FIC: Somewhere In The Crowd

[vensre.livejournal.com]

Title: Somewhere In The Crowd
Author: vensre
Starring: Dom/Billy
Rating: PG-13ish
Notes: I've had this just-for-fun musician AU cooking for years. Thanks to ali_jayne and capra_maritimus for the much-needed betawork, to tigertale7 for saying I should share it, and to wander_in_words for listening to me whine far beyond the call of duty. Thanks also to the founders of monaboyd_month! Let's do it again next year. ;D


~: (SEPTEMBER)


"Guys, I have a little announcement to make. I... have been wearing the same pair of pants for three weeks. Panties, not pants. No, hey--"

"No more camcorder for you, Dominic," Elijah said, doing his best to rescue the borrowed camera from Dom, who was laughing hard enough to drop it after being poked in the side a few times.

"Christ, what is he on? Wha'd you give him, 'Lijah?"

Elijah barked a laugh. "Cloves, man. That's unadulterated Dom you're getting."

Sean eyed Dom dubiously. He was flopped out at the edge of the stage where Elijah had tackled him, grinning up at the colour-filtered lights. Shrugging, Sean moved on, climbing the stage steps and navigating around Dominic's outflung arm to test the mics again.

Elijah was watching his progress through the camcorder. "Where is everybody?"

"Getting lunch, I think," Sean said into the microphone. "Don't worry, I told them to pick you up something too."

"Thanks, man. Hey, and thanks for getting us this place for rehearsal. I know you busted your ass over it."

"Hey, I was glad I could do it. You guys are putting out some quality sound. Where did you even dig up this Viggo guy? He's phenomenal. And completely weird."

Smiling, Elijah shook his head. "He dug me up, dude."

A clamor in the lobby suggested that the others had returned from their foray. When the last mic had been adjusted, Sean went to stand over Dominic. "You're fuckin' crazy, but man. You can rock."

Dom sat up, grinning. "Can, and do, my friend." He stuck out his hand as though to shake, then hauled himself up by Sean's arm. "I'm glad to see you're free of anti-keyboardistism. Lot of that kind of sentiment going around." With that dark pronouncement, he ambled out in search of food.

"We found him in Berlin," Elijah explained, with a nod in the direction Dom had gone. "He was mixing for clubs, and in people's basements. They didn't know what they were sitting on. He can actually act almost normal, but he's sort of doing a disciple-of-Viggo thing right now."

"That explains a lot."

"Yes..." Elijah was fiddling with the camera, stowing it.

"Um. What exactly do you do for the band, again?"

"Oh, I dance."

Sean blinked.

"Just fuckin' with ya! It's a joke. Really, I just do whatever the hell I want. Mostly percussion and theremin along with the tech-stuff, lately, but whatever the song calls for. I'm flexible."

Sean grinned. "I believe it."


:~:


"What the fuck, man? You can't just... we have shows coming up, Dom." It had taken Elijah two days to notice, which only made him fiercer once he cornered Dom to grill him about it. "Will you at least tell me why you're not eating?"

Dom, slightly ashen, shook his head.

"Right. The hard way it is." Elijah stubbed out his cigarette vehemently and glared at his friend. "If you're on a diet, I'm kicking your fucking face in. Or I'll get Bean to do it for me."

"'M not on a diet."

"Good, ya scrawny bastard. Okay." Elijah sighed. "Is there something wrong? I mean, is your family okay?"

Dom scowled. "They're okay," he mumbled, scrubbing a hand through his hair, disarranging the calico spikes.

"Are you tired of the band? Are you trying to make yourself sick so you don't have to play or something? For god's sake, what? Wait, is it that you're sick? Fuck's sake, please don't have cancer or something!"

"Listen," Dom said, "this is not some kind of personal insult, all right? I'm not hungry, I don't eat if I don't feel like eating, and I've been off for a few days, so can you possibly ease up?"

Elijah was staring at him, wide eyes wider than usual. "Oh my god," he said. "You're in love. It's so obvious. Ohh, you fucker!" He launched himself at Dom's lap, pounding on his shoulders affectionately. "Who is it! When! God, why didn't you just tell me!"

Dom was actually grinning a little, skin shading pink. "You're so demanding."

"Guinness! That's like a meal, almost. You'll toast with me, yeah?" Without waiting for a response Elijah was rummaging in the fridge, setting a bottle at each of their places. He slammed back into his chair, crowing, "To love! Maximum pleasure, minimum pain. Unless you like that sort of thing. Cheers!" Their bottles chimed together, then they both took long pulls. Dominic's was considerably longer.

When he thumped the bottle down on the table, the smile he was trying to make came out all wrong somehow. "Viggo saw him first."


:~:


The café where Billy sang was all done in pale wood, well-lit, with a lingering scent of chai and shortbread. Dominic was conspicuous. Today he was wearing a tight long-sleeved purple shirt under a formerly white canvas jacket that had seen better days, and also used to have sleeves. He was also wearing the sort of boots one hopes to have on if a fight breaks out, and black trousers which proved, on the third or so glance, to be made of leather. Dom liked to dress to play up his hair, which was sticking up in wide, bright stripes at the moment. The crowd in this place was, in general, more conservatively and boringly clad. Dom usually didn't stand out quite so much, and he was enjoying the feeling. A couple of girls about his age, with laptops and a table full of revisions, were eyeing him. He gave them a courteous nod. The moment was cheapened a bit when one of them started giggling.

Unfortunately, the person he had come to see was nowhere in sight.

Another familiar face was registering, however - and not the one he'd half expected to spot. Elijah, outlandish even dressed to blend, was seated at the bar, drinking some foamy coffee drink and glancing between the menu and the stage. Dom made his way through the knot of people between them and moved into Elijah's peripheral vision.

They grinned at each other in greeting.

"Thought I'd come and at least see what all the fuss is about."

"See, yes. And hear, the hearing's pretty important."

Elijah nodded. Of course Dom, a non-singing musician, would fetishise a singer's voice.

People started clapping, drawing everyone's attention back to the little stage. The man adjusting the mic stand was a burly, salt-and-pepper whiskered chap. Dom shook his head at Elijah's teasing look.

The microphone came on in the middle of what the man was saying: "--hit it big, so enjoy him while we've got him, eh? Please welcome our own, Billy Boyd!"

Elijah was fascinated by the guitar-wielding guy who took the stage. "This is the one you were starving yourself over?" He was muttering in Dom's ear while Dom shifted around nervously. "But he's so little and cute and friendly-looking... I just don't see any tragic love stories in this, man. How old--"

"Shh!" Dom stopped the inquiry just in time for the first notes from Billy's guitar. Four bars in, he started to sing; then Elijah understood.


:~:


The proliferation of eccentrics around his concerts was beginning to amuse Billy. At first it had just been that long-boned man with an artist's disregard for subdued clothing. Then the punk with the wild hair and the gentle voice, asking if he'd maybe like to jam sometime. Then tonight that one had a friend with him. Would it be throngs, soon? All the better; Billy hadn't seen so much as a decent tattoo since he'd started frequenting the place. It wasn't exactly his ideal arena. Far more comfortable would be a pub somewhere, with dim lights and good beer, but for now he was going to take what he could get.

If he was also going to subvert the place a little, he'd consider it a job well done.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder during the break between sets, startling him out of his thoughts. "Excuse me, sir - sorry to interrupt you, but." One of the baristas was smiling shyly at him. "Someone's bought you a drink, whatever's to your taste."

Pleasantly taken aback, he glanced around, but failed to catch anyone staring at him. "Well, erm, tea, then, please. With a little milk. Thank you." She nodded, and bobbed away through the crowd.

The more he thought it over, the more curious he was, but he somehow restrained himself from asking who sent the drink until the girl was about to turn away again after delivering his tea.

"The guy with the" - she made a hand motion - "hair. He's at your shows every time these days, and I couldn't blame him." She blushed a little. "Your music is wonderful. We're all glad you come here."

Billy sent her off with his most shiny of grateful smiles, then slowly turned to peek at the bar where the punk and his friend had been sitting. He found the back of the neck of the person he was looking for, at least. He caught the friend's eye, then grinned and raised his teacup to them. There was a delay while the friend seemed to relay this, then the back of that neck turned an interesting red before the guy with the hair turned, too, and waved with genuine friendliness. Billy nodded to him, meeting his eyes. They looked at each other a moment more, until Billy's admirer grew too twitchy and found a reason to look away.

It had been a few years since Billy had gone for a bloke. He so rarely encountered anyone he fancied who was also interested in him that it generally wasn't worth the search. This guy, though - Billy was getting that feeling just behind his nose that he'd had right before he won £100 in the lottery a few years back. This one felt worth chasing.


:~: (NOVEMBER)


When the front door latched and a single set of footsteps returned up the stairs, Miranda made herself free to stick her head out the door of her room.

"Guess somebody had some fun last night," she called, still exercising caution with her volume. Then Billy came around the corner, and her jaw dropped. "Jesus, when was the last time you got laid? You look ten years younger and I'd swear your hair's growing back."

"Shut it, Otto," he growled playfully. "'S nothing wrong wi' my hair." Miranda doubted that he was even capable of making a genuine threat in his state.

"Who the hell was that, Bill? Anybody I know? It wasn't Ali, was it? Can't've been."

"On good terms with Ali, but not that good." He got out his mobile and started poking buttons. After a minute he handed it over, saying, "Well, the colours are funny, but you'll get the idea."

Miranda angled the tiny screen to see the bare shoulder, neck, and profile of an arrestingly lovely young person - a man, she realised, then wondered how she could have been uncertain. His eyes, long-lashed, were shut; perhaps sleeping? His hair was a riot of blue, black, and purple, spiked chaotically.

"One more," said Billy, reaching to change the photo: dressed this time, the same man looked out at her through kind cobalt eyes. "Dominic is his name."

"He's gorgeous. He looks like such a sweetheart, too. How'd you meet him?"

"Ah, he's been coming 'round my shows for a month or so. Has a band of his own, as well." Billy smiled. "We're having dinner then sitting in on one of their rehearsals Thursday. Apparently the front man is Viggo Mortensen, of all possible people in the world."

Miranda burst out laughing. "The alien music guy?"

"From that old CD? Yeah. It only sounds like it's in Vulcan, apparently. Danish, or something."

"Crazy." Impulsively, Miranda threw an arm about his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "Did you have brekky?"

"A little something. But I'm never opposed to a little something more."

"And not an ounce of pudge on you. It's a miracle."

"It's called 'walking to work'."

"Hm, there is that." They set to making breakfast, idly kidding back and forth, before Miranda ventured, "So are you starting another guy phase? I thought you said that was too much work."

"Mm, y' know, I don't think I am? But if it's a Dominic phase, I'll not be fighting it too hard."


:~:


"Hey," Dominic rushed the last couple of steps to the kerb as the cab pulled away. He touched hands with Billy and gave him a little greeting kiss at the corner of his mouth. Billy tugged him back for a more personal I know how you taste on the inside sort of kiss. When they parted, Dom's hands were shaking. Billy took one, and they proceeded back into Dom's lair, jackets shed onto the backs of chairs along the way.

"Would you like a tour? Not much to see, I'm afraid. But dinner's probably ready to be eaten, if you're hungry..." Dom's nervous chatter trailed off as Billy sidled up close to put his arms around Dom's waist.

"No need to be entertaining me. I'm easily amused. And hungry. Although I believe I'd like to see the bedroom at some point, if it's okay by you." He nuzzled Dom's shoulder, fingers brave in the back of Dom's multicoloured hair.

"Mandatory by me," Dom replied.

They stood a moment more, breathing each other in.

"Brought you somethin'," said Billy.

"Really? What is it?" Dom made as if to pat him down, but Billy already had a wee envelope in his hand, and gave it over with a flourish.

"I hope you like this. Don't have to keep it, if you don't - just say, and I'll take it back and try again."

Something tiny and metal slid into Dominic's palm. He held it up to examine the little thing. It was a lip ring, a ball stud labret like the one Dom usually wore, swirled in a minute pattern of purple, black, and white. Dom touched its surface with his fingertips, then turned a brilliant crooked smile on Billy.

"I love it. Thank you, Bill." He planted a firm kiss on Billy's mouth, then backed off a bit. "See, if I put this in now, I know how it's going to play out. Dinner first, or we'll both go hungry."

"I may have had some of what you're talking about in mind," Billy admitted placidly. "But, since you cooked..."

Billy had every intention of savouring the meal; Dom was a more than decent cook, and he had obviously put in a lot of effort. Even so, he found himself eating quickly, distracted and impatient.

The empty dishes stood abandoned on the table that night.


:~:


"Thanks for helping us tear down," Elijah was saying over the din. "'Though, we'll have to get some real roadies eventually, I know." He handed Billy a bottle of beer from the ice chest and toasted him cheerily with the one he'd been working on.

"Not a problem," Billy said, smiling. "You always have an afterparty like this?"

"Yep, pretty much! Why not, we figure."

"Why not indeed!"

"Oh, Sean, hey!" Elijah snagged the wrist of someone passing and pulled him in. "This is Billy Boyd. Meet Sean Astin." Pleasantries and a handshake were followed by his loud and tipsy whisper: "This is that singer Dom's in love with."

"Ohh," Sean said, nodding booze-intelligently. "I saw you up by the stage. Enjoy the concert?"

"I did! I'll be there next time, as well."

"Oh?"

Billy turned sharply at the new voice, which seemed to be speaking directly into his ear. In reality, it came from a good bit above his shoulder.

"Hello. Glad to hear you've been enjoying yourself," said Viggo.

"I've been meaning to say that I was glad you seemed to enjoy my little café shows, yourself. And to tell you that I have Ferrous Wheel on CD."

Viggo raised his eyebrows, but seemed to have nothing to say to that. He was standing a bit close for Billy's comfort, but to back away would mean stepping on Elijah.

Then somebody's hand was on his shoulder, and he was about ready to get his guitar and start clearing out his personal space with the time honoured techniques of el kabong, until he realised that this was a Dominic hand. Dom's arm slid around Billy's shoulders. Their eyes met, and Dom read Billy's unease immediately - if his posture hadn't told him across the room.

Dom was wearing black kohl around his eyes tonight, which went a long way to alleviate his discomfort. Billy hardly listened as Dom made their excuses, then allowed himself to be tugged aside, leaving the beer bottle on the nearest table. They crowded each other contentedly in a dimmer corner and traded kisses.

"Thank you for coming, tonight."

"Wouldn't miss it, even aside from the obvious reasons. Your band is good."

Dom beamed, and cast a glance around the room.

"Did Elijah blab?"

"Well... er."

"I asked him not to say anything to Viggo about, well. When I first met you," Dom explained, a little bit sheepish, "I thought Viggo might have... This sounds stupid. But I thought he'd got to you first, and I wouldn't stand a chance. Had some angst. Was that over there your first time talking to him?"

"It was, for all that," Billy said, bemused.

Dom grinned. Pink tinged the edges of his ears. "Did you tell him you have his CD?"

"Yes, and then regretted it," Billy laughed. "It was all a bit weird."

"That's Viggo."

"As far as I know, Elijah didn't say anything abou' that." He tipped his head and took a long look at Dom, less hesitation than preparation. "He mentioned something else, though."

Dom's eyebrows quirked. "Like what?"

Billy quashed a flash of nervous anticipation. He had that feeling again, that lucky feeling... Best to be straightforward about it. "Elijah said you were in love with me."

Dom went absolutely still. Way too still. The anticipation and the luck began winding themselves into a headache, instead, but Billy refused to scowl. He waited patiently, and touched Dom's jaw, just because.

Eventually, Dom cleared his throat. "Do you think you could forget that you heard that? I mean..."

Billy didn't look at him. His hands hurt, in a distant sort of way, and his voice sounded like someone else's when he replied, "Aye. All right. Consider it forgotten."

"Because. Billy, let me finish." Dom's voice was too quiet for this room. Billy hadn't even interrupted him.

"Finish, then."

"Because I wanted to tell you myself. Is all."

Billy's arms were around Dom, then, and Dom's nose beneath Billy's ear and the weirdly warm metal of Dom's labret against his neck, and he was being crushed, but it was a good thing, a relief, a sure thing. Not mere luck after all. That was Luck, it really was.


:~

Comments

[laurelcrowned.livejournal.com]

this. was really, really, really too cute for words. ven! such a cute verse! i adored it.

[vensre.livejournal.com]

::laughs:: Thank you! Very glad you enjoyed it. :D

[ex-rogerpit.livejournal.com]

Band of the Ringers...I like it. It's been a while since I've read good Monaboyd fic.

And speaking as an amateur audio tech, I would love to sit in one of the real Dom's DJ sessions like he did a few months back. That man has fantastic taste in music.

[vensre.livejournal.com]

I'm certainly happy you liked it. Some of the ideas came from time I spent in a metal band in Japan, so it was a lot of fun to write. :D

Oh, same here! He's turned me on to a bunch of bands, and some of my very favorites (Doves, for one).

[capra-maritimus.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, you finally posted it!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! :D:D:D:D:D

(now that I remember the fic *kicks stupid memory*)

[vensre.livejournal.com]

::giggles:: Oh, good, you recall it? I hope you find it improved. :3

Not sure what took me so long, posting it. I'm glad an opportunity came around! :D

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

Bloody brilliant! So many great lines, one of my favs was: But if it's a Dominic phase, I'll not be fighting it too hard.

And the cameo's were wonderful as well!

[vensre.livejournal.com]

:D!!

Thank you very much! I'm thrilled that you liked it so much.

I love cameos too. :3

[cordeilla33.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhhh that was really sweet! Loved the ending! Dommeh is just too cute for words...

[vensre.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Thank you for saying so. :D

[owlgrey.livejournal.com]

That's unadulterated Dom you're getting

That is just precious!!!

[vensre.livejournal.com]

:D

Thanks very much!

[nerwende.livejournal.com]

The title/cut text is a reference to Super Trouper by ABBA, right? :)

[vensre.livejournal.com]

::blushes and laughs:: I didn't think anybody was going to catch that! I love that song, and I always wanted to write a story that had something to do with it. This one... doesn't really, but. Yeah!

:D

[nerwende.livejournal.com]

The lyrics are indeed very fitting with the mention of Glasgow etc! :)

[aire-blair.livejournal.com]

Lovely, Lovely, LOVE-LEE!!!

[vensre.livejournal.com]

:D Thanks!

[eff-reality.livejournal.com]

Very very fun and enjoyable.

"Um. What exactly do you do for the band, again?"

"Oh, I dance."

I really wish that hadn't been a joke.

[capra-maritimus.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm sure he dances, too. LOL!

[vensre.livejournal.com]

'Course he does! ;D

[vensre.livejournal.com]

\o/

Thanks very much for that. :D

[silentdescant.livejournal.com]

hee! I like the idea of Dom with purpley hair and piercings, it's oddly... cute. (but then, isn't he always?) And I love that there's a picture to go with it!! Also, I really enjoyed how you wrote the scenes, how you didn't show everything that happened that led up to them being a couple. It was kind of refreshing, actually, 'cause most people don't go that route.

[vensre.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I almost didn't. There's a whole month's gap in there, and I was going to try to fill it in when I realised there was so much missing, but. I guess that's a story for another time. :)

[mysteriousaliwz.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, lovely :)

[vensre.livejournal.com]

::squee::

::hugs you:: How's things with you? ♥

[mysteriousaliwz.livejournal.com]

Ven! *glomp*

I'm fine m'dear (insanely busy as ever, but that's nothing new). I've been out of the Monaboyd loop for a while, as I've fallen into a new fandom that has been kicking off multiple plotbunnies in my head that I can barely keep up with. Why aren't there more hours in the day?

It's always lovely to come back to a gorgeous bit of Monaboyd like this though :)

How are you?

[philomel.livejournal.com]

So delightful!

Loved Miranda's cameo here. And Viggo as "the alien music guy." *giggles*

Of course, your Dom and Billy are always spot on, in any 'verse.

[vensre.livejournal.com]

:D! Thank you for that. Hee hee, Viggo is the alien music guy!

I wonder, did you end up reading Monkey's Paw Love Song (http://ven-brandybuck.livejournal.com/16470.html)?

[dashery.livejournal.com]

This one felt worth chasing.
So many great lines, but this one especially just gave me that delicious, tingly feeling.

"Because I wanted to tell you myself. Is all."
And this. ♥! I'd love to be able to stroll through this verse again some time, if the mood should ever strike you again. Lovely work. :)

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

"Because I wanted to tell you myself. Is all."

Aww... That was fun and sweet. And I liked the image of Dom with black and blue and purple hair *g*.

[foxrafer.livejournal.com]

Sweet and a lot of fun. I absolutely love the ending. Thanks for posting.