Chapter Text
Gideon hummed as he walked between the staff tents, twirling a screwdriver between his fingers. The sun was setting and he’d finally gotten the Harris wheel back to work. The candyfloss vendor had also given him a “rejected” batch for his troubles. It was a damn good day if you asked him. His humming continued as he made it back to the tent he shared with Kremy.
He was greeted with a grunt of acknowledgement from the gatorfolk as he slipped into the spacious tent. “Hey, Krem, got the Harris wheel goin’ again.” Gideon quipped, stashing his tools.
The genasi pulled off his greasy shirt, reaching for the bucket of water and heating it easily in his hands. He picked his humming back up as he wiped his arms and face of the oil and dirt from the machinery he’d spent the day dealing with. Gideon had already pulled on a fresh shirt when he realized Kremy still hadn’t said anything.
“Krem?” He turned toward the other, curious. “Y’alright, man?” The irritated grumble he got in response made Gideon huff out a laugh as he walked over.
Kremy looked up at that, away from where he’d been trying to glare a hole into a stack of papers. “No, Gid, I’m not alright. These fuckin’- the carnies are just- UGH!” The gator leaned back in his chair, pressing the heel of his hands against his eyes. “Running a carnival is great until I gotta pay for the damn thing!”
Gideon took a moment to take in the other man. Kremy’s usually crisp shirt was untucked and had a few buttons undone at the top. His suit jacket was tossed on his cot along with his fine hat. Even his scales seemed ruffled somehow. A rhythmic thumping drew the genasi’s attention down to the floor where Kremy’s tail was swinging into one of the wooden trunks strewn around the tent.
A smile came over Gideon’s face as he crossed his arms on the back of the chair and leaned over the gator. “C’mon, Krem, get up.”
“ What- Gid, I’m busy . I gotta get this shit shorted before- AH-! ” Kremy yelled in surprise as he was basically dragged up and out of his seat. “ Gideon Nathaniel Coal! ”
“Oof, the middle name? Am I in trouble?” Gideon’s expression was playful as he held onto one of Kremy’s hands, beginning to hum a familiar tune. “Dance with me, Krem,” he demanded with a grin. It was a lively tune he remembered from back home in Yona. He’d heard it in passing at a bar when they’d gone into town a while back and it’d been stuck in his head since. Gideon rolled his eyes at the indignant huffing from Kremy as he began to sway them to the tune.
“ You can’t just demand I stop workin’ to dance with ya, Gid.” Kremy scowled but didn’t pull away or try to resist the gentle swaying. Gideon’ s smile widened .
“The work day’s over, Krem, it’s time for dancin’,” he said. The expression on Kremy’s face softened to just short of exasperated.
With a dramatic sigh, Kremy let his shoulders slump. “Fine, fine . But let’s do it properly then,” he relented, pulling away even as Gideon pouted like a kicked puppy. He moved over to the desk again, reaching for his bag of holding that sat next to it. Soon enough, clawed hands were pulling out a gramophone and a disc.
Gideon watched in silence as Kremy set the thing up, placing the disc and lifting the needle up onto it. After a few moments of static, the tinny sound of the exact song that Gideon had been humming filled the tent.
“There!” Kremy smacked imaginary dust off his hands, proud of himself. He turned to find Gideon staring at him as if awestruck, soft eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Kremy was suddenly glad he couldn’t be seen blushing.
It took a few seconds but Gideon eventually shook himself out of it and smiled, the embers in his hair crackling. He reached out a hand to the gatorfolk with a slight bow. “May I have this dance, Mr. Lecroux?” The smile on his face only widened when Kremy rolled his eyes.
“Why, yes, Mr. Coal, I’d love to,” Kremy responded, voice high and feminine as he batted his eyes. They both laughed heartily as Gideon took his hand, easily falling into the rhythm of the song together. Despite Gideon’s size and Kremy’s tail, they moved with a lively grace as the tent filled with laughter and singing along.
The music and lamp light cast the moment in a soft glow. Gideon’s hands and chest were warm where they pressed against Kremy’s cool scales. The gator smiled and laughed as he was lead around the tent by the fiery man, his right hand. His best friend in the world. Gideon’s deep voice rumbled in his chest as he sang, easily swaying and spinning and dipping Kremy as he did.
Soon enough, or too soon, if you could get either one to admit it, the song came to an end. The warmth didn’t leave them yet, though. Gideon’s eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed from dancing. Even the embers in his hair and beard seemed more alive as they flared and popped, tiny flames caught on the ends of his messy hair as his smile never waned. He’d just danced to one of his favorite songs with his favorite gator in his arms, what was there to stop smiling about? Gideon was too busy basking in the moment to think about the way he was still holding Kremy close to his chest, hand still held in his own.
It was Kremy who pulled away eventually. “Y’sure can sweep a gator off his feet, huh, Gid,” he hummed, straightening his shirt a bit before looking up at the genasi who still wore a dopey smile.
“I guess so,” Gideon responded, happy expression softening. The silence stretched between them, the quiet scratchy sounds of the gramophone and the gentle chirping of crickets from outside were all that filled it. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but there was a weight to the moment.
The gentle balance was shattered by shouting and hooting as Gricko barreled down the path between the tents, presumably being chased by a very grumpy Hootsie.
Kremy let out a tired chuckle and shook his head, carefully packing away the music player before dropping to sit on his cot. “You s’pose miss Hootsie caught her dad flirting with a guest again?” he wondered with a laugh, untying his shoes and kicking them off.
Gideon snorted. “Or he let Frosty get to a critter before she could,” he suggested as he dimmed the lamp. He flopped onto his own cot, wincing as it groaned under him. “Y’know, maybe we should invest in some sturdier beds, Krem. I’m gonna break this damn thing just turnin’ over in my sleep!” Gideon’s complaints were met with a half-hearted groan as Kremy snapped himself into his pajamas with a puff of purple smoke.
“For Baron’s sake, Gideon, you are not gonna break it. Y’ain’t that heavy,” Kremy huffed, but he didn’t sound too sure. He rolled his eyes as the other man scowled and shifted, pointing accusatorily at the frame when it creaked loudly in protest again.
“See?! It’s gonna fuckin’ break and then I’m gonna say I told you s-”
The ensuing argument was stopped as they heard Frost’s agitated voice in their minds. Would you two stop your bickering so I can get some fucking sleep?! … Ahem. Please. Gideon at least had the decency to look sheepish while Kremy held back a laugh.
“ Sorry Frosty!” … “G’night!”
“… Good night, Gideon. Kremy,” came Frost’s tired voice from the tent next to theirs.
“G’NIGHT EV’RYBODY!” Gricko shouted loudly from his tent on the other side of Frost’s, quickly followed by a few chirps from Hootsie.
Kremy laughed lightly, eyes catching the tiniest bit of light from the still glowing embers nestled in Gideon’s hair. He let his eyes linger on the genasi as he pulled his blanket up over his shoulders. “Night, Gid,” he said softly into the room.
Gideon’s eyes found his easily in the darkness. “Night, Kremy.” His voice was just as quiet as he watched Kremy turn over, back to him. “Thanks for dancin’ with me.” Gideon settled into the thin mattress, unbothered by the lack of response as he drifted to sleep to the gentle sounds of his friends’ breathing.
A damn good day indeed.