't going back to Harlan that was goddamn sure.