spikessweetgirl (spikessweetgirl) wrote in fieldsofgold, @ 2009-01-07 10:50:00 |
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Present Day
Elijah wiped hot tears from his eyes as he skipped a few pages of the diary. He knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, he knew that it was one of the hardest tasks he had to do since Dominic’s death…but he couldn’t not do it. He’s put it off long enough. He could do without the tears though…it felt as if crying was all he’s done for the past year. Which was useless, because his tears wouldn’t bring Dom back. They wouldn’t give him back the moments wasted in the hospital… He snapped his mind shot on the thought of the hospital. He didn’t like thinking of Dom’s final hours. He rather remember his love as the bright eyed, mischievous young man he had been before all the bad stuff happened.
Looking down at the journal, new tears fell as he read:
To day we were fitted into our costumes. I have to say, I am the snappier dresser of the hobbits, but by far not the most adorable. I couldn’t stop looking at our Frodo. He’s a true beauty that one, and so adorable…and I’ve never heard such a high pitch giggle…but it definitely suits him, as well the blush he gets when you embarrass him. Somehow, I feel that it’s Elijah that I will have the strongest bond with. There’s just something about him…
Elijah blinked, wiping away the tears as he remembered that day. It had been a pretty day out and they had wanted to be outside, exploring, but they were scheduled for different activities that would keep them inside and he had hadn’tbeen in an especially bad mood. In fact, he found his new co-stars quite humorous, but he had been missing his sister terribly and hadn’t wanted to bother anyone else with his problems…that was until a certain British hobbit made him open up somehow…
September 24, 1999
New Zealand
Elijah pulled his wig on and stared at himself in the mirror, amazed at the transformation. He looked like he had traveled through time and landed in the 18th century. It was fucking amazing. He glanced at his co-stars were even more amazed. Everyone looked great, but the one who caught his eye the most was Dominic. He looked so much more different than he did out of costume. Of course that was because he had to wear a Styrofoam belly underneath and they had to add more make up to make him look like a healthy cherubic hobbit, but he was still attractive to Elijah’s eyes.
“Not bad. Not bad at all. Let’s face it mates, I am the snappier dresser of the hobbits,” Dominic grinned, playfully sticking his nose up in the air in mock arrogance, bringing a giggle from Elijah and a smack to the back of the head from Billy.
“Owwww,” he pouted, rubbing the back of his head. “That was uncalled for William. It’s not my fault that my character has taste.”
Billy just rolled his eyes and winked at Elijah who was still giggling, his eyes never leaving Dominic.
“What I don’t get is why Pete didn’t encourage you to fatten up the natural way like he’s hassling me to do,” Sean snorted. “It’s not fair!”
“I just have a high metabolism,” Dom shrugged, his grin still plastered to his face.
“And a ego to match,” Billy snarked, taking the seat next to Elijah. “What do you think Elwood? Does Monaghan have a big head or what?”
Elijah glanced at Billy and then at Dom, who was staring intensely back at him. Elijah’s mouth went dry just then as his eyes met Dom’s and all words left him. Dom was the world at that moment as Elijah sat there and got lost in that intense gaze, not knowing how to respond in a way that wouldn’t sound totally stupid.
“I don’t think Elijah thinks that,” Dom smiled, his eyes gentle for just a moment, before turning teasing. “I think he thinks that we’re all crazy Brits who need to be serious for once. Am I right?”
“No. I’m the one that thinks that,” Sean spoke up instead, saving Elijah from having to answer. “Really guys. This is important. We have to make these costumes work. This project doesn’t only depend on our acting skills. It also depends on if we can look the part. Like Orlando, over there. I never thought anyone could fit the description of Legolas in the book, but there he is, and he’s taking it very seriously.”
“Hey Dom!” Orlando called over, his eyes sparkling. “Finally, I’m a leggy blond! Now will you go out with me?!”
The room burst into laughter, leaving Elijah giggling helplessly as Sean just huffed in his seat, taken aback that no one took his little lecture seriously. Feeling guilty, Elijah stifled his giggles and petted Sean’s arm. “You’re right, Sean. We do have to start taking this seriously. This can make or break our careers.”
Sean just gave him a dirty look, knowing that Elijah was just humoring him. “Yeah. Right. Well, I’m going to go get into my regular clothes. I won’t ask you to join. I know you rather be out here with these buffoons. See you later.”
“Is he always so serious?” Dom asked, watching Sean exit the trailer.
“No…I think he’s just missing his wife and daughter,” Elijah explained, feeling the familiar tension that always overcame him when he in close vicinity of Dom return. He didn’t know why this always happened, but it did and it was driving him insane. Why couldn’t he be calm and collected like he was around Billy and Sean? Why must he always feel like he was sitting on pins and needles whenever he was around Dom? It made no sense. The only time he felt so tense was when he was around a particularly pretty girl that he had a crush on at the time…but Dom wasn’t a girl. He was all male…this tension just didn’t make any sense.
“Poor bastard. I guess grumpiness is understandable. I do miss my mum something terrible sometimes,” Dom gently smiled, plopping down into the chair Sean had just vacated. “But let’s keep that between me and you, yeah? Don’t want Billy to take the piss about that on,” He nodded to Billy, who had gotten up to go talk to Orlando at the other side of the room. “So…how about you, Elwood? What do you miss most?”
Elijah shrugged and looked away, not knowing if he should answer that or not. Even though he really liked Dom and hoped that they would be very good friends, he didn’t know if he should open up so quickly. But those eyes were so friendly and open, and Dom had shared something with him, it was only fair that he did the same.
“My sister, Hannah. We were always close, but this is going to be the longest that we’ve been apart and…well I’m really missing her a lot….,” Elijah blushed, looking away from that inquisitive stare. “I always feel so protective of her. Who’s going to look after her now that I’m not there? Who’s going to be there to comfort and hold her or just listen to her as she cries over the latest guy that breaks her heart? That was always my place…but now…”
“You’re going to be too far away for far too long, right?” Dom asked, his eyes serious and understanding.
Elijah found himself awed that someone had gotten his reason for concern right off the bat like that. “Yeah. Exactly. She’s not used to looking after herself for this long…”
“Trust me, Elijah. She’ll be fine. It’s amazing how we adapt when situations change. There’s always the phone. I take it that you two talk to each other everyday, right?”
Elijah nodded, not knowing what else to say. He was actually having a conversation with Dominic. About Hannah, one of the most important people in his life, over a issue so close and personal…something he hadn’t even told Sean. What was it about Dominic? What made it so easy to talk to him like this…to feel like he was talking to someone he had known all his life instead of someone he had only known for a few weeks?
“I know it’s not the same as being there, but she can still cry on your virtual shoulder and you can still be there for her. Then there’s the holiday breaks. I’m sure you’ll be flying home as soon as possible. It’s not the same as being with her all the time…but…you two will still be together…still maintain that bond. Yeah?”
Elijah nodded, feeling a bit better, his loneliness dissipating a bit. For the first time, since this he arrived in New Zealand, he didn’t feel so cold and alone. There was at least one person here who understood…one person who got him, somehow. “Thank you, Dom. I…well…last night I was kind of down about it…but talking to you…”
“It helped?” Dom asked, a hand lightly touching Elijah’s, his eyes warm and sincere.
“Yeah,” Elijah nodded. “It did. Thank you.”
“Anytime, Lijah. Anytime…”
Present
The shrill ring of the telephone brought Elijah out of the memory, his vision a bit blurry and his body aching from sitting for so long. He hadn’t meant to sit for as long as he did, but he had just gotten carried away. Thank god for the phone or else who knew how long he was going to sit there, remembering one of the first intimate moments he had experienced with Dominic.
Picking himself up off the floor, Elijah went down into the bedroom he had once shared with Dominic and picked up the phone.
“Sean called. He said that you were going through Dom’s things in the attic,” Hannah’s tired voice came through the phone, along with the sounds of his nephew running about the place.
“Yeah. I am. It’s time Han…I’ve been putting it off for way too long. Besides, Matthew wants some of his stuff and it’s unfair for me to hold out like this…”
“Well then make him bring his fucking ass down there and go through Dominic’s things himself. Doesn’t he realize that you’re still grieving?” Hannah’s voice was a mixture of sympathy and anger. She had loved Dom as if he was her own brother, she had grieved when he had finally succumbed to the illness that had taken his life, but she was still very protective of Elijah, just like he was protective of her.
“He’s grieving too, Hannah. Besides, it’s time.”
“Well, at least let Billy or Sean help. Or I can…I can fly out tomorrow. Jake is off for a few weeks and I can come and help you sort through it all.”
Elijah closed his eyes, resisting the urge to snap at Hannah, something he had never done, not even when they were children. He didn’t want to start now, but she was being so pushy. Why couldn’t she understand that this was something that he needed to do. Alone. The moments he was spending up in that attic…it was going to be the last moments he’ll spend with Dom for the rest of his life. He didn’t want anyone disturbing that. It was to be just himself and Dom’s ghost…no one else. “No, Hannah. No. I’m fine, really. This is just something I’m going to have to do by myself.”
“B-but…”
“No. I mean it. Don’t ask, again. Please…”
Hannah sighed, defeat in her voice. “Fine. But at least call if you need to talk. Ok? At least give me that much.”
Elijah smiled, a bit touched by his sister’s tender concern, but glad that she wasn’t going to fight him too hard on his decision. “I promise. Now go take care of my nephew and tell him his Uncle Lij will be down to see him soon.”
“Ok. I love you, Lij. I just…I was just worried.”
“I know and I love you for it, but I’m fine. Really.”
“…Ok. Remember to call.”
“I will.”
“Ok,” Hannah sighed, “Bye, then. Take care.”
“Bye, Han,” Elijah hung up the phone, falling back against the bed, exhausted from the memories and the talk with his sister. Even though he didn’t want her help in sorting through the memories he and Dom had shared, he was thankful to her from bringing him out of that memory with her call. Who knew where else that memory would have taken him. Probably somewhere he really had no business going…at least not at the moment. Right now, he just needed to get some sleep and reserve his strength of the next day of sorting through memories.