Chapter Text
The knight ran, the report of the cowboy's shotgun barely heard over the battle raging around them. The Cyborg ran next to him, stopping occasionally to swing the mighty spear he was carrying for his partner.
"I thought y'all said help was comin'?" The teen yelled from Argenti's shoulder.
"It is! We just gotta hold out 'till they can get here!" Boothill shouted back, dropping the spear to fire his arm cannon at the IPC agents following them.
His phone lay crushed behind them, hopefully having connected to Dan Heng and the rest of the Express. An empty line may even be to their advantage. Giving his friends cause to hurry to Aeragan-Epharshel and possibly turn the tide of the final fall of his home world. They just had to get far enough for the backup, in whatever form it took, to actually arrive safely. Not all their friends were as reckless as Boothill.
Once they had reached a spot, just outside the battle, Boothill helped Chance off Argenti's shoulder. Then he grabbed the young cowboy and stopped him from running back into the fray.
"You ain't no good forkin' dead kid!"
"I ain't no good on the sidelines either, you fucker!" The kid snapped. "Those are OUR people back there and you're just gonna stand here and wait while they fucking die?!"
"No!" Boothill snapped, turning sharply on his heel. "'Genti and I can be found and our location used to anchor an arrival point for others. If we're running around like we got shirt for brains when they're tryin' to pinpoint us…"
"It could result in their deaths before they even have a chance to aid our battle." Argenti finished. "Without this aid, there will be no victory."
A noise behind them drew their attention.
"You know, this is not what anyone had hoped for…"
Two and a half days earlier…
Argenti jumped down from the rooftop as he heard Boothill's voice call out through the abandoned town. It echoed off the empty buildings and around the silent streets like the mournful call of a lone waterfowl seeking its flock.
He called out again. His mother tongue came from his lips like the last call to a soldier.
There was no response.
The wind didn't even stir. It was a ghost town. A truly fitting end to the town of Marble Orchard, whose name meant graveyard.
"Beloved…" Argenti said softly as he rested his hand on the cyborg's shoulder.
"A year… my home town died in a year… fudge me…" He looked around with disbelieving eyes. They landed on something on the door of one of the buildings. With long fast strides, Boothill crossed the street to the old hotel. The sign posted there explained everything.
ATTENTION
NOTICE OF BOUNDARY CHANGES
By order of the Marketing Development Department of the Interastral Peace Corporation
This is a notice of the changes to the reservation boundaries for the native population reserve of Aeragan-Epharshel.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
All residents of Settlement 1847 "Marble Orchard" and its surrounding areas are to relocate to Settlement 7242 "Lonestar".
You have twenty-four (24) hours to comply or you will be forcefully removed.
Thank you for your prompt compliance.
All for the Amber Lord
Boothill ripped the notice off the door with a roar. "Those muddle-fudgin' sonofanicelady shirtbags!"
Argenti jumped back. He didn’t think he had ever seen his partner this angry. Boothill ranted at the empty street about the cruelty of trapping his people the way they had. How they couldn’t farm or ranch or hunt in their traditional ways, how it was killing the planet.
"Those forkin' idiots. Not that they actually care a fudgin' lick about 'em." He snarled, then sighed. "And I still ain't able to do anythin' more than I could the night my folks died."
"You will beloved. You will achieve your goals. And then you will do even more to help people like your own…" Argenti trailed off as they both heard a distinct sound. The heavy clomping of horse hooves and the squeaking of cart wheels.
They both looked to see a young man driving a large chestnut horse with a black mane. Around the ears and muzzle there was a generous dusting of grey. The young man on the cart had sun-bleached red hair and sharp pale green eyes. He sat tall and comfortable on the worn wooden bench, a rifle slung on his back and an old hat shielded him from the sun.
Boothill watched him, then called out a hello, one last time.
The kid stopped and responded. Then he hopped down from the cart. "Well, y'all must be lost or somethin'. Ain't no one living here no more."
Argenti smiled. "We noticed, young sir."
"Who the fuck are you both then?" He snapped quickly, still holding his horse.
"Galaxy Ranger Boothill. And this is Argenti of the Knights of Beauty. He's my partner. Who the fork are you and why the hell are you in an abandoned town?" Boothill matched his tone.
The kid smirked. "Call me Chance. I was sent by the former citizens of Marble Orchard to gather what belongin's they couldn’t take with 'em, includin' a pair of mares."
The horse walked up to Boothill and started snuffling him. The cowboy looked at the beast with confusion then recognition as it grabbed his hat.
"Earl!" Chance snapped. "Where the fuck are your manners?"
Boothill firmly gripped his hat and spoke calmly. "Give it. And no, I ain't got no apples on me, you Lunkhead." He rubbed the muzzle of the horse.
Argenti watched Boothill smile at the horse, like he would smile at his dear friends. Quickly, he pulled an apple out of his pocket. "He… he would like an apple?"
Chance laugh. "What, you ain’t never seen a fuckin' horse? Of course he wants an apple."
"He'd eat himself sick on 'em. Did once as a colt." Boothill chuckled.
"How'd you know that?" The kid asked, his voice accusatory.
"Ya said his name was Earl. Unless ya ungelded my old horse 'n' bred him, this here, is him. Stole my hat and everythin'. Just like when he was young."
Argenti blinked, blankly watching the exchange, the apple resting on his flat palm. Earl took notice of the knight and tromped over. He snatched the apple up and had it gone in seconds. Argenti chuckled and rubbed his soft muzzle.
"Ain't no way. You clearly ain't from here." The kid protested. "You ain't even able to cuss right."
"Someone forked with my beacon. Trust me, they're the second person I'm huntin' down. As for bein' from here, I was raised not far from here, ya little fudge head." Boothill growled. "Now, seein' as you're helpin' folks, you want a hand yourself? 'Genti and I ain't afraid of a little hard work. Right darlin'?"
Argenti beamed. "It would be my honour to aid you, young Chance."
"I'll take that to mean yes. You talk funny, fella…" Chance chuckled, looking at Argenti. "So Boothill, there's a couple of mares that no one's been able to catch. Their old owner died a couple months ago and they ain't cooperatin' with anyone. You mind givin' it a shot, seein' as you ain't afraid of a horse?"
"On it. There still tack in the livery?"
Chance nodded. "Yeah. Actually, their stuff should be in the barn over there."
"Thanks, kid." He smiled and ran off.
The kid smiled and turned to Argenti. "So, I guess that leaves you n' me to start gettin' folk's stuff. C'mon, Mister 'Genti."
The pair began getting items that were on a list that the young man carried. It was mostly personal belongings and heirlooms. He organized them and put little tags on each thing so it could be turned over. Argenti was curious about some things that made Chance laugh. Like the kerosene lamps some homes had, and the old photographs and their glass plate negatives.
"My Auntie told me once my Pa used to carry around a photo of me and him in his hat." Chance chuckled as they approached the old Crowbar Saloon. The counter was dusty, and the place looked like it had been left to rot when the town had been uprooted. "Why the fuck did old Yukon lock the place up?"
Argenti tried the door. It was definitely locked. The knight sighed and muttered, "Idrila and the protectors of this land forgive me for what I must do." He then used his spear to shatter a window so Chance could get in.
Argenti's phone chimed and he saw Boothill's message.
'Everything okay, Darling?'
'Indeed. Just a locked door that required bypassing.'
'Makes sense. Just checking. Get back here! Muddle-fudger!'
Argenti chuckled as Chance swung open the door. "What's so funny?"
"Boothill. One of the horses got away on him." He smiled at the younger man as he passed him. "So, what are we retrieving in here?"
"As much of the unopened booze as we can, several mementos and some really old wanted posters. Like before the Devastation old."
"The Devastation?"
"The bombings…" Chance said sombrely. "My Pa vanished shortly after that, according to my Auntie Maisie. Lotsa folks say he died or fled because he betrayed our people. My Auntie and I believe he went huntin'…"
"Hunting?"
"The bastards who did this to our world. To bring 'em to justice." As Chance spoke, Argenti noticed a wall of wanted posters. Some were newer, listing Blade, Kafka, Silverwolf, Sam, Sampo, and Rappa alongside Boothill's, whose photo was missing, meaning it was very out of date. Above and behind, they got older and older. One, mostly covered, managed to catch the knight's sharp eye.
"Are these the ones the list includes?"
"Fuck yeah they are." Chance beamed. "You wanna start getting them down while I find these corkscrews ole Yukon collected?"
"Of course." Argenti said, carefully removing the first one.
"How old were you when the Devastation happened?" Argenti asked gently after a few minutes had passed.
"Almost two." He said softly. "'Ccordin' to my aunt, I'd just started gettin' the hang of my feet."
Argenti stayed quiet for a moment, removing another poster. Then he asked, "Did you ever know your mother? I noticed you never mention her."
"Nah. My mama abandoned me when I was a babe. Pa found me in the stables, screamin' and fussin' like a little beast. What 'bout you?"
"Orphaned before I could remember them." Argenti's voice was solemn. "Raised myself and survived alone until the Knights found me."
"So you is wearin' armour." Chance grinned. "What about that Boothill fella? He also wearin' armour or is he like them intellitrons?"
"In between actually. He used to be human but now he's mostly, though not entirely, machine. His head is all that physically remains of his human form. His soul, heart and mind however remain markedly human."
"You're fucking a robot."
"I beg your pardon!" Argenti startled, clearly offended by the young man's statment.
"You called him all kinds of mushy names and keep sayin' he's your beloved. So, you're fucking a robot." Chance shook his head.
"That does not explain why you feel the need to curse so vulgarly about it." Argenti stopped removing the poster in his hands.
"It ain't vulgar! It's part of our fucking language! Those shitheads forced us to use their common tongue for everythin', even our names and then assholes like you come along and call our way of speakin' crude and barbaric."
Argenti bowed his head. "I beg your forgiveness, Chance. I was unaware that this was the case. I had just accepted that Boothill swore in his strange way. He never mentioned it was another part of his culture stolen away."
"It's all good, Mister Argenti. You meant no offense, so I ain't got none to take." Chance laughed and hopped over the counter. He looked at the pile of posters, then at the wall. "Holy shit. That's an old one of my Pa!"
Argenti's eyes followed the young man's hand to what he was pointing at. The same poster that had caught his eye. Carefully, Chance reached up and pulled it down.
The wanted man was younger, yes. Probably only a couple of years older than Chance was. But there was no mistaking those sharp grey eyes. That cocky smirk. The two beauty marks resting just below his left eye, or that unique two-tone hair.
"Loaded Gun." Chance read. "Wanted for Disturbing the Peace, Assault, Harassment, Vandalism and Public Intoxication." He grinned. "From what my Aunt, has told me it was a lot more than that, but that he was pretty well loved by the community for his actions against the IPC."
Argenti looked from the poster and looked at the youth standing before him. The tiny child in the photo Boothill had hidden in his hat, was standing before him, grown. Alive.
"'Genti? Chance? Where the fork are you?" Boothill calls out to them.
Chance looked at him and shook his head, and Argenti nodded sadly.
"We're in here, Beloved." The knight called and handed the younger man the poster. "This is yours."
Chance nodded, clearly understanding what he meant. Boothill grinned as he walked in.
"I got them mares tied up outside. We got another cart or two? That one you brought is lookin' pretty full." He asked as he leaned in the doorway.
"Yeah. There should be one over at the livery." Chance glances at his list, hiding the poster with it. "It's even on the list."
"I'll get them dealt with then. Bring the cases out to the boardwalk and we'll get it loaded." Boothill walks off again after grabbing a bottle out of the case the closest to the door.
Neither spoke again as they moved quickly. Argenti not knowing how to address his realization and the young man was likely just as unsure about what to say to the man who may be his stepfather.
Eventually, Argenti carried out a case as Boothill pulled the large cart behind himself, not showing off but still demonstrating his inhuman strength. The Knight couldn't help but watch him. He had seen so many demonstrations of his lover's strength, both physical and personal.
Knowing what he did now, he couldn't help but wonder if Boothill knew. If he had seen the same similarities Argenti had? Was that why he was doing jobs away from them? Did he maybe also not know what to say to the child he had intended to raise but had somehow not found?
"You enjoyin' starin' at me, Darlin'?" Boothill laughed as he got close. "It ain't like you ain't ever seen me do this before."
"That does not mean I do not find your strength beautiful, my dear Silver Cowboy." Argenti smiled and walked up to him, kissing him deeply. One of the Cowboy's hands gripped his waist. Somehow he still held the cart up, holding the knight close.
"I know. Help me get Fancy and Jolene hitched up?" Boothill asked softly. "I found all the tack for it."
"Of course, my love." Argenti sighed before pulling away. The red roan and light bay both whinnied and snorted, clearly not wanting to be hitched to the cart. "If they'll let us."
Boothill chuckled and shook his head. "Silly girls. They're just lazy."
"And bratty as fuck." Chance laughed from the door where he had just set the last crate. "I wanna get home by sundown, so let's get a fuckin' move on, shall we?"
They didn't speak about the wanted posters, or the past, or even family as they drove past the burned-out farmhouse, the tree and its congregation of crosses, or even as the trail wound on for hours. They sang songs each knew, the space-farers told of their travels beyond the stars, and Boothill got Argenti started on the finer details of space-racing before they reached Lonestar.
The town spread out before them. The same kind of wooden construction that had built Marble Orchard was found here. Boardwalks surrounding the painted wooden buildings, and people filling the streets.
Chance and Argenti were seated together as the younger man drove the pair of mares into the town. Boothill followed behind with Earl. People watched, murmurs rippling through the crowds. None of the three men paid it any mind, however.
Chance led them to a hotel near the centre of the city. There he hopped down and tied up the mares. "Take Earl round back Boothill. He has a hitchin' post back there."
The Cyborg nodded and clicked his tongue at the horse.
"C'mon Mister 'Genti. My auntie's a waitin' inside." Chance said, moving toward the hotel door.
"Should we not wait for Boothill? And what about the items in the cart?"
"Boothill ain't an idiot, he can find a door. As for the belongin's, we're havin' a barn raisin' in the next couple of days, and we'll be makin' sure folks get their stuff back then." He then looks at the horses. "But we do gotta get them stabled… Head 'round back and I'll bring the girls over once I check in with Auntie Maisie."
He found Boothill brushing the gelding in the stable.
"Beloved…"
"Not now, 'Genti." Boothill said softly, and Argenti understood. It was the same way he spoke when he woke from a dream that was neither a nightmare nor entirely pleasant. When he dreamt of home. Whatever was going through his partner's mind, he needed to leave it be. Instead, he sat and watched the cyborg care for the beast.
"Ya think Sakura would like to learn to ride?" Boothill asked eventually. His voice still quiet and thoughtful.
"I imagine so, especially since both of her fathers can."
Boothill chuckled. "You can ride? I ain't never seen you do it."
"It is a part of our training as knights." Argenti defended.
"Alright, I'm gonna muck out that stall there, you finish cleanin' Earl here up." He grinned, patting the old gelding on his flank.
That's how Chance found them as he led Jolene and Fancy in. Boothill using the pitchfork to empty out Earl's stall, and Argenti carefully picking out one of the gelding's hooves. He joined in, helping get his horse and the mares brushed, cleaned and put in their new stalls.
"Auntie Maisie is brinin' us dinner on the back porch. Guess she figures there's gonna be a crowd tonight." Chance sighs as he slumps into a chair. Boothill and Argenti both sit at the small table.
They don't wait long for an elderly woman to walk out. Aged as she may be, she still had a strong back and was carrying several dishes of hearty food, a jug of some kind of drink, and several cups before her. Setting the tray down she beamed at the two strangers.
"Welcome to Lonestar. The Last Town of Aeregan-Eparshal. Y'all can call me Auntie Maisie."
Argenti stood and gave a sweeping bow. "I am Argenti of the Knights of Beauty. May this rose convey my most heartfelt salutations." As he stood straight, like magic, he held out a perfect red rose. "And may I add it is our great fortune to meet and have the pleasure of being in the company of such beautiful souls like yourself and your son."
Maisie laughed softly. "Chance ain't my son, but he's been with me long enough he fuckin' might as well be. And your travellin' companion?"
"Galaxy Ranger Boothill, at your service, Ma'am." Boothill stated, hat in his left hand, right offered to her to shake.
"Well, ain't you both real gentlemen." She smiled at Chance while returning Boothill's firm handshake. "This one even knows his hat manners. You oughta learn a thing or two from 'em."
"Yes, Auntie." Chance groaned. Boothill chuckled, remembering being his age and hearing the same thing. "Thank you both for helpin' my great nephew. He woulda been another day at least. Now, we can start gettin' folk's their things tomorrow mornin' and put the new barn up back here the next sunrise."
Both men thanked her for her hospitality and sat as she left.
"Sorry 'bout her." Chance said after a moment. "I told her we had guests and that they were… not from 'round here, she insisted."
"Don't you worry none, Kid. I'd rather not be in a forkin' crowd tonight." Boothill stated as he lifted his glass to his lips.
"And as much as I normally would enjoy the energetic atmosphere of a place like this, I do believe my partner would like to have me stay with him." Argenti smiled softly at his Cowboy, and the kid gagged. Boothill snorted a laugh.
"He ain't gonna stop Chance. This is just the way 'Genti is."
The trio ate quietly, enjoying the setting sun and the warm evening it welcomed. A little after the sun had vanished, Maisie returned to the back porch. "C'mon, Chance. I need help bussing and servin'."
All three rose.
"No, no, no. Just Chance. I could never ask…"
"Well, I do believe Boothill and I are offering. I would more than happily help run things to your patrons."
"Just throw me in the back doin' dishes. We need a room for the night anyway, if you'd be so kind."
"Well, I'd be an idiot to turn away offered help. You're both too fuckin' kind. That'll get'cha killed 'round here."
"Only if the muddle-fudgers are dumb enough to try and forkin' fight us." Boothill chuckled, tying his hair back.
Maisie stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "Well, follow me, gents."
The hotel's kitchen was a fair size, but it became clear immediately that Maisie herself did all the jobs in it. Her and Chance.
Boothill and Argenti get straight to work helping as best they could. Argenti moving with his swift grace through the packed dining room, Chance weaving between patrons taking dirty dishes back to Boothill who worked quickly scrubbing and stacking them to get used again, pausing sometimes to help Maisie with cutting or moving something that was getting harder for her older body to manage.
The night went by quickly and was surprisingly relaxing. Something about the familiar smells and sounds put the cowboy in a groove. Argenti eventually began telling stories and tales of his adventures and preaching slightly about Idrila. His charm having won over the crowd.
The night ended with Boothill and Argenti helping shoo people back to their homes. Auntie Maisie clapped both men on the shoulder. "Oh… I need to remember you're metal." She chuckled, shaking out her hand.
"No worries, Ma'am. I'm just happy to be a forkin' help at the moment."
"Are you two going to be sticking around tomorrow?"
"A few days, actually." Argenti smiled. "I wanted to learn more about my beloved partner's home world."
"Ain't much left to learn, but I can tell ya what I know." Maisie smiled.
"I'm headin' to bed, Auntie!" Chance shouted. "Can I get a hand…"
"I'VE TOLD YOU NOT TO WEAR THAT WHEN DOIN' WORK!!" She shouted, then looked to Boothill. "You wanna go up and give him a hand with his binder. Knowin' that boy he's tightened it too much as well as wearin' it while workin'."
Boothill nodded before following the young man up the stairs.
Maisie turned to Argenti. "How much do you know about the man you're with?"
Boothill moved up the stairs quickly and quietly. Then he knocked on the one door with the lamp lit.
"C'mon in… Oh! Boothill… ummm…"
"Auntie Maisie sent me to help ya." Boothill said gently, smiling.
"Course she did." He sighs. "Old coot, never misses a trick."
"She didn't when I was young either." He said, undoing the clips holding the binder together on his back. "How can you stand this bein' this tight? It's dang near cuttin' into your skin."
"I…" He looked away. "I don't care about it."
"Ya should…"
They stood there in silence for a moment as Chance pulled on his sleep shirt, Boothill looking away from him.
The quiet weighed heavily between them, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Boothill found his voice.
"How…"
"The root cellar. That's what Auntie Maisie told me, at least." Chance turned to face him. "My Grandpa and Grandad didn't survive the stress and fear of the night, but someone found us the next morning. Why…"
"Did I leave?" Boothill chuckled coldly before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thought you were dead. That I had nothin' left to live for. Figured, I should make whoever the fork stole my family away pay."
"You went hunting." Chance smiled, nervousness in his pale green eyes. "Can… I still…"
Boothill nodded. "You're still my kid, if ya wanna be. Ain't nothin' gonna change that for me, as long as you still want this ole hunk a metal for your Pa."
Chance sat next to him then hugged him tight. Sobbing softly. Boothill hugged him close. "I'm here. I'm sorry it took so forkin' long."
Boothill held his child, one who had changed almost as much as he had himself. Held him close as they spoke quietly about those changes. About how that didn't change the fact that they saw each other as family. Chance insisted they should tell Argenti, that the Knight be allowed to choose whether or not Chance would also be his son.
As they came down the stairs they could hear Argenti speaking proudly, with love dripping from every syllable.
"Then, as my friends tell it, he raised his gun high and fired into the night air. A signal to all of his faction, one of your number is in need of aid. And moments later, they came. The 'Shooting Stars of the Hunt.' The Galaxy Rangers in almost their full numbers to shake all of us out of the Sweet Dream with their unwavering wills."
Maisie sat listening as though she didn't believe a word being said. "Is that really true?"
"It is." Boothill said, pulling the cartridge from his pocket. "Sadly, I only have my own grace relic left. And I doubt a Self Annihilator is going to just show up and bring me another. But yeah. The Trailblazers have been allies ever since. Heck, I'd even call 'em my friends."
"That is why Sakura is there after all." Argenti beamed.
"Sakura?" Chance tipped his head like a puppy.
"Right…" Boothill stopped. "'Genti and I have an adopted daughter…" It was clear he was worried.
"I HAVE A SISTER?!" Chance bounced in excitement.
Argenti chuckled. "I assume you have discussed what we all realized."
"And you're okay with me being…"
"Chance, I would be honoured to call you my child. No matter what." Argenti bowed. Chance hugged him tight.
"Loaded Gun…"
"It's Boothill now, Auntie. I… he died the same night his fathers did."
"I understand Boothill." She smiled softly, lovingly. "Chance says the same thing about her." She wrapped his arms around his strange metal form. His arms carefully wrapped around her in return, then tightened once he felt confident that he wouldn't break her.
"Thank you for takin' care of my baby. My Clementine. Even when he decided he wasn't her no more." He spoke quietly in her ear as he hugged his aunt.