Hurricane William (2/?)

[desire-billy.livejournal.com]

Title: Hurricane William (2/?)
Author: desire_billy Beta: The AWESOME aire_blair
Pairing: Dom/Billy, Elijah/Orlando
Rating: R so far
Disclaimer: I lie often.
A/N: Hurricanes are not something to make light of. They are dangerous and unforgiving. Unfortunately, as a local Floridian, I too have a habit of not heeding warnings and expressing my thoughts to tourists. I feel awful.
A special note: Hurricane Charley blew through our state this week doing major damage. I apologize if this fic offends anyone who may or may not have been affected by the storm.
Summary: The boys go to Key Largo, Florida November 2004 to do some diving, fishing and drinking. Hurricane William threatens and they do not heed the warnings.

Part 1

Orlando came back into the living room to find Elijah deep in thought, Billy hanging his head, and Dom biting his nails. "Come on mates! Ok, it's a category 3, but the realtors just sent a few blokes over to board up the windows and drop off some supplies to us. Besides, these fellas said it's probably gonna veer off like they all do! Not a direct hit!"

Elijah spoke first, his eyes a little bit larger than usual. "Board up the windows?" He looked out the window at the driving rain. "Fuck it's raining like a bitch, and there are a lot of windows in this place."

Dom had walked over to the front window and was watching the flurry of activity. He turned and with a smirk and a wink, looked at Elijah saying, "Well, there's a lot of wet blokes out here too!"

A giggle and raised eyebrows was Elijah's response as he pushed off the loft ladder and hurried to Dom's side.

Shaking their heads, Orlando and Billy groaned.

"Don't distract them with your immense sexuality Dom," Billy said his voice full of sarcasm. He joined Dom and Lij at the window; "I don't want to get a face full of glass because you were making eyes at them!"

Putting his arm around Billy's waist, Dom asked in his sexiest voice, "Jealous Bills? Want me all to yourself, huh?"

Orlando and Elijah couldn't help laughing as Billy flicked Dom's earlobe with his fingers as he called Dom a stupid git. Dom growled and said, "Ooo, you know I like it rough Bills." Then he bit Billy's earlobe.

Letting out one of his trademark girly screams, the three other men doubled over in laughter. Billy glared, but allowed himself a grin. He spotted a box in the front hall. "What's that, Orli?"

Wiping a tear of laughter from his eye, Orli answered, "Oh that's the box of supplies. Looks like everything we need including the booze and a raft! Seems as if the guy who rents this place is a confirmed Hurricane Party expert! He sent those blokes over with everything we would need if we were stuck here."

Elijah ran over to the box like a child on Christmas day. "Oooo, look, candles!" He held up a box of white emergency candles. He looked over at Dom, winked and shook his ass. "We could really set the mood big boy!"

In unison, Billy and Orlando groaned, "Ewwwwwwwww!"

Laughing, Dom joined Elijah beside the box. He knew what Elijah meant. Dom had been in love with Billy for years, everyone knew that. But Elijah had been in love with Orli just as long and only Dom knew.

Elijah and Orlando were close friends, but Elijah felt so insecure when he entertained thoughts of approaching Orli about his feelings. Although Elijah was a well-known star with thousands of screaming adoring fans this was Orlando Bloom! One of the sexiest men alive! He could have anyone, why would he want a bug eyed, tooth gaped kid? Besides Elijah wasn't convinced that Orli was even bi, he thought he was but.... he had never asked and he had begged Dom not to. Dom had told him many times he was crazy, and to just tell Orlando how he felt. Still he refused and made Dom promise to never say anything. The only positive thing in Elijah's eyes was that Orli and Kate had recently agreed to see other people.

Dom on the other hand had been very vocal about wanting a relationship with Billy, but Billy was adamant that they not get romantically involved. He had known for years that Dom wanted him, and, truth be told, he wanted Dom. He had been with a few men sexually, Dom was the only one who knew, but Billy did not consider himself gay or even bi. Besides he refused to take a chance on ruining the best friendship, hell the best relationship, he'd ever had. Dom meant entirely too much to him.

He'd never had any luck with romantic relationships and he was not willing to try with Dom and lose him altogether. The three years spent with Ali had been rocky at best. Finally Billy just had to end it. He was tired of trying to see her as something that he wanted and knowing she could never really make him happy. What would make him truly happy was something he was not yet ready to admit to himself. She was a wonderful woman and he did love her, but he would not continue with a relationship he no longer believed in.

Billy and Dom had spent many, many nights talking about it. Dom doing his best to convince Billy that they were meant for each other and testing Billy's will power. But every time, Billy would end up convincing Dom that it just wasn't their time for that. Maybe years from now, but he needed Dom as a mate more than a lover right now. Contrary to outward appearances, Dom was a patient man. He would agree and place a soft kiss on Billy's sweet lips and say, "Ok, Bills. I love you. We'll do it your way."

When Billy started dating Ali, and it began to look serious, Dom began to have doubts about his future with Billy. He never voiced those thoughts to Billy though. Which, for Dom, was odd. But he was hurting and he didn't want Billy to know it. He had, however, told Elijah many times. They had spent many drunken nights together in L.A. talking about their one-sided love affairs, both swearing each other to secrecy.

Dom had even stopped trying to convince Billy that they were meant to be more than just friends. Sometimes it felt easier that way for both him and Billy. Although, occasionally, he couldn't resist a teasing comment or quick nip/lick of Billy's earlobe, the pressure of his bottled up love for Billy seeking some type of release before he could stop himself. He had hoped during this trip, perhaps, Billy would be ready to take their relationship farther. But now was not the time for that conversation. He knew that although they were making jokes, things had the potential to get very serious with the approaching storm.

He sat on the floor sifting through the box of supplies and remembered how tense the night before had been. He thanked God they were all such good friends and were now able to laugh and find comfort in that humor. Last night he had been afraid he and Billy were never going to be the same.

~

After returning from their shortened dive at the Benwood Wreck, Billy had become very anxious. He snapped at the other three whenever they tried to joke about Hurricane Billy blowing them or forcing them to do his will. Dom had gotten worried that Billy would change his mind and just leave like he had originally wanted. He even considered leaving with him just to make him happy.

But as things tend to go, they talked Billy into going out for dinner and drinks. One drink turned into three, then five, and hell, by then Dom was ready to take the hurricane on by himself.

During dinner at Mandalay's, a very sweet waitress informed Dom and Elijah, as they stood outside smoking, that if they were staying to make sure they had a safe room, just in case. They smiled, thanked her and made jokes about the four of them held up in the kitchen pantry.

They ended up at Cactus Jack's drinking margaritas and talking to locals and tourists who had decided to stay. As most of the televisions in the bar were all showing The Weather Channel, Billy found himself spellbound by the reports even though the volume had been turned off. The images of past hurricanes and their damage were getting to be too much. He soon found Elijah standing so close that their arms and legs touched. Elijah too was beginning to get worried.

Dom and Orlando, however, were relishing in the excitement and party. Most of the patrons at the bar had recognized them all, but were treating them no different than other tourists. The atmosphere was laid back and casual. Billy shook his head wondering if it was perhaps the heat or the salt air of The Keys that caused sane people to act this way in the face of danger.

At about 10pm, Billy tugged on Dom's sleeve and pointed to the television. A report was showing Hurricane William on a direct route to The Keys. Landfall was predicted for 6pm the next day. Winds were stable at 90mph. Dom read the screen and looked into Billy's worried eyes. Tilting his head he wrapped his arms around Billy and said, "Oh Bills, it's just wind and rain. I'll protect you, trust me."

Billy pushed Dom away in anger. "Fuck you Dominic. This is insane. We need to get the hell out of here! I'm fucking leaving. I'm going to take the car and get the fuck out of this insanity!" He turned and stormed out of the bar. Most of the people who had witnessed Billy's tantrum just smirked, but a few smiled sympathetically at Dom.

Elijah ran out after Billy first. Dom grabbed Orlando by the arms and had to drag him out. They barely caught up with Billy and Elijah as they were pulling out of the parking lot. Throwing Orlando in the back, Dom jumped in behind the passenger seat. He leaned towards Billy in the driver's seat as he argued.

"Fucking hell Billy! If I'd known you were going to be such a pussy I would've sent you packing yesterday!"

Billy pulled off the road hitting the brakes hard. Turning to look at Dom his face was red with rage. "No one asked you to leave the fucking bar now did they?! I'll take you back right now before I leave! Shall I, Dominic?!"

Orlando and Elijah shared a worried look as Dom narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Finally he shook his head no, and sat back. Billy turned in his seat and hit the gas. No one said a word as they drove back to the house. As they drove, a light rain beginning to fall.

Billy parked in the driveway and got out of the car slamming the door shut. He stomped into the house and up to his room to pack. Orlando and Dom went to the kitchen for drinks and Elijah went to help Billy.

As Dom entered the kitchen he flipped on the small television on the counter. Of course it was on The Weather Channel. He glared at it and opened the fridge and grabbed two beers. He opened them and handed one to Orlando. "You know Orli, sometimes I swear Billy is a lot older than he claims!"

Orlando laughed as he turned his head to the television. In large red letters a bulletin was running along the bottom of the screen:

Hurricane William has been updated to a category 2. Sustained winds are now at 107mph.
Mandatory evacuation for The Florida Keys now in affect.


Together they both whispered, "Fuck." They leaned against the counter as more bad news ran across the screen.

~

Elijah peeked into Billy's room and found the Scot sitting on the edge of his bed, his head hung and his fingers running through his hair. "Bills, you ok?"

Billy looked up and saw the concern on the face of his young friend. "I'm just so fucking - I don't know Lij. Why does Dom have to be so damn difficult?"

Sitting next to his friend, Elijah took one of Billy's hands in his. "He wouldn't be Dom if he wasn't. Are you really leaving? I mean - without him?"

Squeezing Elijah's hand Billy shook his head. "No. How can I leave hi- … any of you behind?"

They sat quietly for a moment listening to the rain steadily getting harder. Elijah then asked softly, "You're in love with him aren't you?"

Before Billy could answer though, Dom and Orlando stormed into the room. Looking rather sheepish Dom said, "Um, listen Bills. You were right. We should have left this afternoon, but now - well we have a problem."

Thunder boomed ahead and lightening flashed, lighting up the spacious room. Billy and Elijah both jumped. Glaring at the duo, Elijah asked, "What's the problem?"

Orlando shifted from foot to foot, knowing he was going to catch a rash of shit for this. He spoke quietly. "Well, seems as though the storm is now a category 2."

Billy let go of Elijah's hand, closed his eyes and lay back on the bed afraid of what was coming.

Dom knew that grimace on Billy's face. "Yeah, and well that's not the bad news."

The thunder and lightening got louder and brighter the rain began to pelt the windows. Dom bit his lower lip and continued, "Yeah, so, they have called for mandatory evacuations, but..."

Elijah and Billy both looked at him wide eyed and asked in unison, "But WHAT!?"

Dom looked at Orlando and Orlando took it upon himself to give the ultimate bad news. "Seems as if they put out the mandatory evac order a wee bit too late. Highway 1 is flooding and it's expected to be closed with the hour. Looks like we have to stay now. Sorry, mates."