Sunrise in Blue Eyes
Disclaimer: Not mine, we know where they belong, but as long as they allow me, I'll take them out and play with 'em.
Acknowledgements: For Ms Sue and Ms Ruby J. ... who need to favor us with some C/V fic sometime in the (hopefully) near future.
Notes: Just a little bit of fluff, no plot really. Some Vin hurtin' and Chris comfortin'... some Chris and Vin lovin'.
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"Nathan's gonna be pissed."
"Yeah, well, if we play our cards right, he'll never know. He's not due back from the village for another couple days."
The two men whispered as they made their escape from the confines of town. Chris Larabee finished tacking the black horse that they would share, while Vin Tanner sat on an upturned barrel, a quilt wrapped around his shoulders.
Three months ago, the Texan had been on his death bed; his friends gathering to say good-bye. But, something just short of a miracle occurred, and he began to recover. Until two weeks ago, he was confined to bed; nearly every need cared for by others. Now, finally, he was growing stronger by the day and seemed far less fragile than he had even a week ago. So much so that Nathan Jackson, who had been overseeing his care throughout his long illness, had felt comfortable enough to leave town for a few days. The healer had announced to everyone that he would be checking on the inhabitants of the Seminole village. The other six peacekeepers knew, however, that he was going to check on one particular inhabitant.
Larabee saw it as the perfect time to get his lover away from town for a few hours. Tanner had seen nothing but four walls for far too long, even if he had been delirious for part of that time. The woolly-to-the-bone Texan needed fresh air and sunshine. He was as certain of that as he was that he loved Vin Tanner.
And he did love Vin Tanner.
They had made peace with their very private relationship several months before Vin had been stricken ill, and nothing had changed in the interim. Or, perhaps it had. Looking over at the younger man, Chris felt it to the depths of his soul. He was even more in love with Tanner than he had ever thought possible.
Finishing with the big black, the blond turned and stared directly into one dark eye. "Now, we've got a deal, right, you hellspawn? You're gonna behave the entire trip, or the buzzards will be enjoying your carcass tomorrow."
"Hey, don't be threatenin' my horse," Vin protested. His voice was even raspier than it had been, and barely more than a whisper. Nathan had predicted that it would return eventually, but he questioned it every day. He was determined that nothing would spoil this day, though. With a soft smile, he finished, "I'd hate ta have ta shoot ya."
With a smirk, the gunslinger said, "I'll risk it. But so help me, if he acts up..."
Pushing himself to his feet and shuffling the few steps to where Peso stood, Vin let go of the quilt with one hand. Reaching out, he scratched the big, blazed, face. "Yer gonna be good, now, ain't ya?"
As if understanding what the man said, the big animal snuffed and shook his head, tack jingling.
Coming up behind the slender man, Larabee said, "We'll see. Now, let's get you mounted." Rolling his eyes at the broad grin the other man favored him with, he said, "You behave, or I'll take you back to your room."
Leaning back into the other man's embrace, Vin murmured, "Long's yer with me."
Bending down and whispering into one pale ear, Chris replied, "Behave, or I'll let you fall off the damn mule first time he gets a wild hair."
Huffing, Vin retorted, "Yer jist no fun anymore, Larabee."
Hoisting the too-thin man into the saddle, the older man shook his head. "Never claimed to be fun."
"Good thing. Yer 'bout as sour 's Casey's lemonade."
"Nothing is that sour," Chris observed as he climbed up behind the other man. Making certain the quilt was tucked close around shoulders that, he observed, were trembling slightly even though the morning was warm, he led the horse out of the livery. They moved out onto the quiet street, blanketed by the waning darkness. The horse would be traveling well-known ground, though, so didn't need the luxury of light to get there.~o~
They weren't far outside town before Chris felt the body in front of him sag toward him. Taking a firmer hold on the other man, he settled Vin back against him. The Texan sighed, snuggled deeper into that embrace, and slipped deeper into sleep.
They rode for nearly an hour, the sun just sending its first tendrils of gray light over the edge of the horizon, before they reached their destination. Chris guided the big black deeper into the rich greenery that surrounded the mountain fed spring they were headed for.
Nuzzling the square jaw of his lover, Chris murmured, "We're here."
"Mm," Vin sighed, a smile spreading over his lips even before he woke. Blue eyes opened part way. "Yeah?"
Smiling now himself, Larabee replied, "Yeah."
Reining the surprisingly well-behaved beast in, the man in black made certain his companion was balanced on the horse before he dismounted. Seeing that Tanner meant to follow, he said, "You sit still."
"Chris..."
"I'm not going to explain any broken bones, torn muscles or stray bruises. Sit still."
"Grouchy."
"You've got it." Tying the reins off on a nearby branch, he reached up. "Come on, now."
"Ah, hell." Tanner groused. He had slipped the quilt off, and swung his leg over the saddle. "Ain't no ol' lady."
"No? Well, you're griping like one. Come on."
Still grousing, Vin placed his hands on Chris' broad shoulders while his lover's strong hands wrapped themselves over his now-boney hips. More than the fact that Larabee had to help him off the horse, he hated that the man could feel just how scrawny he'd become. He'd never been one for spare flesh, but now he didn't even have much in the way of muscle. It had wasted away while he'd fought his way back from the eternal beyond. He imagined a scarecrow had more to it than he did.
Chris didn't notice the lack of body beneath his touch, he was far too entranced by the fragile beauty of the man he held. Despite the pallor of long illness, Vin was still the handsomest man he'd ever beheld. Lifting Tanner down, he paused to brush back a stray lock of chestnut colored hair. He also measured the man's strength by the pinched look and translucent features. "Okay?"
"'M fine," Vin managed as he let his head drop to one broad shoulder. As those strong arms wrapped around him, he sighed, reveling in the total, unimaginable feeling of love that warmed him.
Pressing a kiss against one temple, Chris coaxed softly, "Come on, let's get you settled in and comfortable."
"Like it jist fine, right here."
"Yeah?"
"Mm."
"Well, I think you'll like what I've got in mind, even better."
"Yeah?" Blue eyes lit up as Tanner caught the other man's gaze with his.
Chuckling now, Larabee said, only, "Get your brain above your belt buckle, son." Ignoring the grumbling that was the reply, he caught up the forgotten quilt before he guided the smaller man across the small clearing, to the place he'd chosen several days ago. There, he adjusted his hold, slipping behind Tanner. Guiding them both to the ground, he leaned back against a tree, Vin bracketed by his legs. Flipping the quilt over the once again trembling man, he did his best to make Vin comfortable.
With a sigh, the Texan allowed himself to relax completely, all but melting against the broad chest at his back. "Lord, God, I could jist up and die right now... 'cause this has gotta be heaven."
Larabee's breath caught at the lightly spoken words. The days and nights of worry and fear came back with a vengeance. Memories of holding the body in his arms as it writhed in fever-born pain; bathing that body with cloth-wrapped ice, while the other man begged to be released from the agony. And, he remembered with guilt and embarrassment, praying that his lover didn't say the wrong thing; didn't risk both their lives with words that couldn't be explained away by fever.
"Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Ya okay? Ya got awful quiet."
"Sorry. Just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
"Nothing we need to talk about right now. Don't want to ruin this moment." As he spoke, he gently turned Vin's face, his hand tenderly cupping that fine chin.
Tanner let out a little gasp as he was greeted by the sun, shining down as if just for him this day. The warmth soaked into his body; it seemed the first time he'd been truly warm for years. He sighed, his smile broadening, threatening to split his pale face. "Oh... lord."
Chris turned so he could see the other man's face in profile. He saw the single tear that rolled down one translucent cheek, catching it with a fingertip. Then he saw what he had dreamed of for so long.
The sun rose in those blue eyes, reflected back with a brilliance that threatened to take his breath away. And he knew, for the first time in far too long, that his friend and lover would truly be well.
Too overwhelmed by words, Chris brushed his lips over that tear-tracked cheek. Then he leaned his own cheek against that tousled hair.
A new day had dawned.The End
July 23, 2007