Hat Challenge by Aingeal
Title: About a Stetson
Author: Aingeal
Pairing: Fraser/Vecchio
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 1696
Summary: Ray puzzles over a gift from Fraser.
Notes: Set in and around the episode 'Invitation to Romance'. Many thanks to leda_speaks for a speedy beta. I don't own due South or a Stetson.
About a Stetson
Ray’s head itched. What did Fraser do to the brim of his hat? Starch it? It was bad enough wearing the damn itchy red dress uniform but the hat was worse. It chafed so much it was no wonder Fraser had a hat line embedded in his forehead. Ray rubbed at his and hoped the same thing wasn’t happening to him. He sighed as another car pulled up and the driver started making motions. Ray stopped musing about crazy Mountie headgear and went back to covering for Fraser as door man.
It was a few hours later when Fraser returned to the Consulate. Ray got the whole story of the waterbed incident out of Fraser once they’d dropped Ms Burns off at her house and her ex-fiancé had been taken off to the police station. At least that piece of garbage wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.
Now Ray was standing in Fraser’s office, changing out of the uniform that had caused his skin to rebel and the hat that had caused his head to itch.
Ray put the latter item on Fraser’s desk. “How can you wear that?” Ray asked.
Fraser glanced at it. “It’s part of my uniform, Ray.”
“I know that, but look my forehead.” Ray turned to face Fraser, offering it for inspection.
Fraser peered slightly. “What about your forehead, Ray?”
“Do I have a hat mark?”
“No, Ray, why would you?”
Ray resumed getting undressed. “That thing itches,” he said, pointing to the hat.
“Ah.”
Ray stopped what he was doing. “What?”
“You didn't complain when you wore it at the meat packing plant, Ray.”
“Because I was freezing to death!” Ray pointed out. “I couldn’t feel it being itchy because I was a human popsicle wrapped in horsemeat.”
“I suppose that makes sense, Ray.”
“Nothing about tonight makes sense, Benny. You threw your hat.”
“I told you, Ray, the brim is specifically designed to…”
“Itch. And rub.”
“You get used to it, Ray. Of course, it helps to have properly fitting headgear and there are distinct differences in the shape of our skulls.”
“And you have more hair.”
“I suppose that helps with fitting. You know, Ray, it’s interesting you mention hair because my father once had an incident with a wolverine in which his Stetson got dislodged and it was the funniest thing….”
Ray sighed as he took his pants off. “Benny, I’m getting changed here.”
“Ah, yes, Ray.”
“You want your hat back?”
“I have a spare, Ray. Why don’t you keep it?”
Ray nearly fell over in shock. “You’re giving me your hat?”
“Yes, Ray.”
“Aren’t there Mountie rules against this kind of thing?”
“I’m not sure, Ray, but you earned it,” Fraser held it out toward Ray.
Ray, despite the fact he was in the middle of changing, took it. “I earned a hat.”
“You earned the right to wear it. I think you should keep it.”
“I don’t know what to say, Benny.”
Fraser simply smiled. “You don’t have to, Ray.”
When Ray played doorman later on it was without the hat and full of buffet food. Still, while frisking a few big shots who had thought to take home an unofficial doggy bag Ray was still wondering about the hat he’d left upstairs, his gift from Fraser. Why on earth would Benny give him a hat?
Ray knew Fraser had some sort of weird religious thing going on with it. It was like he wore the hat and he thought he could walk through a hail of bullets and none of them would hit him. Okay, so every time someone shot him or stabbed him, Fraser hadn’t been wearing the hat but still…why would he give one to Ray? Was it some weird Mountie friendship thing? Did Fraser think he needed one?
Ray was tempted to leave it. In fact, when he was preparing to drive Benny home he decided he would leave it. Sure, his mother would tell him off for rejecting a gift but it wasn’t like the birthday he'd returned the body lotion Francesca had bought him and bought cologne instead. This was bigger than that. This was something important.
“Ray, you forgot this,” Fraser said, as he got into the Riv and handed Ray the Stetson.
“Thanks, Benny,” Ray said, unsure about his response.
“Are you all right, Ray?”
Ray nodded. “Just thinking.”
“About the case?”
Ray shook his head. “About…other stuff.”
“Ah. You know, if you want to talk, Ray…”
“I know, Benny. I’m just thinking.”
“Perhaps you should try meditation, Ray.”
“What, sit on my bed with my legs crossed humming?” Ray asked, picturing how he'd look in his pyjamas doing just that.
“Oh, no, Ray. Sometimes meditation can be as simple as clearing your mind from all conceivable distractions and concentrating on the symbols of the things you’re thinking about.”
“So, I don’t need to smoke any weird substances?”
That got a slight smile out of Fraser. “No, Ray. Of course, the purest form of meditation can be found when a person isolates themselves from the outside world. Of course, that’s very difficult to do but before you go to sleep, if you regulate your breathing and close your eyes, sometimes just the attempt can be very useful."
“Maybe I’ll try it,” Ray replied.
Ray hadn’t actually thought he would do it but the thought played in the back of his mind all the way home. He dropped Benny and Dief off and then drove home, the Stetson now occupying the passenger seat, a symbol of his best friend even in his absence. Fraser had insisted Ray take it but Ray was no closer to finding out why. Maybe meditating would help, because he knew he wasn’t going to be getting to sleep anytime soon, not with all he was thinking about.
That was the reason that at 2AM in the morning Ray found himself sitting on his bed, holding the hat in his hands, closing his eyes and thinking. He wasn’t sure what he should be thinking about so he tried to concentrate on the feel of the hat. It felt stiff at first, but Ray was surprised that the brim actually was quite flexible despite the fact it was starchy.
He could smell the leather strap; at least he thought that was the smell. Benny sometimes had that smell about him, when he had been polishing his boots. Benny. That was what Ray was thinking about, his friend and this hat that now somehow connected the two of them. He concentrated on that. Obviously this was a special possession of his friend’s and yet he had given it to Ray? Why?
Ray tried thinking about it some more. He concentrated on the feel of it in his hands, the felt, not as coarse as he thought it would be. He thought about Benny. Fraser had worn this hat. His sweat was in the fabric; not that Fraser ever really sweated. It wasn’t just a hat to him. It was more than a hat to Ray now, too.
He thought back to the meat freezer and wearing the hat. Fraser had offered it to keep him warm, saying something about how the most heat is lost through the head. But it wasn’t just that. Fraser seemed to think it would protect Ray. Well, that and the frozen horsemeat. But why would Fraser sacrifice that protection for Ray? Unless…
Ray had a desire to protect Fraser, a desire that only recently he had recognised as part of the manifestation of love. What if Fraser felt the same? Of course, being a Mountie he couldn’t say it. Ray flashed back to their conversation in the car.
“Symbols! Damn you, Fraser,” he said. “You were trying to tell me about symbols.”
The hat was a symbol. It was the Mountie equivalent of a love token. Ray cursed silently as he got dressed, he didn’t want to wake anyone. Grabbing his keys from the dresser and the hat he headed out to see Fraser.
He didn’t worry about disturbing the neighbours, in this building there were disturbances all night long. He knocked on the door and waited for Fraser to answer.
“You know, Benny, an Inuit story would have been better,” Ray said as soon as the door opened.
“Better than what?”
“Giving me your hat.”
Fraser gave Ray his 'I understand' look. “Ah. So you…?”
Ray allowed a little smile. “Yeah. So, can I come in?”
“Please.” Fraser stepped aside and allowed Ray in.
Ray was purposeful as he walked to where Fraser’s hat was in its press. He took it out and then strode up to Fraser and placed the hat on his head. Before Fraser could say anything, Ray kissed him.
Despite the fact it was very awkward kissing Fraser while he was wearing a hat, Ray persisted. Gradually Fraser’s shock seemed to overcome whatever else he was thinking and he returned the kiss. Ray didn’t care about the fact the hat brim was rubbing his forehead again. All he cared about was the fact he was kissing Benny.
It was some time later, lying naked and warm in Fraser’s bed, that Ray finally spoke his feelings. “I love you,” he whispered, running a hand lazily along Fraser’s body.
Fraser hugged him a little closer. “I love you, too.”
“See, you could have just said that. But no, you had to give me a hat.” Ray touched the brim of the Stetson Fraser was still wearing. He hadn’t let Fraser take it off the whole time they’d made love, even though it had been awkward. Ray was sure there would be hat marks on his thighs.
“Ray?”
“Yeah?
“The Stetson, it’s still yours.”
Ray turned to Fraser. “Really?”
“Really.”
Ray kissed him. “You know, I’ve got a great idea, Benny.”
“What’s that, Ray?”
“Why don’t we both wear the hats in bed? “
Fraser said nothing but got up and picked up the other Stetson. He climbed back in next to Ray and placed it firmly on Ray’s head. Smiling, they kissed again. Though the brims did make it difficult, it was worth it.
Author: Aingeal
Pairing: Fraser/Vecchio
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 1696
Summary: Ray puzzles over a gift from Fraser.
Notes: Set in and around the episode 'Invitation to Romance'. Many thanks to leda_speaks for a speedy beta. I don't own due South or a Stetson.
About a Stetson
Ray’s head itched. What did Fraser do to the brim of his hat? Starch it? It was bad enough wearing the damn itchy red dress uniform but the hat was worse. It chafed so much it was no wonder Fraser had a hat line embedded in his forehead. Ray rubbed at his and hoped the same thing wasn’t happening to him. He sighed as another car pulled up and the driver started making motions. Ray stopped musing about crazy Mountie headgear and went back to covering for Fraser as door man.
It was a few hours later when Fraser returned to the Consulate. Ray got the whole story of the waterbed incident out of Fraser once they’d dropped Ms Burns off at her house and her ex-fiancé had been taken off to the police station. At least that piece of garbage wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.
Now Ray was standing in Fraser’s office, changing out of the uniform that had caused his skin to rebel and the hat that had caused his head to itch.
Ray put the latter item on Fraser’s desk. “How can you wear that?” Ray asked.
Fraser glanced at it. “It’s part of my uniform, Ray.”
“I know that, but look my forehead.” Ray turned to face Fraser, offering it for inspection.
Fraser peered slightly. “What about your forehead, Ray?”
“Do I have a hat mark?”
“No, Ray, why would you?”
Ray resumed getting undressed. “That thing itches,” he said, pointing to the hat.
“Ah.”
Ray stopped what he was doing. “What?”
“You didn't complain when you wore it at the meat packing plant, Ray.”
“Because I was freezing to death!” Ray pointed out. “I couldn’t feel it being itchy because I was a human popsicle wrapped in horsemeat.”
“I suppose that makes sense, Ray.”
“Nothing about tonight makes sense, Benny. You threw your hat.”
“I told you, Ray, the brim is specifically designed to…”
“Itch. And rub.”
“You get used to it, Ray. Of course, it helps to have properly fitting headgear and there are distinct differences in the shape of our skulls.”
“And you have more hair.”
“I suppose that helps with fitting. You know, Ray, it’s interesting you mention hair because my father once had an incident with a wolverine in which his Stetson got dislodged and it was the funniest thing….”
Ray sighed as he took his pants off. “Benny, I’m getting changed here.”
“Ah, yes, Ray.”
“You want your hat back?”
“I have a spare, Ray. Why don’t you keep it?”
Ray nearly fell over in shock. “You’re giving me your hat?”
“Yes, Ray.”
“Aren’t there Mountie rules against this kind of thing?”
“I’m not sure, Ray, but you earned it,” Fraser held it out toward Ray.
Ray, despite the fact he was in the middle of changing, took it. “I earned a hat.”
“You earned the right to wear it. I think you should keep it.”
“I don’t know what to say, Benny.”
Fraser simply smiled. “You don’t have to, Ray.”
When Ray played doorman later on it was without the hat and full of buffet food. Still, while frisking a few big shots who had thought to take home an unofficial doggy bag Ray was still wondering about the hat he’d left upstairs, his gift from Fraser. Why on earth would Benny give him a hat?
Ray knew Fraser had some sort of weird religious thing going on with it. It was like he wore the hat and he thought he could walk through a hail of bullets and none of them would hit him. Okay, so every time someone shot him or stabbed him, Fraser hadn’t been wearing the hat but still…why would he give one to Ray? Was it some weird Mountie friendship thing? Did Fraser think he needed one?
Ray was tempted to leave it. In fact, when he was preparing to drive Benny home he decided he would leave it. Sure, his mother would tell him off for rejecting a gift but it wasn’t like the birthday he'd returned the body lotion Francesca had bought him and bought cologne instead. This was bigger than that. This was something important.
“Ray, you forgot this,” Fraser said, as he got into the Riv and handed Ray the Stetson.
“Thanks, Benny,” Ray said, unsure about his response.
“Are you all right, Ray?”
Ray nodded. “Just thinking.”
“About the case?”
Ray shook his head. “About…other stuff.”
“Ah. You know, if you want to talk, Ray…”
“I know, Benny. I’m just thinking.”
“Perhaps you should try meditation, Ray.”
“What, sit on my bed with my legs crossed humming?” Ray asked, picturing how he'd look in his pyjamas doing just that.
“Oh, no, Ray. Sometimes meditation can be as simple as clearing your mind from all conceivable distractions and concentrating on the symbols of the things you’re thinking about.”
“So, I don’t need to smoke any weird substances?”
That got a slight smile out of Fraser. “No, Ray. Of course, the purest form of meditation can be found when a person isolates themselves from the outside world. Of course, that’s very difficult to do but before you go to sleep, if you regulate your breathing and close your eyes, sometimes just the attempt can be very useful."
“Maybe I’ll try it,” Ray replied.
Ray hadn’t actually thought he would do it but the thought played in the back of his mind all the way home. He dropped Benny and Dief off and then drove home, the Stetson now occupying the passenger seat, a symbol of his best friend even in his absence. Fraser had insisted Ray take it but Ray was no closer to finding out why. Maybe meditating would help, because he knew he wasn’t going to be getting to sleep anytime soon, not with all he was thinking about.
That was the reason that at 2AM in the morning Ray found himself sitting on his bed, holding the hat in his hands, closing his eyes and thinking. He wasn’t sure what he should be thinking about so he tried to concentrate on the feel of the hat. It felt stiff at first, but Ray was surprised that the brim actually was quite flexible despite the fact it was starchy.
He could smell the leather strap; at least he thought that was the smell. Benny sometimes had that smell about him, when he had been polishing his boots. Benny. That was what Ray was thinking about, his friend and this hat that now somehow connected the two of them. He concentrated on that. Obviously this was a special possession of his friend’s and yet he had given it to Ray? Why?
Ray tried thinking about it some more. He concentrated on the feel of it in his hands, the felt, not as coarse as he thought it would be. He thought about Benny. Fraser had worn this hat. His sweat was in the fabric; not that Fraser ever really sweated. It wasn’t just a hat to him. It was more than a hat to Ray now, too.
He thought back to the meat freezer and wearing the hat. Fraser had offered it to keep him warm, saying something about how the most heat is lost through the head. But it wasn’t just that. Fraser seemed to think it would protect Ray. Well, that and the frozen horsemeat. But why would Fraser sacrifice that protection for Ray? Unless…
Ray had a desire to protect Fraser, a desire that only recently he had recognised as part of the manifestation of love. What if Fraser felt the same? Of course, being a Mountie he couldn’t say it. Ray flashed back to their conversation in the car.
“Symbols! Damn you, Fraser,” he said. “You were trying to tell me about symbols.”
The hat was a symbol. It was the Mountie equivalent of a love token. Ray cursed silently as he got dressed, he didn’t want to wake anyone. Grabbing his keys from the dresser and the hat he headed out to see Fraser.
He didn’t worry about disturbing the neighbours, in this building there were disturbances all night long. He knocked on the door and waited for Fraser to answer.
“You know, Benny, an Inuit story would have been better,” Ray said as soon as the door opened.
“Better than what?”
“Giving me your hat.”
Fraser gave Ray his 'I understand' look. “Ah. So you…?”
Ray allowed a little smile. “Yeah. So, can I come in?”
“Please.” Fraser stepped aside and allowed Ray in.
Ray was purposeful as he walked to where Fraser’s hat was in its press. He took it out and then strode up to Fraser and placed the hat on his head. Before Fraser could say anything, Ray kissed him.
Despite the fact it was very awkward kissing Fraser while he was wearing a hat, Ray persisted. Gradually Fraser’s shock seemed to overcome whatever else he was thinking and he returned the kiss. Ray didn’t care about the fact the hat brim was rubbing his forehead again. All he cared about was the fact he was kissing Benny.
It was some time later, lying naked and warm in Fraser’s bed, that Ray finally spoke his feelings. “I love you,” he whispered, running a hand lazily along Fraser’s body.
Fraser hugged him a little closer. “I love you, too.”
“See, you could have just said that. But no, you had to give me a hat.” Ray touched the brim of the Stetson Fraser was still wearing. He hadn’t let Fraser take it off the whole time they’d made love, even though it had been awkward. Ray was sure there would be hat marks on his thighs.
“Ray?”
“Yeah?
“The Stetson, it’s still yours.”
Ray turned to Fraser. “Really?”
“Really.”
Ray kissed him. “You know, I’ve got a great idea, Benny.”
“What’s that, Ray?”
“Why don’t we both wear the hats in bed? “
Fraser said nothing but got up and picked up the other Stetson. He climbed back in next to Ray and placed it firmly on Ray’s head. Smiling, they kissed again. Though the brims did make it difficult, it was worth it.