A Stolen Heart (TomTord)

Chapter 6

(Let me say this: once I start writing this AU and keep listening to country songs over and over again, I just can't physically stop.)

Before the sheriff left the bar, Todd told him one sentence of advice that he wouldn't forget anytime soon. He said that he should give the bandit a chance, since he was steaming on and on about him. Thompson had just shook his head and left out of the swinging doors, but the words stayed with him as he got ready to patrol the town at night. He didn't know why the hell the bartender would be so nice to the bandit, or try to get the sheriff to be nice to him, rather. The bandit was a cold hearted killer, he didn't deserve a second chance. Right?

   That night, as Thompson patrolled, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. But, every time that he would look around or behind him, he was greeted with silence, other than the crickets chirping. After a few times, this turned a bit eerie to him, but he forced himself to not be scared by this. It was probably just paranoia, he told himself. He was going to be fine.
    After an hour, that's when Thompson really started to panic. He could hear footsteps behind him, but when he turned, nothing was there. That really freaked the sheriff out. Well, until one time. For, when he turned around, he was met with a rushing shadow down an alley and something behind kicked over. Whoever it was cursed loudly in a foreign language that Thompson had heard before, but had no idea what it meant.
    "Mierda!"
   Thompson ran over to the alleyway and put a pistol in the air.
   "Who's there?!" He shouted down the alley. He slowly started walking between the two buildings, keeping his pistol up as he looked around. He hummed a bit as he turned around, about to leave. Behind him, in the shadows of a building, something flashed and he heard someone walk behind him. Thompson spun around, almost loosing his balance and falling backwards, but only stumbled, catching himself.

   There, now in the moonlight, was the Red Bandit he had encountered the night before. He grinned widely and playfully at the sheriff before tipping his hat a bit.
    "Evening, sheriff." He chuckled. Thompson's good eye narrowed a bit.
"Evening... Red." He said, venom lacing his words. The bandit pretended to be hurt by this.
"No need to be hostile, Thompson." He chuckled again. "I'm not here to hurt you or anything." He jumped on top of a pile of crates easily. Thompson watched him, his pistol following the shadow. "Hey, cool it." The bandit crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "I don't have weapons on me."
"I don't trust you on that."
"Ya should. I'm a man of my word. I may be a criminal, but I would never lie."

"Whatever! If you aren't here to hurt me and you aren't off robbin' some place, why are you here?!" Thompson snapped. Red made a small 'tsk' sound and he leaned against the building. He tipped his hat down a bit and did a normal cowboy lean like he was in some story.
"Listen here, sheriff. I have a deal to make with ya."
"... and? What is that?"
"I want you to trust me more. You're interestin'." Red suddenly grinned and winked. "So, how about this? You know I don't ever attack anything at day time, so I'll lay low then. I won't rob anywhere or kill someone if you meet up with me every night. And I don't want you actin' like I'm your enemy. I want to be your friend." He grinned and jumped down from the boxes, right in front of Thompson, who staggered back.

"So? What do you say?" Red put his hand out. Thompson stood there, shocked for a moment. But, he had to protect his town at all costs. So he sighed and shook the bandit's hand.
"Deal."

(Oh, and translation.

Mierda means 'fuck' in Spanish.

Since I suck at Spanish, I'm gonna use google translate, even if it sucks.

Because, for those of you who don't know, I headcannon that Tord from this AU speaks Spanish instead of Norwegian.)