No clothes, no sex challenge
Nov. 24th, 2004 11:17 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
elmyraemilie.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ds_flashfictionI don't know what got into me. It's such a fun challenge, but what came out was 450-odd words of angst. Unbetaed, sorry. If you find errors, let me know.
The sound of the shower running made Ray shudder. It was so normal, so ordinary, a guy getting home from work and wanting a shower. Clean up a little, switch gears from office mode to home mode. Thousands of men all over Chicago were doing this very thing at this very moment.
He set the kettle on the stove, turned the burner on. Fraser would appreciate a cup of tea. Pausing by the bathroom on the way to the bedroom, Ray listened for a moment. Through the solid panels of the door, the hiss of the water being forced through the showerhead overwhelmed other sounds, if there were any.
The laundry basket was at the foot of his bed. He picked out sweatpants and a sweatshirt and boxers and socks from there. Knowing Fraser wouldn’t hear his knock over the water noise, he leaned in, put the clothing on the toilet seat and shut the door quietly behind him.
The kettle whistled. As Ray made tea, the shower turned off. He thought about Fraser, climbing out of the shower, finding the sweats and the soft towel. Thought about Fraser, warm and wet from his shower. Thought about Fraser, stripped bare and cold, a lump in the corner on the hard cement of the cellar floor. Fraser, beaten, abandoned in the dark. Cold steel cuffs so tight on his wrists they broke the skin; black, swollen bruises on his ribs, his arms, his buttocks, his face. Fraser, curled in on himself in pain and misery.
Ray found Fraser, just like that. He called the ambulance, called for back-up, covered the pale, chilled skin with his coat until the EMT’s came to help. All the way to the hospital, he couldn’t stop touching Fraser, and Fraser let him, held his hand as though he, Ray, was the one who had been abducted and thrashed and left for dead. The ER docs declared Fraser a lucky man; he could go home. Ray brought him home.
When Fraser came out of the bathroom, Ray looked at him through the steam of the tea, wincing on the inside, knowing how a black eye could throb and ache. Fraser accepted the mug, then placed it with care on the counter and took a step toward Ray, and another. His arms went around Ray, and Ray leaned in, hoping to put his head on a spot that didn’t hurt. Fraser rubbed his back, and Ray couldn’t help himself; he shook and shook. He was glad his face was on Fraser’s shoulder. He knew his heart was all in his face, naked.
So my pies are baked and the wine and beer is laid in, turkey in the fridge and stuffing ready to go. Everyone have a happy, warm Thanksgiving! Safe travels to you all.
The sound of the shower running made Ray shudder. It was so normal, so ordinary, a guy getting home from work and wanting a shower. Clean up a little, switch gears from office mode to home mode. Thousands of men all over Chicago were doing this very thing at this very moment.
He set the kettle on the stove, turned the burner on. Fraser would appreciate a cup of tea. Pausing by the bathroom on the way to the bedroom, Ray listened for a moment. Through the solid panels of the door, the hiss of the water being forced through the showerhead overwhelmed other sounds, if there were any.
The laundry basket was at the foot of his bed. He picked out sweatpants and a sweatshirt and boxers and socks from there. Knowing Fraser wouldn’t hear his knock over the water noise, he leaned in, put the clothing on the toilet seat and shut the door quietly behind him.
The kettle whistled. As Ray made tea, the shower turned off. He thought about Fraser, climbing out of the shower, finding the sweats and the soft towel. Thought about Fraser, warm and wet from his shower. Thought about Fraser, stripped bare and cold, a lump in the corner on the hard cement of the cellar floor. Fraser, beaten, abandoned in the dark. Cold steel cuffs so tight on his wrists they broke the skin; black, swollen bruises on his ribs, his arms, his buttocks, his face. Fraser, curled in on himself in pain and misery.
Ray found Fraser, just like that. He called the ambulance, called for back-up, covered the pale, chilled skin with his coat until the EMT’s came to help. All the way to the hospital, he couldn’t stop touching Fraser, and Fraser let him, held his hand as though he, Ray, was the one who had been abducted and thrashed and left for dead. The ER docs declared Fraser a lucky man; he could go home. Ray brought him home.
When Fraser came out of the bathroom, Ray looked at him through the steam of the tea, wincing on the inside, knowing how a black eye could throb and ache. Fraser accepted the mug, then placed it with care on the counter and took a step toward Ray, and another. His arms went around Ray, and Ray leaned in, hoping to put his head on a spot that didn’t hurt. Fraser rubbed his back, and Ray couldn’t help himself; he shook and shook. He was glad his face was on Fraser’s shoulder. He knew his heart was all in his face, naked.
So my pies are baked and the wine and beer is laid in, turkey in the fridge and stuffing ready to go. Everyone have a happy, warm Thanksgiving! Safe travels to you all.
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no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 08:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 08:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 09:28 pm (UTC)Thank you for sharing.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 06:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 09:44 pm (UTC)It's hard to figure out who needs the comfort more. Ray's reactions are more on the surface, but for Fraser to be the one to take those steps... gah. Angst hurts. I'm done whining now.
Very lovely.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 06:11 am (UTC)Well, I guess I'm glad I made you whine. ;-D Glad you liked it, too!
no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 11:08 pm (UTC)Good on ya.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 06:16 am (UTC)(So far, no one has thought this was RayV. Maybe y'all know me, so you know it wouldn't be, but as I reread the story there aren't any clues I can find, one Ray or the other. I didn't do it this way intentionally.)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 07:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 08:25 am (UTC)Just right for a big food day, eh? Glad you enjoyed it.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 07:28 am (UTC)He knew his heart was all in his face, naked.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 08:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 03:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 05:55 pm (UTC)He picked out sweatpants and a sweatshirt and boxers and socks from there. Knowing Fraser wouldn’t hear his knock over the water noise, he leaned in, put the clothing on the toilet seat and shut the door quietly behind him.
This makes me go awwwwww. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-25 07:24 pm (UTC)BTW, that's a great icon you've got there.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-28 01:09 pm (UTC)