silentdescant | Fic: RunAway - XXVI. Opposite (Reply)

Series info, summary, warnings, and disclaimer

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Chapter Title: Opposite

Chapter Summary: Dom is on his way to finally being happy; Billy and a stranger face off
A/N: Next week I will post a chapter on Tuesday, then one on Wednesday, because I don't want to make you all wait until my Thursday-through-Sunday thing is over. :D

“Hans? I think… I think I should see about getting my own flat,” Dom said uncertainly as he put down his fork. They were sitting around the kitchen table with Hans’ friend from the theatre, Wes. Wes turned quickly toward Hans to see his reaction.

“D’you think you’re ready?”

“I think I have to try. As much as I like you, Hans, I really can’t stay here forever.”

“If you’re sure, then we can check the listings in the paper tomorrow,” Hans said calmly. Wes grinned at Dom.

“You got a girlfriend, Nicky?” he asked teasingly. “Or a boyfriend maybe? I expect you’ll be needing some space if you’re going to… entertain anybody.”

Dom bit his lip and glanced at Hans. Hans had mentioned to him earlier that he had a bit of a thing for Geoff, their mate from the theatre. In truth, Dom wanted to give Hans some space. But that wasn’t the only reason he wanted a place of his own. Dom believed that if he didn’t move out soon, he never would.

Three days later, the four friends were out furniture shopping. Wes had an old pickup truck that they were using to haul around a beat-up blue sofa that folded out into a bed, a short coffee table, and a small bookshelf.

“Dominic, look at this!” Geoff called from across the showroom of the electronics store. “It’s on sale; it’s a pretty good deal, I think.”

That afternoon, Dom flopped onto his new sofa, exhausted. Wes, who did most of the electrical work at the theatre, was just finishing hooking up Dom’s new phone. The other two men had helped move in the furniture and the two boxes of things Dom owned, then left for dinner.

“It should work now,” Wes mumbled around the screwdriver he held in his teeth. He picked up the phone and dialed Dom’s cell phone number. Across the room, Dom answered.

“I guess it works.”

“Looks like it.”

“D’you want to order up some food or do you have somewhere to be?”

“Sorry man, I got a date tonight.”

“S’okay. Tell me why we’re still talking on the phones when we’re standing in the same room.”

“I don’t think I can tell you why, Nicky. We must be very strange.”

“Well, I know you are.”

“Wanker.” Wes hung up the phone. “I’ll see you on Tuesday, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there. Lock the door on your way out!” Dom called after Wes. Once his friend had gone, he sighed and looked around his nearly empty apartment. His apartment. Dom smiled.

***

Billy decided to continue traveling around the world, if only for the fact that it brought him close to his friends. In LA, he invited both Elijah and Orlando to the premiere with him, and they both seemed happy for the distraction. Though there were certainly questions about Dom, most of the paparazzi and fans focused on the film and the fame. Orlando deflected some of the harsher inquiries with his brilliant smile and ever-present charm.

Billy only had a few days to spend in LA, so the Elijah and Orlando dragged him out to a bar for drinks. Billy resisted going out until Orlando handed him a mug of beer. All three of them were melancholy and subdued, but Elijah insisted that being out in public was helping them recover.

Elijah told them that he was going to go outside for a smoke, and Billy, though not really a smoker, decided to join him. Orlando followed them out. Elijah offered Billy one of his clove cigarettes and reached for his lighter. After patting down every pocket he had, he gave up and asked a tall man next to them for a light.

“You’re those Lord of the Rings people, right?” the man asked curiously, handing Elijah a gold lighter. Orlando nodded. “Which one’s the one that killed himself? One of the hobbits, right?”

“Hey, mate, let’s not talk about that, alright?” Orlando broke in cautiously.

“His career was really shit, wasn’t it? I mean, he was a hobbit and that was it. Or wait, wasn’t he in that stupid TV show? What was his name again?”

“We’re not going to talk about him,” Orlando said sternly, stepping slightly in between the man and Billy. Billy’s eyes were narrowed at the man, and Elijah looked stunned at his questions.

“Daniel, wasn’t it? Daniel Monagan? Something like that.”

“His name was Dominic, and you don’t pronounce the ‘g’ in Monaghan,” Elijah replied wearily. He wanted to hit the man, but he was well aware of the multitude of cameras and paparazzi on the other side of the street.

“That’s it. Man, he was such a bad actor! Had the most annoying accent too.”

“Stop talking, mate. And I mean now,” Orlando growled, stepping closer to the man. Elijah grabbed Billy’s arm to hold him back.

“Billy, the cameras,” he whispered warningly. Billy jerked out of Elijah’s hold, but didn’t make any other moves toward the man.

“What are you gonna do to stop me, pretty boy?” the man asked tauntingly. “The midgets here will have to come to your rescue.”

“Hey, man, we’ll just leave, alright? Thanks for the light,” Elijah added sarcastically, trying to pull Billy back towards the door. Orlando glared at the man, then turned to follow them.

“I can see why the guy killed himself. He was a shit actor and he couldn’t even get a girlfriend,” the man called after them.

Billy wrenched himself out of Elijah’s hand and stalked toward the man. “You want to say that again?” The man stayed silent. “You say one more word about him and I’ll bloody kill you.”

“Billy…” Elijah stepped up behind his friend and glanced at the cameras across the street. “Not here, man. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Yeah, run away, you fucking fags. Maybe Dominic killed himself ‘cause he had bastards like you for friends.”

Billy launched himself at the man, and Elijah was torn between helping him and holding him back. “You fucking idiot!” Elijah yelled at the man.

Billy knocked him to the ground and held him there. The man tried to throw him off, but only managed a punch in the face. After the first punch was thrown, the man gave as good as he got. Elijah, while trying to pull Billy back, was hit in the jaw and he leapt backwards cursing.

Orlando finally managed to pry the two apart. Elijah wiped the blood from his lip and latched onto Billy, who was sporting a bloody nose and the beginnings of a black eye.

“You ever come near us again and we’re calling the police.” Orlando snarled warningly.

The man, also with a bloody nose and a bruise on his cheek, grinned at the three actors. “I’m gonna sue your fucking asses like you wouldn’t believe.”

“You fucking bastard,” Elijah spat at him. He spared a glance across the street and saw the cameras flashing and clicking madly. “Oh, fuck, Bill, let’s go.”

The man opened his mouth to taunt them again, but Orlando grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him close. The muscles in his arms bulged impressively. The man’s smirk slid off his face and he cowered slightly under Orlando’s gaze.

“You don’t want us mad at you, mate. Now, it’s already too late for that, but don’t make it worse.” Suddenly, Orlando grinned manically. “We do our own stunts.”

Next: Consequences, part one