Semi-requested by someone over at the NickxEllis LJ community. This begins my dump of old L4D2 fics I've written.

A (Sort Of) Proposal

Ellis was sat at the card table with Coach and two other people in their 'safe' camp. He had a pretty bad hand, unless the others were bluffing by raising nearly every turn (their chips were in fact buttons, but the game was just as intense as playing for money). Two Jacks, a nine and three of Spades and Queen of Hearts weren't exactly going to win him the game.

Rochelle was reading a magazine nearby, and was the only one to look up when Nick walked into the room (looking very odd in a plain shirt and jeans rather than the white suit they'd grown accustomed to seeing him in). She raised an eyebrow as the gambler strode straight over to Ellis, whoc had just folded his hand in dismay as the others once again raised. He tapped the Southern mechanic on the shoulder and when the younger man turned to look at him Nick dropped down on one knee and took Ellis' calloused hand in his own.

"Ellis," Nick began before clearing his throat, "We've been through so much together. We've fought through Hell only to end up in Purgatory, waiting for salvation. But I can't imagine doing it with anyone else." The gambler was staring, unfaltering, straight into Ellis' sparkling blue eyes, "You've saved me ass a thousand times, even when I was such a douche to you. All that teasing, all those insults, those jabs about your accent," Nick smiled softly and affectionately, "I'll never know how or why you put up with it. But I'm glad you did."

"Nick," Ellis tried to speak but his voice was thick with emotion.

Nearby, Rochelle's eyebrows had disappeared into her hairline and Coach's jaw had hit the floor.

"What I'm trying to say is," Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold ring. "Ellis Tanning, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"

Rochelle's magazine, Coach's cards and Ellis' jaw dropped in shock.

"Nick," Ellis gawped, looking at the plain gold band in the older male's hand. "I dunno what to say."

"Yes would be a good answer." Nick urged, placing the ring in the brunette's hand.

Ellis took a deep breath and grinned broadly. "Yes." He said, watching Nick return the smile and slip the ring properly onto his finger, "You god-damn sonuva bitch, hell yeah!" He flung his arms around the man and kissed him full on the lips as they fell to the floor.

Rochelle and Coach swiftly joined them as they collapsed in a dead faint.

Standing up and brushing off his borrowed clothes, Nick turned to the two people remaining at the table; a redhead and a brunette who were both looking annoyed but amused at the same time. "Pay up." Nick told them, "We won." He smirked, holding out a hand to retrieve his prize while Ellis took the ring off he'd been given and dropped it in Nick's shirt pocket.

"Fuck, I woulda thought they'd just been speechless." The redhaired boy said to his companion, handing over a carton of Marlboro cigarettes to the gambler.

"Should've known not to mess with a gamblin' man." The other said, smiling to himself as he too handed over his share of the deal; a Zippo lighter.

Nick just grinned and Ellis just chuckled as they left the room to perform deeds that would be worthy of a post-pleasure nicotine rush.

"Hey Nick. When you really do propose ta me I wanna proper ring, not one of yers."

R+R, or I'll get out the naked Spitter.