thelockbox | Benton Fraser

[ And he averts his gaze as allowed, raising his eyes up toward the blank canvas wall of the tent and coughing low in his throat. He almost coughs over Ray's comment, but suddenly he's looking back, just a little more quizzically this time. ]

Ah... Well actually, Ray...

[ No, he's not going to get away with backing out this time. And he's staring because there is nothing attractive about Ray trapped halfway out of his pants. It doesn't get more awkward than that. ]

When I suggested taking off your clothes, this isn't precisely what I had in mind.

[It doesn't get more awkward or totally uncoordinated as this, especially considering the kicking legs and wriggling around in the limited space and Ray's reluctance to stand up.

At least he's sort of stopped for now.]

Fraser! You say take off my clothes and I take off my clothes. You say it's gonna get all hot and steamy, y'know, and I dunno what I'm meant to think. Now I'm gettin' cold and you're saying don't take off my clothes, but I already got my clothes off and... and...

[ There are obviously two important things about this that need to be addressed: one, Ray is going to get cold very quickly with his butt on nothing but the groundsheet. Two: ]

What you were meant to think? I'm not certain I could have been any clearer with my intentions, Ray.

If I may--

[ Because obviously as bad as he's already made it he can always make it worse. He slid away from his perch on the back of a cooking pot to approach Ray, gingerly kneeling near his feet in order to get a firm grip of his jeans. They're halfway off anyway, and in his current predicament Ray is going to knock the tent over getting upright. He's just one of those people who grew up and never got used to having longer limbs--it can't be helped. But the last thing they need is Ray accidentally burning the tent to the ground; he'd never live that one down. ]

Oh, sure. Sure. Clear intentions.

[He wants to argue just how unclear every bit of this is, but he's certain no amount of explaining will get Fraser understanding the way Ray's mind works. For friends that interact quite so well with one another, they sure can be on totally different wavelengths. Sure, Ray's slowly learning Fraser's crazy Canadian and logical ways, and Benton's caught on to much of Kowalski's in-your-face instincts, but nothing is ever simple with these two.

And if Ray was confused by Fraser's intentions before, they're certainly not becoming any clearer as the Mountie gets nearer and takes hold of his jeans. He lays there for a moment, brows furrowing as he stares incredulously, then suddenly breaks out into another burst of squirming.]

I don't need help undressin', Fraser. I do not.

[ Fraser pauses to look exasperated, staring up at the other man for all of a second and a half before dropping his eyes back down to Ray's knees. He almost tuts. ]

I beg to differ. If you continue with your current rate of progress--well, I imagine the shrinking effect you mentioned may indeed come into play.

[ Helpful, Fraser. Really helpful. But despite Ray's squirming he's got him right where he wants him, and with one hard pull he's relieved of his burden. Which is only step one of getting him warm again but one thing at a time. ]

You're welcome, Ray.

[It's almost impressive how easy that is for Fraser. Almost. But Ray's not even surprised any more at the talents of Benton. Not that tugging the jeans off a constantly moving detective is exactly a talent.]

Hardeharhar. There is nothin' shrinkin' in my dinkin'.

[Just totally ignoring the 'you're welcome'. Too busy sulking over shrinking jokes and getting aid when he didn't ask for it. And maybe just a little distracted at Benton looming quite so close while he's sitting here in his boxers.]

[ It's probably in the duty record he presented during his transfer anyway. It's got to be a practiced skill: ability to undress squirming Americans 101.

Oh, and he's not gone yet. In fact he might just glance down, then back up. In the worst way possible. Punctuated by an eyebrow raise; the worst eyebrow raise in their long and storied history. And then finally embellished with the worst phrase that could be said after glancing up and down and making an eyebrow raise and opening his Mountie mouth at all: ]

Yes, I can see that.

[What?

Is he looking at... yes.

And commenting on it too?

Maybe Ray's become a bad influence on him. Almost proud to be honest. Except he's not sure what he should be right now when he's sitting in his underpants being eyed up by a Mountie.]

Heh.

Yeah.

Uh. Fraser?

[Be prepared for the most heartfelt declaration of feelings and physical yearnings-- wait no, never mind.]

I'm freezin' my ass off here. [Literally.]

Edited 2014-07-09 03:53 (UTC)

[ And this is where the Mountie finally catches up to what he's doing and gets flustered about it, like that moment on the train with the hairpin... ]

Your ass. Yes of course, freezing your ass off.

[ But in any case, he's now flustered, and blushing, and stands up so suddenly he knocks his head on the top bar of the tent and makes the entire thing jump. The firebox rattles in its holding, threatening to tip over, but stays put by the skin of its teeth, and Fraser dips his head low again. ]

My apologies. Ah-- I mean...

[ He turns on the spot, knocking his cooking pot over with a clang and a clatter, then bends over away from Ray to fuss with the blankets and clothes before clumsily turning again on the spot, knocking the lantern (thankfully not lit) onto the pile of blankets and generally just making a fool of himself. ]

Perhaps if you were to come over here.

[Watching Fraser when he gets like this is sort of like watching a train wreck; it's impossible not to stare. There's not only the satisfaction in watching the straight laced Mountie become a stumbling, mumbling mess, but there's the added bonus that for once it's not Ray making a fool of himself.

With everything rattling and falling, Ray opts for just sitting still and hoping for the best, still staring at the Mountie train wreck with a distant sort of amusement.

He only moves when beckoned, crawling over to the pile, shoving the lantern aside and dropping down heavily. At least now he's got some insulation between his ass and Canada. He could just put his pants back on but...]

Thanks.

[An actual display of gratitude. Maybe he's taking pity after Benton's ridiculous display.]

Hey. Sit before anythin' else goes flyin'.

I--yes, of course, Ray.

[ Sitting was actually a pretty good idea. The mess he'd made of the tent, things knocked in every direction, had been what he'd been intending to prevent in the first place, but at the very least he hadn't sent the firebox spilling onto the canvas. Yet that could still happen if he wasn't careful, and sitting...yes, sitting was a good idea.

But now he was hot, thanks to the flailing and embarrassment, and Fraser paused long enough to lift his own open jacket from his shoulders before carefully dropping down on the bed of furs and blankets. A few things kept swaying, but nothing else fell. ]

Well--now I just feel foolish.

[Well, that was some entertainment for an otherwise uneventful day. He's even grinning at the whole thing.

As Fraser moves to sit, Ray shifts over, giving him space on the pile to calm himself down. Sometimes he forgets how big the Mountie is until confined to small spaces like canvas tents.]

Makes a difference. [Usually Ray's feeling like the dumb ass.]

Hey, uh. Fraser?

[ It's actually a relief to see Ray grinning; almost worth the whole thing, in fact. If he could have planned it to go down this way he would have, after all if it's done one thing for certain it's distracted Ray from how cold, uncomfortable, hungry, tired etc. he is.

And even if it's just for two minutes, distraction is always a good thing, especially out here. Well, apart from when life threatening circumstances make it imperative to pay attention. He licked his lips nervously, and looked back toward his friend.

Incidentally it's his turn to say: ] What?

[Amusement is always a good distraction and in Ray's easily distracted mind, he's almost completely forgotten about the whole wilderness issue. Except the cold, of course. Hard to forget that when it's a constant, but as he reaches for a blanket, he seems satisfied enough with just pulling that around him.

He's starting to feel exposed, and not just because he's sitting there in his underwear.]

You uh. Heh. You remember that time when we uh, we first started workin' together. And uh. You said you found me attractive?

That was uh. You were just sayin' that, right? I mean, uh. Heh.

[ The blanket is probably a good call. Benton on the other hand sits on top of the rest of them, his ankles and knees together, hands on top. It's as close to uncomfortable as he ever looks--which is to say he doesn't look uncomfortable at all. Though the question does leave him as out of his depth as it had the first time. Actually the first three times. Ray had been particularly persistent.

But unless Ray is troubled on the topic of his wife for some reason, Fraser isn't entirely sure where this conversation is leading. Or...well. Well maybe he's really lying to himself in that respect. He has a fair idea. He doesn't avert his eyes this time--it's a serious question (always a rare occurrence on its own) and it deserves a serious answer. ]

I wasn't just saying that, Ray.

[ Which is to say that yes, as a woman, he found him attractive. But he'd have answered the question the same way without the proviso, too. It was important to remind himself, given present circumstances, that Ray struggled with expressing himself, particularly where emotions were involved. Usually they had to be on the verge of dying to confront serious, life-changing topics.

Or of course left for long periods of time alone. But this was a classic example; the entire tone had changed. ]

Does that make you uncomfortable? After all two men alone against the intimacy of the great wilderness... Occasionally...occasionally these things have been known to happen. I'm not saying they're inevitable, but as you are no doubt aware we share a certain undeniable chemistry. That is to say--

That is to say, that if you would prefer, I can sleep outside.

[Ray never has been great at expressing himself, which is somewhat ironic considering just how emotional and verbal he could come across. Fraser, on the other hand, was virtually impossible to read at times. He'd gotten used to some of Ben's odd little eccentricities and quirks, the Canadian humour and barely there sarcasm, but this sort of scenario wasn't something Ray had much experience in when it comes to anyone, let alone the Mountie.]

That's not-- No, Fraser, you don't need to sleep outside. I was just. I uh. It's uh.

[Words have never been his speciality on a good day, but when he has no idea what he even wants to say, trying to voice his thoughts is virtually impossible.

Perhaps if he focused on Fraser's words rather than his own.]

... Undeniable chemistry, huh?

[ That's very fortunate, he thinks, because it would be very unpleasant sleeping outside, no matter how deep a hovel he made for himself in the snow. He tried to read more into it, tried to use his experience as Kowalski's partner to perhaps pick apart what he was really getting at. I was just. I uh. It's uh.

Is it any wonder he doesn't always understand things that people are trying to tell him? It's like nobody south of the border has any real understanding of linear, logical explanation. ]

Yes, Ray, like Francium Flouride. [ And because it's been too long since the last time he was reminded of just how frustrating Fraser could be: ] You see in chemistry, elements are bonded together by the electrostatic force of opposite charges pulling together. The greater the opposing forces, the stronger the attraction.

[No one should sleep outside. He feels guilty enough that the dogs are stuck out in that, even if they are built for the tundra.

But that's not important. What is important is that Fraser's talking, and it's about something Ray has absolutely no clue about. Again.]

Fraser! I don't know who Francium is and I don't care. [Yes, who. It's a person, right?]

What. [ He assumes Ray is going to say 'What?' so he plunges onward irregardless. ] Francium isn't a person, Ray.

[ Right, but it's irrelevant to his point (which if he doesn't get to some time soon Ray is going to kick him in the head, right?) so he gets on with it. ]

The point I'm trying to make is that in nature as in all things, opposites attract. You and I, for example. Your qualities obfuscate my flaws, and vice versa.

[ He's still talking about being partners, right? ]

Whatever. [Who. What. Same difference. He supposes he deserves this for repeating the word 'chemistry' near a Canadian.

As Canadian as Fraser's being, Ray actually gets the general gist of what's being said. Just occasionally he can speak the language of these crazy Northerners.]

Obfuscate. Yeah. Yeah, like uh. Cancel it out or somethin'. Opposites attract. I get that. I'm all over that. [Animated enough that he has to tug his blanket back around him after a few agreeing jabs of his fingers.] Chemistry. Mmf, that's what I'm talkin' about.

[ The smile is all in his eyes, but the truth is that the fond edge of it reaches his lips this time, as Ray all but bounces off the ground in his agreement. It's subtle, but then it always is, and he's always pleased when they actually understand each other; especially since sometimes it seems to him he should have a dictionary of phrases on hand in order to school Ray anew on the basics. Then, sometimes, he'll come out and understand a word like 'obfuscate', and Fraser will question if that time when he's misconstrued some basic expression really happened at all, and whether it was just some effort to mess with him on a deeper level. ]

Case in point. [ He says, about the bouncing. ]

So you see, Ray, the success of our partnership is no mere accident. We were - in effect - made for each other.

[ Honestly it's still questionable whether he knows where this conversation has gone since it started. ]

[It's not hard for Ray to spot the slight smile of Fraser's, even if it's minute by most standards, and if his buddy is happy then he's happy. Usually. At least in this scenario he is.]

Things are warmin' up, Fraser.

[That might be in reference to the temperature, or something very different.]

You keepin' them clothes on?

[ He'd noticed the same thing, though of course more in regard to the temperature in the tent than anything else. The fire would last at least another hour without fresh wood, due to the careful choice of timber Benton had made, picking out dense black locust instead of pine.

But...he was getting away from himself.

Was he keeping his clothes on? ]

I suppose it would be a relief to get some air. That is if you don't mind, Ray?

[ It would be nice to take a break from the uniform even for a little while. It itched. It itched worse after not being able to wash it for three weeks. ]

Fraser, I'm sittin' here in my underpants. I don't think I got any right to judge a guy.

[He's not even feeling quite so awkward about being barely dressed any more, especially not when wrapping in a blanket and relatively warm with the current fire scenario.

Even better that he gets the possible viewing pleasure of an undressing Mountie. ... Not that he's into that or anything.]

Unless your version of gettin' air is openin' up the tent. I am not okay with that in any way.

I shall endeavor to keep the outside outside, Ray.

[ And that was already quite elementary. In any case Fraser's first act is to shed his boots, his red tunic, belt and lanyard already set aside, and the hat on top because it was rude to wear it indoors--even when indoors was technically outdoors.

After the boots came the socks, which would be unpleasant to put back on, and were knotted together and hidden amongst the pile of clothing. Unclipping the straps from across his shoulders was by far the greatest relief so far. Even as carefully adjusted as Fraser kept them, they still bit into his shoulders with time, rubbing the skin pink and angry. And then, finally, he lost the shirt, leaving him in nothing but the blue and yellow traditional breeches of the RCMP. They were, in fact, the most uncomfortable thing about the whole getup, but one thing at a time--he dug his fingers into his shoulder, rubbing at the knot that hard formed there for most of a second before casting an odd, curious glance at Ray. ]

Did I miss something?

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