DOOC challenge

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

It's all corvidology's fault, I tell you. 

This is my first ever piece of Pros fic and would not be here if londonronnie hadn't been so encouraging - and so quick with her beta!
Many thanks!
I have tried to follow instructions as regards posting etc, so if I have cocked it up many apologies to the moderators.

I saw this quote from  Dance Away by Roxy Music - 'Loneliness is a crowded room,  Full of open hearts turned to stone'

and it got the creative juices flowing - rather unexpectedly too.

Read more...

The hum of conversation from the CI5 Ops room washed out of the half-open door like an ocean current, swirling around the man hesitating in the corridor until he felt as if he was drowning in it. Silently he castigated himself for his cowardice. He was as good as any of those public-school prats, and better than most!  Stop dithering, Doyle, he told himself. No upper-class, poncy twat was going to look down on him – just let them try.

With a slight, betraying lift of his round chin Ray Doyle, newly-qualified CI5 agent, squared his shoulders and deliberately set himself to radiate the aggressive, insolent cockiness that screamed ‘don’t mess with me’ to any who cared to look, then opened the door labelled ‘VIP Lounge’ and sauntered into the lions’ den.

 The cheerful talk and laughter stopped as if cut off with a knife and the new arrival became the target of eleven pairs of eyes. Neutral, wary, assessing... Doyle felt like a tasty morsel being eyed up by circling sharks. Here he was, surrounded by his fellows on CI5’s elite A squad, and yet he had never felt lonelier.  He was still the outsider, even here. He didn’t dress like them or sound like them – they came from different worlds, and Doyle was beginning to wonder whether he would ever really get to know any of them – and even whether he wanted to.

Especially his partner, Mr. I’m-perfect-and-I-know-it Bodie!

 Scowling fiercely against any attempt to intimidate or patronise, Doyle strolled across to the kettle and set about making himself a cup of tea, turning his shoulder against the almost tangible pressure of all those eyes. Behind his apparently oblivious figure agents grimaced at each other and returned to their conversations.  Eventually Anson’s precise tones rose above the rest. Despite himself, Doyle listened. Anson, after all, had been fully operational for several weeks now, and he and his partner Price were rapidly becoming one of the most effective teams on the squad.

 “…so he spotted me and panicked! I went after him and what did he do but charge into the ladies’ loos!  Well, there I am outside, wondering what the hell I should do -”

 “ Go after him, you silly sod!  D’you think Cowley cares about you dying of terminal embarrassment?”

 “ Yeah, yeah,” was Anson’s dismissive response to his partner.  Unfazed, Price simply grinned at the big blond agent, who shook his head at the smaller, chunky Welshman and carried on. “Anyway,  I’m standing there dithering and the next thing is, he comes running out pursued by this old bag who’s belting him with her handbag and screaming for a policeman! The pathetic little shit ended up pleading with me to arrest him!”

 “And of course you availed yourself of his generous invitation,” drawled Bodie’s voice over the shout of laughter from Anson’s audience. 

 Doyle glanced up sharply from his concentration on putting the precisely correct amount of sugar in his tea. His partner’s tall, dark figure was slouched in one of the beaten-up armchairs in one corner of the room, the Express racing pages adorning his immaculately-clad person, and Doyle sneered internally. Typical bloody Bodie – can’t be arsed to keep up with current affairs, but always up to speed on the racing results!   Fiercely he squashed the small, aching stab of the realisation that Bodie had seen him come in, had seen the other agents’ reaction, and – had done nothing. Of course Bodie was ex-army, like the vast majority of the squad. That made him part of that world, the world of public school and privilege, by training if not by birth, and endowed him with the same intimidating self-confidence that they all shared. 

 Maybe this treatment was normal, and he shouldn’t be fazed by it, but it was all so damn polite! Just silence and exclusion, all with perfect manners, and Doyle had no idea how to combat it or break through the wall that seemed to surround him.  A good hard fight, or a stand-up row, he could handle, but this ... 

 Chewing his lip and deep in thought, he stared morosely into the depths of his mug, briefly forgetting his surroundings until an empty mug landed on the table by his elbow and Bodie’s voice said,

 “Wake up, you dozy pillock! Is there any hot left?”

 Jerked abruptly out of his gloomy cogitations , Doyle hastily reached for the kettle.

 “Uh – yeah, there’s still – here.”

 Dropping a tea bag into the taller man’s mug he quickly put together a cup of tea, automatically adding the exact amount of milk and sugar and handing it over before looking up.

 Bodie was looking at him quizzically, one eyebrow cocked in that annoying, superior way of his, and Doyle felt himself start to bristle in readiness for the sarcastic quip he was sure was coming his way.  But –

 “Ta, sunshine.” The voice was calm, no edge to it that Doyle could hear.  After a brief pause, Bodie took a cautious sip, nodded in satisfaction and added, “How come you know the way I like my tea?”

 Doyle shrugged. To him it was obvious. “You’re my partner. S’my business to know.” Feeling that this was a bit abrupt, he added, “You get that way in the Met.”

 Bodie grunted and turned away, and Doyle looked back down at his mug, his brief hope – that Bodie might have been trying to be friendly – withering. It was no good, he just couldn’t read the signals right. This was never going to work…

 “Christ, Doyle, you’re a scruffy bugger! Where d’you get your clothes – Oxfam?”

 That was from McCabe, and could have been meant as friendly – but Doyle thought not. There was a definite edge in the voice, and as for the comment ! McCabe’s partner, Lucas, dressed as casually as Doyle, though admittedly from rather more expensive outlets. He could afford to…

Doyle was drawing breath to snap back a heated rejoinder – and stuff good manners – when a familiar, coolly amused voice came from his left.

 “What’s the matter, McCabe?  Still sore about yesterday?”

 Sniggers were audible from several listeners, and Doyle grinned broadly as McCabe spluttered. In training the day before Barry had put him and McCabe up against each other, and Doyle had taken his opponent three times out of three despite being stones lighter and several inches shorter than the big ex-army captain.

“I do so hate a bad loser,” Bodie was continuing. “Tell you what – we’ll give you a chance for revenge. Darts match, Red Lion, tomorrow night. You and Lucas versus me and Doyle, and the losers buy the drinks. How about it?”

 Somewhere within Doyle a small warmth began to bloom, banishing the ache that he had lived with so long that he barely noticed it any more.

 “Oi!” he said softly. Bodie looked around and Doyle leaned forward so that no-one, least of all McCabe, could hear him. “I’d better warn you – I’m crap at darts.”

 Bodie grinned – a wide, goofy expression which lit up his whole face and brought an unfamiliar warmth into his blue – really, incredibly blue, Doyle thought, with an odd sensation in his stomach – eyes.

 “Don’t worry, mate,” his partner whispered . “I’m brilliant enough for both of us. We’ll walk it. You just keep the beers coming.” He tilted his head slightly and his smile changed, becoming somehow warmer.

 “That’s what partners are for – right?”

 “Right ,” agreed Doyle.

 Suddenly he knew with complete and utter certainty that it was going to be all right.

 It felt like coming home.

                   *                      *                      *                      *                      *

 Title:  Coming Home
Author: SAC
Slash or Gen: Gen/Pre-slash (if you squint very hard)
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Yes please
Author's Name for Archiving (if different to above):
Disclaimer:  I really, really wish they belonged to me, but they don’t. I just like to play with them every now and then.

 

Comments

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I do have a fondness for stories that show the beginnings of a change in their early relationship--when they gel as partners. I like this story that shows it happening when they close ranks in the VP lounge. Heh. Thank you! This was a nice surprise tonight!

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

*gulp* Praise from you is praise indeed. I'm so glad you like it! I love 'early days' stories too, but I'd never considered writing one until I saw that prompt.

draycevixen's pokey stick has a lot to answer for!

[zamaxfield.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing your story. I can never, ever see these two as gen, is it me? I think not. I like Bodie here a lot, his arrogance, and yet his protectiveness

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

No, I can't either, but I wasn't sure if I'd signalled the first stirrings of interest sufficiently, so thought I'd better hedge my bets and put Gen as well as what I hoped people would see it as, i.e. pre-slash *g*
Glad you did! Thank you for commenting - and liking my Bodie.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

And I tend to prefer older lads over early day stories, but this, ma'am, was quite nice. I liked that Doyle discovered that Bodie was going to be there for him. I think Doyle didn't realise how important that cup of tea would be. Thanks!

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Gosh - you liked it even though you prefer older lads... wow. *bg* Thank you!

And no, Doyle had no idea about the tea - to him it was just... part of being a partner!

*rattles pokey stick over head* *is used to the blame*

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Really, this is your first Pros story? Well that's wonderful! Here, have some Swiss Roll!

It's a beautiful reading of that particular quote, and there are definite flashes of pre-slash there, in Doyle's observations of Bodie, including noticing the sudden warmth in Bodie's eyes. *g*

I really like the notion of Doyle setting out to radiate aggressiveness and yet *still* not just inserting himself into the conversation. There's a nice hint there that Bodie has read his moroseness from across the room -- when he tells Doyle to wake up -- and then Doyle remembering how he likes his tea is a commitment to partnership revealed in the simplest of ways.

Really nice. Thank you for playing! ♥

I hope you'll think about writing more. 59 more quotes to fondle... just saying... *whistles*

Re: *rattles pokey stick over head* *is used to the blame*

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you, ma'am! *mumbling through mouthful of Swiss Roll*

I've always thought that Doyle's almost bristling aggression is cover for a basic insecurity - no-one's naturally that spiky! And the most logical reason seems to me to be simple class insecurity; there's a lot of it left now in British society, but it was a hell of a lot worse in the 1970's. Doyle seems to be the only member of CI5 with obvious working-class roots. Some of the others may well have a similar background but the army is very good at knocking any signs of plebeian origins out of those selected for any kind of command... and every one of the agents we see in Pros possesses a distinctly upper-class accent! (even Bodie, when he wants to).

Doyle must have felt very isolated when he first joined CI5, and that's what I was trying to portray - along with the first stirrings of, er, 'interest' *g*.

Thank you for your comments! *wanders off with half-eaten Swiss Roll to take a look at the other quotes... not promising anything, you understand!*

Re: *rattles pokey stick over head* *is used to the blame*

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I know all about the class insecurities... I'm from South London but I ended up going to an "awfully nice" grammar school in the West Country. Let's just say that in my teen years I could have given Doyle a few lessons. *g*

Actually America likes to believe it's a class free society but it's not, it just has a class system based on wealth.

Re: *rattles pokey stick over head* *is used to the blame*

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I noticed further down that you were asking for how to live link. It's difficult to "show" you as once you type it into this box it does what you told it to do rather than displaying.

If you go to the bottom of one of these LJ pages -- like this one -- you'll see a link for FAQs. Click on that. You'll get a list of most frequently used codings. I think the ones you want are under the "journal heading." Then just follow the bouncing ball. If that still doesn't work for you let me know and I'll try and talk you through it.

[cyanne]

This a really lovely take on the lads. Thanks for the treat.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting *g*

[windrain10.livejournal.com]

I prefer older lads in a well established slash relationship but even I have to admit, they had to start somewhere, and this was a great take on that. I thought you had Doyle and his insecurity done just perfectly and the bit about the tea was wonderful. Thanks for writing this and posting it!

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting! And another older lads fan who still likes this... *I'm blushing here* ... lost for words.

[sunray45.livejournal.com]

Really love this. I can just see Doyle girding his loins, so to speak, to go into the VIP Lounge and being brave enough to face the others. Bodie is lovely here, finally deciding to look after his partner.

Thank heavens for draycevixen and her pokey stick. :))

Of course we want more!!

Thank you for being brave.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

I didn't feel brave, let me tell you! I'd never have posted it if londonronnie hadn't been so encouraging - I was convinced it was crap. Well, it's getting on for twenty years since I last wrote anything, and that was in a very different fandom (V - remember that series? oh, the shame...!)

It's brilliant the way everyone's being so - so positive!

And completely OT, what's the html for showing an LJ user, like you've done with draycevixen? I've been trying to figure that one out for a while... oh, and a hyperlink as well!

[sunray45.livejournal.com]

Of course everyone is positive!! It is a brilliant story. Twenty years since you last wrote anything?? No wonder you were nervous. Hopefully, now you've started writing again, you won't stop. :) I want to know how this relationship progresses.

Gawd only knows what a hyperlink is - I don't. I have only just recently found out how to do the LJ user one. It is < lj user = "greengerbil" > without the spaces. Hold on, you do leave a space between lj and user. Hope I haven't confused you more. *bg*

Underneath where you post or reply there is a 'More Options' button. Press that and you have the option of seeing a preview of what you have written. Also, there is a list of allowed HTML code, most of which I haven't tried as yet.

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

You sure this is your first Pros fic? It's damn good, especially the description of Doyle and how he feels until Bodie comes for the rescue. There's lots of opportunity to develop a relationship there. And you're good at putting all those small details like the tea and stuff. Hope there will be more soon and thanks for posting. That was a great morning read.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The small details sort of wrote themselves while I was trying to figure out what Doyle would do. Glad I got them right!
And I wanted to show juust the first, tentative beginnings of something, because at the beginning of Pros (which is two years later!) they're still dancing round each other!

I really like that icon, btw!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I quite like bonding fics (*g*), and I love that the lads come together like this, maybe partly because they have to if they're partners, but also because they're both willing to go just a little bit further than they have to as well - a lovely thing to show. And your first Pros fic! Well done and hurrah! *g*

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

How are things going with you now? Any progress on the job-and-accommodation front?

Love your icon... always makes me chuckle.

[izzie7.livejournal.com]

I always find it interesting to read people's differing takes on how the two of them were at the beginning, especially since there is still so much tension showing at the start of the series. This was good, because it showed them laying some foundations without negating that tension that we know will still be there.

Congrats on your first Pros fic - get writing more! *g*

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

I'll try... everyone's been so complimentary I think I'm going to have to try again!
And yes,I didn't want to show anything too definite at such an early stage of their relationship - just the first tentative birth of a possibility. Thank you for commenting!

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Very sweet. I like the mix of Doyle's cockiness and insecurity.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That's what I was trying to bring out. Glad it worked for you!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

“Don’t worry, mate,” his partner whispered . “I’m brilliant enough for both of us. We’ll walk it. You just keep the beers coming.” Now *that's* my Bodie to a T! A lovely look at the way that first 'click' might have happened. I like that it was in the squad room with Bodie defending Doyle, and that you gave Doyle that terrific mix of cocksure bravado and uncertainty, it helped that brand new partnership feel. Bravo! This is to be the first of many now, I hope.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Now *that's* my Bodie to a T!

Excellent! Oddly enough, that line just seemed to write itself *g*. Bodie must have been whispering in my ear...!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

You already know that I enjoyed this very much, so YAY! for you!

Still keeping my fingers crossed that this is the first of an ongoing series...

*g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Ooohhhh this is bloody lovely. I love Bodie having a goofy expression on his face when Doyle tells him he is crap at darts.

Hope this isnt your last Pros story - me n C will nag you, anyway, now *g*

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

I know, I know... but I didn't think you'd like it, mate - I mean, there's (gasp) *no sex*!!!

Heh.

Gather you're having fun with those 70's hits from Youtube - I just don't want to acknowledge how many of them I've got on my iPod. No sign of Sham 69's 'Come on 'Arry', mind you - think I'm going to have a quick look on Youtube for that one myself.

Nice icon, btw!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Hey! For me to enjoy a story it doesnt have to have sex. I'm all about the anticipation and build up, that's why I enjoy first times so much. Somethings - quite often actually - I skim the sex scenes. So there! :-P~~~~ Heheheheheh

Thanks, glad you like me icon. Fairly new one I made, actually.

Heh I love youtube, can spend hours there. The other week I was looking at 70s ads, like the Smash ad and Shake n Vac!! Yep, there are there too!

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Blimey. you go away for a couple of days and when you come back there are goodies waiting! And a goodie it is, feels and sounds like our lads, can just imagine them starting off like this.
Great stuff, well done and more please!

[justacat.livejournal.com]

I've been away from LJ for a few weeks, so sorry for the late comment...but I really enjoyed this!! Can very much see it happening this way... So glad londonronnie convinced you to give it a go; hope to see more from you!

Quick question for you - would you like to include an email address in your contact info on the Circuit Archive? Just let me know - you can comment here or if you'd prefer, drop me a line at archivist at thecircuitarchive dot com or justacat66 at gmail dot com.

Thanks! (And just fyi, I announce on the circuit_archive lj when I add stories to the Archive.)