Courteous Ray Challenge, by mergatrude

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Are you aware of the fire beneath your feet
F/K, G, 253 words. Many thanks to china_shop for beta. Title from 1 2 3 by the Indigo Girls.


Are you aware of the fire beneath your feet


When Ray opened the front door of the new house and saw Vecchio standing there with a suitcase in his hand and a look on his face like he'd forgotten Ray existed, his first impulse was to slam the door shut again. But then Fraser called out from the kitchen, and it turned into kind of a farce: "Who's at the door, Ray?"

"Ray."

"Ray?"

"Ray Vecchio."

"Ray Vecchio?" And Fraser came down the hallway, wiping his hands on a dishcloth, a puzzled frown giving way to a great big smile like Ray had maybe only seen on his face once or twice.

"Got your address from the Consulate," Vecchio said as Fraser shepherded him through to the tiny kitchen, and Ray tuned out the words, not wanting to hear apologies and explanations. His head was buzzing and his heart dropped right through his stomach like a stone. He took Vecchio's bag and coat and threw them in the spare room, and then went into the main bedroom and shoved some clothes into his gym bag, shrugged into his holster and coat like he was on autopilot, and scooped up his keys from the dresser.

Dief was in the backyard harassing the Chicago squirrel population, the Goat was parked on the street, thank Christ, and all Ray had to do before slipping out the front door was to scribble a note and leave it on the hall table.

I just have to go. Be back soon. A week, maybe. Love you,

Ray.

Comments

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

Oh MAN. Here I've gotten used to "courteous" meaning "happily ending" or "shmoopiness," not "heartwrenching and sniffle-inducing." I'll forgive you the shock and add that this is still excellent.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

I'm a meanie, I'm sorry. But thank you!

[slidellra.livejournal.com]

*wibbles*

*applauds*

*admires*

*glues them together*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*glues them together*

Yes!

Thanks!

[akamine_chan]

His head was buzzing and his heart dropped right through his stomach like a stone.

*pets Ray*

Short and angsty. Perfect combination, in my mind. Wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing!

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

[eledhwenlin]

Awwwwwwww. :D Poor Ray.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*pets*

They'll be fine. ;-)

Thanks!

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

I'm all meepish and wibbly now. What a powerful one-two punch. You sent me reeling with just a few well-chosen words. Wow. You hurt me good.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Oh Mal! I'm sorry. But you know they'll be fine - if Ray doesn't come home soon, Fraser will go and get him. *g*

And your icon is perfect!

*hugs*

[viciouscats.livejournal.com]

Stab me in the heart, why don't you. :) Great snippet!

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Sorry? Thanks!

[akite.livejournal.com]

Ouch! You pack a powerful punch in such few words. Good job.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Silly boys! *smooshes them back together*

[thornnuminous.livejournal.com]

Wahhhhh! *sniffle*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Awwww! *gives you a tissue*

Thanks!

[love-jackianto.livejournal.com]

Nicely crafted ficlet. I really like your angsty twist on Courteous Ray, it worked very well.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

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

[brigantine.livejournal.com]

OWWWWW!!! Really good, though. Tight, and right to the gut. Oof. *snuggles woobie!Ray*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Those silly boys, eh? *smooshes them*

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Ouch! God, this packed a whallop, but I'm clinging to this:

I just have to go. Be back soon. A week, maybe. Love you,
Ray.

I had to re-read a couple of times to decide if this was also F/V but, hey, Ray puts Vecchio's stuff in the *spare* room. So...well, I think it hurts more that Ray has to step aside for Vecchio in a platonic sense, in a weird way. This was complex stuff, and yeah, hurty. Great job!

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Nos. There is hope, and if Ray takes too long getting back then Fraser will just have to go fetch him, right?

[callumvixen.livejournal.com]

oh. god. *dies* the pretty angst is splattering everywhere! *cleans Ray*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Hee! You know it'll get better. It will!

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

*ouch*

my heart! it's all broken....

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*pets* I don't think Fraser will let him stay away for too long...

[meresy.livejournal.com]

Oh noooooooooooes. :(

*smooshes them back together*

(Also: you can run, but you can't hide, Kowalski.)

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Hee! I don't think Fraser would let him run.

Thanks!

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

OW!!!!!

You get over here and clean up the mess from my heart 'sploding into tiny pieces, because it is YOUR FAULT.

*glares*

*sobs*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Heeee! *sends Turnbull with a mop and bucket*

Thanks, you!

[buzzylittleb.livejournal.com]

*joins the wibbling masses*

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*pets*

[c-regalis.livejournal.com]

Waaaaah! That's not a happy fic! Courteous Ray Challenge fics are happy fics, no? ...No?

I want a second part now, with Fraser... no, actually with Vecchio tracking him down and yelling at him for leaving like that and sending him back.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*pets C*

I didn't see anything about happy = compulsory in the rules... but I like your idea for a second part. *g*

[vsee.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Silly Ray. Poor angsty guy.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

He gets these ideas in his head...

*pets him*

Thanks!

[noctuabunda.livejournal.com]

ouch. Still, I can so see him react that way...

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I can definitely see RayK reacting this way, too...

[(Anonymous)]

...and that's why I don't like him sometimes and don't like to see him paired with Fraser romantically(sorry, RayK and F/K fans!). I think he's being childish, and his insecurity makes him very unattractive to me.

Fraser SHOULD be allowed to have friends who aren't his romantic/sexual partner, and yes, he should be allowed to spend as much time as he wishes with his best friend - Ray Vecchio. I think RayV's friendship is very valuable to and cherished by Fraser, and vice versa. This is a friend who willingly took bullets for Fraser without wearing a bulletproof vest - twice -and this is a friend who sought Fraser out at his cabin in Canada just a short time after they met, despite being injured after taking a bomb blast for Fraser.

So I really don't think that either Fraser or RayV would give up their friendship even if RayK is jealous of that friendship.

I actually think RayK did the right thing by leaving so Fraser and RayV could have their time alone. But I also want both of them to chase him down and bring him home and quietly explain that RayV isn't a threat to his and Fraser's relationship - because RayV is the type of friend who just wants Benny to be happy, and if Benny's happy with RayK, RayV will try to accept the relationship and try to make friends with RayK, for Fraser's sake. The Rays actually have many common interests (interest in vintage cars, childhoods in Chicago, work with Fraser, etc.), so I can very easily see them becoming friends.

Karen