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The saloon was rowdier than usual today. Monsters were drinking, dancing, drinking, laughing, drinking, singing off-key, and drinking all over. With everyone formed into their own respective groups, it almost looked like they were all getting along for once.
Almost.
Clover raised their glass away just in time for a guy's head to slam onto their table where it once was. Wild cackling followed, erupting from none other than the Sheriff's posse, all of whom were grouped together around the table to Clover's right... well, except for the squirrel who was no doubt busy sneaking around pickpocketing everyone again.
Empty bottles were littered all around their table, an obvious hint as to how wasted they all must be right now. That was made even more apparent by the fashionista wannabe shouting to them.
"Hey, Deputy!" Her shrill voice reached the human over the noise. "Mind bringing the guy over? We're not done with him yet."
"Do it yourself, I'm off-duty," Clover said, briefly glancing over just to scowl at her before returning to their glass.
It's been empty for a while now.
"Oh, come on, be a sport!" came the shouted reply. Clover began to regret choosing the table so close to theirs. "Just throw him over!"
"Now, now," cut in a certain voice from the crowd. Clover suppressed a grimace as they felt an arm wrap around their shoulder and the face of an all-too-familiar yellow pointed-headed monster made himself visible in front of Clover's face.
The Sheriff North Star flashed a 'dazzling' smile at the human. "No need to disturb the Deputy. You're havin' a great time," He turned Clover's head so they were completely facing him. "aren't ya, Clover?"
Clover coolly met his gaze. "Very."
"You're sittin' awfully far from us, pardner." North Star looked over at the table where the rest of the posse were now playing cards. "How 'bout you join us on our table. Can't have you sittin' on your lonesome on such a momentous occasion."
Clover had to stop themself from snorting. If by 'momentous occasion' he meant 'successfully arresting a bandit without the Deputy's help', sure. That sounded like something they needed to celebrate, alright.
"I'm in the table right next to y'all's," they countered, not moving. "Ain't that close enough?"
North Star considered with a hum. "Mm, could be a bit closer. Come on, we're a group, aren't we?" He squeezed Clover's shoulder as if that would show their 'great' camaraderie. "No need to be shy. You're always welcome to join us, ya know."
Clover's grip on their glass tightened and their eyes narrowed, but before they could formulate a response—
... a familiar shade of brown passing through a window caught their attention.
It flashed by so fast, they thought they imagined it. They couldn't really see all that well in front of them with North Star's head all up in their face.
Then there it was again.
And again.
Flashing so fast from window to window on their left until it completely disappeared. By the time it did, Clover had a very good idea on who that belonged to that It took everything in them to keep a straight face in front of the Sheriff while internally gritting their teeth.
Out of all the times, it had to be now. How careless can that guy be?
"I'm good." They said in response to the Sheriff, looking down into their glass as neutrally as they could while they began to sift through possible excuses in their head.
North Star hummed but was stopped from saying anything else by one of the posse calling over to him.
"Hey, North Star! Get over here, Moray's cheating!"
"Comin' right over!" He called back, straightening. For a moment he gave Clover a brief look of consideration before deciding otherwise and simply gave them a pat on the shoulder.
"Suit yourself, pardner," was all he said before releasing them from his grip.
Clover couldn't help but hunch back their shoulders in relief once he did.
The minutes continued to pass, loud and chaotic. As Clover continued with their act of silently drinking, they kept their eye on the posse in their peripheral vision as they all engaged in some drinking game, with the squirrel now joining them. Their boisterous laughter along with the rest of the crowd only added to the growing headache Clover was having from the noise.
Once, they tried to stand up but stopped when North Star's gaze swept over to their direction. The second time their path was too blocked for them to move away without making too loud of a fuss.
Finally, the instant the posse all had their backs turned to them, Clover took the opportunity and slipped away from their table and into the crowd as quickly as they could, not bothering to look back to see if the others had seen as they pushed through the front door.
The rest of the Wild East was silent in comparison, save from the sound of the wind blowing and the rustling of tumbleweed tumbling on by. The contrast was apparent the instant the doors closed behind Clover and they welcomed the change gratefully. The heat pressed all around them now that they've left the walls of the cooler saloon but they didn't have the time to think about that. As their hand kept the brim of their hat stooped down to shield their eyes from the sandy wind, they scanned the perimeter.
Not a monster was in sight. The most obvious presence of any were all in the saloon behind them. Clover didn't know whether that should comfort them or not as they slowly directed their gaze to the left.
The memory of that shade of brown passing by flashed in their head. They turned their head towards the direction they had seen it in. Nothing but a narrow alleyway laid there. After sparing one last glance back towards the saloon just in case, they slipped into it.
They were instantly greeted with trash. Which was expected, considering that was what this alleyway was for. The revolting smell of disposed waste was abundant the instant Clover entered the vicinity. Fortunately for them, they've smelled much worse before and pushed through despite it. Their eyes darted from left to right, searching for a sign of any form of presence nearby all the while they kept their hand as close to their belt holster as they could.
At first, there was nothing. Clover tried to keep their ears open but it was hard picking up anything with the noise from the building right next to them drowning out anything else. They almost gave up right then. It wouldn't bode well for them to be spotted here and have it reach the Sheriff.
But just as they straightened to make their return—
The sudden loud clang of something heavy falling over almost made them jump out of their skin.
Their hand instantly shot out towards their belt holster... but stopped as they registered the sight before them.
The open mouth of a trash can was now visible, tipped over from where it once stood around the corner, behind the saloon. The faint sound of metal thumping against uneven ground could be heard and when Clover looked down, they saw its lid slowly rolling towards them, its momentum steady despite the uneven ground.
Clover walked ahead and stopped its progression by having it bump against their boots. It wobbled and tilted sideways to fall onto the ground but they picked it up before it could, eyeing it for a moment before looking up in the direction of where it came from.
It had been indiscernible under all the noise emanating from within the saloon, but where they now stood it was unmistakable.
Faint rustling could be heard from straight ahead. The kind only made from deliberate movement.
And they knew who it was even before they set aside the lid to peek around the corner.
Small stature.
Bright but faded clothes too warm for the local temperature.
Impossibly white skin that showed no sign of browning under the heat.
Straight brown hair clipped exactly at the shoulders.
Just as Clover expected, it was Chara, the human Clover was unfortunate enough to run into by chance several weeks back and had been plaguing their life ever since. Clover didn't know what they did to grab the other human's attention so much, only that the next thing they knew, they began seeing the human almost daily. Pestering Clover every chance they get. Showing up during the worst moments. Actively putting themself too close to the line of fire that was monsterkind and their obsession with hunting down humans just to get Clover’s attention.
Today was no exception it seems, Clover noted with frustration as they mentally facepalmed at the sight before them.
Chara was crouched down, no cover at all but the building behind them.
And they were positioned directly below the saloon window, mere inches away from the rowdy and armed monsters from within.
Clover could not help but voice their annoyance in the form of a whisper-shout.
"Do you have a death wish or something?!"
It was almost satisfying to see the other human startle. They would have knocked over the trash can to their immediate right as well... if it wasn't tipped over already.
Chara jerked their head to look over their shoulder so fast that it almost cracked, greeting Clover with their deep red eyes widened in alarm.
... Which then eased back to a half-lidded look once they saw who it was.
"Oh, it's you." They said with an unconcerned tone. Then they turned back to what they were doing, waving Clover away with a hand. "Not now, Deputy. I'm busy here."
And by 'busy', they meant the tumbleweed on their lap which they were fiddling with for some reason, hands pulling and pushing through the tangled fiber. Clover had to press a hand over their eyes and take a big inhale to tone down their frustration. That was supposed to be more concerning than literally standing right next to the building filled with literal human-hunting creatures?
"At least pretend that you care about staying alive," they hissed, taking a moment to scan the perimeter for any other presence. "Don't you hear how many monsters there are in there?"
"Exactly." Chara said with a small smile that bordered on smug. "If all are in there getting drunk and doing Angel knows what other kinds of debauchery, then there's less roaming around out here." They paused then gave Clover a thoughtful glance. "Well, except for you, I guess."
Clover stopped their scanning to narrow their eyes at them. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Chara only gave them a bright 'innocent' smile. "Nothing!"
Clover sighed before moving to crouch right next to them, making sure not to let themself be visible through the window above. Considering their height, that was a difficult feat but they managed it by pressing their hat down with a hand.
"What are you doing anyway?" Clover asked, their tone flat but even that couldn't hide their interest. It's not everyday they see someone pick up a tumbleweed and do... whatever Chara was doing with it.
Chara hummed. "What do you think?" They said instead of answering.
Clover gave them an exasperated look. Are they seriously doing this right now? Yes. Yes they were. Chara only continued to smile annoyingly at them until Clover turned to actually properly look at what they were doing.
The tumbleweed was as big as Chara's head, probably the biggest Clover has ever seen. Chara's tiny hands could only cover an eighth of its surface, though that also meant they could reach into the fibers much easily. Other than that, there was nothing more notable about it. It was just a regular tumbleweed.
Clover watched for a few minutes but didn't really understand what about it that made Chara so interested in it to the point of constantly yanking at it, so they went with the first thing that came into mind.
"Assaulting a tumbleweed."
Chara paused for a moment before giving Clover an amused look. "Really now."
"Mm-hm." Clover intended to just leave it as that but they couldn't help but double down. "At least three counts of it too, judging from the state of the victim."
Tumbleweeds were usually perfectly round aside from some fibers sticking out. This one, on the other hand, was the equivalent of disheveled hair, meaning Chara had been poking and prodding at it for a while.
"Could add in forced kidnapping as well since you clearly didn't get it from here," they finished.
"Hm."
Chara placed the tumbleweed down and turned their head towards Clover, mirroring Clover's position that was their elbow on their lap and hand resting on their cheek. "Would that get me arrested, Deputy?" they teased, a smirk playing on their lips.
Clover looked up, fully intending to give them an unimpressed look.
They didn't.
Instead, they froze as they found themself meeting the other's gaze; brown meeting red.
For a moment, Clover could see nothing but the way the light from above reflected perfectly against the other's pair of deep red, making them glimmer like freshly-cut rubies. Their mind stuttered, startled out of its construction of a counter, and for a second they forgot to breathe.
"... Depends." They managed to say though they didn't notice, too transfixed on the way the other's already light skin seemed to glow under the light, like snow on a clear day, and how their bangs were like sunlight Clover's never seen, with how the brown seemed to transition into gold.
Clover's hand tightened from where it rested on the side of their face but they didn't move. Couldn't move.
Or maybe wouldn't.
Chara tilted their head but otherwise stayed just as still, their smirk slowly settling into a small smile which did not help how the thumping in Clover's chest was beginning to sound more and more audible.
For a few charged seconds, the two stayed this way, as if awaiting for who would dare break the contact. It was silent, save from the chaos in the saloon from behind, the slow rustling of the tumbleweed from the front, and the steady flow of breaths from each other.
It felt like it was going to drag on for forever. No amount of Clover's hand clenching could force their head to move and Chara was making no attempt at freeing the other human from their hold.
Then there was the sound of something breaking free from dry fiber and Clover was saved by Chara finally looking away in favor of the tumbleweed in front of them. That's when Clover noticed, with mild exasperation, that Chara's free hand had been continuing with their tumbleweed fiddling during the entire exchange.
And returned fruitful.
"Ah-ha! Got it!" Chara exclaimed as they began to pull something out. "You sneaky little lump of dead grass."
Clover didn't see what it was that the other was trying to get, too busy slowly breathing in and out with a hand over their eyes in their attempt to recover.
Once they were calm enough to safely look in the other human's direction again, they looked back up in time to see Chara freeing what seems to be a small device from within the tumbleweed.
"The—" Clover started but cut themself off at the sound of their raspy voice. Clearing their throat, they tried again. "The heck is that?"
"The solution to all our problems, my dear Deputy," was Chara's breezy reply which, as usual, answered nothing. Then they waved the device in front of Clover's face with the enthusiasm of a kid who just found a new toy. "This is a SOUL-tracker!"
Clover did a double take. A what now?
At the sight of Clover's reaction, Chara instantly withdrew the device back with such speed it was as if they expected Clover to take it.
"Specifically attuned to monster SOULs, mind you," they added. "Unfortunately, monsterkind technology still has a way to go before they can make human tracking easier for them. Otherwise, I'd use it to keep an eye on," They jabbed a finger into Clover's shoulder. "you."
With their business completed, Chara straightened back to a stand, ignoring the alarmed look Clover gave the window when they did as they walked past them into the alleyway, tumbleweed in one hand and the device in the other.
"Where’d you even get something like that?" Clover asked, following after them, though it sounded more of an exasperated demand.
Chara turned on their heel, smiling sweetly at them. "Wouldn't you like to know?" They said before bursting out laughing at the other's unimpressed look. "Relax, the monster I got it from is long dusted and gone. It was just lying around in the guy’s warehouse along with the other gizmos he’s made.
"I was going to test it out earlier but when I put it down to try and decipher the chicken scratch that was the guy's notes," Chara held up the tumbleweed. "this thing swooped in and tumbled on away with the it. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that was the guy's security measure against thieves. But there's no such thing as that, right?"
Well, that explained their weird interest on that tumbleweed then.
"Wouldn't that be something," Clover remarked, their eyes fixed on the device as Chara tossed the tumbleweed away to the side.
Chara must have felt them looking for they quickly moved to put the device away in their jacket pocket straight after.
"Well, it was nice chatting with you, Deputy," they began to say with injected cheer, a hand already raised in a wave. "Always nice to have a friendly chat for once, hm? Now, if you'll excuse me—"
And with that, they turned to leave. Tried to, that is. Their smile froze when they turned around and found Clover blocking their path forward with their arms crossed.
"You're not planning to run around tracking monsters all 'round the Dunes with that thing..." Their eyes narrowed at Chara's attempt to hide their guilty look. "...are you?"
Chara let out a heavy sigh before meeting Clover's gaze with their own hands on their hips. "And what if I am?"
A beat passed.
Clover prevented the previous exchange from repeating by closing their eyes with a frustrated huff. "You know, sometimes I think you're trying to get yourself killed on purpose."
“And sometimes I think you act more like a babysitter than a deputy," Chara countered. Then their eyes widened as if realizing something and they changed their stance to a more laidback one, hands folded behind them as they looked up at Clover with a smirk. "You know, if it bothers you so much, why don’t you go accompany me on my brave endeavor, Oh brave Deputy of the Wild East? I’m sure you will be a greeeaat help."
Clover narrowed their eyes, sensing the trap before it was laid. “And risk being seen with you? When everyone in the Underground is already itching for a single excuse to demolish me? I think you give me enough trouble already just by existing. Heck, I shouldn't even be seen talking to you right now."
Chara's smirk widened. "Is that so?"
Clover's eyes widened in realization just as Chara cupped their hands around their mouth.
"HEY EVERYONE!" came Chara’s booming voice, raised in the highest volume Clover’s ever heard them use. With how open the Wild East was, such a sound would travel easily across miles, to be heard by any monster, even those with less sensitive hearing. Even moreso by those through the thin wood that made up the walls of the saloon.
Clover knew this.
Chara knew Clover knew this.
And they only smirked wider at the deputy’s panicked look that began to grow on their face.
"THERE'S A WEIRDO LURKIN' IN THE ALLEY!” Chara continued relentlessly. “YOU BETTER KILL 'EM QUICK BEFORE—mmph!"
Clover managed to overcome their shock to quickly clamp a hand over Chara’s mouth, cutting them off. But not quick enough.
“Are you fucking crazy?!” They exclaimed, their tone bordering on hysteria as their eyes instantly darted towards the saloon. Already they could hear the sets of foosteps, big and small, beginning to near the entrance. Even the windows now had several figures looming closer and closer through them. And because Chara was Chara, the two would no doubt be instantly spotted the instant somebody became close enough to see through the dust-stained glass.
While Clover’s mind was on overdrive, Chara managed to shake Clover’s hand off them to look towards the saloon with raised eyebrows. “Huh.” They simply said. “You weren’t kidding when you said there were—hey!”
Surviving is simple once one masters the basics of it, and Clover was one such master. A saloon-full of monsters approaching and the rest of the Wild East stirring due to the noise, threatening an even more increase in potential observers… that called for one thing and one thing only.
Run.
Clover grabbed Chara by the arm and immediately booked it out of there, decency be damned.
The rest was a blur. The next thing either knew, they were out in the Dunes, far from either the Wild East and the Oasis, and hiding behind one of the many half-formed walls that littered the desert.
All was silent at first. Clover was panting as they leaned a hand against the wall, gaze still alertingly peeking from the side for any more monsters. Chara, on the other hand, was miraculously barely winded despite having run the same distance. Their back was leaned against the wall and they stared at the other human thoughtfully before deciding to break the silence.
“Well!” Speaking immediately earned them a glare from Clover which they promptly ignored. “Now that was an Underground record if I’ve ever seen one.”
Smiling, Chara walked over to pat Clover on the shoulder. “Keep it up. Maybe I can get you to take me all the way back to Waterfall next time.”
“I should’ve left you to die back there,” Clover muttered through gritted teeth.
“But you didn’t.” Chara met the other’s seething gaze with a smug look of their own. “How are you gonna explain that away this time, Deputy?”
Clover didn’t answer. Smiling as if they expected that, Chara stepped away and feigned a yawn.
“Phew, would you look at the time?” Chara looked down on their nonexistent watch. “Well, that was fun but I think that’s enough excitement for one day.”
They moved to walk past Clover but seemed to have thought of something for they looked back and playfully elbowed Clover’s arm, causing the other to flinch unconsciously. “So we still on for tomorrow?”
The question distracted Clover from their scowling enough to look at the other in confusion. “... What?”
“Did you forget already?” Chara put on their sweetest tone as they looked up at Clover with their hands clasped together near their face. “You said that you’d help me with my monster tracking endeavor tomorrow.”
“What?” Clover repeated, this time incredulously. “I never agreed to—”
“Didn’t you?” Clover was cut off by Chara stepping closer and flashing them with a look that made Clover literally freeze at the sight.
The puppy dog eyes.
Of course.
Only Chara would have the gall to use that on them.
“And I was looking forward to it too…” Chara only doubled down on the effect by slipping in a slight tone of disappointment. “What would little old me do without you?”
And just like that, the act was dropped by Chara instantly giggling at Clover’s face. “Relax! I’m teasing. Geez, you look like I’m asking you to kill someone or something. Lighten up.”
Still laughing, they pulled the brim of Clover’s hat down towards their face, eliciting a startled yelp from the other, as they walked past.
“Well, whatever.” Chara continued, satisfaction practically radiating off from them. “You need to return soon now, don’t you? Something something don’t make the others suspicious? Guess I’ll leave you to it then.”
They spared Clover one last smile. “See you around, Deputy.”
Clover watched Chara’s retreating form against the dry desert backdrop.
… And that’s what they should have kept doing. They should have parted ways right then and there. Ignore the way their fingers slowly curled in on them so that their nails dug into their palm. Dispel the image of that stupid smile in their head. It was none of their business, they told themself. They have no reason to fall under their trap again, they told themself. Chara won’t actually go through with it. They’re not that stupid. Tomorrow they’ll come back to annoy Clover again and not… not…
They spoke before they even realized they opened their mouth.
“Where?”
They hated it. Hated how Chara instantly stopped in their tracks. Hated how they spun around to look over their shoulder, wearing that smug smile as always, as if they expected this.
Hated how Clover's tightened fist relaxed once the pair’s gazes met again.
“Behind the Oasis Cafe?” Chara suggested.
Clover didn’t answer. Instead, they walked, putting their hands in their vest pockets, burying their burning palm. Chara didn’t move from their spot, standing fearlessly with a waiting smile as the other human approached, looming closer and closer.
For a second, Clover appeared as if they were about to walk past, but the instant they fell into step right next to Chara, they lowered their head so they could speak in a low voice directly into the other’s ear.
“Die before I get there and I swear I will personally resurrect you and kill you again myself.”
Chara only closed their eyes, their smile growing wider.
“I’ll hold you to that, Deputy.”