Rosy (real_life_rosy) wrote in lupin_snape, @ 2007-12-01 20:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | fic: pg13 |
Hang 'em High, Part II PG13
Title: Hang 'em High
Author: Rosy
Rating: PG 13 for this part.
Summary: Sometimes you just can't escape the past.
Notes/Warnings: AU, Snupin in the wild west... blame the chat room group. Especially Diz. :D All Diz's fault.
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Part II
The sun rose over the grassland and the river, tipping them with gold and amber. Dominic stood on the porch of his house, head tipped back to bask in the morning sunlight before he mounted Daemon and headed into town. He hadn't slept until the wee hours of the morning, and he decided that instead of heating up some coffee and eggs over his own stove, that a larger, more substantial breakfast was in order. Complete with Molly Weasley's glorious coffee. Which was why he was leaving the house earlier than normal. He would need a strong cup of coffee to face the day with even a modicum of tact. Not that he had that much to begin with. He took another deep breath, the cactus flowers giving the morning air a sweet scent, then walked over to Daemon and saddled him. He swung his long leg over the beast's strong back and started towards the town proper. The warming morning air was full of birdsong, and Dominic found himself relaxing along the ride. Daemon's hooves made a rhythmic clip-clop along the red dust of the road. By the time he reached town, the sun was up and people were already beginning to meander on their usual routines.
He stopped and dropped Daemon off with Charlie Weasley at the livery, right next door to Hagrid's smithy. Charlie smiled pleasantly. "If you're heading over to Ma's, Doc, she's got a hot pot of coffee on the stove and a fresh batch of biscuits and her sausage gravy all made up."
"Thank you, Charlie. How is Percy's foot?" He patted Daemon's jaw, soothing the horse's nervous fidgeting. Once Charlie took hold of the reigns, however, Daemon settled. The horse was finicky with who handled it. For example, he would refuse to let the massive Hagrid handle his hooves unless Dominic was there to hold his head.
Charlie smiled, patting Daemon's muscled neck. "Oh, he's healing up fine, right as rain. Ma makes sure he puts that medicine of yours on his heel every night." Dominic nodded, giving Daemon a last pat before heading over to Molly's. He nodded to a few others, then sighed when he saw Marshal Lupin step down off the jail's front step and jog over.
"Mornin', Doc!"
"Good morning, Marshal." Domonic continued walking, not at all surprised when Remus fell in step with him.
"Heading over to Molly's for some breakfast. If you're going the same way, I'm wondering if we could have a little chat while we eat?" Dominic didn't miss the slight tone to the question. Meaning that this wasn't exactly a courtesy call.
"I would not object to it," Dominic said simply. By that time, they had meandered past the General Store where Arthur was sweeping the front porch and headed towards Molly's cafe. The round-cheeked woman greeted them warmly and found a seat for them near the window.
"Usual for you, Doc?" she said smiling, pouring him a rich, black cup of coffee. "And for you, Marshal?"
They both nodded, and she hustled off to plate them up their breakfasts. "What did you wish to discuss with me, Marshal?" He took a long, fortifying drink of his coffee. He didn't, however, let his toes curl up in bliss. That wouldn't be permitted, oh no. It might show on his face, afterall.
Remus took his own sip of coffee, regarding Dominic thoughtfully. "Well, I was sitting, thinking. You know, coming a hair's breadth from death or blindness does that to a fella." He perched his chin in the palm of his hand, tapping his fingertips against his cheek. "See, I've met a whole lot of people in my stint, Doc. Did you know that cow hands have some of the fastest hands you can find? Figure they have to be to be able to get the young calfs. Wriggly little suckers."
"Mmm. I bet." He raised an eyebrow. "Is there a point to this little digression?"
"That there is, that there is." Remus sat back, as Molly put two plate full of steaming food on the table. The sausage gravy was spicy and delicious over warm, crispy biscuits. There was even a bit of bacon to go with it. Remus had a plateful of scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and some flapjacks. Remus waited until Molly topped off their coffee and ambled away to help one or too other customers who had walked in. "See, here's the thing doc. Only a handful a people could have reflexes fast enough to save my face. And, frankly, doctors aren't real high on the list."
"Mm." Dominic began eating neatly and quickly. He wanted to be in his office before ten, if possible. Although with the direction this conversation was heading, he may not be able to get into his office at all. "Doctors require swift, accurate work with their hands at times," he countered.
"So do gunslingers," Remus said levelly, watching Dominic's face intently.
"I prefer taking bullets out of someone rather than putting them in," Dominic snapped. He finished his breakfast, tossed some bills on the table, and stood up. He made a show of plucking his pocketwatch from its pocket and checking the time. "I will be in my office, should you have any intelligent questions to ask," he sneered. With that, he walked out and headed for his office building.
"Doc!" Remus jogged after him, catching up with Dominic. "Doc, I didn't mean to insult you. I just... well. Nobody knows that much about you. And the way you plucked that glass out of the air, plus the fact that you wouldn't let our guests see your face..."
"Hmph. You're more intelligent than I thought," Dominic said dryly. He walked without speaking to the office and unlocked it. "Come inside." Remus walked in, his eyebrows raising when he saw Dominic lock the door behind him. He settled with his hip against one of the counters.
"I take it this isn't something you want spread about town?" Remus asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Dominic sighed, bracing against the desk for a moment. "When I was a young man, I made... mistakes," he said simply. "I recognized the mistake and changed. Which is why I am here. And why you have never seen me with a gun on my hip."
"I see," Remus said, watching Dominic thoughtfully. "And... this gang is made up of your old buddies?"
Dominic's lips thinned, but he didn't answer. Instead, he walked to one of his drawers, unlocked it, and pulled out a small kit. He quickly rolled his own cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. "They wouldn't move to Belladona Creek without some motivation. The stages that run through here don't come often enough or are rich enough to attract their boss. Which means there's a puppet master trying to pull Tom Riddle's strings. And that," he said, letting out a stream of steel-gray smoke, "could get very messy very quickly."