FIC: Vark - 3 - Section IV, And a Wolf Shall Devour the Sun

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

Title: Vark – 3 –Section IV, And a Wolf Shall Devour the Sun
Author: kickflaw
Pairing(s): DM/BB, OB/VM
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter, NC-17 overall
Disclaimer: Owning real people would be slavery.
Summary: When Dominic Monaghan, intrepid entomology graduate student, heads out to Carlisle for the new year at Caldew School, he ends up embroiled in a world of darkness and silver light. A world where monsters and monster-hunters walk during the full moon with blood on their hands, and sorcery, addiction, lust, love, pain, hope and curses are all more real and more dangerous than ever before. A world he could hardly have imagined even in his nightmares.
Feedback: Would help with the other chapters, of course.
Content/Warnings: Will contain violence, angst, sex, and all of that good stuff, with a side of occasional fluff.

Chapters: 0 | 1 | 2

*

Vark - 3 - Section IV, And a Wolf Shall Devour the Sun

*

Billy stopped tugging at a particularly determined dandelion to rub a hand over his sweat-wet eyes. Dirt smeared onto his forehead; he could feel its gritty texture but couldn't bring himself to care. He was so tired. It was all he could do to kneel out here and slowly prepare his garden for the coming frosts, much less bother with trying to stay clean at the same time. He'd given up when his kneepad had slipped on the dewy grass and he'd gone face down into the tomatoes, cages and all. He hadn't showered yet today - he could wash up later. It was a weekend besides. No one would see him.

Turning his face up, he let himself relax a moment as the sun beat down, oddly bright, as if some tropical god had decided to take a trip up north and the lovely heat had followed. Billy loved the sun, honestly loved it. Didn't care if it burned him as red as a lobster so long as he had the rays sinking like claws into his skin. Not very Scottish of him, true, but he had ceased to be impressed by patriotism a long time ago. Give him a good muggy day with no clouds in the sky and the sun directly overhead any time. He opened his eyes, let the sun burn flashes of white into his retinas, and thought about Galileo, blinded by love of the sun. Or, perhaps it was hate, an obsession so intense the pain didn't even matter, so long as he figured it out in the end. Billy could understand that.

He rolled his sleeves up a bit further and dug gloved hands back into the earth. Now was the time to get rid of the final weeds, turn everything over, pack down the vulnerable roots as they went dormant for winter. He imagined them like curled fetuses, warm in that womb of dark dirt, sucking out nutrients in unconscious vampirism. The innocence of the image broke his heart - nature, so deadly naive. He hated it.

One drop of sweat rolled down his neck, stung as it passed over a scrap on his chest. He shouldn't be doing this, he knew; His body was still too raw.

The back door creaked open and a sleep-rumpled Dom appeared on the porch. Billy smiled, but just slightly, the kind that you felt in your muscles, didn't really show on your face.

"Hey." Dom mumbled.

"Good morning."

"You mean s'not afternoon already? Why am I awake?"

"No black out blinds?" suggested Billy.

"Damn. Gotta get me some of those. Who needs light, anyway?" Dom stretched up onto his toes with low hum then shook himself all over, once, rolling his tired muscles into wakefulness.

"Not the things you study. Be careful, Dommie, you're going to turn into one of your creepy crawlies soon."

"Nothing wrong with that." sitting down on the top step leading to the backyard, Dom leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes, turning his face up just as Billy had moments earlier. "Most bugs do need sunlight, actually." He said to the sky. "Many types of larvae don't, like cicadas, and there are the few suspects that function on other energy sources, but most are just like us, like everything on earth. We need the sun to survive."

Billy grunted, finally succeeding in uprooting the last remnants of that stubborn dandelion.

Dom squinted at him. "Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn't it?"

"If you say so."

His sarcasm was ignored. "Really. Everything on this planet is connected. Hell, everything in the whole sodding universe, from the biggest supernova to the smallest atom that gets sucked in. Supernovas couldn't exist without atoms, and atoms without supernovas. Like us, and bugs. You know, if spiders didn't exist, flies would have taken over the planet? We owe our entire world to spiders. How's that for a reality check?"

"So, humanity is a giant vortex that sucks everything around it into non-existence and bugs are the smallest form of matter in the universe?"

"Shut it." a twig was thrown, but fell short of hitting him. "Stop being literal."

Billy grinned and threw a clod of dirt back. "Did anyone ever tell you, you make no sense when you get philosophical?"

"Ugh." Dom made a face as he shook the dirt from his robe. "Why do you torture yourself with gardening? It's completely moot. Why not drive up to the market and save yourself the time and effort?"

"Dom," Billy leveled an ironic look at his tenant, "Don't you think that's rather hypocritical? A nature boy who doesn't like growing things?"

"I study bugs. I don't see how that has anything to do with growing food that I can buy."

"Have you ever even tried gardening?"

"No."

"Then how can you have an opinion?"

Dom shrugged. "Maybe that's why I have the opinion I do."

"Right, then," Billy stood, wiped his hands on his trousers, and walked over to the steps.

"Eh?" looked up at him curiously, the sun slanted across Dom’s face, cut with strange shadows cast by the porch railing, but his eyes at least were lit, translucently grey-blue like the sky just glimpsed through a thin storm cloud.

"Go inside and get changed into something you can get messy. You're going to help me weed the rest of this out."

"What? No."

"Yes." Billy pulled Dom up by the forearms, turned him and pushed him, stumbling, into the house.

"No!" but Dom only struggled half-heartedly, and let Billy force him up into his room. He was laughing as his door slammed shut behind him.

"Change immediately, or I'll come in and see your assuredly embarrassing manhood!" Billy threatened.

"Hey now, that's no way to charm a man into helping with the chores!" Dom called back. Shuffling sounds came through the door and a crash, followed by a swift string of expletives. Billy shook his head at yet another example of Dom's notorious clumsiness. How he had managed not to get fired at Ian's already was beyond him, the daft bugger.

With a bang, Dom threw the door open, so quickly that he nearly whacked Billy in the face. Fortunately he had both good instincts and good reflexes and was able to jump out of the way, though barely.

"Nice." Dom looked impressed. "Sorry about that. Didn't know you were so close."

"Tosser." Billy grumbled playfully and got punched in the arm for it, right over an aching bruise. He winced.

Outside, Dom knelt down at the edge of the plot and eyed it nervously, rubbing his hands together. He wore a tattered blue shirt that had faded to a strange greyish color and had holes in the collar, over a pair of obnoxious pink and green Hawaiian style shorts. Billy looked down at his own worn jeans and plain black shirt and wondered if he was missing something, if some kind of generation gap was at work here, then decided that no, Dom was just a strange, strange man.

"What we're going to do is focus on weeding. See these kind of fuzzy, pointy-leaved plants?" Billy gestured to a patch of dandelions that had infested his radishes.

Eyes intent, Dom nodded.

"Those are bad. We want those gone, but it's not as simple as tearing them out. All the roots have to be removed, or they'll grow right back again. But you have to be careful or you'll start tearing up the roots of the good plants as well. That's bad. So you have to dig around the weeds carefully, and tug at them a little, hopefully they'll come right out. If not, just keep digging until you can lift the plant, roots and all, out of the ground. Sound reasonable?"

Dom was looking at him with arched brows. "More complicated than I expected."

"Only for you, Dom." Billy grinned.

"Shut it."

They dug in, literally, and for a while, chatting occasionally, winding each other up more often, they worked. Dom attacked the swatch of weeds Billy had pointed out with gusto, uncaringly tossing them towards the pile Billy had begun early that morning. Once he accidentally hit Billy in the head, to which Billy promptly responded by stuffing a handful of grass down his shirt. War had ensued, and they'd both ended up covered in gore, plant carnage all around. Dom would have been content simply continuing that for the rest of the day, but Billy had insisted that they finish today, and work had begun again. Slowly, the sun rose. It wasn't until lunch that disaster descended.

Billy grunted in disgust as he peeled his shirt away from his torso and over his head. The dirt caking it had been dampened by his sweat and turned into muddy smears. Grass stains showed as well, even over the black color. He sighed, and tossed it to the foot of the back door. Not even the wash would be able to save it now.

"God, Bill! What the hell happened to you?" Dom exclaimed.

Billy froze, paused, but for so short a moment that it hardly registered. The words flew like hummingbirds from his lips. "I took a tumble down the stairs the other day."

"Jesus. Why didn't you say anything? You look awful."

He shrugged.

"Oi vey." Dom sat down at the patio table, shaking his head. "Someday that attitude is gonna get you hurt, you wanker. Oh wait, it already has! Do-"

Without waiting for him to finish Billy headed inside and slid the glass door closed with a hollow thud. Point made. He kicked his shirt violently, sent it flopping into the hall. Might as well throw it out, damned thing. He paused again, let the gust of the sudden cool air brush over him, chill his sweaty skin.

He quickly prepared two turkey sandwiches, a bowl of crisps, and a large pitcher of ice water for their lunch, piling it all onto a blue platter, which he carried back out into the sunlight. Sullenly, Dom eyed him, and he pretended not to notice as he poured the water, ice tinkling against glass as it tumbled from the pitcher into two cups. He knew what he was looking at - the various abrasions and bruises marring his upper body. Billy was thankful that this month had gone better than most. Nothing seriously troubling to be seen. Nonetheless, the scrutiny made him uncomfortable.

"Billy," Dom said, and Billy waited for the inevitable questions that he couldn't answer, could never answer, and they never stopped coming, no matter how hard he tried to avoid these situations. "I don't think you should be out here doing all of this manual labor with damage like that."

He blinked his eyes open, surprised, only now realizing they'd been closed.

"It's not good for you. You should be resting, healing. All this dirt is going to start an infection." Dom continued.

Confusion pulled Billy's brows together, made him silent, and he sat down, staring at Dom's bland expression. Nothing? He thought wildly, no accusations, no bizarre suppositions, not even a plain demand for the truth, just Dom's wide eyes and straight line of a mouth. Except that it wasn't straight now, it was quirked into a wry frown.

"I'm not going to pry, you know. I'm not like Elijah or Orlando in that." Dom dropped his gaze. "If you don't want to tell me something, that's your business. I just don't want you hurting yourself more. You should let the garden go until you're better off."

Billy swallowed, throat thick with gratitude. "It's almost done. I can manage."

"Promise me you'll put some antibacterial gel on later, then?" Dom asked softly, but kept his gaze on his glass of water.

"Promise. Dom?" the other man looked up finally and Billy offered a smile, didn't bother to keep the wistfulness out of it. "Thank you."

Dom grinned back; the seriousness of the moment disappeared in a flash. "No need, mate."

"Still, thanks."

"Damn, it's hot today." Dom brightly changed the topic, dipped his fingers into his ice water and flicked it at himself, reclining in one of Billy's low lawn chairs and propping his feet up on the table.

Billy paused for only a moment before knocking said feet away. "I like it."

"Nutter. But it's queer don't you think? September and all."

"It's been queer for a week and a half." Billy wandered over to his plots and examined them with a critical eye. They looked rather bare, more so than usual. An entire section looked like it had been gutted. He hadn't thought he'd lost so much this summer. Maybe it was the weeds. The odd warmth that had swept the countryside recently may have been a boost to their growth. Even the compost they'd been accumulating looked overly much. He kicked at it.

"Still."

"Dom." Billy said lowly as he picked up a plant carcass at the top of the pile.

"Yesh?" slurred Dom; His mouth was full of turkey sandwich.

"What's this?"

Dom squinted, swallowed. "I don't know. A weed."

"This is a radish."

"Hm. What's it doing in the weed area then?"

Billy narrowed his eyes. "I think you should tell me."

"Oh." Dom gulped visibly, gaze going between Billy and his deplanted radish, twice, before he threw down his lunch and bolted through the back door.

With a howl of a battle cry, Billy followed. It felt good to run, despite the aches in his joints and the pulling pain of half-healed wounds. His muscles gasped oxygen, his blood pumped harder, and if he focused, he could almost force his heart to beat, beat, beat.

Beat.

He caught Dom at the foot of the stairs with a leg tackle right out of a rugby game. Dom went down like a stone, luckily managing to grab the banister and swing himself out of the way of the staircase as he fell. Gasping for breath, he tried to wriggle out of Billy's hold, but Billy would have none of that and clamped his hands over Dom's shoulders, forcing him face-first into the carpet.

"Dom," Billy said, spookily calm, his hot breath washing over Dom's sweat-scented neck, "You tore up my entire radish patch, didn't you?"

"I thought they were weeds!" protested Dom.

"I made it clear which plants to remove."

"You did!" wrenching, Dom attempted to turn over, and got his arm jerked into a Jacob's hold as punishment. Carpet scratched roughly at his cheek and jaw line. "Ow. Bill, I thought I was pulling the right ones, you pointed at those, and said they had pointy leaves!"

"I pointed at the weeds, not the radishes. The radish leaves aren't fuzzy. Didn't you think anything strange about pulling giant bulbs out?"

"No! You said it might be hard to get the roots. I thought that meant that the roots would be big like that!"

"You know, I should really murder you for this. You tore up years' worth of cultivating this morning. And I like radishes. A great deal." threatened Billy as he tugged Dom's arm back further. The predator in him exulted.

"Ow, ow, uncle, please, mercy!" the pressure on his shoulder made Dom arch up and into Billy's hold - that would be the point, generally. "At least I left your flowers, come on! It was an accident."

"You," Billy paused, then chuckled once, softly, as he finally released Dom and moved away, "you left the flowers."

"The yellow ones." Dom sat up and rubbed at his bare shoulder with a pout in his eyes.

Billy laughed outright, hard and full. Fell against the stairs with a hand clutched over his gut, shook with the force of his humor.

"What?" no response. "What?" demanded Dom, swatting at Billy’s trembling back.

"Oh, Dom." Billy wiped his wet eyes, mindless of the dirt.

"What?!"

"Those are the weeds, you imbecile."

Dom blinked. "Oh."

"Oh, exactly."

"I..."

"Right."

"Well then."

"Indeed." smirked Billy.

"I'm sorry?" Dom offered and bit his lip.

A final chuckle had Billy standing, reaching a hand down to help his hunching tenant off the floor. "Forgiven. Though I should really gut you alive for this."

"Can we replant them?"

"I'm going to try, though it's unlikely I'll be able to salvage anything with the damage you did to the roots."

"I'm so sorry, Bills. I'll do it, if you'll tell me-"

Billy shook his head firmly. "No."

"It's no problem! Really."

"That's not it, Dom. There's no way I'm letting you near my garden ever again."

"But-"

"Absolutely not."

Dom sighed, looking dejected, and Billy felt slightly bad, though not nearly enough to take back his decree. He patted him consolingly on the back, and headed out again, this time to put things back in the ground rather than take them out. Dom followed, watching from the coffee table as he slouched and finished his lunch silently, and every time Billy looked up to check on him he got the impression that Dom was just glancing away. The poor kid, he really had just wanted to help, and it had been Billy's idea in the first place anyway. Dom had told him he didn't want anything to do with it. He had to say something; He couldn't keep Dom away from the garden and cope with that kicked puppy aura at the same time.

"Dom." he called.

Dom was already looking at him, cheeks slightly pink. Probably sunburn. Billy wondered how red he was. Probably scorched. He'd feel that later. "Yeah?"

"I have it." he stood and sauntered over, wiping his hands on his denim trousers, as little good as that did considering how often they'd already been used as a napkin today Leaning his forearms on the porch railing, he continued, "You can organize that pile of new books I have into the library. Alphabetically, remember?"

"Yeah!" Dom leapt out of his chair and saluted eagerly.

"Can you handle that?"

"Absolutely!" Billy watched, amused, as Dom scampered inside, and laughed when he tripped over himself doing it.

Even if Dom did manage to mess something up, he'd be inside soon to supervise. Billy shivered suddenly as he looked at the sky. The sun had gone behind an endless seeming sheaf of grey clouds. The air was getting colder.

*

Dom plopped down Indian-style in front of the haphazard stack of books Billy had recently procured. Part of him was already lonely, missing the easy company of his landlord, but most of him was honestly relieved. He didn't know if he could have stayed there a moment longer, watching, and remained sane. Sure, he'd known he was attracted to Billy, right from the outset, but until today he'd never thought anything of it, hadn't passed from attraction into fantasy. But he hadn't seen Billy with his shirt off until today, either, and that definitely had to be a factor.

And damn, did Billy have a body to look twice at. Dom knew he worked out, ran in the mornings and practiced katas fairly frequently, but he hadn't expected the sheer rippling goodness that was Billy's chest. He'd never been terribly skilled at controlling his desires, it was a wonder he'd managed to not jump his landlord the moment the shirt had come off. Even bruised and slashed with red, that man was enough to make his head spin.

Honestly, he knew it was those very hurts that had stopped him from making a move. Fell down the stairs his fucking arse, he thought, glowering at his hands. Dom had so desperately wanted to shake Billy back and forth until he spilled the truth, but his weary figure, as he'd sagged into the chair, had shut his curiosity down so quickly he suspected it might have given him mental whiplash. Sympathy flooded in to replace it, and before he knew it, he was letting it go, giving in, at least for now. Unlike him, and it hurt to do. But Billy had been so grateful, so grateful, he hadn't had to say anything to be obvious about that. So he really had let it drop, and tried to forget the darkness of the bruise below Billy's ribcage.

He sighed, and picked up the top book, going at the task as diligently as possible with his mind elsewhere. For the first time in a week he hadn't had work or class to attend to, and if Billy hadn't been around the set him to task he might have burned something down out of boredom. One simply couldn't read and surf the 'net for an entire day. But then he'd gone and ruined the garden, typical of him. Not that some good hadn't come from it.

Biting his lip, he paused and closed his eyes, trying for a moment to recapture the feel of Billy's hot skin, rough with hair, Billy's hands curled around his shoulders, hard, Billy's slim form catching the light and the shadow as he bent. Dom wanted to lick the lines of sweat glistening on Billy's neck, wanted to stand under the shower with him and scrub the smears of dirt away, or, smear even more as they rolled onto the grass entwined together. Oh, he'd crossed the line into fantasy all right.

When Billy had taken him down in the hall, all rippling muscle and speed, Dom had momentarily thought he was dreaming, because no way was he actually rolling around on the floor with this extremely gorgeous and amazing man. But he was, and though he regretted destroying the radish patch, the reward had been far to excellent to incur remorse. He'd do it again, and he knew it. He wondered if that made him a bad person.

Nah, he decided, grinning and shuffling his current book into the C section.

The next he picked up was a bit odd. Heavy, old, but not ancient. A wolf glared out from the black cover, looming over the white title, Of Wolves And Men. Copyright 1978, Dom saw, flipping through. He opened to an almost blank page, the words Section IV - And a Wolf Shall Devour the Sun struck him. Sounded interesting.

He sorted it, trailing his fingers over the many bound spines as he walked from the other end of the bookcase. It occurred to him as he scanned the titles that Billy certainly had a great many books relating to wolves. Dogs too. Canines in general dominated his shelves. Must be a hobby.

Dom smiled, then, because he had learned something else, another little secret trait that Billy wouldn't tell. Getting to know him was like a constant treasure hunt. As open and warm as Billy seemed, he nonetheless kept himself mostly to himself, and Dom was lucky to catch the few tidbits that he did. He kept them close in his mind, hugged them over his heart, imagining that he had a tiny pocket in his chest just for Billy's sweet hints. He'd always liked games, especially the ones that involved riddles and prizes at the end. What the prize was, he didn't know, and he could wait to find out. Right now the chase was good enough to satisfy him.

He was still smiling, just at the corner of his mouth, when Billy joined him.

"You want the shower first, or shall I?" He asked.

Dom took one look at Billy's sun-touched skin and gulped out. "If you don't mind..."

*

TBC

Comments

[demonessdeb.livejournal.com]

I have to say that this is one of the best stories I've read in quite a while. The pure glee I feel when I see an update borders on embarrassing, but I don't care. I truly cannot wait until the next installment.

Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

eep. >blush< i know what you mean about the glee. certain fics just make you squeal to see more. i'm beyond flattered that i can evoke that kind of feeling with this little mystery piece. thank you so much!

(also, it's more luck than talent, but don't tell anyone. ^_~)

[demonessdeb.livejournal.com]

it's more luck than talent, but don't tell anyone

Not that I believe that for a sec, but you're secret is safe with me. ;)

[glorfinniel.livejournal.com]

One word: masterpiece.

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

i once wrote a harry potter fic titled 'masterpiece'..

isn't it sad that my first reaction is a fanfic reference? oi vey, you know you're life is a fandom when...

ignore my inane babble. the important part of this response is: thanks!

[aire-blair.livejournal.com]

I am completely enthralled with the story. Like demonessdeb, I get giddy when I see a new chapter has been posted. You're spinning a very intricate and delicate web, and I've fallen (gladly) right into it.

Love how you dropped such subtle clues about Billy's injuries..can't wait to find out how he gets them.

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

yes, i am a spider, mwahah. ^_^

i'm so glad it's coming off successfully. most of my efforts with this fanfic have been towards making it subtle and intricate, so it's fabulous to see that it's working. mystery is a new genre for me. thanks muchly for the encouragement!

[desire-billy.livejournal.com]

As all comments above, I agree. This is an amazing piece. Thank you for updating so soon! I truely look forward to more!

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

thanks! i'm trying to work as fast as i can on more parts. this week has been bad with the writer's block, unfortunately, but i'll pick up again, i'm sure. part the fourth is in beta, so hopefully we'll be seeing it rather soon. don't want to keep anybody waiting. ^_~

[desire-billy.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I'm so stoked! I will be checking often for the next update! Thanks for the info!

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

eeek. don't say you'll check often, that's even more pressure! @_@ i guess i should hound my beta, eh? and find time for my final edit...

[desire-billy.livejournal.com]

Sorry, sorry! Ok, I'll just glance over my flist for updates. Better? No pressure! *whispers* Gimmie, gimmie!!!

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

ok, this is probably an obnoxiously oblivious inquiry, but:

what is a flist?

[desire-billy.livejournal.com]

Oh! Sorry, friends list!

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

>headdesk< i knew that. thanks.

[elouisa.livejournal.com]

You've produced yet another stunning chapter for us. As each new chapter is posted it has me enthralled. I think I may have guessed Billy's secret and if I'm right, your telling of his tale is just perfect. I love your description of Dom's clumsiness, and Billy in the sun is just a beautiful image.

Thank you once again for posting.

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

oh no! i really hope not, i didn't want it to start coming together until a little later. damn damn damn. -.- don't tell anyone, all right?

then again >smirk< there are more than a few twists i'll be playing later, so we'll see if you're right after all, eh? mwhaha.

thanks for the wonderful feedback!

[zahz87.livejournal.com]

I squeeled when i saw this updated! This fic is an absolute gem. I love the interaction between Dom and Billy, and Dom's thoughts and feelings towards Billy. I could so imagine Dom thinking like that.

Your doing a fab job keep up the good work

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

thanks! hopefully the squeals will keep coming! whew. it's reassuring to here that i'm pulling the boys off fairly well. one of the main things i worry about. mucho gracias. ^_~

[fyrefly101.livejournal.com]

This is brilliant, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the secrets to start spilling...amongst other things :) I love the way you've built up the characters and the background hints. More! More!

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

yay! >squee< a double entendre and an excellent bit of feedback all rolled into one. purr-worthy. things will spill, i promise you that. ^_~ more soon, i'm trying. thanks muchly!

[unbrokenmuse.livejournal.com]

"...imagined them like curled fetuses, warm in that womb of dark dirt, sucking out nutrients in unconscious vampirism. The innocence of the image broke his heart - nature, so deadly naive. He hated it."

Wow. Love this image. Love the overall mood, shading toward dark. Devoured all of these chapters at a sitting.

*shivers expectantly*

[eleytheria.livejournal.com]

i'll be honest; i love that image too. sheer luck, on my part. it's just hit me when i was out gardening for a friend and stayed until i found a way to fic-it.

thanks! it's my goal to keep you shivering, though i'll be handing out blankets along the way. ^_^