If you haven't seen the movie, don't read. Go see it!

A very short one-shot, tag to a scene in the movie where John and Tonto get out of the water in the cave.

I loved the movie and the friendship between John and Tonto, so more stories (longer stories) to come...probably.

As always, No slash, just friendship and brotherly love because it is my favorite. :)

Feeding the Bird

"Tonto?" John Reid hesitatingly called, slowly walking up to the Indian sitting on his knees by the water's edge. As he got closer he could see the possessions of the fallen Comanche tribe floating by in the rippling water before the drenched black bird laying limply in his friend's hands caught his attention causing the story of Tonto's childhood to come back to him. Squatting down beside the silent Indian, he gritted his teeth.

"You were right. There is no justice." He swallowed thickly, his brother's death weighing heavily on him. "If these men represent the law, I'd rather be an outlaw."

It was then that Tonto turned to look at him, his usual painted face marred with water streaks showing more than the Indian wanted to reveal of himself to the ranger. John watched him set his face, but the guilt, sadness and anger still laid in the Indian's dark irises. With one hand leaving the bird, Tonto held out the wet leather mask that the ranger had left behind.

"That is why you must wear the mask."

John took it from him, staring at it for a moment before turning back to Tonto whose own mask, John realized for the first time, was starting to slip.

"The uh," he cleared his throat and craned his neck a little at the ridiculous question he was about to ask, "...the bird?"

Tonto's eyes widened and he quickly looked from the animal back to the ranger, before placing the soaked feathered bird on his head. "Bird wet."

John coughed out a laugh, though Tonto's face was anything but humorous. "Yes, I can see that." He chuckled a moment while watching the confused Indian, before picking up some discarded bird food from the ground. He moved his hand out to the bird's beak, but Tonto caught him by the wrist with a bewildered look. However, John kept moving his hand to the beak and rubbed his fingers together like he'd seen Tonto do so many times before when his fingers brushed the dead bird. The food rained down between them as they stared at each other.

"Must wear mask." John said, using his friend's slight broken English phrase as he dropped his hand and the Indian let go of his wrist. Tonto stared up at him, only nodding when the ranger gave a faint smile before he shook his head vigorously.

"Bird not hungry, Kemosabe." Tonto grinned. John rolled his eyes, giving a half-hearted puff of annoyance when suddenly a horse's neigh came from behind them. Turning their heads to see Silver standing on a tree limb with the ranger's hat on his head, Tonto observed, "Something seriously wrong with that horse."

And as ironic as it was coming from Tonto, John could only agree because as crazy as they both were, the two of them had taught him more about the world than any sane person ever could.

AN: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.