Work Text:
Woods, Frank
Fairbanks, Alaska
2000 hours, December 20th, 1972
It had taken everything possible for Frank Woods to get up to Alaska. This close to the holidays, he was praying that Alex was at home in Fairbanks, he had to be for this to be worth it. Frank trudged through the snow and wind in town, desperate to find someone who could direct him to where Alex was. He had found his luck, someone was driving out in that direction and offered to take him.
So now Frank was trudging up to the door of Alex's home, desperate to see him again and get out of the cold.
Before he could knock, the door flung open, and he could see the shocked look on his best friend's face moments before he passed out from the cold.
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When Frank came to, he was bundled up in a blanket on the couch near the fireplace. Looking up slowly, he could see Alex at the stovetop in the small kitchen. He tried to get up off of the couch, but lost his balance and fell to the ground. Alex was there in a heartbeat, picking him up and laying him back down.
"Rest, I'll get you something to eat so you can continue to warm up... you were cold as ice when you got to my door."
Frank didn't even try to stop the smile that came to his face. It had been four years since he'd last heard that voice, almost five at this point. He was glad to be hearing it again in person.
Alex soon returned with a bowl of soup. Frank went to shrug off the blanket but he was stopped, his best friend offering him a bite. In normal circumstances, he would have protested this, but seeing as he was still cold and his arms were still slightly numb, he had no qualms with being fed by, admittedly, his favorite person.
The two of them had been through hell and back together and were close as they could be. So close they could be on the battlefield and work in sync without saying a word. Frank barely wanted to admit to himself that he'd been starting to see Alex as more than a friend, but the nearly five years away had made that thought the reason he stayed alive.
If he could get back to Alex, maybe he could tell him how he felt.
It was a risky gamble, one that Frank wasn't sure he was willing to take lest he lose Alex's friendship. But he didn't want to get separated again and lose the chance at possibly being more with his best friend. They'd already been separated from each other twice, so who knew when it could happen again?
Alex offered Frank the final bite of the soup, making sure it was eaten before he set the bowl to the side. There was a moment of silence between the two men, neither one willing to start a conversation. The fire from the fireplace crackled as the wind howled outside.
Frank finally broke the silence. "You're probably wondering how I'm alive..."
"Of course I am! You went out that window with Kravchenko!"
Frank nodded. "I did, but managed to get the gun belt off him, so we both survived. Sadly meant he captured me and dragged me off to Hanoi Hilton for six months...." He paused and sighed. "After that, got shipped to Da Nang. That fucking place made Hilton look good. I was the last of my group of 18 and didn't want to die there, so I got myself the fuck out of there. I'm just glad you were here as this was my first stop."
"Figured as much. You look like shit."
Frank couldn't even be mad. Even though Alex had commented in jest, he knew he didn't look the same as before, and by a long shot.
He was figuring out what to say next when Alex spoke up. "So, why was I your first stop? I'm surprised since you know about winter weather up here in Alaska."
"Wanted you to be the first one to know I was okay... figured you deserved that." Frank could immediately see Alex's features soften. He could also tell that the other man was thinking about something. He softened his tone as much as he could, moving a no-longer-numb arm out from the blankets to pat his friend's shoulder. "What's on your mind, Alex?"
Alex looked up at him. "I thought you were dead... And I'm so happy that you came to me first so I'd know you're okay."
"Always."
And then Alex Mason pulled him into a hug. It felt different than usual, like Alex didn't want to let go. And Frank Woods hugged him back with that same sentiment, also not wanting to let go.
They sat like that for a moment before Alex spoke up again. "Frank, promise me you won't end our friendship if you dislike what I'm about to do."
He nodded, not even able to say the words before the other man's lips crashed against his own.
Despite the shock, Frank was quick to reciprocate, pulling Alex a little closer. The younger man seemed surprised but didn't pull away, instead moving closer on his own to be closer to the older one.
They both had to pull away after a moment to breathe, Alex's face bright red. "You're not...?"
Frank gently cut him off. "I've been waiting nearly five years to do that, Alex. I'm not mad in the slightest." He smiled as he watched the other man blush more.
A comfortable silence fell over them, the fire in the fireplace down to a low glow as the two men on the couch leaned against each other, the wind having died down a decent amount.
After a moment, Alex sighed and slowly stood. "I'm going to put another log on that fire and then put on the radio."
Frank smiled. "I'd love that, we can just relax together for a while."
"You deserve it, you've been through hell for the last few years. You definitely need the time to relax." The younger man smiled as he grabbed a log from the pile beside the fireplace and started to put it in.
"Especially since I get to relax with you. Makes the rough escape and nearly dying of hypothermia all worth it," Frank said with a laugh.
Alex chuckled softly, getting the log in the fire before turning the radio on and returning to the couch next to Frank. He pulled the blanket around him and leaned against the older man with a small smile. Frank put his arm around Alex and kept him close, the two of them just listening to the radio and the fireplace. Due to the date, it was mostly just Christmas songs, but there were other songs in the mix too.
One of them immediately had Alex smiling and pulling Frank off the couch. As soon as Frank realized what song it was he was moving, pulling the younger man into a slow dance as he started to sing.
"Wise men say;
"Only fools rush in;
"But I can't help falling in love with you."
Alex blushed and smiled, leaning against Frank as he listened to him sing.
"Shall I stay?
"Would it be a sin;
"If I can't help falling in love with you?"
The two of them slow-danced together the entire song, Alex taking up singing the final verse and chorus with a smile.
As the song came to an end, the two of them sang that final line together. They slowly stopped dancing and stood in each others' arms in the middle of the living room. Neither wanted to let go, even as the next song started playing. Frank smiled down at Alex, waiting for him to look back up before kissing him softly. Alex immediately reciprocated and leaned into Frank. They soon had to break the kiss for air, both smiling wide and staying close to each other.
Alex once again broke the silence between them. "So..."
Frank followed suit. "This make us a couple?"
"Only if you want us to be."
The older man smiled. "Of course, even if only we can know about it."
Alex smiled. "Then we're a couple, Frank Woods."
Frank smiled in return. "A hidden yet happy couple, Alex Mason."