Benton Fraser | Due South

[dogsled]

BENTON FRASER。

"You know, Fraser, when they offered me this assignment, they made it sound kind of normal. They say, 'Hey, Ray, here's a chance to start over, ditch the past.' 'What's the catch?' I say. 'Oh, your partner's Canadian.' Canadian? I got nothing against Canadians, except for the time when they won the World Series, which I'm willing to overlook. But at no time did they say, 'you'll be working with a Mountie who's got a wolf that's a florist'"

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[kickem]

[It's almost ironic to think that this all led from some sound advice that overheating and dry sweat would become uncomfortable in their current climate. Now both of them lay drenched with the added bonus of stickiness to throw in. At least the clothing remains clean and intact.

But Ray doesn't care about any of that, doesn't care about Fraser wiping a sticky hand on his stomach or lifting it to his face. Doesn't even care that it's against his cheek and in his hair. Ray just wants Fraser, every part of him and when that hand settles beside the kiss he's happy to oblige to the silent wishes of letting it last, lapping his tongue briefly out against Fraser's lips, and scraping against them with a lethargic drag of his teeth. He mumbles something totally intelligible into the kiss, something that might not have even meant anything or something that he's not even aware he's saying.

He's definitely exhausted. It's amazing that he hasn't already fallen asleep after the long day they'd had, but as tiring as all this is Ray doesn't want to end it. There's a distant concern that he'll wake up with this as a distant dream, something that never happened. Or perhaps that somehow the morning will change it all, ruin what closeness they've shared. It's happened before; his later time with Stella full of nights of passion and mornings filled with arguments until it all eventually stopped. God, he doesn't want that, but this? This is different. Fraser's not Stella. He's so much more. This was a connection on a while new level.]

[dogsled]

[ Fraser, who can interpret conversation from sign language, reading lips, whining dogs and through cloth gags, can surely manage hearing Ray's completely interpretable words when they're mumbled so clearly into his mouth. He didn't respond - though obviously they were the kind of words that deserved a response - instead just going about enjoying the kiss as thoroughly as he possibly could. It was long, passionate and languishing, a kiss borne from exertion and gentle lingering affection.

He wanted Ray to know, now - in case he hadn't already guessed as much - that everything they'd done together tonight came from the same place as this kiss did; from a place of love. It didn't need to be said out loud, though obviously it already had been. But as he knew Ray couldn't understand mumbles as competently as he could speak them, Fraser settled for communicating as much love as he could in the kiss instead, and when it slowly broke, Fraser still did his best to linger, trying to comfort Ray that he had no intention of disappearing.

And so long as Ray didn't betray him and leave him in the wilderness to die it would be a step up on all of Fraser's morning-afters, too.

Gently Fraser pushed himself upward, tipping Ray over to one side in the furs. They were still entangled, and Fraser had no intention of wriggling himself any further free, too tired from their activities to fight it any more. Especially since, unlike Ray, he'd have to wake up to reload the fire in a half hour or so. He kissed the curve of Ray's jaw. ]

Everything will be where you left it in the morning, Ray. Everything, even me.

[ They both needed the assurance. ]

[kickem]

[The kiss they started with and the kiss they've ended with are two entirely different beasts, one curious, desperate and needy, the other languid, assuring and satisfied. But both stem from the same feelings, both making the same point about an attachment they show for each other.

When it does finally taper off, Ray's ending it with a content sounding exhale, barely even reacting as Fraser rolls them onto their sides. He makes sure to sling an arm heavily over his partner in the vague hope of keeping him there for longer, but he doesn't have the energy to start getting overly clingy.

Sometimes Ray's not sure if Fraser can read minds, or if he really is just that damn receptive to utterances and body language. Mind reading seems to be the only explanation for it this time around, as Fraser voices words to concerns that Ray was sure he'd only thought about (those muttered words aren't something he can remember). Whatever the excuse, Fraser's voice offers the comfort he needs; a solid reassurance that it's safe for Ray to embrace sleep. After all, Benton never lies.

Finally his breathing slows, limbs heavy and eyes drift shut, but before he lets sleep fully embrace him Ray manages a barely there mutter.] Don't go too far...

[And then he's out for the count, warm, comfortable and totally sated. At least until morning.]