Chapter Text
Harsh sunlight uncomfortably warmed the back of Xie Lian's white shirt, sweat making it stick to his skin. His hat blocked out the worst of it but the heat never got any easier to deal with. He was encroaching on the edge of a town that seemed as slow and groggy as he did under the burning sun. The sign just outside of town read: Welcome to Ghost Town. People were inside, windows open or sitting outside under the shade of their establishments and homes with women fanning themselves languidly. His boots lightly kicked up dirt on the road through town, acknowledging the townspeople with a dip of his chin and a tired smile.
Xie Lian headed straight for the town's saloon, pushing open the swinging doors with one arm. The saloon was pretty empty, not surprising for the time of day, only home to a few people sitting at tables in the dark corners and two men at the bar with the bartender. He slipped into a bar stool and the bartender raised an eyebrow at him, slowly drying a glass with a rag. "What can I do for you?"
Xie Lian slipped a coin on the bartop, sliding it forward. "Just some water, if you can spare it."
"We've got it." The bartender confirmed, collecting his payment. "One of the luckier towns that do, no thanks to the drought. I reckon we'll be having more visitors with people leaving their towns to follow the water." He quickly poured a glass and slid it back across the bar, shaking his head. "Folks from all walks of life will be crawling around, trying to make trouble."
"You worried?" Xie Lian asked before taking a few deep dregs of water, vaguely hearing heavy footsteps and jingling coming down the bar steps from the upper level.
"No, I'm sure Crimson Rain will keep them in line, ain't that right?" The bartender directed cheekily over Xie Lian's head.
Xie Lian sat down his glass and turned to look over his shoulder, blinking at the handsome man approaching the bar. His face was strong and defined, dark eyebrows furrowed and a sharp eye hardly open in disgruntled sleepiness. He had an black leather eye patch over the other. His nose was pronounced and thin lips twisted in a scowl. His long jet black hair was loose over his shoulders. His shirt was bright red and loose around his torso, flashing his collarbones and upper chest. It was tucked into his black jeans that molded nicely over his legs. The jingling was coming from his boots, silver chains dangling from them.
The man called Crimson Rain collapsed sloppily in the stool to his right, practically melting over the bar top and sighing loudly. "It's too fucking hot."
The bartender chuckled, reaching for another glass and filling it with water too, placing it in front of the man. "Drink up. You'll feel better."
Xie Lian watched as Crimson Rain swiped the cup, tipping his head back to gulp it down and ended up spilling some water down his chin. When he finished, he groaned and wiped his chin with the back of his hand.
Xie Lian seemed to notice he was staring at the same time that San Lang noticed that he was sitting next to someone. They locked eyes briefly before San Lang did a double take and took in his appearance, eyes widening in shock. Xie Lian smiled at him, amused. "Howdy."
San Lang hurriedly sat up straight, clearing his throat. "Pleasure." He wiped over his chin again and straightened his sleeves. "I apologize for the unsightly display. I'm sure you just wanted to enjoy your--what are you having, water? Get him another--water in peace."
Xie Lian laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners. "No, you're okay. You didn't disturb me." He extended a hand towards him. "I'm Xie Lian."
Crimson Rain had a twinkle in his eye that was half awe and good humor now that he no longer seemed taken off guard. He grasped Xie Lian's hand and shook it. "Crimson Rain, at your service, but you can call me, San Lang. If you need anything, let me know."
The bartender finished refilling Xie Lian's glass, nodding towards San Lang. "Believe him when he says that. He takes care of things around here better than the entire band of lawmen combined."
"It's true." San Lang confirmed, winking and flashing a toothy grin at Xie Lian.
His blatant assurance of himself likened the wandering man to him more to his surprise. "I need a place to stay for a couple days. Got anything?"
San Lang snapped his fingers and pointed at him. "Got the perfect place for you! I can show you whenever you're ready."
"Well, I'm ready now, if that's okay." He said as he adjusted the hat on his head.
"It's fine with me. I've got to check on the girls, anyway." San Lang slapped the bar as he stood up, giving him a roguish smile. "Finish your water, cowboy. It's hot outside."
When they were ready to go and stepped out of the doors, San Lang cursed softly under his breath, tipping his hat lower over his brow. His hat was a pretty and flashy thing. It was as red as his shirt, well made, and dainty silver chains hanging over the sides. It was expensive. Xie Lian wondered if anyone has tried to steal it yet. He asked.
San Lang laughed, chains gently clinking together. "No one is stupid enough to dare. I had a reputation by then."
"A reputation?"
San Lang looked mischievous as they stepped out into the street. "Have you even heard of Crimson Rain?"
"Maybe?" Xie Lian squinted in thought. "I'm sorry, I travel a lot."
"It's alright." San Lang dipped his hat at a few townspeople that greeted him. "Just means I have to terrorize the desert plains a little more."
"San Lang."
He laughed again. "Crimson Rain is one of the best sharpshooters around. Defeated 33 lawmen in a standoff on their own. Known for their legendary pistol, E-Ming. A threat and menace to the law and a savior to the common people."
Xie Lian hummed, intrigued. "And I'm guessing that's all true?" San Lang nodded. "What's the meaning behind the namesake?"
"Ah," San Lang rubbed his chin in thought. "The civilians gave that to me, I believe. It was after a shootout with some bandits who tried terrorizing the town I happened to be in. I was handling some serious business, y'know? I chased them out of town into the plains where I gunned them down. It was such a massacre the only thing that wasn't bloodied was a single cluster of ghost flowers, even though it looked like blood rained from the sky."
Xie Lian was fond of ghost flowers since they used to grow near his childhood home. "That's quite the origin story."
"Do I frighten you?" He was smiling when he asked but Xie Lian noticed that there was an odd tension to his shoulders.
Xie Lian playfully bumped San Lang's shoulder with his own. "I've seen and heard scarier. You don't seem that scary to me."
"I never want to seem scary to you." San Lang stopped in his tracks and turned to him, his singular eye dark and bewitching under the shade of his hat. And, funnily enough, Xie Lian believes him.
"I know."
San Lang seemed to take that without comment, continuing forward. Xie Lian followed him all the way to an inn closer to the other end of town. San Lang opened the door for him, allowing him to walk in first. Inside, the lobby was quaint but well taken care of. There was someone at the receiving desk with their feet kicked up on it and a newspaper over their face. The loud snoring indicated that they were certainly sleeping.
Xie Lian hid a smile behind his hand as San Lang approached the desk and began ringing the bell on it incessantly. The person snorted loudly into wakefulness and jumped so quickly that they fell out of the chair and onto the floor. Xie Lian hurriedly rounded the counter to help them up. "Are you alright?"
A young man with a prominent scar across his face bounced up onto his feet, looking livid. "Now, who in their right mind would make all that damn racket?!"
Xie Lian stepped back sheepishly and the man opened their mouth to start a tirade but was cut off by a throat clearing. They both turned to see San Lang leaning against the desk with a bemused look on his face. "Is this how you treat your guests?"
If Xie Lian wasn't concerned that the man would faint, he would have thought the sight of him paling so quickly amusing. "C-crimson Rain, sir! What brings you here today?"
"I have an important guest that's looking to stay for a few days. You will accommodate them for whatever they need. Is that understood?" San Lang dropped a few coins on the table and straightened up to walk over to them. "That is what I pay you for, isn't it?"
"Yessir! It won't happen again, sir!" The poor boy was practically shaking in his boots.
"San Lang, you don't have to pay. I should have just enough for a room." Xie Lian tried to refuse as the boy hurried to grab a key for a room.
"You're my guest. It's only proper that I treat you." He smiled innocently.
"But-"
San Lang grabbed the keys from the boy and ghosted a hand over Xie Lian's back. "Shall we?"
Xie Lian must admit that he didn't put up much of a fight but a room was a room. He would just have to pay San Lang back sometime.
San Lang let him up the stairs to double doors at the end of the hall. He unlocked the doors and pushed them open to reveal a room that was much more grand than expected. Xie Lian's eyes were wide as he took it in. A large bed in the middle of the room with a chaise in front of it. There was a balcony that overlooked the main street. There was a large tub behind a privacy screen. Xie Lian, of course, had seen such luxury before but it had been such a long time.
"San Lang, I really can't take this room. It's too much...surely, I can stay in a regular room."
"If it truly makes you uncomfortable, I can get you a regular room. But I want you to enjoy yourself while you are here. When was the last time you did?"
Xie Lian bit his lip, surveying the room and wrestling with himself mentally. San Lang approached him, placing his hands on his upper arms. They looked at each other for a moment before San Lang spoke. "Why did you come to this town?"
"I was just walking and I ended up here." Xie Lian really didn't want to talk about it.
"Whether it was just walking from somewhere or running," Xie Lian's eyes lowered slightly and San Lang squeezed his arms softly to bring back his attention, smiling. "You are welcome here and you deserve the nice things that people give to you. You are safe here."
Xie Lian shook his head. "I bring misfortune wherever I go."
"You're in luck then that I am a very lucky man. I'll just give my luck to you. I'll give you all of it, if you need it. See?" San Lang's hands slid down to meet Xie Lian's own, cupping them and bringing them up to his mouth.
Xie Lian's heart began to race as he watched San Lang keep eye contact as he blew softly over his hands. He then bowed his head, pressing them to his forehead as if in worshipful prayer.
He lifted his head and Xie Lian shakily blew out the breath he'd been holding. "All done."
Xie Lian laughed, face burning. "You're so insincere."
"Xie Lian," San Lang spoke softly. "You will not find anyone more sincere than me in this world."