Ficlet: Dream a Little Dream

[fox_confessor]

dm/im, paris verse from inclineoftrees






"Tell me the dirtiest thing you've ever done, Dominic."

Dominic stutters a bit in his rowing, losing his grip on the oar and sending it scraping along the side before he recovers. Ian, reclining against the back of the tiny boat, grins wickedly. This little outing had been his suggestion. He'd brought the lunch and the wine and tried hard to convince Dominic to take his shirt off in the sun as he rowed them about on the small lake. Dominic had declined, promising to go both shirtless and barefoot when next he cooked Ian his favorite meal.

Gaining control over the oars with only a small splash to Ian's jacket, Dominic matched Ian's grin. He wasn't sure he'd ever grow accustomed to Ian's appetite for sexual innuendo and double entendres. He was convinced that Ian thought about sex more than a 16 year old boy. "Dirtiest?"

"Well, let us set limits, shall we? You worked on a sheep farm, I know. That's not exactly what I'm looking for here. Unless--"

"Don't even suggest it."

"Right. Well then. If I had to make guesses, I would say that you've rarely been shocked when some one's made suggestions, am I right?"

"What makes me think that no matter what I say, you'll have something that will make me feel like a schoolboy."

"Now there's an interesting topic. Tell me about the professor you shagged rotten in your university days." It'd been a guess, a surmise gathered from knowing enough about Dominic to assume there must be at least a little bit of truth in what he wrote. Ian makes a satisfied noise deep in his throat at the sight of Dominic's redden cheeks. "I've never known another man who blushed as honestly or as prettily as you do, Dominic. Tell me, now. You didn't just shag. You fell in love."

Eight years isn't yet enough time for the sting to be pulled from the memory of Billy and when Dominic answers, his voice is quiet, barely heard. "I haven't talked about it in a long time."

"Ever?"

Dominic shakes his head no and rows quietly for a bit longer. The minutes stretch out, until before long Ian leans back, once again playing his role of lord of the manner, and begins to sing barely loud enough for Dominic to hear. Dominic watches him for a bit, jarred from his thoughts, and smiles.

"I fell in love," Dominic finally says, once Ian's song has ended and he merely sits quietly, gathering the sun. "I still love him," Dominic admits.

"Did he love you?"

Dominic nods, believing it in a way he hadn't really when he'd been a boy.

"Does he know you've written books about him? Or would he not recognize himself in them?"

"I think he would. I hope he would. I haven't asked. It didn't--" Dominic stops and scrunches his face. If it were anyone but Ian, he would regret even having said this much. "Didn't end well. I was a bit of a mess."

"You were young. There's a difference."

"Too young to be in love."

"Never."

"Too young to be trusted with someone else's heart, then."

"I trust you with mine and I'm well over 15 years your senior."

Dominic gives Ian a lopsided grin, knowing there's no arguing with Ian when he's determined he's right--and he's always right. They move along quietly for a few strokes, Ian going back to his song rather than letting the moment grow awkward. It's one of the things that keeps him coming back to Ian, that there's never any messiness between them. Dominic never feels like he has to reveal more than he wants to and he appreciates it. Liked being able to think of Billy out loud rather than simply and quietly mourning him in his heart--or layering him with another story and other characters. By the time Ian's done with his song, merely humming the melody quietly now, Dominic has tucked his memories of that time back into his heart and takes up his lopsided grin again.

"Tell me the dirtiest thing you've ever done, Ian," he asks, and settles in when Ian throws up his hands for the dramatic telling.

Comments

[msilverstar]

This is beautiful, Ian being both snarky and generous. And Dom blushing, just, guhhhh

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D I love the pairing. They are just so delicious together.

[kiltsandlollies.livejournal.com]

Rowing on the lake! And I love how smoothly Ian keeps them going even when Dominic goes quiet, and their sweet, sweet rapport: They move along quietly for a few strokes, Ian going back to his song rather than letting the moment grow awkward. It's one of the things that keeps him coming back to Ian, that there's never any messiness between them. Ohhhhhhhhh. <333333

I've never known another man who blushed as honestly or as prettily as you do, Dominic.

I LOVE THAT. So true. And this "You were young. There's a difference.", that's absolutely lovely. I love that Dominic has this in Paris before he finds Billy again. I love Ian's satisfied noise, and this: It's one of the things that keeps him coming back to Ian, that there's never any messiness between them. [...] Liked being able to think of Billy out loud rather than simply and quietly mourning him in his heart--or layering him with another story and other characters.

You love them just as much as I do omg. :D :D :D :D

[escribo.livejournal.com]

I do love them as much as you do!! Of course, I do.

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

And here is the answer to my wondering about the timeline from the previous comment :).

Liked being able to think of Billy out loud rather than simply and quietly mourning him in his heart--or layering him with another story and other characters.

This is beautiful. And I love the glimpses of Dom and Ian's relationship I get from these two ficlets. ♥!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D I like the thought of Ian being mad as a hatter and Dom taking some much needed sense of family and strange stability from it. I like to think he grows up at lot with Ian showing how to be gracious and passionate.

[eff-reality.livejournal.com]

Dominic nods, believing it in a way he hadn't really when he'd been a boy.
Aaand this is where my heart exploded. Love this.

Also, I just recently discovered the future-Incline verse, so it's all very fresh in my mind and heart. So this really hit the spot. :)

[escribo.livejournal.com]

We hid Life in Paris quite well, didn't we :D Hopefully that verse will open up a little more this year.

[msilverstar]

Oh that line, I think my heart exploded there too, mostly with relief!

You were reading without the comfort of knowing Paris? The angst is nearly too much even when a person knows *hugs*

[eff-reality.livejournal.com]

The angst is nearly too much even when a person knows
Hahaha! I know!!

...Yeah, I made the mistake of reading the first chapter of Paris at work. I had to do my phone greeting through sobs.