Chapter Text
the warm air rattled through hancock's lungs as he took deep, slow breaths. before him stood the man he'd been looking for for ages, flesh and all. joseph grant was his name, known uncreatively around town as "the lady-killer" after killing the sheriff's beloved wife. rumor told it was result of a nasty disagreement between the sheriff and grant, but as all rumors go, no one was really sure of the whole picture. after the femicide, grant disappeared from town before any action could be made, leaving a high bounty on his head. now here he was, at hancock's mercy.
hancock's eyes caught grant's in a tense moment, wide and sharp, alive. behind them seemed to be a sense of familiarity, disappointment too. his hands were held lazily besides his head, his chin tilted ever so slightly towards the ground. that didn't stop a gripping feeling in hancock's torso, his chest feeling as if it were a hundred pounds, his stomach twisting and contorting like an age-old knot. it was hard to keep his stone-cold composure, being put on the spot like this. his hands vaguely trembled, as if they had never held a gun before. he was lucky they were alone in a clearing like this, more cacti than people to watch the dragging scene.
"grant." hancock huffed, feeling a wave of uncertainty as if he had never said that name in his entire life. "didn't expect to see you here." his voice was was firm but wary, like it could break in any sort of sudden pressure. if his damn heart stopped beating so fast, he could make this work.
"funny, i didn't 'spect you to be out here either. thought you would be with some cheap damsel back in town." grant spoke, his voice warm and teasing. hancock felt himself shiver. christ, this was getting harder.
"don't speak to me like that." hancock spat. "not without a death wish."
grant chuckled bitterly. "oh, i know you wouldn't lay a finger on me, not with that look in your eyes." his voice lowered.
hancock swallowed. his eyes! his eyes had always been the most vulnerable part of him, they were the window to the soul after all. god knew how many times they had exposed him in moments such as this, but nothing compared to that one night, that damned night that still ate away at him. he knew that he still ached for slow, warm moments like that, but it began to feel more suppressed day by day, like it was rotting with age.
it must have been ten past six on an autumn night, not much different from this one. hancock sat alone on his porch, watching the sun's last dying rays as he sipped at a glass of moonshine. the air was thin, carrying that musk of the countryside he loved so much. then a breeze began to pick up, caressing his skin under his shirt. the first two buttons were unfastened, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. the breeze wasn't too much of a bother at first, but when it began to envelop him in a chill that was too noticeable, he searched for a pack of cigarettes in his pocket along with a lighter.
his first drag was slow, savoring the sweet warmth that it brought him. he exhaled, watching the smoke flow from his lips. it was quiet outside. not much noise besides the occasional critter or patch of greenery, but at his next drag he heard a new sound. a low creak, a door opening. he closed his eyes and waited. not too long after, he felt a pair of arms around his shoulders. heavy, but not uncomfortably so.
"cold, are you? i thought i told you to lay off the smoking for a while." the voice was low and warm in his ear, teasing.
"it's just for tonight. forgot my jacket inside."
he felt a gloved hand grasp his chin, turning it to his right. a pair of deep eyes met his, gazing for a moment.
"i know you're lying." it was said with a smirk, but underneath it was something sadder.
then he felt his lips reach another's, soft, smiling. he tried to leech onto the taste for as long as he could, but like all good memories do, it faded and he was shoved back into the present, his chest heaving.
he couldn't escape now, no matter how much he wanted to. he was sheriff after all, he signed up for hardships like this. it was up to him to do the job, no one else. he sighed heavily.
"im gonna need you to keep your mouth shut and listen to me, alright? empty your pockets. can't have you armed on our way to the station."
grant nodded. "you're not gonna pat me down or anything, right?" there was a hint of humor underneath his words. he didn't care that he could be playing with death right now.
"no. but hurry up, sun's going down soon." hancock sighed, already exhausted.
grant pulled out his pockets first, revealing nothing inside, then the inside of his vest, and his satchel. he handed off a couple knives in varying sizes, a small revolver, some small bottles of liquor, and some other harmless items. hancock placed them in his pack attached to his horse's saddle, then pulled out a small rope, no more than two feet long.
"hands behind your back. i'll let you go at the station."
grant pulled his arms back, his hands stretched outwards with his wrists touching. a layer of bandages covered his forearms. "not so tight, alright? i'd like my circulation to reach my hands."
"get on the horse, in the back." hancock said. his voice was firmer now. grant shook his head slowly and went on, now admiring the mare's smooth grey coat. "be quiet for the ride. it's gonna take us and hour at most."
the sun was beginning to set, the blues of the evening crossing paths with the golden waves of sunset. the path back to town seemed to glow, each grain of dirt beginning to glitter under the sunlight. this was going to be a long evening.