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monaboyd Sep. 28th, 2007 07:00 am)
dylan-dufresne.livejournal.com posting in monaboyd Sep. 28th, 2007 07:00 am)Title: Ardent Spirits - 3/6
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-ish
Summary: An exploration of friendship though various types of alcohol.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks tosurreality_fan for stepping in to be my temp-beta.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: A huge thanks tosurreality_fan for letting me borrow her theory, and for brainstorming with me. :::squishes you:::
Previous Chapters: Beer | Wine
Tuesday - . . . cooler
After shooting wraps for the day, the majority of the Fellowship decides to have dinner together at a local pub, and despite his exhaustion, Dom joins them. He knows that Billy had eagerly agreed when the idea was brought up earlier, and since he took care of Dom last night, Dom couldn’t bear to say no when Billy asked if he was going to go. Fortunately, his back hurts a wee bit less, due in no small part to the fact that Billy rubbed aloe into the damaged skin several times throughout the day, when they were hanging out in their trailer between scenes. Even so, Dom is careful not to lean back in his chair, and instead curls forward, hands wrapped around his drink, fingernails absently picking at the label.
Hard liquor, beer and wine are off the menu tonight, thanks to the events of the last couple of days, so tonight he’s taking it easy. Nothing too hard; alcohol wise. The drink he picked up at the bar is just a wee something to help relax him after a long, arduous day.
“Uh, Dom?” Elijah asks, leaning across the table and waving to get his attention as their waitress finishes taking their order.
“Yeah?”
“What have you got there?”
“Oh nothing,” he replies mildly, turning the bottle to hide the label. “Just a beer.” Suddenly, Dom wishes he’d asked for it in a glass. He could’ve passed it off as something innocuous, like a soda.
“What kind is it?” Elijah presses. “Can I have a taste?”
“What’s wrong with yours?” Dom shoots back, hoping that the younger man will take the hint and back off.
“Nothing. I was just curious.” Frowning, Elijah pulls back. “Geez.”
For a moment Dom sighs with relief as the American looks away, thinking that he’s escaped detection, and then without warning, the bottle is yanked out of his hand by someone else.
“Don’t worry, Lij,” Orlando says, his voice loud enough that the whole table can hear him, full of mirth. “He’s just pissy because he’s got himself a girly drink.”
Triumphant, Orlando shows the label to everyone, exposing Dom’s secret that he’s not drinking a beer, as he claimed, but a berry-flavored wine cooler.
“Give it,” Dom growls, making a grab for the bottle and missing it when Orlando lifts it out of his reach.
“Wasn’t it just last week that you were taking the piss when I ordered something just like this?” Orlando inquires smugly. “Asked when I was going to start wearing a dress and a bra?”
Never in his life has Dom regretted a flip comment as much as he is right now. Of course, he said that to Orlando. It was a fun night at a club, with much alcohol and laughter, and when they’d caught the elf getting tipsy on wine coolers, much piss taking had ensued, by everyone. It would seem that this time, it’s his turn. Sadly, he’s not drunk enough not to care. Not even close.
While Orlando is distracted, Dom makes another grab for the bottle, but misses and unexpectedly loses his balance. Unable to find the necessary leverage to stop the chain of events from unfolding, he tumbles back into his chair, sunburned skin bearing the brunt of his weight, and Dom can’t hold back the cry of distress.
“Orlando,” Billy says sharply, pointing at the table. “Bottle. Down.”
Eyes wide, the other man wordlessly complies, and glances at Dom, looking rather contrite.
“Are you okay, Dom?” Billy asks quietly, ever so gently resting his hand on Dom’s faintly trembling shoulder.
Panting through the pain, Dom jerks his head in a positive response. “Yeah. M’fine.”
Dom is grateful when Viggo turns to Ian and inquires if he has a favorite among all the characters he’s played on stage, and everyone’s attention is redirected. That is, except for Billy, who begins rubbing Dom’s shoulder in small, gentle circles, quite concerned about his friend. The movement continues until Dom exhales slowly and looks up to meet his gaze.
“Will you do me a favor?” he asks quietly.
“Aye. What?”
“Get them to box up my dinner,” Dom explains, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money. “I think I’m going to go home.”
“Dommie-”
“I’m tired,” Dom interrupts, pleading with his eyes. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“I asked you to,” Billy says aloud as he realizes that’s why Dom is here tonight. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“This should be enough,” Dom adds, pressing the folded bills into Billy’s hand. “If not-”
“I’ll come with you,” Billy offers, fingers closing around the younger man’s wrist as though to prevent him from disappearing.
“No. Stay,” Dom requests, trying to smile. “Have a good time, yeah? I’ll be fine.”
“But-”
“Thank you. You’re a good mate.”
“The best,” Billy tacks on. “Don’t forget that part.”
Dom smiles, albeit weakly. “I won’t.”
Smothering a wince as best he can as his back throbs in protest, Dom grabs his jacket and rises to his feet. Ian watches him, and pauses, causing everyone at the table to follow his line of sight.
“G’night,” Dom says awkwardly. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Brow furrowed with guilt, Orlando quickly stands up. “Dom-”
“I’m fine, elf boy,” Dom interrupts. “It’s okay.”
While Orlando doesn’t look entirely convinced, he nods and sinks back down.
“Lij?” Dom adds, waiting until the American looks up. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
“It’s forgotten.”
After a brief smile of thanks, Dom turns and leaves, moving rather gingerly through the pub and hoping that nobody bumps into him, since he’s already very sore. Considering his mood, the best thing for him is to be alone. There is no protest from his dinner companions, but the moment Dom is out of sight, Billy pushes back from the table and disappears in the opposite direction. An uncomfortable quiet falls over the remaining members of the Fellowship, not sure what to say or do, and all are relieved when Billy returns to the table just two minutes later.
“What?” Billy asks when he notices all eyes on him.
“Is everything all right?” Viggo inquires. “You seemed to be in a hurry.”
“I wanted to catch the waitress,” Billy explains. “Get her to box Dom’s food up, rather than put it on a plate and then just turn around and wrap it up.”
“Oh.”
“I, uh, I’m getting my food as takeaway, too,” Billy adds. “He only came tonight because I asked him, so-”
“You’re leaving?” Elijah blurts out, and then blushes at the volume of his voice.
“Aye. Merry and Pippin take care of each other,” Billy tells him, smiling gently. “Don’t they?”
A chorus of nods is all the reply he needs, and when the waitress brings over a carrier bag with the dinners, Billy rises to press the required money into her hand, along with a generous tip.
“Have a good time, yeah? We’ll see you tomorrow,” he says to the group before waving goodbye and leaving.
Less than twenty minutes later, Billy arrives at Dom’s flat, and uses the key that Dom gave him the same night he was upgraded to best mate. He can still remember the look on the younger man’s face as he told Billy that such a person would have additional responsibilities, like possession of the spare key. Billy smiles at the memory as he walks down the hall, in search of Dom, and is surprised when they nearly collide as Dom emerges from the loo, his hair wet from the shower.
“What are you doing here?” Dom asks, handing clutching at the towel wrapped around his narrow waist. “I told you-”
“I brought your dinner,” Billy interrupts to explain, holding up the carrier bag. “And mine.”
“Bills-”
“No excuses.”
“But-”
“Shut it. I’m hungry, so let’s eat,” Billy says firmly.
Meekly, Dom follows Billy into the bedroom, and while Billy unpacks their meals onto the coverlet, he dries himself off, pulls on a pair of sweatpants and a well worn t-shirt.
“In you go,” Billy instructs as he pulls back the sheet.
Grumbling under his breath, Dom complies, and then watches as Billy leaves the room for a minute, returning with a glass of water and a bottle of Paracetamol. He takes a seat on the bed across from Dom, and meets the younger man’s gaze.
“What?”
“You didn’t have to do this,” Dom replies, gesturing at their food.
“I know, but you’re not feeling well, and it occurred to me after you left that you might also be a wee bit homesick right about now,” Billy explains, watching Dom’s eyes carefully.
“A bit,” Dom admits reluctantly.
“Well, I know I’m not your Mum, but as your best mate-”
“Thanks Bills.”
“You’re welcome. Now eat.”
Little is said as they dig into their food, and once they’ve eaten their fill, Billy clears away the empty containers while Dom takes the pills. Dom is stretched out on his stomach when Billy returns to the bedroom, and is surprised when the older man lies down beside him.
“So, are you just homesick because you feel like shite, or is it more?” Billy asks, shifting until he finds a comfortable position on the pillow he and Dom now share.
“It’s just a bad day, I guess,” Dom says after taking a moment to consider the question. “Bad week. I’m tired.”
“Well then, maybe you should go to bed early.”
“Maybe.” Dom sighs and averts his gaze. “Thanks for bringing me dinner.”
“Subtle, Dom,” Billy comments dryly. “I bring you food, and then you try to kick me out. Again.”
“I just thought you might want to go back to the pub.”
“I’m right where I want to be,” Billy says quietly. “Close your eyes.”
Knowing better than to argue, Dom complies, and a smile flutters across his lips when Billy’s fingers begin sliding through his hair, almost petting him, just like last night.
“Mmm,” he sighs. “Feels good.”
“Tell me what you miss about home,” Billy requests. “Try to see it in your mind, the last time you were there.”
Lulled into submission by Billy’s soothing touch, Dom lets the words pour out until the need for rest overtakes him, and he falls asleep, listening to Billy’s tender lilt. Hours later, well after midnight, Dom awakens to find the bedroom dark, the moon high in the sky, and he’s surprised further to discover that he’s not alone. Sometime after Dom surrendered to his dreams of home, he apparently changed positions, and is now curled into Billy’s side, one arm slung across the older man’s torso. Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, as one of his small hands is loosely holding Dom’s arm, and his head is tipped to the side so his cheek rests against Dom’s hair.
Even so, Dom tries to carefully pull back a wee bit, so he’s not crowding Billy, and then the Scotsman’s hand tightens ever so slightly around his wrist.
“It’s all right, Dommie,” Billy murmurs sleepily. “Stay.”
Settling back down, Dom doesn’t move, and within a few minutes, a whistling snore fills the quiet, causing him to smile, and then Dom closes his eyes again. When the alarm goes off for Feet, jarring the two men awake, they’re still curled up together, and for the first time all week, Dom doesn’t dread facing the day.
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *
Part 4-Tequila
Author:
dylan_dufresne Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-ish
Summary: An exploration of friendship though various types of alcohol.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to
surreality_fan for stepping in to be my temp-beta.Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: A huge thanks to
surreality_fan for letting me borrow her theory, and for brainstorming with me. :::squishes you:::Previous Chapters: Beer | Wine
Tuesday - . . . cooler
After shooting wraps for the day, the majority of the Fellowship decides to have dinner together at a local pub, and despite his exhaustion, Dom joins them. He knows that Billy had eagerly agreed when the idea was brought up earlier, and since he took care of Dom last night, Dom couldn’t bear to say no when Billy asked if he was going to go. Fortunately, his back hurts a wee bit less, due in no small part to the fact that Billy rubbed aloe into the damaged skin several times throughout the day, when they were hanging out in their trailer between scenes. Even so, Dom is careful not to lean back in his chair, and instead curls forward, hands wrapped around his drink, fingernails absently picking at the label.
Hard liquor, beer and wine are off the menu tonight, thanks to the events of the last couple of days, so tonight he’s taking it easy. Nothing too hard; alcohol wise. The drink he picked up at the bar is just a wee something to help relax him after a long, arduous day.
“Uh, Dom?” Elijah asks, leaning across the table and waving to get his attention as their waitress finishes taking their order.
“Yeah?”
“What have you got there?”
“Oh nothing,” he replies mildly, turning the bottle to hide the label. “Just a beer.” Suddenly, Dom wishes he’d asked for it in a glass. He could’ve passed it off as something innocuous, like a soda.
“What kind is it?” Elijah presses. “Can I have a taste?”
“What’s wrong with yours?” Dom shoots back, hoping that the younger man will take the hint and back off.
“Nothing. I was just curious.” Frowning, Elijah pulls back. “Geez.”
For a moment Dom sighs with relief as the American looks away, thinking that he’s escaped detection, and then without warning, the bottle is yanked out of his hand by someone else.
“Don’t worry, Lij,” Orlando says, his voice loud enough that the whole table can hear him, full of mirth. “He’s just pissy because he’s got himself a girly drink.”
Triumphant, Orlando shows the label to everyone, exposing Dom’s secret that he’s not drinking a beer, as he claimed, but a berry-flavored wine cooler.
“Give it,” Dom growls, making a grab for the bottle and missing it when Orlando lifts it out of his reach.
“Wasn’t it just last week that you were taking the piss when I ordered something just like this?” Orlando inquires smugly. “Asked when I was going to start wearing a dress and a bra?”
Never in his life has Dom regretted a flip comment as much as he is right now. Of course, he said that to Orlando. It was a fun night at a club, with much alcohol and laughter, and when they’d caught the elf getting tipsy on wine coolers, much piss taking had ensued, by everyone. It would seem that this time, it’s his turn. Sadly, he’s not drunk enough not to care. Not even close.
While Orlando is distracted, Dom makes another grab for the bottle, but misses and unexpectedly loses his balance. Unable to find the necessary leverage to stop the chain of events from unfolding, he tumbles back into his chair, sunburned skin bearing the brunt of his weight, and Dom can’t hold back the cry of distress.
“Orlando,” Billy says sharply, pointing at the table. “Bottle. Down.”
Eyes wide, the other man wordlessly complies, and glances at Dom, looking rather contrite.
“Are you okay, Dom?” Billy asks quietly, ever so gently resting his hand on Dom’s faintly trembling shoulder.
Panting through the pain, Dom jerks his head in a positive response. “Yeah. M’fine.”
Dom is grateful when Viggo turns to Ian and inquires if he has a favorite among all the characters he’s played on stage, and everyone’s attention is redirected. That is, except for Billy, who begins rubbing Dom’s shoulder in small, gentle circles, quite concerned about his friend. The movement continues until Dom exhales slowly and looks up to meet his gaze.
“Will you do me a favor?” he asks quietly.
“Aye. What?”
“Get them to box up my dinner,” Dom explains, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money. “I think I’m going to go home.”
“Dommie-”
“I’m tired,” Dom interrupts, pleading with his eyes. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“I asked you to,” Billy says aloud as he realizes that’s why Dom is here tonight. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“This should be enough,” Dom adds, pressing the folded bills into Billy’s hand. “If not-”
“I’ll come with you,” Billy offers, fingers closing around the younger man’s wrist as though to prevent him from disappearing.
“No. Stay,” Dom requests, trying to smile. “Have a good time, yeah? I’ll be fine.”
“But-”
“Thank you. You’re a good mate.”
“The best,” Billy tacks on. “Don’t forget that part.”
Dom smiles, albeit weakly. “I won’t.”
Smothering a wince as best he can as his back throbs in protest, Dom grabs his jacket and rises to his feet. Ian watches him, and pauses, causing everyone at the table to follow his line of sight.
“G’night,” Dom says awkwardly. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Brow furrowed with guilt, Orlando quickly stands up. “Dom-”
“I’m fine, elf boy,” Dom interrupts. “It’s okay.”
While Orlando doesn’t look entirely convinced, he nods and sinks back down.
“Lij?” Dom adds, waiting until the American looks up. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
“It’s forgotten.”
After a brief smile of thanks, Dom turns and leaves, moving rather gingerly through the pub and hoping that nobody bumps into him, since he’s already very sore. Considering his mood, the best thing for him is to be alone. There is no protest from his dinner companions, but the moment Dom is out of sight, Billy pushes back from the table and disappears in the opposite direction. An uncomfortable quiet falls over the remaining members of the Fellowship, not sure what to say or do, and all are relieved when Billy returns to the table just two minutes later.
“What?” Billy asks when he notices all eyes on him.
“Is everything all right?” Viggo inquires. “You seemed to be in a hurry.”
“I wanted to catch the waitress,” Billy explains. “Get her to box Dom’s food up, rather than put it on a plate and then just turn around and wrap it up.”
“Oh.”
“I, uh, I’m getting my food as takeaway, too,” Billy adds. “He only came tonight because I asked him, so-”
“You’re leaving?” Elijah blurts out, and then blushes at the volume of his voice.
“Aye. Merry and Pippin take care of each other,” Billy tells him, smiling gently. “Don’t they?”
A chorus of nods is all the reply he needs, and when the waitress brings over a carrier bag with the dinners, Billy rises to press the required money into her hand, along with a generous tip.
“Have a good time, yeah? We’ll see you tomorrow,” he says to the group before waving goodbye and leaving.
Less than twenty minutes later, Billy arrives at Dom’s flat, and uses the key that Dom gave him the same night he was upgraded to best mate. He can still remember the look on the younger man’s face as he told Billy that such a person would have additional responsibilities, like possession of the spare key. Billy smiles at the memory as he walks down the hall, in search of Dom, and is surprised when they nearly collide as Dom emerges from the loo, his hair wet from the shower.
“What are you doing here?” Dom asks, handing clutching at the towel wrapped around his narrow waist. “I told you-”
“I brought your dinner,” Billy interrupts to explain, holding up the carrier bag. “And mine.”
“Bills-”
“No excuses.”
“But-”
“Shut it. I’m hungry, so let’s eat,” Billy says firmly.
Meekly, Dom follows Billy into the bedroom, and while Billy unpacks their meals onto the coverlet, he dries himself off, pulls on a pair of sweatpants and a well worn t-shirt.
“In you go,” Billy instructs as he pulls back the sheet.
Grumbling under his breath, Dom complies, and then watches as Billy leaves the room for a minute, returning with a glass of water and a bottle of Paracetamol. He takes a seat on the bed across from Dom, and meets the younger man’s gaze.
“What?”
“You didn’t have to do this,” Dom replies, gesturing at their food.
“I know, but you’re not feeling well, and it occurred to me after you left that you might also be a wee bit homesick right about now,” Billy explains, watching Dom’s eyes carefully.
“A bit,” Dom admits reluctantly.
“Well, I know I’m not your Mum, but as your best mate-”
“Thanks Bills.”
“You’re welcome. Now eat.”
Little is said as they dig into their food, and once they’ve eaten their fill, Billy clears away the empty containers while Dom takes the pills. Dom is stretched out on his stomach when Billy returns to the bedroom, and is surprised when the older man lies down beside him.
“So, are you just homesick because you feel like shite, or is it more?” Billy asks, shifting until he finds a comfortable position on the pillow he and Dom now share.
“It’s just a bad day, I guess,” Dom says after taking a moment to consider the question. “Bad week. I’m tired.”
“Well then, maybe you should go to bed early.”
“Maybe.” Dom sighs and averts his gaze. “Thanks for bringing me dinner.”
“Subtle, Dom,” Billy comments dryly. “I bring you food, and then you try to kick me out. Again.”
“I just thought you might want to go back to the pub.”
“I’m right where I want to be,” Billy says quietly. “Close your eyes.”
Knowing better than to argue, Dom complies, and a smile flutters across his lips when Billy’s fingers begin sliding through his hair, almost petting him, just like last night.
“Mmm,” he sighs. “Feels good.”
“Tell me what you miss about home,” Billy requests. “Try to see it in your mind, the last time you were there.”
Lulled into submission by Billy’s soothing touch, Dom lets the words pour out until the need for rest overtakes him, and he falls asleep, listening to Billy’s tender lilt. Hours later, well after midnight, Dom awakens to find the bedroom dark, the moon high in the sky, and he’s surprised further to discover that he’s not alone. Sometime after Dom surrendered to his dreams of home, he apparently changed positions, and is now curled into Billy’s side, one arm slung across the older man’s torso. Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, as one of his small hands is loosely holding Dom’s arm, and his head is tipped to the side so his cheek rests against Dom’s hair.
Even so, Dom tries to carefully pull back a wee bit, so he’s not crowding Billy, and then the Scotsman’s hand tightens ever so slightly around his wrist.
“It’s all right, Dommie,” Billy murmurs sleepily. “Stay.”
Settling back down, Dom doesn’t move, and within a few minutes, a whistling snore fills the quiet, causing him to smile, and then Dom closes his eyes again. When the alarm goes off for Feet, jarring the two men awake, they’re still curled up together, and for the first time all week, Dom doesn’t dread facing the day.
Part 4-Tequila
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From:
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I like how comfortable these two seem with one another - a reflection of what their 'real' relationship must be like.
From:
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So glad you're enjoying. :)
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From:
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Hee. :)
From:
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Again, I am still totally loving this. Billy is so sweet to Dom.
From:
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Thank you. Glad you're enjoying.
From:
no subject
This is sooo filled with love its contagious...and I'm so glad that they are getting CLOSER! hehehehe Awwwwwwwwwwwww ;P
I will re-read definitely and can't wait till Monday!!
From:
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Yes, they're definitely getting closer, and things get fun on Monday.
/end tease
From:
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From:
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Monday will be here soon. :)
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From:
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