"Arabian Nights"
Part 87
by Mel
Billy sat on the Kitten's bed, watching as Dominic moved around the room. Watching made the Mage smile. He was not, as he should be, dousing candles or readying the room for sleep. Instead his fingers dug within nooks and crannies through out where the Kittens stayed when other rooms were occupied. They lifted, played and carefully examined the objects that belonged to the others. A rouge brush of Orli's, a sewing kit of Jared's. Even Billy's own dish of chalk and beads.
Dominic made it look like such a natural invasion of privacy that Billy had neither the heart nor inclination to stop him. Each object he picked up, Billy noted, he put back in a completely opposite fashion. Elijah's bells were hung from a drawer knob instead of in the drawer that he had gotten it out of. Billy knew none of the others would notice the next day, and that Dominic would scowl slightly when they didn't.
"Why do you do it if it annoys you?" Billy asked from the bed, kicking his shoes off as he did.
"Wishful thinking," Dominic answered dryly. "I'm hoping one of them will grow a new set of eyes and realise someone's been refilling through their things."
"Do you really want them to notice?" Billy lay back, his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. "Wouldn't that mean they wouldn't be themselves anymore?"
For a moment there was no sound from Dominic and Billy smiled to himself. It was something Dom wouldn't be able to deny, which would no doubt irritate him to no end, the kitten's should never be forced to be anyone but themselves. Billy knew he didn't really want them to notice, because once they did they would no longer be their trusting selves.
The bed dipped a little and Billy looked over Dominic now lying beside him. He was on his side, palm of his hand propping up his head so he could look down at him. Billy got the feeling that Dominic was trying to see into him. As if all the times they talked he hadn't really been paying enough attention. Taking Billy for granted. Cause right now the other boy's eyes were searching. Billy couldn't tell what Dominic thought of what he saw though, he was to good at hiding those things away.
"You don't want them to notice if there was someone untoward in their mists?"
Billy toyed with saying what had been plaguing his mind for some days now, but decided against it. So far no harm had come from it, and it did seem more interesting to see how it played itself out. Instead he shrugged.
"Not really, put us out of a job if they suddenly started to notice the world around them, wouldn't it?"
Dominic continued to watch him, but seemed to also decided to let what he was thinking slide. "I suppose so."
"Besides, it's not like they're stupid," Billy looked back to the ceiling. "They're just caught up in what happens directly around the Prince."
"But you knew about Jared?"
Billy nodded. A palace this size had old walls and drafts passages that talked as much as the servants did.
"Elijah too."
"If I'd been able to put together the information on his brother quick enough," Billy sighed. Things had worked out for the best, but attempted rape was only minutes from being rape. Elijah was strong, but still there were some things the body didn't forget. Elijah would have started to notice Dom's habit of moving his things, failings in open trust would follow soon after. "Eric's been a mixed blessing."
"He has, hasn't he?" Billy could hear the smile in Dom's voice. "Now Elijah wants to get stronger, which means Orli'll want to too. Then we'll be dealing with two extras with protection issues. Sometimes I think Jared's the only one with any sense."
"You only say that because he keeps out of your way," Billy said absently, scratching the itch on his nose. "He knows you're making friends with the servants and a few of the street whores that work the palace. He just thinks it's for entirely innocent reasons."
"You don't?" Dom sounded amused, fingers slowly threading in and out of Billy's hair.
"You forget I noticed you keeping a wide birth from some of Viggo's guests."
"Have I told you yet that you worry too much?" Dom's fingers were decidedly magic, rubbing against Billy's scalp, making his eyes drift shut in delight. Almost enticing him to give up on his current conversation. Billy was inclined to indulge his friend, but not without a passing comment.
"You have, but you'll have to forgive me for being fond of the Prince. I'd hate for anyone from your past to put him or our friends in any danger."
Dominic laughed a little, Billy doubted it was something he'd entirely understand. "Don't worry, I doubt there's anyone I know who could upset the balance of this household too much. I'm more interested in what's on your mind at the moment."
Billy hummed a little, refusing to be baited by the abrupt change of subject. Or what Dom was doing to his head. "Nothing other then the general obliviousness of our friends."
"It's more then that," Dominic prodded in his softest voice. "There's something else going on in that pretty head of yours."
Billy would have been lying if the touch of soft lips against his wasn't a surprise. He threaded his fingers in Dom's hair, tugging him up, staring at him. For a moment Dom looked decidedly confused, it made his grey eyes fog a little. They came into focus again pretty quickly, Billy was still dealing with his own surprise as Dom regarded him with a tilt of his head.
He swooped down again, the press a little more insistent as Billy changed his grip, forcing the head back up again. Dom licked his lips thoughtfully before grinning, a look of delighted amusement crossing his eyes.
"Billy, I do believe you're a virgin."
Billy felt himself flush, his own reaction irritating himself. It irked him more when he went to shove him, Dom didn't budge, still leaning over him with that infuriating grin.
"It never occurred to me before," Dom went on, "you're just affectionate enough with the others that it didn't register. And with more then enough bedfellows to share around you don't have to sleep in a bed with anyone else. I don't think I've seen you hug anyone either. But how is that possible?" he looked a little confused, "you were a slave before you got here, and it sounded an awful long way from your home."
"Why would anyone touch me?" Billy couldn't quiet keep the note of bitterness from his voice. "I was scary wizard right?"
"You're better for it, your first time shouldn't be with some horny sailor if it can be helped. But what about before that?"
"There wasn't anytime," Billy sighed, still blushing, averting his eyes a little, "we all had to learn to hone our skills, we needed to get them to the point where we wouldn't accidentally kill the person we were with. Then I was captured, wasn't I?"
"So no one's ever even kissed you?" Dom was remarkably good at putting the pieces together and it was something that suddenly annoyed Billy.
"Not until right now."
Dom actually laughed, the hand still in his hair patting his head. It made Billy blush and wish for less light in the room. For a moment Dom looked at him and Billy wasn't sure what to do.
"I'm going to kiss you again, Bills."
Billy didn't stop him this time.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Mel
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