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ds_flashfiction2006-09-28 01:16 pm
nomango.livejournal.com) wrote in ds_flashfiction2006-09-28 01:16 pm
Entry tags:
for the Dating Challenge, by nomango
Unless he's asked out on a date, Ray's out of the dating game. F/K, 2250 words.
Perfect
It came out of the blue.
“Fine, fine, what’s the best date you’ve been taken on then?”
“I took -.”
Dewey cut in. “I said taken on, as in she took you.”
And Ray had sat there at his desk, listening to them and wishing they’d shut up because they just never shut up – when it hit him, that he’d never been taken on a date. He’d always taken them. He’d never thought about it. He did it because he wanted to, it hadn’t been about tit for tat, keeping score, even, dutch.
He took them on dates, planned it all, because he wanted to, and they – they didn’t because -
And it was clear. It was all clear. Ray was always the one making the effort, and it got him nothing as far as he could tell. So, fresh from the double whammy of Stella and Fraser hightailing it out of his life, he made a decision: unless he was asked, no more dates.
Considering he couldn’t remember ever being asked, he was in for some alone time. Or quick pick-up-fucks, meaningless, emotionless, and considering the mess, the mindfucks he’d been going through, he was more than ok with that.
~
The first time it happened, Ray didn’t even know it was happening.
“Want to go for a drink sometime?” she said, shrugging tiredly into her coat.
Ray nodded, smiling back at her as he limped over to his desk. She was possibly the first FBI agent he’d ever liked, and it was nice to be liked back. These days, he was pretty short on friends. “Tell me when and where.”
“How about now and there?”
Ray looked at where she pointed, the big poster on the board by his head, and groaned. “You serious? You’re serious.” He shook his head as he patted himself down for wallet and keys. “I was thinking more along the lines of beer and pool somewhere dark and smoky. You paying?”
“Seeing as I get paid more,” she grinned, then rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m paying, you cad.”
“Well, alrighty then,” he said, standing toe to toe with her. “Seeing as you’re paying.” She was almost his height and this was how they’d first met, getting right in each other’s faces and speaking over each other and shouting about, yeah, jurisdiction. Same old. Except half hour later, they’re walking out of Welsh’s office and smiling and here they were, at the end of the case, friends.
He led the way to his car, because she might be paying, but she sure as hell wasn’t driving. And she wanted to. Every single time they took his car, she was always trying to drive – she liked his car. Although the way she stroked the Goat before she opened the door, maybe like didn’t come close to how she felt. He understood. But she still wasn’t driving.
“You really get paid more?” he asked, curious, as he looked for a slot. The restaurant was popular, even without the 2-7 using it for their parties, and cars were just jam-packed everywhere.
“Sure. You should apply.” He grinned, but she was serious, not a joke in sight as she looked out for a space. She did a double-take as she saw him watching her. “What?”
A car pulled out in front and he scooted in. She really thought he was good enough, and that was pretty mind-blowing. Not that he thought cops were lesser than the FBI, and most agents he met were idiots, but still. FBI. It was a compliment. And like friends, compliments had been pretty thin on the ground too. “Me and suits? Never the twain kinda thing.”
“I’ve seen you in a suit, remember? I liked it.” She nodded, winked. “Rakish.”
“Cad, rake. Budding bodice ripper writer, right?”
She stopped him just inside the doors, laughing, green eyes shining as she grabbed his jacket and kissed him. It wasn’t a simple peck between friends. This one had tongue. Unless she kissed friends with tongue. Ray didn’t think so, and he kissed back mainly out of reflex. Someone kissed you, you kissed back. It was only polite. And just thinking the word ‘polite’ made him think of Fraser and he pulled back, licking his lips, looking at her like he’d never seen her before. Obviously he hadn’t really seen her before – he wouldn’t have missed this if he had.
“Hey,” he said, and it came out breathless and as stunned as he expected he looked.
She grinned, taking his hand and pulling him towards the party rooms at the back. “I know you don’t like Vecchio, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be avoiding you too. So, let’s grab some free food and I’ll buy you a girly cocktail or two.” They passed through the doors and the noise and music hit them, but really, all Ray could see was Jenna. “And then we make a quick exit back to your place. For coffee. Sound good?”
He nodded, and Jenna kissed him again and there were whistles and catcalls, which only made Jenna smile into his mouth and kiss him harder.
~
The second time, he was even more clueless.
“And he brought this plate out, and I swear there was a skull on it, and other things that looked bad and smelled foul and he smiled, genuinely, happily, proudly offering me the gourmet delicacies of his country.”
“You ate it?” Ray asked, scrunching up his face.
Dan nodded, taking a sip of his wine. “So, you see, it’s not all fun and games being a diplomat.”
Ray snorted, finishing off his glass of red. Dan poured him some more. Forty dollars a glass, Dan had said, when Ray had drained the first glass in one go. Ray didn’t get it – it just tasted like red wine. And he’d said it out loud, instantly regretting it the moment the words left his mouth because that was the kind of thing Stella didn’t like him saying, but Dan had just laughed and told him to drink up, the hotel was footing the bill. And after everything they’d gone through while staying there - they’d both grinned and kept on drinking.
“So, how do you actually eat a skull?”
“You lick it.”
And he thought of Fraser and searched for something else to talk about. “Must be hard, though, being back here. Sounds like you liked living all over the world, even with the weird food.”
“I like it here,” Dan said, shrugging and sitting back. He looked out the window at the Chicago night-life, then glanced around the restaurant with its pristine décor and the piano player in the corner. “Some things you can only get here.”
Pizza, Ray thought, and wanted it even though he’d just had steak. Eating in high class places like this never left him full, and since he’d been here almost a week, his stomach was really beginning to feel the strain. But come tomorrow, he’d be heading home and first stop – Sandor’s.
“Shall we get out of here?”
“Sure,” he said, and looked up and Dan was staring at him and just like that, it was like a light bulb went on in his head. Maybe he never saw it before because Dan had been on official business before, all polished and confident, dressed to the nines, quieting a room just by walking into it. Now, it was all over, and he was sprawled back in his chair, shirtsleeves rolled up, tie loose, buttons undone, and looking at him in a way that Ray had no problems understanding. Now. At the end of their dinner date.
He wanted to thump himself for being so stupid, because looking back on it now, it was clearly a date from the very beginning.
Dan was already standing, getting out a few notes for the tip, and smiling at Ray. “Coffee at my place?”
“Sure,” Ray said again, smiling back.
~
Third time’s the charm.
“Ray.”
Ray turned, blinked, and felt his jaw drop. “Woah! Mountie man turned Mountain man.” He reached up and just managed to stop himself in time, dropping his hand before he touched Fraser. “Something’s on your face.”
Fraser’s lips twisted behind his heavy covering of stubble, and Ray felt his heart speed up.
“You might wanna try tweezers.”
“Not shaving implements?”
Ray shook his head. “No, that’s the old way, Fraser. Things have changed since you went off to play hermit. Now we use tweezers.”
Fraser leaned on the wall beside him. Leaned. Ray felt his eyebrows shoot up. “You’ll have to show me some time. It is, after all, easier to learn by example.”
Ray snorted, and his heart skipped a beat as dark blue eyes shone and drank him in. He looked away quickly, back to the conference and to Dan at his authoritative best. The TV was on mute, he couldn’t hear anything, but he was sure it was important and Dan was making an impression as always.
“Are you doing anything tonight, Ray?”
His heart was past skipping, it was thundering in his chest now. He slanted a glance at Fraser, saw the unwavering stare locked on him. The mountie on a mission look, but this time, it was all for him, and everything he’d thought, decided – he’s not interested, was never interested, it’s over, move on – started tumbling away and he - couldn’t do this again. Go through this again.
“Why?” He asked. Croaked. He cleared his throat, and the blush was hot on his face and he wanted to look away, at Dan, but he wanted to see Fraser more, wanted to see everything so he didn’t misunderstand anything.
Fraser swallowed, and straightened from his casual rest against the wall. He looked tense, determined, and Ray felt a moment’s panic and he shifted nervously on his feet. It was coming, he could feel it, what he’d been wanting for so long he’d forgotten he’d had a life before, before Fraser, and he wanted it but -. But. So many times he’d started to talk forgetting Fraser wasn’t at his side anymore, and picked up the phone and dialled the Consulate, and sometimes, still, if he wasn’t thinking properly, he’d drive that way to pick up a man and a half-wolf who weren’t there.
“I would like to take you out to dinner,” Fraser said, and despite his leather jacket, jeans, hiking boots, his outgrown military-cut hair curling and falling over his eyes, the stubble dark and making Ray itchy just by looking at it, despite all that, he was standing stiff and formal like he was in dress uniform. His voice shook slightly, but he looked fierce, eyes hot and steely as he waited for Ray’s answer.
You’re so hot, Ray wanted to say, feeling like a teenaged girl, but what came out was: “What’s the occasion?”
Fraser licked his lips, and Ray’s eyes followed and he snapped them back to Fraser’s eyes with effort. “A romantic one, hopefully,” Fraser said, and his voice was softer, more confident.
Ray bit his lip and looked at the floor. “Who else is gonna be there?”
“Ray!” And the frustration rang out clearly, and Fraser was looking at him with equal amounts of annoyance and amusement.
And it wasn’t funny. There was nothing funny going on here. “I don’t want any misunderstandings, Fraser,” he said, his temper starting to rise, and Fraser stepped forward and the next thing Ray knew, he was being kissed, Fraser’s hot mouth nibbling and licking his own open, his tongue sliding in and ok, so there was no misunderstanding.
Ray wrapped his arms around Fraser’s waist, holding on tight, fingers digging in as Fraser gave small biting kisses to his jaw, licked his ear, bit and tugged his earlobe gently. “Any more questions I can clear up for you, Ray?”
“Nuh.” Ray grabbed those black curls and got intimate with those lips again.
“Are you sure? Maybe -.”
Ray tugged sharply on his hair. “Can the questionable and highly inappropriate-considering-the-circumstances humour, Fraser.”
Looking only slightly chastened, Fraser gave him one last kiss before stepping back. “Dinner’s getting cold.”
Ray frowned. “What?”
“Upstairs, one floor above yours, room 625.”
Ray blinked, and he didn’t think he could feel better than he already was, but a smile was breaking out and Fraser smiled back, leaning in to kiss him again. “You’ve been planning this.”
And when they got to 625, the first thing he saw was the table set out on the balcony, complete with shining silverware and candles and roses. He laughed, turning to Fraser and pushing him against the wall. “Pretty sure of yourself, mountie.”
Fraser’s smile faded, and he gently stroked over Ray’s gelled spikes. “Sure of you, Ray.”
And he could have been talking about Ray’s feelings, and he would have been right, but Ray knew he was talking about his own, knew it in the way Fraser avoided his eyes and solemnly stroked Ray’s throat and jaw.
“I’m ok with campfires and dehydrated meat products,” he said, because he was and he really didn’t want any misunderstandings.
“I’m quite fond of pizza and room service,” Fraser said, nodding.
And getting taken on a date was great, Ray thought, plastering himself against Fraser and just staying there for a while, face tucked into his neck and breathing in the Fraser smell he’d been missing for months, but add Fraser to the mix and it was just perfect.
Perfect
It came out of the blue.
“Fine, fine, what’s the best date you’ve been taken on then?”
“I took -.”
Dewey cut in. “I said taken on, as in she took you.”
And Ray had sat there at his desk, listening to them and wishing they’d shut up because they just never shut up – when it hit him, that he’d never been taken on a date. He’d always taken them. He’d never thought about it. He did it because he wanted to, it hadn’t been about tit for tat, keeping score, even, dutch.
He took them on dates, planned it all, because he wanted to, and they – they didn’t because -
And it was clear. It was all clear. Ray was always the one making the effort, and it got him nothing as far as he could tell. So, fresh from the double whammy of Stella and Fraser hightailing it out of his life, he made a decision: unless he was asked, no more dates.
Considering he couldn’t remember ever being asked, he was in for some alone time. Or quick pick-up-fucks, meaningless, emotionless, and considering the mess, the mindfucks he’d been going through, he was more than ok with that.
~
The first time it happened, Ray didn’t even know it was happening.
“Want to go for a drink sometime?” she said, shrugging tiredly into her coat.
Ray nodded, smiling back at her as he limped over to his desk. She was possibly the first FBI agent he’d ever liked, and it was nice to be liked back. These days, he was pretty short on friends. “Tell me when and where.”
“How about now and there?”
Ray looked at where she pointed, the big poster on the board by his head, and groaned. “You serious? You’re serious.” He shook his head as he patted himself down for wallet and keys. “I was thinking more along the lines of beer and pool somewhere dark and smoky. You paying?”
“Seeing as I get paid more,” she grinned, then rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m paying, you cad.”
“Well, alrighty then,” he said, standing toe to toe with her. “Seeing as you’re paying.” She was almost his height and this was how they’d first met, getting right in each other’s faces and speaking over each other and shouting about, yeah, jurisdiction. Same old. Except half hour later, they’re walking out of Welsh’s office and smiling and here they were, at the end of the case, friends.
He led the way to his car, because she might be paying, but she sure as hell wasn’t driving. And she wanted to. Every single time they took his car, she was always trying to drive – she liked his car. Although the way she stroked the Goat before she opened the door, maybe like didn’t come close to how she felt. He understood. But she still wasn’t driving.
“You really get paid more?” he asked, curious, as he looked for a slot. The restaurant was popular, even without the 2-7 using it for their parties, and cars were just jam-packed everywhere.
“Sure. You should apply.” He grinned, but she was serious, not a joke in sight as she looked out for a space. She did a double-take as she saw him watching her. “What?”
A car pulled out in front and he scooted in. She really thought he was good enough, and that was pretty mind-blowing. Not that he thought cops were lesser than the FBI, and most agents he met were idiots, but still. FBI. It was a compliment. And like friends, compliments had been pretty thin on the ground too. “Me and suits? Never the twain kinda thing.”
“I’ve seen you in a suit, remember? I liked it.” She nodded, winked. “Rakish.”
“Cad, rake. Budding bodice ripper writer, right?”
She stopped him just inside the doors, laughing, green eyes shining as she grabbed his jacket and kissed him. It wasn’t a simple peck between friends. This one had tongue. Unless she kissed friends with tongue. Ray didn’t think so, and he kissed back mainly out of reflex. Someone kissed you, you kissed back. It was only polite. And just thinking the word ‘polite’ made him think of Fraser and he pulled back, licking his lips, looking at her like he’d never seen her before. Obviously he hadn’t really seen her before – he wouldn’t have missed this if he had.
“Hey,” he said, and it came out breathless and as stunned as he expected he looked.
She grinned, taking his hand and pulling him towards the party rooms at the back. “I know you don’t like Vecchio, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be avoiding you too. So, let’s grab some free food and I’ll buy you a girly cocktail or two.” They passed through the doors and the noise and music hit them, but really, all Ray could see was Jenna. “And then we make a quick exit back to your place. For coffee. Sound good?”
He nodded, and Jenna kissed him again and there were whistles and catcalls, which only made Jenna smile into his mouth and kiss him harder.
~
The second time, he was even more clueless.
“And he brought this plate out, and I swear there was a skull on it, and other things that looked bad and smelled foul and he smiled, genuinely, happily, proudly offering me the gourmet delicacies of his country.”
“You ate it?” Ray asked, scrunching up his face.
Dan nodded, taking a sip of his wine. “So, you see, it’s not all fun and games being a diplomat.”
Ray snorted, finishing off his glass of red. Dan poured him some more. Forty dollars a glass, Dan had said, when Ray had drained the first glass in one go. Ray didn’t get it – it just tasted like red wine. And he’d said it out loud, instantly regretting it the moment the words left his mouth because that was the kind of thing Stella didn’t like him saying, but Dan had just laughed and told him to drink up, the hotel was footing the bill. And after everything they’d gone through while staying there - they’d both grinned and kept on drinking.
“So, how do you actually eat a skull?”
“You lick it.”
And he thought of Fraser and searched for something else to talk about. “Must be hard, though, being back here. Sounds like you liked living all over the world, even with the weird food.”
“I like it here,” Dan said, shrugging and sitting back. He looked out the window at the Chicago night-life, then glanced around the restaurant with its pristine décor and the piano player in the corner. “Some things you can only get here.”
Pizza, Ray thought, and wanted it even though he’d just had steak. Eating in high class places like this never left him full, and since he’d been here almost a week, his stomach was really beginning to feel the strain. But come tomorrow, he’d be heading home and first stop – Sandor’s.
“Shall we get out of here?”
“Sure,” he said, and looked up and Dan was staring at him and just like that, it was like a light bulb went on in his head. Maybe he never saw it before because Dan had been on official business before, all polished and confident, dressed to the nines, quieting a room just by walking into it. Now, it was all over, and he was sprawled back in his chair, shirtsleeves rolled up, tie loose, buttons undone, and looking at him in a way that Ray had no problems understanding. Now. At the end of their dinner date.
He wanted to thump himself for being so stupid, because looking back on it now, it was clearly a date from the very beginning.
Dan was already standing, getting out a few notes for the tip, and smiling at Ray. “Coffee at my place?”
“Sure,” Ray said again, smiling back.
~
Third time’s the charm.
“Ray.”
Ray turned, blinked, and felt his jaw drop. “Woah! Mountie man turned Mountain man.” He reached up and just managed to stop himself in time, dropping his hand before he touched Fraser. “Something’s on your face.”
Fraser’s lips twisted behind his heavy covering of stubble, and Ray felt his heart speed up.
“You might wanna try tweezers.”
“Not shaving implements?”
Ray shook his head. “No, that’s the old way, Fraser. Things have changed since you went off to play hermit. Now we use tweezers.”
Fraser leaned on the wall beside him. Leaned. Ray felt his eyebrows shoot up. “You’ll have to show me some time. It is, after all, easier to learn by example.”
Ray snorted, and his heart skipped a beat as dark blue eyes shone and drank him in. He looked away quickly, back to the conference and to Dan at his authoritative best. The TV was on mute, he couldn’t hear anything, but he was sure it was important and Dan was making an impression as always.
“Are you doing anything tonight, Ray?”
His heart was past skipping, it was thundering in his chest now. He slanted a glance at Fraser, saw the unwavering stare locked on him. The mountie on a mission look, but this time, it was all for him, and everything he’d thought, decided – he’s not interested, was never interested, it’s over, move on – started tumbling away and he - couldn’t do this again. Go through this again.
“Why?” He asked. Croaked. He cleared his throat, and the blush was hot on his face and he wanted to look away, at Dan, but he wanted to see Fraser more, wanted to see everything so he didn’t misunderstand anything.
Fraser swallowed, and straightened from his casual rest against the wall. He looked tense, determined, and Ray felt a moment’s panic and he shifted nervously on his feet. It was coming, he could feel it, what he’d been wanting for so long he’d forgotten he’d had a life before, before Fraser, and he wanted it but -. But. So many times he’d started to talk forgetting Fraser wasn’t at his side anymore, and picked up the phone and dialled the Consulate, and sometimes, still, if he wasn’t thinking properly, he’d drive that way to pick up a man and a half-wolf who weren’t there.
“I would like to take you out to dinner,” Fraser said, and despite his leather jacket, jeans, hiking boots, his outgrown military-cut hair curling and falling over his eyes, the stubble dark and making Ray itchy just by looking at it, despite all that, he was standing stiff and formal like he was in dress uniform. His voice shook slightly, but he looked fierce, eyes hot and steely as he waited for Ray’s answer.
You’re so hot, Ray wanted to say, feeling like a teenaged girl, but what came out was: “What’s the occasion?”
Fraser licked his lips, and Ray’s eyes followed and he snapped them back to Fraser’s eyes with effort. “A romantic one, hopefully,” Fraser said, and his voice was softer, more confident.
Ray bit his lip and looked at the floor. “Who else is gonna be there?”
“Ray!” And the frustration rang out clearly, and Fraser was looking at him with equal amounts of annoyance and amusement.
And it wasn’t funny. There was nothing funny going on here. “I don’t want any misunderstandings, Fraser,” he said, his temper starting to rise, and Fraser stepped forward and the next thing Ray knew, he was being kissed, Fraser’s hot mouth nibbling and licking his own open, his tongue sliding in and ok, so there was no misunderstanding.
Ray wrapped his arms around Fraser’s waist, holding on tight, fingers digging in as Fraser gave small biting kisses to his jaw, licked his ear, bit and tugged his earlobe gently. “Any more questions I can clear up for you, Ray?”
“Nuh.” Ray grabbed those black curls and got intimate with those lips again.
“Are you sure? Maybe -.”
Ray tugged sharply on his hair. “Can the questionable and highly inappropriate-considering-the-circumstances humour, Fraser.”
Looking only slightly chastened, Fraser gave him one last kiss before stepping back. “Dinner’s getting cold.”
Ray frowned. “What?”
“Upstairs, one floor above yours, room 625.”
Ray blinked, and he didn’t think he could feel better than he already was, but a smile was breaking out and Fraser smiled back, leaning in to kiss him again. “You’ve been planning this.”
And when they got to 625, the first thing he saw was the table set out on the balcony, complete with shining silverware and candles and roses. He laughed, turning to Fraser and pushing him against the wall. “Pretty sure of yourself, mountie.”
Fraser’s smile faded, and he gently stroked over Ray’s gelled spikes. “Sure of you, Ray.”
And he could have been talking about Ray’s feelings, and he would have been right, but Ray knew he was talking about his own, knew it in the way Fraser avoided his eyes and solemnly stroked Ray’s throat and jaw.
“I’m ok with campfires and dehydrated meat products,” he said, because he was and he really didn’t want any misunderstandings.
“I’m quite fond of pizza and room service,” Fraser said, nodding.
And getting taken on a date was great, Ray thought, plastering himself against Fraser and just staying there for a while, face tucked into his neck and breathing in the Fraser smell he’d been missing for months, but add Fraser to the mix and it was just perfect.
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And thanks:) - it's been a while since I got to play Ray. Good to know I wasn't way off mark.
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It's like all those relationship articles in magazines....stop looking so hard and it comes to you. :)
Well done!!!
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and thanks:)
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for me, Fraser is it for Ray, from the moment he was born even *g* - he just lost his way a bit.
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The romantic dinner upstairs, pre-planned? Yay! And the kisses! *swoons*
But. So many times he’d started to talk forgetting Fraser wasn’t at his side anymore, and picked up the phone and dialled the Consulate, and sometimes, still, if he wasn’t thinking properly, he’d drive that way to pick up a man and a half-wolf who weren’t there.
Ouch! Perfectly stated! It would have been exactly this way if Fraser had left.
Such great character moments here:
I’m ok with campfires and dehydrated meat products,” he said, because he was and he really didn’t want any misunderstandings.
“I’m quite fond of pizza and room service,” Fraser said, nodding.
Three great dates, progressively better. Hooray for you for bringing Fraser back to him!!!!
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The kissing was wonderful, but so was Ray. I adored this. Thank you.
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woww.. i loved both the OMC and the OFC.. they were very likeable.. and that last section with Fraser is just so beautiful and moving.
thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story! ♥
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As for the OCs, I wanted Ray to have good people want him for a change. I get why dS did what they did, but still, Ray's just too sweet to be stuck in that frame. And too sexy - people are so blind!