Present Day AU - snippets

Jun 03, 2005 18:13

This is not a story yet. It is only random snippets in a loosely chronological order. Not betaed as these are, in effect, notes and aren't going to be posted anywhere but here. Based on (and possibly a future crossover part of) my Mag 7 AU, the Charon Files.

disclaimer - not real.

This will be for pippinmctaggart, because she showed some interest.

Bernard Hill climbed the sweeping staircase to the upstairs library where he knew the master of the house waited. He was glad to see young Monaghan again. It had been far too long in his estimation. He approached the closed door, gently tapping it before entering, calling out softly, “Hill, sir.”

As Hill entered the library, a smile crossed his face.

“Something amusing, Bernie?” Came a studied, lilting drawl.

“Not at all, sir,” Hill chuckled, his amused gaze taking in the young man before him. His employer stood in front of the fireplace, a brandy snifter in one hand and a cigar in the other. He was wearing a Black Watch kilt and a black t-shirt with the slogan, “Maggie, you cunt.” His Doc Martens completed the image. “I think Dominic will find it extremely amusing; however, more than likely his associates will not understand the cultural reference and as such would be unimpressed.”

A chestnut brow arched. “Are you suggesting I change, Bernie?”

“Nothing of the sort, sir.”

William Boyd’s green eyes glinted with humor. “No, you would never be so gauche as that, would you, Bernie?” He huffed a sigh. “Very well. I will be back shortly.”

Hill watched his charge leave the room. His thoughts went back to Monaghan. Dominic had been his employer’s roommate at boarding school. They had been inseparable in those days. He sighed; he dearly missed the boy his employer had been. As if conjured by his thoughts, Boyd sauntered back into the library.

“Do I pass inspection?” William drawled, turning in a slow circle.

Hill chuckled, taking in the black trousers and black turtleneck. “Very international assassin.”

Boyd laughed. “Shall we?”

“Indeed, sir.”

*********

No more than five foot six inches, Boyd was whipcord lean and moved with a grace that suggested long time training in some form of martial arts. His chestnut hair was just longer than military regulations would have stipulated, and his sharp green gaze missed nothing. Bean bristled at the arrogance that exuded from the man; it pissed him off that, while being shorter than almost everyone else in the room, Boyd could still manage to make it seem as if he were looking down his patrician nose at the lot of them.

*********

As soon as the others were gone, Monaghan and Boyd embraced. Dom chuckled. “Billy Boyd, surely those aren’t the Docs?”

Bill grinned and turned his left foot so that Dom could see the back heel of the boot. Drawn there was the punk skull and crossbones that signified the now defunct Bogey’s of London.

A matching grin crossed Dom’s face as he threw an arm around his friend’s shoulder. “Poor Boyd. Haven’t grown a bloody inch since 1987.”

“My dear boy, neither have you,” Boyd pointed out.

*********

William Boyd slammed open the door to the house. He didn’t care that the door was over a hundred years old or that the now chipped wall was even older. He was in a rage and nothing mattered except getting relief from the cold anger coursing through his body. The two maids who had been in the front room watched him stalk through the house and kick open the French doors leading out the back. They spoke to each other quietly in Czech and one went to get Hill.

Hill sighed as he followed Nadia down the staircase. The front door had been built to withstand such force but the wall behind it would have to be patched and the abused back doors would have to be replaced. 'Himself is in a fine rage,' Hill thought as he stepped through the splintered wood and glass at the back of the house. He didn’t know what had happened to Boyd after the plane had been ditched in the Mediterranean, but apparently it hadn’t been good. His charge had been out of contact for close to a week and that was unheard of, especially if Dominic and or Cate were involved.

Hill walked for several minutes across the gently rolling slopes that spread out behind the house before he saw Boyd. He was performing a series of complicated kata, moving with complete grace and power, his body flowing seemingly effortlessly from one position to the next. Hill made no move to announce himself nor to come any closer; he simply stood quietly, keeping a patient eye on his charge.

Over an hour later, Boyd pressed both hands together in front of his face and lowered his head, his lips shaping words although no sound was uttered. Hill walked down to join him. When Boyd lifted his head to meet Hill’s concerned gaze, his green eyes were clear.

“I’m fine, Bernie.”

“Now, yes,” Hill replied, a hint of reproof in his voice. “What happened?”

Bill shook his head. “The Italian doctors wanted me to stay in the hospital and I wanted to leave. They took no chances with me leaving before they felt I was ready.”

“Meaning?”

“They medicated me, Bernie.”

“WHAT? Are they…?”

“They’re alive,” Boyd said, rolling his eyes. “I got lucky. The day they put me under the police had been in asking questions. I’d given them a convincing story, but I was supposed to be gone before it wore thin. As soon as I could force my body to move, I left. They’re probably still looking for me.”

“Perhaps you should leave Europe.”

“First thing I have to do is contact Dom and Cate, then Ian. I can make a decision as to where I will go next later.”

Hill smiled. “Yes, keep your priorities straight, sir.”

Bill chuckled. “Come, Bernie, let’s go back to the house. I need a shower.”

Hill’s eyes sparkled but he said nothing. William shook his head and grinned at the older man as they strode side-by-side back to the house.

mercenary au, lotrips

Previous post Next post
Up