A/N: This was actually something I came with seeing Rheneas and Percy on the cover of a record of Erasure's single O L'Amour. I actually love the band and the song, so seeing two of my favourite interests meshed together felt awesome!
So, this silly piece was created. I only own Lexi and her family, the engines belong to Awdry, etc.
Also, little headcanon, I imagine Skarloey finds it cute and endearing when Rheneas wakes up from sleep, whereas Skarloey himself is a grumpy bugger till his fire gets going, as well as some decent conversation. The others tease him about this.
…
One warm and sunny July afternoon on the Skarloey Railway, brothers Skarloey and Rheneas were resting in the Depot. It was quiet today, as the others were down at the Wharf or on the railway itself, and Lexi was visiting her cousin Milo, and his father, her uncle, Trevor Hart, widower of Rachel Hart (née Heron), before heading back to the SKR for her shift.
It had been very warm all day, just pleasantly toasty. It was so warm, in fact, that Rheneas had dozed off, and Skarloey smiled fondly at his snoozing baby brother.
All the same, however, he too was sleepy, and, reluctant to doze off, he longed for a distraction, a welcome surprise.
The surprise was Edward.
"Hullo, Skarloey," Called Edward softly, on seeing Rheneas asleep.
"Hello," replied Skarloey. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Edward, as always."
"Likewise, my dear Skarloey. Are you well?"
"Never better, glad of some conversation round here. He's hardly said a word!" laughed the old engine, glancing at his brother. "How about yourself, young fellow?"
"Oh, please!" chuckled Edward teasingly. "I'm doing grand, Skarloey. I'm certainly pleased to be enjoying this fine weather."
"Aye, it's gorgeous," agreed Skarloey. "Some of us think it's good napping weather, anyway," he chuckled as he heard Rheneas let out a snore.
It had become habit that the pair refrained from disturbing each other, from days when rest was scarce and sorely welcomed. Besides, Skarloey thought Rheneas's snoring to be great entertainment, and he strongly suspected Rheneas would say the same about his own.
"What brings you here, boyo? Don't you have a branch line to run?" he asked jokingly. Edward grinned ruefully.
"Yes, I just thought I'd take some coal and diesel fuel for you all, as I've hardly seen you these days."
"I appreciate that, Edward. We all do."
"It's nice getting away from Bill and Ben for a while, too." Chuckled Edward. "They're not bad engines, really, but one does need a break from them every once in a while."
"I don't blame you," Agreed Skarloey. "The times I wished I could take a break from Duncan and Sir Handel were… well, innumerable." He muttered, sheepishly, causing Edward to chuckle quietly.
"Oh, and your young friend tagged along with me, as well." Edward continued. "She was heading back this way when I happened to meet her en route."
"Hey, Skarloey!" chirped Lexi, bounding up to the engines.
"Shh!" Edward and Skarloey chorused, looking at Rheneas. Lexi soon realised that their friend was sleeping, and her cheeks reddened.
"Sorry," she said quietly, before turning to Edward. "Thanks again for the ride, Edward."
"Oh, you're welcome, my dear," smiled Edward. "It's always a delight to assist." He winked at her, and Lexi tapped her nose in response.
...
Once the coal hopper and diesel fuel tank had been topped up, Edward chatted to Lexi and Skarloey for about two minutes, before bidding them both his adieus.
Once Edward had gone, Skarloey turned to Lexi. He noted that she looked very excited.
"So, how was your visit to your cousin's?" asked Skarloey, politely.
"It was OK," replied Lexi. "He was just showing me paintings he's done and then we went thrifting."
"Thrifting?" puzzled Skarloey.
"He went looking for art supplies and old clothes in some nearby charity shops. He just dragged me along, too." Shrugged Lexi.
"Did he find what he needed?"
"He got some stuff," replied Lexi with a shrug. "I picked up some Snow Patrol and Arctic Monkeys stuff for Dad, he likes their music."
"As Luke's fireman likes to complain," added Skarloey, and his young friend laughed.
"Yep, sounds like Uncle Richard." She chortled. "Anyway, I also found this."
Rummaging around in her backpack, she found a light blue album, with red writing across it, and two engines on the front. One of them Skarloey recognised as Percy, and the second was...
"Why, bless my lamp!" he laughed. "It's our dear old Rheneas!"
"That it is," chuckled the teen. "I would never have thought..." she trailed off, shaking her head fondly at the younger engine. "Anyway, I couldn't leave it there, so I bought it."
"What are you going to do with it?" Skarloey asked her curiously.
"I'll show it to Rheneas, for a start," Said Lexi, "and then take it home and maybe display it somewhere."
To pass the time, Lexi decided to start polishing Skarloey, whilst telling him all about the sights of Knapford. The old engine hated being fussed over, but, for his younger brother's sake, decided to be quiet. Though, he did quietly inform her of the day's events, when asked, and he informed Lexi about how Rusty had found an owl on the tracks in the early morning maintenance run.
"Is it alright?" She asked, worriedly.
"Oh, yes, poor bird. Rusty said it was a tawny owl, looked to have been injured in the wing by a bloody hunter." Fumed Skarloey. "Whether it was an accident or not, that poor bird has some big challenges facing it."
"Where's it now?"
"She's at Crovan's Gate Veterinary. Mr. David Hugh himself made sure of it," Said Skarloey, approvingly. "I called her Nancy, after your predecessor."
"So, will she recover?"
"Oh, she'll live, certainly, but it's hard to say what, if any, permanent damage she might have obtained." Said Skarloey. "Still, she seems to be a lively young bird, so I'm sure she'll pull through."
"Good to hear," said Lexi, smiling.
Skarloey was about to say something when they both heard Rheneas stirring.
"Hmmph…" he mumbled.
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!" Laughed Lexi.
"Yes, please, do, brother!" Skarloey added, chuckling. Rheneas's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled as he saw his big brother and their young friend smiling at him.
"… 'ello," he said sleepily, smiling sheepishly. The sight tugged at Skarloey's firebox- even at over 150 years old, Rheneas always looked cute waking up from a sleep.
"Hello," Skarloey replied softly. "Good to see you awake."
Rheneas smiled, before letting out a small yawn.
