Amnesty Challenge: Water Challenge by slidellra

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Title: A bath kind of guy
Author: slidellra
Pairing: F/K
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Many thanks to lipstickcat for beta. Roughly 720 words of schmoop.


ETA: Check out the beautiful cover made by wihluta for DSSS 2008!


Fraser liked baths. That blew Ray's mind, just a little, 'cause when he thought of baths he thought of girl stuff and luxury and pampering, none of which he associated with Fraser. But even before they started fucking, when Fraser was still sleeping on the couch when he stayed over, Fraser'd take baths. The first time, he asked like it was a major favor, and he scrubbed Ray's tub out before and after and came out of the bathroom almost an hour later so pink and glowy that Ray had to shift in his sweats and pretend to be focusing real hard on the TV.

Later, he didn't ask, and once in a while, like tonight, Ray would wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of running water and soft splashes.

It wasn't like he spent a ton of time thinking about it. But, yeah, some. A little. Did Fraser have a brisk, efficient 'cleansing procedure'? Did he put his head back and close his eyes and drift? Did he touch himself?

Ray wasn't real big on baths, himself. Didn't want to be alone, to hold still. He always wanted to get on with things, get moving. And he'd never tried jerking off in the tub, but it seemed weird, not like the shower where everything went right down the drain anyway. Showers were noisy and busy and more private somehow. In the shower he didn't have the time and quiet to think about things like being the only person on the fucking planet, apparently, who wanted to touch his dick.

He'd been wrong about that, at least, Ray thought with a stretch and the bone-deep satisfaction of the well-laid.

He rolled over to look at the bathroom door. A little sliver of light came out from under. Not much. Maybe just the light over the mirror was on, instead of the too-bright glare of the overhead.

He should probably go back to sleep, let Fraser have his time alone. Ray was needy, he knew that, and Fraser was used to solitude, fought for it, in his polite, stubborn way, despite the total lack of privacy at the Consulate. But the bed was getting cold without Fraser the furnace, and Ray was curious.

Getting up, he padded to the door and pushed it open as quietly as he could, squinting a little against the soft light. The air was humid and heavy and warm. Fraser was lying in the tub; his arms on the sides, his eyes shut.

Ray shut the door behind him, keeping the cool air out, and watched. The edges of Fraser's lips twitched a little, but he didn't say anything.

Sitting on the (holy shit, cold) edge of the tub, Ray trailed his fingers in the water. Hot. He watched his fingers under the water; light and a little distorted as he ran them over Fraser's chest, Fraser's thigh.

"Never would have figured you for a bath kind of guy, Frase."

His eyes still shut, Fraser said, "We didn't have running water for much of my childhood. I find I've never entirely adjusted to showering."

"Hmmm." Ray could do enigmatic noises with the best of them.

"And the heat does help ease sore muscles and old injuries," Fraser admitted, and Ray nodded.

"You got plenty of those." So did he.

Fraser's fingers crept along the edge of the tub, found Ray's side. "Join me?"

"Kinda cramped in there for two."

"We can make it work."

Ray stood and stepped into the tub, the water hot hot hot against his cool skin. Sinking down between Fraser's legs, he leaned back against him, trying to figure out how to fold his legs into the too-small space. Fraser's arms wrapped around him and he leaned his head back against Fraser's shoulder.

"Nice," he said.

"Mmm, very." Fraser's chest rumbled a little when he spoke.

Fraser was rubbing a thumb along Ray's ribs, back and forth. Ray shut his eyes, focusing on the rhythm and pressure of Fraser's thumb, Fraser's breathing.

"Never really been into baths. Not my thing."

There was a pause before Fraser said, close to his ear, "Sometimes our 'thing' changes, Ray."

"Yeah," he agreed, relaxing some more. "I could get used to this."



**

Comments

[exeterlinden.livejournal.com]

Ah, this was nice. Like a cup of hot cocoa. Thank you for sharing!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

My pleasure, and thank you for your comment. I love the hot cocoa.

[grey853.livejournal.com]

Very cozy. Ray's always been very flexible. *g*

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Ray's always been very flexible.

Really, one of my favorite things about him. And he speaks body language fluently.

Thanks for the comment!

[akite.livejournal.com]

Awwww...I'm more of a shower person myself, but sometimes there's nothing that beats a long, hot bath.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Very true. Especially when the long, hot bath involves these two.

Thanks for the "Awwww."

[bluebrocade.livejournal.com]

Sweet. Is there room in that tub for me too?

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

For you, me, and a couple thousand other fangirls. Unfortunately, Ray and Fraser got scared and ran away.

Thanks for the comment!

[shoemaster.livejournal.com]

I want a bath SO BAD now. But I have to write my dSSS! And The Office!

...BATH. I think you may have successfully compelled me, though I'm going to be really disappointed when neither Ray nor Fraser come to join me.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

BATH. You never know. They might.

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

sweet!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

*g*

[take-no-ko.livejournal.com]

And boy, was it good schmoop :)

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Yes. Excuse me for a minute while I admire your icon.
...
...
...
Right. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
*goes back to admiring*

[take-no-ko.livejournal.com]

It is a good icon, isn't it... kinda like yours :)

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

I took a bath yesterday. Then I had to get up and take a shower right after, because I was all ... bathy.

Um, I really liked this little story :) It was very sweet. Let's hear it for schmoop!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Yes, baths will do that to you.

Glad you enjoyed the sweetness!

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Lovely! It's a sweet little scene, with a big implication at the end. I'm reading a silent "forever" into it. &hearts &hearts &hearts

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you! And I'm a-okay with that reading of the end.

[sam80853.livejournal.com]

Awwww ... so very sweet!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[omphale]

As much as I love seeing your writing process, every once in a while it's great to just see the end result, because this is awesome and sweet and just perfect to end the day.

The first time, he asked like it was a major favor, and he scrubbed Ray's tub out before and after and came out of the bathroom almost an hour later so pink and glowy that Ray had to shift in his sweats and pretend to be focusing real hard on the TV.

This is a fantastic image. Lovely, and yet funny and in character for both of them.

Ray was needy, he knew that, and Fraser was used to solitude, fought for it, in his polite, stubborn way, despite the total lack of privacy at the Consulate.

He does, doesn't he? He needs time alone, and all through the canon we see him off on his own, in a way that we rarely see either Ray. I love it when a fic makes me think about the show in a way I hadn't before.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

It was quite the day of short and sweet from omphale and slidellra. Glad you liked it; I loved yours.

This is a fantastic image. Lovely, and yet funny and in character for both of them.

When Fraser comes out of the tub all glowy with his towel around his hips, I have to shift in my sweats and stare intently at the TV. Can't imagine it'd be much different for Ray.

He does, doesn't he? He needs time alone, and all through the canon we see him off on his own, in a way that we rarely see either Ray.

He's an interesting mix; he's social and seems very comfortable with strangers, but he's both deeply lonely and comfortable with (beyond comfortable, needs) a level of solitude that's pretty intimidating.

It pained me to write Ray labelling himself as needy. I mean, he is, but not always/automatically, it's a Stella-scar, and a sign of how scared he is of losing the person he loves. Poor, fucked up boys.

[omphale]

We've got quite the little mutual appreciation society going here, don't we? *g*

It pained me to write Ray labelling himself as needy. I mean, he is, but not always/automatically, it's a Stella-scar, and a sign of how scared he is of losing the person he loves.

Definitely. But at the same time, when he labels himself I always read it as an echo--he's heard it so many times that, even if he doesn't believe it, the description pops into his head. Because he's not really terribly needy here--he's more curious than anything else.

But agreed, that they are quite fucked up. That's most of the appeal, really.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

We've got quite the little mutual appreciation society going here, don't we? *g*

Hearts and flowers, all the way.

Definitely. But at the same time, when he labels himself I always read it as an echo--he's heard it so many times that, even if he doesn't believe it, the description pops into his head. Because he's not really terribly needy here--he's more curious than anything else.

YES. Even in canon his neediness is specific and kind of justified. I don't see him as crazy clingy if things are going fairly well. I had a little bit written out about the echo thing: more like "Stella'd complained so much about him being needy" than "He was needy," but I couldn't quite make it work without a big dissection of how and when he was needy, and it was a little too much self-knowledge/past relationship analysis for a schmooplet.

But agreed, that they are quite fucked up. That's most of the appeal, really.

That and the nicely toned asses.

[buzzylittleb.livejournal.com]

*dead of cute*

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

*mourns*

(Thanks!)

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Um, yes. I have this thing about bath-centric fics and this story hit all the right notes. *sigh* I love the idea of Fraser doing his own Fraser-ish form of wallowing, and I like the way Ray is *puzzled* by it. And how Ray is converted by the end of the story (because who wouldn't be?) This was terrific!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of Fraser doing his own Fraser-ish form of wallowing,

I had a fun time thinking up canon justification for it. That scene where Fraser comes out of the bath and all his neighbors are lined up waiting (to ogle)? There's a line because he took so long. Because he is a bath HOG.

And how Ray is converted by the end of the story (because who wouldn't be?)

"Naw, Frase, I think I'll just go back to bed alone. Don't want to get all pruny."

This was terrific!

Thanks so much!

[lucifercircle.livejournal.com]

Aww, so sweet.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[dessert-first.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely. Just reading it did feel very much like sinking into a warm bath.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely comment! Thanks so much.

[kristiinthedark.livejournal.com]

I wonder how long it will be before I can take a bath and not think of this? Not ever, if I have anything to say about it. Very lovely and sweet and I adore it. Nice touch, too, about Ray only taking showers because he wants to move around too much.

*loves*

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks for the feedback. Was fun writing a cozy little thing. As much as I love imagining Ray in the tub, he doesn't seem like a long soak kind of guy without proper incentive. Fraser is, of course, excellent incentive.

[china_shop]

Getting up, he padded to the door and pushed it open as quietly as he could, squinting a little against the soft light. The air was humid and heavy and warm. Fraser was lying in the tub; his arms on the sides, his eyes shut.

Oh, yummmmmmmm! I love your descriptions -- it feels very real. Yay!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[llassah.livejournal.com]

Yay! Baths! Can't believe I missed this one, but it was lovely! And oh, Fraser, you big sissy Mountie girl, taking baths *g*. So sweet, and hot, and really relaxed (and where's the rubber duck *smirks*) Lovely, as ever

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks so much! (Hee! I didn't even think of rubber duckies. *shakes head at self*)

Happy New Year!

[(Anonymous)]

short and sweet! i love the image of this perfectly relaxed fraser -- tally

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I'm glad it worked for you.

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmmm. So sweet, and I love "we can make it work" and "sometimes our thing changes"--so much happening in those lines.

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. Love this. Didn't see it when it was posted. What a treat to read it now. Especially with new cover art! :)

[podfic-lover.livejournal.com]

Found my way here via dsss.

I never thought about their washing preferences, but it rings true, how you describe it. Bathing together is a very intimite act, if you can relax and enjoy the closeness. I love your ideas that Fraser invites Ray to share this experience with him, to make it their 'thing'. And the new cover sums this up perfectly. Thanks for sharing!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Aww, sweet! I'm a shower-to-get-clean kind of person, but baths are awesome for luxuriating. I'd definitely take a bath with either one of those guys. Or both, even. :)

*edited on account of being sick eating my tense ability*

[wanderingsmith.livejournal.com]

eh, 'fraid I'm with ray. bath = boring. tried reading i it, not comfy; still boring, lol. But yeah.. with a warm frase to lean back on... it's all about the inentive