Fic: RunAway - XL. Visit
Series info, summary, warnings, and disclaimer
Previous chapters
Chapter Title: Visit
Chapter Summary: Viggo to the rescue. Again.
“Viggo, it’s Hans. Dominic’s friend in Germany, remember? I just called him and he seemed bad. I don’t know what’s going on yet, I’m on my way to his right now. I don’t know who else to call. Hopefully you’ll get this in time.”
“Viggo, call me back soon. Dom rang last night. Fuck, why isn’t anyone answering their phones? Ah, bugger, it’s probably midnight or something there isn’t it? Call me back soon, Vig.”
The machine clicked off after its usual “End of message” notification. Viggo sat in silence for several minutes, pondering the meaning behind each message. Obviously something was wrong with Dom. Something bad enough that, first of all, made Hans search out his number and leave a desperate message and, secondly, made Dom call Billy. Suddenly, the phone rang again, breaking the silence. Viggo didn’t answer, instead letting the machine pick it up.
“Viggo, it’s Sean. I’m not sure if Billy called you yet or not, but I figure you’re probably the sanest of all of us right now. Listen, Bill thinks that Dom called him last night, but he was drunk off his head at the time. I don’t want word of this to reach Elijah, because he’s having a really hard time of it right now. So, um… Give me a call sometime. I hope you’re well. G’bye.”
The machine clicked off, and silence fell again. Only this time it was a thick, heavy silence, as if Viggo had ducked underneath his duvet in the sunlight. He inhaled the strange, warm air, feeling claustrophobic. Something had happened last night, and now everything was going wrong. Viggo didn’t waste time in calling people back and instead bought an airline ticket to Germany.
As he packed a small suitcase, Viggo realized the irony of his own poetry colliding with real events; around the time of Hans’ call (and, presumably, around the time Dom called Billy), Viggo had been in his studio, alternately painting and writing. His poems lately have been swirling and spiraling around Dom as both a word and a focus. Last night produced two haikus, both written on one sheet of wrinkled notebook paper, both about Dominic.
Windblown hair glistens.
Turbulent eyes open wide.
Pale skin, laughing voice.
Study of love, life,
contradictions and beauty.
Away but not gone.
Viggo folded the paper and slid it into his pocket, next to his wallet. He left the house without turning off the lights.
***
He wasn’t sure if Hans would call back, but he supposed he would find out when he arrived. An eternity at the airport, then waiting for a taxi to take him to Hans’ apartment, then finally ringing the bell at Hans’ building. Viggo waited ten minutes before pulling out his cell phone and dialing Hans’ number.
“It’s Viggo. I’m outside your apartment,” he said when Hans picked up.
“I’m not there. I’m at Dominic’s flat. Do you know where it is?”
“Is it close?”
“It’s three blocks east from mine. The building with the broken window.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
After a few minutes of walking, Viggo started scanning the windows of the surrounding buildings. He finally spotted the jagged, shattered glass on the third floor and rang the bell for Dom’s flat. A second later, the door buzzed open and Viggo took the stairs two at a time.
***
“He finally went to sleep about six hours ago. I’ve been afraid to leave him alone,” Hans said, finishing his account of recent events. Neither of them knew what had happened before Hans broke the window, and Viggo resolved to question Dom when he woke up.
“He hasn’t woken up since then?”
“Not really. He went to the loo a while ago, but then straight back to sleep.” Hans shrugged and sipped his tea.
“I’m going to go talk to him. Thank you for calling me, Hans.”
Viggo quietly cracked the bedroom door, casting a narrow beam of light across the edge of Dom’s bed. He was curled up near the head of the bed, his face buried in a pillow held tightly against his chest. Viggo sat at the foot of the bed, watching his friend sleep. After a moment, Dom’s eye’s fluttered open; he seemed to sense Viggo’s presence.
“Hey,” Viggo said quietly.
“Hi.”
“How’re you feeling?”
“Like absolute shite.”
“Not surprising.”
“Dunno. Didn’t really think about it. Didn’t think I’d be here, y’know?”
Viggo nodded. He crawled up the bed, kicking his shoes off, to lay behind Dom.
“I didn’t want to be here,” Dom added, a sob breaking his voice. Viggo pulled his friend into a hug, murmuring quiet words of comfort into Dom’s hair.
Next: Relapse