Baggage Claim

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

For taibhrigh, who wanted me to write about Billy, Dom, and faith.


Title: Baggage Claim
Pairing: Billeh/Dom
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I. Am. Making. This. Shit. Up
Feedback: Is welcomed.
Word Count: 215
Crossposted to: monaboyd



When loss comes to you early, like it did for Billy, you get a sense that nothing is ever sacred--that all things are subject to change and that you are rarely, if ever, consulted on the matter. This makes it easy to move through life from place to place, from job to job, from one person to the next with nothing but your boots and a suitcase leaking your faith out onto conveyor belts and tarmacs around the world.

And even that is okay, really, because faith is bulky and hard to pack—like shoes. You can’t even stuff your dirty laundry into it to make room for the souvenirs you bought along the way.

It all changes in New Zealand.

He meets a pug-nosed boy called Dominic and knows, somehow, that it is a reunion, not an introduction. They learn how to surf, how to ride horses, how to become creatures blessed with an eternal faith and Billy feels it seeping back into his body between takes. Between waves. Between the time it takes to get from his flat to Dom’s on a Saturday morning.

He calls his sister in Scotland. He drinks a lot of beer. He laughs until he’s sure his sides will split from it. He buys a new suitcase.

Comments

[in-doms-eyes.livejournal.com]

This is not a "squee!" fic. this is a oh my god this writer had such talent. It's incredibly mature, with a definite center and soul, and I sure hope you write more stuff like this, because it was a joy to read.

[one900.livejournal.com]

:)

i love drabbles like this.

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

What high praise. Thank you.

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

:)

[1420.livejournal.com]

They learn how to surf, how to ride horses, how to become creatures blessed with an eternal faith and Billy feels it seeping back into his body between takes. Between waves. Between the time it takes to get from his flat to Dom’s on a Saturday morning.

The idea of the time between two things, like the time between the call and the echo, is something I think a lot of authors try to capture, but don't always succeed in, and here you succeeded, with three very different "betweens" setting each other off nicely, in just the right order.

[stellahobbit.livejournal.com]

The nuances in this are fabulous - excellent imagery (and I love your disclaimer :-)

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you. What high praise. :)

[springy5000.livejournal.com]

When loss comes to you early, like it did for Billy, you get a sense that nothing is ever sacred--that all things are subject to change and that you are rarely, if ever, consulted on the matter.

That's so true. You captured what loss does to a person completely and in every essense of the word. Bravo!

[glasgow-blue.livejournal.com]

Wow, you sure dug around to find this one!

I'm glad you took the time and that it was *worth* the time, for you. :)

[springy5000.livejournal.com]

It was actually archived somewhere...can't remember where, for sure. But yeah, it was definately worth it. =)