Fic: Lucky Charm
Oct. 30th, 2008 09:13 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
robeau.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
discoveredinalj“Just who the hell does he think he is lecturing me about taking stupid risks? That mule headed sod wrote the book on risk taking.” Ray Doyle fumed out loud, slamming the ice box door to emphasize his point. The violent movement sent two of the three postcards that graced the top of the box scuttling to the floor. “I don’t even know why I bother with you,” he muttered as he bent to pick up the offending articles. “You’re far more trouble then you’re worth, just like that bloody partner of mine.”
He put the first post card, the one with the ocean view, back up with the small heart shaped magnet – a gift from some long ago bird. The second card he flipped over and read out loud. “Be glad you’re not here. Nothing but windowless conference rooms and hallway duty. Wish you were here. B.”
“Stupid sod,” he said softly, a smile easing the tension on the handsome face. The postcard, he recalled, had arrived a week after this then partner of six months had been sent to Scotland on a babysitting job for some dour French minister. It had been the first time since Cowley joined them together they’d been given separate assignments.
Shaking his head to move off memory lane, he closed his hand around the brightly painted ladybird magnet. Why couldn’t he make Bodie see things the way he did? The big ex-merc was his ladybird. He chuckled, trying to imagine the look on the handsome face that such a statement would elicit. Yup, he had his own personal good luck charm that just happened to be tall, dark and beautiful. And it was the reason he never hesitated to take the risks. For he knew, as surely as he knew the sun would rise tomorrow, that Bodie would save him. After all, he’d done it so many times he’d lost count. His partner had a knack of showing up just in time to save the day. There was no need for John Wayne and the Seventh Calvary when you had a Bodie of your own.
“Oh, ladybird, ladybird, what am I going to do with that mate of mine? I guess the first thing is to make up. Any advice…of course, food. He’d never turn down the offer of a home cooked meal. Ta me lady,” he finished as he gently restored her to a place of honor on the ice box.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your garden
I crave your pardon if I woke you with my thinking
Ladybird'
In the end, he had to resort to trickery to get his partner to come over. He’d known as soon as his greeting was returned with an angry “Go to hell, Doyle,” that a simple invitation would not be honored. So he put on his most pitiful voice; the one he knew the younger man was helpless to resist. “Bodie, I need your help, mate. Please?” He smiled as he heard the loud intake of breath, knowing he’d won the first round. Now he had to be certain he could keep the man in the flat long enough to plead his case.
Thirty two minutes later, which meant a minimum of six traffic laws had been broken, the buzzer screeched. “Steady, old son,” Ray reminded himself as he pushed the button, opening the entry door. He left the flat's door ajar and took a seat on the sofa.
Bodie came in slowly, hand on the butt of his gun as his eyes scanned the flat looking for anything out of place. “Doyle?” The weight of concern and worry carried in that one word made Doyle flinch at the trick he had played, but this was a gamble he could not afford to lose, so he shut off his conscious and moved sad green eyes up to look at his partner. “Ray, what’s wrong,” Bodie asked softly, kneeling beside the older man, blue eye fairly blazing with worry.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your meadow
You'll spread no wings to fly in fright if I'm beside you
Ladybird'
“We’re what’s wrong, Sunshine. The warmth in the blue eyes was immediately replaced with ice as the dark haired man surged to his feet. “Need to fix it, Bodie,” Ray pleaded grabbing a wrist. “Don’t like the way we left things. I need to apologize, and to try and explain. All I’m asking is that you listen. Then you can go, if that’s what you decide.”
“Doyle,” the warning as clear as that of a rattler about to strike.
“Just listen, that's all I'm asking.” Bodie moved warily to the window and stood staring out at the growing twilight. His entire body radiated tension.
'All through the winter time
When wood was warm and splintered
Time seemed longer than a goods train
Now that spring is back again I'll ask your name
Your name'
“I’m sorry, Sunshine. Didn’t mean to scare you today. But I know you have my back. As sure of that as I am that the old man will never let a drop of water mix with his single malt. Daft as it sounds, when the Cow put us together he gave me my own personal ladybird – you’re my luck; the only luck I need.”
“You’ve gone soft in the head,” Bodie muttered just loud enough to be heard: his words giving away none of what he was feeling.
“Maybe…probably. No one ever claimed A Squad was for the mentally fit – fact it’s probably an automatic disqualification. I know it’s a hell of a weight for a man to bear, and I don’t mean…I never meant to do that to you, honest. I just know you’ll do everything within your power to save me. You always have and that’s all any man can ask.”
“Isn't that simple, Doyle.”
“What do you mean?”
“Easy for you to say you forgive me now for something that might happen later.”
“Bodie-mate, in our line of work things are bound to happen.”
“Can’t bear the thought of that,” was the whispered reply.
“Neither can I. Know I’ve never told you, but you are important to me – most important person in me life, and you have been for a long time.”
“Ray?”
“I can’t promise to stop doing my job – neither can you, and I wouldn’t ask you to. Don’t want you mad at me, Bodie.”
The dark head lowered. “Say you’ll stay,” Ray asked as he moved to his partner and wrapped his arms around the broad chest; his forehead resting between the shoulder blades. “I’m sorry, Sunshine, I’ll do my best to be more careful. Just don’t leave me, Bodie. Couldn’t stand that.” He stopped talking when he felt, more than heard, a soft release of breath.
“Ray?”
“It’ll be alright, you’ll see. I’ll do better. Don’t mean to scare you, really I don’t.”
“I know, Sunshine, its’ just…”
“I feel the same way, Bodie. Hate it when the Cow sends you off without me. And when you’re hurt,” he tightened his hold, “I want to…I’m torn between wanting to hunt the bastards down and return the favor and holding you until the hurt goes away.” He felt his partner start to wiggle so he released his hold. Bodie turned and embraced him, resting his forehead on his partner’s.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk across my pillow
No weeping willow was ever as beautiful, sad as you are
Ladybird'
“Sunshine, what am I going to do with you,” he whispered.
“Whatever you like,” Ray replied with a smile.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, Doyle,” Bodie pulled back so he could look into the green eyes.
“Yeah, I do. I’ve known for a long time how I felt – how you felt. Too much of a coward to do anything about it until now.”
"Don’t play with me, Ray. Won't be some grand experiment to help you deal with your guilt.”
“Wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Yeah you would." Bodie stepped away, blue eyes devoid of all emotion. “I’ll see you at work on Tuesday.”
“You can’t just leave!”
Bodie turned back to face him, a resigned look on his face. “I know you mean it, Ray. Right now you do, anyway. Doesn’t mean you’ll feel this way in the morning. You’re feeling guilty now, and I’m not going to risk the partnership and our friendship to make you feel better. Couldn’t survive that. I’ll see you Tuesday.”
“Bo-day!” An order.
“Good night, Sunshine,” Bodie said quietly as he closed the door.
'And as you're walking past
I'm laying on the grass and making chains of thought
To snare you with my wit
But bit by bit you fade to gone
Gone'
“You bloody bastard!” Ray shouted. “Bloody no good selfish bastard.” He picked up a glass from the drink tray and flung it against the wall, gaining some satisfaction from the sound of shattering glass. He was brought out of his contemplation of the mess by the smell of something burning.
Muttering curses under his breath he pulled the pan out of the oven – its top burned – and tossed it into the sink. He jerked open the ice box and grabbed a can of lager before slamming the door, causing the ladybird magnet to take flight.
He woke the next morning, prostate on the bed, still in his clothes, his mouth dry and head throbbing. He stumbled into the shower after downing something for the pain in his head and then wandered into the kitchen where he was greeted by four empty cans of lager and a three-quarters empty bottle of gin. “What an idiot,” he muttered as he opened the icebox looking for juice. “Shit!” He yelped as he grabbed his foot. Looking down he found the offender – a piece of his ladybird magnet. “Damn it,” he settled down on his heels and searched for the other two pieces. “Seems I break everything I touch,” he mused as he repositioned the pieces so they were in the proper order.
He fumbled through the contents of two drawers before finding the tools necessary to put the magnet back together. While it was drying, he got down on his hands and knees in search of the missing post card, which he found trying to disappear under the counter. It joined the ladybird while he made toast and coffee.
“Wish it was as easy to fix things with Bodie as it was to fix you,” he said as he ran a finger over the magnet. “Blew it big time. What was I thinking? Giving him what he wanted most clear out of the blue – and I claim to know the man better than anyone. Course he’d look a gift horse in the mouth; hell he’d have it vetted proper before even giving it the once over. Guess I’ll just have to do it the old fashion way and woo the big prat – appeal to the hidden romantic in him while showing him how serious I am.
"Can’t let this one get away, ladybird. Not this one.”
'All through the iron season
Love was hanged and treason became
Something of a parlor game
Now sun is back in power I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you have to run to tend your children
No flood can drown nor fire blacken purest longing
For ladybird
Ladybird'
--------------------
Title: Lucky Charm
Author: Ice Bear
Slash or Gen: Hints of Slash
Archive: Yes, please
Summary: Doyle does his best to patch things up with his partner after a difficult day on the job.
Disclaimer: All things related to the Professionals belong to others. I borrow the lads for my own entertainment.
Notes: Written for the Discovered in an LJ Challenge - Found in Fanon/Discovered in Canon. My prompt was a Canon one: There are three postcards on Doyle's fridge in "Hunter Hunted", held on magnets. One magnet is in the shape of a ladybird.
The lyrics are from XTC's song, Ladybird, which appeared on their album, Mummer, released in August, 1983.
He put the first post card, the one with the ocean view, back up with the small heart shaped magnet – a gift from some long ago bird. The second card he flipped over and read out loud. “Be glad you’re not here. Nothing but windowless conference rooms and hallway duty. Wish you were here. B.”
“Stupid sod,” he said softly, a smile easing the tension on the handsome face. The postcard, he recalled, had arrived a week after this then partner of six months had been sent to Scotland on a babysitting job for some dour French minister. It had been the first time since Cowley joined them together they’d been given separate assignments.
Shaking his head to move off memory lane, he closed his hand around the brightly painted ladybird magnet. Why couldn’t he make Bodie see things the way he did? The big ex-merc was his ladybird. He chuckled, trying to imagine the look on the handsome face that such a statement would elicit. Yup, he had his own personal good luck charm that just happened to be tall, dark and beautiful. And it was the reason he never hesitated to take the risks. For he knew, as surely as he knew the sun would rise tomorrow, that Bodie would save him. After all, he’d done it so many times he’d lost count. His partner had a knack of showing up just in time to save the day. There was no need for John Wayne and the Seventh Calvary when you had a Bodie of your own.
“Oh, ladybird, ladybird, what am I going to do with that mate of mine? I guess the first thing is to make up. Any advice…of course, food. He’d never turn down the offer of a home cooked meal. Ta me lady,” he finished as he gently restored her to a place of honor on the ice box.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your garden
I crave your pardon if I woke you with my thinking
Ladybird'
In the end, he had to resort to trickery to get his partner to come over. He’d known as soon as his greeting was returned with an angry “Go to hell, Doyle,” that a simple invitation would not be honored. So he put on his most pitiful voice; the one he knew the younger man was helpless to resist. “Bodie, I need your help, mate. Please?” He smiled as he heard the loud intake of breath, knowing he’d won the first round. Now he had to be certain he could keep the man in the flat long enough to plead his case.
Thirty two minutes later, which meant a minimum of six traffic laws had been broken, the buzzer screeched. “Steady, old son,” Ray reminded himself as he pushed the button, opening the entry door. He left the flat's door ajar and took a seat on the sofa.
Bodie came in slowly, hand on the butt of his gun as his eyes scanned the flat looking for anything out of place. “Doyle?” The weight of concern and worry carried in that one word made Doyle flinch at the trick he had played, but this was a gamble he could not afford to lose, so he shut off his conscious and moved sad green eyes up to look at his partner. “Ray, what’s wrong,” Bodie asked softly, kneeling beside the older man, blue eye fairly blazing with worry.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your meadow
You'll spread no wings to fly in fright if I'm beside you
Ladybird'
“We’re what’s wrong, Sunshine. The warmth in the blue eyes was immediately replaced with ice as the dark haired man surged to his feet. “Need to fix it, Bodie,” Ray pleaded grabbing a wrist. “Don’t like the way we left things. I need to apologize, and to try and explain. All I’m asking is that you listen. Then you can go, if that’s what you decide.”
“Doyle,” the warning as clear as that of a rattler about to strike.
“Just listen, that's all I'm asking.” Bodie moved warily to the window and stood staring out at the growing twilight. His entire body radiated tension.
'All through the winter time
When wood was warm and splintered
Time seemed longer than a goods train
Now that spring is back again I'll ask your name
Your name'
“I’m sorry, Sunshine. Didn’t mean to scare you today. But I know you have my back. As sure of that as I am that the old man will never let a drop of water mix with his single malt. Daft as it sounds, when the Cow put us together he gave me my own personal ladybird – you’re my luck; the only luck I need.”
“You’ve gone soft in the head,” Bodie muttered just loud enough to be heard: his words giving away none of what he was feeling.
“Maybe…probably. No one ever claimed A Squad was for the mentally fit – fact it’s probably an automatic disqualification. I know it’s a hell of a weight for a man to bear, and I don’t mean…I never meant to do that to you, honest. I just know you’ll do everything within your power to save me. You always have and that’s all any man can ask.”
“Isn't that simple, Doyle.”
“What do you mean?”
“Easy for you to say you forgive me now for something that might happen later.”
“Bodie-mate, in our line of work things are bound to happen.”
“Can’t bear the thought of that,” was the whispered reply.
“Neither can I. Know I’ve never told you, but you are important to me – most important person in me life, and you have been for a long time.”
“Ray?”
“I can’t promise to stop doing my job – neither can you, and I wouldn’t ask you to. Don’t want you mad at me, Bodie.”
The dark head lowered. “Say you’ll stay,” Ray asked as he moved to his partner and wrapped his arms around the broad chest; his forehead resting between the shoulder blades. “I’m sorry, Sunshine, I’ll do my best to be more careful. Just don’t leave me, Bodie. Couldn’t stand that.” He stopped talking when he felt, more than heard, a soft release of breath.
“Ray?”
“It’ll be alright, you’ll see. I’ll do better. Don’t mean to scare you, really I don’t.”
“I know, Sunshine, its’ just…”
“I feel the same way, Bodie. Hate it when the Cow sends you off without me. And when you’re hurt,” he tightened his hold, “I want to…I’m torn between wanting to hunt the bastards down and return the favor and holding you until the hurt goes away.” He felt his partner start to wiggle so he released his hold. Bodie turned and embraced him, resting his forehead on his partner’s.
'O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk across my pillow
No weeping willow was ever as beautiful, sad as you are
Ladybird'
“Sunshine, what am I going to do with you,” he whispered.
“Whatever you like,” Ray replied with a smile.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, Doyle,” Bodie pulled back so he could look into the green eyes.
“Yeah, I do. I’ve known for a long time how I felt – how you felt. Too much of a coward to do anything about it until now.”
"Don’t play with me, Ray. Won't be some grand experiment to help you deal with your guilt.”
“Wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Yeah you would." Bodie stepped away, blue eyes devoid of all emotion. “I’ll see you at work on Tuesday.”
“You can’t just leave!”
Bodie turned back to face him, a resigned look on his face. “I know you mean it, Ray. Right now you do, anyway. Doesn’t mean you’ll feel this way in the morning. You’re feeling guilty now, and I’m not going to risk the partnership and our friendship to make you feel better. Couldn’t survive that. I’ll see you Tuesday.”
“Bo-day!” An order.
“Good night, Sunshine,” Bodie said quietly as he closed the door.
'And as you're walking past
I'm laying on the grass and making chains of thought
To snare you with my wit
But bit by bit you fade to gone
Gone'
“You bloody bastard!” Ray shouted. “Bloody no good selfish bastard.” He picked up a glass from the drink tray and flung it against the wall, gaining some satisfaction from the sound of shattering glass. He was brought out of his contemplation of the mess by the smell of something burning.
Muttering curses under his breath he pulled the pan out of the oven – its top burned – and tossed it into the sink. He jerked open the ice box and grabbed a can of lager before slamming the door, causing the ladybird magnet to take flight.
He woke the next morning, prostate on the bed, still in his clothes, his mouth dry and head throbbing. He stumbled into the shower after downing something for the pain in his head and then wandered into the kitchen where he was greeted by four empty cans of lager and a three-quarters empty bottle of gin. “What an idiot,” he muttered as he opened the icebox looking for juice. “Shit!” He yelped as he grabbed his foot. Looking down he found the offender – a piece of his ladybird magnet. “Damn it,” he settled down on his heels and searched for the other two pieces. “Seems I break everything I touch,” he mused as he repositioned the pieces so they were in the proper order.
He fumbled through the contents of two drawers before finding the tools necessary to put the magnet back together. While it was drying, he got down on his hands and knees in search of the missing post card, which he found trying to disappear under the counter. It joined the ladybird while he made toast and coffee.
“Wish it was as easy to fix things with Bodie as it was to fix you,” he said as he ran a finger over the magnet. “Blew it big time. What was I thinking? Giving him what he wanted most clear out of the blue – and I claim to know the man better than anyone. Course he’d look a gift horse in the mouth; hell he’d have it vetted proper before even giving it the once over. Guess I’ll just have to do it the old fashion way and woo the big prat – appeal to the hidden romantic in him while showing him how serious I am.
"Can’t let this one get away, ladybird. Not this one.”
'All through the iron season
Love was hanged and treason became
Something of a parlor game
Now sun is back in power I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you have to run to tend your children
No flood can drown nor fire blacken purest longing
For ladybird
Ladybird'
--------------------
Title: Lucky Charm
Author: Ice Bear
Slash or Gen: Hints of Slash
Archive: Yes, please
Summary: Doyle does his best to patch things up with his partner after a difficult day on the job.
Disclaimer: All things related to the Professionals belong to others. I borrow the lads for my own entertainment.
Notes: Written for the Discovered in an LJ Challenge - Found in Fanon/Discovered in Canon. My prompt was a Canon one: There are three postcards on Doyle's fridge in "Hunter Hunted", held on magnets. One magnet is in the shape of a ladybird.
The lyrics are from XTC's song, Ladybird, which appeared on their album, Mummer, released in August, 1983.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 02:11 am (UTC)The words on the postcard from Bodie just seem like something he would write.
It also rings true that Bodie would be cautious about taking DOyle up on his offer.
Again, I would definitely call this slash. *g* Thank you! :D
no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 10:56 am (UTC)(prostrate, instead of prostate near the end, btw. *g* had a strange image there for a sec.)