So here we go again What to say about this, though… The next chapter will most likely be the finale for this story and it has yet to truly sink in. It might take a little longer to get written depending on how smoothly it follows what I want to happen. Anyways, Comments and Critiques are always loved and sometimes help me in writing the story- both by motivating me and also by helping me catch any glitches I may have written in the past. Enjoy the chapter
Chapter 29
With dawn came renewed spirits for the most part. Of course the daunting task ahead of them loomed heavily over each survivor- and everyone had a fear of what would actually happen when they actually reached 'safety.'
After another breakfast of canned foods the survivors stacked up on ammo and headed out- fairly quiet for the most part. Nick and Ellis had meant to wake up a little earlier to dry out their clothing but they had practically passed out- both of them getting a fair amount of restful sleep regardless of all the fears resting on each of their minds. Needless to say it dampened their spirits a little to be running around in wet clothing but at least it was a little cleaner now.
Nick briefly wondered what had come over him- he'd let a chance of sex escape… He used to be the man that took sex every chance he got-uncaring whether the other person wanted it or not(though he never raped anyone-they were always at least mostly consenting. Or at least they were at first. Nick used to be able to keep going….). His only response to this odd question was that he really was changing-he was no longer the man he used to be.
The bite mark on the conman's neck was still sore- as was his temperament toward it- but in an attempt to move past it the conman pushed it to the back of his mind where it loomed over him ominously. He kind of imagined pushing the dangerous thoughts away akin to stacking bricks in a net hanging over his head. Eventually that net was going to give way and truly crush him but for now… well for now he was living in a moment where Ellis was his normal self. There was just so much to think about that having to even consider that Ellis was anything but himself put such a heavy weight over Nick that he wasn't sure if he'd honestly be able to cope.
"Is everybody ready to walk right into a horror movie?" Rochelle asked, glancing into the cemetery. Worry was evident in her tone.
"Ro, Sweetheart, this entire goddamned apocalypse has been a nightmare. Changing the scenery doesn't mean anything." Nick replied, gripping Rochelle's shoulder consolingly. That being said- Nick didn't move to head into the cemetery either.
"Could ya imagine if we tried to get through this in the dark?" Ellis asked, his enthusiasm for the idea only partially forced in an attempt to be himself.
"So on top of the uneven ground, the obstacles that give infected a hiding place, and the general creepy aura of the place you also want to add limited visibility? Ellis… we'd be dead in five minutes."
"Aw Nick, I have more faith in us than that."
"So you think we'd last ten minutes?" Nick offered.
"Nick." Ellis replied, crossing his arms and glaring at the other man.
"Faith gets a lot of people killed." Nick remarked darkly, almost defensively.
Coach opened his mouth to remark than closed it once more, rubbing at his chin for a moment. "Where I can't deny that stupid amounts of faith have gotten people killed-the right amount of faith has saved people."
"Well weren't those people just lucky. Are you one of the people faith saved?" Nick asked and if his voice was a little sharp… well maybe his colleagues would forgive him for it. Faith had never done anything for Nick. Not before the apocalypse and definitely not now.
"Matter of fact, I am." Coach replied, glaring over at Nick before his gaze softened. "When it first became obvious that my football career was truly over I took it pretty hard and I lost whatever religion I followed- becoming completely lost in life. I made some bad decisions for a little while… but my wife dragged me to church one day. I tell you what- the first day I went I tried hard not to scoff at whatever the preacher said. The second day I went wasn't much better. Or the third. Or fourth. But eventually we came across a section of the bible that seemed to coincide with exactly how I was feeling and it gave me the answers I needed. I was able to get my life back on track and devoted it to that faith that saved me."
"I'm happy for you, Coach. Really- I am." Nick said. He had meant to have a snarky tone but as he said the words he found in ways he envied the bigger man. There was never a point that Nick wanted to be saved before this… Now, however, as corny as it sounded Nick wanted to be a better man if only for Ellis. There were still points Nick caught himself wondering if he was truly worthy of the other man's affections.
"Wow Coach. That's amazing." Rochelle said, patting the larger man's shoulder when she wasn't shooting down zombies.
"Come on, guys. We make it through this cemetery and we'll be jus' bout home free." Ellis said, taking the first step into the slightly daunting burial grounds.
"One good thing about the army's obsession with blowing things up- they destroyed this fence so that we can at least get into the cemetery." Nick said in a light hearted manner.
"Yeah- I doubt we'd be willing to climb a fence into a horror movie." Rochelle deadpanned.
The graves seemed like small houses to Ellis, rising up in stone masses around them. Zombies really would appear from behind the crypts at random intervals but it wasn't anything that the survivors couldn't handle.
"You know, on a regular day- ya know, like if there weren't zombies and shit- this place would be kinda peaceful." Ellis replied before his gun shattered the peace once more, dropping a zombie that had been charging at them.
"You find the oddest things peaceful." Rochelle noted in amusement, covering his left side while Coach and Nick took up their usual areas at the rear.
"Hey Ellis, what do you think are in those boxes over there?" Nick asked, gesturing with his gun. Ellis turned back to look where he was pointing and saw one of the strange boxes he had been noticing as they went along. Eventually Ellis worked up the nerve to go check out one of the crypts and found it to be empty.
"Ain't there s'posed ta be somethin' in here?" He asked, confused.
"Dead people." Coach muttered, coming over to look as well. The hissing of a hunter caught their attention and the survivors circled up, everyone keeping an eye out for the hunter. It wasn't until they looked up that they realized it was in a tree above their heads and it landed right in the middle of all of them. It chose to pounce at Coach and for a short while there was hell as the survivors got into a position that shooting the hunter wouldn't shoot Coach. By the time the hunter slumped over, dead, Coach had some nasty wounds littering his chest.
"Here, Coach. Lemme help ya out." Ellis offered, pulling his medkit from his back and kneeling next to Coach. The man let out a sigh of relief as his wounds were numbed and he was able to pull to his feet.
"Thanks y'all." Coach said, giving them a grateful grin.
"Of course, Coach. We couldn't let that thing tear your guts out. I'm pretty sure we'd be lost without our leader." Nick teased light heartedly.
Now that they knew to keep an eye out for special infected in the trees they kept a wary eye whenever they passed one.
"There sure are a lot of creepy trees in this cemetery." Rochelle intoned, her gaze flickering up to one that was nearby before focusing on the infected running at them again.
"If by creepy you mean 'climbable' I totally agree." Ellis enthused, causing the other three to shake their heads.
"Ellis, I'm pretty sure that's not even close to what I meant."
"Oh. Well. I think they're climbable." Ellis pointed out in case that hadn't gotten across. "So… why were some of those box things empty?" He asked, mind switching back to its earlier inquiry.
"Maybe the infection brought the dead back to life." Nick remarked in a bored voice.
"Nah, I don' think so. I ain't seen any skeletons runnin' round. Most a the people we seen still had flesh an' all." Ellis replied after a moment's thought. He would have been pretty ecstatic to see a skeleton running around.
"Well.. maybe the infected ate them." Rochelle offered in a slightly disgusted voice.
"Pretty sure tha's grave robbery righ' there." Ellis noted, his tone just as disgusted.
"I doubt the zombies care if they rob a grave or not." Nick noted in amusement. "Hey, how long does this place go on for, anyway?"
"Good question." Rochelle replied. "It's beginning to feel like we've been walking in circles."
"Hey, Ellis. Why don't you go climb a tree and tell us where the exit to this graveyard is?" Nick suggested and Ellis looked over at him a moment before shrugging.
"Seriously?" Ellis asked- unsure if Nick was serious or not.
"Yes." Coach answered for Nick.
"Ok. Cool." Ellis replied, moving toward the nearest tree. He checked to make sure that there weren't any special infected near it. The others made sure that the common infected were unable to reach him while he worked his way up the tree trunk and into the tree.
For a while a strange comfort came over Ellis. The rough feel of bark beneath his hands and the strain of muscles pulling his weight up took Ellis back to happier times- times when a bad day for him was if he fell out of the tree and broke something. Ellis reached the first branch without too much trouble, going to stand on it a little ways out but it wasn't quite high enough to get a clear view of the exit-there was a large fallen tree blocking the majority of his view. So Ellis climbed up another couple of branches.
The creak of his weight on the wood went practically unheard as bullets rang beneath him. Ellis' gaze hunted through the masses of gray to try and spot an exit but the earlier spotted tree remained as an ever present visual obstacle. He wasn't able to see any exits- even when his gaze found the black wrought iron fence and followed it around in both directions. Surmising that the big tree was near the exit or would allow for them to exit, Ellis began to make his way down.
Of course, the tree he was in had decided it had enough, releasing the branch beneath Ellis so that the kid's feet went from holding up his weight to falling through thin air.
"Shit!" Nick shouted without realizing he had even thought the word. There was plenty of crashing for a moment and all the survivors stared at the area beneath the tree, waiting for Ellis to land on the dead grass there. When he didn't the fear that he was dead or tangled up in branches or both had the survivors rushing to the tree and looking up- careful not to get underneath where the tree branch had fallen.
"Well tha' was a rush." Came Ellis' voice a little above them. He had caught a branch with one hand to keep himself from continuing his tumble out of the tree. It had practically wrenched his shoulder from its socket but at least he wasn't collapsed on the ground. He was pretty scraped up, cuts littering his face and arms now, but otherwise he seemed fine.
"I take it you're still alive and kicking." Nick commented mildly, shaking his head. He grunted in surprise as something took a swipe at his back. Nick turned to grapple with a common infected a moment before turning back to Ellis.
"Can you get down from there, Ellis?" Nick inquired.
"Sure. No problem." Ellis replied, trying to grab the branch with his other hand- but he was unable to pull his weight up enough for his free hand to grab onto the branch. "Ok… there might'en be a slight problem." Ellis decided, his grip on the tree branch beginning to tire.
"Well here… how about we get out of the way and Nick catches you?" Rochelle suggested, backing away. She had meant it mostly as a joke but she ended up having to turn away to keep infected off of their backs before mentioning that she was only joking.
"Thank you for throwing me under the bus." Nick grumbled, looking up where Ellis was hanging uncertainly.
"I didn't throw you under a bus. I just pushed you under Ellis." Rochelle corrected, teasing smile on her face. By her reckoning-since Nick was seriously considering catching Ellis- Ellis wasn't far enough up to hurt Nick if the conman were to try and catch him- but then perhaps she was overestimating Nick. He was getting old after all. 35 seemed to be the new 50.
"Look… I can jus' try an' land on my feet, ya know?" Ellis offered. His hand was beginning to burn with the effort of holding on. He may have become strong thanks to this apocalypse but his stamina hadn't really improved much in his hands.
"What? Don't you trust me?" Nick asked, slightly affronted.
"'s not that. I jus' don' wanna hurt you er nothin.'" Ellis responded, attempting to shift his weight and having no luck.
"Just let go." Nick said- his tone on the edge of annoyance.
"But-" Ellis tried but Nick cut him off.
"Just let go." He repeated firmly and Ellis did. Nick hated Rochelle more than he ever had the moment that Ellis' weight collided with his arms- making the conman double over. In the end he lost his grip on Ellis- instead falling on top of him with the momentum from the kid's fall.
"That… was a stupid…. Idea." Nick wheezed, his back in intense pain.
"Shit. You alright, Nick?" Ellis asked. He wasn't all that bad off- Nick had softened the fall by slowing it.
"I'll get… get…. get back to… you… on that." Nick huffed out, his arms still caught beneath Ellis' body- his face planted in Ellis' chest.
"Thanks Nick." Ellis finally mumbled, having nothing else to say.
"Mhmmmm." Nick replied before Ellis finally rolled off his arms. He got to his feet fairly easily-testing to make sure that he hadn't broken or twisted anything. Ellis' shoulder was a little sore but it wasn't something that he couldn't handle. His gaze kept straying back to Nick as the older man pulled slowly to his feet, his hands going to press against his lower back. There was a loud crack that was heard between gunshots and Nick winced in pain.
"I'm too old for this shit." Nick growled irritably before beginning to limp away from the kid. Keeping one hand on his back Nick pulled out a hand gun to shoot the zombies that were unfortunate enough to make it onto his path.
On a regular day Ellis would argue the point that Nick wasn't all that old but he felt a little guilty- or actually a lot guilty- on Nick getting hurt because of Ellis. Plus, with the way Nick was walking, Ellis could just see him with white hair and a cane. So Ellis remained quiet.
"Goddamn graveyards and their goddamn crypts that the goddamned infected zombies can hide behind. Goddamned tits. Assclown. Shit." Nick's profanity continued as he limped along.
"Uh… Nick?" Ellis called, attempting to get his attention. "Nick?"
"What?" Nick snarled.
"The exit is this way. I think." Ellis pointed in about a 90 degree angle from where Nick had been heading.
"Stupid assclown of a hick thinking… he should just know, goddamn it. This is goddamned bullshit." Nick muttered audibly as he turned to follow Ellis' directions.
The survivors continued through the graveyard- Nick continuing to gripe incessantly though he never once said that his back hurt and when asked he replied 'Every god damn part of me hurts. We're in a goddamned apocalypse. What difference does it fucking make?'.
"DAMMIT!" Nick shouted angrily as a spitter took that moment to envelope Nick with acid. He stumbled backwards- away from the infected- before landing heavily on the ground.
"You're not lookin' so well, Mr. Gamblin' Man." Ellis said lightly as he knelt at Nick's side, pulling Nick's medkit from his back and beginning to heal the conman's wounds to the best of his abilities. Rochelle and Coach could be heard in the background, battling the spitter.
"No Fuckin' Kidding?" Nick growled but his grip on Ellis' arm was affectionate and portrayed a level of gratefulness to Ellis as the kid bandaged Nick up.
"Yeah… please don't fall down again. I'm fearin' ya might not be able ta get back up." Ellis said before helping Nick back to his feet- ignoring when the spitter acid rubbed off on him as well.
"You'd think we'd be used to the beat downs these creatures give- yet they still catch us by surprise." Rochelle replied, the jarring of her gun beginning to create an ache in her shoulder.
"We're being overwhelmed. We need to get out of this cemetery. Ellis, Boy, where'd ya say the exit was?"
Ellis looked around in an attempt to answer Coach's question but honestly these crypts looked just like any other crypts to him. He didn't even know if they were still heading in the proper direction- at some point dodging the hordes might have made them double back or take a wrong turn.
"Why don't we just head back to that earlier safehouse? Maybe it'll give us a chance to regroup and replan this." Rochelle offered, shooting down infected.
"Do you even know the way back?" Nick pointed out. "I was getting the feeling that we were lost."
"Well I was in boy scouts at one point. I kin totally track our way back but… wouldn' it be better to just continue forward?"
"Look. We need to find a safe house and re-plan. Whether that's back or forward- pick a direction and let's go." Coach ordered. Rochelle ultimately decided on their direction based on the number of zombies. The troupe was getting low on ammo so the less they faced the better off they'd be.
"So we're back to the beginning. Beautiful." Nick replied after some running- heavily supported by Ellis- had them turning back up in the same place they had first entered the cemetery from.
"Look- the safe house isn't too far ahead. Let's go." Rochelle replied, pointing. Ellis was carrying Nick at this point as the group ran flat out for the safe house. Rochelle reached first, throwing the door open for the 3 men.
Ellis was about to carry Nick in when a sign caught his eye and he paused-jerking Nick to a stop with him.
"No Entry. Yew are in a quaranteened area. Any attempt ta leave this area withou' proper permission of a U.S. Military Representative will be met with deadly force." Ellis read out loud, his brows furrowing at the sign.
"Come on, Ellis. Infected on our tail- remember?" Nick urged, practically hanging off of Ellis at the moment. He attempted to hold up his own weight but his back gave a nasty throb and he went back to his earlier position.
"They weren' just shootin' people. They were condemnin' 'em." Ellis mumbled before a loud bang brought him back to Earth. Ellis jumped and began to race for the safe room once more, Rochelle urging them to move faster. She quickly closed and locked the door behind them as soon as they and she were thought. It wasn't long before infected could be heard beating at the door and windows.
"Well this is unfortunate." Nick mumbled, Elis dropping him onto the couch and then collapsed next to him.
"Could be worse." Ellis panted, leaning against Nick's side.
"When time is crucial and we just wasted a whole morning?" Nick inquired. He was leaning just as heavily against Ellis. When there was no response to Nick's words he continued speaking. "So you guys said we needed to regroup. Well let's regroup. We need to get a move on or by the time we make it to that goddamned bridge the military will have died from old age."
"This was mostly for your benefit, Nick." Rochelle pointed out shortly.
"What? I was doing fine. I didn't ask for this." Nick grouched.
"You were struggling to keep up. If Ellis hadn't been holding you up I'm pretty sure you'd have been crawling." Coach replied coolly.
"This isn' gettin' us anywhere, guys." Ellis mentioned in a calm manner. "Come on, now. If we put our heads tagether I'm sure we kin figure somethin' out. What'd we do wrong in tha' cemetery? How kin we not do that again?"
"Well first off- not always being able to see the infected is killing us."
"We'd better make sure to get back in there before dark, then." Nick intoned quietly before Rochelle continued.
"Do we have any pipe bombs or vials of boomer bile?"
"I picked up some boomer bile earlier." Ellis offered, presenting the nasty green substance contained in a glass to Rochelle.
"Pipe bomb." Nick muttered, hands reaching into his pocket before holding out the pipe bomb to Rochelle. "Shit, this hurts." Nick whimpered without meaning to- pain rushing through him fresh when he had moved to reach into his pocket.
"Ellis, honey- go bandage Nick up a little better and Coach and I will hunt down pills or an adrenaline shot, ok?"
"Kay, Ro." Ellis replied, pushing to his feet. He had a surplus amount of energy now that he had a purpose. Nick looked unwilling to move from the spot on the couch but Rochelle had gestured to the bedroom when she had spoken. Trying to be careful, Ellis scooped the other man into his arms and felt his heart twinge when Nick flinched. He didn't really seem like Nick anymore when he was in pain- because he was always so careful not to show any vulnerability.
"We're gonna get you all fixed up- ok, Nick?" Ellis promised, setting the conman down on the bed before gently beginning to remove Nick's jacket and shirt since that's where the majority of the spitter acid had hit him- having hit his neck and seeped down underneath his shirt, leaving burns on his chest and back in its wake.
"Alright, Overalls." Nick replied tiredly- allowing Ellis to carefully roll him over and finish removing his shirt and jacket. He hissed quietly at the pain of Ellis gently rubbing disinfectant over the area. "It's been awhile since I've… been this badly injured."
"Is yer back doin' ok, Nick?" Ellis asked in an almost nonchalant manner as he thoroughly cleaned Nick's wounds. The scratches Nick had received from what felt so long ago were just beginning to truly heal over at this point.
Nick sighed, having snagged up a pillow and settled it under his chest-careful of the burns there. "It's fine, Ellis. It's just a little sore."
"Sorry." Ellis murmured sincerely as he began to bandage the wounds meticulously. He wanted this to be his best healing job to date.
"Kid, it wasn't you're fault. I'm pretty sure I was the one that asked you to climb that tree anyway. I'm just glad you're alright." Nick admitted- his irritation from the pain in his back being forcefully pushed away once more. "Thanks Ellis." Nick added once Ellis had finished up. He didn't roll Nick back over right away, instead grabbing the only other pillow on the bed and fluffing it up before helping Nick up so that his back was resting against both pillows.
Once Nick was settled in Ellis slid onto the other side of the bed, snuggling up to Nick's side carefully- having set his hat backwards so it wouldn't be troublesome. Nick curled an arm around the hick's shoulders and pulled the man a little closer before allowing his eyes to slip closed.
"Dammit." Nick mumbled once more.
"What?" Ellis asked, looking up at him with worry in his eyes.
"We're getting another perfect moment to have sex and I can't. This whole scenario is bullshit, I swear to god." Nick grumbled, red flushing across his cheeks.
"'s not a perfect moment. Ro an' Coach kin walk in at any time." Ellis pointed out to which Nick scoffed.
"They'd know better- I'd just have you warn them off." Nick teased.
"How?" Ellis asked, turning a little so that his chin rested gently on Nick's chest.
"By getting that wonderfully loud voice of yours to call out my name." Nick grinned down at Ellis, thumb stroking Ellis' neck fondly.
"Why is it yer' always thinkin' I'm the one who's gonna be cryin' out?" Ellis muttered, his expression neutral but his tone showing he disapproved of this idea.
Nick didn't really have an answer for that…. Maybe it was because he saw himself as the man in the relationship.
"If I recall right I was gettin' yew ta make sounds, too." Ellis mumbled, reaching out idly to run his fingers down Nick's chest- in a more cuddly than sexual fashion. The change of texture from bandages to dark curls fascinated Ellis as he focused on the sensations being sent from the pads of his fingers as they stroked over both.
"Fair enough, kid." Nick mumbled, remembering the moment clearly enough when Ellis had pulled sounds from his throat. Nick was glad he had been able to hold most of them back. It wouldn't do to have Ellis commenting on how easy it was to draw sounds from Nick- and the conman didn't even want to consider what Rochelle and Coach might have to say.
"Wha's up with callin' me kid, anyway? 'm not a kid anymore, Nick. Ya never even knew me when I was a kid besides. You met me as a man an' I'm still a man." Ellis said, a little irritable at the thought. He kept feeling like he was the lower in the relationship and he didn't appreciate that.
"It's probably because you're way too innocent to really be a man in my eyes." Nick attempted to console but instead Ellis shot an instant rebuttal.
"Innocent? We had sex- I ain't no virgin. As far as the other innocences… I ben killin' people, Nick. Someone 'innocent' wouldn' be able ta do that or say they've done that. I've slaughtered deer before, besides. I know what i's like ta work a hard day an' I know what loss is."
"Ok, ok. Cool your jets a little Ace." Nick said, attempting to find a way to amend the situation. "I didn't mean that kind of innocent. You're innocent to the ways of the world I knew- a world where people slaughter each other just for a quick buck; gamble all their money away and go into debt to gamble more; rob, cheat, and steal to get what we want; drink our troubles away and remain unfaithful to a perfectly loving wife; in short it's a pretty dark world Ellis. It's a world I never want you to know and I'm glad that you weren't a part of it."
"Why were ya unfaithful ta yer wife?" Ellis asked curiously and Nick withheld laughing. Of all the things for Ellis to ask and sound slightly angered at, that was what he asked? Nick shook his head, staring up at the ceiling.
"I don't really know, Ellis. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. I suppose I didn't feel like she was fulfilling my needs and when I could get women younger and who I deemed more beautiful into my bed- then why not?"
"Tha's really awful, Nick." Ellis stated. He attempted to meet Nick's gaze but the man continued to stare determinedly up at the ceiling.
"I'm not saying it was the right thing to do, Ellis. I'm just saying that's what I did- it was the kind of man I was. My life revolved around sex, money, gambling, and alcohol. That's what I lived for- I never thought far beyond if I could bed a woman that night and how much money I could earn." Nick said softly. He let his eyes slip closed- not to rest or attempt to sleep but so that he could pull those images back more clearly. He really had been an unsavory character and he hadn't cared. He had been perfectly content to continue that life.
The silence from Ellis worried him and Nick finally opened his eyes to glance down at the other man.
"You said 'was.'" Ellis said, his gaze piercing into Nick's.
"What?" Nick asked, slightly confused. He probably had said 'was' quite often… he tried to think back on his words now but he had said enough that he couldn't recall exactly what he had said.
"You said 'it was the man I was'… so yer not that man anymore. Ya turned a new leaf, Nick. Clean slate." Ellis continued and Nick saw the error he had made. Once again he attempted to remedy the situation.
"Kid…Ellis. I want to say I've changed which is why I said was- but what happens when we end up back in normal society? Gambling is all I really know how to do… I might fall right back into it." Nick said quietly.
"I would keep ya from it." Ellis replied as if it were just that simple.
"It doesn't work like that, kid…Ellis. Perhaps you would be able to keep me away from it for a little while but ultimately I'd have to make a choice to stop doing it. It's like fat people- they have to make the decision to lose weight themselves and they have to mean it or they just won't. No matter what other people do or say they just don't care enough."
"So I wouldn' be enough for yew anymore." Ellis deciphered. "You'd have ta go out to yer younger women, yer money, an' yer alcohol ta have a good time."
"That's not quite what I'm saying… but that's possible, Ellis. Right now I don't want to be like that but I also don't have the temptation." Nick could see the doubt beginning to form in Ellis' eyes and it was more painful than Nick had suspected it would be. Maybe Ellis hadn't realized the baggage that being with Nick would cause.
"I guess, in the end, we'll just have ta cross tha' bridge when we get to it." Ellis decided after several minutes of deliberation. The sparks of life in his eyes had dimmed dramatically, however, and it strangely sent an ache of guilt flooding Nick's heart. He was dragging Ellis into this- into his past. Did Nick really want to do that?
Nick curled his arms around Ellis enough to reach one of the three rings he had held onto throughout this entire apocalypse. Sliding off one that he had on his middle finger he took the hand that had still been tracing patterns on his chest and pressed the warm metal to Ellis' palm.
"A ring?" Ellis asked, looking up at Nick with a perplexed expression. "Is this? Are you?"
"No… it's … I'm not proposing. God, I would at least have a little more class than that. And considering we've already had sex I highly doubt you'd think of it as a 'promise' ring… the thing is just to remind you that you've gotten me through a lot and I'm going to do my best to be a man worth your time- as goddamned corny as that sounds."
Ellis was silent as he contemplated the ring of gold before slipping it onto his middle finger. It didn't fit perfectly but it was snug enough that it hopefully wouldn't fall off in battle. Ellis settled his cheek against Nick's chest and gave a small smile.
"I kin accept that." Ellis said, his gaze lingering on the ring a moment before he wrapped his arms around Nick and cautiously hugged the other man.
"Good. I'm pretty sure Coach and Rochelle have explained in detail how lost I am without you." Nick said this in a tone as if they exaggerate it just a little and Ellis snickered.
"A time er two, maybe, but I'd love to hear it from you."
Nick's cheeks flushed with heat and he shook his head. He opened his mouth to reply when Rochelle and Coach came into the room. By their expressions Nick wondered how long they had been sitting outside the door.
"Sorry to ruin your moment, guys… but it sounded like it wasn't going to end anytime soon and we need to get back out there. The sun is going to be setting soon and if we continue to wait there might be no one at the bridge by the time we reach it." Rochelle said, offering a bottle of pills to Nick. He gratefully accepted and quickly threw several back, swallowing with some difficulty.
"Well, let's get a move on then." Nick said as Ellis released him and he was able to sit up. His back was sore and a flash of anger came back before it died down again- it was kind of funny how it had gone from him being angry to Ellis being angry. Nick wondered if the kid still was- Nick needed to get better at reading Ellis' emotions.
"Your back doing ok, old man?" Rochelle teased lightly.
Nick heaved a sigh, giving Rochelle a scorned look before smiling. "I've been demoted to old, huh? Shall we make a club, Coach."
"Huh uh, I'm not old yet. Don't know what yer talkin' about Nick." Coach declined quickly, causing Nick's grin to widen.
"There's no denying it, Coach. Rochelle and Ellis will be pushing us around in wheelchairs before too long."
"Boy, I don't know what you're talking about. Coach is still as youthful as any young buck." The larger man replied though it was obvious he was just kidding as well.
"So you, Rochelle, and Ellis are going to have a 'Young Buck's club and I'll be stuck in the background- being the only old man in this group?"
"Sounds about right." Rochelle teased, patting Nick gently on the shoulder.
"Thanks…." Nick muttered before getting his shirt and jacket back on. Once he was successful in doing that he grabbed up his freshly loaded gun- courtesy of Rochelle- and pocketed the last of the ammo for his gun model. With the last of the medkits strapped to their back the survivors left the little shack- hopefully not to return to it once more.
"Alright, Nick. With your injury Coach and I decided that you and he would hang back- but you pretty much always do anyway. With Coach's slower speed and your better accuracy with pretty much any gun you both make ideal back up while Ellis and my… boundless energy make us ideal to working at the front. Well Ellis has the energy, anyway- I just have fast reflexes."
"So we're doing the same thing that we did the first time around." Nick stated plainly.
"Yeah… Coach and I couldn't figure out anything better… but now we know what to expect and we know the direction to head. Coach and I really mapped it out this time- so Ellis, let me lead the way ok?"
"Yes ma'am." Ellis nodded, giving Rochelle a salute.
"Alright guys, let's try this again." Rochelle replied, leading them back into the cemetery. It had refilled with infected in their absence so it wasn't really any easier but they kept their eye out for special infected in the trees and Ellis and Rochelle did a pretty bang up job of keeping the common infected that jumped out at them at bay.
In the quieter moments Rochelle stayed pretty close to Ellis' side. Most of the comments she made were tips to help Ellis out or to watch his back but as they worked out a steady rhythm Rochelle brought a new topic around.
"So… when's the wedding?" Rochelle said lightheartedly, bumping Ellis' shoulder playfully. A couple of zombies popped up out of seemingly nowhere but Rochelle and Ellis dealt with them quickly and easily.
"The ring doesn' have that kind a meaning." Ellis replied automatically, taking a moment to glance at the glint of gold once more. It was strangely warming to know that Nick had given him one of the three rings that the conman had never parted with before.
"Are you sure, Ellis?" Rochelle pressed- her tone still playful.
"I'm not the woman in the relationship, Rochelle." Ellis deadpanned.
"I never said that. And what's wrong with that, anyway?" She replied, her tone growing dangerously cold.
"Well… it's the weaker side of the relationship…" Ellis said slowly, realizing his mistake.
"Excuse me?" Rochelle growled- her playful demeanor quickly turning to one of offense.
"I… well… I didn' mean it the way…. But still… I mean Rochelle, think of it from my side a things." Ellis rambled, waving his arms around while he tried to get his point across.
"The stereotypes they place on things." Rochelle mumbled, shaking her head. "A woman is as equal, inferior, or superior to a man as she wants to be- well, given the situation... Same goes for a man when he's in a relationship with another man. If you feel like you're not being treated fairly do something about it, Ellis."
"How? I mean… well.. things are kinda a bit sketchy between Nick an' I at the best a times. I don' wanna lose him because I want things a little different."
"Hon, if he's really a good enough man he'll understand. Really- all you have to do is kick him in the balls once and he'll remember for the rest of his life that you're no fragile flower to be pushed around."
"Could you not give my boyfriend advice?" Nick called, having overheard the very end of Rochelle's speech.
"What's the matter, Nick? Afraid that Ellis will take over the relationship?"
"He wishes, babe." Nick replied, shaking his head.
Ellis just shook his head- if he wanted to be equal to Nick it seemed like he'd need to do so while making it obvious all he wanted was to be equal to Nick. He didn't want or care about being the dominant partner- he just didn't want to constantly be the submissive partner. That was a fair enough request in Ellis' mind.
The sun was beginning to allow darkness to envelope the survivors as it set and getting out of the cemetery became a little more frantic. Nobody wanted to be in the area when night truly came.
"Guys! That fallen tree! I think i's near the exit!" Ellis shouted, pointing to a large mass of black tangled branches in the distance.
"That means we're almost out of this place." Coach said, sighing in contentment a moment before buckling back into the battle.
"Well what are we waiting for, an invitation? Let's get out of here!" Nick called, beginning to limp/run in that direction. As the exit appeared in front of them there was a collective sigh from the survivors. They had made it to the exit. Killing infected redoubled in action, new vigor giving the survivors energy to battle on.
"Oh thank God. We're finally out of there." Rochelle said as they finally made it through the gates and back into a little neighborhood. Seeing a bar not too far ahead of them Nick motioned for the team to follow him.
"Do you see the smoke risin' in the distance?" Coach asked the other survivors quietly, distracting everyone from following Nick as they paused to stare out into the distance at the black smoke billowing up.
"There's smoke all over, Coach. Things burn when there's no one to put them out." Nick pointed out snidely.
"Whoo-ey." Ellis murmured in awe. "Bet that caused some nasty fireworks."
"Ellis… sometimes I feel like you just shouldn't talk." Nick commented drily. As the survivors paused to try and get a better view of the fire, they noticed a helicopter that was down a short ways away.
"The feeling is mutual, Nick." Ellis said- his tone light hearted as he grinned over at Nick. The conman didn't return the smile; he was too busy observing the smoking remains of the helicopter and the houses it had set on fire in the crash.
"Zombies didn't bring down that chopper." Nick noted. No one commented upon this at first. Shots echoed around the area- bouncing off of buildings and reverberating back to them. In the end, Coach led them past the bar. Nick stared after it longingly but sighed- it probably was for the best to avoid temptation completely.
"So what do y'all think happened to that whirly-bird?" Ellis asked, causing the other three to look at him in confusion at first. It took them all different amounts of time to figure out what Ellis meant but they all figured it out eventually- responding accordingly.
"Maybe someone shot the pilot." Rochelle teased, elbowing Nick.
"Maybe someone was bit and changed in the chopper." Coach mentioned.
"Maybe someone outside of the helicopter shot it down." Nick suggested.
"Maybe it ran outta gas." Ellis offered.
This sent the survivors into a riot of hysterical giggles. Perhaps the crash didn't have everything to do with the infection- though that was unlikely. But of course Ellis would offer something reasonable when everyone else was thinking along apocalyptic lines.
"Maybe it did, Fireball." Nick replied, tugging off Ellis' hat and placing it on the hick's head backwards.
"Come on, guys. There's a safe house ahead that we can stay in for the night." Coach pointed and the survivors filed in that direction. The safe house was right next to the bridge… the next day they'd be taking the last leg of their journey. They'd finally have reached safety and would no longer have to worry about the apocalypse.
As they closed the door behind themselves and locked it, they found comfortable places to collapse into and commenced with the collapsing. Not really paying attention anymore, Nick found himself comfortably set up in a loveseat. He noticed Ellis' gaze on him a moment before it moved to an open space on the couch next to Rochelle… then the hick's gaze moved back to Nick again.
Something glimmered in Ellis' eyes and, having made a decision, he moved to where Nick was sitting comfortably. Giving the conman a small smile he smoothly pushed Nick's legs apart and then settled himself between them, leaning back against Nick's chest and heaving a sigh of content.
"Just make yourself at home, why don't you." Nick grumbled though his tone was good-natured. He snagged the kid's hat and set it on the arm of the chair, preferring having the soft feeling of Ellis' hair to the rougher material of the kid's hat against his cheek.
"Home is where the heart is." Rochelle murmured, having looked over at Nick and Ellis when Nick made his comment. She turned to look up at the ceiling afterwards, heaving a sigh of relief. They were almost home free.
"I think that is the corniest thing I've ever heard you say." Nick commented.
"Oh, I have worse up my sleeve if you want to hear it." Rochelle threatened.
Nick waved his hand away in response before wrapping his arms around Ellis and sighed contentedly once more. To be able to have moments like this with Ellis and it just feel so natural… Nick hoped he never took the moment for granted.
It wasn't long before Nick was nodding off and after a quick supper everyone was bidding everyone else goodnight- pairing off and moving to separate rooms. Nick prepared for bed- giving the bed an appreciative glance but he didn't strip down for sleep just yet. There was something he wanted to do beforehand so after a muttered 'bathroom' to Ellis Nick headed out into the hallway.
Finding a quiet room that looked like it had been some sort of studio at one point, Nick knelt down and rested his forehead against folded knuckles, his position what he thought one must be in to pray.
"Look… I know I don't talk to you ever and honestly I still am doubtful that anyone is out there listening… but if someone is then I just have one request. Rochelle, Coach, Ellis and I have gone through hell to get here- and it's all shit that you're putting us through. I don't know why you didn't just change us with everyone else but… please tell me you have more in mind for us than sending us to the slaughter house…. Anyway… that's all I really had to say." Nick said, kneeling there awkwardly. He wasn't sure what to do now. Pushing back to his feet he decided it was a good enough time to head back to Ellis.
He nearly tripped over the hick as he left the room and he sighed in irritation, glaring down at the younger man.
"I didn' know ya prayed, Nick." Ellis said, getting to his feet.
"I don't. Didn't… Don't. I just thought it couldn't hurt." Nick replied, trying to defend himself. Ellis took Nick's hand in his, smoothing out the fist that Nick had made before twining their fingers together.
"'s nothin' ta be ashamed about, Nick. Everyone needs a lil help sometimes. I think especially now, help would be good." Ellis explained. "No matter wha' happens, though… I'm jus' glad I got ta meet you." Ellis had made his decision while Nick was gone- it was easier to think when there weren't zombies running at you or a conman to steal your attention. And having considered all the angles, Ellis had reached what he felt to be the best choice for the decision at hand- he just wasn't sure how Nick was going to take it when the time came… which it was approaching rapidly.
"Come on, Overalls… let's head to bed." Nick replied, shaking his head tiredly.
"Hey Nick… how's yer back doin'?" Ellis asked as they reached the bedroom, his eyebrows wiggling in a manner that Nick found humorous. Ellis had, of course, meant it to be sexy and to insinuative.
"It's been worse but it's been a hell of a lot better." Nick replied. He had gotten the hint and suddenly his fatigue was nowhere to be found. Ellis gently shut the door, waiting for the soft click of it latching into place, before grabbing handfuls of Nick's jacket and pressing him back against it.
Lips crashed together in a passionate embrace while Ellis began to slide Nick's jacket down his shoulders. The kiss was distracting enough that at times Ellis would pause, forgetting what he was doing in favor of twining his tongue with Nick's. One hand was now resting on Nick's upper back, partway to sliding the jacket down while the other hand was actually using the grip on Nick's jacket to pull him closer.
The warmth of Nick's hand pressing against his chest leaked through the fabric of Ellis' shirt while another hand came up to curl in his hair. The kiss continued, broken only by moments when the men needed to breathe, pulling in air before delving back into one another. Nick was becoming intoxicated from Ellis' kisses- if not as well as he would if he were drinking Alcohol- than at least as drugged as he had ever been from anyone's kisses. Mouth buzzing with energy and wet with saliva, Nick pulled back to look at the man in his arms. He noticed Ellis' mouth was red and swollen and wouldn't have been surprised if his own lips looked much the same. Keeping one hand curled in the kid's hair- almost knocking his hat off- the other hand slid down the smooth planes of muscle to rest just below the edge of the stained, yellow shirt.
Excitement shot up Ellis' spine in waves, followed heavily by arousal- just by the soft brush of Nick's fingers around his naval. Soon Nick was sliding his shirt up, hands brushing just barely against his skin and leaving goosebumps in their wake. Ellis finished getting the jacket down around Nick's shoulders but the conman was too focused on Ellis' shirt to pay that any mind- at least not until he had Ellis' shirt off. Ellis released Nick's jacket so that Nick could have his way, not minding when his hat was knocked off as well. The gaze he found Nick giving him had Ellis all but trembling- teasing touches heightening his awareness of Nick.
Nick took a moment to reacquaints himself with the muscular body that he would again claim as his tonight. Bronze skin turned red from Nick's ministrations, small marks that grazed Ellis' nerves with pleasure and the slightest bit of pain. While Nick's tongue slid down a smooth pec, pausing only to flick a nipple, Ellis insistently tugged at Nick's jacket. The tugs annoyed Nick to a certain extent but he didn't allow that to stop him- enjoying the way Ellis' breath would hitch and murmurs of pleasure would fall from his mouth under certain ministrations.
Nick finally allowed Ellis to slip his jacket off as well and they gazed at each other before Nick pressed in for a kiss again- arms moving to wrap around Ellis and rest on the sharp blades of his shoulders before beginning to guide him back toward the bed. Ellis followed easily, sitting down heavily when the bed hit the back of his knees.
"I'm a little surprised you're not more talkative right now." Nick murmured as he began to work at the knot on Ellis' coveralls. The fabric was rough and cold in comparison to the feel of Ellis' skin- making Nick all that much more eager to get the thing off and out of the way.
"Do ya want me ta be? I reckoned yew would want me ta be quiet." Ellis replied- that truly having been the majority of the reason for his lack of talking.
"I want you to be you, Ellis." Nick replied as the knot came free. Ellis gently pushed Nick's hands away- earning a confused expression from Nick, until Ellis pulled him up by the collar of his shirt and began kissing him softly, his hands reaching for the buttons that concealed skin behind faded blue fabric.
Nick slid a knee between Ellis' thighs and could already feel the erection straining there, waiting to be released. Since the kid was busy, however, Nick contented himself with adding just a little friction to the area by rocking into it gently with his thigh.
Ellis pulled away from the kiss to begin leaving lovebites and kisses on the area available to him with ever button undone. Dark curls of hair brushed against his face while he worked his way down- pulling Nick's shirt from his pants before grinning up at the older man.
"Ya know, I never thought I'd find another man sexy- but even if I weren't inta yew I'm pretty sure I'd still acknowledge yer sexy." Ellis said, causing Nick to chuckle.
"Still going to find me sexy when I have a beer gut and white hair?"
Ellis' eyes dimmed for a moment and he pressed his face against Nick's stomach. "Probly not." Ellis said softly. "But I'll still love yew."
Nick had had a witty retort on his tongue, no matter Ellis' response- but it froze, as did his heart, at the word love. Not wanting to ruin the arousal, Nick knelt down in front of Ellis, going from above Ellis to eye level. He moved in closer and with a practiced, gravelly voice said "That's good, Ellis. Because I'm not letting you go."
In the back of Ellis' mind he noted that a.) he had just told Nick that he loved him- which yeah, he did… but was he in love with him? And b.) Nick had not returned the sentiment. Ellis pushed it aside… He didn't have time to think about it…
Wanting to distract himself from this not so happy fact, Ellis motioned for Nick to stand up- which Nick did- with enough room for Ellis to kneel on the floor in front of him. Ellis reached around to cup Nick's ass, pulling the conman's groin close to his face. Even through the layers of fabric it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that Nick was almost at full erection.
Ellis' hands trembled slightly as he worked at the belt that held Nick's slacks around his slim hips. It wasn't that Ellis was afraid, or even nervous- not this time. In all honesty he was just ready to get the belt out of the way. It fell from the loops with a soft swish and Ellis eyed the next obstacle in his path. A button… he could do this.
Ignoring when his own pants began to slide from his hips thanks to gravity Ellis set to work undoing the button with his mouth, eyes moving up to look at Nick before closing them and focusing on the task at hand. It was difficult and it took Ellis a couple shots but the button soon came free and with it a grin of victory. Getting the zipper down was relatively easy, after that, and then the 'white' fabric was pooling around Nick's ankles.
Ellis didn't give Nick the time to step out of it before he was nosing along the edge of Nick's erection, pressing kisses to it through the fabric. Nick mumbled something incoherent as Ellis drug his lips across the skin just barely available above the waist band of Nick's briefs.
"Shit, kid… can we… move this along?" Nick choked out, gravelly voice all but forgotten as his knees tried to give out.
Ellis just snorted, truly amused that he had power over Nick, before taking an edge of the waist band at Nick's hip in his teeth and dragging it down slowly. Nick's shaft sprang free from the fabric and touched against his abdomen before stopping to rest at full attention. Having succeeded in getting Nick out of all clothing but his blue shirt, Ellis didn't give Nick a moment to really think before he was swallowing the conman down to the root.
"Oh God." Nick muttered, knees weakening further while hands came to curl into soft brown curls and pull the kid closer. The heat and warmth of Ellis' mouth didn't really compare to actual sex but in such a heightened state it had Nick's muscles attempting to become jelly.
Ellis could feel Nick's shaft touching against the back of his throat and, happy to have control over his gag reflex, continued to work on swallowing Nick down. The constriction from his throat, though unpleasant for him, had a soft string of curses coming from Nick as he tried to remain on his feet. Women had done this for him before and he had had little trouble staying on his feet then but Ellis seemed to know all the right tricks to do with his tongue- the pressure and heat from it pressed flat to the underside of Nick's shaft until Ellis bobbed back- making his tongue wrap around the head, curling around the edge of it and slipping into the slit- causing Nick to keen.
Gripping the hair in his hands tightly, Nick tugged on it to get Ellis to pull back. "I'm not….. going to last… with you… doing that." Nick panted. Giving Nick his own brand of wolfish grin, Ellis pushed Nick until he was sitting on the bed- knees on either side of Ellis' shoulders- before Ellis went back to work.
Ellis moved his hands to grip Nick's hips, thumbs tracing along the edges of bone he felt there. His gaze was sultry whenever he glanced up at Nick, and the conman was pretty sure he had swallowed his tongue at one point. He had never expected Ellis to be like this in bed- he had figured the kid would be sloppy enthusiasm, and eager to please… but he was warm confidence and was obviously a fast learner if the last time he and Ellis had been together was anything to go by.
Feeling molten heat clench deep in his gut, Nick moaned out a warning and Ellis' sucked once more before Nick was flooding his mouth with release. Shocked a little by the onslaught it took Ellis a moment to start swallowing it down, white liquid dribbling from the corners of his mouth as well as slipping down his throat. The flavor wasn't entirely unpleasant though it wasn't something Ellis would ever really look forward to tasting; it was bitter and musky, leaving a strange coating on his tongue.
"God, Ellis, you didn't have to swallow that." Nick mumbled, mind hazy in an afterglow. Ellis shrugged, wiping away what had escaped his mouth on the back of his arm before leaving tender nips along Nick's inner thigh.
"You're not going to give me a break tonight, are you?" Nick said, looking down at his sad deflated member. It was entirely sensitive and that Ellis was arousing it so quickly once more made it almost painful. The gaze that Ellis gave to Nick answered that for him readily enough as Ellis stood- stepping away from the pile of fabric that was better known as his coveralls.
"Did ya want one?" Ellis asked thoughtfully, moving so that he was seated in Nick's lap.
"Oh Gods no." Nick replied, running his hands up the thick chorded muscle of Ellis' thighs. Being a little up there in years and not quite with the recovery of new youth, Nick's shaft erected slowly. Ellis obligingly helped it along by finding the spot at the corner of Nick's jaw and beginning to pay it attention. Nick gasped, tilting his head to give more access while he ran his hands from Ellis' thighs to grope at his ass. He was not pleased to find that Ellis still had his briefs on and slid them down enough so that when he gripped Ellis' ass, he had skin and muscle and no annoying fabric.
Nick's fingers slid down Ellis' crack and came across the ring of muscle that had allowed him entrance the last time they did this. It didn't seem all that willing to bloom before him again so Nick reached up to tug Ellis back by his hair and place three fingers in the kid's mouth. Ellis layered each copiously with saliva before being released and setting back to work on the sweetspot of Nick's neck.
Setting to his own work, Nick brought the spit wet fingers back down to Ellis' entrance and began to work one in. Though it was a little easier than before, it was still going to take some doing to prepare Ellis. The kid still constricted around his finger, but was better at calming his instinctual reaction this time around.
A shiver ran up Ellis' spine and he bit into Nick's neck from the stimulation, his erection still trapped in fabric and aching for attention at this point. Nick, of course, did not oblige but began working two fingers in- scissoring them once Ellis had loosened up a little. Ellis was velvety and hot and wrapped so pleasantly around Nick's fingers that his mouth began to water at the thought of being able to have him again. He swallowed back the excess of saliva heavily, giving a soft sound of pleasure as Ellis continued to work on Nick's undoing.
Three fingers in, pumping at a fairly decent speed and able to spread further than they had before had Nick noticing how hard and aching his shaft had become. Pulling the firm globes of Ellis' ass closer, Nick lined up and began to gently press inside of him.
Ellis hadn't been completely ready for this and bit down hard, on Nick's neck- over the same area he had bitten when he had been… well now wasn't the time to think about it. The bite had Nick crying out and jerking up into Ellis so that, with one swift motion, he was plunged halfway inside the kid.
"Shit." Ellis groaned, the pain still present from the last time they had done this. It was easier to ignore this time, however, and before long Ellis was rocking his hips to try and take Nick in deeper.
"Feeling like a cowboy tonight, Ellis?"
"Gawd Nick, do yew know how corny that sounds?" Ellis gasped out, not pausing in his movements.
"Just asking." Nick replied, his voice choked and heavy with arousal. His hands had moved to grip at Ellis' hips, while the kid gripped his shoulders to keep his balance. Ellis mumbled something incoherent but stopped when Nick had sunk completely inside of him. In a strange way Ellis felt full- and it was a pleasant feeling- unlike last time which had been overridden with the feeling of being split apart internally. Nick looked up at Ellis while he waited for the kid to adjust.
"So… is this the position you wanted to do it in… or?" Nick asked, attempting to sound casual around clenched teeth. The heat was amazing but he needed friction- however he couldn't have that until he figured out what Ellis' plan was.
In response Ellis pulled up onto his knees, the tip of Nick's member just barely remaining inside, before sinking down again. It felt good to have some of the control and so Ellis used it to set a steady pace. Nick stayed still at the beginning but as Ellis fell into a more regular set of movements, Nick began to rock his hips in pace with Ellis.
"Shit, Ellis." Nick groaned in pleasure as the kid picked up the pace.
"Probly not a good time ta do that." Ellis replied lightheartedly, shit eating grin in place.
"Assclown." Nick muttered, shaking his head. Feeling fabric regularly pressed to his abdomen, Nick looked down to see that Ellis' briefs were snagged on an erection which Nick promptly freed-feeling minutely bad about putting Ellis through such torture. As Ellis picked up his speed, Nick's mind fell further into the haze of sex- heat was pressing in around his most sensitive organ, velvety friction sending electric bolts of arousal flashing through his system. It wasn't going to be long before Nick was losing his load once more.
Ellis tried switching angles a couple of times, trying to find that sweetspot Nick had hit the last time they did this. The stretch and pull of skin as Nick moved in and out of him still felt strange but the sounds Nick was making kept Ellis at complete erection. To know that it was again, he, who was causing these reactions in Nick was a heady feeling- and Ellis was the type of person to truly be happy just making other people happy.
A soft jerk of hips from Nick had the head of his member shooting sparks up Ellis' spine and the hick cried out, fingers digging into skin and the fabric of Nick's shirt.
"God, there, please." Ellis moaned, trying to get Nick to hit that spot again. Nick held back, however, as a small punishment to Ellis' earlier comment.
"I'm not God, Ellis." Nick murmured softly, running his fingers along Ellis' thighs and noting the dampness from the sweat there.
"God, please, Nick. Don't be teasin' me right now." Ellis whined, shifting angles with shallow bobs to try and find that spot again. Giving the kid a coy grin, Nick grabbed his hips and shifted them so that he slammed into that spot once before teasingly rubbing along the edges.
"You sure… that I can't tease you? I mean… it'd be so much fun…. To just… keep you on edge all night." Nick suggested, his grip on Ellis' hips keeping the kid from really moving. Honestly, the shallow thrusts were torture for Nick as well- but it was well worth it to see Ellis' torn apart expression.
"Please Nick, dammit, Fuck me." Ellis demanded, steel glinting in his eyes while he fought against Nick's grip.
"Well…. Since you asked… so nicely." Nick replied before angling a sharp thrust into Ellis' prostrate once more. The kid moaned outright, eyes rolling back as pleasure swept through him. The pain was completely forgotten and this time Ellis understood why people would willingly do this.
The slap of skin against skin, panting breaths mingling, and sounds of pleasure became the only noise in the room as both men focused on finding release. Nick had become awfully close but didn't want to lose it until Ellis had released. Reaching down between them Nick gripped Ellis' member and began to stroke it in time with their movements.
"N-Niiick." Ellis' moaning was drawing Nick further to the edge- so much fire coursing through his veins that the conman wondered if he would burn up trying to hold back. He started to hunt down the sensations that would bring Ellis to orgasm, taking hints from the way Ellis' breath would hitch and stutter after certain movements. Finding a specific grip caused Ellis to rock desperately both back on Nick and forward into the man's awaiting hand.
"Aaaaah, god Nick… Close." Ellis whimpered, his skin and face slicked with sweat that made his hair cling to him.
"Let go, Ellis." Nick whispered in his best attempt at a sensual tone.
This sent Ellis quickly over the edge, his essence spilling over into Nick's fist and spraying across their chests. His ass clenched around Nick as pleasure swept through him, causing Nick to reach orgasm as well.
A flood of heat rushed through Ellis but he barely noticed through the bliss filling his mind. They clung to each other as intense pleasure filled both of them, whiting out their vision for a couple of moments.
When they came to, Nick was lying on his back with Ellis against his chest, sweat dampened hair brushing against Nick's cheek. Nick pulled out of Ellis carefully, reaching down to pull the kid's briefs back up before collapsing back and wrapping his arms around the hick.
"I love yew, Nick." Ellis murmured against Nick's throat and a familiar seize overtook Nick's heart. He closed his eyes- knowing he wouldn't be able to speak the sentiment out loud, so he found another way to say it.
"You've made me into a better man, Ellis." Nick mumbled, voice rough, causing Ellis to sigh in content.
"Think Rochelle and Coach heard us?" Ellis asked, suddenly bashful.
"They'd have to have been deaf, not to." Nick replied drily, surprised by how much his throat hurt. Just how loud had he been crying out?
"Think they'll mention it tomorrow?"
"Most likely."
"Guess it's a good thing this is the last safe house. They probly wouldn' let us room tagether anymore after this."
"They could just try to stop us." Nick mumbled, eyes heavy with fatigue finally beginning to close.
"Mmm… yeah… they couldn' stop us." Ellis agreed, nuzzling into Nick's neck before releasing a sigh of absolute contentment. The two men were soon both fast asleep. The morning would be underway before long and they'd be risking their lives to reach safety once more but for now they had peace, they had comfort, and they had each other. What more could they need?
