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discoveredinaljHappy holidays, everyone! Hope you enjoy the story.
The storm struck without warning, whipping through the city with frightening intensity and bringing traffic to a crawl. Within an hour, lazy flakes replaced the storm’s wrath. By midnight, snow had turned to freezing rain, leaving trees glazed with ice, their branches bent beneath the unaccustomed weight. The smaller ones drooped almost to the ground, seemingly as dejected as the final few pedestrians who were making their slow way home – including two disgruntled CI5 operatives who had taken a sharp look at road conditions and wisely decided to hoof it.
“My place is closer,” Bodie grumbled, stuffing his hands deeper into his jacket pockets. The temperature had dropped considerably in the last hour, and what had seemed good enough for a quick surveillance job was now painfully inadequate.
“The heater works better in mine,” Doyle countered, pulling his woollen cap a little lower on his ears.
“I’ve got food in.”
“So have I.”
“I mean real food, Ray. Not that vapid rabbit chow you like. Leftover Vindaloo that I can pop in the oven. A bit of rice and some veggies, a glass of wine, et voilà! A meal fit for a king.”
“But is it enough for two kings?” Doyle asked, rightfully suspicious of his partner’s largesse. The last time Bodie had offered him a meal, he had ended up with one banger and a single runny egg – not a feast by any stretch of the imagination.
Before Bodie could reply, a sudden cracking sound came from just behind them, making the two men spin around to face the source of the noise. Almost at once, they realized there was no need for alarm: an overladen branch had simply given up the ghost and gone crashing to the ground. Of course, that realization did not slow their momentum in the slightest.
Bodie and Doyle went skittering across the ice, their feet scrambling for purchase, their arms wildly flailing, desperately trying to avoid a fall. Instinctively, they grabbed hold of each other, seeking to regain their equilibrium. Unfortunately, gravity won out over preserving dignity and they found themselves lying flat on their backs, staring up at a lacework of ice. Crystals sparkled as they caught the streetlights, and the chittering sound a breeze caused as it passed through frozen branches made it seem as if the trees were sniggering at them both.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Doyle observed, after a few moments of silent contemplation.
Bodie snorted, and turned his head to face his obviously insane partner. But whatever smart retort he had planned to make died before the words left his lips.
Doyle’s cheeks were flushed pink from the cold. His stupid hat had somehow disappeared – probably it was lumped up under the crazy sod – and a halo of auburn curls spilled out over his twisted scarf. Sleet had capriciously turned back into snow, and thick lashes blinked away melting flakes as Doyle stared into the night sky.
“Beautiful,” Bodie replied.
Something in his tone drew Doyle’s gaze and held it captive.
Something in the air sparked between them. Something that had been quietly building for a long, long time.
“Your place is closer,” Doyle said.
Bodie scrambled awkwardly to his feet. "Come on then, Sunshine. What are you waiting for, Christmas?"
Doyle laughed, and took the hand Bodie offered.
And if they walked a little closer, fingers woven together and shoulders comfortably bumping as they continued on their way, no one was there to see. Only the trees bore witness to their mingled breaths rising above their heads in a heart-shaped cloud. And they kept the secret to themselves.
* * *
Title: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
melanieathene
Slash or Gen: slash
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: yes.
Disclaimer: Not mine. They belong to each other.
Notes: My prompt for this challenge was "Trees"
Many thanks tocali_se for betaing and brit picking.
The storm struck without warning, whipping through the city with frightening intensity and bringing traffic to a crawl. Within an hour, lazy flakes replaced the storm’s wrath. By midnight, snow had turned to freezing rain, leaving trees glazed with ice, their branches bent beneath the unaccustomed weight. The smaller ones drooped almost to the ground, seemingly as dejected as the final few pedestrians who were making their slow way home – including two disgruntled CI5 operatives who had taken a sharp look at road conditions and wisely decided to hoof it.
“My place is closer,” Bodie grumbled, stuffing his hands deeper into his jacket pockets. The temperature had dropped considerably in the last hour, and what had seemed good enough for a quick surveillance job was now painfully inadequate.
“The heater works better in mine,” Doyle countered, pulling his woollen cap a little lower on his ears.
“I’ve got food in.”
“So have I.”
“I mean real food, Ray. Not that vapid rabbit chow you like. Leftover Vindaloo that I can pop in the oven. A bit of rice and some veggies, a glass of wine, et voilà! A meal fit for a king.”
“But is it enough for two kings?” Doyle asked, rightfully suspicious of his partner’s largesse. The last time Bodie had offered him a meal, he had ended up with one banger and a single runny egg – not a feast by any stretch of the imagination.
Before Bodie could reply, a sudden cracking sound came from just behind them, making the two men spin around to face the source of the noise. Almost at once, they realized there was no need for alarm: an overladen branch had simply given up the ghost and gone crashing to the ground. Of course, that realization did not slow their momentum in the slightest.
Bodie and Doyle went skittering across the ice, their feet scrambling for purchase, their arms wildly flailing, desperately trying to avoid a fall. Instinctively, they grabbed hold of each other, seeking to regain their equilibrium. Unfortunately, gravity won out over preserving dignity and they found themselves lying flat on their backs, staring up at a lacework of ice. Crystals sparkled as they caught the streetlights, and the chittering sound a breeze caused as it passed through frozen branches made it seem as if the trees were sniggering at them both.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Doyle observed, after a few moments of silent contemplation.
Bodie snorted, and turned his head to face his obviously insane partner. But whatever smart retort he had planned to make died before the words left his lips.
Doyle’s cheeks were flushed pink from the cold. His stupid hat had somehow disappeared – probably it was lumped up under the crazy sod – and a halo of auburn curls spilled out over his twisted scarf. Sleet had capriciously turned back into snow, and thick lashes blinked away melting flakes as Doyle stared into the night sky.
“Beautiful,” Bodie replied.
Something in his tone drew Doyle’s gaze and held it captive.
Something in the air sparked between them. Something that had been quietly building for a long, long time.
“Your place is closer,” Doyle said.
Bodie scrambled awkwardly to his feet. "Come on then, Sunshine. What are you waiting for, Christmas?"
Doyle laughed, and took the hand Bodie offered.
And if they walked a little closer, fingers woven together and shoulders comfortably bumping as they continued on their way, no one was there to see. Only the trees bore witness to their mingled breaths rising above their heads in a heart-shaped cloud. And they kept the secret to themselves.
Title: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Author:
melanieatheneSlash or Gen: slash
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: yes.
Disclaimer: Not mine. They belong to each other.
Notes: My prompt for this challenge was "Trees"
Many thanks to
cali_se for betaing and brit picking.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 03:39 pm (UTC)Perfect and gorgeous - thank you so much.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 09:07 pm (UTC)The beauty of ice and snow mingled with love! So heartwarming!!
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2015-12-05 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 12:03 am (UTC)Very nice!
Date: 2015-12-06 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 03:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 11:09 am (UTC)Thank you! :D
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 01:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 05:57 pm (UTC)We've had more than a few winter storms just like the one in my story, so I had a lot of first hand experience to draw from. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 05:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 06:09 pm (UTC)I think the lads will have a perfect end to a long, hard day. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 06:16 pm (UTC)The lads wouldn't be the lads if they agreed with each other all the time. Fortunately, they agree when it counts. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 08:55 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!
no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 09:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-07 09:53 pm (UTC)As much as I dislike winter, I have to admit it has its beautiful moments.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-08 04:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-13 08:12 pm (UTC)RE: Very nice!
Date: 2015-12-21 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:43 am (UTC)Yes, Christmas does seem to be a magical time for getting the lads together.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 04:44 am (UTC)I too like it when they show their tender side.
no subject
Date: 2016-01-19 12:01 pm (UTC)Thank you :)
no subject
Date: 2016-01-20 03:59 am (UTC)I have the feeling the lads will have many, many cozy evenings together. :)