post duplicity psl

[understood]

After being in Duplicity for months, Fraser still wasn't used to it. Everything changed so fast all the time, in such bizarre, inexplicable ways. But when he woke up to find himself bundled up next to Ray in their hand-built shelter, only ice and furs keeping out the biting cold of early Arctic spring, his first thought was that he must be dreaming.

Now he's pinched himself about six times, and Diefenbaker has gnawed helpfully on his shoulder, so he's come to the conclusion that he's really awake. Really here. Really home.

"Ray. Ray. Ray!"

Comments

[shakebadguysshake]

"Jesus Christ Frase, I'm right here," Ray grumbles, burrowing down further unto his furs to try and feel warmer. "Geez, did our heat go out or somethin'?"

[understood]

"Ice shelters don't typically come equipped with central heating, Ray." Fraser is absolutely giddy, tugging at Ray's sleeping bag like an insistent, excited child.

[shakebadguysshake]

Ray grumbles something about ice caves and freezing to death and struggles to unzip his sleeping bag, if only to pull Fraser closer, trying to get him into the sleeping bag with him.

Things are slowly starting to register. The furs, the sleeping bag. The cold. "We're not in our apartment, are we?" he mumbles from somewhere against Fraser's chest, where his face is buried.

[understood]

Fraser hugs him tight.

"No. We're home."

[shakebadguysshake]

Well, they're not like. Home home. Home is Chicago, to him. But they are, it seems, back in their own world.

He wraps his arms around Fraser's waist and holds on just as tight. "Home. Finally."

[understood]

A thought occurs to Fraser, and he starts tugging at Ray's clothes, peeking down to see if the submissive tattoo is still there. If there's physical proof of what they went through.

He pauses when, bringing his hands up to do that, he realizes he's still wearing his ring.

[shakebadguysshake]

"Whoa, hey, Frase, what're you -- " But then he realizes what he's looking for, and brings his hand up to his throat. Where his collar still is.

"Hey, this came back, too. And like hell am I ever gonna take it off."

[understood]

"The tattoo is gone, though. That's a mercy." Fraser flops back with a soft laugh, suddenly limp with relief. "And apparently our memories are intact."

[shakebadguysshake]

"I was kind of getting used to it," he admits, rubbing at his eyebrow with his thumb. "I'm not saying I'd get it here, but you know. I got to not mind it."

He tucks himself up next to Fraser, a hand against his chest. Smiling when he sees the ring on his finger. "I remember ever weird and wonderful day with you in that place."

[understood]

It all still feels like a dream, but Fraser's not about to pinch himself again. He wraps his arms around Ray again instead, and kisses his hair.

"Thank God."

[shakebadguysshake]

"Though it has occurred to me. That we are in the middle of fucking nowhere, again. But at least I'm with you. There's no one I'd rather be stuck out in a snowy tundra with than you." He smiles and presses a kiss to Fraser's chest. "Partner."

[understood]

"I'll remind you that this whole expedition was your idea, Mister Adventure."

Despite the teasing words, he's still clinging to Ray, and he's grinning helplessly now, too.

[shakebadguysshake]

"Yeah, I know it was." He laughs a little, too, nuzzling Fraser's neck with a cold nose. "And we're gonna find it, some day. Maybe just not this time."

[understood]

Fraser presses a kiss to his temple. "Alright, partner. Does that mean you'd like to start heading for civilization?"

[shakebadguysshake]

"Yeah." Ray sighs and closes his eyes at the kiss. "Yeah, I wanna go home. I wanna be in my apartment. And I want you to move into my apartment with me, no more sleeping on the cot in your office."

[understood]

It's almost a whole minute before Fraser answers, although the silence doesn't feel like a bad thing, or even an awkward thing. He doesn't tense up, just keeps cuddling Ray contentedly. Still, he sounds a bit hesitant when he finally speaks up.

"Ray, you know how you've been encouraging me to ask for things?"

[shakebadguysshake]

"Yeah, of course, Frase. You can ask for anything you want." He rubs his hand in slow circles over Fraser's chest, bracing himself for the request.

[understood]

"Thank you. Right, well, I actually have two requests. Firstly, I'd like to watch a certain teen romance film with you at the first opportunity. I believe it should be in theatres for the next month or so. Secondly... if we start towards the nearest town with highway access today, may we take the scenic route? I know Chicago is home for you, but I'm not quite ready for urban life again after Duplicity. That's not to say we need to dawdle unduly, just ..." He trails off, shrugging.

[shakebadguysshake]

"Yeah, we can go slow going home. Just so long as we can zip our sleeping bags together and you keep me warm at night." He leans up to press a kiss to Fraser's jaw softly.

"What movie you wanna see?"

[understood]

"It's called Ten Things I Hate About You."

He turns his head to kiss Ray properly.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way."