Swords and L-Words Ch. 4: Misunderstanding in the Rain.

[lillywhite1.livejournal.com]

Title: Swords and L-Words Chapter 4: Running in the Rain

Author: Lilly White

Pairing: DM/BB/EW

Rating: PG-13 for language

Summary: Elijah’s been acting suspicious. A careless comment and Billy wants an explanation.

Disclaimer: It’s all in fun. Don’t take it seriously.

A/N:  Continuation of the series. Hope you like it. Feedback is always appreciated.

Chapters 1, 2, and 3 are here.

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              Something is wrong. Billy glanced suspiciously over at Elijah. At the little restaurant in down-town New Zealand the four hobbits and the honorary elf-hobbit sat drinking coffee and cocoa. They were enjoying a well-deserved shortened day. The heavy droplets of rain that caused their half-day had so intently occupied Billy just a few seconds ago. He loved the rain – driving in it was a different matter, but looking at it could consume him for an hour. It would have had he not caught a strange comment that had just dropped from Elijah’s boyish mouth. Now the boy-wonder was not – make that refusing – to make eye-contact with Billy.

             Dominic, sitting on Billy’s right, squeezed his lover’s hand. Billy looked at him and smiled. What a darling smile Dom has. But Billy’s thoughts again turned to Elijah’s well-being.

             Their little Doodle had been odd lately but had answered the cast’s unvoiced concern with superfluous comments of, “Damn makeup took forever today,” or, “Didn’t sleep too well. Fucking vivid dreams kept me from resting.” Almost everyone just took Elijah’s comments as pure fact, shrugged, and focused on memorizing their lines – but Billy felt that something was slightly up for a while now. Those Elijah-eyes that sparkled with laughter and mischievous pleasure now retained a dull tone that kept Billy preoccupied. Something was wrong. Billy could feel it in his bones.

             Orlando was going on about some bird in the crew he had talked to who had blatantly offered to suck him off any time he wanted. “…and I thought to myself, what a slag! Who the hell would take up an offer like that knowing that she has probably offered the very same thing to everyone else in the cast and crew! I mean--”

              “But what if she really liked you, Land?” Elijah interrupted snapping four necks in his direction at the reaction that was so unexpected. They all knew how fickle Elijah was with girls.

              “What if she’s some poor little know-nothing country girl who doesn’t know a thing about you except that she sees you every day and can’t take her eyes of you? What if she is so enamored with you that she can’t imagine ever being without you, even if all you do is walk past her once a day, and that one place she stands to watch you walk by she has rearranged her entire schedule or skipped lunch to be at just to get a look at you and be close enough to touch you, but she can’t because if you shot her down it would break her heart? And now what have you done? She doesn’t know which way is up and you blow her off like she’s some sort of cheap skank who you assume whores herself out to everyone just because your head is so swollen you can’t see your own dick!”

             The silence hung dangerously in the air like the executioner’s axe for a few brief seconds before Elijah stood up. “I’m leaving. I could use a few extra hours sleep.” He fumbled with his jacket sleeves.

             Orlando tried to apologize but Elijah cut him off with, “I’m too angry to accept any stutters of ‘I’m sorry’ from you, you shallow son of a bitch. Go brush your hair, you’ll feel better.” And with that, Elijah stormed off past their booth and towards the door. Billy beat the alarmed chatter to the proverbial punch and slipped under the table to follow Elijah and finally ask him what the fuck was wrong.

             Billy caught Elijah practically running down the avenue in the pouring rain that was coming down in sheets so thick that they could have been satin. Elijah, with his shoulders hunched under his light jean jacket, looked like quite a pitiful creature. The rain had already turned his blue denim black. Billy shouted to halt Elijah in his tracks.

              “’Lijah, stop. Please wait up. Elijah, please!” But Elijah picked up his pace with the knowledge that someone was pursuing him. He began to run. Billy was not about to let him get away and his feet plunged into every puddle, flushing his shoes with tainted street water. He almost liked this. Running in the rain could have become a new habit if he would have something to chase. Elijah pounded on, but Billy was gaining.

*

             Elijah felt the steps getting closer. Billy would catch him soon, so he gave it one last shot. He bolted, pumping his already straining legs just a bit further. Can’t let him catch you. The thought was urgent. Billy was chasing him for a change and the bitter-sweet irony was the only thing that kept him running. If he stopped, he would have to confess. If Billy never caught him, he would be crushed. It was torture. His salvation and damnation were following him, wrapped into one, sweet man with piecing green eyes and a voice that rung nothing but the truth from Elijah. There was a hand on his shoulder, and Elijah spun to face in pursuant in anger and confusion.

*

             Billy was halted more by the look in Elijah’s eyes more than his own feet. The two of them stood panting like mad in the middle of the street. Even though Elijah’s face was wet with the rain, Billy knew he was crying. Those electric blue eyes were rimmed in red – like sapphires aflame. Billy pulled himself out of Elijah’s eyes.

              “What the fuck was that about?” He said waving an arm over his head in the general direction of the restaurant.

             Elijah lied, “I’m just worn out. I need to rest.” Billy knew it was a lie before the word hit his ears. Unbelievable.

              “’Lij, you’re lying. You’ve been lying for a week now at least -- ”

              “Ten days.” Elijah interrupted Billy’s train. Billy was infuriated further and sputtered, “So you know something is wrong and you haven’t been frank with any of us. Jesus. I’ve been asking about it and no one knows what’s bothering you.”

*

            Billy ran his fingers through his dripping hair. It was a beautiful gesture, Elijah thought. “Now that I’ve literally had to run you down I deserve a fucking explanation, let alone Dom, Land, and Sean back in the restaurant.”

            Billy stood panting at Elijah, and he didn’t know what to say. He knew what he had to say, but it stuck in his throat and sent his brain spinning like an electric screw-driver. He had to choose his words carefully and he couldn’t have told you what movie he was filming had he been asked at that moment. So he started fumbling.

            “Billy…I don’t know what to tell you. I… well. I saw you… and Dom… in the gym that one day. I saw you kiss.” Billy physically stepped back a foot. He was stunned. His green eyes were spinning for an explanation, and he wasn’t finding one. Elijah continued.

            “It… I took it kinda hard. I didn’t quite understand why you two were… are… like that. And I felt confused and angry and betrayed. I’m having a hard time, I guess. I mean, we have all kinds of people around for us to be with and, I guess I just didn’t see it happening inside the cast.”

            Billy looked the epitome of embarrassed. Christ, I’ve ruined everything. Elijah let his gorgeous head hang. His black hair was plastered to his forehead and he knew he probably looked a-fright. But then Billy’s warm hand was under his freezing chin and the contrast made him shiver. Billy was lifting his head to meet his eyes. He looked at Billy and saw what he interpreted as slight amusement.

            “Elijah, it’s not what you think. I –” Billy’s eyes probed Elijah’s. “What is it?”

            Elijah looked up the street in horror. Dominic, Sean, and Orlando were walking down the pavement, umbrella’s opened, and had clearly spotted them in an odd position. Billy had his hand under Elijah’s chin and they were a bit close for comfort. Elijah pulled away. But spoke clearly and plainly, turning his head so Billy could hear him but the others couldn’t make out what he was saying. “Meet me in my trailer tonight. We’ll talk further. Eleven fifteen.”

            Billy winced, “Why eleven fifteen?” The others were getting closer and now they were waving and hollering. He quickly added, “Make it eleven. But I shouldn’t stay too long.”

            “Got it.” And they both turned to meet the approaching posse. Billy linked arms with Dom and it was just understood that everything was okay. Billy had talked to Elijah, and now it was time to get back and get dry. Dom threw this expensive leather coat over Billy, even though he was soaked, and Orlando shielded Elijah with his umbrella as Sean and he snuggled close to Elijah to keep him warm.

            Elijah, smiled all the way back. Billy had something to tell him. He had said that he had things wrong, what he thought was going on between Dom and him was not what he thought. Maybe Billy wasn’t in love with Dom. Maybe he could let Dom down and perhaps be with him. This fired a little bit of hope in Elijah and he let his eyes sparkle like never before as he joked with his friends and flashed Billy a brilliant smile. At eleven fifteen, you beware, my little Scotsman, because I’m going to make you mine.

*

            Relief washed through Billy as he caught Elijah’s smile. He was okay. They would talk more tonight about Elijah’s issues with Dom and his relationship and things would be better. It seemed as if Elijah thought it was just a fling and that they were screwing around just for fun. No, this was love. Billy looked at Dom adoringly. It was definitely love. He would never jeopardize the friendships in the cast for a casual fling. And as soon as he could make Elijah understand that, the better. Then things would return to normal; better than normal. Tonight at eleven, all things were coming out of the cupboards and all those old skeletons would be laid to rest. He hugged Dom tighter and concentrated on staying warm.

*

            As Bill hummed in the bath, Dom sat brooding on the bed in Billy’s trailer. He was trying fruitlessly to push the jealousy down. Elijah and Billy had not been in the best of positions when he first saw them. They were close and speaking so that no one else could hear. He didn’t like the way that Billy had run out to find Elijah after that little out-burst that was never explained. It was fishy. Something was wrong. He didn’t know what, but if anything else happened, he’d be right there asking all the questions that he wanted to ask right now. He didn’t want anything to sour between Bill and himself but jealousy came too easily and betrayal was not something he could ever approve of.

            “Dommie?  Could you join me in here for a little, please?”

            “Surely, Love.” Dom pushed past his suspicions and pulled out his best adoring smile. “Coming.”