Highest Stakes

[light-the-sky76.livejournal.com]

Title: Highest Stakes
Author: light_the_sky76
Pairing: Billy/Dom
Rating: Nothing naughty here, G
Summary: Luck be a lady tonight.
Authors note: This is for the lotrpschallenge community's challenge 36 A moment in time
My brain went to a strange, crack!fic, Bugsy Malone, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, speakeasy and prohibition place. I think I must have watched Guys n Dolls too many times or something :)




The edges of the dice bit into Billy's palms as he rolled them between his hands. Sweat trickled down his hairline and between his shoulder blades. The crowd around the table watched his every move, crowing and encouraging him to roll.

They'd paid him no attention when he first stepped into the club, he clearly wasn't one of them with his old suit and battered shoes. His hat looked just as out of place as the rest of him as it hung next to the smart black fedoras and mink stoles in the cloakroom in the speakeasy. He'd gambled all evening and as his winnings slowly built up the wealthy in their diamond cufflinks and silk gloves started to watch him.

There was quite a crowd now gathering around the table enjoying the novelty of the average poor Joe betting what they must consider as being all that he owed. They were wrong, the pile of bills on the table wasn't the sum off all his belongings, it was just cash – a means to an end. His most important possession, the one he treasured and who treasured him was curled up in their damp basement apartment shivering underneath an old blanket.

Please, Billy prayed, his palms pressed together with the dice between them, please. He opened his hands and rolled.

The dice hit the table with two clicks and time shifted. The space between the sweep of the second hand of the clock on the wall slowed so much it almost stopped. The next moment could change everything, its outcome providing either salvation or damnation. Billy's head swam as the instant where all would be decided seemed to drag in a terrible, surreal crawl.

The smiles of the crowd around the table turned to accusing leers and the woman wearing the red dress that showed more that it concealed undulated like a snake, in that strange long moment Billy was sure he saw a forked tongue slip out from between her painted lips and taste the air around him.

The girls on the stage were singing a popular dance hall song, something about loving the boy next door, and were tap dancing along to the cheerful tune. Billy had been enjoying the music, but the notes twisted as the dice flew, the cheerful love song became jarring and flat.

Cigar smoke filled the air like thunderclouds. It smelled expensive and hand-rolled, not like the smog that filled the air of the city outside, thick and bitter, coating Dominic's lungs so he coughed until his knees buckled.

"I'll be alright Bill." Dominic would say to him as Billy tried to steady him with trembling hands, "I just need some sleep, I'll be better soon." They both knew it was a lie.

The city was killing him. It was killing them both but Dominic's death would come sooner, he was a wild creature, he wasn't meant to be caged inside tall towers of concrete and stone, breathing tainted air.

If the dice rolled in Billy's favour, please, please, he would take Dominic away. They'd go to the country; somewhere green and clear where birds flew overhead and the stars could be seen at night.

The dice span in an achingly slow arch. Billy dug his fingers harder into the wooden table, please, please.

The crowd's roar grew - they were on his side, rooting for the funny little poor guy. The thought made Billy want to laugh; those were the people who ignored him and Dominic on the street as they strode past wearing their sharp suits and pearls. They were the ones who owned the factories that spat the smoke and filth into the air that was stealing Dominic's breath, and they were the ones who paid such low wages that they couldn't afford to buy good food. He and Dominic worked twelve hours a day and shivered in their cold home while the mob bosses and the girls on their arms met in illicit clubs to gamble and drink illegal hooch.

If he won this roll the money would be his. If he won he could buy two tickets and take Dominic to somewhere he could soar the way he was meant to. No more overflowing gutters, no more hard, dirty factory work; he could kiss Dominic and instead of tasting illness and smoke Billy would taste just him, sweet and alive.

His life was balanced on the roll of the dice turning and flying through the air in the dizzying timeless moment. His and Dominic's. A new life wagered against the old one.

The dice landed and time returned to its usual tick-tock. Billy's heartbeat jumped and his whole being focused on the two small cubes skidding on the table.

Please, please.

With one final turn the dice stopped.