Mag7 - Shadows

[moogsthewriter]

Title: Shadows
Challenge: Shadows over at brothers100 
Rating: T
Genre: Angst
Word Count: 300 (315 if you count the epigraph)
Fandom/Characters: The Magnificent Seven - Ezra, JD
Spoilers/Warnings: Possible AU. You decide.
Notes: Eh... there might be a sequel of some sort coming. Not sure yet.

Summary: On some days, he thinks it wasn't worth it. The rest of the time, he knows it.

 

“A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.”
- Oscar Wilde

“They’re breaking through! Orders, sir?”

“Wheel it around! Aim at the head of the charge, see if we can’t force those Yanks to turn tail.”

“Yessir, Major Simpson. Alright, you heard ‘im!”

 “FIRE IN THE HOLE!”

“They’re still breaking through, Major!”

“Ezra, we can’t keep this up. They’ll slaughter us. Ezra?”

“Ezra? Hey, Ez, you okay?”

JD stared in concern as the gambler blinked once, his glazed green eyes clearing. “JD?”

“You okay,?”

Ezra’s gaze flicked from the young sheriff to the man who had just walked through the saloon doors – more specifically, at his Union blue jacket. The haunted look in the green eyes vanished when Ezra grinned faintly, his gold tooth flashing. “I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Dunne. In fact, I was just thinking about taking a walk to enjoy this fine day.”

JD frowned as he glanced out the dirty window. “But it’s raining.”

“Indeed,” Ezra replied shortly, draining the shot of whiskey he had poured a few minutes earlier and standing. “Good afternoon,” he declared, tipping his hat as he walked past the confused young man.

Ezra paused for a moment at the batwing doors, glancing once more at the man perched on the barstool.

“Sir, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Nelson.”

“Ezra… you ever wonder if we’re doin’ the right thing? If this war’s really worth it?”

The man raised his head and glanced back to look Ezra right in the eye. After a moment, Ezra tipped his hat.

“Sometimes… I don’t think so.”

The grizzled veteran smirked a little and nodded back before turning to the beer Inez placed in front of him.

“And the rest of the time?”

With a sigh, Ezra stepped onto the boardwalk and glanced up at the tumultuous sky.

“The rest of the time, I know it’s not.”

End.