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Ray pulled up in front of Benton's apartment complex, and looked out the window and up at the rows of windows. No way was he looking forward to walking up six flights just to give Benton's door a knock, not when they'd just be leaving a moment later. To top it all off he was...weirdly nervous. He hadn't been on a date, not one that meant anything,

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[maintain_right]

"For god's sake, Diefenbaker, you're not going to starve if I don't bring you back any leftovers. No! It would be foolish to spend money on a separate entrée! Who said you were coming along, anyway. This is a date. I--"

Fraser froze at the sound of an engine shutting off outside. He hadn't even chosen a shirt yet! He ran to the window and thrust out his head. "I'll be down in a moment!"

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Ray stared ahead, mouth parted, in deep confusion.

"But that's what I just said. It's just written smut, for guys without TV's I guess," he said. What guy read a romance novel?

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"Well, then I suppose I'm not interested in smut," said Fraser primly. In fact, he had it in mind to cancel the entire series from Mort's order list. It was only fear of censorship that had kept him from doing so already.

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"Er, in books, or in all things?" Ray asked, sounding kind of worried. Maybe Benton really was asexual. God, that would suck.

[maintain_right]

"In only smut," Fraser clarified. "I'm not, ah..." He rubbed at an eyebrow. "Disinterested in acts of...physical affection."

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Well, that was a relief. But still, Benton was so weird, Ray wondered if he'd ever gotten naked with someone before at all.

"Benton, have you ever had sex before?" he asked, figuring bluntness was the way to go. Rule #1 for dating, don't bring up past relationships. But hey, they were buddies first and datees second, so Ray felt he could ask.

[maintain_right]

Fraser's intake of breath was audible even over the engine, and though he continued to gaze out the window, he seemed more withdrawn than before. "I have."

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"With a guy?" Ray asked, glancing over at the sound he made.

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Fraser's eyes focused on the people milling about on the sidewalks as they passed. "No. With a woman."

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Ray nodded a little, but wasn't sure what else to say. It didn't really matter, guy or girl, whoever it was had done something to Benton. Or maybe Benton did something to her.

Whatever, Ray figured he should let it drop, no matter how much he wanted to know.

"Never with a guy?" he asked instead, trying to subtly steer the subject away from the woman.

[maintain_right]

"No, never." Fraser sighed and lifted his eyes. "It's been a long time since I've been close to anyone, Ray."

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"Lucky me," Ray said, glancing over with a smile. "I must've done something right. It's the hair, isn't it?"

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"Oh no, Ray. It's your heart. Your passion." Fraser returned his smile with a small one of his own. "Though I do admit to a fondness for your hairstyle."

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"My heart?" Ray repeated, his smile widening and his face heating up as he nearly took out a taxi trying to get into a parking spot behind the restaurant. "...Woops."

[maintain_right]

"Ray." Fraser was gripping the armrest tightly, having been sure they were bound for collision. "It only takes an extra second to be courteous."

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"What? Hey, you're distracting, you know that?" Ray said cheerfully, pulling into the spot and cutting the engine. He took a deep breath and looked over at Benton like he couldn't be happier, which for the moment was probably true. "God, you look good," he said without hardly realizing it.