Importing the gems from the fic_requests LJ community

I see you already have a story, but I've had this AU in my head since I read the request, and it has finally taken shape. So here's another ficlet.


"Hey! Hello?"

He was so startled he nearly dropped the pole. This time in the evening, the last thing he expected was to hear a masculine voice call out to him from—from where? The river banks were deserted on both sides. Joey let the punt drift as he looked for the source of the hail.

"Can you give me a lift?"

On the island! There was someone emerging from the bushes on the tiny island in the middle of the river. Tall, sturdy, blond and, most interestingly, stark naked. Grinning, Joey manoeuvred the punt backwards.

"Car trouble?" he suggested.

The blond rolled his eyes. "Boyfriend trouble," he said simply.

Joey felt his eyebrows climb. Guy had balls. Heh. Not many people were willing to admit that kind of thing to a complete stranger. "Stole your clothes, did he?"

The blond guy grinned suddenly, and even in the dusk it was like a gleam of sunshine. "Pushed me in the river, then buggered off with the punt and all my kit," he explained. "I'd have walked back to college, but as you see..." he gestured down his body, "didn't want to be arrested. Thought I might as well wait till it got dark."

"Come aboard."

The naked blond stepped into the punt, and sat down at the bow end. Joey hauled off his rugger shirt and tossed it to his passenger, who donned it gratefully. It was a balmy enough evening, but still, the guy must have been getting chilled. Joey was okay, topless now, but he hadn't been dunked in the unsavoury waters of the Cam.

"Which college?" Joey enquired, taking up the pole again and setting the punt in motion.

"Emma. Oh, I'm Nick. Carter. Arch and Anth."

"I'm Joey Fatone. John's. Second-year History."

"Glad to meet you, Joey, and thanks for the pick-up." Nick smiled up at him, and again Joey felt warmed by sunshine. He was very conscious of his own flesh on display, and paid more attention than usual to his punting style, hoisting the pole up in two neat jerks, and ignoring the spatters of water over his arms and chest.

"No problem," he said easily. "You can help me shift this punt over the rollers."

"Did you get it up on your own?" Nick sniggered. "Sorry, that didn't quite come out the way I thought it would."

Joey grinned back. "No, I was taking my girlfriend along towards Grantchester for a picnic."

Nick looked meaningfully along the punt, and cast a thoughtful, wary glance over the side.

"Yeah, well," Joey shrugged. "Turns out her idea of a picnic was strawberries and champagne, and mine was beer and ham sandwiches with sex for afters. She told me I was a clod, and walked home."

"Oops."

"Screw her. Or not, as it turns out."

"Maybe if you turned up with the strawberries and champagne?"

"Nah. I'd rather find someone who wants beer and sandwiches."

Nick looked wistful.

"Oh—you hungry? I think there's one left, in my bag there."

Nick brightened, rummaged through the rucksack, and ate the slightly distorted sandwich with obvious enjoyment. "No beer left, I suppose?"

"Sorry. But I keep a stash in my room."

"That an offer? If so, I accept."

Joey concentrated on his punting, taking extra care to time the approaches to the bridges so as not to embarrass himself.