Title: Inner Enemy
Challenge #92: Enemies
Fandom: Magnificent Seven
Rating: PG
Pairing: Chris/Vin
Length: 697 words
Summary: The hardest hatred to face is one's own.

Chris wasn't one for touching. Vin knew that. In the salon or around the others he'd accept a backslap or shoulder brush but there'd never be a soft smile shared between them, let alone a hug or kiss anywhere but behind a closed door or out in the brush with miles and miles of nothing as far as the eye could see.

It was hard, to be together the way they were but not to be together in any way that really mattered outside of meeting some physical needs whenever they could find the time to slip away. Vin knew not to take it personally, it had nothing to do with him and who he was, it was just Chris being Chris and the law being the law but it still kind of hurt when Chris acted the same whether it was just in front of the Seven or in front of the whole town. The guys'd be okay with it, Vin was almost certain. Heck, he knew half of them had lain with men at different times in their lives and he was pretty sure the other half could have been talked around to at least the idea of it, if the time was right, but Chris wouldn't budge. It all came to a head one cold autumn day when all seven of them stopped to make camp for the night.

"We can't do this now," Chris hissed, giving Vin a hard shove when he started to next to him in front of the fire. "They'll see. They can't see."

"They'll see two friends sharing a spot and getting warmed up after a hard day a' riding. Nothing more," Vin countered, trying to keep his irritation from slipping into his voice.

"You don't know that."

"I know that I want to stop hiding and tell them about us." He'd brought up the idea of letting the others know before, but never by just outright saying they should do it, he'd always been subtle about it until now.

"They'll think less of us."

"I doubt that but, so what if they do? I've had people thinking less a' me my whole life- judging me by what they saw and what they thought a' me instead a' by who I am. And who I am is someone in love with his best friend. You. Now, you want me to be ashamed, and you’re so damned scared when I’m not, when I refuse to be – because this is me, this is me, and don’t you dare that I'm wrong or ain't good enough for you."

"Vin, stop!" It was a command, barked out by someone who was used to folks following their orders and never having a living soul question why it might be that way. "We're not doing this. Not here. Not now. Not ever."

Except Vin never was to good at being told what he could and could not do. And Vin didn't like the idea that the person he chose to be with wasn't ever going to see their love as something he shouldn't be ashamed of. "I get it, Cowboy, I do. Let me say my piece and then I'll leave you alone." He leaned in, keeping his voice low, but firm. "This is me drawing my line in the sand. Either we come out and say what's been going on between us - not to everyone, just the boys - or there ain't nothing going on between us. I can't keep doing this, fighting against your prejudice with one hand while holding you with the other."

"We're not telling no one a thing," Chris replied. "But that doesn't mean-"

"Yeah it does, Chris. Yeah, it does." There wasn't anything for him here, he could see that now.
He couldn't do a thing against Chris' own fears and prejudices. All that was left for him to do was to try to move on, so he stood up, brushed his pants off with his hat before nodding a quick goodbye. "I'll see to the horses before taking first watch," he said, nice and loud so everyone could hear and then walked off without a backwards glance.