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monaboyd Sep. 26th, 2008 08:08 am)
dylan-dufresne.livejournal.com posting in monaboyd Sep. 26th, 2008 08:08 am)Title: Behind the Mask
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG with a wee bit of angst.
Summary: Sometimes a carefully constructed façade isn’t nearly as good as you think.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it's my drug of choice.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: C will be posted on Monday.
Huffing out a frustrated breath, Dom lifts his pint to his lips and takes a large swallow, hoping that the alcohol will help improve his mood. It's supposed to be a fun night at the pub, but it seems that isn't going to happen. At least, not for him.
Orlando and Elijah are on the dance floor, flirting with a couple of girls, their empty glasses growing warm on the table not far from Dom. Across the table from Dom is a tumbler with a thick layer of amber liquid in the bottom. Whiskey. Billy's whiskey, as he opted not to have pints like the others.
Billy's been in a mood for the past week, but not so much that most would notice, as he's ever the professional, putting the job ahead of himself. On set, he’s played Pippin to perfection, or so Pete has praised. Being the Scotsman's best mate, Dom knows something isn't quite right, and what irritates him is that Billy flatly refuses to talk about it. He’s tried to broach the subject with Billy, in their trailer, when it was just the two of them. Instead of confiding in Dom, however, the stubborn bugger informed Dom that he's fine, even going so far to tell him that he's imagining it.
But Dom knows better.
After nearly eight months of working side by side, day in and day out, and hanging out together almost constantly off set, Dom likes to think that he's gotten to know the older man. He can tell that something is troubling him. The bigger issue is that Dom's pretty sure he knows exactly what the problem is, and has to figure out what he's going to do about it.
Nearly fifteen minutes ago, just seconds after Orlando and Elijah headed out to the dance floor, Billy excused himself to go to the loo, and Dom kept silent, even though he knew it was a lie. He’s willing to bet that Billy didn’t need to piss. He’s trying to avoid being alone with Dom, so he doesn’t have to pretend. That hurts Dom more than the silence.
Seven long days have dragged by, an awkward distance between them, and frankly, Dom is sick of it. One way or another, it’s going to end tonight. Enough is enough.
After draining his pint, Dom screws up his nerve, shoves back from the table and heads for the loo in the back of the pub. All he can hope is that Billy didn’t slip away without saying goodbye. There was a time when he would’ve sworn that Billy would never do that, but things have changed.
The hinges of the door protest when Dom enters the small, tiled room, the muffled music echoing off the walls. Relief causes his to exhale sharply when he spots Billy standing in front of a basin, staring into the mirror, but not seeing his reflection. They’re alone, and now he can just say it. Put the truth out there.
“You tell me nothing’s wrong,” Dom says as he crosses the room, not surprised when Billy’s spins on his heel at the sound of his voice. “But I know you’re lying.”
“Dom, I-”
He trails off when Dom raises a hand in silent request, the other man not stopping until they’re only a few feet apart.
“I know you think I’m young, maybe too young to understand,” Dom muses aloud, shaking his head sadly. “I may be young and lacking in worldly experience, but it doesn’t mean I’m blind, too. I see what you won’t say. I see what you think you keep hidden.”
“I-”
“Let me finish.”
Biting down on his lower lip for a moment, Billy nods, heat causing a blush to spread across his face.
“You must’ve forgotten that I’m your best mate, and can see you, the real you, behind that mask,” Dom continues, almost wistfully. “You don’t trust yourself or maybe it’s me, I’m not sure which, and that’s why you stay behind the façade. Where it’s safe.”
Stunned at the words being directed at him, Billy can’t speak, and is unprepared when long, slender fingers slide down the side of his face in an achingly gentle caress, a thumb tracing the bow of his upper lip not once, but twice before withdrawing.
“I guess it means that we’ll never know what could’ve been,” Dom finishes, and blinks away the tears of disappointment that gather at the corner of his eyes. “I hope that’s what you want.”
Sagging against the basin, thankful that it’s there or he’d surely be on the floor, Billy averts his eyes and gasps for breath, distantly hearing the familiar squeak of protesting hinges.
The words are there, on the tip of his tongue. The confession that will change everything, but when he finally looks up, Dom is gone.
Overwhelming panic banishes fear to the back of his mind, and Billy scrambles after Dom, desperate to catch up and explain himself; to make it right between them. He pushes his way through the crowd, spotting Orlando and Elijah still on the dance floor, and repeatedly scans the smoky haze hanging in the air, hoping to catch a glimpse of familiar, tousled dark blonde hair.
Finally Billy arrives at the table he’d practically bolted from almost twenty minutes ago and he stops short, shoulders slumping in defeat. Dom isn’t there, sipping his pint, waiting for him. The empty glasses have been removed, and all that remains is Billy’s tumbler of whiskey.
The glass, like Billy, is alone.
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *
fin
Author:
dylan_dufresnePairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG with a wee bit of angst.
Summary: Sometimes a carefully constructed façade isn’t nearly as good as you think.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it's my drug of choice.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: C will be posted on Monday.
Huffing out a frustrated breath, Dom lifts his pint to his lips and takes a large swallow, hoping that the alcohol will help improve his mood. It's supposed to be a fun night at the pub, but it seems that isn't going to happen. At least, not for him.
Orlando and Elijah are on the dance floor, flirting with a couple of girls, their empty glasses growing warm on the table not far from Dom. Across the table from Dom is a tumbler with a thick layer of amber liquid in the bottom. Whiskey. Billy's whiskey, as he opted not to have pints like the others.
Billy's been in a mood for the past week, but not so much that most would notice, as he's ever the professional, putting the job ahead of himself. On set, he’s played Pippin to perfection, or so Pete has praised. Being the Scotsman's best mate, Dom knows something isn't quite right, and what irritates him is that Billy flatly refuses to talk about it. He’s tried to broach the subject with Billy, in their trailer, when it was just the two of them. Instead of confiding in Dom, however, the stubborn bugger informed Dom that he's fine, even going so far to tell him that he's imagining it.
But Dom knows better.
After nearly eight months of working side by side, day in and day out, and hanging out together almost constantly off set, Dom likes to think that he's gotten to know the older man. He can tell that something is troubling him. The bigger issue is that Dom's pretty sure he knows exactly what the problem is, and has to figure out what he's going to do about it.
Nearly fifteen minutes ago, just seconds after Orlando and Elijah headed out to the dance floor, Billy excused himself to go to the loo, and Dom kept silent, even though he knew it was a lie. He’s willing to bet that Billy didn’t need to piss. He’s trying to avoid being alone with Dom, so he doesn’t have to pretend. That hurts Dom more than the silence.
Seven long days have dragged by, an awkward distance between them, and frankly, Dom is sick of it. One way or another, it’s going to end tonight. Enough is enough.
After draining his pint, Dom screws up his nerve, shoves back from the table and heads for the loo in the back of the pub. All he can hope is that Billy didn’t slip away without saying goodbye. There was a time when he would’ve sworn that Billy would never do that, but things have changed.
The hinges of the door protest when Dom enters the small, tiled room, the muffled music echoing off the walls. Relief causes his to exhale sharply when he spots Billy standing in front of a basin, staring into the mirror, but not seeing his reflection. They’re alone, and now he can just say it. Put the truth out there.
“You tell me nothing’s wrong,” Dom says as he crosses the room, not surprised when Billy’s spins on his heel at the sound of his voice. “But I know you’re lying.”
“Dom, I-”
He trails off when Dom raises a hand in silent request, the other man not stopping until they’re only a few feet apart.
“I know you think I’m young, maybe too young to understand,” Dom muses aloud, shaking his head sadly. “I may be young and lacking in worldly experience, but it doesn’t mean I’m blind, too. I see what you won’t say. I see what you think you keep hidden.”
“I-”
“Let me finish.”
Biting down on his lower lip for a moment, Billy nods, heat causing a blush to spread across his face.
“You must’ve forgotten that I’m your best mate, and can see you, the real you, behind that mask,” Dom continues, almost wistfully. “You don’t trust yourself or maybe it’s me, I’m not sure which, and that’s why you stay behind the façade. Where it’s safe.”
Stunned at the words being directed at him, Billy can’t speak, and is unprepared when long, slender fingers slide down the side of his face in an achingly gentle caress, a thumb tracing the bow of his upper lip not once, but twice before withdrawing.
“I guess it means that we’ll never know what could’ve been,” Dom finishes, and blinks away the tears of disappointment that gather at the corner of his eyes. “I hope that’s what you want.”
Sagging against the basin, thankful that it’s there or he’d surely be on the floor, Billy averts his eyes and gasps for breath, distantly hearing the familiar squeak of protesting hinges.
The words are there, on the tip of his tongue. The confession that will change everything, but when he finally looks up, Dom is gone.
Overwhelming panic banishes fear to the back of his mind, and Billy scrambles after Dom, desperate to catch up and explain himself; to make it right between them. He pushes his way through the crowd, spotting Orlando and Elijah still on the dance floor, and repeatedly scans the smoky haze hanging in the air, hoping to catch a glimpse of familiar, tousled dark blonde hair.
Finally Billy arrives at the table he’d practically bolted from almost twenty minutes ago and he stops short, shoulders slumping in defeat. Dom isn’t there, sipping his pint, waiting for him. The empty glasses have been removed, and all that remains is Billy’s tumbler of whiskey.
The glass, like Billy, is alone.
fin
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
From:
no subject
But I am totally loving this A-Z thing. I'm excited for Monday already! :D
From:
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Lovely. Billy will come around; how can he resist Dominic?
From:
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Glad you're enjoying. Thanks :)
From:
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Thank you. :)
From:
no subject
Poor Dom, knowing that Billy wants him, but is always too afraid to act. Billy your a damn fool - just look at the man. lol
I've been confined to bed all day - so reading this at 1am in the morning is making me feel better already - eventhough it was a wee angsty.
"Let's hear it for the letter 'B'!! - for 'Billy's' & 'Burgers' & 'Bees' & 'Bottles of Beer' & 'Bannanas'..." ;P
Waiting for the next story of 'C'.
Have a good weekend!
Ta!
From:
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From: (Anonymous)
no subject
I admire so much since the days of "Mistake number three", which is, by far and in my opinion, the best Monaboyd AU ever to be written...
And I am so glad to see you´re still working...
In spite of everything -and everyone- Monaboyd love RULES!
Love & Congrats, Ceci
From:
no subject
From:
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just look at the man. Hee! You tell him!
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
From:
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From:
no subject
MN3 is a personal favorite of mine. The sequel is currently up for an award. Woot! Glad you've enjoyed my writing over the years.
Thank you. :)
From:
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Thanks :)
From: (Anonymous)
no subject
Love, Ceci
From:
no subject
So you’re not confused, for the beginning of this story, I backtracked into the time between Chapter 19 of MN3 and the Epilogue. Make sure you read the warnings...and have kleenex.
http://community.livejournal.com/monaboyd/1770707.html
Happy reading :)
From:
no subject
As always, it was beautifully written. And I can't wait til tomorrow! Never in my life did I ever think that I'd be so excited about the damn alphabet (I totally mean that in a good way) *snort* The alphabet has just gotten way more exciting! :)
From:
no subject
I like that. :) Thanks muchly. Pleased that you're excited about the alphabet. Hee!
From:
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From:
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Thanks.
From:
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From:
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Thank you. Glad you're enjoying.
From:
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From:
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