RS/A man in uniform

[thegentlemanthug]

An uneasy truce develops between Drake and Reid, until the Inspector seems to forget the incident and subject them to his usual moods.

So when Drake is called to the Inspector's office, he has no idea what to expect.

"The incident with the jail cells," Reid begins.

"Sir." Drake's voice holds a warning note. He had hoped it had gone away for good.

"It seems you conduct did not go unnoticed."

Drake's jaw tenses. "Inspector, I can-"

"You're being given a commendation. For exemplary conduct. I suggest you find your uniform, Sergeant. There will be a fête outside the station this evening. I expect a couple of Parliamentary members at the very least."

In a daze, Drake exits the office and almost walks straight past his lover in his shock.

Comments

[thirstforvice]

"Sergeant," Matthew nods at his lover in passing, careful to treat him and respect him as a work colleague when they're both on duty, with eyes and ears all around them. But his eyes linger on Bennet, they always do, and he notices the glazed look to his eyes. He's seen plenty of men suffering from shock, in his career.

"Bennet?" he drops the workplace formalities. "You alright there?"

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet looks at Matthew in wonder. "I'm getting a c-commendation."

[thirstforvice]

"What for?" Matthew's eyebrows raise as he claps a hand onto his lover's shoulder.

"You been especially heroic without my knowing?"

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake's smile fades. He doesn't want to remind Matthew of what happened.

"The breakout," he says sheepishly.

[thirstforvice]

"You got a commendation for that?" Matthew looks even more surprised.

"Way Reid told it, that's the last thing we deserved." He shrugs, then claps Bennet on the shoulder once more.

"Well, whatever the reason, you deserve it." He'd say more, if they were at home, but he knows that they are far from it.

[thegentlemanthug]

"I need to find my uniform," Bennet says, suddenly. "There's going to be a party."

[thirstforvice]

"This ain't your uniform?" Matthew gives Drake's jacket a tug, and the man himself a sly grin.

"You wear it day in, day out."

[thegentlemanthug]

"I reckon he means my old sergeant's uniform," Drake muses. "Not my army reds."

[thirstforvice]

Despite their location, Matthew cannot help but look a little excited at the prospect of his Benny all done up in uniform.

"You, uh... goin' home to change now, then?"

[thegentlemanthug]

"I'll need to send word to Mrs Ramsay. Get it all starched and brushed down."

The uniform is an uncomfortable old thing and Bennet isn't looking forward to donning it again.

[thirstforvice]

"Then go to her," Matthew says, hand moving up to Bennet's cheek, thumb stroking over skin there, just for a second before he pulls away.

"And make sure I am first to see you in all your splendour," he adds, much more quietly.

[thegentlemanthug]

A smile quirks Bennet's lips as he understands Matthew's thinking.

"Can't muss me up," he replies, equally soft. "We've got to get to the ceremony on time."

[thirstforvice]

"But after the ceremony...?" Matthew grins, leaving that question hanging between them as he moves away.

"I'll be seeing you later, Sergeant Drake."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake goes home as directed, and suffers Mrs Ramsay's excitable fussing over his outfit before turning her attention to what her and Matthew are going to wear to the ceremony.

Before his doctor arrives, he is stuffed into his stock and long overcoat, his top hat waiting by the door. He feels ridiculous but he hopes Matthew appreciates the effect.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew intends nothing more than a change of shirt, never one to dress for particular occasions, so he's taken more than a little off-guard when Mrs Ramsay rushes him the second he opens his front door.

"I have a suit laid out for you," she declares, bustling him up to the bedroom, the suit laid out on the bed.

"Can't I wear what I have?" Matthew complains, the suit on the bed too demure for his personal tastes. "And maybe be allowed to say good evening to the Sergeant?"

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake listens to the conversation with amusement.

"The Sergeant is waiting for you in the parlour," Mrs Ramsay says firmly. "And you can save your "good evening"s for when you get home."

[thirstforvice]

Matthew scowls, undressing with a purposeful slowness, like a sulking child. He will wear the suit, only because Mrs Ramsay has clearly gone to some effort to procure it for him, but that does not mean he will be thankful for it.

"My own clothes are just fine," he comments.

[thegentlemanthug]

"There will be press men there," Mrs Ramsay says, and Drake groans to himself. He hadn't expected such a commotion.

"We don't want to let our Sergeant down, do we?"

[thirstforvice]

"He's far more likely to laugh at me, dressed like this, than be let down by my normal clothes," Matthew grumbles, unaware that Bennet is listening to his every word.

"I will look ridiculous."

[thegentlemanthug]

"You'll do very well. Now we'd best get going before we miss our place in the crowd. I want to get a good view."

Bennet waits expectantly at the bottom of the stairs, like a groom about to greet his bride.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew follows his landlady with his arms crossed over his chest, sulking in his finery. His suit is dark, a stark contrast to the crisp white shirt and crimson waistcoat. The only nod to his normal fashion are the thick stripes of his suit trousers, alternating black and grey.

Still, he feels far too British.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet watches his lover as he stands at the top of their stairs.

"A finer gentleman I never did see."

[thirstforvice]

"I look like a bloody toff," Matthew grumbles, though there's a smile on his face as he looks his Sergeant up and down.

"And not half as handsome as you, Sergeant."

[thegentlemanthug]

"And you can be admiring of each other later," Mrs Ramsay bustles. "We are going to be terribly late!"

Drake holds open the front door. "Majesty."

[thirstforvice]

"They can hardly start without Sergeant Drake, can they?" Matthew points out, letting himself be bustled out the room.

At Bennet's nickname, he can't help but giggle in a most ungentlemanly manner.