Chapter Text
4c didn’t know what to do. Heading back into town seemed like the only option, but he felt bad for Missy. Definitely not Bunny. She saved his life. He’d still be in that cave if it weren’t for Missy finding him. He didn’t even get to thank her. 4c regretted storming off. Sure, he could find his way to Pity in just a few short hours. He grew up here. His dad showed him how to tame wild horses. His mom taught him how to tell which berries were poisonous. He should have stayed and talked to Bunny. He shouldn’t have let something as simple as a few words cloud his judgment. He was acting like a child.
Vit… why did that name anger him? Did he know something?
“Vit?” A voice sounded nearby. Did he say that out loud? Maybe he wasn’t totally conscious after all. “Now where did you ‘ear that, boy?”
“Shep?” Shep seemed to have been chopping down trees until 4c had accidentally walked past him mumbling to himself.
“I don’t think we’ve met.” Shep seemed like a normal guy, but the way he had his coat situated around his holster to show his pistol always made 4c feel uneasy. Like, he was showing the world ‘I gotta gun and I know how to use it.’ 4c tried to show no eye contact on the weapon as he shook his hand. “4c. Nice to meet ya.”
“Nice to meet ya, 4c.” Shep abruptly let go, “Where ya headin’, boy? Or even better. Where ya headin’ from?” Despite his name, Shep looked less like a Shepard who looks after sheep, and more like a wolf cornering said sheep. His eyes filled with hunger as they locked on 4c. If they were in a building, 4c was sure he would be up against a wall.
“I’m headin’ back to Pity. I just came from the mines.” It wasn’t a lie so 4c’s voice remained even. Wasn’t exactly the truth so his eyes wandered for a milli-second. Thankfully, Shep didn’t catch on. 4c thought he could leave the conversation there but- “Where’d ya hear that name?”
4c froze. How did Shep know the name? He knew he knew, because it was the same tone that Bunny held.
“Heard it around. Why?”
Shep let out a light whistle, “haven’t heard that name in a long, long time, 4c.”
“Who did it belong to?”
“An old colleague of mine.” Shep picked up his axe as he sighed. “Good friend at the time.”
“’At the time?’ What that mean?”
Shep’s axe slung over his should as he spoke. Speaking to the sky more than 4c’s face. “Poor fella didn’t last. Got ‘emself shot before I could say goodbye.”
“A-and-“ 4c voice shook, “His name was ‘Vit’?”
“David Vit. Good man. Bad shot.” That sounded like a title on a gravestone. “And you?” Shep’s eyes darted to his.
“Me?” 4c took a shaking step back.
“You just so happened to know the name?” Shep slowly seemed to corner 4c. His axe catching a stray piece of sunlight.
“Heard it around-“
“’Round where?”
“Around.”
“4c…”
4c wasn’t a good fighter. He was a farmer for pete’s sake. He’d never even handled anything more than an axe and a knife, but only to cut rope and chop trees. Not only that, 4c felt like if he stood still too long his legs would give out from under him. If Shep decided to swing that axe then he was for sure doomed. He just had to think, “Hey now, Shep. I think we got off on the wrong foot. I-I don’t know anyone named Vit.” He rambled. Maybe a little too much. Cause as soon as Shep stopped stepping towards him, his once “friendly” smile had gone to a frown and squinted eyes. “You do.”
“I-“
“4C!”
A voice he hadn’t expected to be the one to save him. “Cherrie?” Before the girl revealed herself from the bushes, Shep had already backed away largely. “Howdy, gentlemen!” She greeted with a smile, having no idea what she might have just stopped. “4c, we’ve been lookin’ for ya everywhere! We left the mines and when we came back you were gone!” 4c was a little upset by that notion, but too relieved to backfire.
“G’day, 4c. Cherrie.” Shep nodded before walking away as if nothing happened.
4c looked to Cherrie, but didn’t reply as she helped him on his way back to Pity. He was never going mining with those two ever again.
…
“Well, then..” Shep mumbled to himself.. or was he? He knew he was being followed. He knew those footsteps since the day of his first heist with the boy. “C’mon out, Bunny. I think we need to have a little chat about your new friend.”