[#083] Arctic Weather (FAKE)

[badly_knitted]

Theme Prompt: #083 – Below Zero
Title: Arctic Weather
Fandom: FAKE
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1000
Summary: It’s midwinter and in the middle of a snowstorm, but Dee and Ryo still have to work, which includes venturing out into the Arctic conditions, much to Dee’s displeasure.



“Fuck!” Dee tugged his collar up as far as it would go and tried to shrink deeper into his warmest winter coat. “We’re supposed to be in New York, not the frickin’ Arctic!”

“Tell me about it,” Ryo muffled, barely audible through the scarf wound around his face and neck. Between that and the woollen beanie pulled down over his forehead and ears, all that was visible of his face were two dark eyes peering gloomily out at the winter night, snowflakes already catching on his eyelashes, settling thickly on his hat and the shoulders of his coat.

Dee shook his head vigorously, scattering the snow from his hair before digging the hat Melinda had made him from his coat picket and yanking it on. He hated the ugly black, green, and yellow monstrosity, with its massive multicoloured bobble on the top, but right at that moment wearing it and getting laughed at was preferable to freezing his brain and having his ears fall off.

“How come we’ve still gotta work in this weather? You’d think even the most hardened criminals would have the sense to stay home. Only an idiot would be out and about!”

“What does that say about us?”

Throwing a glance his partner’s way, Dee had to hide a smile; Ryo reminded him of a fat, fluffy teddy bear, bundled up in his brown wool coat, scarf, and hat. Paddington Bear, maybe. The hat was the wrong sort, but the rest… Very cuddlesome. What he wouldn’t give to be home right now, in bed, snuggled up with his baby, keeping each other warm beneath the covers.

“Doesn’t say anything except we’re the poor schmucks gotta venture out in this ‘cause the worst elements of society happen to be bound and determined to commit crimes regardless of the weather. I plan on throwin’ the book at the next person I catch breakin’ the law in any way whatsoever, even if they’re just jaywalkin’. Someone’s gonna pay for makin’ us haveta freeze our toes off out here.”

Dee stamped his feet, trying to warm them up. His boots were supposed to be insulated but they weren’t doing a very good job of preventing frostbite. Then again, they probably hadn’t been designed with sub-zero temperatures in mind. They were made for city wear; polar explorers no doubt had boots that were more efficient at keeping the cold out. A pair like that would be very welcome right now. If temperatures were likely to stay this low for any length of time, hell, even for a day or two, it might be worth investing in some.

“No use complaining. Work to do.”

“Yeah.” Sighing, Dee hitched his coat collar up again, hunched his shoulders, and checked he’d locked the car. “We pass anywhere that’s open I’m buyin’ a scarf. Or possibly several.” He’d had one on earlier but it had gotten wet, so he’d hung it over a radiator to dry out and then forgotten it when they’d left the precinct a while back to go investigate the scene of a liquor store robbery. Now his teeth were starting to ache from breathing the cold air. Still, could be worse; at least he had his gloves and the hat, since they’d been in his coat pockets.

Dee trudged doggedly through the drifting snow, silently lamenting the fact that it was too late to expect anyone to be out shovelling the sidewalks. With the snow coming down as hard as it was any attempt would probably prove futile anyway. If this kept up they’d hardly be able to see where they were going when it came time to drive back to the precinct. The wind was getting up, sending the snowflakes swirling around them; blizzard conditions were a distinct possibility.

“What’d we do to deserve this? We work hard all year round; by now we outta be on some sun-drenched tropical beach, kickin’ back and soakin’ up rays. A couple of weeks in the sun would do us a world of good.”

“We can’t afford that every year; not on our salaries.”

Living in New York wasn’t exactly cheap, not even with the amazing deal Dee had gotten when he’d taken on the apartment next door to his own; twice the floor space for only an extra fifty bucks a month. That would’ve been a steal in any sizeable city, but in the Big Apple it was nothing short of miraculous. Now with Ryo sharing the cost of rent and utilities, in theory they should have easily been able to afford an island vacation but putting enough money aside for one had proved more difficult than expected. Furnishing and decorating the bigger apartment hadn’t been cheap. On top of that, Ryo was helping Bikky with living expenses now the boy was at college in L.A., and thanks to work related injuries he and Dee had both had medical expenses that weren’t fully covered by their insurance. Maybe by next winter…

“We could go visit the House Ape, have a week in L.A. It’s gotta be warmer there than it is here. Maybe he could put us up, save us rentin’ a hotel room.”

Kicking his way through the snow at Dee’s side, Ryo snorted. “He lives in a dorm room he shares with another student; there’d be nowhere for us to sleep, even if having guests was allowed, which it isn’t.”

“Damn. Guess that means we’re stuck here for the duration.”

“It won’t be winter forever.”

“You sure of that? Could be the start of a new Ice Age.”

“That seems unlikely.” Ryo tugged at Dee’s sleeve with a double-gloved hand and pointed across the street. “Might be able to get a scarf there.”

“Great!” Dee made to cross the street, but Ryo stopped him.

“No jaywalking; you’d have to throw the book at yourself. There’s a crossing at the next intersection.”

“But there’s no traffic!”

“I don’t make the rules, I just enforce them.”

Dee sighed. “Fine. Lead the way.”


The End





 

Comments

[lil_1337]

Poor Dee. I can't even imagine having to be out in that kind of weather. Speaking of which, did you ever get someone in to fix your furnace?

[badly_knitted]

Yeah, he and Ryo aren't having a good time but they're professionals. They'll suck it up and do their jobs, then go home and be each other's snuggly teddy bear as they warm up.

Thank you.

It was a chimney rather than a furnace, and I did eventually find some competent people to re-line it. They serviced the fire too. I was only without heat for 9 weeks... *eye roll* Had heat again for about three weeks, thankfully the house was warmed through before the really nasty weather. I don't want to go through that again though.

[lil_1337]

That is a long time to go without heat! I'm glad it is done now and you are nice and warm!

[badly_knitted]

It felt like forever. So good to be warm again.

[m_findlow]

Ha ha, poor Dee. He'd be willing to rob a grandma if she was sporting a decent lloking scarf right now!

[badly_knitted]

I don't think so, I think he's more likely to buy a new scarf then give it away. He's a soft touch for anyone less fortunate. He wants to be cosily bundled up like Ryo though. I can see him buying three scarves and wrapping all of them around him!

Thank you!