ext_2796 ([identity profile] llassah.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] ds_flashfiction2006-11-25 02:15 pm

Cave-in challenge: Burrow, by llassah

Title: Burrow
Author: llassah
Pairing: Fraser/RayK
Rating: PG-13
Length: 430 words
Notes: More of a vignette than an actual fic. Ray Kowalski, two beds, a sleeping bag, and a Mountie



When he was a kid, he’d play under the sheets in his parents’ bed, sometimes tunnelling through from pillows to foot, an explorer, intrepid, sometimes making himself as small as possibly, burying himself in the clean-smelling warmth and pretending he was waiting to be born, or didn’t exist. That bed was used for turtle-hunting, plane-flying, as a cave during his brief but passionate fascination with sabre toothed tigers (ending when his mother started wondering where all the celery sticks were going, why Ray kept refusing any food but meat, and wouldn't stop growling at the neighbour’s dog)- the possibilities were endless, dizzying. Usually, he did remember to take off his shoes before playing.

**

When Stella left, he stayed in bed. He stayed there when the door clicked shut for the last time, listening to her walking out of his new apartment and into the brave new world. He would have signed anything, would have signed away his soul, his life, just so that she left and he didn’t have to see her and hope, or try one more time. He stayed in bed for days, curled up so tightly his knees were nearly touching his chin, and breathing was a wrenching ache. He retreated into himself, burrowing until he was safe, warm and invulnerable and tried not to think of the world outside, the too-bright lights, the jarring sounds and the air that seemed to cut into his skin. A world where everything would remind him of her, even if there was no trace of her there.

**

The sleeping bag is hard to burrow in, but Ray tries. In the daytime, there is the sheer vastness of the sky and the snow, the feeling of skywalking, the way the whole world seemed to be in this frozen wasteland. At nights, restriction and limits take away the insignificance of being a speck on a page of white and make him the world, cocooned in softness and warmth.

“What are you doing, Ray?”

Fraser’s voice sounds warm and amused- out here, he has no standards to uphold, and it has taken all the starch out of his spine. The smile he had been wearing after landing from the plane is his normal smile now.

“I’m, uh, I’m snuggling, Frase. You mind?”

“No, not at all.”

Ray takes him at his word, wrapping himself around Fraser, then wrapping the sleeping bag around both of them, drawing him into his world, just as Fraser invited him into his with a beautiful smile and a conversation by firelight. Here, there’s room enough for two.

[identity profile] grey853.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a lovely character study of the progression of Ray. I like how it ends on a happy note. Well done.

[identity profile] grey853.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad it's a happy ending. Seems like a lot of folks are writing sad endings lately. I avoid those.

[identity profile] grey853.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't read sad endings because I read fic to feel better. The guys can go through all kinds of rough patches, but in the end I want them to be together and happy. RL if full of too much sadness anyway. I don't want it in my fic to make me feel blue.
ext_20943: (essential)

[identity profile] sam80853.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwwww .... nice! SnugglingRay!
eledhwenlin: (Double Hotness)

[personal profile] eledhwenlin 2006-11-25 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, snuggling!

[identity profile] apetslife.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, lovely! I can see how Ray, all big brash gestures out in the open, would be a total cocooner in the nice safe warmth of bed. Really well done!
ext_1611: Isis statue (Ray K)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm, nice imagery.

[identity profile] slidellra.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yummy. There's nothing I like better than sleepy, snuggly Ray.

Fraser’s voice sounds warm and amused- out here, he has no standards to uphold, and it has taken all the starch out of his spine. The smile he had been wearing after landing from the plane is his normal smile now.

And that is a wonderful, wonderful image.
china_shop: Close-up of Zhao Yunlan grinning (F/K good time to tell you i love you)

[personal profile] china_shop 2006-11-25 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
At nights, restriction and limits take away the insignificance of being a speck on a page of white and make him the world, cocooned in softness and warmth.

*HEARTS*

[identity profile] nos4a2no9.livejournal.com 2006-11-25 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww...snuggles! That last paragraph was really beautiful. And I liked the contrast between childhood fun, depressed post-Stella wallowing and warm Fraser-related cuddling. Good job on showing the transition, and thanks for posting this - it felt like a warm hug :-)

[identity profile] mickeymvt.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, baby!Ray is cute. Snuggling in a sleeping bag with Fraser- Ray would do that.
ext_3190: Red icon with logo "I drink Nozz-a-la- Cola" in cursive. (dS: ray)

[identity profile] primroseburrows.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
I love how the last vignette is set in one of the coldest places on earth, but feels so very warm. *basks* :)
ext_3190: Red icon with logo "I drink Nozz-a-la- Cola" in cursive. (dS:fraserserge2)

[identity profile] primroseburrows.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a whole fanon concept about how warm Fraser is, and I buy into the theory completely. It's that extra layer of body fat or something. Ray obviously knows how to take advantage of this. :)
ext_3190: Red icon with logo "I drink Nozz-a-la- Cola" in cursive. (dS:fraserserge2)

[identity profile] primroseburrows.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Probably one of the reasons Fraser mentioned it in the first place. Oh, Fraser, you're so subtly manipulative and such a romantic and I love you.
ext_3190: Red icon with logo "I drink Nozz-a-la- Cola" in cursive. (dS: speech)

[identity profile] primroseburrows.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Theirloveissocausedbythecold!

Word.

[identity profile] j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 09:03 am (UTC)(link)
Awww, sweet!

Turtle-hunting! :) And burrowing after Stella. Oh, Ray.

I love this:
The smile he had been wearing after landing from the plane is his normal smile now.

And we know why it is. :)
ext_12460: acquired from fanpop.com (Kiss him already by scriggle)

[identity profile] akite.livejournal.com 2006-11-26 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww...I'd love to snuggle with Ray. I'm sure Fraser feels the same.

[identity profile] mergatrude.livejournal.com 2006-11-27 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Adorable! I too, love that Fraser's smile is permanent.

[identity profile] omendreamer.livejournal.com 2006-11-28 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The fic, and the comments, just induces a total happy!sigh, despite lots of current RL nastiness. And speaking as a kid who was lucky enough to have her parents' California King Size bed and a willing accomplice, burrowing under the covers is hours of fun.

[identity profile] snarkyducky.livejournal.com 2007-06-20 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
i was so fond of the first paragraph.. it's so warm and safe..
and then i got to the last, and i just melted..
this story is so very lovely, and so different from everything i've read..
thank you for sharing this beautiful gem!
ext_41296: throat!porn pic curtesy lilferret (BM - hug)

[identity profile] wanderingsmith.livejournal.com 2010-06-20 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
oh that had a surprising sudden warmth. :) thank you