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Chapter Text

The tail end of the 19th Century. Where dreams of the gold rush and fortunes to be made, where settler towns inhabited by everyday people fight to see the next day of their lives from sun up to sun down.

Kim Dahyun has been Sheriff since she turned 22. The youngest as far as anyone else was aware, the only female sheriff for miles and miles around. In this lawless land she’s tried and toiled to keep the people of the town she calls home safe and protected.

Dealing with bandits, murders and more she’s strived to be the one everyone can depend on, no matter the cost to herself physically and mentally.

When a patrol goes wrong and crosses her path with a bounty hunter, the type of person that Dahyun struggles to reconcile with or understand the most, her world opens in a way that she never anticipated coming.

As Dahyun is forced to confront the ghosts of her past and the future that lies before her, will she be able to move past it? Or will she become a footnote in the history books that detail the blood soaked dirt and sand of the American Frontier?

Chapter Text

Of all the stupid things Kim Dahyun had done in her life thus far, this was in high contention for spot number one.After all, it took a special combination of brave, stupid and a hint of unlucky to find herself pinned down by bandits on what was supposed to be a routine patrol. 

The stupid part had come in when Dahyun dismissed her deputy’s concerns about patrolling late at night alone. She’d be fine. She was the Sheriff Kim after all, the youngest sheriff in local history and- first female sheriff in her state, nevermind the town. 

A decision born out of necessity in part, as a raid had left the town largely defenceless. The majority of the men of age were either killed or wounded so severely they couldn’t serve, which meant the town had to turn to non-traditional means of protection. The other part was Dahyun’s exceptional skill set.

She trained relentlessly from a young age. The only daughter of a family torn apart by the lawlessness of the western United States, Dahyun spent her younger years disobeying every single instruction from increasingly fraught grandparents. She spent hours after dark training her aim and instincts, making sure that if the day ever came again, she’d be ready. This time she’d be sure to stop the same kind of men that had taken her parents from her so early.

So why exactly was Dahyun now stuck in the middle of nowhere, pinned behind a rock as she listened to the gleeful whoops of a band of what her deputy, Chaeyoung, would describe as ‘rocks for brains chucklefucks’? She had gotten sloppy. Too self assured of her position at the top of the food chain in her area. She missed the glint of the scope atop the hill to her east. Wasn’t fast enough to register the flash from the barrel. Barely managed to launch herself from her horse as it hit the ground dead. She scrambled for cover before she joined her four-legged friend in the afterlife. 

“Do horses and people even go to the same place when they die? Or do they have horsey heaven and people heaven?” Dahyun mumbled to herself, hand making its way to her holster where she was relieved to find her pistol was still in its place. Glancing over the rock she had taken cover behind Dahyun could barely make out the stock of her rifle trapped under the still body of her horse. 

She tsked, looking between the rifle and the shadows. She saw them approaching from the direction where the shot had arrived from, their voices growing louder as they got closer. Dahyun drew her pistol, steeling herself for whatever may come. Determined, if nothing else, to take one or two of the bastards with her if that’s how fate deemed it.

“What have we got here fellas? Some poor damsel all dressed up pretending to be something she ain’t!” One voice growled as the group approached, a tall well-built man jumped off his horse as his cronies tittered in response.

Their leader then.

“And to whom do I have the pleasure of this midnight rendezvous?” Dahyun barked out, her anger held back from her tone. She couldn’t afford to let them have any more of an edge on her than they already had.

“She speaks! Normally all y’all do is whine, cry and beg. First woman I’ve met who had something to say.” The leader said excitedly, the crew behind him laughing in jest. “Not sure what concern of yours my name is lil’ lady but you were brave enough to ask. Suppose I can do you the favour of letting you know exactly who got the best of you.” 

Keep talking. We’ll see how well your jaw swings with a bullet in between your eyes. In any other situation Dahyun wouldn’t have even broken a sweat dealing with these yahoos. They were sloppy, they were taking their time to goad Dahyun, try and terrify her instead of just closing in on their target. But they had her on the back foot, she was outnumbered with no spare rounds on her and pinned down. 

Dahyun remained silent, biding her time as she waited for the leader to continue. “We’re the Cassidy Clan, and we’re taking over these parts. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come out nice and easy, give us what we want and we might just let you go.” 

The upturned inflection at the end of his statement told Dahyun there was no way in hell this crew was planning on letting her off, even if she gave them exactly what they wanted they’d still gut her on the spot afterwards.

That name though. It was one Dahyun saw days prior, on a wanted poster she added to the ever-growing bounty board inside the station.

“Burt Cassidy. $100. Dead or Alive.” 

The sudden silence between the opponents was deafening; the laughter and jests from a moment before, gone in an instant as the tension grew. 

“Who the fuck are you?” Burt demanded. 

Dahyun sighed in response, continuing her list seemingly unfazed.

“Bill Cassidy. $50. Dead or Alive. 

Lil’ Joe Cassidy. $50. Dead or Alive. 

Frank Cassidy. $50. Dead or Alive.”

The silence descended again as tension on the Cassidy side increased when Dahyun listed off each member of the party. Each name drew a huff from the man whose name was spoken until she finished. None of them dared to speak before Dahyun continued.

“Why Lil’ Joe? You’re the only Joe, why aren’t you just Joe? You got a tiny pecker or something?” Dahyun teased, biting back a smile as she heard a gasp from behind the rock.

“It ain’t tiny you fuckin’ bitch. You’ll see that by the time I’m—” Lil’ Joe was cut off when Dahyun popped up from behind the rock, pistol aimed in the direction of his voice and fired two shots. 

One struck Lil’ Joe in the shoulder, the other hit him dead in the middle of his throat. His words gurgled as he tried to gasp for breath. He slid from his whinnying horse that galloped away from the group as each man scrambled for their gun. Dahyun vanished from sight just as quickly as she had appeared. 

“You lil’ cunt!” Burt cried out, his voice bristling with anger. 

Dahyun exhaled sharply, the heat from her pistol’s barrel warm against her chest. The scent of gunpowder drifted up to her nostrils as she tried to stay her racing heart.

4 shots left. Gotta be more careful.

“One each way boys. We’re gonna make you pay for that, bitch!” Burt grunted. 

Dahyun heard the sound of two sets of feet hitting dirt, grimacing as she realised the bandits might not be as stupid as she had hoped. When she attempted a glance over the rock, Dahyun was met with the crack of a pistol, causing her to dive back into hiding. Burt remained firmly in place as the two remaining Cassidys took a wide berth, in hopes of getting an angle on Dahyun. 

Gotta risk it. Even the playing field. 

“Lil Joe ain’t deserve that. He was our youngest brother. He was a good boy. Could drink and smoke like a man twice his age. You’re gonna fuckin pay for what you done!” A voice on the left hand side of Dahyun called out. Burt, from the middle, hushed him as Dahyun grinned. 

Rocks for brains after all.

Dahyun swiftly dove from cover, following the sound of the voice from moments before letting off two more swift shots. She noted the cries of pain following her shots, letting her know she hit her mark. She then quickly dove into  cover once more behind an adjacent rock. It hid her somewhat, but not quite enough.

Dahyun felt pain soar through her body, first from the impact of her body hitting the dirt, and the small dust cloud it caused kicked up, driving the air from f her lungs as she tried to regain her breath. 

The second source of pain came when she registered there was a third shot, one not fired by her. The searing pain in her bicep confirmed the shot found its target. She exhaled harshly through her teeth, tearing a strip from her shirt to create a makeshift tourniquette for the wound as quickly as she could. All the while, she listened to the cries from her second target fade, dulling to a soft whimper until silence fell over them again. 

“You’re two down!” Dahyun called out. 

She knew things didn’t look too hot for her. She only had two shots left withtwo targets remaining. And she was injured. She knew a bluff was her best bet at the moment to get out of the situation. 

“Y’all can go. Leave the bodies of your brothers and we’ll call it even for you killing my horse.”

“You out your fucking mind?! We still got the numbers on you, Missy and I know when a bitch is bluffing. Now I’d wager you’re still a better shot than me. I’m man enough to admit that. But I know when I hit my mark. I know you’re hurtin’ and you just want out of this. No fuckin’ chance in high heaven are we walkin’ when you killed half our family.” Burt called out, the remaining brother grunted in agreement.

“Well, have it your way then.” Dahyun said softly, pushing through the pain in her dominant arm. She aimed with her off hand, firing once in the direction of Burt and sent a second shot where she hoped the final brother was before dropping back into cover.

A grunt from Burt let Dahyun know her first bullet found its mark, the sound of a body collapsing confirmed the second had found its target perfectly. Dahyun exhaled, preparing to rise before the crack of a pistol confirmed Burt was still standing. 

“What’s it gonna take for you to fucking GIVE UP!?” Dahyun roared, the pain in her arm shooting through her body once more as she moved abruptly to avoid the fire. 

“Well, now I know you used all six shots. What's there to give up on?” The smug voice from Burt answered her. 

Dahyun grimaced at the sound as she pulled her knife from its place in her boot. 

“You barely grazed my arm. Fuckin’ nailed Frankie though. To be honest he’s the one I was least fond of so you kinda did me a favour.” His voice dripped with disdain as his feet steadily made their way towards Dahyun’s hiding spot. 

“Least now there ain’t no sharing my prize!” He cackled. Dahyun’s skin crawled at the comment.

“Fucking try it then, dipshit. You’ll have to kill me if you want anywhere near me.” Dahyun growled, gripping her knife tightly, prepared to fight as hard as possible.

“Awe, where’s the fun in that? I like it when y’all scream.” Burt replied. His voice grew closer as Dahyun steeled herself to bumrush the man. “It makes it that much more fun for me, listening as y’all beg for mer—” 

*CRACK*

Burt’s words were cut off as a bullet whistled through the back of his head, and struck the dirt barely a meter away from where Dahyun hid. The faint thump of Burt’s knees hitting the dirt preceded the sound of his body collapsing forward. 

“What the hell? More bandits?” Dahyun asked the stars quietly, scared to look out in case she found herself meeting a similar fate to Burt.

“YA ALRIGHT DOWN THERE?” A voice shouted from the same hill the Cassidys had come down from earlier. Dahyun didn’t recognise it, the only identifiable trait was that it was a woman. Not that a woman meant safety. Female bandits were on the rise just the same as female sheriffs. 

Mustering her nerve, Dahyun called back, “WHOSE ASKING?” 

“AIN’T NO ENEMY. I BEEN HUNTING THEM FELLAS FOR A WEEK. THEY FLED CROSSINGFARM COUNTY AFTER THEY ROBBED AND MURDERED THE GOVERNOR’S SON.”

“Great. A bounty hunter.” Dahyun said quietly to herself. She didn’t have the highest opinion of the profession. Killers for hire in her eyes. They rarely sought to bring in anyone alive, no matter the wishes of the law. 

“I’M SHERIFF KIM. I WATCH OVER THE TOWN NEARBY. COME ON DOWN AN’ WE CAN SORT THIS MESS OUT.”

“YES MA’AM,” came the response. And if Dahyun didn’t know better there was a hint of sass to the voice. 

“Lord have mercy on me.” Dahyun winced as she stood, checking on her wounded arm. The bullet had thankfully gone straight through, tearing out a not unsizeable chunk of her bicep on its path. She would heal but she wasn’t going to be winning any firefights in the immediate future; a fact which made her current situation far from enjoyable.

Dahyun sighed as she made her way over to the strewn bodies, checking each for any signs of life.. Crews like theirs were growing increasingly common, wanton opportunists who looked to prey on anyone they saw as weak or helpless. Dahyun was lucky she had the skills to deal with them, luckier still she was granted reprieve from Burt by her would-be guardian angel, even if she was a bounty hunter. 

Speaking of, Dahyun caught the woman approaching her, riding horseback as Dahyun tried to covertly slide her rifle out from under the corpse of her horse. Her injury screamed at her to stop exerting herself; however, her second nature told her that meeting a bounty hunter unarmed was akin to a death wish. With a final heave, the rifle slid out of its holster on the underside of the horse. Dahyun flicked the lever back to load a round she hoped she didn’t need.

Staring down the stranger approaching, Dahyun was taken aback by her. She had a slight build, long hair that flowed down either side of her face and a smile that did not match the demeanour of somebody whose role in society necessitated hunting and killing others for sport and income. 

“Well, fancy that. Didn’t expect a sheriff to be so pretty.” The stranger’s grin seemed to widen as Dahyun tried to stop her eyes rolling back involuntarily. “My name’s Sana. But my friends call me CS!” 

Sana hopped off her horse, extending a hand to Dahyun. Sheriff Kim looked down at her injured arm then back at Sana with an incredulous look.

“You’ll have to forgive my lack of manners on this occasion, an’ I’ll stick with Sana. Thanks.” Dahyun responded dryly. Sana’s face dropped before perking back up again. “But thank you for your assistance. This group got the drop on me. I got most of them, but—”

“Ran outta bullets?” Sana asked cheekily. 

Dahyun’s eyes grew wide when she saw Sana look between the rifle in Dahyun’s hand and the torn off strip of her shirt tied around her arm. 

“With that injury you’d be best suited stickin’ to a pistol, I’m guessing you know that though. ‘N you didn’t have the ammunition to do so hence you wrigglin’ that thing out from under, what I assume was yer horse. Am I right?” Sana smiled and flashed her eyelashes at the sheriff., 

Dahyun tried not to get flustered by the action as she sighed.

“Guilty, but for all I know you’ll gun me down where I stand, an’ take the lot of them for yourself.” Dahyun said evenly, shifting the butt of her rifle to her hip, the gun purposefully pointed away from Sana but easy enough to be manoeuvred in a pinch.

“And for what reason would I go ‘n do something like that?” Sana grinned. The brim of her hat shrouded her eyes but the moonlight gave Dahyun a flash of pearly white teeth. “I saved your life, ain’t I? Plus, murdering sheriffs is bad for business. How else can I turn in these fools and earn my keep?”

Dahyun sighed, not letting the grip on her rifle loosen as she tried to take in the sight before her. Her initial thinking had been right. She was pretty, had a build that honestly would befit a barmaid or dancer rather than a killer. But her body language wasn’t hostile and didn’t scream aggression. If anything, Sana seemed to be entirely at ease.

“So you expect me to believe that after I’ve taken over half of your prospective bounty for this gang, that you’ll just let it fly? Forgive me for being skeptical, but it ain’t like bounty hunters are a harmless bunch.” Dahyun pressed, her guard still firmly up.

“You believe whatever you like, Sheriff, I’m only here to do my job. And ‘sides like I said, gunning down sheriffs is bad for business. Unless you got some secret alter-ego and there’s bounties out for your name as well.” Sana grinned as she held her hands either side of her head palms spread wide. “Well, I’m as harmless as a baby.”

“Hard to believe you’re harmless when you just put a bullet through a man’s head at four hundred feet.” Dahyun remarked dryly as Sana laughed. Her laughter lit up the air around them as Dahyun watched her carefully.

“I’m only harmless to pretty sheriffs, you know. Or to people who don’t know when best to leave alone too.” Sana’s voice was light but there was a hint of danger to her words, an unspoken threat that Dahyun most definitely took note of. 

“But, if it’ll make you feel better, here.” Sana slowly lowered one hand to her hip, gently removing her pistol before tossing it at Dahyun’s feet. “I got permission to remove my rifle, Sheriff?”

Dahyun instinctively aimed her own rifle at Sana the second her hand began to move. With the pistol at her feet, the glare on her face was replaced with a look of confusion before she nodded cautiously. 

Sana removed her rifle, intentionally pacing every movement slowly. She placed the weapon down by her side before stepping back, hands once again firmly above her head. 

“You trustin’ me now?” She quipped, the same flash of teeth emerging again. 

“Fine then.” Dahyun relented, not wanting to look ungracious to what was in all honesty an act she had fully not anticipated. “Well. You killed Burt. You got his slip?” Dahyun asked, slipping back into business mode, not wanting to deal anymore with Sana than absolutely necessary. 

“Well of course I do, although I'd imagine saving a sheriff has its rewards too?” Sana winked as Dahyun sighed deeply.

“Look, just load the bodies up on their horses, we’ll lead ‘em back to town. I’ll get you a room arranged and we can sort your payment come morning okay? I need stitched up and until that’s happened and I’ve slept some, I’ll be no good to anyone.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Sana grinned, quickly busying herself with the work Dahyun had prescribed.

Dahyun was amazed at the fact that Sana seemed stronger than her build would suggest, dragging two bodies to the back of one horse, getting the horse to lay down before flipping each body onto the horse before tying them tight, then repeating with another. 

Dahyun watched what was clearly a well practiced routine as Sana collected the weapons of the men along with her own, placing them in a saddlebag before leading the horse to Dahyun, a smile playing across her lips. 

“Your mount m’lady.” Sana grinned. Dahyun herself only just managed to bite back an involuntary laugh before stilling herself and nodding in acknowledgement. 

Dahyun mounted, with some difficulty at first until she found Sana wordlessly offering support. No sly comment or innuendo, just helping before mounting her own horse and gesturing for Dahyun to lead the way. 

The ride back was quiet, only the noises from the horses broke the still night, and the moon above provided their only illumination. The adrenaline from the fight all but worn off meant Dahyun could feel her entire body screaming at her, the jostling of the horse making Dahyun have to focus more than she was used to when riding. Add to that the inescapable presence of Sana beside her, and this was a ride that would not be going down in Dahyun’s top journeys.

They continued like this for a few miles, Sana seemingly picked up on the vibe of the moment and chose to keep quiet, before the twinkling lights of Tanrise, Dahyun’s town came into view. Exhaling with relief Dahyun spurred her horse a little quicker, wanting to get in, get stitched and get a dram as well if she could persuade Jeongyeon to let her drink whilst she was still bleeding. 

Grimacing as the increased jostling from the horse made her arm sting, Dahyun and Sana rode into town, where the only sounds came from the saloon—music playing and the occasional cry from somebody dealt a poor hand. It was quiet, it was small, but it had been and would continue to be Dahyun’s home. She lived another day. Directing them towards the Sheriff’s office, Dahyun bit her lip, well aware she was about to be chewed out by her own deputy. 

“Sheriff Kim!” The all too familiar voice called out from behind the door, Dahyun winced in advance at the verbal lashing she was about to receive. Despite Chaeyoung being her deputy, it always seemed to be Dahyun who was in trouble with the younger subordinate.

“Here, Chaeyoung, before you lambast me with questions, see that our guest gets a room, will you?” Dahyun winced as she lowered herself as carefully as she could from the horse. Chaeyoung’s face was a mixture of confusion and disapproval.

“Any other commands? Like maybe sending Nayeon to patch up that fool arm of yours whilst I’m out and about running your errands?” Chaeyoung asked dryly, arms folded as she looked Dahyun's dirty form up and down.

“Yes, Deputy, that would be good.” Dahyun said, biting her lip. She was used to the goading, knowing it came from a place of care, but nonetheless far from in the mood to be on the receiving end of a telling.

Chaeyoung seemed to pick up on this, sighing and stepping forward give Dahyun a reassuring pat on her uninjured shoulder. She then stepped towards Sana with a nod, indicating that she should follow her. 

Sana smiled at Chaeyoung, dropping from her horse with such ease that it made Dahyun’s dismount look like a child who had just ridden from the first time. Under the lights of the town Dahyun finally got a proper look at Sana for the first time. 

She was pretty, almost unnaturally so. A face unblemished with the usual scars or marks that came part and parcel of a bounty hunter’s lifestyle. Dahyun had noticed it before but now she could see clearly how carefully put together Sana’s appearance really was. 

From the way her jacket was fitted and well maintained, to the carefully cared for boots, that looked like they were spit and shone every single day, maybe even twice a day. It was vastly different from the haphazard series of patches and dust worn wreck that Dahyun sported most days. 

More than that was the fact that had Dahyun not already seen that Sana had strength, the way she had managed to tie up all four bodies without an iota of assistance from Dahyun herself, Dahyun never would have guessed Sana was that strong.. She looked more like a rich girl playing dress up than a bounty hunter.

There was only one thing Dahyun knew about Sana for sure, she was dangerous, and she seemed to have Dahyun dead in her sights. 

Dahyun turned, watching as Sana made to follow Chaeyoung before calling out. “I know I said it already. But thank you again. Saved my hide.” 

Dahyun turned, moving to head inside before she heard a giggle from Sana. 

Turning back to her, she said, “Why, who knew the big bad sheriff had a soft spot? Glad to be of service.” Sana winked and removed her hat bowing to Dahyun, before following as Chaeyoung led her away towards the saloon.

The one lasting impression of Sana, the thing that had been hidden out on the plains by the lack of light and her hat was now revealed to Dahyun. Deep brown eyes, and although she only caught a glimpse, Dahyun could tell they were eyes men and women alike drowned in. They were easily enticed and guided in before they found themselves completely out of their depth. 

Sana was more than just dangerous, she was lethal.

Shaking herself from the thought, Dahyun walked up the steps, the wooden floorboards creaking under her boots as she opened the door to the office. Her office. It was a small cramped space. One desk out in the open, one in the back and a cell that could barely hold more than a couple people comfortably. But it was Dahyun’s. She earned the right to call it hers. At least that was what everyone told her. 

Sighing to herself, Dahyun walked towards the bounty board. Quickly locating the Cassidy posters and removing them before heading through to her office in the back. Placing the sheets on her desk, Dahyun finally let the stress and exhaustion wash over her as she took a seat. Feeling every ache and pain finally settle in from behind the barrier she’d been holding back. 

Gingerly removing the tourniquet around her jacketed arm, Dahyun slipped her jacket off properly taking in the wound for the first time. The bullet had as she’d thought earlier punched clean through. At least there wouldn’t be any extraction needed. She’d had to have that done one time before and had passed out from the pain. Grimacing at the sight she quickly replaced the tourniquet as the wound began to bleed fresh again, awaiting the arrival of Nayeon.

Lamenting the empty decanter that stood on the bureau in the corner of her office Dahyun removed her pipe from the bottom drawer of the desk, packing a generous amount of tobacco before lighting and taking a draw. The thick acrid taste hitting her lungs and soothing her somewhat as she tried to settle in ahead of what was bound to be an unpleasant procedure. 

Ten minutes passed before Chaeyoung re-appeared with Nayeon close behind, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she took in Dahyun with a worried expression.

“What fool thing did you do this time?” Nayeon sighed, dragging a chair over to Dahyun’s side as she sat her bag on the table, beginning her inspection of the wound. “And really? Smoking around an open wound? I know you’re far from stupid Dahyun, what made you think that was a good idea?” 

“In pain. Needed something to focus on instead.” Dahyun grunted as Nayeon positioned her arm, looking at it carefully before sighing again. 

“You’re lucky. Went clean through. You’ll have some restricted movement for a while but you should heal okay. You’ll need stitches and you’ll need to not smoke that .” Nayeon pointed at the pipe on Dahyun’s desk. “When they’re uncovered. I’m not having our Sheriff catch an infection from smoke.”

“So does that mean drinking isn’t off the table?” Dahyun half joked, earning a glower then a sigh from Nayeon.

“You can drink but do it moderately please. We need you on your toes and you should be careful. Alcohol thins blood you know? Makes you bleed easier.” Nayeon grumbled as she opened her bag, pulling out antiseptic along with a thread and needle. “Chae you can do your interrogation now. I know you’re dying to and anyways and she’ll need the distraction.”

Chaeyoung, who had been leaning in the doorway, rolled her eyes as she stood up, stepping forward to sit in the chair opposite Dahyun. “So routine patrol huh? Nothing to worry about, no back up needed? So wanna explain the four bodies you got tied up on those horses outside and the stranger you just had me put up at the saloon?” Chaeyoung cocked her eyebrow, fighting back a smug look.

“Okay. Yes probably should have taken you with me. Might have been a bit easier. But I’m - OW” Dahyun winced as Nayeon began cleaning out the wound, tsking at her patient before returning to what she was doing. “I’m mostly whole.”

“Mostly whole doesn’t quite cut it quite frankly. You could have died and left this town down its best shot.” Chaeyoung sighed and ran her hands through her hair. “I’m glad you didn’t obviously but still. You need to lean on us too, Dahyun. You’re a damn good sheriff and we all trust you to hell and back but that needs to go both ways.” 

Dahyun sighed. She knew Chaeyoung was right, but that didn’t remove the weight of loneliness that Dahyun felt when it came to her responsibilities. “I’m sorry. It’ll not happen again.”

“Bullshit. Once you’re healed you’ll be back to the same shit as before.” Chaeyoung sighed. “Just think about it, Dahyun. More than anything we don’t wanna lose you. You mean a lot to us beyond just being our sheriff.” 

“I’ll try.” Dahyun said quietly, wincing again as Nayeon began to stitch her back up.

“Fine. I’m gonna be even harder on you in the future though. And no way in hell are you going out solo on nights like this again.” Chaeyoung grunted, seemingly settling the matter. “Anyways, what's the story with that lot outside? Anyone we know?” 

Dahyun nodded, gesturing to the pile of papers on her desk, 

Chaeyoung leaned over and flipped through them. “Cassidys huh? Nasty bunch there. And you and that woman took them down four v two?” Chaeyoung chuckled shaking her head as she placed the pile back on the desk.

“More like four v one. I killed the three siblings myself. Sana took down Burt from a distance. She saved my ass.” Dahyun admitted. It really had been miraculous timing on Sana’s part. Appearing from nowhere to save Dahyun as she had. 

“So, where does she fit into all this? Just a concerned citizen?” Chaeyoung asked, arching an eyebrow, Dahyun shook her head in response. 

“Bounty hunter. She chased em from Crossingfarm. Said they killed the Governor’s son over that way. Guess that bit of info hadn’t quite reached us yet.” Dahyun winced as Nayeon continued her work, trying to keep still the best she could. 

“So she gets the reward for Burt only right? I can get the cash looked out. Feds are due out next week for a top up and refresh on the bounties next week anyways.” Chaeyoung said lazily, leaning back in her chair. 

“I’ll sort in the morning, I’m gonna throw in one of the brothers. She saved my ass. I’d run dry and was gonna have to face down Burt with just my knife. Don’t know I’d have made it out of that fight.” Dahyun grimaced at the thought.

“You’d have won though, right?” Chaeyoung flashed a grin at Dahyun who smiled in return.

“Course I would. Bunch of idiots couldn’t stop talking. How I got so many without taking a hit initially. Just might not have made it home in as good condition as I am.” Dahyun boasted, Chaeyoung rolling her eyes as Nayeon made the final stitch and cut the line. 

“Done. You can go for one drink then you’re to go to bed. Doctor’s orders.” Nayeon rolled her eyes as she stood from her seat, packing away her kit. “You owe Mina an apology tomorrow by the way Dahyun. You know she hates it when I get dragged from bed in the early hours.”

“I’ll make sure I stop by the store to apologise. I’ll see if we can get in any of those puzzle things she likes so much when the feds drop by next week. Can usually make a couple requests, especially if we’ve bagged a few bounties like today’s one.” Dahyun nodded, Nayeon smiling gratefully and placing a kiss on Dahyun’s forehead before turning to leave.

“Chaeyoung’s right, you know. It’s not your responsibility alone to take care of us all. We all pitch in in our own ways. Lean on us from time to time. Just stop having me come in here to patch you up you hear?” Nayeon stood in the doorway and nodded at Dahyun before heading out. 

“I get the feeling y’all ain’t letting me live this shit down for a minute huh?” Dahyun sighed as she stood from her seat, gently flexing her arm to test how it felt. 

“Correct. But it’s because we love you dumbass. Come on. Jeong and Jihyo were clearing out the last of the old yins. We’ll have the bar to ourselves for a drink then I’ll get you to your bed. I am enforcing doctor’s orders no matter what you say though.” Chaeyoung sighed leading Dahyun out the door, 

Dahyun grumbling about being her superior and elder, both of which were silenced with a single look from Chaeyoung. The pair made their way from the office, watching as the last of the punters left the saloon, ushered out by an exhausted looking Jihyo who waved half heartedly at the duo, ushering them in. 

“Come in quick before I get accused of playing favourites again.” Jihyo said fighting back a yawn as Chaeyoung and Dahyun chuckled, making their way into the now quiet bar, Jeongyeon stood behind the bar washing glasses gave the two an acknowledging nod before pausing her task to put a bottle of whisky on the bar. 

“Fresh in. Been keeping it for one of you doing something stupid, didn’t think it’d be cracked open this quick though.” Jeongyeon glared at Dahyun who had the good grace to at least look sheepish. 

“Sorry. Learned my lesson, no going out without my trusty deputy anymore.” Dahyun half joked, only earning glowers from the other three women before they broke into laughter. 

“Believe it when I see it Dubs.” Chaeyoung finally dropped all formality, the pair finally off duty of sorts as she opened the bottle, pouring each a generous drink before gesturing to Jeongyeon and Jihyo. 

“Fuck it. Long shift, we earned this, we never get to touch the good shit either.” Jihyo grinned, placing two glasses atop the counter, Chaeyoung smiling as she filled their glasses.

“To our sheriff’s health. Long may she live despite being shot.” Jeongyeon said morosely, the other three chuckling before taking a long drink. Dahyun savouring every drop of the amber gold on her tongue before shivering at the burn as it passed down her throat. 

“Would I be intruding if I asked to join?” A voice called from above them, all four sets of eyes shooting up to look at Sana, who was leant over the railing above, grinning gleefully at the sight below her. 

“You might be. But given our sheriff might not have made it back without your interference we can allow it on this occasion." Chaeyoung spoke before anyone else could. Sana clapping gleefully as she turned to head down the stairs as Dahyun looked at her incredulously.

“What? She’s pretty and seems chatty. Plus she doesn’t seem to half make you uncomfortable which is a sight I take great pleasure in seeing, especially after tonight.” Chaeyoung grinned as Jihyo and Jeongyeong exchanged knowing looks before shrugging.

“Seems fair if she really did save your life Dahyun. Pride ourselves on our hospitality don’t we babe?” Jeongyeon grinned, bumping her hip against Jihyo’s who just sighed and nodded in agreement.

“No elaborate drinking competitions though please. I want my bed, and you look like you need yours.” Jihyo nodded at Dahyun who shrugged.

“Just tell me I look like shit Ji, it’s quicker.” Dahyun chuckled.

“Dahyun you look like shit.” Jihyo said with a straight face.

“I don’t know. Sure she’s a bit bloody and dirty but she’s still got a very pretty face.” Sana piped up from behind, drawing all their attention, Dahyun rolling her eyes and the three others did their best to suppress their laughter.

“Your saviour thinks you’re pretty Dahyun. Do you need a key for a room too?” Jeongyeon teased, eliciting a groan from Dahyun and giggles from Sana who took a seat on the stool next to Dahyun.

“Jeong, you and I both know that Dahyun wouldn’t have the proverbial balls to do that.” Chaeyoung grinned, cheersing her glass against Jeongyeon’s the pair laughing at Dahyun’s expense.

“Do I gotta remind you idiots that I don’t need a reason to lock y’all up? I just can.” Dahyun grumbled. Shooting daggers at the pair as Jihyo rolled her eyes at the trio, leant against the bar.

“Dahyun. You come in here when we are both dog tired after getting damn close to being turned into coyote meat and wanna complain? I think you can stand a lil teasin’” Jihyo said sternly, Dahyun stiffening in her stool.

“Jeong we have a guest you know better than to be so crude.” Jihyo said bluntly, earning a sheepish cough from Jeongyeon.

“And Chae you got a cushy role because numbnuts here insists on carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Maybe a lil appreciation of that would go some way instead of you busting Dahyun’s grits everyday.” Jihyo added, Chaeyoung shrinking in her seat at the words.

“Yes Maam.” The chorus came from the three women, Sana looking on at them curiously as Jihyo shook her head before smiling at her and removing a glass from under the bar and sliding it along to her. “Sorry bout them, these idiots do actually care about each other but seem to prefer trying to get on each others, and my, last nerve.”

“Just glad to meet a Sheriff who isn’t a stiff” Sana chirped, drawing laughter from the group and easing the slight tension that Jihyo’s chastising had brought over them. 

“Surprised you hadn’t settled in to sleep already.” Dahyun remarked, taking the bottle from Chaeyoung and pouring Sana a glass. 

“Had to make sure the dashing sheriff made it through surgery okay.” Sana winked, taking a sip of the drink.

“Had to make sure your payout was secure, I'm sure you mean.”  Dahyun drawled, not looking at Sana as she took another drink, eyeing Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon and Jihyo out the corner of her eye, debating if she could get away with topping up her drink or not. 

“Here.” Sana discreetly poured her drink into Dahyun’s smiling at the taken aback look on her face. “What don’t tell me you won’t drink it just because I’ve had a sip? Promise I don’t taste that bad.” Sana winked as Dahyun fought to suppress the blush on her cheeks. 

This wasn’t Dahyun. She didn’t get flustered. She did the flustering. Well, no she didn’t. She had been called all manner of things in her time as a sheriff but the advances Sana had been making on her were an entirely different beast to what she was used to. And yet Sana was having an effect on her. Whether it was the influence of the alcohol or. Well no. Sana had that affect on Dahyun well before she had begun to drink whether she liked it or not.

Shaking her head Dahyun just nodded gratefully, passing the bottle to Sana to top up her now empty glass. Sana humming as she did so. The pair sat in silence, sipping their drinks as Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung finished up, each bidding the lot goodnight. Chaeyoung tried to convince Dahyun to head home but had no luck as Dahyun gestured to her mostly full glass. 

“I’m nursing it Chae. It’s still just one. I’ll head home after okay?” Dahyun said simply, Chaeyoung rolling her eyes at the statement but agreeing nonetheless, leaving Dahyun and Sana in their own company, Jeongyeon and Jihyo already off to bed.

“So. Bounty hunting huh?” Dahyun said carefully. She was unsure of Sana as a person still, the thinly veiled threat from earlier still playing on her mind.

“Yeah. I know. Not what you’d expect looking at me.” Sana sighed, for the first time since meeting her it seemed to Dahyun like the cheerful exterior had dropped. “I was always a good shot. My Daddy taught me young to defend myself, said that every woman should know how to shoot and turns out I was a natural. When he passed I didn’t have anyone left.” Sana shrugged as if it was the most natural statement in the world.

“Bounty hunting seemed a good deal. Pays well, deals with the scum. I get it. Not a glamorous job. But I never had anything tying me down. Liked the thrill of the chase. Sounds fucked but there you go. Life is fucked.” Sana said bitterly, taking a strong swig of her drink as Dahyun regarded her carefully.

“Never thought to make roots somewhere. Settle in?” Dahyun asked. The ghost of Sana’s statement earlier about not digging too deep playing on her mind. 

“Nah, never found somewhere worth digging in.” Sana said curtly, a clear sign for Dahyun to drop the subject and move on. 

“So where next then?” Dahyun asked. Taking a sip as she watched Sana drain the remainder of her whisky. 

“Wherever your bounty board may take me.” Sana grimaced, patting Dahyun on her shoulder before recoiling in horror. “Oh my god that wasn’t your bad arm was it!?”

Dahyun chuckled, shaking her head. “Other arm. But nice to know you care.” 

Sana looked taken aback but laughed it off quickly, the flirty persona from earlier returning as naturally as it had left. “Good, can’t go injuring the pretty sheriff, wouldn’t want you putting me in cuffs.” 

“Somehow, I doubt you’d mind.” Dahyun said absentmindedly, Sana standing as she giggled, gently touching the bad arm on the shoulder.

“Maybe, maybe not. My secret to keep. Goodnight sheriff. I hope you sleep well.” Sana said, the vaguest hint of sincerity in her voice as she walked off, her footsteps echoing in the quiet bar. Dahyun drained the dregs of her whisky before standing to leave. 

“And you Sana.” She said quietly before taking her leave to her own abode. The touch from Sana lingering on her mind and her shoulder as she walked. Dangerous for sure. But was there something more there? 

==================================================

The steady ache in Dahyun’s arm lead to a restless night’s sleep. The evening’s events still fresh upon her mind. The dull buzz of the alcohol doing little to alleviate the tension in Dahyun’s arm and mind.

She might have died, in all honesty maybe she should have. The consequence of her unwillingness to allow anyone other than herself to be placed in harm’s way. And now she was injured, couldn't be depended on to be the person the town needed and relied on. 

And then there was Sana. The way she had waltzed in carefree after saving Dahyun’s life, nothing at all alike the bounty hunters Dahyun had met previously. They were loners, kept to themselves, were gruff and more often than not straight up rude. They didn’t play well with others and certainly wouldn’t have invited themselves to have a drink with the owners of a bar, plus the sheriff and deputy. 

But Sana did exactly that so far, had just carried on easily, sly comments and teasing remarks in abundance like she had known Dahyun for years. Dahyun grimaced at it. Whilst the idea of somebody who was attractive flirting with her was far from something she was against, the issue Dahyun had stemmed from who Sana was.

A bounty hunter - the lowest of the low in accepted society. Barely above the likes of the same bandits, rapists and murderers that they hunted themselves. The only difference being that bounty hunters were an accepted form of murderer. Dahyun sighed to herself, the inability to sleep playing on her more now as she struggled to marry the two images she had in her head together. 

Sana was bright and loud, from the small glimpse Dahyun had gained thus far seemed to go about her life easily, making friends wherever she wanted. Well, maybe acquaintances was closer to the truth but still. She had a past, but honestly who didn’t out here. It wasn’t like living was easy for those of them who had chose to live out on the frontiers, harder still for the ones who just couldn’t escape the circumstances of their birth.

Then there was the bounty hunters she knew. Men and women who stank, spoke little and stayed even less, collecting their pay and taking off to the next destination as quickly as she could. Even saying she knew bounty hunters was a stretch, Dahyun was aware of them most at a push. 

And Sana the Bounty Hunter seemed so oxymoronical it hurt Dahyun’s head to even consider. 

The train of thought running through her mind, combined with the last ebbs of adrenaline wearing off and the drop of alcohol in her system, Dahyun finally managed to fall into a restless sleep. And as she so often did lately Dahyun dreamed.

It was the same night. Replayed over and over again. The thick smoke from outside that billowed into her room through a window, permeating everything and filling her nostrils with the scent of fire and fear.. The whoops and yells of the men outside interlaced with the begging bellows that came from her father, then above it all the high pitched screams of her mother. Frozen in fear, Dahyun remained still. 

She’d called it her kingdom. A place where Princess Kim could hide away and preside over her subjects, safe underneath a loose board in the floor of her bedroom. The first time she’d hid there her parents had searched for hours. All too unaware that their daughter was just napping down below. She’d be chewed out something awful for that stunt, not that it stopped her repeating the incident only weeks later.

Now though her escape was a prison. A place she’d been told to stay in and not come out no matter what, her father hurriedly pushing the bed over the floorboard. A desperate attempt to mask his daughter’s hiding spot. To give her the chance him and his wife wouldn’t have. 

Hours passed there, the noise from outside stopping who knows when. It was as if one moment all Dahyun could hear was her father begging the men not to do this, promising them anything to let him and his wife go. The goading and taunting cries from the men only punctuated by a fresh scream or whimper from Dahyun’s mother. And then there was silence. No begging nor crying, only the faint flicker of a fire. And still Dahyun couldn’t move.

She woke with a start. Hand impulsive shooting to her bedside table, pistol aimed at the door, waiting for some faceless entity to arrive, deep breaths wracking her body as Dahyun’s eyes shot wildly about the room, the first tendrils of sun snaking their way through the thin curtains of her room. 

As if playing catch up with her body Dahyun dropped the pistol suddenly, her arm wracked in pain as she felt the reminder of the night before hit her. Looking at the dressing Nayeon had applied the night before Dahyun cursed, seeing the fresh blood on the dressing, an indication she’d torn her stitches after Nayeon had so carefully done them the night before. 

She knew she would need them re-done. She was in part loathe to go and disturb Nayeon so early. But the consequence of not doing so would mean delaying her healing, or worse invoking Nayeon, and by extension Chaeyoung’s wrath.

Swallowing her pride, Dahyun dressed, wearing a short sleeve shirt and her well worn chaps, the dusted up boots still with blood on them from the night before. Carrying her coat instead of wearing it, fearful she would somehow make the stitches worse if she was to wear it. 

Taking a look in the mirror Dahyun grumbled. She’d never much cared for her appearance, opting for low ponytails or braiding her hair, if nothing else to keep it out the way. But the bags under her eyes, the disheveled baby hairs that stuck out from her hat, the way she couldn’t quite meet her own eyes in the mirror. Dahyun was exhausted, run down, not the same bright eyed young woman who’d stepped into the sheriff’s boots years back. 

Things hadn’t always been as quite as bad as they were recently. The new bounty posters that arrived with the feds every couple of weeks had been growing each time. New wannabes desperate to make a name for themselves cropping up in higher and higher numbers. 

People were growing desperate, the myths of hills of gold long since abandoned, those who were out here now either too stubborn or too poor to move back out east towards civilisation. 

Albeit Dahyun herself fell into neither category. She was paid fairly, had no strong desire to prove anyone wrong about her move out here. Not that she’d ever really known anything else. Barely a year old when her parents had moved out west. All she had was a morbid sense of obligation. To the friends she’d made and the townspeople she’d sworn to protect.

But something inside her was breaking down. The constant struggle around her to survive. Whether it was watching as Nayeon tried her best to care for children whose parents were gone. Or the kindness from Jeongyeon and Jihyo as they’d give an old timer a drink he’d never otherwise afford. Nevermind the day in day out patrolling herself and Chaeyoung were forced to undertake, always on edge.

But Dahyun was still here, and for now that would have to do. Gritting herself, Dahyun set off for Nayeon and Mina’s house. The couple had settled into one of the bigger homes of the town, something the majority had easily acquiesced to, given the number of children that for better or worse had fallen under the care of the Im-Myoui household. 

A couple had been runaways, the children of drunks and abusers. The others were just victims of poor fate, parents caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Either on the road and brought back by Dahyun or Chaeyoung or victims of disaster.

Somehow they’d gravitated to Nayeon, perhaps because of her role as the community's doctor, therapist and gossip all rolled into one. Although Nayeon would always say it was Mina and the way that she was the most naturally easy person in the world to be around, even children could feel at ease around her. 

Honestly between Nayeon and Mina or Jeongyeon and Jihyo. It was quite the toss up as to which couple proved to be the bigger love stricken mess, at least Dahyun thought so anyways. She had previously had Chaeyoung in her camp too, at least until one Chou Tzuyu had arrived in town. Now it was on Dahyun to drag her idiot deputy away from staring at her like a love stricken puppy all day long. 

Not that Dahyun honestly minded. She was happy her friends were happy. They all deserved it. The only thing she resented were the looks of pity she received. Always the loner, never the one for love.

The empty streets of the town reminded Dahyun of this fact, the sun slowly edging its way over the horizon, illuminating the dusty streets. Dahyun took the walk slowly, reveling in the peace she so rarely got to enjoy these days. Always a rush somewhere, always a watchful eye needed even in the most mundane of scenarios. It only compounded on her exhaustion from the fruitful nights sleep she had endured as of late.

Nearing the edge of town, the wind whistling between buildings, the heat of the morning sun beginning to stir signs of life within the houses, soft creaks from floorboards as people began to muster their energy to face the day. Nayeon and Mina’s house sat, the sight of Mina already out on the porch almost as if she was awaiting Dahyun’s arrival.

Dahyun sighed, taking her hat off as she walked towards Mina, already dreading the chastising she was due for not only getting Nayeon out of bed so late, but also getting injured again. 

“Mornin” Dahyun’s voice came out as a croak, the dry air and alcohol from last night reducing her throat to sandpaper, Mina barely looking up from her book to acknowledge Dahyun.

“Tear your stitches already?” Mina asked quietly, turning a page, her eyes briefly jumping up from the page, catching the look on Dahyun’s face before skirting to the bloody bandage that just hung out from underneath Dahyun’s sleeve.

“Didn’t mean to. Woke with a fright.” Dahyun said sheepishly, taking in the house, just trying to avoid Mina’s gaze. She didn’t have the energy to dodge Mina’s line of questioning. Out of everyone she was the one who seemed to be the most like Dahyun. Was in tune with her in a way others just weren’t. 

Mina sighed, placing her book face down on the table beside her before standing. “I’ll get Nay. She’s due an early start today anyways.” Mina began walking towards the door, gesturing for Dahyun to follow.

“I’m sorry. I know y’all are busy. I don’t like draggin -” Dahyun was cut off as Mina stopped in the doorway, turning to properly face her for the first time.

“Stop apologising Dahyun. Yes it means we’re tired but you should know both of us would rather a rough night’s sleep than let anything happen to you.” Mina’s words were steady, a firmness to them that cut Dahyun off, the tired look in Mina’s eyes not angry. Just frustrated.

“Right. Still, I’m sorry.” Dahyun nodded, Mina biting her lip as if she wanted to say more, instead just proceeding into the house, Dahyun close behind. 

“Y’know where everything is. Just try be quiet if you can. Kids will be sleeping for a bit longer yet, rather let em lie in.” Mina then turned, heading upstairs, silent as a ghost.

Dahyun watched after her, heading into the dining room and taking a seat. In days gone by she’d be dropping by for a visit just cause. Lounging in the kitchen as she watched Mina tease Nayeon about her awful coffee, Nayeon defending herself that she wanted to do something for Mina for a change. Relenting when Mina flashed her eyelashes and made them a fresh pot.

The memory made Dahyun smile, a time gone by before things had become so bleak. The shuffling of feet made Dahyun look up, a tiny figure appearing in the doorway, rubbing sleep out of their eyes.

“Mornin’ Miss Yuna. What you doin outta bed so early?” Dahyun said softly, the girl padding through the dining room to stand round at the side of Dahyun’s chair, looking at her curiously. 

“Why are you here so early Miss Dahyu- I mean Sheriff?” Yuna asked sleepily, Dahyun smiling at her.

“Gotta see Nay, got myself a booboo last night n you know she’s the best at takin care of them.” Dahyun explained gently, Yuna nodding in approval before turning and padding towards the kitchen, the sound of the tap running briefly before she reappeared, two glasses of water in hand.

“Your voice sounded funny, you should have some water. I’m gonna go back to bed. Chaer doesn’t like it if I’m not there when she wakes up.” Yuna said, placing the glass of water on the table before walking back out as abruptly as she arrived, passing by a smiling Nayeon and Mina who were watching from the doorway.

Nayeon ruffled Yuna’s hair as she walked by, before looking to Dahyun the smile dropping from her face. “Couldn’t manage twelve hours without busting the darned things?” 

“Good morning to you too Nay.” Dahyun grumbled, taking a sip from the glass, grateful for the relief it brought to her throat. 

“Yeah, yeah good fu-ow!” Nayeon jumped as Mina pinched her arm.

“No swearing when the kids are about Nay you know that.” Mina said sternly, although she reached across to kiss Nayeon’s cheek as a peace offering.

“Fine, good frickin morning to you Dahyun. Now what’d you do?” Nayeon tried to scowl but the tug at her lips from Mina’s kiss instead just made her look psychotic.

“Look mad or look lovestruck bunnygirl. One or t’other because I’d rather get an infection than see that face.” Dahyun drawled, a smirk playing across her face as Mina smiled at Nayeon, Nayeon now only scowling at Dahyun.

“You know what, I think Chaeyoung will make a great Sheriff. You can head on out now Ms Kim. Don’t let the door hit your a- I mean butt on the way out.” Nayeon glanced to Mina who nodded approvingly at her.

“Can I just get the bad part of my morning where you root around in my arm over and done with? I have a bounty hunter to pay.” Dahyun grumbled, her mind flashing to Sana as she remembered the four bodies that still needed to be dealt with. 

“Right. Your dashing saviour.” Nayeon smirked as she walked round to Dahyun’s side of the table, pulling out a chair as she began unwrapping Dahyun’s bandage. “She gonna be a permanent fixture in town? Somebody finally catch the attention of Ms Kim?” 

“She’s a hunter Nay. She’ll be gone the second the cash hits her hand.” Dahyun said resolutely, not even giving Nayeon a glance as the older woman sighed beside her.

“You’ve clean torn these open Dahyun what the hell did you do?” Nayeon grumbled, finally removing the last of the gauze against Dahyun’s arm.

Dahyun hesitated, mulling over her response, barely hearing Nayeon ask Mina to fetch her kit as she inspected Dahyun’s arm.

“I had a nightmare.” Dahyun said simply, hoping Nayeon wouldn’t push the topic further.

“And decided to tear your arm open? What the hell was it?” Nayeon asked, confused.

“Just a bad dream Nay, nothing I can’t handle. Just woke up startled is all.” Dahyun was firmer this time, hoping Nayeon would just drop it.

“What happened to leaning on us? Last night just lip service?” Nayeon leaned back in her chair, arms folded as she looked at Dahyun annoyed.

“Nayeon. It was just a nightmare. It doesn’t matter, I'll be fine!” Dahyun’s voice raised slightly before she reigned in her indignation at Nayeon. “Look, just trust me on this okay? If it wasn’t something I could handle I’d talk about it. But I can handle it.”

Nayeon rolled her eyes, but at Mina’s re-appearance just nodded. Taking her kit from Mina, thanking her gently before beginning to carefully unpick Dahyun’s stitches before re-doing them. “You gotta be more careful Dahyun. I know it’s annoying but taking care of yourself needs to come first sometimes. We can only do so much.”

Dahyun just nodded, not wanting to get into it with Nayeon any further. The pair sitting in silence as Mina began to put together some breakfast in the kitchen, finishing up as Nayeon completed her work on Dahyun’s arm. 

“You’ll stay for food Dahyun?” Mina asked, looking at her expectantly as Dahyun shook her head. 

“I gotta head out. Don’t really want everyone waking up to corpses in front of the office.” Dahyun stood from her seat, trying to avoid the disappointed gaze from Mina before sighing. “We can get lunch or dinner or something? I can treat you guys? A thanks or something.”

“We’ll hold you to that.” Nayeon grumbled, pushing Dahyun’s hat onto her head, a small smirk playing across her face as Dahyun grimaced at the action. “Quit being such a stranger though, kids miss you. We miss you.” 

“I’ll try.” Dahyun half smiled, Mina stepping in and giving her a hug, pressing a peck to her temple before stepping away.

“She really will hold you to that you know. Nothing gets in the way of Nay and a free meal.” Mina said half heartedly, the disappointment from before still on her face, as much as she tried to play it off.

Dahyun tipped her hat to Mina, half trying to regain some air of normality, half trying to hide her gaze from Mina’s. “Yes Maam.”

With that Dahyun took her leave, Nayeon and Mina watching as she left. 

“She’s not okay is she?” Mina said quietly, Nayeon placing her arm around her shoulder, pulling her into Nayeon’s side. Mina’s hand instinctively going to rest against Nayeon’s chest.

“Not even close.” Nayeon agreed, watching as Dahyun’s figure got smaller against the backdrop of the town. 

==================================================

Bad things came in threes. That was the saying. 

Number one: Dahyun slept like shit, had a nightmare and tore open her stitches.

Number two: Dahyun had upset Mina and Nayeon, she didn’t need to look back to know the pair were watching her leave with concern etched on their faces. 

So where was the third stroke of misfortune that was bound to befall Dahyun that morning. Either it would be a spectacle at the bodies she had forgotten to deal with last night or.

“Well good morning to you sheriff, looking mighty handsome today.” 

Sana. Of course it would be Sana. Why would it be anything else on a day when Dahyun could do with the absolute bare minimum of human contact.

Dahyun grunted in response, tipping her hat in the direction of Sana’s voice, still making a direct line for her office, noting the still clear streets. 

“Ya in a rush so early in the morning? Some cow got tipped over and you gotta go deal with the rascals that done it?” Sana’s voice continued, the sound of her boots crunching through the dust letting Dahyun know she was just a step behind her now.

“I never dealt with those bodies. Gotta get em outta sight, I don’t want the townsfolk freaking out. Plus we got kids here, they ain’t need to see that.” Dahyun said gruffly, quickening her step, trying to outpace Sana best she could. 

“How you gonna deal with anything with that bum arm of yours?” Sana teased, Dahyun scoffing at her as she tried to outpace Sana rapidly approaching her office where she could hear the whinnying of the horses.

Looking up however Dahyun found their backs empty, the saddleback full of weapons that was on her horse the only sign that the previous night’s events had happened. Well that and the giggling that came from beside her.

Dahyun turned to Sana, giving her a confused look as Sana just about bent over doubled with laughter, standing and dramatically wiping away an imaginary tear from her eye. “You were proper concerned there sheriff, didn’t think you’d be that worried about a couple bodies laying about. I already dealt with them though.” 

Dahyun’s jaw dropped looking at Sana, the smug look on her face only serving to further fuel the simmering outrage Dahyun felt at her for the teasing. “You. Dealt with them? How? What in the damned hell did you do with those bodies?” 

“Take a breather there, I lead them horses round the back, untied the bodies then covered em up with some tarp that was layin about.” Sana’s cocky grin was reaching new heights, particularly as she saw how much it was getting to Dahyun.

“I just wanted to be helpful ya know? Plus one dead body out in the sun, nevermind four? Yeesh nothin worse to stink up a perfectly quaint lil town than that.” Sana grinned, lifting the brim of her hat up to look down at Dahyun better, the sunlight catching her eyes in a way that Dahyun struggled to ignore.

“And you couldn’t tell me that when I was busting my ass to get over here to sort them out?” Dahyun grumbled, trying to ignore the way Sana’s smirk grew.

“It’s such a fine ass to be busting I just couldn’t help myself but watch.” Sana replied, a sultry tone to her words as Dahyun fought to avoid any kind of blush reaching her cheeks.

“Whatever, c’mon we can get you paid n you can stock up on supplies before you hit the road again.” Dahyun turned her back to Sana, stomping up the stairs and pushing open the door to the office, all the while feeling Sana’s eyes trained on the back of her head. 

In a move that was very uncharacteristic for her Chaeyoung had beat Dahyun in, was stood over by the coffee pot watching it intently as it boiled, only glancing over at Dahyun with a brief hello. 

“Since when did you get in early?” Dahyun asked, passing by Chaeyoung through to her office, hanging her coat and placing her hat atop the coatrack. 

“Since I wanna watch you try and deal with her.” Chaeyoung replied, leaning back against the side table with her mug in her hand, nodding in Sana’s direction, who had stopped at the board hung in the office, studying it intently. 

“Ass.” Dahyun answered, Chaeyoung shrugging in response. “Please tell me it was you who sorted the bodies.” 

“Nope.” Chaeyoung said simply, smirking at Dahyun’s groan. “Given you’re askin, I assume it was our handy dandy visitor.” 

“Yep! All by myself! Can’t have your sheriff exerting herself too much now.” Sana turned grinning at Chaeyoung who raised her mug at Sana in a faux salute. 

“Much obliged. I suppose I should thank you as I imagine our sheriff has neglected to thus far.” Chaeyoung smirked, watching as Dahyun folded her arms, leaning against the doorway to her office watching the pair.

“You’re right, y’know as far as sheriffs go she’s not the most hospitable. Thankfully I can let that go given that she’s cute.” Sana winked at Dahyun who rolled her eyes in response, turning back into her office.

“Come here n get your damn reward money already.” She called through, Sana giddily stepping forward to follow, Chaeyoung scoffing into her coffee as she watched.

Dahyun was knelt down in front of the safe in her office, fiddling at the lock, the occasional curse under her breath as it would get stuck every so often.

“Struggling against a piece of machinery there?” Sana jested, arms folded as she leant back in the chair.

“Damn thing is older than I am. Gets stuck all the time.” Dahyun huffed, finally spinning the lock open, reaching inside to grab the lockbox crudely marked up with bounty cash engraved in it courtesy of Chaeyoung ( Y’know so we remember what it’s for!) .

“Right then.” Dahyun sat in the chair opposite Sana behind the desk, placing the lockbox on the desk and procuring the key from a drawer inside her desk. “You killed Burt, his reward was $100. You all good with that?” 

“Fairs fair sheriff.” Sana grinned, her hand out in anticipation of her reward.

“I agree.” Dahyun said simply, placing the counted out notes in Sana’s hand and leaning back in her chair, watching as Sana counted.

“Think you might need to take a trip back to school. This is $50 more than I’m due.” Sana said, placing some notes back on the desk and sliding the rest into a pocket inside her jacket. 

“An honest bounty hunter.” Dahyun smirked, enjoying the look of confusion on Sana’s face. “No. I counted right. Consider it a proper reward for saving my ass.” 

“No offense to you sheriff but I don’t consider myself to be a charity case. I take what I’ve earned.” Sana’s look was still confused, even a bit derisive at the offering before her.

Dahyun shrugged, gesturing at the notes on the table. “Ain’t charity. It was wrestling with that lunatic when he still had a gun and I only had a knife or you saving my ass. You trusted me, let me take your weapons. I figure its only the least I can do. You ain’t want it I won’t force you but it’s no charity.”

Sana looked at Dahyun curiously, slowly sliding her hand atop the bills and taking them off the table. “You’re not testing me or anything? Gonna let me take this then stick my face up on that board for defrauding a sheriff.” Sana snorted as she counted out the extra bills once again before pocketing them. 

“No. You earned that. I’ll fill out the bills to say you killed one of the dipshit brothers as well as Burt. Hell I’ll do it just now if it’ll make you feel better.” Dahyun moved to search through her drawers for a pen but Sana stood shaking her head.

“I trust you. If it’s all the same though sheriff I’ll be taking my leave. Bad guys abound and well. Somebody has to take care of them whilst you’re on the mend.” Sana flashed a wink at Dahyun, turning and strutting out the room without another word.

Dahyun leant back in her chair, watching Sana as she went, questions dancing about her mind as she considered the curious woman. Sana was. Interesting, to say the least. She had turned down the money for fear of being seen as charity, had been cautious about whether Dahyun was trying to play her with some elaborate ruse of giving her more money than she was due. That mistrustful nature, that was pure bounty hunter through and through.

But then there was the other sides of Sana. The side that was quick to tease, helpful for no reason and seemed to show some kind of vulnerability, however momentarily it was for the previous evening. There was something about Sana that Dahyun wasn’t sure about. Call it a gut feeling, but something didn’t sit right with her about the stranger.

Dahyun sighed, slumping down in her chair as Chaeyoung rapped on the doorframe. “All good here boss?”

“Yeah, just. Thinking I guess.” Dahyun said lowly, the restless night sleep settling into her bones as she looked up at Chaeyoung with bleary eyes. 

“Mind that thing Ji said to you last night?” Chaeyoung said, a playful smile on her face.

“Yeah I’m aware, Chae. I own a mirror and Mina and Nayeon all but told me the same this morning.” Dahyun bit back, immediately regretting her tone as Chaeyoung raised an eyebrow at her.

“And you were at Mina and Nayeon’s because?” Chaeyoung kept her tone even, careful not to aggravate Dahyun further.

“Tore my stitches out in my sleep.” Dahyun answered, careful not to open herself up to the same line of questioning she’d already had to evade earlier. Not a lie either, just not the whole truth.

“Mhm. Well you’re officially on back up duty till they heal. I’m not having you pissing off Nay by turning up at her door every day for fresh stitching. Plus maybe with you off nights you can finally get some sleep.” Chaeyoung took a sip of her coffee turning out the room. “I’ll keep us covered, don't worry. But I’m not letting you go out on your own anymore got it?”

“Fine, not until my arms healed. But I’m still the sheriff round here, don’t think you can stop me doing anything once I’m back on my feet.” Dahyun grumbled, Chaeyoung shaking her head as she headed through to her own desk. “Oh Chae, just outta curiosity. Did she take any bills?”

Chaeyoung stuck her head round the doorframe, frowning at the question. “Think she tore one off. Didn’t see which one, right enough. Why?”

“Just curious. Don’t know what to make of that one. Not your usual bounty hunter.” Dahyun sighed, Chaeyoung just nodding slowly.

“Yeah well. You just take it easy, peace and quiet for you for the forseeable now y’hear?” Chaeyoung slipped away again. Leaving Dahyun to herself. 

“Some peace and quiet huh? Wonder what that’s like?” Dahyun mused to herself, leaning back in her chair, trying not to think about the dark haired bounty hunter who’d walked out of her life and town as easily as she’d walked into it. 

Chapter Text

Four months had passed since Sana had saved Dahyun’s life. Although the term saved was still a point of contention as Dahyun insisted she’d have been fine, just a bit more banged up.That was the front she put up, despite her own knowledge to the contrary. Unfortunately for her nobody seemed to agree with this sentiment of hers. . 

Dahyun as expected by Nayeon, Chaeyoung and basically anybody who had more than surface knowledge of Dahyun was as awful a patient as expected. 

In the first two weeks after her injury Dahyun found herself back at Nayeon & Mina’s to be stitched back up again on no less than four occasions. 

The first time she tried to climb on her horse early one morning, under the guise of going for a ride to clear her head. 

The second was when Dahyun had set up a shooting range behind the sheriff’s office, not wanting to let her skills growing rusty, instead the kick of the rifle had knocked her weak arm  off balance and pushed her to the floor.

The third and fourth times were early morning visits, Dahyun once again tearing her stitches in a frenzy as she woke up. Nayeon and Mina only gave her sympathy on these occasions, although Nayeon still chastised her for undoing her careful work. 

As the weeks slipped by and the town settled into the new norm of their sheriff being out of commission, no longer seen patrolling the streets and surrounding areas before and well after sunrise, a sense of peace seemed to settle in. One that had eluded Tanrise for years before then.

In retrospect, the Cassidy incident had been merely the tip of the iceberg preceding Dahyun’s forced rest. The slew of incidents that had come prior had become such normalcy for Dahyun that she’d just accepted it as the way things were. 

Raids, missing children, murders in the nighttime, people vanishing without a trace left behind. Time had been far from kind to their town. Her town. Dahyun felt an ownership over everything that went on in the Tanrise. She couldn’t avoid the weight that bore down on her every step and waking moment as she tried to care for everyone the best she could. 

There were times she could have broken. Should have crumbled under the pressure or should have just ran, as the encompassing area that made up Tanrise shrunk. As homes became abandoned, either left to rot or disassembled for the sparse material they contained. 

This reflected upon Dahyun herself in many ways. From the scared skin she bore everyday. Bullet wounds and cuts from fights of which she could only sparsely remember the details, burns and bruises from everyday tasks that she barely gave a second thought to. Dahyun was a patchwork soul. One that had taken her responsibility and the honour that had come with it and sought to use it to mend the broken fractures of her heart.

Before she had worn those marks as a badge of honour. Ones that she used as motivation to keep going each day. A reminder that no matter what the world threw at her she could keep on going. Now however they only served as a poignant reminder of her losses, her failures and the crippling feeling of uselessness that was creeping in on her every day. 

Following the fifth set of torn stitches, Nayeon forced Dahyun to rest. Restricted her to her own office where she could do minimal harm. It was a conspiratorial effort on Nayeon’s part, a forced intervention between her, Mina, Chaeyoung, Jihyo and Jeongyeon. All five of them staring down Dahyun one morning with Nayeon leading the charge.

Dahyun had naturally been vehemently against the idea. A toxic combination of her unwillingness to rest and be with her own thoughts combined with her worry of falling by the wayside and becoming useless to the people she cared about.

Unfortunately for her however, there were few people on earth she could decline. Even more unfortunately for Dahyun, those few people had all banned together with one single ask of her. 

To rest. To get whole again without jeopardising her injury any further. 

So Dahyun, against all her better nature and judgement, rested.

The first week of rest had been hellish for her. She had struggled to fill the day. Left in her office, Chaeyoung having taken over Dahyun’s responsibilities in earnest. Helping those who needed it, patrolling and trying to keep the sense of security that Dahyun had worked so hard to instill.

For Dahyun this was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand Chaeyoung had stepped into the role naturally. Whilst she never had shown any interest in being sheriff, in the leadership or responsibility that it held, she managed it perfectly. She was efficient, she knew what to do and when she didn’t she wasn’t afraid to ask for help from those around her. 

For Dahyun however this had only further served to fuel the feelings of inadequacy and uselessness. As she watched Chaeyoung take to the role, her role, so naturally it had led to Dahyun worrying about what it meant for her. Whether the town truly needed her guardianship? Or, as the peace that had begun with the Cassidy incident continued, whether she had been the problem in the first place. 

Dahyun considered leaving entirely. Turning tail and running. Something she’d never remotely given thought to before, she’d even gone so far as to start packing bags. Hoping to make a nighttime getaway, injury or no injury. 

In Dahyun’s defence, it made sense to her. She wasn’t needed. She didn’t do anything for the town now. She was stuck behind a desk day in and day out. She couldn’t help anyone from there, was only another mouth to be fed. So why shouldn’t she leave? Run and remove the burden of her existence from the people she cared for. 

But something, or someone rather, gave her pause enough to think. To delay her plans of vanishing into the night without a trace.

Chaeyoung had taken to patrolling most mornings, returning for lunch and then patrolling into the afternoon. Leaving Dahyun in solitude, the occasional visitor coming in to look for the defacto sheriff for something menial. 

Dahyun’s new routine of reading, or attempting to, the thoughts in her head making the pages slow to turn in her hands as Dahyun let the days pass her by. The book she was reading was of no great interest to her either, only something she could use to try and pass the time by.

On this morning she’d barely sunk a chapter by the time a knock came on her doorframe, shaking her from the mental letter she had begun writing to her friends to explain her vanishing act. 

“Still on that one? I’d have thought you’d have found a new victim to abuse with your placeholdin’ methods” Tzuyu grinned at Dahyun from the doorway, Dahyun grunting in acknowledgement as she placed the book face down on her desk, Tzuyu frowning at the action. 

“The offer is still there, you know. Be happy to make you a bookmark, hell I’ll just give you one of mines if it makes you stop treating books so roughly.” Tzuyu tsked. 

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Tzuyu?” Dahyun drawled disregarding the comment. It was Dahyun’s book after all. No matter what smart comments Tzuyu had about her methods of bookmarking could change one of the few things Dahyun still had control over. 

Tzuyu had been a rare arrival that stuck about town. One that had just tumbled in about six months prior without much fanfare or arrival. She’d travelled out west in the pursuit of explaining the life that those out on the frontier lived, arguing that somebody had to chronicle what went down in the towns that she said would become lost to history without somebody like her.

It had taken the town a while to get to grips with her. Outsiders were far from common and the few that arrived often brought with them trouble. But for all her eastern oddities (Tzuyu swore up and down that coffee was better with milk in it, something none of them other than Chaeyoung had been brave enough to try) she had slotted in nicely to the community.

She provided the old timers a friendly ear as she took down notes of their stories of yesteryear, regaled the children with stories of life back on the ‘civilised’ side of the country. She’d even found her way into what Dahyun considered her inner circle, thanks to Chaeyoung.

To say she’d been smitten by Tzuyu the second she laid eyes on her would be underselling the power the young woman had over Dahyun’s deputy. If Tzuyu asked Chaeyoung for a favour, be it helping her fit a shelf for her growing collection of notebooks, or an escort out to see some of the surrounding area then a puff of dust would be left in Chaeyoung’s wake as she hastened to do whatever was needed of her by the illustrious Ms. Chou.

And Dahyun got it, it wasn’t like she didn’t have eyes. Even today on a random morning Dahyun could see that Tzuyu was a beautiful woman. She often wore dresses, one of the few women in town who still chose to. Long flowing affairs that she would carefully hold up as she made her way around town. It wasn’t that she was afraid of getting dirty, Dahyun had observed Tzuyu muck in when the occasion arose. Instead it was more just her air. Dahyun and her friends were all women, but Tzuyu? She was a lady. 

Tzuyu walked forward into the room, settling down into the chair as she smoothed down her dress, a polite smile at Dahyun on her face as she looked at Tzuyu curiously. “Well, with all your runnin about and savin the day I’ve never had a chance to sit down with the one and only Sheriff Kim. I’d argue a town’s only as good as its sheriff so.” Tzuyu placed her bag down at her side before reaching in to pull out a notebook and pen. “With you on rest, and according to your lovely deputy, bored out of your mind, I figured what better chance do I have to get some stories of and about you?”

Dahyun listened intently, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Talking was one thing Dahyun had never been particularly skilled at, preferring her actions to speak for her rather than actually using words. There was a reason that this was the first chance Tzuyu was getting to interview Dahyun like this. She had heard from Chaeyoung about the questions Tzuyu asked.

What was it like growing up so far from what many people call civilization?

Do you feel supported enough out here?

What keeps you going on a day to day?

None of those were questions Dahyun particularly felt like answering. 

Talking about her childhood? Her parents? Nope. 

Supported? By the feds that roll into town once every couple weeks with a stack of bounties and a couple trinkets if Dahyun had managed to sweet talk them before? Not at all.

What keeps you going on a day to day? Fucked if she knew. Before? Sure. Dahyun probably had an answer to that. But now? At the precipice of wanting to leave? 

“Y’know if you don’t want to answer anything you don’t have to.” Tzuyu’s voice shook Dahyun from her thoughts, the polite smile from before now something more concerned, tender almost.

“I know life isn’t easy out here. I know from speaking enough with everyone around her that you’ve sacrificed a lot, willingly or not. I don’t need to know the grisly details. If I’m honest I doubt I could stomach them all.” Tzuyu let out a nervous chuckle as Dahyun held her breath, waiting for Tzuyu to finish.

“I want to get to know you, Sheriff Kim. The woman behind the badge. Because when I talk to the people of this town, every single one speaks about you as one of the first things out of their mouth. Not previous sheriffs, not the feds or struggles of living in a hellish wasteland that nobody in their right mind would come to.” A wry smile played across Dahyun’s lips at the last comment before resuming a steely look. 

“If you don’t want to answer something. Then you don’t, simple. You just nod and I know to move on. But I’ll be damned if you think I’m not gonna try and record the stories of the only female sheriff I’ve ever come across, nevermind being one of if not the youngest.” Tzuyu leant back in her chair, crossing her arms in what Dahyun assumed was meant as an act of defiance, but really just looked like a rich woman who was at the edge of throwing a temper tantrum.

Dahyun finally exhaled, a slight smile playing across her lips as she took in Tzuyu. They’d rarely, if ever had one on one time like this. Always somebody else around if they were in the same room, some kind of blockade for Dahyun to duck behind in the event that she sensed Tzuyu was getting too close.

In some ways it was interesting, to finally see the Tzuyu that everyone in the town bar her had seen. The reason she had travelled all this way, had left behind a presumably comfy life to seek out stories and knowledge. 

“I’ll make you a deal.” Dahyun said abruptly, Tzuyu’s eyes widening as she leaned forward in her chair. “This isn’t an interview, this is a conversation. You ask me something, I’ll do my damndest to answer. But I’ll be asking you things too. For all I know about you is that you’re from out East, and you’re here to write down our story. Can’t be all there is to you, you have roots, a life outside all this. I wanna know about yours too.”

“You wanna know about me? About back home? Why?” Tzuyu looked confused as Dahyun smiled, a knowing look in her eye.

“If it hadn’t escaped your attention it seems my deputy has a particular liking to you.” Dahyun explained, noticing but not commenting on the faint blush that crept onto Tzuyu’s cheeks. “I wanna know more about the woman that has the undivided attention of my subordinate, and y’know closest friend.” Dahyun leant back in her chair, trying her best to hide the smug grin she could feel tugging at her lips.

For all her concerns about Tzuyu, and how she would want to dig into her life and history. She could tell she was sweet, could see it in the way she looked at Chaeyoung. Not that this was information she ever planned on telling Chaeyoung, leave it to the lovebirds to figure it out themselves.

“So whatcha say? Happy enough to get to know one another Ms. Chou?” Dahyun raised an eyebrow at Tzuyu who nodded apprehensively, Dahyun gesturing for her to open her notebook for any notes she wished to take. 

“One thing though. Just Tzuyu would do fine, Ms. Chou makes me feel like a spinstress.” Tzuyu said, a shy smile on her face as Dahyun snorted in response, nodding in agreement. 

“Fine, but none of the Sheriff nonsense either then, just Dahyun will do.” Dahyun said, standing and walking over to pour herself a glass of whisky, holding a glass out to Tzuyu which she hesitantly nodded in acceptance. 

Their drinks poured, Dahyun gingerly lowering herself back into her chair she leaned forward, the glasses gently clinking against one another before both took a sip. 

“Now we’re bonded. Because I’m not supposed to really be drinking much so, if Nay or Chae come and boot me about it. I’ll know who's to blame.” Dahyun grinned evilly as Tzuyu looked shocked at her before letting out a laugh.

“You know for somebody who the whole town holds up on a pedestal. You like to joke around a lot. I get the sense you’ve always got some kind of smart comment on back up, don’t you?” Tzuyu smiled at Dahyun, watching as the grin on Dahyun’s face contorted from the wicked grin before to something more melancholic. 

“Picked it up from my folks. My Da always had some kinda wise ass remark whenever Ma asked him to do something about the house. Was never a straight yes or no, always some windy way round to it. Guess I just kept the habit going.” Dahyun shrugged, Tzuyu nodding but not pushing any further. 

“What about you though? You never seem to say much, like everything you say goes through five layers of thought before it comes out.”

Tzuyu laughed softly, looking down at her notepad as she scribbled down something Dahyun couldn’t quite read. “I guess that’s true. I spend a lot of my time thinking. Trying to put myself in other people’s shoes, try to see how they might feel depending on what I say.”

“Ain’t that exhausting? Trying to think like everyone else?” Dahyun asked, Tzuyu shaking her head softly in response.

“Its not really, makes me appreciate everyone that little bit more.” Tzuyu paused, the end of her pen tapping at the corner of her mouth before she continued. “Think of it this way, you’re a sheriff right? Your job is to put away bad guys, protect people and so on.”

“Might be oversimplifying it a bit but that’s the guts of it ‘suppose.” Dahyun answered, reaching to take another sip of her drink.

“Well you ever think about why those people you deal with do things they do? Why somebody who could be your neighbour one day ups an’ robs a bank, or steals from their neighbour and heads for the hills.” Tzuyu leant back in her chair, looking at Dahyun with a gentle expression on her face.

“That’s what interests me, as much as knowing why good people like you do what you do is why bad people do what they do too. Maybe they’re stealing for a wife expecting a baby, to run away from a family who treats ‘em rotten.”

“Maybe some of them are just bad from the start.” Dahyun grunted, Tzuyu nodding in agreement.

“Maybe, but don’t you wanna know why? I mean there’s a reason you do all the good you do.” Tzuyu gently probed, her pen sitting at the ready.

“Good is an interesting way of putting it.” Dahyun sighed, taking a swig of her whisky before setting the glass back on her desk. “I killed three men last week, Tzuyu. Can I still be a good person with as much blood on my hands as I have?” Dahyun trailed off, watching the amber liquid dancing back and forth in waves in the glass. 

“Just because people look up to me, depend on me, it don’t make me a saint. In fact I’m probably farthest thing from one in this town. I have killed, fought, drank and argued more than anyone for probably hundreds of miles.” Dahyun continued as she leant back, looking up at the ceiling, her eyes glazing over at the memories of her time as sheriff washed over her. Quickly though she snapped back, leaning forward to look at Tzuyu. 

“I don’t know where I honestly fall in the hierarchy of good and bad. All I know is I do what I have to, to make sure people are safe and sound in this town. If that makes me a sinner then so be it.” Dahyun’s words were resolute, it was a mantra she’d practiced often enough after all.

She’d protect what she cared about, even if it meant that she was cursed for it.

“I think the fact that you’re even aware of that means you’re a good person Dahyun. Not that I ever doubted that.” Tzuyu smiled slightly, a sharp upturn of her lip that flickered before returning to a more neutral expression. 

“Yes you’ve killed, you’ll probably kill again if I had to wager money on it. But I’ve watched in the time since I arrived here as you’ve borne the lot. How you’ve held everything on your shoulders because you won’t let anyone else get hurt.”

Tzuyu took a sip of her drink, setting the glass down beside her afterwards, Dahyun watching her carefully. Unsure of where she was going with her line of thought. 

“I think that simple fact alone is an indication of you as a person. Some might call you a damn fool for not accepting help.” The same flicker of a smile came again before vanishing once more. “But I see why you do what you do. Why you handle so much alone.”

“You’ve been spending too much time with Chaeyoung.” Dahyun grumbled. Slinking down in her seat slightly as Tzuyu’s laughter filled the air, light and without judgement. Dahyun paused till her laughter subsided before asking, “And why is it I handle so much alone?”

“You care, perhaps more than anyone else I’ve ever seen. More than any sheriff I’ve ever seen at the very least. But I can see how much this place means to you. You know everyone's name, you ask after them, you pay attention to the tiniest things.”

“Like how you fight back a blush every time Chaeyoung offers you help off of horseback? Or how you look to her first in any room you enter.” Dahyun teased in an effort to diffuse the tension she was feeling. A smile creeping onto Dahyun’s lips as Tzuyu’s cheeks regained their tint from earlier as she coughed, a fake attempt to clear her throat.

“Well. Yes. Chaeyoung doesn’t notice those things. But you do. From what I’ve heard you notice things like that before anyone else does. You know when something is gonna go wrong, you know where to be when you’re needed and know who to utilise when something is out of your wheelhouse.” Tzuyu’s blush had faded once more, the look in her eyes replaced by something akin to admiration.

“So what, me being observant means I’m a good person? That I’m excused for the things I’ve done?” Dahyun said carefully, Tzuyu shaking her head.

“No. None of us are the ones who can forgive you what you’ve done. You’ve done them for the sake of us, for the sake of this town. The only one who can forgive you, is you.” Tzuyu sighed, jotting down a few more words before closing her notebook.

“I’d like to stay for longer, but I promised Nayeon and Mina I’d stop by and read for the kids. Give them a chance to have some time to themselves. Would you be okay if I stopped in from time to time? We had more talks like this?” Tzuyu said, gathering her bag and placing the still half full glass of whisky atop the desk.

“Not like I’m going anywhere for a while is it?” Dahyun said sarcastically, biting her lip at her own snark before nodding. “Yeah, sure. I actually enjoyed this. Even though I barely learned anything about you.” 

Tzuyu laughed, shaking her head as she stood. “Well, plenty chance more to learn. Take care sheriff.” Tzuyu nodded to Dahyun and turned, walking towards the door out of the office. Pausing at the doorway before turning to Dahyun.

“You can forgive yourself Dahyun. Everyone here doesn’t even think of you having sins to begin with.” 

“Tell that to Nayeon and Chaeyoung, I’m sure they’d love to debate you on that one.” Dahyun said mirthlessly.

“And about Chaeyoung.” Tzuyu began, Dahyun holding up her uninjured hand to cut her off.

“I’m sayin this once and you didn’t hear it from me. But yes, so give her a clear sign else the idiot won’t ever realise it.” Dahyun smiled, Tzuyu blushing and nodding before turning and walking quickly away. Dahyun laughed softly to herself as she went, draining the rest of her whisky. 

It wasn’t much, just somebody reaching out because they had an interest in her as a person. But the conversation with Tzuyu gave Dahyun enough pause to think. 

She knew people looked up to her. But to hear that she was the thing so many people often talked about, with the history of the town as it was. It made her proud. But with those feelings of pride came the shame that she felt for not being able to be that person right now. 

Dahyun sighed, leaning over and grabbing Tzuyu’s glass, draining the contents of it in one quick gulp. The sting of the alcohol made Dahyun inhale sharply as she felt the warmth travel down her throat, settling in her stomach as the warm feeling inside spread throughout her body. 

As she returned to her book, the spine bent and already showing cracks from Dahyun’s method of page marking a single thought occurred to her. Chou Tzuyu is more interesting than she had previously thought.

=====================================

True to her word, Tzuyu continued to drop by the office. Sometimes bringing lunch, sometimes bringing tea. Her insistence that Dahyun had tricked her with the whisky first time round prevented them from delving further into the bottle as the weeks ticked on.

Dahyun learned that Tzuyu hadn’t exactly had the support of her family from coming out here. That she had in essence abandoned any claim to her family’s fortune, or their name and the power it held back home.

“Eldest daughter, supposed to be married off in some kind of deal to further secure our family name. The usual affair.” Tzuyu had said so casually as Dahyun stared at her slack jawed.

“And you just. Left?” Dahyun asked curiously, Tzuyu nodding simply.

“I don’t care for the riches. Being comfortable is nice. But I’ve found more satisfaction out here in the half year I’ve spent with you all than I had in the last thirty years of my life back home.” Tzuyu said simply, taking a sip of her tea and gesturing for Dahyun to do the same. 

“How did you do it? Escape. Surely your parents must be worried or searching for you?” Dahyun raised the cup to her lips, eying it dubiously before taking a sip.

“Money can buy a lot of things, Dahyun. Mines afforded me my freedom. And a lifestyle here that’s comfortable enough whilst I pursue what I’m passionate about.” Tzuyu smiled as she saw Dahyun’s eyes widen at the first taste of the drink. “I have a supply of that for example, it’s kept for special people and special occasions.”

“So which is this?” Dahyun asked.

“Both.” Tzuyu smiled simply.

Further to that Dahyun began to talk more about how she was feeling. It hadn’t been a question that Tzuyu had asked, nor had it been forced in anyway. It had come naturally. When Tzuyu had sat down in that same chair opposite Dahyun, a sandwich she had prepared that morning placed down in front of the sheriff and an innocuous question posed to her.

“How are you today Dahyun?” 

Dahyun stilled at the question. She’d spent the morning dealing with the feds, finally rolling into town to collect on the Cassidy bounties. She’d given them the details, handed over the flyers. Received a fresh stack as a thanks for it. 

The way it had all been conducted, so methodical and. Inhumane. Like this wasn't the lives of four men, regardless of what they’d done. Maybe what Tzuyu had said before had rubbed off on Dahyun more than she cared to admit.

“I’m tired Tzu. So tired.” Dahyun answered, gratefully taking the sandwich and tearing a bite out of it without really giving much thought to what she had said, enjoying the taste of the meal, the first decent thing she’d eaten in days. Too often just opting for whatever was easiest, be it a tin of fruit or just a slice of bread with butter thinly spread over it.

“Busy morning?” Tzuyu asked, watching Dahyun, smiling as she was clearly enjoying the food. “Or just not eating good enough?” 

“Mhm, both.” Dahyun said between bites, barely looking up between bites. “You ever talked with feds before? Those marshals travel here, there and everywhere and you’d think they’d maybe learn the ability to speak with people. But no. Getting any kind of conversation out of them is like getting blood from a stone.” Dahyun sighed, placing the sandwich down on the paper wrap Tzuyu had brought it in. 

“And you want to talk with them? Based on the times we’ve spoken I feel like you at best have thinly veiled contempt for anyone related to the government.” Tzuyu smirked, Dahyun rolling her eyes in response. 

“No, I don’t want to talk to them, you're right. But I have to! It’s part of my job, if I have to deal with it then you know it may as well be something that’s not completely unbearable.” Dahyun slumped back in her seat, an uncommon surly look on her face. Tzuyu trying her best to bite back a laugh at the sight.

“So what? You’d rather they were chatterboxes? Yappin your ear off all day long?” Tzuyu smiled, a sparkle of amusement in her eye as Dahyun huffed in response. 

“No. Just. Jesus it’s all so droll. They arrive, ask for any completed bounties, hand me a stack of new ones. They never ask for information, never offer any. It’s like if they could avoid coming all the way out here they would. Like the whole thing is a fucking chore for them and they couldn’t give less of a shit about us all if they tried.” Dahyun exhaled sharply, feeling the heat rising in her chest as she thought about the hundreds of encounters she must have had now.

They’d never cared. Not really. It was always clear that their town was one of many they made the rounds of. Never staying longer than they had to, never caring. 

“Then theres the way they talk about the bounties.” Dahyun sighed, her mind drifting back to that first conversation with Tzuyu. “It’s always name, crime, reward. Nothing more. Hell sometimes they just hand over the papers and skedaddle right away.”

“That’s all you need though right. What they look like, what they did, what the payout is.” Tzuyu leant back in the chair, her own food untouched as engrossed in the conversation as she was. “Why would you need or want anything more?”

“I don’t! Or at least. I didn’t. But.” Dahyun sighed, leant forward at her chair, head resting on her desk as she wrung her hands together. Her hair usually tied back cascading around her face as she tried to centre herself, align her thoughts into something cohesive.

“I don’t need to know more. But, why? There’s never anything more about these men and women than what they’ve done. How many people have I killed? Or captured to be sent to their deaths. And for what? Stealing from some rich old bastard who probably wouldn’t notice the money to begin with?” Dahyun’s voice came low, her words directed down at the ground as she struggled to align herself.

“I’m not stupid. Or naive. I’m not losing sleep over a single one of those dead motherfuckers I turned in today. I know what they’d have done to me, what they might have done to this town if I hadn’t.” Dahyun sighed, rising slowly as she leant back in her chair, meeting Tzuyu’s steady expression before looking up at the ceiling. 

“But the what ifs are bugging me. What if I have damned some poor soul who just wanted a better life for their family. Who wasn’t going to actually hurt anyone.” Dahyun closed her eyes, trying to slow her breathing down.

“Not that it matters right now. Chaeyoung is the one out there. I’m stuck here behind this goddamned desk, reading from dusk to dawn and knowing that if something, anything were to happen to her, or anyone in this town. I’d be useless.” Dahyun booted the drawer at her desk out of frustration, the dull ache that came in the sole of her foot helping only slightly to  make her feel better.

The sound of the impact made Tzuyu jump slightly as she looked at Dahyun. The pristine image of the sheriff the whole town respected unravelling right before her. Dahyun might have been looking better physically, no longer as sleep deprived or run ragged, the bags that were a permanent fixture under her eyes diminishing over time. 

But there was no doubting that Dahyun was every bit as exhausted as she had been a week ago. Tzuyu could see it in the slouch on Dahyun's shoulders, the once proud sheriff carrying feelings of guilt and anger. The way that Dahyun held the bridge of her nose, not gingerly as one might in a moment of recollection, but roughly, like it was the sole point of grounding her to reality. The sharp rise and fall of her chest, the badge that sat there so proudly catching light and bouncing it around the room, an antithesis to the shame and resentment that sat boiling underneath it. 

“Dahyun. I never meant to -” Tzuyu paused, seeing the faint sheen in Dahyun’s eyes before it was swiftly wiped away. “I never meant to make you feel this way. I didn’t want you to doubt the things you’ve done and the good you’ve done, still do for everyone here in town.”

“I’m not going to tell you what you’ve said is invalid. Or that you’re right or wrong. I don’t think it’s as black or white as that. Nothing in this life is.” Tzuyu said quietly, toying with the fabric of her dress as she looked about the office. 

“Then what? You agree with me? That I’ve probably destroyed people’s lives? People who didn’t deserve it?” Dahyun’s voice was low, a thunder crackling through it, unable to look at Tzuyu.

“I just said you’re neither right nor wrong sheriff. And I’d like to think that through these conversations we’ve had you’d know I don’t think so little of you.” Tzuyu said curtly, a snap of frustration bleeding through into her words that normally would have made Dahyun flinch. 

“What I’m saying is that you’ve done what you’ve done. There’s no power on this earth that can turn back time and let you do things over. You either make your peace with it or you let it consume you. You ain’t the type to let things consume you from what little I know about you.” Tzuyu said firmly, Watching Dahyun’s side profile as her eyes flickered from the spot on the bookcase she’d been burning a hole into Tzuyu before flicking back again.

“So what? I just accept it. Reckon with the fact I’ve probably done some bad shit but I had good intentions so it doesn’t matter?” Dahyun scoffed before continuing, “Still doesn’t change the fact that for all my good intentions I’m still useless right now.” 

“You’re injured Dahyun. You’re injured because you put everyone in this town before your own safety despite what everyone else’s wishes may be.” Tzuyu said calmly, not wanting to further provoke Dahyun’s already poor mood.

Tzuyu mulled over the words on her tongue before taking a breath and continuing “And yes. Have you probably made some mistakes? Sure. Who wouldn’t in your position? You can’t have all the answers Dahyun. And nobody here expects you to. Do you think there’s a single person in this town who holds you in poor regard?” Tzuyu’s voice was wavering, struggling to hold back the indignation at her question.

“I don’t need an answer t’ that. I can tell you nobody does. Every single damn person here respects you more than you will likely ever know. And no that doesn’t make the weight on your shoulders any lighter. If anything I have to imagine that knowledge bears down on you more than any moral quandary or doubt you have.” Tzuyu continued, the waver in her voice gone, replaced with something that Dahyun could only hold akin to pity.

“I don’t want your sympathy or your pity Tzuyu. I didn’t want any of this. I chose this because somebody had to. I had to. I know what shit this world can throw at you and I know I’m the one who can be uglier than all of it. That I’m the one that can grit their teeth and bear against the violence and pain this world throws at us.” Dahyun turned in her chair, facing Tzuyu finally once again. Her eyes heavy with an exhaustion that came from within.

“Nobody here has sympathy or pity for you Dahyun.” Tzuyu’s words came barely above a whisper, her eyes locked with Dahyun’s as her hands finally stilled against her lap. “What I’m trying to explain to you is that you’re looking for sins that don’t exist, or that you can’t change. And for the ones you can’t change you have a town full of people who’ll gladly shoulder them with you.”

“You spend so much damn time at war with yourself and with the world around you that you don’t rest. Even I can see that and we still barely know one another. And everyone else does too, I know you don’t call round Mina and Nayeon’s as much anymore. I know that Jihyo and Jeong only see you when you want a drink. And Chaeyoung has been practically begging for you to let her take on more of the responsibility you try so hard to lay squarely on your shoulders.” Tzuyu took a beat, unsure of how far she was willing to push this. 

She seemed to have finally broken through the facade that Dahyun wore. The one that kept a strong face in front of everyone else. But in doing so she knew she ran a risk of alienating her to the point that nobody would see past it again. 

“What I’m trying to say Dahyun is you care so much about this town, about the people and friends who you love, but you don’t give yourself a fraction of that same care. And it hurts the people around you.” Tzuyu’s voice wavered as she stared down Dahyun, trying to read her eyes as best she could. “Everyone here wants what’s best for you, just as much as you want what’s best for everyone here.”

The silence in the room rang heavy, the distant sounds of the town outside the office fading into the background. Dahyun and Tzuyu had inadvertently fallen into their own separate world. One where Dahyun was finally being honest. 

As Dahyun made to speak, she found that the words couldn’t formulate. For as much as she wanted to argue. To tell Tzuyu that she was wrong, that her doing the things she did and had done was for the good of everyone, that if she had to destroy herself to allow the people she cared about to sleep well at night. She knew it was wrong.

In the same way that she knew the ever growing letter she had been writing most nights was wrong. The one selfish thing Dahyun had considered her entire life. But it wasn’t really for her, not truly. It was selfish but not in the way that her friends had been encouraging her to be selfish.

It was Dahyun running, not because she needed or wanted to. But because she was scared to face all the reasons she had to stay and the realities she would have to face if she did. 

Dahyun inhaled, one long shuddering breath that wracked her body. Feeling every nerve in her scream to tell Tzuyu to leave, to not let her get any closer. 

But something else inside of Dahyun fought back against that all encompassing feeling of dread and self-doubt. A shimmer of resilience against her desire to let the world sweep her away. 

“I wanted to run away.” Dahyun said quietly, her gaze dropping from Tzuyu to the floor once again, unable to look her in the eyes. “Just leave in the dead of night. Been writing a note, something to explain it all.”

“Wanted? As in you don’t anymore?” Tzuyu said slowly.

“I’m not sure. Part of me still says it’d be best to. Chae is takin’ care of everything round here good enough. Like I said I’m just a set of boots behind a desk right now. Same part of me also says that maybe if I go then whatever it is I’ve done that makes death and violence follow me will go with me. Let everyone here rest proper.” 

“And what does the other part of you say?”

“That the other part is full of shit.” Dahyun snorted, still staring down at the floor, hunched over with her elbows resting on her knees. “That I’d only be doing it for myself. Giving myself some kinda easy out and turning my back on all the people I love and care about here.”

“I never wanted to be a sheriff when I was little, you know? Didn’t have much taste for guns or fighting. Hell I’d cry if I saw any of the wildlife my daddy’d go huntin’ for.” Dahyun laughed morosely, her throat dry.

“When they got taken away from me. I swore I’d never let it happen to anyone else. That I’d protect anyone I could. I shut down all the. Soft in me I guess you could say. Hardened myself because that’s what I saw in this world, the ones who survived. They didn’t show any cracks, they took a hit n they got back up no matter how bad it was.”

“So? Did you become that person? The one who gets back up no matter what?” Tzuyu’s voice came slow and steady, no pressure on Dahyun to answer immediately, a calming assurance that she was listening.

“I don’t know. I thought I had. I’ve spent the past ten years getting knocked about, getting back to my feet again. Just for the first time ever I’m not sure I can, if I even want to.” Dahyun answered quietly, the quiet scrape of Tzuyu’s chair sending a shiver down her spine.

“I think that for the first time ever. You might be reckoning with the fact that you might not be invincible. That maybe, just maybe, you do need help, and you can’t shoulder all of this on your own.” Tzuyu’s voice grew louder, the sound of her boots echoing as she stepped slowly round the desk, her feet stopping just beside Dahyun. The tips of her boots barely peeking into Dahyun’s vision.

“And I think it could be the first time you are giving yourself a damn break Dahyun. Even if in doing so you’re being even harder on yourself in doing so.” Dahyun’s body froze as she felt Tzuyu’s hand rest on her shoulder. “You told me more about yourself in this one afternoon than you have in the past couple weeks. If that’s not a sign that you’re trying to reach out, ask for help. I don’t know what is.” 

Dahyun could feel the tears forming in the corners of her eyes, the warmth on her shoulder travelling throughout her body. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Tzuyu, not yet confident enough to have anyone see her so vulnerable. 

“How am I supposed to lean on anyone?” Dahyun’s voice was barely above a whisper, her throat betraying her as it tried to strangle the words she was practically forcing out of her mouth. “If they know I’m weak, if they worry they can’t trust me to take care of them, then what -”

Tzuyu shushed Dahyun, a low long quiet shush, not one of disapproval like a librarian chastising a rowdy group of children. More like a mother soothing a crying child. Gentle and caring, letting Dahyun know she was there. 

“Nobody will think you’re weak for needing, or wanting help. People might realise that you’re actually human instead of some unstoppable machine that survives purely on coffee and liquor.” Tzuyu said, a hint of a smirk creeping into her voice, Dahyun scoffing in response. 

“My point is. You’re not alone in this. You have friends who are practically begging to let you lean on them and you’re too busy cutting off your nose to spite your face.” Tzuyu continued, her thumb gently rubbing Dahyun’s shoulder reassuringly. 

“How did some snooty rich girl who ran away to the ass end of nowhere get so emotionally intelligent?” Dahyun croaked, Tzuyu humming in response.

“The snooty rich girl just so happened to have to spend most of her childhood learning to read people to avoid upsetting parents with a short fuse.” Tzuyu responded dryly, stifling a laugh as she felt Dahyun’s shoulders stiffen under her touch. 

“I didn’t mean - I just.” Dahyun scrambled to find an answer, till she felt Tzuyu’s hand move from her shoulder, her head shooting up to find Tzuyu covering her mouth in an attempt not to laugh, Dahyun’s concerned expression quickly turning into a scowl. 

“That was a low move Tzu.” Dahyun grumbled, Tzuyu fighting to not fall into hysterics at the look on Dahyun’s face as her scowl grew deeper, attempting to hide the smile she was fighting against forming.

“Oh please. I think I’m allowed one snide remark after listening to your self pitying rambles for the past hour.” Tzuyu managed out from between laughs, Dahyun’s shocked look only further served to fuel her laughter. 

“I’m not self pitying.” Dahyun grimaced at the idea, loathe at the thought, Tzuyu wiping away a tear from her eye as she looked at Dahyun with a mixture of fondness and frustration.

“You are. Not in a pity parade way but in the way that encroaches on your bones and drags you down day in and day out. And that is honestly okay, you’re allowed to be self pitying Dahyun. From what I’ve seen and heard you’ve spent every single waking moment of your life believing the world is out to get you and the people you care about. The things I’ve heard about the time since I got here honestly kinda leans into that theory.” Tzuyu smirked, leaning back against the desk with her hands propping her up as Dahyun looked up at her.

“The point I’ve been trying to make, and that it seems like might finally be sinking into that wonderful, albeit thick head of yours, is that you can let people in and not bear it all alone.” Tzuyu said with a sense of finality, Dahyun nodding softly in agreement with her.

“So what? I just start. Talking with people? Telling them what’s going on in here?” Dahyun rapped the side of her head with a knuckle, drawing a dry laugh from Tzuyu.

“If it was simple as that then the world would be a much easier place, Dahyun. You’re not just gonna go from being padlocked away to opening up to everyone because of a single conversation.” Tzuyu paced back round the desk taking her seat again as she lifted her own lunch from the place she had left it on Dahyun’s desk. 

“Then what do I do?” Dahyun asked exasperated, like she’d had some great revelation then had it snapped away from her in the same breath.

“You try. You spoke with me today and you’ve known me the shortest outta everyone here. Be honest where you can and don’t beat yourself up when you can’t. It’s not gonna be anything overnight but I have faith in you.” Tzuyu smiled at Dahyun before taking a bite of her sandwich, gesturing to Dahyun to do the same.

“You just had me pour my heart out and now you just want to sit and eat lunch?” Dahyun asked incredulously. Raising her eyebrow at Tzuyu as she looked at the other woman biting into her meal.

“In case you’ve forgotten you literally told me you weren’t eating good earlier. If you’re serious and want to actually lean on others then eat the damn sandwich and say thank you for it.” Tzuyu said dryly, trying to hide her amusement as she saw Dahyun’s cheeks blush and her good hand move slowly towards the sandwich.

The pair ate mostly in silence thereafter, Tzuyu watching Dahyun carefully, making sure she actually ate the sandwich fully, before reaching into her bag and revealing the additional food she had brought for the pair.

“Had to get Mina to save me some flour so I could make these. Then had to haggle with ol Joe for the milk but. Hopefully they’re worth the effort.” Tzuyu said quietly, placing a biscuit across on the wrapper of Dahyun’s sandwich, placing another on her own wrapper perched on her knee. 

Dahyun looked down at the piece of food in wonder before looking up at Tzuyu who was already tearing into her own. “You made these yourself? Like from scratch? And didn’t end up with hardtack?” 

“Was the sandwich that bad it’s hard to believe?” Tzuyu answered with a twinkle in her eye.

Dahyun scoffed in response before taking a bite out of the biscuit, her eyelashes fluttering as she let the savory pastry melt in her mouth. Placing it back down Dahyun leaned back, exhaling in contentment as Tzuyu watched her, a faint smile playing across her face. 

“Thank you Tzu. For lunch, and well, everything else.” Dahyun said quietly, looking up at the ceiling.

“You can thank me for the rest once you’re back on your feet and letting everyone else pitch in, not just me.” Tzuyu said, smiling as she vaguely could make out Dahyun’s eyes rolling at the comment. “For the lunch though, you’re welcome. Next time it’s on you.” 

“How many damn people do I owe meals to at this point?” Dahyun sighed, a faint smile playing across her face as Tzuyu giggled at her. 

“Almost like people want to spend meaningful time with you huh? ‘Magine that.” Tzuyu said simply, Dahyun trying to hide the smile that came from hearing it out loud.

“Yeah, imagine.”

=====================================

True to what Tzuyu had said previously, Dahyun found that she couldn’t exactly just switch on being open and honest with her friends. That same day, once Tzuyu had departed and Chaeyoung had dropped by the office to take a break for the afternoon, Dahyun had honestly tried. 

Chaeyoung had asked how she was keeping, noting the crumbs and still half eaten biscuit on her desk and quickly following up by asking who had dropped by. 

Dahyun had attempted to be honest with Chaeyoung, tell her she was sick and tired of feeling useless behind the desk and that she hated that her entire self-worth revolved around how useful she was being in that moment. 

Instead she just said that Tzuyu had stopped by again, and chose to use that as an opportunity to tease Chaeyoung when her cheeks tinged pink and a flash of jealousy crossed her face. 

In retrospect it was the most that Dahyun had been able to laugh in months, if not years. If there was one thing that she could count on in the world above all else, it was her ability to rile up Chaeyoung over a crush. 

That evening Dahyun went to sleep a little lighter, a weight on her chest lighter, the ashes of her letter singed in the fireplace of her cabin and a promise to herself to do and be better. For herself more than anyone else.

That promise was a slow and steady process for Dahyun. One that began to manifest over the coming days and weeks. Her talks with Tzuyu continued, sometimes more about Dahyun, sometimes about Tzuyu, and other times about nothing at all. 

Dahyun had even begrudgingly accepted a bookmark from Tzuyu that she had bought some leather for and shaped so that it was in the shape of a sheriff star. Internally Dahyun had been ecstatic at the level of thought that had gone into the gift, however when Tzuyu had added it was so she could start delving into Dahyun’s library without dealing with bent and broken spines it had somewhat dampened the sentimentality of it all.

Dahyun had even taken to spending days outside the confines of her office, an assurance from Chaeyoung that “ The world will keep on turning whether Sheriff Kim is behind her desk or not.” Whilst she still was restricted in what she could feasibly do whilst healing, and somewhat living in fear of Nayeon’s wrath were she to do something beyond her ability and wreck the progress thus far, Dahyun could make use of her free time in other ways. 

Whilst before any downtime Dahyun might have had was spent patrolling, looking out for any kind of trouble, trying to ensure that safety was at the forefront of everything. Now Dahyun took time to actually see the place she lived. She’d even asked Jihyo and Jeongyeon to come with her on a ride, partly on the pretense of making sure she didn’t dismount from her horse and do herself a mischief, but mostly so that she could actually spend some time with her friends. 

Dahyun knew how hard the pair worked, spending almost every waking moment of their days in and about the saloon, either tending bar or working in the kitchen. They had recently hired  others to help them, but the guts of the work was still done by the pair. First to arrive and last to leave everyday without fail. Although leaving was a push when the pair had just decided to take up residence in one of the rooms to save themselves the hassle, their own home was a formality at this point, purely a place to store their clothes and other belongings. 

In all honesty Dahyun had expected much more resistance to the idea of them coming with her, however Jihyo had jumped at the opportunity, telling the two teens who had been hired as extra hands that they were on their own for an afternoon. 

Well, in a round about way.

“I swear to god Chan, I come back here and find a single bottle missing or anything on fire and the last thing you’ll have to worry about is your stupid hair! Quit looking in the dang mirror and focus on pouring drinks. Minho you’re in charge of him, any glasses he breaks come out of your pay.” Jihyo’s voice echoed around the saloon, a very embarrassed looking Chan and a bewildered looking Minho left behind as Jihyo pushed open the swing doors where Jeongyeon and Dahyun were waiting for her.

“Okay, thinly veiled threats made, I’m good to go now.” Jihyo beamed as Jeongyeon shook her head at her wife and Dahyun looked over Jihyo’s shoulder to see Minho berating Chan for getting distracted.

“I think we have different definitions of thinly veiled Ji, that was just straight up a threat.” Jeongyeon snorted, Dahyun trying to bite back a laugh of her own.

“Well they got the message didn’t they? AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS BEHIND THAT BAR.” Jihyo yelled, Dahyun no longer able to restrain her laugh as she saw the pair look at each other in extreme worry. 

“You sure you’re willing to leave this place in their hands? Doesn’t sound like you have a lot of faith in them.” Dahyun said cooly, the trio stepping down into the street where Dahyun’s horse was hitched with a small wagon at the back. 

“They’ll be fine, I actually do trust ‘em. Just fun to put the fear of god in ‘em.” Jihyo grinned wickedly as Dahyun shook her head, gesturing for Jeongyeon and Jihyo to climb in. 

“I grabbed some food from Mina’s beforehand but if y’all want anything specifically before we head out I don’t mind swinging by before.” Dahyun said, making to clamber onto her horse before she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Thought we were coming along to help make sure you didn’t do yourself any extra damage dumbass, here let me help.” Jeongyeon manoeuvred herself between Dahyun and her horse, lacing her fingers together on her knee and gesturing for Dahyun to step up.

Biting back the usual smart remark Dahyun would have liked to make, she just nodded and stepped into Jeongyeon’s lift, letting her help Dahyun onto her horse before turning and nodding at her in thanks.

Jeongyeon looked at her slightly strangely but moved to join Jihyo in the back, Dahyun waiting till they both were situated before spurring her horse onwards out of town. 

The ride out was relatively quiet, Jihyo and Jeongyeon enjoying a chance to be out of the normally smoke filled, loud saloon, instead enjoying the tranquility and quiet that came from the plains around them. 

Dahyun was meanwhile trying to force herself to relax. It was her first time actually back out since she had borderline limped back into town with a bullet wound in her. She wasn’t anxious about the injury, although the slight twinge that came whenever her horse went over uneven ground did serve as a reminder of the event.

Instead Dahyun was struggling to actually switch off from out on patrol sheriff mode and instead actually do the thing she had come out here for. Relax, not think about the town for a while, see her friends. 

The whole ride Dahyun’s knuckles were white with her grip on the reins, the slightest out of place sound, or unusual mark in the track ringing alarm bells in her mind. She prayed that the tightness she could feel in her shoulders wasn’t too apparent to her passengers behind her, not wanting to spoil what was for them a well overdue and earned day out.

As the trio headed further and further away from town, watching as the horizon eventually swallowed it up, Dahyun became deeply aware that the three of them were likely the only people for miles around. Or at least that was what she hoped. 

Attempting to shake that thought from her mind Dahyun focused on the road again, looking for any kind of sign that they might not be the only ones out there, whether it was a person, or animals or anything. Dahyun knew growing complacent was a surefire way to end up in an early grave.

“Hey sheriff? Where the hell are we even going?” Jeongyeon called from behind, Dahyun turning her head slightly to see Jihyo and Jeongyeon were thoroughly relaxed in the back of the small wagon, the pair cozied up against one another watching the world go by.

“It’s not much further, it’s a nice place, promise. Just trust me.” Dahyun tried to sound normal, trying to focus on the smiles she saw coming from the pair as they just nodded, returning to watch the scenery as they trundled along. 

Despite Dahyun’s nerves and anxiety they arrived without incident at the spot she had picked out. It was one she had visited as a child with her parents, and since had found as a place for her own peace of mind. One where she could unravel the worries and release some of the pressure she felt in her role.

It was a simple clearing, a small river flowing through it, with trees that provided enough shade from the harsh sun beating down overhead. It wasn’t anything ostentatious, no oasis in the desert plains that they called home. It was simply a place that let Dahyun remember what it was like to be a kid again, even if only for a few hours. 

“We’re here.” Dahyun announced, mostly for her own benefit, a knot of tension releasing itself as she brought her horse to a stop, turning in her saddle to look at Jihyo and Jeongyeon.

“A picnic by a stream? Who knew Sheriff Kim had a soft side to her?” Jeongyeon teased, standing in the wagon and immediately wobbling as she grabbed Jihyo’s shoulders for support.

“And who knew you couldn’t balance in a stationary cart?” Dahyun retorted, Jeongyeon’s cheeks flushing in response as Jihyo giggled, standing and carefully leading Jeongyeon out the cart less she fall out of it.

“It’s nice out here Dahyun, peaceful, kinda easy to forget everything else that’s rotten about this hellhole we call home.” Jihyo observed, wandering towards the stream as Jeongyeon moved to help Dahyun dismount. 

“It’s been one of my favourite spots for almost as long as I can remember.” Dahyun said, wincing slightly as she swung her leg over, letting Jeongyeon free her other foot from its stirrup as before taking the assistance to clamber down fully. 

Dahyun paused before her next sentence, mulling over whether to even say it or not. 

“It was my family’s spot. My parents took me here a lot when I was younger. Now it’s my place to think, just. Take a step back from it all.” Dahyun said simply, fetching the basket from the wagon before meandering over to her favourite tree. Leaving the couple quiet in her wake.

It sat just close enough to the river that the gentle flowing of water could lull one to sleep if they were so inclined, provided enough shade that the sun wouldn’t disturb you if you did want to nap.

Plopping down with her back against the tree Dahyun sighed, finally feeling the tension from the ride fully leave her body. She had managed it, they’d been fine, no bandits, no wild animals, no cries for help. Just a regular journey with her friends. 

From her spot Dahyun watched Jihyo and Jeongyeon standing hand in hand by the river’s edge, Jihyo’s head leant on Jeongyeon’s shoulder as she could hear the two talking faintly. Smiling to herself Dahyun busied herself laying out the food she had bought from Mina, nothing fancy, bread, meats and some dried fruit for them to eat.

The food all laid out Dahyun stretched back, letting her head rest against the tree, staring up at the leaves above as the sun filtered through them, providing just enough warmth to be comfortable, not so much that she would begin to feel the sweat bead on her forehead. 

Dahyun laid there, content in the peace and quiet around her, just letting Jihyo and Jeongyeon do whatever they wanted to before they would eat. It was almost unnatural the way her feelings had managed to shift so completely in the time between the journey and since arriving at this place, the nerves and anxiety completely washed away by the memories of the area.

It had been early when they’d left. The sunrise barely visible over the horizon, Dahyun basically carried into the back of the wagon by her father as she struggled to open her eyes. Before long the gentle motion of the wagon and her mother’s hands in her hair had caressed Dahyun back to sleep, the quiet humming of her mother further soothing away the threads of consciousness that had begun to tug at her eyes. 

The next thing Dahyun was aware of was the halting of the wagon, her mother’s hands gently shaking her shoulders as she stirred from her sleep. The vestiges of sleep still stuck in her eyes as her mother stood, pulling back the tarp at the back of the wagon.

The sunlight flooding in caused Dahyun to flinch, blinking back against the harsh and sudden adjustment. As she got used to the light Dahyun was able to make out very little about their surroundings, her mother already stepping out of the back, turning and holding her hands out to help Dahyun out.

Apprehensively Dahyun followed her mother, her tiny steps taking her towards her arms as she lifted Dahyun into them, holding her as she walked round the side of the wagon. Looking around curiously Dahyun still had no clue where they were, the faint sound of running water being her only clue as to her surroundings.

Transferred into her father’s arms, Dahyun was carried still as her mother returned to grab the basket she had packed for them. 

“We used to come out here a lot y’know? Me n yer mother.” Dahyun’s father spoke, his voice low as he walked with Dahyun still in his arms.

“First ever proper date I took her on, I rode her out here in the middle of the night. Best believe we both got a hidin from our parents when we got back home.” He chuckled, Dahyun looking up at him as he talked. 

“We kept comin, it was our escape y’know. Meant we could get away from the hustle n bustle of town. Our own secret hideaway. Then we had you. And we didn’t come for years.” His eyes cast down to Dahyun, smiling fondly as he placed a kiss on her forehead. 

“Didn’t fancy taking our lil baby on a long journey if she didn’t have to. Plus. Well, that’s stuff for when yer older.” Her father’s eyes seemed to glaze over for a second, before focusing back in on Dahyun. 

“Point being, our lil girl is growing up. An’ we want you to see where me and your momma fell in love, where we started this wonderful journey that led us to havin’ you.” 

Dahyun had barely registered the growing sound of water, so focused on her father. It was only as he set her down that Dahyun realised there was a stream flowing, not so strong as to sweep you away but strong enough to provide a melodic background for them. 

“Don’t you go running in that water without me or your momma by your side ya hear? I know it ain’t look strong but I want you to be safe.” Her father ruffled her hair as Dahyun looked about in wonder. 

The sound of nature around her was a far fling from what she was used to. Or rather the absence of sound. Between the livestock her parents kept, or the constant noise of town when she would go to visit. Dahyun was used to something somewhere making sound. 

Now in this remote place, with only the sound of the river flowing nearby, the gentle breeze rolling down into the little valley, Dahyun finally felt what it was like to be at peace. 

The rest of the day passed by all too quickly for Dahyun, a picnic in the shade with her parents, wading in the river while holding tightly to her father’s hand, a game of hide and seek that had her parents sure that Dahyun had gotten lost and gone missing. 

By the time the sun had begun to set, the basket packed up and Dahyun curled up against her father’s shoulder, sleeping soundly. She didn’t remember being laid down in the back of the wagon, her head resting in her mother’s lap once more. She didn’t remember the long journey back home, nor being carried through to her bedroom and laid down, tucked in tightly with a kiss from her mother.

The thing that Dahyun did remember though, the thing that kept her coming back to this place whenever she could. Was that her parents loved it, and that they loved her. 

“You away with the fairies sheriff? Does that mean all this food is for me and Ji?” Jeongyeon’s voice broke through Dahyun’s daydream, her eyes slowly blinking as she returned back to the world around her. 

She had been joined by Jeongyeon and Jihyo, the couple sitting opposite Dahyun’s spot against the tree. Jeongyeon’s crooked smile seemed teasing, but Jihyo was smiling at her gently, a fond look in her eyes. 

“I think that’s the most peaceful I’ve ever seen you.” Jihyo said, watching as Dahyun shuffled herself up, her back leant against the tree. 

“You mean I don’t look at peace when I’m leant over the bar trying to hold myself upright?” Dahyun replied, a grimace on her face at the numerous nights she had spent in the past, far worse for wear.

“That’s usually when you look your worst.” Jeongyeon teased, Dahyun rolling her eyes in response.

“Yeah well. This place is special.” Dahyun said simply, scooting forward so she was closer to Jeongyeon and Jihyo and the food. 

“Yeah, we’ve barely spent any time here and I’m inclined to agree with you. It’s nothin’ like town. I can’t even remember the last time we spent more than a couple hours away from the tavern.” Jihyo said, glancing about their surroundings, that same smile on her face. 

“Partly why I asked you guys out here. Tzuyu’s been helping Mina and Nay out with the kids, letting them get some time away together when they can. But I know y’all never rest. When I heard you’d finally taken on Chan and Minho.” Dahyun shrugged. “Seemed as good a chance as any to force you guys to take a break.” 

“And you knew we’d agree how exactly?” Jeongyeon said, an eyebrow raised skeptically. 

“I didn’t, I half expected y’all to fight me on this not gonna lie.” Dahyun chuckled.

“Well, it’s not often our town’s sheriff asks ya to accompany her on an undetermined journey for no reason in particular.” Jeongyeon smiled. “Didn’t even need discussion, we’ve been missing your company. Although credit where it’s due for you ‘suppose, not had to drag your drunk ass home in a hot minute now.” 

“Yeah well, I figured I was due takin care of myself a bit more. Plus, I figure I bust open my stitches anymore and Nay might just take my arm off next time I ask her to sew me up.” Dahyun rubbed the back of her head, a pink dust on her cheeks as she thought back to the chewing out she’d received after the third time she’d shown up at Nayeon and Mina’s looking to get some restitching. 

“That’d be some sight, the one armed sheriff of Tanrise. Think they’d write books about you if that came true.” Jeongyeon chuckled lightly, Jihyo shaking her head at her. 

“You say that like Tzuyu ain’t already halfway there to writing down the town’s full history. Swear that girl is single handedly keeping Mina in business with notebook purchases alone.” Jihyo said, a smile playing across her face. 

“Well if it saves me hearing the same stories over and over again from the regulars then she can be our guest.” Jeongyeon grinned, leaning forward and taking a slice of bread, placing some meat on it before folding it in half in a lazy attempt at a sandwich. 

“Achem” Jihyo cleared her throat, smiling sweetly in Jeongyeon’s direction. Jeongyeon turning and looking at her curiously as she lifted the sandwich to her mouth taking a bite.

“Seriously, no consideration for your wife? No, ‘ Oh here you go sweetheart’ or ‘ What would you like my love ?’” Jihyo groaned, Jeongyeon looking confused as she chewed slower.

“Glad to see you two still bicker like you’ve been married for forty years not four.” Dahyun chuckled, leaning forward to grab some fruit for herself. 

“If it ain’t broke?” Jeongyeon said through a mouthful of food, placing her sandwich on her knee delicately as she started assembling something for Jihyo before passing it across, Jihyo taking it with a huff.

“You’re lucky I love you idiot.” Jihyo grumbled, before taking a bite of her sandwich, her brows furrowing as she chewed before looking across to Dahyun. 

“What did you promise Mina to get the good meat? This has actual flavour and isn’t like chewing leather.” 

“Told her I was taking you guys out, insisted on it.” Dahyun replied casually, smiling softly as she watched Jeongyeon and Jihyo enjoy the food.

“Well I think that means one of us owes her a favour.” Jihyo smiled slyly, nudging Jeongyeon. “Who should it be? The busy couple who runs the heart and soul of the town? Or the sheriff with too much time on her hands?” Jihyo barely managed to get her question out, tripping over a laugh as she watched Dahyun’s eyes roll into the back of her head.

“I take y’all out here, get you lunch, and this is the thanks I’m getting?” Dahyun grumbled, Jihyo giggling away as Jeongyeon grinned at her.

“C’mon Dahyun. Don’t pretend like we aren’t doing you as much of a favour as you’re doing us one.” Jeongyeon smirked. “All we were hearing for the first couple weeks from Chaeyoung was how you was stewing away in your office, plodding through book after book and barely giving anyone more than a sentence.”

“And? I’m not doin that anymore am I?” Dahyun grumbled, trying to fight back against the indignation she was feeling inside.

“Point bein’ you are finally getting over yourself n doing something with all the free time you now have. Y’know most folks would love to be in your position. Getting paid for doin’ sweet nothing.” Jeongyeon said. 

“And most folk also wouldn’t be poutin’ when their friends point out that they’re glad they ain’t being such a misery guts anymore.” Jihyo added, a teasing edge to her smile as Dahyun tried to re-arrange her expression, unknowingly pouting at the couple’s teasing. 

“I wasn’t poutin’.” Dahyun tried to remain cool but the fluster in her voice was a dead giveaway.

“Uh huh, sheesh I ain’t seen you like this since that bounty hunter cornered you the same day you got shot.” Jeongyeon raised an eyebrow as Jihyo giggled beside her. 

“Like what!? I’m calm, cool and collected. Same as I was then.” Dahyun grunted, folding her arms as she flopped backwards, her back hitting the tree she was leant against earlier.

“Uh huh, way I remember it you two were all cosied up with one another when we all took our leave for bed.” Jihyo raised her eyebrow suggestively, Jeongyeon snickering away beside her.

“We were just talking Ji c’mon. Nobody was cosied up.” Dahyun said, her chin tucked into her neck as she looked down avoiding their eyes.

“So you’re not looking at us now because?” Jeongyeon teased, leaning down to try and catch a glimpse of Dahyun’s face, Dahyun tugging her hat over her eyes in response.

“‘Cause you’re idiots and I’m not paying attention to your tomfoolery. Me and Sana had a strictly business relationship. She saved my life, collected her bounties and she left. I’m prolly never gonna see her again.” Dahyun stated flatly.

“Plus. She’s a bounty hunter. You know what kinda fucked up life you gotta lead to do that shit? Ain’t no way I would wanna embroil myself in that kinda life.” Dahyun continued, a hint of irritation bleeding through her tone at the mere suggestion of the idea.

“For somebody you claim to have a ‘strictly business relationship’ with you sure seem to have given it some thought.” Jihyo said in a sing-song voice, Dahyun frowning underneath her hat but not giving an answer.

“Sounds like somebody might have got under our dear sheriff’s skin more than we have. And all in less than twenty-four hours.” Jeongyeon added on, her voice equally teasing. 

“I hate you guys.” Dahyun admitted defeatedly, slumping down further against the tree as Jeongyeon and Jihyo fell about in laughter. 

“Sure you do Dahyun, that’s why you took us all the way out here and gave us a picnic and time away from the bar.” Jeongyeon reached over shaking Dahyun’s foot, Dahyun kicking her hand away with a grunt.

“Could’ve brought you out here to kill you both and dump the bodies.” Dahyun grumbled, turning onto her good side and looking out at the stream as she heard the other two fall silent. 

“Not a very good plan if you tell us is it dummy? Plus, I think me and Jihyo can take you together.” Jeongyeon said with mock bravado in her voice. 

“Yeah, sure you might be the best shot for a hundred miles but have you seen me throw a pan at Jeong when she’s annoying me by existing in the kitchen? My aim is lethal.” Jihyo chirped up.

“Only a hundred miles?” Dahyun’s voice threatened to break into a laugh at the mental image of Jihyo lobbing a pot at Jeongyeon when she had come into the kitchen without looking where she was going and knocked two plates down the front of Jihyo. 

“Can’t let you get too much of an ego. We have Jeong’s big head to deal with as is.” Jihyo joked, a disgruntled yelp coming from Jeongyeon as Dahyun finally gave in, chuckling at the pair of them. 

“Rich coming from ‘I’m God of this saloon and what I say goes’ Jihyo.” Jeongyeon grumbled, falling dramatically into Jihyo’s lap, staring up at her with a furrow in her brow.

“And yet you listen to almost everything I have to say anyways” Jihyo smiled, leaning down to place a kiss on Jeongyeon’s forehead, smoothing away the furrowed brow.

“Losers.” Dahyun quipped, earning scowls from the couple before all three fell into laughter once again.

The afternoon passed by with more chatter and teasing between all parties, Dahyun feeling a similar sense of ease to the afternoons she’d spent with her parents in this same place. It was different, a different kind of love but love all the same. 

As the sun began to set, the trio packing up the remainders of the food and the sun dipping on the horizon, the realisation of the decision Dahyun had almost made hit her. 

That if she had left, never burnt that letter, never talked with Tzuyu. That she’d have left behind chances to make memories like this. Chances to spend time with her friends, to remember what it felt like to be happy, even if it came in waves.

As Jeongyeon and Jihyo walked ahead, hand in hand, Dahyun trailing behind them she turned, taking a last look over the area.

“I miss you momma, miss you daddy. I’ll be okay. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to come back here proper.” Dahyun said quietly. Looking out to the stream, the memories of walking there with her father playing in her mind.

“Promise I’ll try be back more often. Forgot how much I loved it out here.” Dahyun turned, watching the forms of Jihyo and Jeongyeon walking towards the wagon. “Forgot how much better it is with company too.” 

Sighing softly to herself, Dahyun turned, the breeze playing at her back as she walked towards Jeongyeon and Jihyo, Jihyo leant against Jeongyeon smiling at Dahyun. 

“All good sheriff?” Jihyo asked quietly. 

“Yeah” Dahyun answered, a small smile playing across her face. “Just saying bye to my folks.”

Jihyo detached herself from Jeongyeon, stepping lightly towards Dahyun and pulling her into a hug.

“Means a lot for you to trust us with this place.” She said quietly, Dahyun returning the hug, a soft smile on her face as she nodded into Jihyo’s neck.

“We won’t take you or it for granted.” Jeongyeon added, joining the hug to Dahyun’s side, her chin resting atop Dahyun’s head. 

“Thank you, both of you.” Dahyun said, her words muffled slightly from her face buried in Jihyo’s neck. “Thank you for coming out here with me.”

As the three disentangled from one another, Dahyun sniffing back a tear, the same smile from before still on her face. “I was scared on the way out here, scared I couldn’t protect y’all if something happened, scared that I’d made a mistake taking you guys here. Like it was somehow wrong to. But I see now it was anything but.” 

Jihyo stepped forward again bringing Dahyun into an even tighter hug, Dahyun wincing as Jihyo accidentally squeezed her bad arm. “Ji, my stitches.” 

Jihyo lept back, a blush on her cheeks. “Sorry, just. You don’t need to be scared Dahyun. We have your back. No matter what. You know that right?” 

Dahyun rubbed her arm, the pain already fading now that the pressure had been released. “I do Ji, I’m just trying to let y’all have my back more now. I know I’m not so good at that. But I’m trying.”

“Better, you know any one of us would bend over backwards for you.” Jeongyeon slapped Dahyun’s good shoulder, coughing gruffly as Dahyun rolled her eyes at the gesture, nonetheless a fond smile on her face.

“Okay, before we lose more light, and before Jeong breaks into tears we better git. If anything is gonna be a dead giveaway on the road it'll be your sniffling.” Dahyun teased, Jeongyeon’s sappy look vanishing in an instant to a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment.

“Prick. Get on your horse and get us going then.” Jeongyeon grumbled, following after Dahyun to help her up once more as she chuckled to herself. 

“Love you too Jeong.”

“Yeah, funny way of showing it.”

“...”

“Love you too sheriff idiot.”

“Better do. Come on help me up, beds are calling us.”

=====================================

The months thereafter had been kind to Dahyun, the sense of calm and serenity continuing over Tanrise. As time passed and her wounds healed, both physically and mentally, Dahyun began to find herself once more.

The rest and respite had done something for her. For a start she no longer looked like she was being propped up by caffeine and sheer will power alone. The bags under her eyes had all but vanished, the spring in her step had somewhat returned. She wasn’t quite back to being the old her. Ten years as a sheriff was bound to have an impact on anybody's psyche.

But the sharp tongue that she had gained over years of being beaten down softened, the slouched posture that came with bearing the weight of the town’s safety straightened over time. 

She was still Sheriff Kim, the one the townsfolk knew they could depend on come hell or high water. But she was also Dahyun again.

Able to sleep through the night without waking up drenched in sweat or in a state of panic. Able to give herself the breaks she needed, to lean on her friends around her as and when she had to. 

After two months of healing Dahyun had returned to active duty. No longer did she insist on patrolling on her own. Instead she found herself asking for Chaeyoung to come along, seeking the assurance that she wasn’t alone.

Dahyun still didn’t talk as much as she perhaps should have, still plagued by worries of seeming weak to those who depended on her. But she was trying still, each and every day she continued to try and keep the promise she made to herself that night she burnt the letter she had written for running away.

Only Tzuyu still knew of its existence. And to her credit, she’d seemingly never breathed another word of it to anyone, not Chaeyoung, who had seemingly finally picked up Tzuyu’s numerous hints and asked her on a formal date, nor Dahyun herself. 

The two months of active duty had passed by in a flash for Dahyun, returning to her normal routine, albeit with far more frequent visits to friends. Part of her promise to herself was to make time for the reason that she had stayed. For the people that she loved. 

Mina and Nayeon were elated to have Dahyun spending time with them and the kids again. Dahyun showing up early one morning and having to frantically explain to Nayeon that she didn’t actually need her, she had just stopped in to spend time with them both. 

Jeongyeon and Jihyo made a point of asking Dahyun to take them out on more trips, their confidence in Chan and Minho growing with every passing day, not that it kept Jihyo from leaving with a threat of retribution for anything out of place in the saloon each time they left the place in the two boy’s care. 

Tzuyu and Dahyun continued to have their conversations in Dahyun’s office, Tzuyu having already earned Dahyun’s trust and further cementing herself as somebody that Dahyun could turn to above almost anyone else. 

And Chaeyoung and Dahyun had finally found their way back to how they used to be. Before they were Sheriff Kim and Deputy Son. When Chaeyoung was the first friend Dahyun made after her parents died, when Chaeyoung could talk to Dahyun endlessly about anything, be it the stars, her latest infatuation (this time however it was ‘My girlfriend Dahyun, She’s actually my fucking girlfriend! ’) or anything else that happened to take her immediate attention.

Life for Dahyun was good, the best it had been in years, the universe seemingly giving Dahyun and her town a break finally, letting them all take a long overdue breath in the storm that was the western frontier.

But, like all storms, the calm was but a warning of what was yet to come.

=====================================

The day had begun like any other had lately. Dahyun had woken early, made herself coffee and applied the ointment that Mina had ordered specially for her on her wound.

The ugly knot the stitches had left was a frequent reminder for Dahyun as to how close she had come to death, not that it was something she paid much mind to. She had scars, burns and ghosts of bruises aplenty that reminded her of the fragile grasp on life Dahyun had held for the past decade.

What this scar tissue reminded Dahyun of more than anything was the choice she had almost made, of how she had come back from a place that she hadn’t even been able to recognise as rock bottom. There were wounds that were far more poignant reminders of Dahyun’s mortality, ones she could point to as being the reason she shouldn’t honestly be here. 

But this wound was the one Dahyun felt most proud of her recovery from. It was the one that had taken the most from her, and she still stood here, stronger than before.

Finishing her morning ritual Dahyun began her walk through town, humming softly to herself as she did her usual rounds. It was too early for most folk to be stirring yet, as much as Dahyun had eased up on herself certain habits had proved hard to kick, waking earlier than the dead was one of them. Despite the peace they’d had lately she couldn’t yet shake the habit of giving everything a once over, still a small part of her fearful of something going awry in the night. 

It hadn’t for months, still hadn’t that morning, but it settled something in Dahyun as she walked about town, meandering from one end to the next as she enjoyed the peace of the streets before everyone began their daily business.

Not even the prospect of a visit from the federal marshals could put much of a damper on Dahyun’s day. Thankfully of late they’d taken more bounties away with them than they’d handed over. Whether this was a changing sign of the times or what Dahyun didn’t know but she was all the more grateful for less worries at her doorstep. 

Completing her lap of the town, the rays of the sun beginning to bleed in over the edge of the horizon, illuminating the dust clouds that blew across the empty plains, Dahyun made her way to the office. She knew that before long she’d have a half asleep Chaeyoung wandering in, kicked out of bed by Tzuyu with orders to make sure that Dahyun wasn’t left feeling lonely in the mornings.

Initially Dahyun had objected to being treated like a child who needed minded. However as Chaeyoung continued to show up, looking like a toddler who had dressed themselves in the dark (she had admitted she often did because she didn’t want to fully wake Tzuyu up) complaining about a need for coffee and a grumble about babysitting her superior she had taken it as ample opportunity to indulge in her favourite pastime.

Teasing Chaeyoung.

As sure as bunnies left unwatched will breed like wildfire, Chaeyoung was slumped against the wall beside the door, seemingly managing to fall asleep standing up as Dahyun approached. She barely even stirred at the crunching sound of Dahyun’s footsteps. Only raising her head and grunting what could have been ‘mornin’’ at Dahyun as she walked up the steps.

Never one to pass up an opportunity as Dahyun reached into her jacket to unlock the door she raised one foot yanking at the back of Chaeyoung’s heel, dragging her just off balance enough that her butt slipped from the wall, slamming into the hard wooden deck with a high pitched yelp.

“Prick! All I said was mornin’” Chaeyoung grumbled, a scowl on her face as she pulled herself to her feet, Dahyun leering down at her, all too pleased with herself.

“I know, but you’re awake now aren’t you?” Dahyun chuckled to herself, unlocking the door and jumping over Chaeyoung’s retaliatory foot swipe. 

“Awake and bruised. Get me coffee and maybe I can start thinkin’ about forgiveness.” Chaeyoung said, not even making any attempt to sort the coffee herself, instead trudging over to her own desk and flopping into the chair, in turn releasing a wince as she sat down too fast on her already tender backside.

“I think you broke my ass.” Chaeyoung said, shooting daggers at Dahyun as she lit the small stove they kept for the kettle, pouring water from her canteen into the pot, before letting out a chuckle as she turned to face Chaeyoung, leant up against the table with a smug grin on her face.

“Dontcha have to have an ass to break it first Chae? Hardly call that an ass.” Dahyun grinned, Chaeyoung laying face down on her desk with a groan. 

“I miss when you were miserable. Least then I wasn’t getting assaulted physically an’ verbally. I can handle one or t’other not both at the same time.” Chaeyoung turned her head, still scowling at Dahyun as Dahyun laughed at her. 

“Bet you wish you were still squirrelled away with Tzu right now? Instead you have the luxury of my wonderful company, an soon we’ll be joined by your favourite people in the world.” Dahyun chuckled, turning her attention back to making them both coffee as Chaeyoung’s head rose from the desk.

“Christ alive, that time of the month already? Dumb, dumber and dumbest yet are due in?” Chaeyoung groaned, Dahyun walking over and placing the mug on Chaeyoung’s desk before taking a careful sip of her own.

“Mhm, they’re due anyways. Besides, not like it’ll be a long visit. Take down the posters that have been claimed, pin up the ones that are new n’ they’ll be gone.” Dahyun said, wincing slightly at the overtly bitter coffee and heat. 

“Yeah but while you only have to deal with Dumb, I get the luxury of dumber and dumbest.” Chaeyoung groaned as Dahyun smiled at her, patting her on the back.

“Yeah, well it’s part and parcel of our jobs Chae. The day the marshals stop rolling into town is the day we stop getting paid.” Dahyun said, taking the seat opposite Chaeyoung, blowing on her coffee to try and cool it.

“You forget I have a rich girlfriend to mooch off of now.” Chaeyoung grinned as she sat up right, wincing again as she shifted her weight. “Okay seriously Dahyun did you have to sweep my leg like that? Feel like I’ve been kicked by a horse.” 

“Well, maybe from now on you’ll be more aware of your surroundings dear deputy.” Dahyun said as she grinned, watching Chaeyoung as she rolled her eyes before taking a swig of her coffee. “If only your physical resilience matched that of yer mouth, how you can down a mug two minutes off brewing is beyond me.” 

Dahyun stilled for a second, looking over her mug to see Chaeyoung grinning wickedly before she raised her hand. “And no that is NOT an invitation for you to talk about you and Tzuyu’s bedroom life. That you can keep between yourselves and God.”

Chaeyoung’s face dropped into a scowl, muttering into her mug as she drained the remainder of it, although Dahyun was sure she heard something about her own non-existent bedroom life, to which she was about to respond before a knock came at the door.  

Shooting Chaeyoung a look, Dahyun rose from her seat to answer it, finding three men standing out on the deck, each well overdressed for the dusty town they were in, a faint sheen of sweat upon their foreheads as they looked at Dahyun.

“Sheriff Kim.” The one at the door said, extending a hand which Dahyun took, shaking firmly. 

“Marshal Lee, Marshals Boo and Kwon.” Dahyun answered, nodding at the two men behind Marshal Lee, each giving a stiff nod in return as Dahyun stepped aside to allow them to enter her office. 

“Not long boiled the pot if you fellas fancy a coffee?” Dahyun offered, gesturing to the still steaming pot over on the table.

“I’m good, and on account of a six hour journey back to civil- I mean home, I’m willing to speak for these two and say they’re good too.” Marshal Lee answered, holding up his hand in a polite declination of the offer. His subordinates behind him looking disappointed but not willing to disagree. 

“As you wish, many more stops along the way?” Dahyun asked, trying to draw out some iota of a conversation from the three men. 

There was something about the three that had always had Dahyun’s suspicions raised. The men always came across as stiff, but the way that Marshal Lee conducted himself always led Dahyun to believe that he was somehow containing the other two from causing chaos. 

Tight lipped responses, no more than the absolute minimum of communication, and she was sure she’d seen him step on Marshal Kwon’s foot when he’d gone to speak one time. 

“Yes. Which is why we’ll need to be on our way quickly.” Marshal Lee answered, turning and nodding to Marshal Boo who lifted a satchel and passed it to his superior, barely making eye contact with him. 

“No bounties to take down this time I’m afraid, been slow goings the past month. On the other hand, only two to hand out.” Marshal Lee said, handing the two pieces of paper to Dahyun face down. “And with that we’ll be on our way.” 

“Uh. Okay? Well. Safe journey an’, I’ll see ya when I see ya I suppose.” Dahyun said, confused as she walked the Marshals out of the office, watching as the three climbed into the carriage that was awaiting them, giving a small wave to the three through the open window as she watched the carriage begin to trundle away, the early signs of life emerging in the town as she saw curtains open and the start of people wandering about.

With a deep sigh Dahyun turned back into the office shaking her head.

“I swear those three get weirder with every single visit.” She muttered, rubbing the two pieces of paper in her hands before placing them on Chaeyoung’s desk. 

“They do, but equally they didn’t overstay their welcome so can’t say am complaining.” Chaeyoung snorted, taking the two sheets into her hands and nodding as Dahyun lifted her cup and shook it in a wordless question. 

“Let’s see who our latest miscreants are.” Chaeyoung sighed, her eyes running over the first bounty.

“Real name unknown, C.M., wanted for murder, robbery, and the impersonation of an officer of the law” Chaeyoung read before letting out a low whistle. “That's basically the big three, shame as well, bounty posters anything to go by she’s a looker. Reward $1000 wanted dead or alive. Known Associates C.S.”

“C.S.? Why’s that ring a bell?” Dahyun asked, walking over to the bounty board and scanning the remaining bounties there, not finding a name that matched. 

“Jumping the gun sheriff, not pinned it up yet.” Chaeyoung laughed, laying the first poster down before taking a sip of her coffee before beginning to read the second poster.

“Jesus talk about burying the lede, Real name unknown, C.S. Wanted for murder, robbery, arson, impersonation of an officer and impersonation of a state certified bounty hunter.” Chaeyoung said before stopping abruptly. 

“What, this one even better looking?” Dahyun chuckled, turning to see the colour had drained from Chaeyoung’s face. “S’matter with ya?” 

Dahyun strode over, taking the bounty poster from Chaeyoung’s hands. Finding herself greeted with the face that had ridden out of the darkness four months earlier. The same one that had flirted with her shamelessly, gave up her weapons seamlessly and had confided in Dahyun like it was no big deal before switching back on the same effortless charm she had exuded. 

“That’s Sana right sheriff?” Chaeyoung asked quietly, trying to gauge Dahyun’s face for a reaction. 

“Yup. that’s her alright.” Dahyun answered, a cold feeling sweeping through her body as she took in the drawing in front of her. 

It was Sana, without a shadow of a doubt, that same twinkle in the eye that drew you in, her unblemished skin and high cheekbones captured perfectly by the artist, the long hair cascading down the side of her face, framing it perfectly. 

Although she wasn’t smiling in the drawing, Dahyun could see the smile in her mind, that teasing smile that seemed to always be on the precipice of a smart comment, one intended to divert or to seduce depending on what the moment called for.

Something had told her there was way more to Sana that met the eye. That she was dangerous, shouldn’t be trusted. A person like Sana who walked with death like it was second nature and flirted with anything or one she took a liking to was a warning to Dahyun, of danger and something else she couldn't quite place.

Dahyun could put her finger on it now though, the feeling that she had back then.The intrigue and wariness of Sana was still there. The feeling she had felt before was that her path with Sana had ended four months ago, that they’d never meet again, although a niggling thought in her mind didn’t feel right about that.

She now knew why. The path they were walking hadn’t ended,they’d merely diverged. And here they were intersecting once again.

C.S. Dead Only. $5000.

=====================================

BSSonus:

The door to the carriage slammed shut, Marshal Lee letting out a deep sigh as he looked out at the waving sheriff in the door of her office, the journey to the next town already beginning for them. 

“Why do we never get to stay for coffee anymore?” Marshal Kwon piped up from beside him, Lee rolling his eyes as he turned to look at him.

“You seriously need to ask that Soonyoung? You are the last person on this planet that needs more energy.” Lee sighed, slinking back in his seat as he extended his legs, stretching them out onto the seat opposite. 

“What about me! You know how much these early starts mess with me.” Marshal Boo protested from his seat opposite the pair. 

“Seungkwan, respectfully, wheesht. If I let you have coffee then I have to let Soonyoung have coffee then that leads to us both having to deal with him bouncing off the walls of an enclosed space with no way to let the energy out.” Lee explained, for what felt like the millionth time. 

“Well we could maybe spend more than say. Two minutes in these towns? Why do you make sure these visits are so quick anyways? It’s not like we have a rush to be back?” Soonyoung asked from beside Lee, mimicking his position leaving Seungkwan trapped between the two’s legs. 

“Remember when we started doing this? When we would take the time to talk to people? You remember what happened?” Lee raised his eyebrow looking at the two of them.

“Let me give your memories a lil kickstart. Nobody took us serious, sheriffs would alter posters for higher rewards, some would just look at us an’ laugh and otherwise we’d be stuck in the shittiest room of the shittiest saloon because nobody believed we were actual marshals but nobody believed we were actually worth reporting either because you two would spend most your time bickering and I’d be in the middle of y’all trying to force you to be normal.” Lee continued, shooting both Seungkwan and Soonyoung looks, Seungkwan at least having the manners to look embarrassed whilst Soonyoung just nodded in agreement.

“Yeah I remember, that's when you were fun! Our leader DK. Always looking out for us both!” Soonyoung grinned as Lee shook his head, putting his face in his palm before leaning back and looking up at the roof of the carriage.

“I’m still fun Soonyoung but just not when we have work to do, you can mess around alllll you like back home, people know who we are there and respect us.” Both Soonyoung and Sungkwan gave Lee looks before he groaned, nodding in agreement.

“Fine they respect Seungchol, but the point stands his respect bleeds down to us so we still gotta play the part when folk don’t know who we are got it?” Lee said, looking between his friends.

“Fine.” Seungkwan agreed, patting Lee’s shin. “But at least let me get coffee in the next town, if Soonyoung has to have some too just let him run along the carriage to burn off energy or something.” 

“What?” Soongyoung turned from staring out the window, blinking at Sungkwan as he had vaguely recognised the mention of his name. “What am I doing?”

Lee shook his head, taking his feet off the seat and leaning forward, putting his hand towards Seungkwan. “C’mon muck for brains put yer damn hand in who are we?”

“BSS!”

Chapter Text

It had been six months, four days and twenty-one hours since the arrival of the marshals. Since the bounty posters for Sana and her accomplice had found themselves into Dahyun’s unwitting hand. 

Whilst the immediacy of the change had been one purely of shock, the news travelling fast in their little friend group. The long lasting effect had been far more severe.

In Chaeyoung’s mind if she could turn back time to that moment she’d have torn them up on the spot and told them to go to hell. That the concerns of folks in the big city held little to no meaning to them out on the actual frontier. 

But she couldn’t. And she hadn’t. 

The second Chaeyoung had seen Sana’s face on that poster. Had seen the look in Dahyun’s eye when she saw her again for the first time in months. Chaeyoung knew that what had previously been a point for her to tease Dahyun was sure to unravel the woman she had considered her sister for two decades at this point. 

It hadn’t happened overnight. 

Dahyun had pinned the posters on the board, then proceeded to sit in her office the rest of the day, asking Chaeyoung to cover patrols for her for a single day. 

She’d agreed. Why wouldn’t she? She could tell Dahyun was taking this hard, that she needed space to think. She knew that Dahyun would feel a personal responsibility over this, that she’d blame herself for letting Sana go without a second thought.

It was the least Chaeyoung felt she could do. 

Except it wasn’t one day. Each day after the next Dahyun seemed to spiral. The carefully constructed and re-arranged support system she had built for herself slipped away overnight almost, Chaeyoung helplessly on the sidelines once more as Dahyun returned to the herself from months before. 

She had tried to reach out, had pulled damn near everyone in to try and get Dahyun out of her spiral. 

Jeongyeon and Jihyo’s presence had barely been met with more than a grunt, Dahyun’s focus pinpointed on the documents she poured over day and night.

Mina and Nayeon fared no better, Dahyun refusing to even let Nayeon enter her office. 

The only one who seemed to get close was Tzuyu. 

“Let me have the office this afternoon love. I’ll sit with her and we can talk. She just needs reminding that it’s not her fault.” Tzuyu had explained to Chaeyoung that morning, following a long expletive filled rant about Dahyun as Chaeyoung dressed. 

Chaeyoung did as she was bid, letting Tzuyu and Dahyun have space. Even locked up the office with a sign to not disturb. 

The next she saw Tzuyu all she received was a sorrowful half shrug, alongside a promise to explain more that night. 

“She’s taking this hard. Biggest bounty this county has ever seen and Dahyun let her slip through her fingers. Didn’t even have a clue.” Tzuyu said quietly over dinner that night. 

“Why in the hell would she blame herself for this though? Not like I did anything? Not like any one of us did.” Chaeyoung answered bitterly, stabbing her spoon into her bowl roughly, only stirring the food around, her appetite nowhere to be found.

“You have to understand darling. Dahyun doesn’t see things like us, you know that better than most. To her, anyone Sana went on to hurt, anyone she’s killed since that day? In Dahyun’s mind she may as well have pulled the trigger herself.” Tzuyu said calmly, reaching across placing her hand on Chaeyoung’s lowering it down onto the table.

“But she didn’t. How could she have stopped her? The story she told checked out, she had the bounty hunter’s slips like any one of those bastards that come through town.” Chaeyoung sighed, rubbing her thumb against Tzuyu’s hand, leaning back in her chair. 

“She couldn’t have. I know that, you know that. Hell everyone knows that. There’s no sane person that could have predicted that somebody who by all descriptions I’ve heard. Namely yourself, Jeong, Ji and the little I could grasp from Dahyun was a woman who was the furthest from a bounty hunter you could expect.” Tzuyu paused, sighing as she squeezed Chaeyoung’s hand.

“The point is it’s not about what Dahyun could have done. It’s about what she believes she should have done. The little I was able to get out of her was that she had a gut feeling about Sana. That she knew she was dangerous but put it down to her just being what she said she was.” 

“But that’s just it. If Dahyun had done anything but what she did any one of us would have called her insane and gone against her.” Chaeyoung raised her voice, frustrated but bit her lip seeing Tzuyu’s eyes widen. 

“I’m sorry. I just. I saw this before. When her parents died. She was like this for months. Blaming herself, saying she should have done something. Anything. But she was just a fucking kid Tzu. What could she have done?” Chaeyoung’s voice broke, straining to keep the tears back as Tzuyu stood, walking quickly round the table, bringing Chaeyoung’s head to rest against her midriff. 

“She got better, but. She always carried that with her. I thought maybe she grew out of it. Especially now when she’s finally back to being her. When she was my friend again.” Chaeyoung said softly, leaning into Tzuyu’s touch.

“That’s still Dahyun love. She’s still there. I know she is.” Tzuyu answered quietly, her hands running gently through Chaeyoung’s hair. “She needs time. Needs space to process this all. We just have to trust her, let her work through this with as much support as she’ll let us give her.” 

“I just can’t lose her again darlin’. I can’t see her go back to that. The Dahyun who’s out all hours of the night. The one who's dragged home drunk because it's the only way she can sleep.” Chaeyoung said, turning her face into Tzuyu. 

“I knew she wasn’t good before she got put on rest. I knew and I didn’t do a damn thing because I was afraid if I said anything it’d just push her further away from me.” Chaeyoung took a deep breath, her chest rising sharply.

“But she got better. You got her to get better. Jihyo, Jeong, Nayeon, Mina. You all got her to get better and I just stood there on the sidelines. All I could do was try and cover her. Make her feel like maybe the fact she wasn’t active was okay.” Chaeyoung’s words came tumbling out, the weight of the past few months finally unraveling.

“And it wasn’t enough Tzu. It wasn’t enough because even now she still thinks the entire fucking world is on her shoulders because she didn’t clock one looney on a chance encounter.” Chaeyoung bit back a sob as she leant deeper into Tzuy, the feeling of her forehead pressed against her girlfriend the only thing grounding her.

“How do I show her it’s not just her fault. I met Sana too. I showed her to a room, I drank with her too. It’s not just on Dahyun. If it’s on her then it’s on me too.” Chaeyoung exhaled, Tzuyu’s fingers stalled in their massage on her scalp.

“... You don’t ever say any fool thing like that again, Son Chaeyoung.” Tzuyu said quietly. 

“Don’t you ever try an’ assume Dahyun’s sins. They are not yours. Yours are not hers.” Tzuyu moved backwards, dipping down onto the front of her feet, her face meeting Chaeyoung’s.

“I don’t care how you have to align things in that pretty lil head of yours. You know damn well that the things that woman did have nothing to do with anything you or Dahyun could have or should have done. You said it yourself for pete’s sake.” Tzuyu tsked, her hands holding Chaeyoung’s face to keep their eye contact. 

“I can manage one of you fools unraveling but two of you is too damn much and you are too smart, too good to be shouldering that bullshit.” Tzuyu said fiercely. 

“I want to help Dahyun as much as you do. But you are not self-destructing alongside her.” Tzuyu finished firmly. Leaning forward to place a kiss on Chaeyoung’s forehead. 

“Why can you say this to me but not her?” Chaeyoung asked quietly, blinking back tears as Tzuyu stilled, her lips still pressed to Chaeyoung’s forehead. “What makes me more worthy of saving than her?”

“If you think I haven’t tried to get the same message into her head then you don’t know me well enough yet love.” Tzuyu muttered, lowering her head to rest her forehead against Chaeyoung’s.

“You listen more. You’re more receptive.” Tzuyu took a breath before continuing. “I love Dahyun, I really do. But you don’t have the same saviour complex that she does.” 

“You know you can’t save everyone. Nobody fucking can.” Tzuyu said with venom on her tongue. “But you try and you get up everyday and you work harder than anyone I’ve ever known to be there for everyone.”

“You said you were just on the sidelines for Dahyung getting better. But without you being there she would have destroyed herself.” Tzuyu assured Chaeyoung, cradling her head.

“None of this is gonna be easy. But we’ll manage. We’ll get by. You’ve been sheriff before. You can do it again until she gets it into her damn head that she isn’t responsible for that fucking witch.” Tzuyu’s tongue curled, the venom she felt for a woman she had never even met spilling out.

Chaeyoung relaxed into Tzuyu’s embrace, her forehead pressed firmly against her partner’s. “You will. You always have and you always will.” Tzuyu sighed, her tone soft again. “I know you both. I know that you’ll make it through this.” She said, pressing kisses to the crown of Chaeyoung’s head.

Chaeyoung sighed softly, trying to take in all of Tzuyu’s care and affection, let it wash away the guilt she felt for her best friend. Let her worries just melt away, forget about anything outside the room except her and Tzuyu. 

But she couldn’t, couldn’t let the warmth she felt from Tzuyu take over. 

“But what if we don’t?” Chaeyoung asked quietly, a tremble in her voice, feeling the soft exhale of warm air from Tzuyu’s lips meet her forehead at the question. 

Raising her face to meet Tzuyu’s Chaeyoung took in her worried expression, well aware of the desperate look in her own eyes. “What if I can’t pull her back? What if none of us can and she runs off trying to save the whole damned world on her own?”

“I can see it, the way she stays late, is there early. Never taking a rest from reading every damn report she can get her hands on. Like she’s convinced it has to be her that finds Sana.” Chaeyoung added bitterly, looking away from Tzuyu’s eyes, staring into the fireplace, the soft crackle of the fire filling the silence in the room. 

Chaeyoung and Dahyun and Dahyun had fought before, disagreed on a thousand different things. They grew up together as teenagers after all. But this was different. These weren't careless words being thrown at one another, this was quiet. Insidious in its nature. Each day that had passed in the week since the marshals had visited Chaeyoung had felt the gap between her and Dahyun grow.

And for all the length of time the two women had known each other. Chaeyoung couldn’t figure out how to bridge it. Couldn’t see a way to pull Dahyun back towards her and their friends.

As if sensing Chaeyoung’s line of thought, Tzuyu sighed, sliding down gently to sit on the floor at Chaeyoung’s feet, resting her head in her lap. One arm looped up round to Chaeyoung’s back, gently drawing circles on the small of her back. 

“Then you can’t pull her back.” Tzuyu said softly, “I love Dahyun.. but,” Tzuyu paused, biting her lip softly as Chaeyoung continued staring into the fire, one of her hands absentmindedly moving to stroke Tzuyu’s hair.

The rough calloused hand in her hair was never the one that Tzuyu had envisioned growing up. Was never the one that she dreamed she’d find when she ran from her life in the East. But it was the first one that had extended to her when she’d arrived. Was the first hand she’d taken feeling no weight of expectation on what it meant to accept it.

It was a hand that Tzuyu wanted to take over and over again.

“But?” Chaeyoung asked, her voice low and measured, as if waiting on a further chastisement like the one earlier.

“But I think I love you more.” Tzuyu finished softly, a weight in her chest she hadn’t even realised was there lifting slightly. “And whilst I don’t want to see her lose herself, don’t want to see anything bad happen to her. I can’t watch you lose yourself in her wake.”

“Tzuyu I-” Chaeyoung began, looking down towards Tzuyu, only to feel a finger on her lips, along a pleading look from Tzuyu.

“Please just let me finish.” Tzuyu said, her breath shaky as Chaeyoung nodded slowly.

“I’m not saying don’t try to help her, I’m not saying I won’t do my best to help her too.” Tzuyu continued, her eyes casting downwards, a shameful look on her face replacing the look from before. 

“God I want nothing more than for us to go back to a week ago. When she was okay and me and you weren’t having to squeeze in time between the same relentless schedule from months ago.” A dry laugh escaped Tzuyu’s lips at the thought. 

“I just can’t watch you vanish with her if that’s how things go.” Tzuyu looked back up to meet Chaeyoung’s eyes. “I can’t have you leave too.”

Chaeyoung watched as Tzuyu nodded softly, signaling she was finished, her head dipping down to avoid looking at Chaeyoung any further. Only stopping as Chaeyoung’s hand found its way to her chin, lifting Tzuyu’s face slowly to meet hers. 

“I love you too.” Chaeyoung said quietly, a soft smile playing across her face, pulling Tzuyu’s chin towards hers, a gentle kiss meeting her lips as Tzuyu exhaled softly leaning into Chaeyoung’s touch. 

Breaking the kiss, Chaeyoung’s hands fell to Tzuyu’s sat on her knee, holding it gently before looking at her, the smile from before gone, a serious look replacing it. 

“I can’t promise I won’t lose myself, I don’t think anyone can ever promise that.” Chaeyoung began, inhaling sharply as she saw Tzuyu’s face twist in concern. “But I promise no matter what. I’m going to do my best to work my way back to you. Every time.” 

“I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know what Dahyun will do next. I do know that I’ve found my place, n’ it’s right here.” Chaeyoung said quietly, pressing her thumbs gently into Tzuyu’s hand, biting back a smile as she felt Tzuyu squeeze back.

“I’m sorry.” Tzuyu spoke barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry for asking you to make a choice like that. To ask you to promise not to follow her or to lose yourself. I know she’s your best friend. I know how much you love her. I just.” Tzuyu choked up on her words, leaning forward and burying her face in Chaeyoung’s chest. 

“I know. I’m not mad Tzu, I promise. I know what she means to me but I know what she means to you too. How close you two have become whilst she healed.” Chaeyoung said, rubbing Tzuyu’s back gently, trying to soothe her. “I know this can’t be easy on you either, seeing her pull back like this. I’m sorry I didn’t even think about how you must feel too.”

Tzuyu nodded mutely into Chaeyoung’s chest, just letting herself be comforted for the first time in a long time. No longer the one trying to hold up others but instead letting herself be held. 

Chaeyoung skipped her patrol that evening. One night wouldn’t make a difference.

=====================================

The next morning, as Chaeyoung stirred from sleep, Tzuyu’s arm draped across her chest, her face nuzzled into the crook of Chaeyoung’s neck. A smile on her face at the comfort she found being by Chaeyoung’s side.

Chaeyoung placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, gently sliding Tzuyu’s arm off her and untangling their legs. She dressed quietly, loathe to wake the woman she loved too early. 

Dahyun hadn’t been able to patrol the town in the early morning since the truth about Sana came out. Her nights were long and often ended with Chaeyoung leaving her in the office well after she’d finished her final patrol of the day. Pouring over reports, looking for something, anything that could justify her inaction. Or to Chaeyoung’s fear, spur her into action.

Chaeyoung had always considered the morning patrols a fruitless effort. One that was rooted in Dahyun’s neurosis of something going wrong. Something that maybe before had a point, but in the period of peace there had been no need for it. 

Yet it was something that had been drilled into her. When Dahyun wasn’t able to, or couldn’t.  Chaeyoung still did it. If nothing else, despite the ache that rising so early brought into Chaeyoung’s weary bones, it gave her a sense of accomplishment. It was something else she could carry for Dahyun if nothing else, it hopefully eased the weight she felt she carried.

As Chaeyoung walked the empty streets, the conversation she had with Tzuyu the night before still lingered in her mind. She had never realised just how much the effect of Dahyun’s withdrawal was impacting Tzuyu as well. 

It had barely been a week since the marshals arrived. Since Dahyun had retreated into herself. For as much as Tzuyu had managed to speak with Dahyun the day before, Chaeyoung had not proved as lucky. She was barely able to get more than a sentence out of her on a good day, on others only getting a grunt of acknowledgement from her friend when she arrived in the morning, a similar noise when she left at night. 

It was tiring. The hours. The lack of any communication with Dahyun. The way that Chaeyoung saw a little less of her friend in the body sat behind that desk every single day. 

Even at her worst, Chaeyoung had still been able to see her friend in Dahyun. Hardened, more cautious, sure. But she was still Dahyun at heart, still the girl she’d grown up with. But this was different, this was Dahyun sinking into a path that she feared there was no return from. 

It hadn’t always been this way. It hadn't always been the case that Dahyun was sheriff. When Chaeyoung and her had simply been childhood friends. When they’d spent summers out exploring the wilderness around them. When their only concerns had been about what the next day would bring. 

Chaeyoung smiled fondly to herself, wandering the usual path as she thought back to one day in particular. The day she’d known for sure that Dahyun and her would be friends through anything. 

=====================================

It had been an unusually hot summer. Even for where they lived where the heat often danced across the horizon, rising in waves that spelled sweat that would stick to your skin from the moment that you woke to the moment your head hit the pillow. 

For Dahyun and Chaeyoung it was a perfect day. Dahyun recently turned seventeen, Chaeyoung only a year behind her at sixteen .An excuse to take a trip away from the humble homesteads of Dahyun’s grandparents and Chaeyoung’s parents, find the nearest stream and use it as a means of keeping themselves cool from the scorching heat that beat down on them overhead.

Sure they could stay inside, beat the heat that way. Chaeyoung could continue her drawings, Dahyun could continue to work through the stack of books that grew every time her grandfather returned from town, a means of trying to reign in the rebellious streak that was only growing as Dahyun had entered her teens. 

But neither girl found that option particularly appealing by comparison of spending the day with one another, basking in cool water instead of baking indoors from the heat. 

“Dahyun gone hurry your ass up? I swear I’m gonna melt out here waiting on you!” Chaeyoung called from the porch of Dahyun’s grandparents house, hearing the creaking of floorboards as Dahyun rushed about inside.

“Son Chaeyoung! You mind that filthy mouth of yours ‘fore I wash it out with soap!” Came the responding cry from Dahyun’s grandmother, looking all too flustered from the heat and the commotion being caused by her granddaughter. 

“Sorry Mrs. Kim! If Dahyun would just hurry up I’d take my filthy mouth away from your ears.” Chaeyoung grinned at Dahyun’s grandmother, only earning a scowl and mutterings about disrespectful young ‘uns these days.

Dahyun promptly skidded into view, one boot on as she frantically looked about, presumably trying to find the other. 

“Granny? Do you know where I left my other boot?” Dahyun asked sheepishly, trying not to meet the exasperated look on her grandmother’s face before following where her hand was pointing to a lone boot sat at the front of the door.

“Keep the dang things together in future Dahyun. And be home before supper less I send your grandfather out to drag you back here.” Dahyun’s grandmother called after the pair, Dahyun having excitedly tugged on her boot, waving goodbye as she and Chaeyoung took off.

The heat of the day was still building, the sun looming ever higher in the sky as the two worked their way quickly from the Dahyun’s home, half jogging in the name of getting to their destination quicker, half walking due to the sweat they could feel forming all across their bodies. 

“Should’ve stayed in and read.” Dahyun gasped at one point after a brief run that left sweat rolling down her neck and sticking to the collar of her shirt. 

“What, am I that bad company already?” Chaeyoung answered through her own pants for air, the pair meandering slowly down the road towards the stream. 

“Idiot, no it’s just too damn hot. Plus you know I melt in the heat. I look like one of them whatchamacallits, the ones they build in winter up North.” Dahyun answered, pushing Chaeyoung’s shoulder. 

“I have no idea what you’re on about. But winter sounds good right now.” Chaeyoung chuckled, Dahyun scowling in response before letting out a laugh of her own.

“Y’know for somebody loves painting and art and all that stuff, you never actually look into the other arts.” Dahyun teased, Chaeyoung rolling her eyes in response.

“Well you know for somebody who looks just as comfortable shooting as you do reading you don’t quite match up to appearances either.” Chaeyoung stuck her tongue out at Dahyun, before setting off in a jog again. “C’mon. We’re like ten mins tops away if we hoof it.” 

“Hey! Chae wait up you know I can’t run for shi- I mean shoot.” Dahyun called out, trying her best to keep up with Chaeyoung. 

“Dahyun your Grandma isn’t gonna hear you all the way out here you can swear.” Chaeyoung laughed, slowing her pace down to let Dahyun catch up a bit. 

“I know. I just don’t wanna get in the habit, y’know she actually did wash my mouth out with soap when I cursed in front of her one time?” Dahyun physically recoiled at the memory. 

“Remind me not to piss off Granny Kim.” Chaeyoung giggled, slapping Dahyun on the back roughly and pushing her forward, “C’mon wannabe gunslinger, we got a refreshin’ dip with our names on it if you’re quick.” 

Chaeyoung’s estimation of ten minutes would have been true were it not for the fact that Dahyun’s jog really was slow as shit. Chaeyoung would have lamented this fact and poked fun at Dahyun for it were it not for the fact she knew Dahyun would have kicked her ass easily. 

“What good does running do for me if I can just win a fight?” Had become her retort when Chaeyoung tried to make fun of her for it. Something that Dahyun had of late been all too willing to prove as well, standing up to boys in town twice her size and somehow walking away unscathed more times than not. 

On one hand Chaeyoung was worried about her friend and the rate at which seemed to accelerate towards fighting over any other kind of resolution. On the other, Chaeyoung was very much enjoying the fact that she had her best friend standing up to people on her behalf.

Chaeyoung had always been kind of wiry, sure she could run, could hold herself up if the need called for it but she’d never really been one for violence, despite all the teasing and goading she might do to Dahyun and anyone else she might call a friend it was never ill hearted. 

So when she had met Dahyun, and watched as she’d grown from a shy very quiet girl into somebody who would be the first to speak up against any kind of injustice or poor behaviour. It was kind of inspiring to see.

Even if Chaeyoung was still baking in the sun because of her slow footed friend. 

“C’mon slowpoke, we’re just about there. Last one in the stream gets the last pick for lunch.” Chaeyoung yelled, taking off as quickly as she could, the basket her parents had helped her pack that morning swinging carelessly from her arms as Dahyun did her best to try and keep up with her. 

“Chae wait! No fair!” Dahyun called after her pathetically, Chaeyoung’s laughter bouncing off the surrounding cliff wall the stream ran underneath, firmly leaving Dahyun in her dust.

Chaeyoung sprinted ahead, laughing to herself as she arrived at the stream, doubled over panting at the edge of it, taking deep breaths as she felt the sweat dripping down her neck, the baby hairs stuck to her face. 

Taking in her surroundings, Chaeyoung grinned as she could hear the distant panting of Dahyun behind her, turning with a wide grin on her face to see her friend. Dahyun’s normally ghostly complexion now bright red as she attempted to catch up with Chaeyoung.

“One of these days Dahyun you’ll win.” Chaeyoung called out, her smile wide as she tried to contain her giggles at the slow run Dahyun was making towards her. Chaeyoung sitting down in the dirt waiting for Dahyun’s slow, albeit effort laden arrival.

Dahyun seemed to pay her words no mind as she doubled her efforts, the run picking up slightly more speed as Chaeyoung could no longer contain her laughter. 

“I already won! You’re gonna have to settle for whatever pickin’s I leave you.” Chaeyoung grinned as Dahyun grew closer towards her, her smile faltering as she saw the glint in Dahyun’s eye, her pace not slowing.

“Yer. Not. In. The. Stream.” Dahyun puffed out, keeping her pace up as she raced past Chaeyoung, Chaeyoung following her with her eyes before her brain picked up on what she had said, trying to scramble to her feet as Dahyun grew ever closer to victory. 

“Hey! No I - Dahyun!” Chaeyoung called, tripping over herself in her haste as Dahyun stumbled over the rocks at the edge of the stream, one boot landing firmly in the water as she came to an abrupt halt, her shoulders heaving as her lungs took in as much air as they could handle. 

Chaeyoung gawked at her, her best friend doubled over as Chaeyoung slowly sat down to the ground again as the realisation of her loss sunk in. “You. The slowest girl in the world. You beat me!?” 

Dahyun half turned, still recovering from pouring every bit of effort into running, her eyes wild as a grin slowly spread across her face, taking every ounce of strength left to stand herself up right. “Damn stra-” Dahyun doubled back over coughing hard before righting herself, still flushed in the face.

“Damn straight. Ain’t nothing I can’t do.” She managed to get out, her grin wide as she stepped shakily out of the stream, walking slowly back to Chaeyoung, her smile growing with every step.

“It’s bullshit and you know it. I totally won that.” Chaeyoung scowled, only serving to brighten the smile on Dahyun’s face as she flopped down next to Chaeyoung, kicking up a cloud of dust as she did so.

“Don’t care. First in the stream. I win.” Dahyun said simply, shutting her eyes in smug satisfaction before peeking the one closest to Chaeyoung open the tiniest bit to see her reaction.

“You know damn well, I would’ve smoked your ass if I remembered.” Chaeyoung grumbled, reaching back and settling the basket between them.

“But. Ya didn’t, forgot the rule you set yerself.” Dahyun smirked, propping herself up on her elbows, grinning wickedly at Chaeyoung. “So that means that this.” Dahyun pulled the basket towards herself, suppressing a chuckle at the look on Chaeyoung’s face, “Is mines now.” 

“But.” Chaeyoung began, biting her lip as she looked at the basket longingly, knowing that her parents would have packed her a small amount of jam, probably the last of the jar they’d bought from the store weeks back, one that she had been doing her best to strictly ration. 

“What was it you said? I could barely hear you over the sound of my own heart pounding in my head. Somethin’ about whatever pickin’s I leave you?” Dahyun grinned, Chaeyoung’s face dropping as she nodded in defeat, sitting back with her knees pulled close to her chest as she waited for Dahyun to dig in.

Dahyun made a grand show of pulling things out one by one, setting them down atop the cloth covering of the basket, Chaeyoung internally lamenting her own stupidity as she waited for Dahyun to finish.

“Alrighty, I reckon this’ll do us.” Dahyun said with a grin. Chaeyoung looking at the spread of meat, bread and her beloved jam laid out let out a sigh, peeking into the basket to see what was left.

“Idiot, I said us. I’m not actually going to leave you with nothing.” Dahyun snorted, seeing Chaeyoung’s face transform from upset to confused in a flash as she glanced between the empty basket and everything spread out. 

“But you won. We said whoever got first -” Chaeyoung began before Dahyun cut her off.

“Seriously think I’d take all this for myself? Please you know I eat like a bird as it is.” Dahyun grinned, motioning for Chaeyoung to go first.

Not hesitating for a second Chaeyoung grabbed the tiny pot of jam, shaking it out onto a slice of bread before folding it in half and taking a bite, the sweetness of it immediately making her face split into a smile, Dahyun shaking her head as she did similar to make a small sandwich.

The pair ate in silence for a while, the sounds of their eating being covered by the stream beside them, the wind blowing down the valley bouncing off the cliff face whistling by as it provided slight relief from the sun above.

“You know. You could’ve at least admitted defeat in the shade.” Dahyun quipped, having already eaten her fill, laying back with a lazy smile on her face as Chaeyoung rolled her eyes.

“I’m not gonna dignify that with a response, mostly cause you’ve been nice and I figure you’ve earned a reprieve from being cursed out.” Chaeyoung remarked dryly, Dahyun’s barking laughter bouncing off the valley walls.

“You’re just mad I beat you in a race for once. As you should be. I’m slow as shit.” Dahyun grinned widely at Chaeyoung, making Chaeyoung nearly spit out the bit of food she was chewing as she laughed.

“I’ll have to give you that one, got me good.” Chaeyoung choked out between laughter, Dahyun looking all too pleased with herself as she stood, stretching briefly before removing her boots, rolling up her trouser legs as she began to walk towards the stream.

“Whenever you’re done stuffing your face, I’ll be enjoying the nice cool stream we came here for.” Dahyun called over her shoulder, Chaeyoung laughing as she swallowed her food, hurriedly packing away the remnants of food before following suit. 

The afternoon passed as the pair switched between paddling about in the stream and taking a break from the sun in the shade. Splashing one another, talking about anything and everything and sometimes just enjoying the quiet that the place held.

“You know. Today’s the happiest I think I seen you in a while” Chaeyoung said suddenly in the midst of one of these silences. Not expecting a response, just making an honest observation.

“You think?” Dahyun said absentmindedly, staring up at the sky, counting the clouds as they trundled along the skyline.

“Yeah, you just seem like you. Like you’re not pretendin’ to be anything else.” Chaeyoung said, staring up at the sky, her eyes flicking over to the form of her best friend briefly as she said it. 

“Hmm. I guess I amen’t. Never felt the need around you. Not when it’s just us.” Dahyun said quietly. “Don’t need to be the remorseful orphan. Or the tough girl who won’t get pushed around. Can just be Dahyun, Dahyun who can’t run for shit, who barely eats, who loves to annoy the life outta ya.”

“You know you can be all that even when it’s not just us.” Chaeyoung hummed, rolling to her side to look at Dahyun more clearly, smiling softly at her. 

“That’s the side of you I love the most, the one who's flawed, who pokes fun at herself, who has a good time in spite of herself.” Chaeyoung continued, seeing how Dahyun stilled at her words. “You deserve to feel like that all the time, Dubs.” 

Dahyun sucked air through her teeth, just letting herself sit with the words Chaeyoung had said, before sitting up, looking out over the stream. 

“You know it’s been eight years. Not a day goes by I don’t think about or dream about that day.” Dahyun said quietly. Her chin resting gently on her knees, hair blowing softly in the wind, obscuring her face from Chaeyoung’s view. 

“I thought it’d get easier with time, maybe I’d forget their faces, forget how they sounded. But I don’t, I can’t. And it makes me so angry, angry that I want to so I can rest.” Dahyun continued, her shoulders hunching in as she drew her knees tighter. 

“But, when I’m with you Chae, you make it easier, make it so I don’t feel like I gotta pretend that it’s all okay. That it simply is. And I know I come off as a hardass, or like I just got something to prove.” Chaeyoung heard a vague chuckle from Dahyun, the slight shake of her shoulders confirming it. 

“I just, I don’t wanna go through that again. But I know if I do. That maybe it’ll be okay. Cause I’ve got you now. And that you’ll help make it all okay. Like you do now.”

“I guess I’m tryna say that. You make things lighter for me Chae, and just thank you. I guess that’s why I seem more like me when it’s just us. Sure my grandparents gave me a home, and I can’t be more grateful for it. But having you in my life? That’s the most I’ve felt like home.” 

Chaeyoung sat in the silence after Dahyun finished talking, unsure of how to respond, partly wanting to reach out, partly wanting to make some kind of joke to diffuse the tension. 

“Did I put you to sleep with my ramblin?” Dahyun turned, the slightly glassy look on her eyes betraying the smile across her lips, as genuine as it was. 

Chaeyoung laughed, shuffling over, putting her arm around Dahyun, bumping their heads together. “Dumbass.”

Sure enough the pair well overstayed their stay at the stream, Dahyun’s grandfather appearing some hours after dinner, escorting them home with a surly look on his face, the pair trying not to giggle less they served to further infuriate him. 

It was an ordinary day for them in the grand scheme of things, another outing that otherwise wasn’t much different from any other. 

But for Chaeyoung it meant something she had felt for a while, she was Dahyun’s home, a place she could just be herself with no pretenses. Something that she’d do anything to protect, for as long as she could.

=====================================

Chaeyoung shook herself from the memory, a faint smile on her face. It was a lifetime ago at this point but. It was one of her favourite memories with Dahyun. 

Days like that had grown more infrequent over time. Especially once Dahyun had taken up residence as sheriff, Chaeyoung following behind to come in as her deputy not long after she had stepped in to take over the role. 

Since that day she’d watched the Dahyun she’d spent her formative years with change. Become harder, less trusting, more isolated from those around her. She’d still kept Chaeyoung though, for the longest time it was like nothing could change them at least.

And then slowly she was shut out too. 

“I’ll cover tonight’s shift, you head on home.” 

“I’m just gonna finish up some stuff here, you head on out n get some rest.” 

Before long it was all resting on Dahyun. As much as Chaeyoung wanted to get inside, to be the person who Dahyun could lean on, like she had before. Back when they were two teenagers with the world awaiting them, when they had a home in one another, a place of no judgement or obligations.  

Even when she was half dead from liquor or half dead from a fight. She was always trying to do things herself. That’s who she had become, despite Chaeyoung’s best efforts to keep close, to shoulder the weight.

In retrospect Chaeyoung knew the calm they’d had was too good to last. That something was due going amiss. She just hadn’t reckoned with the fact the thing to go amiss would be due to Sana of all people. 

Sighing, Chaeyoung completed her walk round the town, pacing back towards the office. Where she fully knew she’d have the same exchange she’d been having with Dahyun for the last week.

She’d walk in, greet her good morning. Receiving a grunt in return, make an offer to get her coffee, to which Dahyun would simply raise her mug in response and return to what she was doing. 

That was the extent of their conversations. Her best friend. All they could do was go through the motions like they hadn’t spent the better part of twenty plus years together. 

If it wasn’t for her concern, Chaeyoung reckoned her blood would boil over at the thought. She was used to being shut out by Dahyun at this point, was used to being put on the sidelines whilst she had to watch her self-destruct in some way shape or form. 

What she wasn’t used to was being treated like a stranger. 

Even at her worst Dahyun had still kept some level of warmth with her, had checked in on her, been able to tease her and annoy her like only two people who’ve known each other that long can. 

This Dahyun though? She was a husk of a person. Like a woman possessed by a singular purpose. And Chaeyoung still couldn’t exactly figure out what that purpose was. 

Reaching the office, Chaeyoung took a deep breath, pushing against the door. Surprised when she was met with resistance. 

It was still locked. 

Dahyun had still been in before her everyday, pouring over maps and reports in the same position Chaeyoung often left her the night before. Looking through the window she saw no sign of Dahyun in the office, the door to her separate study closed. 

Sucking in air through her teeth, Chaeyoung moved to her pocket, taking her often unused keys out and unlocking the door.

Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe she was finally resting and not driving herself insane over every single detail she could locate about Sana. Not that there was much of anything to be found that is. 

Chaeyoung tried to believe that line of thought, tried to remain optimistic about what Dahyun’s absence meant. 

But something didn’t stick right with her, a sinking feeling in her gut betraying her.

As she stepped into the office the emptiness of it struck her. Even whilst Dahyun had been so distant in the past week, her presence in the office had been a certainty. Something that had been helping Chaeyoung remain grounded in the turbulent changes they had been facing.

But now. When Dahyun wasn’t sitting at her desk, the door to her office shut, a symbol of the way she had been locking everyone out. It made the office feel empty. Cold.

Shuddering as she stepped inside, Chaeyoung began her usual routine. Lighting the small stove for coffee, all the while glancing at that shut door.

She knew the normal Dahyun would never be mad at her for going into her office. Dahyun wasn’t territorial like that, as much as Chaeyoung was her subordinate she never treated her as less than an equal. 

But.

This felt different. Like the door was shut for a reason. And if Chaeyoung opened it then she would be opening something she might not be prepared for. 

Sighing to herself she poured her coffee. Taking a seat at her own desk and glancing out into the street, the first signs of life stirring outside. 

Maybe it was okay. Maybe Dahyun really was just. Taking time to rest or something. 

Yeah. I have to have faith in her. Believe that she can get better. That she can bounce back. She’s done it once. She can do it again. 

Settling into her chair with her feet up on the desk, Chaeyoung took a sip of her coffee, awaiting the arrival of her sheriff. Maybe she could give her a hard time for being late, maybe Dahyun would laugh and they’d just be back to normal again. 

Maybe, they could just keep being happy.

An hour passed and no sign of Dahyun arrived. Jihyo and Jeongyeon swung by looking for her. A concerned look on their faces when Chaeyoung explained she wasn’t there yet, that she was probably just taking the morning to rest and catch up on sleep.

They had agreed after some arguing on Chaeyoung’s part. Nodding solemnly when Chaeyoung had told them not to go barging into her house where they could corner her.

After another hour had passed it was Tzuyu’s turn to check in. Chaeyoung grateful for the momentary distraction that came with seeing her girlfriend’s face. Basically racing out her chair to hug her. 

“She’s not here.” Chaeyoung said quietly into Tzuyu’s shoulder. Feeling the way Tzuyu stiffened in the embrace. 

“She will be though. She’s just resting. Gotta be. Too many late nights. Burnin’ the candle at both ends y’know?” Chaeyoung’s voice came through stilted, trying to be reassuring. She wasn’t even sure she truly believed it herself. But she had to put on a front. Had to believe in Dahyun. 

“Have you checked in her office? Maybe she fell asleep there or something?” Tzuyu asked, her own voice unsure.

“No. I know Dahyun has an open door policy but. If it’s been shut, she’s shut it for a reason. I wouldn’t want to try and test that when she’s like this.” Chaeyoung shut down the idea, Tzuyu only nodding apprehensively, her eyes glancing at the door.

“Hey. It’s Dahyun right? She’s stuck by this town through worse. She’ll turn up sooner or later.” Chaeyoung tilted Tzuyu’s face back to hers. Smiling at her in an attempt to try and re-assure her. 

Tzuyu sighed defeatedly, nodding in agreement before settling her head atop Chaeyoung’s, her hand rubbing Chaeyoung’s back reassuringly. 

The couple sat together in silence, hand in hand. Watching the door, surely just waiting on the arrival of Dahyun. As time slipped on by and the door remained closed, both of their nerves mounted in the absence of their friend. 

A further couple hours after, Tzuyu having fallen asleep on Chaeyoung’s shoulder, Chaeyoung slowly nodding off herself with the comfort of Tzuyu sleeping beside her. Both were shaken from their slumber as the door banged open. 

“Where the fuck is she!?” Came from a very irate looking Nayeon as she stormed into the office, looking at Chaeyoung and Tzuyu.

“She’s not in yet.” Chaeyoung answered slowly, looking at Nayeon who stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently, glancing to the door as she spotted Mina entering behind her wife, shaking her head at Chaeyoung sadly.

“No shit deputy. I mean where actually is she!? She’s not at her home, nobody’s seen her since yesterday. So where the fuck is she!?” Nayeon spat out, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu looking at each other before back at Nayeon. 

“Nay. Calm down. This isn’t their fault and you shouldn’t be taking it out on them.” Mina’s voice cut through the tension that had suddenly enveloped the room, her hand resting gently on Nayeon’s shoulder as Nayeon turned at the sound of her voice, the harsh look in her eyes softening in an instant before she turned back to Chaeyoung and Tzuyu.

“Sorry. I know it’s not y’alls fault just. Shit.” Nayeon seemed to deflate in an instant, as if her anger had been the only thing propping her up. 

“She’s not at her house?” Tzuyu asked quietly, Mina shaking her head in response as she lead Nayeon into the chair opposite Chaeyoung’s desk, rubbing her back gently.

“We saw Ji and Jeong earlier this morning, they told us Dahyun hadn’t shown this morning. Hothead here took some convincing not to march over there immediately. Granted she only held herself back for a few hours.” Mina smiled grimly, Nayeon looking slightly sheepish before steeling herself once more.

“When I did go there, she didn’t answer, y’know she gave me a key after the idiot had that nasty wound in her side? Said it was an ‘emergencies only scenario’. Dahyun not turning up I consider to be an emergency so.” Nayeon shrugged, Mina sighing as she patted her on the back.

“It’s done now. May as well tell ‘em what you told me.” Mina said softly.

“Well. It was like she hadn’t been there in days. Dust over everything, bed looked like it hadn’t been touched in a while. So if she’s not been going home that means she’s been here. Every damn night.” Nayeon’s eyes locked on Chaeyoung, the fire from before returning somewhat.

“You had to have known right? You must’ve noticed she wasn’t going home?” Nayeon tried to keep her voice even, the frustration bleeding through despite it.

Chaeyoung paused, thinking back on the past week. Dahyun had to have been going home right? She appeared like she was resting somewhat. But she was always there when she got in, always still there when she left too. 

“I don’t know. She seemed like she was resting. Jeong and Ji never mentioned anything about her turning up at the bar. I assumed she was going home after me. I’d hit last patrol, then I’d get home. The light was always off by the time I got back.” Chaeyoung admitted defeatedly, Nayeon barely restraining a scoff.

“Nay. Our friends. They have it just as hard as we do right now and don’t have the answers either. Reign it in.” Mina said firmly, before looking to Chaeyoung apologetically. “What about last night Chae, was she still here when you came back?” 

Chaeyoung shook her head, somewhat ashamed at having never made the last patrol. “I didn’t go out. I couldn’t. I just needed one night. A rest. I’ve been doing every damn shift since those fucking posters went up.” Chaeyoung bit her lip, gesturing at the board. 

There was a pause of silence over the room, Chaeyoung unable to look at anything but the ground. 

She was angry, confused, heartbroken. She’d known Dahyun twenty years. Not once had she ran off. She didn’t run, she faced everything, no matter the cost to herself. It was one of her most annoying traits, and one of the ones that Chaeyoung valued the most. 

And now she had vanished, nobody knew anything and the one person who might have had a chance to have any insight as to where she was. Well. She’d broken at apparently the most vital moment, she’d needed to stop, take a breath. Spend a night in the arms of the woman she loved instead of being there like she was supposed to for her friend. 

“Chaengie.. They’re gone.” Tzuyu’s voice came quietly from beside her, almost uncertain that she was even right.

Chaeyoung’s head whipped up, looking at the board frantically, her eyes immediately finding the spot where the posters were supposed to be. Sure enough they weren’t there. Two low level bounties in their place. Enough to make Chaeyoung not even double guess that they were missing. She’d been resentful of those posters all week. Refusing to look at them.

“What. But they were there. I know they were they-.” Chaeyoung stood, walking to the board, looking through it up close like closing the distance would make them magically appear in front of her. 

She turned, looking to the still shut door to Dahyun’s office.

What in the hell have you done Dahyun?

Chaeyoung slowly took a step forward, swallowing a breath nervously as she walked slowly towards the office. Her mouth gone dry from the sense of dread building in her stomach. 

She’s gonna be there. She’s gonna be asleep at the desk and she’s gonna have those damn posters in front of her and I’m gonna yell at her for being a damn fool and scaring us all.

Chaeyoung’s hand rested on the door handle, sweat beading on the palms of her hands as she turned it down, pushing the door open. The silence in the office broken by the slow creak of the door, followed by the hitch in Chaeyoung’s breath. 

The mess that had been sat atop Dahyun’s desk for the past week was gone. The maps and reports that had been sprawled across it, various notes and annotations that Chaeyoung had never thought to look deeper into all cleared away without a trace. 

Instead, there sat two empty glasses, Dahyun’s decanter sat atop a plain looking envelope. 

Silent, Chaeyoung crossed the room, lifting the decanter and pulling the envelope out from underneath it. 

Chaeyoung. 

It was Dahyun’s handwriting without a doubt. Slinking into Dahyun’s chair. Chaeyoung took a deep breath, slipping open the envelope and unfolding the letter within before she began to read.

Dear Chaeyoung,

I’m willing to bet it’s you whose found this first. If not then you’re half the sheriff and twice the friend I am. If it is you well. I’m just sorry. That you had to break what you probably felt was my trust, and that I’ve broken yours.

I can’t sit with this weight on my chest any longer. I can’t sleep right knowing she’s out there. That I let her leave here when she’s the cause of so many people’s suffering. Call me a fool, call me a bastard, call me whatever you please. I need to do this. 

I tried. I really tried to make peace with it. That I couldn’t have done anything different. That there’s no way I could have known. But you know as well as I do that’s not how my brain works. Frankly I don’t know there was any scenario where her bounty ends up on our board and I don’t end up going down this path. 

I owe you, and well everyone an apology. This ain’t easy to write, an I doubt it’s any easier to read, handwriting never was my strong suit afterall.

Chaeyoung bit back a dry laugh, feeling the tears prick at her eyes already. Trying to focus on the words in front of her, instead of the growing weight that was building inside her chest.

I know I said it already but I am sorry Chae. to you most of all. For leaving this weight on you. For being selfish and not letting this go. I know you’re gonna give me a hiding if when I make it back. I’ll take it gladly if you’ll just do this for me. Do what you did before, be the person this town needs. I know you can do it, you’ve done it before after all. 

In all honesty you’re a better sheriff than I ever was. You’re a better listener, a better leader, you know how to lean on people, let them in and be there for you in a way I never could. You’re a better person than I am for it Chae. I know that for a fact, it’s half the reason I feel like I can do what I’m going to. 

Don’t lose any of that just cause I’m leaving. Don’t lose that thing that makes you you. You’ve got plenty to live for, you don’t need me moping about the place. 

Most of all. And I know it’s rich of me to ask this of ya. Don’t try and chase me down Chae. People here need you. They need somebody they can look to and depend on.  I can’t be that right now. I know you can. 

Keep the bottle for when I’m back. You can yell at me, I can drink, it’ll be like old times. Like I never left at all. 

I’m gonna sign off here. Have to imagine you’re about done with your last patrol and if you catch me trying to leave then. I know you’ll make me stay. 

Your’s faithfully,

Kim Dahyun

P.S. Badge is in the top drawer. There’s a letter for Nay & Mina, one for Jeong & Ji, one for Tzuyu too. I’ve told them myself but. Please tell them I’m sorry anyways.

Chaeyoung felt the sting of her tears as they rolled down her cheeks, looking up at the doorway where Tzuyu stood, watching her carefully, Mina and Nayeon not far behind her. 

“She. She’s left.” Chaeyoung barely managed to croak, watching as the colour vanished from Nayeon and Tzuyu’s faces, Mina remaining stalwart as her arm instinctively moved round Nayeon’s shoulder, pulling her gently but firmly into her. 

Leaning forward in the chair Chaeyoung tried to regulate her breathing, staring at the ground as a ringing began in her ears. 

It had to be a joke right? Dahyun wouldn’t just. Leave. She couldn’t do that, she wouldn’t do that. Would she? She’d done so much for this town and for everyone here, surely she wouldn’t just vanish one night like that. Without saying goodbye to anyone? Just a letter and that was it? 

No. That couldn’t be it. 

Chaeyoung stood from the chair, not even sure of where she was going, stepping quickly round the desk, making for the doorframe before she found her way blocked by Tzuyu.

“Chae. You’re not going to find her.” Tzuyu said softly, her frame planted firmly in opposition to her tone. “She’s gone. Chasing after her is only going to get yourself hurt, or worse killed.”

“I can catch her. She’s not got much of a headstart. I just need to get movin’.” Chaeyoung said desperately, looking into Tzuyu’s eyes, practically begging her to let her by.

“Darlin’. She’s gone. You don’t know where, you don’t know how long ago. If Dahyun doesn’t want to be found. She won’t be found. You know that.” Tzuyu said slowly and carefully, her heart breaking as she watched each word stab and twist into Chaeyoung. “I know. I know you want to find her, want to bring her back here and scream at her for being a fool. But you can’t. None of us can, and I can’t lose you too, remember?”

Chaeyoung’s eyes flicked wildly between Tzuyu and Mina and Nayeon behind her, Nayeon still in a state of shock, all anger from earlier having vanished. Mina was speaking lowly in her ear, her own eyes looking between Nayeon and the couple in the doorway.

“Tzu. Please. I need to. I can’t let her go, not alone, not without me. What if she gets hurt, what if she’s the one who dies?” Chaeyoung continued, her eyes fixed back on Tzuyu’s face, begging her to cave in to her asks. 

“Then we cross that bridge when we come to it love. We cross it together. But I can’t let you go out there alone. None of us can. Dah- Her being out there alone is bad enough. But we can’t let you go out alone too. I won’t let you.” Tzuyu continued, her tone still gentle but unmoving in her resolution, despite the way she could see Chaeyoung breaking.

“Tzuyu please. Please I need to go after I need to-” Chaeyoung was cut off as Tzuyu just pulled her slowly into her arms. Her hand beginning to rub Chaeyoung’s back gently and slowly.

“I know love. I know.” Tzuyu said softly, feeling Chaeyoung’s form freeze up in her arms before crumbling into her, her hands clutching at the fabric of the front of Tzuyu’s dress, the dam finally breaking as she fell apart in Tzuyu’s arms. 

Tzuyu guided Chaeyoung carefully and slowly over to a bench in the office, sitting the pair of them down as Chaeyoung’s cries grew softer and quieter. Her hands still gripping onto Tzuyu for dear life, fearful that without the contact she might vanish if she let go. 

“Mina, do you wanna sit Nay with us? If you could grab Ji and Jeong. They deserve to know too.” Tzuyu said quietly, moving one hand to gently pat the back of Chaeyoung’s head. 

Mina nodded quietly, guiding Nayeon to the other side of Tzuyu, Tzuyu holding out her hand as an offering for Nayeon, one which she quickly latched onto.

Mina placed a quick kiss on Nayeon’s forehead, along with hushed words of being back soon, before leaving quickly. 

The trio sat in silence, Nayeon gazing off into the distance, clinging tightly to Tzuyu’s hand, Tzuyu stroking the back of her hand with her thumb in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture as she held Chaeyoung with her other arm, still stroking the back of her head as she tried to reconcile herself with the past five minutes.

Dahyun is gone. 

She’d left Chaeyoung a letter.

Dahyun is gone.

Had anyone seen anything? Did anyone else know?

Dahyun is gone. 

She had known. She had known Dahyun had almost ran before and she hadn’t said anything. 

Dahyun is gone. And Tzuyu could have stopped her, should have stopped her. 

No, now was not the time. No point bringing it up now, not whilst everyone was hurt, not whilst everyone was confused and angry. She’d have to deal with this on her own. 

Chaeyoung stirred in Tzuyu’s hold, bringing her back to reality as she saw the bloodshot eyes peek out from where they’d been buried against her chest, her heart splitting in two at the sight.

“Dahyu- she left. Letters, for you, and everyone.” Chaeyoung said quietly. Trying to move from Tzuyu’s grasp, Tzuyu holding her firmly. 

“We’ll get to them in a minute. Mina is getting Jeong and Jihyo. They should be here soon okay?” Tzuyu reassured her, Chaeyoung just nodding mutely in response, the fight from earlier having left her entirely. 

A breathless Jihyo appeared shortly thereafter in the doorway, followed up by Jeongyeon and Mina, the trio slowly entering into the office as they looked at the trio huddled together on the bench.

“So she’s really gone?” Jihyo asked, looking across the sight of Chaeyoung still held tightly against Tzuyu, Tzuyu’s anxious looking face and Nayeon still sitting with her thousand yard stare. 

“Yes, she left a letter for Chaeyoung on her desk, I don’t know what it said but. I’m betting she was counting on nobody entering there if she’d shut the door.” Mina thankfully took the lead, Tzuyu unsure if she could count on her voice.

“She knew I wouldn’t. That’s all that really mattered, she knew I trusted that she’d turn up sooner or later.” Chaeyoung’s voice came out weakly, turning from her place facing into Tzuyu to look at her friends. “She used that against me.” Chaeyoung added bitterly, the trio standing exchanging worried glances. 

“Chae.” Jeongyeon began, before Chaeyoung held up a hand, carefully pulling Tzuyu’s grasp around her loose as she stood. 

Without a word she walked back into the office, returning a moment later with three envelopes in one hand, and something shoved into her pocket in the other. 

“Here. She told me she left these for y’all in her drawer. Also told me to say sorry. For whatever that might be worth to yous right now.” Chaeyoung said monotonely, handing the letters for Jeongyeon and Jihyo and Mina and Nayeon to them, before taking a seat next to Tzuyu again and passing her hers. 

Mina walked over, taking the seat on the other side of Nayeon, somewhat shaking her out of her stupor as she turned to look at her wife. “C’mon darling, let’s get back home. We can read this in a while when you’re feeling up to it, okay?” 

Mina carefully took Nayeon’s arm, nodding to both Tzuyu and Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon and Jihyo. Walking the pair of them out of the office before she turned briefly. “You guys can drop by anytime, promise, day or night. I know things might be fresh right now but. If you need to talk.” Mina simply nodded, turning and leaving with Nayeon at her side. 

“We better get back. I’m gonna tell Minho and Chan to cover us rest of the day. I think we all need some time to process this.”Jeongyeon spoke carefully, her hand slipping into Jihyo’s giving it a squeeze as Jihyo finally tore her eyes away from the envelope in her hands. 

“Y-yeah. But. Just, come by this evening? Both of you, or we can come to you or just." Jihyo stumbled over her words, Tzuyu could tell watching her that the panic of the situation was finally settling into her. “Just, please reach out if you need us.” Jihyo added, a tinge of regret in her voice as Jeongyeon gently led her away, Jihyo’s head falling into place on Jeongyeon’s shoulder as they walked. 

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung were left in the silence of the office, Jeongyeon pulling the door closed behind her. Tzuyu’s hand still on the letter Chaeyoung had handed her, staring down at her name scrawled on the front of it. 

“I can give you space.” Chaeyoung said beside her quietly, her hand having found its way back to Tzuyu’s. “If you need it.” 

Tzuyu shook her head, sliding the letter off to the side. “I can’t. Not right now.” 

Chaeyoung nodded, just squeezing Tzuyu’s hand as the pair sat there. The office eerily silent, even in comparison to the past week. The sound of Dahyun’s pen scratching gone, the folding of paper, sheets discarded to the floor absent from the place.

The only remnants of the (former) sheriff, the letters in the hands of the women she held dearest in her life, and the gaping hole in their hearts that her departure had left. 

Tanrise Population 147 146

=====================================

It had been six months, four days and twenty-one hours since the arrival of the marshals.

It had been five months, twenty-nine days and seventeen hours since the last time Chaeyoung saw Dahyun. 

Since Chaeyoung had taken the last steps away from her friend and said her last goodnight to her. 

Life had moved on, against all odds. Tanrise had continued to trundle on in the wake of the absence of its former sheriff. Chaeyoung considered herself a large part of that, although far be it the only one. 

Jeongyeon and Jihyo had stepped up, making sure that the six of them remaining got together once a week at least. It didn’t matter what they did, whether one of them cooked dinner, or they took a ride out to a quiet place away from town. Even if they just ended up closing the saloon early one night, indulging themselves with a drink together. 

It was the one thing that held them together. 

They’d all clashed at various points over the months. Well all. It had mostly been Chaeyoung with everyone else. Occasionally Nayeon would join on Chaeyoung’s side, although a look from Mina was often enough to have her sitting down.

The topic of disagreement was always the same. Always Dahyun. 

The night before hadn’t been any different, the marshals had been through town again, as usual with no information on the whereabouts of their friend. 

“I don’t understand how three men can be so fucking useless.” Chaeyoung had groaned, earning a sympathetic round of laughs from the table. They were in Nayeon and Mina’s house, Mina having offered to cook for them all. 

“Chae, please keep the language to a minimum. Little ears pick up a lot y’know.” Mina gently chided, Chaeyoung blushing slightly and nodding in agreement. 

“Sorry Mina, just. How. How in near six months have they heard nothing about her? It’s not exactly like she’s hard to miss? Palest person I’ve ever met despite living in the middle of the fu-” Mina shot Chaeyoung a look “Funning desert.” Chaeyoung finished, Mina nodding approvingly. 

“Do you not remember, queen of hide and seek, Dahyun doesn’t wanna be found, she doesn’t get found.” Jeongyeon grumbled.

Jihyo and Jeongyeon had grown up in Tanrise, had got to know Chaeyoung and Dahyun over time as teens, normally through games played whenever the two would come to town with either Chaeyoung’s parents or Dahyun’s grandparents. 

“You got that right.” Jihyo smiled, “Think the only thing that could summon her was if her grandparents were hollering on her. And then she’d pop out from the most random place. Like remember when she crawled out from under the damn saloon?” 

“Not the point I was trying to make.” Chaeyoung said dryly, although she was trying hard to hold back a smile. “I just mean like, how has nobody got anything to say about her? Either she’s missed a calling in life as some kinda spy or she’s just vanished off the face of the earth.” Chaeyoung slumped on the table, her sheriff badge knocking off the edge of it.

It had taken a month, and coaxing from Tzuyu for her to wear it. Even still it didn’t sit right on her chest. Like it was just a placeholder until it went back to its rightful owner. Not that anyone at the table would agree. 

They, and everyone in Tanrise considered Chaeyoung to be their sheriff now. She had weathered them through Dahyun’s absence. Making sure everyone felt the same safety they felt when she was still here, all without a deputy of her own. Not to say that she hadn’t been encouraged to take one on. She just hadn’t been able to, couldn’t stomach the idea of working with anyone but Dahyun. 

But as the nights began to draw in again, and the bounties had began to rise once more, more desperate people as winter drew ever nearer, Chaeyoung was beginning to face the fact that she might not long have a choice in the matter. 

It wasn’t a topic for now however, their nights together were for them. For keeping each other sane, knowing that they were all okay despite the concern they all still held for their missing seventh member. 

“There’s no point working yourself into a twist over it Chae.” Nayeon chimed in. More often than not lately she’d been keeping her cool, in part due to the new child her and Mina had taken in a month or so back, also in part Mina’s threat to kick her out if she didn’t stop entertaining Chaeyoung’s futile ideas. 

“She’ll turn up one day. She’ll have that stupid grin on her face, we’ll all yell at her, probably try and handcuff her somewhere so she doesn’t go running off again. And we’ll live happily ever after.” Nayeon continued, a hint of sarcasm bleeding through in her tone. 

“You could at least try to sound like you believed it, Nay.” Jeong snorted, shaking her head as Nayeon scowled at her, her gaze softening as she shifted back to Chaeyoung.

“I just mean, that at a certain point Chae we have to let it go. We can’t just keep on chasing after her forever. Life moves on, we’re moving on, or at least trying to.” Nayeon said carefully. “Dahyun made her choice, she left us behind and, whether we like it or not we have to accept that.”

“Bullshit.” Chaeyoung answered, barely bothering to meet Nayeon’s eyes.

“Chae. C’mon, it’s a nice evening, we’re together. Let’s not have this argument again love.” Tzuyu said, gently putting her hand on Chaeyoung’s arm.

“It is though! You all just want to roll over and pretend that Dahyun wasn’t part of our lives for the last decade!? Last two for some of us.” Chaeyoung shot a look at Jihyo and Jeongyeon, the pair’s shoulders dipping at the stare.

“Chae. You know that isn’t what Nayeon means. You know we all would be out there in a heartbeat if we knew we could get her back safely. But going out and hunting her down isn’t gonna serve you, us or anyone else any good.” Jihyo said, her shoulders rising defensively after the momentary lapse in resolve. 

“And you know for a fact that all of us miss her as much as you do. Some of us.” Jeongyeon nudged Nayeon’s leg under the table. “Just have a shitty way of showing it.” 

“You could’ve just nudged me and not sworn.” Nayeong grumbled, looking at Chaeyoung, regret painted over her face. 

“They’re right though Chae, we all do miss her, we want her back as much as you do. But like you we have too much here that we can’t go on some reckless goose chase halfway across the state.” Nayeon sighed, leaning back in her chair, Mina placing her hand over Nayeon’s.

“I know it sounds harsh, Chae and I’m sorry. But we can’t leave everything here to hunt her down. And neither can you.” Nayeon said pointedly, looking at Tzuyu beside Chaeyoung. 

Chaeyoung bristled, ready to start an argument, how using Tzuyu was a low blow, how using anything any of them had there was a low blow. How all Dahyun had to come back was them and they wouldn’t lift a finger to try and find her.

The same argument that they’d already had a dozen times before. 

The same argument that always ended with Chaeyoung in tears, apologising to them all. That she just missed her, that she needed her back because she wasn’t Dahyun. 

She felt Tzuyu’s hand grip against her forearm, turned to look at her, expecting to see the usual look of worry when it came to these moments. 

Instead, Chaeyoung’s eyes were ringed with bags, how the light that she had admired so much in her eyes was dimmed. The same look of worry was there, but framed by so much exhaustion.

Chaeyoung paused, her anger momentarily forgotten as she saw just how much this was wearing on Tzuyu, something she had never even thought to consider. 

“I’m sorry.” Chaeyoung said quietly, not to the rest of the room particularly, but to her partner, to the woman who loved her and had stood by her when she was red in the face from rage. When her eyes stung from crying for hours and her throat was hoarse from arguing, whether it be with her friends or the marshals. 

“It’s okay. We know you care. We all do too, but we know she’s special to you. I love how passionate you are Chae, its one of the things I admire ‘bout you most. But.” Tzuyu glanced to their friends, who had taken the hint and stepped back to conversations of their own. “You need to stop trying to fight against the people who have your back the most.” 

“I’m sorry.” Chaeyoung repeated once more to Tzuyu, turning to their friends and saying it again, “I’m sorry. I just-”

“You’re fine Chae.” Mina cut her off, smiling gently at her before furrowing her brow, “But curse in our house again and I will take a bar of soap to your mouth.” 

“She will, I think I can still taste bubbles from time to time.” Nayeon chuckled, squeezing Mina’s hand gently. Mina blushing and reaching over to slap her shoulder. 

“Yes Ma’am.” Chaeyoung replied, the calm from before Dahyun had been brought up settling back in. The usual gossip of the town and the antics of the kids under Mina and Nayeon’s roof taking over.

Chaeyoung did her best to join in, throwing a lame joke where she could, laughing at the right time. But her mind played constantly on the tired look in Tzuyu’s eyes, how exhausted she looked. How she hadn’t noticed it creeping in on her. 

When the time finally came for the group to go to their respective beds, signalled by a chorus of yawns that began with Jeongyeon and Jihyo, Chaeyoung was all too eager to get home. She owed Tzuyu a proper apology, one that she could say without worrying about her friends listening in, without the shame she felt for letting her get to this place in the first place.

The couple walked quietly hand in hand, Jihyo and Jeongyeon with them part of the way, Jihyo’s head nestled comfortably on Jeongyeon’s shoulder. Some chatter about the saloon and how the boys had been getting on better each day, jokes about how maybe they could have some more free time that would never come to fruition. Chaeyoung knew Jeongyeon and Jihyo loved that place as much as they joked about wanting more time away from it.

As the couples went their separate ways, Jeongyeon and Jihyo deciding to check in on the saloon before they went to bed, silence settled over Tzuyu and Chaeyoung. Not uncomfortable, just heavy. The short remaining walk to the house they now basically shared was slower than it ought to be.

Arriving inside Chaeyoung helped Tzuyu with her boots, kissing her cheek before setting them alongside her own at the front door. 

As she turned she caught the back of Tzuyu as she entered their room. Sighing to herself, Chaeyoung followed after her, finding Tzuyu sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor.

“Love?”Chaeyoung called carefully, watching as Tzuyu’s shoulders stiffened slightly at her voice. The pit of shame in Chaeyoung’s stomach only deepened at the action.

Chaeyoung stepped carefully, padding across the room slowly, sitting on the bed beside Tzuyu, not so close to make her feel trapped, not so far that she couldn’t reach out if she wanted.

“I’m sorry. Sorry I keep losing my cool.” Chaeyoung began, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked forward, not daring to watch Tzuyu for a reaction.

“Since Dahyun left. I just feel like I’m missing part of myself. Missing part of my soul.” Chaeyoung continued, fighting against every nerve inside her that was screaming to keep quiet.

“She’s like my sister. More than that even. You know how people can meet, and they’re just. Meant to be? Like puzzle pieces that slide together perfectly. That’s me and Dahyun.” Chaeyoung said, the tears beginning to form in her eyes. 

“And it’s not to say I don’t love every one of those girls around that table, not to say that I don’t especially love you. I just. Things were different with Dahyun. She got me. Gets me, like nobody else does. We saw each other grow up, shared everything together. Hell she knew I liked you before I did.” Chaeyoung laughed, a wet chuckle as the tears began to roll down her face.

“And I just. I can’t stand to think of her out there. Alone, thinking we don’t care because we haven’t looked. When every fibre of my being fights not to run and search for her everyday.” Chaeyoung carried on, her voice growing quiet once again.

“The thing that stops me is you. Is the girls. This town. All of you together. I couldn’t do that. Not when I saw how her running away nearly broke everyone once.” Chaeyoung’s voice crackled with an underlying anger, for as much as she missed Dahyun, was worried for her, she still carried a deep resentment for the way she had departed.

“I know I get angry too easily now. In a way I never did before and I’m sorry. I’m trying to do better. I just.” Chaeyoung sighed, placing her hand out beside her as she leaned backwards looking up to the ceiling. “I just hate that I feel like I should have been there. I should have caught her. Should have gone on that patrol. Maybe she’d still be here. Laughing with us, doing better.”

“Instead I don’t know where she is, how she’s doing or whether she’s even still alive.” Chaeyoung laughed morosely. “I’m all the family she has left. For all I know she could be buried in an unmarked grave, no visitors, nothing.” 

“I’m sorry. Just, that’s the point. I’ve been a fuckin’ mess, and you’ve been doing everything to hold me together.” Chaeyoung choked out, bending forward again to look at the floor. “I can’t promise to be better overnight but. I can promise to try.”

Silence enveloped the room as Chaeyoung waited with baited breath for Tzuyu to say something, anything to the rant she had just let out. 

As she felt Tzuyu’s hand wrap around hers she inhaled sharply, the feeling of Tzuyu’s fingers slipping in between hers so familiar and so grounding in a way she hadn’t even realised she needed. 

“It’s not you Chae.” Tzuyu said softly. Her hand tightening around Chaeyoung’s grip so tightly that she feared Chaeyoung might vanish from her grasp. 

“It’s not?” Chaeyoung said quietly, gripping Tzuyu’s back, turning to look at Tzuyu finally.

“No. It’s me.” Tzuyu said, the exhaustion in her voice tangible as she sighed. Her eyes still unable to meet Chaeyoung’s as she looked around the room. 

“Then what is it darlin’?” Chaeyoung asked, squeezing Tzuyu’s hand reassuringly, trying to 

coax the words out of her. “You know you can talk to me about anything.”

“If I tell you this. If I tell anyone this. I’m afraid you’ll all leave me. That I’ll be alone here, in a foreign land, with foreign people that I used to know.” Tzuyu said quietly, her grasp around Chaeyoung’s hand loosening slightly, Chaeyoung gripping tighter not to let her go.

“Tzu, I love you. We all love you. None of us could ever think of letting you feel that way.” Chaeyoung said softly, her eyes on Tzuyu.

“You say that now.” Tzuyu said with a hint of laughter, her eyes finally moving up from the floor to stare at the wall opposite her. “But, when you know it all. You might not feel the same way.”

“Know what sweetheart? Because nothing can change the way I feel about you. Nor the way the girls feel about you.” Chaeyoung tried to coax Tzuyu, worried but equally trying to console her partner. 

“I knew. I knew Dahyun wanted to run away.” Tzuyu’s words came out in a rush, knocking the breath out of Chaeyoung’s lungs.

“What?” Chaeyoung asked, confused at what Tzuyu had said. “Did she tell you that day? And you never said anything!?” Chaeyoung’s temper flared, the same irritation from earlier that evening soaring back into her blood in an instant.

Tzuyu shook her head, squeezing Chaeyoung’s hand, signaling that she wasn’t done speaking.

“It wasn’t long after we got to know one another. She told me she wanted to run away, leave behind her responsibilities because she was injured. Because she felt useless.”

“But she got better. Never mentioned it again. I didn’t think it would reappear. I didn't think she would leave like this.” Tzuyu said quietly.

Chaeyoung moved to speak again, Tzuyu finally turning her head to meet Chaeyoung in the eye. “I swear. I swear I never thought she was still. That she would.” Tzuyu was clearly on the brink of tears, Chaeyoung trying her best not to contain her anger. 

“That day. When I talked to her, the day before she left. I even asked her. I asked if she wanted to go. If she wanted to leave and go after her.” Tzuyu croaked, her hand gripping to Chaeyoung’s tight. 

“She said she didn’t, she said she wasn’t going to leave Chaeyoung, you have to believe me.” Tzuyu’s eyes were frantically searching Chaeyoung’s face for anything, any sign of emotion. 

“But now. What if I put that idea in her head, what if she wasn’t going to leave? What if it’s my fault?” Tzuyu was speaking faster now, her tone growing increasingly panicked, Chaeyoung still trying to maintain a calm demeanour in the face of it. 

“I can’t even read the fucking letter she left because what if it’s because of me? What if the reason that you’ve been like this for months, that Mina and Nayeon fight more, that Jeong and Jihyo look like they’ve already held a funeral for her in their heads anytime she’s brought up? What if that’s all my fault? What if you all can’t forgive me for it!?” Tzuyu’s voice was growing in volume, Chaeyoung wincing at the grip on her hand as she looked into Tzuyu’s unraveling eyes. 

“Tzu. You’re hurting me.” Chaeyoung said as calmly as she could, the tremor in her voice barely containing the wave of frustration and anger she felt.

Tzuyu instantly released Chaeyoung’s hand, her hands wringing together as she looked down at them, no longer able to meet Chaeyoung in the eye. 

The couple sat in silence, Chaeyoung flexing her hand, Tzuyu gripping hers together for dear life, her line of sight fixed solely downwards, removing Chaeyoung from her field of vision as much as possible, fearful the sight of her would show her the end of what they had built together, the end of Tzuyu’s life she had built in Tanrise.

Chaeyoung exhaled, remembering the words she had said mere moments ago, before she had found out the weight that Tzuyu had been carrying, the secrets she had hidden from Chaeyoung as her partner. 

She was furious, she was concerned, she hated that Tzuyu had been unable to tell her this before. That she had carried this secret out of fear more than anything else, fear of disappointing Chaeyoung, of alienating her and their friends. 

Looking at Tzuyu now, Chaeyoung understood now. Why she looked as tired as she was, why she’d never talked about her own letter from Dahyun, despite them all having shared pieces of what she’d left behind for them at various points. As she looked at Tzuyu now she saw the same broken figure that she had seen in Dahyun months and months back.

A woman who felt she couldn’t share her burden, somebody who carried their worries and their concerns not in doubt of others, but in doubt of themself. 

Taking a deep breath Chaeyoung edged gently along the side of the bed. Her hand resting gently atop the fretting hands in Tzuyu’s lap, their frantic twisting coming to a sudden halt at the gesture, Tzuyu herself drawing in a sudden breath.

“I’m not gonna to tell you that I’m not upset.” Chaeyoung began, her voice steady as she could manage. “But I made a promise to you. A promise that no matter what, I’d work my way back to you from anything.”

Tzuyu remained quiet, Chaeyoung’s hand still sitting gently atop her own. Grounding in its gentle grasp over her hands, still tightly held together. 

“I’m angry. In all honesty, angry as the day that she left.” Chaeyoung continued, gently slipping her hand between Tzuyu’s, Chaeyoung working her fingers between Tzuyu’s. 

“But. Not at you, least, not really.” Chaeyoung continued softly, her thumb drawing circles around the base of Tzuyu’s thumb. “I’m angry I didn’t see this, that you felt you had to hide it. That in all this time I’ve never realised what you were carrying.”

“I’d promised myself to be better after Dahyun left, to see the shit that people are goin’ through and to stop it before it reaches the same breaking point that she reached.” Chaeyoung’s voice was somber, an underlying disappointment in herself bleeding through.

“But I’ve failed, not only that, I’ve failed somebody I love, somebody I know for a fact I’d have fallen apart without.” Chaeyoung sniffled, using her free hand to wipe at her face as she looked at their hands intertwined together. 

“I don’t doubt that she lied to you that day. That she knew her plan all along, wouldn’t say a word about it without fear that one of us would stop her.” Chaeyoung scoffed, the anger bubbling inside of her once more, the only thing stopping it from boiling over was the slightest twitch from Tzuyu’s hand in her own. 

“Point bein’, do I wish you’d told me this? I do.” Chaeyoung said, swallowing the lump in her throat. 

“But I don’t hold it against you for a minute. I can’t. Not when you’re in part the reason I got my best friend back for the time I did. Not when every single day you show up for me, and for every single one of those girls.” 

“But I-” Tzuyu tried to speak, her voice wavering as she seemed to be on the verge of another ramble, Chaeyoung squeezing her hand in assurance.

“But nothin’. You remember what you told me that night? When I missed that patrol?” Chaeyoung said, the memory as painful as it was one that had given her a lesson she tried to follow.

Tzuyu shook her head slightly, her breathing uneven, Chaeyoung slowly raising her hand to Tzuyu’s face and turning it gently to look at her. 

“‘Don’t you ever try an’ assume Dahyun’s sins. They are not yours. Yours are not hers.’ That’s what you said, that’s what I’ve tried to remember. There are days where I’m better at it than others.” Chaeyoung said softly, trying her best to smile at Tzuyu.

“We can only hold ourselves accountable, and I think you’ve done more than enough of that on your own.” Chaeyoung continued, leaning her forehead forward to touch against Tzuyu’s. 

Tzuyu broke, latching herself onto Chaeyoung, her arms flung around her shoulders in a sudden movement that almost took the smaller woman off balance, steadying herself by wrapping her own arms around Tzuyu’s waist. Letting her lean her weight onto Chaeyoung for a change.

=====================================

The night had passed by slowly. Chaeyoung consoling Tzuyu, who before long had cried herself into a place of pure exhaustion, her face tearstreaked and eyes red as Chaeyoung had finally managed to lay her down to bed to sleep. 

Chaeyoung had stayed, the strength to undress herself of Tzuyu for sleep entirely gone from the night’s events. But sleep eluded her. 

Laying there in bed, her small form wrapped around Tzuyu, holding her safe and steady the best she could, Chaeyoung’s mind was unable to switch off. She kept replaying what Tzuyu had said, her concern for her sleeping girlfriend growing each time. 

She knew that Tzuyu had taken Dahyun’s departure hard, that she missed her. She just hadn’t imagined that she was dealing with, well, this. That she had been carrying such a secret alone.

As the clock struck midnight, Chaeyoung no closer to sleep, Tzuyu’s soft sleeping sounds assuring her that she was out cold, Chaeyoung carefully slid herself out from Tzuyu’s side, trying to ignore the quiet grumble that came from Tzuyu at the absence of warmth to her back. 

Chaeyoung carefully tucked Tzuyu under a blanket, placing a kiss on her head before quietly exiting the room. 

Stopping in the hallway, Chaeyoung bit her lip, turning to cross into the small study she had, scribbling down on a note that she was taking a walk and would be back soon. Slipping back into their room, Chaeyoung laid the note on the side table, gently pulling the door shut behind her. 

Quickly pulling her boots on, Chaeyoung stepped out into the nighttime, the crisp cool air washing over her skin as she tugged her jacket around her tightly. Her footsteps and the crunch of the dirt beneath her bouncing off the walls of the surrounding buildings as she began a trek she found all too familiar. 

Looping off up towards Nayeon and Mina’s house, Chaeyoung walked slowly, her feet dragging as she walked, staring down at the ground. The silence of the town washing over her, somewhat helping to calm the stream of thoughts running through her mind. 

For everything that Dahyun had put them through. That evening was maybe the thing Chaeyoung resented her for most. For forcing a secret on Tzuyu that she never should have had to keep. 

Chaeyoung bit down on her lip, her feelings towards Dahyun as conflicted as they had ever been. A sense of concern still overwhelmingly the guts of her emotions for her friend, but tinged by resentment, anger and betrayal.

“Kim Dahyun, where the hell are you?” Chaeyoung muttered under her breath. Hitting the end of her route up to the top of town, looking about for anything out of the ordinary, before turning and retracing her steps back. 

For whatever reason she’d fallen into the pattern of doing this patrol, somewhat out of obligation, somewhat because it was the only thing that made her feel close to Dahyun anymore. Like somehow when she reached the end of her path she’d be able to walk into the office and find her there once more. 

Scoffing at the idea, Chaeyoung continued down the path. Knowing that she’d find no such thing. That Dahyun had made her choice, that choice didn’t include them. 

Rounding the corner to the town square Chaeyoung stilled as she heard hooves up ahead. The unmistakable jingle of spurs punctuating each step forward the horse made. 

There was nobody in town who would be out this late, save for Chaeyoung herself. 

Instincts immediately kicking in Chaeyoung moved as quickly and silently as she could into cover, cursing that she hadn’t brought anything more than her pistol with her. A side effect of the quiet that had been present for months. 

She remained silent, trying to peek round the corner, trying to catch a glimpse of the rider. 

Their hat was kept low, their posture slouched in the saddle. The white shirt they wore with sleeves rolled up seemed to be well worn, turned brown from the dust of the desert. Shoulder length black hair barely made it to their shoulders, their frame small but stocky made it hard to make out whether it was a man or a woman. 

From what Chaeyoung could make out the barely seemed conscious, the horse coming to a halt in the middle of the square without any kind of command from its rider. The reins to the horse held loosely in their hands.

Chaeyoung watched carefully, the rider still showing no signs of movement, the clattering of a window nearby making her whip her head up to see where the noise had come from in surprise.

The sudden noise spooked the horse as well, letting out a neigh that echoed around the square, the horse shaking just enough in surprise that as Chaeyoung turned back to look at the rider she caught the sight of them crashing to the ground in a heap.

Chaeyoung still couldn’t bring herself to move, watching as the horse walked away, leaving its rider crumpled in the dirt. 

“Y’alright down there?” Came a cry from nearby. Chaeyoung groaned internally as she looked up from the heap in the square to see Jeongyeon and a concerned looking Jihyo in the window that had made the offending sound from before. 

Shaking her head, Chaeyoung looked back to the rider, half expecting the whole thing to have been a ruse. But still no movement came from them.

Stepping out from her place of hiding, Chaeyoung held up a hand to Jeongyeon and Jihyo, trying to signal them to move back inside, her other hand sliding out her pistol from her holster as she slowly made her approach.

“Still breathing stranger?” She called out, her pistol aimed carefully at the person, still no signs of movement from them. 

“You know where you are? I’m the sheriff here. If you’re injured we got somebody who can fix you up. Ain’t gonna be best pleased about being woken in the middle of the night though.” Chaeyoung said again, hoping to stir some kind of response from the person in the dirt. 

As she got closer she began to understand why the rider wasn’t answering. Blood soaked bandages covered their hands, and Chaeyoung could see red beginning to pool on their side, bleeding through onto the shirt.

“God fuckin’ dammit. JEONG, JI, ONE OF YOU RUN AND GRAB NAYEON. THEY’RE BLEEDING PRETTY BAD.” Chaeyoung called out. Holstering her pistol as she broke into a run, closing the gap between her and the stranger. 

Chaeyoung barely looked past her as she heard the sound of the Saloon doors clattering to her left, the sight of somebody sprinting by her spurring her on to reach the stranger before her. 

“C’mon, let’s get you out the damn street and inside ‘fore you blee-” Chaeyoung began, attempting to lift one arm over her shoulder to try and heave the stranger up before a fist connected with the underside of her chin.

The force of the swing made Chaeyoung bite down hard, tasting iron immediately as she dropped the arm around her. Falling back into the dirt, Chaeyoung grunted, disorientated at suddenly being swung on by a person she had assumed was completely dead to the world. 

She watched in confusion as the figure turned haphazardly towards her, lunging at her with an almost inhuman yell. Their features indiscernible with the moonlight to their back, only able to make out their intent from the bloodthirst in the scream

Chaeyoung kicked out immediately, instinct taking over as her foot connected with the face of her assailant. Sending them sprawling backwards, the pain from the punch suddenly registered as she moved her hand to her jaw, already feeling the bruise forming from the connected hit.

“Son of a bi- I’m trying to save your life you fuckin’ psycho!” Chaeyoung shouted, all pretenses of keeping this quiet given the time thrown to the wind. 

The stranger didn’t answer, still sprawled backwards in the dirt, Chaeyoung standing cautiously as she prepared for another surprise attack.

Looking over them they were in even worse state than Chaeyoung had realised, their trousers torn in places with aged scars and fresh wounds alike showing through the tears. The blood from their side seemed to be slowing, possibly just a wound that had been re-opened by their fall from the horse, however she could make out that that wound was far from the only one they had sustained. 

The marks she had mistaken for dust from a distance were now more clearly visible as bloodstains, either from herself or possibly from others, the way they were spread was so hard to tell. 

Chaeyoung stopped dead in her tracks. No longer obstructed by a hat or shielded by the night, she could finally make out the face of her assailant/the person she had been trying to help. 

Her face had become gaunt, her already defined cheekbones drawn taught against her skin, the bloody nose she had just received from Chaeyoung contrasted against her pale skin. Blood against a snowy landscape. Her once long hair now cut roughly and unevenly, frayed and matted, no kind of care shown to it as it once had been.

The most noticeable, and inescapable change however was the one that froze Chaeyoung’s heart in her throat. A long and deep cut over her left eye, the swelling practically forcing it shut. The one ‘good’ eye open, frantically rolling about in its socket, a fight for consciousness that the owner seemed to be rapidly losing before it finally shut.

It had been six months and two hours since the last time Chaeyoung saw Dahyun. Looking down at the lifeless form in front of her, Chaeyoung finally found her voice. A single word escaping her lips, the same one that had been haunting her for months.

“Dahyun?”