My French is horrendous at best, but did that last line say 'whatever floats your (this is either cake or boat. The latter sounds better, given the context, but it's French, so... yeah.) my (love?)

Hey de hey :)

Time for the long missing review on this one!

First let me say that I'm loving this pairing the more you write it. While I'm normally a strict Ben ships with Alex or femOC sort of girl... you're bringing me around to this one very quickly. To the point that I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

The setting for this is brilliant, and I can practically picture it in my head as I'm reading. It's not just the overall picture, the small things are what I really enjoy about your pieces, the little casual gestures, (Neil "rummaging around the kitchen," Ben running "his index finger over the backs of the DVDs on the shelf next to the TV,") all those little phrases add up to create this comfortable and casual setting - the thing I really enjoy about this pairing.

The characterisation of Eagle is absolutely perfect, you've managed to keep the "joker" he's so known for in FF, but at the same time, given him this edge of subtle seriousness. Yes I love "Fanon" Eagle, but he can get a bit much too read sometimes, but yours I could quite happily read most of the day :P

And Ben is brilliant, still got that charm about him (Ah, yes I have a writers crush) but at the same time a slight seriousness to it, with the "exasperated sigh". (Loved that bit btw, very "Ben" in my opinion).

Together, they compliment each other, and that's what I enjoyed the most, was that you manage to cross the characters similarities and differences really well. The word play between them was brilliant and I can honestly say I laughed when they were talking about Ben's siblings.

""Either way, you're in no position to blame her, she's not the only Daniels sibling who can't resist my charms after all,"
"Sorry to burst your bubble there, but Cole isn't into men,"" - Absolutely perfect tease/flirt if I may say so lol.

Then the playfighting - this works really well for these two . in more than just what it leads too. I could actually imagine them wrestling with or without the intimacy you manage to work in here. But the way you switch it from that "Casual, comfortable" playfight into something more is brilliant :D. And again it's the words that make the setting change, from the casual into this intense little moment between them, before dropping it back from those "slow and simple and sensual" moment into something so much more.

And this is the point where I wholeheartedly agree with Rawr's comment - bilingual Eagle is damn hot!ESPECIALLY with the neck fetish lol. Oh, to be a fly on the wall... :P

Then the ending, the way you loop all the characteristics you've given Eagle, back to the joker with a witty remark in French. I loved it and it ended the piece fabulously.

If I didn't already like playing around with Eagle's character, I would have done by the end of this one shot. You bring him from being a "lifeless character" who made up a unit in AH's books, too someone who I could actually picture and perceive.

That's no mean feat, and I can't wait to see more from this pairing, or even your Eagle, in action!

Also let me say this made my return to FanFiction well worth it, and I really hope there will be more to come.

Hopefully reality is treating you well and things have calmed down from your last message enough for you to get some plunnies down on paper :D (Can't wait for those btw. I've been without gutter minded thoughts for FAR too long! lol.)

Anyway, I best get off, back to work tomorrow!

Take care Speech and well done on (yet another) absolutely remarkable one shot!

Shush x

Bilingual Eagle is hot :D