ATF Universe
"If you don't stop being so goddamned disgustingly cheerful, Tanner, I may have to seriously consider dragging my ass out of this bed to hurt you." Rory opened one eye and glared at the sharpshooter who was busy shimmying around the room as he put his clothes on. He was whistling something that sounded suspiciously like that old 50's tune, My Boyfriend's Back. "It's 6:00 am for crying out loud. Even the birds haven't had their morning coffee yet." Rory complained, trying to burrow deeper under the covers."Birds don't drink coffee, Ror'." Vin stopped whistling long enough to point this out.
Rory reached down beside the bed and fumbled for the sneaker he thought he remembered seeing there. Then he threw it in Vin's direction before burrowing once more under the covers.
Vin dodged the hurled shoe and ambled over to the bed. Pausing a moment, he pursed his lips, gazing down at the mound of blankets that was Rory. Quietly he reached out and grabbed the pitcher of ice water that Rory always kept on the nightstand with one hand, and with the other he snatched the coverings off his friend - leaving the smooth skin of chest and abdomen naked and vulnerable. Then he swiftly upended the pitcher of water and jumped back out of arm's reach.
"Aaaahhh!!! Shit! That's fucking cold! I hope your life insurance is paid up, you bastard, cause I'm going to kill you!" Rory leapt out of the now soaking wet bed, shivering and cursing.
Vin just laughed. "Thought that might wake ya up."
"What, you couldn't have just said wake up you lazy git?"
"I reckon. But this way was more fun. You squeal like a girl, Ror', you know that? It's kinda cute, though." Vin picked up a robe off the floor near his feet and tossed it to his still shivering companion as he spoke.
"Fuck you, Tanner." Rory growled, belting the robe around his waist. He ran a hand through disheveled black hair, glaring at Vin.
"Been there, done that. Time to move on." The sharpshooter's tone changed a bit on the last few words and Rory peered closely at him before sighing and finally smiling ruefully.
"I have a feeling you're trying to tell me something here, Tanner. Mind if I go make myself some coffee while I listen?"
"I'll make it. You make sissy coffee. It's why you ain't got no hair on your chest."
"And here I just thought it was something handed down from my Indian forebears." Rory said dryly, following Vin out of the bedroom. "I've had your coffee before, Vin. The only thing it gave me was indigestion."
+ + + + + + +
"So what's on your mind, Vin?" Rory cautiously stuck one finger in the still steaming coffee Vin had just placed in front of him. Lifting the finger to his lips he tasted it, grimacing slightly. It was as bad as he remembered, if not worse.
"I hardly know where to start, Ror'." The sharpshooter sank down into the chair opposite his companion with a sigh.
"How about telling me why you woke up in such a good mood this morning. Truthfully, I expected to wake up to a tidal wave of guilt and remorse. Hell, maybe even a tear or two just to sort of round things out."
"Chris is coming back in a couple of days. Don't know if I told you that last night."
Rory nodded. "You mentioned it." He didn't sound thrilled and Vin shifted uncomfortably.
"I know you ain't exactly fond of Chris..."
"I'm sorry, Vin. I know you care about him, so he must be a good guy..." It was Rory's turn to shift uncomfortably.
"He is. That's why I was happy this morning."
Rory stared at Vin. "You're happy because you have this really great guy and you just cheated on him with your ex lover whose guts he'd like to use to restring his tennis racket? Geez, and I thought I was fucked up."
Vin shook his head and glanced down at the table before raising his eyes to meet Rory's. "No. Happy cause I finally realized I don't need to cheat anymore. Cause I do have a really great guy and that's enough for me now."
"Glad I could help bring you to that little realization." Rory said sarcastically.
"Awww hell. I'm sorry, Ror'. You know I didn't mean it like that. It's just that..."
"You love him. I know." Rory sighed wearily.
"I wish you could get to know him. Chris Larabee can charm the birds outta the trees when he puts his mind to it. It's just that he don't put his mind to it very often." Vin smiled and Rory reluctantly smiled back.
"It's a damn good thing I like you, Tanner."
"Huh. And here I thought you loved me. Cause I'm so cute and all."
"In your dreams, Tanner. In your dreams." If Vin had been looking in Rory's direction, he might have seen a different truth in the brown eyes, but he had already turned away, busy with thoughts of Chris. Only two more days til he got back. Vin could hardly wait.
+ + + + + + + "Hey, cowboy. You're home." Vin's raspy drawl filled his ears.
"Vin. I just got back." Chris replied tightly.
"You feel up to some company?"
"I..."
"I've missed ya, cowboy." Chris clenched his jaw til he thought it would crack from the pressure at Vin's words. Lying son of a bitch
"Yeah. Me too." Summoning up all the self control he possessed, Chris forced the words out.
"So?" Vin asked.
"What?"
"You want some company or not?" The sharpshooter was starting to sound a bit exasperated.
Did he want company? Want Vin? Yes. And he would have him. But Vin was going to pay for what he did. One way or another.
"Yes." Chris hung up the phone and walked over to the liquor cabinet against the wall. He needed a drink.
+ + + + + + +
"Chris?" Vin called out, hurrying into the house. He felt almost giddy with excitement at the prospect of seeing his lover again after a week's absence.
"Chris?" Vin called again, frowning slightly when there was no answer.
He walked into the den, still frowning. His expression lightened, however, when he saw Chris lying on the couch, apparently asleep.
"Don't look like no Sleeping Beauty I ever saw, cowboy." Vin whispered teasingly, bending down to brush his lips across his lover's.
"Don't talk." Chris commanded, opening his eyes. "Don't say anything. Just..." Chris reached up and wrapped his hands in the loose material of Vin's shirt, yanking the sharpshooter down across his body. He didn't think he could stand to hear any of Vin's lies right now. Right now he just wanted to touch Vin. To erase the memory of Rory from Vin's mind. If only he could erase his own memory as easily.
Vin smiled, completely misunderstanding the reasons behind Chris's actions.
Damn you, Vin Tanner. Chris closed his eyes, not wanting to see or hear, but only to feel. At least for tonight.
+ + + + + + +
"Rory? Pick up the phone. It's only 7:30 in the morning. I know your lazy ass ain't left the house yet."
"Tanner. This had better be good." Rory's sleepy voice could be heard through the phone.
"Well, interesting, anyway. Don't know about good."
"I don't do interesting this early in the morning."
"Chris wants you to come over for dinner tonight."
"Run that by me again."
"Chris. Wants. You. To. Come. Over. For. Dinner. Tonight."
"That sounds fatal, not interesting."
"Coward."
"Damn straight. I'm not in the Army anymore. I don't get paid to be suicidal."
"Come on, Ror'." Vin coaxed. Chris had brought the idea up on the way to work this morning and Vin was willing to do whatever it took to bury that particular ghost of Chris's once and for all. If Chris thought getting to know his "enemy" would help then that's exactly what they would do. Whether Rory liked it or not.
"What brought this on?" Rory asked suspiciously.
"Chris said he'd spent a lot of time thinkin' on this trip. Wasn't nothin' else to do. And he thought it might be a good idea to get to know you a bit. Us bein' friends and all. I just think he realized he was throwin' away his only chance for a decent game of tennis." Vin grinned briefly at the memory of Chris's disgruntled expression as he'd said this. "Since you suck at the game." Rory snorted. "Awwww hell. What time?" He capitulated with a sigh.
"Seven. Thanks, Ror'." Vin hung up the phone and turned back to the computer terminal. He and Chris were the only ones in the office this early, so it was quiet. That just felt plain unnatural. He began typing up one of his reports, his attention only half on his work. What if Chris and Rory tried to kill each other tonight? There'd probably be wine with dinner, too Shit. He better hide the key to Chris's gun cabinet.
+ + + + + + +
"True story. Scout's honor." Chris Larabee took a sip of his after dinner whisky and smiled in Rory's direction.
"As a former boy scout, myself, I'm afraid I know exactly how much that's worth." Rory shook his head, still laughing. Vin had been right. Chris Larabee could charm the friggin' birds out of the trees. Or at least, one former Army Ranger out of his pants. Why hadn't he remembered Chris as being so goddamned good looking? Probably had something to do with him being out for my blood that day. All that tendon popping, vein throbbing anger stuff doesn't do much for a person's looks.
Guiltily, he realized he was thinking about his friend's lover. Wondering what he'd look like naked. He and Vin had always been attracted to the same guys. Come on Ror'. Keep it in your pants. Hell, he really was the dog that all his friends accused him of being. Here he was, half in love with Vin and still thinking he'd like to see what lay under Chris Larabee's tight black pants.
Vin watched as his lovers, past and present, got on like a house afire. It was a good feeling to know Chris was doing this for him. Because he loved Vin. That thought still made him squirm sometimes. Mostly with delight. Occasionally with a little fear. Cause loving someone like he did Chris meant you had something to lose if push came to shove. But he tried not to think too much about that aspect of things. He knew Chris. Knew Chris was there for the long haul. And now Vin was, too. He was sure of it.
"Do you like to ride, Rory?" Chris was asking as Vin focused his attention back on the conversation.
"Yeah." Rory's tone was slightly wistful.
"Why don't you come on out to the ranch here on Sunday afternoon? Vin has his karate class then, so I'm short a riding companion."
Rory glanced at Vin, gauging his reaction. When the other man shrugged, smiling slightly. he turned to Chris. "That would be great. I'm a little rusty, though."
"Not a problem." Chris smiled, shooting a glance at Vin that Rory couldn't quite fathom.
"Well, I don't want to wear out my welcome." Rory got to his feet a few minutes later and offered his hand to Chris. "Thanks for having me."
"My pleasure." Rory ran his gaze appreciatively over Chris as the other man rose easily to his feet and took his hand in a firm grip. They shook briefly, before Rory turned to Vin and nudged him with one foot.
"And as for you, Tanner. I'd say thanks for dinner, but since it wasn't either burned or absolutely drenched in hot sauce, I know you didn't have anything to do with it." Rory grinned and dodged the booted foot Vin aimed in his direction.
"With friends like you Ror', a fella don't need enemies." Vin also rose to his feet and the three men made their way to the front door. All three of the men wore similiar smiles, but the reasons behind those smiles were realms apart for each of them.
+ + + + + + +
"That was great, Chris. Thanks again." Rory swung down off his horse, his smile changing to a wince of pain as his muscles protested that action.
"You hurting a bit there?" Chris slid easily to the ground from his own mount, showing no sign of any pain. Or at least, none that had anything to do with riding. Shit. Aside from the fact that he felt sick to his stomach nearly every waking moment of every day and his chest felt like it had a couple of steel bands around it, cutting off his air supply and his emotions were in such a tangle that he sometimes felt like he was on the verge of blacking out, he felt just great. Fine. Never better. Thank you very much you bastard, Vin.
"Is it that obvious?" Rory asked a bit ruefully.
Chris suppressed a twinge of something as he began leading his horse toward the barn, with Rory and his mount falling into step beside him. He hadn't ever considered the possibility that he might actually like Rory. Or he could have, if Vin hadn't been between them.
"I have a hot tub. Works wonders for sore muscles. I used it myself many a time when I first started riding again." Chris turned his head slightly to look at Rory.
Down boy. Rory ordered himself sternly. "You don't mind?" he asked.
"No. I don't mind." The only thing I mind right now is the fact that Vin fucked you three months after he told me all that shit about how much he loved me. Yeah right. That's why the minute I turned my back, he was out tomcatting around.
"Ok. Thanks. Remind me to tell Vin how lucky he is sometime."
"Yeah."
+ + + + + + +
"This feels wonderful." Rory sighed and closed his eyes in sheer bliss as the hot water swirled around him, soothing angry muscles.
"I know something else that might feel even better." Chris slid over til his bare thigh brushed against Rory's.
Rory's eyes flew open. He recognized that tone of voice. He'd just never expected to hear it coming from Chris Larabee. Shit.
"That was supposed to be your cue, you know." Chris said wryly as Rory continued to sit there, mouth gaping open in shock.
"But Vin... You..." Rory shook his head, feeling the play of muscle in Chris's thigh as the other man shifted position slightly.
"Vin and I don't have anything to do with You and I right here and right now."
"I can't... it..." Rory shook his head again.
"But you want to, don't you?" Chris's mouth was right near Rory's ear as he whispered the words.
"Shit." Rory whispered in response.
Slowly, Chris ran a hand down his companion's chest, til it came to rest just slightly below his navel.
"Think about it. " Chris gave Rory a lingering kiss before easing himself out of the water and wrapping a towel around his waist.
"Yeah." Rory climbed out of the hot tub a few minutes later. There was no sign of Chris. What the fuck had just happened? And more importantly, what the fuck was going to happen?
Comments to: mismiz@alltel.net