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I.
The first time they met, it was an unnaturally hot summer.
The horizon seemed to be boiling, hazy and unfocused. Dust storms would kick up in the dry wind, the mesa’s version of a hurricane. Stringy clouds would drift through the sky. The sun beat down, making the terracotta burn hot.
Jimmy didn’t remember how old he was that summer, but it was somewhere between a small child and a preteen. Nine, maybe, or ten. He lived with his father, the sheriff of Tumble Town, in a small house on the outskirts. Everyday, he would wander around the shops and vendors while his father kept the town safe and lawful. He hoped that someday he could be the same, killing the creepers that shuffled around the borders and catching pickpockets. He would observe the people around him as well, watch the small fights over the season's last tomato and the exchange of coins in the general store and the gossip between ladies as they walked down the street.
Maybe his constant observing was why it was so easy to detect a new face in town. He saw them before anyone else did, all confused looks and dusty clothes. There was an older man, maybe a few years older than his father, and a kid with him, about Jimmy’s age. They both had moderately sized backpacks, completed with sleeping mats rolled up on top. Jimmy hopped off the steps of the general store and made his way over to both of them, smiling warmly, as he did around new people.
“Welcome to Tumble Town!” He greeted, raising his hand in a wave. The man looked at him, slightly shocked. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Ah—Yes. Where can I find your town’s sheriff?” The man asked, looking around again. He had an accent, one that wasn’t from around here, certainly. Jimmy caught the boy regarding him, his head tilted slightly to the side. Jimmy tilted his head right back, grinning.
“Y’r looking for my pa!” Jimmy exclaimed. “He’s in his office, I think. I can take you there.” They both smiled at him following him as he turned, half-running down the street. He could hear both of them behind him, walking hesitantly on the dirt roads. Jimmy marched towards his fathers office, presenting it to them with a tip of his hat (it was a cowboy hat, just like all the sheriffs wore). The man smiled graciously at him, bumping the boy to do the same. The boy did not smile, still looking at him like he wanted to take the hat right off his head, or at least question why he had it in the first place.
“Thank you… what’s your name?”
“Jimmy, sir.”
“Thank you, Jimmy.” The man leaned down to talk to the boy. “You stay out here with Jimmy, okay? His dad’s the person we came to see. I’ll be just a minute.” The boy nodded, sitting down on the steps. He took off his backpack as the man went inside, setting it next to him.
“You might want to take off your coat.” Jimmy sat down next to him.
“What?”
“It’s hot here. Don’t want our newest faces to overheat already.” He watched the boy take off his navy blue overshirt, throwing it on top of his discarded backpack. “What’s your name?”
“Scott.” Jimmy took a minute to look at Scott. His accent, like his father, was something he had never heard before. He was pale, more so than any resident of Tumble Town, and his ears were pointier. His hair was short, brushing the nape of his neck, the same coppery that his fathers was. Jimmy took note of the bright blue his eyes were. Scott wasn’t like anyone that had walked through town before, and he had the sudden urge to ask him everything about himself. To him, when he was this young, anything shiny and irregular caught his eye. “You’re Jimmy, yeah?”
“Yeah!” His face brightened, sitting up a little straighter in his seat. Millions of questions flooded his brain, braced on the tip of his tongue. “Where—Who—What brings you here?” He stumbled over his words before a fully formed question could come out. Jimmy averted his gaze, looking at the floor and biting his lip.
Scott didn’t seem to take notice, answering his question quickly. “My dad said something about knowing the sheriff of this town when we were walking this way. I guess he wants to see him again? We might stay around for a while.”
“Where are you from, then?”
“I don’t know. Last place we stayed was an animal kingdom that way,” he pointed to the way he had come from. “It was cute. A cat was the mayor.”
“A cat!” Jimmy exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted a cat! Pa won’t let me have one though, says they’re too much trouble. I don’t think so. I think a cat would make a great deputy.”
“A deputy?!” Scott laughed, leaning forward and clutching his stomach. “That sounds silly!”
“It is not!” Jimmy said matter-of-factly. “Cats are observant, and they can bite people, and—” he cut himself off with a chuckle, joining in with Scott. “Stop laughing—stop laughing at me!” And yet, he couldn’t stop himself from doing so too. They dissolved into giggles together, leaning slightly against each other on the steps of the sheriff's station. They took some time to recover, letting the last of their laughter die out before either said anything. “I’m being serious.”
“I think I would make a better deputy.”
Jimmy grinned. “Do you want to be my deputy when I get to be the sheriff?”
“If I’m still around here.”
—
Scott was staying for a week, so he wasn’t going to be around when Jimmy became sheriff. Still, he relished in having a new friend who told him stories from everywhere he had visited. Jimmy heard tales of far off swamps, filled with magic so thick it manifested as fog. He heard of caves, filled with all the riches anyone could ever want, owned by small green men. He heard tales of a kingdom of gold and pink and green, growing towards the sun. All of it sounded like a dream, and he couldn’t imagine seeing it in person like Scott had.
In return, Jimmy showed Scott around his town, showing off all it had to offer. Admittedly, not much, but he still walked them around like it was the fanciest place in the world. He brought him inside every store, showing off all of the things Scott had never seen before. Carvings created of terracotta, whistles for dogs and creepers alike, and the spiciest food town had to offer.
(Maybe not the best idea to give to his new friend, but it had all ended up fine once Scott had three glasses of milk. Jimmy ate the rest of Scott’s leftovers with a smile on his face, and received a few shoves when he gloated about it.)
They had their fun. When they weren’t talking or exploring, they would bother someone into giving them something to do. Most commonly, Jimmy’s dad, who would send them to get more paper from the general store, or check that the crops for the season were growing well enough. Scott complained about the work in the beginning, but grew used to the meaningless chores. He just seemed happy to be around another kid.
It was their final day together that Scott got curious. Jimmy was ordering two root beers for them from the tavern (they let anyone in, and by now, he was sure they would give him an actual beer if he asked for it) when Scott asked something he wasn’t expecting.
“Why can’t we go near the creeper farms?”
Jimmy slid Scott’s drink over to him, taking a sip from his own. All the informal drinks were served in glass jars, like the ones they bought jam in. “Pa says they’re dangerous. Too dangerous for us kids, anyway.” He watched Scott swirl the drink in his hand. Even if they hadn’t been friends long, he could tell there was a plan forming in his head. A small smile graced his lips, and he took a long sip of his root beer.
“Do you wanna find out why they’re dangerous?”
Jimmy wasn’t exactly sure why he agreed, but half an hour later he found himself climbing the mountain out of town, trudging through the thick red sand. The day was hot, which was why he had tried to opt for staying inside. Obviously, Scott hadn’t listened, pulling him out the door before he even had time to pay.
Jimmy used the back of his hand to wipe sweat off of his brow, stopping for a moment when they got to a rocky platform on the side of the mountain with a large opening. He knew what it was for, and he vaguely wondered how Scott knew what it was for. Before Jimmy could stop him, Scott wandered into the mouth of the cave, the smile on his face larger than any Jimmy had seen before. So he didn’t say anything. He just watched, and soon entered the cave himself.
There were short, crackling hissing noises from deep within the terracotta. His footfalls were heavy, covering up the noises unless he listened intently. Scott was ahead of him, creeping along the halls more carefully than Jimmy. He whipped his head around when he tripped and stumbled, falling to the ground with an ‘oof!’. Jimmy looked at his hands, scuffed along the heels and with small cuts on his palm. Jimmy could also feel his knees burning, and he was sure the fabric of his pants was ripped. He almost started crying, but then he looked up at Scott, who was crouching over him with a worried expression.
Jimmy decided he was fine, right there and then. They could keep going. “It’s okay, we can—we can keep going.” Jimmy winced when his voice caught, trying not to let the tears fall. Scott offered him a hand up, which he gratefully accepted (with his non-bloody hand) and tried to keep going strong. Jimmy wouldn’t cry, he was the future sheriff! Sheriffs didn’t cry.
He also didn’t want to cry in front of Scott, because that would be beyond embarrassing.
There were stairs ahead of them, and as they descended, the sounds only got louder. Hisses, and sounds like feet padding against the floor all around them. Jimmy looked back once or twice, just to make sure nothing was actually behind them. The stairs ended in a large cavern, the walls adorned with torches that cast ever-moving shadows on the wall. In the center of the room, taking up about half the floor space, was a fenced area. Hundreds of creatures, ranging from the height of his knee to the height of him twice over shuffled around the area. Some seemed to be begging to be let out. Others seemed to have accepted their fate. Beside them were walls of chests, and Jimmy was sure if he opened them, he would find piles of gunpowder, ready to be bagged up and sent off to other towns and cities. They had been sending a lot of bags to the north recently.
His attention was brought back to the farm in the middle when Scott gasped at the creatures it contained. He started moving towards them when Jimmy grabbed his hand, pulling him back. “They aren’t safe.”
“I know, Jimmy,” Scott scoffed, pulling his hand away. “I’ve met creepers before. I’ve just never seen one up close. My dad always shoots them from far away.”
“There’s a reason for—” He lurched forward, trying to grab Scott again, but he just giggled and ran towards the area. “Scott, stop!” He stayed where he was, frozen in place as he watched his friend get closer and closer. “Scott, please, they’re too dangerous if you get close! You’ll get hurt!”
“I’ll be fine!” He was close, and he was looking at Jimmy, and he wasn’t seeing the creeper closest to him glowing white.Scott didn’t know how creepers worked, Jimmy realized, panic setting in. It hissed, louder than before, flashing between white and the dull green color its fur was. Everything happened in a second. Jimmy rushed forward, fast as he could on scraped knees, and grabbed at Scott, throwing him away from the danger. Unluckily, this put him in the exact spot Scott had been in, with much less time to escape.
Jimmy heard a bang, and then he was thrown forward, landing hard against the ground. His vision swam in front of him, the ground littered with bits of wood and what looked like fire, and he could see his hat, a few feet in front of him. Everything hurt, burned, ached. Jimmy could barely keep himself up on his hands and knees, because it felt like every part of him was bleeding.
There was something behind him, something approaching him, he heard the scuffs against the floor. Multiple things. They hissed menacingly. Distantly, he heard someone calling his name, and someone grabbing his arm and pulling him, he didn’t want to move, he was hurt, it all hurt—
Jimmy was pulled to his feet, half running and half stumbling towards the staircase. He could tell that there was something happening behind him, but his head hurt too much to think about it. Debris was thrown at them, both of them, because there was another person but he didn’t remember who he was. A rock hit his back, and he gasped faintly. The person next to him—about his height, another kid. What was another kid doing in the creeper caves?—looked at him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him up the stairs.
The creepers didn’t seem to be fixated on them anymore, as they climbed the stairs. Jimmy slowly became more aware of his surroundings, from the terracotta orange walls, to the small whispers of assurance from Scott. Scott . Scott had saved him, pulled him up the stairs and out of danger.
“Thank—thank you,” He forced out, his voice having taken on a raspy tone. Scott looked at him, eyes worried, and nodded. He seemed more mature in that moment, past the childlike wonder he had for everything he saw since he had arrived, past the kid who enjoyed everything new, and into someone who was forced into a responsibility role. Jimmy, in his hazy state, found it alarming.
They both staggered out of the cave, and Jimmy could feel any energy he had leaving. He slumped against the outside wall, almost falling down from exhaustion. “Thank you. Wait here,” Scott ordered. “I’m going to find someone to help us.”
Scott did, in fact, find someone to help them. Unluckily, said person was Jimmy’s father, who was less than pleased with their actions. Still, he was brought into town, to the infirmary. He was in and out for the next few hours, but when he was fully conscious again, he found himself on a wooden bed frame, the mattress under him scratchy and unpleasant.
Jimmy sat up, looking around the room. He hissed when his arm objected to being moved, looking down to see it in a bandage wrap with a splint. He kept it close to his stomach, observing any other wounds he had. There were bandages and gauze on his left knee, and he could feel his head spinning. Jimmy laid back again, against the pillow that was almost as unpleasant as the mattress.
“You’re awake!” A voice exclaimed, and he saw something hurtling towards his bed. Jimmy yelped, and Scott stopped, drawing his arms back. “Sorry. Sorry. You’re probably still hurt.” He sat next to the bed, in a small wooden chair. “The doctor and your dad will be here soon. I think.”
“Thanks for saving me.” Scott only nodded, looking down at the ground. Jimmy sat back, looking at the door to the small room. Eventually, it creaked open, revealing his father along with a man. His father was still in his uniform, though without his hat. Jimmy thought about where his hat was at that moment, because he had not seen it around the room. His father glared at Scott, who looked at the ground. Then he took the seat next to Jimmy’s bed and gave him a hug, avoiding his broken arm.
“It’s good to see you awake,” the doctor said, checking something he had written down. “You’ll have to stay in here for the next few days, to make sure there is no lasting damage.” Jimmy and his father nodded in sync. He didn’t like being confined to a bed, but it was only for a few days. The doctor turned and left the room, leaving the three of them alone.
“We finally rounded up all the creepers you two let out,” his father grumbled in a disappointed tone. “Scott, your father is waiting outside for you. He says y’all are leaving early.” Jimmy looked at Scott, who looked like he was about to cry.
“Thank you, Sheriff Solidarity.” Scott stood up, waving to Jimmy without looking at him. Jimmy faintly called a goodbye, and then the door closed. There was no reply.
“That boy is trouble,” his father said, making Jimmy’s head snap towards him. “When you become sheriff, I would advise you not to let him back into this town. I’m glad y’r safe, Jim.” The sheriff patted him on the back, settling into the chair. Jimmy smiled lightly, regretting that he couldn’t have had a longer goodbye with his new friend.
He already missed him, but in the next few months, almost forgot he existed. Sometimes, though, when someone new came to town, he would ask if they had come across a kid and father, traveling the world together. They always said no, and he was left to wonder.
II.
The second time they met, it was the middle of the night.
Jimmy woke up to a knock on his door. It was pitch black out, but he still got out of bed and pulled some pants on. As the sheriff of Tumble Town, he had to help the citizens at all hours of the night. At the end of his bed, Norman (who was only a few months old, but still a loyal deputy) raised his head and gave a small, questioning meow. Jimmy pet him quickly, and went out to the front door, turning on the gas lamp in the living room.
Another knock came as he was about to grab the handle, making him freeze. Heaving breath came from outside, more clear now that he was near the door. Jimmy wrenched it open, coming face to face with a sight he didn’t expect.
There was a teenager, around his age, gasping for breath outside his door with his hands on his knees. There was something familiar about him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He wasn’t a resident of town, he knew that much. His hair was mostly teal, though some orange was peaking out at the roots. His clothing was colorful, scraps of pink, blue, purple, and yellow making up the jacket he had on. Strangely, some of the seams were ripped. He had a bruise on his cheek, and some along his lower arms.
“Hey–,” the boy stopped to catch his breath, standing up straight for the first time. He huffed, then smiled. “Hey Jimmy, nice to see you again. Can I come in?” Jimmy’s eyes widened as he recognized the elf, catching him as he wobbled on his feet. Though his hair was different, and one of his eyes had changed from a brilliant blue to a golden color, it was still Scott.
“Hey, yeah, let’s… let's get you inside.” Jimmy helped him through the door and into his living room. He set him down on the couch, when Scott immediately sank into the cushions and sighed in relief. Jimmy hurried to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea, hoping to get some information on why he had just shown up to his door after eight years in the middle of the night.
There was obviously something wrong, because no one just showed up in the middle of the night for fun. His ripped jacket and bruises were just more evidence of that. No permanent damage seemed to be sustained, but he would make Scott visit the infirmary in the morning, just in case. Mostly, he just seemed exhausted.
Jimmy strained tea flowers out of the boiling water, leaving the kettle on the stove. He thought of their brief week together as kids, how much fun he had showing Scott around. Not much had changed since then. Sure, there were a few more stores, and a few more houses. Jimmy was a sheriff now. Time had passed, but it hadn’t really affected anything but the people around him.
He took the mug of chamomile tea out to the couch, sitting down next to Scott. He was taller than he had been before, but so was Jimmy. Norman had found his way out of the bedroom and to the visitor, curling up on his lap. He was slowly stroking the cat’s back when Jimmy gave him the tea, taking a few sips and then just holding it. “Who’s this?” Scott asked softly.
“‘S names Norman.” Jimmy matched his tone, smiling warmly at the sleeping cat. There were a few awkward moments where they just sat there, the only sound in the room being Norman's soft purrs. Scott was looking around, taking in the simple changes that Jimmy had made over the years.
“Are you the sheriff now?” He asked slowly, taking another sip. Jimmy nodded, looking at his feet.
“I am. Pa passed around a year ago, leaving the responsibilities to me. I don’t mind much.” In truth, it was hard to be handed the job of keeping the town safe at the age of seventeen, but he tried his best. There were his father’s old friends to help him out, and he had trained for years before it. He did mind, but there was no other option but to deal with it.
“My dad’s dead too. I had to stay in the same place for four years before they finally let me go adventuring again on my own.” Scott laughed, a slight bitterness in his tone. “Maybe that was a mistake on their part.”
“What happened?” Jimmy asked,voicing his main concern. Scott took another sip of his tea. Jimmy mentally noted that Scott seemed to like the chamomile.
“I set up camp just outside the mesa, and a group of bandits robbed me. They took everything I had, and I only just managed to get away. I don’t think they cared enough to follow me. I knew Tumble Town had to be around here somewhere, so I just ran until I found it.” Scott sighed. “Then I just went to the first place I remembered.” He put his cup down on the coffee table and kept petting Norman slowly.
“Crime rates outside of Tumble Town have been going up in the past few years,” Jimmy admitted, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “It’s a matter of time before they try to rob us here.” His stomach twisted, imagining what would happen. He shook the thoughts out of his head, finally settling into the couch instead of sitting on the edge.
“It doesn’t look much different here, from what I could see while I was running,” Scott remarked, closing his eyes and leaning back.
“Nothing has really changed, I bet you’ve seen much more impressive places over the last few years.”
“Just a few.” Scott smiled slyly, opening one of his eyes to look at Jimmy. It was yellow now, which it certainly had not been before. It sparkled in the dull light, the iris shifting from a bright gold to almost green, and then back again. He almost commented on it, but decided not to. He trusted Scott would mention it in due time.
“Tell me about them.”
Scott talked about the places he had gone since the last time they saw each other. There were forests full of magic, cursed princesses and eye-stealing skulls. It sounded like more of a fantasy than the real world, but he knew of things like this actually happening from the other travelers who visited.Scott always described them vividly, unlike the other travelers. He had stayed in a place called Sanctuary after his father had died, which he said was very pretty, although the ruler could be a bit full of himself. Jimmy listened intently to every word, vibrant images of beautiful places sprouting in his head.
He only realized he had fallen asleep listening to Scott when he woke up on the couch. He blinked at the early morning light streaming through the windows, highlighting the dust floating through the air. It was strangely comfortable, and he almost closed his eyes again to go back to sleep. There was a heavy presence on his shoulder. Jimmy thought it was Norman, who often settled next to his neck while they were in bed. When he brought up a hand to scratch at the cat's neck though, all he felt was a mess of hair. Looking slightly to his left, he saw cyan curls resting on his shoulder, along with the sound of soft breathing.
Jimmy felt a heat in his face. He didn’t know if Scott was comfortable with this, but he couldn’t just simply wake him up and ask. He tried to stay relaxed. He needed to get to work, but he also wanted to let Scott sleep, because he obviously hadn’t gotten a full night. While thoughts raced through his head, he felt Scott readjust next to him, stretching as he woke up. Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good morning,” he greeted softly. Scott still seemed startled, turning to look at him. His expression relaxed when he realized it was only Jimmy, which made him unreasonably happy.
“G’Morning, Jimmy.” He sounded happy. “You were an excellent pillow.”
Jimmy laughed. “I wish I had given you an actual pillow, it probably would have been much more comfortable.”
Scott shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’d use you as a pillow again.” Jimmy decided to ignore the feeling that gave him, as well as the blush that was surely spreading across his face at the thought of Scott sleeping with him. And that conjured up worse images, so he pushed them all away and stood up. Norman, who had transferred to his lap at some point in the night, looked up at him expectantly. Jimmy rolled his eyes, walking to the kitchen to feed him.
“You can stay for a few days if you’d like. I have to work every day, but there are plenty of things to do around town. I’m sure the general store can get you ready with more supplies.” He poured a cup of cat food into Norman’s bowl, then pulled bread and jam out of a cabinet for himself. “You should also see the doctor this morning. I don’t want you walking around with an injury we don’t know about.”
Scott hummed in agreement, though it sounded annoyed. “You don’t have to take care of me, Jimmy. I can take care of myself.”
“Last time you were here, both of us almost got blown up.” He pointed his butter knife covered in jam at Scott. “I just want to make sure y’r safe this time. Do you want glowberry or sweet berry jam?”
“Sweetberry,” Scott answered. They lapsed into silence. Jimmy made them both two slices, topping them with some of the honey he had imported. The world was much more connected these days, trade routes opening up before towns and empires. Jimmy himself hadn’t been out of Tumble Town, but there were people who had. Their gunpowder farm had come in useful for trading, if nothing else.
After he and Scott ate, he got dressed into his uniform, the star glinting on his chest. Norman got a small bandana, proudly proclaiming him as the deputy. When Scott saw that, he laughed out loud.
“Oh my void, you actually did it!” He kept laughing.
“What, you don’t like him?” Jimmy smiled, bringing the kitten over to Scott.
“I didn’t say that.” Scott pet Norman, who snuggled into his hand. “He’s very cute.”
“Do you want a different jacket?” Jimmy asked, changing the subject and looking at the rips in said jacket. Scott shook his head.
“I’ll repair it myself.” Jimmy nodded at that, leading both of them out the door.
He took Scott to the infirmary, who gave him an annoyed look but went in anyway. The sheriff’s station wasn’t particularly busy that day, someone only coming to him once over a suspected robbery from their store. He investigated quickly, found the person who had done it, and put them in the jail cell until the end of the day. They grumbled about it quietly, but didn’t disrupt further than that.
The empty space during the day, when he wasn’t going through trade agreements and other meaningless papers, was filled with his thoughts. He thought of Scott mostly, trying to remember their time together as children. It made him happy to remember giving a tour and all the miscellaneous chores they had done together, but also made him melancholy to remember a time before he had been given so many responsibilities. He was called the best sheriff the town had had in a long time, but he was also only eighteen.
The more he thought of Scott, the more he actually thought about him. He thought about travelling the world with him. He thought about the places, but he also thought about visiting them with Scott. Somehow, that seemed like the more tempting option.
But no, he had a job. He had to protect the town, the people he had grown up with. It made him anxious, but it was necessary. There was no abandoning his role.
He went home tired, though he had really done nothing that day. Scott was waiting on the couch, reading one of the few books he had in the house. Jimmy let Norman in, and hung his hat on the hook next to the door. Scott looked up briefly, though went back to his book almost instantly. Norman crawled into his lap, rubbing up against his arm until the colorful elf pet him. His jacket was patched, and there were even a few more colors sewn on.
“What did the doctor say?” Jimmy asked, making his way to the kitchen once more. The sun was brushing the horizon, sending orange rays streaking into the house. It looked like the entire world was dripping in honey, including Scott when he smiled sweetly.
“I’m fine. The bruises will clear up, and the only other thing I was told was to get more sleep.” Jimmy nodded at the instruction, tearing his eyes away to instead take out potatoes. He baked them, humming softly as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. The spice was left out this time, remembering Scott’s distaste for them. He instead put them in a small bowl and sprinkled them on his own potato.
They ate quietly, though not awkwardly. Jimmy agreed to take the couch, and Scott would get the comfort of the bed. Norman would wander between them, and it was a gamble who he would wake up with.
The schedule for the next few days remained the same. Jimmy got up, made breakfast, and left for his office. Scott always woke up after he left, either staying in the house or visiting parts of the town. When the sun started to make its way towards the horizon and the day turned to dusk, Jimmy would return home to his friend and make them dinner. The new routine was not much different from the old one, just that he now made more food.
Five days after Scott first arrived, he heard a noise in the night. Jimmy sat up in bed, his mind instantly racing through the possibilities. The bandits had decided that today was the day that they were finally ready to attack the town. The creepers could have gotten loose. Another empire was coming to attack, for some reason or another. His stomach twisted, the scenarios flashing before his eyes.
He looked around the darkened living room, specifically at the door, and saw a figure standing outside. He took a breath in, but as he did, they started walking away. Quietly and quickly, they made their way down the road, and disappeared around the bend towards town. Jimmy watched them go, Norman on his lap, and wondered what the hell had just happened.
He got up to check on Scott, hoping he had heard something too and he wasn’t just crazy. But, the only sight that greeted him was a torn out page of a book with writing scribbled on the back.
An adventurer’s job is to explore the world. Don’t worry, I have enough food to make it somewhere else.
-Scott <3
Jimmy just stared at the note. He looked around the room, a sinking feeling in his gut. Scott could do whatever he wanted, of course. Jimmy had no hold on him, no real reason to make him stay other than the fact he liked having another person around. He had a whole town. It made no difference if Scott stayed or if he went.
He told himself that, but the room suddenly felt empty.
Jimmy pulled the blankets back and laid down in his bed, in the same spot he knew Scott slept in.
On the back of the page, the end of a chapter was typed in crisp font.
‘ Yet, he would come back, again, and again once more, until it was more like he was leaving than coming back.’
III.
The third time they met, it was a chaotic week.
Jimmy had been scrambling around all week, getting ready for the harvest festival. Their harvest, both in gunpowder and in crops, had been more than they would have gotten in a normal year. There had been suspiciously more rain, and if that had anything to do with the god who had moved in next door, he wasn’t going to complain.
The town was filled with people walking through the streets, some coming from other empires to do business during the busy time, some just enjoying the vibrant atmosphere. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, mixed with the smell of smoke. Kids ran through the street with sparklers, red and blue and green colors raised as high as their arms could reach.
Jimmy and Norman (who had grown into a very sleek, cunning cat) watched over the busy square, both enjoying the bustling environment and keeping an eye on it. There hadn’t been much activity he needed to monitor, other than keeping the drunker people away from children. He rolled his eyes when he needed to step in when the parents were just nearby, but it was no real trouble.
Unfortunately, his peace was disturbed when he heard someone yell from the entrance to the saloon. He sighed, expecting it was maybe a drunk fight, or someone had gotten burned on accident, but what he heard instead were shrieks for someone to come back. Craning his neck above the crowd, Jimmy could see a woman and man yelling about a stolen wallet while someone ran the other way, disappearing among the sea of bodies.
With Norman by his side, Jimmy pushed through the crowd, sprinting in the general direction of the thief. Once he got to the outer roads, with fewer people than the middle of town, he could see someone colorful slow down and dart behind a building. Approaching slowly, he took out his handcuffs. The thief was obviously taking a rest behind the building, because he could hear shifting gold pieces, as well as shuffling footsteps.
Jimmy jumped out and quickly pushed the thief up against the wall, gold pieces scattering across the dirt. He took their hands and pushed the handcuffs on, locking them before he even tried to discern what they looked like. They laughed softly at the same time the cuffs clicked into place.
“I’ve been handcuffed before, but never by someone so handsome.” Jimmy frowned, his eyebrows turning down. He recognized that voice, and looking up proved that sadly, he was right.
His hair was darker, and he had new piercings in his ears, but it was still undeniably Scott. He had the same mismatching eyes, the same sly smile, the same colorful coat. He didn’t think he could forget the face if his memory was erased. He was thinner than before, his clothes baggier on him, and there were slight bags under his eyes. Jimmy was concerned for a second before he remembered he was supposed to be arresting the elf, not catching up with him.
“You’re under arrest for attempted theft,” was all he said, motioning to Norman to pick up the coins. Scott watched curiously as the cat picked each one up in his mouth, putting them back in the wallet and then picking that up too. “Go give it back, Norman.” He turned and bounded down the street and into town again.
“You’re good at giving orders, Jimmy, or do I have to call you Sheriff now?” There was a strange lilt to his voice, and if he had been smiling any harder Jimmy might have thought he was happy to get arrested. “Do you want to give me something to do?” He pulled Scott off the wall, keeping a hand on his shoulder as they faced each other. The elf gave him a once over. “Maybe something to get these handcuffs off?”
“Shut up, Scott,” he mumbled, turning him around and starting to lead him down the road to the station. Jimmy couldn’t deny he got the meaning behind Scott’s words, he just chose to ignore them. That didn’t help the blush covering his cheeks, though, or the way his stomach flipped. “I’m putting you into the cell for the night. Flirting isn’t going to help.”
Scott’s eyes shone. “So you do remember me!” Jimmy rolled his eyes, but mentally he was screaming about how of course he remembered Scott, how could he forget him? There was something about the elf that had stuck in his head for years, but he could never quite figure out what it was. His fathers warning from that day all those years ago flashed through his head.
“That boy is trouble. I would advise you not to let him back into this town.”
He had already gone against the advice once, taking Scott in three years ago (maybe four by now?) back when bandits had been a more prominent threat. Look where that had gotten them, one in handcuffs and the other leading him to a jail cell. Jimmy shook his head.
“I remember that just now you decided the smartest thing you could do was steal someone's wallet and get caught over it.”
“Wouldn’t you rather have me sleep in your bed than in jail tonight?” Scott pouted, looking over his shoulder. Jimmy used all his willpower to ignore it.
“I would rather you suffer the consequences of the law.”
“Boring.”
They trudged to the station, meeting Norman on the steps. He looked very proud of himself, and Jimmy gave him a few pets as they walked by. He opened the door and grabbed the keys, opening the barred door and leading him inside. Scott sat politely on the bench, looking at him expectantly. Like Jimmy wasn’t finished with him. Jimmy looked back curiously, shooing Norman out of the room and telling him to go watch over the town.
Jimmy looked at Scott, and felt like he noticed some things about him for the first time. His yellow eye–the one that wasn’t naturally his–sparkled in the light, creating swirling fragments of orange and lime. There was dye on his hairline, indicating that the color in his hair was fresh. New patches had become part of his cobbled-together jacket, which now reflected every color. His nails had chipped paint, alternating blue and yellow. He looked sad, sitting there. There was an emptiness to his face, even though he was smiling.
“Why would you steal the wallet, Scott?” Jimmy asked slowly. Scott’s smile faded, and he broke eye contact.
“I ran out of money. I wasn’t going to make it to Stratos with the supplies I had. I thought, maybe, I could steal some money so I could make it.”
“You could have come and asked me. I would have bought you supplies.” Jimmy’s heart sank to think that Scott didn’t trust him enough to come to him for help.
“I thought you would be angry with me. For leaving in the middle of the night last time.” Jimmy’s expression softened, and he took the seat next to Scott. The elf leaned into him, resting his head on his shoulder. It was strangely reminiscent of another time, when everything had been more complicated and simpler simultaneously.
“I wasn’t angry. I don’t think I could ever actually be angry at you.” Jimmy sighed, putting an arm around Scott’s shoulders. “Just confused.”
“I’ll explain, someday. I promise.” They sat silently. Jimmy’s breathing slowed, simply taking in the world around him. Scott’s hair smelled like chemicals.
“Has flirting gotten you out of getting arrested before?” Jimmy suddenly asked, and Scott laughed loudly.
“Occasionally, but I didn’t know those officers. Much harder to seduce you, Mr. Sheriff.” Jimmy hummed at that, rolling his eyes. Scott picked up his head, making the same expression he had before. “But I have been told I know how to satisfy a man.”
“That's my cue to leave,” Jimmy said, standing up. Scott laughed. Jimmy unlocked his handcuffs, and locked the cell door behind him. “I’ll come get you in the morning. If you need my help then, I’ll help you.”
“Okay,” Scott whispered, and then. “Jimmy?”
“Yeah?”
“I came here with–with my llama, Owen. Could you go get him and tie him just outside? I don’t want him to wander off and get lost. He’s important to me. He’s near when you caught me.” Jimmy smiled, nodding.
He retrieved the llama (who took more than a few cubes of sugar to even let Jimmy near him) and tied him outside the station. He then went back to the festival, and luckily, there were no more disturbances. When the final stands had closed and almost everyone was asleep, minus the people having a very late dinner, Jimmy finally started to head home. The excitement still lingered in the air, but it was more of a calm excitement. He felt satisfied with how the festival had gone, and the rest of the town probably felt the same.
Jimmy curled Norman in his arms, letting the cat close his eyes. He gave him a few scratches under the chin, making sure he was comfortable before they went home. Jimmy had to return the handcuffs and their keys to the station before he returned to his house and hit the hay.
The moon sat high in the sky, basking the world into a mixture of blues and purples. Crickets chirped from somewhere behind buildings. The road was filled with footprints of all kinds, boots and claws and barefeet. Jimmy relished in it all.
Turning the bend to approach the station, he saw that Scott had also decided to relish in it. He was fiddling with something packed over his llama’s side, muttering to it. The llama–Owen–seemed to understand what he was saying, and replied in small bleats. Jimmy scowled, putting Norman on the ground (who happily fell back asleep).
“Are you sure you were worried about just the llama wandering off?” Jimmy yelled, startling Scott and Owen. Scott slowly turned around and smiled, like it was a coincidence that they had just run into each other.
“Jimmy! Did you… have to come back!” It wasn’t a question. Scott was avoiding eye contact as he got closer, ready to handcuff him again, but….
“How did you even get out?” He asked, his voice quieter. Scotts smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Magic.” Jimmy gave him a look. Scott deflated. “Owen’s a smart llama.”
“Are you just going to leave again? Without food or money?” Jimmy sounded angry, but he wasn’t sure if it was for the right reasons. He was more concerned about Scott’s safety than about him staying in jail.
“I can make it on my own, Jimmy.” Scott stood his ground, glaring back at him. “I don’t need you to take care of me everytime I come here and do something dangerous. Do you think I only do stupid things while I’m here? I know the risks, and I know when I can take a chance.” Scott was yelling. Jimmy took a step back, blinking a few times at his friend in surprise. Scott huffed, squaring his shoulders. “I’m going.”
The words ‘I don’t need you’ bounced around Jimmy’s head, feeling like a stab every time they came to the front of his mind. He took a breath and sighed, stepping away. “Y’r right, you don’t need me. You can go.”
“You’re not going to… try to stop me?” Scott asked, his posture relaxing. He looked confused and still vaguely frustrated. “Or put me back in the cell?”
“You can take care of yourself.” Maybe his father was right, and he should have never let Scott back into town. “You can go.”
The look in his eyes was shattered, the sadness behind them coming out. His glower turned into a frown, though one of acceptance rather than distress. Jimmy took a step out of the way, letting Scott get on his llama and start walking. The llama seemed none the wiser to the drama happening around him, simply ambling down the road. Scott stopped him when he was beside Jimmy, making eye contact and then leaning down. Jimmy didn’t know what to expect, but a lingering kiss on the cheek was the farthest from his mind. Scott balanced back onto Owen slowly.
“I’ll be back someday, I promise, love.”
“Go.” He watched Scott turn down the road, disappearing from his vision in seconds. His face was burning, and he was sure it was entirely bright red. There was an aching pain in his chest, like he had just lost something he was supposed to hold on too and never let go. There was something missing, he knew it right away, and he had a feeling it would take some time to return.
For a while after that, he thought of Scott and his heart would ache in regret. There was something about Scott that Jimmy missed, every day, something about him that was different from the other travelers he had met. He had promised to come back, and Jimmy secretly hoped he did. He wanted to see him again.
And maybe he was hoping for another kiss, but nobody had to know that.
I.
The first time they stayed together, it was summer again.
This summer was not unnaturally hot, unlike the one fifteen years prior. It was cool, the winds brushing across the mesa and making the grass whisper together. The red sand was brushed away to expose the layers of terracotta making up the hills, creating hidden rainbow patterns for anyone who looked close enough. There had even been the occasional rainstorm, though not for very long.
Jimmy had been in Stratos the first time he heard about the new emperor to the north of him, settling among the flowering mountain cliffs.
Joel had told him casually about how he had seen new buildings sprouting up around that area. Since the trade routes had connected the entire known world, there was much more news and innovation spread about. It had taken him days to hear about the newer emperor, rather than months. Then, when Fwhip had visited to give him an Elytra (it was still a little crazy to him that they could just fly around now!) he had relayed that the place had named itself Chromia. The name conjured pictures of colorful flower fields, especially after Fwhip told him its main export was dye.
It was only when he started working on a building that would require more colored terracotta than he could make that he decided it might be time to visit and make a trade. He had the terracotta of course, but the colors were another situation.
Flying through the clouds, Jimmy wondered what the new empire would look like. Colorful, he assumed, because it couldn’t really be anything else with a name like Chromia. Beyond that, though, it was difficult to know. Would there already be tall buildings, full of farms and homes? A smattering of cottages? Would the flowers be gone or would they be more abundant?
Dipping beneath the clouds, Jimmy got his answer. There were a few streets that had been distinguished by paths, simple one-floor shops cluttering the path, along with small houses. All of them were dripping in plants, flowers growing from the cracks in the structures and vines climbing up the sides of the buildings. Moss was mixed in with the grass, causing patches of clover to pop up around the sides of the road.
Once he landed, he did a three-sixty, taking in the lushious environment. There were quite a few people around, though not more than a normal start-up empire would have. Almost all of them, though, had elven ears. Whether they were longer and drooping, or short and sharp, he was confident to say they were all elven in heritage.
A spark of hope was lit in his chest, though he tried to snuff it out at once. Scott would not be a part of Chromia. He liked to travel too much to settle down.
…It couldn’t hurt to ask the ruler if he knew him though? If he was around, maybe?
Sticking his head into the nearest shop, he asked for directions to the leader's house. The nice cashier pointed him to the last house at the end of the road, and he happily started walking along the path. He shivered, regretting not bringing a coat. He was used to the warmest climate he had ever encountered, and this had to be far lower than that, though not something anyone walking by him was bothered about. Walking up the simple steps of the described house, he reached up his hand to knock on the door. The stairs were stained with various colors, though mostly teal and blue. A matching stained mortar and pestle sat lower on the stoop, obviously the culprit of the stains.
Jimmy reached up and knocked on the door, trying to look equal parts intimidating and kind. He wanted to make a good impression on the new emperor, half because he wanted enemies to be at a minimum, and half because maybe if he was nice, the emperor would tell him if they knew Scott.
The door slid open, and the man in the doorway started talking right away.
“Lizzie, I just finished mulling the last of the dye, but you know we have to let it sit a few days before you can ta…” He cut himself off when he looked up to see Jimmy standing in the doorway, looking down at him with surprise. Scott bit his lip, avoiding eye contact. “So…you finally came to see me?”
“You’re the ruler of Chromia?!” Jimmy asked incredulously. He was half tempted to rub his eyes and check if this was all a dream, but if it was, he didn’t want it to go away. Not much had changed from the last time they had seen each other. Scott still had his hair dyed teal, though his roots needed a new layer. He still had several piercings in each ear. The old colorful jacket seemed to have been retired, replaced for a new, just as colorful one, though with noticeably less patches. In his hands was a potted poppy, which he swiftly set down on the small side table next to the door.
Jimmy felt like something broke inside him, and then remade itself. Over and over, his feelings made themselves known to him, the love (for yes, of course he loved Scott. It was a fact of life, like how the plants died and were reborn, or the sun set and rose. Although, unlike those, his feelings never changed), the regret, the distaste and the hope. Part of him wanted to hug Scott right then and there, hold him close and not let him go anywhere ever again. He didn’t know how Scott would feel about that though, so he stayed put.
“Surprise?” Scott said, cracking a half smile. Jimmy smiled back, fully and warmly. “Do you want to come in?”
“I would love to.” Scott led him inside, sitting him on the couch and hurrying off to the kitchen. Jimmy took a look around the room, smiling at all the little artifacts from around the empires. It was a small, cozy house, the living room consisting of just a fireplace, couch, and rug. He could have seen the kitchen clearly if he just looked behind him, but whatever Scott was making him, he could wait for. Jimmy closed his eyes, leaning back against the couch for a minute before Scott was offering a cup of tea.
“It's chamomile.” Scott sat next to him, leaning against him slightly. Jimmy put his arm around him, leaning back. “I told you I would come back,” Scott whispered.
“You promised me you would come back.” Jimmy paused. “I was waiting.”
“And you aren’t angry?”
“I was never angry at you.” Scott prickled, but relaxed instantly. Jimmy took a sip of his tea, placing the mug down on the floor. “I don’t know why you always think I am.”
“I kept leaving you,” Scott stated, though it was clear he was hesitant to say it. “I thought you would be angry that I kept leaving and staying away for a long time.”
“Y’r your own person. You were right, you can make it on your own. I didn’t act angry because you kept leaving, I acted angry because you never offered to bring me with you.” Jimmy blushed, wishing he hadn’t just said whatever his brain had first come up with. He covered his face, groaning into his palms. “That was really dumb and I think we should forget I said that.” He could hear Scott’s laughter, quiet and muffled, and groaned again.
“It wasn’t that bad, love, really–”
“Yes it was.” He held out the last word, really putting emphasis on it.
“No, no,” Scott laughed, pulling Jimmy out of his hands. “I thought about you travelling with me too. I wish you could have come with me. I can take care of myself on my own, but I think I would prefer to have you with me.” He smiled, though there was still a bit of laughter bubbling out of his throat.
“You’re making fun of me,” Jimmy accused.
“How could I not? It’s so easy,” Scott snickered.
“I could leave right now.”
“You wouldn’t,” Scott faux gasped, pressing a hand to his chest.
“I could if I wanted to. Y’r lucky I don’t, sweetheart.” Jimmy could see a faint blush flood across Scott’s cheeks, as well as a moment where he stopped to think about what Jimmy had just said.
This felt natural. It felt like the banter they shared at eighteen, over dinner, or the small flirts Scott had cracked in the cell. It felt like this was somewhere Jimmy needed to be, somewhere he was safe and happy and comfortable. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time, since just before he took on the duties of a sheriff. Scott was someone who felt like home.
“I only kept leaving because I was afraid of getting attached,” Scott whispered.
“And look where that got you,” Jimmy mumbled back, trying to lighten the confession. It worked, and Scott let out a weak laugh. “I missed you,” he said simply. Scott softened, leaning against him again.
“I did too.”
They were quiet. Jimmy relished the warmth on his side, thinking about the elf next to him. He was so adventurous and loyal and creative, so confident in everything he did and said. Scott was beautiful, and he was spontaneous and Jimmy loved him so much. It felt like he had already spent lifetimes with him, even if they had only seen each other occasionally over the past decade. Scott was imperfect and he was home , a word that was painfully too much and not enough to describe him.
“Can I kiss you?” He blurted out, not realizing he had even said anything until Scott was sitting up and looking at him with wide eyes. Jimmy froze, attempting to sputter out an apology before Scott put his hand over Jimmy’s mouth.
“I don’t want you to take that back before I answer yes,” Scott said, and then, “Please do.”
“I—yeah.”
Jimmy curled his hands into Scott’s hair, pulling him closer, while Scott held steady on his hips. It was messy and they were smiling and they were laughing , which were all not useful to the kiss. Finally, Scott seemed to get a hold of himself, because he took a breath and then fully kissed Jimmy, accidentally shoving him against the arm of the couch. Jimmy couldn’t bring himself to care, just trying to keep his head straight and not freak out. He savored every point of contact, memorizing the feeling of Scott running his hands up his back and to the back of his neck.
They pulled away, giggling. Scott gave him one last peck and then shuffled back, just so Jimmy could actually sit up correctly.
“I’ve been waiting for that for fifteen years,” Scott admitted.
“You could have done it a good seven years ago if you had just asked ,” Jimmy mumbled, brushing off his jacket. He could feel his heart racing, and he was sure his lips were slightly shiny from Scott’s lip gloss.
“To think, I’ve missed all the chances to kiss you over the years.” Scott sighed. “We’ll have to make up for lost time.”
“So flirting isn’t going away now that you are free from jail?” Jimmy teased. “What did I put you in for again?”
“Stealing a wallet.” Scott rolled his eyes fondly.
“Stealing a wallet, right. I hope you've done nothing to deserve the same amount of jail time.” Scott smiled slyly at him, leaning in.
“If I lied and told you I did, would you put me in handcuffs again?” Jimmy sputtered, looking anywhere in the room except at Scott. The elf planted a kiss on his cheek, pulling away looking proud of himself. Jimmy almost decided to hate him for it. And yet, Scott kept talking. “I love you.”
“I–” Jimmy was caught off guard, though not unhappily. “Yeah, I love you too.”
“Kiss me again?”
“Of course.”
Jimmy couldn’t help but think, in that moment, of a day fifteen years earlier, when together they had climbed a mountain, hand in hand, on a dusty day in the hot summer.