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Title: Trouble in Here
Author: kiltsandlollies
Pairing: Billy Boyd/Dominic Monaghan
Rating: NC–17
Notes: As a very long–term project, I'm working my way through fics based on song titles from Howie Day's album Stop All the World Now. These aren't songfics, however; often the references aren't going to be that clear. First one is here: Collide.


Billy’s humming himself awake, surfacing from the depths while his eyes remain closed and his hand rests in Dominic’s hair. He hadn’t questioned Dominic’s presence in his bed in the middle of the night, and he’s not likely to now, hours later. Wrapped around Billy’s body and synochronizing their breaths, Dominic’s grateful for that. Explaining last night away as the result of simply needing company and comfort after the call from home would ruin the moment.

“We have Feet,” Billy sighs, finally, and Dominic doesn’t move. “Dom?”

“My gran,” Dominic begins. “I think she—”

“Loved you and would have bitten your head off if you’d left here again to see her one more time,” Billy murmurs. “I’m sorry, Dom.”

Dominic trails his hand idly over Billy’s stomach, surprised when Billy doesn’t flinch or laugh. The alarm kicks in after a little while, its slow, persistent beeps becoming faster and louder until Billy smacks at it and moves back to his pillow. Dominic looks up at him for a moment, memorizing Billy like this, scruffy but pleasant, charming in weak morning light.

“Fuck me, I need a shower,” Billy huffs, but he’s smiling. “Did you sleep at all?”

“I think so.” Dominic resettles against Billy’s chest, but Billy’s awake now, and Dominic feels Billy’s hands come around him, lifting him gently. “I didn’t mean to come over.”

“I’m pretty sure you did,” Billy sighs, his smile widening as he runs a hand over his face and sits up. “Doesn’t matter why.”

::

Billy’s on his back now beneath a Lothlorien tree, his hands on his chest and his breathing shallow and sweet. The clapperboard won’t strike home for five minutes, and Dominic doesn’t have the heart to wake Billy just yet in any case.

It’s partially Dominic’s fault, this late afternoon crash of Billy’s. Dominic can still taste the sweat on the back of Billy’s neck from when he licked at it as a joke, just to hear Billy shriek in surprise. The exhausting chase afterward had landed Dominic his turn under the furious glare of a Weta technician glueing his foot back on, and had earned Billy a set of wonderful close ups while Dominic was away.

He’s back now, beside Billy and thinking the costume suits him, like it does Elijah. Dominic and Sean still have days in which nothing feels right, but Billy and Elijah are transformed so easily. Billy becomes younger, softer, in Pippin’s clothes, and Dominic can’t resist drawing his fingernail along the embroidery of the shirt Billy wears, making Billy stir in the dark green leaves.

“Action,” Dominic whispers, close to Billy’s ear, and Billy’s eyes fly open, his sharp inhale launching him into a fit of coughing. Dominic’s laugh turns into a cackle before he can stop it, and then he’s sighing. “I love you, Billy.”

“Bastard.”

“You’ve got a mouth on you, Boyd. Especially when you first wake up.”

Billy’s eyes darken, but he forces a smile. “You don’t know the half of it.”

::

Later, Dominic stands rifling through stacks of photographs while Billy finishes getting dressed. The scent of soap fills the trailer, and Dominic thinks he really needs to get Billy a candle or something, because it’s not at all relaxing in here. It’s almost clinical, bar the laundry piling up and the photos, and that’s not worthy of Billy.

Billy moves beside him now, clicking his tongue when Dominic stops at one picture, that of a girl with dark hair and the longest eyelashes Dominic’s ever seen.

“That’s my sister, y’cunt. Forget it.”

Dominic lets out an appreciative exhale, but moves along in the stack. “And this one?”

“Once upon a time, I had energy for a shag,” Billy snorts. “And time.”

“That’s what unemployment’ll do for you,” Dominic laughs. “Was she, ah—?”

“Yes,” Billy nods, taking the pictures and placing them back on a shelf. “She was fantastic, and she is fantastic, just not with me anymore.” There’s no rancour in his voice, and Dominic contrasts this with his own feelings about his last relationship. She had been fantastic, too, in her own way, but—

But Dominic’s here, now, and he determines that she hadn’t been fantastic enough to dwell on anymore. Not when there are other things and ideas, people and places he can obsess over, fantasize about and maybe make come true.

“—so no Indian tonight,” Billy’s saying, and Dominic blinks.

“Sorry?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, wake up, Dom,” Billy giggles. “Save your dreaming for sleep.”

::

Dominic thinks he might never eat again after their dinner, but having a drink or two in the pub is another matter.

“So, question,” Billy says, lifting his bottle. “Have you ever thought about—I’m wondering, because I’ve done more than thought, and I think you have, too, and however long it seems like we’re going t’be here, it won’t be llong enough if we don’t actually get on with it—”

“Yeah,” Dominic whispers. “Yeah, I have.”

Billy nods as if they’ve reached some vital agreement. “Have you—”

“Yeah,” Dominic laughs, hand racing up into his hair. “Enough, anyway.You?”

“Yes.” Billy laughs, too. “Not as much as you, I’m guessing.”

“Can you not ... elaborate on that, like?” Dominic says, resting his chin in his hand. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

“I believe what you tell me,” Billy murmurs before he drains his bottle. “Until I have reason not to.” Another pause, and Billy takes a deep breath. “This isn’t about last night.”

“I wanted to, though. I wanted—”

“To not be alone.”

“Fucking let me finish,” Dominic says, his voice rising, but again Billy doesn’t flinch. “I wanted to be with you, and you knew I’d had that call right before we left, and you wouldn’t have done anything because of that, so I had to ... I wanted to be with you.” Dominic throws down a handful of bills and stands, ready to go. “Open your fucking eyes, and believe that.”

“I don’t have a reason not to.”

::

They’re calmer now, after the drive back to Dominic’s apartment. Standing in front of his bookshelves, Dominic prods Billy gently to pick one of the many candles to take with him back to that quiet, plain trailer. Billy chooses a tall, beveled, uscented thing, marbled grey and white, and when Dominic tells him he’s missing part of the point of candles, Billy shoots back that he’d rather not have such a small area filled with artificial scent, even if it’s a good one, even if it evokes a good memory.

Dominic lets it go. Tries to let everyting go, because Billy’s standing in front of the window, moonlight turning his pale skin almost translucent and the few blond streaks in his hair a different, flickery sort of silver, a lure for a magpie like Dominic. The room’s gone silent in the aftermath of both unnecessary, ridiculous arguments, and Dominic moves carefully behind Billy, resting his hands just on Billy’s hips, waiting for encouragement. Billy’s speaking, but much too low for Dominic to hear.

“Say again,” Dominic sighs, stepping closer and nudging his cheek against Billy’s hair. Billy leans forward, bracing his hands against the windowsill, and shivers when Dominic’s hands slide below his waist.

“Nothing ... I didn’t say anything.”

“You did.” Dominic’s hands work open Billy’s jeans, searching and stroking, catching on the fabric of Billy’s boxers. Billy swallows and exhales, but doesn’t stop him. “Say again, Billy.”

Billy’s voice is ragged. “I said, can I close my eyes now?”

::

In the morning, Dominic stays quiet, replaying every minute of the previous night, from the moment Billy’s hands curled around the edge of the windowsill for leverage after Dominic turned him around and sank to his knees to suck Billy off slowly, to the second Dominic’s legs slipped from around Billy’s waist and he looked up at Billy, shocked and fucking grateful that Billy had turned out to be such a holy terror in bed, baring his teeth before knocking Dominic to his back and pressing inside him hard enough to make Dominic’s breath catch in his throat.

Billy has smiled then, and fallen, exhausted, onto Dominic’s chest for several minutes before Dominic could get him to move.

Billy’s still asleep, not like on the Lothlorien set or even in his own bed, but a thick, heavy sleep that allows Dominic to look at him properly and find Billy just as worthy of attention when he’s clean–shaven and in deep rest as he is rumpled and awake. The sun is beating too warmly down on them, and Dominic shifts out from under the sheets, blinking and twisting at the feeling of overtaxed muscles voicing their displeasure the only way they know how.

A shower, then, Dominic decides, and takes his time, aware that Billy’s not going to wake up anytime soon, and when he does, he’ll likely want to take a shower himself, before they—

Before they have Feet.

“Fuck. Fuck, no,” Dominic breathes, already reaching for a towel.

::

It’s a testament to how much they both wanted this that neither Billy nor Dominic thought about this morning’s schedule before coming back to Dominic’s apartment, and now it’s come down to this, Dominic shaking Billy awake and trying not to push him to get dressed in the too–bright yellow orange streams of light filling the bedroom and making Billy’s eyes water.

“Stop, stop,” Billy’s whispering, fighting being woken with everything he’s got, and Dominic gives up, throwing Billy’s jeans on the bed before he stumbles into the kitchen and swallows a full pint of orange juice, ignoring the idea of anything else in favour of eating when they get on set.

When he returns to the bedroom, keys in hand, Billy’s fully dressed again—disheveled and with not a little anger in his eyes and the turn of his mouth—and Dominic hurries to put on his own clothes.

They arrive only forty minutes late, and Dominic takes the blame cheerfully, claiming that it’s not the worst offense they’ve made or will make on this shoot. They are mostly left to stew in their own guilt, but Dominic can’t help noticing that Billy’s been quiet for almost the entire time, can’t help interrupting when Astin asks Billy if he’s alright.

“Right as fucking rain. He’s just tired.”

Astin tilts his head, peering beyond Dominic’s shoulder at Billy, pushing his breakfast away and rising to leave. ”Billy—”

“Bad dreams,” Billy says, and the door closes behind him in silence.

::

It’s easily the worst day they’ve had on set, up to and including the day they both took stab wounds in Moria. Dominic forgets lines he’s had memorized for weeks, and Billy sulks as much as etiquette and his own professionalism allows, keeping away from the cast and crew when he can and falling into what looks from far away to be thought, but Dominic knows it’s more likely sleep. For the first time Dominic’s struck by—and somewhat resentful of—Billy’s desire to spend as much of his time possible asleep or at least at rest, and when he leaves the set this night, he does so alone for the first time in ages, getting takeaway for dinner and wandering his apartment aimlessly, afraid to go to bed until he’s nearly crawling under the wrinkled sheets.

Dominic hasn’t been asleep for long before he feels the mattress dip and sway, feels Billy’s hands reaching for him. Dominic doesn’t turn, doesn’t even speak—he can’t think of a thing to say that won’t make things worse.

“I would have told you.” Billy’s breath is warm on Dominic’s shoulder as his fingers travel up and down the length of Dominic’s body. “I can’t wake up like that.”

“You wake up every fucking day,” Dominic says, petulance turning his accent thick and slurry. “So what is it? Can’t fucking wake up with me?”

Billy’s hands still where they are, and his voice lowers almost into nothingness. “I never got a call, Dom.”

::

Dominic turns over onto his back again, the frown creasing his face. Billy sits up and flattens his palms on his thighs, breathing hard now. “They woke me up in the morning, both times. First my mother, then my gran.Both times, Dom, before the sun was up. Shook me till I thought I would scream, and both times I thought if I just stayed where I was, asleep—”

“I’m sorry,” Dominic whispers, but he can’t keep the confusion from turning to frustration. “There’s no fucking way I could’ve known that, Billy.”

“That’s why I’m telling you now,” Billy says hotly, and his hand flies up to his face again, rubbing briskly at his cheek. “That, and I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t close my eyes.” Billy releases an exhausted exhale and descends, curling into Dominic’s side. “I just can’t be woken up like that again, ever. No one should be.”

“No,” Dominic nods. “No one should. But—Billy, you need to tell me the truth, right? You’re not here just because of that, or because of my Gran or because of what we did—I mean, it has to be all those things, but there has to be more ... Billy, last night—if you’re thinking—”

“I’m thinking I wouldn’t have let you fucking touch me if I hadn’t wanted it,” Billy whispers, his grip on Dominic going tighter. “And I’m thinking that if you let me touch you without you wanting it as well, then we have trouble in here, Dom.”

::

Dominic tries again to calm down, to let it go in favour of keeping Billy next to him. Whatever else happens between them, they are not going to have an easy time of it

“I didn’t mean that,” Dominic says, very softly. “I wouldn’t have let you do anything if I hadn’t wanted it. Don’t think I’m that fucking weak, Billy. Don’t believe—”

“I don’t.” Billy brushes two fingers against Dominic’s lips, and then he pales, resettling into Dominic’s side. “Sorry. Finish.”

“Fucking Christ,” Dominic exhales, throwing his hand up into his hair. “Too much, Billy.”

“I know.” Billy’s grip tightens again. “It won’t always be.”

Secrets, Dominic thinks; too many and too much. Different kinds, to be sure—Billy’s secrets are frightening, sad, older things, while Dominic’s are regretful, angry, too recent to have blurred in memory—but all secrets, and they will come out.

There will always be trouble in here.

“I am sorry about your Gran,” Billy murmurs. “And for turning this into ... this. Y’must want to do me some damage, Dom.”

“Maybe. Too tired now.”

“I’d let you, you know. Y’can tell me anything—”

Dominic can’t help the laughter that rises from his throat. “Except to get the fuck out of bed.”

Billy’s laughter is quieter. “Fair enough. I think I could convince you to stay there with me, though.”

“You might could, yeah.” Dominic smiles, and lets his hand fall to Billy’s hair, tugging at it gently. “And that’s an invitation, just so we’re clear.”

::

There’s a lot to be said for finding comfort and company in bed with your best mate, Dominic reminds himself. There’s even more to be said for letting your best mate return attentions you’d given him the night before.

Billy’s attack is slower this time, his hands and mouth more careful, and Dominic’s not surprised to find himself pulling at Billy’s clothes and rising, straining his neck and shoulders as he reaches to fist Billy’s hair again, bringing him back up for a kiss that makes Billy’s hands falter and scrabble in the sheets.

“Dom, slow down, we need—”

Dominic knocks over half the items on his bedside table in his one–handed hurry. “Here, here—just, come on—”

Billy shushes him, takes the lube and a condom and pushes Dominic back against his pillow, his smile very sweet. Dominic’s hands race up and down Billy’s thighs now, and he waits, breathless, while Billy weighs the lube in his hands, just thinking. “Billy—”

“Quiet,” Billy hisses. “’m going t’need your help, Dom.”

It takes Dominic a moment to understand, but then he’s sitting up again, panting a little if he’s being honest and helping Billy roll the condom down Dominic’s cock. “You’re sure?” Dominic whispers, and it’s then that he notices how bright Billy’s eyes are—how certain he visibly is. Billy inches forward on his hands and knees, leaning down to kiss Dominic again and press the lube into his hand before he speaks.

“How much convincing d’you need?”

::

It’s been a long time since Dominic’s done this, and there’s a part of him that still doesn’t know if it’s the best idea, but it’s a small part, one easily silenced by the sound Billy makes when Dominic first presses inside him with slick fingers and a shattered little noise of his own. Billy’s grinding down on Dominic’s hand, his cock red and full, and Dominic wants to see Billy get so close that he’s begging Dominic to come inside him, but he thinks Billy might be past that point already. Dominic pulls away, finally, his breath coming in short gasps, and then Billy’s sliding back, letting Dominic’s hands on his hips guide him.

“Slow, slow,” Billy grits out between his teeth, and Dominic nods frantically, thinking he can’t go any slower, that again, it’s too much. But Billy’s hands search for Dominic’s now as he bears down, and Dominic shifts his hips, watching Billy’s response intently and only remembering to breath again when Billy opens his eyes and releases a low gust of laughter, of relief.

How do you do that? Dominic wants to ask, but he doesn’t know what that is, other than a feeling of peace settling over both of them even as Dominic thrusts up with his hips and Billy ducks his head and gasps. Even if he were to ask, Dominic thinks that Billy would just shush him again, calling it another secret, and Dominic doesn’t want to hear any more of those tonight.

::

He’s too tired to wait any longer, and he murmurs Billy’s name twice before he can wrest his hand free of Billy’s and wrap it around Billy’s shaft, listening for the throaty gasp he heard last night just before Billy came. “There, come on, Billy—”

Billy hisses again, but Dominic turns his wrist and then Billy’s coming, shivering and then going very still, clenching around Dominic and making Dominic’s hips rise up violently, wanting more. When he comes, Dominic’s shocked by his own relative quiet, again so different from last night, but thankful that the result of all this is the same—Billy collapsing to his chest, and Dominic waiting until they have their breath back before he moves them. Billy’s too weakened to do more than smile at Dominic, humming when Dominic swipes a towel across his stomach and arching a little in response.

“We’re alright?” Billy whispers when Dominic climbs back in bed, stretching long and loose before he speaks.

“Mmm, we’re good. Billy, tomorrow—”

“I’ll tell Sean,” Billy nods. “Elijah, too, if you’d like. No secrets.”

Dominic blinks. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”

“No Feet tomorrow, though,” Billy laughs quietly. “No reason to have to convince you to stay in bed, then, I guess.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Billy bumps his forehead gently against Dominic’s before he turns onto his stomach. “I could convince you to do a lot of things, I think.”

“In your dreams, Billy,” Dominic sighs, but he’s still smiling. “Save them for sleep.”


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