One Night

Title: One Night (1/4)
Author/Email: eviltwin (tracey737uk@yahoo.co.uk)
Pairings: EW/VM, DM/OB, BB/SB, KU/HS
Rating: PG13 (later parts will be R-NC17)
Summary: One night, four cities, eight men. Two have all the time they want and two don't. For two it's the first time and for two it could be the last.
Warnings: Bits of angst and frustrating thi *ev *evil grin*
Disclaimer: I makes no claims as to the actual sexual preferences of the people I portrays. I makes no money from it either. It's all a load of fiction and a bit of fun.
Feedback: Is the ransom my bunnies are demanding for the return of my mind ;)
Archive: The Showcase ( www.dreamreaver.com/showcase )
Author's Notes: Each chapter will cover two hours. Yes, I chose to ignore time differences. That would have made the title, 'One Night' kinda redundant. *looks to her right* Should I apologise for that? *pause* Sorry for that.


~Berlin, 21:00pm, January 13th~

"I don't believe this. It's not fair.." Orli sits up in bed and pulls the sheets to his waist, glancing over at Dom. "I can't go out on my own birthday. Do you know how bloody unfair that is?"

Dom doesn't even look away from the TV screen. "Yeah, it's unfair," he answers.

Orli draws his knees up against his chest and rests his head against them. "It bloody stinks, mate. And here I am, stuck with you on what should be one of the partiest nights of the year and you're ignoring "
"

"I don't think partiest is a word, Orli."

He doesn't answer that, just sits and sulks, watching Dom watching Man United thrash some German team. He sighs loudly and wriggles around in his bed, trying to get comfortable. Comfort seems impossible with the immense pain that shoots across his abdomen every time he moves. He sighs some more, then takes to groaning. Dom finally looks round at him when he gives a dramatic cry.

"What the hell is the matter with you? It's just a stomach ache. A few more hours and it'll be over."

"It's not that. I'm bored. And you were ignoring me."

"Yeah? Well, now I'm not. Half time. You get my undivided attention until the second half."

"Whoopee," Orli says. "A whole fifteen minutes."

Dom unfolds his legs and stands, moving to his own bed and reaching for the phone. " any anything from room service, whinge-arse?"

"No thanks. I don't want another bout of food poisoning."

"It wasn't what you ate here. It was those bloody cocktails you insisted on drinking all last night. You're still hung-over, you tit."

"You know, you could be a little more economic with the old insults there, Dommie. It is my birthday, after all."

"Is it my fault you don't know how to say no?"

"I know *how* to say no, mate. It's the *when* I have a problem with."

~Los Angeles, 21:20pm, January 13th~

Elijah opens all the doors on his way through the house, leaves them open behind him. He needs air, feels stifled by the heat inside. Or stifled by something anyway. He knows Viggo is here before he even sees him because he can smell delicious aromas drifting down the hallway from the kitchen. His stomach grows heavy and he sighs as he pushes open the door. "Hey Vig," he says, wearily.

"Hey, baby. Shouldn't be too long." Viggo is barefoot and barechested, wearing only old, dirty je He He crosses the kitchen and takes Elijah in his arms, kisses his forehead gently. "Long day?" he asks, as Elijah pulls away and goes to sit at the table.

"Yeah. Too long." And it isn't over yet, he thinks. He rests his head in his hands and stares at the basket of bread in the centre of the table. He can feel Viggo watching him but he doesn't look up.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just tired."

"Right." Elijah looks up then, eyes following Viggo as he goes back to the grill to check the food. That's how he knows Viggo doesn't believe him, but he's not sure if he wants to say anything about it. He's not in the right frame of mind for that conversation just yet.

~Glasgow, 21:27pm, January 13th~

Billy watches Sean over the rim of his wine glass, taking in the beauty of the man opposite him.

"What?" Sean asks, blushing under the scrutiny.

"Nothing. Just looking at you."

"Well then.." Sean stares back and Billy lowers his glass, smiling. Their hands reach across the table and link together, Sean's thumb moving over the ridges of Billy's knuckles. "What's the plan for the rest of tonight?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"On whether you want to go back to your hotel or stay here and wake up with my arms around you." Sean's grip tightens on Billy's hand a moment.

"No contest, is there?" he asks.

"Not really. I've missed you, Sean. I don't think I'll be able to let you leave me again."

"We'll just have to make the most of this week, then. Work beckons."

"I know. I wish this...I wish it was over. That we had more time."

"We have plenty of time. Just one night with you would last me a lifetime. You know that."

It's Billy's turn to blush now. He lowers his eyes and stares at his hand, covered by Sean's. He's still amazed by this; what has happened between them. He stands and moves round the table, pulls Sean up from his seat and kisses him silently, hands coming up to cradle his lover's head. Sean's arms snake around his waist, holding him captive. He doesn't mind at all.

~Los Angeles, 21:35 pm, January 13th~

"You miss him, don't you?"

Elijah's knife clatters onto his plate and he stares at Viggo. "What?" he asks, stupidly.

"Dominic," Viggo replies, stabbing the last piece of his steak with his fork and steering it through the salad dressing left on his plate. "You miss him. You wish he was here and not in Germany."

"oursourse I miss him but-"

"Shit." Viggo puts down his fork, leaves the last mouthful right where it is. "Do you have any idea," he starts, then stops himself. He looks over Elijah's shoulder at the kitchen window. Elijah watches him.

"This has nothing to do with Dominic, you know," he says eventually, tired of the silence. Viggo meets his eyes again.

"Oh no? And what is *this* anyway? The last time I was here everything was fine. What's happened since then that has you so..."

"So what?"

"I don't know. Something's happened to you, that's all I can tell."

"Maybe it's because you can't see more than that that's made things the way they are."

"I don't know - the way things are? What way is that?"

"Why do you keep coming here, Viggo?" He immediately regrets asking.

"Because you asked me to." Viggo's eyes narrow. His chair scrapes the floor noisily as he pushes it back and stands. He takes a couple of deep breaths, obviously angry, before continuing. "And because I love you."

~78 miles outside Auckland, 21:42pm, January 13th~

Karl answers the phone before the first ring is through. "Hey," he says, one hand firmly gripping the wheel, eyes watching the road ahead.

"Hey. I hope you pulled over first."

"Uh..."

"Karl, you know you shouldn't be driving and talking on the damned phone at the same time."

Karl sighs. Yes, he does know that. But.. "But if I pull over it'll take me even longer to get there." And it's taking long enough, he thinks.

"Pull over. My flight was delayed anyway. I'm only just in baggage claim."

Karl indicates and pulls off the road, parking on the grass verge. "You're bloody joking me, aren't you?"

"No. Look, just...don't worry, okay? We'll still have a few hours. I might still beat you."

"If you do then you can keep the bed warm."

Harry's laugh fills Karl's ear, driving him crazy. "Count on it. Call me when you get closer. See ya." Karl hangs up and drops the phone back into his shirt pocket. He starts the car again and pulls back out onto the road. Traffic out here is light and he thinks it shouldn't take him more than an hour to get to the hotel and to Harry. Specifically to Harry's arms and mouth and..fuck. He shakes his head and concentrates on the road. He hopes to God it won't take him more than an hour. Harry has just flown back from a holiday in Singapore and he will only be in Auckland for five hours before he has to return to the airport and fly to Sydney for a series of meetings. Karl will be left behind for another fortnight. Two weeks without the man he loves beyond reason. And by the time he reaches Harry, he'll only have four hours to do whatever it takes to get him through that.

He thumps the steering wheel and wills his car to sprout wings and fucking *fly*.

~Berlin, 21:53, January 13th~

"Dom?"

"Just a minute! Beckham's about to-" The screen goes dark, interrupting him. "No! What the fuck?!" He turns to Orli, eyes wide, and sees the remote in his hand. "You utbastbastard! Turn it back on! Now!"

"No. It's my fucking birthday and I demand some attention!" Orli sits back against his pillow, grinning. Dom springs up from the floor and onto Orli's bed in one quick movement. He reaches for the remote and falls onto Orli making his friend groan in pain. In retaliation, Orli throws the TV remote control across the room and it hits the wall with a loud cracking sound before falling down the back of the chest of drawers. "Fuck! Get off, that fucking hurts!"

"Good!" Dom pushes down slightly. "You deserve it, you wanker."

"Dom..why didn't you just get up off your lazy arse and use the controls on the TV? Fuck, get off me you fat bastard! I'm dying here!" Orli pushes at him but Dom refuses to budge. "Go watch your footy match, will ya?"

And Dom is climbing off Orli, about to do just that, when something makes him stop. Makes them both stop. "Um," says Dom, looking like he's just had the shock of his life.

"Dominic?" Orli whispers his name, drawing his eyes back to his friend's face.

"Yeah?"

"Go and watch the game, mate."

"No."

Orli pushes him up a little and stares at him. "Watch the game," he says again.

"No."

~Glasgow, 22:01pm, January 13th~

"Do you know what I hate about you, Billy?" Sean asks, softly, fingers smoothing the collar of his lover's shirt.

"What's that?" Billy asks, too dazed to really understand.

"Your clothes. You're wearing too many of them... Do you mind if I take them off?"

Billy's eyes meet his, straining to focus. "No.."

So Sean does. Billy stands, helpless, as Sean works each button on his shirt free. He stretches his arms out behind him as the sleeves are pulled along them and off and the shirt drops to the floor. He brings Sean down for a kiss, wrapping his arms around Sean's neck, and moans into it as his belt is unbuckled and tugged loose.

"Wait," he gasps, reaching down to unzip his fly. The jeans sag around his hips but he forgets them as Sean's mouth descends onto his once more. When their lips part again he holds Sean back and smiles up at him. "No need to hurry, right?"

"We have all the time in the world," Sean answers, stepping back and taking Billy's hands in his. "That said..let's go to bed."

"Just a minute then." Billy bends and balances on one foot at a time, pulling his jeans off. He leaves them on the floor beside his shirt and follows Sean toward the stairs.

~Los Angeles, 22:09pm, January 13th~

Elijah lays on his side, one of Viggo's hands stroking along his ribs, and he hates himself. He hates that he said sorry and that he told Viggo he loved him too, and that he made him forget the dishes and come to bed. He hates that he can't seem to be strong when it comes to Viggo. He stares at the wall opposite him as a light kiss is pressed to his shoulder.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he lies. He turns over and looks into soft, steel-coloured eyes. Forces a smile. "Yeah, I'm better now. Thanks."

"That's all right. It's forgotten about." Viggo kisses him and pulls him close. So close that there isn't any space between them. "I love you so much. I wouldn't ever hurt you."

"I know."

"I'm just trying to say, you know..if there's something I've done that's upset you then tell me." He pulls back slightly so he can see Elijah's face. "You will tell me, right?"

"Yeah."

~Auckland, 22:17pm, January 13th~

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Harry doesn't even realise he's said it out loud until the five-year-old girl who's wrapped in her daddy's arms beside him gives him a wide-eyed look. The queue for taxis outside the airport is so long he begins to wonder if he might just be better off walking to the damned hotel. He checks his watch, wondering how Karl is doing. Thinks about maybe calling up the guys in Sydney and asking them to delay the meetings. Just so he can have a little more time. But he knows he can't do that because these guys are flying in specially to see him, too. He knows he's not the only one making sacrifices and he also knows that Karl would probably go off on one if he pulled a stunt like that. Karl knows how important this is.

~Berlin, 22:25pm, January 13th~

"Orli? Are you done?" Dom stands in the bathroom doorway, leaning against the doorframe. Orli looks up at him from where he is bent over the toilet bowl and drags his sleeve over his mouth. He nods, looking miserable. He stands on shaky legs and reaches out, grabbing the edge of the sink. "Kind of looked like it took you by surprise.."

"Yeah." He takes a couple of deep breaths and Dom moves around him, taking one of the glasses from the shelf below the mirror and filling it with water. He hands it to Orli.

"Here. It'll make your mouth taste better."

"And the taste of my mouth is top of your list of priorities, is it?"

"I don't know what happened.."

Orli raises one eyebrow. "You don't know?"

"You know what I meant. I don't...I've never thought about..." Dom gives up, obviously struggling with what he's trying to say.

"Do you like me that way or not?"

"Why do you have to ask me that?"

"'Cause it'd be kind of silly to ask *after* doing this." Orli puts the glass down and takes Dom into his arms. He lowers his head and his lips are barely touching Dom's when he asks, "is this okay or not?"

~26 miles outside Auckland, 22:32pm, January 13th~

Karl thumps his fist against the steering wheel and curses loudly at the heavy traffic he sees ahead. "Why is it, everything is against me right now? Has the whole bloody world turned into bastards?" He slows the car and finally comes to a halt behind what looks like a jam about four or five miles long. At least, he can only imagine that's how long it is. Seeing as how he can't even see the fucking end of it. He slumps back into his seat and shakes his head. "What is this? Big Ironic Day? I wish someone would've told me. I would've bought cards." He continues muttering at the traffic ahead as he reaches across and opens the glovebox. Maybe some music will help him through this.

He pulls out the first cassette he finds and shoves it in the player. Neil Finn's voice fills the car and Karl smiles as he realises it's a tape Harry bought him for Christmas. He watches the river of tail-lights inch forward in front of him and follows along at about two miles an hour. Or less. Any slower, he thinks, and he may as well shut the engine off and go to sleep.

Then suddenly the calming tones of Neil become the sound of Donald Duck in a blender and Karl yells every insult he can think of as he tears the chewed tape from the radio. He opens the window and tosses the cassette out onto the side of the road. This is not good.

~Glasgow, 22:41pm, January 13th~

"This was a good idea but I'm starting to get wrinkles." Water sloshes over the side of the tub and onto the mat as Sean shifts and leans back. He lifts one leg and Billy, facing him, looks at his toes.

"Aye, so you are. Time to get out then, eh?"

"Hmm..you know I'd stay here all night if only the water didn't start going cold after an hour."

"I know. Not a lot I can do about that though."

Sean grips the sides of the tub and stands, gets out. Billy follows, taking the towel Sean hands him. "Now shall we go to bed?"

Billy nods. "Now we're both clean and warm..yes."

"Time to get hot and dirty." Sean chuckles at the look on Billy's face and hooks a finger underneath where he has fned ned his towel. He pulls Billy to him and their wet skin slides together as they kiss.

~Los Angeles, 22:50pm, January 13th~

Listening to the soft snores from the man beside him, Elijah lays awake. He's unable to sleep, feels crushed by the weight of the arm that rests across his stomach. Suffocated. He turns his head and looks at Viggo. 'Does he know? Is that why he's holding me here, holding me down?'

Elijah is overwhelmed by the urge to scream; to wake V and and make him leave. But he simply stays silent and stares at the man he no longer loves. If, of course, he ever loved him in the first place. He doesn't know any more. He looks away.

He's lied so much tonight. To Viggo and to himself. Trying to convince himself that it doesn't have anything to do with Dominic when it has *everything* to do with him. Why did he deny that? Why not just give Viggo the satisfactio kno knowing he was right? Maybe then he'd go and Elijah would be free to wait for Dom to come home so he can tell him.

Tell him what, exactly? That he's in love with him? Because he isn't. But there's something.

He is so wrapped up in his thoughts that he doesn't notice Viggo's breathing has grown quiet, faster.

"Hey. Can't you sleep?"

The voice startles him and he looks round at Viggo again. "Huh?"

"I said can't you sleep?"

"Not really. It's okay though. You should get some yourself. I'll be all right." He doesn't want to tell Viggo now. He knows he has to; he's got to do it. But not now. Not at this time of night.

"Do you want something to help you sleep?"

What could it hurt? He nods. "Okay."

~tbc~