fanfic100: Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Title: Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Fandom: Due South
Characters: Ray Kowalski
Prompt: 053. Earth.
Word Count: 788
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Fraser/Kowalski. Title from the David Gray song, just because it's my current song of the mo'. ^^
Ray looks around as he takes another fistful of dirt and puts it aside, careful so nobody sees. Careful so nobody discovers his treasure. He's not supposed to be out here, not this late--he knows, but it's the perfect place, and it's the perfect time, and it has to be now--now that nobody is around. Nobody to see him or take his treasure from him. Tommy Wilcox mocked him at school today, had sneered in his face and said he'd take away Ray's treasure, and Ray can't let that happen. No, it's better left here, where nobody can touch it, and maybe in a thousand years, somebody else will dig it up. Ray is eight years old, and he likes that thought, so he pushes more dirt aside and digs a little deeper.
If he doesn't hurry up, his mom will start worrying and wonder where he is, and then he'll be in a lot of trouble. She will have no problems grounding him, this Ray knows. And his dad will be mad. They'll wonder how he got his clothes to dirty, so Ray has to be careful.
When he thinks the hole is deep enough, he stops digging. Takes the little tin box that sits by his side and opens it for one last look at its contents, then puts it carefully into the hole, and covers it up. It's safe now, he thinks as he packs the dirt tighter, presses both palms flat against it and smooths it over. It's safe now, and stupid Tommy Wilcox can't ever touch it. It's only Ray who knows where it is, and it'll be Ray's secret forever.
Ray feels better as he stands up and starts walking home.
It's been a long time since Ray has had to wear his uniform, and it doesn't fit as right as it used to. Skinny as he is, he's still filled out some since he last wore it. His shoulders are broader, his waist not as narrow, his arms not as thin. The hat is the only thing that still fits like it always has, but everything else has changed. Ray's face isn't the same anymore, either. More lines, skin not quite as smooth as it used to, something else--his eyes, maybe, he thinks. A lot of years and a whole lot of shit. He stares at himself in the mirror and plucks absently at one button. If he stares hard enough, he sees a scrawny little kid with dirt on his knees and one tooth missing in a crooked grin. Not the same. Not the same at all.
Ray didn't really know Officer Truman, but it doesn't matter, because one of the boys in blue has fallen, and Ray is there. He goes to the graveyard and stands at attention and salutes when they want him to salute, and he tries hard not to look at Mrs. Truman. Swallows hard against the lump in his throat and tunes out the minister's somber words.
Next to him, Fraser stands perfectly still, eyes fixed at the casket being lowered into the ground. When Mrs. Truman breaks down sobbing, Fraser sways a little, barely noticeable, and his hand brushes Ray's. The touch is barely there, a mere whisper against Ray's skin, but it's still there. Ray moves his pinky and hooks it with Fraser's, and doesn't look at the casket at all. Stares straight ahead past it and into the horizon, and if he squints a little and blinks rapidly a few times, it's just because the sun is in his eyes. Fraser keeps staring straight ahead and eventually salutes with the rest of them.
Afterwards, when they get home, Ray pulls off his tie with jerky movements, unbuttons the top two buttons of his uniform shirt and puts his hat on Diefenbaker's head. Diefenbaker snuffles, shakes it off and leaves it where it lands, before trotting off to claim Ray's couch, and for once Ray doesn't say anything about it. Instead he grabs Fraser, kisses him hotly and hangs on tight, because that's what he needs now. Fraser doesn't object, but just wraps his arms around Ray and presses their bodies together. Ray tries to lose himself in Fraser's mouth, and the next morning they'll go and they'll dig up his old treasure; baseball cards and tiny airplane models and a bent nickel. They'll find that spot near the old construction site that was gonna be a mall, but never did, and find that little box. Diefenbaker will find it quickly, and they'll dig it up together and Ray will share the memories it holds with Fraser. It's time to bring it back up.
Ray is done burying things.
End.
Fandom: Due South
Characters: Ray Kowalski
Prompt: 053. Earth.
Word Count: 788
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Fraser/Kowalski. Title from the David Gray song, just because it's my current song of the mo'. ^^
Ray looks around as he takes another fistful of dirt and puts it aside, careful so nobody sees. Careful so nobody discovers his treasure. He's not supposed to be out here, not this late--he knows, but it's the perfect place, and it's the perfect time, and it has to be now--now that nobody is around. Nobody to see him or take his treasure from him. Tommy Wilcox mocked him at school today, had sneered in his face and said he'd take away Ray's treasure, and Ray can't let that happen. No, it's better left here, where nobody can touch it, and maybe in a thousand years, somebody else will dig it up. Ray is eight years old, and he likes that thought, so he pushes more dirt aside and digs a little deeper.
If he doesn't hurry up, his mom will start worrying and wonder where he is, and then he'll be in a lot of trouble. She will have no problems grounding him, this Ray knows. And his dad will be mad. They'll wonder how he got his clothes to dirty, so Ray has to be careful.
When he thinks the hole is deep enough, he stops digging. Takes the little tin box that sits by his side and opens it for one last look at its contents, then puts it carefully into the hole, and covers it up. It's safe now, he thinks as he packs the dirt tighter, presses both palms flat against it and smooths it over. It's safe now, and stupid Tommy Wilcox can't ever touch it. It's only Ray who knows where it is, and it'll be Ray's secret forever.
Ray feels better as he stands up and starts walking home.
It's been a long time since Ray has had to wear his uniform, and it doesn't fit as right as it used to. Skinny as he is, he's still filled out some since he last wore it. His shoulders are broader, his waist not as narrow, his arms not as thin. The hat is the only thing that still fits like it always has, but everything else has changed. Ray's face isn't the same anymore, either. More lines, skin not quite as smooth as it used to, something else--his eyes, maybe, he thinks. A lot of years and a whole lot of shit. He stares at himself in the mirror and plucks absently at one button. If he stares hard enough, he sees a scrawny little kid with dirt on his knees and one tooth missing in a crooked grin. Not the same. Not the same at all.
Ray didn't really know Officer Truman, but it doesn't matter, because one of the boys in blue has fallen, and Ray is there. He goes to the graveyard and stands at attention and salutes when they want him to salute, and he tries hard not to look at Mrs. Truman. Swallows hard against the lump in his throat and tunes out the minister's somber words.
Next to him, Fraser stands perfectly still, eyes fixed at the casket being lowered into the ground. When Mrs. Truman breaks down sobbing, Fraser sways a little, barely noticeable, and his hand brushes Ray's. The touch is barely there, a mere whisper against Ray's skin, but it's still there. Ray moves his pinky and hooks it with Fraser's, and doesn't look at the casket at all. Stares straight ahead past it and into the horizon, and if he squints a little and blinks rapidly a few times, it's just because the sun is in his eyes. Fraser keeps staring straight ahead and eventually salutes with the rest of them.
Afterwards, when they get home, Ray pulls off his tie with jerky movements, unbuttons the top two buttons of his uniform shirt and puts his hat on Diefenbaker's head. Diefenbaker snuffles, shakes it off and leaves it where it lands, before trotting off to claim Ray's couch, and for once Ray doesn't say anything about it. Instead he grabs Fraser, kisses him hotly and hangs on tight, because that's what he needs now. Fraser doesn't object, but just wraps his arms around Ray and presses their bodies together. Ray tries to lose himself in Fraser's mouth, and the next morning they'll go and they'll dig up his old treasure; baseball cards and tiny airplane models and a bent nickel. They'll find that spot near the old construction site that was gonna be a mall, but never did, and find that little box. Diefenbaker will find it quickly, and they'll dig it up together and Ray will share the memories it holds with Fraser. It's time to bring it back up.
Ray is done burying things.
End.