Saloonatics TomEdd One-Shots

The sheriff's birthday (fluff) - part 1

//Art by: Cronxes on Tumblr.
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It was at least eleven at night now. Thompson was walking exhausted through the silent streets of Spitbucket. The day was extremely boring and tiring. Early in the morning, he and Edward exchanged shots with bandits who were robbing the bank and had hostages. Hours later, they had to run after a couple who had kidnapped a child.

When the sheriff finally thought he would have some peace, he had an discussion with the bartender and ended up in a fight, leaving the bartender with a black eye and his fists now hurt. If it weren't for some people in the saloon who prevented the fight, he probably would have pulled out a tooth from his ex-friend.

Thompson just wanted to go home now just to fall on the couch, sleep, and hope he didn't wake up anymore. What a fucking birthday. He really hopes the boy hasn't done things like a surprise party or something, he's not in the best mood for that.

He finally comes home, but something is wrong. The door is unlocked? Damn it. He hesitates before opening the door slowly, eyes closed, puffing out his chest.

"Please no surprise party, please no surprise party..." He repeats quietly to himself.

He turns on the light. Everything is strangely quiet, but the silence is broken seconds later by a familiar giggle. Thompson opens his eyes, and is faced with Edward sitting on his red sofa, he is holding something behind him. Certainly nothing suspicious. On the small table centered next to the sofa, there was a small cake with only one candle lit. It looked like chocolate. There were two glass cups too, he didn't even remember that he had those glasses at home.

"Hi Thom! You took a long time to arrive today, huh?" Ed says with a friendly and clearly anxious smile.

"Spit it out." The older one says, trying to make the best intimidating face possible, but that doesn't work in Edward anymore.

Edward smiles awkwardly and takes his hands behind him, revealing a beautiful gift package. It seems to have been done with his own hands. "Surprise!"

The sheriff looks confused at the boy and then looks around. "Are you the only here?" He speaks with relief, but deep down he is disappointed.

"Yes. Just you and me. I know you don't like parties, so I wanted to at least do my part." Edward pats next to him. "Come on! I bet you will like it!" He says excitedly.

Thompson is trying his best to hide a smile. He had forgotten what it is like to have such an understanding friend. Maybe he can leave his nap for later. He locks the door behind him and walks over to the other man, sitting next to him. "You know you didn't have to do this..." A pause. "Is that why you went missing all afternoon?"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Ed shrugged, trying not to look directly at his friend. He looked nervous. Thompson carefully opens the package, trying not to spoil the beautiful paper. It's a bottle of drink, it looked very expensive for the packaging. There was a small red bow at the top.

"Holy moly! Ed, this is so fucking expensive! How do you-" Thompson looks perplexed, he never had a chance to hold a drink like that.

"I know, cool huh? I heard it tastes incredible and first class, that's why it's so expensive." The boy looks down, his fingers playing with each other. "I was thinking of drinking this with you. You know... to celebrate." He says the last part softly, looks embarrassed.

The sheriff looks at the beautiful bottle for a moment and looks at Ed shortly after. Edward doesn't even like alcohol that much, but he was willing to do it just to make his friend happy on his birthday. He smiles, without hiding this time.

"Thank you, son. I think it's fair." He can hear a happy noise coming from the man's throat next to him. Suddenly Edward raises his head "Oh! I got you a cake too, I think you noticed." He points to the small cake on the table in front of him. "It's not that big, but it can accommodate at least three people."

Three? Ah, right, the prince. Thompson hardly spoke to him, he did not consider him a friend actually. He only talked to Matthew once in a while just because of Ed. All he knows to do is say how important and handsome he is. Thompson guesses that the prince must be sleeping upstairs in one of the rooms in his house.

"I'm not hungry right now, but I would love to baptize this beauty." He takes the bottle out of the package and shakes it, listening to the sound of the liquid stirring inside.

"You are the birthday guy, you are in charge!" The boy says laughing, his smile catches the sheriff's. He has never felt so much positive energy coming out of one person. The detective gets up and goes to the kitchen to get a bottle opener. He returns and hands it to Thompson, with whom he happily opens it. A small noise echoes through the room when it finally opens, the foam from the container runs down the shooter's fingers. Edward picks up the glass cups on the table and lets Thompson pour the liquid into both.

He puts the bottle back on the table and holds his glass. "Happy 32 years old, buddy!" Ed holds out his hand with his glass. "Don't tell me my age, I'm going to feel old." Thompson does the same and their glasses clink smoothly. They both take a long drink.

"Waaah! It burns!" Edward says, putting his hand to his throat, not used to the bitter taste. "Better to drink slowly, you're more likely to get drunk here." The sheriff says, taking off his hat and putting it aside, revealing his messy hair.

"Nah, you'll know when I'm on the edge, I trust you." Thompson feels a shiver in his body for a moment.

"By the way, what's that in your hand?" He places the glass on the table, looking at his friend's dirty hands. "Ah, that...? Oh well-" He tries to find good words not to mention that he just beat up the bartender in the bar. "You suck at lying, don't even try on me." Thompson takes another sip from his glass, drinking it all at once. He sighs. "Okay, you got me this time." He shows his hands up, in a position of surrender.

"Let me see that." Edward says immediately when Thompson finishes setting his glass on the table. "I- wait, what?" Edward's hands take his. The detective examines the other's bruised and swollen fists. "Did you hit someone again? Is that what you do when I'm not around?" He looks disappointed with his friend, but keeps a dumb smile on his face.

Thompson stay quiet, he has nothing to say sincerely. He feels the british's delicate fingers running through his red fists. It hurts, but he doesn't care. Hes is too busy watching Edward's every move there. The boy's hands are very soft compared to his. The british pale skin stands out a lot. Thompson wonders if Edward is sick somehow or he just not getting too much sun.

"You have to wash this afterwards, maybe put some ice." He looks concerned. "Never mind, it's nothing. Really." He stretches out his free arm to pick up the bottle and fill the glass, but Thompson stops abruptly when he feels something soft and wet touching his fingers. He turns his head and sees Ed giving a quick kiss on his hand. Edward looks up and finds Thompson looking at him with wide eyes (or at least, his only eye that still works).

"Ahg!" He jumps back. "I-I'm so sorry! I did it without thinking, I'm sorry!" Thompson looks at his hand, it hurts less now. He runs his fingers over the injured area. "It's okay, it was a nice gesture." He says between laughs at the end, showing that it wasn't really uncomfortable. The boy beside him seems to relax.

(Silence).

"I think you're drunk-"

He raises his head and stare at nothing. Edward laughs out loud in embarrassment, lightly punching the friend's shoulder.

It will be a fun night.