LORD OF THE FLIES
"You sure you ain't got something closer?" Hannibal Heyes said as he looked from the hotel desk, up the long flight of stairs to the second floor.
Heyes had his arms crossed, leaning heavily on the desk as if that were the only thing holding him upright.
"Sorry Mister. Second floor is the best I can do."
"Joshua. Get the damn room before I drop right here on the floor, " his blonde blue-eyed partner said with weariness and frustration.
Heyes slid the key off the counter and readjusted his saddlebags before looking up the steep flight of steps.
With a heavy sigh, he raised one foot onto the first step, grabbed the bannister and slowly started making his way up the stairs. Heyes tugged himself up step by step, with Kid trudging behind him.
"Come on Heyes, get the damn door open" Kid grumbled, as he laid an impatient hand on his partner's shoulder, as if that would expedite the door opening quicker.
Heyes fumbled with the key until with relief he heard the click, and the handle turned in his hand. He pushed the door open, as they stumbled into the dark room.
Kid was so close behind Heyes that the toe of his boot caught in one of the rowels of Heyes' spurs, causing him to stumble.
"Dammit Kid," Heyes grumbled.
He caught sight of the two beds in the moonlight that steamed through the windows. He couldn't think of anything in the world that looked better at the moment. Too tired to even lift his saddlebags off his shoulder, he merely lowered it and let the bags fall to the floor. He started to throw his hat on the bed when Kid caught his wrist.
"We've had enough bad luck Heyes. You ain't putting your hat on the bed." Kid took it from his hand before Heyes threw himself face down on the first bed.
Kid dropped his saddlebags on top of Heyes' and stumbled to the next bed, tossing his partner's hat onto an empty chair before taking his off and hanging it by the stampede strings on the back of the chair. He pitched himself face down on the adjoining bed.
Both men sighed in unison, as they closed their eyes and welcomed much needed sleep.
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Buzz…
Kid instinctively, raised a hand and swatted at the fly before his hand dropped and he was asleep again.
Buzzzz…
Without opening his eyes he reached up and waved a frustrated hand at his face. The buzzing momentarily ceased as Kid repositioned himself in bed and closed his eyes.
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Heyes had fallen asleep when he was awakened by Kid thrashing about in his bed and cussing. Kid had finally gotten to sleep, only to wake to a tickling sensation across his lips.
"Ya damn thing!"
Kid had bolted upright in bed and was rubbing a hand feverishly over his lips as he sputtered and spit.
"Damn fly," he cursed, waving his hand frantically in front of his face, as the annoying flying insect darted out of reach.
"What the hell?" Heyes said as he rolled over on his back with a groan. His words were heavy with sleep.
"This damn fly!"
"Just kill it." Heyes mumbled and rolled back over.
Kid stared at Heyes, furious.
"What the hell do you think I've been trying to do.."
"Keep me up…" Heyes mumbled.
Kid angrily threw himself back onto the bed and buried his face into his pillow. He could hear the faint buzz get louder and louder as the fly landed in his hair and started to make its way through his curls.
Kid clenched his hand into a fist and with what he thought was lightning quickness, swung his hand towards the offending insect.
"Ouch!" Kid yelped.
Kid sat up quickly, rubbing the side of his head, and threw his legs over the edge of bed before fumbling for matches to light the oil lamp.
Heyes groaned as Kid lit the lamp and turned it up. He tried to bury his face deeper into his pillow.
"Please turn it off Kid." Heyes pleaded, his words muffled by the pillow.
"Not until I kill this damn fly. Ssh…" Kid sat motionless as his ears strained to hear the telltale buzz.
"Please…"
"Ssh…"
"But…"
"Heyes the quicker you stop your jawing, the quicker I can kill it," Kid hissed. "Now be still."
Moments later Heyes was softly snoring. Kid looked at his partner with envy and anger.
All he wanted to do was sleep…just sleep.
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Kid spotted the slightest movement. The black fly had been camouflaged against Heyes' black hat and he had almost missed it. Kid calculated how quickly he could make it to the chair, without causing it to fly away.
It was impossible. He was still fully dressed, with his boots and spurs on. One step…one jingle of a spur. But one bullet could travel…well, a lot faster. He knew he was that desperate.
He slid his hand slowly to his holster, and pulled his gun out. His eyes were focused on the fly that was content to crawl over the ornate band of Heyes' hat, then settled on the point of the crown. Kid took careful aim and drew in one slow breath as he pulled the trigger.
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Heyes came off the bed like he had been shot; his boots and spurs tangled in the blanket that had been kicked to the floor as he landed unceremoniously on the floor in a heap. His heart was pounding in his chest; his eyes wide with fright.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Heyes said as he struggled to free his feet from the blanket
"Got 'em," Kid said with pride and relief, as he laid his gun on the nightstand.
Moments later there was frantic pounding on the door.
"What the hell is going on in there?!"
Heyes recognized the voice of the desk clerk.
Heyes stopped and stared wide-eyed at Kid, "You're gonna cost us twenty years in prison for a fly?!" He whispered in horror.
Kid ignored Heyes, and with a smile of satisfaction, he fluffed his pillow and pitched face first into it with a sigh.
Heyes ran a quick hand through his hair, before he struggled to his feet and cautiously opened the door.
"What's going on in there?" The clerk asked, trying to look around Heyes.
"Sorry," Heyes apologized, "I think my partner must have missed his holster and well…Sorry." He gave the clerk his most innocent look. "He's kind of clumsy with a gun."
"Mister if there is any damage…"
"I'd like to assure you we would gladly pay for any damage. Being that we're law abiding and all. In fact," Heyes said as he dug into his pocket and drew out some bills and waved them at the clerk, "Here's some good faith."
"Well…," The clerk studied Heyes' s face, before he snatched the money from his hand.
Heyes quickly ducked back into the room, as he closed the door. He blew out a relieved breath.
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"You shot my hat?! Look at the hole!" Heyes said as he poked a finger through it.
Kid, who was sitting on the bed, raised his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"Sorry…I think it kind of gives your hat…some personality."
"Personality?!"
Kid stood up and brushed by Heyes as he headed for the door, "We've been sleeping damn near two days…and I'm as hungry as a bear. You coming?" Kid asked his partner, as he waited with his hand on the door.
Heyes made a final disgusted face, before he slammed his hat on his head and grumbled after his partner.
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Heyes placed his hat next to Kids on the table and looked sadly at the hole in his hat.
Kid ignored him. There was a twinge of guilt, but he was confident Heyes would feel better after a good meal.
"Good soup," Kid said as he eagerly spooned another bite into his mouth and nodded for his partner to try it.
Heyes mumbled something that Kid couldn't understand, but by his tone and posture he was still angry about his hat.
Kid set his spoon down and looked around trying to attract the attention of the waitress.
Heyes noticed, not one but two flies as they moved across the table. He sat quietly as one flew onto Kid's spoon and the other miscalculating altogether, landed in the soup and disappeared into the broth. The other fly moved to the end of the spoon, before it too disappeared into the broth.
Kid turned his attention back to his soup. He stopped with his spoon midair when he noticed a small smile on Heyes' face as he stared at the spoon.
"You okay?" Kid slowly asked, as he spooned the soup into his mouth.
Heyes smile deepened.
"Never better."
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Author's Notes:
Just a real life fluff piece as I'm trying to write with a fly that has taken permanent residence or its lifespan of 28 days, in my bedroom. I have tried to kill this pest for days, until out of desperation the thought of reaching for my gun did pass through my mind. It reminds me of the "Breaking Bad" episode "The Fly" with the whole episode focused on Walt and Jesse trying to kill one fly in their meth lab and the extraordinary measures they took trying to kill it.