ds_flashfiction | Sweat Challenge: Self-Punishment by tyk

This started out long ago for the FFU challenge but did't get far. It pretty much works here with a little switch. It's short, pure fluff and farce, and bordering on cliche. If you grin at the end, it's worth it. Un beta'd. Here's hoping the heat index isn't off the charts where you are...

Ray Kowalski gaped at his partner, Benton Fraser, while trying to keep his face neutral. “You did what?”

Benton Fraser was standing outside the Chicago Canadian Consulate in full, red serge regalia, in weather where the local weatherman had said today’s heat index was literally off the charts he typically used while creating the forecast.

“Ray, please don’t make any more of this than-“

“I can’t believe you did that. You put yourself on guard duty, in the middle of the day, when thermometers and humidimeters all over town are breaking? Just for that?” Ray was torn. He partly wanted to laugh at the wackiness of what Fraser considered so terrible. He also wanted to continue yelling at Fraser, but it just wasn’t fun. Plus, Fraser looked downright beaten, which was making Ray mad. Ray wasn’t sure how Fraser was still standing. The sweat was pouring off him. For no big thing, Fraser was about to sweat to death.

“I know, Ray. The magnitude of this mistake is enormous. This is a mistake even Turnbull wouldn’t make. I can’t imagine what Inspector Thatcher will report to Ottawa.” Benton Fraser’s voice had a sadness and resolve to it Ray couldn’t remember since the time Fraser had decked him one, right before they started chasing those pirates.

“Come on, Fraser. What more can they do to you? They’ve already sentenced you to life in Chicago. What could be worse? Surely this won’t get you de-Mountified. This cannot be worth dying of heat exhaustion or melting into a puddle of red wool topped by a Stetson.”

“I don’t know, Ray. A mistake of this magnitude reflects greatly on the Consulate staff and on Canada.”

“Oh, for cripe’s sake, all you did was serve the wrong wine.”