Fic: Asleep/Awake (Pros, B/D)

[przed]

Title: Asleep/Awake
Author: P.R. Zed
Fandom: Pros
Pairing: B/D
Notes: For the stagesoflove comm. Two related drabbles for the Intimacy theme. Thanks to shayheyred for inspiring beta comments.


Asleep

Doyle was trapped in a crushing dream of light and noise and unremitting pain. He tried to scream, but instead came awake, uncertain of where he was.

"Ray?" Bodie's hand brushed his shoulder, stroked his cheek.

"Yeah?"

"All right?"

"Yeah."

And with Bodie there, he was. All right.

Doyle lay back down, his heart slowing and his breath deepening as Bodie caressed his back, then wrapped a firm arm around his chest. He drifted into sleep, Bodie's presence the surest safeguard he knew against his own demons. Bodie, the only other person who understood what terrors haunted a warrior's dreams.

---

Awake

Bodie propped himself up on one elbow and watched over Doyle, ready to wake him if another nightmare struck, ready to cosset him back to sleep if the need arose.

Well, he thought. When the fuck had that happened?

When had Doyle wormed his way so completely into his life? When had standing guard over the stroppy sod's sleep become a sacred duty he gladly performed?

When had he gone so soft that these moments of being so trusted, so needed by another human being, by Ray, meant more than the fucking, more than the friendship, more than absolutely anything?

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I just love these paired drabbles. So creative. I'm utterly delighted you decided to join the challlenge.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you pointed the way to the challenge. They've been fun to do.

The next one is kicking my arse, though. I knew I was going to dry up on paired titles sooner or later.

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Damn, you've done it again. These pairs are wonderful, P. I love seeing the same moment from two sides--especially Bodie's discovery "when had he gone so soft that these moments of being so trusted...meant more than the fucking, more than the friendship, more than absolutely everything?" That sounds like him: surprised, a bit shocked, but it doesn't stop him.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. These have been a lot of fun to write, even when it's been a painful process getting each one down to 100 words.

BTW, I've got to get back to work on getting you more episodes. Hopefully this weekend, by which point I hope I'm completely over this stupid cold.

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'll be delighted to have them. Returning to Michigan in 10 days.

[przed.livejournal.com]

10 days gives me a deadline. Deadlines are good.

[justacat.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying these too ... even if they're too short for a size queen like me! *g*

(And is it okay to archive them?)

[przed.livejournal.com]

Yay, you like 'em.

And you might want to hold off on archiving them. I was going to wait till all five are done (which'll be next week) then post them all together to the safehouse.

[sensine.livejournal.com]

I love these drabbles. mmmmmmm :)

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

Lovely, as always.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Somehow it never works when I decide that I'll go away and try to think of something more intelligent to say than "Gosh, how wonderful, thank you." I'm always so happy when I see you've posted something, and I read these as soon as they were up, and as ever adored them. Writing that makes your heart sigh... Gosh, how wonderful. Thank you.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Nice to hear I'm not the only one who has that problem. *g*

And thanks for the kind words. Give me a nicey, glowy feeling.