[life on mars (uk); sam/gene; emotions (completed); fic (drabbles)]
Fandom: Life on Mars (UK)
Pairing: Sam Tyler/Gene Hunt
Prompt: (see each drabble)
Theme Set: Emotions
Rating: (ranges from G to PG-15)
Spoilers: up to and including the Series 2 finale, also for the premise of sister show Ashes to Ashes
Notes/Warnings: I'm posting all 20 drabbles in one go here instead of linking via table because they are posted separately on my journal under f-lock and I don't fancy going through and unlocking them all. *g* Hope that's okay. I've also been strict with myself on the definition of 'drabble' - these are all 100 words exactly.
#1 - Love - Those Three Words
Sam’ll never, ever say it, partly because he doesn’t want to scare Gene off, and partly because he’s not entirely sure he wouldn’t be lying. There are times when he doesn’t even like Gene, when he’d very much prefer to kill him than spend the rest of his days trying to change him, trying to make him see reason. But on those nights when he has to go back to his awful flat instead of Gene’s ex-marital home, he doesn’t sleep for feeling slightly empty, like there’s a vital piece of the jigsaw missing and without it he can’t relax.
#2 - Lust - Caught and Held
Sam can feel Gene’s gaze burning into the back of his neck.
For a moment he allows himself to recall the graze of teeth on exposed skin, rough hands dipping below his waistband. The way Gene had choked out ‘love’ that one time then sworn up and down he hadn’t said it after.
But they’re at work. This isn’t allowed. Sam glances over his shoulder to let Gene know to cut it out, but Gene doesn’t look away as he normally would when caught staring. He knows the rules. He usually doesn’t risk it.
Sam squirms under his watchful eye.
#3 - Passion - Job Satisfaction
The thing about being married to the job is it gets in the way of things.
They’re both subject to the same obsession; Sam understands far better than the Missus ever did. But between Gene’s righteous anger against the scum of the earth and Sam’s pernickety little eye for detail, it gets to the point where they haven’t seen each other in anything other than a professional capacity for days on end.
It makes Gene irritable, because Sam is right there and yet he can’t have him. When they do finally come together, all that pent-up passion is nigh-on explosive.
#4 - Rage - Revenge
When Sam’s eyes flickered open, Gene quickly let go of his hand and sat back in his chair, folded his arms and pretended to doze.
“Gene?”
“Oh, good, you’re awake!” Gene barked.
“How long have you…?”
“Tell me who did this to you and I’ll be on my way.”
Sam slowly shook his head.
“Tell me!”
Sam jumped. “Stephen Warren!”
Gene’s chair clattered to the floor. “Right.”
Sam caught his wrist. “Look, I know you’re angry, but don’t do anything stupid. I’m not worth that.”
“Have you seen what he’s done to you? I’m gonna tear him limb from limb!”
#5 - Depression - Sacrifices
Gene finds him slumped against the door to Lost and Found, feet flat on the floor, hands on his knees, shoulders drooping. His eyes are wet, but it seems he’s given up on crying.
Gene slowly sits down, close enough to bump shoulders. He passes Sam his handkerchief. “Here, clean your face up. You look a mess.”
“Thanks.” Gene nearly winces when he hears how hoarse Sam’s voice is.
“…Do I need to take you to see someone? You’ve been like this for weeks, Sam.”
“Jumping off a roof takes some adjusting.”
Gene grips his hand, hard. “Don’t you dare.”
#6 - Bond - Partnership
When you save someone’s life enough times, it creates a bond, whether you like it or not.
This is how Gene comes to rely on Sam to have his back when they’re out on the streets, knowing Sam does the same. They argue and mock each other as much as possible the rest of the time, but when they’re like this they’re a united front and damned unstoppable. It’s a partnership that takes them both by surprise but it works and neither man is about to shun it. It’s a hell of a responsibility and worth it all the way.
#7 - Loss - Did I Drive You Away
Tyler never belonged here anyway.
That’s what Gene tells himself; when he drags himself out of bed in the mornings, when he’s down the pub at night, when Ray gets into the front passenger seat, when Gene itches for a fight but there’s no-one who’ll fight back.
Gene knows he wasn’t exactly kind to the little bugger. Shagging Sam and then insisting it had never happened wasn’t his finest hour. But people do stupid things when they’re scared. Say the opposite of what they mean.
He should have tried harder to make him stay. He didn’t want to lose him.
#8 - Horny - Never Underestimate
Sam tugs at his belt, shoves Gene against the bonnet of the Cortina, apparently not caring that someone might see them.
“Sam!” Gene hisses furiously, but shuts up sharp when Sam presses down more heavily against his back, steals his handcuffs, shunts his hips impatiently at Gene’s backside.
Sam doesn’t use the cuffs, only pockets them. He places his hands over Gene’s wrists and ruts so fiercely against Gene’s arse that he has to push back powerfully to avoid getting face planted on his own ruddy windscreen.
Gene makes a mental note to cast aspersions on Sam’s manhood more often.
#9 - Blah - Smug
“You know, sulking won’t get you anywhere.”
“Piss off, Tyler. I’m trying to sleep.”
“Just because you won’t admit that I was right and you were wrong…”
“I’m not bloody wrong!”
“Hate to break it to you, Guv, but you said it was King and I proved he was innocent. Irrefutably.”
“Blah blah blah blah blah. Not listening!” Gene stuck his fingers in his ears like a child.
Sam smirked. He wriggled closer to Gene and leant in until his lips brushed Gene’s ear.
“Loser.”
He heard that alright - retaliated by suddenly flipping over and pinning Sam beneath him.
#10 - Pensive - Clues
Sam tapped his pen against his lower lip, deep in thought. Had the victim’s grandmother meant anything significant when she kept mentioning postboxes? Was it supposed to be a clue of some sort? Or was she just as batty as Steve, the dead girl’s father, had said?
His train of thought was broken when Gene stormed out of his office. “Tyler, hurry up! You’re buying me dinner.”
Sam blinked up at him for a moment, preoccupied and uncomprehending. “But…I paid last time!” He eventually managed to say, and then blurted out: “Letter bombs!”
“You what?”
“Guv, I’ve had an idea.”
#11 - Confident - Blurring the lines
Watching Gene work was a lot like witnessing a bull in a china shop. You could look on in horror as he destroyed all the evidence and once the damage was done there was no gluing it back together again. He intimidated suspects and no doubt invoked false confessions; he dismissed the importance of forensics. But what struck Sam most about his methods of policing was how confident he was. Convinced he was right even when utterly, hopelessly wrong. You could call it pigheadedness, but all that confidence was attractive. It was dangerously easy to be drawn in. To fall.
#12 - Unsure - Decisions
Sam hasn’t a clue what’s real and what’s fiction, anymore.
Before all this started, he was in control of everything, knew exactly what he needed and what was expected of him. Now he’s struggling to get through each day, stay focused on getting home, ward off the girl from the telly.
And what about Gene, is he real? God, Sam would love that to be true. He makes Sam’s days here a living hell but he has his good points, too. Sam has never had someone trust him quite like that before.
So what does he choose? Brain or heart?
#13 - Stress - Against the Odds
They’ve two hours to rescue a kidnapped girl and their best lead has ended up floating in the canal, no use to anyone. Gene swears colourfully, shouts at Chris then retreats into his office, heading for his bottle of the good stuff. Just to settle his nerves.
It’s all of thirty seconds before Sam comes in. Gene’s ready to yell at him, too, but something in Sam’s eyes stops him.
Sam rubs his shoulder. “We will find her, okay?” Tilts Gene’s chin up and holds it there until Gene bats him away.
Against the odds, Gene finds himself believing it.
#14 - Calm - Keep a Level Head
“Calm down, idiot.”
“I am calm! I’ve only been shot in the leg, it’s no big deal or anything!”
“You’re crying.”
“It hurts!”
“Girl.”
“Well thank you for your overwhelming concern, Guv. I’m not like you, all flab and flasks and heartless bastard.”
“Look, the more you panic, the more of your precious blood is going to keep staining my formerly magnificent but now ruined driving gloves. So kindly pipe down.”
“Hell of a charmer, you are.”
“But I’m helping keep your mind off it, aren’t I?”
“…Yeah, suppose.”
“There, see? You’ll be fine. Right as rain in no time.”
#15 - Content - Sunday Morning
Waking up with his arms wrapped around Gene Hunt didn’t terrify Sam as much as he’d thought it would. He was perhaps a little too warm, Gene’s stubble prickly against his shoulder and Sam’s right side going numb from where Gene was sprawled on top of him. But there was the endless smooth skin of Gene’s back under his fingers, and Gene’s perpetual frown was missing. Maybe he’d be angry when he woke up, but for now Gene looked almost peaceful.
Sam decided he’d be quite content to lie here for the rest of the day if he had to.
#16 - Excited - Dinner Date
Sam fiddles with his cutlery placement for the fourth time in five minutes. There isn’t a lot of room at his cramped table and - not that Gene will notice, much less care - Sam wants everything to be perfect.
He’s a strange mix of unbearably anxious and incredibly excited. He keeps dashing back and forth from the kitchen area to the door, wanting to hear the knock more than he feels like eating this meal he’s been preparing. Waiting is torture.
Then Gene arrives, finally. Sam bounds across the room and fumbles the door open.
Gene smirks. Sam pounces.
#17 - Happy - Simple Things
Gene returned to their table and set down two pints. He caught a glimpse of Sam’s expression and almost did a double-take. “Bloody hell, you look happy!”
Sam shrugged. His smile didn’t fade. He grabbed his drink and chugged down almost half of it, keeping his gaze on Gene.
“It’s disconcerting, you looking like that. I don’t know how to deal with you when you’re not whinging and moaning. Did someone tell you you’ve pretty eyes, or that your lottery numbers came up?”
“No.” Sam leaned across the table. “It’s just you, Gene. I love having you here, with me.”
#18 - Hot - A Sunny Day
“Gene, could you, you know…” Sam began hesitantly.
“What?”
“Erm, eat that ice-cream a little less…seductively?”
Gene raised his eyebrows. “Turn you on, does it?” He looked speculatively at the 99 for a moment, then leant in to give it a long, slow lick.
Sam shuddered in his seat. He hissed at Gene. “I wouldn’t mind, but we’re in public. Besides, I’m trying to focus on keeping an eye out for our bank robbers.”
“Nonsense. How ‘bout letting me do all the work, for once. You just sit back and relax. Or not.”
“I hate you sometimes.”
“No, you don’t.”
#19 - Cold - Sudden Distance
“Oh, forget it! I can’t be bothered to argue with you tonight, Gene.”
“Sam, what’s the matter? We were just having a friendly little talk.”
“Well I’m not in the mood for your stupid banter. Go bother Chris and Ray, be the Guv. I’ve got things to do.”
“Are you still on about last night? I can make it up to you, you know.” Gene winked, leant in, tried to steal a kiss, but Sam backed away faster than you could say frigid.
“Goodnight, Guv.”
Gene watched him go, trying hard not to let the hurt show on his face.
#20 - Author’s Choice (Tired) - It’s Been A Long Day
Sam pokes his head round the door and sees something unexpected. Gene, fast asleep at his desk, head resting on folded arms and snoring quietly. His first instinct is to laugh, second: jealousy of Gene’s ability to switch off, his third to wonder whether Gene’s cold. Sam tiptoes over to the coat stand and carefully drapes the camel-hair over Gene’s shoulders.
Sam’s just backing away when Gene wakes, yawning. He turns very still as he spots Sam. Stands up and pats Sam’s cheek, then strides out of the office, shrugging his coat on as he goes.
Back to work, then.
Pairing: Sam Tyler/Gene Hunt
Prompt: (see each drabble)
Theme Set: Emotions
Rating: (ranges from G to PG-15)
Spoilers: up to and including the Series 2 finale, also for the premise of sister show Ashes to Ashes
Notes/Warnings: I'm posting all 20 drabbles in one go here instead of linking via table because they are posted separately on my journal under f-lock and I don't fancy going through and unlocking them all. *g* Hope that's okay. I've also been strict with myself on the definition of 'drabble' - these are all 100 words exactly.
#1 - Love - Those Three Words
Sam’ll never, ever say it, partly because he doesn’t want to scare Gene off, and partly because he’s not entirely sure he wouldn’t be lying. There are times when he doesn’t even like Gene, when he’d very much prefer to kill him than spend the rest of his days trying to change him, trying to make him see reason. But on those nights when he has to go back to his awful flat instead of Gene’s ex-marital home, he doesn’t sleep for feeling slightly empty, like there’s a vital piece of the jigsaw missing and without it he can’t relax.
#2 - Lust - Caught and Held
Sam can feel Gene’s gaze burning into the back of his neck.
For a moment he allows himself to recall the graze of teeth on exposed skin, rough hands dipping below his waistband. The way Gene had choked out ‘love’ that one time then sworn up and down he hadn’t said it after.
But they’re at work. This isn’t allowed. Sam glances over his shoulder to let Gene know to cut it out, but Gene doesn’t look away as he normally would when caught staring. He knows the rules. He usually doesn’t risk it.
Sam squirms under his watchful eye.
#3 - Passion - Job Satisfaction
The thing about being married to the job is it gets in the way of things.
They’re both subject to the same obsession; Sam understands far better than the Missus ever did. But between Gene’s righteous anger against the scum of the earth and Sam’s pernickety little eye for detail, it gets to the point where they haven’t seen each other in anything other than a professional capacity for days on end.
It makes Gene irritable, because Sam is right there and yet he can’t have him. When they do finally come together, all that pent-up passion is nigh-on explosive.
#4 - Rage - Revenge
When Sam’s eyes flickered open, Gene quickly let go of his hand and sat back in his chair, folded his arms and pretended to doze.
“Gene?”
“Oh, good, you’re awake!” Gene barked.
“How long have you…?”
“Tell me who did this to you and I’ll be on my way.”
Sam slowly shook his head.
“Tell me!”
Sam jumped. “Stephen Warren!”
Gene’s chair clattered to the floor. “Right.”
Sam caught his wrist. “Look, I know you’re angry, but don’t do anything stupid. I’m not worth that.”
“Have you seen what he’s done to you? I’m gonna tear him limb from limb!”
#5 - Depression - Sacrifices
Gene finds him slumped against the door to Lost and Found, feet flat on the floor, hands on his knees, shoulders drooping. His eyes are wet, but it seems he’s given up on crying.
Gene slowly sits down, close enough to bump shoulders. He passes Sam his handkerchief. “Here, clean your face up. You look a mess.”
“Thanks.” Gene nearly winces when he hears how hoarse Sam’s voice is.
“…Do I need to take you to see someone? You’ve been like this for weeks, Sam.”
“Jumping off a roof takes some adjusting.”
Gene grips his hand, hard. “Don’t you dare.”
#6 - Bond - Partnership
When you save someone’s life enough times, it creates a bond, whether you like it or not.
This is how Gene comes to rely on Sam to have his back when they’re out on the streets, knowing Sam does the same. They argue and mock each other as much as possible the rest of the time, but when they’re like this they’re a united front and damned unstoppable. It’s a partnership that takes them both by surprise but it works and neither man is about to shun it. It’s a hell of a responsibility and worth it all the way.
#7 - Loss - Did I Drive You Away
Tyler never belonged here anyway.
That’s what Gene tells himself; when he drags himself out of bed in the mornings, when he’s down the pub at night, when Ray gets into the front passenger seat, when Gene itches for a fight but there’s no-one who’ll fight back.
Gene knows he wasn’t exactly kind to the little bugger. Shagging Sam and then insisting it had never happened wasn’t his finest hour. But people do stupid things when they’re scared. Say the opposite of what they mean.
He should have tried harder to make him stay. He didn’t want to lose him.
#8 - Horny - Never Underestimate
Sam tugs at his belt, shoves Gene against the bonnet of the Cortina, apparently not caring that someone might see them.
“Sam!” Gene hisses furiously, but shuts up sharp when Sam presses down more heavily against his back, steals his handcuffs, shunts his hips impatiently at Gene’s backside.
Sam doesn’t use the cuffs, only pockets them. He places his hands over Gene’s wrists and ruts so fiercely against Gene’s arse that he has to push back powerfully to avoid getting face planted on his own ruddy windscreen.
Gene makes a mental note to cast aspersions on Sam’s manhood more often.
#9 - Blah - Smug
“You know, sulking won’t get you anywhere.”
“Piss off, Tyler. I’m trying to sleep.”
“Just because you won’t admit that I was right and you were wrong…”
“I’m not bloody wrong!”
“Hate to break it to you, Guv, but you said it was King and I proved he was innocent. Irrefutably.”
“Blah blah blah blah blah. Not listening!” Gene stuck his fingers in his ears like a child.
Sam smirked. He wriggled closer to Gene and leant in until his lips brushed Gene’s ear.
“Loser.”
He heard that alright - retaliated by suddenly flipping over and pinning Sam beneath him.
#10 - Pensive - Clues
Sam tapped his pen against his lower lip, deep in thought. Had the victim’s grandmother meant anything significant when she kept mentioning postboxes? Was it supposed to be a clue of some sort? Or was she just as batty as Steve, the dead girl’s father, had said?
His train of thought was broken when Gene stormed out of his office. “Tyler, hurry up! You’re buying me dinner.”
Sam blinked up at him for a moment, preoccupied and uncomprehending. “But…I paid last time!” He eventually managed to say, and then blurted out: “Letter bombs!”
“You what?”
“Guv, I’ve had an idea.”
#11 - Confident - Blurring the lines
Watching Gene work was a lot like witnessing a bull in a china shop. You could look on in horror as he destroyed all the evidence and once the damage was done there was no gluing it back together again. He intimidated suspects and no doubt invoked false confessions; he dismissed the importance of forensics. But what struck Sam most about his methods of policing was how confident he was. Convinced he was right even when utterly, hopelessly wrong. You could call it pigheadedness, but all that confidence was attractive. It was dangerously easy to be drawn in. To fall.
#12 - Unsure - Decisions
Sam hasn’t a clue what’s real and what’s fiction, anymore.
Before all this started, he was in control of everything, knew exactly what he needed and what was expected of him. Now he’s struggling to get through each day, stay focused on getting home, ward off the girl from the telly.
And what about Gene, is he real? God, Sam would love that to be true. He makes Sam’s days here a living hell but he has his good points, too. Sam has never had someone trust him quite like that before.
So what does he choose? Brain or heart?
#13 - Stress - Against the Odds
They’ve two hours to rescue a kidnapped girl and their best lead has ended up floating in the canal, no use to anyone. Gene swears colourfully, shouts at Chris then retreats into his office, heading for his bottle of the good stuff. Just to settle his nerves.
It’s all of thirty seconds before Sam comes in. Gene’s ready to yell at him, too, but something in Sam’s eyes stops him.
Sam rubs his shoulder. “We will find her, okay?” Tilts Gene’s chin up and holds it there until Gene bats him away.
Against the odds, Gene finds himself believing it.
#14 - Calm - Keep a Level Head
“Calm down, idiot.”
“I am calm! I’ve only been shot in the leg, it’s no big deal or anything!”
“You’re crying.”
“It hurts!”
“Girl.”
“Well thank you for your overwhelming concern, Guv. I’m not like you, all flab and flasks and heartless bastard.”
“Look, the more you panic, the more of your precious blood is going to keep staining my formerly magnificent but now ruined driving gloves. So kindly pipe down.”
“Hell of a charmer, you are.”
“But I’m helping keep your mind off it, aren’t I?”
“…Yeah, suppose.”
“There, see? You’ll be fine. Right as rain in no time.”
#15 - Content - Sunday Morning
Waking up with his arms wrapped around Gene Hunt didn’t terrify Sam as much as he’d thought it would. He was perhaps a little too warm, Gene’s stubble prickly against his shoulder and Sam’s right side going numb from where Gene was sprawled on top of him. But there was the endless smooth skin of Gene’s back under his fingers, and Gene’s perpetual frown was missing. Maybe he’d be angry when he woke up, but for now Gene looked almost peaceful.
Sam decided he’d be quite content to lie here for the rest of the day if he had to.
#16 - Excited - Dinner Date
Sam fiddles with his cutlery placement for the fourth time in five minutes. There isn’t a lot of room at his cramped table and - not that Gene will notice, much less care - Sam wants everything to be perfect.
He’s a strange mix of unbearably anxious and incredibly excited. He keeps dashing back and forth from the kitchen area to the door, wanting to hear the knock more than he feels like eating this meal he’s been preparing. Waiting is torture.
Then Gene arrives, finally. Sam bounds across the room and fumbles the door open.
Gene smirks. Sam pounces.
#17 - Happy - Simple Things
Gene returned to their table and set down two pints. He caught a glimpse of Sam’s expression and almost did a double-take. “Bloody hell, you look happy!”
Sam shrugged. His smile didn’t fade. He grabbed his drink and chugged down almost half of it, keeping his gaze on Gene.
“It’s disconcerting, you looking like that. I don’t know how to deal with you when you’re not whinging and moaning. Did someone tell you you’ve pretty eyes, or that your lottery numbers came up?”
“No.” Sam leaned across the table. “It’s just you, Gene. I love having you here, with me.”
#18 - Hot - A Sunny Day
“Gene, could you, you know…” Sam began hesitantly.
“What?”
“Erm, eat that ice-cream a little less…seductively?”
Gene raised his eyebrows. “Turn you on, does it?” He looked speculatively at the 99 for a moment, then leant in to give it a long, slow lick.
Sam shuddered in his seat. He hissed at Gene. “I wouldn’t mind, but we’re in public. Besides, I’m trying to focus on keeping an eye out for our bank robbers.”
“Nonsense. How ‘bout letting me do all the work, for once. You just sit back and relax. Or not.”
“I hate you sometimes.”
“No, you don’t.”
#19 - Cold - Sudden Distance
“Oh, forget it! I can’t be bothered to argue with you tonight, Gene.”
“Sam, what’s the matter? We were just having a friendly little talk.”
“Well I’m not in the mood for your stupid banter. Go bother Chris and Ray, be the Guv. I’ve got things to do.”
“Are you still on about last night? I can make it up to you, you know.” Gene winked, leant in, tried to steal a kiss, but Sam backed away faster than you could say frigid.
“Goodnight, Guv.”
Gene watched him go, trying hard not to let the hurt show on his face.
#20 - Author’s Choice (Tired) - It’s Been A Long Day
Sam pokes his head round the door and sees something unexpected. Gene, fast asleep at his desk, head resting on folded arms and snoring quietly. His first instinct is to laugh, second: jealousy of Gene’s ability to switch off, his third to wonder whether Gene’s cold. Sam tiptoes over to the coat stand and carefully drapes the camel-hair over Gene’s shoulders.
Sam’s just backing away when Gene wakes, yawning. He turns very still as he spots Sam. Stands up and pats Sam’s cheek, then strides out of the office, shrugging his coat on as he goes.
Back to work, then.