Chapter Text
"His magic's gone feral," the Sheriff told them. "Burned a house down. Burned the carriage they tried to take him in. Local Academy won't even bother to come and get'em."
"I worry if this is wise," Jack says, guiding their carriage to the fields along the outskirts of town.
"Can't burn fire," Gabe says confidently.
The Sheriff said they'd know it when they found him. When they reach a field turned brown from heat and see a half-burned old barn out in the distance, the red of its paint baked to a faded clay color, they know they've found the place.
They pull the carriage off on the side of the dirt road and take to the field on foot, Gabe at the lead with a basket of food. The dry grass crunched under their feet, the packed earth kicking up dust with every step.
The make it all the way to the wooden fence of an animal pen before they hear a shrill cry of, "GO 'WAY!"
"We aren't here to hurt you," Jack says loud enough to be heard, stopping where they are and keeping their hands visible. Gabe holds up the basket like an offering. "We've brought you food. We just want to make sure you're alright."
"DUN WANT YER FOOD. GO 'WAY."
"If he's going to be a stubborn cuss..." Gabe mutters, making to drop the basket there. Jack hushes him, though he smiles.
"Can we leave the food for you?"
"NO FOOD. JUSS GO!"
"I'm leaving it anyway!" Gabe shouts, hanging the basket on the fence by way of a rusty nail.
"We'll come back tomorrow," Jack adds.
"DUN COME BACK!"
"Yes, we're coming back!" Gabe shouts again, snickering.
"NO!"
"Gabriel, stop arguing with him. He's just a child," Jack scolds, though he's trying not to laugh himself.
They leave, following the same path through dead grass, and climb into their carriage. They have supper in the tavern and stay the night at the quaint little inn.
The next day, they go back again with another basket of food. They see that the basket left yesterday has gone missing.
"I have more food!" Gabe yells before Jack can stop him.
"LEAVE IT AN' GO!"
"Show us that you're okay, first," Jack says.
"JUSS GO, THEN."
Gabe starts matching toward the barn. "I'm bringing you food! Come out here, or I'm coming in!"
A small figure runs at the open barn doors with a savage little scream, glowing against the semi-darkness inside. His hands light up and he hurls little flares of radiant fire toward them. They hit the ground at Gabe's feet and set the dying grass ablaze.
Still, Gabe marches forward, right into the fire. It extinguishes under his steps, the smoke curling up from the ashes to wrap around him like a shadow.
The boy howls and flings his fire again, desperate to stop Gabe from coming any closer. They hit true this time, striking Gabe over the chest and along his arm, but instead of bursting into flames, they only leave scorch marks on his clothes. His flinch is minuscule, noticed only by Jack, as he keeps coming for the boy. Gabe's eyes glow red, like embers burning within him, and he smirks at the child's growing awe.
"You... you made my fire go out," says the child, looking up with wide eyes as Gabe comes to loom over him.
The fire fades from Gabe's eyes and the smoke whips away on the breeze. "Can't burn fire, little man," he says confidently. He tosses the basket down at the boy's feet. "You hungry?"
By the telltale grumble of his belly, he definitely is, but it seems he'd much rather look up at the man before him. "How didja put it out? Water don't always put it out. But... how didja...?"
Gabe kneels down to eye-level with the kid and pulls up some of the dried grass. It goes up in flames in a split second, leaving ash and smoke to carry on the wind. "I'm a Fire Mage, too."
If the boy's eyes could get any bigger, they would.
Jack, knowing that he's much more susceptible to fire than they are, is cautious as he moves forward to join them. He takes in the boy's thin frame and matted hair, his sun-faded and scorched clothing. The deplorable outlaws that call themselves the Deadlock Coven haven't been in custody for more than a week, but the boy looks like he's been neglected for far longer.
"Would you like to learn?" Jack asks, keeping his tone soft and easy.
The boy startles at finding Jack closer than before, but doesn't light up. He shakes his head and backs away instead. "No," he says defiantly, "Because I'd say yes, an' you'd juss dump me inna 'cademy!"
Gabe growls and Jack finds himself humming softly to calm the vitriol in his partner before it surfaces. "Academies are prisons and no place for children," Gabe grits through clenched teeth.
"Trust us, we've been there." Jack's tone is solemn as he kneels down beside Gabe, putting himself at the boy's height. "If you want to learn, we'll bring you home with us to our Coven."
"Academy is never an option," Gabe adds.
The boy eyes the two of them warily. "An' you'd teach me?" he jabs a finger at Gabe.
Gabe's nod is firm. "Everything I can."
"An' no 'cademy, not ever?" he asks of Jack.
"No Academy, ever," Jack promises.
Squaring up his shoulders, the boy huffs and picks up the basket. "I'll think 'bout it. Come back t'morrow," he says, casual as could be, as he turns and heads back for the barn.
Jack is left speechless. Gabe, however, laughs hard, until tears spring to his eyes.
"I like you, kid! What's your name?" Gabe shouts to his retreating back.
The smile the kid throws over his shoulder is brighter than sunshine and full of pride. "Jesse McCree!"
"Then we will see you tomorrow, Jesse McCree!"
When they ready for bed that night, Gabe feels ichy and sore where Jesse's little flares had hit him. Removing his shirt, they find Gabe's skin has blistered and cracked, left dry as earth baked in the desert sun.
"Can't burn fire, hm?" Jack levels him with a glare.
"Well, we know he's definitely not Earthen fire," Gabe says, looking over his arm. "But what other fire is there?"
"That's the question now, isn't it?" Jack sighs, rummaging for in their luggage for a salve. As he rubs it into Gabe's skin, Jack nuzzles gently at his temple. "Does it feel strange, not being so unusual?"
Gabe laughs and pulls Jack in for a kiss. "Oh, I'm still unusual. I'm just not the only Fire Mage we've ever seen anymore."