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fellowshippers2004-02-01 02:13 pm
aduialelin.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2004-02-01 02:13 pm
Broken Pavement 2/4
Broken Pavement 2/4
By![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
autumnlecroix
Monaboyd
Rated R
Disclaimer: I intend no harm to any of the actors mentioned within this story. I don't know them, and I don't know anything about this. This is purely fiction and I am making no profit from this.
Summary: The laughs and hardships Dom and Billy face as friends, morphing into something more. The challenges they face trying to cope with what their relationship is changing in to. (In this particular chapter, the boys go bungee jumping and play a nice friendly game of poker.)
~~Each part is a mini story that is part of the whole mapping the journey that two friends make.
Author's notes: This story is completed. It's rather long, hence why I broke it up into 4 parts.
Previous part can be found here.
Billy woke up the next morning with a rich warm smell permeating the flat. He sat up in bed and scratched his messy head. Finally brave enough to face the cold room out from under his blankets, he stood up fully out of bed and arched his back stretching. Evidence of morning tenting out proudly in his boxers. He groaned loudly and without really thinking of anyone in the house, he stumbled his way to the bathroom to pee.
It wouldn’t have mattered if Dom saw him or not because at that point in time, Billy didn’t care about much else aside from peeing. Arching his body over the bowl, he groaned loudly and contently as he finally released what had apparently been there for quite some time.
When Billy finished, there was a soft rapping at the bathroom door, and Dom poked his head in. “Good morning, mate. As soon as you’re ready, I made breakfast downstairs.”
“mmmThanksmmm” Billy muttered in reply. “mmmShowermmm”
Dom chuckled softly and nodded. “Okay man, I’ll keep a plate warm for you and a nice cup of coffee.”
Dom trotted off down the hall leaving Billy to take his shower. When he was done, he got dressed and finally wondered downstairs and was able to see on full-scale what had created that wonderful smell. Lavish amounts of toast, eggs, sausage, cakes, and porridge were laid out on the small table in the kitchen. It looked like Dom had cooked for about ten people instead of two.
A simple “wow” was all Billy could manage, his eyes big at the meal.
Dom grinned, glowing from his friend’s approval of his efforts. “Well,” he scratched the back of his head nervously, “I know this is a lot of food, but I figured we could bring whatever we didn’t eat over to Elwood and the elf. Besides, what I’ve got planned for us today, we’re going to need all the energy we can get.” He gave Billy a broad toothy grin, crooked jaw even more crooked then before.
Billy eyed Dom suspiciously. “Plans? Today?” He cautiously pulled up a chair to the overstuffed table and grabbed a plate that Dom had set to the side. “Unless it involves lots of duff time, then you can count me out.”
Dom joined Billy at the table, taking the remaining plate that had been set out. “Awe, come on Billy! This is going to be fun!”
Between grabbing forkfuls of egg and sausage, Billy shot Dom a glance. “And what, pray tell, would “this” be?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Well, I, uh, sort of talked to the elf this morning to see what he and Elwood would be up to and he said that they were going to go bungee jumping so I kind of told them to maybe sign us up.” Dom suddenly found the food on the table more interesting than Billy.
“WHAT?? Bungee jumping? No! Absolutely NOT! Are you out of your bloody MIND?” Billy hollered at Dom. “You really ARE a fucking nutter! Somebody should LOCK you two up for thinking up such UNBELIEVABLE things to do on one’s day off!!!”
“But Bill-eeeee,” Dom said, turning on the whining works, “it’ll be fun!! And just think! You’ll be able to tell people you jumped off a building!”
“For Christ’s’ sake, Dom! That’s not exactly a normal conversation people have. ‘What did you do today, Billy?’ ‘Oh, not much, just jumped off a few buildings as usual.’” Billy said, mocking a conversation with himself.
Dom looked at him full on and made his eyes bigger and begging. “Please?”
Billy shook his head and looked at the food again. “Absolutely not.”
Dom now started to quiver his lower lip and made his eyes go glassy. “Please?”
Billy squinched his eyes shut, trying to ignore his whimpering whining friend. “No.” he said firmly.
Dom not got out of the chair and grabbed Billy from behind hugging him tightly. “Please?”
“OH FOR FUCKS SAKE, OKAY!!! I’LL GO!” Billy relented, then added more calmly, “but there’s no promises that I’ll actually jump. If anything, I’m going to support you and Orlando’s insane habits.”
Dom released Billy and began to jump around the kitchen. “YEAH!!!!”
“Oh,” Billy scolded gently. “Eat your breakfast, you nutter.”
Dom grinned and returned to the table to do as Billy said, scooping food into his mouth as thought he were working against the clock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four men stood on a rather tall bridge and looked off warily. “I can’t believe you two are fucking doing this, man. Dude, this is totally insane.” Elijah said with his twangy American accent.
Orlando moved away from the gentleman helping him to secure his jumping harness and walked over to Elijah, embracing the kid in what looked like a hug, but turned out to be a giant noogie.
“HEY! CUT IT OUT!” Elijah hollered while worming his way out of Orlando’s grasp.
“Okay, are you two SURE you want to be doing this?” Billy asked for what had to be the eleventh time since they had got there.
“Of course we are, Pip.” Dom said proudly, draping an arm over Orlando’s shoulders.
“Yup. Hobbit’s right. We’re going to have a blast. It’s a shame you two chickens won’t be joining us.”
“Whatever, Orlando. Us two chickens will be going home in one piece tonight, which is more than we can say about you.” Elijah said rolling his eyes.
Orlando turned his attention to the person now strapped to his back. “Ready, man?”
“Hell yes I am. Let’s do it!” Dom answered energetically.
“Okay then.” Orlando looked to the person who was regulating this entire little mission thing. “Can we jump yet?”
The man was tightening a few ropes and knots and looked up to the double form standing, bouncing up and down nervously, twitching slightly. He couldn’t help but smile. From his perspective, the front one seemed to be a lot more gung-ho about this than the back one. “Yes, in just one moment. I just need to finish securing these ropes, etc. I’ll give you the thumbs up in just one minute.” The man returned to double checking all the harnesses and securing the knots for a second and third time. Finally he stood up and walked over to the double form. “Okay you two. If you want to back out, now’s the time. Otherwise, you’re free to jump. Sure you want to do this?”
“You bet we are!” Orlando pipped excitedly.
Dom, not quite as enthusiastic, nodded. “Aye, I’m ready.”
“Okay then, remember what I told you, blah blah blah.” Or at least that's what Dom and Orlando heard through their adreneline rattled minds.
And with that, the DomOrlando entity jumped off the bridge and went soaring to the depths below. Although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, for just a split second, Billy was afraid that the rope was going to give and that two of his best friends wouldn’t snap back up to safety. But, they did, screaming, hootin’ and hollering the entire way.
For a fleeting second, Billy wished that he were strapped to one of them, flying freely thought the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was much later that evening and Dom and Billy sat sacked out on Billy’s couch, both facing the tele. Not really engrossed in what was on, but not really talking, they just sat there sipping their beers and relaxed. Finally after some time, Billy turned to look at Dom.
“I thought you were afraid of heights.” He said gently, watching his friend to gauge his reaction, colorful light splaying across his face.
“I was…am.” Dom answered, now facing Billy. “But there’s just some things in life that need to be conquered. I felt this was one of them.” Dom nodded as if he were agreeing with what he had just said.
“Were you scared?”
Dom smiled. “Honestly?” He chuckled. “I was shaking like a leaf. Orlando had to have noticed. I’m lucky I didn’t piss my pants.” They both laughed. “So yes, in answer to your question, I was terrified.”
“So why did you do it? That was utterly crazy. I mean, it looked like a lot of fun, but fuck! That was crazy!”
“You now what? It was fun. It was a lot of fun, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I would have let my fear get the best of me, then I would have missed out on that fun. There are some things in this life that you just need to face and laugh at, or at least conquer them the best you can.” Dom paused, then added softer. “We’ve all got those fears.”
Billy nodded, thought not quite sure what Dom was alluding to when he said everyone had those fears. Of course everyone is afraid of something, but the way Dom said it made Billy know there was a double meaning. They lapsed into another long silence, watching the TV, but not really watching it at the same time. Finally Dom spoke up again.
“Billy, what are you afraid of?” Dom wasn’t looking at Billy, but his tone suggested he didn’t mean something as trivial as heights, spiders, or something light like that.
Billy took a deep sigh and leaned back against the couch. “What am I afraid of?” Billy looked up at the ceiling and exhaled. “I don’t know, I guess I’m afraid of failure.” I mean, why else would I have been staying up until 2 and 3 in the morning if I wasn’t afraid of failing the next day, aye?”
Dom nodded thoughtfully, thought still not looking at Billy. “I’m afraid of being alone.” He whispered more to his beer then to Billy. Finally looking at his friend out of the corner of his eye.
Billy’s face melted into a warm smile as he scooted closer to his friend. “Dom my friend, you will never be alone. Trust me. You’re they type of person that attracts people magnetically.”
Dom shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. I just, I see these old men in the restaurant sometimes or the bar and they’re totally alone. It kind of freaks me out because I think my greatest fear of all is turning into one of those men. Sitting totally alone on the barstool slumped over a glass of luke-warm whiskey.”
“Dom,” Billy’s voice added gently, trying to soothe his friend with his words. “I promise you that you will never be alone. Really. You will always be surrounded by people that love you. I can’t believe that you would ever think that you could be alone.” Billy smiled warmly.
Dom looked at Billy full on, trapping his eyes with his own. “I can’t believe you think you will fail.” Raising an eyebrow challenging.
Billy took a deep breath and sighed. “Fair enough. To each his own, eh?”
“Aye.” Dom said quietly. There was a long pause of silence where neither one was looking at the television, but no words were spoken. They just sat there next to each other taking slow drinks from their bottles. Finishing his off, Dom set it on the coffee table in front of him and got up. “I’m going to bed, Billy. Goodnight.” And he walked off down the hall up the stairs.
“Goodnight, Dom.” Billy called after him, not sure if he had even heard him or not.
Billy sat on the couch a long while after Dom had gone upstairs pondering what had gone wrong. The day had been a success in his opinion. Dom got to jump and go out with the group afterwards, so why the sudden change in mood? He almost seemed sullen, but not quite. Perhaps more melancholy then sullen.
Finishing up his beer, Billy got up off the couch and went to Dom’s room.
Without knocking, he opened the door and walked into the black room, careful to step around any black blobs that he saw while navigating to Dom’s bed. Seeing Dom’s body on the other side of the bed Billy laid down on top of the covers and stared up at the ceiling.
“You’re not going to be alone, you know.” He said finally, his voice soft and gentle.
“I know.” Came Dom’s soft reply after a long break. They listened to each other’s breathing for quite some time before Dom spoke again. “You’re not going to fail, you know.”
“I know.” Came Billy’s reply, slightly sooner then Dom’s. “I’m sorry.” He whispered softly. “I really am. I am so sorry.”
Dom rolled over in his bed and wrapped his arms around Billy. He didn’t have a shirt on and his skin was radiating hot heat. “I know.” He said, just as soft. “Besides, I’ve already forgiven you. You just need to forgive yourself.”
Billy nodded into Dom’s arms, but unable to form any words. Hot tears caressed his cheek as he settled into Dom’s arms deeper. “Thanks for being here.” Billy whispered, not sure if Dom was awake or not, for his breathing had settled into a deeper rhythm.
“Mmm” Dom mumbled into Billy’s neck.
Billy lie awake for quite some time after that lying on top of Dom’s covers listening to his breathing. Dom’s arms were still securely around his body and his tears had finally subsided. He knew he had conquered his problem, mostly thanks to Dom’s help, so he couldn’t help but wonder: what next?
Where do we go from here?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Billy looked at the calendar and realized that it had been 3 weeks since Dom had taken up residence in Billy’s spare bedroom. Although he would never admit it to Dom, he thought it was kind of nice to have a roommate. They really hadn’t run into too many problems except who was the last to eat the crisps and put the empty bag in the drawer and who had drank the last beer and didn’t replace the box.
Every morning that they had off, Billy would wake up to a lavish breakfast set out for them on the table, and every morning they had feet, hot coffee would be ready and waiting for whoever was last to wake up.
They were best friends before all of this happened, but in some ways, this brought the two of them closer. Billy’s house had turned into this semi-bachelor’s pad. Monday and Thursday nights had turned into poker night among the gang and everyone would meet over at Billy’s flat and play poker until much too late considering the majority of the players needed to get up the next morning at 4:30.
Dom would always call Billy when he was going to the grocery store to see if he wanted anything and Billy would in turn, do the same. They had come to be known as the “domesticated hobbits” among their friends, though neither one of them really minded it. A couple times one of the guys would ask Billy or Dom why Dom had up and moved in with Billy, though the two of them would brush it off saying that two hobbits were better than one. Dom would cook and Billy would clean. It seemed to be working out, so why not? There was never any mention of the real reason Dom had moved in, or between them either.
Dom never brought up Billy’s little breakdown and Billy never brought up Dom’s fear that he had confessed to him. Neither one of them had mentioned the night Billy slept on top of Dom’s bed, but they never really thought anything strange of it. They were simply best friends comforting each other, right?
Best friends. Through thick and thin.
So what now?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Billy Billy Billy Billy Billy Billy Bill-“
“Orlando!” Billy shouted into his mobile. “I know my name! Shut the fuck up!”
“-llyyyyyyy”
Billy groaned. “Can I help you, elfboy?”
“I’m at the grocery store grabbing beer for tonight’s game. Was wondering if you and domestic boy wanted me to pick anything else up while I was here. Lube perhaps?”
“Fuck you.”
“No, wouldn’t want to make Dom jealous.”
Billy rolled his eyes. This kind of banter had become a regular occurrence among the hobbits and Orli. They all knew Billy and Dom were just friends, but it was really too good of a situation not to exploit, so Billy and Dom got barraged with endless harassment from the guys. “I don’t know, I’m sure if you borrowed me for an evening he wouldn’t mind.”
“Ooh, tempting.”
“Crisps. Pick up some crisps, and while you’re at it, get something aside from just plain beer, will you? Whiskey would be nice. You lot drank up all I had left last Monday and I haven’t had a chance to replace it yet.”
“No problem. I’ll be there in 30.”
“Okay, Orlando. See you then.” Billy said, hanging up his mobile.
Dom walked into the kitchen behind Billy with cards in hand and a box of chips. “Who was that on the phone?”
“Orlando. He’s stopping at the grocery store on his way here to pick up crisps and beer, so he’ll be a couple minutes late, but Elijah and Astin should be here any minute, as will Bean and Viggo.”
“Beanie and Viggo are playing tonight? Wow. Hobbits vs. Elf vs. Humans. I predict this will get ugly.” Dom jested as he set his load down on the table.
Billy nodded his agreement. “Aye, should be a lot of fun.” Billy paused. “Oh, and Dommie?”
“Yes, Billy?”
“Can you try NOT to bet my possessions tonight? I would rather like to keep my stuff in its rightful place, with its rightful owner.” Billy stressed the ‘rightful’ of its rightful owner and poked Dom in the chest. “Bet my stuff, and I’ll turn you into one of my possessions and bet you instead.”
Dom was about to answer Billy with some sort of witty comeback, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Dom headed towards the door and called over his shoulder, “I dare you Boyd! I bloody dare you!”
Billy laughed and rolled his eyes, finishing up placing the plastic cups and snack platter out. Dom opened the door and greeted Sean and Elijah.
“Hey Lucy, where’s Ricky?” Elijah asked, smirking.
“Fuck you, Ethel. He’s in the kitchen getting ready. How are you and Fred this evening?” Dom said sarcastically.
“Hey, keep me out of this. I haven’t mocked you two once.” Sean cut in defensively.
Dom opened the door further to let his two friends come in and eyed Sean suspiciously. “Right. Not yet you haven’t.” Dom narrowed his eyes into a glare, then broke into a bright smile. “So are you two ready to lose all your money tonight?”
“Christine put a $300 limit on me tonight. I’m not allowed to lose anymore then that or it’ll be the couch for a week.”
Elijah shoved Sean aside and strolled into the kitchen to grab a cold beer. “Some of us don’t plan on losing anything at all. And some of us are willing to risk a little more than $300 to reap the benefits of the game.”
“You’re right, Elijah. Some of us would be me. I plan on kicking all of your guy’s asses tonight.” Billy added smugly.
“Are Beanie and Viggo still planning on coming?” Dom interjected.
“As far as I know.” Sean answered.
“Then none of us can count on winning. You know they’ll clean our clocks and take us for all we’re worth.”
Elijah hung his head in mock shame and sighed. “Aye, those smelly human’s cheat. Let’s just hope Orlando doesn’t get quite as drunk as he did last time so he doesn’t willingly bet his car after he loses everything else.”
“What, you don’t WANT him to do that?” Dom chided. “I thought that was rather amusing. Especially watching him try and get it back from Viggo the next day when he sobered up.”
“Nobody will be betting ANYTHING aside from money tonight!” Billy added sternly, then shot a more pointed glare at Dom. “And that means YOU, Dominic.”
“Ooooh, trouble in paradise, eh Sean?” Elijah teased, nudging Sean in the ribs.
“Fuck off, Lij.” Dom snapped.
“Are you Hobbits quite through yet?” A new voice cut in from behind the group. Four heads turned and watched Viggo and Bean walk into the small apartment.
“Right, because we’re ready to take all your money again.” Bean added.
“Quite right, Sean. I always enjoy playing with the hobbits and prissy. We can almost count on coming home with weighted down pockets.” Viggo said smugly.
“Weighted down with coal.” Dom muttered.
“What was that, Hobbit? I didn’t quite catch that.” Bean snickered.
“Then maybe you need to turn up you’re hearing aid.” Dom shot back.
“Oooh, they’re getting feisty Viggo, think we can handle them?”
“No Sean, I think the appropriate question here would be, do you think they can handle US?” Viggo answered.
“Good call, Vig. Good call.”
“Will you two get off your high horses and help us set up?” Sean asked softly. “We’ve got a full party tonight, so we need to make some more room around the table.”
“Right.” Billy added. “Orlando called me about 20 minutes ago saying he was stopping at the grocery store to pick some stuff up, so he should be right over in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good then. Should we play a quick game before he gets here?” Elijah asked.
“Ooh, kids’ ready to lose his money early?” Bean teased.
“Mr. Bean, by the time we’re through with you tonight, you’ll need to dip into your retirement to pay us all we’ve won.” Elijah snapped back.
“Such big words from such a small man.”
“Say that again when you’ve lost all your money.” Elijah added with a smug grin on his face.
“Gentleman!” Billy called. “Will you two shut up and kindly sit around the table with the rest of us so Astin can deal out the cards?”
Grabbing the two leftover chairs, Elijah and Sean sat down; each across from each other blazing challenging glaring looks upon each other. The cards had finally been laid out and the chips were tossed.
The games had begun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours and several cases of liquor later, 5 drunk men and 2 not so drunk men sat around Billy’s kitchen table cradling their cards making sure no one else could see their hands.
“Ante up.” Astin called whilst organizing the rest of the deck in his hands. “Who needs cards?”
Sean took a look around the table to gauge who needed new cards and who was content with what they had. Being one of the two men who wasn’t completely plastered, he was now able to gauge who felt confident with their hand and who didn’t, as the poker faces began to melt away with more and more alcohol.
“I need two, Astin.” Dom said with a broad grin on his face. Judging from his toothy smile and over animated movements, Sean could tell that he had a good hand and was just itching to show it off. Beanie and Viggo on the other hand were still able to maintain a rather stoic appearance so Sean had no clue what kind of hands they had. Beanie was an excellent bluffer and Viggo always helped to set him up. Although what they were doing wasn’t technically cheating, when in pairs, they were defiantly deadly together. Sean was sure that they had made an agreement before hand to split their winnings afterwards, seeing as quite often one would sacrifice themself for the other in order to secure the pot.
Sean tossed Dom his two cards and watched him throw his previous two away. Seeing as how his grin was even wider now, Sean couldn’t help but roll his eyes a little. He really was as clear as glass.
Looking around the table, Sean cast his look to Bean and Viggo. “Do you two need any cards?” Viggo shook his head.
“Just one for me, dealer.” Sean said, tossing a card in his pile away, grabbing the one Sean tossed out on the table for him.
“Orlando?” Sean looked at the elf. Although he had a slightly better poker face than Elijah and Dom, he still was pretty easy to read. He chewed on the bottom corner of his lip. A sure sign that his hand sucked.
“Five.” Orlando grumbled, throwing all the cards in his hand down on the table in an exasperated manner.
Bean leaned into Viggo to pretend to whisper something, but was doing it in such an exasperated manner that everyone was meant to see and hear what he was doing. “Vig, I think Prissy’s got his pants in a tangle. Think he’s mad that he’s bet away his manicure money?”
“Fuck you, smelly human!” Orlando snapped, taking the offered cards from Sean’s hand.
“Elijah? Billy?”
“None for me, mate.” Billy said, brow furrowing slightly while looking intently at his hand. Billy wasn’t necessarily a bad poker player; he just wasn’t a brave one. Infact, he was much like Sean himself. Never betting too much, never losing too much.
“I want three.” Elijah cut in, pulling three cards out of his hand and tossing them aside.
“Okay then.” Sean handed Elijah his cards and grabbed his own deck. “Dealer takes two.” And he preformed the same ritual on himself.
“Has everybody ante’d up?” Sean asked, looking around the table watching his comrades focusing on their cards. He caught Viggo and Bean sharing a sly glance and assumed they were up to something—again.
Everyone around the table nodded and he grabbed two chips from his pile and tossed them in the middle. “Alright. I’m throwing in $10.”
Everyone from around the table took two chips out of their pile and tossed them in the center. By now, everyone’s piles had either grown significantly, or shrunk dramatically. Billy’s pile was the only one who had remained relatively the same. Viggo and Bean obviously had much of the winnings, but Dom wasn’t too far behind with his pile. Rather predictably, Elijah had over bet and lost much of his rather quickly (with Orlando not too far behind) while Billy and Sean were smart, playing their cards cautiously, neither losing a significant amount, nor gaining it.
“I see your $10, and raise you $50.” Elijah said with a cocky smile, throwing about a green chip into the pot. Sean just rolled his eyes. The kid obviously had shit for a hand, but was the worst bluffer in the world. One would think that with all his supposed acting skills he would be a better poker player. Obviously not.
“I call.” Dom said, tossing his $50 chip into the pot.
“Ditto.” Orlando added, throwing in his chip.
“I fold.” Billy said, throwing his cards in the center, face down.
“Me too.” Sean replied, repeating Billy’s actions.
Viggo casually grabbed the green chip, and grabbed two yellow ones. “I see your bet, and raise you $200.” He said gently, tossing his chips in the center.
Bean threw in his chips in the pile while watching Dom and Elijah intently. “I call.”
Elijah nodded and added the additional $200 into the pot. Orlando did the same, leaving him with one yellow chip left.
Dom could barely contain himself. “I see you’re $200, and raise you another $500.” He said, throwing 5 additional yellow chips into the pot. He only had 7 yellow chips remaining, and 2 green ones.
“Too rich for my blood.” Orlando whined, throwing his cards down on the table, getting up to go for another beer.
Before making his next move, Bean glanced over at Elijah trying to gauge what he would do. Astin had to keep from sniggering. Elijah had already reached into his pile and grabbed the 5 additional yellow chips before waiting to see what Bean would do. Smugly smiling to himself, Bean grabbed the chips and threw them into the pile. “I call.”
“I call.” Elijah said, throwing hips chips in the pile.
Viggo looked at Bean before throwing his chips into the pile. Though Sean hadn’t pinned down what the exact mannerism was yet, he knew they had some sort of sign as to whether the other should call, raise, or fold. Damn cheaters.
“Well, we’ve got quite the little pot going here. Four remain. Shall we just end it like this and show each other our cards, or should we make this a little more interesting?” Sean said, looking at his cards rather then the other two players. “I don’t know about you gentleman, but I could use a new car.” He said teasingly, looking at Orlando. “Too bad Prissy had to fold.”
“Fuck you, Smelly Human.” Orlando shot back, throwing the cap of his beer at Bean.
“Yes!” Elijah added enthusiastically. “Let’s make this interesting.”
“What exactly were you thinking, Beanie?” Dom asked, interests clearly piqued.
“Oh, I don’t know, It’s getting late and most of the table can’t afford to play anymore seeing as Viggo and I have the majority of the winnings, so let’s make this the last game. If you and Elijah can call, Viggo and I will throw our entire pot in and the winner takes all, no questions asked.”
Dom’s eyes had practically fallen out of his head. He was indeed drunk, but sober enough to realize that this was quite possibly the best thing that had happened to him all evening. Sean was no fool, but Dom’s hand must have been pretty spectacular to warrant such a reaction. But maybe that’s what Sean and Viggo wanted…. Dom looked frantically from his pile, to Elijah’s. Together, they didn’t even have half of one of Bean or Viggo’s piles.
“Billy, I’m borrowing your money.” Dom said while using his arm to sweep Billy’s remaining chips into his own pile, making it at least a little closer to what he needed.
Elijah made an exasperated sigh and threw his cards down. “Nope, not tonight gentleman. I fold. I can’t afford this.”
“Okay Dom, you’re almost there. Do you have anything else you can throw out to match my pile?” Bean asked, pushing his pile into the center.
Dom frantically looked around the table and then to Billy’s appt. He chewed the bottom of his lip nervously and cast a frantic glance to Billy.
“Don’t even fucking think about it Monaghan.” Billy warned. “What did I tell you earlier about betting my possessions?”
Suddenly Dom’s eyes flashed with some sort of wicked idea. He pushed his pile into the middle and grinned widely.
“That’s not enough Dom, what else do you have to add?” Sean challenged.
“One hobbit.” He answered confidently.
Viggo arched an eyebrow and looked at Dom confused. “You’re betting yourself?”
“No.” Dom said, folding his arms across his chest, a smile plying at his lips. “I’m throwing Billy into the pot.”
“’THE FUCK??” Billy shouted, jumping back from the table. “You can’t bet ME!!”
“You said not to bet you’re possessions, but you never said not to bet yourself.”
“I’m not your goddamned possession, Dominic!” Billy shouted, face flushing red.
“You could have fooled us.” Elijah muttered beneath his breath.
Billy shot a callous look at Elijah. “That’s enough out of you, Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Billy sat back down in his chair and folded his arms across his chest in a final matter. “No. You cannot bet me. This is my house. My table. My…my…NO! You cannot bet me! That is utterly ridiculous.”
“I don’t know.” Bean added. “If he agrees to it, I’ll allow it, and show the cards. If not, you fold, and Viggo and I win.”
Dom shot at pleading glance at Billy. “Please, trust me. I wouldn’t be doing this if I weren’t 100% sure about this.”
“Yes you would, Monaghan, and you and I both know it.” Billy grumbled, frowning deeply.
“Just trust me. I promise you, you won’t have to be the Human’s slave. Trust Me.” He urged again.
Internally debating, Billy heaved a sigh. “You owe me so fucking huge for this, Monaghan.”
Dom could barely contain his squeal and grinned. “Okay, Bean. He agrees. Show your cards.”
One by one, Sean laid his cards down on the table. 8 of hearts, 9 of hearts, 10 of hearts, jack of hearts, and the queen of hearts. A straight flush, almost unbeatable.
Almost.
With a smug grin, Sean started sweeping his arms around the pile and began pulling it to himself. “A hobbit slave Viggo, what are we going to do with him?”
Billy eyes shot fury and fire towards Dominic. “You are so fucking kicked out.” He grumbled.
Dominic held up one hand and wagged it back and forth. “Uh uh uh, gentleman. So fast to collect your winnings when you haven’t even seen my hand.”
“He’s got a flush, Hobbit. There’s only one hand that can beat that.” Viggo said, looking at Dom intently.
“Exactly.” Dom said proudly, fanning his cards out in front of his friends.
10 of spades, jack of spades, queen of spades, king of spades, and the ace of spades. A royal flush.
Bean flew back in his chair, jaw dropped. “Holy shite, I’ve never seen anyone get a Royal Flush before.”
“Wow. Where did you pull that out of, Monaghan, you’re ass?” Orlando asked, clearly shocked by Dom’s hand.
“I uh…you can stay?” Billy said, still awestruck. “And I do believe a fair chunk of that pile is mine.” He said, reaching into the center and pulling out what Dom had previously stole, plus an extra few yellow chips. Dom shot him a dirty glance. “For mental unrest, Dom. I was quite worried there for a moment. I feel it is dually deserved.”
Dom sat back in his chair and folded his arms behind his head. “I,” he said smugly, “am god.”
Sean cocked his eyebrow and looked at his gloating friend. “I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I would say that you’re damned lucky.”
“Dude, I honestly don’t care what a royal flush is. All I’m happy about is for once, the humans didn’t take home everything.” Elijah said, gathering his things up and throwing his things getting ready to leave.
Sean reached into the satchel at his side and pulled out all the cash from inside, divvying up what was inside giving it to whoever had leftover chips.
The only two people aside from Dom who were leaving non-empty handed were Sean and Elijah. Sean had about $400 left and Elijah had $75. All the rest he handed to Dom.
“Good game, gentleman. Losing was almost worth it to see that Royal flush.” Viggo said, gently pulling away from the table. “Fantastic.”
“I don’t know, Vig. I’m still hurting over losing $2000 to hobbit boy over there.”
“Next time, Bean.” Viggo said, patting Bean’s shoulder with his hand. “We’ll get them next time.” He grabbed his jacket and started heading for the door. “Besides, with as much as we’ve taken from them in the past, it’s only fair that they win this time.”
Bean just rolled his eyes and followed his friend out the door. “See you tomorrow, gentleman.” Bean called over his shoulder, following Viggo out to the car.
“Yah, thanks for the evening. Christine will be happy that I came home $100 ahead for once.” Sean said, taking one last swig of his beer and getting up. “As always, it was a pleasure.”
“See you tomorrow, Sean!” Billy called, while picking up various bottles and garbage and throwing them away.
“I’m still pissed that I lost so much.” Elijah whined, following Sean to his car.
“Oh shut up. At least you’re leaving with something. I’m going home empty handed...as usual.” Orlando interjected, following Elijah and Sean out the door. “See you tomorrow, guys!” He called to Billy and Dom while he walked out the door.
The apartment was now empty and rather quiet compared to what it had been not 10 minutes earlier.
Dom got up out of his chair and mused around helping Billy clean up. He hadn’t said much since he got his royal flush.
“How did you do it, Dom?” Billy finally asked.
“Do what?” He started picking the chips up off the table and putting them in their proper slots in the tray.
“The cards. The royal flush. The odds of getting one of those are like, one in a billion. I just, I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I, Billy. Neither can I.” Billy suddenly started laughing. “What’s so funny?” Dom asked.
“I’m still mad at you, you know.” Of course, judging by his laughter, he wasn’t.
“For throwing you into the pot?” Dom asked, raising his eyebrow. “I knew I was going to win so it’s not like it was any big deal.”
“Why didn’t you throw in Elijah or Sean instead?” Billy started throwing the dirty dishes in the sink and turned on the faucet.
“Because, out of all the hobbits, you’re my best friend, not them, and I knew that if by some unforeseeable reason that I DID lose, I could have made it up to you.” He paused. “Somehow.”
“Right. After years and years of making you my handmade, I may have forgiven you.” He laughed, a plate sliding from his slippery hand and cracking against impact upon the counter. "Shite.” Billy tossed the broken plate into the garbage. “I think I had a bit too much to drink tonight. I’m too drunk to do these dishes. My hand eye coordination is crap.”
Dom was the other person who was not-so-drunk aside from Sean. He hadn’t intended on staying sober, but he had been so focused on the games that night that he hadn’t drank as much as he normally did. His efforts had obviously paid off.
He pulled his soapy cursing friend away from the sink and grabbed a towel, handing it to him. “Don’t worry about this tonight. Why don’t you head up to bed, and I’ll finish this up, okay?”
Billy accepted the offered towel, but didn’t walk away. Instead he moved to the table and sat down, grabbing a cold beer from the cooler to the side of the table. “Sit down with me for a minute before I go to bed.”
Dom nodded, and joined Billy at the table, grabbing a cold beer for himself. “What’s up, little Pip?”
“I know I’m probably too drunk to bring this up, but when I’m sober, I never know when to broach the subject.”
Dom looked at Billy, trying to read his drunk friends expression while twisting the cap off his beer with his tee-shirt. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You know how I always tease you about kicking you out, and you always joke about leaving?” Dom nodded slowly, still trying to read him. “Well, why are you still here? Why haven't you left yet?”
Dom sat back in his chair, taking a long contemplative drink from his bottle. “I don’t know. Do you want me to leave?”
“No, that’s not what I said, Dommie. I just asked you why you’re still here. I’m not saying I don’t like it. In fact, I don’t mind it at all. It’s just like having my best friend for a roommate, but,” Billy’s voice trailed off.
“But what?” Dom urged his friend on. “What is it?”
“Doesn’t it ever bother you?”
“Does what bother me?” Dom didn’t know what he was getting at.
“The teasing. The mocking. The stupid names people call us. The looks we get. The insinuations people make.” Billy took a small drink of beer. “Don’t you ever get sick of that?”
Dom shrugged his shoulders thoughtfully and smiled at Billy. “No, not really. Why, doesn’t it bother you?”
“Well no, not really, but, well, I don’t know.” Billy stopped, trying to regroup his thoughts in his hazy over-inebriated mind. “Doesn’t it ever bother you that people always see us together and tease us about being gay?”
Dom furrowed his brow. “No, not really, because they know we’re not and that’s all it is, teasing.” Dom leaned forward in his chair and set his beer on the table, folding his hands around it moving the condensation around with his thumbs. He cast his glance up slightly and looked at his friend. “What is the real problem, Billy?”
It was Billy’s turn to lean back in his chair. “I don’t know, Dom. I really don’t. I’m probably too drunk to think, and not drunk enough to talk.”
“Billy, you’re wrapping your brain around something that I don’t quite understand what you’re getting at, and from the sounds of it, you don’t really know either. Why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for bed? Like I said, I’m not tired yet so I’ll finish up down here and go to bed shortly.” Dom stood up from the table and pushed Billy’s beer away from him. “I think you’ve had quite enough for tonight, Mr. Boyd.”
“Aye, I suppose you’re right, Dommie. Thanks for cleaning up.” He said, turning to walk out of the kitchen. Before he walked up the stairs he turned around once more. “And I had better see my pile of money waiting for me on the table by the time I’m up tomorrow morning, capiche?”
Dom laughed. “Capiche.” And with that, Billy turned and walked up the stairs.
Before picking up the dishes where Billy left off, Dom sat at the kitchen table for a few minutes and tried to figure out what Billy had been alluding too. He had never mentioned before any problems he may have been feeling involving the chiding from their friends, but at the same time, he said the only reason he mentioned it now was because he was too drunk to have the will to say anything. Dom frowned gently at the thought of his friend not wanting him there anymore.
Why *didn’t* he just leave when Billy had gotten better? Why *had* he stayed around despite the fact he had his own apartment a few miles from here. He had never really given it much thought. It just felt comfortable, so he never bothered to change. Billy’s spare bedroom had been unofficially named his own, and was now scattered with the majority of his belongings. Most of his everyday clothes were now here, and slowly but surely, a few of his possessions had begun to make their way into Billy’s appt. The apartment really had become “theirs” rather then just “Billy’s”.
Not really knowing where his thoughts were going, Dom just pushed them out of his head and got up to finish the dishes so he could go to bed.
By
autumnlecroixMonaboyd
Rated R
Disclaimer: I intend no harm to any of the actors mentioned within this story. I don't know them, and I don't know anything about this. This is purely fiction and I am making no profit from this.
Summary: The laughs and hardships Dom and Billy face as friends, morphing into something more. The challenges they face trying to cope with what their relationship is changing in to. (In this particular chapter, the boys go bungee jumping and play a nice friendly game of poker.)
~~Each part is a mini story that is part of the whole mapping the journey that two friends make.
Author's notes: This story is completed. It's rather long, hence why I broke it up into 4 parts.
Previous part can be found here.
Billy woke up the next morning with a rich warm smell permeating the flat. He sat up in bed and scratched his messy head. Finally brave enough to face the cold room out from under his blankets, he stood up fully out of bed and arched his back stretching. Evidence of morning tenting out proudly in his boxers. He groaned loudly and without really thinking of anyone in the house, he stumbled his way to the bathroom to pee.
It wouldn’t have mattered if Dom saw him or not because at that point in time, Billy didn’t care about much else aside from peeing. Arching his body over the bowl, he groaned loudly and contently as he finally released what had apparently been there for quite some time.
When Billy finished, there was a soft rapping at the bathroom door, and Dom poked his head in. “Good morning, mate. As soon as you’re ready, I made breakfast downstairs.”
“mmmThanksmmm” Billy muttered in reply. “mmmShowermmm”
Dom chuckled softly and nodded. “Okay man, I’ll keep a plate warm for you and a nice cup of coffee.”
Dom trotted off down the hall leaving Billy to take his shower. When he was done, he got dressed and finally wondered downstairs and was able to see on full-scale what had created that wonderful smell. Lavish amounts of toast, eggs, sausage, cakes, and porridge were laid out on the small table in the kitchen. It looked like Dom had cooked for about ten people instead of two.
A simple “wow” was all Billy could manage, his eyes big at the meal.
Dom grinned, glowing from his friend’s approval of his efforts. “Well,” he scratched the back of his head nervously, “I know this is a lot of food, but I figured we could bring whatever we didn’t eat over to Elwood and the elf. Besides, what I’ve got planned for us today, we’re going to need all the energy we can get.” He gave Billy a broad toothy grin, crooked jaw even more crooked then before.
Billy eyed Dom suspiciously. “Plans? Today?” He cautiously pulled up a chair to the overstuffed table and grabbed a plate that Dom had set to the side. “Unless it involves lots of duff time, then you can count me out.”
Dom joined Billy at the table, taking the remaining plate that had been set out. “Awe, come on Billy! This is going to be fun!”
Between grabbing forkfuls of egg and sausage, Billy shot Dom a glance. “And what, pray tell, would “this” be?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Well, I, uh, sort of talked to the elf this morning to see what he and Elwood would be up to and he said that they were going to go bungee jumping so I kind of told them to maybe sign us up.” Dom suddenly found the food on the table more interesting than Billy.
“WHAT?? Bungee jumping? No! Absolutely NOT! Are you out of your bloody MIND?” Billy hollered at Dom. “You really ARE a fucking nutter! Somebody should LOCK you two up for thinking up such UNBELIEVABLE things to do on one’s day off!!!”
“But Bill-eeeee,” Dom said, turning on the whining works, “it’ll be fun!! And just think! You’ll be able to tell people you jumped off a building!”
“For Christ’s’ sake, Dom! That’s not exactly a normal conversation people have. ‘What did you do today, Billy?’ ‘Oh, not much, just jumped off a few buildings as usual.’” Billy said, mocking a conversation with himself.
Dom looked at him full on and made his eyes bigger and begging. “Please?”
Billy shook his head and looked at the food again. “Absolutely not.”
Dom now started to quiver his lower lip and made his eyes go glassy. “Please?”
Billy squinched his eyes shut, trying to ignore his whimpering whining friend. “No.” he said firmly.
Dom not got out of the chair and grabbed Billy from behind hugging him tightly. “Please?”
“OH FOR FUCKS SAKE, OKAY!!! I’LL GO!” Billy relented, then added more calmly, “but there’s no promises that I’ll actually jump. If anything, I’m going to support you and Orlando’s insane habits.”
Dom released Billy and began to jump around the kitchen. “YEAH!!!!”
“Oh,” Billy scolded gently. “Eat your breakfast, you nutter.”
Dom grinned and returned to the table to do as Billy said, scooping food into his mouth as thought he were working against the clock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four men stood on a rather tall bridge and looked off warily. “I can’t believe you two are fucking doing this, man. Dude, this is totally insane.” Elijah said with his twangy American accent.
Orlando moved away from the gentleman helping him to secure his jumping harness and walked over to Elijah, embracing the kid in what looked like a hug, but turned out to be a giant noogie.
“HEY! CUT IT OUT!” Elijah hollered while worming his way out of Orlando’s grasp.
“Okay, are you two SURE you want to be doing this?” Billy asked for what had to be the eleventh time since they had got there.
“Of course we are, Pip.” Dom said proudly, draping an arm over Orlando’s shoulders.
“Yup. Hobbit’s right. We’re going to have a blast. It’s a shame you two chickens won’t be joining us.”
“Whatever, Orlando. Us two chickens will be going home in one piece tonight, which is more than we can say about you.” Elijah said rolling his eyes.
Orlando turned his attention to the person now strapped to his back. “Ready, man?”
“Hell yes I am. Let’s do it!” Dom answered energetically.
“Okay then.” Orlando looked to the person who was regulating this entire little mission thing. “Can we jump yet?”
The man was tightening a few ropes and knots and looked up to the double form standing, bouncing up and down nervously, twitching slightly. He couldn’t help but smile. From his perspective, the front one seemed to be a lot more gung-ho about this than the back one. “Yes, in just one moment. I just need to finish securing these ropes, etc. I’ll give you the thumbs up in just one minute.” The man returned to double checking all the harnesses and securing the knots for a second and third time. Finally he stood up and walked over to the double form. “Okay you two. If you want to back out, now’s the time. Otherwise, you’re free to jump. Sure you want to do this?”
“You bet we are!” Orlando pipped excitedly.
Dom, not quite as enthusiastic, nodded. “Aye, I’m ready.”
“Okay then, remember what I told you, blah blah blah.” Or at least that's what Dom and Orlando heard through their adreneline rattled minds.
And with that, the DomOrlando entity jumped off the bridge and went soaring to the depths below. Although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, for just a split second, Billy was afraid that the rope was going to give and that two of his best friends wouldn’t snap back up to safety. But, they did, screaming, hootin’ and hollering the entire way.
For a fleeting second, Billy wished that he were strapped to one of them, flying freely thought the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was much later that evening and Dom and Billy sat sacked out on Billy’s couch, both facing the tele. Not really engrossed in what was on, but not really talking, they just sat there sipping their beers and relaxed. Finally after some time, Billy turned to look at Dom.
“I thought you were afraid of heights.” He said gently, watching his friend to gauge his reaction, colorful light splaying across his face.
“I was…am.” Dom answered, now facing Billy. “But there’s just some things in life that need to be conquered. I felt this was one of them.” Dom nodded as if he were agreeing with what he had just said.
“Were you scared?”
Dom smiled. “Honestly?” He chuckled. “I was shaking like a leaf. Orlando had to have noticed. I’m lucky I didn’t piss my pants.” They both laughed. “So yes, in answer to your question, I was terrified.”
“So why did you do it? That was utterly crazy. I mean, it looked like a lot of fun, but fuck! That was crazy!”
“You now what? It was fun. It was a lot of fun, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I would have let my fear get the best of me, then I would have missed out on that fun. There are some things in this life that you just need to face and laugh at, or at least conquer them the best you can.” Dom paused, then added softer. “We’ve all got those fears.”
Billy nodded, thought not quite sure what Dom was alluding to when he said everyone had those fears. Of course everyone is afraid of something, but the way Dom said it made Billy know there was a double meaning. They lapsed into another long silence, watching the TV, but not really watching it at the same time. Finally Dom spoke up again.
“Billy, what are you afraid of?” Dom wasn’t looking at Billy, but his tone suggested he didn’t mean something as trivial as heights, spiders, or something light like that.
Billy took a deep sigh and leaned back against the couch. “What am I afraid of?” Billy looked up at the ceiling and exhaled. “I don’t know, I guess I’m afraid of failure.” I mean, why else would I have been staying up until 2 and 3 in the morning if I wasn’t afraid of failing the next day, aye?”
Dom nodded thoughtfully, thought still not looking at Billy. “I’m afraid of being alone.” He whispered more to his beer then to Billy. Finally looking at his friend out of the corner of his eye.
Billy’s face melted into a warm smile as he scooted closer to his friend. “Dom my friend, you will never be alone. Trust me. You’re they type of person that attracts people magnetically.”
Dom shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. I just, I see these old men in the restaurant sometimes or the bar and they’re totally alone. It kind of freaks me out because I think my greatest fear of all is turning into one of those men. Sitting totally alone on the barstool slumped over a glass of luke-warm whiskey.”
“Dom,” Billy’s voice added gently, trying to soothe his friend with his words. “I promise you that you will never be alone. Really. You will always be surrounded by people that love you. I can’t believe that you would ever think that you could be alone.” Billy smiled warmly.
Dom looked at Billy full on, trapping his eyes with his own. “I can’t believe you think you will fail.” Raising an eyebrow challenging.
Billy took a deep breath and sighed. “Fair enough. To each his own, eh?”
“Aye.” Dom said quietly. There was a long pause of silence where neither one was looking at the television, but no words were spoken. They just sat there next to each other taking slow drinks from their bottles. Finishing his off, Dom set it on the coffee table in front of him and got up. “I’m going to bed, Billy. Goodnight.” And he walked off down the hall up the stairs.
“Goodnight, Dom.” Billy called after him, not sure if he had even heard him or not.
Billy sat on the couch a long while after Dom had gone upstairs pondering what had gone wrong. The day had been a success in his opinion. Dom got to jump and go out with the group afterwards, so why the sudden change in mood? He almost seemed sullen, but not quite. Perhaps more melancholy then sullen.
Finishing up his beer, Billy got up off the couch and went to Dom’s room.
Without knocking, he opened the door and walked into the black room, careful to step around any black blobs that he saw while navigating to Dom’s bed. Seeing Dom’s body on the other side of the bed Billy laid down on top of the covers and stared up at the ceiling.
“You’re not going to be alone, you know.” He said finally, his voice soft and gentle.
“I know.” Came Dom’s soft reply after a long break. They listened to each other’s breathing for quite some time before Dom spoke again. “You’re not going to fail, you know.”
“I know.” Came Billy’s reply, slightly sooner then Dom’s. “I’m sorry.” He whispered softly. “I really am. I am so sorry.”
Dom rolled over in his bed and wrapped his arms around Billy. He didn’t have a shirt on and his skin was radiating hot heat. “I know.” He said, just as soft. “Besides, I’ve already forgiven you. You just need to forgive yourself.”
Billy nodded into Dom’s arms, but unable to form any words. Hot tears caressed his cheek as he settled into Dom’s arms deeper. “Thanks for being here.” Billy whispered, not sure if Dom was awake or not, for his breathing had settled into a deeper rhythm.
“Mmm” Dom mumbled into Billy’s neck.
Billy lie awake for quite some time after that lying on top of Dom’s covers listening to his breathing. Dom’s arms were still securely around his body and his tears had finally subsided. He knew he had conquered his problem, mostly thanks to Dom’s help, so he couldn’t help but wonder: what next?
Where do we go from here?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Billy looked at the calendar and realized that it had been 3 weeks since Dom had taken up residence in Billy’s spare bedroom. Although he would never admit it to Dom, he thought it was kind of nice to have a roommate. They really hadn’t run into too many problems except who was the last to eat the crisps and put the empty bag in the drawer and who had drank the last beer and didn’t replace the box.
Every morning that they had off, Billy would wake up to a lavish breakfast set out for them on the table, and every morning they had feet, hot coffee would be ready and waiting for whoever was last to wake up.
They were best friends before all of this happened, but in some ways, this brought the two of them closer. Billy’s house had turned into this semi-bachelor’s pad. Monday and Thursday nights had turned into poker night among the gang and everyone would meet over at Billy’s flat and play poker until much too late considering the majority of the players needed to get up the next morning at 4:30.
Dom would always call Billy when he was going to the grocery store to see if he wanted anything and Billy would in turn, do the same. They had come to be known as the “domesticated hobbits” among their friends, though neither one of them really minded it. A couple times one of the guys would ask Billy or Dom why Dom had up and moved in with Billy, though the two of them would brush it off saying that two hobbits were better than one. Dom would cook and Billy would clean. It seemed to be working out, so why not? There was never any mention of the real reason Dom had moved in, or between them either.
Dom never brought up Billy’s little breakdown and Billy never brought up Dom’s fear that he had confessed to him. Neither one of them had mentioned the night Billy slept on top of Dom’s bed, but they never really thought anything strange of it. They were simply best friends comforting each other, right?
Best friends. Through thick and thin.
So what now?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Billy Billy Billy Billy Billy Billy Bill-“
“Orlando!” Billy shouted into his mobile. “I know my name! Shut the fuck up!”
“-llyyyyyyy”
Billy groaned. “Can I help you, elfboy?”
“I’m at the grocery store grabbing beer for tonight’s game. Was wondering if you and domestic boy wanted me to pick anything else up while I was here. Lube perhaps?”
“Fuck you.”
“No, wouldn’t want to make Dom jealous.”
Billy rolled his eyes. This kind of banter had become a regular occurrence among the hobbits and Orli. They all knew Billy and Dom were just friends, but it was really too good of a situation not to exploit, so Billy and Dom got barraged with endless harassment from the guys. “I don’t know, I’m sure if you borrowed me for an evening he wouldn’t mind.”
“Ooh, tempting.”
“Crisps. Pick up some crisps, and while you’re at it, get something aside from just plain beer, will you? Whiskey would be nice. You lot drank up all I had left last Monday and I haven’t had a chance to replace it yet.”
“No problem. I’ll be there in 30.”
“Okay, Orlando. See you then.” Billy said, hanging up his mobile.
Dom walked into the kitchen behind Billy with cards in hand and a box of chips. “Who was that on the phone?”
“Orlando. He’s stopping at the grocery store on his way here to pick up crisps and beer, so he’ll be a couple minutes late, but Elijah and Astin should be here any minute, as will Bean and Viggo.”
“Beanie and Viggo are playing tonight? Wow. Hobbits vs. Elf vs. Humans. I predict this will get ugly.” Dom jested as he set his load down on the table.
Billy nodded his agreement. “Aye, should be a lot of fun.” Billy paused. “Oh, and Dommie?”
“Yes, Billy?”
“Can you try NOT to bet my possessions tonight? I would rather like to keep my stuff in its rightful place, with its rightful owner.” Billy stressed the ‘rightful’ of its rightful owner and poked Dom in the chest. “Bet my stuff, and I’ll turn you into one of my possessions and bet you instead.”
Dom was about to answer Billy with some sort of witty comeback, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Dom headed towards the door and called over his shoulder, “I dare you Boyd! I bloody dare you!”
Billy laughed and rolled his eyes, finishing up placing the plastic cups and snack platter out. Dom opened the door and greeted Sean and Elijah.
“Hey Lucy, where’s Ricky?” Elijah asked, smirking.
“Fuck you, Ethel. He’s in the kitchen getting ready. How are you and Fred this evening?” Dom said sarcastically.
“Hey, keep me out of this. I haven’t mocked you two once.” Sean cut in defensively.
Dom opened the door further to let his two friends come in and eyed Sean suspiciously. “Right. Not yet you haven’t.” Dom narrowed his eyes into a glare, then broke into a bright smile. “So are you two ready to lose all your money tonight?”
“Christine put a $300 limit on me tonight. I’m not allowed to lose anymore then that or it’ll be the couch for a week.”
Elijah shoved Sean aside and strolled into the kitchen to grab a cold beer. “Some of us don’t plan on losing anything at all. And some of us are willing to risk a little more than $300 to reap the benefits of the game.”
“You’re right, Elijah. Some of us would be me. I plan on kicking all of your guy’s asses tonight.” Billy added smugly.
“Are Beanie and Viggo still planning on coming?” Dom interjected.
“As far as I know.” Sean answered.
“Then none of us can count on winning. You know they’ll clean our clocks and take us for all we’re worth.”
Elijah hung his head in mock shame and sighed. “Aye, those smelly human’s cheat. Let’s just hope Orlando doesn’t get quite as drunk as he did last time so he doesn’t willingly bet his car after he loses everything else.”
“What, you don’t WANT him to do that?” Dom chided. “I thought that was rather amusing. Especially watching him try and get it back from Viggo the next day when he sobered up.”
“Nobody will be betting ANYTHING aside from money tonight!” Billy added sternly, then shot a more pointed glare at Dom. “And that means YOU, Dominic.”
“Ooooh, trouble in paradise, eh Sean?” Elijah teased, nudging Sean in the ribs.
“Fuck off, Lij.” Dom snapped.
“Are you Hobbits quite through yet?” A new voice cut in from behind the group. Four heads turned and watched Viggo and Bean walk into the small apartment.
“Right, because we’re ready to take all your money again.” Bean added.
“Quite right, Sean. I always enjoy playing with the hobbits and prissy. We can almost count on coming home with weighted down pockets.” Viggo said smugly.
“Weighted down with coal.” Dom muttered.
“What was that, Hobbit? I didn’t quite catch that.” Bean snickered.
“Then maybe you need to turn up you’re hearing aid.” Dom shot back.
“Oooh, they’re getting feisty Viggo, think we can handle them?”
“No Sean, I think the appropriate question here would be, do you think they can handle US?” Viggo answered.
“Good call, Vig. Good call.”
“Will you two get off your high horses and help us set up?” Sean asked softly. “We’ve got a full party tonight, so we need to make some more room around the table.”
“Right.” Billy added. “Orlando called me about 20 minutes ago saying he was stopping at the grocery store to pick some stuff up, so he should be right over in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good then. Should we play a quick game before he gets here?” Elijah asked.
“Ooh, kids’ ready to lose his money early?” Bean teased.
“Mr. Bean, by the time we’re through with you tonight, you’ll need to dip into your retirement to pay us all we’ve won.” Elijah snapped back.
“Such big words from such a small man.”
“Say that again when you’ve lost all your money.” Elijah added with a smug grin on his face.
“Gentleman!” Billy called. “Will you two shut up and kindly sit around the table with the rest of us so Astin can deal out the cards?”
Grabbing the two leftover chairs, Elijah and Sean sat down; each across from each other blazing challenging glaring looks upon each other. The cards had finally been laid out and the chips were tossed.
The games had begun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours and several cases of liquor later, 5 drunk men and 2 not so drunk men sat around Billy’s kitchen table cradling their cards making sure no one else could see their hands.
“Ante up.” Astin called whilst organizing the rest of the deck in his hands. “Who needs cards?”
Sean took a look around the table to gauge who needed new cards and who was content with what they had. Being one of the two men who wasn’t completely plastered, he was now able to gauge who felt confident with their hand and who didn’t, as the poker faces began to melt away with more and more alcohol.
“I need two, Astin.” Dom said with a broad grin on his face. Judging from his toothy smile and over animated movements, Sean could tell that he had a good hand and was just itching to show it off. Beanie and Viggo on the other hand were still able to maintain a rather stoic appearance so Sean had no clue what kind of hands they had. Beanie was an excellent bluffer and Viggo always helped to set him up. Although what they were doing wasn’t technically cheating, when in pairs, they were defiantly deadly together. Sean was sure that they had made an agreement before hand to split their winnings afterwards, seeing as quite often one would sacrifice themself for the other in order to secure the pot.
Sean tossed Dom his two cards and watched him throw his previous two away. Seeing as how his grin was even wider now, Sean couldn’t help but roll his eyes a little. He really was as clear as glass.
Looking around the table, Sean cast his look to Bean and Viggo. “Do you two need any cards?” Viggo shook his head.
“Just one for me, dealer.” Sean said, tossing a card in his pile away, grabbing the one Sean tossed out on the table for him.
“Orlando?” Sean looked at the elf. Although he had a slightly better poker face than Elijah and Dom, he still was pretty easy to read. He chewed on the bottom corner of his lip. A sure sign that his hand sucked.
“Five.” Orlando grumbled, throwing all the cards in his hand down on the table in an exasperated manner.
Bean leaned into Viggo to pretend to whisper something, but was doing it in such an exasperated manner that everyone was meant to see and hear what he was doing. “Vig, I think Prissy’s got his pants in a tangle. Think he’s mad that he’s bet away his manicure money?”
“Fuck you, smelly human!” Orlando snapped, taking the offered cards from Sean’s hand.
“Elijah? Billy?”
“None for me, mate.” Billy said, brow furrowing slightly while looking intently at his hand. Billy wasn’t necessarily a bad poker player; he just wasn’t a brave one. Infact, he was much like Sean himself. Never betting too much, never losing too much.
“I want three.” Elijah cut in, pulling three cards out of his hand and tossing them aside.
“Okay then.” Sean handed Elijah his cards and grabbed his own deck. “Dealer takes two.” And he preformed the same ritual on himself.
“Has everybody ante’d up?” Sean asked, looking around the table watching his comrades focusing on their cards. He caught Viggo and Bean sharing a sly glance and assumed they were up to something—again.
Everyone around the table nodded and he grabbed two chips from his pile and tossed them in the middle. “Alright. I’m throwing in $10.”
Everyone from around the table took two chips out of their pile and tossed them in the center. By now, everyone’s piles had either grown significantly, or shrunk dramatically. Billy’s pile was the only one who had remained relatively the same. Viggo and Bean obviously had much of the winnings, but Dom wasn’t too far behind with his pile. Rather predictably, Elijah had over bet and lost much of his rather quickly (with Orlando not too far behind) while Billy and Sean were smart, playing their cards cautiously, neither losing a significant amount, nor gaining it.
“I see your $10, and raise you $50.” Elijah said with a cocky smile, throwing about a green chip into the pot. Sean just rolled his eyes. The kid obviously had shit for a hand, but was the worst bluffer in the world. One would think that with all his supposed acting skills he would be a better poker player. Obviously not.
“I call.” Dom said, tossing his $50 chip into the pot.
“Ditto.” Orlando added, throwing in his chip.
“I fold.” Billy said, throwing his cards in the center, face down.
“Me too.” Sean replied, repeating Billy’s actions.
Viggo casually grabbed the green chip, and grabbed two yellow ones. “I see your bet, and raise you $200.” He said gently, tossing his chips in the center.
Bean threw in his chips in the pile while watching Dom and Elijah intently. “I call.”
Elijah nodded and added the additional $200 into the pot. Orlando did the same, leaving him with one yellow chip left.
Dom could barely contain himself. “I see you’re $200, and raise you another $500.” He said, throwing 5 additional yellow chips into the pot. He only had 7 yellow chips remaining, and 2 green ones.
“Too rich for my blood.” Orlando whined, throwing his cards down on the table, getting up to go for another beer.
Before making his next move, Bean glanced over at Elijah trying to gauge what he would do. Astin had to keep from sniggering. Elijah had already reached into his pile and grabbed the 5 additional yellow chips before waiting to see what Bean would do. Smugly smiling to himself, Bean grabbed the chips and threw them into the pile. “I call.”
“I call.” Elijah said, throwing hips chips in the pile.
Viggo looked at Bean before throwing his chips into the pile. Though Sean hadn’t pinned down what the exact mannerism was yet, he knew they had some sort of sign as to whether the other should call, raise, or fold. Damn cheaters.
“Well, we’ve got quite the little pot going here. Four remain. Shall we just end it like this and show each other our cards, or should we make this a little more interesting?” Sean said, looking at his cards rather then the other two players. “I don’t know about you gentleman, but I could use a new car.” He said teasingly, looking at Orlando. “Too bad Prissy had to fold.”
“Fuck you, Smelly Human.” Orlando shot back, throwing the cap of his beer at Bean.
“Yes!” Elijah added enthusiastically. “Let’s make this interesting.”
“What exactly were you thinking, Beanie?” Dom asked, interests clearly piqued.
“Oh, I don’t know, It’s getting late and most of the table can’t afford to play anymore seeing as Viggo and I have the majority of the winnings, so let’s make this the last game. If you and Elijah can call, Viggo and I will throw our entire pot in and the winner takes all, no questions asked.”
Dom’s eyes had practically fallen out of his head. He was indeed drunk, but sober enough to realize that this was quite possibly the best thing that had happened to him all evening. Sean was no fool, but Dom’s hand must have been pretty spectacular to warrant such a reaction. But maybe that’s what Sean and Viggo wanted…. Dom looked frantically from his pile, to Elijah’s. Together, they didn’t even have half of one of Bean or Viggo’s piles.
“Billy, I’m borrowing your money.” Dom said while using his arm to sweep Billy’s remaining chips into his own pile, making it at least a little closer to what he needed.
Elijah made an exasperated sigh and threw his cards down. “Nope, not tonight gentleman. I fold. I can’t afford this.”
“Okay Dom, you’re almost there. Do you have anything else you can throw out to match my pile?” Bean asked, pushing his pile into the center.
Dom frantically looked around the table and then to Billy’s appt. He chewed the bottom of his lip nervously and cast a frantic glance to Billy.
“Don’t even fucking think about it Monaghan.” Billy warned. “What did I tell you earlier about betting my possessions?”
Suddenly Dom’s eyes flashed with some sort of wicked idea. He pushed his pile into the middle and grinned widely.
“That’s not enough Dom, what else do you have to add?” Sean challenged.
“One hobbit.” He answered confidently.
Viggo arched an eyebrow and looked at Dom confused. “You’re betting yourself?”
“No.” Dom said, folding his arms across his chest, a smile plying at his lips. “I’m throwing Billy into the pot.”
“’THE FUCK??” Billy shouted, jumping back from the table. “You can’t bet ME!!”
“You said not to bet you’re possessions, but you never said not to bet yourself.”
“I’m not your goddamned possession, Dominic!” Billy shouted, face flushing red.
“You could have fooled us.” Elijah muttered beneath his breath.
Billy shot a callous look at Elijah. “That’s enough out of you, Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Billy sat back down in his chair and folded his arms across his chest in a final matter. “No. You cannot bet me. This is my house. My table. My…my…NO! You cannot bet me! That is utterly ridiculous.”
“I don’t know.” Bean added. “If he agrees to it, I’ll allow it, and show the cards. If not, you fold, and Viggo and I win.”
Dom shot at pleading glance at Billy. “Please, trust me. I wouldn’t be doing this if I weren’t 100% sure about this.”
“Yes you would, Monaghan, and you and I both know it.” Billy grumbled, frowning deeply.
“Just trust me. I promise you, you won’t have to be the Human’s slave. Trust Me.” He urged again.
Internally debating, Billy heaved a sigh. “You owe me so fucking huge for this, Monaghan.”
Dom could barely contain his squeal and grinned. “Okay, Bean. He agrees. Show your cards.”
One by one, Sean laid his cards down on the table. 8 of hearts, 9 of hearts, 10 of hearts, jack of hearts, and the queen of hearts. A straight flush, almost unbeatable.
Almost.
With a smug grin, Sean started sweeping his arms around the pile and began pulling it to himself. “A hobbit slave Viggo, what are we going to do with him?”
Billy eyes shot fury and fire towards Dominic. “You are so fucking kicked out.” He grumbled.
Dominic held up one hand and wagged it back and forth. “Uh uh uh, gentleman. So fast to collect your winnings when you haven’t even seen my hand.”
“He’s got a flush, Hobbit. There’s only one hand that can beat that.” Viggo said, looking at Dom intently.
“Exactly.” Dom said proudly, fanning his cards out in front of his friends.
10 of spades, jack of spades, queen of spades, king of spades, and the ace of spades. A royal flush.
Bean flew back in his chair, jaw dropped. “Holy shite, I’ve never seen anyone get a Royal Flush before.”
“Wow. Where did you pull that out of, Monaghan, you’re ass?” Orlando asked, clearly shocked by Dom’s hand.
“I uh…you can stay?” Billy said, still awestruck. “And I do believe a fair chunk of that pile is mine.” He said, reaching into the center and pulling out what Dom had previously stole, plus an extra few yellow chips. Dom shot him a dirty glance. “For mental unrest, Dom. I was quite worried there for a moment. I feel it is dually deserved.”
Dom sat back in his chair and folded his arms behind his head. “I,” he said smugly, “am god.”
Sean cocked his eyebrow and looked at his gloating friend. “I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I would say that you’re damned lucky.”
“Dude, I honestly don’t care what a royal flush is. All I’m happy about is for once, the humans didn’t take home everything.” Elijah said, gathering his things up and throwing his things getting ready to leave.
Sean reached into the satchel at his side and pulled out all the cash from inside, divvying up what was inside giving it to whoever had leftover chips.
The only two people aside from Dom who were leaving non-empty handed were Sean and Elijah. Sean had about $400 left and Elijah had $75. All the rest he handed to Dom.
“Good game, gentleman. Losing was almost worth it to see that Royal flush.” Viggo said, gently pulling away from the table. “Fantastic.”
“I don’t know, Vig. I’m still hurting over losing $2000 to hobbit boy over there.”
“Next time, Bean.” Viggo said, patting Bean’s shoulder with his hand. “We’ll get them next time.” He grabbed his jacket and started heading for the door. “Besides, with as much as we’ve taken from them in the past, it’s only fair that they win this time.”
Bean just rolled his eyes and followed his friend out the door. “See you tomorrow, gentleman.” Bean called over his shoulder, following Viggo out to the car.
“Yah, thanks for the evening. Christine will be happy that I came home $100 ahead for once.” Sean said, taking one last swig of his beer and getting up. “As always, it was a pleasure.”
“See you tomorrow, Sean!” Billy called, while picking up various bottles and garbage and throwing them away.
“I’m still pissed that I lost so much.” Elijah whined, following Sean to his car.
“Oh shut up. At least you’re leaving with something. I’m going home empty handed...as usual.” Orlando interjected, following Elijah and Sean out the door. “See you tomorrow, guys!” He called to Billy and Dom while he walked out the door.
The apartment was now empty and rather quiet compared to what it had been not 10 minutes earlier.
Dom got up out of his chair and mused around helping Billy clean up. He hadn’t said much since he got his royal flush.
“How did you do it, Dom?” Billy finally asked.
“Do what?” He started picking the chips up off the table and putting them in their proper slots in the tray.
“The cards. The royal flush. The odds of getting one of those are like, one in a billion. I just, I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I, Billy. Neither can I.” Billy suddenly started laughing. “What’s so funny?” Dom asked.
“I’m still mad at you, you know.” Of course, judging by his laughter, he wasn’t.
“For throwing you into the pot?” Dom asked, raising his eyebrow. “I knew I was going to win so it’s not like it was any big deal.”
“Why didn’t you throw in Elijah or Sean instead?” Billy started throwing the dirty dishes in the sink and turned on the faucet.
“Because, out of all the hobbits, you’re my best friend, not them, and I knew that if by some unforeseeable reason that I DID lose, I could have made it up to you.” He paused. “Somehow.”
“Right. After years and years of making you my handmade, I may have forgiven you.” He laughed, a plate sliding from his slippery hand and cracking against impact upon the counter. "Shite.” Billy tossed the broken plate into the garbage. “I think I had a bit too much to drink tonight. I’m too drunk to do these dishes. My hand eye coordination is crap.”
Dom was the other person who was not-so-drunk aside from Sean. He hadn’t intended on staying sober, but he had been so focused on the games that night that he hadn’t drank as much as he normally did. His efforts had obviously paid off.
He pulled his soapy cursing friend away from the sink and grabbed a towel, handing it to him. “Don’t worry about this tonight. Why don’t you head up to bed, and I’ll finish this up, okay?”
Billy accepted the offered towel, but didn’t walk away. Instead he moved to the table and sat down, grabbing a cold beer from the cooler to the side of the table. “Sit down with me for a minute before I go to bed.”
Dom nodded, and joined Billy at the table, grabbing a cold beer for himself. “What’s up, little Pip?”
“I know I’m probably too drunk to bring this up, but when I’m sober, I never know when to broach the subject.”
Dom looked at Billy, trying to read his drunk friends expression while twisting the cap off his beer with his tee-shirt. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You know how I always tease you about kicking you out, and you always joke about leaving?” Dom nodded slowly, still trying to read him. “Well, why are you still here? Why haven't you left yet?”
Dom sat back in his chair, taking a long contemplative drink from his bottle. “I don’t know. Do you want me to leave?”
“No, that’s not what I said, Dommie. I just asked you why you’re still here. I’m not saying I don’t like it. In fact, I don’t mind it at all. It’s just like having my best friend for a roommate, but,” Billy’s voice trailed off.
“But what?” Dom urged his friend on. “What is it?”
“Doesn’t it ever bother you?”
“Does what bother me?” Dom didn’t know what he was getting at.
“The teasing. The mocking. The stupid names people call us. The looks we get. The insinuations people make.” Billy took a small drink of beer. “Don’t you ever get sick of that?”
Dom shrugged his shoulders thoughtfully and smiled at Billy. “No, not really. Why, doesn’t it bother you?”
“Well no, not really, but, well, I don’t know.” Billy stopped, trying to regroup his thoughts in his hazy over-inebriated mind. “Doesn’t it ever bother you that people always see us together and tease us about being gay?”
Dom furrowed his brow. “No, not really, because they know we’re not and that’s all it is, teasing.” Dom leaned forward in his chair and set his beer on the table, folding his hands around it moving the condensation around with his thumbs. He cast his glance up slightly and looked at his friend. “What is the real problem, Billy?”
It was Billy’s turn to lean back in his chair. “I don’t know, Dom. I really don’t. I’m probably too drunk to think, and not drunk enough to talk.”
“Billy, you’re wrapping your brain around something that I don’t quite understand what you’re getting at, and from the sounds of it, you don’t really know either. Why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for bed? Like I said, I’m not tired yet so I’ll finish up down here and go to bed shortly.” Dom stood up from the table and pushed Billy’s beer away from him. “I think you’ve had quite enough for tonight, Mr. Boyd.”
“Aye, I suppose you’re right, Dommie. Thanks for cleaning up.” He said, turning to walk out of the kitchen. Before he walked up the stairs he turned around once more. “And I had better see my pile of money waiting for me on the table by the time I’m up tomorrow morning, capiche?”
Dom laughed. “Capiche.” And with that, Billy turned and walked up the stairs.
Before picking up the dishes where Billy left off, Dom sat at the kitchen table for a few minutes and tried to figure out what Billy had been alluding too. He had never mentioned before any problems he may have been feeling involving the chiding from their friends, but at the same time, he said the only reason he mentioned it now was because he was too drunk to have the will to say anything. Dom frowned gently at the thought of his friend not wanting him there anymore.
Why *didn’t* he just leave when Billy had gotten better? Why *had* he stayed around despite the fact he had his own apartment a few miles from here. He had never really given it much thought. It just felt comfortable, so he never bothered to change. Billy’s spare bedroom had been unofficially named his own, and was now scattered with the majority of his belongings. Most of his everyday clothes were now here, and slowly but surely, a few of his possessions had begun to make their way into Billy’s appt. The apartment really had become “theirs” rather then just “Billy’s”.
Not really knowing where his thoughts were going, Dom just pushed them out of his head and got up to finish the dishes so he could go to bed.
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One teeny thing: There are a few spelling and grammar mistakes. If you ever want something betaed, feel free to send them to me. My email's in my user profile.
Otherwise, great story! I'm looking forward to reading more soon!
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