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Kremy hated cigars.
Now hold on, don’t run off just yet. He hadn’t always hated cigars. He used to crave them, seek them out. Not for smoking himself - mind you. He had found their taste too heavy, too rich. Cigarettes were much more his speed. No, he enjoyed the way the scent would fill his nostrils, smoke sitting heavily on his palette. It would make his head spin, dull his senses to the point where he felt floaty and relaxed. Just like the man who was smoking them.
Remy Garou. The affluent man who used to be Kremy’s boss would seldom be seen without his signature expensive cigars. And just like Garou himself, Kremy used to find their scent absolutely magnetic.
He remembered how intoxicating the first inhale of the white smoke was when they met on that fateful night. How invigorating, when it curled around him as Garou showered him in praise after a job well done. How it tasted like triumph as it spread over his tongue, remnants of it still clinging to his clothes as he snuck out after spending that first night in Garou’s luxurious suite, definitively branding him as Garou’s favourite.
He would forever remember the moment the sweet hints of vanilla and cocoa turned sour as they were overpowered by the fetid stench of burning keratin. After that the comfortable embrace of cedarwood and nutmeg turned into a clump of vines, constricting his every movement, digging their thorns deeper and deeper into his scaly hide. Once he was finally free it took several baths and countless snaps of his fingers to get the remaining scent off of him, yet he still had moments when he could swear it was the only thing his sensitive alligator nose could smell.
Long story short - Kremy hated cigars.
“Hey, bo- I mean Kremy. Could we get these fer me?”
So that is why when Gideon had come up to him with a box of cigars and a hopeful expression, he had the reaction he did.
“Cigars? The fuck do you need cigars for? When you bummed that cig off of me you hated it, ya think a cigar’s gonna be any better?”
His tone must have been snappier than he intended judging by the way Gideon took a small step back away from him, eyes wide, the simple wooden box clutched in his hand. Kremy tried to let his snout relax from the displeased scrunch it did involuntarily at the idea of someone smoking cigars in his vicinity again.
“Well… no. But pa used to get these from time t’ time. I figured it’d be nice to get them, t’ remember him by, ya’know?” Gideon shrugged, looking defeated as he hung his head low, playing with the lettering on the box. It was a plain font, burned into the wood unevenly.
As soon as Kremy heard Gideon mention his father, something stirred in his chest. It was only recently that the genasi opened up about what had happened to his family, and it wasn’t anything good. If this was a chance of offering him some kind of connection to the past, some comfort… well, Kremy might have been a self serving jackass but he wasn’t heartless.
“‘S alright, ya don’t have t’ buy ‘em,” Gideon mumbled, his usually booming voice low and sad. Kremy hissed.
“Gimme that,” he snapped, snatching the wooden box out of Gideon’s lax hold. He would deal with his own demons later but right now he couldn’t stand seeing his partner so dejected for another second.
“I’m docking these off your pay,” he waved the cigars in front of the genasi’s face, the threat half-hearted at the sight of the other’s bright smile.
“Thanks, Kremy.”
“Ye, ye, whatever. Go find us some more flour before I change my mind.”
Kremy had completely blocked this interaction, forgetting it the moment they walked out of the store. After all, there was plotting to do, people to scam… And scam they did, they managed to make quite a bit of money and so they decided to bounce before people would start connecting the dots.
It happened when they were three days worth of travel away from the town, both of them relaxing a bit more seeing as nobody had come chasing after them yet - the chance of that happening getting lower and lower the further they got. So they allowed themselves to rest by the fire just a little while longer after they had dinner, chatting easily about their next course of action.
That was until Kremy was snapped out of the peaceful reverie by the resounding click of a wooden box. He looked up to see Gideon holding one of the cigars, blazing eyes looking at it in contemplation. The lizardfolk could feel his apprehension rising the longer the sudden silence stretched out, until finally he couldn’t take it any longer.
“Well? Ya gonna light it up or ya gonna stare at it all night?”
Gideon blinked away the far off look, meeting Kremy’s eyes with a small apologetic smile.
“Sorry, ‘s just…” he looked back down to the cigar, rolling it between his fingers slowly, loosening the tobacco leaves up with a slightly clumsy touch that betrayed his unfamiliarity with the action, “I just wonder what he’d think of me if he could see me right now.”
A hush fell upon them, disturbed only by the distant cry of an owl and the quiet crackle of fire. Kremy allowed himself to really look at Gideon. This man who had spent a better third of his life in captivity, who watched his mother leave when he was young, who had to watch his father die at the hands of his captors. Yet here he was - scarred and still way too scrawny but alive and sane, for the most part. Over the past months Kremy had seen the skittish shadow of a man turn into a boisterous and bright fire genasi that stood by his side through thick and thin. And in that moment he couldn’t help but to admire Gideon.
“I’m sure he’d be proud. Ya didn’t give up. Ya kept on going, kept on survivin’. Now ya just gotta continue ta live.”
Gideon’s eyes seemed to burn brighter at Kremy’s words, even though they wouldn't meet the lizardfolk’s piercing gaze.
“Thanks, that’s - that’s very kind of you t’ say.”
Gideon’s voice sounded strained and Kremy decided to give the other some much needed privacy. As much privacy as he could give him without having to get up. He leaned back, allowing his eyes to slip shut. The sounds of the forest lulled him into a dreamlike state before he could hear Gideon bit off the end of the cigar, spitting the cap into the fire, followed shortly by the telltale sounds of puffing as the genasi lit the foot on fire.
He braced himself for the inevitable wave of smells to hit his nose, to overwhelm him. He would either have to sit and suffer in silence or he would have to excuse himself and go take a walk. Maybe he could use his sensitive nose as an excuse -
Gideon let out a soft amused exhale and Kremy’s eyes cracked open in two thin slits, watching the genasi take in another short puff of smoke before letting it loose. Gideon’s smile was melancholic as his eyes gained a shine that hadn’t been there mere moments before.
“Smells just like it used to.”
Kremy remained silent, allowing his companion to enjoy the memory in peace. That was until the first hints of tobacco hit his nose. He suppressed a flinch as his body reacted almost on instinct but then he realised that other than the tobacco, these cheap cigars smelled nothing like Garou’s expensive ones from overseas.
There was no trace of the oppressing vanilla and cocoa, instead he could smell a peppery spiciness. It tickled pleasantly as it spread over his soft palette, giving his mind a shock instead of dulling it down. Instead of the rich, heavy scent of cedarwood and nutmeg, there was the lightest hint of fresh lemon grass, complimenting the spice with its brightness. But most importantly, just as quickly as the smoke settled down in his nose, it was just as quickly gone with the next exhale, the barest of traces left behind - making Kremy wish it would stay longer.
He watched, enraptured, as Gideon enjoyed his cigar, completely oblivious to the turmoil that was currently going on in Kremy’s mind. That was until the wind changed, carrying the white clouds of cigar smoke straight to where the lizardfolk sat. Gideon noticed almost immediately, his eyes widening in slight panic.
“Aw, shucks. Sorry, Kremy, lemme move so I don’t blow it at ya, I know yer nose’s sensitive,” the fire genasi spoke around the cigar securely wedged in between his teeth as he started getting up but quicker than a snake, one of Kremy’s hands shot out, grabbing the nearest manacled forearm.
As his eyes focused back on Gideon’s inquisitive gaze, he tugged at the metal lightly, surprised at the ease with which the genasi followed the silent request, patiently waiting for what Kremy would say or do next.
“I kinda like the smell…” he admitted after a while reluctantly, watching Gideon’s eyebrows raise in surprise.
“Ya sure? Not too strong for ya?”
He finally withdrew his hand from the heated metal, already missing its warmth on his palm. The genasi was always so warm, what was a poor lizardfolk to do? Not be drawn to the walking heater? Ye, right.
“I’m sure, Gid.”
The genasi grinned, eyes flickering like two embers.
“That mean yer gonna buy these fer me?”
Kremy smirked in return, sharp teeth on full display.
“Don’t push your luck, now.”
Gideon’s smile turned even brighter, seeing right through the lizardfolk’s teasing with ease. The conversation returned back to the easy back and forth they had been enjoying before. And as more and more of the pleasant scent occupied Kremy’s senses, he thought to himself that maybe cigars weren’t that bad after all.