Doyle's War, by Stewardess

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: stewardess
Author Website: Pros fic at stewardess-fics comm (you need to click to join) as I write, but if you read this in years to come, then I gather it may well be at http://archiveofourown.org/users/stewardess
Why this must be read: To find out who wins what.

I've already said in a previous rec that anything that has them pushing each other and competing aggressively has me reading. I came across this completely by accident recently. It was posted six years ago but not archived in any of the obvious places, so those of us who are new arrivals missed it. And I have rarely read a take like this before.


As soon as they were inside, Ray began to shed his coveralls and everything else on his way upstairs to the shower. This skirmish would be about how naked Ray would get before Bodie backed off and poured himself a drink. He retreated when Ray was down to jeans; there was nothing under the denim but Ray.

He hadn’t known it since their first handshake, but he knew it now. Their war would end when it was decided who would get fucked, and who would do the fucking.

Doyle’s expression whenever Bodie patted his arse was the smug look of a man in no hurry to make his point, so the war could never end. He feared Ray would get the upper hand—Ray always got the upper hand—and he couldn’t risk giving his partner a chance to find out.

Fifteen minutes later, Ray, his hair straighter and longer because it was wet, joined him on the sofa. Ray wore nothing but a towel around his waist. Bodie admired the increase in hostilities.

I love the writing style in this, the way it is taken completely for granted that of course, this is what is going on. That, being them, they have to compete. And to push. And to win.

So who wins? Read it to find out.

Doyle's War, by Stewardess