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FIC: Unspoken (Ray Levoi/Walter Crow Horse, PG) for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
myhappyface
Feb. 16th, 2011 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
carlyinromeTITLE: Unspoken
RATING: PG
FANDOM: Thunderheart
PAIRING: Ray Levoi/Walter Crow Horse
SUMMARY:
myhappyface: “What I like to picture: Walter serenading Ray with Conway Twitty, ironically or genuinely. It's just happymaking.” Oh, Holly. I must like you an awful lot.AUTHOR’S NOTES: Another installment in the Lakota calendar series.
The Sioux had their own calendar, Crow Horse explained, by the moons. That’s why there’s thirteen months instead of twelve.
So that many moons thing is a real thing? Ray wanted to ask, but did not. Instead he asked what month they were in, now.
“Waniyetucokan Wi—Winter Moon,” Crow Horse said, and Ray flinched, because he could not even begin to understand how to fit his mouth around the words.
I will never learn how to speak Lakota, Ray thought, but did not say. Instead he nodded, and hoped Crow Horse would not ask him to repeat it, the way he often did with Lakota phrases.
He did not. Crow Horse was feeling too sentimental to put Ray through the paces, watching Ray lit by the full winter moon. He looked pale, even for him, but in a lovely, ethereal way. They were in the kitchen, watching an apathetic snow fall through the window over the sink, the flakes melting as soon as they hit the brown leaves carpeting the ground. They had been doing some long overdue spring cleaning, but since they were doing it after a full shift at work, it was easy to fall prey to distraction.
The moon lit the kitchen oddly, like an aquarium. Crow Horse had turned the radio on back when they were actually cleaning, and he swore that the notes were stretched now, like hearing them underwater. He could recognize them, still. Conway Twitty, “All I Have to Offer You is Me.”
Before you take another step, there’s something you should know
About the years ahead and how they’ll be:
You’ll be living in a world where roses hardly ever grow
Cuz all I have to offer you is me.
Crow Horse turned from the window. He took Ray by the wrist, pulled him out into the middle of the linoleum dance floor. Crow Horse’s boots echoed softly in the aquarium kitchen as he swayed and pulled Ray against him. Ray frowned, took an uncertain step back.
“Come on, kola,” Crow Horse said softly.
Ray hesitated another moment, and then stepped forward, into Walter’s arms.
There’ll be no mansions waiting on the hill with crystal chandeliers,
And there’ll be no fancy clothes for you to wear.
Everyhing I have is standing here in front of you to see:
All I have to offer you is me.
“You dance like a white man,” Walter purred against Ray’s ear.
Ray shivered. “What does that mean?”
“Stiff,” Walter said. “Wasi’chu’s are afraid to let the music move them.”
“I think Wasi’chu’s are afraid to be embarrassed.”
“Just me here, Ray. Just you and me.”
Sweetheart, I’ll give you all my love in every way I can.
But make sure that’s what you want while you’re still free.
The only gold I have for you is in this wedding band:
Cuz all I have to offer you is me.
Ray tried to relax, to move along with Walter. He still felt embarrassed, and so he concentrated instead on the comfort of being in Walter’s arms.
All I have to offer you is me.
I love you, Ray thought but did not say. Instead he rested his head on Walter’s shoulder, and let their shared rhythm rock him.
So that many moons thing is a real thing? Ray wanted to ask, but did not. Instead he asked what month they were in, now.
“Waniyetucokan Wi—Winter Moon,” Crow Horse said, and Ray flinched, because he could not even begin to understand how to fit his mouth around the words.
I will never learn how to speak Lakota, Ray thought, but did not say. Instead he nodded, and hoped Crow Horse would not ask him to repeat it, the way he often did with Lakota phrases.
He did not. Crow Horse was feeling too sentimental to put Ray through the paces, watching Ray lit by the full winter moon. He looked pale, even for him, but in a lovely, ethereal way. They were in the kitchen, watching an apathetic snow fall through the window over the sink, the flakes melting as soon as they hit the brown leaves carpeting the ground. They had been doing some long overdue spring cleaning, but since they were doing it after a full shift at work, it was easy to fall prey to distraction.
The moon lit the kitchen oddly, like an aquarium. Crow Horse had turned the radio on back when they were actually cleaning, and he swore that the notes were stretched now, like hearing them underwater. He could recognize them, still. Conway Twitty, “All I Have to Offer You is Me.”
Before you take another step, there’s something you should know
About the years ahead and how they’ll be:
You’ll be living in a world where roses hardly ever grow
Cuz all I have to offer you is me.
Crow Horse turned from the window. He took Ray by the wrist, pulled him out into the middle of the linoleum dance floor. Crow Horse’s boots echoed softly in the aquarium kitchen as he swayed and pulled Ray against him. Ray frowned, took an uncertain step back.
“Come on, kola,” Crow Horse said softly.
Ray hesitated another moment, and then stepped forward, into Walter’s arms.
There’ll be no mansions waiting on the hill with crystal chandeliers,
And there’ll be no fancy clothes for you to wear.
Everyhing I have is standing here in front of you to see:
All I have to offer you is me.
“You dance like a white man,” Walter purred against Ray’s ear.
Ray shivered. “What does that mean?”
“Stiff,” Walter said. “Wasi’chu’s are afraid to let the music move them.”
“I think Wasi’chu’s are afraid to be embarrassed.”
“Just me here, Ray. Just you and me.”
Sweetheart, I’ll give you all my love in every way I can.
But make sure that’s what you want while you’re still free.
The only gold I have for you is in this wedding band:
Cuz all I have to offer you is me.
Ray tried to relax, to move along with Walter. He still felt embarrassed, and so he concentrated instead on the comfort of being in Walter’s arms.
All I have to offer you is me.
I love you, Ray thought but did not say. Instead he rested his head on Walter’s shoulder, and let their shared rhythm rock him.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-17 07:08 am (UTC)This is so gorgeous. You should know I actually clutched my heart at this. I don't believe you're a real person.
Perhaps I'm not. Perhaps I'm a figment of your imagination.
No, that can't be right. Then hearing you say all these lovely things wouldn't make me so happy. <3
I love the constant refrain at the beginning of these stories
Thanks! I am fond of repetition, trancelike language. I only hope it doesn't get stale after thirteen months.
Crow Horse feeling too sentimental to harass Ray much.
It doesn't happen often, but it does happen, from time to time.
The things Ray can't say, not yet, but will learn to; the things he can't say, but will prove by doing, by staying. Oh, boys. My heart.
Thank you, sweetie. I am so glad you liked it.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-18 10:31 pm (UTC)That says everything
no subject
Date: 2011-02-25 06:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-25 08:02 am (UTC)Damned if Crow Horse isn't a closet romantic. Hee. Thanks; I'm glad you liked it.