In a busy, but not overly noisy saloon, Heyes was pretending to watch the crowd, while worrying about his too quiet partner. Curry for his part was just studying his drink, as if it might hold all the answers he was looking for, obviously chewing over something that he wasn't willing to share. Heyes was unsettled by this morose silence, as usually when his partner was thinking about something, or mad at him, he generally wasn't quiet and easily expressed his feelings. Curry could be as stubborn as a mule and once his mind was set on a course, he was hard to budge. Heyes could attempt to persuade, offer an alternative and even yell, but sometimes he'd simply be ignored. That was okay, because despite the annoyance Heyes felt when Curry did his own thing against his advice, he knew it was probably very much a part of what made their partnership so successful. It had certainly always been an important factor in their long friendship. Curry always met him head on. He rarely flinched at the force of Heyes's personality and never gave in easily. Heyes understood, admittedly though, not always at the time, that this was an essential part of what made their friendship as strong as it was. Was Kid actually contemplating breaking their partnership and ending a relationship that was so much a part of who they were? That possibility could explain The Kid's unwillingness to talk, but it was something Heyes barely dared to consider, as to him it was almost unthinkable. They would both lose far too much if they went their separate ways.
Heyes had believed that whatever crisis there might have been between them had passed once they'd left the mess of Briggs and the bust behind them. Curry had seemed his usual self in San Francisco, but here, observing his unusually distant friend, Heyes was less sure . This quiet brooding side of his partner was putting him on edge. How could he even attempt to change his partner's mind, if he needed to try, without knowing the exact nature of the problem they were facing? He was worried that his lack of input might lead Curry to a make a decision they'd both live to regret. Heyes's sinking feeling of possible disaster, was not being helped by the fact that one thing that had lingered, even after their arguments had ended, was The Kid's assertion, that they and especially Heyes would do better if they were apart. Heyes knew that wasn't true and had always believed that his partner felt the same. The realisation that he was having doubts, was a massive cause for concern.
Their friendship and partnership was and always had been based very strongly on joint faith, both in each other and the path they were on. This hadn't changed for Heyes, despite their recent problems. He had always thought that while Curry's faith in him and their partnership wasn't blind, it was pretty much unshakeable. However in the last few months, Heyes had sensed a slight shift, as if the invisible thread between them was beginning to show signs of wear, but he'd not paid much attention, figuring it was just a reaction to their changed circumstance. He had now reached the unwelcome realisation that he might have underestimated the severity of what they were facing. It was unacceptable to Heyes, that their drive for amnesty would pull them apart. It was meant to be theirs to be enjoyed together. If faith and friendship weren't quite enough, then they just had to find something even stronger. It really was that simple. Heyes broke the distant silence between them, hoping to get some clue as what his next move should be.
"You okay, Kid? You're awful quiet."
Kid startled and looked up. He had obviously been a long way away and Heyes didn't like the shadows that lingered in his eyes. He expected some dry comment, but instead got a small smile and shrug.
"Just a little tired."
"Call it a night?"
Curry met his gaze, a strange flushed and almost desperate expression on his face, that quickly faded, to be replaced with a weaker version of his usual smile. Heyes however had seen the look and in a sudden rush of understanding had recognised it. In that fleeting moment he had been gifted the knowledge of what exactly faith and friendship could be bolstered with. It was already there between them anyway, it had just been left unspoken and unneeded, until now. Heyes let none of his sudden knowledge show in his face, just followed Curry out into the street and back to the hotel. His eyes lingered on his partner, as he busily made plans. The knots in his stomach loosened before disappearing entirely. Was that despite or because of the step into the unknown he was taking? Heyes wasn't sure, but what he did know without any doubt, was that there were many different forms of love, he and his partner were just going to add that final step to what was already there. Heyes knew it would hardly be a large one for either of them to take.
The next morning Heyes woke with an armful of naked Curry curled up against him and when he looked down, he was met with a sleepy, sated and content gaze that held none of the shadows of the previous days. Heyes took his lover's chin in his hands and pulled his face close, gently caressing the lips with his own and his partner sighed against him, responding to the touch with a gentle determination to reciprocate.
Yes, thought Heyes with sleepy certainty , just before he was swept away on a tide of pleasurable sensation, love was the best way to knit back together slightly frayed threads. In the bright hum of emotional re connection, he felt the ties between them reform and strengthen into something well nigh unbreakable.