Pairing: Chris Larabee/Vin Tanner
Rating: PG
Warnings/spoilers: None

*****

"You know, Ezra, I don't think I'll ever get used to it," Buck said to the man sitting next to him.

Ezra glanced at him sideways, smiling and shaking his head. "I know what you mean, my friend, but you know it's best if you did, because they're going to last, I assure you."

Buck snorted. "Don't be silly, Ezra. They won't last. Chris will come to his senses soon, and then Vin will be history."

"You think so?"

No, Buck thought. "Yes, I think so," he said.

Ezra stayed silent for a moment, then he said, "I like Vin, you know."

"Not you too, Ezra. Say it ain't so," Buck said dramatically, then smiled at Ezra. "Yeah, well, I like him too. But Chris, he likes him too much, and that's the problem."

"You're in a very deep well of denial, aren't you, Buck?"

Buck looked at him questioningly. "Well of denial...?"

Ezra nodded. "Chris doesn't like Vin, he loves him."

Buck groaned. "No need to go sayin' it out loud like that, Ezra. It's painful enough as it is."

"I really don't see what the problem is, Buck. Sure, what the two of them are doing isn't something you and I would do-"

"Or Nathan, or JD, or Josiah, I hope," Buck interrupted. "Or God help us, we'd be surrounded by them."

Ezra grinned. "It sure does bother you, Buck, doesn't it?"

"Chris used to be such a man's man," Buck said absently, without answering Ezra's question.

"Well, he still is sort of, isn't he?" Ezra said, laughing quietly.

Buck laughed too. "Oh shut up, Ezra." He looked around the camp, not seeing much, but enough, in the near dark. He and Ezra seemed to be the only ones awake, though. He could hear snoring sounds from some of the others, and figured he and Ezra should be sleeping too. And Chris. He nudged Ezra. "He looks like he's sleeping, but I know he ain't," he whispered.

"I know, I've been watching him too. He'll be all right once Vin gets back," Ezra said.

"I bet he will," Buck muttered. "You know, Vin always takes first watch. Why's that?"

Ezra shrugged. "It's always just been like that."

"Well, one of these days maybe one of us should," Buck said.

"Sure, Buck. You wanna be the one to bring it up with Chris?"

"No, I thought you could do it," Buck said, smiling.

"You've known him longer. You're friends. He's less likely to kill you," Ezra said jokingly, but he knew there was some truth in his words. Not that Chris would kill him, but if anyone questioned anything that Vin did, there would be hell to pay.

As if reading Ezra's thoughts, Buck said, "No, God forbid any of us would say anything about Vin that Chris could consider negative. Vin is perfect," he finished, a touch of contempt in his voice.

"As far as Chris is concerned, Vin does seem to be walking perfection," Ezra said. "And truth be told, Vin doesn't mess up a lot, does he?" he added, wanting to defend Vin, who, no matter what he and Chris did together, was one of the best men he'd come across in his lifetime.

"I guess he don't," Buck said reluctantly, then, hearing a sound, looked to his right. "Go back to sleep, JD."

"Did we wake you up, JD?" Ezra asked.

"It's okay," JD said. "What are you boys talking about? Who's got next watch?" JD looked around, sleepy, but determined to know what was going on.

Ezra smiled. "One question at a time is just fine, you know. I have the next watch, and we're talking about Chris and Vin, if you absolutely want to know."

"Vin. The one to come along and ease Chris's pain," JD said, receiving looks from both Buck and Ezra. "What? He did, right? Right?" he said, wondering what he'd done wrong this time.

"And here we were thinking that Vin was the poet among us," Ezra said, laughing.

"And thinking that's enough," Buck added.

"Glad to see you have no problems with them, though," Ezra said.

"Why would I?" JD asked. "I think they're cute together..." he said in a dreamy tone.

Buck shook his head. "'Cute'. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard..."

"What?" JD said. "Why?"

"Oh, I don't know," Buck said. "Because they are both men, maybe? Two men together ain't 'cute'."

"Give him a break, Buck," Ezra said, smiling. "He's a young man in love. He doesn't quite see things the way you and I do."

"And how do you see things?" JD asked.

Ezra was about to answer when Vin came back to the camp. "It seems it's my turn to keep you safe for a while now, boys. See you later." He got up and walked towards Vin, nodded at him, then left the camp.

JD watched Ezra leave, then turned to Buck. "Buck, how *do* you see things?"

"Differently," Buck said, then lay down. "Now go back to sleep, or at least let me sleep."

"Fine," JD said. "If that's the way you-"

"It is," Buck said, cutting of any further conversation between them that night. But he didn't go to sleep. He lay watching Vin, saw how he took off his coat then lay down under the blanket beside Chris. Saw how Chris put his arm around him, then kissed his forehead, his nose, his lips. Buck closed his eyes, not wanting to see any more, but however much he disliked it, it still fascinated him. The next time he opened his eyes, Chris was tenderly caressing Vin's hair, holding him close. Buck sighed. Ezra was right, they would last. Some people just belonged together.

*****

End