Fireworks, Friendship and Other Associations
by Katherine

Chris Larabee smiled to himself as a group of boys ran past him, their excitement nearly palpable as they raced each other jockeying for the best spot to observe their first firework display. He hadn't seen fireworks in years, and made a conscious effort not to increase his pace to run after the children. It wouldn't do for a big, bad gunslinger to act as though he were five.

Not that Buck Wilmington or JD Dunne seemed share his feelings on the matter. Those two had led the way, Buck carrying two little girls on his shoulders as he jogged ahead of the boys. JD grinning, his whole body language all but screaming out his eagerness to witness the promised display, egging the boys on as everyone converged on the open field just outside town. The display was scheduled to begin shortly after sundown, and no one wanted to miss it.

Chris stopped to light his cigar, taking a measuring look at the town as people continued to file past him talking and laughing as they went. Red, white, and blue ribbons hung from nearly every building. A huge banner stretched across Main Street proudly proclaiming the Fourth of July celebration that was to run from July 2nd to July 4th.

The first day a small fashion show highlighted the latest styles and colors; incidentally providing a bit of free advertising to the new dressmakers shop in town. Showcasing domestic skills, quilts and afghans were judged and won various ribbons, likely setting off a rivalry that Chris suspected might last for years. Preserves and pies being judged on their merits before becoming fodder for an eating contest Josiah Sanchez won with surprising ease, beating out the expected favorite, Vin Tanner. Chris never would have guessed the closest thing the town had to a man of god was also a glutton when it came to fresh blueberry pie.

A small carnival had offered up entertainment for the children and adults alike the following day. It wasn't quite a full blown circus, with exotic animals and amazing feats of acrobatics, but certainly more entertaining than Four Corners' usual fare. Nathan Jackson managed to win some pretty, frivolous do-dad for his sweetheart, Rain, in an impressive display of strength that involved hitting a button hard enough with a mallet to ring the bell at the top of a long pole.

Musicians had been recruited to offer up last evening's entertainment. Chris hadn't danced in years, since before Sarah's death, but he'd managed to make a few rounds with Mary Travis, his body remembering how to fumble through a Waltz and a Reel or two before he bowed out. JD and Casey Welles had danced most of the night, their enthusiasm more than making up for there obvious lack of skill. Buck had likewise danced nearly every dance, a different lady in his arms each time. Vin and Josiah had spent the evening observing the show, neither man straying far from the refreshment table.

Chris frowned as he realized one member of their town was made conspicuous by his absence, Ezra Standish. It was decidedly odd that he would miss out on the festivities, since it seemed the sort of occasion where the brightly dressed gambler would actually blend in rather than stand out. It was a golden opportunity for him to make money with side bets on who would win what game or take home the ribbon.

It was also more than a little odd since Mary had let it slip last night that much of the money to pay for the celebration had been anonymously donated. She assumed the donation to be the largesse of the town's banker, Mr. Lovitt, but Chris knew better. Lovitt could look the part of a generous man but he was far from it. Besides, if he'd donated the funds, there is no way the fat fart would keep the fact a secret. He'd be crowing about it, expecting the town folk to express their gratitude.

Ezra, on the other hand, might appear to be a miser, but he could be very generous, particularly when it came to children. A carnival that offered up penny-ante games Chris knew were rigged in the children's favor was definitely the sort of thing he'd pay for. Fireworks fell within the same category. And Ezra was likely the only person in town with enough ready capital to be able to afford it.

He puffed on his cigar thoughtfully. He remembered seeing Ezra meet the man who seemed to be in charge of the carnival. The gambler had shaken hands with the man, some monetary exchange Chris was fairly certain had taken place even if he hadn't actually seen money change hands before Ezra had pointed out where they could set up. Several people had helped with the set up, although Chris couldn't remember Ezra being one of them. Not surprising since the gambler eschewed manual labor.

Ezra had been around to speak to the musicians. Chris clearly remembered seeing the gambler greet several of them as they stepped off the stage. According to the fiddle player the gunslinger had spoken to briefly last night their tickets were paid in advance, their lodging generously provided by the local boarding house.

Chris couldn't remember seeing Ezra at all at the dance. Only reason he knew he hadn't was Inez has asked after him, as had Vin. But no one had seen him.

So where the hell had Ezra gotten too? The town wasn't that damn big. Chris' eyes narrowed as he actively started seeking a bright red jacket. Failing to find any flash of red that was the right shade, he looked for emerald green, then royal blue. Nothing.

His search was halted when Mary Travis approached. He'd promised to escort her to viewing the fireworks. He smiled at her, and offered her his arm. Figuring out where Ezra had disappeared to would have to wait. He had more important things to attend to.

Vin prowled the shadows and back streets seeking Ezra. Normally he would respect a request for solitude, unspoken or not, but it didn't seem right to do it this time. The man wasn't the sort to isolate himself, something had to be wrong.

Ezra was infamous for being a late riser, yet Vin had seen him out and about early every morning for the last few days. That could only mean one thing--the man hadn't gone to bed. The former bounty hunter knew full well the only times Ezra didn't sleep in were when he was working on something or troubled.

Planning the carnival and arranging for musicians was hardly the sort of work that would have kept Ezra from going to bed. Making children happy was not a chore. No, there was more to it, Vin was certain.

Unlike Chris, Vin wasn't about to be distracted from his quest to find Ezra. The green-eyed man meant too much to him for that. He couldn't dismiss the man out of hand as unimportant, not when he spent half his free time fantasizing about him. Fireworks could be missed. There would be other opportunities, other shows, but there might not be another chance for him to help Ezra.

He'd been fascinated by the gambler from the moment he'd laid eyes on him. No one in his right mind would have tried to hold off a room full of pissed off, half drunk cowboys with a gun that held only two shots, but Ezra had without batting an eye. Using the mirror to aim was just an added element to Vin's interest. He'd never seen anyone do that before.

But then, Ezra was definitely one of a kind. Vin had never met anyone with balls enough to walk through a town wearing nothing more than his boots, hat and a table cloth. Not only had Ezra done that, he did it with a certain flair that made it seem almost normal. Vin occasionally wondered if he was the only one who'd even noticed and been aroused by the near naked state Ezra had been in. Although how in the hell anyone could have missed that well defined chest or didn't have their mouth water at the sight of it was a complete mystery to him.

Initially Vin had told himself he was just drawn to the gambler to see him work his magic. No one could pull off a plan quite the way Ezra could. In moments of honest reflection, Vin admitted the whole damn purple dress idea had been something of a test. He wanted to see if the green-eyed man would draw a line, actually tell them to shove it up their asses and walk away. He never did though.

The man came back to save them from the Ghosts when just riding away would have been a whole lot easier to do. He lost his chance to save his dream, the Standish Tavern, trying to help Vin capture Eli Joe. He darted out into a firefight armed with a Molotov cocktail and took on the Nichlos war wagon giving the rest of them a chance to save the day. He sought out information to save Chris' life when he was wrongfully imprisoned. He even risked his life to save Mary Travis from an assassin, losing a shot at walking away with a veritable fortune without a noticeable moment's hesitation.

Oh there were times that could be considered as Ezra having failed them. The fact that he took the $10,000 in the first place. Or when he'd damn near gotten killed trying to find that stupid diamond. Or on a personal level, his expression of amusement when Vin asked him to teach him how to read. The tracker still burned with embarrassment over that. Not so much because he'd admitted to his own shortcoming, or even the fact that Ezra had laughed at him, but that he hadn't known better than to ask the man when he was drinking, that he hadn't thought to find out what was bothering Ezra enough to leave him that drunk in the first place.

Had it been one of the others, he'd have thought to ask, sought out what was troubling them and offered to help. But with Ezra, he'd just gotten lost in his own anger and embarrassment, losing sight of the fact that to have a friend he had to be one as well. His search for the gambler now stemmed in part because he felt he'd failed him once already. He didn't want to fail him again. Ezra mattered. More than he knew.

Once Vin admitted to himself he was attracted to Ezra for more than his ability in a firefight, other things started clamoring for his attention. The sly sense of humor that frequently appeared to lessen the dire nature of their circumstance. The quick and agile mind that not only weighed odds, but also made those dance with death sort of moves the kind he could actually walk away from. Some one less intelligent or situation savvy would have died a long time ago attempting things Ezra made look routine. The ability to assess people and places, finding a more effective means to get what was needed than direct, in your face approach the rest of them favored

Most of that could all just be excused as assessing the merits of a comrade in arms. Wasn't really personal. Not the way noticing the different ways Ezra smiled was. Vin had started to classify them at some point, labeling each one.

That devil-may-care smile that all but screamed trouble was brewing and Ezra was eager to be a part of it. The knowing smirk that did more than suggest he knew more than the others it all but shouted. The cold, bitter smile that bespoke of anger and disappointment. The tight curl of lips that could barely be called a smile which appeared whenever he swallowed insults and orders without saying a word. The welcoming smile he gave men about to sit down to gamble their fortunes away at his table. The delighted grin that so rarely appeared and seemed to be reserved exclusively for children. Vin would give his eye teeth to get have that expression of genuine good will and humor directed at him.

It was more than just friendship that had Vin noticing how good Ezra looked dressed in his favorite red jacket. Wondering if his hair was as soft as it looked certainly overstepped the bounds of being coworkers. Being jealous of Li Pong for having a chance to spend the night in Ezra's room definitely fell outside the norm.

Vin sighed. He finally admitted his attraction to the gambler. Had come to terms with it, if one overlooked the decidedly erotic dreams he kept having, the way he sometimes had trouble making eye contact, or how his fingers itched and burned with a suppressed need to touch. Having seen Ezra half naked had provided ample fodder for his imagination. Lord, but the man was beautiful.

Vin shook his head. Right now the man was missing. That was reason enough to focus on what was important, finding him, and not on stuff that really didn't matter right this minute.

Checking the obvious first, the saloon, turned up nothing. Same with the jail. The whole town was headed out to watch the fireworks so it wasn't like anyone really needed to be on duty. Vin neatly avoided people, sticking to side streets and shadows, not wanting anyone to try and sidetrack him from his search.

For a moment he thought that might be the wrong thing to do, that he might miss spotting Ezra in the throng of people. But his gut instinct told him the man wasn't going to be found with the rest of the town. Vin pursed his lips. The livery was next on his list.

He stepped into the dark stable, lack of light making him cautious. Normally Tiny left a small lamp burning, but he likely left before he needed to light it. Vin cocked his head, blue eyes searching as they adjusted to the lack of light, listening intently.

The sound of a horse shifting its weight came to him from off to the left. He could begin to make out the darker, denser shadows of the large forms of animals secure within their stalls. Stepping silently forward, Vin counted off the stalls to Peso's, getting a quiet nickered greeting as he halted there. He obligingly scratched behind Peso's ears before moving to the neighboring stall to verify Chaucer was still where he should be. The chestnut gelding snuffled at him, but didn't otherwise react to his presence.

Vin wasn't sure why he knew, but he knew Ezra was here, somewhere. To the tracker the place was as obvious a place for Ezra as the saloon was, maybe more so. The Southerner had a readily apparent fondness for animals and Vin suspected that affection was akin to what he gave and received from small children. Neither asked or expected more of the gambler than he was willing to give.

Vin's own life experience had taught him stables were often a place of refuge for more than just horses. The stables were usually dry and relatively comfortable no matter what the weather outside. Unquestioning critters, unconcerned with the presence or absence of a human being often made for a more comfortable place to be than in the company of other people liable to stare too closely, or ask for more than one wanted to give.

He spotted the ladder to the loft and made his way toward it. The gambler had a tendency to go up. It was a trait Vin understood from his days hunting men; like most things that rarely encountered danger from above, people seldom looked up. High ground had advantages most people simply weren't aware of…but Ezra wasn't most people.

He climbed halfway up the ladder before calling out. "Ezra? You mind if I join ya?"

A soft sigh drifted down to him. "Would it matter if I did?"

Vin smiled ruefully. "No, not really."

"Then by all means, Mr. Tanner, continue your ascent."

As he crested the ladder Vin heard the faint hiss of a match being drawn against a rough surface. He closed his eyes in time to avoid being blinded by the accompanying small flash of light that flared to life. Ezra used the match to light a small lamp hanging from the ceiling. The soot covered shade diminished the usual bright glow to something softer, less invasive, casting only enough illumination to create a small circle of light.

It was just enough to see Ezra clearly. The gambler seemed to have forgone his usual many layers, wearing only a simple white shirt that almost glowed in the low light, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, and his black pinstriped pants. Lying on a nearby bale of hay were his hat, jacket and vest, as well as his derringer and colt Richardson conversion in its shoulder holster. Their presence was oddly reassuring although Vin couldn't really have explained why.

Assuming the hand wave Ezra made was one of welcome, Vin casually took a seat on a hay bale opposite his friend. He opted to skip over the obvious question of what the hell was the gambler doing in the livery loft, looking for all the world like he planned to settle in for awhile. "Gonna miss the fireworks."

Ezra graced him with a sad, almost bitter smile. "Fireworks may well be beautifully benign, worthy of ooh's and ahhh's of admiration, but there are times when it is hard to distinguish them from their marshal cousins. So much so, that I simply can't abide them anymore."

Vin blinked. "But ya paid for them."

Ezra's sharp gaze held him for a moment, clearly assessing how it was Vin knew that bit of information before he shrugged. "That I don't care for them does not diminish the fact others do."

Vin shook his head. "Times I just don't understand you."

"You would hardly be the first to have said as much." Ezra laughed lightly, a sound of genuine enjoyment, something Vin held tightly, memorizing for later. The gambler pulled a bottle of scotch from somewhere behind him, tossing it carelessly toward Vin, who caught it reflexively out of habit rather than intention.

Ezra pulled another bottle for himself. Vin felt both brows climb. Not only had the man just carelessly handled his expensive, hard to come by drink of choice, he had evidently brought enough to suggest an intention of getting falling down, blind, stinking drunk. The tracker's surprise escalated another notch when the normally refined man simply pulled the cork and tipped the bottle back to take a long swallow.

Ezra sighed, green eyes regarding him steadily. "Never let it be said Ezra P. Standish is not capable of adapting to the situation at hand." A small curl of his lips added another smile to Vin's growing catalog; this one bespoke of wry amusement. "I forgot to abscond with some fine crystal with which to imbibe, but the bottle certainly is up to the task, wouldn't you agree?"

"Guess it'll do in a pinch." Vin smiled back. He pulled the cork on the bottle he held, taking a careful sip. As much as he might want to follow Ezra's example and just take a deep draught, one of them should probably stay sober, and it looked as thought that task would likely fall on him.

Ezra frowned, eyebrows pulling together slightly. "Not that I object to your company Mr. Tanner, but shouldn't you be attending the forthcoming pyrotechnic display? I have been given to understand everyone in the county is expected to be there."

Everyone but you, Vin thought. He shrugged and opted to just tell Ezra the truth; it wasn't like he could lie well anyway. "Was lookin' for you."

Ezra arched an eyebrow. "Was there some problem?"

"No. Least not with the town or anythin'." Vin shook his head. "Figured there must trouble o' some kind for you ta keep disappearing."

A bitter smile twisted Ezra's lips, green eyes hardening. "You came to check up on me? Ascertain that I am not up to some sort of nefarious purpose?"

"Don't know what the hell 'nefarious' means." Vin's grip on the bottle tightened. "But I'm guessin' you are askin' if I come ta check up on ya an' make sure you weren't up to no good." He forced himself to make eye contact and hold it. "Was just worried about you."

Ezra studied his face for an endless second before nodding once and raising his bottle in an off handed salute. His expression was an interesting blend of subtle amazement and chagrin. "Forgive me for doubting you."

"Nothin' ta forgive." Vin figured if it had been anyone else in town Ezra would probably have been right to assume the worst. It hurt hearing the gambler put him in that category, but Vin wasn't really certain he'd ever given the other man a reason not to. It was definitely something he'd need to be sure to do from now on.

Taking a thoughtful sip of scotch, unconsciously appreciating the rich, smoky flavor, Vin studied Ezra in the dim light. "Ya didn't say why ya been disappearing."

"No." Ezra agreed calmly, a faint twinkle readily apparent in his eyes. "But then you didn't really ask either."

"Smart ass." Vin grinned, unable to not appreciate the way Ezra had responded. Taking the bull by the horns he asked the question. "So why have you been disappearing, Ez?"

Ezra bit his lower lip, looking away. "These are not days I care to celebrate."

Something his tone warned Vin to tread carefully. He deliberately kept his next question gentle, unassuming. "You don't like Independence Day?" Vin smiled hesitantly. "Thought everyone was inta celebratin' birthdays, even them that ain't their own."

A pained expression graced Ezra's features making Vin wish to hell he hadn't asked. But it was too late now. The gambler took a deep breath. "I have no qualms about honoring the birth of a nation, nor would I usually object to participating in the current festivities, but for me, the first few days of July carry a personal significance; one that excludes revelry and puts a distinct damper on my mood."

Vin was momentarily tempted to leave it alone, to let the gambler get away with that convoluted response that said a lot and still failed to give him a definitive answer or explanation. Something in Ezra's posture convinced him otherwise. The man needed someone to care enough to push, to demonstrate a genuine concern by not being so easily dissuaded or misled.

"Personal significance?" Vin frowned, as he cocked his head slightly, leaning forward so that he could see Ezra more clearly. "That means what exactly?"

Jade green eyes regarded him steadily. "You really want to know?"

"Yes." Vin replied firmly, responding to the faint challenge easily discernable in Ezra's question. "I really want to know."

Ezra dipped his head in an abbreviated bow. He took another long swallow of scotch; the bitter twist of his lips that followed was painful to see. Vin suddenly worried if he'd unintentionally caused Ezra pain. He opened his mouth to retract his statement, suddenly afraid he'd overstepped some hidden boundary better left alone, but Ezra began speaking before he had the chance.

"It was the summer of Eighteen sixty-three." The gambler sighed softly. "I had just been promoted to a gunnery sergeant, responsible for several cannon and their crew. We were headed North into enemy territory." Ezra snorted and shook his head, eyes drifting to a point over Vin's shoulder. The tracker was fairly certain the gambler wasn't really seeing the wall behind him, but something else, something decidedly less benign.

"I remember thinking then how odd it was to classify Pennsylvania as foreign soil. Hell, it didn't look that much different, not really. I was almost disappointed to not see some definitive mark upon the landscape signifying our trespass."

Ezra sighed again. "It was slightly hotter than the fires of hell that summer. The humidity made the air so heavy, I swear, you could almost wear it."

Vin grimaced. He remembered days like those, although it had been several years since he'd been anywhere with enough moisture in the air to come even remotely close to that feeling. He kept his remembrances to himself, afraid to interrupt Ezra, afraid if he did the gambler would stop talking.

"Keeping track of the date was never something I'd spent much energy doing. One day was pretty much like another then. I wouldn't have even known it was the first of July if Daniel hadn't told me so."

Vin's desire to remain quiet vanished in an instant. "Daniel?"

"I knew him for only three years, but he was the best friend I've ever had." Sorrow added weight to Ezra's words, more telling for what was not said than what was. Vin didn't need to be told that Daniel was one of the many who'd died in that bloody three day clash between the Blue and Gray. He wasn't particularly surprised when Ezra said no more about Daniel.

"Despite the persistent association of the event with the date, I have no real clear recollections of the battle." Ezra confessed with a one shoulder shrug, eyes still focused on the far wall, a thoughtful expression settling over his features. "In some ways they were all the same….chaotic, bloody, violent affairs that always seem to end in the silence that is the grave."

Ezra shook his head slightly, eyes closing as he continued to speak, voice barely above a whisper. "I think it must be impossible to forget the drum roll of man made thunder as it crosses open fields, echoing back to you like an ebbing tide. The shrill whistle of grapeshot heralding death and destruction. Cannon barrels so hot to the touch loading them becomes more dangerous to the crew than firing them is to the enemy. Thick smoke blending with early morning fog making it nigh on to impossible to aim accurately."

Ezra bit his lip, head cocking to one side as though he were listening to something, eyes closing tighter. "I remember hearing voices…not distinct words mind you, just the sound of them. So many…the sheer number…god." The gambler swallowed hard. "Shouts of rage and fear, desperation and defiance being present in equal measure, never quite loud enough to drown out the screams of the wounded or the whimpers of the dying."

He took a deep shuddering breath, nose wrinkle as though scenting something unpleasant. "As the sun set and the bloody work was called to a fleeting halt, I remember suddenly being conscious of the smell of death and decay. It hung so heavy in the air you could nearly taste it. Carrion feeders hovering on the fringes, in the shadows, waiting their turn to consume the feast we'd so graciously made available to them."

Vin flinched. He had no trouble picturing the scene Ezra's words described. Forgetting his earlier decision to stay sober, the tracker tipped back the bottle of scotch he held and took a long, deep swallow.

"Three days." Ezra opened his eyes, the normally lively green orbs bleak and bloodshot. "My entire body hurt from the exertion…from doing the work of men who kept falling dead around me. I can't recall their names, but their faces remain clear and distinct, indelible marks upon my memory. Their ghosts come to call on me nearly every year at this time."

Vin stifled a shudder. He'd had enough nightmares of his own to be able to appreciate the horror Ezra managed to comment on with no more emotion than if he were discussing the weather. There was really no other way to talk about such things.

"On the fourth of July, the battle was over, and we retreated bowed and nearly broken, licking our wounds and bracing ourselves for the next encounter." Ezra took a deep breath and released it slowly, eyes focusing on Vin again. "So I think you can now better understand why I don't much care for either the fourth or fireworks….certainly not the two in conjunction."

Vin nodded slowly. Wanting Ezra to fully appreciate just how well he understood, Vin quietly offered a piece of his own past that he hadn't spoken of to anyone else, ever. "In July, Eighteen sixty-three, I was in Vicksburg."

"Ah." Ezra's small sound of comprehension also held an undercurrent of commiseration. "You understand far better than most then."

He didn't ask for any details, a fact Vin was grateful for. They were not memories he liked to dwell on, memories that bore a striking resemblance to those Ezra had just rendered a bare bones accounting of. Vicksburg had finally surrendered to Grant on July 4th, after a prolonged siege Vin had been positive he wouldn't live to see the end of. So many of his comrades hadn't, his own survival still left him occasionally wondering what had made him lucky enough to elude the Reaper's grasp.

Ezra raised his bottle toward Vin, nodding when Vin copied his gesture. "To the fallen."

"To the fallen." Vin echoed the toast.

Ezra took a drink, and Vin followed his example. The scotch went down smoother than the rotgut whiskey he was used to, but the burn in his belly reminded him it had just as much of a kick. He could already feel the affects of the little bit he'd had earlier.

Ezra ran a hand through his hair, creating a distractingly attractive disarray of curls. The gambler sighed heavily, pulling Vin's wayward thoughts back from where they were headed. The sound seemed to say so much without saying anything.

"Horace was wrong."

That statement caught Vin totally by surprise. He couldn't help wondering who the hell was 'Horace' and how did he fit into their recent conversation. "I don't-"

"Dulce et decorum est por patria mori." Ezra stated clearly, enunciating each word with deliberate care, although Vin didn't have a clue what he'd said. It sounded vaguely like Spanish, but the accent was all wrong. Ezra had said it as though there were some heavy significance to it, frustrating Vin as he struggled to figure out what it might mean and why it was important.

"It is a line from a Latin poem written by a man named Horace before the birth of Christ, when Rome was still a Republic." Ezra offered, conversationally. "It translates into something akin to 'It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.'" Ezra shook his head, snorting derisively. "There was nothing sweet or fitting about Gettysburg. About any of it for that matter."

"No." Vin agreed softly. "Weren't nothing sweet or fitting about it."

The Texan silently committed the Latin phrase to memory. He wasn't sure he'd ever need it again, but he always made a point to store up the knowledge Ezra saw fit to hand out to him. They were treasures most of the other peacekeepers failed to appreciate the value of, dismissing them as frivolous and inconsequential. Vin knew better.

Ezra fell silent, drinking occasionally from his bottle. Not knowing what else to say or do, Vin simply remained quiet. He figured if Ezra didn't want him there the man would have asked him to leave, or leave himself. The Texan hoped his friend found the comfort in his presence that he found in Ezra's. He sipped at the scotch he held, not wanting to leave Ezra drinking alone. Friends drank together, and whatever else they might or might not be, Vin was certain he and Ezra were friends.

He wasn't sure how long they'd been in the loft when there was loud boom that sounded like muted thunder closely followed by a piercing shrill whistle split the air. Ezra all but dove off the bale he'd been seated on, pulling Vin to the floor with him, arms curling around him in a hard hold. Both bottles of scotch were lost somewhere in the tussle, glass rolling on hay covered wood the only indication of where they might have gone.

Under other circumstances Vin's initial reaction would have been to fight off so sudden an invasion of his personal space, to violently counter a possible threat to his person, but instinctively he knew Ezra wasn't trying to hurt him. The strong arms about him felt more protective than confining. Vin remembered hunkering down in a similar fashion, waiting for a break in the rhythm of the artillery barrages, hoping for an opening to advance or retreat, praying that he'd survive long enough to do either.

Another boom and whistle made Ezra clutch him tighter, face buried against the tracker's shoulder. Vin could feel Ezra trembling. Wanting to help, to make his friend feel as safe as he consciously reminded himself they were, Vin shifted to pull the gambler in closer to him, hands moving up and down the taut back in a soothing gesture.

"Jus' the fireworks, Ez." Vin whispered, rubbing his cheek against the curls of his friends bowed head, thrilled to find the curls were just as soft as they looked. "Nothin' ta be scared of. Shhhh…s'okay. Promise….Won't let anythin' happen ta ya….Won't let anythin' hurt ya."

Several of the horses below them shifted restlessly, soft knickers sounding out giving voice to their unease. Vin knew their own mounts were not gun shy, having grown accustomed to loud noises by the simple, effective means of frequent exposure. But the livery hacks were not so well conditioned. Within the confines of a place they felt safe it was unlikely their nervousness would give way to outright panic.

Another muted boom made him attempt the impossible, to pull Ezra even closer. Vin breathed in deeply, eyes closing as he took in the tantalizing fragrance that radiated from the other man. He couldn't place it, didn't even try, simply classifying it as 'Ezra' and delighting in it, imprinting it on his memory.

Gradually the trembling eased off to flinching each time another boom was heard. Vin didn't let go, he just kept whispering meaningless words of comfort, hands continuing to move up and down in a calming motion. Tight muscles twitched in response, slowly relaxing under his hands.

Vin was both relieved and distressed when Ezra just seemed to melt into him. Relieved because the man no long seemed caught in a living nightmare, and distressed because he was becoming increasingly aware of how close they were to one another, of just how good it felt to have Ezra in his arms. Vin bit his lip, feeling guilty for suddenly wishing the fireworks would go on forever if it meant he could stay where he was just like this.

A soft sigh from Ezra stopped Vin's steady stream of words, halting his efforts to soothe. Not sure what do to, he tilted his head, trying to look at the man he still held tightly to him unable to let go. "Ez…ya okay now?"

Vin could barely hear the muffled 'no' the gambler answered with. Ezra raised his head, turning so that he was no longer burying his face against Vin, but rather resting tiredly against Vin's chest. A weak chuckle escaped Ezra. "I believe I am getting there though."

The shorter man's flinch to yet another firework wasn't nearly as severe as the preceding ones had been. Vin held himself still as Ezra rubbed his cheek against his chest, a long fingered elegant hand patting his side in a gesture that bordered on being a caress. The tracker swallowed hard and bit back the words that rose unbidden to ask Ezra to do more.

"I'm sorry, Vin." Ezra spoke softly. "One should not abuse a friend thus."

"Nothin' to be sorry 'bout, Ez. S'okay." Vin was proud of how utterly normal he sounded in spite of being warmed to the core by Ezra using his first name and classifying him as a friend. The tracker bit his lip to keep from saying that holding him really wasn't something he would call 'abuse'; an exquisite torture perhaps, one he would give his eye teeth to have the opportunity to experience on a regular basis, but never abuse. He mentally winced thinking about what Ezra's reaction would likely be if the other man knew about his inappropriate thoughts.

"You have gone above and beyond the call of duty this evening." Ezra patted Vin's side again, fingertips making small, maddening circles. Vin's skin tingled, and he did his best not to arch into that light tough.

"Never really thought o' bein' a friend as a duty." Vin frowned. "Ain't here 'cause I have to be. I'm here 'cause I want to be."

Ezra responded with a small squeeze. "Thank you."

"Yer welcome," Vin answered.

Ezra raised his head, eyes oddly bright in the dimly lit loft, green irises little more than a small ring of color around huge, dark pupils. He smiled. It wasn't a smile Vin could remember ever seeing before, but the warmth and openness of it made him desperate to see it again. He had a new favorite for his list.

To Vin it seemed as though Ezra was moving in slow motion as he shifted and leaned in close, lips barely touching his own in a soft, inviting kiss that made him shiver with need. It was the sort of kiss that felt so familiar, like it had been shared between them thousands of times before instead of being the first meeting of their lips. It could have been an innocent gesture, or it could have been a tentative foray into something far more. Vin desperately wanted it to be a prelude to so much more, to what he'd been dreaming about for weeks. He opened his mouth, tongue darting out for a taste, eager to get all he could before good sense managed to prevail.

Ezra tasted rich and smoky like the scotch they'd both consumed with an underlying sweetness that made Vin delve deeper seeking more. The moist heat of Ezra's mouth was so tempting, so easy to get lost in exploring. Vin wanted to intimately know the exotic blend of soft, smooth pliable flesh and hard unyielding teeth capable of welcoming or punishing the intrusion.

His hands moved from simply holding Ezra in a comfortable embrace to deliberate investigation. Vin wanted to map the hard contours he could feel hidden beneath the soft cotton. His memory readily supplied a visual guide using the image of Ezra wrapped in nothing but a tablecloth as his guide.

Long before he was ready, Ezra pulled away, breaking the kiss. Vin had just enough presence of mind not to fight him, to let him bring that wonderful experience to a halt, knowing he was lucky to have gotten away with as much as he had. He kept his eyes closed not wanting to see the transformation of shock to outrage or anger. Vin didn't really need to witness the loss of their hard won friendship.

He blinked in surprise when instead of feeling the pain of a hard fist to his face or Ezra scrambling away in furious haste a touch as light as the landing of a butterfly began to trace his cheekbone and jaw line. Ezra smiled at him, the same warm, tender smile he'd had before they kissed. The gambler rested his forehead against Vin's, green eyes holding blue. No anger or outrage harbored in those jade eyes.

"Oh." Vin breathed out in a soft sigh suddenly understanding in a moment of insight that Ezra enjoyed the kiss just as much as he had. He grinned realizing that Ezra had not only started it, he'd actively encouraged it, or at the very least hadn't tried to stop it.

Ezra chuckled, hands cupping Vin's face in a soft hold that didn't feel at all confining. "So much more than what 'oh' can encapsulate, don't you think?"

"Probably." Vin agreed with a small shrug, his grin still firmly in place. "Not sure what else to say."

"Well, words are often overrated." Ezra's thumb lightly traced Vin's lower lip, teasing the already sensitized delicate skin before he dove in for another kiss.

Where the first kiss had been a gentle, hesitant exploration that was meant to gauge intent and interest, this one was far more aggressive and passionate. Vin welcomed Ezra's tongue, sucking it into his mouth greedily. The dual for dominance left him breathless and panting for more. He'd never gotten so hard so fast in his life.

Vin struggled to get enough space between them to strip of clothing while not breaking their kiss, hands tugging uselessly at Ezra's shirt. Like a starving man offered a seat at a banquet he couldn't seem to get enough of that incredible mouth with its equally talented tongue. The need to breathe, the hunger for more skin-to-skin contact forced him to reluctantly pull away.

"Gotta…please, Ez…gotta get rid…of some o' these damn clothes." Vin panted, hands gripping Ezra tightly as though afraid the gambler might change his mind, legs entangled to keep the smaller man to keep their groins aligned.

"Agreed." Ezra whispered, his voice raw and needy making Vin shiver. He never would have imagined the normally smooth tenor sounding so husky with want and longing. Vin couldn't deny the small thrill he got knowing it was him Ezra wanted…even if it was only for this moment.

Ezra wiggled against him creating a delightful friction that made Vin close his eyes again, hips thrusting in a lazy rhythm, a low moan escaping. Even fully clothed this was far better than any thing he'd imagined. He tightened his hold, clutching Ezra to him again, unwilling to let him pull away.

"Vin?" Ezra stilled his earlier movements, making Vin open his eyes. An elegant eyebrow arched. "I can't disrobe…and neither can you, if you don't give me some space." Green eyes crinkled at the corners, sparkling with good humor and passion. "I'm not about to change my mind."

"Ya sure?" Vin swallowed hard, glancing away, suddenly feeling shy, awkward, and a little stupid for asking. He berated himself for his doubts, for even giving the gambler a chance to rethink this, to back out.

Ezra lightly caressed his face with the back of one hand, knuckles surprisingly soft against his cheek. Vin's eyes rose uncertainly to meet Ezra's. Another soft smile he'd never seen before, green eyes aglow like a self satisfied cat altered Ezra's already handsome countenance into something so beautiful it reminded Vin of watching the sun rise. He took in a deep breath, nearly a gasp, awed by the vision before him.

"I am very sure of this." A soft kiss, so like the first was lightly placed on his lips. "I want this." Ezra executed a slow, sensuous roll of his hips, his erection pressing against Vin's making the tracker moan again in response. "I want you."

Vin took another deep breath and nodded slowly. He forced himself to let go. "You do yours and I'll-"

"Do mine." Ezra finished for him with a wink and a wicked grin that Vin was quick to add to his growing list.

Vin squirmed out of his jacket, wishing he'd thought to get rid of it before he'd started drinking. If he'd known where this was going to end up he'd have shucked it before he'd climbed the ladder. His hands shook as he struggled to undo the buttons of his shirt. He growled under his breath, torn between being angry at himself for acting like some clumsy, overeager virgin and frustrated at his inability to master what was usually such a simple chore.

Ezra wrapped one long fingered, graceful hand around his wrist. "We have time, Vin. Relax." The gambler laughed lightly. "While euphemistically a roll in the hay doesn't usually imply leisure, I think I'd like us to thumb our noses at tradition this time."

Vin found himself laughing right along with Ezra. Desire eased back from the impatient brink to something of a more comfortable burn as he did so. Reassured by Ezra's statement they had time, his hands steadied. He stripped out of his clothing in record time, concentrating on not looking at Ezra for fear he'd lose that hard won control. He took care to keep his jacket, pants and shirt spread out enough to give them a comfortable place to lay without having to worry about stiff bits of hay poking unprotected flesh.

He glanced over at the gambler in time to see him neatly folding his pinstriped pants. Vin was sure he stopped breathing when he looked to see Ezra now completely naked. The dim light from the flickering lamp created an enticing display of light and shadow, alternating between hiding and revealing Ezra's well defined form. Vin licked his lips, throat working to find some bit of moisture.

He wished now he'd taken the time to watch Ezra disrobe, to see each bit of flesh being revealed. A secret hope was born that this might not be the only time, that he'd get another chance slowly peel Ezra from his many layers. Given what he'd been told the Christian God said about men being with other men Vin offered what he figured was a sacrilegious silent prayer heavenward that he'd get more than one chance.

"God." He breathed out reverently, unable to look anywhere but at Ezra. "You are beautiful."

Ezra ducked his head, a faint but visible dusting of color rose in his cheeks. The muscles in his forearm flickered as his fingers moved in a motion that suggested he was almost physically seeking a response to Vin's declaration. Ezra slowly shook his head and opened his mouth to give what Vin knew would be a denial. The Texan couldn't allow that.

"You. Are. Beautiful."

Ezra shrugged, lips twitching at the corners suggesting a smile that really didn't appear. He executed a minute bow that readily signaled he understood Vin would brook no argument even though he might not actually agree. "Thank you."

Vin didn't think speaking the truth was something he needed to be thanked for but he wisely refrained from saying so. He held out his hand, pleased when Ezra took it. Using that hold, he pulled Ezra back to him, reveling in the full body, skin-to-skin contact. Looking was nice, very nice, but touching was so much better.

Being able now to touch freely, he eagerly explored the wonderful contrast of silky soft skin over solid muscle and bone. He sighed softly as Ezra returned the favor, the gambler's deft fingers leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Vin eagerly raised his head to met Ezra half way in another soul searing kiss.

The need to breathe finally pulled them apart. Ezra ducked his head to nuzzle under Vin's jaw, nibbling a path down the side of his neck to the hollow created by his collarbone, pausing there to suck hard enough to create an incredible blend of pleasure and pain. The Texan shivered then, caught off guard by the sudden rush of heat to his groin that spot ignited.

He tilted his head to the side, arching his chest, trying to encourage Ezra to do it again. He moaned, hands clutching at Ezra's back when he complied with Vin's nonverbal request. That was bound to leave a mark, but Vin couldn't bring himself to care.

Ezra moved further down his chest. Vin shuddered when the gambler found his left nipple and began to suck ever so gently. He tangled his fingers in Ezra's silky hair, not so much holding him in place as encouraging him to remain, to keep doing what he was doing. Vin whimpered when Ezra fluttered his tongue before nipping him.

"Christ." He gasped, breathing ragged, unable to get enough air suddenly.

Ezra looked up long enough to flash him another of those wicked smiles that was barely an upturn of the corners of his lips. The gambler moved to Vin's other nipple, fingers moving to tease the one his mouth had so recently abandoned. The dual assault forced him to close his eyes and ride out the wave of pleasure being generated. It had been so long since anyone touched him.

Unable to stay still, Vin carded his fingers through Ezra's hair. He was disappointed when Ezra's tongue and fingers stopped doing what they'd been doing. His disappointment was short lived as the gambler released a deep sigh of obvious pleasure. Vin quickly realized that his fingers in Ezra's hair did as much for the gambler as having Ezra suck on that spot on his collarbone had done for him.

"Like that?" He whispered, fingers massaging Ezra's scalp as they once more slide through auburn waves.

"Yes." Ezra shivered, his answer little more than one long hiss of pleasure. "I like that."

Vin grinned. He continued the light massage, delighted not only with Ezra's response but also with how the curls seemed to wrap themselves around his fingers responding with a caress of their own. He could spend hours doing this, except other body parts were demanding their share of attention.

Vin shifted his grip so that he cupped Ezra face and pulled his head up so he could make eye contact. "Tell me what you want?" Blue eyes earnest. He stifled a moan when Ezra's pink tongue slipped out to lightly ghost over his bottom lip, eyes unable not to track that delicate, enticing motion.

"What I-" Ezra stopped and turned his head enough to place a soft kiss in one of Vin's palms. "I want for both of us to enjoy ourselves."

"Not what I meant." Vin shook his head, restless fingertips stroking the smooth skin of Ezra's temple. "Sort o' wanted ta know…ah…'xactly how you wanted us to do that."

"Oh." A dawning light of understanding was easily apparent in Ezra's expression.

Vin grinned. "So much more than what 'oh' can encapsulate, don't you think?"

Ezra laughed lightly at Vin parroting his words back to him. "Quite."

"So…" Vin let it hang, waiting.

Green eyes narrowed, studying his face. Vin wasn't sure exactly what the gambler was looking for, but he hoped he found it soon. Ezra nodded once to himself, and placed a kiss on Vin's sternum.

"I think it best, at least this time, to stick to that which both of us are likely to be intimately familiar with."

A surge of hope rose at 'this time' since it implied there might be a next time. So focused was Vin on that oblique promise he was unable to grasp what it was that Ezra had suggested. Unable to grasp that was until Ezra's hand neatly worked between them to lightly stroke from the root to tip of Vin's shaft.

Vin gasped, hips bucking as Ezra's long fingers lightly circled him. Someone else's hand shouldn't feel that much different from his own, but it certainly did. Ezra's touch was sure and confident, but the rhythm and pressure were not what Vin normally used when he touched himself. At those times it was simply about needing release, about taking the edge off, about quelling his fantasies enough to be able to function normally around Ezra.

Realizing he wasn't doing his part, Vin shifted enough to be able to touch Ezra's cock without disturbing the hold Ezra had on him. It had been a long time since he'd held another man's privates, and Vin took his time to explore, finger tips lightly ghosting over the shaft to wander south to fondle Ezra's balls. He was delighted with how Ezra responded with breathy little moans and something so inarticulate as to be verging on gibberish. It was heady to know he could reduce the usually eloquent man to what amount to a primal response.

Ezra ducked his head to suck once more at Vin's left nipple. The tracker tipped his head back, unable for a moment to do more than ride out the waves of pleasure that rippled through him. It was almost as though Ezra was serving as a conduit between his nipple and his dick, an escalating spiral of sensation that left him aching and begging for more.

Wanting to give the gambler as much as he was being given, Vin used his free hand to lightly card through Ezra's already disordered curls. He knew he'd found another of those personal hot spots when he lightly caressed Ezra's ear. The full body shudder and moan that vibrated against his skin was as blatant a sign as any the tracker had ever encountered anywhere.

Vin wasn't really sure who was leading and who was following, and it really didn't matter. Somewhere along the line they managed to match strokes, hips thrusting into fists in time like a synchronized duet. Ragged breathing, faint moans, interspersed with gasps and whispers of 'please' were more than enough to keep them pushing toward the edge together.

Sweat slick skin gliding under his hands and against him were easily the best thing Vin had ever felt. He couldn't get enough, wishing he had more hands. That tantalizing fragrance he'd noticed before now was overlain by a more earthy musk that combined into something so much more appealing. Vin absently hoped some measure of that enticing scent would linger on his skin forever.

There was a tell-tale tingling at the base of his spine, a surge of warmth followed by a rise in sensitivity that always heralded his climax. He fought to breathe deeply, to hold that impeding wave in check, not wanting this to be over too soon, not wanting to let go of this perfect moment. Vin bit his lip, hips snapping now in an erratic rhythm as conflicting desires made themselves know. Whispered pleas suddenly coalesced into something more intelligible as Ezra's breath ghosted over his skin, raising goosebumps in the process.

"It's okay…come with me…please…It's okay…come with me…please…Vin…don't stop…don't stop."

Vin shuddered incapable of resisting that desperate blend of command and request, unable to give voice to his desire to linger, movements once more smoothing out, gaining speed and single purpose. He could feel Ezra trembling against him, although his hold and touch were just as sure as when they started. Not for the first time was Vin grateful for the gambler's ever steady hands.

The surge he'd tried to hold back crested over him with the force of a tidal wave, back arching as he came hard, head tipping back again, mouth open to release a silent howl of completion that still managed to nearly echo in the loft. Vin felt Ezra's corresponding release, the gambler's body taut in his hold. He could hear as well as feel the accompanying hiss of air carrying a whisper of his name.

Vin lay still, panting as he slowly recovered, muscles twitching intermittently as aftershocks made rippled through him. Unable to stop, he continued to pet Ezra's hair, fingers tingling from the repeated contact with silky smooth strands. He could feel Ezra's breathing slow and steady, the smaller man's head resting solidly on his chest.

Vin felt heavy, incredibly tired and yet well rested at the same time. He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply as he tried to memorize the ambiguous feeling that made him want to sleep and dance at the same time. His entire body was sending him little messages that said all was right with the world.

A soft sigh from Ezra made him open his eyes. "Ez? You okay?"

Ezra raised his head, one elegant brow rising, green eyes bright with amusement. "You really need to ask?"

"No, not really." Vin grinned. "Jus' wanted ta be sure."

"Ah." Ezra nodded sagely, an answering smile gracing his features. This one spoke of ease and contentment. It was yet another Vin wouldn't mind seeing more of.

Ezra stretched a bit, shifting against Vin in a way delightfully reminiscent of their recent activity. Physically incapable of doing that again so quickly in no way reduced the desire to making Vin shiver slightly. Ezra frowned slightly, eyes studying him.

"Are you cold?" His hand lightly stroking Vin's lax member. "Or perhaps something else?"

Vin knew the blush he could feel warming his face already provided the answer long before he could open his mouth. Ezra's eyes brightened with some emotion Vin couldn't quite name. The gambler shook his head slightly although Vin had no idea what he might be denying.

"Such a compliment is perhaps something I should feel embarrassed about receiving, not one you should be embarrassed about giving."

"Are ya embarrassed?" Vin asked, unable to stifle his curiosity.

"No." Ezra answered with a quick grin. "Not just no, hell, no. What I am is flattered."

"Good."

The gambler sighed again, and placed a quick kiss on his lips. Before Vin could make more of that light contact Ezra was already moving away. The tracker caught his hand not wanting to let go, to disrupt the afterglow so soon.

Ezra squeezed his fingers once, a sad smile flitting across his features. "As much as we might like to remain as we are, I think it might be wise not to."

"Why?" Vin frowned. It was obvious Ezra had had no reservations or objections to what they'd done. He didn't seem to be experiencing second thoughts or developing any regrets.

Ezra cocked his head, adopting a listening pose. "The fireworks are finished. Some of those from out of town might wish to head home tonight, or those unable to find a room-"

"Might end up sleeping here." Vin finished for him. With so many in town, the latter was a possibility albeit a small one. The boarding house and hotel still had a room or two available, but there were likely a few who either couldn't afford them or who had spent what discretionary money they had on other things while in town. Tiny let anyone who'd stabled a horse use the loft if they needed a place to stay.

The tracker nodded his understanding, releasing his hold. He grabbed his neckerchief to clean the mess from his stomach and saw Ezra doing likewise with his own, fine linen handkerchiefs. Vin watched as Ezra pulled on his shirt, and shimmied into his pants. It was almost painful to see that beautiful expanse of smooth skin and muscle once more hidden from view. With a deep sigh of regret, Vin followed suit, standing to shake the loose hay from his clothes before once more donning them.

He spotted one of the bottles of scotch lying near by. Some miracle prevented it from emptying all of its contents. Vin righted it, before giving Ezra a thoughtful look.

"You were gonna get drunk up here." He suddenly commented, unhappy with the thought that what Ezra had intended would have made him vulnerable to anyone who might happen to ascend the ladder.

"That had been the plan, yes." Ezra sat down on the bale he'd used before, pulling on one boot. He looked up at Vin. "Although I have no complaints with how the evening turned out. In fact, I must say this was a far, far better alternative to what I'd originally had in mind." There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice, the lacing of innuendo.

"Damn it, Ez, anyone could o' found ya up here!" Vin's grip tightened around the bottle. He wasn't going to be sidetracked by a compliment. "You got any idea how dangerous…how stupid that was! Christ all mighty!"

Ezra looked away, biting his lip before his expression shifted into something blandly neutral. The closed nature of his visage was such a startling contrast to what it had been only a moment ago. Ezra cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I wasn't thinking clearly at the time."

Feeling like he'd just kicked a puppy, Vin made his way over to Ezra, kneeling before him, hand reaching out to caress his cheek. "I know, Ez, I know. Shouldn't a yelled at ya. Jus' got worried there thinkin' 'bout what coulda happened."

Admittedly most people posed no threat to Ezra. But the man was known around town as their resident gambler and more than one of the locals had lost money to him in the past. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility that one of them, finding Ezra unconscious, would try to even settle the score. Or that someone with a beef with them as peacekeepers would take advantage of Ezra's state to do some serious damage. It hadn't occurred to Vin earlier, simply being relieved to find the man and then dealing with his immediate pain.

Ezra leaned in to his touch. "Apology accepted." The gambler gave him a rueful glance. "I simply couldn't stay within the confines of my room and leaving…well, that didn't seem like a viable option. Not with so many in town, and the chance of something…" He shook his head slightly, but somehow managed not to dislodge Vin's hand. "I really wasn't thinking clearly." Another soft sigh, his voice dipping to just above a whisper. "It was a stupid thing to do."

"More like desperate." Vin offered quietly, fingers lightly stroking Ezra's cheek before falling away. He was ashamed that Ezra had thought solitude and alcohol were a more reliable source of comfort than men who were supposed to be his friends.

"It has never occurred to me to speak to another because there was never another so speak to." Ezra shrugged one shoulder, uncannily reading Vin's thoughts, fingers catching Vin's before they could drift too far away.

Vin readily understood. He hadn't had anyone to rely on in a long time either. And the war wasn't a subject you shared with just anyone, particularly not when one could never be certain which side someone had fought on or agreed with. Not that it mattered. Everyone had lost when it was all said and done, just not everyone realized that.

"I certainly know better now." Ezra gave him that gentle smile again, and a light squeeze of his fingers, making Vin feel ten feet tall.

"You ready to get outta here?"

"Certainly." Ezra nodded. "But I believe we have an orphan," he nodded toward the bottle Vin held, "that must be located first."

"Right." Vin wasn't so foolish as to suggest they simply abandon a bottle of Ezra's good liquor, nearly empty or not. If there was a swallow left, it was worth tracking down. And it was also tell-tale evidence of who'd been up in the loft drinking, that wasn't something Vin thought anyone else needed to know.

A quick survey of the small space easily produced the other bottle. Ezra grinned, gold pre-molar glinting in the dim lighting. Vin wasn't sure how the man managed to locate the cork, but somehow he had. A deft movement with his hand, fingers wiggling just a touch and Ezra reached to pull the other cork from behind the tracker's ear.

"How the hell did you-"

Ezra wagged a finger at him. "Uh-uh…magic."

Vin chuckled. He caught the cork Ezra lightly tossed to him and capped the bottle. No point in spilling any more than they already had. He offered it to the gambler, getting a negative head shake.

"Keep it." Ezra shrugged one shoulder. "I'd meant to share it with you before, I still mean to."

"Thanks, Ez."

"You are quite welcome." Ezra bowed his head slightly, adding significance to his reply that implied he meant more than just the bottle of scotch. Vin smiled and found himself coping the gambler's gesture, getting another of those warm smiles in return.

Ezra turned away and headed for the ladder. He tucked the bottle he held under one arm and grasped the sides of the ladder. Rather than climb down rung by rung, he braced his boots against the outside and using his hands for balance, simply slid to the bottom.

Vin felt his jaw drop in astonishment. It never would have occurred to him that Ezra would know how to do something like that. Although, in hindsight, it should have since the gambler had as much a fondness for high places as Vin had.

Unwilling to be outdone, Vin neatly followed suit. He had forgotten how much fun it could be to execute that speedy decent. Most of the time he did it out of necessity, not simply for the hell of it, usually not having the time to just enjoy the feeling of controlled free fall however brief.

Vin could hear people beginning to move past the livery. It was good they'd left the loft when they did. He cursed when he realized they'd left the lantern lit.

Ezra chuckled quietly, standing next to him, lost in shadow, but close enough for Vin to still be able to feel his heat, to catch a whiff of his scent. "It is of no great concern, Vin"

"But-"

"It would have been unwise for either of us to attempt sliding down the ladder total darkness."

The pitch black interior of the lower floor certainly bore out the truth of Ezra's statement. Not that it couldn't have been done; the faint light from above certainly made it safer and easier to do.

"We will simply need to add some illumination here before ascending again to address the lamp above. Tiny will no doubt be here momentarily to check the livestock and assist any who are leaving tonight. He'd be lighting a lantern or two in any case."

Vin felt rather than saw Ezra step away from him, immediately feeling the loss, but remaining silent as he waited for Ezra to do what he suggested. The rough sound and corresponding flash of a Lucifer being lit sharply added stark contrast and beat back the darkness. Soon the lantern that hung only a few feet away cast a warm glow about the interior of the stable.

Vin bit back another curse when Tiny appeared in the doorway. The tracker wasn't ready for his time with Ezra to be over with quite so soon. They hadn't really said much to one another, and all he'd really gotten was an implied promise of their getting together again to repeat their recent activity. Vin wanted more than that.

"Good Evening, Tiny." Ezra greeted the livery owner. No one seemed to know the man's real name or if they did, no one used it. Tiny was one of the few people in town Ezra addressed in the familiar rather using his surname.

"Evenin' Mr. Standish." Tiny returned jovially. "Vin." He grinned at both of them. "You boys enjoy the fireworks?"

"As much as I have in years, Tiny." Ezra answered quietly, giving Vin a quick grin and a wink that made the stable suddenly feel several degrees warmer.

"Was a real nice way ta celebrate the day." Vin commented, giving Ezra a sidelong look of his own.

Tiny, clearly unaware of the hidden meaning of their responses gave an excited account of the firework display as he'd seen it from his vantage point, obviously eager to talk about the event, something Vin suspected many of the townsfolk would be doing for a long time. Tiny didn't appear bothered by their lack of verbal input or comparison to past shows or the fact that neither Vin nor Ezra had a favorite. The big man had a childlike enthusiasm, eyes still sparkling with remembered awe and beauty as he talked about how long it had been since he'd seen anything like it.

Vin saw the satisfied expression Ezra quickly hid and realized that Tiny's reaction was the reason the gambler had paid for the fireworks in spite of his own aversion. The tracker was fairly certain Mrs. Travis would include some sort of write about the fireworks and carnival in the Clarion, and he made a mental note to find a copy and save it for Ezra. Wouldn't be a bad memento for either of them to have.

"We lit the lantern in the loft." Ezra stated when Tiny had wound down on his description and commentary on the fireworks.

"Oh…good." Tiny nodded. "Save me the trouble o' climbing up there. Oldest two Baier boys should be by soon. They'll be sleeping here tonight." The big man shook his head. "Jus' can't get all that family in one room for the night."

Ezra made a tsking noise. "I should think not."

The Baiers had eight children with ages ranging from nineteen to two, the youngest coming as something of a surprise to her parents. All but the youngest helped around the farm, making it marginally easier for the family to eek out a living. The family rarely came to town, and usually it was only the father and older boy when they did. Vin stopped by their place periodically when he rode out of town just to check on them from time to time.

"Well, if you have everything in hand-"

"I got it covered." Tiny interrupted, as quick to pick up on what Ezra was about to say as Vin was. Vin sent a silent 'thank you' heaven ward. Tiny made a shooing motion. "You two likely have more important things, what with so many people in town and all."

Vin managed to stifle the his initial response, not wanting Tiny to know how desperate he was for some more time alone with Ezra. He settled for simply nodding. Ezra made a graceful motion with one hand, offering to let Vin precede him. The tracker left the livery, ahead of Ezra, but made a point of waiting for Ezra to walk next to him by the time they were only a step away from the door.

The gambler led them down one of the side streets. Even with so many people in town, very few people used anything but the main thoroughfare. Sort of made Vin wonder why the hell they bothered having more than one street at all. Something Ezra had said once about delusions of grandeur came to mind.

Before he could organize his thoughts into anything concrete or figure out what words he wanted to say, Ezra had him pinned up against the nearest wall. Soft, warm lips were pressed against his in a hungry kiss that left him breathless and desperate for more. Ezra's hard body against his felt even better than it had just a short time ago. There was something so risqué about being where they might get caught adding a touch of quasi danger to this encounter that heightened his sense of the other man.

Ezra broke the kiss, turning his head slightly, so that he rested his cheek along Vin's. "You are a definite temptation, Vin Tanner."

Vin swallowed hard. "Could say the same thing 'bout you."

Ezra placed a light kiss on his cheek. "We are both lost."

"Nah." Vin hugged Ezra to him. "More like we just finally found our way."

He felt a rush of relief when Ezra hugged him back. Actions spoke loudly. Ezra clearly enjoyed their encounter as much as he had, and definitely seemed game for more.

Ezra pulled away slowly, with obvious regret. He patted Vin's chest. "We must be more circumspect in the future."

Vin nodded, his earlier surge of hope back in spades. "Wouldn't do ta get careless."

"Quite." A flash of white and a glint of gold were all he could see of Ezra's grin. "Would you care to adjourn my quarters?"

Vin tried not to appear to eager when he said yes, but knew he'd failed miserably. He couldn't bring himself to care. Ezra seemed just as eager, and that was good enough for him.

Together they slipped down the dark alley, by some miracle managing to avoid all obstacles and townspeople until they finally made it to the back door of the saloon. Vin could feel a giggle rising up in him. Given how damn dark it was and how easily they could invent a plausible excuse for simply strolling the side streets, all the scuttling and skulking was not necessary, but it was a lot more fun. As Ezra opened the door the light from inside the barroom provided enough illumination for Vin to see the gambler shared his amusement, nearly silent laughter escaping from the shorter man in a faint puff of air.

Vin felt laughter bubbling up like water from a spring. He hadn't felt this good in a long time. Suddenly the Fourth of July didn't seem like such a dark day anymore.

Nearly breathless with struggling to contain his laughter and his growing excitement, Vin followed Ezra up the stairs, careful not to make any noise that might be heard in the saloon below or the adjacent rooms. Not that anyone was likely even in their rooms yet. The number of people they'd heard passing in street, laughing and talking about the past few days in their covert dash for Ezra's room was ample proof of that.

Ezra swiftly unlocked the door, hesitating briefly as he pushed it open from the side. Vin recognized the maneuver, eyebrows rising slightly. It was something he'd done whenever he entered a room that might hold a hostile party; it was never a good idea in that situation to be so obviously open and outlined by the doorway, making a man an easy target.

"My own abode should be safe, but," Ezra shrugged, looking faintly apologetic, "I have found caution is rarely ever a wasted."

"Indeed." Vin nodded, once more understanding better than most others would, using what would have Ezra's own response as a way of signifying that. He still checked the abandoned wagon he'd assumed ownership of when he came to Four Corners, although not as often as he once had.

Ezra confidently entered the room, clearly knowing where things were in the dark. Vin stepped in behind, closing the door and locking it firmly. He didn't want to risk any interruptions. With any luck, he'd have until the sun rose.

The gambler lit the candle that sat on his bedside table, the flickering of the flame kept to a minimum by the glass globe that fit neatly around it. Vin was somewhat surprised that that he had opted for the candle and not one of the two oil lamps in the room. Ezra smirked, and winked at him. "Easier to reach later."

Vin laughed softly, his cheeks flushing with warmth. "Plannin' ahead?"

"When I have my wits about me, I usually do."

"Damn glad you got yer wits about you."

Ezra chuckled but said nothing. Vin placed his bottle of Scotch on the dresser. Ezra was already pouring the remainder of his into two glasses that had been sitting near the wash basin on the other, lower dresser. The gambler offered him one before sipping from the other.

The whole situation was oddly comfortable and relaxing. Odd, Vin thought, because this was the first time he'd ever really been in Ezra's room, and given the nature of how he wanted to spend the night some degree of nervous anticipation should have been there. Their time in the loft had definitely taken the edge off, but it had also served to whet Vin's appetite.

Ezra casually tossed his hat aside, managing to catch it on the corner of the mirror where it hung naturally. It was an action that bespoke of lots of practice, making Vin smile. "Show off."

Ezra arched an eyebrow. "Efficient."

Vin snickered. "Show off."

"An unthinking display of innate talent."

"Show off," Vin insisted, a grin spreading.

Ezra laughed, a delighted peal of amusement that made Vin glad he'd argued his point. "Show off." The gambler finally admitted, eyes dancing.

Not to be outdone, Vin tossed his own hat, neatly catching the other mirror post. Ezra just shook his head, eyes dancing. He just shook his head and wagged his finger at Vin, making the tracker laugh.

Ezra tipped back his glass, finishing the liquor in one long swallow before placing it back on the dresser. He shrugged out of his coat with a tantalizing grace that suddenly made Vin's mouth dry. He quickly downed the remainder of his drink, eager to have his hands free.

Ezra had started to undo his vest when Vin reached out to stop him. "Please…I want …I mean…Can I-"

Green eyes met blue. "You do mine, I do yours?"

"Yes."

Ezra tipped his head, once more giving Vin that warm, open smile. When Vin would have moved his hand to undo the remaining buttons, Ezra stopped him. The gambler bit his lower lip.

"You will stay the night, yes?"

Vin sucked in a breath, surprised and pleased to be asked. "Would love to."

"And tomorrow?"

Vin raised a hand to cup Ezra's face, thumb lightly caressing the soft skin. He deliberately kept his voice light, and yet managed to infuse a degree of caring and friendship into it. "You got some tough memories of the fifth of July?"

Ezra looked up at him coyly from under lowered lashes. "I have memories I would not object to supplanting and some I would not mind enhancing with time spent with you."

Vin nodded his understanding of that invitation. "Got me a few like that for nearly every day o' the year."

"Do you now?" Ezra turned his head to place a kiss in Vin's palm.

Vin shivered, skin tingling as he felt the briefest touch of Ezra's tongue. "Yeah."

"Then we must see to that." Ezra kissed his palm again. "Wouldn't do for us to suffer needlessly."

Vin nodded absentmindedly, distracted by the feel of Ezra's lips against his skin. He couldn't be sure exactly what the other man had meant. He knew what he thought the gambler was saying, but he didn't want to make the mistake of thinking one thing and finding out Ezra meant another.

Ezra moved closer, lips meeting Vin's once more. The tracker decided in less than a second to accept the clear invitation for the night, and tomorrow, arms wrapping around Ezra tightly, holding him close. He'd worry about the rest later. Right now he wanted to see Ezra again, naked as the way he was born. He wanted to feel that incredible skin against his and wrap himself in that inviting heat, to keep tasting that wonderful mouth. He could ask for greater clarification tomorrow…late tomorrow.

"I'm glad you're staying." Ezra said softly, when they broke apart to breathe, resting his forehead against Vin's, eyes hiding nothing. There was no denying the honesty in his simple statement and gestures, the clear welcome in his tone.

"Me too." Vin answered. "Me too."

Chris quietly sipped his coffee as he lounged in front of the saloon. He'd slept in this morning, but then so had most of the town. The banners and ribbons would be coming down today. Chris couldn't decide if he was sorry to see them go or not. It would be nice to have everything back to normal, but the festivities had been a refreshing change.

He sighed and slouched even further in his chair. The fireworks sure had been something. He couldn't be sure if the memories of other shows were simply pale due to the passage of time, or if last nights truly had been more impressive than the others he'd seen. Not that it mattered, he'd enjoy it either way. Chris idly wondered if there would be a show for next year, and if he and the others would be around for it. Course, if Ezra was gone, then there likely wouldn't be much money for a shindig.

Chris shook his head. When he'd signed on for thirty days he hadn't expected to survive that long much less find himself staying well past the original agreed tenure. Funny the turns his life kept taking.

The movement of the swinging door caused him to glance over. He frowned trying to remember if he'd ever willingly seen Ezra up so early, yet there the gambler stood dapper as usual in his favorite red jacket, brocade vest, white shirt and black pants. His boots looked newly polished and his hat must have been brushed recently. Green eyes seemed to glow, although his expression remained blandly neutral.

"Good Morning, Mr. Larabee."

"Morning, Ezra." Chris sipped his coffee. "You're up early."

"And you are up late." Ezra shrugged nonchalantly, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. "The events of the past few days have altered many of the usual schedules."

Chris pursed his lips, nodding slowly in agreement. He gave the gambler a sidelong glance. "You been sort of scarce lately."

Ezra arched an eyebrow. "Perhaps you simply overlooked me in the crush of humanity that has inundated our fair hamlet the past few days."

Chris snorted at Ezra's description, but didn't contradict it. The past three days there had been more than double the usual population. To Chris, more used to solitude and quiet, 'crush of humanity' was close to how he'd come to view the teaming masses of people. Still…even with all those people, or even ten times more, Chris was pretty sure he'd never lose the brightly dressed gambler. He said as much.

Ezra smirked, eyes narrowed slightly. "If I wanted to, Mr. Larabee, you would never be able to lay eyes on me…regardless of how many or how few people were present."

Chris' regarded the younger man silently for a moment. He really couldn't argue with the validity of what Ezra had said; he had lost sight of the gambler for the past few days. It shamed him to admit that for the first day, it hadn't even occurred to him the other man might be missing.

"So you were making yourself scarce then?"

Ezra gave him an enigmatic smile. "Maybe."

Chris hid a smile of his own behind his coffee cup. He should have expected that. "Was a nice show last night."

Ezra cocked his head slightly. "Yes, I have been given to understand it was quite an amazing display."

Catching the fact that Ezra didn't say he'd seen the show for himself, Chris pursed his lips. "Seems a shame for you to have missed it."

Ezra's lips curled in a fondly reminiscent smile, one that bespoke of things he would never willingly share with Chris Larabee. "I was otherwise engaged, so there is no shame to be had."

Chris couldn't help but wonder what the hell the gambler had been up to. There had been nothing going on in town other than the fireworks. Even the ladies of the evening had been to the display. No poker game to get wrapped up in. No mail had been delivered so it wasn't like Ezra had been busy reading or writing back to someone. Chris sighed and decided he wasn't in the mood to challenge Ezra, to ask questions that would never be answered.

He caught movement off to the left and looked over in time to see Vin saunter around the corner of the saloon and step up on to the porch. The tracker moved with his usual grace that made his movements seem languid regardless of how fast he actually moved. Chris thought his friend looked decidedly relaxed, looser limbed than normal. An easy smile on Vin's face made him look his age for a change. It didn't hurt that he actually appeared to be clean shaven this morning.

The tracker slid into the chair next to Chris. Vin tipped it back on two legs as he usually did. "Mornin', Chris…Ez."

Chris nodded his greeting as he usually did. Ezra raised two fingers to his hat brim. "Mr. Tanner."

Chris sipped his coffee again. "Thought you were going to join me and Mary for the fireworks?"

"Don't much care for crowds." Vin shrugged. The tracker's dislike for crowds was well known. Chris honestly hadn't expected the younger man to show up, not really. Observe from a distance, yes, sit amid so many strangers, no.

Vin gave Chris a sly look. "Sides, didn't really think you wanted me ta mess up yer time with Mrs. Travis."

Chris gave his friend a narrowed eyed look. Everyone knew he and the widow had something that might blossom into something more, but it was rare anyone was bold enough to comment on it directly. Vin met his gaze easily, guileless blue eyes staring back at him.

"Ya tryin' ta say you don't want ta spend time alone with her?" Vin smiled. "Iffen I had known ya were lookin' for an excuse ta not get all cozy, hell, I'd have swung by with Buck and JD. Could a made a right fine party o' it."

"Shaddup, Tanner." Chris' lips twitched, suppressing a smile.

Vin half smiled, and ducked his head, letting the matter drop. Chris was about to ask Vin what he thought of the fireworks when the younger man's gaze shifted. Blue eyes seemed to warm slightly as they met green.

"You eat yet, Ez?"

"I have not yet broken my fast." The gambler leaned casually against the porch pillar, reminding Chris of a lazy cat.

"You plannin' on doin' that anytime soon?"

Ezra smiled, a brief curl of the corner of his lips. "I might be."

Chris was oddly pleased to find he wasn't the only one the gambler didn't give a straight answer to. He couldn't quite shake the feeling there was more going on there than what was happening on the surface, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what. Not that it mattered much. So long as everyone managed to work well together when the need arose, the dark clad gunslinger had learned to ignore anything else.

"Would you consider joining me when I partake of what passes for a suitable repast here?"

Vin scratched his chin. "You jus' ask me if I wanted ta eat with you?"

Ezra huffed out a sigh. It was clearly more for show than anything else. "Yes."

Vin grinned, dropping his chair back on to all four feet and using that little bit of momentum to launch him easily to his feet. "You going now?" The question and tone both sounded something like an over eager child might say.

Chris hid his smile once more behind his cup of coffee. He was glad he wasn't the only one Vin felt compelled to tease. At least the tracker was more subtle about it than Buck ever was.

Rolling his eyes slightly at Vin's antics, Ezra nodded. "Come along then, Mr. Tanner." An odd smile flitted across the gambler's face, on that spoke of shared amusement and hinted at secrets. "I'm sure even at this ungodly hour you've managed to work up an appetite."

Vin's eyes sparkled with good humor and possibly something more. Chris couldn't be sure. The tracker's laconic 'yep' managed to imply he was decidedly pleased with himself, although Chris had no idea why he would.

Ezra stepped off the boardwalk, and waited for Vin to join him. He raised two fingers to the brim of his hat in his usual salute to Chris, and offered a cordial 'Mr. Larabee' by way of farewell. Vin just nodded to him, no words necessary between them.

Both younger men strolled toward the only restaurant in town. It wasn't the greatest place to eat, but breakfast was usually a safe bet. It was hard to mess up steak and eggs. Not that the cook there hadn't done so more than once, but breakfast there was still better than any other meal the cook had tried. If Inez would consent to making breakfast at the saloon, the peacekeepers would likely eat every meal there, but so far no one had managed to convince her it was a good idea to open early.

Chris noted absently that they were walking in step. There wasn't as much height difference between Vin and Ezra as there was between Ezra and Nathan, so it really wasn't surprising to see the two of them moving with an easy, natural coordination.

Chris watched as Vin bumped Ezra shoulder with his own. The move could have been accidental, but knowing Vin the way he did, Chris doubted it. The tracker, when in a playful mood, could be as prone to rough housing as Buck. The two of him reminded Chris of a couple of puppies when they got going.

Ezra bumped Vin back, with a bit more force than the tracker had used. Chris grinned. Ezra was always one to up the ante. He watched to see what Vin would do. Right on cue Vin moved to escalate his bump to a shove, one that Ezra neatly sidestepped with a quicksilver smile.

He said something to Vin that Chris couldn't hear. Whatever he said made Vin laugh. A real laugh, throw his head back, mouth open, belly laugh, that Chris had never thought to see or hear from the quiet Texan. His curiosity piqued wondering what the hell the gambler could have said to cause that most unusual reaction.

For a moment he was tempted to leave his spot and join them. To ask questions, demand answers, to integrate himself in their banter and play. But Chris Larabee, self-proclaimed 'bad elemet', didn't do things like that. Even knowing he'd be welcome he couldn't bring himself to act on that initial urge.

He sighed and settled more deeply into his chair, watching as Vin clapped Ezra on the shoulder and they resumed their trek toward the restaurant. He took a deep breath, letting the quiet of the town surround him, the knowledge that those he cared about were safe and sound seep into his soul. That was enough for Chris; it was enough for now.