Title: The Downward Spiral - Part Twelve Disclaimer: Never happened. "Without you Everything falls apart Without you It's not as much fun to pick up the pieces" -- NIN The smoky pub was pretty much deserted except for the Fellowship -- minus Orlando. Dom tried not to think about that. Instead, he focused on his ale, on his friends, on the five different conversations going on around him at nearby tables. Elijah was animatedly arguing about something, his bluer than blue eyes flashing, slender body quivering with excitement. Bean and Ian were both sitting back, watching Elijah with identical expressions of parental amusement. Billy had managed to talk Hugo into coming to the pub -- and they were playing chess, of all things, for lager, it looked like. Only Billy could take something so cerebral and turn it into a drinking game. John had wandered up to the bar and was busy dazzling his captive audience of three with some tall tale or another. The man had a knack for stories, true enough. Astin had called it a night just a bit ago -- always the responsible one, the Daddy Hobbit. It touched Dom how well he looked after the rest of them. And Viggo -- no surprise there -- was sitting in his usual corner booth, scribbling (or drawing, Dom couldn't tell) in his tattered notebook, glass of scotch untouched beside him. Normally Orlando or Bean would be able to coax him away and encourage him to join the human race for a bit, but Bean looked engrossed in his conversation and Orlando...Dom stopped the thought. What Orlando did wasn't his concern. What Karl did wasn't his concern. Except that he'd promised. They had both promised. No, they hadn't exactly specifically said 'this is exclusive', but one would think it would have been obvious, what with all the "you're mine" business Karl was always spouting. The bet was meaningless now; all Dom wanted was Karl. Why couldn't he just have said that to Orlando earlier? Orlando would never poach on someone else's turf (would he?) He'd have just gloated about winning the bet and that would have been it. Fuck. Dom drained his ale, got up to get another pint. He'd come here to forget, but couldn't escape his brain, couldn't control his thoughts. He kept visualizing Karl and Orlando together in a passionate embrace, kept seeing Karl's roughened hands on Orlando's tanned skin, kept hearing Karl's low, husky voice whisper words of desire in Orlando's ear. Fuck. He slammed the beer back in two long swallows, and the next one, without even tasting it. This was stupid. Just stupid. He didn't own Karl, Karl didn't own him. If Karl and Orlando wanted to get together, great. Dom would just go for someone else. He'd find somebody that gave him the same pleasure as Karl. His inebriated eyes settled on Viggo at that moment. Now Viggo...he'd been great. Spectacular. Man could kiss like a dream, like it was the only thing of any importance, like he was content to do just that all day. And Orlando'd had him twice. Dom should even the score. He stood up, swayed a bit as the alcohol rushed to his head, shook it off. And managed to walk in a mostly straight line as he crossed the room. He slid in the booth next to Viggo, sidling to him. "Hey." Viggo looked up, handsome features softening as he recognized Dom. "Hey there." "Whatcha doin'?" Viggo laughed and closed his notebook. "Working on a poem. But it's not going so well." He turned sideways a bit so he was facing Dom. "What can I do for you?" Help me to forget Karl's hands on my skin. Help me forget that I yearn for only him. "I dunno," Dom said instead, scooting a bit closer. "What can you do for me?" Viggo moved his head closer to Dom's lips. "How much have you been drinking?" he asked, his voice husky. "Not that much," Dom lied. "I don't believe you." When had Viggo started to go all parental on him? "I'm fine. Really. I'll say my ABC's for you." Dom hoped Viggo wouldn't call him on his bluff...everything past "E" was a blur. "No, that's okay. Are you alright?" "Why? Don't I look it?" "Not really, no." Pale blue eyes looked at him with pity, and it was just too fucking much. He didn't want anyone's pity, didn't need it. With a move so swift it surprised even him, he shoved Viggo's head down to him, capturing Viggo's lips in an awkward kiss. And felt only Karl the whole time. "Dominic." Dom paused, halted, lifted Viggo's lips from his. There was only one person who ever said his name quite like that. He turned, Viggo's hand still on his arm. Saw Karl standing in the front of the booth, casual as always when he wasn't working, wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. God, he looked good. Dom looked a little closer. Karl's eyes were furious, even though he simply stood there, looking utterly calm. Dom doubted anyone else in the pub even knew Karl was mad, let alone livid. But he knew it. And then he remembered Orlando. And thought of roughened hands on tan skin. It gave him the courage to speak. "What do you want, Karl?" Dom asked, feeling defiant, feeling brave. He was surrounded by people who loved him, who would stick up for him. He was safe. "Don't do this." Karl continued to stand there, stance casual, jeans and t-shirt molded to that muscled frame. Dom ignored the kick to his libido, his chest. He was mad. He was independent. "Don't do what? Don't go out with my friends, don't flirt with other guys, what?" Dom was aware his voice was rising, that everyone was stopping their conversations to stare at him, that Viggo had tightened his grip on his arm. But he didn't care -- all he could do was stare into Karl's eyes. "What exactly is going on here?" Viggo asked, looking between him and Karl. "Viggo, I appreciate that the boy has put you in an awkward position." Karl's tone was easy-going, unhurried. "Not that awkward." It was a challenge and everyone knew it. Karl's mouth lifted into a tiny smile. "Not here. Not now. This doesn't concern you. This is between me and Dominic." He never moved, never even raised his voice, but the threat was very clear. Dom looked back at Viggo, who stared at Karl for a long, charged moment before lifting his fingers from Dom's arm. "Alright." Karl smiled, turned back to Dom, who just stared at him in disbelief. How had he done that? Viggo never backed down from a fight, never backed away from a challenge. What had Viggo seen in Karl's eyes? "Do you really want to do this here?" Karl asked. He turned his attention back to Dom, who shook his head -- he didn't really want to do this at all. "Come on then." Again, Dom shook his head. As long as he was here, he wouldn't have to face any consequences, wouldn't have to hear about Karl and Orlando, wouldn't have to wake up the next morning. Here, time was suspended. "Is this what you really want?" That husky voice washed over him, through him, enticed him just as surely if Karl was touching him. He ached all over, practically shook with desire. "I will leave." Karl said the words as if they were no big deal. Leave, yes. Karl would leave him again. Leave him alone. Alone to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Because, Dom knew, if Karl walked out of that door, he'd never see him again except when they had scenes together. He'd have his life back, have control back, have his freedom back. Was that what he wanted? Karl out of his life, out of his bed, out of his heart? "No." He heard himself answer from somewhere above his body, watched with a sense of detachment as he stood up, turned away from Viggo, away from everyone else, everything else. There was only Karl in the room. Only Karl and the promise in those eyes. With a small cry, he launched himself into the other man's waiting arms. "I'm sorry," he said, voice muffled in Karl's shoulder. "I was jealous, I..." "Hush." Karl lifted Dom's head, put his fingers on dry lips, smiled. "No apology needed. Have you paid your bill?" Dom shook his head. "Then let's do that, go home. We'll talk there and you can tell me what's wrong. Alright?" Fine. It was all going to be fine. As long as those arms were around him, he could face anything. Dom managed a small smile for Billy and Viggo and Bean. Managed to say goodbye to Hugo and Ian and Elijah, to put some money on the table to cover his share of the bill. And walked out the door with Karl's hand on his back in a gentlemanly, but very proprietary manner. Elijah waited until the door had actually shut behind them before he let out a shaky breath. "What in God's name was that all about?" he wondered aloud. Sean shrugged, gaze going to Viggo, who also shrugged. Ian lit a cigarette, took a long drag before speaking. "I don't know," he replied, staring thoughtfully at the door. "But, if I were you, I'd have a long talk with Dominic very soon." "Why do you say that?" Sean asked. "Because, unless I'm very much off the mark, he's just sold his soul. And I don't think Karl has any intention of giving it back." "Nonsense," Billy piped up. "Dommeh's not stupid. He's a sharp lad, he can handle himself." "I dunno," Viggo argued, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I doubt anybody can resist Karl when he puts his mind to it. You ever tried looking into those eyes? And there was something desperate in that kiss…." "Don't be melodramatic," Elijah stated, with a conviction he didn't quite feel. "He'll be fine. He will. It was a lovers' spat. Karl is just his latest diversion." Ian's mouth turned up at the corners. "Do they know that?" Onto Part Thirteen Main The Downward Spiral page If you enjoyed this fic, please leave feedback here. Thanks!