Fic: Woolly Worms 1/1 Chris/Vin
Title: Woolly Worms. Author: Lopaka Tanu Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent Seven. Characters: Chris, Vin. Words: 3186 Prompt: Chris/Vin together, OW AU. Fandom: Magnificent Seven Pairing: Chris/Vin Rating: Adult Warnings: Language, Violence, Sexual Situations. Summary: Vin in linear. ______________________________________
Sun shown through the trees, a cool breeze rustled their leaves. Among the bird song, the still was broken by the occasional splitting of wood chunks. After a particularly violent shattering, the few birds scattered to the winds.
Setting the splitting maw with a single stroke, Vin left the handle sticking out to the side. He picked up the sledge in one gloved hand, wiping his forehead with the back of the other. Having been working since near the ass crack of dawn, there was quite a sizable amount of wood.
The hammer seemingly too heavy, he let it slide through his fingers until it hit the ground. He left it standing free. Judging by the placement of the sun, he figured it was time to take a break. It wouldn't hurt none if he sat down for a few minutes.
The stump he had been splitting the wood upon looked a good a place as any, so he spun and lowered himself down. His back protested the movement, so he slid a hand over the muscles. While he began to massage the pain out, he took the time to look around.
Already, the leaves were turning. In some cases, the tree was almost completely bare. It was far too early for it to mean anything good.
The silence was broken by the sound of something small hitting the ground.
Glancing over his shoulder, Vin found it to be the fruit of a persimmon tree. Shaking his head, he figured it was time to get back to work. The wood would not split itself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rounding the bend in the horse trail, it was obvious to Vin that no wagon used it regularly. As a matter of fact, he tugged on the reins to slow the mules. His mule team instantly responded, the pair he was borrowing from Chris tried living up to their names. Another jerk and they gave up the ghost.
Just in time, too.
A particularly large rock caused the wagon to shake violently as the wheel went over it. "Aw, hell." Vin eased the pace of the mule team as he leaned over to inspect the wheel. Luckily, there was no damage to the spokes.
Shaking his head, he drove the mule team onwards. The farm was in sight, and that was what mattered. As if they could see it, Chris' mules put on extra effort. His mules, trained as they were, matched them for sprint. Only his hold kept them from taking off.
Soon enough, he was pulling up in to the outer edge of the sheered field. The smell of freshly cut hay and grass stung at his nose. His eyes watering, Vin pulled his bandanna up over his nose. Too late, he sneezed all over the inside of the filthy cloth.
He was tensing up for another sneeze when he saw Chris. Despite the chill in the air, the man was only in his pants and boots. Riding that fancy, horse-drawn grass cutter, he looked quite the sight.
Of course, without a shirt on, he was gonna be eat up with chiggers and grass cuts.
The grass must have been thicker in the air than he thought because Vin was finding it hard to breathe.
Chris was slicked up with sweat, his muscles stretched taut as he guided the mare up the next row. The golden hair on his arms, chest, head, and stomach sparkled in the sunlight giving him a sorta glow.
Breath hoarse, Vin cleared his throat and forced his attention back to driving the mules. Now that they were back on the property, they had lost all interest in pulling the wagon. A quick lash of the reins had them jerking in their harnesses.
Standing to a crouch on the footboard, Vin guided the beasts towards the tiny leanto against the back of the cabin. He had to hit them three more times to get them up the hill. For some reason, they were in a mood to be ornery.
Eventually, he got the beasts up round back of the cabin. Figuring he was as close as he was gonna get, he called them to a halt and threw the brake. With a screech, the brake locked against the axal.
Twice more, the mules attempted to get the wagon to move, but all they did was succeed in sliding it an inch or two. Under the great weight with the brake thrown, the wagon wasn't goin anywhere.
When he was finally sure the wagon was going to stay put, grabbed the edge of the bench and jumped down. Tugging out the rag from his back pocket, Vin raised up his hat and scrubbed it over his forehead. He walked around to the back of his wagon.
The wood in back was piled high, which had to be unloaded before the board could be lowered so he could get at inside. It was a respectable load, would probably last a good two weeks. They would need at least ten more in addition to the four he had already brought.
Arm loaded down with wood, he carried it to the stack of wood already laid. He quickly set the first bunch cross ways to those underneath to tie them in. Chris had shown him how to do that.
Thinking of Chris did bad things to his chest. Back to breathing heavily, he had to pause to adjust the front of his pants. If he ignored it, things would eventually go away.
Arm empty, he wandered back to the wagon to get himself another load. This time, he took twice as much. The wagon needed to be emptied fast if he were to get back in time to get another load today. At the rate he was goin, he would be there another week.
It wasn't that he minded, in fact, he appreciated the good work. The company weren't bad either. He just couldn't be sure he was welcome all that much. Chris had a way about him that made it hard to know what he was thinking in regards to a person he liked.
If he didn't like you, that wasn't a problem. Chris wasn't one to tolerate someone he found left a bad taste in his mouth. It was the imposing from people who liked that he never said much about.
Well, he had no problem telling the others what he thought about them. There was that one time he up and told Josiah he thought it was time he was moving on back to town. But that had been special, cause Josiah was avoiding someone he should have been confronting.
Cowardice wasn't something Chris tolerated either.
Other times, like when Buck came over drunk smellin like one of those whores he sweet talked. It wasn't nothing wrong with it on occasion, but every night for a week and Chris would get this pinched look about him and he would stop speaking in sentences. That immediately told Vin he needed to get Buck to doing something else fast.
It was just, he didn't talk about his thoughts on the matter of Vin being around all the time. Having been there already a week helping the man prepare the place for winter, Vin wasn't sure what Chris thought. Another week of them living in the same close quarters and that might be it.
One of them might end up gettin shot.
Vin went back to the wagon for another arm load. Much to his surprise, the wagon was empty but for bark and kindling shards. Frowning, he looked back at the leanto. Sure enough, the wood was there, placed proper.
Shrugging, he climbed up on to his wagon. The mules were standing around, shaking the flies from their coats. He'd have to untack them soon to let them wander around. That meant he may not get a second run from them today.
So he would have to cut twice the wood, he'd leave it sit and make two or more trips. A little handkerchief would signify to any wouldbe wood poachers he was coming back for it. If they were any kinda decent folk, they would leave it be.
Unfortunately, the area boasted more than its fair share of criminals.
Sighing, he pulled the brake out. He steered the mules towards their holding pen. He would get them off one at a time and shove their ornery hides back in the paddock. If he let them rest the rest of the day and night, they would be up for making multiple runs the next day.
Thankfully, the paddock was only off to the side of the cabin, which meant he didn't have to see Chris again. He wasn't sure what it was, but something inside made his insides want to fall out his ass when the man had his shirt off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since it was a little past midday, Vin headed inside the cabin. Some of the tender he had brought in the day before was left, and there were a few coals in the bottom of the cook stove. Grabbing a handful of chips and dried grass, he tossed them in the stove.
Without him having to blow upon them, they caught the grass up quickly. Vin knew the smoke they gave off would quickly call in Chris. While the wood chips in the stove started up, he grabbed a pot he had washed the night before off the hook.
He set the pot on the counter before bending over and grabbing the handle on the cellar door. His back started to protest, but he ignored the pain as he jerked the door open. The stairs, thankfully, went down at a decline, that meant he didn't have to climb.
Along all the walls, jars of preserves, cans of food stuffs bought in town, and dried vegetables Chris had grown in his own garden filled every spot. Wandering over to the large cans, he picked up one of beans and a whole onion from the bin above it.
Food in hand, he crossed to the hanging twists of jerky. He pulled off a couple pieces, then carried them up the stairs back in to the kitchen. Setting his goods on the counter, he kicked the trap door shut. Chris talked of getting a rug for it, but so far nothing had come of it.
Opening the can was no mean feat, but he got the damned thing open. After emptying them in the pot, he sliced up the jerky and onion and tossed them in along too. Pouring in some of the water from the picture on the sink, he grabbed a wooden spoon.
Vin carried the entire mess over to the stove and plopped it down on top. He stirred up the pot, making sure to get it all together. Satisfied with that, he grabbed a log from the box next to the stove, then threw it in the open door. The wood chips quickly caught it up. He put on two more slats before closing up the stove.
While the mixture set the boil up, he grabbed a box off the shelf. No more than a pinch of the salt inside went in to the bean paste, else it wouldn't be edible. To be safe, he didn't add even half a pinch. Chris could put what he liked on later.
That done, he wandered over to the sink. The water had looked awful good earlier. Putting the plug in the sink, he filled the metal basin with water from the hand pump. Thankfully, it was well kept and only took a few cranks before the basin was full.
Vin checked about him before tugging his bandanna off. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he didn't find it. That done, he pulled the hem of his shirt out of his pants, quickly unbuttoning it. The shirt joined his bandanna on the counter.
Unbuttoning his union suit, he felt a chill run through him. There wasn't a breeze in the cabin, so it was strange. Still, he let it fall to his waist. Grabbing a rag off a nail above the sink, he picked up the soap cake from the window sill.
He dipped the rag in the cool water before rubbing the soap cake through it. It smelled awful, and tasted worse, but it would do the trick. Once the rag was lathered, he applied it gently to his skin.
Vin moaned twice, forcing the cold rag over his skin. It felt worse than it smelled and if it weren't for his own stink, he wouldn't even be doing this. So, he grit his teeth and quickly washed all over, even his face and hair. That done, he tossed the rag aside.
On the count of two, he dunked his face in to the wash basin. He came up sputtering and dripping. He quickly splashed the water over himself, catching every place he had smeared the soap. Satisfied he was clean, he dunked his face back in the water again.
When he pulled back the second time, Vin reached out, only to realize his mistake. He stared about himself in horror, but he had forgotten the towel.
Shivering, he tossed his hair out of his face. If there was no towel about, he would have to drip dry. Since it was colder outside than it was in, he couldn't go out in the sun. That left one option.
Tucking his hands under his arms, Vin wandered over to the cook stove. He stood next to it, sniffing the beans, shivering himself almost out of his clothes. Just when he started to feel like he might actually get dry again, the god damned door opened.
Only the thrice cursed beast would let those chilly winds in when he was near to freezing. Unfortunately, the beast had seen fit to toss him a half dressed Chris Larabee too. Teeth chattering, Vin forced himself to look back at the stove.
One look about the cabin and Chris' eyes landed upon Vin.
Vin didn't have to see him to know the man was staring at him. His skin was pulled taut from the cold. Pale as it was under his clothes, he must have looked quite the fright. Still, he couldn't help the shivering.
Chris finally closed the door. Continuing to stare at the other man, he sniffed the air. "Beans again?"
"Is best I can do." Vin was lucky to get that out through his chattering teeth. He wanted to explain he hadn't the time to be hunting with the wood cutting, but that took too much effort.
Nodding, Chris wandered further in to the room. He spotted the other man's shirt on the counter and smiled. "Looks like a good idea."
"No. No! Bad!" Vin tried running his hands up his arms, but his fingers seemed to have gone numb because the didn't want to work properly. Warm hands were suddenly upon him. He couldn't fight the moan that escaped him as their heat seeped through him.
Bringing Vin up flush against him, Chris slid his hands up and down Vin's body. "How'd you get so cold?"
"Gnnhh!" For some reason, Vin couldn't seem to form a single coherent thought. He sagged in Chris' arms, putting most of his weight on the other man. Much to his relief, Chris was more than willing to accept this. His eyes fluttering closed, he dropped his head back on Chris' shoulder.
Alarmed, Chris leaned over to press his lips against Vin's brow. When the other man moaned, it startled him so badly he nearly dropped him.
Color flushing his pale skin, Vin clenched his eyes closed. He hadn't meant to do it, the whole thing was a mistake. His body had been reactin to the heat, the offered comfort. Ashamed, Vin tried to stand free, but found himself held in an even tighter embrace.
His eyes shot open. Nervously licking his lips, he glanced over to Chris. Vin started to say something, but the other man shook his head. So he closed his mouth.
Breathing like he'd done run a mile, Chris straightened his back. Almost of their own will, his hands slid from Vin's sides to over his stomach and chest. One hand laid over the tightened flesh of his peck while the other kept moving south. The moment his fingers encounter Vin's belt, he lost the ability to breathe all together.
Similarly stunned, Vin clenched his eyes shut once more. Instead of finding himself disgusted, he wanted it. He wanted Chris' hands upon him and more. God help him, he wanted the man to continue.
As if he could hear Vin's thoughts, Chris took a shuddering breath, then pushed his fingers under the waist band of Vin's union suit. Vin surged up in his arms, pushing back against him the moment his fingers encountered the hardening flesh of his erection.
The moment Chris' fingers tightened around him, Vin cried out. "Puh...please." It was barely a whisper, but it seemed to echo on forever in his own ears.
Nodding, Chris turned his face in to Vin's hair. He pressed kisses against his ears, running his fingers up and down the shaft of Vin's erection. His thumb and forefinger curled the tip, twisting and rubbing in circles.
Face contorting, Vin grunted. His voice rose in pitch at Chris' fingers continued their assault. His knees alternated supporting him and weakening in the same beat. By the time he reached the edge, his voice was almost too high for him to hear.
Reaching up behind him, Vin's hand slid over the back of Chris' neck. With a violent cry, his back straightened and his hips thrust forward. What felt like his entire existence shot from the tip of his cock. His hoarse cries continued even as Chris continued to milk the last of his orgasm from him.
Vin could feel Chris rubbing against his lower back, his hips not quite able to align with his bottom. He felt too boneless to assist, but the strangled cry in his ear ended all that.
Chris' hoarse coughs blew across Vin's skin as he rubbed himself in to the other man's back. He pulled Vin up in his arms, preventing him from falling to the floor. Continuing to press kisses against Vin's ear and neck, Chris added to it low whispering.
While he couldn't make out the words, Vin didn't have to to know what they meant. He nodded. His body still unable to completely support itself, he was grateful for Chris' arms around him.
They stayed standing there, leaning against each other for warmth and comfort for several minutes.
When Vin finally had his mind about him once more, one thought was front and center. It was something that had been bothering him for a while. Now seemed as good as time as any to get it out in the open. "Does this mean you won't mind me stayin on another week?"
Snorting, Chris just shook his head, burying his nose in Vin's shoulder.