Voting: Crossover Fic
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1.
crossover fandom: Leverage
The Helping Hands Job
“I still can’t believe how easy that bust was!” J.D. grinned at his teammates around the table as he piled more nachos on his plate. It was Friday night and the Saloon was near full and ATF Team Seven was celebrating.
“Like Danzig handed himself over to us on a silver platter, yeah,” added Vin with a more pensive look. “He took a sip of his beer and slouched back in his seat.
“I figured we could never get our hands on that smug slime wad,” continued J.D. “All those months we’ve tried to get something on him and he was always three steps ahead of us, slipping out from under, not leaving a digital trail anywhere. And then, I mean, how stupid could he be to get picked up with a flash drive full of data on his buyers in his pocket, a one-way ticket to Qatar, and two mill in his briefcase!” finished the Team’s youngest agent in his usual breakneck speed.
“Yeah, real stupid,” echoed Chris quietly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed across the crowded room to the bar where their undercover agent was talking with someone.
“Who’s Ezra with over there?” he asked.
“Mighty fine-looking woman, that’s who,” replied Buck with a waggle of his eyebrows. “Huh. She looks kinda…familiar, too” he added, scratching at his chin.
Several sets of eyes focused on the couple near the end of the bar. There were quite a few customers milling around but they were visible enough. Ezra was smiling and chatting with the woman, a stylish looking brunette with a tumble of silky hair and smoky dark eyes. She leaned towards their debonair agent, touching the side of his face lightly as she spoke. Whatever she said made him laugh. Little diamond earrings dangled and sparkled from her ears as she tilted her head.
“Is that one of Ezra’s contacts?” asked Nathan. “Seems sorta familiar to me, too.”
Vin sat up in his chair. “Imagine her with short dirty blond hair, glasses and a baggy pantsuit,” he said slowly, a smirk growing on his face.
“Damn!” Buck’s bottle of beer hit the table with a thud. “That’s the woman who was with Danzig at the meet yesterday and then up and vanished.” He shook his head in amazement. “She sure looks a helluva lot prettier with dark hair and that slinky black dress on. Damn.”
A man walked over to the woman, standing close by her shoulder and nodding to Ezra. A few more words were exchanged and Ezra put out his hand. The man, a rather unremarkable looking fellow with wavy dark hair, grasped his hand in a firm shake. A few moments later, the couple left and Ezra returned to their table.
“I remember that guy,” stated Josiah, watching the couple leave. “He was getting into a van and driving away right after we got to Danzig’s mansion last week.”
“Wasn’t he with some brawny young guy with long hair? The young guy looked like he had blood all over his shirt, remember?” added Nathan.
“Indeed, brother, I remember now it struck me at the time that it didn’t look like it was his blood.”
Ezra reached their table and took his seat.
“Who were those people, Ezra?” asked Team Seven’s leader.
“Yeah, Ez, they had something to do with the Danzig bust, didn’t they?” asked Vin.
“Gentlemen, please,” began Ezra, holding up a palm and stopping his other teammates from adding their own questions. He reached for his flute of champagne and slowly took a sip, his green eyes dancing at the growing glare on his leader’s face.
“C’mon, Ez, who was that hot filly and how about an introduction?” threw in Buck.
“You have a one-track mind, my friend, and it’s always heading south,” replied Ezra. “In this particular case, you are out of your depth and out of luck, I assure you.”
“You mean she’s with that bland-looking guy? Bet he doesn’t have my powerful animal magnetism,” returned Buck with a hint of mock irritation.
“Mister Ford’s talents are of a more cerebral nature, Buck. And as for Miss Devereaux, well, she was a…protégé of my dear mother’s some years ago.”
“A protégé of Maude’s?!” Eyebrows rose around the table.
“What did your mother teach her, exactly?” asked Nathan with a worried look.
Ezra gave them a sly grin. “Mother took Sophie under her wing when we lived in London with my second stepfather. Maude was rather bored with the life of the idle rich and teenaged Sophie Devereaux, as she calls herself these days, needed to sharpen her acting skills.” He paused, chuckling at the raised eyebrows. “Mother helped her realize and hone her considerable talents. Sophie’s actually a terrible actress…on stage.”
“She’s a con artist,” translated Chris.
“Extraordinaire,” confirmed Ezra. “I contacted Sophie when we hit the proverbial brick wall with Danzig. I asked if she and her associates could provide us with some discreet…assistance in apprehending the bastard and closing down his operations, once and for all, before any more kids were killed.”
“Ezra, if there’s something funny…” began Larabee in a tone that was half growl and half warning.
“Now, now, Chris, not to worry. The evidence against Danzig is legitimate and iron-clad. They simply helped us get to it, that’s all.”
“Who are they really, Ez?”
“Well, they have a, um, special consulting firm of sorts. They provide their clients with a little…leverage in dealing with the rich and powerful lowlifes of the world like Danzig. Let’s just say, they help even out the playing field for the good guys.”
It was Chris’ turn to gesture for Ezra to stop. “I have a feeling it’s safer all around if I don’t hear any more.” He picked up his whisky and gave Ezra a small salute. “Here’s to helping hands, whoever and wherever they may be.”
Bottles and glasses clinked around the table as the members of Team Seven exchanged grins and joined in their leader’s toast.
-End-
2.
crossover fandom: the movie Maverick
Half a Million Reasons to Be Friends
JD stood up from his chair and lifted his hand to block the sun from his view. From the far end of the main road, an unknown rider was approaching them. When the man rode closer, JD grinned and turned to Ezra, who was playing with his cards near the entrance to the jailhouse.
”Another relative of yours?” he asked the gambler and nudged his head towards the newcomer. This man too, had a ruffled shirt and a jacket fancier than that of any girl.
Ezra straightened himself too, to take a look at the man and JD noticed the recognition in his eyes. It wasn't exactly warm and welcoming, so JD's hand was reaching to rest on top of his gun as Ezra stood up and walked on the edge of the walkway.
”How do they all find me?” Ezra mumbled.
JD glanced at him from head to toe. ”I'd say it's either by your aftershave or the color of that jacket.”
Ezra cast a nasty look at him before leaning his elbow to the post in front of him and tipping his hat to the unknown man, now slowing his horse in front of them.
”Ezra! Ezra Standish!” the man yelled out in chipper voice, climbing down from his steed and approaching them. He didn't look one bit threatening or dangerous, with a wide, genuine grin and fidgety manners
”Mr. Maverick”, Ezra stated calmly and somewhat annoyed, lowering his hand to be shaken clearly against his will.
”I had to see it myself when I heard it! You; a lawman?!” the man kept on laughing and came up to them, briskly shaking Ezra's hand and then quickly JD's. ”Who was the judge that lost his mind, huh?” The man was slightly older than them, had dark hair and what JD had come to recognize a gambler's air about him.
”If you're here about the money...” Ezra began with a sigh.
”Yes!” the man, Mr. Maverick exclaimed and took off his hat, starting to fidget the brim in a nervous manner. The grin never leaving his face. ”Always straight to the business! I've always admired that about you, Ez.”
”Ezra”, Ezra corrected lazily.
”You see, I really desperately need the 500 you owe me”, the man said while waving his hat about. His face had taken an apologetic expression, as had his tone of voice.
”Five..!” Ezra seemed to be choking on something invisible, his eyes wide and legs almost giving out. Slowly he regained his breath, but when Ezra spoke, the words were coated with disgust. ”The number you're so desperately trying to remember accurately, Mr. Maverick, is 220 and even that is dubious at most.”
”Dubious?!” Maverick exclaimed, clearly hurt in turn by Ezra's words. ”I saved your life! I thought you would value your life to be worth at least 280.”
Ezra cocked an eyebrow, but kept his face otherwise expressionless. ”Well then, since you were the one risking my life in your perilous schemes, I would like my 280 in cash, if you please. And since when are you riding around the small towns, collecting 200 dollar debts.”
”It's the tournament, Ez!” the man exclaimed, like in some kind of religious hysteria. ”The tournament!”
All movement in Ezra's body stilled at once. It was like looking at a rattle snake, readying an attack. ”The tournament?” he said quietly. ”You're not talking about--”
”St. Louis”, they both said simultaneously.
JD glanced at the men, both now somewhat salivating at something. ”What's in St. Louis?” he asked curiously.
”You mean to say you have collected the entry fee?” Ezra asked and his eyes went to the saddlebags on the horse.
”Still short 3500, but you know, there's still two weeks. How about you?”
Ezra let out a loud sigh. ”No, I'm afraid I lack the financial opportunities here to accumulate such an amount.”
Maverick tilted his head in sympathy. ”Sorry to hear that. Anyway, about the 500...”
”220.”
”220 and the price you would deem proper for saving your life...”
Ezra shifted his weight, lowered his eyes to the ground and touched the brim of his hat. His tongue flipped out to touch his lower lip in calculative manner. ”I could borrow you the 280. With an interest.” He lifted his glance to Maverick.
”Ez, you're truly hurting me here. I thought we were friends.”
”We both know money doesn't come between friends--”
”-- it's always above them”, they ended together.
The men smiled to each other. ”Do you think I stand a chance?” Maverick asked.
”Certainly”, Ezra answered with a grin. ”Since I'm prevented from participating.”
Maverick hit his fist slightly against the pole in front of him. ”Man! It would be great if we were both there!”
Ezra shrugged and glanced towards the saloon. ”I'm afraid I'm too occupied.”
”For the greatest poker tournament of all times”, Maverick snorted. “Half a million, just sitting there and waiting to be won.”
Ezra just kept smiling awhile before reaching into his boot. He took out few bills and passed to the other man. ”If you win, you owe me 2000.”
”If?” the man laughed. ”You're hurting me again.”
”And you're hurting me”, Ezra complained and nodded towards Maverick's fingers which were counting the bills.
”You know, friends and money”, Maverick grinned and put his hat back on.
”Get out of my town, Bret”, Ezra laughed. ”Collect the rest of your financial resources and show them how the game's played in the south.”
Maverick shook Ezra's hand again with both of his and climbed on his horse. Ezra kept watching the back of the man for a long time, before sitting back into his chair, shaking his head slightly.
Poll crossover fic