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The Silver Dollar |
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Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own these characters, I make no money from this...
Chris Larabee strode purposely through the saloon, ignoring the way things had silenced around him. It hadn't changed in the weeks he had been a law keeper in this small town, they were still afraid of him. Sighing heavily he made his way up the stairs, his spurs clanging heavily on the wooden floor, the noise of the saloon increasing after his passing. Hazel eyes swept one last glance over the patrons, seeing that they were all lost in their own world again, shaking his head he turned his back on them. Ever since Wicks Town had been shut down, the nearest Whorehouse was in Purgatory, and this itch was driving him crazy, this damn need for something, for human contact was tearing him up inside. For the past few days he had been snapping and snarling at everyone that crossed his path. Which was led him to the gambler's room, knocking lightly on the door he pushed it open, not waiting for the invitation, the room was shrouded in darkness, a dim light from a lantern was the only light. Locking shut the door; he paused letting his eyes adjust to the light. Not for the first time if he should be doing this, but he was going stir crazy, he needed a release."Mr. Larabee too what do I owe the honour" came the belligerent southern drawl as their was movement from the bed, and then more light was cast in the room, as the lantern was turned up. The southern gentleman was still fully dressed, but his clothing was rumpled and his hair was askew. The sight made his gut tighten he wanted this man.
"I need your services" he stated quietly not moving from his position by the door, not wanting to give the man the opportunity to exit.
"Ahh... who is the unlikely victim of this con of yours...?" Ezra stood, moving over to his wardrobe, as he stripped off his vest jacket and tie, unaware of how this action affected the man in black.
"Not a con, I need you..." Chris paused unsure how to phrase what he needed, and he saw the raised eyebrow of the conman. And an irrational anger overtook him, he probably wasn't the first to proposition the southerner and he spat out the rest of words. "I need to take you" he saw the green eyes widen and the clothing he held in his hands dropped to the floor as he gaped at his leader.
"I beg your pardon?" came the shocked southern drawl, and Chris shifted uneasily this was not going well.
"I need your services I can pay you..." he trailed to a stop as Ezra turned away, his body stiff with tension, head bowed, the silence seemed overwhelming, the ticking of the clock on the mantle piece sounded like a gun in the room. Finally Ezra spoke his voice quiet and layered with an emotion that Chris found it hard to pinpoint.
"Why did you come to me..."
Chris shrugged looking away and out of the window as he answered, "Well, you know Ezra..."
"I see." Was the flat response, and Chris looked back feeling suddenly as if he had done something wrong, he had been sure that this man had offered his services before, he was a conman a cheat, certainly he had come across men who had dressed just like Ezra, smelt like sweet fruit, as they had offered their bodies to him. Yes he had been sure. Finally Ezra turned around unbuttoning his shirt he motioned to the bed, "Shall we." Chris was so relieved that he didn't notice the pain in the green eyes before it was shuttered away, and as he left an hour left, body sated, a silver dollar left on the table beside the bed, he didn't see the look of shame and self loathing that now graced Ezra's face as he shut the door.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra Standish had scrubbed so hard at his body he had almost bled, the water turning a dusky pink colour, and he had stopped shocked at his own actions, but then again he heard Chris offering to pay him for sex. Pay him. Ezra had never once whored his body out, he had lain with men before, but never had he rendered his services for money, till now. And he wanted to die, never in all his life on the streets in Georgia and Saint Louis had he offered his body for money, had seen how those men were treated, never in his 30 years on this earth had he felt so humiliated and so ashamed then he did right now. Was this reason that Chris had kept him around? He didn't believe it, but his mind brought up so many instances when he his character had been maligned, surely they didn't all believe that he was a whore? Shaky hands pulled on his clothing, he could see the disgust on Nathan and Josiah's face as he had tried to help those young women to find prospective husbands, and he wondered now if it was because they saw him as a pimp, or rather lower than the women... Standing slowly he made his way out of the door, feeling as if he was somehow broken inside, moving slowly he didn't see the ladies man exiting a room further down the hallway, see his confused features as he stood still on the balcony looking down over the saloon, green eyes staring balefully at the men and women, Chris Larabee stood drinking at the bar, and his saw the satisfied expression on his face, Ezra knew he was going to be sick, moving quickly to the back entrance of the saloon, he stumbled down the back steps, retching was so undignified and he felt a wave of humiliation take hold of him again. Closing his eyes he sagged against the wall, he wanted to die. A hand landing on his shoulder made him jump, and he drew back wild green eyes staring up into the worried concerned countenance of Buck Wilmington.
+ + + + + + +
Buck studied the man that sat on the rail fence, they had been sitting here for hours, Ezra hadn't spoken yet, the devastated look hadn't left the man's eyes yet. He had seen it before in Chris Larbaee's eyes after Sarah and Adam had died, but this look he could remember seeing on many of the ladies faces in the whorehouse where he had grown up. They all had the same look on their faces after they had prostituted for the first time, the self-loathing, and the hatred that tore them up inside. But what scared him was why the hell was Ezra wearing that expression, he had no need to be whoring himself out, and it worried him. He had heard Chris and Nathan talking a week or so ago, about what they suspected of the southern gentleman, Buck had known they were wrong, and this proved it. Looking down at the ground, he waited, not wanting to push the man, terrified of the deadened eyes that now stared at the sprawling land that surrounded the town.
"I want to die..."
The words stole the breath from him and he was catching hold of the southern man before he could think, shaking him hard as he ranted how stupid he was. He was vaguely aware of being pulled away, and seeing the angry blue eyes of the tracker as he shoved him back, before crouching in front of the gambler. Ezra relaxed into Vin's grip, seemingly effortlessly, the tracker wrapping him in the protective circle of his arms. Soothing him with words he couldn't hear, and he bit his lip for the first time noticing the horses that were standing waiting nearby.
"You going somewhere?" Buck asked only to aware of the approaching figure of Chris Larabee, Vin too saw the dark figure and was pulling Ezra to his horse.
"Yeah, going to check some trails...back in a few days..." Vin stated cold blue eyes glancing from him back to Chris, and he shook his head, not knowing how to speak the truth, he didn't want to hurt Ezra, but there was no squashing the fear that he would lose another good friend the way he had lost Larabee, he watched Vin gently guiding Ezra onto his horse, and then the two men were riding away, their horses creating a wind of dust in the air, and he coughed, wondering if he would lose another man he loved to Vin Tanner.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra lay curled on his side, the abandoned house was still sparsely furnished, which was why he lay on the mildewed mattress near the fire, green eyes staring absently into the fire. He was hardly aware of Vin moving around him, the smell of a stew wafted through the house, and he closed his eyes, his stomach rebelling the idea of any food. Images of Chris as he had pleasured him ran through his mind, and opened his eyes not wanting to remember what he had done, how he had sold his soul because it was what had been expected. A blanket was being gently placed around him, and he studied the face of the tracker, there was no pity on his face, only anger that burned like an eternal fire in his eyes. It made his features hard and unforgiving, it reminded him of Chris and he looked away again. A gentle hand rested on his arm, waiting for him to turn his head.
"Eat" the words were flat like an order and he saw the hard glitter in the eyes, and knew that he didn't want to find out what would happen if he refused, rising to a sitting position, he took the offered bowl, surprised out good the food tasted as he swallowed a mouthful, it must have registered on his face, and the trapper blushed slightly. "Gotta keep you strength up" was all he offered in way of reasons, and Ezra wondered not for the first time of the life this man had led. Turning back to the stew in front of him, they ate in silence, the only sounds the noise of the crickets outside. When he was finished his bowl was taken away, and he was given a cup of some awful tasting tea, he never suspected that tea had been obtained from the healer to help a man sleep, just only thought how contradictory a man could be, how Vin had been able to cook a wonderful stew, and still not be able to make a tea worth a penny. As he once again lay on his side, he felt the heaviness of sleep overtake him, and he allowed himself to dream, the possibility of what his life might have been like had he grown up in a family that had wanted him around.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra awoke with a start, his mouth felt like cotton, and his brain was foggy with sleep, blinking slowly, he heard the slow steady sound of an axe on wood, and he raised himself up to a sitting position, surprised when he looked at his watch that it was still early, rising to his feet he moved slowly to the door, not seeing the tracker anywhere, just the constant thud of the axe, and he thanked the heavens he didn't have a hangover otherwise he might not appreciate the noise. Moving carefully around the side of the small house he saw Vin arms raised as he swung the axe, his shirt was hanging over a branch nearby, and the early morning sun, made his skin a honeyed gold, as he stood in its warmth. Sweat glistened over his muscles, and Ezra felt his heart quicken at the magnificent sight, he watched the corded muscles as Vin swung the axe again, muscles rippling as he moved, he was beautiful. Moving back into the house, he tried to steady the thumping of his heart, it seemed the image of Vin in his glory would be branded in his mind, and he pressed the palms of his hand into his eyes, was this was Chris knew, did he know how he desired the touch of another man, how he craved it, but he had never paid for it, why did he approach him.
"Morning" a cheerful voice greeted him, and he spun about seeing the tracker shirt hanging loose around the man's shoulders, unbuttoned, allowing him the vision of that hard muscled stomach, and he smiled weakly at the man.
"Morning" he returned, pleased that his voice remained steady, as the man moved over to the fire dumping a load of wood, as he began to bustle about the house, looking things over, checking what needed fixing. Ezra supposed so that being out here would give him something to do. And he needed to know why the man had brought him out here. Vin seemed to consider the question seriously as he pulled off his gloves, and wiping a hand over his forehead, blue eyes were gentle as he studied him.
"Because I know" he stated and the statement floored Ezra and he gripped the nearby table for support, as he waited for the man to continue.
"I reckon Chris don't know why he does it, maybe he don't want to feel obliged to anyone, might be why he offers to pay, he don't see that he don't need too..." Vin paused lost in his own thoughts as he leant back against the kitchen bench, cocking his hip as he shook his head. "For me it hurt, not a lot, I threw the money back in his face, and we've never spoken about it since..."
"When?" Ezra asked, hardly daring to believe that Chris had also propositioned this man. His hands hurt from where they gripped the table tightly.
"After we got back to town... Think you were in the jail..." Vin offered in way of remembering that time, dates had no real meaning to him, he would of mentioned the passing of the moon in the sky, but that would have meant nothing to the gambler, so he tried to remember what had been happening at the time.
"Ahh..." Ezra breathed out "5 weeks ago..." he peeled his hands free from the table and moved over towards the broken windowpanes, feeling like a drowning man that had been given a line to save himself.
"He couldn't get out of town... all the girls were taken...and I was there..." Vin stated quietly, "It hurt, but I understood he don't want to feel close to anyone...not yet.. His been hurt, I don't know how, but he has..." Vin finished quietly.
Ezra nodded his head, he had also suspected that, and he could see the truth in Vin's words, Chris truly didn't understand how deeply it had hurt him to be paid like that.
"Do you love him?" Vin's question threw him off balance, and it made him laugh shaking his head as he turned around, seeing the curiosity on the man's handsome features.
"Heavens no... I thought he was attractive... But I've always felt that way. Love him... no. I suspect that I am not capable of that emotion..." he was cut off by the scornfully snort.
"Don't be an idiot, you just never found anyone to trust enough to love..."
Ezra considered the words, and realised that Vin had pegged it true "Yes perhaps your right... I had thought that I might find it in this town..."
"Yeah?" but Ezra was through with talking as he turned away again, not wanting the man to know the truth, how it had been Vin who he had longed for many a night, how he knew that he already cared for this man, which was why he had allowed him to take him out of town the previous evening. And why he had spoken so honestly just now, for he knew Vin would tell no one what had passed between them here, but Vin could never want him. Hearing the resigned sigh as Vin continued on with his self appointed tasks, he allowed himself the luxury of remembering how good it had felt to be taken care of by Vin Tanner, who ever captured that man's heart would surely have found a pot of gold. Moving away from the window he walked out the door, to sit on the step. He hadn't paid much attention to the house when he had arrived, it wasn't very big, it had one large bedroom that was separate to the large living area that held the kitchen and fireplace. But its view over the surrounding acres was spectacular, and he shook his head, wondering how Vin had found this place. Warmth settled in his gut as he realised that Vin trusted him enough to bring him here. There was a small spring that ran by the house, he ruefully shrugged his head, it was more like a cabin. The spring ran over the rocks, and ran into a large rock pool before continuing on its downward path towards the town.
"Beautiful ain't it" the soft Texas drawl startled him, and he jumped, wondering if his nerves would adjust to the emotional trauma he had put himself through.
"Yes it is..." he agreed quietly, returning to his perusing over the landscape. Wild flowers dotted the ground, he had never enjoyed the wilderness but this place was like a sanctuary. He felt the presence of Vin leave as he continued with the repairs to the cabin. Left to his thoughts he turned his attention to what Vin had told him about what Chris had done to the tracker and to himself. Was he just weaker than Vin, took it more personally? No, the asking for his services had taken him by surprised, he hadn't expected that, and that was what had hurt the most, because Chris had come into his room and asked for something that he had promised himself he would never do, and he allowed the fear of being thrown out of the town to lead him to say yes. And the fear had settled that they all believed himself to be a whore. Shaking his head he realised that these thoughts were getting him no where, and he rose to his feet, he would help Vin with the repairs, if nothing else it would distract him from his thoughts.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra watched the play of shadows over the walls, the fire feeling the room with its warm glow, they had passed the rest of the day in silence, neither speaking much, just continued about their chores. The day had passed quickly, and he now lay exhausted in front of the fire, he had thought continuously over Vin's words and Chris actions, and he had come to the conclusion of what truly bothered him, it was the fear inside that all that Chris saw him was the potential to prostitute himself out, the offer of a second chance had made him believe that he could be more that the ideal he had been presented by his mother, and now that hope had been taken away, and he felt bereft, as Chris in placing the silver dollar on the bedside table had stolen all his hopes and dreams, and Ezra found he needed to talk. Clearing his throat he turned to lie on his stomach so he could face the trapper that lay on his side head pillowed on his arm, eyes closed in the image of sleeping, but Ezra knew he wasn't asleep, so he spoke quietly as if the actually asking of the question might destroy him.
"Is that all you see in me?"
Ezra knew the question might be confusing to anyone but this man, who seemed to understand his convoluted way of thinking and he watched the man breath out as he opened his eyes to stare at him.
"No, I don't see that in you, neither do the rest of the men..." it was stated without any hint of uncertainty, and Ezra stared back at the fire, mulling over the words before he spoke again.
"I didn't expect him too... When he came into my room..." he shook his head, unsure of what he was trying to say, and he heard the rustling of the other man moving, and he felt the presence of Vin moving to lie beside him. It gave him the strength to continue, knowing he had to speak about it or it would consume him whole.
"I thought if I didn't he would make me leave... I didn't consider saying no..." he trailed to a stop, biting his lip to try and suppress the tears that were welling up in his eyes. He felt Vin's soothing hand running up and down the spine of his back, and he turned his head to look at the man now, seeing the understanding there and he finally spoke the fear that had been in his heart since his childhood. "I just want someone to love me..." He felt the sob bubble from his throat, ashamed at his weakness and he closed his eyes allowing Vin to cradle his head against his chest, feeling the strong arms wrap around him, holding him close, and he thought bleakly 'I just want you to love me' allowing the tears to come, only aware of the reassuring thump of Vin's heart in his ear as he held him.
+ + + + + + +
Their arrival back in the town the following afternoon was unremarkable, but Ezra felt the terrible shame that had consumed him when he left had faded, it still hurt, but the need to curl up and die had withered away into a calm acceptance, and it was due largely to Vin Tanner, who in his quiet way had shown him how to just keep on living. The fledging friendship that had been there between since the beginning was stronger, a shared pain had forged the fire, so now he felt safe in the knowledge that Vin would always be there. Ezra knew that he loved Vin Tanner, but he was happy to accept the friendship, for that was more than he had known before, striding into the saloon, cards falling into his hands like old friends he felt at ease, so he sought a card table. Perhaps if he hadn't of felt so raw emotionally he would have been able to take Nathan's jokes as they were intended, but as he overheard the remark about whether he would bet the money he had earned this week, he felt his body go cold, his skin crawling with the implication for as he raised his eyes to meet the healers, all he could see was the dark hunger that had been in Chris's eyes as he had asked for his 'services'. Shaking his head he was standing and backing away from the table and up to his room, the door rocking on its hinges as he slammed it shut. A second later the door opened and Buck was striding into the room with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"You okay?"
Ezra raised a hand as he debated the answer and he longed for the solitude of the cabin, and the reassuring presence of the trapper, tilting his head he answered his voice husky with his pain. "I will be..." and he looked back at the ladies man, wondering if Chris had propositioned this man. "Have you and Chris..." he trailed off seeing the colour fade from the man's face, and he looked wounded as if Ezra had just stabbed him. And he watched in surprise as the man turned his back on him.
"Long time ago, before..." Buck stopped and then he gave a half hearted laugh "We go back a ways, I care for him..." he finished and the finality of the tone left the southern man in no doubt that there would be no questioning on the subject again. Blue eyes looked back at him, and he was suddenly caught in the myriad of emotions that shone through them, and it was with a man who loved someone that he couldn't have that he recognised the same unrequited emotion in Wilmington's face, and that this time he was the recipient of these feelings, and he spoke gently sadly "I'm sorry Buck."
Ezra watched the sadness creep into the man's eyes eating the hope as it dwindled and died, at the knowledge that he would never have that which he loved, and he wanted to cry out at the fickleness of Josiah's God, not for the first time wondering if the Greek Gods were still around playing havoc in their lives.
Ezra looked back out of the window, as the door clicked shut, feeling the empty gnawing feeling of loneliness in his gut, he knew that Buck would be finding a woman to burn away the unwarranted emotions, and as he felt the heavy weight of that silver dollar in his pocket, Ezra made his way back down into the saloon, allowing the noise to comfort him as he moved to a separate card table, ignoring the other lawmen, he had no wish to render his services for payment again, he had more pride than that. He was Ezra Standish, he might be a gambler, but he would never ever offer his body for payment again, Chris Larabee was the first and the last, and with that in mind he waved for Inez to bring him a bottle of whiskey, he would be drinking his dinner.
+ + + + + + +
The next few days passed in awkward silence between the men, and Ezra found that only Vin and JD sought his company, and the feeling of the bastard child who had outstayed their welcome crept over him. Ezra missed talking with Josiah, he had enjoyed the way the man had called him son, it had chafed the term of affection never being used in reference to him, but he missed the laughs that they shared. Ezra sipped cautiously at his coffee as he stared about the empty saloon, Buck had avoided him, it was to be expected he had rejected the man, but still Buck's presence had been a huge balm to in the first few days, making him laugh, Buck had been the first to offer him friendship. And he missed sharing breakfast and a joke, sad green eyes contemplated the black brew that he drank, had he outstayed his welcome, the soft clang of spurs on the ground made him look up, and he found Chris Larabee approaching, his long black coat had been exchanged in favour of the short one, and he waited holding his breath as the man called for some coffee as he sank down in the free chair. Ezra was sure that this was where he would be asked to leave, but as the coffee was placed in front of the blonde man, the man smiled hazel eyes catching in the light, he was a highly attractive man. Ezra silently cursed him, he would have slept with him for nothing, he had only to ask, he wouldn't have asked for more.
"I'm sorry" the softly spoken words had Ezra's mind in a spin and he gazed in astonishment at the man, trying to think of a suitable response. Chris seemed to take in silence in his stride as he sipped from the hot brew that Inez called coffee. Just as Ezra was getting his brain into gear the man spoke again, the gentle tone, made the anger he had been harbouring fizzle away.
"I thought... I just got so worked up... And I had no one... I had thought you had done it before, and I figured the only way you would sleep with me was if I offered payment, I was wrong. I ain't sorry I slept with you.. it was good...real good..." Larabee flushed with colour as the last words but he met the green eyes gaze with a confidence that only this man retained even while under pressure. "Anyway, I'm sorry.." he fell silent, sipping quietly from his coffee, allowing the impact of his words to settle on the gambler, understanding the need for quiet.
"It was good..." Ezra finally managed at last, accepting the olive branch that Chris had given him, knowing that it had taken a lot for the man to admit that his actions might have hurt him. So he allowed the grin to light his face, unaware of how much younger he looked, and he chuckled, they would be fine, and he finally let go of the shame, that had been haunting him. "Very good" he smirked taking a sip of his coffee, enjoying the laugh from their leader as he leant back in his chair as he joined him. They had enjoyed it, but there was no need for the declaration of feelings, they were friends, and Ezra suspected that was the reason it had been good.
+ + + + + + +
Days passed and things gradually eased, Buck stopped avoiding him and Josiah had taken to calling him son, but still the ache in his heart increased, and Ezra knew that he would have to address his feelings for the sharpshooter soon, it was Chris Larabee as they rode back from visiting a small farmstead that pressed him on the issue. It seemed that their friendship had become stronger since that time, and now Ezra found he could talk easily with Chris, trusted him. They would always fight, but it was also with the knowledge that he would be part of the team. So as Chris pestered him on why he was avoiding Vin, he longed to speak freely of his love that seemed to be growing by the day, and he reigned his horse to a stop as he gazed unseeingly over the dusty road, hardly aware of the man beside him, as he spoke of his feelings. He expected to hear laughter and scorn, but only heard the deep sigh of sadness, and the squeeze of his arm as Chris spoke gently. "I'm sorry Ezra" and he nodded knowing that there was nothing for Chris to say, Vin had never shown any more interest in him apart from that as a friend, and that was that, as far as he was concerned, Chris never spoke of it again.
Five days later to the day, Ezra found himself riding up to the cabin that had been his sanctuary during those dark days. The other men thought that he was in Eaglebend visiting his mother, and he had a day or two up his sleeve before they would check, and if he did encounter trouble, he had left a note for Chris Larabee telling of him where he would be. So now as he rode into the clearing he was pleased to see that it was still standing, tethering his horse he quickly set about getting a fire going. The rooms inside still looked exactly the way they had left it, the mattress still lay strewn in front of the fire. Removing his jacket he set about cutting some firewood, sometime later he carried the wood inside. Pleased that he hadn't smoked the place out and that the damp smell was fading as the fire roared. Grabbing a bucket he headed towards the rock pool, pausing as to splash water over his face, before taking a long drink. The water tasted clean and fresh, and he realised it had been a long time since he had tasted water so clean. Filling the bucket up he made his way back up the slope towards the cabin.
"HOLD IT!" the voice booming out, startled him dropping the pail of water, as he reached for his gun instinctively, as he crouched low to the ground trying to spot where the voice was, but the feel of a gun in the base of his skull made him freeze.
"Hell Ezra, ain't ever seen you work so hard..." the low lazy drawl of the tracker had him turning to look up into the laughing blue eyes of Vin Tanner, who shifted back allowing the man to stand.
"Mr.Tanner! You could have got yourself shot" he snapped as he reached for his bucket again, and heard only the sound of laughter as the man rested his gun back on his shoulder. Seeing that the man was enjoying this he shoved the bucket at the man, and ordered curtly "If you want any fresh water go get it yourself" turning on his heel he began walking back up the hill, with the sound of Vin's laughter following him.
Inside the cabin Ezra stripped himself from his sweaty shirt, he frowned as he looked through his saddle bags, realising with a annoyed sigh that he had forgotten to replace the shirt in his saddle bag after the spare had been used for bandages in a gun fight that had left Josiah sporting a wounded leg and JD a nick in the arm.
"Getting ready to have a bath?" Vin Tanner asked as he strolled into the cabin, placing the pail of water in the small kitchen. Ezra flushed as he shook his head the darkness was descending quickly and Vin seemed to read his thoughts.
"I've put the horses under shelter by the trees, and moving out of the cabin he was gone for a minute before he returned carrying his saddlebags. Placing them next to Ezra's, he continued to move about the cabin, checking things over, and Ezra stood still feeling completely out of his depth. He moved to sit on the mattress, it was like sweet torture to be here with Vin, shaking his head he started as he felt Vin sink down next to him, speaking quietly.
"We need to talk"
Ezra frowned at the seriousness of the tone and he cocked his head to look at the trapper, only to see that Vin was far closer than he had imagined, and as Vin closed the distance he whimpered as he they kissed, it was more than he had ever imagined, and as they broke apart the trapper's eyes were filled with such a warmth that Ezra could hardly remember to breathe as he this time leaned forward kissing the man, it was a tentative kiss, filled with all the longing and love that he had kept hidden for so long. Ezra shivered as he felt Vin slowly push him back on the matt, and aligned his body over his, the kiss seemed to last an eternity but it may have been only seconds, and Vin gazed down at him with a smile.
"I care for you Ez, perhaps even love you..." Vin stated quietly, as his thumb moved back and forth over the man's cheek. Ezra blinked, willing the tightness in his throat to go away, as the soft gentle touch on his cheek was undoing him. How could this be, he had resigned himself to unrequited love for this man. And it was lucky for him that Vin didn't expect any words as he kissed him again, and suddenly no words were needed, and they set about exploring each others body, clothing being peeled away from bodies, and then finally Vin was thrusting deep into Ezra, bodies moving together in the age old dance, that had them holding tightly to each other, their cries of passion echoed around the cabin, leaving them drained, and as Vin collapsed down on him, Ezra whispered softly to the man that had held his heart for so long that he loved him.
Ezra watched the blue eyes light with such joy that Ezra knew that finally the gnawing emptiness had been banished, resting his head on the broad chest of the tracker, he heard the reassuring thump of his heart that had eased his pain so many months ago, and linking their hands he heard the soft sigh of contentment of the trapper as they finally surrendered to sleep.
Fini
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