Warnings: Slash. Threesome. Light bondage.
Notes: Written for the Travel prompt between the brilliant Yellowleaf, Booperesque and myself.
---
Cooper
leans his head on the window and watches the world pass by. Billy is sitting
next to him, head phones covering his ears, tuning the world out. Cooper
doesn't begrudge him this moment of peace. It has been a dramatic few weeks and
they're only now starting to calm down. He sighs and twists the ring on his
finger absently. The matching ring on Billy's hand flashes silver in the dim
light of the bus. But Cooper's mind is on the owner of the third ring hanging
on a chain around Billy's neck.
Life
has given him many things. Good and bad. He will always take the bad if it
means he gets the good. There is nothing in this world that can make him regret
the life he's lived even if it has been one that he never would have guessed at
five years ago.
---
"You
fucking moron!" Cooper yells, uncaring that all eyes in the vicinity turns
towards them.
Johnathan
cringes and even Billy flinches a little.
"Coop,"
Billy tries to placate a very angry Cooper Cronk, who is red in the face from
the Italian heat and anger. Anger that had not many minutes ago been fear.
"What
the fuck were you thinking? We thought you'd gotten kidnapped or gotten mugged
in some alley! And why isn't your goddamn phone working?"
"I'm
sorry, Cooper," Johnathan's voice is so small in the face of Cooper's
anger, "there were all these people and I just lost sight of you. I'm
sorry."
Cooper
continues to glare and Billy gently touches shoulders with him.
"Come
on, Coops," he says softly.
"No."
Cooper
turns on his heel and walks away.
---
There
had been tears in Johnathan's eyes that day. He had brought tears to those
beautiful eyes. And he'd carelessly dismissed the fact that the sight broke his
heart. Because he didn't understand why it should. He'd walked away and when he
looked back Billy had Johnathan in his arms, whispering words that Cooper had
been too far away to hear.
That
should have told him. He should have understood. But he'd been too angry at
Johnathan to see. His anger. The intensity of it should have given it away.
They say love is blind and it takes him a while to figure out he is the
blindest person in history.
---
"Billy,
what-" Cooper pulls Johnathan back in time to avoid colliding with a blond
haired guy in a red cap speeding past them, obviously chasing after someone.
He
squints at the guy.
"He
looks familiar or am I imagining this?" Billy asks, coming to stand
alongside him while the blond in the red cap shouts.
"Come
on, bruz!"
Whoever
'bruz' is, a tall, dark and probably handsome if Cooper could guess by looking
at his retreating back, seems oblivious to the drama his friend is causing.
"Isn't
that-" Billy starts but Cooper whacks him on the back of the head.
"None
of our business," Cooper says but remains staring after the duo as well.
The
blond finally catches up with his objective and they watch him pleading with
his friend.
"Guys
come on," Johnathan says but halts when the blond suddenly pulls his
'bruz' forward and kisses him. Cooper grabs Billy and Johnathan, both gaping at
the pair, and hauls them away.
---
He is looking out at the Colosseum arena, when he feels someone lean in to him
from behind. He knows immediately who it is.
"What
are you thinking?" Johnathan asks, standing so close that his chest is
touching Cooper's back.
"So
many people died here," Cooper says quietly.
"If
I had to die, I'd like to go out like that," Johnathan says thoughtfully.
Cooper
turns his head to look at him, Johnathan's long hair brushing against his face
as he does.
"A
slave?" he asks confused. Johnathan smiles and Cooper turns back to the
arena before he is blinded.
"A
warrior, die fighting."
"No
peaceful death of old age for you then," Cooper says lightly, trying to
counter the seriousness in Johnathan's voice. He feels Johnathan’s hands on his
waist as he leans closer and he can feel his heart beat against his back.
"Maybe
if you're there," Johnathan’s voice is so quiet that if they were not
standing so close, he would never have caught it.
Cooper
turns around and Johnathan steps back. Cooper misses the warmth immediately.
"What?"
Johnathan
leans closer, hand reaching up to trail gentle fingers down Cooper's face.
Cooper stays still like a deer caught in headlights because he's never known
anyone who makes the rest of the world disappear like Johnathan.
"I'd
die happy if you were with me," Johnathan says. Then he leans forward,
giving Cooper every chance to step back.
Cooper
doesn't and when Johnathan's lips finally touch his', he realises that this has
been inevitable for a long time. He steps closer, a hand in Johnathan's dark
hair and he can't see it but he knows Johnathan is smiling.
They're
going home tomorrow and Cooper isn't sure where this would go. Because back
home life wouldn't be so simple, the freedom they have here where he can kiss
this beautiful boy in the middle of a thousand people, is not something they'd
ever have. But this is nice. And he wants this. He would hold on as long as he
can.
---
They
find Billy with the camera in his hands.
"Recorded
everything?" Cooper asks, looking over Billy's shoulder at the photos.
Johnathan flanks Billy on the other side and grins back when Cooper smiles at
him.
"Yep,"
Billy answers with a grin.
"Hey!
Why aren't we in any of these photos?" Johnathan asks, flicking through
Billy's photos*.
"Why
would I need photos of you when I have you with me always?" Billy asks,
voice genuinely curious. Cooper ruffles
his hair fondly.
"Got
a point there, Bills."
---
They
get to the Mona Lisa in record time. And really, it's not like they came here
for anything else. There is an incredible number of people gathered around the
painting, talking, listening to their guides and generally just not moving
along. All standing between Billy and his painting. Billy's face falls as he
stares at the sea of people. Cooper sighs. The only reason they are here at the
Louvre is because Billy loves the Da Vinci Code and wanted to see the painting
that figured so prominently in the film.
"I'll
never get close," Billy mourns as Johnathan pats him on the back
sympathetically.
Cooper
sighs again.
"You
really want to see this painting?" he asks.
Billy
nods with a tentative smile, knowing that Cooper wouldn't ask if he doesn't
have a plan.
"Alright,"
Cooper says and takes Billy's hand, then looks at Johnathan.
"Stand
right there. Don't move. Don't talk to anyone. Don't even look at anyone. Stay
here until we came back, alright?"
Johnathan
nods, face determined and serious.
Cooper
holds his eyes for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. He tightens his
hold on Billy's hand and starts weaving a path towards the painting. It's a
path not so much woven but achieved through making a beeline straight to the painting
by stepping on people's toes and basically pushing people out of the way.
They
get to the front, leaving behind a chorus of annoyed voices.
There
is a tour group gathered straight infront of the painting. They push right past
the guide who exclaims "Excuse me!" in a scandalised French accent.
Cooper
raises an eyebrow at him.
"The
painting belongs to you?" he asks.
"N-no,"
the guide replies, still scandalised.
"Then
move on man, other people want to see it too!"
The
guide glowers, Cooper grins and turns to Billy, gazing at the Mona Lisa in
adoration. The tour group moves away, the vacant space quickly taken up by
another group.
Johnathan
is standing exactly where they left him when they come back. He beams at them
and Billy laughs and jumps in to his arms.
"Coops
was brilliant!" Billy gushes and Johnathan grins at him and then smiles at
Cooper, who shakes his head with a laugh, determinedly ignoring his rapidly
beating heart. He walks on and is soon joined by Billy and Johnathan on either
side of him. He smiles to himself and they ignore the rest of the Louvre and
head in search of lunch.
---
Cooper
comes back to find Billy asleep with his head on Johnathan's lap. They have a
five hour lay over in Dubai and Billy hates sleeping on flights. So here he is,
dead to the world, curled towards Johnathan's body while Johnathan gently pats
his hair. Cooper drops down next to them and Johnathan smiles at him.
"Didn't
get lost?"
Cooper
smirks.
"Who
was it that read the maps, the whole time in Europe?"
Johnathan
grins, "You."
Cooper
sighs and leans his head on Johnathan's shoulder, who wraps his free arm around
him.
"Go
to sleep, I'll wake you up," Johnathan whispers softly. Cooper smiles to
himself and closes his eyes. He thinks he feels Johnathan's lips in his hair
but he is not sure. He doesn't realise he'd fallen asleep until Johnathan
gently shakes him awake. Billy is already awake, rubbing the creases from his
face. He smiles at Cooper.
"Sleep
well?" Billy asks.
Cooper
grins and looks over at Johnathan, who's rolling his shoulders.
"I
had a very good pillow."
Johnathan
laughs.
"I
can't feel my legs or my shoulder," he complains good naturedly.
"You
offered man!" Billy laughs and holds out a hand to pull him up.
Johnathan
grins at him and then looks at Cooper, who rolls his eyes but holds out a hand
anyway. Johnathan grips both their hands and gets up, a huge smile on his face.
They grab their bags and head for their gate. Johnathan throws his arms around
both their shoulders as they walk. If it was anyone else, Cooper would throw it
off. But he knows the face Johnathan would make if he does, so he lets it be,
letting himself go as far as admitting that this is something he could get used
to.
Johnathan
falls asleep as soon as they take off, head rolling to rest on Cooper's
shoulder. Billy covers him with the complementary blanket and smiles at Cooper
over Johnathan's sleeping head.
"How
does he manage when we're not around?" Cooper asks.
Billy's
eyes are fond as they turn to Johnathan.
"I
guess we'll have to stick around."
---
Johnathan
actually keens when Cooper enters him. Keens. Whole body tensing as Cooper
slowly fills him. Cooper is also breathless but Johnathan doesn’t need to know
that. He draws a finger down Johnathan's back between the wings and over the
scratch marks already there.
Left
by someone else.
Cooper
tries not to think about that. He knows nothing is exclusive. Especially when
it comes to Johnathan. He would never be the first. Or the last. But this is
Johnathan and he would take what he can get. But Johnathan doesn't need to know
that either.
He
thrusts, excruciatingly slow.
"Please…"
Johnathan begs.
"Please
what?" Cooper asks sweetly, pausing even his slow movement.
"Please.
Please. Please Cooper, don't stop!"
Cooper
grins and takes pity. He ignores the signs that say that someone else has been
here. Because he is here now and Johnathan is his'. He bites Johnathan's
shoulder when he comes and draws blood. He kisses Johnathan with blood on his
lips. Johnathan would let him do anything. He knows that and it makes him want
to protect this fool who would trust anyone. And let anyone break his heart.
---
Cooper
steps out of Johnathan's reach.
"Don't."
Johnathan's
face falls and it hurts for the barest of moments before he shoves it back.
"Cooper?"
Johnathan's voice is so tentative like a child asking for something he knows he
cannot have.
"Go
back to whoever left those fucking marks on your neck. I'm done!" he
buttons up his shirt as he walks towards the door. But then Johnathan is
standing in his way. Shirtless and beautiful and Cooper could love him if it
wasn't for the bite marks blatant on his neck.
"Don't
go," Johnathan begs, "Please."
It's
those damned eyes but Cooper can't let himself be swayed by them anymore.
"Why?
Are you going to leave him for me?"
"It's
Billy!" Johnathan says abruptly.
Cooper
freezes, eyes widening. And realises he's been such a fool.
"How
could you- why would you-" he can't even find the words. Because Billy is
his best friend. Johnathan knows that.
"I
love him," the declaration comes just as Cooper decides to punch Johnathan
in the face. He punches him anyway. Johnathan reels back, hand rushing to his
face. There is blood dripping from his split lip. The hurt in Johnathan's eyes
is exactly what Cooper expected. But it hurts anyway.
"I
thought you were so much better than this. But I guess I judged you all
wrong," Cooper makes for the door. Johnathan is watching him, all bloody
and in tears.
"I
love you too."
Cooper
leaves.
---
He
should have known. Because Johnathan is who he is and he is the most sincere
person Cooper knows. And he falls in love. He should have known about other
man. Should have known Johnathan loved him. Should have realised Johnathan
would never be with anyone he doesn't love. When realisation hits, it's too
late. He's already broken Johnathan's heart.
---
Billy
takes his face in both hands.
"I've
loved you for so long," he says, kissing his lips, "I love you."
Cooper
feels tears threatening and kisses Billy to avoid crying.
"We
always seem to take the long way around, don't we?" he says afterwards.
Billy
smiles, still so close.
"Makes
this all the better, love."
--
"Why
didn't you tell me?" Cooper asks, standing in the rain.
Johnathan
looks at him with wide, surprised eyes.
"Cooper?"
Cooper
takes a step closer.
"Why
didn't you tell me?" he asks again.
"I
was scared," Johnathan says, stepping out in to the rain.
"Of
what?" Cooper asks. Except that he knows. He knows why Johnathan had been
afraid.
"Losing
you," Johnathan answers anyway. Cooper feels his heart clench. Johnathan
had been right to be afraid. Cooper had reacted exactly like he thought he
would.
Cooper
steps closer. Johnathan stands still, waiting.
Cooper
reaches out a hand and pushes Johnathan back under the awning and follows him
in.
"I'm
sorry," he says, "I'm sorry I hurt you."
Johnathan
catches his hand and holds on.
"Don't
leave," Johnathan pleads.
Cooper
draws closer. All the time apart finally getting to him.
"I
won't."
Johnathan
smiles, bright and beautiful. Cooper kisses him, mind flooding with memories
and knows he's made the right decision.
---
Surprises
aren't really his strongpoint. He likes to know what's coming, likes to be
ready. He thinks he knows himself very well, knows how he would react to
situations. And the rare times when things throw him off are the rare times he
loses control.
So
when he realised that the only way forward is to admit he's undeniably and
irreversibly in love with his two best friends, he loses it a little.
Because
this isn't something he'd ever seen himself doing. He had his life planned out
so well and then these two idiots come along with their stupid hair and lovely
eyes.
That
they both love him back is something he can't ever begin to understand.
---
Billy
slips the blindfold off and Johnathan's dark eyes fix on him immediately.
"Hi,"
Billy whispers wonderingly. Johnathan smiles, his bound hands straining in an
effort to reach Billy. Billy kisses him and Johnathan arches in to it.
Cooper
watches Billy slowly making his way down Johnathan's body, kissing and nipping
and stroking. Cooper feels his breath
catch as Johnathan reacts with incredible sounds that Cooper himself had drawn
out of him not so long before.
Johnathan
had flown down to Melbourne after the Cowboys played the Raiders in Canberra.
They haven't seen each other in weeks and it's difficult, especially for
Johnathan, to be away for so long. So Cooper and Billy had decided to give
Johnathan a night to remember before he flies back home tomorrow.
So
Cooper lets Billy have Johnathan and joins them on the bed afterwards. They
fall asleep in each other's arms and it is more perfection than anything Cooper
has ever known in his life.
---
Cooper
wakes up suddenly. It is early morning. He isn't sure what woke him and can't
remember his dreams. There is movement to his right as Johnathan shifts closer
in his sleep and Cooper tightens his arm around him. He feels Billy behind his
back, warm and still. He smiles to himself, kisses Johnathan's shoulder and
falls back in to sleep.
---
They
stare at each other. Billy leaning on a floatie, illuminated by the light
reflected off the pool from the garden lights.
Cooper leans back against the corner of the pool and waits. Billy pushes the floatie back and makes his
way to Cooper, who resists the urge to smirk. Billy's hair is wet, sticking to
his forehead in streaks. Billy comes close enough to corner Cooper against the
wall. The pool at this end is shallow enough that they can stand and Billy
takes a final step closer so that if he moves, he would be sharing Cooper's
space. Cooper places a hand on Billy's chest, trailing it lower until it
reaches Billy's waist and pulls him that one inch closer. Billy smiles and
Cooper kisses him. They have never needed words. Cooper has loved Billy always.
---
"I
shouldn't have yelled at him," Cooper says and Billy looks at him in
surprise.
"You
still remember that?"
Cooper
turns his head and looks at Billy.
"I
never forgot and I never forgave myself," he trails off, looking away.
"He
never blamed you," Billy says.
"There
were tears in his eyes and I… I acted like I didn't care."
"He
was upset because you were upset, because he thought you were disappointed in
him."
Cooper
reaches out and takes Billy's hand.
"I
was so scared. If anything had happened…" he smiles, "Obviously, I
was still in denial."
Billy
grins.
"I
know. You only get so emotional if something really matters to you. But I have
to admit," Billy kisses Cooper lightly on the lips, "you almost had
me fooled when you left."
"I
just… needed time to figure a few things out."
"Like
how you were in love with two guys?" Billy asks with a small smirk.
"Like
how the two of you loved me back," Cooper says touching Billy's face with
gentle fingers, "I love you."
---
Cooper
helps Billy with the bags. They've reached their final destination. Their lives
at the Melbourne Storm had come to an end and it was time for them to come
home. Cooper wouldn't mind not going through another winter ever again. The bus
leaves and they see the Ute parked on the other side of the road. Billy gives a
small cry and rushes forward, dropping the bags in the process. Cooper sighs
and leans down to pick them up as Billy throws himself in to the arms of the
waiting man.
Cooper
straightens to find Johnathan's arms tight around Billy but his eyes fixed on
him. He looks beautiful. Like he always does. His Johnathan. Their Johnathan.
"Hi,"
he mouths with a smile.
Johnathan
grins, kisses Billy's hair and says something to Billy Cooper can't hear but
makes Billy loosen his grip on Johnathan. They cross the road to him and Billy
takes back his bags while Johnathan reaches to take Cooper's own bags.
"Missed
you," Johnathan says, slinging the bags around his shoulders. Cooper kisses
him.
"Not
going anywhere."
This
is the life he's chosen. And he wouldn't trade it for anything.
The End.
* Photos by Billy.
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