
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/849253.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      The_Magnificent_Seven_(TV)
  Relationship:
      Ezra_Standish/Vin_Tanner
  Additional Tags:
      Magnificent_Seven_AU:_ATF, Mention_of_OC_rape_and_torture
  Series:
      Part 5 of Different_Perceptions
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-06-19 Words: 2983
****** In Plain Sight ******
by Wyndewalker
Summary
     Ezra loses it at a bust, will the guys understand when they find out
     why?
Notes
     aka The explanation for the lube under the couch in Hello Stud Puppy.
     This was originally supposed to be funny but ended up being rather
     angsty.
"Where the hell is Ezra?" Chris demanded, storming into the main office of Team
7. Five heads appeared above their computer monitors. Four looked from their
irate leader to Nathan, the medic of their group.
"Hey! It was Vin's idea," Nathan said when he realized he was the new focus of
attention.
"Someone better tell me something right this second or Ezra won't be the only
one to get his ass kicked tonight. Well?"
"We sent him home, Chris," Vin drawled, ignoring the glare that was now focused
on him.
"Oh we did, did we? And who said you could make that decision?"
"I did. He was practically dead on his feet and you saw the way he was at the
bust today. That ain't Ezra. We all know that. Something's wrong and the last
thing he needed was you layin' inta him. Nate looked him over and agreed he
needed rest. So I sent him home. He said he'll have his report in first thing
tomorrow." Vin glared right back at Chris. He knew what Ezra did at the bust
was wrong, they all did, but he'd seen the haunted look in his beloved's eyes
when it was all over. There was more to this than Ezra was telling them. He
knew Ezra would eventually explain his actions, he wouldn't have a choice, but
for now Vin wanted to shield him at least a little while.
"That's just fine. As of this moment, per the Judge's orders, Ezra is suspended
without pay until further notice." Chris ignored the others' looks of shock as
he stepped up toe to toe with Vin. "If you ever pull another stunt like that,
*cowboy*, you'll be suspended right alongside Ezra. Understand?"
Vin nodded.
"Good. Now I suggest you get back to writing your report. That goes for all of
you. Anyone needs to reach me call my cell phone." Chris stalked out the door
without another word. They stared after him for a moment.
"Think he's headed to Ezra's?" JD asked finally.
"Without a doubt, kid," Buck said with a shake of his head. "Still can't
believe Ezra did that. I mean, sure there's been a few of these bastards I
wanted to beat the crap outta over the years, but hell, I think Ezra was trying
ta kill him with his bare hands. Any ideas what set him off?"
"What? Why?"
Everyone turned to look at Vin who was staring at his computer screen.
"Something wrong, Brother?"
Vin looked up to see every looking at him. "Sorry, didn't meant ta blurt that
out. I was just IM'ing Ez ta let him know that Chris was on his way and ta let
him know he was suspended. He said he already e-mailed the Judge requesting a
temporary leave of absence."
"Why?" Nathan asked.
"Said he needs some personal time after this case and his report explains why."
"Well, that's real helpful. We don't have a copy of his report yet." Buck
slumped back into his chair.
"Why was Ezra so mad at that guy anyway?" JD asked.
"If we had his report we'd know that."
"There's not much use in speculating on this, Brothers, since we don't have all
the facts. Now rather than further incur the wrath of our leader might I
suggest we get back to our own reports."
Twenty minutes later Chris was pounding on the door of Ezra's condo. He was a
little surprised when Ezra answered right away. He didn't wait for an
invitation, instead striding right in.
"Please, do come in, Mr. Larabee," the Southerner said sarcastically as he
closed the door. "Would you care for something to drink? I'm currently enjoying
a nice bottle of brandy."
"You're not supposed to be drinking on duty, Ezra."
"On duty? Please," Ezra snorted as he walked passed him into the living room.
"I've already asked the Judge for a leave of absence, although it appears I was
suspended before the Judge got my request."
"Vin," Chris stated more than asked.
"Yes," Ezra answered anyway, picking up his glass from the coffee table next to
his laptop. "So, what can I do for you, Mr. Larabee? Or should I just be quiet
while you yell at me for yet another of my stupid stunts?"
"Dammit, Ezra! What the hell were you thinking?" Chris followed him into the
living room, stopping on the other side of the coffee table. "I know Sorenson
was a scumbag but you beat the shit out of him. Broke the man's nose, cracked
three ribs, and he'll be singing soprano for a week. His lawyer's already
screaming police brutality. The Judge is having a fit. You'd better have a damn
good explanation for this or you may find yourself out of a job and there'll be
nothing I can do to stop it."
"What would you like me to say, Mr. Larabee?" Ezra asked with a shrug, turning
away from him. "Perhaps I was having a bad day? Or maybe temporary insanity? Or
I just didn't like him? Feel free to take your pick."
He was jerked around and forced to face him as Larabee stepped around the
table. "That isn't good enough, Ezra. I'm tired of your Goddamn games. If you
don't talk to me how the hell am I supposed to help you? Hell, if I didn't know
better I'd think you were trying to get yourself kicked off the team."
Ezra bowed his head, considering giving in and telling his leader, his friend,
why he'd wanted so badly to kill that man that afternoon. Before he could come
to a decision his gaze fell upon an object at Chris' feet. Less than an inch
away from the tip of Chris' left black boot was a tube of lube. Not just any
lube but strawberry flavored and guaranteed to double your pleasure, or so the
slogan proclaimed. Vin had brought it with him two nights ago and they'd
proceeded to test the claim here in the living room by the fireplace. If Chris
saw it he would undoubtedly have to admit he was bisexual, possibly even admit
to his relationship with Vin. He wasn't ready to do that. Not yet.
"Well, I'm waiting, Ezra."
Ezra looked back up at Chris, dragging his thoughts back to the reason for this
'visit'. "I can't, Chris," he finally managed and it was true in some small
way. He was afraid if he spoke out loud his reason for wanting to kill that
bastard with his bare hands, the reason for why that scum was most deserving of
a slow painful death, he wouldn't be able to keep control of his emotions. He
wouldn't allow himself to appear weak before this man. He couldn't.
"Why not, Ezra? You can't shut me out forever. Just tell me why, even if it's
just because you thought he looked funny. Just give me a goddamned reason! Talk
to me." Chris had turned to pace a few steps and Ezra quickly followed,
furtively kicking the tube under the couch. He stopped when Chris turned back
around.
"I can't, Chris, not right now." Ezra picked up the printout of his report from
his small printer. "My report details my reasons why what occurred happened.
Please don't ask me to talk about it right now, Chris."
Chris stopped and really took a look at Ezra. For the first time he saw the
dark circles under his eyes, the light tremors that shook his body, and the
haunted look in his eyes. He started to take a step towards the Southerner but
stopped when he saw him flinch. "What happened, Ezra? Why can't you tell me?"
"Please, Chris," he asked, silently begging him not to keep pushing.
"All right, Ezra," Chris sighed, rubbing his forehead as he felt a headache
begin to form. "I'll leave it for now but you're gonna have to talk about it.
Judge wants you in his office first thing Monday morning for a preliminary
meeting."
"I'll be there and thank you, Chris."
"Yeah, yeah," Chris shrugged it off as he headed to the door, report clutched
in his hand. He paused in the door to look back at the Southerner standing with
his arms wrapped around himself, looking frighteningly like a fragile young
boy. "Remember, Ezra, we're your family now. We'll stand by ya no matter what."
Ezra nodded then waited until the door was closed firmly behind the black-clad
man before sinking to the couch desperately trying to forget the horrifying
images, to shut out the sound of those terrified and pain filled screams. Even
if he thought he'd be able to sleep he knew the nightmares would prevent it
from being restful.
The ding of the elevator had five heads appearing above their monitors once
again. The five men watched their leader walk past, a scowl on his face as he
read from a file in his hands. They could only assume it was Ezra's report. No
sooner had the door been kicked shut behind the blonde man than a shouted curse
rang out into the office; "Fucking sonofabitch!"
The door was yanked open to the frame their leader and for once they weren't
sure how to react to the look on his face. There was anger there to be sure,
but also sadness, shock, dismay, and horror. Something was definitely wrong and
without a doubt Ezra was smack dab in the middle of it.
"Tanner, did you know...did he tell you...about...about..this?" The feeling of
dread grew exponentially as they listened to Chris struggle to find the words
to ask such a simple question. "Did any of you know about...this?"
Buck was the first to speak; "Uh, Chris, pard, ain't a one of us knows what
you're talking about."
Chris dropped the open file folder on the closest desk. Vin's. They watched as
the sharpshooter paled, reached out a hand to touch the paper before him but
snatched it back as if he would be burned. He turned pleading eyes on the man
beside him, asking that what he was seeing wasn't, couldn't be real.
With a shake of his head Chris was forced to dash that hope. "There was nothing
he could do to stop it without breaking his cover. He stayed long enough to see
Sorenson involved then went outside until it was over. There was nothing he
could do and no way of contacting us since he wasn't wired."
"Oh God, Chris," Vin's voice was a soft whisper, his heart breaking at the
thought of what Ezra had been forced to witness. In a sudden movement he pushed
back from his desk and practically leapt from his chair. Trying to put as much
distance between himself and the horrifying image, he strode across the room to
the break room door but didn't leave. He just stood there, his arms wrapped
around himself trying to control the fine tremors that gripped him.
Curious and a little frightened to know what had agitated both Chris and Vin
the other four crowded around the desk to see. JD took one look at the crime
scene photo and dashed for the door, one hand clamped firmly over his mouth.
Buck took a quick look then hastened after the kid looking a little green
himself. Nathan and Josiah looked at the photo with almost clinical detachment.
Nathan's hand trembled a little as he picked up the accompanying coroner's
report.
"The boy sustained multiple contusions, three cracked ribs, several burns that
appear to have been made by a cigarette, his right arm was broken in three
places, he was...he was raped and then sodomized before they killed him with a
bullet in the head. The body was found at approximately 3am this morning after
police received an anonymous tip. The poor kid was in the wrong place at the
wrong time. Probably just looking for a place to sleep."
"What are you going to do, Brother?" Josiah asked quietly, he'd noticed the way
Chris flinched slightly as Nathan listed each wound as if he were somehow
responsible.
"First I'm going to talk to the Judge, see if he's read Ezra's report yet and
make sure he's taken off suspension and granted his request for a leave of
absence."
"I'd suggest getting him to see the Agency psychologist. Something like this,
even if he did not witness all of it, is not easily shrugged off."
"I'll do what I can, Josiah, but this is Ezra. Even if the Judge orders him to
see the psychologist he can't order him to talk."
"Where's Vin going?" Buck asked as he and a still shaky JD came back into the
office.
"What?" Chris looked around and noticed that Vin was gone, along with his
jacket.
"Ezra's," Josiah spoke aloud the thought the four older men had.
"Maybe he'll be able to get him to talk. They seem to be getting along real
good since Ezra started helping Vin with his dyslexia," Nathan put in, closing
the file.
"You knew about that? Vin's dyslexia, I mean," Chris asked, slanting a glance
at the dark man.
"We all know, pard," Buck said with a shrug. "We all know how prickly Junior is
about it too so we've never let on that we knew."
"Thanks, guys. I just hope Vin can get him to talk."
 
Vin quietly opened the door to Ezra's condo using his spare key. Moving through
the small apartment, he almost didn't see Ezra sitting on the couch. The
smaller man was huddled in a corner of the leather couch, his knees drawn up
under his chin. His gut clenched at the vacant look in his beloved's eyes. He
knelt next to him, moving slowly so as not to startle him. "Ezra? C'mon, babe,
talk to me."
There was no response. Afraid that he may have gone into some sort of shock Vin
reached for the phone to call Nathan, but Ezra's voice stopped him.
"Sorenson was showing me where the meet was to take place. Bragging about how
it was the perfect place for it. There was a noise in another room. It was a
teenage boy, a hooker. He'd been looking for a place to sleep. Sorenson and his
two goons decided to have a little fun with him. Figured he should pay for the
privilege of sleeping in their warehouse. I tried to talk him out of it but
there wasn't much I could do that wouldn't jeopardize the case or blow my
cover. He begged them not to hurt him. He said he'd do anything they wanted if
they wouldn't hurt him. They just laughed and hit him. When Sorenson started to
rape him I left. I went outside. I couldn't leave. They had driven there. Even
outside I could hear the boy screaming, begging for mercy, begging for someone
to help him. But I couldn't. I couldn't do anything to help him that wouldn't
have also gotten me killed as well. I couldn't help him, Vin. I can still hear
him screaming and I can't help him. Make it stop, Vin. Please make it stop."
Vin took him into his arms when he dissolved into tears. He held his beloved as
harsh sobs wracked the slender body. Gently rubbing his back, Vin murmured
soothing words, wishing he could take away Ezra's pain and knowing he couldn't.
When he felt the sobs begin to taper off into quiet sniffles Vin moved to stand
up. He stopped when Ezra clutched him tighter, whispering, "Don't go, please?"
"Shhh. Not going anywhere, Ez. Just standin' up so I could get you into bed."
"I'm not sure that I'm..." Ezra started, loosening his grip.
"It's all right, Ez. Wasn't plannin' anything like that. You're tired and need
some sleep."
"I don't want to sleep, Vin," Ezra spoke so softly Vin had to strain to hear
him. "I don't want to close my eyes."
Vin cupped his face, thumbs gently brushing his cheeks; "I know, babe. I know.
We'll just go inside and lay down and I'll hold ya. If you fall asleep you fall
asleep. I'll be right there to wake you if it gets bad. All night long if ya
need it. I'll always be here for ya, Ez. Always."
"Thank you, Vin."
He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to Ezra's lips in answer before standing and
pulling the Southerner up with him. Vin held him close for a moment then led
him into the bedroom. Inside Ezra stood quietly while Vin gently undressed him.
He obediently lifted each foot for Vin to pull off his pants and socks,
steadying himself with a hand on Vin's shoulder. He said nothing as Vin pushed
him down onto the bed and pulled the covers up over him. His eyes followed the
sharpshooter as he quickly undressed himself on the other side of the bed. Clad
only in his boxers Vin slipped beneath the covers and took Ezra into his arms
again. Holding him close, he rubbed his hand in a soothing circular motion over
Ezra's back listening to him breathe.
Soon Ezra's breathing evened out and deepened as he slipped into a deep sleep.
Vin continued to stroke his back, his cheek resting against the top of his
beloved's head. It was then Vin allowed himself to weep. He wept for the
horrible act Ezra was forced to witness and was powerless to stop. He wept
because he could not ease Ezra's pain. And he wept for what might have been had
Ezra tried to intervene. Letting out a ragged sigh, Vin settled in to wait for
the first nightmare to come. He knew it would, just as he knew he would hold
Ezra and ride it out with him. No matter how long it took, he would be there
for him.
 
Fini
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