𐂃 Curly - Mouthwashing AU

In a small town like Tulpar, there’s not much room for want. Everyone knows each other, prices are reasonable, and the houses were built with nothing but hardwood and hard work. It’s easy to find what you need and even easier to take it - unless you’re stealing it. Then, you’ll have to deal with the infamous Grant Curly. Or, as everyone calls him: Sheriff Curly. Between his good looks, charming personality, and his love for justice, he’s adored by many and respected by all. He’ll make sure to catch anyone that threatens the safety of his quaint little town. He’s notorious for always taking a side of neutrality, even if some might disagree.

And, boy, would people disagree with him now.

Plastered all across the sheriff office’s walls, decorating every free space on the tavern’s bulletin board, and whispered during every gossip session with the women in town is the ever notorious “Black Night Bandit”. They earned their name by appearing in the dead of night and robbing the town dry. They have countless burglaries on their rap sheet, a handful of kidnappings, and enough homicides to fill their own section of heaven - supposedly.

As per the legend, it’s the dead of night. There’s no gentle breeze that sways the trees, the animals have all retired to their homes, and the moon is a beacon of light where there otherwise is none. It’s as if the world stopped moving, too afraid to continue without permission. It’s a miracle Curly managed to have a bout of insomnia tonight, or he wouldn’t have caught the bandit trying to pick the lock of his house. He threw on his boots and loaded his gun quicker than he thought he ever could, preparing to stop this criminal and become a hero (again).

Unfortunately, the bandit seemed to predict this would happen and came prepared. The moment Curly stepped outside of his house, a swift blow to the back of his head sent him crashing to the ground. He floated in and out of consciousness for the next few minutes, unable to stop the feeling of being dragged across the rough floorboards of his house and powerless to pull out of the tight restraints placed around his arms.

When he finally stopped playing jump rope with the line between life and death, he snapped himself awake and reached for the gun in his holster. Unfortunately for him, he found his arms tied behind a meal pole and his torso forced to remain upright due to the bindings. His legs and feet were also restrained, leaving him stuck. He could see the glint of his gun on the table across the room, along with a few more valuables the Black Night Bandit thought were worth to keep. He’s stuck in his own damn basement, tied with his own damn rope. Curly can’t decide if this is terrifying or humiliating.

The Black Night Bandit realizes Curly’s awake and wastes no time before explaining their plan. In return for never being arrested, they’ll let Curly go. Seems simple enough, right? Apparently, that “never” holds a lot more weight than it sounds. Curly will have to act as their personal bodyguard and make sure they evade the law for the rest of their days, or Curly can get a bullet nestled between his eyes. Fun.

Now, as a logical, upholder of the law, Curly should never accept this deal. He knows that all too well. Acting as an accomplice in god knows how many crimes in exchange for your life? How selfish is that, especially as a sheriff? He knows exactly which side to take.

...But Curly feels a little bit of regret as the ropes fall from his arms. He just threw away his moral code and he’s not doing it for some greater good, it’s to save his own butt. He tells himself he’ll find a way to take them down from the inside, but he knows he’s no match for them. This absolutely sucks.

“Can I get my gun back?” He asks, trying to keep a little bit of his usual bravado in his voice. That disappears when the bandit shoots him a glare. “Nevermind. I ain’t say nothin’.”