Work Text:
“Huh.”
Next to Ray, Fraser shifted in his sleep. He had dozed off on the couch a while ago, his feet entangled with Ray’s, snuggling into the soft Hudson’s Bay blanket. Ray had chuckled to himself and switched off the TV set. Mr. I-can-watch-four-hours-of-hockey-without-blinking had ridiculous stamina when it came to football.
Ray turned his attention back to the article in the recent issue of Psychology Today that Frannie had lent him, trying to make out the words in the fading light. ‘The first two years are key,’ the author wrote. ‘—that’s when the risk of divorce is particularly high.’
“Huh.”
“What is it, Ray?”
He glanced over and found Fraser gazing back at him with sleepy eyes and mussed up hair. “Nothing,” Ray reassured him. “Just reading. Go back to sleep.”
Fraser gave Ray’s foot a gentle nudge and let his head roll to the side, and within a minute, soft snores filled the room.
Ray went back to his article, but it was making him increasingly anxious.
“Huh,” he said once again, and this time, Fraser awoke with a start.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Ray mumbled, but Fraser was clearly not convinced.
“I beg to differ. Your exclamations have increased in volume and intensity, and as you are reading an issue of Psychology Today, I might surmise that its content is causing you emotional discomfort of some kind.”
Ray gaped at him. Trust his partner to form sentences like that while only half-awake. “Uh, yeah. It’s just…it says two years in…and I was thinking…”
“Spit it out, Ray.”
“Couples get disillusioned,” he said, getting the words out in a rush. He squinted and held the magazine closer to his face. “It says here that ‘Lovers initially put their best foot forward, ignoring each other’s—and the relationship’s shortcomings. But after they tie the knot, hidden aspects of their personalities emerge, and idealized images give way to more realistic ones.’”
“I see.”
“You do?” Ray asked, fighting a sudden wave of nausea. What if Fraser agreed? What if he’d been thinking this for months, and Ray hadn’t noticed? What if Fraser wanted out?
But before his train of thought could gather any more speed, Fraser pushed himself up on the couch and slid over until his warm body was flush against Ray’s.
“It may have escaped your attention,” he said, his voice deep and resonant, “but I’m not going anywhere.” Then he kissed Ray’s temple and placed a warm hand on his chest.
“Oh.” Ray muttered. “That’s good.” He put his left arm around Fraser’s broad shoulders and hugged him close. “That’s greatness.”