Fic: The Right Path 6/?
Feb. 26th, 2008 03:35 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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mag7fansTitle: The Right Path - chapter six
Category: Delinquent AU (aka ATF Teen AU)
Characters: Vin, Ezra, Buck/Chris, JD
Rating: R
Warnings: Slash, mentions of child abuse, profanity
Summary: Sequel to "Delinquent", "Substitute Dreams", Uncomfortable Decisions with the Halloween side stories/prequels Halloween Tales part of the Delinquent Universe which is a spin off of Mog’s ATF universe. Vin and Ezra have more choices to make with the guidance of Chris and Buck; Chris and Buck also have some issues they need to deal with.
Previous chapter(s): Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Eli trailed at least two feet behind when Ezra and Vin walked to the end of the long drive to wait for the bus. They had not gone out of their way to include Eli Joe though Ezra had at least spoken to him while Vin had avoided Eli like the plague. Just a sideways look from Eli could send Vin into a rage and Ezra was trying his best to see that that didn’t happen. At the moment Eli didn’t seem to be in an antagonistic mood so he was pretty sure there was no danger of anything serious happening.
“It’s a long ride to school, but it isn’t too bad. Some people sleep on the way there, or write notes, finish homework and things like that.” It was Vin and not Eli that looked Ezra’s way when he spoke after they’d reached the end of the drive. “I don’t have practice after school today so we’ll be riding the bus home tonight, too, but that will be the only day this week that’s going to happen. There’s practice on Wednesday, Thursday we have appointments and Friday is the game. Vin’s been going to practice with me and he stays for the games – practice is optional if you’d rather ride the bus back tomorrow, but you’ll have to stay for the game because Chris and Buck both try to go to those. Thursday you’ll probably be riding the bus home, as well.”
The only reply from Eli was a grunt of acknowledgment. Ezra hadn’t really expected anything more eloquent. They piled on the bus when it arrived and Ezra and Vin took their usual seats while Eli chose a seat as far away from them as possible.
Several stops later had JD getting on the bus, his eyes eventually settling on Eli Joe. “They didn’t!” JD was gasping as he unexpectedly shoved into their seat,. The bus seats were actually able to hold all three of them though it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as only two people to a seat. With the way JD was leaned toward them, taking up more of the seat since he was sitting sideways, Ezra had to wedge himself against Vin to have any breathing room.
Vin’s face was mournful as he shook his head.
“Eli Joe? Of all the kids they could have gotten? Eli Joe?” JD bounced on the seat causing Ezra to pull farther away from him.
“I know! It was going so good and then this.” It seemed that Vin was able to ignore the fact that Ezra was practically sitting in his lap because JD was taking up more than half of the seat now. “He’s such a jerk. I hope he leaves soon.”
After they insulted Eli Joe for several minutes JD relaxed back into the seat and Ezra was able to settle more comfortably into the limited space he was given. “I realize that Eli has a tendency to bully others and in particular he’s been rather cruel in regards to you guys, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for you to work out your differences. No, I’m serious. If you look past the – ”
“No way,” JD interrupted. “There is no changing him.”
“I’m sure that isn’t true. If given the opportunity and the right amount of incentive anyone can change – we can see this as a chance to get to know Eli and maybe correct some of the past wrongs.” It was clear that JD didn’t believe a word of what Ezra was saying and though Vin looked skeptical he was at least listening.
At school things were winding down and they were finishing up with the final tests of the year. Vin was doing some extra credit in order to help his final grades and Ezra was doing the extra credit just to keep busy. They were setting up their schedules for the following year and Ezra was looking forward to high school and a more difficult curriculum. With the improvements that Vin had made over a relatively short period of time, his teachers had recommended that he take some classes during the summer in order to do some catch-up work to possibly get him into some higher-level classes for high school. Ezra had drilled his teachers for similar information – online classes, college-level classes, anything he could get his hands on.
“I handed in my final paper for English today,” Ezra said, just to have something on say on the long bus ride home.
Vin was pressed against the window again, but this time JD was in the seat behind them so that they had a little more space. “I thought that wasn’t due until tomorrow.”
“It’s not, but I turned it in today. Two more tests tomorrow and then we’re done with tests for the year. I guess we’re just going to watch movies and have parties the last few days.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” JD commented from behind them. “Besides there’s that assembly on Friday with all the awards and everything and that will probably take up most of the morning. After that they said something about letting us do whatever until it’s over. They’ll have the grades and everything ready by then.”
“Thursday’s probably the day we’ll watch movies,” Vin agreed. “So the teachers can finish getting all the grades in and everything. That’s kind of boring.”
The last days were always the worst, when nothing was really accomplished and they were just sort of there to be contained for a few more days. “You could always look over those programs you’re going to be doing over the summer,” Ezra pointed out. “If you do well you can change your classes for next year.”
Vin shrugged and felt obligated to point out, “We still won’t be in the same classes.” He was still uncertain about getting into anything other than the most basic classes, but Chris and Ezra were thrilled. Keeping up with the class work had been difficult with all the help he had gotten and while he had admittedly not been trying very hard before, Vin still didn’t know how well he could really do.
“Well, you never know. We still have the required classes everyone has to take – physical education, health and the others I’m forgetting.” They ended up dropping the subject fairly quickly, both of them knowing that anything that wasn’t a required course was probably something they had no hope of being in together. “Eli didn’t say anything to me today. How about you?”
“No. Didn’t really see him today.” Vin didn’t see that as a problem, either. The less he had to see Eli Joe the better he would feel. Unfortunately there was no way to avoid him at home, at least not entirely.
At his stop JD wished them, but especially Vin, “Good luck,” with Eli Joe. That had Vin feeling even worse about the situation and his only consolation was the fact that he didn’t have to share a room with Eli Joe. There had been more foster homes than Vin could count where there was at least a set of bunk beds in every room and some had two sets. Vin had gotten used to living in close quarters with people he didn’t know. He’d seen a lot of “brothers” and “sisters” come and go and had to get along with an assortment of people of varying ages and ethnicities. Still, he was pretty sure that the only exception in the entire world was Eli Joe and there was definitely no way he could ever get along with him. Not that he wasn’t going to do his best to avoid all contact with Eli Joe or start anything with him, but even with Ezra’s warning Vin wasn’t sure how long he could tolerate being picked on. With everything that Buck and Chris had seen already Vin thought that they might not want to get rid of him even if he did get into a fight with Eli.
Vin went running with Chris while Ezra opted not to go. It was a good escape for Vin to be able to get out even if it never seemed to last long enough.
After Vin and Chris left on their evening run it only took a moment or two for Ezra to get his books out at the kitchen table for his two final tests tomorrow. He wasn’t worried about either of them, but it was still a good idea to study. “Do you need help studying for any of your tests tomorrow?” Ezra had already gotten out Vin’s books as well as the rest of his extra credit projects and making some sort of offer to Eli was the least he could do. Besides that he needed something to do to pass the time.
“No.”
“Did you want to play a game or anything? Any sort of card games or there’s – ” The shove was only partially unexpected and the force with which Ezra was shoved was even more surprising. Buck couldn’t stop Ezra from hitting the counter, but he was able to stop his head from cracking against the cabinets.
“Elijah! Don’t you move,” Buck warned when it looked like Eli was going to storm off. “You all right, Ez?”
Ezra nodded as he straightened himself up. “Yeah.” The impact had startled him enough to make him forget what he had been about to say or why. He half listened as Eli was lectured about hitting, shoving or otherwise harming someone else that was followed by Eli’s rather insincere apology. After that Eli was sent to his room.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Buck asked as Ezra lowered himself into one of the kitchen chairs.
“Yeah. I just didn’t really expect that and I probably should have.” Buck told him that it wasn’t Ezra’s fault that that had happened and Ezra said he was very much aware of that. He had, however, been unaware of how volatile Eli really was. “Don’t tell Vin.”
Buck sat back, studying him carefully. “Why not?”
“I don’t want him to get upset and he already isn’t fond of Eli.”
“It’s your choice whether to tell Vin or not, but you know I’m going to let Chris know what happened.” That was fine with Ezra so they left it at that and Buck went to talk to Eli and let him know that because of his behavior he was going to be helping muck out stalls for a while. By the time Chris and Vin were back from their run Ezra had finished his final assignments and was staring absently at his Science book pretending to study. He wasn’t expecting a phone call from his mother even though it had seemed to be some time since she’d made the effort to contact him. Now that she had, in her own mind, straightened out the situation with Ezra getting out of foster care it was likely she assumed everything was okay. That or she was avoiding the situation entirely because it was easier to deal with that way.
The evening passed quickly and school the next day was impossibly long as they finished up final tests and rest of the time was spent in long drawn out discussions. Vin stayed after school at Ezra’s practice because there was no way he was riding the bus alone with Eli Joe. That and he did like to see Ezra playing baseball. Ezra had changed into normal clothing after practice was over and as they were walking over to Buck’s truck Vin noticed that part of Ezra’s shirt was tucked into his pants. “Hold up.” A quick move and he pulled his shirt up and out of his pants, which might have been the end of it had Vin not also taken the moment to look at Ezra’s back. “What the hell is that?”
“What?” Ezra was smoothing down his shirt and looked genuinely confused.
Vin reached for Ezra and the other boy easily avoided him. “That huge bruise on your back. How did you get that?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” It was an easy lie that Ezra had no problem telling. He was sure he could tell Vin something about shadows and that it was all Vin's imagination so long as he didn't have a closer look.
“Then why are you avoiding me?” he asked as he reached for Ezra again and was brushed aside.
“Maybe I don’t want you grabbing at me?”
Vin’s expression became serious very quickly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Is someone hurting you?”
“No,” Ezra hissed back as he readjusted his backpack on his shoulder.
“Is it Buck? Or… or Chris?” His eyes darted toward where Buck was waiting for them so he missed Ezra’s fist until it smacked him on the shoulder. Though the blow didn’t hurt it did what it was intended to and brought his attention back to Ezra.
“Of course not, don’t be stupid.” Since it was apparent that Vin wasn't likely to be convinced the bruise wasn't real Ezra decided to change tactics. “It was an accident.” That clearly was not a response Vin was capable of believing so Ezra fled to the relative safety of Buck’s company and the truck. What Ezra didn’t count on was the magnitude of Vin’s concern for his well being.
Vin caught Ezra’s elbow when they reached the truck. “Buck! There’s a huge bruise on Ezra’s back and he won’t tell me what happened.” Before Ezra could blink he was twisted around and Vin flipped up the back of Ezra’s shirt to show Buck.
As Ezra pulled out of Vin’s grasp Buck whistled low. “That’s one nasty bruise there. How did that happen?”
Of course Buck had said he wouldn’t tell Vin so Ezra stood facing down his very unhappy friend. “Fine! Eli shoved me into the counter yesterday, that’s what it’s from. It was just a small incident and you will not make a big deal out of this.”
“Ezra! That’s not just a small bruise.” He traced the bruise with his fingers until Ezra squealed and pushed him away. “I’m sorry. Does it still hurt?”
It didn’t hurt, at least not the feather-light way Vin was touching him with. The problem was that it felt a little too good. Ezra climbed into the truck, waiting for Vin to take the front seat, but instead he climbed into the back with him. “Just don’t touch it.”
“Why did he do it?”
Ezra shrugged. “I don’t know, but I assume he was upset about something and my attempting to talk to him stirred it up. It’s already been dealt with so there is no reason for you to be concerned.” He held his hand up before Vin could say anything, as he was clearly about to do. “That’s it. It’s over.”
Buck watched the boys in the rearview mirror every chance he got and had to stop himself from laughing at the way Ezra studiously ignored Vin’s blatant staring. Out of the blue Ezra turned toward Vin and began to lecture him about how he was able to take care of himself and any heroic or gallant things Vin might be thinking about were null and void. The whined, “But Ezra – ” was cut off shortly with a sharp, “I’m a big boy, Vin. I can take care of myself.”
“Hey now, boys. Ezra’s right, Vin. Don’t you try startin’ nothing with Eli, ya hear? He already apologized for what happened so there’s – ”
“He apologized?” Vin frowned as he glanced toward Ezra and then back at Buck. “I thought you didn’t know what happened?”
There was enough of a pause in Buck’s case for Ezra to come to the rescue with, “I asked Buck not to tell you because I knew you’d be upset and I didn’t want you to take that out on Eli. He’s going through a rough patch right now and we need to give him time to sort everything out.”
As soon as the truck crawled to a stop Vin was out of the truck and the door was slamming behind him. Ezra sighed and sank back into the seat. Buck let him sit for a while before he turned around. “Relationships are difficult things, Slick. If they are based on lies they aren’t going to last and it usually doesn’t have a very pretty ending, either.”
“Most things are based on lies, but you’re right that they don’t usually end well.” Ezra considered all of his mother’s relationships in that category, not being able to think of one that ended on a good note. There had been some that ended better than others, yes, but that didn’t mean a whole lot. His daddy, Jason Williamson, had been the only one that had been angry, but hadn’t yelled – he’d been upset and he wanted them to stay and barring that he had wanted Ezra to stay – and in the end they had left relatively quietly except for Ezra’s own temper tantrum at losing the only father he had ever known or still recognized as a father.
“I’m sure Vin will forgive you once he’s thought on it a while. Maybe next time you should think on how you’re going to handle a matter before you make any decisions.”
Ezra rolled his eyes upwards. “He would have been upset regardless of whatever choice I made because Eli is a sore subject for him. At least in this case he can be mad at me rather than Eli – he’s not going to hit me – so it all works out.”
-to be continued-
Category: Delinquent AU (aka ATF Teen AU)
Characters: Vin, Ezra, Buck/Chris, JD
Rating: R
Warnings: Slash, mentions of child abuse, profanity
Summary: Sequel to "Delinquent", "Substitute Dreams", Uncomfortable Decisions with the Halloween side stories/prequels Halloween Tales part of the Delinquent Universe which is a spin off of Mog’s ATF universe. Vin and Ezra have more choices to make with the guidance of Chris and Buck; Chris and Buck also have some issues they need to deal with.
Previous chapter(s): Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Eli trailed at least two feet behind when Ezra and Vin walked to the end of the long drive to wait for the bus. They had not gone out of their way to include Eli Joe though Ezra had at least spoken to him while Vin had avoided Eli like the plague. Just a sideways look from Eli could send Vin into a rage and Ezra was trying his best to see that that didn’t happen. At the moment Eli didn’t seem to be in an antagonistic mood so he was pretty sure there was no danger of anything serious happening.
“It’s a long ride to school, but it isn’t too bad. Some people sleep on the way there, or write notes, finish homework and things like that.” It was Vin and not Eli that looked Ezra’s way when he spoke after they’d reached the end of the drive. “I don’t have practice after school today so we’ll be riding the bus home tonight, too, but that will be the only day this week that’s going to happen. There’s practice on Wednesday, Thursday we have appointments and Friday is the game. Vin’s been going to practice with me and he stays for the games – practice is optional if you’d rather ride the bus back tomorrow, but you’ll have to stay for the game because Chris and Buck both try to go to those. Thursday you’ll probably be riding the bus home, as well.”
The only reply from Eli was a grunt of acknowledgment. Ezra hadn’t really expected anything more eloquent. They piled on the bus when it arrived and Ezra and Vin took their usual seats while Eli chose a seat as far away from them as possible.
Several stops later had JD getting on the bus, his eyes eventually settling on Eli Joe. “They didn’t!” JD was gasping as he unexpectedly shoved into their seat,. The bus seats were actually able to hold all three of them though it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as only two people to a seat. With the way JD was leaned toward them, taking up more of the seat since he was sitting sideways, Ezra had to wedge himself against Vin to have any breathing room.
Vin’s face was mournful as he shook his head.
“Eli Joe? Of all the kids they could have gotten? Eli Joe?” JD bounced on the seat causing Ezra to pull farther away from him.
“I know! It was going so good and then this.” It seemed that Vin was able to ignore the fact that Ezra was practically sitting in his lap because JD was taking up more than half of the seat now. “He’s such a jerk. I hope he leaves soon.”
After they insulted Eli Joe for several minutes JD relaxed back into the seat and Ezra was able to settle more comfortably into the limited space he was given. “I realize that Eli has a tendency to bully others and in particular he’s been rather cruel in regards to you guys, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for you to work out your differences. No, I’m serious. If you look past the – ”
“No way,” JD interrupted. “There is no changing him.”
“I’m sure that isn’t true. If given the opportunity and the right amount of incentive anyone can change – we can see this as a chance to get to know Eli and maybe correct some of the past wrongs.” It was clear that JD didn’t believe a word of what Ezra was saying and though Vin looked skeptical he was at least listening.
At school things were winding down and they were finishing up with the final tests of the year. Vin was doing some extra credit in order to help his final grades and Ezra was doing the extra credit just to keep busy. They were setting up their schedules for the following year and Ezra was looking forward to high school and a more difficult curriculum. With the improvements that Vin had made over a relatively short period of time, his teachers had recommended that he take some classes during the summer in order to do some catch-up work to possibly get him into some higher-level classes for high school. Ezra had drilled his teachers for similar information – online classes, college-level classes, anything he could get his hands on.
“I handed in my final paper for English today,” Ezra said, just to have something on say on the long bus ride home.
Vin was pressed against the window again, but this time JD was in the seat behind them so that they had a little more space. “I thought that wasn’t due until tomorrow.”
“It’s not, but I turned it in today. Two more tests tomorrow and then we’re done with tests for the year. I guess we’re just going to watch movies and have parties the last few days.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” JD commented from behind them. “Besides there’s that assembly on Friday with all the awards and everything and that will probably take up most of the morning. After that they said something about letting us do whatever until it’s over. They’ll have the grades and everything ready by then.”
“Thursday’s probably the day we’ll watch movies,” Vin agreed. “So the teachers can finish getting all the grades in and everything. That’s kind of boring.”
The last days were always the worst, when nothing was really accomplished and they were just sort of there to be contained for a few more days. “You could always look over those programs you’re going to be doing over the summer,” Ezra pointed out. “If you do well you can change your classes for next year.”
Vin shrugged and felt obligated to point out, “We still won’t be in the same classes.” He was still uncertain about getting into anything other than the most basic classes, but Chris and Ezra were thrilled. Keeping up with the class work had been difficult with all the help he had gotten and while he had admittedly not been trying very hard before, Vin still didn’t know how well he could really do.
“Well, you never know. We still have the required classes everyone has to take – physical education, health and the others I’m forgetting.” They ended up dropping the subject fairly quickly, both of them knowing that anything that wasn’t a required course was probably something they had no hope of being in together. “Eli didn’t say anything to me today. How about you?”
“No. Didn’t really see him today.” Vin didn’t see that as a problem, either. The less he had to see Eli Joe the better he would feel. Unfortunately there was no way to avoid him at home, at least not entirely.
At his stop JD wished them, but especially Vin, “Good luck,” with Eli Joe. That had Vin feeling even worse about the situation and his only consolation was the fact that he didn’t have to share a room with Eli Joe. There had been more foster homes than Vin could count where there was at least a set of bunk beds in every room and some had two sets. Vin had gotten used to living in close quarters with people he didn’t know. He’d seen a lot of “brothers” and “sisters” come and go and had to get along with an assortment of people of varying ages and ethnicities. Still, he was pretty sure that the only exception in the entire world was Eli Joe and there was definitely no way he could ever get along with him. Not that he wasn’t going to do his best to avoid all contact with Eli Joe or start anything with him, but even with Ezra’s warning Vin wasn’t sure how long he could tolerate being picked on. With everything that Buck and Chris had seen already Vin thought that they might not want to get rid of him even if he did get into a fight with Eli.
Vin went running with Chris while Ezra opted not to go. It was a good escape for Vin to be able to get out even if it never seemed to last long enough.
After Vin and Chris left on their evening run it only took a moment or two for Ezra to get his books out at the kitchen table for his two final tests tomorrow. He wasn’t worried about either of them, but it was still a good idea to study. “Do you need help studying for any of your tests tomorrow?” Ezra had already gotten out Vin’s books as well as the rest of his extra credit projects and making some sort of offer to Eli was the least he could do. Besides that he needed something to do to pass the time.
“No.”
“Did you want to play a game or anything? Any sort of card games or there’s – ” The shove was only partially unexpected and the force with which Ezra was shoved was even more surprising. Buck couldn’t stop Ezra from hitting the counter, but he was able to stop his head from cracking against the cabinets.
“Elijah! Don’t you move,” Buck warned when it looked like Eli was going to storm off. “You all right, Ez?”
Ezra nodded as he straightened himself up. “Yeah.” The impact had startled him enough to make him forget what he had been about to say or why. He half listened as Eli was lectured about hitting, shoving or otherwise harming someone else that was followed by Eli’s rather insincere apology. After that Eli was sent to his room.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Buck asked as Ezra lowered himself into one of the kitchen chairs.
“Yeah. I just didn’t really expect that and I probably should have.” Buck told him that it wasn’t Ezra’s fault that that had happened and Ezra said he was very much aware of that. He had, however, been unaware of how volatile Eli really was. “Don’t tell Vin.”
Buck sat back, studying him carefully. “Why not?”
“I don’t want him to get upset and he already isn’t fond of Eli.”
“It’s your choice whether to tell Vin or not, but you know I’m going to let Chris know what happened.” That was fine with Ezra so they left it at that and Buck went to talk to Eli and let him know that because of his behavior he was going to be helping muck out stalls for a while. By the time Chris and Vin were back from their run Ezra had finished his final assignments and was staring absently at his Science book pretending to study. He wasn’t expecting a phone call from his mother even though it had seemed to be some time since she’d made the effort to contact him. Now that she had, in her own mind, straightened out the situation with Ezra getting out of foster care it was likely she assumed everything was okay. That or she was avoiding the situation entirely because it was easier to deal with that way.
The evening passed quickly and school the next day was impossibly long as they finished up final tests and rest of the time was spent in long drawn out discussions. Vin stayed after school at Ezra’s practice because there was no way he was riding the bus alone with Eli Joe. That and he did like to see Ezra playing baseball. Ezra had changed into normal clothing after practice was over and as they were walking over to Buck’s truck Vin noticed that part of Ezra’s shirt was tucked into his pants. “Hold up.” A quick move and he pulled his shirt up and out of his pants, which might have been the end of it had Vin not also taken the moment to look at Ezra’s back. “What the hell is that?”
“What?” Ezra was smoothing down his shirt and looked genuinely confused.
Vin reached for Ezra and the other boy easily avoided him. “That huge bruise on your back. How did you get that?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” It was an easy lie that Ezra had no problem telling. He was sure he could tell Vin something about shadows and that it was all Vin's imagination so long as he didn't have a closer look.
“Then why are you avoiding me?” he asked as he reached for Ezra again and was brushed aside.
“Maybe I don’t want you grabbing at me?”
Vin’s expression became serious very quickly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Is someone hurting you?”
“No,” Ezra hissed back as he readjusted his backpack on his shoulder.
“Is it Buck? Or… or Chris?” His eyes darted toward where Buck was waiting for them so he missed Ezra’s fist until it smacked him on the shoulder. Though the blow didn’t hurt it did what it was intended to and brought his attention back to Ezra.
“Of course not, don’t be stupid.” Since it was apparent that Vin wasn't likely to be convinced the bruise wasn't real Ezra decided to change tactics. “It was an accident.” That clearly was not a response Vin was capable of believing so Ezra fled to the relative safety of Buck’s company and the truck. What Ezra didn’t count on was the magnitude of Vin’s concern for his well being.
Vin caught Ezra’s elbow when they reached the truck. “Buck! There’s a huge bruise on Ezra’s back and he won’t tell me what happened.” Before Ezra could blink he was twisted around and Vin flipped up the back of Ezra’s shirt to show Buck.
As Ezra pulled out of Vin’s grasp Buck whistled low. “That’s one nasty bruise there. How did that happen?”
Of course Buck had said he wouldn’t tell Vin so Ezra stood facing down his very unhappy friend. “Fine! Eli shoved me into the counter yesterday, that’s what it’s from. It was just a small incident and you will not make a big deal out of this.”
“Ezra! That’s not just a small bruise.” He traced the bruise with his fingers until Ezra squealed and pushed him away. “I’m sorry. Does it still hurt?”
It didn’t hurt, at least not the feather-light way Vin was touching him with. The problem was that it felt a little too good. Ezra climbed into the truck, waiting for Vin to take the front seat, but instead he climbed into the back with him. “Just don’t touch it.”
“Why did he do it?”
Ezra shrugged. “I don’t know, but I assume he was upset about something and my attempting to talk to him stirred it up. It’s already been dealt with so there is no reason for you to be concerned.” He held his hand up before Vin could say anything, as he was clearly about to do. “That’s it. It’s over.”
Buck watched the boys in the rearview mirror every chance he got and had to stop himself from laughing at the way Ezra studiously ignored Vin’s blatant staring. Out of the blue Ezra turned toward Vin and began to lecture him about how he was able to take care of himself and any heroic or gallant things Vin might be thinking about were null and void. The whined, “But Ezra – ” was cut off shortly with a sharp, “I’m a big boy, Vin. I can take care of myself.”
“Hey now, boys. Ezra’s right, Vin. Don’t you try startin’ nothing with Eli, ya hear? He already apologized for what happened so there’s – ”
“He apologized?” Vin frowned as he glanced toward Ezra and then back at Buck. “I thought you didn’t know what happened?”
There was enough of a pause in Buck’s case for Ezra to come to the rescue with, “I asked Buck not to tell you because I knew you’d be upset and I didn’t want you to take that out on Eli. He’s going through a rough patch right now and we need to give him time to sort everything out.”
As soon as the truck crawled to a stop Vin was out of the truck and the door was slamming behind him. Ezra sighed and sank back into the seat. Buck let him sit for a while before he turned around. “Relationships are difficult things, Slick. If they are based on lies they aren’t going to last and it usually doesn’t have a very pretty ending, either.”
“Most things are based on lies, but you’re right that they don’t usually end well.” Ezra considered all of his mother’s relationships in that category, not being able to think of one that ended on a good note. There had been some that ended better than others, yes, but that didn’t mean a whole lot. His daddy, Jason Williamson, had been the only one that had been angry, but hadn’t yelled – he’d been upset and he wanted them to stay and barring that he had wanted Ezra to stay – and in the end they had left relatively quietly except for Ezra’s own temper tantrum at losing the only father he had ever known or still recognized as a father.
“I’m sure Vin will forgive you once he’s thought on it a while. Maybe next time you should think on how you’re going to handle a matter before you make any decisions.”
Ezra rolled his eyes upwards. “He would have been upset regardless of whatever choice I made because Eli is a sore subject for him. At least in this case he can be mad at me rather than Eli – he’s not going to hit me – so it all works out.”
-to be continued-
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-26 10:33 pm (UTC)And JD either - nice touch with that. Looking forward to seeing how this goes!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-27 08:22 pm (UTC)And Buck keeping his word and not telling Vin, nice touch.
Can't wait to read more!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-06 12:34 pm (UTC)JD is definitely stubborn and once his mind is set, watch out!
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Date: 2008-03-06 12:36 pm (UTC)Buck is true to his word, loyal Buck. Let's call him Saint Buck. Okay, no, that's way too extreme... but he does try to keep his word when he gives it, if at all possible.
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Date: 2008-03-08 10:54 am (UTC)*is off to read chapter seven*