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anythingdrabbleTitle: Contentment
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Characters/Pairings: Vin, Chris
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Despite everything, Vin, and Chris too, find themselves oddly contented.
A fleck of crimson light caught Vin's attention, snapping his blue eyes back open and alert. "It'll be fine," Chris remarked, slicing off another piece of wood from the latest toy he was carving. The fire was warm to Vin's cold bones, the grass smooth and a far more comfortable bed than he'd had on many nights past. His mare's leg rifle was beside him, a silent but strong presence of security and reassurance. Their horses grazed quite contentedly behind him.
Vin glanced up over the hot flames at his lover, who had yet to settle in beside him. He knew Chris would be up for a while, but he'd insisted on him sleeping. They'd left the others back in town while coming out to finally settle, once and for all, the history that had constantly nipped at Vin's heels. He couldn't sleep! Yet his eyes were heavy, and he felt oddly warm and secure. He had argued with Chris about coming, but of course, the bull-headed man hadn't listened. The others had only stayed out of fear of what might happen to their town in their absence, but even then, they'd made them promise to send telegraphs back at every new town. Vin knew all five of them would ride out after them in a heartbeat if they fell silent for too long.
He actually had a family, friends... Secure lodgings, even if underneath the stars and out on the prairie. He was cared for, loved even. He wasn't about to let anything from his past mess it up, and even the Judge was waiting to hear back from them. He'd not swing for Eli's murder after all. Chris had made damn certain of it, just as he'd make certain they stayed safe tonight.
"Shouldn't be sleepin'," Vin murmured, but they had travelled hard and long for the last few days.
"Shut up and go to sleep," Chris snapped, tossing a wood shard into the fire. He grinned wide as he witnessed his friend's eyes sliding shut. "Good night. We'll be safe, and we'll have your name cleared before the month is out."
Vin's eyes were sliding closed despite his determination. His muscles were sore. His back especially ached. But never before in his life had he felt so happy, so secure, so... loved. Chris' words circled around his tired mind, pushing away Eli's image, the image of his true killing snarling at Vin, and worst of all, the image of Vin's own self swinging from a short rope dangled from a tall tree. His words pushed away the voices of the past that haunted him every time he tried to sleep on the mesa, alone by a fire...
But he wasn't alone anymore. He'd never be alone again. He was safe, and loved. Despite everything, he was, surprisingly, rather content. Vin smiled and snuggled down onto his mat. "Goodnight," he murmured.
Chris smiled, satisfied, and cut another niche in the wood, certain Vin would like his gift.
The End
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Characters/Pairings: Vin, Chris
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Despite everything, Vin, and Chris too, find themselves oddly contented.
A fleck of crimson light caught Vin's attention, snapping his blue eyes back open and alert. "It'll be fine," Chris remarked, slicing off another piece of wood from the latest toy he was carving. The fire was warm to Vin's cold bones, the grass smooth and a far more comfortable bed than he'd had on many nights past. His mare's leg rifle was beside him, a silent but strong presence of security and reassurance. Their horses grazed quite contentedly behind him.
Vin glanced up over the hot flames at his lover, who had yet to settle in beside him. He knew Chris would be up for a while, but he'd insisted on him sleeping. They'd left the others back in town while coming out to finally settle, once and for all, the history that had constantly nipped at Vin's heels. He couldn't sleep! Yet his eyes were heavy, and he felt oddly warm and secure. He had argued with Chris about coming, but of course, the bull-headed man hadn't listened. The others had only stayed out of fear of what might happen to their town in their absence, but even then, they'd made them promise to send telegraphs back at every new town. Vin knew all five of them would ride out after them in a heartbeat if they fell silent for too long.
He actually had a family, friends... Secure lodgings, even if underneath the stars and out on the prairie. He was cared for, loved even. He wasn't about to let anything from his past mess it up, and even the Judge was waiting to hear back from them. He'd not swing for Eli's murder after all. Chris had made damn certain of it, just as he'd make certain they stayed safe tonight.
"Shouldn't be sleepin'," Vin murmured, but they had travelled hard and long for the last few days.
"Shut up and go to sleep," Chris snapped, tossing a wood shard into the fire. He grinned wide as he witnessed his friend's eyes sliding shut. "Good night. We'll be safe, and we'll have your name cleared before the month is out."
Vin's eyes were sliding closed despite his determination. His muscles were sore. His back especially ached. But never before in his life had he felt so happy, so secure, so... loved. Chris' words circled around his tired mind, pushing away Eli's image, the image of his true killing snarling at Vin, and worst of all, the image of Vin's own self swinging from a short rope dangled from a tall tree. His words pushed away the voices of the past that haunted him every time he tried to sleep on the mesa, alone by a fire...
But he wasn't alone anymore. He'd never be alone again. He was safe, and loved. Despite everything, he was, surprisingly, rather content. Vin smiled and snuggled down onto his mat. "Goodnight," he murmured.
Chris smiled, satisfied, and cut another niche in the wood, certain Vin would like his gift.
The End
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 01:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 12:26 am (UTC)BTW, do you happen to remember the horses' names???? I recall Peso (Vin), Beavis (Buck), Milagro (JD), and Chaucer (Ezra), but can NOT for the life of me remember Chris'! I also don't know if the other two horses ever actually received names, or not. :/
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 01:01 pm (UTC)