sneaking in the compass challenge...
Author: exbex
Title: Denial
Pairing: F/V/K
Length: 549 words
Rating: PG-13
A/N: Thanks to prudence_dearly who beta'ed this when it was part of a longer piece.
If Benton can’t quite pinpoint the reason he’s requesting a transfer back to Chicago after only a year away, that’s alright. If it’s puzzling that the feeling of homesickness that had plagued him those last months in Chicago hasn’t quite diminished even after receiving an ideal posting, that’s was perfectly explainable. He has simply missed the camaraderie of Ray and Ray. If he feels slightly uneasy about the fact that they are now romantically involved with one another, it’s simply that it was a bit surprising to Benton. The two are a good match, of course. Both men are fiercely loyal, both care about their communities and the law and the pursuit of justice. Benton is most certainly not disapproving in any way, or jealous. So he straightens his lanyard and liaises with both Rays and resolutely ignores Diefenbaker’s theories and opinions on the matter.
In fact, Ray and Ray’s somewhat surprising habit of being rather demonstrative in front of Benton doesn’t bother him at all. He’s perfectly alright with it; he’s happy for both of them. He is most certainly not having ridiculously inappropriate thoughts or feeling a strange sense of being left out. Benton continues with his duties and continues to ignore Diefenbaker’s increasingly insistent and irritating thoughts on the matter.
Benton is, in fact, able to carry on with minimal difficulty until one rather long night spent on a stakeout with Ray and Ray. He’s trying to ignore the constant gestures of affection that pass between them. He blames his irritation on the facts that the night has been fruitless and disappointing, as the suspects in question haven’t shown up to conduct the incriminating business, and it’s very late, or early, as the case may be. After all, there’s absolutely nothing untoward about Ray Vecchio reaching out and stroking the back of Ray Kowalski’s neck, running his fingers through his hair, or Ray Kowalski reaching over to rest his hand on Ray Vecchio’s leg. It’s simply, Ben thinks, that they never seem to stop, even over the course of several hours. And now they seem to be exchanging meaningful, very communicative glances between one another, looks that give Ben the peculiar, unnerving sense that they’re keeping some kind of secret from him.
“Something on your mind Benny?” Ray Vecchio’s question breaks into Ben’s train of thought. His expression, a raised eyebrow and a knowing look startles Ben, whose own expression must have betrayed something. Finally, Benton admits to himself that he is entirely bewildered. He clears his throat and started to speak, but is interrupted by a sigh and an exclamation (“for fuck’s sake Fraser! Get a fucking clue!“) from Ray Kowalski, who has managed to move from the driver’s seat to the backseat next to Ben, deftly trading places with Dief, who gives a sharp yip in response. Suddenly Ray is very close to Benton, kissing him aggressively but not unpleasantly. Ben has no time to process this development before Ray Vecchio is on his other side, running a hand up his back and stroking his hair and beginning to mouth his neck, and the pieces are finally clicking into place, and there’s nothing left to do but kiss back and grasp his other Ray’s hand.
In the front seat, Dief thumps his tail approvingly.