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Jimmy hesitates as he loads his gun.
Scott stands across from him with narrowed eyes, holding the precious gem stolen from the museum in his soft hands.
“Come on, Sheriff. You don’t really want to hurt me.” Scott says, with a low undertone. His eyes, smart and determined in equal measure, glinting in the light.
Jimmy takes a breath and snaps back.
“You’re a thief, I have every right to shoot you where you stand. You’re disrespecting the law.”
His voice is sharp and commanding, but Scott just snorts.
“The law? Really? Aren’t there things more important than that?” He doesn’t say what’s more important, but they both know.
Jimmy hesitates, before shaking his head and aiming his gun at Scott’s stomach. He would aim to kill, but- It’s Scott.
Scott, who is brave and adventurous and kind even when he doesn’t see it. Scott, who is quick to push people away and disappears and can’t commit. It’s Scott.
He can’t kill him.
Still, he levels the gun at his stomach. Enough to hurt like hell, but not enough to actually kill him.
Scott doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. He looks at him with an almost amused expression, only tempered by a slight bit of natural fear from a gun being pointed at him.
“Jimmy. You’re not going to shoot me.”
Jimmy doesn’t answer.
(Scott’s correct.)
Scott takes a step forward, setting the gem on the ground in favor of something far rarer. His voice lowers as he speaks, a grin on his face. “You can’t hurt me. Why are you pretending you want to?”
Jimmy’s response is immediate. “You’re a criminal.” It’s not a real answer, but it’s the most he’s willing to give him.
Scott tilts his head, and Jimmy has to drag his eyes away from the soft curve of his smile. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Jimmy remains silent. He lowers his gun slightly. Scott grabs the barrel of it and pushes it fully down, aimed at the ground.
“Why won’t you hurt me?”
Jimmy goes slack-jawed for a half second, processing Scott’s faith in his assumption, confident enough to grab a gun-
He answers after a few seconds, his voice low and hesitant.
“I don’t know.”
It’s the truth, sort of. He doesn’t know, but-
He can remember, back when Scott was still his friend and not a criminal running a black market right under his nose, the first time he had seen Chromia.
More specifically, he can remember Scott’s bright laugh and proud smile as he showed him around, holding his hand as he guided him through his home. Jimmy can remember the smell of his perfume and the way his eyes crinkled when he’d grin at the stupid jokes Jimmy made.
He doesn’t really know why he can’t bring himself to shoot him. But he has an idea.
Scott does too, based on the way his eyes slightly widen and his smile becomes a bit more confident. He steps closer, and Jimmy can feel his face go a bit pink.
Scott’s voice is low. “I think we both know that’s not true.”
Jimmy swallows, and takes a half-step back, putting his gun back in its holster.
He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds and Scott, seeing the opportunity, moves to escape.
He seems a bit disappointed, casting a glance back at Jimmy.
Jimmy gathers his thoughts, and in a quiet voice asks-
“Can I kiss you?”
Scott pauses from walking away with the gem, and slips it into his bag, looking at Jimmy.
Jimmy immediately regrets asking, a wave of embarrassment and shame rolling over him. He’s a Sheriff, he can’t ask criminals to kiss him no matter their history. And what did he expect to come of it? It’s Scott, he would never-
Jimmy’s internal spiral is cut off by Scott stepping forward, cupping his face, and kissing him.
He doesn’t do anything for a second, but as soon as he processes the action he kisses back.
It’s soft, not given by him or taken by Scott, but shared between them.
Far too soon, Scott pulls back and gives him a smile.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, Sheriff,” Scott says with a grin and runs.
Jimmy stands there, in an empty museum, with wide eyes and a shell-shocked expression. He doesn’t know what to think.
It was nice, of course, but he’s a criminal, he’s a thief-
And Jimmy doesn’t regret it.
He asked, and Scott answered.
Eventually, he comes to his wits and groans when he realizes Scott definitely got away with the gem.
Oddly enough, the thought of having to track Scott down to return the damn thing doesn’t fill him with as much annoyance as he thought it would.
He’s a bit excited to see his thief again, and that thought is what follows him home as he leaves the empty museum.