Authors: Mika Fox
"Fine,"
he says acidly, glancing at his father before turning to leave the room.
Dominic stays put for about another second, before Connor gives him a pointed
nod, and he follows his boyfriend.
The
following half hour is horrible. Dominic tries to sit still on the couch in the
waiting room, or whatever the hell he should call this place. There are
high-end newspapers instead of magazines on the side tables, and the walls are
dark wood, rather than stark white plaster, but it still feels an awful lot
like waiting for a result of something in a hospital. His arms are folded
across his chest, his leg jumping up and down restlessly, and the stink-eye
Jude keeps throwing his way is more infuriating than distracting. Dominic chews
the inside of his cheek, staring at the opposite wall. Jude offered both him
and Killian coffee earlier―duty-bound, and with obvious
reluctance―but Dominic had a feeling that caffeine wouldn't exactly help
matters, regardless of how stupidly fancy the beverage must be in a place like
this.
He
sighs heavily in impatience, and is a little surprised to feel Killian place a
hand on his knee. His leg immediately stops moving, and he turns to his
boyfriend. Killian looks just as frustrated as he feels, but there is a
collected, cold calm about his expression that tells Dominic he has been in
countless situations like this before. It occurs to Dominic just how much about
Killian he's still learning and finding out. It's like a whole other world.
Dominic
sits up straighter when he finally sees the door to
Declan's
office open, down the hall, and he nudges Killian, who looks up. Connor closes
the door behind him, before spotting the two of them and making his way over.
"Well,"
he says as he reaches them, "he's calm. For now."
Killian
groans, slumping in his seat.
"What
the fuck is his problem, anyway?" he mutters, collected cool gone, and
Dominic can't help but think that he both sounds and looks like a petulant child,
right now. Connor seems to agree, at least judging from the way he raises his
eyebrows at his little brother.
"You
know exactly what his problem is," he says, before stepping closer and
smacking Killian's shoulder, making him sit up straight. "He's had this
thing with the
Ainsleys
planned out for years, and he
doesn't like when things don't go according to plan."
"You
mean, according to
his
plan,"
Killian says, and Connor seems to consider it for a moment, before finding that
he can't exactly disagree. Judging from the brief interaction in
Declan's
office, Dominic can guess that he isn't a man who
easily backs down.
Suddenly,
he understands where Killian's stubbornness comes from.
"I
talked to him," Connor says, his tone softening a bit.
"And?"
Killian prompts. Connor takes a breath.
"Well,
the good news is, your boyfriend's in the clear." He turns to Dominic.
"I convinced him take back his statement. The job's yours. He tends to
overreact, don't worry about it."
Dominic
doesn't really know what to say to that, too surprised and overwhelmed by this
whole day that he just nods.
"Thanks,"
he practically mutters, but it seems to be enough for Connor. He nods in
return, before turning back to his brother.
"As
for you," he says, sighing heavily. "He's gonna cut you off. If you
don't go through with the plan, he is."
Killian
blinks, while Dominic darts his gaze back and forth between the two brothers.
"Well,
what does that mean?" Killian asks, for once sounding apprehensive. It's
unfamiliar to Dominic's ears.
"It
means that you'll have no money," Connor says, not sugarcoating it, but
showing some sympathy in his expression. "No way to pay for tuition. No
apartment. You'll be broke."
Dominic
lets that sink in for a moment, tries to wrap his head around it.
"Wait,"
he says, making Connor and Killian turn to him. "You're saying that if he
doesn't marry some girl against his will, his family will essentially abandon
him?"
He
realizes how dramatic it sounds, but it's the only way he can see it, and
judging from the look on Connor's face, it's pretty accurate.
"Essentially,"
he says. He sounds sad, and he looks back at his brother. "You should
really think about this."
Killian
frowns.
"Oh,
so I'm supposed to fucking marry
Beca
, that's what
you're saying?" He sounds angry, and understandably so.
"No,
that's not what I'm saying," Connor says in slight exasperation. He sighs,
dragging a hand down over his face as he looks around the mostly empty room,
before he sits down on Killian's other side. "You know how dad is. He's not
gonna budge on this, you're basically screwed. And I'm not saying you should do
what he wants, I'm just saying... Give it a minute. Maybe he'll change his
mind, or compromise, or something."
"Like
you just said," Killian says, "I know how dad is. We both do. You
really think he'd change his mind if I asked him to?"
The
look on Connor's face says he thinks no such thing.
"Just
humor me," he says. "Contrary to our father, and dear sister, I don't
exactly want to see you fail."
He
says it with a harsh edge to his voice, but Dominic can hear that it's genuine.
From what he can tell, the
Haydens
aren't much for
emotional displays, and that just makes this whole exchange all the more
intimate, somehow. He feels like he's intruding, but the brothers don't exactly
ask him to leave.
"Thanks,
bro," Killian says dryly, but Dominic knows the tone is only to hide the
sincerity. "I'll keep that in mind."
He
gets up from where he sits, and Dominic follows suit. Connor and Killian hug
briefly, the conversation apparently over, and Dominic and Killian make their
way back to the elevator.
"For
what it's worth," Connor says from behind, and they turn around. "I'm
pretty sure Grandma wouldn't have stood for this."
He
says it kindly, and Dominic sees a flash of sympathy cross Killian's face, as
he nods. He doesn't reply, and they step into the elevator, pressing the button
and watching the doors close in front of them.
Chapter 16
Safe
Needless to say,
Killian's father doesn't change his mind. Nor does he compromise. Two days
after the confrontation in his office, Killian asks Connor for an update, only
to hear that the situation is exactly the same―Declan will not budge.
"Maybe
I should just accept it," Killian says as he lies on the couch in his apartment,
head against the armrest and legs stretched out across the cushions. "It's
a lose-lose situation, anyway."
"You're
just gonna let him cut you off?" Dominic asks, making his way from the
kitchen and over to where Killian lies. There's nothing reprimanding or annoyed
about his tone, just curious.
"I
don't really have much of a choice," Killian says, accepting the cup of
coffee Dominic hands to him. "It's either that, or get married off, like
some fucking eighteenth-century maiden."
He
puts his cup down on the coffee table so he can get up into sitting position
without spilling the hot liquid everywhere, and he exhales heavily as he does.
Dominic watches him, blowing gently on his own cup of coffee, his other hand in
his jeans pocket. Killian frowns when he notices him just standing there.
"What?"
he asks, and Dominic shrugs lightly.
"Nothing,"
he says. "Just trying to imagine you as an eighteenth-century
maiden."
Killian
scowls.
"Very
funny," he says.
"No,
really," Dominic says. "You'd look lovely. I can totally see you
rocking a nice, bland dress."
He
gestures at his boyfriend vaguely with his coffee cup.
"Excuse
you," Killian says. "Bland? I'd be wearing at least ten layers and a
comically large fake ass, thank you very much. I'm not some peasant."
"Yeah
well, that's the problem, isn't it?" Dominic sips his coffee, and Killian
looks torn between being amused and bitter, prompting a sympathetic sigh from
his boyfriend. "Sorry. But it is what it is, right?"
He
moves over to the couch and sits down next to Killian, who doesn't budge,
staring straight ahead.
"I
can't believe this is even an issue," Killian says, and Dominic presses a
supportive kiss to his temple. "I mean, who the hell has this kind of
problem? Seriously?"
Dominic
sighs heavily, deliberating.
"Well,"
he says. "At least it'll be a fun story to tell."
He
turns to Killian, who just glares in return. It does nothing to deter Dominic,
who quirks a small smile and kisses him on the mouth. The reciprocation feels
almost petulant, on Killian's part.
"Doesn't
feel very fun, right now," Killian mutters, then cocks his head. "It
might qualify for ridiculous, though."
"That
it does."
Neither
of them speaks for several seconds, the silence broken by some mellowed-out
music from Killian's speakers, and the two of them just sit there, staring into
space. Dominic is so startled that he nearly jumps, when Killian finally
reanimates.
"Yeah,
it's not worth it," he says resolutely, getting up from the couch. Dominic
frowns, following Killian's movements as he makes his way over to the bed.
"What
isn't?" he asks. Killian picks up his phone from the nightstand.
"This
bullshit," he says. "Whatever hold they've had on me for as long as I
can remember. I don't like it, never have. Hell, maybe this is a good thing.
Blessing in disguise." He throws Dominic a glance. "At least you
won't have to worry about someone swooping in with some good, old-fashioned
blackmail again."
He
starts fiddling with his phone, and Dominic puts his coffee down, getting up
from the couch and making his way over to Killian.
"Hey,"
he says softly, placing a hand over the phone, making Killian look up and meet
his eye. "You're not doing this because of me."
"I'm
not," Killian confirms, before he seems to catch himself at sounding too
blunt. He sighs. "I mean, not gonna lie, you are part of it. But... This
is for me. I need to. It'll probably suck, but hey, at least I'll finally fit
the starving artist stereotype."
He
gives Dominic a small smile, and Dominic holds his gaze for a few, charged
moments. Then he exhales, removing his hand from Killian's and taking a step
back, putting his hands in his pockets instead.
"Then
we're good," he says with a nod. Killian's expression is one of soft
appreciation, almost gratitude, and he takes a breath before turning back to
the phone. He presses the call button and stares at the screen for a moment,
before bringing the phone up to his ear. It takes only a few seconds before
someone picks up.
"Hey,
Connor, it's me," Killian says. He catches Dominic's eye. "I've made
up my mind."
♦
Over the
following days, Dominic can't help but remember Rebecca's words, about what her
family is like―because just like hers, Killian's is nothing if not
spiteful, from what he can tell.
Declan
isn't happy to hear about his son's decision, and he wastes no time in showing
it. Instead of giving Killian a chance to regroup and at least find a new
living situation, he unceremoniously has him kicked out of his apartment,
leaving Killian barely a week to get his bearings, and after some hesitation
that stems mostly from habit, Dominic offers to let him stay at his place until
he finds something better. To his relief, Killian gratefully―if a bit
self-consciously―accepts, and they end up spending most of the following
days packing up his stuff and getting it to Dominic’s apartment several blocks
away. Dominic doesn’t mind the hassle. He’s just happy to help, and he’d be
lying if he said he wasn’t excited about Killian finally getting to see his
place and staying there for a while. It seems like it’s about time, after all.
Isaac
helps them out, offering up the services of his beat-up old Ford that makes an
unsettling groaning sound when driven, and it only takes a few trips for the
three of them to get all of Killian’s stuff moved. He leaves most of the
furniture behind, nabbing only the TV and surround system―mostly to spite
his father, those particular things being the most expensive―instead
putting most of his focus on his art supplies. Dominic is honestly stunned at
just how much stuff he actually has, but takes it in stride; he assures Killian
that they’ll find someplace to put it all, even in his comparatively tiny
apartment.
Given
that these new developments take up so much of their time at the moment, and
given that the whole reason for them is something Killian decides he is sick of
keeping a secret, he resolves to tell at least Jemma about what’s really been
going on. In the process, he gives Dominic the go-ahead to share it with Annie,
figuring that he might as well. Their friends are bound to start asking
questions eventually, anyway.
When Dominic
does get around to telling Annie about it, he gets a blank, slightly shocked
expression in reply, her mouth hanging open and her brow furrowed in a soft
frown.
"Wait,"
she says, after several seconds of stunned silence. "So you're the other
woman?"
She
sounds simultaneously intrigued and amused, and Dominic gives her a bored look.
"That's
your take-away from this?" he says, and Annie raises her eyebrows.
"Why
not?" she says. "You were totally his mistress, that is
awesome."
"Annie―"
"You
could have kept that going for a while," Annie continues, a teasing smile
spreading across her face. She lets out a laugh. "Spent your days in some
southern European country, pleasuring your rich, married man while wearing
leopard-print and angrily tossing martinis in people's faces."
"Sounds
like the dream," Dominic says dryly, and Annie shrugs.
"Hey,
don't knock it 'til you try it," she says. "Sounds pretty sweet to
me."
"Well,
then maybe you should be his mistress," Dominic suggests, and Annie points
at him warningly.
"Don't
test me," she says. "You know I'd be game for that." Her
expression softens. "But seriously, a fiancée? That's pretty huge, don't
you think?"
Dominic
sighs, so exhausted by that whole mess, and selfishly happy that it's finally
over―at least, as far as he knows.
"Well,"
he says. "They were never officially engaged, and whatever plans that were
there are gone, so... But yeah, pretty huge."
Annie
nods slowly.
"How
does she feel about it?" she asks. "The girl, I mean."
"Rebecca?"
Dominic says. "She's happy it's over, understandably. Looks like she and
her boyfriend jumped at the chance to actually get engaged for real, as soon as
the whole arrangement-thing was called off, so there's that. They'll be
okay."
Rebecca
actually called Killian the other night to thank him for finally taking a
stand―despite Rebecca's own refusal of the arrangement, it seems that it
took unrelenting resistance on both parts before either of their families
caved. That said, both families have enough pride to be petty about the
refusal, and Rebecca was cut-off much the same way Killian was. She assured
Killian, however, that she and her boyfriend―now actual fiancé―would
be fine. Both of them were prepared for this kind of outcome, and even though
Rebecca did lose most of the support that helped her climb certain corporate
ladders, she made sure to have at least a few fail-safes in place.
"On
another note," Annie says, once Dominic has properly filled her in on the
bizarre situation, her reactions to which are much more chilled-out than he
remembers his own being. "You ready for the exhibition, next week?"
If
she had asked two days ago, she would have gotten a different answer, since
Dominic had almost forgotten about it―in the midst of the shit show that
has been going on the past couple of weeks, and with the busy schedule of
helping Killian move out, the project got lost in the mess. However, he and
Killian both remembered it just in time, and he's honestly grateful for the
distraction, at this point.
"Just
about," Dominic says, relieved at how true it is. He looks out over the
pond by the art building, him and Annie planted on the grassy slope at its
bank. "Just picking out the best ones in the bunch, making a series.
You?"
"I'm
honestly surprised how well it's turned out," Annie says, sounding
genuinely impressed with herself. "I got a few nice portraits, some
lovey-dovey stuff. I'm happy with it."
She
nods, smiling, and Dominic smiles back.
"Look
at us," he says, nudging her with his shoulder. "Started out
clueless, and now we actually have our shit together."
Annie
snorts.
"Yeah,
sure," she says, eyebrows raised. "You're the one who got a boyfriend
out of it."
Dominic
flings his arm over her shoulders and yanks her close to his side, making his
friend struggle and groan weakly in protest. He shushes her obnoxiously,
ignoring her pleas and stroking her long, strawberry blonde hair with
exaggerated softness.
"Just
enjoy the moment," he says, and Annie makes a sound that implies an
eye-roll. "It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining―"
"The
sun has been shining for like two months," Annie interjects dryly.
"―and
we don't have a care in the world. Just take it in."
Annie
definitely catches the overdone and slightly uncharacteristic cheerfulness in
Dominic's tone, and she lets out something between a sigh and a groan.
"I
think I liked you better back when you two were still just ambiguous
fuck-buddies," she mutters, but Dominic just laughs, ruffling her hair and
letting out a sigh of contentment, despite Annie's annoyed whine. He gazes out
over the sparkling water of the pond, relaxes his arm around his friend as she
settles comfortably with her head against his shoulder, and he vaguely wonders
if he as ever felt so at peace before.
Either
way, he wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.
♦
Having Killian
in his apartment is a strange sensation for Dominic. He looks oddly out of
place, peering around the main room and eyeing the cluttered shelves and side
tables, although thankfully with a look of curiosity, rather than judgment.
"So,"
Dominic says, pushing his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he lingers by
the doorway leading into the small kitchen. "Satisfactory?"
Killian
doesn't immediately reply. He has been here a few times now, with him and
Dominic moving all his stuff, but the visits have brief and not exactly
thorough. This is the first night he'll be spending here, and Dominic enjoys
watching him take it all in―albeit with some nervousness.
Killian
makes a noncommittal noise.
"It'll
do," he says, and Dominic rolls his eyes with a scoff and a smile.
"Glad
to hear it," he says, glancing away. "It's usually less messy, but...
This is essentially what you're getting."