===TITLE HERE===
Recipient: slashababy dropout
Author: _simbelmyne_
Pairing: Billy/Dominic
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"'lo?"
"Dominic."
"Billy Boyd! I'm surprised."
Billy's breathe hitched mostly unnoticeably. "Are you?"
"Haven't heard from you in weeks... at least."
"You can ring me too."
"Yes, but you know I won't."
"True, I do know."
"So." Billy could hear the change in Dom's voice as he stretched. "What special occasion brings about this call? Is it our anniversary? Did I miss it again?"
"Cheeky bastard."
"Who, me?"
"Yes, you. I heard... I heard that you've been a very busy boy."
Dom went quiet at the drop in Billy's tone. Something was happening. Something new and maybe a little dangerous. Dom could feel it. He knew Billy too well not to feel it. "Have I been? I didn't notice."
"Ring shopping with Evie."
There was a pause before Dom sighed, then finally spoke. A loaded pause, a pause that seemed to suck all of the life out of Billy. The sound of Dom's voice, at last, was like being pulled up from underwater, being overcome with relief. "Billy Billy Billy. Don't you know better than to believe everything you read off of the internet?"
"Can't help it if it's the only way I know what's going on with you anymore."
"That's not fair. And not true."
"You weren't in a jewelry store?"
"We were, but not shopping for... engagement rings."
"Ah." Billy felt the excitement rising up in him, but kept it out of his voice. It assaulted him with pinpricks of white light in the corners of his eyes and with a ripple through his stomach.
"Besides, I heard you were making wedding plans of your own."
"I may have mentioned something."
"To the press."
"Maybe. I... can't recall."
"Bills, you know better."
"Well, I'm not married... yet."
"Oh?"
"Or engaged."
"Ah."
"Dom." Dom waited for Billy to say something, waited for longer than it was comfortable to wait. "I miss you."
"Miss you too, ya tit. Didn't you read that on the internet?"
"Must have missed it. I want-"
"To come over? Please do."
"All right, I'll be there in... twenty-seven hours."
"Sure."
"Bye, Dom."
"MmmHmm."
~
"What are you doing here?"
Billy shook rain from his hair once he was under the safety of the porch, raising his eyebrows at Dom's expression. "I recall mentioning I would be here in approximately twenty-seven hours."
"I thought you were joking!"
"A Scotsman never jokes. Are you going to invite me in?"
Dom stepped aside, letting Billy out of the rain.
"Just like home for you? With the crap weather and all?"
"I thought there was sun here."
"Usually there is. You brought this with you."
Billy smirked before dropping his bags unceremoniously in the hall. "Evie here?"
"She doesn't live here."
"Good."
"Good?"
Billy's eyes darted to the left. He swallowed slowly and took an even breath before starting again. "That you have your own space."
"Can I take your coat?"
"My, aren't you formal now?"
"I've been brushing up for your arrival."
"Which you didn't really believe was going to happen."
"Yes, that's the one."
Billy peeled off his wet jacket and slopped it into Dom's arms, rubbing his hands together and making his way into the house.
Dom pulled a slight face. "Thanks."
"Not at all, Dom. My pleasure. You know, I really like this house."
"That's good," Dom said from the closet, where he was hanging the dripping coat, "because I bought it for you."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Ah. So... Evie's not here?"
"If you want an autograph-"
"No no, I just wanted to be sure before I strip down to my shorts and settle in on the couch."
"What about me?"
"What about you? You've seen me in my shorts before."
"Most unfortunate, surprised I survived the ordeal-" Dom was interrupted when the pillow Billy pitched from the couch hit him in the face. He threw the pillow back and Billy fluffed it with much flourish before propping it up against the back of the couch.
"Dom, do you have any tea? I'm still a bit chilled from the rain."
"You can check the cupboard if you like."
"I see, from gracious host to "help yourself' in mere minutes."
Dom dropped down on the couch next to Billy. "Couldn't maintain it, too tiresome."
Billy glared at him before pulling himself up and into the kitchen. He ransacked different cabinets in search of tea, scanning Dom's food curiously. "Dom, what's this?"
"What's what, Bills? I can't see through the kitchen wall, you know." Billy stuck his head out from around the corner and shook a brown box in Dom's direction. "Hold it steady or I'll never be able to make it out. There... ah. Hot cocoa."
"In Hawaii?" Billy asked, amused.
"Evie likes it. I thought you were looking for hot tea!"
"What are the little white things?"
"Marshmallows."
"And they come in the packet?"
"Are you telling me you've never seen that stuff before?"
"I'm not telling you anything, you're inferring. But I haven't."
"Where have you been all these years, Billy?"
"In Scotland, where we don't prepackage cocoa with freeze-dried marshmallows in it."
"Put it back if it's so offensive."
"I want to try it."
"Do you?" Dom turned on the couch to face Billy fully. "Well, go on then."
"You just add water?"
"Read the back, it's all there. If Evie can make it, so can you. She can't even make toast properly."
"Is that right?"
"It's utterly adorable."
"Mm," Billy responded, disappearing back into the kitchen, he closed his eyes tight. Adorable. Well, yes, wasn't that fantastic news? But what had he expected? Nothing, he reminded himself, opening his eyes. He put a kettle on and took up his spot with Dom again to wait.
"Where's the cocoa?"
"The kettle's on."
Dom's smile spread over his entire face. "You put the kettle on? For cocoa?"
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Nothing. That's fine. Did you make enough for two?"
"I'm making you a packet as well, am I?"
"If you don't mind."
"Not at all. Maybe you should just hire me on as your servant."
Dom raised his eyebrow. "The whistle's started, hop to."
Billy shook his head and went to get the cocoa, taking time to stir them thoroughly and squash all of the powdered clumps chasing the spoon around the glass. Was he trying to impress Dom through cocoa presentation? He chastised himself for being incredibly ridiculous and brought in the two mugs. Dom grabbed for his and took a quick sip.
"It's hot!"
"Isn't that the point, Dom? Want me to blow on it for you, then?" Dom waggled his eyebrows and Billy punched his arm.
"Careful, you'll spill it on my couch!"
"Looks like this couch has seen a fair share of spills, what's one more?"
"I can't have it. I'd think of it as the "Billy Stain,' and every time I see it I'll think of you and become incredibly lonely." Words seemed to be sticking in Billy's throat, so he drowned them with a swallow of thick chocolate, accented with tiny marshmallows.
"Ugh, this stuff is horrible."
"Isn't it?"
"And you didn't warn me?"
Dom smirked and took another sip from his mug.
~
"Well, she's quite nice."
"You've met her before, Billy."
"Then she's still quite nice. You could have had her stay over, I don't mind."
Dom closed the door behind them, throwing the lock. "And have you listening through the walls? Can't have it."
"You spoil everything."
"Don't I?" Dom toed out of his shoes. "What do you want to do tonight? Just the two of us, we could-" Dom turned back to Billy, who half lunged, half stumbled forward into an awkward kiss. Dom's eyes were open wide and his lips closed, but not tight. Billy thought he could actually hear the tick of a nearby clock as the seconds went by, neither of them moving. Billy took a large step back, heat climbing his neck like a vine.
"Goodnight." He sprinted down the hall to the guest room, shutting the door too hard behind him and leaving Dom standing in the entry way with his jacket half off.
~
"Morning, Dom. I'm just making a bit of breakfast, hope you're hungry-"
"Settling into domestic bliss already?" Dom dropped heavily into one of the kitchen chairs, rubbing his hand over his eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, I see. Pretending it never happened. A bit overused, but a solid technique nonetheless."
"Dom-"
"So we'll just pretend you don't have a fiançeé"
"She's not my fiançeé"
"And that I don't have a girlfriend and we'll live happily ever after?"
"That's not what I was doing-"
"Did you think I wouldn't mind? Oh, Dom. He doesn't mind anything! He doesn't mind spills on his couch, or wet luggage in his hall-"
"You don't mind those things!"
"Or an unexpected snog from his best mate."
"I'm still your best mate?"
"I don't know, are you?"
The bite in Dom's voice scared Billy. He'd rarely heard it, and it had never been directed at him. He put down the spatula he was holding and turned off the burner. "I - don't know what to say."
"Anything would be nice."
"I'm sorry?"
"Are you?"
"Do you want me to be?"
Dom slapped his hand down on the table. This was the peak of his frustration. This was a level Billy didn't know and wasn't sure he wanted to. It was part of Dom he'd never seen, and it intrigued him. "What are you doing?" Dom asked after a moment.
"I don't-"
"What are you doing here? What were you trying to do last night?"
"Nothing. It was a mistake, all right? I've always had these... certain feelings around you, and I wanted to..."
"Yes?"
"I don't know, see what happened?" All of this was happening, all these words were coming out of his mouth without his permission.
"And are you satisfied?"
"I'm not sure what happened."
"Do I need to do a recap?"
"Recap? How American you're becoming."
"Don't dodge the subject, William."
"Am I in trouble?" Billy grinned, but Dom refused to give in. He should have known better. "Do you want me to go?"
"No, no. Of course not."
"What do you want me to do, then?"
"You can't-" Dom started, frustrated. "You can't have everything."
"I don't want everything!"
"Then what is it that you want, Billy? Because I'm tired of your experimenting and I'm tired of guessing it out." Billy turned away, back to the stove. He knew what he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure it was the truth. He did want everything. "Not going to say, then? Fine. I'm going out. Enjoy your breakfast."
Dom disappeared briefly into his room to change, then rushed out the door before Billy could even formulate a thought.
~
Dom didn't come back until late that night, and he found Billy writing in a journal on the couch. Neither of them said anything, and Billy looked up tentatively at Dom, who held his gaze but didn't speak.
Dom grabbed a beer from the fridge before locking himself in the bathroom. He sat on the closed toilet, gulping his beer and trying to think. Billy confused everything, shook him up. Dom started the shower, putting his beer on the ledge where it wouldn't get wet. When he opened the bathroom door, Billy was leaning against the wall across the hall.
"I need to talk to you."
"All right." Dom went to the kitchen to toss the bottle, noticing several that were already in the recycle. "Have you been drinking?"
"Had to. Only way I could do this." The blatant honesty seemed to bring them both to some kind of calm. Dom turned his full attention to Billy. "I think... it's quite possible that I'm in love with you."
Dom held his breath. "What about Ali?"
"I think I'm in love with her, too."
"I told you that you can't have everything." Dom turned to the living room, but Billy stepped in front of him, wobbling a bit. He placed his hand in the middle of Dom's chest, but Dom wasn't sure if it was to stop him from moving again or to steady himself.
"Tell me you don't feel the same way and it's not really a problem, is it?"
"How is that fair?" Dom asked. "How about you be the one to choose between Ali and me."
"I'm not even sure what I feel for you."
"But I'm supposed to be sure what I feel for you? I need another beer."
"Grab me one?"
"I'm not entirely sure what you need is more to drink."
Billy sneered. "I'm a grown man, Dom. And I'm not driving anywhere."
Dom pulled open the fridge and plucked two bottles out of the cardboard case, opening both and passing one to Billy. They went to the couch and sat down side-by-side, not looking at one another.
"When I bought my plane ticket, this is not what I thought was going to happen."
"I should hope not."
"It was just going to be a visit, that's all."
"Mmm."
They sat in long stretches of silence, occasionally broken Dom getting up for more beer. He lost track of how many he'd had, but he was sure it was more than five. The edges started to blur and their silence gave way to light conversation. Which slipped into regular banter. Dom was vaguely aware that their interactions usually turned to flirting that he used to think was innocent. This was no different, but the innocence was gone and a heightened awareness prickled at Dom's skin.
Billy could feel Dom's shoulder pressing against his and the spot got particularly warm. Dom's fingers glanced against Billy's thigh when he moved his arm to gesture and lingered a little too long. The beer seemed to be pushing Billy's boldness, because he leaned forward and kissed Dom. He wasn't going to wait, didn't have any other point to argue. Dom started to pull away, but Billy reached up and held him tightly, not letting him move. And Dom moaned, licking across Billy's lips.
"You like it..." Billy said, surprised, just inches from Dom's lips, his breath cooling saliva on Dom's mouth. Dom dove forward, biting Billy's lip lightly and kissing him so hard Billy had to push him away to breathe. They were both panting and Dom's eyes were shining. Dom's knee nudged between Billy's thighs and Dom was impossibly close, and grinding into Billy. "You..."
"Billy..." Dom was staring blatantly at Billy's mouth.
"You're-"
"I want you."
"I feel that." Dom laughed, throwing his head back before taking another smoldering look at Billy. "Dom, are you sure-"
"Don't back down now."
"Are you making a choice?"
"I'm making this choice."
Billy shook his head to clear it a bit. This was... unexpected. His mind was reeling from the beer and his blood was pounding hard throughout his body. "What do you want?"
"I don't know. Please, just do something." Billy went straight for Dom's pants without thinking, fitting his hand between skin and fabric. "Billy? You know what you're doing?"
"Exactly what I'm doing."
"That's... hot." Dom grinned devilishly and Billy shoved his flannel pants down his thighs.
"I'll do whatever you want."
"I can't even think, and you-"
"Yes?"
"Are drunk." Billy laughed, and Dom smiled. "Will you..."
"Mmm?"
"Please, just-"
"Suck you off?"
"Ah, Billy. Quit talking or this is going to last a total of thirty seconds." They laughed again while Billy kept up slow strokes, easing Dom up onto his toes.
"Do you want me to?"
"Are you joking? Of course I want you to!" They gave in to some frantic giggles, nervousness still edging at them. The familiarity of two people who knew each other so well, but the awkwardness of knowing someone so intimately, now in a physical way, it made things clumsy and every movement was more imperative. Billy eased down to his knees, licking the length of Dom's cock slowly. "Oh," Dom hissed.
Billy pulled his mouth away.
"Oi, what're you-" Dom started.
"I need to just do this, and fast. I need to hear you come."
"Oh, Jesus. How much did you drink?"
"Just shut up and let me." Billy moved back Dom's foreskin and sucked hard on the head of his cock. Dom faltered but regained his composure, trying to keep his knees from buckling. Billy wrapped one hand tightly around the base of Dom's cock, pulling the skin tight as he bobbed his head over the length of Dom's erection. It was so wet and so warm. Dom gripped either side of Billy's head and guided him, pushing him to go faster.
"Billy..."
"Mmm?" Billy hummed around him.
"I'm close," Dom managed and Billy moaned against his skin and moved faster. "Billy, can I... in your mouth?"
Billy didn't answer, he kept moving and Dom squeezed his head to warn him. He gasped and cursed in a whisper and Billy felt the pulse in the underside of his cock. He slowed down, easing Dom's orgasm, and closed his lips around Dom's cock, swallowing his come. He pulled away softly but Dom winced anyway at the loss of contact.
"Was that all right?"
"You're joking, right?" Dom asked, reaching to pull his flannels up. Billy's lips were red and swollen, drawing Dom's eyes.
"I'll take that as a yes." Billy was obviously hard, but trying to ignore it. He wasn't going to demand any reciprocation.
"Do you want me to..."
"Hmm?"
"Do... something for you?"
Billy laughed. "Are you always this articulate?"
"Shove off."
"Dom, you don't have to-"
"Has it occurred to you that I might want to? I just don't know what to do. I mean, in theory I've got it, but-"
"You could just... touch me."
Dom licked his lips and dropped down next to Billy, kissing him again, drifting from his mouth to kiss his jaw. He tugged at the fly of his jeans and pulled his dick out, holding him softly "This all right?"
"Ah, yes. That's nice... just do that."
"Well, at least this is something I know how to do."
"Wanker."
"Exactly."
Billy's laugh was broken by a moan and Dom smirked, moving his arm faster. "How close are you?"
"What?"
"I just want to know."
"Dom, I can't really say."
"I want to see your face."
Billy sighed, leaning into Dom's body. "Harder. A little faster, press here." Billy reached down, finding Dom's hand and pressing his fingers just below the head of his cock. "That's just it. Don't stop."
"You look incredible."
"Do I?"
"I'm already half-hard again."
"I'm close, Dommie." Billy cursed, pushing his hips forward.
"I need to see you-"
"Fuck, don't stop."
"Come on, Bills."
"I'm coming, Dom."
Dom made a low noise and pulled Billy's orgasm out, eyes locked on his face. "That was sexy."
Billy laughed airily, placing one hand on the carpet in front of him, catching his breath. His mouth tasted like stale beer and he watched the carpet swirl around him.
"Old man needs a nap?"
"Old man? I might need a nap, but it has little to do with the fact that I'm old. Because I'm not." Billy lowered himself to the floor, lying on his back and doing up his zip. Dom collapsed next to him, resting his head on Billy's bicep.
~
Billy woke up, his back aching. Why was he sleeping on the carpet? He glanced to his left and saw Dom, mouth open and eyes shut. Billy's stomach lurched and he reached under his jeans - he was sticky and a little raw. Right, it had happened. Billy's pocket vibrated and he pulled his phone out, flipping it open before it could ring.
Dom's eyes cracked open to see that Billy had gone off. He rolled onto his belly, resting his cheek against his forearm. He dozed until Billy came back into the room, squatting beside him.
"M'awake," he mumbled.
"That was Ali."
Dom's eyes opened. "Oh."
"She wants to know," Billy began, and sighed. "She wants to know when I'm going to be home."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I told her what happened."
Dom pushed himself up, standing quickly. "You what?"
"She has a right to know, Dom."
"She does, but you just... told her?"
"I just told her."
"Well." Dom cupped the back of his neck and was moving, but not going anywhere. "What did she say?"
"I think she expected it."
"But what did she say?"
"'Oh.'"
"She said "'oh'?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm leaving tonight."
Dom stopped moving altogether. He couldn't move. He felt like his stomach was made of titanium. "What?"
"Late, around ten."
"So you're just going to leave?"
"Yes."
"So you've decided then?"
"I haven't decided anything."
"Fuck you. Fuck you, Billy! I knew this was going to happen, I fucking knew it."
"Dom-"
"Don't "Dom' me. You make me admit that I'm in love with you and then you leave?"
"You're in love with me?"
"Just go."
"Dom-"
"Just go, Billy."
~
Dom finally came out of his room long after Billy's flight was to have left only to find Billy sitting on his suitcase in the entry way.
"What are you still doing here?"
"Who do you think I am?" Billy said lowly.
"At this point?"
"I wasn't going to leave it like this."
"But you are going to leave?"
"What do you expect, Dom? Are you going to leave Evie for me? Are you? I'll stay if you say yes."
"Yes."
"What?
"I am."
"No, you're not."
"I want to."
"Dom, that's not the same thing."
"What do you want, Billy?"
"I want to stay. I want to be here, with you. I just want to be with you. But how do we do that, Dom?"
"Ali only said "oh'?"
"She knew why I was coming out here. She didn't say as much, but she knew."
"And she didn't stop you."
"And Evie?"
Dom cleared his throat. "She told me to see what was there."
"Who do you want more, Dom?"
"I don't know. So what happens now? We just - we just let it go?"
"Dom." Billy stood up, reaching for one of Dom's hands. "I'll never let it go. I never did."
"Is Ali okay with that?"
"I can't change it. Dom, I love you. As my best mate, as more than that, even though I sound like a little girl for saying so."
"You do sound like a little girl." Dom grinned. "I do, too. Love you."
"I have to go. Plane to catch and all that. I'll call you."
"Yeah."
Billy leaned in, pressing his lips chastely to Dom's. "Goodbye."
"Bye."
Dom let the hinge on the front door pull it closed and he took a few steps backward before turning away and picking his episode script off the coffee table. He fell heavily on the couch and flipped a few pages without reading anything on them. The first line of his dialogue was highlighted in an obnoxious orange and he squinted at it.
When the doorbell rang five minutes later, he had finally gotten down to memorizing and he took his script with him into the entry way. He groped blindly for the handle while repeating a small monologue in his head.
"Billy! What are you doing back here?" Dom asked, glancing out the door, automatically checking for his taxi.
"My cab's parked half way down your street."
"Why?"
Billy pressed his lips to Dom's, his arms tightening around him and Dom's script crinkling between them before falling open on the floor.