Soul Language

by Heart Quest

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. But dang if I did, I'd probably treat them better than those that do.

Notes: Not real sure if there's a stream that runs nearby Four Corners, but for the sake of this story, I put one there, complete with weeping willow. I guess this is a fantasy and that can give me a little bit of license regarding what setting to put it in.

No sex, but plenty of touching and love. Sometimes I just want Chris and Vin to love each other without the need for getting undressed. It's the heart of the matter I seek to portray, thus my name Heart Quest. I hope I accomplish that with this one.

It had been a long, hard two days.

Chris Larabee never thought those two days would end. All he could think about from the moment he left Four Corners was when he would be able to return. Unlike his frame of mind in most any given situation, but now he had a reason to come home. He had found a life for himself again, but no one would ever have thought that source of life would come from the person it had. Vin Tanner was a man of many talents, but getting Chris Larabee to fall in love with him had to be right up there on the top of the list. Even Buck Wilmington, Chris' oldest friend, had not seen this one coming, and when it had been revealed, it had thrown the scoundrel off kilter for about a day and a half. Chris and Vin? Together? *Really*...together? It had shaken up the mustached man for a bit, but then...then he had seen the two together. Touching without touching, talking without speaking words. And Buck finally understood. And the understanding had warmed him. His old friend was alive again and it was all thanks to that scrawny, scruffy lookin' ex-bounty hunter who preferred a bedroll and the roof of an open sky to fancy digs and a clean shave. Nope, there was no denying it...Vin Tanner had turned Chris Larabee's heart. Sure as shootin'.

One night JD had caught Buck walking toward the hotel to hit the hay and there had been a smile on the taller man's face a mile wide. "You in love again, tonight, Buck?" the youth had asked, as he fell into step beside his best friend. Buck only put an arm around JD's shoulders and took in a deep breath. "Ain't love grand?" But JD didn't understand that it was seeing Chris so dang happy that put a smile on Buck's face. Buck just let him think what he would. Whether he got lucky tonight or Chris did, it didn't matter, Buck would be happy with either. Chris was living again and that made things right fine with Buck Wilmington's world.

But when he and Chris had to take a prisoner to the sheriff in Rock Ridge, Vin could not go with them for fear of being spotted as a wanted man and neither of the two men found it easy to separate. As Chris had traveled with Buck to the town, he felt the homesickness engulf him. Buck had tried to help him keep his mind off of missing Vin and Chris had found great comfort in his oldest friend's efforts, but the ache of longing to be with his lover continued to tear at his heart. He had not felt homesick for anyone or anything in a long time. He had often wondered if he ever would again after his family had been killed.

On the way back it was all Buck could do to keep Chris from racing ahead of him. "Chris, slow down! You don't want to get yourself in an accident now do ya'? Fall and break that blame fool neck of yours, then where would that leave Vin?"

Chris had just glared at him, but Buck wasn't fooled. He just grinned back and shook his head. "Hornier than a dog in heat, Larabee."

"It ain't that!" Chris bellowed and this time Buck took the glare seriously. "Then tell me what it is, Pard. Talk to me here. Maybe it'll help." Chris lowered his head and sighed heavily. "Just miss him," he spoke out, lowly.

"Hell, Chris, I know you do. He's family now. Man misses his family when going off for a few days."

"You know what I miss most, though?" Chris tilted his head at Buck, a smile forming, sly and devious.

"The fuckin'?"

Chris whacked Buck's shoulder hard enough for the mustached man to rub the offended area of his arm. "Ow."

"What happens between the sheets is between me and Vin, Buck. Don't ever say a word about it again, got that?"

Buck raised his hand in surrender. "Got it, Pard. No more bedroom talk. So...what do you miss most?"

"His quiet."

Buck looked at him curiously. "His quiet?"

"Yeah, when he doesn't say a word," Chris' eyes stared off ahead as if he was focusing on certain memories of him and Vin together. "It's hard to explain, but when it's us just being' near each other, there's this warm circle that surrounds us. Can't describe it. Just...there's no need for words. I hear him, though, plain as day, talkin' to me with his eyes. No words at all, but there's...it's like our souls are joined somehow. I know it sounds stupid, but..."

Buck had heard the sincere fondness in Chris' voice and he sobered, resting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It ain't stupid, Pard. Vin speaks out his heart to ya. That's what ya' hear. Nothin' stupid about that at all."

Buck removed his hand and the two rode on in silence for a bit longer. Then, "Does it bother you to hear me talk about Vin like that, Buck?"

Buck sighed. "It's downright strange, Chris. But I understand it as much as I can. I know the two of you have somethin' special. It ain't for me to say it's wrong, cause I sure as hell know it's doin' something right for you. As long as you're happy and Vin's happy, what the rest of us think don't matter. You just remember that. A lot of people may not agree with it, but the others and I...we'll fight to the death to defend it."

"You think the rest of the town knows what's goin' on?"

"Some may suspect, Chris, but I haven't heard any gossip leakin' back. The moment I do, I'll tell ya'. I swear that to ya'."

"Don't want Vin hurt, that's all I care about."

"None of us want either of ya' hurt. We all swore it would be kept to ourselves. Just know if it does leak out...we'll be standin' by your side."

"Vin and I all ready talked about what to do should that happen."

Buck looked at him quizzically. "Keepin' your saddle bags packed?"

Chris nodded. "Both of us."

Buck let out a breath. "Let's just hope it don't come to that. Or the town may end up losin' all of us on account of it."

Chris smiled at him. "It's appreciated, Buck. You know that. But we don't want you guys getting' hurt either."

"They come after one of us, they deal with the rest of us, Chris. The guys and I talked about it, too. What you and Vin do is your business. The town ain't got no right to dictate to a man how to love or who to love. I don't want to defend a town that's like that. The important thing is to keep it under wraps as much as you can. Any trouble comes your way, we'll stand together. You got our promise on that."

Chris nodded once in affirmation. The two rode on.

+ + + + + + +

"Looks like Four Corners is just dead ahead." Buck pointed. Chris turned to see the town and his grin broadened. "Let's go, Pard." He kicked his horse hard in the sides and the two raced back to town.

When he had ridden into town, Vin was no where to be seen and Chris had felt his heart fall to his feet when his tracker had not been there to meet him. Josiah had seen the look in the blond man's eyes and knew. He leaned closer to Chris in order to not be heard by any passers by, "He's by the stream, Chris, by your tree. He's waitin' for you."

Though it had been a hard adjustment for the five other men to settle into, none of them could deny that Chris and Vin not only needed each other, but belonged together. No questions. No explanations demanded.

So Chris had ridden out to the weeping willow where he and Vin had once made love during the quiet shelter of nights cloak. He spotted Vin's horse tied to another tree off to the side. He had dismounted and found his beloved source of life exactly where Josiah said he would be. The large willow was enough to draw Vin's body into a curtained shadow, but Chris made him out clearly. His heart leapt at the sight. And just how much he had missed Vin came crashing into him like water breaking through a dam. He was beautiful standing there, just gazing out over the land and stream. The stream was making music that Vin could never drink in enough. Like a lover's hand caressing the body of the earth, quenching the earth's desire for affection. Vin's words. And Chris had never looked at another stream the same way after that. Chris closed his eyes and forced his heart to calm down. He had missed his tracker, his poet, missed him fiercely. How long had it been since he had felt this gratefulness to dismount his horse and to know that he had a home, not within a location, but within a person?

Chris saw Vin standing by the tree, well, more like leaning against it, one foot on the ground, the other braced against the bottom of the trunk. His thumbs nestled lazily into the top of his gun belt. The gunslinger just stood there and observed him for a while longer. He knew that Vin knew he was there. He didn't have to clear his throat or speak out loud to announce himself. But Vin didn't turn to look at him. He kept his eyes on the glittering patterns on the surface of the water. The sinking sun casting it's lights glow, causing a dance that always mirrored the sparkle in Vin's blue eyes.

The dusk was quiet with the exception of the sounds of insects and birds chirping and the sound of water 'caressing a lover's body'. It was a perfect surrounding for what the two men felt for each other. The peace, the calm, the trust and the insatiable desire to just be near each other. Even without physically touching they touched. Even without physically talking they spoke.

Vin held out his hand without turning to look at him. Chris accepted the invitation. He drew near slowly so as not to disturb the atmosphere that Vin's soul craved. Chris' arms gently, slowly wrapped around Vin from the side and Vin, his hat long since removed for this moment, nestled his head back into the hollow of Chris' neck. Chris rested his cheek against Vin's temple and the two gazed out over the dancing light covered water together. No sex. Not at that moment. It wasn't necessary. They would want it later, but not right now. Right now was the moment where the quiet of just being close consumed them.

Vin turned his head to rest his cheek against Chris and the blond man could tell his young lover was loving him in a different way. He loved the way Vin made him feel in bed, but it was this tenderness his tracker showed him that endeared Vin to him more deeply than that of their bodies connecting. He felt Vin's hand reach up and ease around his right arm that covered the tracker's chest. Vin sighed. No words needed to be said, not with their voices. It was the language of the soul that Chris listened to...his tracker's soul, the soul that could track his even in the midst of darkened memories that sometimes plagued the gunslinger.

Reaching out with his own soul, he tightened his hold on Vin and closed his eyes. If only they could remain like this forever. No more worries, no more facing death together. No more violence that shattered their sacred peace. In Vin's silence, Chris heard all he needed to hear. He pulled his cheek away just enough to kiss his tracker's tousled sandy colored hair. He kept his lips there for longer than a simple peck. Vin tightened his hold on Chris' arm, getting the message loud and clear.

By the way Vin gripped Chris' arm, he could tell his lover had missed him, too. He smiled at the thought.

Vin turned his face to look up at Chris now and there was a lazy smile that crossed those full lips that Chris loved to kiss and touch. Chris lowered his mouth and joined his lips to Vin's. The kiss was slow, gentle, but the craving to dig deep into Vin's being and to invite Vin into his own was strong. Lingering, they held each other without moving, letting their lips and tongues speak for them. Vin tasted so good. And though Chris had two days worth of trail dust on his clothes, he had taken a few moments to wash some of it off his face and lips, just for this reason. He wanted Vin to taste him, not the trail. If Vin did taste the dust, or smelled it, he obviously didn't mind. His moans were of pleasure.

Vin slowly turned in Chris' arms and wrapped his arms around his lovers' waist, not breaking off the kiss as he did so. He pushed himself closer to Chris, to pull him into his heart. They kissed and kissed...and kissed. When finally they pulled away, the sun was almost down and yet Chris could look into Vin's eyes and still see the blue of them calling to him like ocean waters call to those that sail them.

He felt Vin's hands lock around his waist and they stood in each other's arms, staring into each other's eyes. Chris removed his right hand from Vin's back and reached up to trace his fingers against Vin's left temple. There was a smile in the gunslinger's eyes that told Vin all he needed to know. Chris had missed him and was very glad to be back. All he wanted was to touch Vin and hold him and gaze into his eyes, look on his face and drink him in.

Chris traced Vin's temple and brow and the bridge of his nose. His fingers gently glided over Vin's top lip and Vin closed his eyes, letting his lover explore at will. It had been two days, but damn if it didn't feel like two months. He missed his lover's hands trailing over his face. Chris loved to do this. To touch Vin's face and let his fingers feel their way around every angle. He felt Chris' other hand reach up and do the same thing to his right side. Both hands moving over his forehead, his closed eyes, his lips and cheeks. Then the hands cupped his face and Vin opened his eyes to see Chris ease in for another kiss. Vin leaned his head slightly and parted his lips to accept the offer of the soft gift. Chris' hands never left Vin's face as he darted his tongue in between his tracker's teeth and their tongues tasted each other once more.

Vin's arms encircled Chris' back, pulling him in, inviting him to go deeper.

With care and assurance, Chris and Vin eased each other to their knees as their lips continued to lock together. Chris eased Vin to his back, keeping an arm around him to cushion him from the hardness of the ground. As if they were one mind they expressed the single desire of just being close. Both men were aroused, but it wasn't time yet. Chris stretched out beside Vin and pulled him into his arms. Vin gently pushed Chris onto his back and rested his ear over his cowboy's heart. Passion, once satiated too quickly, leaves an aching desire for more. They would indulge their desires time and time again that night, but both wanted each badly enough to wait, to just rest in the feel of being near each other. Vin raised his head and smiled at Chris with knowing. Chris' shack was just over the rise and they would end up there soon. But what Vin wanted, what Chris wanted was to just be as one in the moment.

Chris gently eased Vin's head to his chest again and began to stroke his lover's long hair. Vin had grown it out some more since the two had started seeing each other. Chris loved to run his fingers through it. It was down to the middle of Vin's back now. When he was hatless, Chris loved to see the wind blow that luxurious mane around Vin's head, framing his face with its length, like a halo. And then when Vin rode, it flew like a banner waving in the windy air that forced it back. Vin's hair was so dang beautiful and he promised he would let it grow as long as he could. He had mentioned something about it reaching his backside once, when he was staying with the Indians. Chris wondered what that would look like. If it was anything like what he was seeing now, he couldn't wait. He let his hand flow over the hair, feeling its softness.

Vin closed his eyes as he rested his head on top of Chris' chest, listening to his lover's heartbeat.

It was a warm evening, but it would get cold soon. They would have to give in to the demands of the world outside of themselves. They would have to leave this moment of quiet, this moment of peace. They would have to abandon themselves to exploring further their soul connection in the privacy and warmth of Chris' shack. But, oh, not now, Chris pled with the voice of time. He wanted just a little longer in this peace...with his tracker...with their souls.

He felt Vin's deep and even breathing and knew his lover was relaxed and at peace. Chris smiled. He continued to caress the long hair that covered Vin's back. Body language would have to keep quiet just a little bit longer...two souls were speaking.

~Fin~

Comments to: lebonwords1@msn.com