Chapter Text
Hell. If Shane could use one word to describe the past few days it would be that word. He guessed it could describe the past few years, in fact. He wasn’t going to make a big fuss about it, though. It wasn’t nothing he couldn’t fix. Shane was good at that, fixing things.
Hell was fitting not only because it described his home without his mama there, but it’d also been hotter than the devil’s armpit lately.
Shane fidgeted in his chair, picking at the scab on his knee, trying not to make eye contact with the other boy who’d just marched through the County Sheriff’s office doors like he lived there.
“Dad, you in there?”
Okay, apparently he did. Shane had noticed him before in the hallways at school, but he’d never cared enough to talk to the kid. Shane couldn’t hear their conversation, but the Sheriff sent his son back out after ruffling his hair, probably telling him to leave his office door open.
Probably doesn’t trust me not to book it first chance I get.
Instead of eyeing Shane cautiously like so many other kids at school did- not that Shane paid any attention to them- he sat down right next to him and immediately tried to engage in conversation.
“My daddy says you’re lost, or missin’. Where’d you come from?”
Shane just stared at the floor, trying to ignore him.
“I just came from school, it’s down the road over that way. Course I’ll have to start riding the bus to King County Middle next year. Do you go to school there?”
Shane found himself staring at a spot over on the wall with intense interest. Maybe if I don’t say anything, he’ll go away.
“Your face is funny lookin’. What happened to your nose?”
Funny looking? Shane couldn’t let that go without at least trying to defend his dignity. He didn’t feel like explaining himself or wasting his breath, so he made something up, “Nothin’. I tripped.”
The other boy gave a good natured chuckle, “You tripped on your nose ? Alright then. What were you doin’ that for?” Shane glared at him and immediately shot back, “Out lookin’ for my mama.”
The boy’s eyes were open and honest, blue and clear as the summer sky outside. These eyes didn’t seem to judge Shane at all, which is exactly what made him so suspicious.
“Oh, if she’s lost too my daddy can help, cause he’s the sheriff and all.”
Shane didn’t need any help, that would just slow him down. He could do this all by himself, it was his mama anyway.
This kid just wouldn't stop running his mouth, “He helps everybody. Says it’s our duty to look after others and keep ‘em safe. What’s your daddy do?”
“Jack shit.”
There was an awkward pause before the boy simply let out an, “Oh.”
Shane ran a hand over his face and through his hair, his forehead slick with sweat, “Yeah. That’s why I’m lookin’ for my mama. She needs to come back home.”
“Like I said, my daddy can-”
“I don’t want your daddy’s help. He’s makin’ me wait here ‘til mine shows up. Then I have to start my search all over again- I got so far this time too.” Whenever Shane’s dad showed up, there was gonna be hell to pay. Part of him wished his old man would never show up at all, just leave him there.
The boy shrugged, Shane automatically arching an eyebrow what felt like multiple feet high at this sudden proposal, “Well, what if I help you instead?”
This kid? Help me? Maybe when hell freezes over.
He didn’t seem to sense Shane’s mood, or he chose to ignore it, as he cajoled him, “C’mon. You’ll cover more ground with the two of us. Plus I’ve got my bike! With my help, you can find her in no time.”
Shane scratched his chin like he’d seen his daddy do. Maybe this was something important to consider after all. He eyed his newfound volunteer warily, wondering if he had any tricks up his sleeve.
The boy grinned big like he knew him already, like they’d just discovered buried treasure together or something, “I won’t tell anyone, don’t you worry.”
Shane considered this offer. The kid had shown tons of commitment already just getting Shane to speak to him. Maybe having a dedicated partner wouldn’t be so bad. “Fine. I guess you can help me. On one condition, though.”
“What’s that?”
Shane felt his stomach grumble as he replied, “Gimme whatever’s in your lunchbox.” Immediately, his new partner started opening his lunch without a complaint. “Alright, fine. How come?”
Shane idly fanned himself, plucking at his shirt collar, “It was real hot out there past couple days and I forgot to pack any juice.”
The boy’s eyes grew concerned, “Did you say days? How long were you missing for?”
Shane averted his gaze, worrying his teeth against his lip in silence as he clenched one of his hands into a fist.
The kid seemed to understand when to stop pushing now, since all he said was, “Hm. Well, I’ve got a juice box right in there. You can have my last chocolate bar too. Might be a little melted though.” Much to Shane’s surprise, the boy plopped the lunchbox right on his lap. The last chocolate bar? This kid really wants in no matter the price.
Shane glanced up at him gravely, “You’re serious about this, ain’t you...”
That look of pure confusion on the boy’s face almost made Shane start laughing. He was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to laugh, though. The kid’s eyes were bewildered, “What do you mean?” Shane scrubbed his hands through his hair, curling from the humidity, as he shrugged, “Just wondering why you’re bein’ so nice to me.”
“Well, why not? You’re thirsty, just take it.” This kid seemed to trust him too easily. If Shane’s learned anything in his nine and a half years, it was that you couldn’t trust anyone if they hadn’t earned it. Loyalty had to be built on, not pulled out of someone’s ass. “But why do you wanna help me at all? You… don’t know me.” In the back of his head, Shane thought that if this kid knew where he came from he wouldn’t be helping him.
“My daddy helps strangers all the time. Like he says, it’s our duty to look after others and keep ‘em safe. That’s what I’m doin’. ‘Sides, you don’t seem that bad.”
Shane sighed, resigning himself to his fate. He replied with a half-hearted last ditch effort at keeping the other boy at arm’s length, “But you don’t even know my name.”
His blue eyes lit up like a sky full of stars when he laughed, and it reminded Shane of his mama. He stuck out his hand with a natural confidence Shane envied, “I could say the same to you. I’m Rick. What’s your name?”
He grabbed Rick’s hand in his own, giving it a firm shake like he’d seen the men on those detective shows do, “I’m Shane.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Rick sounded like he was born with those manners— as for Shane, he figured they weren't all that useful, himself.
Shane hesitantly picked up the juice pouch, stabbing it with the straw, tongue chasing it to soak up all the juice, draining the pouch in seconds.
Rick watched him, that look of concern back in his eyes, this time mingling with hardened determination, “Shane, we’re gonna find your mama, I know we will. We can start looking tomorrow after I get out of school.” He added hurriedly, “Oh wait, you know where King County Elementary is?”
What does he think I am, some delinquent? Just cause his daddy’s all suspicious about me. “Course I do, I go there too. You think I’m just some dumb kid who don’t go to school?”
“Well, why else would you have tripped on your nose?”
“You better shut up unless you want your nose to end up lookin’ like mine.”