ATF Universe
Conclusion to Table for Two
Disclaimer: Wish I did, but I don't. Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide, CBS and TNN all have that privilege. Even if I could have one or two to keep, by the looks of things, I'd be standing at the back of a verrry long line.
Note: I'm really a C/V fan, but somehow Ezra and Buck wouldn't leave this alone. So here they are again, I hope you E fans like what I did with this.
"Buck. Buck?"Ezra was dumbfounded. He tossed back half the Grand Marnier held in his hand and stared at the man before him. Here he'd spent most of the dinner perspiring over the fact he'd had a foot, a woman's foot, that is, the big boss's niece's foot massaging his...his...well, his package, if you will, and now it turned out the foot in question had really been attached to one Mr. Buck Wilmington. The man for whom he'd secretly yearned, desired and pined away for, for all these many months.
God, he needed another drink.
"Yep,'tis me. Were you expectin' someone else, maybe?" Big white teeth were shining at him from under that impossibly dark moustache. Ezra felt a slight trembling course his veins as he heard the softly whispered words.
"No, I really wasn't expecting anything. Especially not the foot of a co-worker taking up residence in my privates." He hissed back, thinking his voice was sounding a tad harsher than intended. How accurate he'd been in wondering how that petite a woman could manage such vast coverage with her toes. And the toes. Lord, those toes. Long, firm, agile toes. Buck's toes.
Ezra frowned, 'What, exactly, was Buck trying to manipulate here, anyway? Besides the obvious, of course.' His nerves were on-edge, curiousity and doubt melding as one.
"Gee, EZ, y'make it sound like y'didn't like what all-," Buck whispered again, somewhat louder before being cut short by the outburst across the table, two seats down.
"What IS this under my feet I've been kickin' at all night?" JD complained, reaching under his chair for the offending object. "What th' hell? Buck, is this your shoe?" He held up the offending size 12.
"Well, that explains the smell," Vin teased.
"Hell, Vin, could be worse Buck could be far-"
"That is absolutely enough outta the two o'you!," Buck raged. Here he was trying to quietly dole out a little smooth seduction over here in private, and these two clowns..."And gimme that back, JD!" He grabbed at the brown leather loafer, then placed it back on his own foot.
He glanced up at Ezra, who was staring, somewhat mortified, into his apertif.
This was definetly NOT going as he had planned.
Buck leaned forward, trying again.
"Ezra, I certainly didn't mean t'-" Again, he was interrupted. He looked up.
Nathan and Rain stood over him, bidding their goodnights and departed, Josiah following shortly after.
Aaah, finally, three down, three to go.
"Guessin' I'm goin' too, then. Chris, you leavin'?" Vin turned to the team leader, whose glare remained frozen on the normally handsome face. Vin's skin twitched as he felt twin daggers aim between his shoulderblades, the paper Travis' niece handed him dropped surreptitiously to the floor.
"Drop somethin'?" Larabee hissed, bending to retrieve the slip of paper.
"Nope. Jus' some trash is all," Vin said, plastering a smile on his face. Shit, shit, shit, why'd that woman choose him to slip her number to? Why not Ezra or Buck? 'Specially Buck, he had that way with women. Some men, too. Hell.
Chris let a small grin crack the scowl on his face and shook his head. "C'mon, Vin. I'll walk out with you. See you guys later."
"Well, I guess I oughta get a move on, too. Told Casey I'd meet her bright and early tomorrow. Buck, you ready?" JD asked his co-worker and roommate, pushing back his chair.
"Nah, JD. I'm gonna stay, keep Ezra comp'ny while he finishes that drink he's nursing to death. He'll be happy t'give me a ride home, won't ya Ez?" He smiled, giving his co-workers a final wave as they headed out of the restaurant. JD waved back, then left.
"Mr. Wilmington, there's no need to linger here with me if you've other plans for the remainder of the evening," he replied, immediately feeling the need to kick himself. Hard. Oh, outstanding, Standish, chase him away. You've only craved that man's total being and now, with it within arm's reach, you hasten him to the door. Idiot.
Buck looked at Ezra. Nope, this wasn't going at all well. Not like he'd intended, whatsoever. Shit.
"Well, Ezra, my plans for the evening are fairly flexible, so I think I'll just order m'self another drink, too, and sit here and relax and then you can take me," he laughed softly, grinning into his waterglass. "Home, that is."
"What are you driving at, Mr. Wilmington?" Ezra glared at the man. He was getting a little annoyed, trying to decipher the evening's proceedings.
"I'm not driv-," Buck stopped, interrupted yet again. The waiter leaned over, wanting to know if they desired anything additional?
Oh, hell yes, I desire. I desire big-time buster, and if you don't get th'hell away... Buck tried to relax, then ordered a beer.
"And for you, sir?" the waiter wanted to know turning to Ezra, "Another Grand Marnier, perhaps?"
"I'll have a vodka martini, straight up," he replied. "In fact, make it a double."
"Am I worryin' you, Ez?" Buck asked.
Ezra glanced up, looking for the gleam that was sure to be dancing in those eyes. "What I want to know, Mr. Wilmington-," he started.
"Geeze, it's been long enough, don't you think? Call me Buck, call me Bucklin, hell, call me shithead, just stop calling me Mr. Wilmington."
"All right, Mr. Shithead," Ezra resumed. Buck laughed, followed by Ezra. It was a warm, open, spontaneous moment, and their eyes locked for that instant before looking away.
"What has aroused-" Ezra continued, somewhat distracted. Eyes. Those blue eyes.
"Aroused? Is curiosity the only thing that's aroused?" Buck smiled, or was that a leer?
"Okay, that is a perfect example of what I'm alluding to...this, this...I mean...were you intentionally trying to, to...when your..." Ezra was stumbling.
"Spit it out, Ez. No, wait, on second thought, just give it a good swallow and-," he stopped, catching a glimpse of Ezra's rather pained expression. Whoa, Buck. Rein it in pard.
"Exactly, Buck! That suggestion is precisely the kind of...of...horseshit I've been anticipating from you, and quite frankly, do not wish to further entangle myself in. This bizarre...game... you've begun at my-"
"Ohfortheloveofgod, Ezra, there ain't no game. Shit, I'm fuckin' attracted to you! Okay? If you'd shut-up for a second and listen to what I got t'say, I mean, geeze, I may even be falling in-" Buck glared at the younger man, stopping abruptly as the waiter returned with their order.
Ezra grabbed his martini, draining half in one shot. He looked at Buck, searching the blue eyes for any sign of deceit, any hint this was all just so much charade, another of Buck's infamous practical jokes playing out at his expense. His eyes searched, and found...what?
"I'm totally, fuckin' attracted to you. I may even be falling in love with you, Ezra Standish," Buck whispered, his voice low and soft and strong, "but I ain't sure what th'hell t' do about it. And this ain't no joke, and this ain't no game and if you don't stop me soon I may just sit here for hours, ramblin' on and on and then someone'll call the nuthouse and there I'll be and it'll be all your fault. And years from now the doctors'll shake their heads and say, 'fell in love. with a man. never knew what hit him, just up and fried his brain and now he just sits and drools and says Ezra, Ezra...we think he's terminal.'"
Ezra was staring now, his jaw agape. Just staring at Buck. This man just made this...this... declaration. He was stunned. Completely and utterly stunned. Lord, Ezra, shut your mouth. Did he just hear the word love. Buck said love. I heard him say love. Good Lord. Wait, love? or was it lust. Lust?
"Lust?" Ezra looked around. Who said that? Had he said that out loud?
"Hell, Ezra, yeah, that too. But honest to God, I can't believe I just poured that all out, I didn't mean for that t' happen, was waitin' 'til later, after I test the waters 'n'all. I'm...sorry. Sorry, I don't mean t'embarrass you. Ezra? Ez? Say somethin' Ezra." Buck was nervous. This really had taken a complete about face. He was babbling. Shut up Buck, just shut up. Oh, please, can we just start all over again? Please? I promise, I'll just leave my shoes where they belong.
Ezra's mind was reeling, spinning so fast and so out-of-control tight he wasn't sure he could stand. And he needed to stand. He stood.
Buck jumped up, a hand catching onto the Armani-clad arm before him. "Ezra?"
Ezra turned to him, "Pay the tab, Buck. I'll be in the bar." Ezra headed out the door without another glance at the tall man staring after him.
The restaurant was in one of the few four-star hotels the city offered. Ezra made his way into the men's room, stopping at the sinks and staring briefly at his reflection in the mirror above them. He wet his hands, the cool water felt calming as he splashed his face. Drying his hands on the soft towels offered, he turned from his mirror-image and left, in search of the bar.
Buck was already seated in the almost empty lounge area. There was a small contingent of people at one table, a few couples at others and several lone figures seated around the bar itself. A pianist played softly in one corner, no one paying much attention. Ezra dropped heavily into the vacant chair across from his coworker.
"So, now what?" He asked softly, not really expecting an answer. Not truly prepared for one, either.
"Well, this IS a hotel," Buck grinned, sheepishly, "Four-star, so I hear."
Ezra looked up at him, "Is everything of humor to you?"
"Sorry, Ez. Sometimes I guess I joke to make up for my...insecurities. I s'pose now ain't the greatest of times t'let m' mouth run on. But, really, I didn't mean t' make you feel uncomfortable, it's just...well, I thought you felt some of the same. 'Bout what I said back there, an' all. For me, I mean," Buck said, leaning forward. "Do you? Ezra?"
Ezra stared into the blue eyes, fixated. This is what he'd been dreaming for, hoping for, and now it was happening and he felt totally unprepared. He cleared his mind, wanting the answer to Buck's query to come truly from his heart, not from other places that could sway him into starting a relationship in which he may have no business being involved. The strands of the piano trickled into his thoughts and he grimaced when he heard the old obnoxious but familiar theme to 'Feelings'.
"My God," he said, cocking his head toward the pianist, "Is that what this moment is reduced to becoming? The perfect cliche? 'What could have been, but never became?"
Buck grinned, "Nah, Ez, more like what could be if you'd just relax and admit you have some feelin' for me, too. Stop trying to push it all away before y'even get the chance t'find out. Listen, I know somewhere's we can go that's quieter. Y'now, t' talk."
Ezra hesitated, then returned the grin, "Lead on. No one should be subjected to that song more than once in any lifetime."
They left, heading for the lobby. At the main entrance, Ezra headed toward the doors, valet ticket in hand. He stopped as he heard a low whistle, realizing Buck was no longer at his side. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the tall man standing by the elevators, holding up what looked to be a card. A key card. Ezra approached, arms crossing.
"And what is that, pray tell?" he looked pointedly to the key.
"Well, it looks like a card, but it's really the key, that unlocks the door o'the room I got earlier tonight. Y'now, before dinner." Buck was grinning, rocking back and forth on his feet.
"I know what that is, Mr. Wilmington. How utterly presumptuous of you," Ezra said through tightly pressed lips. This had just taken a sour turn.
"Uh-oh, we're back to Mr. Wilmington. Geeze, Ezra, I think I even liked Mr. Shithead better than th' way my name just came off your lips. What th' hell's wrong with gettin' a room? Jus' figured if anyone'd had too much t' drink at dinner, they could crash here. Y'now, I'm the designated roomer, so to speak."
Ezra just stood there, glaring. How stupid did he think he was?
"Y,now, Ezra. Just 'cause it's got a bed in it don't mean we gotta lay down on it. 'Sides, I figured it'd be a hell of a lot quieter and prob'ly easier on you than my place, what with JD there an' all. And I wasn't too sure I'd be all that comfortable in that there antique museum you call your condo, so I guess we can call this hotel room here Switzerland, y'now, neutral territory."
"What makes you think I'm even interested in this...adventure...with you?" Ezra was feeling somewhat railroaded, he couldn't quite admit to himself that this was the perfect ending, no matter how much he'd craved it to happen. The urge to run away was becoming overwhelming.
"Well, Ezra. 'Bout that. I ain't the big read 'em like a book, kind o'guy. But I ain't that unobservant, neither. If'n I'm wrong, and you got the hots for someone else in our office, fine, but I swear the feelin's I been gettin' from you the past couple o' weeks are 'nough to bowl me over. So, I'm guessin' you're interested in this...adventure... because o' this: Number one, You're still here. You could've walked out, what? A dozen times? And, number two, you heard all my...my...ramblings in there," Buck continued, pointing to the restaurant. "And you still ain't walked away from me, even though you're wavin' 'round that valet ticket. Finally, number three, I know you heard the "L" word when I said it, and believe me, that was no picnic for me to say, I'm still sweatin' buckets over that litle nugget slippin' out. But you listened and didn't laugh and for that alone, I'm grateful. So, after all o'that, I figure, hell yeah, you're interested. I mean, if the shoe fits..."
Ezra smiled, shaking his head. He leaned forward, pushing the up button. "Well, your shoe fit and you still managed to misplace it at dinner."
"Well, hell, Ezra, I had to break the ice, somehow. And anyways, the look on your face when you thought them's Travis's niece's toes! Hilarious, I'd even paid money t'see that look again."
"That can be arranged. My bank account could use some extra padding," Ezra said as the elevator doors opened. He and Buck stepped through, then stood, facing one another in the wood paneled cubicle.
Buck bent forward then, brushing gently against the pale lips of the other man, whose green eyes widened in surprise. They broke apart, both slightly flushed.
"What floor, Buck?"
"Sixty-nine," Buck said with a loud chuckle. He was feeling somewhat delirious.
"Buck, you are such a comedian," Ezra rolled his eyes. Lord, give me strength.
"No, Ezra," he started, taking the smaller man into a strong embrace and pressing his lips firmly onto the other's, parting them with his tongue until he could taste the sweetness inside the warm cavern. "No, what I am is magic."
End
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