A week of nights in the woods ended on the hills of a small city, one so inviting they didn't even bother to learn the name or scope locals before running into the nearest hotel.

Jacks raced for the nearest bar, desperate to get the metallic taste of canteen water out of her mouth. Gestal wanting to come with her was no surprise, but her lack of thirst was. True, she followed Jacks everywhere, but surely she wouldn't come to a bar just to sit around and listen to a third-rate bluegrass trio.

"I offer to buy myself a drink out of the goodness of my heart, and you won't even join me?"

Gestal turned away, "Sorry...I'll pay you back..."

Jacks gave her a slap on the back, "Jeez, Gestal, I'm kiddin'! Lighten up!" She laughed and sipped at her beer, expecting the bear to perk up, only to keep her head down and her hood drawn over her eyes like always.

They hadn't known each other long, but had been through enough towns both urban and rural for Jacks to notice how each affected Gestal; her soft-spoken tone coming to a whisper in crowds, her face always obscured by her hood, her complete avoidance of anything unrelated to moving to the next town. If not sleeping or cooking for the night, all she would do was stare into her watch.

It honestly bored Jacks. She had plenty of incentive to leave behind her exciting life of thievery to tag along with Gestal (i.e. remaining fed and funded long enough to make it home), but the cons were beginning to outweigh the pros. Jacks part of the deal consisted mostly of protecting her, yet she felt less like a bodyguard and more like a babysitter. After all, Gestal was a beastperson with enough fangs and claws to handle anyone that threatened her, yet when the chips were down, she wanted to run away.

Being a natural showoff, Jacks had no qualms about doing the dirty work. Being seen as some legendary nomad who sliced up anyone that approached the ursine was something she daydreamed about often, but Gestal's apathy always brought her back, and whenever Jacks tried to get her to open up, the bear would just ignore her.

On the brink of death by boredom, Jacks hatched a plan the night prior. Already she had encountered the first hurdle, but she was not one to give up, "You're really not gonna get anything?" she asked, receiving a simple shake of the head for an answer, "You one of those teetotalers?"

"N-no, it's just...every time I try to drink, something bad happens."

"Well then, good thing I'm here to protect ya!" said Jacks, wrapping an arm around her, "C'mon. I'll buy."

Gestal tensed up, but scanned the menu regardless, "Well...I have always wanted to try a Blue Pearly..."

"Atta girl!" Jacks whistled for the bartender.

It took Gestal several minutes to progress from staring at her drink to putting the bottle to her lips, even longer to actually take a sip. Jacks fought a laugh when Gestal cringed at the taste.

"That...it's vile!"

"Well yeah. No one drinks Blue Pearly for the taste." said Jacks, knocking back the rest of her own drink, "F'you don't want it, I'll take it."

"N-no, you bought it, so I'll finish it..." said Gestal, licking her lips in nervous anticipation.

Jackpot.

The night progressed eventfully. By the time Gestal had polished off the bottle, she was requesting another, and another, and another, each time growing louder and more cheerful. On the third bottle, her hood fell without her noticing. On the sixth, she was draped around the shoulders of the drunkard on the other end of the bar, trying to get him laugh at the worst bear puns Jacks had heard in her life. On the tenth, Gestal was trying to crawl onstage to perform with the local color.

It was then Jacks decided she'd had enough, and shouldered the bear through the walk upstairs to their room. Gestal continued to slur her way through bad jokes and half-baked philosophies, all of which Jacks was thankfully able to tune out while she adjusted herself.

"Alright, Gestal. You go ahead and sleep this off." she said as she turned to leave, only to suddenly be held back.

"Wha...where are you going?"

Jacks tugged her arm away, "Gonna go check out the nightlife. I looked up this place on the map. Said it had a great theater."

Gestal grabbed her wrist again, "But we've already got a radio in here." she mumbled, looking up at Jacks with the biggest eyes she could muster.

Again, Jacks pulled free, "Nothing on but news this late. You just go to sleep. I'll be back in a--OOF!" she was suddenly yanked onto the bed, trapped in Gestal's embrace.

"Please don't go..." the bear whimpered, burying herself in Jack's shoulder and holding on with all her might, "I don't wanna be alone..."

Outmatched in strength, Jacks quickly realized she wasn't going anywhere.

Jacks wracked her brain all night. Gestal was an anomaly. She had the strength of ten people but won their fight through trickery. She could have left Jacks out in the snow to die, but she drug her inside by the fire and gave her the first meal she'd had in days. She shied away from strangers and spoke ill of them in secret, but hung on to Jacks' every word when they were alone. What made this bear tic? A good question, but not one that would be answered tonight. Jacks shut her eyes and went to sleep.

When she awoke, she found herself free from Gestal's grip, only to spot her at the edge of the bed, staring out the window. The rustling of the sheets alerted her, but she did not face Jacks, "...do you hate me, Jacks?"

"What...?"

"It's okay if you do...I understand..."

"Gestal..." no answer came to her, only more questions than the night prior. A glance at the clock revealed they'd slept past schedule. Attempting to make it to the next town now would just result in another night sleeping in the dirt, "...I think I'm too hungover to travel today. You?"

"......my head hurts."

Jacks chuckled and gave her a pat on the back, "Ah, no biggie. I'll go grab us a big greasy breakfast and clear that right up." she said, grabbing her hat and heading for the door.

"Jacks..."

"Yeah?"

"...thank you for the drink. You're a good friend."

Jacks stopped short. It was an innocuous phrase but one she didn't expect to sound so genuine. Jacks knew as well as anyone thieves earned no sympathy, nor did they deserve any, yet for all she had done since meeting Gestal, buying her a drink was enough to win her over?

A million questions came, but she didn't want to think about them. For now, she was content to stay inside and listen to the radio.

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Huge huge thanks to  foolgirl for this lovely piece.