[ The non-reaction is one of those warning signs Fraser's attuned to look out for. It's almost as if it's Ray's pre-breakdown sign. Getting anger out of him is one thing, making him think is wonderful, and shocking him is a frequent possibility--but speechless and staring and not even vibrating isn't right, as though if Ray actually did stop moving he might cease brain function entirely. In fact, that Ray hasn't made a break for the door is almost worse than if he had. At least an attempt at escape might have been justified in this circumstance.
Fraser's hand, meanwhile, hasn't fallen away from his partner's jaw. It stays there, warm and reassuring, while Fraser brings the other up to find Ray's. It's easy enough when Ray's holding it out from his body ever so slightly, as though in touching Fraser it had acted without his permission. Very slowly, as though adjusting a rifle sight without disturbing his prey, he guided Ray's hand to his flank, where just the tips of his fingers would brush against the scar tissue on his back. Getting Ray to touch him was half the battle; in truth, the illusion of intimacy would be impossible without it.
The hand at Ray's jaw rose half an inch, smoothing Ray's flyaway hair back behind his ear, and Fraser leaned in close, brushing a kiss where his fingers had been once before, and softly breaking the rules that had been laid out for him, with the justification that if they were still undercover rather than really doing this, bending the edges of the rules might be important. He couldn't very well stay put as ordered if they had a footchase on their hands.
And Ray needed his reassurance. The silence was unsettling him, now he had it. ]
no subject
Fraser's hand, meanwhile, hasn't fallen away from his partner's jaw. It stays there, warm and reassuring, while Fraser brings the other up to find Ray's. It's easy enough when Ray's holding it out from his body ever so slightly, as though in touching Fraser it had acted without his permission. Very slowly, as though adjusting a rifle sight without disturbing his prey, he guided Ray's hand to his flank, where just the tips of his fingers would brush against the scar tissue on his back. Getting Ray to touch him was half the battle; in truth, the illusion of intimacy would be impossible without it.
The hand at Ray's jaw rose half an inch, smoothing Ray's flyaway hair back behind his ear, and Fraser leaned in close, brushing a kiss where his fingers had been once before, and softly breaking the rules that had been laid out for him, with the justification that if they were still undercover rather than really doing this, bending the edges of the rules might be important. He couldn't very well stay put as ordered if they had a footchase on their hands.
And Ray needed his reassurance. The silence was unsettling him, now he had it. ]
I believe you can, Ray. Trust me.