Darkest Before Dawn Challenge
Aug. 9th, 2004 08:34 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
A short contribution to the DBD challenge. I'll be posting a longer, plottier one tomorrow, but this popped into my head and wouldn't let go.
As always, thanks to
brooklinegirl for the super fast beta.
Pairing - F/K
Word Count - 656
Spoilers - none, post CoTW fic
Rating - Nothing explicit, slashy intent
Stay
The sound of snow falling from the roof of the cabin wakes Fraser from his sleep, and he rolls over in bed, throwing one arm over his eyes. It’s early yet – the sky is glowing with a yellow pre-dawn light, and when he fumbles with the small alarm clock on his bedside table he sees it’s not yet 5 AM.
But he's not the only one up. He can hear footsteps in the main room of the cabin, and he kicks back the blanket with his feet and reaches down to pull on a pair of sweatpants before getting out of bed.
Diefenbaker is snoring quietly, asleep in his corner in the kitchen. As Fraser passes him, he makes a soft whuffing sound and shakes his head before settling back down into his paws.
Fraser lights the small candle next to the sink in the kitchen, and reaches for a glass in the overhead cupboard. He’d done the dishes after dinner and put everything away, so there the glasses stand; two glasses next to two mugs and two plates. There are two bowls in the other cabinet with his cooking supplies, and the small drawer held all of the utensils they had used on their adventure.
The water he pours into his glass is cold, and hurts behind his eyes when he swallows it too quickly. Fraser puts the glass in the sink and presses his fingers against his forehead, waiting until the sharp pain passes before turning around.
The plane ticket is in the middle of the table, but Fraser pretends he doesn’t see it.
Ray’s back is to Fraser, as he stares silently out the small living room window into the night. His arms are folded across his chest, and Fraser can see the tense lines of his back from his side of the room. The blankets on the couch are folded and stacked up neatly – far too neatly for Ray to have done it after sleeping.
Fraser clears his throat. “You should really get some rest,” he says.
When Ray nods his head the movement is jerky, and his voice is rough when he says, “I know.”
The floor is cold under his bare feet, but Fraser barely notices as he walks over to the kitchen table, his eyes drawn down again to the ticket. The edges are smooth and worn when his fingers trace over it, and the face has soft creases and scar lines, as if it had been folded up and taken apart one too many times.
When Fraser gets close enough, he can see Ray’s skin is covered in gooseflesh. There’s a draft coming in from the window, and Fraser makes a mental note to head into town as soon as he can and get some more insulation for the cabin. He knows he won't be able to survive in a place that’s too cold, letting all the heat out faster than it’s being made inside.
The snow is falling steadily now, and the sky is lighter than when he first got up. He wonders how it looked for Ray, standing in front of the window all night long, looking out into the night. He wonders what Ray was thinking of as he stood there.
Fraser is standing close enough to feel the heat from Ray’s body against his chest, and when he reaches out and lays a hand palm down on the wall next to the window, Ray shivers.
“I don’t-“ Ray’s voice sticks and he clears his throat. “I don’t think I can go back, Frase.”
Fraser closes his eyes and drops his head so his lips hover just over Ray’s shoulder. And when he reaches out his other hand and lays it against the wall on the other side of Ray’s body, Ray leans back against his chest.
“Then don’t go back,” Fraser says softly, turning his head so his lips just brush against Ray’s ear. “Stay.”
As always, thanks to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Pairing - F/K
Word Count - 656
Spoilers - none, post CoTW fic
Rating - Nothing explicit, slashy intent
Stay
The sound of snow falling from the roof of the cabin wakes Fraser from his sleep, and he rolls over in bed, throwing one arm over his eyes. It’s early yet – the sky is glowing with a yellow pre-dawn light, and when he fumbles with the small alarm clock on his bedside table he sees it’s not yet 5 AM.
But he's not the only one up. He can hear footsteps in the main room of the cabin, and he kicks back the blanket with his feet and reaches down to pull on a pair of sweatpants before getting out of bed.
Diefenbaker is snoring quietly, asleep in his corner in the kitchen. As Fraser passes him, he makes a soft whuffing sound and shakes his head before settling back down into his paws.
Fraser lights the small candle next to the sink in the kitchen, and reaches for a glass in the overhead cupboard. He’d done the dishes after dinner and put everything away, so there the glasses stand; two glasses next to two mugs and two plates. There are two bowls in the other cabinet with his cooking supplies, and the small drawer held all of the utensils they had used on their adventure.
The water he pours into his glass is cold, and hurts behind his eyes when he swallows it too quickly. Fraser puts the glass in the sink and presses his fingers against his forehead, waiting until the sharp pain passes before turning around.
The plane ticket is in the middle of the table, but Fraser pretends he doesn’t see it.
Ray’s back is to Fraser, as he stares silently out the small living room window into the night. His arms are folded across his chest, and Fraser can see the tense lines of his back from his side of the room. The blankets on the couch are folded and stacked up neatly – far too neatly for Ray to have done it after sleeping.
Fraser clears his throat. “You should really get some rest,” he says.
When Ray nods his head the movement is jerky, and his voice is rough when he says, “I know.”
The floor is cold under his bare feet, but Fraser barely notices as he walks over to the kitchen table, his eyes drawn down again to the ticket. The edges are smooth and worn when his fingers trace over it, and the face has soft creases and scar lines, as if it had been folded up and taken apart one too many times.
When Fraser gets close enough, he can see Ray’s skin is covered in gooseflesh. There’s a draft coming in from the window, and Fraser makes a mental note to head into town as soon as he can and get some more insulation for the cabin. He knows he won't be able to survive in a place that’s too cold, letting all the heat out faster than it’s being made inside.
The snow is falling steadily now, and the sky is lighter than when he first got up. He wonders how it looked for Ray, standing in front of the window all night long, looking out into the night. He wonders what Ray was thinking of as he stood there.
Fraser is standing close enough to feel the heat from Ray’s body against his chest, and when he reaches out and lays a hand palm down on the wall next to the window, Ray shivers.
“I don’t-“ Ray’s voice sticks and he clears his throat. “I don’t think I can go back, Frase.”
Fraser closes his eyes and drops his head so his lips hover just over Ray’s shoulder. And when he reaches out his other hand and lays it against the wall on the other side of Ray’s body, Ray leans back against his chest.
“Then don’t go back,” Fraser says softly, turning his head so his lips just brush against Ray’s ear. “Stay.”
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Date: 2004-08-09 05:43 pm (UTC)Oh, yeah, that's what I'm saying...
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:32 am (UTC)Thank you, dear!
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Date: 2004-08-09 05:43 pm (UTC)::sniffle::
Marry me?
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:33 am (UTC)*gets down on one knee*
Ok!
Thank you!
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Date: 2004-08-09 05:46 pm (UTC)He knows he won't be able to survive in a place that’s too cold, letting all the heat out faster than it’s being made inside.
*sigh*
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:33 am (UTC)Thank you, my dear!
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Date: 2004-08-09 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:33 am (UTC)*licks lynnmonster*
Thank you very kindly!
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Date: 2004-08-09 06:06 pm (UTC)Overachiever.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:34 am (UTC)And you say you have another one coming?
Overachiever.
I know, I know. What a fucking show-off, right?
But yes - another one coming up soon! Thank you again!
Pretty
Date: 2004-08-09 06:13 pm (UTC)perfectly executed. Just with detail, you've set the tone, the mood, and a cadence that takes you right there. I can literally hear the roar of strain as they hold it all in and then that crack at the end is like ice snapping. But with warmth.
Thank you! for posting. Made my day.
Re: Pretty
Date: 2004-08-10 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-09 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-09 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-09 06:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:38 am (UTC)I appreciate your reading and commenting!
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Date: 2004-08-09 06:52 pm (UTC)::wobbly sigh::
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:38 am (UTC)Yes! Just like I love them *g*
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate it!
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Date: 2004-08-09 07:15 pm (UTC)Fraser closes his eyes and drops his head so his lips hover just over Ray’s shoulder. And when he reaches out his other hand and lays it against the wall on the other side of Ray’s body, Ray leans back against his chest.
Wow. There's such a quietness, a hush over this story and all these early morning stories, you just creep up on them and let them soak into your pores. Wonderful stuff.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:39 am (UTC)Thanks again!
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Date: 2004-08-09 10:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:39 am (UTC)Thank you, M! I definitely appreciate it!
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Date: 2004-08-09 11:10 pm (UTC)I especially like this:
The floor is cold under his bare feet, but Fraser barely notices as he walks over to the kitchen table, his eyes drawn down again to the ticket. The edges are smooth and worn when his fingers trace over it, and the face has soft creases and scar lines, as if it had been folded up and taken apart one too many times.
because I can see RayK fidgeting with the ticket all night.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:40 am (UTC)Well then my job is done. I'm so glad you were able to see what I saw in this one.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
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Date: 2004-08-10 01:43 am (UTC)656 words, and 656 of my kink buttons pressed :)
I wish it were longer *tear*
Tara "I am an angsty-post-CotW-aholic" R.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:42 am (UTC)Oh god - me too! I was talking to Dira and I said, "I know it's done all the time but I really feel like writing a 'post cotw the night before ray goes back to chicago' story for this" and she said, "I didnt realize that that had become its own sub-genre!" but it so is!
"End of the Adventure" stories are some of my very favorites. I'm so glad you liked this little one as well!
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Date: 2004-08-10 04:08 am (UTC)It's Fraser and RayK at their best. Sorta fucked-up but working their way to a happy ending.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:43 am (UTC)Thank you!
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Date: 2004-08-10 05:43 am (UTC)*licks you*
Beautiful quiet story.
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 06:05 am (UTC)::smooches E::
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 08:34 am (UTC)Fraser sort of creeping towards Ray ever so slowly, as if moving too fast would somehow make Ray evaporate.
Gorgeously metered out.
*loves on you*
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:45 am (UTC)Fraser sort of creeping towards Ray ever so slowly, as if moving too fast would somehow make Ray evaporate.
Wow. This is the most beautiful description I've ever read. Thank you!!
*licks jen and loves her back*
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Date: 2004-08-10 08:51 am (UTC)I can see Ray standing by the window, Fraser right behind him... a beautiful picture!
Lovely!
Fraser closes his eyes and drops his head so his lips hover just over Ray’s shoulder. And when he reaches out his other hand and lays it against the wall on the other side of Ray’s body, Ray leans back against his chest.
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Date: 2004-08-10 09:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 10:52 am (UTC)Fraser closes his eyes and drops his head so his lips hover just over Ray’s shoulder. And when he reaches out his other hand and lays it against the wall on the other side of Ray’s body, Ray leans back against his chest.
So beautiful in such a quiet way. Pefect and lovely. [snugs estrella]
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Date: 2004-08-10 11:42 am (UTC)eee! Thank you, dear! So glad you picked up on a few of my very favorite parts!!
So beautiful in such a quiet way. Pefect and lovely. [snugs estrella]
*snugs you right back*
Thank you!
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Date: 2004-08-10 11:44 am (UTC)Did I ever tell you that you write the loveliest comments? Really truly wonderful, so thank you very much.
I happen to love that really quiet, late night/early morning time, so this challenge was perfect for me. Thank you again!
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Date: 2004-08-10 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 07:24 pm (UTC)Yay! I heart straight girl crushes!
Thank you!
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Date: 2004-08-11 05:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 07:25 pm (UTC)Anywhere is good for me *g*
Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
*smooches you hard*
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Date: 2004-08-19 01:53 pm (UTC)Ohhhhh!
I love how much that line means.
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Date: 2004-08-19 04:20 pm (UTC)Thank you, Kass! I really appreciate it!
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Date: 2004-08-20 05:16 pm (UTC)perfect.
*loves you*
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Date: 2004-08-21 07:05 am (UTC)Thank you, darlin *g*