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Officer and Gentleman: Part 6

Dominic can recall better evenings.

He’s caught in darkness, unable to see the thief with whom he’s just grappled, and he’s in pain.

Dominic cannot take another beating tonight.

His only consolation hides in his pocket, its twin blades concealed by denim.

“It’s a reasonable request, Monaghan. Take him down.”

Dominic is shoved to his knees.

“Never. Never, I won’t—” Another knife, another nearly silent movement, and Dominic gasps, clutching his chest. Wetness slowly begins to seep through his shirt.

The thief kneels to face him, again touching his cheek.

“Then we’ll just have to keep doing this, won’t we?”

---------

Billy senses Dominic’s return before he hears him.

He staggers to the bathroom, where Dominic is leaning over the sink, his body shaking with convulsions. Billy gasps at the blood on Dominic’s chest and face.

Surprised, Dominic cries out, flipping Billy so the inspector’s back is caught against his chest, the knife he’s stolen from the other thief pressing against Billy’s throat.

“Dominic, no ...” Billy whispers, trembling. “Don’t do this ...”

He murmurs, soothes, caresses, calms—until Dominic’s knees buckle, and they fall to the floor.

Billy waits for Dominic’s ragged breathing to slow before he turns in the thief’s arms.

---------

Billy works quickly while Dominic sleeps. He bandages the wounds, ignoring the knife on the floor. Dominic stirs when Billy touches his face, and he catches Billy’s wrists..

Billy knows better than to fight a frightened thief.

But when Dominic tips him backwards, Billy struggles. He wants to help Dominic, not fuck him, not now.

Not like this.

His resistance is irrelevant. Dominic’s terrified desire blows across Billy like an electrical storm, and Billy cannot look away.

When it’s over, he rises, shaken, and helps Dominic to bed.

In the morning, Billy knows better than to stay and face him.

---------Interlude 7---------

There’s no television in Billy’s apartment.

Dominic imagines Billy makes up for this with whiskey, well–loved books, and well–worn shirts, one of which hangs unbuttoned on Dominic’s body.

Billy also has a desk, and its contents tempt Dominic like no wallet could. Still, he’s unimpressed until he comes across the yellowed newspaper clippings and official documents.

These, clearly, are things Billy wants hidden, and Dominic’s uncertain whether his discovery should taste bitter or sweet.

Hours pass while he reads, his chest tightening under the bandages.

Dominic never hears the footsteps, and is unprepared for Billy’s choked, angry gasp.

---------

“Stand up, Dominic.”

Billy’s voice is like broken thunder, and Dominic obeys, suddenly afraid of the inspector for only the second time.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know—”

“No, you shouldn’t know, and you’re going to forget—” Billy advances, and Dominic stumbles, knocking the papers to the floor.

“Why, Dominic? Why now?”

“I was just ... curious ... I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up—”

“No.” Billy closes his eyes. “You won’t touch them ever again. You will stay out of my things. Out of my—” He throws a hand in the air, frustrated. “My clothes. Out of—”

“Everything but your bed,” Dominic whispers.

---------

Billy has no answer for this, and he sinks to the chair.

“I’m sorry ...” Dominic cradles Billy’s face in his hands. “Sorry for everything ... I tasted blood in your mouth last night ... I said I’d never—”

“Dominic, for the love of God, stop talking.” Billy falls forward, and Dominic catches him.

“Please, Billy.” Dominic freezes, waiting for correction that doesn’t come. “Let me get us something to eat, then I’ll come back and make it right. Yes?”

Billy nods, beaten, and Dominic disappears.

When he returns, bearing Thai food and wine, the papers are still scattered.

And Billy is gone.

---------

Billy has neither the energy nor the authority to call in backup tonight. He’s nearly off the case, and had to fight to keep Dominic’s file.

What Billy does still have is the desire to catch this thief, and the information to do so.

And of course, Billy has the knife.

It’s a work of devilish art, Billy thinks. He fights the memory of his own, uglier instruments, and forces himself to remember the pain this knife has caused, to remember Dominic’s face.

Billy stands in the alley, waiting.

When the thief appears, Billy’s ready for whatever end they’ll make.

---------

Dominic runs hard, his body screaming in agony and his head rushing with fear. He knows where Billy is, what he’s taken and certainly knows how to use.

He can see Billy’s grace with the long knife, can see the thief parrying, laughing at Billy’s determination to finish a job no longer his.

Dominic moves into the light. As he’s hoped, Billy sees him, and the thief takes advantage, knocking Billy’s feet out from under him and grabbing Dominic’s unsteady form.

When Billy looks up, the thief’s knife is pressed against Dominic’s chest once more, and Dominic’s eyes are closed.

Part 7

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