Title: "Body Heat"
Fandom: Dead Poets Society
Pairing: Todd [Ethan Hawke]/Charlie [Gale Hansen]
Author: MonaR. (aka Mona Ramsey, aka Mona)
Story #: 483. I finally counted them.
Series: Actually, this is sort of an informal sequel to "The Game", and itself will have another sequel, as well. I suppose that means I'll have to name this series. Damn.
Webpage: the bare skeleton of one is at: http://www.geocities.com/monaram/
Rating: R.
Warnings: Semi-explicit slash (m/m) content between two 17-year-old boys.
Archive: Yes to The Marrow of Life only.
Notes: I don't use betas. :( Any mistakes are solely my fault and the fault of my *#^&@ spellcheck. ** is used for emphasis, // for thought. Any weird characters should be hunted down and killed.
Feedback: Yes if you're moved to write me by the story, no if you think that *unless* you write me, I won't write any more stories. Anyone with even a glancing knowledge of my posting history (this *is* my 400-and-something-th story) knows that isn't true. Feedback is gratefully accepted and responded to whenever possible. Flames are buried in the backyard, along with a few skeletons.
Spoilers: Yeah, kinda. You've gotta see the movie to understand most of my DPS slash.
Summary: So, it gets *really* cold at night at Welton, and -

{I think this may be one of the most contrived plot ideas I've ever worked with, and yet I feel compelled to do it. Don't even have anyone to bla - er, *credit* for this plot-bunny; it's my very own really bad idea. *shrug* I just really wanted to write in this fandom again.}

"Body Heat"
by MonaR.
monaram@yahoo.com

Todd awoke with a start, unsure at first what the noise was that had broken into his sleep. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness in the room, and then he craned his neck and looked over at Neil, who was lying in the other bed. "Did you say something, Neil?" he asked.

Neil shook his head, sleepy and burrowed so tightly into his blankets that only his eyes and nose were visible. "Nope, not me," he said, his voice muffled by the covers over his mouth. "Thought it was you."

Todd was just about to turn over in bed and go back to sleep when he heard it again - a soft knock at the door.

Knox opened the door, and poked his head inside. "You guys asleep?"

"Not any more," Neil groused. "Get in here before Haber hears you and we all get in trouble."

Knox came into the room, followed by Charlie, who closed the door. Both boys were in pajamas, barefoot, and hugging pillows.

"What is it?" Neil asked, looking mildly annoyed and still not quite awake. "We don't have a meeting tonight, and it's too late to study."

"The radiators have all conked out again."

"How'd you notice? They barely give off any heat as it is."

"Come on, Neil," Knox groaned. "You know it's colder on the other side - it's like forty below in my room, and we're freezing, here. Let us sleep in here tonight." His voice turned wheedling. "Be a pal and share some body heat."

"Why can't you share in your own room?" Neil asked.

"You want me to get in bed with Cameron?" Charlie snorted, sounding disgusted by the suggestion. "You've got to be kidding me. He's got this idea that suffering through the cold makes him more holy or something, and he'll get into heaven faster. I think he's half penguin, myself."

"Pittsy was already gone when I woke up," Knox said. "He probably sneaked off to the kitchen or something after lights out." He raised his eyebrows, plaintively. "Please, Neil?"

"Okay, okay, shut up and get in. And don't even *think* of putting your cold feet on me, Knoxious, or I will kick you out. I had enough of your icicle toes last year." Neil moved over in the narrow bed, turning to face the wall.

Knox got in the bed and huddled up in the covers, his back to Neil's. "Thanks, Neil."

"Just go to sleep already."

Charlie looked at Todd, who hadn't said anything. "You mind sharing?" he asked. "I could go back and set Cameron on fire for warmth, if you want."

Todd smiled a little and shook his head, then moved over in the close bed. There was a wisp of cold breeze when Charlie lifted the covers, and lay down beside him. Startled by the sudden intimacy with the other boy, Todd turned over on his side so that he was facing the wall, mimicking Neil's earlier action to provide at least the illusion of personal space in the narrow bed. Waves of coldness radiated off of Charlie's body, making Todd shiver, but soon Charlie warmed up a little, and even began to generate some heat of his own.

Although Todd had shared a bed many times before in his life - he was almost always put in with his little brother when cousins came to visit at their house and were invariably given his room, because Jeffrey, of course, 'needed his space' - it was a lot different to be lying in such close proximity with Charlie Dalton. Memories of their kiss in the bathroom still haunted Todd, and it had taken a lot just to make himself *look* at Charlie the next day, wondering if he'd say something - or worse, *do* something that might draw attention to him. Charlie hadn't said anything to him, but the bold wink that he'd given Todd in the hallway the morning after that kiss hadn't done much to ease his mind.

Still, he didn't want the guy to freeze to death. The heating in the school was unreliable at the best of times, and this was only late fall, the very beginning of the cold weather. God only knew how much colder it might get at night in their tiny cells by the time actual snow started to fall.

As warmth slowly returned to the bed, Todd found himself relaxing enough to get back to sleep. He could hear Neil's even breathing already, and envied his roommate's ability to sleep through just about anything. Knox was making little sighing noises in his sleep - probably dreaming about Chris, Todd thought. He re-settled his head on his pillow and yawned, hoping that morning would come quickly.

Then something soft brushed gently over his thigh.

Only by digging his fingernails hard into the palms of his hands could Todd keep himself from calling out and bolting upright in the bed. He shivered violently, and hoped that he'd been imagining things. After a few moments, when he felt nothing else, he decided he must have been, and closed his eyes.

Todd gasped right out loud when he felt cold fingers unfasten a few of the buttons on his pajama top, and then reach in to touch his skin. Charlie's mouth was suddenly very close to his left ear, and Charlie made a little low hissing noise of warning through his teeth. Todd took a deep breath and held it, trying to calm himself down and not react so noisily to Charlie's touch, not even considering that he should probably do something to *stop* it. From the other side of the room, Neil and Knox were still breathing evenly, deeply.

Slowly, Todd started to breathe normally again, as he felt Charlie's fingers linger over his belly, and then climb deeper up into his pajama top, warming themselves against the soft skin of his chest. He had to bite his bottom lip hard when a wandering fingertip brushed over one of his nipples, and he flushed when that nipple peaked to erection just from that simple touch, sending a flood of warmth through his body. Charlie shifted over against him until they were spooned together quite tightly, back-to-chest, and all of a sudden Todd realized that Charlie was holding him, that one of Charlie's thighs was pressed against his own, that Charlie's warm breath was gently tickling his neck. The warmth they were generating together was incredible, heat so intense that the bedclothes felt almost confining in the still-cold room. Todd waited, but Charlie didn't do anything else, didn't make any other sort of move, just held him tightly until he had relaxed enough to almost fall asleep. Then, when he was on the very cusp of sleep, Charlie kissed him softly on the neck.

Staring into the darkness, Todd didn't think it was ever going to be morning.

**********

The next time he opened his eyes, Todd was startled to realize that there was daylight streaming into the room. He couldn't remember falling asleep - the last thing that he could remember was the tension in his body as Charlie pressed closer and closer to him in the bed, and finally kissed him. True, it wasn't on the mouth, like their first kiss had been, but unlike the relative privacy of that first kiss, this one occurred barely five feet away from where Neil and Knox were lying asleep. Even though a big part of him really wanted it to happen, it was crazy - it seemed like Charlie *wanted* them to get caught, or something.

At least it was *finally* morning. Todd turned over on his other side, to look at the clock and see if Neil was awake, yet.

"Hi," Charlie said, and pushed Todd over on his back. Todd was so startled to see him still there that he offered no defense when Charlie straddled him, pinned his wrists down on the bed, and kissed him on the mouth.

Finally, Todd shoved Charlie away, angry that the other boy seemed so unconcerned about his behavior, and was actually grinning at him.

"Anyone ever tell you that you wake up awfully grumpy, Anderson?" Charlie chuckled, sitting back on his heels on the bed.

"Are you crazy, *Dalton*?" Todd hissed at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What, you'll sleep with me, but you won't kiss me?" Charlie pretended to pout. "That's not very friendly." He watched Todd glance over at Neil's bed, and rolled his eyes. "Both of them have been up and gone for ten minutes," he said. "You don't honestly think I'd kiss you in front of them, do you?"

Todd shook his head. "I don't know *what* to expect from you, anymore," he said, and flushed, half in anger, half in embarrassment. "Wh-what were you doing last night?" he asked, suddenly unable to meet Charlie's eyes.

"Just trying to warm myself up," Charlie said, and then grinned again. "I didn't exactly feel you fighting me off," he added, tracing one finger over the waistband of Todd's pajamas.

"Cut it out," Todd said, pushing Charlie's hand away even as he felt himself start to respond to that touch. The kiss hadn't helped, either. "I d-didn't want to wake up the others, last night."

"So you're mad."

"Yeah, I'm mad. It was a stupid risk to take."

"You're mad at the *risk*, then," Charlie said, with a growing smile of realization. "Because I kissed you in here, in front of people?"

Todd frowned, puzzled by the question. "Of course. What else?"

"You're not mad that I *kissed* you." Charlie leaned down and put his hands on either side of Todd's arms. "You *aren't* upset about that, are you?"

Todd had a look of panic in his eyes. "Charlie, Neil could come back any time, now."

"Yeah, I guess," Charlie said. He didn't make any move to leave.

"So let me up, then."

"What if we go somewhere private?"

"Charlie - "

"No, I'm serious. There's a supply room up in the attic nobody ever goes to. Meet me there this afternoon during study hall, and I'll let you go."

"No, Charlie. We could get caught." Todd struggled, trying to get free, but Charlie just held him more firmly.

"Yeah, we could. Neil should be back soon," Charlie said, unconcerned.

When he realized that Charlie really wasn't going to let him go until he agreed, Todd said, "Okay, okay, I give in."

"You'll meet me?"

"I'll meet you," Todd said. "Charlie, please - "

Charlie sat up, pretending that he was going to get off the bed, but instead of getting up he ducked his head and caught Todd's mouth again, holding him down into a hungry, lingering kiss, and wouldn't let go until Todd found himself lifting his head up off the pillow, desperately kissing Charlie back. Charlie didn't break the kiss until they heard a noise at the door, and he quickly got up out of the bed before Neil walked back into the room, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

"You two'd better get up," Neil said. "You're going to be late for class. Man," he shivered, "it's *still* cold in here."

Charlie skinned by him and out the door. "'Bye, Neil. Thanks for everything, Anderson," he called back to Todd, and grinned at him broadly before disappearing down the corridor.

"Later, Charlie," Neil said, and then kicked the door closed. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked Todd, who was still lying in bed. "You're all flushed. You're not getting sick, are you?"

"Um, no," Todd said, and pulled back the covers on the bed and sat up. "I just had a strange, uh, dream."

"Yeah, sleeping with Charlie will do that to you," Neil laughed. He sat down on the bed beside Todd. "Listen, he can be a jerk sometimes, but he's basically a good guy. If he's bugging you, just tell him to leave you alone, and he'll do it. I could talk to him for you, if you'd like."

"No, that's okay," Todd said, quickly. "He's not bugging me."

"Good," Neil smiled at him. He finished drying his hair and dropped his towel into the hamper. "Tell you what," Neil said, rummaging through the closet for a clean shirt, "the next time the heat conks out, I'll shove the chair up against the door. That way, Charlie'll have no choice but to deal with Knox's cold feet if he wants to get warm. If we keep letting them in, they'll expect to spend the rest of the winter in here with us."

Todd smiled a little, but didn't say anything, just gathered up his bathrobe and soap and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

The End
MonaR.


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