Disclaimer: I do not own Left 4 Dead...sadly...but that's alright I still have fun time with them. :D
Fuck why do I always forget that…WHY? Nick dropped down from the ladder frowning deeply as he followed Ellis out of the barn…both men greatly disappointed with the outcome of the supposed "hay sex".
"I'm sorry Nick," Ellis said as they slowly walked to the house.
"It's not your fault Overalls; I forgot my rule is all," Nick sighed, "No foreplay…no fucking foreplay." He shoved his hands in his pockets and watched as Ellis trotted ahead mumbling something, but Nick's attention was glued to the hick's ass and how much he wanted to grab it.
"Ellis," fucking whore, "It's time to eat."
"Yeah," Ellis walked up the porch and inside the house with Nick following behind.
Abigail hastily walked past Nick to walk with Ellis, "I spoke to Melinda today."
"Oh right, right you were saying you was goin' t'do that," Ellis stated, "What'd she say?"
"Well that they were beautiful and couldn't wait for me to send more," Abigail grinned happily.
Ellis beamed, "That's great darling! Which ones did you send in?"
"Um my Nightingale, the Rose Vine one, uh oh the portrait of the house, and the one of Rosendale Park," Abigail went into the kitchen and sat down briskly at a table made for four, "I was going to tell you earlier, but I forgot."
Ellis sat down to her left and reached over taking her hand giving it a squeeze, "That's wonderful."
Abigail nodded vigorously, but looked up at Nick nodding towards the chair on Ellis's left, "Please sit."
Nick awkwardly in silence sat down in the chair and looked at Ellis, but the kid was beaming at Abigail and a feeling filled Nick which he never felt before.
"Oh, Abby I guess I should introduce you properly," Ellis looked at Nick, "Abigail this is Nick, my…uh…best friend, and Nick this is Abigail," Ellis looked down oddly, "my fiancée."
Nick's eyebrows rose. He was aware that Ellis and the girl were living together…maybe a couple, but not engaged. Nick forced a smile at the brunette, but his thoughts were venom: Oh, I don't think so Princess…enjoy the time while it lasted, because the hick is mine. Nick blinked at his own thoughts surprised by the use of the word mine towards Ellis, he looked at the man in question and everything settled within him, Yeah…he's mine.
"So, Nick," Abigail passed a bowl of potatoes to Ellis who shoveled some onto his plate, "What is it you do for a living?"
"Um," Nick thought about it for a moment, but then a smirk played onto his lips, "I'm a conartist."
"Excuse me?" Abigail blinked at him in confusion.
"I con people out of anything and everything," Nick's smirk was strong and he felt Ellis's eyes on him begging him to stop, "I also gamble…a lot…so I guess you could say I don't really have a job."
"O-o-oh, um," Abigail cleared her throat uncomfortably.
"But don't worry Princess," Nick scooped a spoonful of potatoes onto his plate, "I don't plan on taking any item or dime from you…I would never do that. So stop wondering what I'm going to steal because frankly dear if I wanted it…you would know."
Abigail's smile reappeared and she stood, "I'll get you some beer. I left it out back."
"Alright," Ellis waited till she was gone before turning to Nick flabbergasted, "What the hell was that?"
"What the hell was what?" Nick asked.
"That!" Ellis gestured towards the seat previously occupied by Abigail.
"She asked what I did for a living," Nick shrugged.
"You didn't have to scare her into thinking you're going to steal something of ours," Ellis snipped.
Nick frowned at the word 'ours', "Listen I don't want anything of hers, but one thing and one thing only…which I plan on getting."
"Oh yeah and what's that?" Ellis sat back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.
"You," Nick said flatly just as the door swung open revealing Abigail holding four beers in her hands. She sat two down in front of them and put the others in the fridge. She went to the stove and pulled out a tray which housed the course of tonight's meal. She brought it to the table and cut at it until pieces were available to disperse among the three. She looked up at the two men, but they were staring at each other in silence.
"Nick," Ellis said not breaking eye contact.
"Yes, Ellis?" Nick said with an exaggerated tone.
"Will you so kindly, after dinner, help me close up the barn?" Ellis asked.
"I don't do labor work, but I suppose I could keep you busy—er—company," Nick replied before giving a crooked grin to Abigail, "You have a beautiful house."
"Thank you Nicolas," Abigail smiled kindly sitting back down at the table, "You're from Boston then?"
"Yes ma'am," Nick nodded, "I was actually just getting back from a, well, uh business trip, when I so kindly ran into Rochelle."
"Ro," Ellis raised an eyebrow, "what was she doing in Boston?"
"Well she was doing something another about something another," Nick sighed, "Except she had Francis with her…jerkoff. Anyways she told me that you were living out here in Rosendale, doing well and that I should probably stay very, very far away from you."
Ellis gaped at him, "What?"
"She doesn't want me anywhere near you, El."
"Why?" Ellis gulped already knowing the answer to that.
"Why do you think?" Nick grumbled, "You told her, which by the way thank you very much for doing so."
"I didn't have a choice, she knew most of it anyways," Ellis retorted, "I needed someone to talk to and she was there."
"She hates my guts now," Nick mumbled.
"She always hated your guts," Ellis pointed out.
"True, but now she wants to rip them out a shove them down my throat, so if you will so kindly excuse me," Nick stood up quickly, "It was nice meeting you Abigail."
"Y-y-you too?" Abigail was confused beyond belief, but she looked over at her fiancé to see him with his jaw dropped and fighting back too many emotions she never saw on his face before, "Ellis…"
"Stay here Abby," Ellis stood up and hurried out of the house, he stopped on the porch and looked around, but nothing. Panic filled him at the thought of losing Nick again, "Don't do this to me…" A flicker of light caught his eye on the other side of the barn and he partially stumbled in a hurry to get over to the conman, "Nick…"
"Don't," Nick held up a hand exhaling smoke.
Ellis fell quiet and dropped his head waiting for Nick to say something…he always hated when Nick was mad at him. Not because he would yell, but because he'd say it bitterly then go quiet and wait it out on his own time…during The D-Days Nick would give Ellis the cold shoulder for hours or even days because of many things and he remembered them as the worse days of the whole ordeal.
"Ellis," Nick sighed.
Ellis's head snapped up to look at the older man, but he stayed quiet.
"Rochelle, she knew from the sixth time we did it," Nick looked at him, "That was while we were supposed to be looking for supplies in Shantytown."
Ellis nodded recalling the event of how he and Nick were searching a trailer yards away from Rochelle or Coach. The moment was most remembered by how Ellis was looking under the mattress just in case some swamp person hid a gun or two, but as he stood up to tell Nick nothing was there when his shirt was rudely intruded from behind so that hands could travel up his chest. Nick had hooked Ellis's legs too causing him to crash onto the bed and under the gambler. He protested to it because of their environment, but he knew it was futile because Nick had been horny since the swamp when Ellis had fallen back into him after shooting a Smoker too close to him. It had knocked them back onto the ground…and Ellis may or may have not rolled into Nick just to spite him…so he had that coming.
"She walked in after hearing you scream," Nick lifted an eyebrow at him; "we were not in a state of being viewed."
Ellis remembered that too for Rochelle had walked in just as it was getting good. Nick was already buried in him, but his skilled hands were also doing their magic setting Ellis into complete blissfulness. That was an awkward moment even if there was a sheet covering them.
"She cussed loudly, apologized and ran out," Nick threw his cigarette on the ground and put it out, "We were already too far into it to stop. So when we did finish you ran out there to apologize to her, but she wasn't pissed at you…she was pissed at me."
"Yeah," Ellis mumbled.
Nick held up a hand silencing him again, "When I came out of the trailer she went right past you to punch me square in the jaw and started cussing me out like there was no tomorrow. That's when Coach came over to back her off of me, but then she proceeded to shout at him about how I tricked you into having sex with me because I was nothing, but a pig who would fuck anything with a heartbeat if it let me and then even proceeded to add that I most likely raped you. Do you remember what Coach did?"
Ellis nodded, how could he forget? Coach punched Nick in the stomach bringing the gambler to his knees and the punched him in the face knocking him to the ground then proceeded to kick him in the gut. Ellis had shoved the football player violently to the side knocking him into the muck so he could get to Nick. He dropped down next to Nick and had helped the older man sit up watching him shake his head out, "I asked if ye'were alright afterwards."
"And what did I say?" Nick asked.
"You said you've had worse," Ellis replied, "and then I stood up and…"
"Punched Coach," Nick inserted for him.
"Yeah, I punched Coach," Ellis will never forget the day he punched that man and how it shocked them all. He had gotten to his feet just as Coach did and turned to the bigger man sending a fist into his face. Rochelle had gasped, Coach (slightly fazed from it) held his cheek, Ellis stood frozen staring at his hand, and Nick carefully grabbed the hick's arm pulling him away from the black man, "It was on impulse…I-I-I was angry at him."
"I know," Nick smiled a bit remembering the moment, "You shocked us all…none of us thought you had it in you to hurt a human being that wasn't already dead."
"After that they let me explain, bu'they were still pissed at you," Ellis looked at him, "I still don't get why."
"Because of whom I am El," Nick folded his arms across his chest, "They know what I'm like…and they didn't want me to use you."
Ellis's eyes went wide.
Dammit, fucking whore, son of a bitch! "Ellis, no, God no! Shit, I really need to word things better," Nick exhaled, "They thought I was using you for sex because who else was there to do that with, but that's not it! I would never use you El, from day one we started this thing I never planned on it being just for sex…well I thought it was going to be like that, but—"
"So all those things you said to me the first night were a ploy to continue having sex with me?" Ellis's eyes were still wide and he was stepping back slowly.
"No!" Dammit! "Fuck! I was never good at this shit! Ellis everything I said to you wasn't to ploy you into sleeping with me more," shit, Nick, you fucking liar…that's exactly what it was, "Okay…no Ellis. Wait let me explain this one thing at a time…Ellis you are," he exhaled a short laugh, "you are fucking sexier than hell and I was very much so attracted to you, but I was in it for your body…"
Ellis's face fell, "So you did lie."
"Yes, no, I don't know," Nick put a hand on his face, "I think I meant it all…but I don't know."
"You never cared about me," Ellis stepped back getting ready to run off, but Nick's hand shot out grabbing his wrist and shoved him against the barn wall. Nick pinned both of the kid's wrists above his head, and he shoved a leg between Ellis's before looking into those blue depressed eyes.
"Ellis do you want to know when I realized it just wasn't sex."
"When you couldn't get it anymore?" Ellis snapped.
Nick glared at him, "Dammit Ellis let me talk!"
"Why should I?" Ellis turned his head not wanting to look Nick in the eyes.
"Because you need to hear what I have to say," Nick said softly.
"I don't want to Nick, because I'm sick of hearing your lies," Ellis said.
"What?" Nick gaped, "Ellis I'm not lying, maybe in the beginning I was, but I stopped sometime back…I'm not lying."
"You jus'wanna get into my pants because you haven't had sex in four years! And yew knew by coming t'find me you'd get it because you knew I cared 'bout you!" Ellis barked making Nick flinch, "I was stupid fer thinking yew cared."
"Ellis," Nick hushed out, "I do care, God, I care about you so much that it hurts to even remember that I was going to use you. The day I figured out there was more to all of this then just a fuck here and there was after the warehouse when we found that airbase two days later and called for help, because the fucking carnival pilot ditched us to do whatever. The two of us went to search the building and you took my hand smiling bigger than I ever saw before."
Ellis had closed his eyes listening to Nick as he recalled the past.
)()()()(
Airbase…Four Years Ago…
Ellis pulled Nick to a dimly lit area and pushed his back against the wall then smiled up at the conman. Ellis held Nick's right hand in his left and put his free hand on Nick's chest while the conman's left hand went to rest on the wall beside Ellis's head.
"We're going to be safe Nick," Ellis said softly with the same large goofy smile.
Nick ducked his head down turning it slightly to kiss Ellis more gently than he ever had before, caressing his lips as if the kid would break if roughed. He broke the kiss for a moment and licked his lips going over the kiss in his head, but only one thing came to mind: it was the best kiss he ever had. He brought their lips together again leaving the same tender aftertaste each time he broke away to get air. He let go of Ellis's hand to wrap the arm around his waist pulling their bodies together and allowing Ellis to slide his fingers into the gambler's hair. The hand on his chest went to the side of his neck cupping it gently giving Ellis the ability to kiss back with as much carefulness.
The kiss didn't arouse Nick in anyway, but made his heart beat fast in his chest stretching out towards the hick in ways Nick never knew possible. There was something about this kid that had suddenly put Nick on an edge he's never gone near and it terrified him because he knew that this edge would lead to one thing and one thing only: falling for Ellis.
Nick pulled back to look down at Ellis to see his smile from before was now soft and waiting for Nick to do something. Nick locked eyes with Ellis and those blue eyes gave him the answer to everything and in his mind he took the leap off the edge; he had just started his descent to falling for Ellis. A fall he was more than happier to experience; his hand on the wall cupped Ellis's cheek as he kissed the hick again.
)()()()(
Ellis opened his eyes to look at Nick and his heart fell at the site of green eyes broken and lost, "Nick…I'm sorry…"
"You had every reason to doubt me, El, but I promise you this," Nick slid his hands up Ellis's wrists to entwine their fingers, "Ellis you were the only thing I thought about while I was locked up in that hellhole and the only thing that kept me going."
Ellis never saw this side of Nick before, this sad, lost soul reaching out for help, but something didn't sit right and Ellis didn't know how to say it, but he had to, "Nick…I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Believe me," Nick hissed, "I should've never lied to you, but I did and it was the worst thing I could ever do, but Ellis I'm telling you the truth…"
"I-I," Ellis fumbled with his words, "I need time to think Nick. Just leave me alone…okay?"
"El," Nick's whole being gave off one last final plead, but Ellis slipped his hands from Nick's and stared at him until the man stepped back to let Ellis walk away. He turned his back into the wall of the barn and slid down it cupping his face in silent anger towards himself.
)()()()(
Shantytown…Four Years Ago…
"Oh man Coach, I-I didn't mean to, I just—I just…I'm so sorry," Ellis stumbled over words he was trying to find as he watched the older man stretch his jaw.
There was a pop and Coach looked at Ellis, "Boy you got one helluva swing on ya."
Ellis swallowed and looked down, "I'm sorry."
"Ellis, sweetie," Rochelle said softly getting his attention, "Why did you do that?"
Ellis looked between her and Coach then at Nick who stood trying to reset his jaw, "Because I was mad."
"Why is that?" Rochelle asked.
Ellis looked at Coach, "I was mad 'cause yew punched Nick."
"Twice and then proceeded to kick me in the gut while I was down," Nick spoke from behind Ellis which meant his jaw was back to its normal place.
Coach shot a glare at Nick and he held his hands up in defense, "Just stating my case."
"It's not needed," Coach snapped, "What is wrong with you?"
"Lots of things," Nick shrugged, "Which fault are we talking about?"
"Don't be smart with me pretty boy," Coach growled.
"Can't help who I am," Nick glared back at the man.
"You can shut the hell up though and do us all a favor," Coach's fist clenched in frustration, "Better yet, why don't you just leave and make friends with a Witch."
"Fuck you old man!"
"I wouldn't be talking there Nick, you ain't so far behind me!" Coach snapped.
"Why you no good piece of shit!" Nick went to lunge at Coach, but Ellis pushed on his chest holding him back, "Let me kill him, Ellis!"
"No!" Ellis shouted.
"C'mon Nick let's see what you got!" Coach sneered.
Nick pushed against Ellis, "I swear to whatever God you believe in I will fucking kill you!"
"I'm still waiting," Coach egged him on and Rochelle got in on the fight too standing between Coach and the two men.
"Stop this! Both of you!" Rochelle snapped.
"We're just having a little fun, baby girl," Coach chuckled.
"I'll show you fun," Nick snarled trying again to get past Ellis, but the kid held strong.
"Nick stop!" Ellis gripped Nick's arms and looked up at the angered man, "Look at me, Nick, look at me!"
Nick huffed, but looked at Ellis, "What?"
"Don't do this," Ellis begged, "Please…just…let me explain."
"Explain all you will he'll still try to turn this around on me!" Nick snapped.
Ellis sighed and turned around to look at the two who stood arguing in hushed tones. The hick cleared his throat and they stopped to look at him, "Can I just explain…please?"
Coach folded his arms across his chest and Rochelle put her hands on her hips.
"Thank you," Ellis inhaled deeply, "Now let me just start by saying that, Ro…he isn't raping me…its consensual. And he isn't using me."
"How can you be so sure?" Coach asked.
"Because I'm not!" Nick snapped.
"He isn't alright?" Ellis looked down, "I can tell."
"Sweetie," Rochelle started, "Nick's a conman…he's good at lying."
"No, Ro!" Ellis stared at her shocked, "He isn't using me! So stop saying that he is!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe that," Rochelle shook her head.
"Believe what you want I don't care!" Nick turned around to look the other way pissed at everything and everyone.
"Ro…" she shook her head and walked away, "Coach," the man sighed then followed Rochelle leaving Ellis with watery eyes, "Nick…"
"What?" It came off a little harsher than he had wanted, but he didn't care.
"Why don't they believe me?" Ellis asked softly.
"Because it's me kid," Nick answered, "they don't want to believe that I can care about anyone, but myself…which isn't true."
Ellis turned around to look at Nick's back, "Nick…"
Nick sighed out a 'what'.
"Can you," Ellis swallowed a lump in his throat. "Can you…"
"Can I what?"
"Hold me," Ellis knew better than to ask Nick these kinds of questions because Nick wasn't one for cuddling and having a moment, but Ellis needed it.
Nick didn't say anything.
Ellis's heart sank and he mumbled out: "Nevermind. Forget I asked." He turned getting ready to walk away when Nick's hand caught his wrist and brought him back towards the man and into his arms against his chest.
Nick wrapped his arms around Ellis, "I'm sorry kiddo."
"You don't have anything to apologize for," Ellis said as his eyes drifted shut and he breathed in Nick's scent.
"Yeah I do," Nick muttered, but before he could explain why, the kid gave off a deep breath. Nick looked down to see that Ellis had drifted off from exhaustion, "Great."
After about five minutes of careful maneuvering Nick had gotten Ellis on his back and the hick's arms around his neck.
"What happened?" Rochelle's voice came from in front of him and he looked at her.
"He fell asleep," Nick responded then looked at his shotgun and ax on the ground, "Could you…"
Rochelle nodded and collected the two items, "How did he fall asleep?"
"He asked me to hold him," Nick didn't feel like making something up, "So I did and next thing you know the kid is in dreamland."
Ellis made a small noise and pulled himself up higher to press his face into Nick's neck.
"We should get going," Nick started forward without trouble which surprised him a bit because even though Ellis was slender he still had muscles making up for it, but then again he was small.
Rochelle walked next to him, "He seems happy."
Nick looked at her, "Doesn't he always?"
Rochelle bit back a sassy remark, "No, I mean…he just seems more alive…when did this start?"
"The warehouse," Nick looked ahead to where Coach stood waiting for them.
"After the carnival?" Rochelle watched him nod, "You two have kept this a secret the whole time?"
"Well yeah because I knew how you two would react," Nick bit at her.
"Well what did you expect Nick? A parade?" Rochelle snorted, "Because frankly Nick how else were we supposed to take it? I mean…you're you!"
"Yeah and he's Ellis," Nick retaliated.
"Which means he's sweet, innocent, and down to earth," Rochelle stopped walking a few yards away from Coach forcing Nick to stop too.
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"That you need to leave him alone!" Rochelle snapped.
"Yeah and what if I told you I didn't want to? Hm? What would you do then? Shoot me?" Nick hissed.
"If it comes to that, then yes I will!" Rochelle threatened.
"Well then shoot me because I'm not going to leave him alone Sweetheart," Nick turned stalking away careful not to lose his grip on Ellis's thighs.
"And what if he wanted you to?" Rochelle made him freeze, "What if Ellis told you to leave him alone…then would you?"
Nick closed his eyes trying to find a way to twist it around, but there was no way…if the kid asked…he'd stop, "Then yes…I'd leave him alone…"
There was silence that followed the two, but then Nick spoke, "But until then neither you nor Coach can keep me away from him…right now Rochelle…he's all I got."
"The day will come Nicolas where he will realize just the kind of scumbag you are and then want nothing to do with you."
"And when that day comes he'll never see me again."
"Promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
)()()()(
Nick looked at the farmhouse one last time before putting a cigarette out and sighing, "Have a good life Kiddo." With that Nick turned putting his hands in his pocket and making his way back to the main room…the day has come and Nick is keeping his word. I'm sorry that I ever made you fall for me, Ellis…I should've never come back.
A/N: REVIEW...please...or no more.