Chapter Text
“Slim, slim”
“Hey hey, slow down their Cricket.” The older man squinted
“ I was out fetching the mail like ya told me and I found this.” The child explained waving a brightly colored piece of paper. Slim plucked the poster for the boy's hand and straightened it out before reading it aloud.
“Wacky Wonders Circus, all ages in town for one night only with an entrance fee of one cent.”
“Can we go Slim, can we please?.”
“I don’t see why not.” The older man said, running a hand through his dark hair.
“Let’s go see if the others wanna come.” The pair made their way over to the rabbit enclosure where George was.
“George hey George '' Cricket yelled despite being right next to the man.
George didn’t seem to mind, he just smiled don’t at the ten year old tucking his hand into Slims. His smile grew when their fingers intertwined.
“There’s a circus in town for one night only Slim said we can go and wanna come.”
“Sure just let me finish up here, why don’t y’all go on inside and ask crooks to make us a lunch to bring.” George chuckled quickly as the little farm hand bounced on his toes. Slim plucked the kid off the ground holding him up by his suspenders and pecked George on the cheek. A blush creeped up the shorter man’s face as he turned back to his task.
“Alright buddy let’s get you settled.” he whispered to the cold lump of rabbit in his arms.
George soalamy lay the little creature down in the shallow hole he dug next to the stone marker thay had placed for Lennie.
“We did it Lennie, we got our own little house with a porch and everything, we got chickens, a cow, we even took some Slims pups, and rabbits. I didn't forget the rabbits. "This ones for you a brown an white one.” George fell silent tears stung his eyes
“ I miss you len”
“George you ready yo go crooks packed us a lunch and Slim said he'd buy me some candy floss.”
“ I most certainly did not.” Slim objected appearing behind the boy the boy accompanied by crooks and candy
“You ok love?” Slim asked, a look of concern painted his angular face.
“ Ya i'm fine it wasn't quite a lie but it wasn't the truth either. Slim wisely chose not to push the topic but instead wrapped his arm around George's waist pulling him in and pressing a firm kiss to his boyfriends impossibly soft lips. The couple were harshly interrupted by mock vomiting noises; they turned to see Crooks, Candy, and Cricket all pointing at one another. Slim shook his head, a slight smirk dancing on his lips and George rolled his eyes dramatically. Alright I'm ready George announced taking his boyfriends hand the crew headed cheerfully toward the road “hey cricket i can buy you some candy floss if you'd still like some”
“Hell ya.”
“Crooks don't you dare I swear to god.”