for the One-Night Stand challenge

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

A wee something for the One-Night Stand challenge, clocking in at what I've come to think of as "shack size" -- exactly 500 words. Thanks to sihayab for beta.


For Ever


When Ray was bored or couldn't sleep, he bargained with fate in his head. What would he trade, if an angel came down and asked? Would he leave Chicago for a million bucks? (Hell, yes.) Would he get a sex change if true love hung in the balance? (He wasn't sure.) Would he get a sex change for a million bucks? (Probably not.) Would he trade any chance of reconciling longterm if he could just have one more night with Stella?

From the start, he'd had a mixed answer to that one. The "yes" times were mixtures of horny and lonely, insomniac times when the light of his digital clock cast weird shadows on his ceiling and even jerking off didn't help. The "no" times varied. At first, he'd been sure he'd never give up hope. They were meant for each other, and three months apart would show her that. Or six months. Or nine months. Or, okay, maybe it wasn't going to happen, but he still didn't want to give up.

Lately, though, neither option excited him. The one-night stand didn't sound so hot anymore, and he wasn't as interested in reconciliation with Stell as he used to be. He was a lot more interested in Fraser, who was every bit as smart and snarky and prissy as Stella. And just as sexy, in a totally different way. Plus Fraser, unlike Stella, hadn't decided to boot Ray out of his life. (Yet.) Ray figured he'd trade pretty much anything to know he wouldn't be booted out of Fraser's life.

Ray figured if he was really, really good -- if he promised everything he could think of to whoever was in charge Up There -- maybe he could do this one right enough that it would last. He could think of all kinds of things he'd trade for that. He'd trade Chicago for life with Fraser. Trade a million bucks, if he had it. Sex change? Hell, maybe. If he had to.

Lately, on stakeout, with Fraser riding shotgun and Dief curled up in the backseat, Ray asked himself the Fraser questions. If he knew it was all he was going to get, would he take a one-night stand? (Hell, yes.) If he had a choice between one fucking spectacular night (or one spectacular night of fucking), and the way things were now: no sex, no romance, but the chance they might be able to get there someday...

...he'd take the way things were now. A night with Fraser: the thought could fuel his fantasies for the next year, easy. But the possibility of something more was worth missing the one-nighter for. If God or an angel or the Ghost of Whatevers Past offered it to him, that was the choice he would make.

Which was kind of cool. He wouldn't trade the way things were now, because the way things were now, he had hope for where they might go. For more than one night. For real. For ever.

(500 words)

Comments

[sihayab.livejournal.com]

Oh, I *love* this! (Raspberry tart, raspberry tart!)

Sex change? Hell, maybe. ::snigger::

[invader-jim.livejournal.com]

I like this line in particular:
He wouldn't trade the way things were now, because the way things were now, he had hope for where they might go.
but I also love the tone and the Fraser questions and, well, all of it. :)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Oh, I enjoyed this.

[akite.livejournal.com]

I read this nodding my head through the whole thing. Smart Ray, hold out for that hope for more. ::g::

[chesamus.livejournal.com]

I've often wondered if it is the dream or the realization of the dream that keeps us going, all of that "having is not so satisfying a thing as wanting..." stuff.

I would hope that eventually, Ray would risk the dream for the reality.

[jenboo.livejournal.com]

I've been on both sides of the equation, but I definitely know that there are instances where the having is way more satisfying than the wanting. It all depends...

Aw

[hellespont.livejournal.com]

"Ray figured he'd trade pretty much anything to know he wouldn't be booted out of Fraser's life."

This an example of what can make an almost-grown woman turn into a squealing, cooing mass of mush. It's like being presented with a tiny baby lamb that's kissing a fluffy baby bunny and they're both wearing sailors suits. In a totally, totally good way. The desperation and devotion in that sentence turn my crank the full 360 degrees.

Re: Aw

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

It's like being presented with a tiny baby lamb that's kissing a fluffy baby bunny and they're both wearing sailors suits. In a totally, totally good way.

Wow. I think that may be the oddest praise I've ever gotten! :-)

Glad you enjoyed it, anyway. Thanks for saying so!

[byob-kenobi.livejournal.com]

100% Ray, through and through. *Love*

[jenboo.livejournal.com]

awwww...that's so lovely. Ray definitely seems like the type to be patient about the really important stuff if he knows he needs to be. And hope is a powerful thing.

[tyk.livejournal.com]

lovely segue from Stella to Fraser -- not immediate, just a slow evolution of feeling and thought. thanks.

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

Ray has a chance!! Wait, Ray! He'll get the clue!

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. Excellent as always.

For more than one night. For real. For ever.

Mmmmm. Perfect.

[wistful-fever.livejournal.com]

Oh, such great RayK. From the heart.

If God or an angel or the Ghost of Whatevers Past offered it to him, that was the choice he would make.

Perfect.

[ineke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's Ray -- a romantic through and through. Though, god, to be willing to trade his penis for a chance with Fraser? Now that's sacrifice ;)

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Poor Ray, bargaining with Fate. I think you've tapped into why we all love the poor boy so.

[rowanfairchild.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful. I loved his list of 'what if' questions, wonderful Ray-logic. And so compact! Terrific stuff.

[estrella30.livejournal.com]

When Ray was bored or couldn't sleep, he bargained with fate in his head

Oh wow. What an absolutely perfect first line. I loved every word of this. Thanks so much!

[lynnmonster.livejournal.com]

This was lovely and just so *Ray*. Thank you.