FIC: Contrast and Compare (1/1)
Title: Contrast and Compare
Pairing: Dom/Billy
Rating: R
Summary: A series of scenes and flashbacks, Billy POV. Dom just isn't the same.
Warnings: language and nudity, much angst.
Feedback: is what I LIVE FOR. Srsly.
Disclaimer: Total fiction, this never happened, I don't own these people, DON'T SUE, I'M POOR.
Author's Notes: First of all, the title and inspiration for this fic come from a song by Bright Eyes called "It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends". Here's a link to the lyrics, and if you want the actual song or any other Bright Eyes, just comment and let me know. :D
ALSO: The "now" scenes in this fic are not sequential. That is, they are linear in order but they do not happen one after the other. The flashbacks are not sequential OR linear, they just contrast and compare (to steal another song title from Bright Eyes). I hope that makes sense. LOL
AND: Thanks to silentdescant and imaginaryrain for beta-ing and helping me many times over the last several months with various plot issues I had. >.< YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. ♥ you.
Billy shifted his carry-on luggage from one shoulder to the other as he got off the plane and entered the terminal, more because of nervous energy than any actual discomfort. He and Dom had kept in close contact for the last several months, of course, but it was the longest they had gone without actually seeing each other in quite a while. He knew it was probably silly to worry about such things, but worrying and being silly were two arenas he excelled in, so he figured why fight it.
“Oi! Bill!” The voice carried loudly over the dense chatter floating through the airport. Billy felt his posture relax immediately, barely even aware anymore of his suitcase as he turned and saw Dom making his way through the crowd of people, jumping up and down as he went to catch Billy’s attention. “I’m over here!” Dom yelled, waving his hands to emphasize the point.
Billy started to laugh as he pushed through to Dom. “I think by now everyone in a 10 mile radius knows you’re over here, twat,” he said with a wide smirk as he grabbed Dom and pulled him in tightly for a hug.
A firm but lightning fast squeeze around Billy’s back, ghosting of lips and stubble grazing his cheek, the sense of Dominic more than the actual feeling of him, and then Dom was again in front of Billy, quick as a flash. “C’mon, let’s get your luggage. Car’s waitin’ in front, couldn’t find a bloody parking space.” Dom took Billy’s carry-on with a slightly strained smile, and started making a pathway through the massive group of people in LAX.
Billy’s smirk faltered and he hesitated before following.
__
Dom bounded off the plane, weaving artfully past a young mother and then an elderly man, landing directly in Billy’s arms, the both of them laughing before a single word was spoken.
“You’re lucky you didn’t knock him over, or ya could have spent the week in court instead of lounging about my flat,” Billy snickered, gesturing to the older gentleman Dom had barely missed hitting.
Dom glanced back, arms still tight around Billy, and grinned cheekily, though a tell-tale blush had crept into his face. “Nah, that’s what the yoga’s for. Keeps me limber.” He looked back into Billy’s eyes and grinned wider. “But you already knew that, Bill.” And he planted a kiss fully on the other man’s mouth, pressing closer against him in their embrace.
Billy kissed him back for barely a split second before remembering they were in the middle of Heathrow and nudged Dom back with a laugh. “Jesus, Dom! You could at least wait ‘til we get back home.”
The look in Dom’s eyes was one of rare serious sincerity, as he smiled back. “No, I can’t.” He squeezed Billy against him once more, and then that familiar sparkle was back in his eye. “Besides, there are a lot of other things I’d like to do when we get there.” And there was that smug grin again.
Billy shook his head, still chuckling, but he had blushed a bit as well. He tried to take Dom’s bag before it was forgotten (like last time), but Dom wouldn’t let go of him. Even when they started to make their way to baggage claim, Dom’s arm was squarely around Billy’s shoulders.
__
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
*BEEP*
“Heya, you’ve reached Dom Monaghan’s answering machine! I’m obviously not available right now, or else I’d be talkin’ to you. So leave your name, message, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, and I’ll call you back. Maybe. *laughs* Bye!”
Sighing slightly, Billy cleared his throat. “Heeyy, Dom. This is the third day I’ve tried to call you… I’m trying your home because I think your cell phone is off. Or broken. Or possibly eaten by rabid sharks. Anyway, I’m just trying to get back to you like you asked me to, about our last talk, what you mentioned about the script? I only have a couple more days free before my next show, and then I’m busy for a few weeks, so I really hope we can connect and get that idea ironed out… So… Well, you know where--”
Click on the line as the phone was picked up. “Hey, Billy? It’s Jorge.”
Billy blinked in surprise, but smiled. “Jorge! How are you, man?”
“Good! I’m good. Other than my place being fumigated. But Dom was cool enough to let me crash here this week.”
“Ah, of course. That’s just like Dom. Is he at least wearing pants around the house, with another bloke about?”
“Most of the time, so you know. It’s improving.” They both laughed before Jorge continued talking. “Anyway, I picked up to let you know that Dom hasn’t really been around the last couple of days. Shooting’s been crazy, and then he’s been hanging out with Evie and Foxy and whoever. They evidently found some great new bar or club or something. I don’t know really, I’m not much into places like that. I know he’s heard your messages, though.”
The smile on Billy’s face slipped. “Oh. All right, then. Well thanks for lettin’ me know, I guess he’s just busy and forgot. We’ll get in touch sooner or later.”
“Yeah, I know he’s just kinda scattered right now, didn’t want you to worry.”
“I appreciate it. Say hi to Nunu for me.”
Another laugh from Jorge. “You got it, dude. See ya!”
“Bye.” Billy hung up. He looked at his phone for a moment before putting it back.
__
*Ring* *Ri--*
“Yo!”
Billy fell into giggling immediately. “Yo? You have been spending FAR too much time in America. I demand that you come back here where it’s sane.”
Dom chuckled, too. The grin on his face was almost audible through the phone. “You just say that because you want my sexy body.”
“No, that’s just the added bonus.”
“I thought my rapier-like wit was the added bonus?”
“No, that’s the icing on the cake.”
“Mmmm… cake. Would you bake me a cake?”
“Only if you never answer the phone with ‘Yo!’ ever again.”
“Make it a chocolate cake and you have a deal!”
“Idiot,” Billy laughed. “So where are you?”
“Oh, spending the night in, catching up on some video games.”
“I thought Elijah invited you out to that new club he fancies?”
“Yeah, but I had a feeling you’d be calling. The club’ll be there tomorrow.”
Billy smiled softly. “So besides the sexy body and rapier-like wit, you’re also psychic?”
“Hey, what can I say? When you have the total package, there’s no use in hiding it.”
Billy laughed again, and there was a comfortable pause. “I miss you,” he said, breaking the silence softly.
“I miss you, too. That’s why I’m here.”
__
As they walked from Dom’s car to the restaurant, Billy instinctively reached for Dom’s hand in the dark. Dom flashed a smile at him, gave his hand a quick squeeze, and then let go. He made a show of straightening his hair, and Billy pretended not to notice that his hair had been fine.
They shuffled into the overcrowded sushi bar and managed to keep up with the waiter guiding them to their requested table in a far corner, away from the mass of people near the patio. Dom sat with his back to the wall, across from Billy, and thanked the waiter politely when he left them with their menus.
Billy flipped through his menu idly, already pretty sure of what he’d be ordering. He looked up at Dom, who had that “I’m trying to make a very important decision” look on his face that made Billy smile. Out of habit, the older man stretched his leg out and rubbed his foot against Dom’s, making Dom jump and look up from his menu. “Oh, sorry, mate. Didn’t mean to get in your way,” Dom said apologetically. He pulled his feet in under his chair and returned his eyes to the menu, not seeing Billy’s slightly confused frown.
Billy’s eyes stayed on Dom for a moment and the confusion in them faded, replaced with a new awareness. The waiter returned to take their orders and menus, and they sipped their drinks in silence.
__
Dom squished into the booth next to Billy, who could barely manage to squawk his disapproval. “There is a perfectly good empty seat directly across from me.”
“And your point?” replied Dom, sneaking his hand into Billy’s lap to rest on his thigh, completely distracting him.
“Ehm… my point? Did I have a point?” Billy pretended to think quite hard.
“I don’t think so, Bill, you rarely do.” Dom rubbed Billy’s thigh, and hooked their feet together under the table.
“Ah well. I’m sure it will come back to me later,” Billy rambled, as he stroked Dom’s foot with his own.
The waitress handed them their menus, and promptly started to stare. “You’re… you’re those hobbit guys from Lord of the Rings! Oh my GOD, I love you guys! You two are just wonderful together in those movies, I’m always telling my friends...” She continued on for almost a full minute before Billy graciously thanked her, and yes, they’d be glad to sign some autographs after they’d eaten, but could they please have a minute to read their menus as they’re quite hungry. The waitress blushed with embarrassment, and turned away.
Dom quickly leaned in and planted a large kiss on Billy’s lips before she turned back. “You’re my hero, Bills,” he grinned.
__
They picked out one of the movies Billy had gotten from his Netflix queue, something neither of them had watched yet. After a couple minutes of blame-shifting and tongue-in-cheek insults, it was decided that it was Billy’s turn to get the drinks and snacks and set up the DVD. He busied himself in the kitchen preparing things, trying to ignore the small feeling of something hopeful rising in his chest. Watching a movie was something normal for them, it was a time for them to relax and an excuse to be near each other. Maybe things hadn’t really changed as much as he had worried.
When he came back from the kitchen, arms laden with beer and potato chips, Dom was curled up in the arm chair. The arm chair, where there was only room for one. Billy’s brain almost literally froze for a second, because he didn’t think either of them had ever actually sat there before, especially not while they were both in the room together. It was at a slightly awkward angle for watching the telly, and was mostly only there because Billy had thought any respectable home should have one.
“What’re you doin’ sittin’ there?” The question blurted out before Billy could stop it.
Dom blinked, and fidgeted with his rings. “Um… ya know, just felt like it. I realized I’ve never sat here, so thought I’d try it out. It’s comfy!” His smile was awkward. “Hey, throw me a beer?”
Billy tossed him a can, faking a slight smile that was gone by the time he turned to put the movie in the player. He sat down on the couch by himself, the leather feeling much colder than normal.
He didn’t pay much attention to the film that night. He was busier watching Dom, in the arm chair. Alone.
__
“So, what’re we watchin’ again?” Dom plopped himself down on the couch and settled himself into Billy’s side.
“Uhh…” Billy slid an arm around Dom and looked around for the movie case, grabbing it with his other hand. “Blade Runner - The Director’s Cut.”
“Ahh, Harrison Ford. The man’s a genius. Utterly insane.”
“Well, I’ll trust you on that, since you’re the resident expert on insanity,” Billy said as he pressed play.
“Thank you, it’s nice to be appreciated.” Dom slouched lower, winding up with his head resting on Billy’s thigh.
With barely a thought, Billy threaded his fingers into Dom’s hair, gently rubbing his scalp. Dom let out a small sigh of gratitude as the movie started.
About a half hour in, Billy realized that Dom’s usual running commentary had fallen silent, and he looked down. Dom was stretched out along the couch, eyes closed, head snuggled intently in Billy’s lap, mouth slightly open. He’d fallen asleep.
Billy smiled to himself, softly smoothing Dom’s hair again, and finished watching the movie.
__
The almost apologetic knock on his door tore Billy from his reading. He glanced at the clock, which stubbornly declared it was nearing 10 PM. He grumbled and went to answer the door.
It was Dom. A very wet and ruffled Dom with two suitcases. He smiled nervously. “Hello, Bill.”
Billy blinked at him in shock. “Um… hello? Aren’t you supposed to be in Hawaii?”
“Yeah… uh… that’s the thing. I was actually flying home to visit my parents, but there was a fucking storm and the whole damn place flooded. Plane was forced down here on the way in, and I can’t get a flight out to Manchester until the morning. So… yeah. Here I am.” Dom flashed another uneasy smile, and shifted his weight. “I would have called, but Mum talked my battery dead.”
“Right, sounds like her.” Billy replied softly, leaning his head to one side. He wasn’t going to bother asking why Dom hadn’t called to let him know he was even planning a trip back to England at all. “You need a place to stay then, that it?”
Dom bit his lip and said, “If it’s not any trouble?”
Billy shook his head with a hint of a smile, opening the door wider. “Like I’d turn you away, idiot.” He moved over, allowing Dom and his luggage inside, and shut the door behind them.
Grinning with relief, Dom talked while he shook off his coat. “Thank you so much, man.” His voice took on a reassuring tone. “Now don’t worry, I’ll disappear and stay completely out of your way, you won’t even know I’m here. Really, I just wanted to be somewhere I knew, you know? So I won’t interfere with your evening at all. Is your guest room open, or should I take the couch?”
The more Dom talked, the tighter something in Billy’s stomach turned and clenched. ‘…I just wanted to be somewhere I knew…’ That’s fucking great. Bastard probably doesn’t even realize how much that fucking hurts, like he’s only here because it’s convenient. He stared at Dom for a second before realizing an answer was needed. His voice was very even and controlled, but his eyes glittered darkly. “Guest room’s fine. Put your things wherever you like. You’re obviously in no mood for socializing, so good night, then. Sleep well, Dominic.”
Billy turned and went to his bedroom without another word.
__
Groaning slightly, Billy turned over and glared at the clock. “Nngh.” Having said that, he flopped his head back onto his pillow. “You have to wake up in three hours.”
A chuckle came from under the covers before Dom peeked out wearing his usual cheeky grin. “Three hours is good. I can get some good sleep in three hours.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “Better you than me. I’d collapse on just three hours of sleep. I’m old, you know. Getting on in years. Over the proverbial hill.” He sighed dramatically.
Dom snuggled tightly against Billy, bringing the fact that they were both very naked back into sharp focus. Nibbling up Billy’s neck, Dom murmured, “Mmmm… you feel pretty young to me.” His hands drifted over Billy’s body, eager to prove his point.
Billy groaned again but for a vastly different reason. “God, what you do to me.” He turned his head and caught Dom’s lips with his own, kissing him thoroughly. Suddenly, he pulled away. “Ach, you have to go to sleep, we can’t start this again… as much as I’d like to.”
Now it was Dom’s turn to glare at the clock. “Fuck it. I’ll reschedule the interview for tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? It’s Rolling Stone, for Christ’s sake. That’s pretty huge.”
“Yeah. But…” Dom pulled Billy flush against himself, nuzzling their lips together. “I’d rather be here with you any day. Especially in bed. And naked.” He smirked.
Billy feigned disappointment even as his hands started roaming over Dom. “So… I guess that means no sleep now?”
Dom’s expression became almost predatory. “No… not just yet…”
Billy grinned.
__
When Billy woke up the next morning, he looked into the guest room as he passed. Dom’s luggage was still piled next to the bed, one bag open and rummaged through.
Billy sighed. Fucking shite. He rubbed at his eyes and held them closed for a moment before walking down to the kitchen. Dom was there making breakfast. Billy leaned against the doorway. “I thought you were catching an early flight out?”
Dom glanced over his shoulder, flashing a smile then turning his attention back to cooking. “Good morning to you, too! And I was, but I called the airline and pushed it back to tonight. Thought I’d hang around and pester you a bit.”
“Oh.” Billy really didn’t know what to say to that, so he walked in and poured himself a cup of tea. He sat at the table as he drank. There was a silence that was neither comfortable nor awkward. Finally, Dom set a plate of food in front of Billy and sat down with a plate of his own. They ate, and still no one spoke until Dom finished. “So, did you want to do something today, or is sitting around imitating a silent film all you had planned? Because I forgot to bring my Charlie Chaplin moustache,” Dom teased, with a good-natured smirk.
“What do you want, Dom?” Billy blurted out the question before he even knew he was going to ask it.
“… What?” Dom asked, seemingly confused.
Fuck. Let’s have done with it, then. Billy locked eyes with the other man. “Why are you here and not buggered off home? What exactly do you want from me?”
“What the hell are you on about? I just want to spend some time with my best mate, I--”
Billy cut him off with a dark laugh. “Oh that is rich. Your best mate, eh? Is that what I am now? Well you could have bloody fooled me,” he growled, sinking fully into anger. Long months of repressed pain and bitterness rose to the surface searching for release. “You can’t bother to return my calls, not even when you’re planning a trip home. And when you do deign to see me, you’re so completely withdrawn that you might as well not be there at all. You either treat me like I’m a convenience or a duty. Don’t come here and try to act like nothing’s changed. You’ve changed.”
Dom looked utterly lost between shock and offense, and his voice was almost pleading. “That really fucking hurts. You actually think that I don’t care ab--”
“I KNOW YOU DON’T CARE!” Billy shouted and pushed out of his chair to stand. “You say you’re busy filming, that you were off with Evie or someone at an appearance or some shite, that you’re expecting a phone call. I’m not blind, Dom. They may not be lies, but they’re damn well not the truth and we both know it. So don’t you dare fucking tell me that I hurt you. Best mate?!” He spat out the two words as if to rid himself of the bitter taste in his mouth. “I LOVED YOU! And you loved me. At least you said you did. But you seem to be doing just bloody fine without me, so you know, maybe it should hurt you. You’re not nearly wounded enough for my taste.”
Dom flinched at Billy’s words, visibly shaken. He swallowed roughly. “Billy…”
Billy glared back at him in silence, the air around him crackling with intensity.
Slowly standing, Dom looked down at the floor. He stood still for a moment then walked directly past Billy and towards the kitchen door, where he paused. “I’ll call you. Later. When we’ve both had some time…” Almost a whisper.
Not turning around, Billy took a deep breath and pushed it out with a sigh. “Don’t. Just don’t. I’m tired of empty promises from you. I’m fucking exhausted of them.”
Another moment, then Dom left the room. Billy could hear him gathering his things from the other room, and then taking them to the front door. When he heard the door close, Billy collapsed back into his chair and allowed the tears to finally come.
__
After Dom left that morning, Billy had spent the rest of the day full of restless tension, drifting from one task to the next. Nothing he tried relaxed him. He almost snapped his guitar’s strings within minutes of picking it up. Trying to watch some television just caused his hand to cramp from the tight grip he held on the remote. When he tried to practice some martial arts, thinking it would help clear his mind, he almost put a fist through the wall. He was wound so tight, a clusterfuck of emotions, swaying from anger to gratitude to just plain misery. So he came to the conclusion any real Scottish man would: drink.
Also like any good Scot, he drank with a purpose. He decided he was going to get completely and utterly shit-faced, so drunk that he’d pass out… and hopefully, for the first time in years, not think of Dominic when he woke up. His goal was set, and his aim was perfect.
It was well into evening, and the only light in the room was a soft glow from the lamp. Billy sat on his sofa and drank yet another glass of whisky, wincing slightly at the burn as it slid down his throat. He set the glass down and refilled it again. He had started to lose count of how many times he’d repeated these small actions. The little tiff earlier had lifted a lot of the pressing weight he’d been living under. Now he was working at relieving the rest.
He stared into the amber liquid as his fingers almost caressed the sides of the glass. “Here’s to you, Dommie my lad,” he murmured.
Billy drank.
__
Pairing: Dom/Billy
Rating: R
Summary: A series of scenes and flashbacks, Billy POV. Dom just isn't the same.
Warnings: language and nudity, much angst.
Feedback: is what I LIVE FOR. Srsly.
Disclaimer: Total fiction, this never happened, I don't own these people, DON'T SUE, I'M POOR.
Author's Notes: First of all, the title and inspiration for this fic come from a song by Bright Eyes called "It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends". Here's a link to the lyrics, and if you want the actual song or any other Bright Eyes, just comment and let me know. :D
ALSO: The "now" scenes in this fic are not sequential. That is, they are linear in order but they do not happen one after the other. The flashbacks are not sequential OR linear, they just contrast and compare (to steal another song title from Bright Eyes). I hope that makes sense. LOL
AND: Thanks to silentdescant and imaginaryrain for beta-ing and helping me many times over the last several months with various plot issues I had. >.< YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. ♥ you.
Billy shifted his carry-on luggage from one shoulder to the other as he got off the plane and entered the terminal, more because of nervous energy than any actual discomfort. He and Dom had kept in close contact for the last several months, of course, but it was the longest they had gone without actually seeing each other in quite a while. He knew it was probably silly to worry about such things, but worrying and being silly were two arenas he excelled in, so he figured why fight it.
“Oi! Bill!” The voice carried loudly over the dense chatter floating through the airport. Billy felt his posture relax immediately, barely even aware anymore of his suitcase as he turned and saw Dom making his way through the crowd of people, jumping up and down as he went to catch Billy’s attention. “I’m over here!” Dom yelled, waving his hands to emphasize the point.
Billy started to laugh as he pushed through to Dom. “I think by now everyone in a 10 mile radius knows you’re over here, twat,” he said with a wide smirk as he grabbed Dom and pulled him in tightly for a hug.
A firm but lightning fast squeeze around Billy’s back, ghosting of lips and stubble grazing his cheek, the sense of Dominic more than the actual feeling of him, and then Dom was again in front of Billy, quick as a flash. “C’mon, let’s get your luggage. Car’s waitin’ in front, couldn’t find a bloody parking space.” Dom took Billy’s carry-on with a slightly strained smile, and started making a pathway through the massive group of people in LAX.
Billy’s smirk faltered and he hesitated before following.
__
Dom bounded off the plane, weaving artfully past a young mother and then an elderly man, landing directly in Billy’s arms, the both of them laughing before a single word was spoken.
“You’re lucky you didn’t knock him over, or ya could have spent the week in court instead of lounging about my flat,” Billy snickered, gesturing to the older gentleman Dom had barely missed hitting.
Dom glanced back, arms still tight around Billy, and grinned cheekily, though a tell-tale blush had crept into his face. “Nah, that’s what the yoga’s for. Keeps me limber.” He looked back into Billy’s eyes and grinned wider. “But you already knew that, Bill.” And he planted a kiss fully on the other man’s mouth, pressing closer against him in their embrace.
Billy kissed him back for barely a split second before remembering they were in the middle of Heathrow and nudged Dom back with a laugh. “Jesus, Dom! You could at least wait ‘til we get back home.”
The look in Dom’s eyes was one of rare serious sincerity, as he smiled back. “No, I can’t.” He squeezed Billy against him once more, and then that familiar sparkle was back in his eye. “Besides, there are a lot of other things I’d like to do when we get there.” And there was that smug grin again.
Billy shook his head, still chuckling, but he had blushed a bit as well. He tried to take Dom’s bag before it was forgotten (like last time), but Dom wouldn’t let go of him. Even when they started to make their way to baggage claim, Dom’s arm was squarely around Billy’s shoulders.
__
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
*BEEP*
“Heya, you’ve reached Dom Monaghan’s answering machine! I’m obviously not available right now, or else I’d be talkin’ to you. So leave your name, message, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, and I’ll call you back. Maybe. *laughs* Bye!”
Sighing slightly, Billy cleared his throat. “Heeyy, Dom. This is the third day I’ve tried to call you… I’m trying your home because I think your cell phone is off. Or broken. Or possibly eaten by rabid sharks. Anyway, I’m just trying to get back to you like you asked me to, about our last talk, what you mentioned about the script? I only have a couple more days free before my next show, and then I’m busy for a few weeks, so I really hope we can connect and get that idea ironed out… So… Well, you know where--”
Click on the line as the phone was picked up. “Hey, Billy? It’s Jorge.”
Billy blinked in surprise, but smiled. “Jorge! How are you, man?”
“Good! I’m good. Other than my place being fumigated. But Dom was cool enough to let me crash here this week.”
“Ah, of course. That’s just like Dom. Is he at least wearing pants around the house, with another bloke about?”
“Most of the time, so you know. It’s improving.” They both laughed before Jorge continued talking. “Anyway, I picked up to let you know that Dom hasn’t really been around the last couple of days. Shooting’s been crazy, and then he’s been hanging out with Evie and Foxy and whoever. They evidently found some great new bar or club or something. I don’t know really, I’m not much into places like that. I know he’s heard your messages, though.”
The smile on Billy’s face slipped. “Oh. All right, then. Well thanks for lettin’ me know, I guess he’s just busy and forgot. We’ll get in touch sooner or later.”
“Yeah, I know he’s just kinda scattered right now, didn’t want you to worry.”
“I appreciate it. Say hi to Nunu for me.”
Another laugh from Jorge. “You got it, dude. See ya!”
“Bye.” Billy hung up. He looked at his phone for a moment before putting it back.
__
*Ring* *Ri--*
“Yo!”
Billy fell into giggling immediately. “Yo? You have been spending FAR too much time in America. I demand that you come back here where it’s sane.”
Dom chuckled, too. The grin on his face was almost audible through the phone. “You just say that because you want my sexy body.”
“No, that’s just the added bonus.”
“I thought my rapier-like wit was the added bonus?”
“No, that’s the icing on the cake.”
“Mmmm… cake. Would you bake me a cake?”
“Only if you never answer the phone with ‘Yo!’ ever again.”
“Make it a chocolate cake and you have a deal!”
“Idiot,” Billy laughed. “So where are you?”
“Oh, spending the night in, catching up on some video games.”
“I thought Elijah invited you out to that new club he fancies?”
“Yeah, but I had a feeling you’d be calling. The club’ll be there tomorrow.”
Billy smiled softly. “So besides the sexy body and rapier-like wit, you’re also psychic?”
“Hey, what can I say? When you have the total package, there’s no use in hiding it.”
Billy laughed again, and there was a comfortable pause. “I miss you,” he said, breaking the silence softly.
“I miss you, too. That’s why I’m here.”
__
As they walked from Dom’s car to the restaurant, Billy instinctively reached for Dom’s hand in the dark. Dom flashed a smile at him, gave his hand a quick squeeze, and then let go. He made a show of straightening his hair, and Billy pretended not to notice that his hair had been fine.
They shuffled into the overcrowded sushi bar and managed to keep up with the waiter guiding them to their requested table in a far corner, away from the mass of people near the patio. Dom sat with his back to the wall, across from Billy, and thanked the waiter politely when he left them with their menus.
Billy flipped through his menu idly, already pretty sure of what he’d be ordering. He looked up at Dom, who had that “I’m trying to make a very important decision” look on his face that made Billy smile. Out of habit, the older man stretched his leg out and rubbed his foot against Dom’s, making Dom jump and look up from his menu. “Oh, sorry, mate. Didn’t mean to get in your way,” Dom said apologetically. He pulled his feet in under his chair and returned his eyes to the menu, not seeing Billy’s slightly confused frown.
Billy’s eyes stayed on Dom for a moment and the confusion in them faded, replaced with a new awareness. The waiter returned to take their orders and menus, and they sipped their drinks in silence.
__
Dom squished into the booth next to Billy, who could barely manage to squawk his disapproval. “There is a perfectly good empty seat directly across from me.”
“And your point?” replied Dom, sneaking his hand into Billy’s lap to rest on his thigh, completely distracting him.
“Ehm… my point? Did I have a point?” Billy pretended to think quite hard.
“I don’t think so, Bill, you rarely do.” Dom rubbed Billy’s thigh, and hooked their feet together under the table.
“Ah well. I’m sure it will come back to me later,” Billy rambled, as he stroked Dom’s foot with his own.
The waitress handed them their menus, and promptly started to stare. “You’re… you’re those hobbit guys from Lord of the Rings! Oh my GOD, I love you guys! You two are just wonderful together in those movies, I’m always telling my friends...” She continued on for almost a full minute before Billy graciously thanked her, and yes, they’d be glad to sign some autographs after they’d eaten, but could they please have a minute to read their menus as they’re quite hungry. The waitress blushed with embarrassment, and turned away.
Dom quickly leaned in and planted a large kiss on Billy’s lips before she turned back. “You’re my hero, Bills,” he grinned.
__
They picked out one of the movies Billy had gotten from his Netflix queue, something neither of them had watched yet. After a couple minutes of blame-shifting and tongue-in-cheek insults, it was decided that it was Billy’s turn to get the drinks and snacks and set up the DVD. He busied himself in the kitchen preparing things, trying to ignore the small feeling of something hopeful rising in his chest. Watching a movie was something normal for them, it was a time for them to relax and an excuse to be near each other. Maybe things hadn’t really changed as much as he had worried.
When he came back from the kitchen, arms laden with beer and potato chips, Dom was curled up in the arm chair. The arm chair, where there was only room for one. Billy’s brain almost literally froze for a second, because he didn’t think either of them had ever actually sat there before, especially not while they were both in the room together. It was at a slightly awkward angle for watching the telly, and was mostly only there because Billy had thought any respectable home should have one.
“What’re you doin’ sittin’ there?” The question blurted out before Billy could stop it.
Dom blinked, and fidgeted with his rings. “Um… ya know, just felt like it. I realized I’ve never sat here, so thought I’d try it out. It’s comfy!” His smile was awkward. “Hey, throw me a beer?”
Billy tossed him a can, faking a slight smile that was gone by the time he turned to put the movie in the player. He sat down on the couch by himself, the leather feeling much colder than normal.
He didn’t pay much attention to the film that night. He was busier watching Dom, in the arm chair. Alone.
__
“So, what’re we watchin’ again?” Dom plopped himself down on the couch and settled himself into Billy’s side.
“Uhh…” Billy slid an arm around Dom and looked around for the movie case, grabbing it with his other hand. “Blade Runner - The Director’s Cut.”
“Ahh, Harrison Ford. The man’s a genius. Utterly insane.”
“Well, I’ll trust you on that, since you’re the resident expert on insanity,” Billy said as he pressed play.
“Thank you, it’s nice to be appreciated.” Dom slouched lower, winding up with his head resting on Billy’s thigh.
With barely a thought, Billy threaded his fingers into Dom’s hair, gently rubbing his scalp. Dom let out a small sigh of gratitude as the movie started.
About a half hour in, Billy realized that Dom’s usual running commentary had fallen silent, and he looked down. Dom was stretched out along the couch, eyes closed, head snuggled intently in Billy’s lap, mouth slightly open. He’d fallen asleep.
Billy smiled to himself, softly smoothing Dom’s hair again, and finished watching the movie.
__
The almost apologetic knock on his door tore Billy from his reading. He glanced at the clock, which stubbornly declared it was nearing 10 PM. He grumbled and went to answer the door.
It was Dom. A very wet and ruffled Dom with two suitcases. He smiled nervously. “Hello, Bill.”
Billy blinked at him in shock. “Um… hello? Aren’t you supposed to be in Hawaii?”
“Yeah… uh… that’s the thing. I was actually flying home to visit my parents, but there was a fucking storm and the whole damn place flooded. Plane was forced down here on the way in, and I can’t get a flight out to Manchester until the morning. So… yeah. Here I am.” Dom flashed another uneasy smile, and shifted his weight. “I would have called, but Mum talked my battery dead.”
“Right, sounds like her.” Billy replied softly, leaning his head to one side. He wasn’t going to bother asking why Dom hadn’t called to let him know he was even planning a trip back to England at all. “You need a place to stay then, that it?”
Dom bit his lip and said, “If it’s not any trouble?”
Billy shook his head with a hint of a smile, opening the door wider. “Like I’d turn you away, idiot.” He moved over, allowing Dom and his luggage inside, and shut the door behind them.
Grinning with relief, Dom talked while he shook off his coat. “Thank you so much, man.” His voice took on a reassuring tone. “Now don’t worry, I’ll disappear and stay completely out of your way, you won’t even know I’m here. Really, I just wanted to be somewhere I knew, you know? So I won’t interfere with your evening at all. Is your guest room open, or should I take the couch?”
The more Dom talked, the tighter something in Billy’s stomach turned and clenched. ‘…I just wanted to be somewhere I knew…’ That’s fucking great. Bastard probably doesn’t even realize how much that fucking hurts, like he’s only here because it’s convenient. He stared at Dom for a second before realizing an answer was needed. His voice was very even and controlled, but his eyes glittered darkly. “Guest room’s fine. Put your things wherever you like. You’re obviously in no mood for socializing, so good night, then. Sleep well, Dominic.”
Billy turned and went to his bedroom without another word.
__
Groaning slightly, Billy turned over and glared at the clock. “Nngh.” Having said that, he flopped his head back onto his pillow. “You have to wake up in three hours.”
A chuckle came from under the covers before Dom peeked out wearing his usual cheeky grin. “Three hours is good. I can get some good sleep in three hours.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “Better you than me. I’d collapse on just three hours of sleep. I’m old, you know. Getting on in years. Over the proverbial hill.” He sighed dramatically.
Dom snuggled tightly against Billy, bringing the fact that they were both very naked back into sharp focus. Nibbling up Billy’s neck, Dom murmured, “Mmmm… you feel pretty young to me.” His hands drifted over Billy’s body, eager to prove his point.
Billy groaned again but for a vastly different reason. “God, what you do to me.” He turned his head and caught Dom’s lips with his own, kissing him thoroughly. Suddenly, he pulled away. “Ach, you have to go to sleep, we can’t start this again… as much as I’d like to.”
Now it was Dom’s turn to glare at the clock. “Fuck it. I’ll reschedule the interview for tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? It’s Rolling Stone, for Christ’s sake. That’s pretty huge.”
“Yeah. But…” Dom pulled Billy flush against himself, nuzzling their lips together. “I’d rather be here with you any day. Especially in bed. And naked.” He smirked.
Billy feigned disappointment even as his hands started roaming over Dom. “So… I guess that means no sleep now?”
Dom’s expression became almost predatory. “No… not just yet…”
Billy grinned.
__
When Billy woke up the next morning, he looked into the guest room as he passed. Dom’s luggage was still piled next to the bed, one bag open and rummaged through.
Billy sighed. Fucking shite. He rubbed at his eyes and held them closed for a moment before walking down to the kitchen. Dom was there making breakfast. Billy leaned against the doorway. “I thought you were catching an early flight out?”
Dom glanced over his shoulder, flashing a smile then turning his attention back to cooking. “Good morning to you, too! And I was, but I called the airline and pushed it back to tonight. Thought I’d hang around and pester you a bit.”
“Oh.” Billy really didn’t know what to say to that, so he walked in and poured himself a cup of tea. He sat at the table as he drank. There was a silence that was neither comfortable nor awkward. Finally, Dom set a plate of food in front of Billy and sat down with a plate of his own. They ate, and still no one spoke until Dom finished. “So, did you want to do something today, or is sitting around imitating a silent film all you had planned? Because I forgot to bring my Charlie Chaplin moustache,” Dom teased, with a good-natured smirk.
“What do you want, Dom?” Billy blurted out the question before he even knew he was going to ask it.
“… What?” Dom asked, seemingly confused.
Fuck. Let’s have done with it, then. Billy locked eyes with the other man. “Why are you here and not buggered off home? What exactly do you want from me?”
“What the hell are you on about? I just want to spend some time with my best mate, I--”
Billy cut him off with a dark laugh. “Oh that is rich. Your best mate, eh? Is that what I am now? Well you could have bloody fooled me,” he growled, sinking fully into anger. Long months of repressed pain and bitterness rose to the surface searching for release. “You can’t bother to return my calls, not even when you’re planning a trip home. And when you do deign to see me, you’re so completely withdrawn that you might as well not be there at all. You either treat me like I’m a convenience or a duty. Don’t come here and try to act like nothing’s changed. You’ve changed.”
Dom looked utterly lost between shock and offense, and his voice was almost pleading. “That really fucking hurts. You actually think that I don’t care ab--”
“I KNOW YOU DON’T CARE!” Billy shouted and pushed out of his chair to stand. “You say you’re busy filming, that you were off with Evie or someone at an appearance or some shite, that you’re expecting a phone call. I’m not blind, Dom. They may not be lies, but they’re damn well not the truth and we both know it. So don’t you dare fucking tell me that I hurt you. Best mate?!” He spat out the two words as if to rid himself of the bitter taste in his mouth. “I LOVED YOU! And you loved me. At least you said you did. But you seem to be doing just bloody fine without me, so you know, maybe it should hurt you. You’re not nearly wounded enough for my taste.”
Dom flinched at Billy’s words, visibly shaken. He swallowed roughly. “Billy…”
Billy glared back at him in silence, the air around him crackling with intensity.
Slowly standing, Dom looked down at the floor. He stood still for a moment then walked directly past Billy and towards the kitchen door, where he paused. “I’ll call you. Later. When we’ve both had some time…” Almost a whisper.
Not turning around, Billy took a deep breath and pushed it out with a sigh. “Don’t. Just don’t. I’m tired of empty promises from you. I’m fucking exhausted of them.”
Another moment, then Dom left the room. Billy could hear him gathering his things from the other room, and then taking them to the front door. When he heard the door close, Billy collapsed back into his chair and allowed the tears to finally come.
__
After Dom left that morning, Billy had spent the rest of the day full of restless tension, drifting from one task to the next. Nothing he tried relaxed him. He almost snapped his guitar’s strings within minutes of picking it up. Trying to watch some television just caused his hand to cramp from the tight grip he held on the remote. When he tried to practice some martial arts, thinking it would help clear his mind, he almost put a fist through the wall. He was wound so tight, a clusterfuck of emotions, swaying from anger to gratitude to just plain misery. So he came to the conclusion any real Scottish man would: drink.
Also like any good Scot, he drank with a purpose. He decided he was going to get completely and utterly shit-faced, so drunk that he’d pass out… and hopefully, for the first time in years, not think of Dominic when he woke up. His goal was set, and his aim was perfect.
It was well into evening, and the only light in the room was a soft glow from the lamp. Billy sat on his sofa and drank yet another glass of whisky, wincing slightly at the burn as it slid down his throat. He set the glass down and refilled it again. He had started to lose count of how many times he’d repeated these small actions. The little tiff earlier had lifted a lot of the pressing weight he’d been living under. Now he was working at relieving the rest.
He stared into the amber liquid as his fingers almost caressed the sides of the glass. “Here’s to you, Dommie my lad,” he murmured.
Billy drank.
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