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monaboyd Oct. 27th, 2005 08:22 am)
dylan-dufresne.livejournal.com posting in monaboyd Oct. 27th, 2005 08:22 am)Title: Mistake Number Three - 10/19
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-14
Summary: A surprise has an unexpected result, and someone from Dom’s past makes an appearance.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. My inbox is hungry. Feed him?
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality.
A/N: Yet another warning of angst. Yes, this is practically a standard thing. Beta'd byfrojane. Thanks so much, hon. :)
A/N 2: Yes, I posted this early as I’m going to be away from my laptop all day. I couldn’t make you wait until I got home tonight . . .
Previous Parts: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9
Chapter 10
The day after writing his entrance exam, Dom is shuffling down the hall towards the kitchen in search of breakfast, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, when Billy darts out to stop him.
“Morning, Billy,” Dom rasps, stifling a yawn and tugging at the waistband of his jeans where he accidentally tucked in his t-shirt.
“Come with me,” Billy requests with twinkling eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
Before Dom can reply, Billy is taking Dom’s left hand and covering his eyes with it.
“Billy-” Dom tries to pull back, but Billy is persistent. “What-”
“C’mon,” Billy says, taking Dom’s other hand and pulling him forward. “Come sit down.”
“Billy, what’s going on?” Dom asks, stumbling blindly into the kitchen and over to the table.
“Please, trust me,” Billy says gently. “Just for another minute.”
“Okay.”
“And no peeking.”
Once he is sitting down at the table, Dom obediently keeps his eyes covered as he hears the snick of a lighter, very close by.
“Billy-”
“Don’t look.”
A few moments later the chair across from Dom creaks as Billy sits down.
“Okay. Open your eyes.”
Taking his hand away from his eyes, Dom stares blankly at the sight before him. There are two garishly wrapped boxes sitting on the table, and a plate in front of him, layered with a stack of golden pancakes and several slices of bacon. There are also four lit candles stuck in the pancakes, in groups of two.
“I thought I’d spare you all twenty-two candles and just do two and two so I didn’t wreck your pancake,” Billy explains. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Uh, I-”
“Do you want me to sing?” Billy asks impishly, head tilting to one side as Dom continues to stare. “I will.”
For some reason, Dom is just sitting there, oddly still. This isn’t the reaction Billy was expecting. It’s almost as if Dom’s confused.
“Today is my birthday,” Dom says slowly and strangely quiet, finally realizing the significance of the day. “You made me my favorite breakfast for my birthday.”
Billy’s not sure what to say, as the thought of Dom forgetting his own birthday hadn’t even occurred to him. Then he mentally slaps himself, wondering how he could’ve been so insensitive. Dom didn’t have hot water or enough money to buy food, how could he afford a frivolous expense like celebrating a birthday? And who would want to celebrate alone? Most likely, it was like any other day.
“I haven’t thought about celebrating my birthday since I left home,” Dom adds softly, staring at the flickering flames of the candles. He doesn’t realize how sad his eyes are, the raw, naked pain that’s been exposed as an avalanche of painful memories crash in and overwhelm him.
“How long ago was that?” Billy asks in a low voice, hating to bring up unhappy memories on what should be a joyful day.
Dom thinks for a moment. “Almost four years now. I was just eighteen when I left.”
“I’m so sorry, Dom,” Billy says, guilt twisting his stomach up into knots. “I really thought you’d like this. I never meant-”
“No, don’t apologize, Billy,” Dom interrupts, voice wavering. “You couldn’t have known. And this is very nice, thank you. Really, thank you.”
Looking down, Dom blinks rapidly, trying to force back the excess moisture in his eyes. Billy’s tried so hard to do something nice for him, to make this day special, and now Dom feels like he’s ruining it.
“What’s can I do?” Billy asks, reaching for Dom’s plate. “Maybe I should take this away-”
“No, don’t! Please,” Dom replies quickly, laying his fingers over Billy’s and giving them a gentle squeeze before withdrawing. “It’s just that my Mum used to make this for me and it made me think of her, that’s all.”
“Dom, I don’t know what to say. Please tell me, what can I do to help?” Billy requests desperately.
Sniffing and brushing quickly at his damp eyes, Dom smiles weakly. “You can tell me to blow out my candles.”
Nodding slowly, Billy whispers, “Make a wish.”
Letting his eyes drop closed for a moment, Dom then leans forward and extinguishes the tiny flames.
“Billy?” Dom says after pulling the candles out of his pancakes and laying them on the side of his plate.
“Yeah?”
“Is a thank you hug breaking the rules?” he asks softly, gnawing on his lower lip, looking up at Billy through a curtain of long, wet eyelashes.
Billy smiles gently. “You haven’t even opened your presents, Dom.”
“I know.”
“No, it’s not breaking the rules,” Billy replies in a quiet voice, unable to tear his gaze away from the nakedly desperate need for comfort reflected in Dom’s glistening blue-grey eyes. Rising to his feet, Billy extends a hand to Dom and nods in encouragement. “C’mere.”
Unable to hide his relief, Dom stands and steps into the welcoming circle of Billy’s arms. Guiding Dom’s head down to his shoulder, Billy cards his fingers through Dom’s hair while his other arm slides around Dom’s narrow waist. It’s become habit to avoid touching Dom’s back, as Billy’s not sure if it still hurts, and Dom never complains if it does. Dom’s long, slender arms slide around Billy’s body, his breath warm and moist against Billy’s neck.
“It really is wonderful, Billy. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” Dom manages to say, his voice shaking as his body shudders and trembles uncontrollably.
“I’m so sorry, Dom,” Billy says, gently stroking the soft skin at the nape of Dom’s neck. “I’m going to make you something else, okay?”
“No!” Dom cries out, pulling back until their eyes lock. “I want my pancakes.”
Billy can’t help but smile teasingly at the insistent tone in Dom’s voice and rather sexy pout of his thrust out lower lip. “Well, now I know what you looked like when you were five.”
Wrinkling his nose for a moment, Dom smiles as well, realizing that Billy is trying his best to distract him. “Thank you, Billy. Really.”
“You’re welcome,” Billy says, ruffling Dom’s hair. “Now let’s eat before your breakfast gets cold.”
Not needing to be told twice, Dom dives into his plate with gusto, thankful that he won’t have to talk while his mouth is full. Once their plates are empty, Billy quickly clears them away and slides the wrapped presents towards Dom.
“Go ahead,” he prompts. “Open them up.”
“You didn’t have to,” Dom says softly, fingers sliding over the smallest box and drawing it into his lap. “Breakfast was-”
“Dom, it’s your birthday,” Billy interrupts. “You’re supposed to get presents. Open them.”
Reluctantly, Dom is peeling back the wrapping paper when he suddenly pauses, frowning in thought.
“How did you know?” he asks. “That today-”
“You wrote it on the admission form at the clinic,” Billy explains. “When I took you to see Viggo.”
“Oh, right.”
Finally opening the first package, Dom is shocked when an envelope with a plastic card falls into his lap.
“This is my-”
“One time you told me that you’d lost your driver’s license, and since you listed your old address on the admission form, I was able to request a replacement,” Billy tells him. “It came yesterday.”
“But this has-”
“Your new address. I didn’t have anything to confirm your old one, so I used one of your pay stubs as proof of the change in location. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Dom replies with a nod. “Thank you.”
Billy smiles. “Now if you want to go somewhere, you can borrow my car. Grocery shopping, school, whatever.”
Finally Dom understands why Billy made the effort to have his driver’s license reissued. To give Dom more freedom, if he chooses to take advantage of it. Providing the opportunity, but leaving Dom with the choice.
“Open the big one,” Billy requests, wriggling impatiently in his chair, eyes twinkling.
Giving in to Billy’s pleading, Dom tears off the paper and lifts the lid. When he peels back the tissue paper, he gasps, eyes wide.
“Billy-”
Lifting the puffy blue down coat into his arms, Dom struggles to find the words as he looks over at Billy.
“Try it on. I had to guess at the size,” Billy says, brow furrowed in thought. “You’re gaining weight and my old jacket isn’t nearly warm enough for you during the winter. This’ll be much better.”
Nodding, Dom stands up and pulls the jacket on over his t-shirt, looking to Billy for approval.
“Well?”
The color is even better on Dom than Billy hoped it would be, and it seems he guessed correctly, going with a bigger size. Every single day, Dom is improving, looking healthier and happier, with the exception of today’s emotional difficulties.
“Do you like it?” Billy manages to ask, hoping that Dom hasn’t noticed him staring rather lustily at the spot where Dom’s t-shirt has been accidentally pushed up, exposing several tantalizing inches of his flat belly.
“It’s beautiful,” Dom replies softly, gazing at the material. “I love it.”
“Try the rest on.”
“There’s more?” Dom asks in surprise.
Standing up and reaching into the box, Billy loops a darker blue scarf around Dom’s neck and presses a warm pair of gloves into his hands.
“Billy-”
“I don’t want you getting sick,” Billy interrupts. “Viggo said you’ll be susceptible to all sorts of things for a while. You’re still recovering.”
Dom doesn’t look convinced and opens his mouth to protest again.
“Call it catching up for the last few years. Please?” Billy begs.
Finally, Dom relents, seeing how much it means to him. “Okay, you win. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Glancing at his watch, Billy grimaces. “Listen, I need to do some work downstairs for about an hour or so. Are you up to hanging out with me as soon as I’m done or would you rather say home?”
Dom frowns in confusion. “I have to work.”
“It’s your birthday, I’m giving you the day off,” Billy replies matter of factly. “And Mark offered to cover your shift for today. He doesn’t have any classes.”
“What are we going to do?” Dom asks.
Billy tilts his head to one side, gazing thoughtfully at Dom. “Well, there’s a Monty Python marathon playing at the theatre, and I thought you might like to go.”
A smile tugs at corners of Dom’s mouth. “Really?”
“Yeah. Why not?” Billy says, returning Dom’s smile. “You’ve been working so hard, Dom. You deserve a break.”
Catching the firm, yet oddly pleading look in Billy’s warm green eyes, Dom nods.
“Sounds good. Thank you.”
“Great. You get cleaned up, and I’ll back as soon as I can,” Billy promises. “Take your time. It’s your day.”
Then he is hurrying down the stairs, leaving Dom staring after him in surprise. Moving down the hall to his room, Dom carefully lays out his birthday presents on the bed, sinking down to sit on the mattress, once again, overwhelmed by Billy’s generosity and thoughtfulness. Today is bringing up horrific memories of all the bad choices he made, and the life he left behind, thinking it was going to be wonderful, only to end up alone, on the street. By the time Billy returns, Dom is showered, shaved and dressed, and he’s also cleaned up the breakfast dishes in the kitchen. He’s smiling broadly, mostly for Billy’s benefit, refusing to ruin the plans that Billy has made for them. Once they’ve said thank you to Mark and bid him farewell, Billy and Dom head out to celebrate.
After an impromptu snowball fight in the park and tea with pie at the café, the afternoon is spent at the movies, Dom comfortably slouched down in the seat beside Billy, his boyish laughter filling the air often, making Billy smile. Upon arriving at the Thai restaurant and finding it rather crowded, they opt for takeaway instead, and eat dinner at the coffee table in the living room, looking out the window and watching the snow fall as a fire crackles merrily in the small fireplace.
When Billy returns from the kitchen after placing the leftovers in the fridge, he finds Dom stretched out on the couch, staring out at the darkness, brow furrowed in thought, apparently lost in memories. Dom has the same dark look in his eyes that he had at breakfast, when he was thinking about his mother and something else, Billy suspects, that he couldn’t talk about. Despite his cheery disposition all day, it’s obviously weighing on him heavily.
Spotting Billy, Dom guiltily starts to sit up, plastering on a smile, only to be stopped by a small hand on his shoulder and Billy shaking his head.
“Don’t,” Billy requests quietly. “You don’t have to pretend for me.”
Taking a seat where Dom was, just moments ago, Billy silently guides Dom back down, his head now resting on Billy’s thigh.
“Do you want to call her?” Billy asks gently as he slides his fingers through Dom’s soft, dark blonde hair. “I’ll get the phone.”
Silently, Dom shakes his head, his eyes dropping closed to hide his emotions.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Stay for a while?” Dom requests hoarsely in a low whisper, breath catching in his throat.
“For as long as you need,” Billy promises quietly.
Long minutes pass with no words spoken and Billy is beginning to wonder if Dom has fallen asleep when suddenly, Dom turns his head and looks up at him.
“You’re my best mate, Billy,” Dom says softly, his eyes glistening brightly. “This was a really good birthday. Thank you.”
Turning onto his side, Dom buries his face against Billy’s hip, keeping his head on Billy’s thigh. For a moment Billy is afraid that it is a sexual advance, but then Dom’s shoulders begin to tremble as he curls up into a tight ball, losing the battle to control his emotions. Unable to stop them, broken sobs bubble up from his throat to fill the quiet as Dom covers his face with his hands, his whole body shaking violently as he cries. Aching to gather Dom in his arms again and take away the gut wrenching pain that Dom evidently can’t bring himself to talk about, Billy gently draws his fingers through Dom’s hair with one small hand, stroking his back ever so lightly with the other, not stopping for nearly an hour, until Dom stops shaking and Billy is positive that he has fallen asleep.
Carefully sliding a pillow under Dom’s tearstained cheek, Billy covers him up to his chin with two warm blankets and pulls the curtains in the living room closed so that Dom will get some much needed rest and hopefully feel better in the morning.
Making his way to his own room, Billy can’t help but be reminded that there is still so much he doesn’t know about Dom. There are mountains of hidden pain that Dom keeps locked inside, and Billy wishes there was something, anything, he could do to take it away.
* * * * *
When Dom awakens late the next morning, there is a small carrier bag laying on the coffee table with a note on top. Arm snaking out from under the blankets to grab the note, Dom pulls it close to read.
How about writing
her a letter? Just a
thought.
-Billy
p.s. You’re my best
mate, too.
Peeking inside the bag, Dom discovers a simple stationary set, a pen, and a small booklet of stamps. Leaving the bag where it is, Dom pulls back under the blankets, burrowing in deep, clutching the note in his hand. Closing his eyes, Dom presses the note to his chest, willing the heavy ache that has been there since last night to dissipate.
Reading the note over and over again, Dom finally makes a decision, pushing back the blankets and reaching for the stationary. When Billy walks into the living room with a cup of tea and some soup, the curtains are open and Dom is sitting at the coffee table, addressing an envelope. Setting the bowl and cup on the table, Billy sits down on the couch, close enough that he can lay a hand lightly on Dom’s shoulder.
Looking up at Billy, Dom smiles, just a wee bit, his eyes damp and exhausted, but no longer overwhelmed with pain.
“Thanks for the suggestion.”
Billy smiles reassuringly. “You’re welcome.”
At Billy’s gentle insistence, Dom obediently swallows down the hot soup and sips the sweet tea, but when Billy comes back from the kitchen after dealing with the dirty dishes, Dom is missing from the living room. After a quick search, Billy finds Dom in his bedroom, curled up under the navy blue coverlet in a tight ball, with the curtains drawn to block out the light. His breathing is slow and steady, telling Billy that he is already sleeping again. It’s dinner time before Billy sees Dom again, and then it’s just long enough for Dom to have a few bites to eat and a long, hot shower. Whatever Billy has accidentally unleashed has stolen the light in Dom’s eyes and his strength, sleep being his only escape.
It also seems that writing the letter is as far as Dom is ready to go at this time, and now the envelope sits on the bureau in Dom’s bedroom, waiting to be sent.
* * * * *
Several days pass, and Dom is finishing up with a customer when Billy darts out of his office, something clutched in his small hands. Impatiently, he shifts from one foot to the other, over and over, until finally, Dom hands the customer their change, passes over the carrier bag, and says goodbye.
“What’s the matter with you, Billy?” Dom asks, arching an eyebrow at Billy’s strange behavior.
“It came,” Billy manages to reply, showing Dom what he’s holding. “From the college.”
Eyes widening, Dom takes the proffered envelope, suddenly nervous and unable to form the words to say thank you. Meeting Billy’s gaze, Dom tries to smile.
“We really need to stop meeting this way,” he jokes dryly, causing Billy to laugh.
“C’mon Dom, open it,” Billy begs. “I’m dying here.”
“What’s going on?” Mark asks, leaning against the counter, brow furrowed in confusion.
“Dom wrote the entrance exam to apply at the college last week,” Billy explains, urging Dom with his eyes to stop stalling. “Results just came in the post.”
Taking a deep breath, Dom rips open the envelope and pulls out the single sheet. After scanning the contents, Dom frowns in disappointment.
“What?” Billy cries out in disbelief. “No way! You knew everything when I quizzed you.” Grabbing the piece of paper out of Dom’s hands, Billy quickly reads it. “Dom! You got-”
“A ninety-two,” Dom interrupts flatly.
“Ninety-two, Dom,” Billy says, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “And you’ve been accepted into the course. That’s fantastic!”
“I guess.”
“You guess?” Mark repeats, looking over Billy’s shoulder at the paper.
“I was hoping for better.”
“Dom, you’ve been out of school for a long time, but you studied hard and then you make grades like this,” Billy continues. “This is really great.”
“Well-”
“I’m not going to stop until you agree with me,” Billy states firmly.
“Alright, alright.” Dom smiles and lifts his hands in surrender. “I did okay.”
Mark snorts in derision. “You kicked ass, Dom. Ninety-two? I wish.”
A young woman enters the store and Mark walks over to her, leaving Dom and Billy alone.
“Dom, think about it,” Billy says, laying a hand on Dom’s shoulder. “You can finish your A levels now. When you have those, you can apply to go to uni if you want. Or not. Whatever you want to do.”
“Yeah.”
“Why aren’t you happy about this?” Billy asks. “Why aren’t you excited?”
“You’ve just done so much for me and I wanted it to be perfect,” Dom admits, averting his eyes. “I don’t want to let you down.”
“I am so proud of you, Dom,” Billy says quietly, cupping Dom’s cheek with his free hand. “You’re doing so well. I don’t want or expect you to be perfect. All I want is for you to be happy.”
“Billy-”
“Please, be proud of yourself,” Billy begs, squeezing Dom’s shoulder gently.
“I’ll try,” Dom promises, smiling tentatively.
Grinning, Billy ruffles Dom’s hair leaving it in a chaotic, endearing mess. “It’s a start.”
* * * * *
With the holiday season upon them, business in the book shop is brisk, and Billy is grateful when Dom offers to work extra hours to help out. When Mark comes down with a particularly nasty stomach flu three days before Christmas, it becomes just Billy and Dom in the shop. Both are tremendously grateful when the door is finally locked at five o’clock on the twenty-fourth. Billy decides to close then, as things are finally quieting down, he can’t look at one more customer, he’s hungry, and they need to go to the grocery store.
Lifting his arms above his head to stretch the stiff muscles in his back, Dom gives Billy a lazy, lopsided grin and agrees wholeheartedly. Closing his eyes and tilting his head from side to side, Dom doesn’t see how Billy’s eyes slide hungrily up and down his slender frame. While Dom pulls the blinds at the front of the shop, Billy locks everything up in the safe, and then they are off.
Fortunately, Dom picked up the last of the things they’ll need for their Christmas dinner a few days ago, so they can avoid the throngs of people searching for canned cranberry jelly, whipped cream and pumpkin pie filling. It’s become habit to grocery shop together, both enjoying the banter that seems to flow completely effortlessly between them. Without discussing it, they’ve increased the time they spend together, becoming nearly inseparable.
Billy’s cold showers have increased as Dom continues to blossom, his expressive, blue-grey eyes sparkling with mischief, face no longer gaunt and haunted. There is a cheeky confidence growing in him that Billy’s never seen before, and it’s intoxicating to be near him. Oddly enough, Dom seems completely unaware of his affect on Billy, how lovely he is to look at, and be around.
They’re in front of the shelves of peanut butter, playfully debating between crunchy or smooth when Dom suddenly stiffens and his gaze falls to the floor. In an instant, carefree Dom is gone, replaced by the shadow that he’d become after he’d been attacked. Immediately, Billy senses the change.
“Dom?”
“Yeah?” he replies, shifting from one foot to the other and scanning the shelves, avoiding eye contact.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Glancing around, Billy notices a middle-aged man with flat brown eyes watching them, specifically Dom, rather intently. It doesn’t take a moment for Billy to figure it out.
“Dom, do you know that man?” he asks softly, his hand unconsciously finding Dom’s and grazing his suddenly icy cold fingers.
“Yeah,” Dom admits, biting down on his lower lip.
Hand sliding into Dom’s, thumb rubbing his palm, Billy shifts closer. “He’s trying to pick you up, isn’t he?”
Dom trembles visibly, breath hitching. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay,” Billy soothes. “We can handle this. I know what we can do. I just need you to listen to me.”
“Huh?” Dom says, completely confused. “What do you mean, handle?"
“I want you to put your hand on my shoulder,” Billy instructs softly. “When I slide my arm around your waist, you need to cuddle into me a little, okay? Lay your head down, too.”
Dom’s jaw drops open in shock. “You want me to what?” he asks in a low whisper.
“Just trust me,” Billy begs. “Please.”
Nodding, Dom does as Billy requested, suppressing a shudder as best he can when Billy’s hand slips under his puffy jacket, slides along the waistband of his trousers, and then gently cups his hip. He’s surprised further when Billy rubs his scruffy cheek affectionately against Dom’s hair.
“It’s okay,” Billy promises in a low voice. “Just take deep breaths.”
A few moments later, Billy glances over at where the man had previously been standing. To his immense relief, Dom’s former customer is now moving away at a rather brisk pace, having changed his mind apparently.
“It’s okay, he’s gone.”
“What?” Dom asks, lifting his head and looking around. “How?”
“I figured once he saw that you were with someone, he’d lose interest,” Billy explains.
“Oh, right.”
“Just to be on the safe side, I want you to stay close to me, okay?” Billy requests, sliding his hand into Dom’s once again. “Until we get out of here.”
“Okay. Yeah.”
Billy’s eyes light up as Dom begins to relax and his smile starts to return. “Now, crunchy or smooth?” he asks, giving Dom’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
* * * * *
Chapter 11
Author:
dylan_dufresnePairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-14
Summary: A surprise has an unexpected result, and someone from Dom’s past makes an appearance.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. My inbox is hungry. Feed him?
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality.
A/N: Yet another warning of angst. Yes, this is practically a standard thing. Beta'd by
frojane. Thanks so much, hon. :)A/N 2: Yes, I posted this early as I’m going to be away from my laptop all day. I couldn’t make you wait until I got home tonight . . .
Previous Parts: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9
Chapter 10
The day after writing his entrance exam, Dom is shuffling down the hall towards the kitchen in search of breakfast, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, when Billy darts out to stop him.
“Morning, Billy,” Dom rasps, stifling a yawn and tugging at the waistband of his jeans where he accidentally tucked in his t-shirt.
“Come with me,” Billy requests with twinkling eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
Before Dom can reply, Billy is taking Dom’s left hand and covering his eyes with it.
“Billy-” Dom tries to pull back, but Billy is persistent. “What-”
“C’mon,” Billy says, taking Dom’s other hand and pulling him forward. “Come sit down.”
“Billy, what’s going on?” Dom asks, stumbling blindly into the kitchen and over to the table.
“Please, trust me,” Billy says gently. “Just for another minute.”
“Okay.”
“And no peeking.”
Once he is sitting down at the table, Dom obediently keeps his eyes covered as he hears the snick of a lighter, very close by.
“Billy-”
“Don’t look.”
A few moments later the chair across from Dom creaks as Billy sits down.
“Okay. Open your eyes.”
Taking his hand away from his eyes, Dom stares blankly at the sight before him. There are two garishly wrapped boxes sitting on the table, and a plate in front of him, layered with a stack of golden pancakes and several slices of bacon. There are also four lit candles stuck in the pancakes, in groups of two.
“I thought I’d spare you all twenty-two candles and just do two and two so I didn’t wreck your pancake,” Billy explains. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Uh, I-”
“Do you want me to sing?” Billy asks impishly, head tilting to one side as Dom continues to stare. “I will.”
For some reason, Dom is just sitting there, oddly still. This isn’t the reaction Billy was expecting. It’s almost as if Dom’s confused.
“Today is my birthday,” Dom says slowly and strangely quiet, finally realizing the significance of the day. “You made me my favorite breakfast for my birthday.”
Billy’s not sure what to say, as the thought of Dom forgetting his own birthday hadn’t even occurred to him. Then he mentally slaps himself, wondering how he could’ve been so insensitive. Dom didn’t have hot water or enough money to buy food, how could he afford a frivolous expense like celebrating a birthday? And who would want to celebrate alone? Most likely, it was like any other day.
“I haven’t thought about celebrating my birthday since I left home,” Dom adds softly, staring at the flickering flames of the candles. He doesn’t realize how sad his eyes are, the raw, naked pain that’s been exposed as an avalanche of painful memories crash in and overwhelm him.
“How long ago was that?” Billy asks in a low voice, hating to bring up unhappy memories on what should be a joyful day.
Dom thinks for a moment. “Almost four years now. I was just eighteen when I left.”
“I’m so sorry, Dom,” Billy says, guilt twisting his stomach up into knots. “I really thought you’d like this. I never meant-”
“No, don’t apologize, Billy,” Dom interrupts, voice wavering. “You couldn’t have known. And this is very nice, thank you. Really, thank you.”
Looking down, Dom blinks rapidly, trying to force back the excess moisture in his eyes. Billy’s tried so hard to do something nice for him, to make this day special, and now Dom feels like he’s ruining it.
“What’s can I do?” Billy asks, reaching for Dom’s plate. “Maybe I should take this away-”
“No, don’t! Please,” Dom replies quickly, laying his fingers over Billy’s and giving them a gentle squeeze before withdrawing. “It’s just that my Mum used to make this for me and it made me think of her, that’s all.”
“Dom, I don’t know what to say. Please tell me, what can I do to help?” Billy requests desperately.
Sniffing and brushing quickly at his damp eyes, Dom smiles weakly. “You can tell me to blow out my candles.”
Nodding slowly, Billy whispers, “Make a wish.”
Letting his eyes drop closed for a moment, Dom then leans forward and extinguishes the tiny flames.
“Billy?” Dom says after pulling the candles out of his pancakes and laying them on the side of his plate.
“Yeah?”
“Is a thank you hug breaking the rules?” he asks softly, gnawing on his lower lip, looking up at Billy through a curtain of long, wet eyelashes.
Billy smiles gently. “You haven’t even opened your presents, Dom.”
“I know.”
“No, it’s not breaking the rules,” Billy replies in a quiet voice, unable to tear his gaze away from the nakedly desperate need for comfort reflected in Dom’s glistening blue-grey eyes. Rising to his feet, Billy extends a hand to Dom and nods in encouragement. “C’mere.”
Unable to hide his relief, Dom stands and steps into the welcoming circle of Billy’s arms. Guiding Dom’s head down to his shoulder, Billy cards his fingers through Dom’s hair while his other arm slides around Dom’s narrow waist. It’s become habit to avoid touching Dom’s back, as Billy’s not sure if it still hurts, and Dom never complains if it does. Dom’s long, slender arms slide around Billy’s body, his breath warm and moist against Billy’s neck.
“It really is wonderful, Billy. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” Dom manages to say, his voice shaking as his body shudders and trembles uncontrollably.
“I’m so sorry, Dom,” Billy says, gently stroking the soft skin at the nape of Dom’s neck. “I’m going to make you something else, okay?”
“No!” Dom cries out, pulling back until their eyes lock. “I want my pancakes.”
Billy can’t help but smile teasingly at the insistent tone in Dom’s voice and rather sexy pout of his thrust out lower lip. “Well, now I know what you looked like when you were five.”
Wrinkling his nose for a moment, Dom smiles as well, realizing that Billy is trying his best to distract him. “Thank you, Billy. Really.”
“You’re welcome,” Billy says, ruffling Dom’s hair. “Now let’s eat before your breakfast gets cold.”
Not needing to be told twice, Dom dives into his plate with gusto, thankful that he won’t have to talk while his mouth is full. Once their plates are empty, Billy quickly clears them away and slides the wrapped presents towards Dom.
“Go ahead,” he prompts. “Open them up.”
“You didn’t have to,” Dom says softly, fingers sliding over the smallest box and drawing it into his lap. “Breakfast was-”
“Dom, it’s your birthday,” Billy interrupts. “You’re supposed to get presents. Open them.”
Reluctantly, Dom is peeling back the wrapping paper when he suddenly pauses, frowning in thought.
“How did you know?” he asks. “That today-”
“You wrote it on the admission form at the clinic,” Billy explains. “When I took you to see Viggo.”
“Oh, right.”
Finally opening the first package, Dom is shocked when an envelope with a plastic card falls into his lap.
“This is my-”
“One time you told me that you’d lost your driver’s license, and since you listed your old address on the admission form, I was able to request a replacement,” Billy tells him. “It came yesterday.”
“But this has-”
“Your new address. I didn’t have anything to confirm your old one, so I used one of your pay stubs as proof of the change in location. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Dom replies with a nod. “Thank you.”
Billy smiles. “Now if you want to go somewhere, you can borrow my car. Grocery shopping, school, whatever.”
Finally Dom understands why Billy made the effort to have his driver’s license reissued. To give Dom more freedom, if he chooses to take advantage of it. Providing the opportunity, but leaving Dom with the choice.
“Open the big one,” Billy requests, wriggling impatiently in his chair, eyes twinkling.
Giving in to Billy’s pleading, Dom tears off the paper and lifts the lid. When he peels back the tissue paper, he gasps, eyes wide.
“Billy-”
Lifting the puffy blue down coat into his arms, Dom struggles to find the words as he looks over at Billy.
“Try it on. I had to guess at the size,” Billy says, brow furrowed in thought. “You’re gaining weight and my old jacket isn’t nearly warm enough for you during the winter. This’ll be much better.”
Nodding, Dom stands up and pulls the jacket on over his t-shirt, looking to Billy for approval.
“Well?”
The color is even better on Dom than Billy hoped it would be, and it seems he guessed correctly, going with a bigger size. Every single day, Dom is improving, looking healthier and happier, with the exception of today’s emotional difficulties.
“Do you like it?” Billy manages to ask, hoping that Dom hasn’t noticed him staring rather lustily at the spot where Dom’s t-shirt has been accidentally pushed up, exposing several tantalizing inches of his flat belly.
“It’s beautiful,” Dom replies softly, gazing at the material. “I love it.”
“Try the rest on.”
“There’s more?” Dom asks in surprise.
Standing up and reaching into the box, Billy loops a darker blue scarf around Dom’s neck and presses a warm pair of gloves into his hands.
“Billy-”
“I don’t want you getting sick,” Billy interrupts. “Viggo said you’ll be susceptible to all sorts of things for a while. You’re still recovering.”
Dom doesn’t look convinced and opens his mouth to protest again.
“Call it catching up for the last few years. Please?” Billy begs.
Finally, Dom relents, seeing how much it means to him. “Okay, you win. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Glancing at his watch, Billy grimaces. “Listen, I need to do some work downstairs for about an hour or so. Are you up to hanging out with me as soon as I’m done or would you rather say home?”
Dom frowns in confusion. “I have to work.”
“It’s your birthday, I’m giving you the day off,” Billy replies matter of factly. “And Mark offered to cover your shift for today. He doesn’t have any classes.”
“What are we going to do?” Dom asks.
Billy tilts his head to one side, gazing thoughtfully at Dom. “Well, there’s a Monty Python marathon playing at the theatre, and I thought you might like to go.”
A smile tugs at corners of Dom’s mouth. “Really?”
“Yeah. Why not?” Billy says, returning Dom’s smile. “You’ve been working so hard, Dom. You deserve a break.”
Catching the firm, yet oddly pleading look in Billy’s warm green eyes, Dom nods.
“Sounds good. Thank you.”
“Great. You get cleaned up, and I’ll back as soon as I can,” Billy promises. “Take your time. It’s your day.”
Then he is hurrying down the stairs, leaving Dom staring after him in surprise. Moving down the hall to his room, Dom carefully lays out his birthday presents on the bed, sinking down to sit on the mattress, once again, overwhelmed by Billy’s generosity and thoughtfulness. Today is bringing up horrific memories of all the bad choices he made, and the life he left behind, thinking it was going to be wonderful, only to end up alone, on the street. By the time Billy returns, Dom is showered, shaved and dressed, and he’s also cleaned up the breakfast dishes in the kitchen. He’s smiling broadly, mostly for Billy’s benefit, refusing to ruin the plans that Billy has made for them. Once they’ve said thank you to Mark and bid him farewell, Billy and Dom head out to celebrate.
After an impromptu snowball fight in the park and tea with pie at the café, the afternoon is spent at the movies, Dom comfortably slouched down in the seat beside Billy, his boyish laughter filling the air often, making Billy smile. Upon arriving at the Thai restaurant and finding it rather crowded, they opt for takeaway instead, and eat dinner at the coffee table in the living room, looking out the window and watching the snow fall as a fire crackles merrily in the small fireplace.
When Billy returns from the kitchen after placing the leftovers in the fridge, he finds Dom stretched out on the couch, staring out at the darkness, brow furrowed in thought, apparently lost in memories. Dom has the same dark look in his eyes that he had at breakfast, when he was thinking about his mother and something else, Billy suspects, that he couldn’t talk about. Despite his cheery disposition all day, it’s obviously weighing on him heavily.
Spotting Billy, Dom guiltily starts to sit up, plastering on a smile, only to be stopped by a small hand on his shoulder and Billy shaking his head.
“Don’t,” Billy requests quietly. “You don’t have to pretend for me.”
Taking a seat where Dom was, just moments ago, Billy silently guides Dom back down, his head now resting on Billy’s thigh.
“Do you want to call her?” Billy asks gently as he slides his fingers through Dom’s soft, dark blonde hair. “I’ll get the phone.”
Silently, Dom shakes his head, his eyes dropping closed to hide his emotions.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Stay for a while?” Dom requests hoarsely in a low whisper, breath catching in his throat.
“For as long as you need,” Billy promises quietly.
Long minutes pass with no words spoken and Billy is beginning to wonder if Dom has fallen asleep when suddenly, Dom turns his head and looks up at him.
“You’re my best mate, Billy,” Dom says softly, his eyes glistening brightly. “This was a really good birthday. Thank you.”
Turning onto his side, Dom buries his face against Billy’s hip, keeping his head on Billy’s thigh. For a moment Billy is afraid that it is a sexual advance, but then Dom’s shoulders begin to tremble as he curls up into a tight ball, losing the battle to control his emotions. Unable to stop them, broken sobs bubble up from his throat to fill the quiet as Dom covers his face with his hands, his whole body shaking violently as he cries. Aching to gather Dom in his arms again and take away the gut wrenching pain that Dom evidently can’t bring himself to talk about, Billy gently draws his fingers through Dom’s hair with one small hand, stroking his back ever so lightly with the other, not stopping for nearly an hour, until Dom stops shaking and Billy is positive that he has fallen asleep.
Carefully sliding a pillow under Dom’s tearstained cheek, Billy covers him up to his chin with two warm blankets and pulls the curtains in the living room closed so that Dom will get some much needed rest and hopefully feel better in the morning.
Making his way to his own room, Billy can’t help but be reminded that there is still so much he doesn’t know about Dom. There are mountains of hidden pain that Dom keeps locked inside, and Billy wishes there was something, anything, he could do to take it away.
When Dom awakens late the next morning, there is a small carrier bag laying on the coffee table with a note on top. Arm snaking out from under the blankets to grab the note, Dom pulls it close to read.
How about writing
her a letter? Just a
thought.
-Billy
p.s. You’re my best
mate, too.
Peeking inside the bag, Dom discovers a simple stationary set, a pen, and a small booklet of stamps. Leaving the bag where it is, Dom pulls back under the blankets, burrowing in deep, clutching the note in his hand. Closing his eyes, Dom presses the note to his chest, willing the heavy ache that has been there since last night to dissipate.
Reading the note over and over again, Dom finally makes a decision, pushing back the blankets and reaching for the stationary. When Billy walks into the living room with a cup of tea and some soup, the curtains are open and Dom is sitting at the coffee table, addressing an envelope. Setting the bowl and cup on the table, Billy sits down on the couch, close enough that he can lay a hand lightly on Dom’s shoulder.
Looking up at Billy, Dom smiles, just a wee bit, his eyes damp and exhausted, but no longer overwhelmed with pain.
“Thanks for the suggestion.”
Billy smiles reassuringly. “You’re welcome.”
At Billy’s gentle insistence, Dom obediently swallows down the hot soup and sips the sweet tea, but when Billy comes back from the kitchen after dealing with the dirty dishes, Dom is missing from the living room. After a quick search, Billy finds Dom in his bedroom, curled up under the navy blue coverlet in a tight ball, with the curtains drawn to block out the light. His breathing is slow and steady, telling Billy that he is already sleeping again. It’s dinner time before Billy sees Dom again, and then it’s just long enough for Dom to have a few bites to eat and a long, hot shower. Whatever Billy has accidentally unleashed has stolen the light in Dom’s eyes and his strength, sleep being his only escape.
It also seems that writing the letter is as far as Dom is ready to go at this time, and now the envelope sits on the bureau in Dom’s bedroom, waiting to be sent.
Several days pass, and Dom is finishing up with a customer when Billy darts out of his office, something clutched in his small hands. Impatiently, he shifts from one foot to the other, over and over, until finally, Dom hands the customer their change, passes over the carrier bag, and says goodbye.
“What’s the matter with you, Billy?” Dom asks, arching an eyebrow at Billy’s strange behavior.
“It came,” Billy manages to reply, showing Dom what he’s holding. “From the college.”
Eyes widening, Dom takes the proffered envelope, suddenly nervous and unable to form the words to say thank you. Meeting Billy’s gaze, Dom tries to smile.
“We really need to stop meeting this way,” he jokes dryly, causing Billy to laugh.
“C’mon Dom, open it,” Billy begs. “I’m dying here.”
“What’s going on?” Mark asks, leaning against the counter, brow furrowed in confusion.
“Dom wrote the entrance exam to apply at the college last week,” Billy explains, urging Dom with his eyes to stop stalling. “Results just came in the post.”
Taking a deep breath, Dom rips open the envelope and pulls out the single sheet. After scanning the contents, Dom frowns in disappointment.
“What?” Billy cries out in disbelief. “No way! You knew everything when I quizzed you.” Grabbing the piece of paper out of Dom’s hands, Billy quickly reads it. “Dom! You got-”
“A ninety-two,” Dom interrupts flatly.
“Ninety-two, Dom,” Billy says, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “And you’ve been accepted into the course. That’s fantastic!”
“I guess.”
“You guess?” Mark repeats, looking over Billy’s shoulder at the paper.
“I was hoping for better.”
“Dom, you’ve been out of school for a long time, but you studied hard and then you make grades like this,” Billy continues. “This is really great.”
“Well-”
“I’m not going to stop until you agree with me,” Billy states firmly.
“Alright, alright.” Dom smiles and lifts his hands in surrender. “I did okay.”
Mark snorts in derision. “You kicked ass, Dom. Ninety-two? I wish.”
A young woman enters the store and Mark walks over to her, leaving Dom and Billy alone.
“Dom, think about it,” Billy says, laying a hand on Dom’s shoulder. “You can finish your A levels now. When you have those, you can apply to go to uni if you want. Or not. Whatever you want to do.”
“Yeah.”
“Why aren’t you happy about this?” Billy asks. “Why aren’t you excited?”
“You’ve just done so much for me and I wanted it to be perfect,” Dom admits, averting his eyes. “I don’t want to let you down.”
“I am so proud of you, Dom,” Billy says quietly, cupping Dom’s cheek with his free hand. “You’re doing so well. I don’t want or expect you to be perfect. All I want is for you to be happy.”
“Billy-”
“Please, be proud of yourself,” Billy begs, squeezing Dom’s shoulder gently.
“I’ll try,” Dom promises, smiling tentatively.
Grinning, Billy ruffles Dom’s hair leaving it in a chaotic, endearing mess. “It’s a start.”
With the holiday season upon them, business in the book shop is brisk, and Billy is grateful when Dom offers to work extra hours to help out. When Mark comes down with a particularly nasty stomach flu three days before Christmas, it becomes just Billy and Dom in the shop. Both are tremendously grateful when the door is finally locked at five o’clock on the twenty-fourth. Billy decides to close then, as things are finally quieting down, he can’t look at one more customer, he’s hungry, and they need to go to the grocery store.
Lifting his arms above his head to stretch the stiff muscles in his back, Dom gives Billy a lazy, lopsided grin and agrees wholeheartedly. Closing his eyes and tilting his head from side to side, Dom doesn’t see how Billy’s eyes slide hungrily up and down his slender frame. While Dom pulls the blinds at the front of the shop, Billy locks everything up in the safe, and then they are off.
Fortunately, Dom picked up the last of the things they’ll need for their Christmas dinner a few days ago, so they can avoid the throngs of people searching for canned cranberry jelly, whipped cream and pumpkin pie filling. It’s become habit to grocery shop together, both enjoying the banter that seems to flow completely effortlessly between them. Without discussing it, they’ve increased the time they spend together, becoming nearly inseparable.
Billy’s cold showers have increased as Dom continues to blossom, his expressive, blue-grey eyes sparkling with mischief, face no longer gaunt and haunted. There is a cheeky confidence growing in him that Billy’s never seen before, and it’s intoxicating to be near him. Oddly enough, Dom seems completely unaware of his affect on Billy, how lovely he is to look at, and be around.
They’re in front of the shelves of peanut butter, playfully debating between crunchy or smooth when Dom suddenly stiffens and his gaze falls to the floor. In an instant, carefree Dom is gone, replaced by the shadow that he’d become after he’d been attacked. Immediately, Billy senses the change.
“Dom?”
“Yeah?” he replies, shifting from one foot to the other and scanning the shelves, avoiding eye contact.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Glancing around, Billy notices a middle-aged man with flat brown eyes watching them, specifically Dom, rather intently. It doesn’t take a moment for Billy to figure it out.
“Dom, do you know that man?” he asks softly, his hand unconsciously finding Dom’s and grazing his suddenly icy cold fingers.
“Yeah,” Dom admits, biting down on his lower lip.
Hand sliding into Dom’s, thumb rubbing his palm, Billy shifts closer. “He’s trying to pick you up, isn’t he?”
Dom trembles visibly, breath hitching. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay,” Billy soothes. “We can handle this. I know what we can do. I just need you to listen to me.”
“Huh?” Dom says, completely confused. “What do you mean, handle?"
“I want you to put your hand on my shoulder,” Billy instructs softly. “When I slide my arm around your waist, you need to cuddle into me a little, okay? Lay your head down, too.”
Dom’s jaw drops open in shock. “You want me to what?” he asks in a low whisper.
“Just trust me,” Billy begs. “Please.”
Nodding, Dom does as Billy requested, suppressing a shudder as best he can when Billy’s hand slips under his puffy jacket, slides along the waistband of his trousers, and then gently cups his hip. He’s surprised further when Billy rubs his scruffy cheek affectionately against Dom’s hair.
“It’s okay,” Billy promises in a low voice. “Just take deep breaths.”
A few moments later, Billy glances over at where the man had previously been standing. To his immense relief, Dom’s former customer is now moving away at a rather brisk pace, having changed his mind apparently.
“It’s okay, he’s gone.”
“What?” Dom asks, lifting his head and looking around. “How?”
“I figured once he saw that you were with someone, he’d lose interest,” Billy explains.
“Oh, right.”
“Just to be on the safe side, I want you to stay close to me, okay?” Billy requests, sliding his hand into Dom’s once again. “Until we get out of here.”
“Okay. Yeah.”
Billy’s eyes light up as Dom begins to relax and his smile starts to return. “Now, crunchy or smooth?” he asks, giving Dom’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Chapter 11
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♥
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Thanks!
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Yay!
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*bites heel of hand*
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Strangelly i know exactly how Dopm feels.It's so wierd that i find i can identify with what he's going through.It's at a completelly different level of course,but it's the same almost.All lot of pent up emotions,hidden feeling that he doesn't dare show.It feels so strange that i have to just shake my head and go *blinkblink* a few times to shake off the wierdness of it.
I just love the fact that it's Christmas and Dommie and Billy are getting so close.
I pitty poor Billy tho.He can't hang any mistletoe lest he break his own rules!:P
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lovely, absolutely lovely :)
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So ironic that, for the first time in ages, Dom gets to enjoy hot showers... and Billy's having to suffer through cold - *G*. Loving them both.
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Sorry about not commenting on the last few posts. I'm still loving it! Fantastic job.
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Poor Bills, he's doing all this for Dom and not asking for anything in return. And probably wanking himself to death. And poor Dom, who needs so much love and affection and can't ask for it from Billy.
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Billy’s cold showers have increased
LMAO!
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Lilac Wine. Mmmmmmmm.
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Glad that you liked. :)
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More tomorrow.
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