Light the Fuse

by SpaceBounty

Four years have passed since the Green Flu and people are returning to their lives, but Ellis hasn't been the same since the day they were rescued. Now he finds himself engaged to a girl who wants to help him feel whole again. However, in order to do that she's gotta find that one missing piece in his life and when she finds it there's no easy way of extinguishing a newly lit fuse.

11. Romantic

Present Day

Rosendale, Georgia

Nick slid his hand across the bar, grabbing for his glass of whiskey as he listened to Sarah talk about her recent breakup with some record store junkie. He wasn't listening entirely to the conversation in all honesty, only to parts of it when her voice would pitch or she'd laugh in a tone that screamed 'I would kill him if I could'. It wasn't that he was trying to ignore her, it was just he couldn't stop thinking about what Ellis was doing with Abigail. Couldn't stop his thoughts from lingering at the idea of her being sweet on him at dinner. Part of him even believed she'd drop the whole waiting thing and just jump him tonight with all the tension going on.

Weddings were stressful.

Sex wasn't.

One helped the other.

He knew that well.

The conman rolled his eyes at his own thoughts, lifting his glass to take a drink. They weren't going to have sex. He knew that. Even if Mother Teresa decided to cover her cross for the evening, Ellis wasn' t going to sleep with her. The kid was more loyal to Nick than Nick was to- No, that isn't what you want to say.

Another drink of the amber liquid.

They were together. That's what they'd wanted. Nick had fucked up, but he came back and he wasn't going to leave until Ellis was with him. Four years ago he told the hick they were going to be together and he'd meant it despite the asshole that he was. Ellis was the one who forgave him, not the other way around. There was a loyalty there and one date night with a woman he was planning to leave wasn't going to break that. The most that'd happen would be a kiss or two, right?

"Are you even listening to me, Nicolas?"

A quick drawn in breath and the conman gave a shake of his head, "May have drifted there for a moment."

"A moment?" Sarah smiled at him, amusement shining on her face, "Pretty sure I lost you halfway through my story."

"You kept telling it," Nick tried to point out.

"That's because if we sit here in silence we'll look as sad as the guy sitting alone at the end of the bar," Sarah chuckled and Nick glanced to the man she spoke of, but only briefly enough to catch her point, "What's going on, Mr. Fancy Suit? Hm? Yesterday when we met you were ready to be chatty and quick with your words."

Nick snorted and tipped his glass back with his head, finishing the drink. He set it down then folded his arms on the bar, shrugging thereafter, "Got a lot on my mind, cupcake."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Nick gave a shake of his head, lifting a hand to wave down the bartender, "Nope, not even one bit."

Sarah leaned over, bumping her shoulder into his, "C'mon, what's bothering you?"

"I'm not going to talk about it," Nick pointed at his glass as the bartender came to a stop in front of him, "Another whiskey but make it a double, will ya?"

"A double?" Sarah's voice pitched, "So you won't talk about it, but you'll drink about it?"

"Always," Nick responded. He gave a nod to the bartender when the glass was set in front of him, drawing it up to take a long drink before speaking again, "Don't you know that's how you deal with your problems?"

"Hm," Sarah chuckled with a shake of her head, "Usually that's how you get all loose-lipped on the topics."

"Won't happen with me, sweetheart," Nick assured. There was no way in hell he was going to spill his guts to this woman about his problems. He didn't do that with anyone. Hell-he could barely tell Ellis what was going on inside his head half the time.

"Okay, fine. New topic," she turned on the stool, facing him more, "Bringing a plus one to the wedding?"

Another snort of amusement left the conman, "No."

"Not seeing anyone?"

"I didn't say that."

A noise left the woman and he regretted his choice of words, "Then why not bring her?"

Nick didn't answer.

"How the hell are you Ellis's best friend when you don't say a word about yourself beyond what was said yesterday?"

"Because we survived together," Nick finally looked at her with a neutral expression, "and protected one another. A lot of time to talk when you're up all night making sure zombies aren't going to kill you."

Sarah's smile slid off her face, eyes dropping to the beer in her hand, "My family and I were some of the first taken to compounds. We...never saw any of the undead in person. I can't imagine what that must've been like for you and him."

"We got by," Nick mumbled the words.

"Did he tell you about his family?" Sarah's subject change made his brow raise.

"Yes. Like I said: a lot of time."

Sarah paused, eyes still not lifting, "Abby has no idea about them." Now that was a surprise, "He doesn't talk about his life before the outbreak. Told her about Keith and that he had a sister, but no longer. Not much else beyond the obvious of where he was raised and the trade he was in."

"I thought she knew everything about him since she's marrying him and all." Nick turned his gaze to the numerous bottles of liquor, taking a sip of his own.

"You'd think, but my dear baby sister believes that love can be real without the past clouding it. She always says if he doesn't wanna speak about it then that's that," a short pause, "He knew you for just a couple of weeks and told you about them, but Abby…"

"Our lives were on the line," Nick defended almost instantly, "The kid knows a lot about me because of it."

"I guess that makes sense," Sarah muttered, "I just wish she knew more about him. Made him tell her more."

"You don't want them getting married?"

"I didn't say that," Sarah sighed, "I just want her to know who she's marrying."

"Well-she won't," Nick responded but was quick to cover it up, "A lot of the survivors from the outbreak like us started anew. Our old lives didn't matter because there was nothing left to go back to."

"Is that what happened to you?"

Nick chuckled then, shaking his head, "Nope. After finally being able to do what I want, I went back to my life."

"Being a conman?"

"Sure," Nick finished off his drink once again then folded his arms onto the bar, looking to the woman.

"Too busy conning for us to meet prior to this?"

"Nope," Nick shook his head, "I was in prison recently for all that conning and prior to that I'd been in a CEDA lab."

"Why?"

Nick gave a quick tilt of his head, licking his bottom lip before speaking, "Just the downfall of being out there that long." He didn't want to say more and he wasn't going to. It wasn't her business just as Ellis's wasn't Abby's apparently. He had no idea the hick wasn't sharing his past. He would've thought that being engaged would have brought that all up, but instead he was learning a lot more about this engagement.

"Do you think Abby is good for Ellis?"

"No."

Fuck .

"I mean," Nick hadn't expected the question, hadn't been ready for it. Sarah was changing subjects so quickly as if she knew he'd say the first thing to come to mind, "Ellis is...well, he isn't the guy she thinks he is." He looked at her to see she was staring at him with such a calm expression that he was almost unsure about continuing, "Okay, look-Ellis is who she thinks he is, but it's not all of him."

"I guess around Keith he's a bit more animated," Sarah finally spoke up, "but I just thought it was a 'boys will be boys' thing."

Nick gave a small shake of his head, "That's Ellis. That's who he is. Even during the outbreak he was positive, optimistic and always trying to find the damn good in something fucking awful." He let out a short sigh, "The Ellis she's marrying is a muted version of that Ellis and honestly...I don't think she's right for him."

"And what gives you the right to say that?"

"Because I know him," Nick frowned at her, "No one knows Ellis like I do, not even his stupid friend Keith."

"Defensive," Sarah pointed out, she tipped her head to the side, "Why?"

Nick felt something boil within him, bubbling up to the edges of his patience. This whole conversation was a minefield with each explosion just begging him to spill his guts that he was fucking her sister's fiance. He wasn't going to, "Because it's the truth."

She paused, "Then who is right for him, Nick?"

"Not your Bible-thumping sister and I'm leaving it at that," he rose from the stool then, pushing against the bar to aid in the motion, "We're done talking about this. I hate weddings, I hate brides and I hate talking about relationships."

"That why you're divorced twice?"

"No," Nick shook his head, lips drawing into a bitter smirk, "I'm divorced twice because I'm a chronic asshole who sleeps around and married for daddy's money." He fixed his jacket then leaned on a hand, closing the distance between them to where he could whisper in her ear, "Now are there any other questions you have for me, princess?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered, "Just one."

Nick leaned back, sighing shortly as he waited for the clarity of her wonder.

"Are you going to try and stop this wedding?"

{\}

Nick's eyes fluttered open against the curtained light, the dim glow of the sun barely touching the motel room. His head was throbbing, a pulse louder than his heart as he tried to keep himself from falling back asleep. He pressed his hands into the bed, lifting himself up slowly only to find himself being pushed back into the bed by hands on his chest. For a brief moment, he felt a stab of panic hit his gut and his eyes opened further, gathering the sight before him.

Who the fuck did you drag home, you idiot?

The conman's vision focused and a warm flush melted through him at the sight of Ellis hovering over him. The hick settled onto his lap, hands rubbing down along his bare chest as he spoke, "Good afternoon, Mr. Gamblin' Man."

"Not morning?" He lifted his hands to slip under the hick's shirt, rubbing along his sides with a soft hum.

Ellis gave a small shake of his head, chuckling, "It's about two o'clock and I'm on my lunch." He rocked down against him at the word and a groan was given in response.

"How'd you get in?" Nick shifted a hand, thumb brushing over Ellis's nipple.

Ellis hissed in a breath, "You gave me your key last night after I dropped you off." He curled his fingers against Nick's chest, pressing down onto his lap even further, "Don't remember that part, do you?"

The conman lifted a brow, eyes on the mechanic's chest as he returned to pushing his shirt up until the younger was forced to remove it, "I don't remember anything beyond Sarah telling me about her ex."

Ellis chuckled, now bare of a shirt, "Y'all came home late last night, got a lift from someone Abby knew who Sarah had been chattin' up. Came stumblin' into the house drunk off your asses."

Nick didn't remember that. Sure he remembered drinking a lot and having a conversation he sort of wish he hadn't, but he didn't recall seeing Ellis at all. For a moment he was hoping he'd said something that ended things with Abigail, but by the level of calmness coming for his lover it didn't seem the case, "We wake you two up?"

"No," Ellis shifted lower on Nick's legs, allowing himself to lean over and place a kiss to his collarbone, "Abby'd been asleep for awhile by then and I couldn't sleep. Sarah went straight upstairs, saying she hadn't drank that much in a long time. Think she was up all night puking because of it."

Nick shut his eyes, sliding his hands along Ellis's sides, "Did I try to seduce you?"

Another laugh, lips brushing along skin, "Just about as much as you normally do only a little rougher this time around."

"Rougher?" Nick quirked a brow but his eyes remained shut.

"Nearly had me bent over the kitchen table, Suit," Ellis slipped a hand between them, pressing under the covers to find Nick's already very present erection.

"Should I apologize?" Nick's hips twitched at the curl of his lover's calloused hand. He tried to piece together last night as best he could, but he didn't remember much beyond some of the conversation with Sarah. Though hearing he got a little rough with Ellis didn't surprise him. He knew putting too much alcohol into him usually resulted in being horny, but even more so: aggressively horny.

Russell and Tessa enjoyed it greatly. He'd been glad for that, glad that he could be drunk out of his mind while fucking two very willing individuals to keep from thinking about Ellis.

"Not at all." Ellis's voice drew him back in, drew him back to the reality of how all that was behind him. He didn't need them, nor did he want them. He had everything he wanted hovering over him with a mouth begging to be kissed.

He opened his eyes and sure enough, Ellis was right there, eyes locked onto his with lips fighting a near pout that he knew all too well. His younger lover wanted attention, wanted the older man and fuck anything that happened the night before: He was going to have him.

Nick's hands lifted, both gently grabbing Ellis by the face to pull him in for a deep seeded kiss that halted the motions of the hand on his cock. He let it happen though, let the distraction melt Ellis into a moan that had the hand slipping away entirely. It had him sliding a hand in Nick's hair instead, other curling into the bed as he arched against him with a heart-racing far too quickly in his chest.

Nick could feel it. He could sense it. The wave of feeling just rolling off of the hick at levels he almost didn't recognize. He didn't know what had changed that in the span of the day, but he knew he liked it. Knew that the taste on his tongue was, even more, his than it ever had been.

Ellis was the one to finally draw back, the one to finally cave in favor of air. His cheeks were flushed, eyes glazing with that look of bliss Nick enjoyed so much. His lips drew into a small grin, plump and swollen from the attack they'd just gone through, "Don't think I'll ever get used to the way you kiss me, Nick."

"I'm fine with that," Nick chuckled, thumb stroking over a pink cheek, "You're the only one I want to kiss like that, Ace."

Ellis's eyes widened just a bit and Nick knew he hit something with the words just as he did two nights ago and yesterday with similar things said. He told Ellis that he wanted to be with him, told him that he's wanted him since the outbreak and that he's needed him. He meant all of that and he was going to make sure the hick knew he meant it with each chance he could.

Sure it wasn't his nature and sure he wasn't an actual romantic, but he was willing to be out of his element and whoever he needed to be if it meant keeping Ellis for himself.

"Gettin' me all worked up and then saying things like that," the mechanic's eyes veered away, breaking the eye contact they had.

"That mean you don't want to fuck now?"

Ellis shook his head, heat still present on his cheeks. He sat up and slid back, grabbing at the covers to draw them away so his tongue could roll against the conman's cock. Blue eyes locked with his eyes, a dark hunger shining in them as he spoke, "I'd rather suck your cock than fuck it at the moment."

A shiver ran down Nick's spine, groan echoing in the back of his throat, "That's definitely one way to deal with a hangover."

Ellis's hand cupped his cock, lips dragging along the length with a chuckle of hot air filtering through, "You still gotta fuck me after though, Nick."

"Mm, I was already planning on that," he shut his eyes, "Gotta make up for whatever happened last night."

The warmth of the hick's mouth encircled the head of his cock, sucking slowly with his tongue swirling around the sensitive skin. He popped away shortly after though, shifting on the bed to where Nick could only assume was reaching for the bedside drawer. "You were great last night, Nick. Nothing to make up for."

Nick opened his eyes then, looking at Ellis who was pulling out the small bottle of lube from the drawer. He lifted a brow, curiosity settling in his stare, "Thought you said I nearly had you bent over."

"You did," Ellis sat back on his heels, opening the bottle to squirt a small dab onto his hand. He dropped the bottle onto the bed then curled his hand around Nick's cock once more, the cool touch of the lubricant making him buck his hips slightly. "I moved us to the shed after that and you fucked me hard against Abby's daddy's car."

"I did?" Nick frowned, annoyed he couldn't remember that bit.

Ellis gave a nod, slowly twisting his hand around the length of Nick's dick. He grinned slowly, a cat-like appearance taking over him, "You bent me over, called me yours and fucked me until I saw stars." He hummed a little, rocking where he sat as his hand started to pump with the slow twists, "You were unbelievable, Mr. Gamblin' Man."

Nick wanted to wrinkle nose, wanted to comment on how he didn't even remember but he could only find himself letting out a short sound of pleasure. He curled a hand into the sheets, clenching his teeth as a growl found a way out.

"You had me on the verge of unraveling over and over, but you just kept pushing it back," Ellis chuckled, hand coming to a stop so his thumb could swirl around the head in slow teasing motions, "Told me I had to beg for it if I wanted it. I was pretty sure I was going to pass out from how turned on I was."

"You saying you like having sex with drunk me more?" Nick swallowed a hard breath trying to focus on the conversation despite the burning arousal.

"Not at all," Ellis shifted on the bed again, pressing himself between Nick's legs, "As much as I enjoyed being fucked like that, I much rather like having your quips between moans than never-ending demands."

Nick couldn't hold back the slight chuckle, "Good to know, Fireball."

Ellis began pumping then, twisting his hand in quick motions as that warm mouth once again found the head to suck at. He teased there, just barely moving his head as his hand did most of the work. It was quick yet slow, careful yet rough. It was everything that made the conman nearly purr. The hick knew what Nick liked and getting lost in it was easier than waking up.

Nick let Ellis have that control over him for what seemed like forever, let him choose how long it went on and how much the conman bucked for him to finish. No one ever really had that control before Ellis (or after, if you're counting the break). The older man never enjoyed the idea of not being in control and therefore made sure if his dick was being sucked or jerked the person knew what he wanted and when.

But Ellis-fuck, the Southerner already knew it all. At first, he'd been given the rundown and was told what to do, but those were the basics. Over time, Ellis learned it all. It was like his mouth had been made for his dick.

Romantic .

The bit that surprised him though was the ending, the aftermath of swallowing where Ellis remained on his dick with a hand on his balls. It was there he continued to bob and suck, refusing to let Nick's dick go limp. At first, it was making his entire body twitch, the sore release of pleasure tingling along his cock. However, it wasn't long before he found himself hard once again and biting his lips to keep from begging the hick to do something.

"Don't you go bucking too much there, cowboy," Ellis's drawl was melting, the warmth of his voice just crawling across Nick's skin as he was quick to undress. It took only seconds after that for lube to find his hands, rubbing along Nick's cock to slick it with preparation for him, "I wanna have my way with your dick."

"Didn't you just do that?" Nick hissed it out, eyes dropping to where his cock was being held carefully to line up with his lover's ass. He drew his eyes up from there, landing on Ellis's dick. He had to swallow then, mouth growing watery at the sight.

"Mm, that was for fun," Ellis lowered as he spoke and those pink lips formed a perfect 'O'. His free hand flattened onto Nick's abdomen and slowly he sank until the cardhsark was halfway into him. His hand slid away, falling behind him to land on Nick's thigh. He stayed there, a smirk appearing between flushed cheeks, "Now I wanna make sure you remember fucking me after a night out."

Nick smiled at the words, hands grabbing for the hips of the mechanic to aid him in sitting up. Yet as he did so, he pulled the younger down to edge him further onto his dick and a groan slid out before words even could, "Then how about we fuck until you forget about going back to work?"

"I have to go b-back, Nick," Ellis's hands flew up, gripping at Nick's shoulders with a tight grasp. He bumped his forehead to his and placed a swift kiss, "But I don't mind being a little late."

Nick chuckled, smirk settling onto his lips, "Then start moving those hips, Overalls."

{/}

Four Years Ago

Somewhere in Southern Alabama

It'd been about a week since Nick crossed a line. Maybe two weeks, he wasn't sure. Regardless of the amount of time, it'd been awhile since he showed Ellis that there was going to be more than just a casual fuck between them. Granted it was an obvious situation as time went on, but the conversation had been there and the intimacy had evolved into something far more than before. It made Nick nervous some, nervous because it wasn't who he was or how he was as a person.

But Ellis…

"Nick."

The conman lifted his head, turning his attention to where Ellis stood in the doorframe of the bedroom Nick had deemed as his when they arrived at the suburban house, "Hm?"

Ellis was wiping his hands on a rag, brow furrowing as he leaned into the frame, "Are you okay?"

Nick chuckled at the question, opening his jacket some to grab the pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket. He pulled them free and was quick to place one between his lips, "Peachy. Why?"

"You haven't said anything beyond this room being yours when we got here," He shoved the rag into the pocket of his coverall, brow lifting.

"Taking the time to think is all," Nick brought his lighter up, flicking it to life so he could light his cigarette, "Been with you three all day, wanted to enjoy some silence."

A pause and then a small frown, "What about?"

"You," Nick answered it quickly despite the frown. He drew in a breath of smoke, shutting his eyes and letting it sit for a moment. When he spoke, smoke filtered with the words, "Been thinking about you and what this is."

"What is it?" Ellis said it quickly.

"I don't know," Nick answered. He drew in a breath, "Don't know what to call it."

"Is that bad?"

Nick shrugged, "Do you think it is?"

The pause that followed was longer than any previous, long enough that it made Nick a little nervous. He didn't like that. He didn't enjoy how nervous he was getting with anything that surrounded Ellis, but why did that surprise him? After that night he shouldn't be surprised for the random thoughts or even feelings that came with Ellis.

Nick's attention was brought back to where his lover was at the sound of the door shutting. The overhead light flickered a few times before settling back on the dim glow it'd been at, lighting the area just enough to see that the hick was walking towards him. He came to a stop over him, grabbing the cigarette from between his lips to put it out on the side table. The action was answered with a frown, but Ellis ignored it as he climbed onto the bed.

Ellis straddled the cardshark's legs, hands sliding into his hair as he connected their lips for a hard kiss. He tugged at the dark locks, breaking it to whisper in the distance, "As long as I get to kiss you whenever I damn please I don't care what we are."

The response made Nick chuckle, "Good to know." He wrapped his arms around the hick's waist and flipped them, pressing Ellis into the bed. He pressed a kiss to his neck, speaking warmly against the soft skin, "Where are the others?"

"Living room. Chatting. Don't really care," Ellis wiggled under him, tugging again at Nick's hair.

"Good enough for me."

It was all that Nick needed to hear to let himself get lost in his lover once again. They muffled each other as they quickly undressed, muffled one another as the pleasure was quick to take over. It was in this instance too that Nick again had his thoughts consuming with the idea of keeping Ellis around, the idea of having the hick after all of this was over. He wanted to know what it was like to spoil him, fuck him wherever and show him off in a way that he hadn't with others.

It was sickening how much the hick seemed to be changing him in a short amount of time, but the world was ending and there wasn't much else left beyond this . And right now this , this was better than anything Nick could remember in his miserable life.

And maybe it was time Ellis knew that .

Ellis had taken it upon himself to find a towel from the connecting bathroom once they'd fallen victim to their bliss, moving on nearly numb legs to ensure they were both clean. He'd tossed the towel aside after then found his boxers, slipping them on then rejoining the older on the bed. He ordered him to roll over then crawled onto his hips, hands spreading out along the conman's bare back to begin rubbing at it slowly.

A groan left the conman at the action and a sigh followed, eyes falling shut, "Why haven't you done this before?"

"Because we'd been avoiding crossing a line," Ellis chuckled, hands slowly working along the tight muscles in Nick's back.

Nick chuckled, "Yeah, well-when you grew up with the life I had and live the way I do, you can't blame me for having a line."

There was no response given and honestly, it didn't surprise the conman. How could Ellis respond to that? It went back to the facts of this...relationship where Nick knew more about the hick than the other way around. Due to it, Ellis had nothing to stand on to even try bringing up a response.

Maybe that's why Nick's voice formed words he couldn't keep up with, "No one has ever cared to actually cross that line before you, Ace."

Ellis's hands gave pause but resumed in slower, deeper motions, "Thought you were married."

"Yeah, but that doesn't have to mean shit about them actually caring about me," Nick clarified further after that, "Not even my parents gave a rat's ass about me."

Ellis shifted lower, sliding to rest on his knees so his mouth could press a line of warm kisses along Nick's shoulders, "They had to have cared a little, right?"

Nick relaxed even further under the touches, biting back the smile that wanted to touch his lips from the soft actions of the man over him, "I was an accident, Ellis. They made damn sure I knew that." That once desire to smile was overlapped with a bitter chuckle, "It's amazing I even lived to take care of myself."

"Think you'll ever tell me what it was like growing up?"

Nick gave pause then, drawing in a slow breath and debating in the silence. Finally he let out a sigh because he knew that it was time Ellis knew more than what he did from small quips, "My earliest memory is from when I was six."

Ellis didn't say anything and Nick didn't blame him. It wasn't rare that Nick would shut up entirely if the hick so much as commented on a matter, but with this...he kind of hoped Ellis was going to ask a question or say something.

When he didn't, Nick continued, "My mother forgot to pick me up from the daycare or whatever. I had to sit in the classroom with my teacher for what felt like forever. She wasn't mad about it, wasn't malicious towards me for having to stay late because she had an idea of what it was like to live with my parents." A sigh, "Of course that becomes more obvious when my father, angrier than a bull in a China Shop came barreling into the classroom. He slammed the door open, it startled both my teacher and me. She went to greet him, but he ignored her and came straight for me where he grabbed my bag and told me to put my jacket on."

"Why was he mad?"

Nick shut his eyes, relaxing under the movements of his lover's hands. His voice having already helped edge the story along, "Because he had to cancel his poker night to pick me up. My mother was too drunk to even remember where the hell I was. When we got in the car he told me the next time this happened that I was going to walk home because it wasn't his fault that my mother was ' too drunk a whore to remember her own son '."

Nick let out a bitter chuckle, hands curling into fists. He never told anyone this. Not even his wives had known. Not a single fucking person ever cared to know about Nick . They only cared about the conman with deep pockets. But it was that thought where he felt a kiss press to his shoulder blade and with it he let out another soft sigh. He relaxed under the touch once more, "Neither of them cared about me, Ellis. I was just another piece of property that they owned. An accident they could actually profit off one way or another and that's exactly what they did. The only reason I ever got checked out by doctors was because of school nurses worrying after me.

My mother was constantly drinking after I turned seven. She was never without a bottle of something and because of it she would make sure I knew just how she felt about me," he sneered, lip curling at the echo of her voice. An echo he could never fully remove from his thoughts, "She used to tell me that I was annoying, nothing but a pain since the moment I came screaming into this world. She'd tell me I was more worthless than my father and that she regretted ever marrying him because of me ."

The pause that lingered in the story was enough time for Ellis to climb off of Nick's back. It made the conman lift up just enough to see the mechanic shifting to kneel beside him, "Roll over, Boston." Nick blinked at him but did as he was told, rolling onto his back only to have the younger immediately press under the covers and connect to his side. He folded his arm along his chest, chin resting on his hand so he could look at Nick with a small smile, "Would it be wrong to kiss you between all of this?"

That was a step across another line, wasn't it?

"I'd rather like that actually."

Ellis leaned up without a response, connecting their lips for a soft kiss. He held it there then drew back, resting his cheek on Nick's chest, "Okay, I'm listening."

Nick nearly bit his tongue then, silencing himself as he normally did with anything like this but it was too late for that. Too late to turn back and say never mind to all of this. So he swallowed a breath, shutting his eyes as he spoke, "My father didn't drink much, but he didn't need to in order to be an asshole. He was always angry about something and rather than taking it out on my mother because she'd just laugh at him, he'd take out on me because I was…"

"Scared," Ellis said it in a near whisper when Nick didn't resume before kissing the conman's jaw, "You were a kid, Nick. Ain't nobody going to think twice about you being scared of someone like that."

"Yeah, but…" he sighed, lifting a hand to cover his eyes, "It ain't easy to just say it after so long. Looking back I wish I'd done more as I got older, but I just let it happen. I let him beat the shit out of me for years because I was too much of a scared wuss to do shit about it."

"You were young ," Ellis put emphasis on the word and when Nick lifted his hand he was greeted with blue eyes staring intently at him.

"I know, that's why I chose to leave overdoing anything," Nick dropped his hand into Ellis's hair, licking over his own lips before speaking further, "He told me I was never going to be happy and that hoping for anything was just going to disappoint me. Said that life was a joke and because I wasn't meant to be here, it was going to treat me like shit because I deserved it for ruining his life."

Ellis frowned deeply, brow furrowing, "He was wrong."

Nick chuckled lightly, chest tight with too many feelings from the thought of a past he tried to forget. Ellis was being protective and strong in a way Nick didn't realize the kid could be. It was like seeing another side of Ellis that was ready to fight anyone who so much as said something bad about Nick, "But that's how it was, El. He hated me and my mom didn't give a shit about me. I used to throw away any art project I made at school when I was a tot before even going into the house." He sighed, "Tell your son he hasn't a skilled bone in his body then rip up his artwork: it'll definitely leave a mark."

Ellis shifted then, sliding to where he could sit on Nick's hips once more. He sprawled his hands out on the conman's chest then gave a shake of his head, "Why didn't anyone do anything about it?"

"Because my parents were damned good liars and no one was going to take away their property no matter how much they regretted it," Nick settled his hands onto Ellis's hips. There was a long pause, but then he let out a soft breath of a whisper, "I didn't tell you this so you'd feel sorry for me, kid."

"I know, but it's hard not to," He responded so quickly with a frown settling onto his face, "We had different lives growing up. Where I thought my ma got on my case...it was nothing in comparison to what you were going through."

"No, but it was still hard for you in your own way," Nick offered a small smile, trying to reassure the hick, "Everyone had it different."

"Yeah, I guess," Ellis slid his hands up Nick's chest, stopping their motions once he was able to cup the older man's face. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips, soft and as gentle as possible with a caress of feeling Nick couldn't explain.

It made his chest tight.

His hands slid to sprawl out along Ellis's back, holding him against his chest as he returned the kiss carefully and without a motion to lead it. He let Ellis have that. Let him carry their kiss wherever he wanted it to go. Ellis wanted to comfort him and though Nick didn't think he needed it...it felt amazing.

When the kiss broke, Ellis brushed his nose against Nick's as he spoke softly, "I'm going to make sure you never feel that helpless again, Nick. I know you're all grown up from it, but I want to promise you that as long as we're like this...I'll make damned sure you're given what you deserve."

Nick wasn't certain how to respond to that, wasn't sure how to go about even thinking of what the right response would be. There was a line crossed in their relationship, but it was already weaving deeper than the conman had anticipated. He knew what he would do in any other situation, but this one-the one where the world was ending and Ells was so far the best part of it: that proposal from him didn't sound half bad.

The cardshark smiled slowly, hand slipping into the mechanic's hair as he drew him back in for another kiss. When he drew back, a chuckle escaped before words, "Already sounding better than either woman I married. How romantic."

There was a pause between them and for a moment he thought Ellis had gone tense against him from what was said. To be fair, it probably wasn't the response Ellis had been hoping for from Nick, but the conman couldn't give himself up like that. Not yet. Not so soon into something he was still unsure about. It was all very confusing to him still, but regardless he knew what he meant.

"I'm holding you to that promise, Ellis," he started it carefully, placing a kiss to the hick's cheek.

{/}

Present Day - Evening

Rosendale, Georgia

Nick was leaning quietly against the rail of the back porch, arms folded across his chest and legs crossed at the ankle. He'd been standing like that for quite some time, listening without so much as attempting to interrupt the three who sat conversing. Well-the two who sat conversing, Ellis really hadn't said much since his fiancee asked him about his work schedule. In fact, it'd been the only time Nick was actuallylistening. So to say he was quietly listening was actually a lie.

He was too busy thinking about how the fuck he could help Ellis in speeding up breaking this all off.

"Nick-," the sound of his name broke that thought and he glanced up to see Sarah looking at him. When she noticed she had his attention she spoke, "Are you going to be here up until after the wedding?"

Nick cleared his throat, straightening up with his hands dropping to rest on the rail he leaned into, "That's the plan, yeah. Originally I was going to head back to Boston in the next couple days, but decided against it."

Even saying it he could feel the world already working its way to biting him in the ass for it. Here he was trying to figure out how to get Ellis out of his relationship and he still had yet to tell his piece back home they were done. To be honest , he was kind of hoping they'd just get the hint when he stopped answering their calls.

"Oh good," Sarah smiled at him, "That means we can get you fitted tomorrow with Ellis and then get your help with a few other things."

"Great," Nick's tone was immediately laced with sarcasm, "I can't wait."

Abigail frowned, "It's the least you could do."

"Is it?" The words were gone before he could think about it, frown ironing to his face to mirror hers.

There was a long silence that fell there before finally, Sarah was speaking, "Okay! So , I think this weekend-Abby."

Her sister's eye contact with Nick broke, looking to her sister, "What?"

"This weekend, should we start getting the favors all setup?" Once Abigail nodded she continued, "Great, we'll get the girls together and start that Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I think it may take most of the weekend to get them done."

"Do you," Ellis cleared his throat, trying again, "Do you need our help for that?"

"No," Sarah responded with a shake of her head, "You and Nick are free from that particular wedding piece."

Nick looked over to Ellis who was sat in a chair, blue eyes already looking back at him as if he'd been watching the conman the entire time, "Hear that, El? We're free to do as we want."

A blush touched the hick's cheeks, one that was so faint that neither girl would've seen it unless they were looking for it, "Y-yeah. Guess we are."

Nick pushed off the rail to walk towards him, he stepped up behind his chair and dropped his hands onto his shoulders. The contact alone brought a breath of air to him as he leaned down to speak in a whisper loud enough for them to hear, "How about we hop on a plane and enjoy that freedom, eh?"

"Excuse me?" Abigail asked it carefully but with a tone which Nick recognized all too well as being annoyed.

Ellis turned his head, nose brushing Nick's cheek with how close he was. He leaned away just slightly, but each word he spoke was hot against the gambler's face, "What are you talking about?"

"Well," Nick gave his shoulders a short squeeze before turning his head to look at Ellis, their noses nearly touching, "if they don't need you for anything then I say we go to Vegas."

"You're not serious," Abigail broke into the conversation and both men looked to her, "You can't do that."

"Why not?" Sarah's voice surprised Nick as she shrugged towards her sister, "We don't need them and it's his last weekend as a technicallysingle man. After that, he's yours forever. Let him have his fun."

"Yeah," Nick agreed quickly, hands never leaving Ellis, "Let him have some fun before you sentence him to a lifetime commitment."

Abigail frowned and Ellis hissed out the conman's name as a warning.

"What? It's true!" Nick stood up, squeezing the hick's shoulders once more, "Besides, everyone deserves a good Vegas trip before they tie the knot."

"He's right you know," Sarah said it with another shrug and Abigail shot her a glare, "What? Either you have a blast before your hitched or you get hitched there. It's how it works."

"Who's side are you on?" Abigail asked.

"Fun?" Sarah offered it lightly then rolled her eyes with a huff, "C'mon Abby, not everyone is as uptight as you."

Abigail's brow furrowed, her mouth dropping slightly.

"Now hold on a minute," Ellis jumped into the conversation then, shrugging Nick's hands off to get up from the chair. He took a knee in front of his fiancee and collected her hands into his, "Abby, darlin', now I know why this might be a frustrating thing and all but there's no need to get upset over it."

"I wasn't getting upset!" Abigail was quick to respond, "I just wanted to bring up the possibility of how we may need your help. I didn't even get to say my part before my own sister attacked me."

"That's a little dramatic," Sarah sighed, "I just wanted to get my point across before it turned into whatever it was going to turn into."

"Sarah," Ellis shot her a look, "You ain't helpin'."

"Well!" She threw her hands into the air then stood up, "I'm just being honest!"

"I appreciate that about you," Nick commented with a short chuckle, trying his best to stay in that same light he was in prior to watching his lover crouch down to comfort the woman.

Ellis looked over his shoulder at Nick then back to Abigail, "Look-I'm going to be honest, Abby. I'd like to go, but I ain't going to if you don't want me to."

Nick's chest tightened at the words.

"Fine," Abigail caved with a sigh, "Go on your boys weekend or whatever it is."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Ellis stood at an angle, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "Thank you, darlin'." He stepped back then, falling into the chair he'd been in prior. He looked up at Nick only to frown at what the conman could only assume was in reaction to Nick's expression.

Abigail waited for a beat then stood from her spot, stepping around the trio to head back inside the house. After another pause, Sarah was following her inside calling her name. Once the screen door slammed shut Ellis was on his feet again, walking down the steps of the back porch and towards the shed.

Nick followed after him with a sigh of his own, removing his suit jacket as he went. He hadn't meant for that to turn into whatever the hell it had. He honestly just wanted to do something this weekend beyond staying in some boring ass podunk town. Besides-he wanted to take Ellis somewhere and be with him. Actually be with him . In Vegas, they could do anything they wanted without anyone to judge them. Maybe then...maybe then Ellis would finally pull the trigger on all of this.

The conman stepped into the shed after Ellis, sealing the door shut then tossing his jacket onto the roof of the car. He lifted a hand and pressed it through his hair, "Look-I'm not going to apologize for bringing up the idea of taking a little trip."

When Nick looked to Ells the hick was reaching out to grab him by the shirt. He pulled him in, slamming their bodies together so their lips could meet for a warm tongue twisted kiss. He walked forward, pressing into Nick until the cardshark's back was against the car. It didn't take long for Nick to respond with hands grabbing to the younger's ass. He gave it a squeeze, groaning into the kiss as every inch of him heated up from the contact.

Ellis broke the kiss, nipping at Nick's bottom lip with a small smirk, "You're such a fucking bastard, you know that?"

"Is that why you're kissing me?"

"No," Ellis pressed in for a hard kiss only to break it off for another set of words, "I'm kissing you because I really like the idea of being far the fuck away from all of this with you."

"Mm, y'know," it was Nick's turn to steal a kiss, "there's a way to have that be an endgame thing, right?"
"Don't ruin this damn moment," Ellis growled gently, "Just kiss me, Mr. Gamblin' Man."

"You got it," he lifted a hand to knock Ellis's hat off his head, giving him the ability to tangle his fingers into his hair. He gave a yank, tilting the younger's head back to give him access of his neck. He peppered the pale skin with wet, warm kisses. He dragged along the skin, finding a spot and gently sucking on it to get a moan from the other but not enough to leave a mark.

"I didn't mean like that," Ellis gripped to his shirt tightly, a near whine escaping through the pleasure, "I meant something a little more direct."

"I think this is pretty direct," Nick chuckled with a nip to soft flesh.

Ellis let out his own laugh, "I'm really enjoying this good mood, Nick."

"Don't have a clue to what you're talking about," and to be honest, he didn't He felt like today was like any other in comparison to the rest. Granted he was hungover still, but waking up to a sex hungry Ellis and having him pinned to him once more was really doing a number on him.

"Y'know exactly what I'm talking about," Ellis let out a soft sigh, moaning thereafter, "Since this morning, there's been this different air about you."

"And you want me to thank you for that?" Nick drew back, leaning heavily into the car so he could look at Ellis with a quirked brow. A bemused grin settling onto his lips.

"No, just wanted you to know that it's been nice. Reminds me of the old days."

"You mean when we were running for our lives?"

"Amongst other things," Ellis chuckled.

Nick slid his hand to Ellis's face, cupping his cheek. He stroked his thumb against flushed skin then smiled gently, "Back then, Ellis, I treated every minute with you as if we were going to die the next. I guess...right now…" he licked his lips, thinking on it briefly then finally saying what he needed to, "I've decided that that's the best way to go about it. Their might not be zombies outside that door, but there's still a world capable of taking you away from me again."

"I'm not going anywhere," Ellis said it quickly yet there was an airy tone of it as if he'd gone breathless, "Though I may melt if you keep up the romantics."

Nick let out a louder laugh than before only for it to simmer into a soft chuckle, "I'm not romantic. Don't start thinking that either." He removed his hand from Ellis's ass despite the comment, sliding it up along his back.

"Then what are you?"

Nick's smile faltered at the question. Tongue getting tied up in a way it normally doesn't. It was such a simple question with such a simple answer. One that said he was charming, cunning... fuck -anything. He was a number of things and he knew he had the answer to it, but yet the next word to fall from his mouth wasn't one he would've said four years ago.

But it was the word he needed to say.

"Yours."