[Ray immediately regrets what he says, like he expects it to ruin everything in an instant and cause Fraser to back away. It's only once he says the words that he hears the meaning behind them, afraid they'll sound more like 'I don't want you' rather than 'I'm scared and unused to this shit'. His gaze drops and his lips thin, but he doesn't say anything further, unsure what to say to make it sound any better. Fraser would just have to come to his own conclusions and judging by the flicker of his expression before Kowalski dropped his gaze, that conclusion resulted in some form of disappointment.
Except... Except there's a squeeze at his hand, a touch at his cheek and just as he lifts his head, there's lips against his for a beautiful, brief moment, and Stanley knew that there was understanding behind it all.
Fraser was apologising, he could tell. And yet Ray felt like he should be the one apologising for making this about him, and making it awkward rather than encouraging the endearing display of partnership. Fraser was willing to show the entire room through there that the two of them could be more than just partners and Kowalski had shot him down. It's just. It's just Ray hasn't held anyone's hand in years. Even he and Stella had rarely displayed that sort of affection in public, other than their dancing which had been one of the few personal things they enjoyed together while others were around.
Hand holding was just a whole other level. On the tough streets of Chicago kids were more likely to show their affection through hair pulls, punches and spitting on each other than they ever were holding hands. Holding a hand was practically a new language for Ray and he just wasn't sure if he was ready for learning a whole new concept on top of all of this. Whatever this was.]
Yeah, Frase. Dancin' will happen. That I can promise.
[And while hand holding in public might not be something Ray is quite ready for, he happily shows he's fine with virtually every other form of contact, slipping his hand free to instead step in closer and alongside Fraser and sling that arm across his shoulders.]
C'mon. Quicker we get you doin' that speech, the quicker I can get to the buffet.
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Except... Except there's a squeeze at his hand, a touch at his cheek and just as he lifts his head, there's lips against his for a beautiful, brief moment, and Stanley knew that there was understanding behind it all.
Fraser was apologising, he could tell. And yet Ray felt like he should be the one apologising for making this about him, and making it awkward rather than encouraging the endearing display of partnership. Fraser was willing to show the entire room through there that the two of them could be more than just partners and Kowalski had shot him down. It's just. It's just Ray hasn't held anyone's hand in years. Even he and Stella had rarely displayed that sort of affection in public, other than their dancing which had been one of the few personal things they enjoyed together while others were around.
Hand holding was just a whole other level. On the tough streets of Chicago kids were more likely to show their affection through hair pulls, punches and spitting on each other than they ever were holding hands. Holding a hand was practically a new language for Ray and he just wasn't sure if he was ready for learning a whole new concept on top of all of this. Whatever this was.]
Yeah, Frase. Dancin' will happen. That I can promise.
[And while hand holding in public might not be something Ray is quite ready for, he happily shows he's fine with virtually every other form of contact, slipping his hand free to instead step in closer and alongside Fraser and sling that arm across his shoulders.]
C'mon. Quicker we get you doin' that speech, the quicker I can get to the buffet.