Chapter Text
The time is 1899.
The law is overtaking the USA and dissolving the outlaw gangs.
Bryan and the gang,- The protectors - have been on the run for as long as they can remember, as he himself was taken in at a young age. The leader- Lo'pho- a rounder, orange-haired man, was like a father to Bryan. Always calling him son, and not holding back with the praise.
Bryan was his right-hand man. But after a terrible job in Blackwater, they were forced to run in the mountains to escape the law. They had long since returned from there, camping first in Valentine, until moving further down, due to a big hit they had landed from robbing the bank.
"I know boy, almost there."
Bryan hushed his horse, a black Shire horse he had gotten from the rival gang's hideout attack - Grimshade. - They had wiped out the whole camp, but their leader, Allumos, wasn't there much to their disappointment. The only one who escaped the bloody massacre was none other than Viper, his right-hand man.
Bryan arrived at camp, jumping off his horse, and hitching him next to the other horses. Giving the horse a couple of pats before heading off to donate to the camp funds, he earned from hunting rare birds for a weird French hat maker.
"Bryan! Come here!" - called Lo'pho.
"Yeah, yeah, comin'"
Bryan approached Lo'pho, who was waiting for him near his own tent, hand crossed.
"My boy! You're finally back, always off on your own, we barely see ya round here now"
"I know, I know. What was it ya need' lo'pho"
Lo'pho shook his head, expecting Bryan to get right to the point
"Ah, of course, of course. Come inside the tent, it's a serious matter."
Lo'pho nodded his head towards his tent, walking inside himself, Bryan a little on edge from it being a serious matter according to Lo'pho.
"What is it Lo'?"
"You see, son- I have gotten some information from Nix."
Bryan huffed. He never liked Nix; something always felt wrong about him.
"Oh son dont huff! He has good information son!"
"Like what' wha'did that son of a -"
"Calm. Down. son."
Lo'pho lowered his voice, a warning not to test him.
"... fine - wha'did he find out?"
"Well, he has found out where one of the Grimshades' hideouts is, and it just so happens to be where Viper hides out. Near Cumberland Falls"
This made Bryan perk up, he has always hated Viper, that slimy snake.
"... An'?"
"And I want you to go and... take care of em'"
"R'ight- who im ridin' wit-?"
"Oh son, I want you to go alone"
Bryan was a bit stunned
"Argh... did that-"
"No, he did not. I made that decision myself. Now go, - I'm sure you'll do fine like always."
Bryan huffed, heading to his own tent, where all of his gear laid.
He was swift in taking what he needed and saddling up to head out.
The rude was rather quick, as he was off in his mind, planning how to launch the attack. In the end, deciding to camp out near them till nightfall, and stealthily take out the stationed men.
The nightfall came quickly, and the first guards who wandered off to take a leak were swiftly taken care of without alerting anyone.
He decided to go for the big guns first,- take out Viper and then the rest, as to not give him any time to run off before Bryan can get to him.
Taking out some of the guards stationed on the side of the building left the windows unattended, which he climbed through, climbing up the stairs, up to where they would rest, and much to his pleasant surprise, only one man was resting.
He approached with caution, ready to take them out, only when he stabbed, it was too light- not the same hardness of a body-
And before he could even react, that's when there was a knife to his throat.
He kicked back at the attacker, ramming his elbows into his sides, but the man bearly reacted, so he bit into him, which finally made him let Bryan loose.
That's when Brysn discovered that the man was none other than Viper himself. But Viper didnt alert anyone; instead, they both resorted to punches.
"Ya' dont know how long I've been waitin' to properly figh' ya"
Bryan laughed at Viper's words
"Well, now you have the chance!"
It was brutal, slashes being exchanged, despite Viper always wearing that odd blindfold, he was quite good, Bryan had to admit. No wonder the man was Allumos' second hand.
But Bryan was overpowered, expecting to quickly lose his life, now that Viper had pinned him down by the throat on his back.
But no pain ever came, instead- a question-
"Ya prett' good. Hah... Tell me, why stay with that pathetic man, eh?"
Bryan was stunned, why wasn't he dead?
"Wha't?"
"Ya heard me,- why stay with'im"
Bryan laughed
"Wouldn't ya lik'to know"
Bryan tried to fight back, but couldn't do much; it made him angry that he couldn't even get out of the wired grip Viper had him in.
"Ya'now... you could leav'im, join us instead."
Bryan was shocked, why was the enemy offering to join them, it must be a trick to get information outta Bryan
"I aint' tellin ya',nun!"
"Suit ya'self"
And with a loud and painful thud, everything went black.
But he wasn't dead; instead, he found himself on the back of his horse, halfway back to camp, his mind fuzzy and confused.
He returned to camp, ashamed that he failed to take out Viper, but more confused than anything, mind wandering. He bearly noticed when he was called by Lo'pho
"Son!"
"Oh, uh- yea?"
"Did you do it?"
Bryan's stomach fell, tensing up; he didnt finish the job. He failed lo'pho
"... I didnt manage to get rid of them all"
Lo'pho immediately looked disappointed,
"Come on now son! You're the best we've got, how could you fail a job like this?!"
"... Im sorry Lo'pho, it won't happen again."
"It better not son. It better not."
"Understood."
But even Lo'phos' disappointment couldn't clear Bryan's mind of the confusion he felt. Why did Viper just- let him go?