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grownups-are-the-real-monsters · 2 years

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Can I get a mini-fic featuring some Ray/Stebbins/Pete angst please? Thank you !!! I love pain :)

Yes, you can!!! I hope it's okay that I went a little overboard with the angst? This feels like it could be a part of a larger fic but I don't know!!! Let me know if you want a part 2?!

IMPORTANT NOTE: My sister and I decided that Stebbins's first name is Rick so that's what I went with in this fic. It'd be a little awkward if Ray only called him by his last name so........

Stebbins lazed around the restaurant booth with only two things on his mind; The fact that if he didn’t piss in at least two minutes, he’d wet his pants & Raymond Garraty. His boyfriend was late, which wasn’t enough to alert the press, considering Ray was terminally loose with time. But this morning felt different. Instead of texting a quick ‘be there in a minute’ message, the boy had actually called…voice filled with tension and apologies. It rattled Stebbins to no end. Why the hell does Ray seem so regretful about being five minutes late to breakfast?

Ordering on behalf of Ray, Stebbins took a long sip of the black coffee and cradled his mug. He couldn’t help but be excited about his stupid smiley-face pancakes.

“Ricky!”

Ray came trailing down the open aisle with a hiccup in his steps. Something inside Stebbins's stomach dropped at the nickname and he prepared himself for what was either unsettling news or a gigantic show of affection. Turns out…

Garraty snaked himself around the booth and pressed a long kiss to Stebbins’s temple, breathing in the scent of his warm hair. For a minute his nose stayed buried in the field of blonde and Stebbins felt like he was on top of the world.

“Hey, stranger.” Stebbins whispered, curling into the gentle touch only to have it ripped away as Garraty took his seat across the table. The object of all his affections was playing with the strings of his hoodie, looking put off. “Something wrong?”

Ray took a deep breath and sighed. “I-uh…look, we have to talk about something.” The words felt sharp and icy, piercing through Stebbins's heart in an instant. “I don’t want to hide this from you, ok? I…made a mistake–”

“What kind of mistake?” He asked, biting hard into his lip. The restaurant seemed to be closing in on him so he reached over for Garraty’s hand but found his affection denied as the boy pretended he hesitated to swipe a drink of water.

“A dumb mistake…” Ray’s voice trembled, and his eyes fogged over with misty tears. “I didn’t mean it, Ricky—” He gasped for air and Stebbins momentarily hoped he’d choke on it.

“Tell me.”

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Garraty unzipped his pants with hesitance, pausing to glance around the bathroom. Demure, crestfallen, and elegantly pensive as he sat on the bathtub lip across from the damn toilet lid with plastic fish swimming behind a thick resin layer while the deep ache in his stomach continued to pinch. Dropping his hand further down, he stroked the bulge in his underwear and gasped briefly. His mind screamed, ‘Don’t’ but he wanted it. Was it worth getting himself off in his friend’s fucking bathroom during a party? He wasn’t sure. But…a mouth…warm and wet. The gut instinct to conjure up a vision of his boyfriend…his fucking beautiful boyfriend arose as it should. But he shoved it down like it was some kind of fucking demon. The alcohol boiling in his blood was driving him crazy. He tried to relax…let his mind finally have what it’d been wanting since the start of Mr. Driver’s Psychology class. Eager shivers vibrated through his body and not for the first time in his life, Ray allowed himself to long for a man’s touch. Heart beating softly in his chest, true arousal triggered faster than it had ever before. The intense pressure excited him enough to elicit a moan.

Peeking through his half-lidded eyes, he craned his head back and whispered. “Oh-oh God…” He’d never known masturbation to be so…hot. But finally allowing himself the joy of picturing a certain man between his legs was awestriking. “Pete…” Shocking himself, he whispered the name, liking the way it tasted on his tongue.

:::

Pete McVries wandered aimlessly around Art Baker’s party with nothing but finishing his Psychology homework on his mind. Sure he and Ray had something of a bitch-fight about the due date approaching but he’d decided he was goddamn over it. He wouldn’t fail an entire class just because Ray Garraty had been in a mood. Besides, he’d only been invited to this party because Ray was his friend and he didn’t know another single goddamn person here.

But before he could go on a hunt for the other man, he was going to have to piss before the pee burst from him.

He strolled down the hall of the stranger’s apartment and hoped the door he was reaching for was a bathroom. Just as the door creaked open he heard what could’ve been a question coming from behind. But he was all too caught up in the fact that he suddenly had to piss like a trucker.

“Pete…”

Behind the door was Ray Garraty, sighing and panting his name with his legs open.

“Oh Fuck!” Pete swallowed and instantly slammed the door, embarrassed and warm. A deep, horrendous feeling of shame and guilt racked his body. “I’m so fucking sorry.” He tried to wipe the memory from his brain as a couple making out in the hallway beside him stared on, clueless.

“SHIT! Pete—?”

Pete hiccupped at the sudden shout, accidentally making eye contact with the blonde girl just to his left.

“Pete—I…” Garraty’s voice shrank. “Can you please come back—um I’m decent.”

He didn’t want to. More than anything he wanted to run away, heart beating like crazy. But he found himself slowly opening the door. “Ray—I should’ve knocked. I’m so fucking stupid—”

“I….” Ray’s beautiful eyes twitched and tears welled.

“Listen Ray, I’d understand if you didn’t um…want me around. I should’ve knocked—I never should’ve seen you…” He was panicking but who could blame him? The guy he’d spent the last three months daydreaming about had just been moaning his name in the fucking bathroom. He felt sick and remorseful. Did Ray know he had feelings for him? He’d kind of been hoping he was better at keeping that a secret considering the guy had a boyfriend.

“It felt so good.” Ray confusingly whispered before bursting into tears. Pete ached to comfort but felt as if he shouldn’t. “God…Fuck….” He laughed a bit hysterically. “Your name…”

Pete blushed painfully and shamefully.

“I’ve been…thinking about you for weeks, I just…I didn’t know—” Ray hiccupped and shook his body out. “Pete-” He started, still liking the taste, stood and stepped close to the other man’s space. “I want you.”

The words nearly made his heart stop. “Ray…you’re confused–”

“No!” He burst. “For once in my goddamn life, I’m not confused.”

The boy attempted to close the space between them but Pete took a giant step back, hitting the door behind him. He thought of the other man’s boyfriend…‘were they still together?’ He’d never believe Ray would cheat….they had to be broken up. But what would the answer be if he asked?

“It’s been hard enough to love you, Ray.” Stuttering slightly as Ray’s eyes widened. “But I never expected you to–...” He briefly stared at the wall behind him. “I don’t want you to feel like you gotta want me back–”

Ray abruptly ended the statement by slamming their mouths together. “I fucking want you back.” He mumbled between kisses, wet and sloppy. “You. Peter McVries, ok? You!”

Pete, falling madly and deeply into the kiss swooned. “Why?” He asked, catching the other man in his arms, thanking anyone that would listen that he’d broken it off with his boyfriend.

Garraty pulled off, licking his lips. “You’re my man. I know you are. I figured it out.” He laughed, feeling genuinely relieved. “Now please…love me like I’m yours.”

McVries let out a guttural moan.

Garraty grabbed him by the chin and smiled. “Your mouth, I wanna feel it all over me.”

Pete nearly began to drool as months of built-up feelings exploded in his chest. This was a dream come true. “I’ll go slow, baby–” he pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Just tell me if you want to stop.”

Ray nodded feverishly. “Suck me, baby.”

Pete’s erection stiffened with excitement. “Your pretty little voice talking dirty is gonna have me finishing quickly.” He murmured, pressing soft kisses under Ray’s shirt which was quickly thrown off.

“Oh please…” Ray grinded upwards as Pete kneeled down on the little rug between his legs. “I’m yours.”

The words hit his heart instantly. Why such a guy could ever be interested in Pete, he’d never know. Unzipping Ray’s pants, he quivered. “Mine?”

Ray sighed sweetly, caressing Pete’s face. “Yes-” He cut himself off to laugh as Pete pressed small kisses to his stomach.

Practically purring, Pete gently thumbed down Ray’s jeans and felt the brush of his leg hair. He stared at the man with wonder which would be hard to break and enjoyed his seat on cloud 9.

__________________________________________________________________

“Here are your pancakes, sir-”

The whipped cream smile and beady cherry eyes stared hard into Stebbins’s soul. “Thank you so much.” He muttered before rushing off to the bathroom, to vomit.

::::::::

“I can’t believe you.” He spoke into the toilet.

Ray was kneeling by Stebbins’s side, attempting to rub his back while he threw his heart up in the IHop bathroom. Hot tears were striking down his face making him look unfortunately gorgeous. “I didn’t mean it, Ricky—”

Stebbins hiccupped, sitting up and wiping his mouth. “Fuck you.” He cried, hoping to god that the image of his smiley face pancakes would soon leave his brain. “I love you…you asshole.” Continuing his sobbing, he pushed his face down into his palms.

“I was really drunk, ok? I know that’s not an excuse–”

“Do you?” Stebbins abruptly shouted, echoing in the small space. “Cause you sure are trying to use it like it is.”

Ray sat back on his legs, looking like a wet puppy.

“Why? Ray…” He was at a loss for words as he stared at the one and only man who could ever put him in this situation. “Why the fuck did you sleep with someone else?” He demanded. He had to know. It didn’t matter how much it would hurt.

More tears began to break, traipsing down his hot red cheeks. “It was a mistake…” Again, Stebbins wasn’t impressed with that answer. He watched Ray flop onto the tile floor like a ragdoll. “I…couldn’t hide it from you. I–” He gasped for air. “I was confused and drunk and I was such an asshole.”

Stebbins blinked. “Baby, why were you confused?”

Garraty sighed. “He…he’s my friend and I…” Looking away, he attempted to gather himself.

“You’re my boyfriend, Ray.”

Another hiccup. “I love you, Ricky….I don’t want to lose you.”

Stebbins looked around, taking in his surroundings and feeling ultimately ridiculous. For a brief moment, he thought he heard someone enter the bathroom only to leave within four seconds. “Let's just get out of this fucking bathroom, ok?” He mumbled, trying to stand up on his jelly legs. Ray looked up at him for a moment before following him to the sink.

::::::::

The air was still and full of early morning tension. Across from Ray Garraty sat Rick Stebbins, his boyfriend of three years. Inside his stomach curdled as the blonde readjusted his plate and sliced into the whip-cream smile, undoubtedly trying to get rid of the vomit taste in his mouth. Ray himself had thrown up just twenty minutes after waking up.

“You didn’t come home last night…” Stebbins started talking first. “You texted that you were planning to stay the night at Art’s but I’m guessing….” He trailed off, twirling his fork around a puddle of syrup.

“I did stay at Art’s, I just…” Ray wanted nothing more than to die at this moment. He felt like the scum of the earth’s horrible cousin. “I made Pete leave after…”

“After he did you?” Stebbins interrupted with blank horror.

“We didn’t get that far, Ricky–” He held up his hands like a sorry criminal before thinking better. “I told him I’d call him or some shit but I was freaking out. I didn’t know what to say–.”

“Well shit, Ray.” The blonde began to laugh horridly. “You gonna call him or what?”

Hours of nerve-wracking anxiety broke and Ray couldn’t help but burst into tears, pathetic and embarrassing. Stebbins watched him cry over his mess of pancakes and did nothing to comfort or ease him. Instead, he just stared ahead…tracing the patterns in the wallpaper with his eyes.

#the long walk #gavries #raybins #is that their ship name?#stephen king books #stephen king #ray garraty #pete mcvries #stebbins #my fanfiction

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s0b3rsp1d3r · 2 years

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the long ass walk

y’all...are there even tlw roleplayers anymore?? no? ok

HA jk im here asking for some ray and pete romance type shit i just need a literate writer who can wax poetic with me pls

i write for our str8 white man mr garraty so hmu

#tlw #the long walk #the long walk stephen king #the long walk rp #raymond garraty #peter mcvries

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soltoes · 3 years

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go go garraty and mcvries according to how i pictured them while reading

#the long walk #tlw #pete mcvries #raymond garraty

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prosecat · 5 years

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McVries any time he sees Garraty

#the long walk #richard bachman #stephen king #peter mcvries #raymond garraty #mcgarrity #gavries #mcvries is a bisexual disaster

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blueartboi · 5 years

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I finally got the courage to draw these boys I love them so much, for anyone who doesn't know who they are, they're Peter McVries and Raymond Garraty from Stephen King's book The Long Walk!!

Also sorry if they look awful, I usually draw cats and never humans,,,

#the long walk #ray garraty #Raymond Garraty #Garraty #Peter #Peter McVries #McVries #The long walk #stephen king

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procyonpal · 3 years

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RAYMOND GARRATY FROM THE LONG WALK SAYS BRUH

#the long walk #ray garraty #stephen king

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the-lean-buddha · 3 years

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the Garamond font sounds like somebody shipped Raymond Garraty with himself

#ray garraty #the long walk

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thirtecnth1 · 4 years

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⌠THEO JAMES . CISMALE . HE/HIM⌡❝ — well, look who’s just arrived ! if it isn’t the one and only ABEL GARRATY. though, around here they’re known as THE REVENANT. don’t tell ‘em i said this but the THIRTY-FIVE year old PARAMEDIC at MERCY HOSPITAL kinda has a reputation of being BLUNT and CYNICAL. but y’know, they can be DAUNTLESS and ALTRUISTIC too. typical CAPRICORN. anyways, welcome home and stay safe, ABEL ! ❞

GENERAL

FULL NAME: Abel Matthew Garraty AGE: 35 years old DATE OF BIRTH: January 5 SEXUALITY: Straight MISC INFO: Human

APPEARANCE

HEIGHT: 6′ 2″ HAIR: Brunette EYE COLOR: Brown

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Misty Hollow, Connecticut INCOME STATUS: Lower Class FATHER: Raymond Garraty MOTHER: Janice Garraty SIBLINGS: Allison Garraty ( twin ) ( deceased ), Gabriel Garraty ( younger ) SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Elizabeth Sinclaire-Garraty ( deceased ) HOBBIES: Guitar, Cross-Country, Hiking, Working Out, Drawing

STORY POINTS

When Abel was only 2 days old, he stopped breathing. His sister Allison was so perfectly healthy and wonderful, yet he had been the one to stop breathing and almost pass away only days after they were born.

His parents had called an ambulance and the paramedic had revived him, then took him away to find out what had happened. But nothing was wrong. He had just stopped breathing, then living for a few moments and scared his parents to death.

His life was like this for a while. It almost seemed like he was always having run-ins with death while his sister soared. She would win modeling contests and spelling bees, his sled would slide into the street or he’d almost be electrocuted by a stray wire.

He was always close with Allison, she was his twin, someone who always understood him more than anyone, but there was some jealousy there... It felt as if she had stolen his luck.

Their parents were regardless supportive of both of them-- they just found themselves a little more worried over Abel and the newest baby Gabriel than Allison, something they would definitely regret later.

At the age of 15, Allison and Abel were coming back from a party with a friend who was intoxicated. When he crashed, it killed Allison and their friend on impact. Abel would have also passed if he hadn’t been revived by a paramedic with paddles.

It was an experience Abel hates to talk about and left him silent for months after the accident. He was devastated and left with extreme survivor’s guilt.

He put all his energy into his schoolwork. It was hard for him to focus and he still barely spoke to anyone, but he still had a talent for anatomy and later for running.

After graduation, he moved to NYC and met Elizabeth Sinclaire. She was an Arts Major when he was studying to be a Paramedic.

She was absolutely everything to him. Sun, Moon, Stars... They married a few years later and they were happy together for 5 years until she passed away in her sleep from her heart condition. He was 25 at the time.

He had tried desperately to revive her but she was gone and he was left catatonic again. Death seemed to follow him everywhere he went.

His family, concerned, brought him home to Misty Hollow, where he recovered as much as he could and began work again as a paramedic after 2 years.

He’d been here for years since, watching over his little brother and others like a hawk and doing his best to reverse his luck with death.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

1. His Little Brother: They were close growing up but they’re even closer now that he’s been back. He’s one of the only people he tells everything to and someone he trusts with all the gory details. This being said, he also is a little over-protective of him and it shows.

2. Childhood Friends: People he used to know as kids around town. Maybe they grew apart a little when he moved away but they could definitely be closer now that he’s been back for a little while. He needs good friends to put up with him.

3. Coworkers: He spends a ton of time with them so they’re more like family than friends. They probably know how stressed he can get on the job and probably physically have to make him stay home some days.

4. Family: He probably has Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, all in town since his family has roots there for sure. Anyone for him to look over is gonna be a major plus and welcomed.

5. Attraction: I’m sure they are people he’s interested with in the town, whether it be an ex from high school or someone new in town, either way, he’s gonna be terrified to do anything in fear they might catch his bad luck and get hurt.

…More to come, I’m sure!

#misty.intro #abel garraty. / introduction #oop we love my tragic characters #cant resist

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go-go-garraty · 4 years

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Day One-Before The Storm

Summary: Ray Garraty thought that life was good and that only made living despair around him all the more inexplicable.

Written for The Long Walk Week

AO3 Link: x

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It was summer vacation. It was finally vacation time and he was planning on spending it with Jan, His Jan, The Best Girl in The World.

"Mom. Can we bring Jan with us to the beach this year?." He nervously approached his mother, she was washing plates in the kitchen.

"Jan, to the beach, with us?." He could tell she was worried, Ray didn't know what exactly she thought they could do in two afternoons on the beach, with her present at all times.

"Yes, Please Mom. We won't do anything, I just really want to spend time with her. Please." He held up both hands as a prayer to her, this wasn't his first time asking, but he wasn't going to give up anytime soon.

"Hmmm." She rubbed the plates harder, Ray thought this was her way of focusing.

"Are you sure you are going to behave yourself Raymond?." Ray didn't like being called by his full name, but he had to swallow it here.

"Yes, Mom I will."

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"Then..." She nodded her head up and down. "Okay. We can bring Jan with us."

"Really!?." He light up immediately. "Thank you! Mom!."

She smiled softly at him but then got serious again. "Of course, Jan's parents have to agree first."

"Yes, Mom." He nodded solemnly to her.

"Jan!." He ran to her house, Jan lived only a few blocks from his house.

She was sitting on the stairs of her house, eating a popsicle, it was so hot right now, somehow, Ray ran through that.

"Ray!." She caught sight of him and immediately stood up.

"Jan!." He ran up the stairs.

"Ray!." She maneuvered the popsicle into her mouth, to free her hands, and hugged him.

"Ray! What is it!?." She excitedly looked up at him, her words muffled through the popsicle, she had a small chocolate stain on her lips, Ray didn't know how he held back from kissing it out of her.

"You can come to the beach with us." Ray was breathless now, he had told her about this earlier, and now he could finally go through with it.

"For real!?."

"For real Jan."

"Yay!." She hugged him tighter. "When?."

"Friday to Sunday."

"But won't your mom be uncomfortable with me going? I don't want to seem disrespectful." To Ray, she always seemed to care so much about everything

"I already asked, and she said yes, I'm sure it be fine."

She laughed. "Great! no wait." Her smile fell in a second.

"What Jan?." He could see his own expression mirrored on hers now.

"I have to convince my parents first." She took the popsicle out of her mouth, she looked at it for a second, biting the inside of her lips.

"But don't worry." She lowered her voice, looking at him in the eyes, a reassuring smile in her face. "I will." She raised her fist to the sky, as if she was informing God of her plans.

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"Ray!." He heard Jan's voice through the door, he ran outside, he heard his Mom hide a giggle on the back.

"Jan!." He ran down to her.

"I convinced them!." She stood with both hands on her hips, she looked so proud of herself.

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"Okay kids. Less talking, more helping." Ray's Mom said, struggling to get a baggage out of the truck, his mom had the habit of packing like they were moving out of the country.

"Going!." He was standing next to Jan talking about whatever, they hadn't stopped talking on their way here, they laughed about whatever, as long as the other was the one saying it.

He grabbed the case from his Mom's arms, and got it down in one go.

"Oh, My little gentleman." His mom ruffled his hair.

"Mom..." He flushed, as he gave a sideways look at Jan, hoping his mother could catch the hint.

Jan walked up behind him with a grin, she put her hands on his back. "Little gentleman." She whispered.

"J~a~n!."

She giggled harder. "I think I should go get changed." Jan took her hands off his back, as she reached for her own bag.

"You too Ray." His Mom said.

"Won't you need more help?."

"Don't worry. This was the heaviest one, I take this up to the room and you two go have fun at the beach. Here's your bag." She gave him his bag.

She watched the kids go off, she wondered if she would be seen as an irresponsible person, as a bad mother, for allowing her teenage son to be doing something like this with his girlfriend.

But she was relieved, seeing his son with a girl like this relieved her, and nobody else could know why.

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Jan and he had gone to one of the public bathrooms on the beach to get changed.

"I'm ready" Jan announced coming out of the bathroom, Ray had been out for a while now, waiting for her.

"You look..." He didn't find the proper words for it, beautiful, gorgeous, majestic, or some other fancy word from the books they liked to read, or simply Jan.

"Close your mouth." She was teasing him but she looked so small all of a sudden "I'm not even that pretty." She looked down.

"You are." Ray insisted, the same way a man would clarify the sky was blue.

"You are just saying that." She said running her fingers through that long ponytail of hers.

"Am not!." Her eyes widened, she was so red, she looked like she belonged in the beach scenery, she was made of sun salt and whatever made the sunset look red.

"No-No Time to be like this!" She reached down for his hand. "We gotta have fun and swim at the beach!."

"I race you!" He grabbed her hand tighter and they ran to the water.

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Jan was breathless, as she splashed one last wave at him.

"Do you wanna take a break?." He asked her, the sun was starting to set.

"I... Can... Keep going." She flaked a little.

"No, you can't."

"No, I can't."

"C'mon let's go back." He offered Jan his hand, and they walked out of the water, she seemed to be having a really hard time adapting to walking on regular level again.

"Where are we going Ray?." She suddenly sounded far sleepier.

"Wait and see." He lead her down the beach, their shadows were getting longer.

"Uh?" Jan said as they came to a stop, a bunch of hammocks in front of them.

"Let's rest here."

"Can we do that?."

"Yeah have to pay first though." The owner was already coming down, Ray paid the excessive price without making much of a fuss.

Jan lied down, he lied by her side.

He was falling asleep, he could hear her heartbeat, the hammock moved back and forth, little grains of salt and sand raised around them.

She laid on his chest, he heard her breathing in and out, she was so warm and alive, life was good with her by his side.

Garraty thought life was good.

And that only made the living despair around him all the more inexplicable.

#the long walk #tlw week #ray garraty

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words-cannotdescribe · 5 years

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We Go Together

On the morning of the fifth day of the Long Walk Raymond Garraty made a decision. It was a simple decision that, he supposed, had already been made up for him from the moment he witnessed Curley buy his ticket but just something he had never brought himself to do. He had decided to give up.

Looking back on it the decision to just up and lay down was a waste. A waste of his life, a waste of everyone’s time, and most of all a waste of McVries’ effort. After all of those warnings he had taken to get him moving again, to save his life because ‘you’re going to be the one to win this Garraty. You’ve got to keep going to win.’ And maybe that’s the reason why he decided to give in, because of McVries. Pete had saved his hide more than once when he should have died. He should have bought his ticket a long time ago. He should have been wrapped up in those canvas body bags with his blood staining the concrete. What made McVries think that he was so deserving of winning this hellish event? What made him more deserving than any of their fallen walkers? All of these boys had families at home. Loved ones that would be getting a letter in a couple of days detailing the loss of their son but not to worry because ‘The young man passed away with dignity and his bravery will be commended.’ They shouldn’t have to be brave. They were all just kids! Kids marched off to their death like lambs to the slaughter while the rest of the nation watches on as if it was the finals of a baseball series. Crowds urged them on like they were animals purely there for entertainment. To the crowds they weren’t young men with futures and lives ahead of them. He wasn’t Ray Garraty: The 16 year old boy from Androscoggin county, with a mother waiting anxiously by the television with the hope that her son will make it to the next checkpoint. He wasn’t Ray Garraty, the boy who knew how to knit and knew how to dance the rhumba and the cha-cha. He wasn’t a person with a life and a personality. No, to these crowds he was just a number. A number that was expected to march on like a good little soldier while he smiled and waved at the onlookers like a pre programmed robot. The worst part of this wasn’t the dehumanization. He could handle being seen as a number, but the worst part was when he began to lose sight of who he was.

He was no longer Ray Garraty. Ray Garraty died at 9:00 am on May 1st when he took that very first step on this long and winding road. He still looked like the same boy but he knew deep down that he wasn’t the same. He hadn’t been the same ever since the killing began and he realized that all of these boys were just like him. They had lives and personalities and interests ad were just being gunned down like animals. Human beings were being killed in cold blood and there was nothing he could do about it unless he wanted to end up just like them. Olson and Parker had been example enough.

So one by one his friends drop and his resolve fizzled out along with their lives. Baker had been the last straw. If any of them had deserved this torture the Baker had deserved it the least out of all of them. Such a caring and kind friend, Baker had pushed past everything and in the end it had been one fall that had taken him out. A single fall that had broken something within him and had turned on a faucet of blood that had leaked out ceaselessly.

Garraty gagged as the image of Baker’s blood soaked shirt came to mind. His bright eyes had dulled with death.

“Walk a little longer, Art”

Garraty’s eyes burned as if he was about to cry but he couldn’t. He had no tears left in him. He was exhausted and drained and wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest his feet. Just for a second. He dragged a hand up to rub at his eyes, his head turning to his left where Stebbins tredded on wordlessly. At some point the white rabbit had fallen into step with him, abandoning his post in the back. Well, there really was no back anymore with the three of them left. Stebbins, Garraty and McVries. A spark of panic jolted through him, his head shooting around to look for the other boy. He hadn’t heard from him and bit and he briefly wondered if he had somehow bought his ticket while he was in his stupor. That, Garraty knew, would serve to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. He couldn’t lose McVries too, not after everything they had been through.

Ray sighed in relief when his eyes landed on McVries, a little ways behind them, weaving along as if he was seconds from giving in. Garraty’s heart ached for the other teen and he slowly fell back to match pace with his friend.

“McVries”

Silence. McVries eyes were downcast, his gaze focused on his feet stumbling along. He didn’t even appear to be aware that Ray was beside him.

“Hey Pete?” Garraty placed a hand on McVries’ shoulder resulting in him stumbling and out on the halftrack a soldier muttered a warning. Garraty paused, regret flooding him. All he seemed to cause for the poor guy was trouble.

“Garraty?”

“Yeah, It’s me”

The two lapsed into silence and Garraty found himself genuinely worried that he was about to witness another death. “You don’t look too good”

“What gave it away? My glowing complexion or my stunning smile?”McVries asked with a weak huff that Garraty guessed was supposed to be a laugh. “I’m not going to last much longer”

“Just walk a little longer” The familiar words tasted bitter on his tongue and he found himself wanting to vomit.

“Why? So I can eventually collapse and get my ticket without knowing any better? I told you at the start of this that I wanted to do this on my own terms. I’m not bowing out as some unconscious bastard as they shoot me to high hell and back” McVries’ tone was bitter and his face contorted into a small glare before somehow morphing into frighteningly serene smile. “Besides, Garraty my boy, once I’m gone all you’ll have left is to take down Stebbins.”

“Don’t talk like that”

“Why not? I won’t win. I knew I wouldn’t win from the get go, and I walked anyway. You have to win this, you still have everything ahead of you.”

Garraty huffed, raising his head to glare wildly at McVries, “And you don’t?! You always preach about how I’m going to win this and that I have to and you just treat yourself like you have nothing going for you. All of this is just suicide attempt because you want to end your life before it’s even began! I don’t care about how you see yourself, because as far as I can see you’re worth far more than you could ever see” Garraty closed his eyes, turning his head away from McVries. “If winning this means that I have to do it without you then I’d rather die right where I stand”

“Ra-”

“No, listen. You’ve given so much for me, nearly sacrificing yourself to get me going again when I deserved to die. You saved me when you could have just as easily let me die. Why? Why couldn’t you have just let me die?”

McVries face hardened and his aimed his head forward. “You know why, surely you’re not that stupid”

“No Pete, I don’t think I do”

Garraty studied the other boy’s face, his eyes scanning for some trace of...well anything. McVries’ face was completely unreadable. A blank mask that allowed no hint of his thoughts or emotions to slip through. “Because I love you, you jack ass” He grumbled almost silently

“I love you and I know that I can’t have you. I knew that it was a bad idea to get attached because in the end I knew I would lose you, but damn it I fell for you anyway. I fell for every smile, every laugh, every damn little thing you do. You made me believe that maybe things wouldn’t be as bad as I thought but it was too late. We were already playing this deadly game and no matter how much I loved you I knew nothing would change the fact that one of us is going to die. We’re going to die and disappear and be forgotten, that’s just how this plays out.”

“I saved you because you have so much value in this world. You have your mom and Jan to go back to. You have a life to live and in the end I’ll die and you’ll forget about me and move on to marry Jan and have that perfect family. You’ll forget about me but I could never forget about you. You’d be with me everyday of my life. I’d see you and everything we could have had and to be completely honest with you Ray, I would rather die than go through that. I can’t stand the thought of you dying while I go on as if somehow I’m just that much deserving of life than you are”

Garraty was silent while he tried to process McVries’ confession. The more he thought the angrier he became. What? Pete just thought he could give up and expect him to not care? That he would just see him as some other poor bastard that earned a ticket then turn around and just keep walking like it was nothing? You think I care that little about you that I could just completely forget about losing you” Garraty growled out his reply and reached out to grip McVries’ shoulder and forcibly turn him to look at him. “I don’t give a damn what you think about yourself but I’m not going to just lose you like that! I- I fucking love you too Pete! I’ll kill myself before I go on one fucking day without you, I can’t just forget about you like you were nothing…”

For a few beats the boys walked in silence. There was nothing but the sound of shuffling footsteps to fill the air and Ray’s mind was working a mile a minute. Had he scared McVries? Had he gone too far? Of course McVries had confessed his own feelings first but maybe this would be the last thing to push him over the edge. He would be the one thing to do McVries in for good and that thought scared him more than anything.

“I can’t go on much longer Garraty”McVries repeated quietly

“It’s okay Pete”Garraty murmured

“I think it’s time to sit down”

“Okay”

Another warning was issued as McVries began to make his way towards the sidelines. The last of his strength was dedicated to sitting-more like collapsing into the dirt besides the crowds. He expected the soldiers to hop down from the half tracks but what he wasn’t expecting was to turn around to see Garraty following right after him. “You can’t do this”

“Why not?”Ray asked simply with a tilt to his head. He rested his hands on his knees, god did it feel great to sit down. “I’m not going to argue with you on this. We either keep going together or we go out together. I’m not losing you to this walk too”

“You’re sacrificing everything for some nobody like me”McVries muttered weakly

Ray shrugged wordlessly, scooting closer to Pete as the soldiers converged on them. Their rifles were raised to aim at them and he found himself thinking that this sight should have terrified him. He should be sobbing and begging for his life but for some reason he felt calm. Deep down he knew it was because Pete McVries was by his side and he refused to leave his side.

The Maine native reached out his arm to wrap around McVries, burying his head in his shoulder. “Wherever we go, I won’t let you go alone”

#the long walk #stephen king #ray garraty #pete mcvries #stebbins

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grownups-are-the-real-monsters · 4 years

Text

Just leave it up to you

Summary: McVries ignored the question. “You can forget the heels though. My feet wouldn’t look so hot in those strappy’s being that all that’s left of 'em is blistered skin with red goo in the middle like a donut.” He clicked his tongue and Ray found a bit of anger well up from that ‘bee-sting’ again. “The point here, Garraty, is...” What was either a clap of thunder or a gunshot rang out (honestly who could tell the difference at his point?)

Ships: Gavries

Word Count: 3,789

Not until some time after the incident with Jan & his mother did Peter McVries attempt another conversation with Garraty. But when the sky bled from blue to black, the boy had drifted his way back to Ray’s side. Nights on the walk were lonely & scary, it did one well to have a buddy. And Ray didn’t prefer anyone above McVries.

“I’m jealous, Ray.” Pete--McVries slanted his grin to the right as he spoke, looking like a boy trapped inside an oil painted night sky. His eyes seemed gravely distant, glazed over & being hung out to dry. The promise Abraham mentioned burned deep in Ray like an internal bee-sting. ‘Number 61 coming up the road is lookin’ about ready to pop, wouldn’t you say?’

Garraty swallowed a thick ball of mucus. “Of what?” He whispered with hesitation. No one was all that close to them but something about what was coming seemed personal.

“Jan.” A guttural sort of chuckle broke up his throat.

That answer shocked Garraty some...maybe a lot. McVries hadn’t ever seemed interested in talk of Jan let alone...the girl herself. “Well, I’m sure a lot of guys here would’ve loved to grab onto a chick like her-”

McVries shook his head, the hair which wasn’t plastered down by sweat flayed out and sprinkled. “You’ve misunderstood me, my dear.” Turning then, his eyes were fully alive again. They once more reflected the hot inside Pete’s internal organs like a Jack-O-Lantern. “I wish I was your girl back home, Ray.” The cynical joke was hard to find under the tender voice but Garraty was almost sure that it had to be there.

“Don’t know if you’d look as good in a skirt, Pete.” He chuckled, unwavering but nervous at the same time.

“Oh, I would.” Pete shook a finger under his chin, smirking proudly. “These legs love to tease, Ray-Baby.”

Garraty blushed hard. “Why do you say shit like that?”

McVries ignored the question. “You can forget the heels though. My feet wouldn’t look so hot in those strappy’s being that all that’s left of 'em is blistered skin with red goo in the middle like a donut.” He clicked his tongue and Ray found a bit of anger well up from that ‘bee-sting’ again. “The point here, Garraty, is...” What was either a clap of thunder or a gunshot rang out (honestly who could tell the difference at his point?)

“If it wasn’t for you, Garraty, I’d want to die a whole lot more than how badly I actually want to live right now.” Earnest & hoarse emotion sang in his voice. So much it began to frighten Ray to a shocked silence.

“You could win this damn thing. Though, I’m still a bit of victim to cynicism for thinking Stebbins might just run us all down...Ray, you have a real chance.” Pete looked like he might just stop to shake him by the shoulders which turned Ray’s stomach. “If I was your girl back home...”

Garraty waited for the big joke from the cynically insane. Something like ‘Then I could jerk you off’ because it would validate everything McVries had said was bullshit. All of it. That would be ok...Ray might be able to live with that.

“Then you could come home and hold me when this hell was over.”

That....That was what he couldn’t live with. Thoughts of Jimmy Owens danced through his panicked mind. “Pete, are you ok?” A damn insult of a question.

Pete’s eyes blazed with anger. “What? I express an attraction to a guy so that must mean the walk is starting to get to me?” He challenged but gave no time for argument. “Priscilla and I had a threesome once.” Was added onto the end of his statement but not to brag...

Ray didn’t really know what it was for. That sticky-dryness began to coat the pink of his throat again. A hot blush crept over his ‘innocent’ face but something like anger beat hard in his chest. “What did he look like?” It was the dumbest question to possibly ask but it’s what he vomited out. Even Pete looked a little dumbfounded.

He took in some air. “A bit like Stebbins.” He tilted his chin to the blonde, much closer than he’d been at the beginning to their conversation. “If I’m being honest.” He shrugged, keeping a neutral expression and pace. “The point is that I found them both attractive, Ray.”

“Who? The guy and Stebbins?”

Pete laughed again, not harshly but with amusement. “The guy and Pris, dear-one.” He melted with some exaggeration. “You though...” He looked Ray up and down. “You, I could eat with a spoon.”

“Could you be serious for once?”

McVries pulled away, looking almost insulted. “I’m not asking you to confess something back to me.” His voice hitched. “You got a girl back home, I know that. Just meeting you and being your friend’s been enough for me.” He closed his eyes like a sharp pain had cut through him. “So if you’re looking for the punchline, there isn’t one. This ain’t a joke.” Pete smiled, miserable & soft, shoved his hands into his pockets and left.

Ray was the most confused he’d ever been in his entire life.

Stebbins quickened his pace to join his side with something like joyful vigor. He very well could’ve started skipping. He hated the boy for it. “The masochism continues. McVries claims his love before succumbing to his suicidal ideations.” His laugh was manic yet calm.

“Fuck off.” Ray growled with anger yet barely paid him any mind. His eyes stayed focused on the back of McVries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stebbins had been walking in pace with Ray ever since Abraham had gotten his ticket from Scramm’s contagious cold. Garraty missed him. Five more boys had lost their lives & the weirdo kept busy.

“Another one down.” Stebbins whistled casually, talking up at Ray like they were the best of friends. It annoyed him to no end but at least it was better than silence. That was until he glanced at Garraty with an eager-push. “How’s the bittersweet love story, huh?”

Frustration pumped into his body as it so often did when interacting with the headache of a person. But a part of his head drowned in the thoughts of actually missing the boy when the time came to win or die. Ray silently hoped for death before having to ever witness McVries’s come to pass. He looked at the sad remains of his feet. “What do I do Stebbins?”

The blonde’s stare grew cold like an old dinner, astonished and nothing short of it. Ray guessed Stebbins wasn’t expecting such a show of vulnerability now from him now. In all honesty, he’d shocked himself with that one too. Boiling tears attempted to pour down his cheeks as he stared ahead at Baker and McVries. Poor, poor Baker covered in his ‘rain’ being accompanied by a haunted friendly escort. For a maddening moment, Raymond Garraty felt the flood of ‘rain’ break from his nose & waterfall down his clothes, warm & wet.

He panicked, organs twisting deep in his gut as he gasped for a breath that didn't gurgle.

Stebbins cold hand on his shoulder woke him up from his bloody hallucinations. "Hey, what are you doing old boy?"

Ray spit up plain clear mucus (no blood) onto the road and coughed into his fist. McVries had turned to watch in subtle alarm. He walked backwards, still next to Baker, with adoring eyes for the boy with spit running down his chin.

Stebbins couldn't help but roll his eyes fondly at the idiots until Ray dribbled the mucus onto his shoes. He picked up his toes and frowned. "Aim with the eye, shoot with the mind, kill with the heart.”

"-What?" Ray wiped his sleeve against his lips.

Stebbins shrugged, pursed his lips and walked off towards the others.

Garraty pleaded for more time with Art Baker but that didn’t give him shit. Sobs painfully ricocheted through his body but ultimately made no change in his pace which was difficult but the art was masterful now...upsettingly. Turns out a person got good at shit like that if faced with enough practice time.

‘Lead-lined’

Ray nearly vomited for the millionth time. “Walk a little longer, Art.”

A glimmering sheet of tears filled Art’s eyes like a final curtain. “No--I can’t.” He shook his head, covered in rusty ‘rain’. He spoke more unrehearsed lines which broke whatever the hell was left of Ray’s heart.

McVries found his way back to him though. That was something at the very least. The dark haired boy came upon Ray with enough leg-room in the hell-hole hint contract to press a small kiss onto Garraty’s temple. He received a warning for slowing pace but didn’t seem too concerned.

The heat from his mouth alone caused a shutter through Ray’s body.

“Another time, another place.” Stebbins repeated Art Baker’s final words without even a hint of emotion. Pete & Ray intended to ignore the rabbit but the kid made it difficult. He glanced at the only other boys left in the walk, something awakening inside him. Garraty habitually darted closer to McVries.

While Stebbins kept on mumbling to himself; words that Garraty didn’t completely understand, Pete started drifting towards the crowd. The hand Ray wasn’t even aware was grabbing his, started to fall from the grip. Skin sliding against skin as it dropped.

“Pete!”

Helplessly he grabbed whatever he could reach and yanked him back straight. He expected Stebbins to protest--to let him alone--but the kid was still isolated in his own world. “Pete, no!”

McVries opened his eyes, squinted like an old cowboy and smiled. “No, Ray. It’s time to sit.” Horror struck Garraty so badly that it nearly knocked him onto the road first.

He did what only he could. He blubbered. “Pete--please, walk a little longer. Please, please-” Hopelessly he grabbed onto his boy. The boy who just wanted to be held by Garraty was getting a twisted sense of his wish now. “Please, Pete. I-...I love you.” He whimpered.

McVries broke into the most delicately beautiful smile that Ray had ever seen in his life.

“He’s right. Time to sit, Garraty.” Stebbins finally woke. Ray turned with venom but found the kid was standing lone within something gentle & true; no gross selfishness marked in his tone. He lost interest in staring at Ray and spoke into the air past the soldiers. “We are ka-tet. We are one from many...” He mumbled.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!” Garraty turned back to McVries, scarred and beautiful but looking ready to die. “Honestly, shut the fuck up for once, Stebbins!”

Pete giggled at that, still walking but wilting towards the ground all the same. Stebbins ignored Garraty and spoke to their only friend left. “McVries can you wait ten more seconds?”

Pete blinked. But his loud-mouth remained shut, feet still pounding against the road. Stebbins took that to mean yes and aligned his eyes with Garraty’s again. “I’m going to win this.” He spoke, winningly but added. “So are you two fucking assholes.” a smirk then he began to count-down quietly.

The crowd hushed but still couldn’t manage to hear Stebbins. The soldiers drew closer but there wasn’t much to do in the case of three boys still continuing to walk in pace.

At the number 6...Ray finally clicked on to the meaning & couldn’t believe what was happening. Never once had the idea crossed his mind and hell, maybe Stebbins was pulling a fast one on them but he found that it did not matter if he could die with Pete. This gave him an out.

“3...2...1″

Three boys from different states & in different states of mind, dropped like falling boulders. Ass first onto the road at the exact same time. In a perfect semicircle with their backs up against each other, they let out horrendous sighs of pain-relief.

For a long time, the only sound was their low breathing & hesitant stomping of soldier boots, up and down the road. Men so unsure of what to do that it ignited terror through Ray’s gut but he kept his eyes closed. His head leaned against Stebbins & McVries’s.

Two seconds before The Major himself came upon the group...one of many...Ray supposed, Stebbins spoke up again. “A long road, like a tall Tower, must be most be conquered one step at a time...” He took in air like a balloon. “Forgot where I heard that, Ray but we got to the end of the road--to the top of the Tower--”

McVries hummed.

“I knew it was time for the wheel to run Peter over. But I figured the plan. Ka is a wheel but I am a driver...Ha!” He wasn’t making a lick of sense & Garraty would’ve gladly reminded him of the other Musketeers he let die before his little ‘revelation’ but...

According to The Major, they had to decide which two of them would be sacrificing themselves. ‘Ha! What a laugh, huh?’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They would not be celebrated.

They were to quietly be paid off & to have their lives spared.

It was to never happen again.

Rules would be re-evaluated for the next go of The Long Walk.

The boys were to be treated in hospital for what was needed and no more. Garraty--Maine’s own--laid in bed hoping that Art Baker got his wish. That it wasn’t dark & that he could remember them. Too he hoped for his friend not to be mad. Their plan could’ve worked for him...though Ray excepted that Baker would’ve had to have been saved before the rainfall of blood.

He thought that all over in the morning just before Jan--sweet & kind came to visit him for the very first time.

“You pulled quite the stunt.” She spoke two seconds after the nurse left the room, wasting no time. Her smile was full of love that Garraty hated being on the receiving end of for the first time.

“Stebbins did.” He clicked his tongue, grabbing her soft hand.

“Which one was he?”

Garraty bit into his cheek. “The blonde. Purple pants.”

Jan nodded, looking to the TV in the corner of the room with quiet debates going on in her mind. “He’s the one with no visitors.” Turning back, her expression lost all joy. “Heard some rumors he’d gone manic.”

Not surprising. Garraty frowned. “Hope that isn’t true. He was basically already in manicville at the start” He shrugged. He tried to think of anyone but Pete but it was just about the hardest shit to do--besides the damn walk itself.

He blinked up at his girlfriend still sitting on the edge of the white-sheeted bed with a matching skin-tone. “The other boy’s parents & little sister have come today.”

It was as if she knew & she most likely did. “Talked about how happy they were in the elevator up. The staff accompanying us--I think he was a male nurse--” She looked off in thought before deciding it mattered none & came back down on him with despair. “He said they ought to be ashamed. Raised a cheater, he said. Nobody likes a ‘hero’ who does only to serve himself.” Her hair fell against her chin. “97 sons--their mother’s boys--lost their lives thinking only one boy got to win. Not three queers who decided they were bigger than The Major.”

“And what do you think, Jan?” He muttered. The girl rolled her eyes.

“I’d be agreeing if I thought the same, wouldn’t I?” She let one tear loose. “Screw The Major.” She wiped down her cheeks and Ray vibrated from pure astonishment. “It wasn’t in the rules. And three boys were saved. They were given second chances.”

That idea terrified Ray. He was given a second chance curtesy of Stebbins & how in the Hell could he make-up for the 97 lives gone?

“If this is the part where you break up with my because you’ve grown past me or-or grown tired of me, please just do it quickly.” More tears threatened to spill but she kept those ones in.

Ray felt sick to his stomach. “If it helps, it’s neither of those things.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nurse Barnes was a bitch.

Garraty found that out rather quickly considering she had he own opinion on the Long Walk end results. ‘But it barely effected her work, great news!!’ She just did everything expected of her extremely aggressively like petulant child.

Ray allowed her to escort him to Pete’s room and did his best to ignore her grimaces, annoyed sighs & mutterings. It could not dampen his great sense of relief and joy to see the person he turned out to love more than anyone else in the world.

When Barnes turned the door-handle, Ray nearly fell to the floor in a heap of nervous sweat. “Give us privacy, please.” He would’ve mumbled the request, usual of him but a new fire burned inside him since he awoke in the hospital. Barnes slammed the door shut after him. No words.

Pete McVries was getting up from his bed with caution for feet that still ached with pain but were getting better. He’d been on Garraty’s mind like nobody had ever been in all his life & he was the most beautiful sight in the world.

“I’ve been focusing on getting my feet stable for weeks now.” Ray spoke slowly, eyes never leaving Pete.

“Way to show off, Ray.” He managed a laugh.

“Meaning, I can hold you now if you want, Pete.” He opened his arms wide. “That is, if you’d still have me?”

McVries got up like the wind, almost as if his feet weren’t bloody and basically useless just some weeks ago. Ray assumed Pete was betting a lot on his recovery because he wasted no time jumping into his arms, legs wrapping around his waist.

Unfortunately Garraty wasn’t quite there yet & the cute moment lasted just five seconds before they collapsed together onto the clean white floor. Their laughter blended together effortlessly in sweet harmony. Pete climbed atop Ray slowly, bumping their thighs together in the process.

It killed most every calm nerve in Ray’s body staring up at the man he’d fallen in love with. His dark hair waved in contrast to the stark white of the ceiling as he drew closer & closer...noses touching.

“I thought Priscilla was my great love...” he whispered, breath against Ray’s lips. “But Ray, you changed my life. I don’t want to die anymore. Every night, I kept walking just so I could see your face in the sunlight one more time.” He scrunched up his face in the cutest way.

“Sappy shit sounds so cute coming out of your mouth.” Ray giggled, reaching a hand up to stroke his cheek along the scar.

Pete pulled back, sitting now on Garraty’s lap. Ray brought himself to a seated position. “What about Jan?” his voice was small and almost accusatory but Ray could hardly blame him.

“I broke it off with Jan.”

Pete tried to hide his grin, seemingly sick of letting all his emotions pour out like a broken faucet. But Ray caught a gorgeous glimpse. “I love you, Pete.” He added, brushing his hand against the boy’s hair once more.

“I love you too.”

“Can you accept the thank you or not? I’m never giving you another one.” McVries huffed, staring down at Stebbins who was merely sitting in his bed and flipping through a paperback. Garraty was sitting at the edge of the bed, knitting him a ‘Thank you’ scarf because it helped with his anxiety. Plus, he figured the blonde wasn’t much one for facing his own rewards. He might just take a lame scarf for it though if it meant no talking about his generosity.

He looked up. “I’ll accept your compliment of a good plan because I’m a fucking genius for it.” He smiled, crooked yet nice. “But no, I won’t accept a thank you for saving your asses. I couldn’t have been in my right mind for that one.” He chuckled.

Pete groaned. “Great. Good.” His eyes rolled as he gently scooched Ray over to sit next to him on the bed at Stebbins feet. Pete watched his boy knit with adoration that almost sickened Stebbins. “You gonna let him talk to us like that, Ray?” He poked him.

Garraty held up what he had of the scarf so far and smirked when Stebbins just nodded. “Do you remember what you said?”

Stebbins looked off towards the wall and shrugged.

Ray ignored his clear indication that he was done talking about it. “You called us a Ka-tet? What did you mean by that?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter McVries vowed to keep Ray safe & happy.

Once out of the hospital & freshly encouraged to keep as far from the public as possible, he moved his boy into his boyhood home until they could get on their own feet. It was strange but the McVries family was warm and welcoming. Garraty enjoyed this stage in his life immensely.

After that, came a cabin-style home nestled deep in Boulder, Colorado. Far from Maine but Ray’s mother was welcome to visit all she wanted, same with Pete’s parents and wonderful little sister--who had never looked so happy before as she did that first day in the hospital. Her big brother was alive and could still hug her.

Stebbins had gone off on his own but was likely to pop by for visits, Garraty was almost sure of it. McVries felt he owed the strange boy something for what he’d done no matter how many times he rejected the idea. So he hoped to see him again. But for now...

Pete’s ebony hair dripped water down in a slinky path against his dewy skin, tired droplets paused and waited as flybys sped down to collide against them. Smoke breezed from Pete’s mouth and settled into the air. He took a deep breath, eyes fluttering closed with satisfaction as the heat in his chest returned.

He brought his legs down to stretch as his back straightened, making his body a true reflection of his current state. Tiny pins and needles poked from under the bottoms of his feet, He wiggled his toes. But after a few seconds, he let them be. Sometimes it was a little euphoric to feel that little vibration of sleeping limbs.

Ray carefully came into the bedroom looking tired from a long day of his new little life & slipped the cigarette from Pete’s fingers, taking his own drag. He coughed as he handed it back. "Cute.” McVries mumbled happily.

Ray hummed, neck hot from a lingering blush and life truly felt amazing.

#gavries #i dont even know #my fanfiction #The Long Walk #stephen king #Richard Bachman #Ray Garraty #peter mcvries #stebbins

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