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Hawkins. A town full of danger that apart of you who lived there wouldn’t believe that many others would live there would continue their lives as if it was all in your eye, and would possibly think your a lil’ nutz in the head, but that was the town for you; As Conestoga Wagons pass by you with pioneers looking for a piece of land to own to feed their families on dirty gravel roads, The school house being filled with farmer boys and girls that soon flooded out of the building as soon as the teacher, Miss Cunningham, rang the old bell, from looking over at the saloon where Miss Buckley performed her amazing tricks while gaining more money than a woman made these days. Hawkins seemed like paradise, but only a few knew what was inside those dark mines they called ‘Yonder’.
However, I bet you are reading this and wondering when does this oneshot genuinely begin? Now, hold your horses. Get it? It's coming, I swear on my life...
As the light came in as the sun peeked its head over the horizon through the dirty glass windows of a shed that seemed pretty far from Hawkins, but close enough for comfort, the light slowly seemed to show the object in view; A cinnamon-brown Quarter-horse was finally shown that grazed along the hay set out for it as the sounds of Chickens, Hogs, and Cows started to fill the open, morning sky. As a bedroom came into view, a brunette was seen covered in a thick sheet of a blanket, soft snores that bounced off the wooden walls of the enclosure as he slowly moved while the Rooster let out the iconic bellow of a good morning. Steve scrunched his eyes and tried to pass it off, ignoring it, however, that wasn't the case for him as he jolted up in surprise when loud banging intruded the log cabin. “Harrington! You have exactly five minutes until I knock down that door!” A loud booming voice echoed past the front door as Steve nearly tripped on the blanket wrapped around his foot from having to speed and throw on some shorts before lazily throwing on his sheriff vest as he made a swift pace to the front door.
As he opened the door, he was left in surprise to find Mayor Hopper staring sternly in front of the door, leaving Steve nearly defenseless as he pulled on his vest collar to let out some air that he had been holding in from all the shock. “Well, good morning Mayor, aren’t you looking like a Belvidere!” He complimented with a toothy grin that slowly flattered due to the stern look that Jim gave. After the awkward silence, Steve moved away and offered Jim inside as he soon wandered to the kitchen to brew some coffee.
“Harrington, we got things to discuss. I have told you many times that, as Sheriff in Hawkins, you gotta treat things more responsibly! Back in my days when I was Sheriff, I ain’t let not one Bandit or Ruffin get out of my tail, and yet here you are who had let many go under that ego of yours!”
“Mayor, I can assure you that accidents were made, and I am willing to fix em’,” Harrington spoke as he poured two cups of black coffee, soon walked over towards the living room as Jim placed him down on the leather couch with a bear skin blanket draped over the seat, soon taking the cup begrudgingly as Steve walked over and sat on a leather chair, throwing a leg over the other to take a drink of the bitter, yet sweet sensation that ran down his throat,
“I have my ups and downs, but we all know I ain’t no saint.. Look Mayor, I swear on my ma’s grave, if I let one bad guy go, then you can ridicule me for years.”
“Son, you can easily do that to yourself.”
Jim snarked as Steve rolled his eyes, but took the slap from the figurative hand with confidence. The talk was a rather hurtful one; Jim constantly belittled his lack of care and stated that he used to be a criminal before he changed. It was true, and he’s gotten better, but this talk was just throwing backhand slaps. “And, let's not forget how you’ve yet to catch that damn, Eddie The Bandit, Munson!” Exclaimed Jim as Steve’s heart sank and turned away. Ah yes, The Freak; Eddie was an old villager of theirs... Whenever Eddie’s parents passed from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, he went with his rodeo-owner Uncle, Dwayne Munson... He’ll admit, they treated Eddie poorly... And the man left into thievery
As the talk seemed to be relieved finally, the two finally washed their coffee mugs and soon walked outside after Steve finally put on decent clothing instead of half-fast ‘throw it ons’. Steve turned and walked towards the cinnamon-brown Quarter horse who was placed inside a horse pen, the name ‘Nugget’ engraved on the saddle that he got when he first saved Nugget from being attacked by hungry wolves. He gently patted its Maine before soon climbing on, giving a nod to Hopper as they eventually made their way through the Badlands until the beautiful town of Hawkins shed its light. As shops started opening up, Steve smiled at each passing building he saw; From watching Argyle use a brick to keep the doors of his Tanner shop, watching Dr. Brenner step out from the Saloon to fix his suit and tie as any Lawyer would, but to Steve, Dr. Branner was nothing but some Barber’s clerk, Dr. Alexie smiling wide as he watered his flowers while moving the sign on his doctor office to open for patients from all around, he was reminded that the town may be crazy, but the people inside were something to cherish, and the Wanted Poster board that held all the famous Bandit’s names in front of the Saloon, causing him to glare at Eddie’s drawn face.
“Wild Hog!”
Voices screamed as many parted ways while a hog seemed to run through the open space, with this course of action, Steve and Jim held no hesitation to throw themselves off of Nugget and join the Wild-Hog chase. The chasers slid under fences, jumped over fruit baskets, and tried their best to chase the squealing pound of meat; With this, Jim soon ran towards the rope salesman and bought one for a pound, doing his best to swiftly tie the famous Honda Knot before calling for Steve to swing his arm back and throw it over. Steve watched the lasso fly as he climbed on a fence to quickly grab it, swinging it around before finally throwing it at least trip the Hog, letting Jonathan slide over and hold it down while folks cheered in delight when the wild chase was over, some men throwing their hats in the air as Mike and Will fell beside Jonathan to calm the hog.
Steve smiled as he examined the proud crowd that came in all different colors, different facial expressions, and different looks at what they had witnessed; those who didn’t condone Animal violence were giving their looks of disgust while those who only cared they'll have food for winter seemed to show great gratitude, however, one man caught his eyes; A brunette with mop-like hair stood tall, a shadow over his eyes that was caused by the brown wide-brimmed, high crowned sombrero, his clothing choice seemed to show signs of a Ruffin; A blue open vest that contained a white, dirty blouse underneath, ripped jeans and muddy boots. It was off-ly dirty, and rancid if you asked Steve. However, his mood changed when it seemed the figure caught his staring as a smirk came on his face and yellow teeth shined, his tongue dragging on it teasingly as he flicked his sombrero to show those deep brown eyes; Eddie Munson. The fugitive bandit seemed to trail his eyes up and down Steve as if examining each part of him, and to be honest, Steve didn’t know whether to cover himself or let those eyes stare at him with pride.
However, Eddie soon turned away as his footsteps echoed in Steve’s mind as if the loud noises of praises from the crowds didn’t affect him, causing him to soon start walking in the direction that Munson was running off to until a firm hand slapped his chest to halt him from his momentum. “Where the hell do you think you’re wondering off too?!” Jim scolded as Steve attempted to ignore him and look around to see if he can get a hint to where Munson was going, yet the crowd seemed to have gotten thicker as it hit noon, people flooding the roads to start shopping.
“Mayor Hopper, I have to run..”
“Bullshit Harrington, where you are going, is straight to my office so we can talk about how you aren’t taking your position response–”
“Oh, Mister Hopper, thank you!”
The voice of a woman broke his attention as he turned to see a woman wearing a blue gingham dress who seemed to race over while holding her skirt up. Joyce Byers, what a lovely soul was she; Her Husband and she had gotten into a divorce after learning he had verbally abused their oldest son, Jonathan, who ran over to comfort his mother due to the fact she seemed to have run the whole way here. Not only is she a widow, but she’s also a double one when her poor lover, Bob, seemed to have been eaten by a pack of coyotes to save them. Bless her heart.
“Mister Hopper, Mister Harrington, oh gosh I can not thank you enough. I am so sorry about this accident; My poor boy Willy stated that our hog had escaped after he was distracted by something from afar..”
“Or close by~”
Jonathan smirked as William seemed to pass a glare that threatened him to be quiet, Micheal looking over to glace at William before gently rubbing his shoulder to give him a sense of comfort, making the young farmer boy blush before turning away and blaming it on the hot sun. Jim sighed and took his at off to pay respects to Joyce, a smile on his face that Steve can only be described to be a man thinking about a Charivari, a man who was looking at the women as if he could be his left-handed-wife.
“I understand Ma’am, guess you can say you gave these boys quite the work… Uhm… Pardon my manners, when did Wheeler get here?... Did you cause them trouble, boy?”
Jim said sternly as Mike looked over at him with big doe-eyes, making Joyce give a slight frown as she walked over and hugged him from behind,
“I am watchin’ over Micheal, we know how his mother is... And his father is nothing but a beat–up drunkaholic... Nancy is out there doing some gunslinging, and so, I had decided to watch over Micheal..”
Joyce commented as Mike seemed to have looked shame to know his family has their legacy, Jonathan patting his shoulder as Will gave him a small hug on the side; Mrs. Wheeler was what you would call, a Calico Queen... In other words, she was a mighty known Prostitute. Steve gave a side glance of respect due to the memory of him witnessing Mrs. Wheeler’s flirtatious acts; Billy Hargrove was famous in the days, a good-known gambler that many women would flock over, but nothing as serious as when billy would watch Mrs. Wheeler perform at the Saloon in that short red dress with corsets, garter belts, and stockings. It left him sick, especially knowing she was a mother of two kids… But Billy had the unfortunate fate when he was killed by a very deadly snake, the Boa which Hawkins nicknamed, ‘The Mind Flayer’. As Jim has swooned from the conversation he was intending to have with Harrington due to Joyce, Steve soon snuck away as he eventually smiled upon looking at the big bolded letters on a famous place; Family Saloon.
As Steve entered, he smiled as he looked over to see Robin throwing up her elaborate beer tricks to the guest that cheered for her, Nancy Wheeler seemed to be most interested in the female Bartender than the tricks she pulled. However, as Robin seemed to have noticed Steve, she smirked and held up an already bottle of his favorite beer. He and Robin have a cahoot type of relationship; After getting close during their time working at an old grocery shop; Groceries Ahoy, and soon escaping after being taken by a group of Midwestern Bandits, their friendship was like no other. He squeezed himself onto the only vacant seat on the bar stool with a torn leather seat. Smoke permeated the room as he listened to Fred Benson play sweetly on the Fortieano. Screams blared overhead as gamblers continued their addictions and drunkies slouched to either side of me beside him as Harrington could only try to forget their presence to let the bitter taste of moonshine run down his throat, especially watching Robin pass some flirts to Nancy who swung her gun around her finger while Robin cleaned a beer glass.
However, as he turn his head to distract himself from the romance, his mind froze the moment he saw Eddie again. He gently swung his small glass of beer in his hands while looking at Harrington from afar with near devilish eyes, as they made eye contact, Eddie took a big swig of the moonshine and placed it down, raising as he eventually walked towards the back exit of the door. However, he seemed to act as if he was in no hurry as if he was teasing Steve to follow him. Steve took the offer as he slammed the beer glass down and snuck one of the drunk men’s guns from his Hollister to make sure he had a weapon close-by and soon walked towards the back entrance of the Saloon with fury and determination to catch Munson finally, attempting to keep his composer and not let any side effects from the moonshine drown him out. As he close the doors to the back entrance, he retrieved the stolen pistol and held it close as his eyes scanned the area;
He felt the rough bricks beneath his hand that he used to steady himself while walking in a pile of garbage and scraps before making it towards the open area was clear to him as he soon began to check his surroundings, waiting for the shadows to shift and a sound to be made before he slowly began to turn, counting each second that went past his head as he kept his mind sharp... However, it wasn’t until the sound of trash moving occurred that Steve swung himself around and pointed his gun to be met with a street mouse chewing its way through the plastic of the trash bags. He shuddered, soon taking deep breaths to calm his heartbeat that was beating faster than his own shaky hands until he felt a cold metal press against the back of his head.
“I’d suggest putting the gun down, Sherriff..”
A raspy, yet soft voice echoed close in his ear as Steve debated his options, gently lowering to his knees to set the pistol down as he went into a huddle position, yet stayed stern and tall. Eddie walked in front of him and slowly rose Steve’s face with his index finger and thumb holding his chin up high, watching as Eddie dragged his red and black pistol with the name ‘Sweetheart’ plastered over it gently across his lips before returning to his forehead.
“I saw what you did with that Hog, great skill you have with learning to use rope, is there something you’re trying to tell people~”
“You’re disgusting to think I’d sin like that..”
“Oh ho ho! You are no saint, Harrington… You’re pretty in the devil’s eye though…~”
Eddie smirked as he tilted Steve’s head to check each feature, to run a finger over each small detail and note them as Steve felt like a show cattle that were being examined to see who would buy him. He watched the bandit lower to his knees as he slowly reached back into his backpack to retrieve something, and with this, Steve growled and rose to push Eddie off his balance, which soon caused the other to retrieve the gun from the ground and point it to the bandit who did the same. “Easy, big boy... Easy..” Eddie smirked as he rose with the gun still facing Harrington, the two staring at one another as the tension grew thin. As Eddie walked towards Steve, the Sherriff took a few steps back while making sure the gun was kept pointing. “You must want to be a dead man, Munson..” Steve spoke as he kept his guard while the other male pressed Steve into the brick wall and moved his gun to point directly at his heart.
“Go on Harrington, pull the trigger..~”
Eddie began to pressure Steve as he started getting hesitant options; he may be a Sherriff, but he was no killer. He can’t harm them, he can take them to the pound.. h e had good morals and a good heart and that’s what he thinks Jim doesn't like, he isn’t demanding and doesn’t threaten or harm any fugitives that deserve it. Once Munson realized this, he got closer to their lips were close apart they can smell the Moonshine on each other’s breath. “Always after me... Wanting to arrest me, and yet so scared to try and fully retrieve me... Well.. I am a Bandit... So I suppose I should steal something from you..” Eddie whispered as he got dangerously close to his face, smirking at Steve’s body tensing and closing his eyes as the softness of lips almost encased him, yet a beer bottle was broken beside their head.
“You better get off of him, you son of a bitch..”
A female voice rang as they looked over to see Robin cocking a shotgun and pointing it towards Eddie, who begrudgingly let Steve go and backed from him before kicking down some planks of wood that caused her to lose her footing from the moving trash bags that were held by the planks slightly, Steve running over to raise his arms and catch her, making sure her feet touched Solid ground before they ran through the Alleyway and towards the gravel road as they desperately searched for Eddie. However, with no luck, Steve angrily grabbed a stone from the dirty ground and threw it far, listening to it bounce off the wanted poster board in front of the Saloon, however, as he looked at the Eddie picture he examined last time, he was surprised to find the ink words of ‘Find me, Bigboy’ plastered in beautiful calligraphy and a drawing close to a heart marking beside Eddie’s head. “Oh, I will, Munson… I will…” Steve swore before he heard footsteps, looking back as Robin’s face showed nothing but deep fear.
“Steve, you need to come to look at this..”