Disclaimer: I do not own Left 4 Dead and that is the sad truth.
A/N: You guys I AM SO SORRY! You have no idea what kind of hell I've been through in the past few weeks...school is a bitch (Anatomy is kicking my ass), finding a job sucks, and to top it all off I crashed my car totaling it on the passenger side and getting a major contusion on my leg. I love my life. I'm so sorry guys! I will try my hardest in the future to get the chapters up faster, but if life decides to throw a curve ball at me I might have some difficulties finding a suitable bat.
Boston is a shit-hole. Nick shut the window to his room before turning to find clothes in the large walk-in closet. After what seemed like ten minutes he settled on a white button down and a black suit. He went to the bathroom next fixing his hair so to keep up that swiped back appearance he liked so much. He pulled at his collar trying to fix it when something caught his eye in the mirror; he smirked chuckling, nicely done kid…The dark mark ignited Nick's emotions towards missing the hick and he fixed his collar back over it.
Three days and he was already missing Ellis more than he had thought he would, but it was too soon to go back to Hicksville being as he did have to make money. He wondered how Ellis was doing, but hadn't called him since that morning he'd left feeling weak every time he thought to do so. Sure the thought that maybe Ellis would call had crossed his mind, but then again so did the thought that maybe Ellis was waiting for him to call. The weight of the phone in his pocket suddenly felt ten times heavier than five minutes ago and he retrieved it staring at the dark screen. He licked his lips turning the idea over in his head, "Just dial the number Nick…" but before he could even touch a number there came a knock from the main door of the condo; what in the hell?
Nick pocketed the phone and swiftly made his way to the door opening it quickly, "Fuck."
"Hello to you too," Russell stepped inside pushing past Nick leaving the man frozen holding the doorknob, "I was starting to think you became a hermit."
Nick took a deep breath shutting the door so he could turn to face Russell.
Russell was tall and scrawny, with brown tasseled hair, and baby blue eyes that brought thoughts of Georgia swimming back into Nick's mind. He stood with his arms crossed dressed in brown slacks, a light blue button down, brown shoes, and a dark blue tie with a very formidably fit frown.
"Maybe I did," Nick shrugged, "Maybe I don't want to associate with the outside world and all its dipshit idiots."
Russell's frown stayed firm, "Is that all?"
"Yes, for now at least," Nick answered.
Russell's frown switched to a straight mouth glare, "Why haven't you called?"
"I've been busy."
"Sleeping?"
"And working."
"Really now?" Russell lifted an eyebrow, "Benny, Harold, Carl?"
"Marcus," Nick responded, "He's a new guy from out of town with big numbers."
"Never heard of him."
"Of course you haven't," Nick rolled his eyes, "You know Donny's circle. That idiot doesn't know anyone."
"Why are you such an ass?"
"Your brother is an idiot and a dick; I was just speaking the truth," Nick put a hand to his forehead, "Great now I have a headache."
"Stop being such a baby," Russell hissed, "and take some aspirin."
"I don't have any," Nick watched Russell's mouth drop slightly in an idiotic stare, "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Make that face," Nick turned walking to the kitchen hoping to find something.
"Well it seems you have messages," Russell said from behind him.
"What?" Nick turned and Russell pointed at his answering machine which sat blinking a red four at them, "Oh…I guess I do."
Russell pushed the play button and the robotic female voice filtered the room, "New message received Sunday at one fifty-two PM."
There was a pause then: "Nicolas I don't know what you're planning, but I can tell you this…I don't like it. You need to stop. What you're doing will only make things worse in the end. You can stand there and fight me till you're blue in the face, but I won't believe any of it. You're a lying ass and I don't want you anywhere near him, do you understand me? Leave him be Nick."
"End of message."
The pause gave enough time for Russell to speak, "Who the hell was that?"
"Rochelle, now sh."
"Next message received on Monday at seven twenty-four PM."
"Now, you listen here and you listen good Nick. I know that Ro called you yesterday, but I'm pretty sure you erased her message before she even got in her first breath so I'm going to tell you. Leave it be Nick. Don't go back down there. You're ruining something good, something right. He deserves this Nick not the shit you're feeding him and we're going to tell him that until he listens. So stay in Boston Nick or you'll be answering to me."
"End of message."
"What the hell did you do Nick?" Russell asked wide-eyed.
Nick held up a hand as the machine continued, "Next message received on Tuesday at eleven forty-seven AM."
"Nicolas you are a terrible man and I don't want you ever coming back here. You are a man full of lie and sin and I don't want you anywhere near me or him. He's a good man Nicolas, a great man; he is the sweetest man to walk this earth and I don't want you tainting him in anyway. I'm talking to him about this tonight and I know he'll see it my way once I explain just how truly evil you are so don't bother calling him because by tomorrow he won't care to be your friend."
"End of message."
"Fucking little whore," Nick's anger had started to boil inside him.
"Who was that?"
"A no good little mother fucking Jesus-loving-bitch who needs to lay the fuck off."
"Next message received on Tuesday at ten fifty-nine PM."
"Nick," the voice sent chills through him, "I'm na'supposed t'talk ta ya, but I had ta call so I could say that I'm not playing by their rules."
Nick smirked slightly, that-a-boy.
"I don't care what they think or say Nick, yew are my best friend and nothing can change that. Rochelle is jus'worried 'bout me, yew know that. She was always like that during the outbreak treating me like'er younger brother. And Coach is just Coach looking out for what's best for me…well at least what he thinks is best for me. Then there's Abby…she grew up by the Bible, Nick, she's always going to be like that. She doesn't see past the crimes yew've done or the way yew talk ta everyone. She doesn't understand that, that's who yew are Nick. I've tried explaining that to her, but she won't budge on it. I want yew ta come visit again even if it means me having to sleep in the barn for a week because Abby don't like it. So I guess that's the main reason I called ya…the other is—."
"End of messages."
"Nick, what the hell is going on?" Russell stared at Nick in momentary shock confused on all that just happened.
The other is what? Son of a bitch answering machine, Nick's brow furrowed in frustration and he turned putting his hands on the counter trying to breathe slowly.
"Hey," Russell came up next to him frowning, "I asked you a question."
"I'm fully aware of that," Nick hissed closing his eyes, "but as you can see I'm trying to calm down…so if you don't mind…give me a minute."
Russell sighed leaning against the counter and exhaled deeply before looking back at Nick, "You've had your minute."
"Russell I don't want to talk about it," Nick pushed off the counter walking out of the kitchen, but Russell stayed on his heels.
"Please Nick," Russell whined, "Don't you trust your boyfriend to tell him stuff?"
Good God, will he please just shut-up.
"Nick I'm going to keep asking."
Nick turned around grabbing Russell by the wrists sending him into the wall, "And I'm going to keep telling you I don't want to talk about."
Russell glared at him, "Need I remind you that by not telling me anything I almost didn't get you out of prison."
Nick's eyes went wide slightly at the past recollection, "But you did anyways." He let go and started away.
"On the account of you being a guinea pig for two years and almost being killed; I barely got you out on that!" Russell snapped and Nick turned putting his hands on his hips, "You need to talk to me Nick or I can't help you."
"Hey you aren't my lawyer anymore Russ."
"No I'm not, but I know who is and I have lot of leeway over what he does in court," Russell crossed his arms.
"What, do you whore your way though it?" Nick asked.
"Fuck you Nick," Russell pointed a finger at him, "Unlike you I don't cheat on my boyfriends."
"Hey I don't cheat unless you're my ex-wife," Nick raised his eyebrows at him.
"When I was appointed to you by the state the only thing I could think of was: 'wow this is great, I get stuck with the guy who has no way in hell of getting out of jail', but then you turn out to be a silent dead-beat conartist who won't say a damn thing to save his own tail."
Nick licked his lips looking away.
"You wouldn't even look at me for the longest time."
"I didn't look at any one."
"But then you did that one day because I had enough of your moping about and snapped at you," Russell walked over to Nick taking his face, "From that day forth you looked me in the eyes, but still wouldn't tell me anything."
Nick looked at Russell holding back the need to sneer, "Then you proceeded to seduce your way into my pants."
"If I remember correctly Nick it was you who made the first move," Russell swayed his body closer to Nick pressing them together, "And it was very thrilling." He carefully walked Nick backwards to collapse them both onto the couch and immediately he was grinding into Nick kissing him deeply.
Nick let Russell work his belt buckle, but once he felt the creep of the lawyer's hand he spun him around pinning the lawman under him biting the back of his neck getting a yelp, "I don't think so."
"Why not?" Russell whined.
"You know damn well why," Nick snarled into his ear.
Russell did a one-eighty under Nick shoving him off and onto the floor.
Nick growled sitting up grabbing Russell by his tie pulling him off the couch and onto himself, but the cardshark rolled him over again to straddle his hips pinning his wrists on either side of the brunette's head.
The thing about Russell was he was into rough, pain wielding sex. The thrill of being put in pain followed by pleasure stimulated him and he knew in return it did the same to his partners, mainly Nick. When he first had sex with Nick he said something to the cardshark while being penetrated that resulted with a punch to the back of his head causing his body to respond in tension which burrowed through both of them. That day forward Russell refused to have simple sex; somewhere along the line he'd have to be hurt. Being dominated was his turn on, especially when pain was included.
Nick got to his feet pulling Russell with roughly shoving the man towards his bedroom stripping of his jacket in the process. He watched Russell turn towards him allowing him to grab his tie jerking them together in a tongue biting kiss. He untied the tie only to retie it around Russell's eyes.
"This is new," Russell muttered.
"If you don't like it I don't want to hear it," Nick undid his shirt buttons before moving to do Russell's walking him backwards in the process. Once Russell's knees connected with the back of the bed Nick growled into his ear, "Get on the bed."
"Do you want me to get undressed too or should I leave that for you?" Russell teased crawling backwards onto the bed.
Nick snorted pulling his shirt off, "Either you take them off or I rip them."
"As kinky as that sounds," Russell started at his own belt, "These are my favorite pants."
Nick waited until Russell was done before asking: "What do you want now?"
Usually when Nick had sex with someone he didn't give a damn what the other person wanted, but by asking Russell this it was beneficial to them both.
Russell smirked holding his arms up against the headboard.
Nick raised an eyebrow, but understood immediately and went to his closet finding two more of Russell's ties. He walked back over tying his boyfriend's wrists to the bed posts.
Russell winced slightly at the tightness, but smiled menacingly, "Don't make me wait Nicolas."
"I can make you waist as long as I want to," Nick retorted, but he watched Russell grab hold of the length of the ties licking his lips.
Russell inhaled deeply loving the idea of not knowing what Nick would do next, but his normal penetration, which normally hurt, turned into a pain he hadn't yet experienced and he yelped out, "Dammit!"
"Don't be such a baby," Nick muttered.
That's when Russell realized something didn't feel right as he pulled out, "Nick what the hell is that?"
"What's what? Oh you mean this?" He jabbed back inside him getting another yelp.
"Yes that!"
"Well that'd be a cue stick," Nick pulled the thick end of the stick out to stare at it loving that he kept this under the bed as a last resort for if someone broke in, "because quite frankly I'm not ready to fuck you yet. Why, does it hurt?"
"Yes," Russell whimpered.
"And?" Nick lifted an eyebrow as he pushed it back in.
Russell licked his lips gasping, "It feels so fucking good."
Nick smirked as he continued the process enjoying every wince he got out of his partner completely unaware of his vibrating phone on the floor blinking the name: 'Ellis'.
)()()()()(
Is it still called cheating when you're only in it for the sex? Of course it is you dumbshit! Nick collapsed onto his bed at around eleven o'clock at night not being able to diminish the images of today from his head or the shake the feeling of guilt tearing him in half. He sighed closing his eyes and running a hand through his hair, he pulled the wad of hundreds from his pocket, blinked at them, but then threw them across the room to bounce off the wall and roll around on the floor. He went next for his cellphone pulling it out to see he had missed calls, shit. He closed his eyes dropping the phone to the ground groaning loudly as the guilt rose in a tidal wave. He rolled over onto his side and his hand came down on something, he pried his eyes open to see the pool stick from earlier and a rainfall of sickness drenched him. He rolled off the bed taking the stick with. He walked over to his window, opened it and threw the stick into the ally below. This was all starting to become more and more like bullshit; he needed to get out of this 'relationship' or he was going to lose Ellis.
He shut the window and turned away from it letting his jacket slide from his arms as he went feeling the room spin in frustration. It didn't help that he had about ten glasses of brandy in his system and no food to go with causing his senses to be out of whack, but he was used to it: the ability to not walk without thinking the air smelled like yellow. He would never admit to being drunk, oh hell no, but he knew when he was and usually he could stomach more than just ten, but tonight he was already feeling weak and hadn't eaten all day. At least he still played cards like a champ while intoxicated. CWI. Conning While Intoxicated…part of that is illegal…at the moment he didn't know which and didn't care to know either. Right not however he wanted to do one thing and one thing only: Take a long hot shower. After that he'd figure it out from there, but for now a shower seemed nice. Maybe after that he'd have some more brandy…or eat…or masturbate, he didn't know which yet; they all seemed appealing to him.
His shower relaxed all the tension in his body and cleared the grogginess in his head, but his thoughts still ran high as he looked in the mirror. His image was blurred from the steam, but he swiped a hand across and stared at himself, "What are you doing Nick?" He put his hands on the sink and looked down taking a deep breath; slowly he looked back at his reflection seeing nothing, but the bastard he truly was. What the hell did Ellis see in him? There was nothing, but sin and darkness, betrayal and lies…he was a joke. He left the bathroom to crawl onto his bed with only a towel wrapped around his waist and a new headache forming.
)()()()()(
Please stop ringing…please for all that is FUCKING HOLY STOP RINGING! Nick rolled over on his bed grabbing his apartment's main phone, hitting the talk button and then grumbling loudly, "Hello?"
"Nick."
I don't give a fuck if you are the sexiest man I know, calling me at four in the morning is not cool, "Ellis it's four in the fucking morning somebody better be dead or you better be pregnant."
"Well no one's dead and, Nick, I'm a guy. I can't get pregnant."
"Right, then what the fuck El?"
"Do yew have a hangover?"
"No," Nick went to sit up and darkness clouded his vision so he flopped back down, "Yeah actually I am and," he lifted the sheet on him slightly to look under it, "I'm naked. Hm, I guess getting dressed was not on my agenda before going to bed."
Ellis didn't respond for a moment, but a chuckle finally came through, "Thanks fer sharing."
"My pleasure," Nick husked out closing his eyes inhaling deeply, "So why are you calling so damn early?"
"Well I…Nick…"
Nick finally noticed the desperation and sadness in his voice causing his nerves to bounce; his eyes sprung open, "El, what's wrong?"
"She moved the date Nick," Nick listened as Ellis exhaled deeply, "We're getting' married next weekend."
This time Nick sat up with no vision problem, "What?"
"Yeah she told me yesterday and I tried to call yew, but yew didn't answer," Nick turned letting his feet hit the floor as his waist stayed tangled in the sheets. He leaned forward putting his free hand to his forehead as Ellis continued, "She was so excited'bout moving the date and I didn't know what ta do, she had already called and changed everything. I panicked and told her it was a great idea. She's already doing all that bride stuff with her friends and guys around town are telling me how they have this great bachelor party in store for me…I don't even know half of these guys Nick!"
Nick closed his eyes breathing quietly through his nose.
"I don't know what ta do," Ellis's voice lowered slightly; "I need yew Nick."
And in all honesty Nick needed him too, but something in the back of his head nagged and tugged him back to the fact he was in relationship. He bit his lip trying to decide on what to do, but then Ellis spoke again.
"I'm more scared than anything Nick…I mean I'm not the marryin' type. What the hell am I going ta do? I mean she keeps talking about our honeymoon like it's a heaven…but to me that's hell!"
Nick's nostrils flared and his head snapped up, Oh fuck no.
"I mean who in the hell wants to go to D.C. for their honeymoon?"
"Not you," Nick stood up walking over to his closest, "We'll figure this out Ellis, together. I'll be there in a few hours. I'm taking a plane in this time. Hang in there El."
"Thank yew Nick."
"Stay home El and I'll be there before Sister Mary gets home," Nick reassured and Ellis chuckled lightly, "Bye El."
"Bye Nick."
)()()()()(
Nick got out of the silver corvette rental hurrying up the steps of the farmhouse where he swung open the door going inside. He took his sunglasses off walking slowly down the hall listening for anything, but there was nothing, "Ellis?"
Not even a second later Ellis rounded the corner with wide frantic eyes and Nick dropped his sunglasses on a table with pictures so to pull Ellis towards him and mesh the hick between him and the wall. Nick grabbed Ellis's hands entwining their fingers to place them on either side of Ellis's head resting their foreheads together, "N-N-Nick."
"Yeah," Nick said softly with closed eyes.
"Please," was all Ellis said and it was all that was needed for Nick to press his lips to Ellis's in a soft caressing kiss. After about a minute Ellis ducked under one of Nick's arms, but kept one of their hands interlocked leading him down the hall and to what looked to be a guest bedroom. He pulled Nick into the room who shut the door before tugging Ellis back to him kissing him a little more deeply. Ellis walked them backwards to the bed until he was able to climb onto it bringing Nick with allowing the older man to hover over him slightly as their lips stayed locked in a now deeper and lustier kiss.
Nick pulled away for air, but stared in to the mechanic's eyes longer and a small smile slowly slid onto his face.
Ellis returned the smile, but bigger, "What?"
Nick shrugged, "I'm just looking."
Ellis lifted an eyebrow and sat up pushing on Nick's shoulders forcing the man to sit on his knees, "Well then I guess yew can look all yew want, but…"
"But what?" Nick didn't get a verbal response instead Ellis turned him so that he lied on his back and head on the pillow. The hick crawled onto his lap watching as Nick sat up onto his elbows.
"Y're going to have ta do it from down there," Ellis leaned forward onto Nick's chest dragging his hands up with to cup the gambler's neck as he connected their mouths again.
Nick lowered himself back down grabbing onto Ellis's sides as the kid worked his tongue into his mouth. He slid his hands down past the hem of Ellis's shirt to slid under it and up along the skin of his back. Ellis shivered from the touch, but didn't let it falter their kiss, but a muffled squeal escaped into Nick's mouth as the conman rolled Ellis onto his back; legs still straddling the conman's waist.
Nick rubbed against Ellis making the southerner gasp and break the kiss for air, "Nick, don't d-d-do that."
Nick chuckled, but he cut it short as he heard a car pull onto the gravel of the driveway, "Shit." He got off Ellis and the bed to stand straight fixing himself and smoothing his hair back into place.
Ellis got off the bed slower, but did the same. He grabbed his hat off the floor, "I don't know who that would be. Abby don't get home till seven tonight."
Nick looked at his watch, "Well that's a good four hours away."
Ellis shrugged with no reply and exited the room first going straight down the hall to the front door. He opened it to see a black escalade with the trunk open and someone leaning into it. A moment later they stepped back shutting the trunk and he smiled softly, "What are yew doing here?"
The girl grinned largely grabbing two suitcases off the ground and walked up the steps, "Well Abby called me and told me about the date change so I got on the first plane I could to fly up here." She dropped the suitcases on the porch and held her arms out.
Ellis chuckled, but pulled the girl into a bear hug squeezing her tight, "Glad to have you back in Rosendale."
"Good to be back," she stepped out of his hold and looked past him as the door opened again, "Why hello there Colonel Sanders."
"Son of a mother fucking whore!" Nick turned going back inside, the screen door slamming behind him, "You have got to be fucking kidding me!"
"Aw c'mon Nick, don't be like that," Ellis called after him, "She's Abby's Maid of Honor."
Nick appeared a second later behind the screen, "I don't give a rat's ass if she was the Queen of England—"
"I can't be, she died about three weeks after the outbreak," the girl said smugly and Nick pointed a finger at her.
"Fuck you."
She smirked and folded her arms, "No need to be bitter."
"I can be as bitter as I want," Nick protested.
"So why is the Colonel here?" She returned her attention back to Ellis.
"Oh Nick, well he's here because um," Ellis bit his lip.
"I'm his Best Man," Nick filled in for him.
"Yeah he's my Best Man," Ellis confirmed.
"That's is just fan-freaking-tastic," she turned back to the car shouting at it, "Did you hear that? Boston is the Best Man."
"What?"
The two men looked past the girl to see Rochelle had crawled out of the car without their knowledge, "You can't be serious."
"It's true and so do you know what that means?" Nick's eyes narrowed at the dark woman, "I ain't leaving Cupcake, so you better get you used to me being around here for a while."
Ellis beamed at the words wheeling around to look at Nick, "Serious?"
"Dead," Nick gave a mix between a smirk and smile.
Ellis's eyes lit up and he turned back to the two girls, "So did Abby say y'all could stay here?"
Rochelle nodded, "Yep."
"Which means there ain't any room for you Suit," the other girl folded her arms across her chest.
Nick frowned, "What makes you think I want to spend the night here with you two in the vicinity ready to slit my throat once I fall asleep?"
They both shrugged.
"Exactly," Nick put his hands in his pockets, "So I will be renting a room thank you very much."
"Sounds fun," the girl deadpanned.
"You have no idea," Nick smirked iridescently averting his eyes away from the hick in front of him.
"Abby won't be home for a while so if y'all want we can find something to do," Ellis suggested.
"Actually if you don't mind I think Ro and I might head into town to see Abby," the girl grinned, "A little surprise visit."
"Great idea, now leave," Nick growled.
"We have to bring our stuff inside," she protested.
"Nick and I will take care of it, yew two go see Abby," Ellis interjected.
Rochelle frowned deeply at Nick, "I don't want him touching anything."
Nick glared at her double meaning before turning to stalk off inside.
"I'll move it then, but go before yew run out of time to surprise her," Ellis chuckled.
"Okay fine," the girl turned running down the steps to the car, but Rochelle stayed still.
"What?" Ellis asked the question hesitantly afraid of the answer.
"He shouldn't be here," she said sternly.
"Give it a rest Ro," Ellis backed the words up with a stern stare, "He's here, okay? There's no changing that so just leave it be."
"How can I leave it be when you're getting married Ellis? You're lying to a sweet girl."
"I already told yew I don't want to get married," Ellis protested quietly, "I don't love her like that…I just haven't figured out how to tell her that yet."
"By his being here," Rochelle's eyes filled with a seriousness Ellis never saw before, "you're risking everything that you have…are you okay with that?"
Ellis swallowed a lump in his throat and thought on the question for a moment, but finally found his answer, "I'm okay with losing it all Ro as long as I don't have to lose him."
"He's got you all screwed up in the head," Rochelle bit and Ellis frowned.
"Leave it alone Ro," Ellis warned.
"C'mon Ro!" The girl stood by the driver's door impatiently tapping her fingers on the roof.
Rochelle gave Ellis one last look before turning to go to the car, she crawled in and slammed the door shut, but the other girl stood staring at Ellis.
"You seem different Ellis and I don't know what, but it's good," she reassured with a small grin, "Whatever is putting you back into the Ellis you used to be is working…don't stop whatever it is you're doing to keep it that way."
Ellis smiled softly, "I hadn't planned on it."
"Good," she opened the door to get in.
"Oh!" She stopped at Ellis's voice to look at him.
"Yeah?"
"It's good to see you again Zoey."
"Isn't it always?" She winked at him before getting the car to speed off into town.
A/N: One word: Review. (I like hearing what you guys think...and in time I will go back and find ALL my mistakes...but for now I'm too lazy. Thank you everyone! :D)
