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The starry sky was endless to the human eye, which observed it on a long, endless road. The night was cold and empty, nothing happened. Everything was quiet and calm, except for a light noisy breeze playing with dry grass and the clatter of hooves with a noticeable displeased snort. Richie smiled and rolled his eyes. His horse Storm was clearly unhappy with their long journey, although before moving out, Richie gave him plenty of time to sleep and rest. Richie himself had no right to close his eyes, because they had almost reached their goal, so Richie didn't rush Storm, walking slowly, enjoying the peaceful silence. In the night, Richie saw lanterns burning in the distance, illuminating the buildings of the city. Richie clearly knew that this was his city, where he was rightfully the owner. He knew that not only the inhabitants were waiting for him there, who had high hopes for him, not only his old friends, who probably didn't close their eyes while their sheriff was out of town, but also the one who won his heart once and for all was waiting for him forever and ever. Richie chuckled at the thought of Jon, clutching the reins lightly. Oh, Jon would definitely kill him, Richie was sure of it, because he had been out of town for a week. During all this time, Richie didn't send any news about himself, because it took him three days to get to the place where he was brought for a very important reason. Storm expressed all his displeasure to the owner, and Richie regretted that he did not take John with him, because he was so skillful with horses. When he first saw him treat his horse so kindly, something melted in Richie's heart. And now Storm neighed displeasedly, and Richie patted him on the black resin mane.
"Hush, buddy, we're almost there." The city was getting closer and Richie's heart stopped beating so anxiously.
Man put his hand to the right pocket of his leather jacket, feeling something hard but valuable inside. It was what Richie was leaving for, what reminded him of Jon, his lover, what he risked his life and his love for Jon for. This is a truly valuable thing, for which it was not a pity to die. Richie spent several long days hunting for this jewel. He knew about it for a long time, but it was indifferent to him, because it was of no use to him, for him, the young sheriff of the Wild West, who was interested in both personal safety and the safety of its inhabitants. But when Jon appeared in his life, Richie felt that he was ready to do anything for this man that he wanted. Even when they said goodbye, Jon didn't wanted to let him go, just like Richie didn't wanted to do this. He asked to stay, and Richie should have listened. So Richie thought on his way to this hellish place where this little treasure that he got for Jon was waiting for him, and now he had almost reached his desired goal, where the real treasure was waiting for him, the key to his stone heart. The lanterns shone brighter up close as Richie stopped Storm in front of the gate. The half-asleep guard looked at the man on the black horse for a long time, and then smiled dreamily and opened the gate.
"You've been away for long, sheriff." Old man croaked. "City was completely empty without you, it was so boring without you. Even that one, your bright ray began to fade before everyone's eyes. Good to have you back."
"My absence was short-lived, everything will be as before again." Richie smiled at him with restraint and drove on.
The city was sleeping peacefully. There were no lights on in any of the windows. Richie rode to the stable to leave Storm to rest, as his horse had helped him make the long journey. Upon reaching a small building, Richie stopped Storm and jumped to the ground, walking slowly towards the door, holding Storm by the reins. After a while, his horse lay on the ground and fell asleep in its rightful place, and next to the door in his pen, Richie hung a saddle and reins. Before leaving, Richie found Jon's horse, the Pearl, with his eyes. She is as beautiful as her master in the moonlight at night. Leaving this place, Richie headed to his house, in which, ironically, was a bar. This is the place where the light was always on at night. The owner of the bar never slept, because at night lonely men could visit him, and sometimes the sheriff himself. The door opened with the ringing of a bell, notifying the owner that they had come to him.
A man sat behind the bar, his wavy black hair falling over his face. He was about to fall asleep, holding his face in his hand, but the ringing of the bell woke him up. The man twitched, opening his eyes, and seeing their sheriff in front of him, he froze in place. Usually, for Tico, the visit of his old friend was a surprise, especially a late night visit. Previously, this was a rare occurrence, because the sheriff wasn't up to drinking. However, as soon as Jon settled in the sheriff's house, his gatherings at the bar became frequent, because at first, Jon and Richie didn't get along at all. Then it turned into a more peaceful picture, when Richie waited for Jon to return home and then went upstairs with him to their room. Tico admitted to himself that watching Jon broken was an unpleasant sight, because the young cowboy was waiting for the return of the sheriff much more than anyone else. Tico admitted to himself that he heard broken sobs at night from the sheriff and cowboy's room, but he couldn't help it, Jon wouldn't listen to him.
“Jesus Christ.” Tico got to his feet in surprise, not believing his eyes. “Richie, you are alive."
"Of course." Richie grinned, approaching an old friend and hugging him. "I see that everything here is quiet at night, I have lost the habit of this for a long time."
"Since you left, everyone has become more wild and naughty." Tico grinned, seating the guest who returned from afar at the bar counter. "I barely calmed them down, tried to keep them under control, and he... - Tico stammered, looking at Richie. Tico understood that Richie already knew who Tico was talking about, judging by how carefully the sheriff fixed his attention on these words. "He began to go crazy with loneliness. Even in the first days of your absence, he made such a fuss here, thank God no one was hurt. This boy didn’t look like himself at all, but I understand him, he, like me, tried to keep order, but it turned out badly, so I took it on, and sent him to work with your papers."
“I’m sure he doesn’t understand it at all.” Richie smiled bitterly, realizing what he did with one of his districts from the city, he owes a lot to Jon. “The main thing is that he is okay."
While Tico and Richie were talking, they didn't hear steps approaching from above on the stairs, quiet and accurate, as if the owner was afraid to frighten them away and didn't believe at all that he heard a voice that was familiar to trembling. And without going down, man froze in place. Richie and Tico turned their heads and saw him, the one Richie had been thinking about all this time. The cowboy's face was out of the light, but Richie swore to himself that he saw his look. His pale face took on a surprised and sad look, his lips parted in an attempt to say something, but at that moment, the cowboy's expression changed, and now his look is full of irritation and anger, plump lips pursed and hands clenched into fists. Richie watched this like a paralyzed man, knowing he couldn't get away from it. Cowboy turned around and walked quickly upstairs, leaving Richie and Tico where they were. Sheriff sighed heavily, realizing that he was in for a long night. Tico patted him on the shoulder, chuckling.
"Go on, why are you frozen? He needs you, Richie." Tico winked at him, slightly pushing forward.
Richie smiled briefly and nodded at him as he walked slowly upstairs. Overcoming a small staircase, Richie went to the right floor, and he didn't have to look for the right door, because it was ajar. Richie chuckled softly. Even if Jon was mad at him now, he let him go inside. Richie would have gone inside anyway, despite Jhn's resentment, but he was lucky that the door was left open for him and Richie wouldn't have to spend the night in some closet, and with the appearance of Jon, it was during their quarrels, even when it wasn't Richie's fault. Slowly opening the door, Richie stepped inside, immediately closing the door behind him. It was dark inside, despite the lamp being lit. In the faint light of the lamp, Richie saw a table with stacks of papers lying on it, a closet in the corner of the room, and a bed on which a conspicuous figure sat hunched over, looking at the floor, whose shaggy hair covered his face. As soon as Richie closed the door behind him, his lover slowly straightened up, still not daring to look at him, alive, returned to him. Richie stood still, patiently waiting for Jon's action. He knew that his silence would be short and his feelings would overtake him. Richie always acted like this when they quarreled. Sometimes he regretted not saying anything in response, sometimes he regretted that he had said nothing at all.
Shaggy head slowly turned back towards the sheriff standing at the door. Crystal shattered in Jon's eyes, but he still tried to look serious. And at the sight of such a Jon, Richie's heart broke. Cowboy stood up slowly, and passing the bed, he approached him almost closely. Jon's cheeks were wet with tears, and the bottomless deep oceans staring at him from his eyes captivated him with their beauty. Jon looked into his eyes, not daring to speak. Richie waited, looking into his eyes, not trying to touch his arms, not trying to hug him, because he knew that this would be a gross mistake on his part. Jon was breathing nervously, holding back his sobs, and Richie felt like he was about to explode. Suddenly, the cowboy swung sharply, raising his right hand in the air, but he didn't dare to hit. Richie was still silent, not moving from Jon's actions, but inside he almost smiled at such a cute picture. It wasn't the first time this had happened to Jon, and Richie was used to it. Tears streamed from glassy eyes, and shaggy hair covered his drooping face, and a hand hanging in the air covered Jon's face, and he sobbed loudly, hunched over and almost falling to the floor. Now Richie could act.
"What the hell, Sambora?" Jon said in a trembling voice. "I thought you were dead, there was no news from you."
"Hey, baby, everything is fine, I'm alive." Richie gently took him by the shoulders and straightened him. "I didn't disappear for a month, but just for a week."
"You went alone to these vile nits." Jon wiped his face with his hands from tears, looking at Richie. "You know very well their arsenal and methods, you could be sent dead on Storm or they could kill both of you and sell them on the black market."
“Don’t make me laugh.” Richie smiled warmly, gently wiping his lover’s tears with his thumbs, and then taking his face in his hands, he gently kisses his forehead, and felt Jon slowly pressed against him, hugging his neck. “I wouldn't allow me to do this to myself, and even more so to the Storm too, so I cleared this world of their existence."
"The main thing is that you are alive." Jon finally smiled at him with his sincere smile, Richie missed her so much and loved her so much. "You returned here, to us, you returned to me, Richie."
"All this time I've been thinking about getting back to you sooner, Jonny, and I'm so happy to be next to you again." Richie pressed his forehead against Jon's and gently touched his lips with his, pulling him into a soft kiss.
For the two of them, this warm and tender moment lasted an eternity, when they were in each other's own arms, kissing and not wanting to let go of each other. In those cold, lonely nights, Richie missed his warm, sincere smile, his shaggy hair, his big, deep blue eyes that looked like oceans or skies. Richie missed Jon, but his departure from the city wouldn't have happened just like that, and as soon as Richie remembered Jon's angelic eyes again, he realized that he was really lucky to meet him in his life, because Richie risked his life for him. He didn't care about the ring, but John's happiness. For his happiness, he would die there, stealing this ring from under the nose of the head of the bandits. But now, he was here, next to his lover, tightly hugging his thin waist, stroking his back. Richie gently broke their kiss by biting Jon's lip, but Jon was insatiable, young cowboy reached for the sheriff's lips again, and kissing briefly, his head falls on the man's shoulder, and his hands descended to his back. Oh, well, exactly. One of Jon's favorite things. Richie leaned down to the even curve of Jon's pale neck and began to slowly cover it with kisses, moving towards his exposed shoulder. Jon exhaled noisily, squeezing his lover tighter in his arms. Richie didn't mind giving Jon all his love tonight, hearing his soft sighs and hearing him call his name as he pressed closer to him, but Richie would rather enjoy it all when Jon wanted to, and now, after a long way and long expectations, Richie would like to give Jon something for which he was leaving. Richie leaned over slightly and picked Jon up and lifted him up, causing the cowboy to sigh in surprise and then laugh softly. Richie gently lays him down on the bed, hovering over him, and Jon's eyes look tired but full of love.
"Jonny, you should know something." Richie said quietly, reaching into his jacket pocket and taking out the coveted ring from there, but hiding it in his fist. "You are the one for whom I have a passion for life, you are the one in whom I see the meaning be who I am now. I would like to say thank you for being able to change my life."
"Oh, Richie." Jon smiled embarrassedly, slightly shuddering. "I am grateful to you more than to any person in my life, because next to you I found a family, and with you I found the love that I have been looking for all my life. I should be the one to say thank you for having you in my life."
"I thank you much more." Richie grinned, taking Jon's palm in his and taking his ring finger, Richie slowly put on a gold ring with a blue diamond inside, watching John's eyes widen from what was happening. "I knew about his existence for a long time, but I didn’t need it, but when I met you, I realized that this thing would be my reminder of you, of your magical eyes, Jonny. I left and risked my life, not just for this ring, but for you. You have done a lot for me and you mean a lot to me. I love you so much, i want you to know this."
"Richie... I..." Jon was stunned, but sparks of happiness lit up in his eyes, and his lips spread in a sincere smile, and Richie's heart beat stronger. "I love you so much, you are the most valuable person I had and have in this life. You could die for this ring you gave me. But you are here and I am not sleeping, you are alive and I am happy again. This ring will remind me of this night and of you, Richie."
"God, Jonny, you're so handsome, I'm in heaven here with you. I love you so much." Richie whispered these words almost to Jon's lips, again kissing him gently, trying not to spoil the moment.
"I love you more, Richie, my love." Jon whispered into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Richie's neck.
It was beautiful to lie in the arms of a loved one and kiss him, not making something passionate out of it, but making tenderness and delivering a caress that both of them had been missing for a long time. This ring was a sign of trust on the part of the sheriff, a sign that Richie was ready to die for his new owner, if only this beautiful unearthly and simply kind person would be alive. He loved him too much. Richie would have kissed him all night, but Jon stopped responding, pulling away slightly.
"Richie." he called softly, "Let's just go to bed? I don't want to do this, I'm so tired and so are you."
"Reading my mind, baby." Richie laughed hoarsely, kissing Jon on the cheek.
After a while, undressed, they both lay in bed in an embrace, putting out the light in the icon lamp, but Richie fell asleep slowly, still thinking about what had happened today. He gently stroked Jon's back, and with his other hand he held the palm with the ring on his finger, feeling its warmth from Jon's skin. God, Richie couldn't ask for better.
"Richie." Jon called softly, "Please don't leave me again. You are one of the most important people in my life that I don't want and cannot lose. I lost my father when I was young, I lost my mother and my two brothers, and I don't even know where are they now. I'm so afraid to find them dead. I don't want this to happen to you either. I love you Richie, I love you so much."
Hearing those words hurt Richie, but also warm, but John was almost begging him that night, and Richie couldn't help but listen. He always listened to him, always. Richie kissed the top of Jon's head, gently squeezing his hand in his, holding him tighter.
"Never, Jonny. I won't leave you, I promise you. You are the most precious thing I had in my life, after the death of my parents. I'm with you, my love."
Jon just kissed him gently on the neck, grinning softly. Richie missed that warm laugh, Jon's gentle caresses. It lulled him to sleep this night, and not only this.
"Richie..."
"Mmm?"
"Will you tell everyone tomorrow how you did it all?"
"I will, this is worth everyone's and yours attention."
"I'll wait for an interesting story. Good night, Richie."
"Good night, Jonny."
That night was quiet, no noise from the shots and the clatter of the hooves of rushing horses overtook them when they lay together in an embrace in the same bed, not falling asleep alone but next to each other. Their love burned again with a warm flame after it had no time to burn over completely.