Fic

[http://users.livejournal.com/_doodle/]

Title: Acts: Unravelling (2/3)
(Acts part 1: Slow Perfection, can be found here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/angelbotticelli/21983.html )
Author: Botticelli Angel (angelbotticelli)
Rating: PG-13 - Swearing.
Pairing: DM/BB, EW/DM (and very slight BB/OB)
Feecback: Would be fantastic.
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I don't know them. All lies.
A/N: Sorry this part took so long, I have had real troubles getting to the point I am at now, where I am happy with this part. Thank you SO much to impasto, without who, this would be very crap. Thankies hunny for advising me honestly and going through re-write after re-write.



~*~

“Billy, you have to tell Dom,” Orlando’s voice cut through Billy’s empty thoughts and made him jump in his seat. When in the hell had Orlando sat down opposite him? If Billy wanted peace, he should have known better than to come to the communal hotel room where everyone was meeting before the premier. The fact it had been empty up until then didn’t count for much as it had been as busy as Piccadilly Circus for the last two days and would be until that evening.

After regaining his composure, Billy snorted. “What do I have to tell Dom exactly, Orlando?”

“How you feel. You can’t keep hiding this, he knows something’s wrong.”

“If he thought something was wrong, he would have said something,” Billy stated. He knew there was no use in arguing with Orlando over whether or not he had feelings, because Orlando had that look in his deep brown eyes that told Billy he knew exactly what was going on and no amount of acting was going to convince him otherwise. Orlando was much more perceptive than people gave him credit for. Either that or he had been chatting with Sir Ian, the guru of knowledge and fellowship gossip.

“He’s afraid, Billy,” Orlando replied softly.

“Of?” He found that hard to believe.

“That you don’t trust him any more.”

Another snort. “And why does he think that, Orli? Why hasn’t he said anything to me?”

“Dom says you used to tell him everything on set. And now you hardly say a word to him. You used to be inseparable in Wellington and you were always flying over to see him in L.A, but now you don’t. You have this pretence of things being alright, and they almost are, but you don’t visit him, you don’t tell him the things that count anymore.”

“Well, maybe of he pried himself away from Elijah for more than two minutes a day then I might,” Billy snapped bitterly before he could stop himself.

“See,” Orlando told him gently, not revelling in his victory over Billy’s mask. “You need to say something Billy, before…”

“Before?”

“Before things get any worse.”

“I don’t think things can get any worse Orli.”

“Billy, Dom isn’t going to do anything until you come to him. You need to make the first move.”

“There’s no move to be made. End of subject,” Billy told Orlando firmly, but he was having none of it.

“We’re not stupid. We can see through the act; we can see how you feel about him.”

“Him?” Billy almost squeaked, he had hoped so hard that they hadn’t caught on.

“Dom.”

A nervous laugh was out of Billy’s mouth before he could stop it. “What about Dom?”

“We know you’re in love with him. We haven’t said anything until now because we didn’t want upset you, but we’re worried about you Billy. You need to tell Dom how you feel about him, let him know what this is doing to you. Then you can try and work things out, get over him.”

“Orlando…” Billy whispered, on the edge of breaking. The others really had no idea. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can Billy. We’re all here for you. You just need to get up and go over to his room.”

“No, I don’t think I can get over Dom.” Billy’s voice was shaking, so near confessing all that he had kept secret, locked inside his heart for almost a year.

“I know you think that now, but give it some time, and I’m sure…”

“I slept with him,” Billy cut in, his voice so low that Orlando wasn't sure he didn’t imagine it.

“What?”

Billy couldn’t keep it in any longer, and finally broke down, the tears welling in his eyes and rolling down his pale cheeks as he confessed. “I slept with Dom.”

“Oh Billy…” Orlando breathed as Billy collapsed forward onto the table, face resting in the space created by his folded arms and shoulders shaking violently with his sobs.

“No one but me and Dom know…I don’t even think he told Elijah.”

“Billy…When? Why?” Orlando asked as he got up out of his seat and crouched down beside Billy, putting his arm around him the best he could.

Billy lifted his head from his arms, biting back his tears so he could speak. “The last month we were in New Zealand. Just before he decided that he would be moving to L.A and Elijah said he could live with him.” Billy paused and lowered his head, tears dropping onto the tabletop as he continued. “It was a Saturday night. We all went out and got completely smashed. He kissed me at the bar and we ended up back at his place, having sex on his living room floor. Even though I was drunk, it was what I had wanted for…God, I wanted Dom from the moment I met him and the closer we got, the more I wanted it. Him. And it was going fine, great in fact, until…”

“Until?” Orlando didn’t want to push, as this was obviously painful from Billy, never had he seen the cheery Scot so upset, so broken, but he needed to know to try and help.

“Until he came.” Billy’s head went back onto his arms as renewed sobs over whelmed him.

“Billy, what happened?”

“He said his name,” Billy managed to choke out. “He said Elijah’s name. He used me to try and get over what he felt for Elijah.”

Orlando knew there was nothing that he could say that would bring Billy any comfort. He had been harbouring this knowledge, love and pain for nearly a year and suffering it alone. So he simply sat down on the floor and pulled Billy down beside him, leaning his back against the wall, Orlando tugged Billy onto his lap where he wrapped his arms around the small frame that cried forlornly into his shoulder.

“I left straight away,” Billy continued. “And I didn’t see him till the Monday, up in Treebeard. He apologised, said it never should have happened, it was a drunken mistake. I agreed. By the end of the week, he had agreed to live in L.A with Elijah…I knew it was only a matter of time before they would be together.”

“Billy.” Orlando breathed. “Why didn’t you tell me? Anyone?”

“Couldn’t.” Billy choked out.

“Why didn’t you tell Dom how you felt?”

“He was so ashamed of it, of what happened between us. Then he was so happy in L.A, then he was with Elijah and he was even happier. I didn’t want to ruin that for him. I love him, I want him to be happy…even if it isn’t with me.”

“You are so strong Billy. You have been so strong doing this on your own.” Orlando placed a kiss atop Billy’s head. “But it’s okay now, I’m here. I’m going to get you through this. I promise, I promise.”

Billy sobbed brokenly into Orlando’s shoulder, letting out all the emotion that he had been keeping locked inside of him for nearly a year. “I love him, I love him so much.”

Orlando ran his hands up and down Billy’s back, attempting to sooth his violent trembling. “I know Billy, I know. I’m here now, I’m here.”

Billy was so lost in his pain and tears that he didn’t hear the hotel room door open, or see the brief glare Orlando shot in its direction as Dom and Elijah entered, hand in hand. They both looked around the seemingly empty room before noticing Billy cradled on Orlando’s lap in the back corner of the room by the small table. They both headed over, jokes ready and waiting on their tongues until they realised what was actually happening, and the state that Billy was in. Releasing Elijah’s hand, Dom dropped to the floor, crouched beside the pair, he spoke,

“Billy, what’s wrong?”

Recognising the voice, Billy simply burrowed his head further into Orlando’s chest, hoping that Dom would take the hint and leave him alone.

“Billy?” Elijah asked, his voice laced with concern.

“Orli, what’s going on?” Dom demanded. Never had he seen Billy like this, never.

Orlando bit back his natural response, this wasn’t about what he wanted to say, it was about Billy. “Can you leave us, guys, please.”

“Bills? What’s wrong? Billy, talk to me, please.” Dom pleaded.

“I said leave it, Dom.” Orlando warned, not able to keep the growl out of his voice. “I’ve got it covered.”

Dom felt the anger rising, “it doesn’t look very ‘covered’ to me.”

“Well it is. I’m taking care of Billy now.”

“Come on Dom.” Elijah said softly, as he placed a hand on Dom’s shoulder. “If Orli wants us to go, then we’ll go.”

“No.” Dom snapped, shrugging of Elijah’s hand. “I want to know what’s wrong with Billy and I want to make sure that he’s okay.”

“Dom, take a fucking hint.” Orlando snapped. “Leave.”

Dom ignored this and spoke directly to Billy. “Do you want me to leave Billy?”

“Yes,” Billy sniffed softly through the material of Orlando’s shirt.

“Alright,” Dom agreed, trying to keep the hurt he was feeling at being pushed away again from seeping into his voice. “If that’s what you want.”

“You know it’s what he wants. What’s for the best.” Orlando said as he watched Dom stand up, and Elijah take his hand once more.

“The best?”

“Yes, Dom,” Orlando paused. “I’ll catch you later.”

Billy whimpered loudly, clutching onto Orlando. “Don’t leave Orli, please, don’t leave me alone. I don’t want to be alone.”

“Shhh.” Orlando soothed, tightening his hold on Billy. “It’s alright Billy, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere, I’m not going.”

Dom stood in the doorway watching Orlando calm Billy, whispering soothing words to him, until Elijah tugged on his hand and pulled him out the room.

“Come on Dom, let’s go.”

~*~

Dom sunk down onto the bed and let out a long sigh. He hadn’t been able to get near Billy, not properly, all evening. It had been the worldwide premiere of Fellowship of the Ring, and despite all the messing around on the red carpet that had been expected of them, there had been nothing. Billy had done his part as a hobbit and played it up for the cameras, but anyone who knew him knew that it was an act, one that he had perfected for others a long time ago. Once he was off the carpet and inside the Odean, the mask was gone and he was away from the ‘happy couple’ as soon as possible.

During the screening, Dom hadn’t been able to stop himself from watching Billy. Desperate to know what was wrong with the man that had been the best friend he had ever had during the most amazing time of his life. Desperate to know why he had lost him. All he had seen was Orlando place himself in the seat beside Billy, separating him and Elijah from their fellow hobbit, and once the lights had dimmed Dom had noticed that Billy’s hand found its way to Orlando’s and there it remained for the whole film, their fingers entwined. Orlando leaning over and whispering in Billy’s ear on occasions, bringing the only genuine smiles that graced Billy’s lips that night. It had been the same all over again at the post-premier party. Billy and Orlando hidden in the corner, Orlando staying a hell of a lot soberer than anyone expected from him, the pair only coming out to socialise when they had to, small smiles pulling at their lips as hands brushed and words were whispered in ears.

Dom wanted to know what the hell had happened to Billy. And more importantly, why was Orlando suddenly the only thing that Billy could see. Dom knew he sounded irrational and jealous, and he shouldn’t be, because he had Elijah, but still, he felt possessive of Billy. His Pippin. His Billy.

“He’s in love with you,” Elijah cut into Dom’s thoughts from where he stood across the room, removing his jacket. “You know that, right?”

“What are you talking about Lij?” Dom asked sitting up, his brow furrowed.

“He’s in love with you,” Elijah said again to Dom, as if his meaning were as plain as day. Which it was, to anyone who wasn’t Dom.

“Who?”

“Billy,” Elijah answered, hanging his jacked over the back of a chair with a sigh.

“Billy?” Dom’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Billy.” Elijah fought hard to keep the edge out of his voice.

“You’re joking right?” Dom asked, hoping that Elijah was playing with him in some really messed up way.

Elijah simply shook his head, afraid of what might come out if he opened his mouth.

“What do you mean, he’s in love with me?”

“I mean, he’s in love with you. Has been for months, since New Zealand.” Elijah lost his internal battle and the words came out harsh and sharp. How in the hell had Dom not known? He was supposed to know Billy better than the rest of them put together.

“That’s not possible, I mean…it’s not. It’s Billy. He can’t be,” Dom stuttered, trying to reason more to himself than Elijah.

“Everyone can see it Dom, everyone but you!” Elijah shouted, Dom’s denial causing him to lose what little remnants of control he had left.

“Yeah, because I’m the only sane one around here.”

“The only blind one, Dom,” Elijah muttered before stating, “it’s obvious.”

“Then why hasn’t he said anything?” Dom exclaimed in triumph, as if it proved that Billy didn’t love him.

Elijah sighed, his temper lessening. “Because he’s Billy.”

“What kind of an answer is that?”

“He loves you Dom. He wants you to be happy,” Elijah told him softly. He knew the kind of love that Billy felt, but he couldn’t help wonder if Dom had ever had it, because in his heart Elijah knew that he didn’t have it with him. “If that means not saying anything, letting you be with me in ignorant bliss, then that’s what he’ll do. He won’t ruin the happiness he thinks you have. He would rather lie and hurt everyday than see you unhappy. That is how much he loves you.”

Dom sat, stunned, with his mouth wide open, unable to say anything. That’s when Elijah knew he didn’t feel the same. Dom didn’t understand how Billy felt, not yet.

Elijah continued. “He doesn’t realise that you’re not happy with me, that you haven’t found it.”

“Found what?”

“That kind of love.”

“I have. I love you.” Dom told him firmly.

“Do you understand why Billy does it?” Elijah pressed. “Would you give me up if you thought it would make me happy?”

“No, Lij. I could never give you up. I. Love. You.” Dom answered truthfully.

Elijah sighed. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to hate Dom. He wanted to feel the burn build inside of him, so he could lose his temper and shout obscenities at Dom until he felt the pain go away, until he could let go. But he couldn’t. This had started out about Billy, but had evolved into something more. Yes, Billy was the beginning, but Dom was the end. Through all his professing of love, Dom had never felt as strongly for Elijah as he had for Dom. No, Elijah had been living with this for too long. It was time to let go and move on. To find someone who could love him in return with the kind of strength that both he and Billy loved Dom with.

Dom read something in Elijah’s face that he knew did not mean all was well. “Lij? Elijah?”

“Dom…I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Elijah said, his voice small and pained.

“This?” Dom questioned, unsure as to where this was leading.

“Us.”

“Us? What?” Dom was having trouble grasping where this was going. “What do you mean, us?”

“I think it’s time that we were over Dom.”

“Over?” Dom whispered.

“You gave up so much to be with me. I thought it would be enough, but it isn’t.” Elijah said softly, his voice broken.

“I need you Lij. I love you.”

“Not enough.” Elijah bit back the tears that filled his eyes, stopping them from becoming the sobs that welled up inside of him. “Go to him.”

“No! I’m not leaving you Lij.”

“No. I’m leaving you. Go to Billy.”

“Why? To prove you right?”

“No. Go to him because you want him.”

“I don’t want him. I want you.” Dom told him firmly.

Elijah shook his head. “Dom, you cannot imagine how much it hurts me to do this. To say this. I don’t want to. I don’t want to give you up, but I don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No I don’t Dom!” Elijah shouted, the lost anger starting to rise. “I can’t be with you because of him! You can’t love me the way I love you because of Billy. I’m living in his shadow!”

“No, you’re wrong.”

“I’m not wrong, Dom! You mope for days when he doesn’t call, you as good as throw tantrums when he won’t visit. You hate it when you find out he’s been dating….Fuck, I thought you were going to kill Orli tonight for being with Billy. You may not want to admit it, but you feel for Billy. You feel for him and you can’t love me because of it. You chose me over Billy and you regret it.”

“I will never regret being with you. You are all that I wanted. All that I want.”

Elijah shook his head, a few of the tears that he promised he wouldn’t cry falling, fuelling the fire in him. “Maybe that was true one day Dom, but not any more.”

“Elijah, please. Don’t do this.”

“I have to…I can’t carry on this way. I will always love you Dom. I hope that you can be happy one day. I’m sorry.” Grabbing his jacket from the chair, Elijah fled from the hotel room, his footfalls echoing down the hall as he ran. Leaving Dom stood alone, angry, hurt and confused.

~*~

end