Yes, I know, I'm a terrible author! I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile but I had to graduate, and I had to wait for the story to hit me again. This scene is of course in the film, but I couldn't resist using it since the Vince tension is quite important in my story. It's not just the film scenes, so bear with it. There will be more, I promise. Chapter 5 is being proofed as you read this chapter.
Ch 4: Inequal Measures
"He moans like a cop!" Vince's shotgun greeted Brian as his eyes opened to a blurry scene. His heartbeat pounded where the gun had struck him, and Brian struggled for his best recourse while he appeared to gather his senses. Brian tugged at his shirt and found himself staring up at Dom, having come from the darkness like some phantom; like the Dom that yelled at him to return to the garage just days before. Brian's hands rose in surrender and found himself genuinely terrified, Dom's eyes held no amusement and Vince near the object of his hate with a shotgun didn't help.
"Brian this is one of those times when you need to be absolutely clear about what you say. Nod if you understand me." Brian stared up in fear, Dom's black shirt fading him into nothing.
"Nod!" Brian was nodding jerkily by the time Vince finished yelling.
"Sit up." Dom's tone was pure anger, his face contorted. Brian looked away, at Vince, getting a subtle permission to place his hands on the ground and lean forward. "Tell me what the hell you're doing down here." Brian was half on his knees, rocking forward and holding his aching head as he began to speak.
"Aw shit. What I'm doing. Dom, I owe- I owe you a 10 second car. And what this is about, this is about race wars-" Vince kicked at Brian's side, who slowly rocked back to upright, eyes on his interrogator. "I just went in there, and Hector is gonna be runnin 3 Honda Civics with Spoon engines, and on top of that he just came in to Harry's and he ordered 3 T-66 Turbos, with NOS and a Motech system exhaust."
"So what are you saying?" Dom's head tilted slightly, Brian was past the worst of it. "You gonna go around and check everybody's shit out? One garage after another?" Brian stared at Dom intensely, wishing he could talk to just him, and turned to the shotgun barrel, slowly moving.
"Yeah." Brian started to rise, eyes with Vince and hands open in defeat. "Because Dom you know, I can't lose again." Dominic stared back, his forehead furrowed as he realized what Brian meant. His demeanor relaxed slightly, and Brian again felt he was making progress.
"He's a cop." Vince chimed in and Brian gauged Dom's reaction, his breath too heavy and loud in the tense yard. "He's a cop!" Dom moved now, like a prowling animal.
"You a cop?" Brian wanted to laugh out of sheer disbelief. His only thought was hours of training for this moment, this exact situation, yet nothing could have prepared him. He tried to focus on his facial expression but felt like he failed. He shook his head and stared at Dom, his eyes full of fire and he knew he looked cocky. As soon as he shook his head Dom's expression softened, he nodded, and Brian wanted to cry from joy. "Let's go for a little ride." Dom was smiling now, and Brian felt like he'd just been saved from a burning building. Some part of him cried out to know why, and as Vince yelled at him his adrenaline subsided, he wondered now if this hadn't been simply to appease Vince. Brian walked between the men, thinking it would be entirely possible that this had been a rouse. For though Dom's demeanor had been his most hostile yet towards Brian, his brain caught up and corrected, since the walk back from the Tran's- this had been Dom's most abrasive stand against him. Something felt similar to that first night though, in his actions and eyes, the slight quirk of his lips when he'd said he wasn't a cop, and hadn't that all been to prove a point?
Jesse driving made the whole night surreal. He and Dom conversed quietly in the front while Vince and Brian silently conversed in the back. The Jetta felt smaller than Brian had ever imagined it could, and Vince's tight and loving grip on his guns infuriated and amused Brian. If only. If only his situation was genuine and he could fight the ape of a man like an equal. If only he was a known cop, not this stupid fucking undercover limbo, he could just arrest him. Since that first night at the house Vince's gun obsession had been an issue in the back of his head, Brian wishing he could do something about the firearms in the mix. Of everything they did it seemed to bother him the most that Vince was cocky and careless with them.
He glanced up front and Dom's eyes met his and held. He'd been turned to Jesse for their conversation, and he was now clearly not listening. Brian felt his lips tense as his hands rubbed his jeans. Dom quirked an eyebrow and rotated back to face the front. He glanced out the window then cursed in pain as his head collided with it, turning sharply to Vince who had smashed his head against the glass. "Fuck you man! What the hell is your problem?" Brian held the side of his head and glared at the dark-haired man, who's eyes were angry and mocking.
"Got a little tickle huh fag? Checking out the boys?" Vince giggled and waved a hand in the air.
"Oh real fucking mature asshole-" Brian nodded and made to hit him.
"-Oh come on faggot! I swear I'll-" Vince blocked his arm and attempted to grab his wrist.
"Hey! Both of you shut up!" Dom's voice rumbled loud throughout the car, Brian's mouth catching his retort to Vince. Brian was clearly more skilled than the other man.
"D he fucking-"
"-I don't- shut up Vince. We're here. Get control or stay in the car." He looked at Vince and then Brian, daring him to speak as well. He got out of the car first, the others following before Jesse drove away.
Brian's world lit up like a carnival as he saw the dvd players and mountain of electronics in the Tran's garage. It wasn't Dom. It wasn't his team jacking the trucks. Bilkins would shit a brick. He hardly heard the sound of the doors, but noticed the lights and heard Dom call out to him. He ran, panicked, to the back of the garage, where Dom's hand shot out to grab at his back. Brian got the characteristic chills that signified a touch from Dominic. He tried to focus on the situation, and noticed Vince staring at him. He watched as the mechanic was questioned and tortured, glad he had fared better tonight. They settled down in the back for a few minutes as they waited for the entourage to leave the garage. Dom and Vince mouthed words to each other, their conversation mostly a series of nods, some of which were directed at Brian. He could also tell when they talked about him because Vince's fingers would twitch on his gun and his lips would purse. Toretto gestured more openly towards Brian, usually seeming to confirm or deny something Vince had said.
Brian felt a hand grab his shirt and he was pulled down to the floor as his face pressed against the cold cement. His eyes faced the wall and fell on Dom, who was also on the ground, his finger pressed to his lips and his other hand holding down Brian's head. His fingers were heavy and warm on his scalp, his curls barely obscuring the sensation. He couldn't help think how unnecessary the action was. Brian had no intention of getting up while Dom lay supine in hiding next to him. Their breathing seemed monstrously loud to Brian. Dom's eyes followed the footsteps as they moved closer to their corner, finally watching them stop and retreat to the motorcycles. Brian's fingers twitched on the cold floor, his eyes closed in weariness and relief. Two fingers moved ever so slightly on his head and Brian was subject to chills again, the action confirming the contact as...what? Brian didn't have time to decipher the behavior as the others stood and he was whispered to move out.
--
"You busy tonight Bri?" Dom stood in the back doorway of the shop, his bulk blocking most of the light that usually filtered in to Brian's tiny 'bedroom'.
"Dom? What are you doing here?" Brian tried to sit up, exhausted, the covers falling to his lap as he blinked at the other man. He left the doorway in response, coming to stand next to Brian's bed. His arms were folded on his chest-Dom's menacing posture-and he stared at the blonde. Brian felt like someone had cranked the thermostat, sweat starting on his back as he broke eye contact, suddenly painfully aware that Dom was shamelessly staring at his bare chest. "Dom, man-" Brian wanted to say something, anything, but words failed him. Suddenly hands were in his hair, ghosting over his head, the bigger man climbing on the bed with Brian. Their breathing was desperate and Brian felt Dom's fingers move gently and slowly down to his cheeks. Brian lifted his arm towards Dom's face, beginning to feel the shadow of a beard, and his cellphone rang.
Brian jolted and sat upright, his phone waking him. He reached for it and froze as the caller id informed him Dom was on the other end. Brian remembered his dream like it had happened, could feel the heat of Dom in the room and his smell on the sheets. Brian shivered and answered the phone, willing his hard-on to subside.
"Brian."
"Yeah, whats up?"
"I need you at the shop."
"Yeah, sorry. Let me just...be there soon." Brian closed his phone and fell down on the bed, his body begging for release. Brian threw the covers back in favor of a freezing shower, leaving the Dom-laden room and false memories.
