Chapter Text
Charlie was always a star-student. Even when it came to working sweaty shifts in the local saloon.
He could switch his bubbly personality on and off with the press of a button. Happy customers meant a happy boss, and a happy boss meant more money. Plus, seeing the old scarred bounty hunter in front of him crack a toothy grin at his antics often gave him some hope for the human race.
Today was a bit different, he had woken up to about 3 spider bites and a terribly sour looking boss. And on his walk across town to work, a traveler scammed him of the money in his pocket.
Needless to say, he was not in the mood for the tricks and the jokes and the showing off of his cool new way to pour tequila when the same guy who walks in every shift at the exact same time walked back in. It's not like the town was big, so he never expected new faces, but at some point he got tired of serving this man. Especially because he was also quite the asshole.
"How d'ya do today Wyatt?" Charlie sighed, leaning on the counter.
"What, yer not gonna put on a show for me today, boy?" remarked Wyatt as he sat down. His jeans rustled together as he pulled some money from his pocket. "Gin and tonic."
"Alrighty, man."
He began to prepare the drink. Ice, gin, tonic water, lime. It was the same every time, surprisingly it was their most popular drink. As he turned back to slide the drink over and take his money, he was met with quite the unfamiliar face. Two seats away from Wyatt was an odd looking cowboy. He wore a vest with red accents intricately sewn into it, a pair of blue jeans covered by batwing chaps that matched the material on his hat, boots with spurs on them, and a large long jacket covering all of that. He pulled a red bandana down from his nose and waited for Charlie to serve him.
Charlie fully took in the man watching him before passing over Wyatt's drink without another word. He casually slid over to the other man and tapped a finger on the counter. He watched as the wrangler pulled off his cowboy hat and slicked back his hair effortlessly.
They stayed mostly silent as Charlie wet his lips with his tongue. "Hey man.. welcome in. What can I get ya?"
"Whiskey." The man managed, he seemed exhausted. Sweat adorned his face and hair, there were dark circles under his eyes and his chest was heaving up and down rapidly.
"Sure." Charlie replied, this time making sure to prepare his drink in front of him so he could try at some small talk. "You.. from 'round 'ere? What's your name?"
"Mariana. And, no. I'm passing through for a few days." Somehow Charlie had only now realized the mans accent.
"Not too often I see a nice face like yours come through here." Charlie muttered as he juggled with the ice, only to regret his words when he realized how flirtatious they sounded.
Mariana seemed to brush the comment off with a snort. "What is your name?"
Charlie smiled. "Charlie. But everyone in these parts call me The Slime." he joked, trying to test if Mariana could take one.
Mariana stared at him for a moment before laughing so hard it caught the attention of a few other bar goers. "The Slime?"
"Yeah, man."
"Okay Slime… I'll keep that noted."
Charlie did a trick with the whiskey, realizing he had somehow small talked himself into a rabbit hole of wanting to know this mystery man's whole backstory.
Mariana scoffed as he took a sip of his long-awaited whiskey. "You are a showoff, Slime."
"Me? No way. This is just… the same treatment that every customer gets!" He boasted, winking at Mariana.
"You didn't do it for that guy." Mariana replied with a raise of his eyebrow, gesturing to Wyatt two seats over. The third man was drinking his gin, looking just as bitter as the drink itself.
Charlie was a bit speechless, looking back at Mariana, who was sending shock waves though the counter with the way he was slamming his hand on it and laughing.
Charlie had to suppress his own laugh, avoiding eye contact with the man in front of him as he began to wipe down the counter to busy himself.
When Mariana finished laughing, Charlie returned to him and decided to prod a bit more at where the man came from. "So… are you a cowboy?"
"No."
"Then what are you?"
Mariana raised an eyebrow and let out a barely noticeable breath. "Why would I tell you that?"
"You dress like one."
Mariana took a sip of his whiskey and sat up again, the wood of his stool creaking with his every move.
"Where are you from, then?"
"What- is this an interrogation?" Mariana spat bitterly, walls of defense slowly rising around him.
"No, I'm just… tryin' to get to know you more." Charlie mumbled. He didn't know why he was acting like this, he'd never done this for any other new customer. Something about Mariana was so alluring. The way he spoke, dressed, moved, it all made the hair on Charlie's arms stick up and prick at his skin with a nervous yet excited heat. Like every inch of him wanted to get closer to Mariana.
He would never admit any of that out loud, of course. He'd seen a man get attacked publicly for having feelings like this, and no one stood in to help. He knew he would paraded around like the town jester, even hung at the worst outcome. And in a small town like this one, tucked away in the driest, hottest corner of the world, he was even less likely to find someone like him.
Mariana suddenly put his empty glass down, sliding a tip over to Charlie and leaving the saloon. "Thank you Slime."
The breeze of another customer entering the saloon brushed past Charlie, and he only sighed as a familiar man sat down at one of the tables with his friend.
Usually, Charlie would have someone else wait their table. But today it was only him, as Mike had gotten terribly ill.
He sauntered over to the table. "Hey Fit. Pac." He greeted. "What can I get for ya?"
"Just a couple beers, my friend." Fit looked up at Charlie from where he was sitting.
"That's all…?"
Pac nodded with a smile.
"Alrighty then"
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Charlie's shift ended mid-day, handing it off to another bartender to deal with the nighttime rush and all the drunks that stumbled in and out throughout all of it.
The night shift was his worst nightmare.
That and not being able to alleviate his curiosity.
He had mainly forgot about it, distracting himself with cleaning. But towards the end of the day, the way his brain was pulling at the sides of his skull, desperate to ask more questions, to open up his ears and hear Mariana just talk to him for hours, was insufferable.
He didn't smoke often, but something about tonight made him want a cigarette.
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He never ended up getting a pack, instead he settled for sitting down near the edge of town, right off the road, to the hill that poked out behind the gunsmith and tailor, and shutting his eyes.
His head hurt, and no matter what he did it wouldn't stop.
He felt someone approach him, and immediately he opened his eyes.
Part of that instinct came from not wanting to be robbed again, and the other part came from hoping it was Mariana.
"What are you doing?" Mariana spoke, hands on his belt like a sherif arresting a drunk who had passed out in the middle of the road.
Charlie smiled and sat up. "Taking a breath."
Mariana sat down next to him, looking over the town which was now lit up with yellow street lamps, warming each establishment with chatter and laughter.
"Saloon sure is popular tonight." Mariana peeped.
"Yeah."
Charlie wasn't quite sure where to go with the conversation, it seemed awkward, it didn't flow anymore. He questioned if he had obliterated the chemistry they had with how many questions he had asked.
The air around them got slow and thick, making it impossible for Charlie to breathe without feeling like he was doing so too loud.
He looked over at Mariana, surprised to see that he was already eyeing Charlie without even turning his head. But a second after Charlie turned to face him, Mariana had casually looked back at the town.
"So.. what are- you doing here?"
"I came to make sure you weren't dead."
Charlie's eyebrows raised. "Did it- look that way?"
"Yeah. But- you seem pretty alive to me.. so I should probably get going, eh? See you around, Slime."
Charlie would've reached out, asked him to stop. But his brain couldn't come up with a reason why.
"Uh… yeah. See you 'round.."
He could only watch as Mariana descended the hill effortlessly, pursing his lips in thought before getting up to head home.