Title: Parallel Oblivion
Author: </a></b></a>morphinelovexx
Pairing/Characters: Acosta/Bill, Messner/Hollis
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smokin' Aces
Word count: 1,542
Summary: Law of Oblivion: To forget the past transgression of any person.
Notes: I'm pretty sure when I wrote this I didn't plan on posting it anywhere. Of course, napalmiris is counterproductive to my health and detrimental to my freedom, so I did it! :D Plus, the SA comm totally needs some vamping. If I write something conductive I'll post that, but uh, for now, live with and love this. 



Pasquale Acosta goes missing from the hospital two days after being admitted, as expected.

What no one saw coming was the disappearance of Bill, the unassuming and half dead security guard a week later. Not too much of a shock on it's own, people came and went all the time, except Bill left his door wide open and the only thing missing were a few of his clothes. Bill's neighbors reported hearing muffled yelling coming from the house the night before, but refused to get involved. Messner almost hopped something happened to the poor guy just to make them feel like shit because while none of them wanted to be 'nosey' the night before, as soon as they saw the badge they asked more questions of Messner than he had of them.

Bill lived alone, but he did have two dogs and a nephew who stayed with him more often than not, so there was a slim-to-none chance that he'd just run off without telling anyone or even packing. Messner knew he had to find this guy, if not for Bill's sake, then for his own. Another innocent person couldn't die because of this monster.
____

The first lead came in four days after they both disappeared. A man fitting Bill's description wearing dirty clothes and looking slightly distraught rented a hotel room in southern California, requesting two beds. The manager took a moment to recognize him, calling the number on a flier he'd received days earlier.

Hollis picked it up, answering with a classy and professional, "What? What do you want?" Wrangling the information from the manager, Hollis turned to Messner. "Hey. I think we found them." Messner was out the door before Hollis could grab their jackets, and even though his obsession was borderline irritating, Hollis couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement of possibly finding Acosta.

Of course, by the time they got there, it was too late. The drive had taken nearly 24 hours with breaks, and it was enough time for Acosta to take Bill and vanish without a trace. The punch line was, while one bed looked well-slept in, the other one hadn't been touched. Messner stared at the two for a long time before turning to Hollis, his eyes dark and angry. "What's that sick bastard doing with this guy?"

Messner took care of the paperwork, but instead of climbing back in the car to drive to the office, he came back with a room key. Hollis cocked an eyebrow, but the game was over when he looked at the number. They fought, Messner yelled, and Hollis caved. They were staying in Acosta's room. Messner did the courtesy of letting Hollis sleep in the bed that they hadn't, but it still creeped him out. The way Messner eyed the room, as though he could see what they'd done. Around midnight, Messner crawled on top of Hollis-who'd slept in his clothes; the room was giving him the heeby-jeebies-and kissed him, slow and deep at first. Any protest Hollis would've made died in his throat.
____

Things were quiet for two weeks after that, Messner didn't say a word about the hotel and Hollis had almost forgotten about it until a package arrived addressed to Messner. Pictures of Acosta and Bill in Tampico, Mexico. Bill was almost unrecognizable. His stubble had obviously been left unchecked for a few days, and his hair had been shaved off completely. He wore jeans and a t-shirt and looked utterly at ease with Acosta standing behind him on the beach, the sun beating down on both of them.

Neither man stood out in a crowd, and if you didn't know who they were, you'd never distinguish them from other tourists. There were six pictures, the first two innocuous, just them standing and walking. Then Acosta's hand was on Bill's hip. In the fourth picture, they'd moved to a hotel deck and were standing too close. The fifth, Bill was leaning against the door leading to presumably their room, arms around Acosta's neck. In the last one, they were kissing. Deep. Passionate. Consensual.

For a long while, Messner didn't say anything. Hollis didn't know what would piss him off more-the fact that they were in Mexico or the fact that Bill apparently hadn't been kidnapped. Throwing the pictures to the ground, Messner screamed. He slammed his hands on the desk and his face twisted with pure rage. Hollis knew better than to try and console him, he just stepped back and let Messner destroy their office. They cleaned it up in silence, and on the plane ride to Mexico, Hollis had to try and ignore the questioning looks all the flight attendants shot the bruises that were too high up to hide.
____

Of course they were too late to catch the men in Mexico, but with some convincing on the part of Hollis, stayed for an impromptu vacation. A month led them around South America, and Messner seemed to loosen up-at least enough to be noticeable. The day they were going to leave, Hollis checked the messages in the office. Someone had been frantically trying to reach them.

They found Bill.
___

Unconscious and bloody, Bill had been found in the Parque Menca de Leoni and taken immediately to the hospital. He could mutter broken phrases of Spanish, but other than that was completely incapable of communicating with the doctors. Hollis got directions and they were there in six hours. Bill had checked out AMA, but left a name and number behind for a hotel room if they needed him. With some convincing and a little flirting, Hollis charmed the information from the head nurse. Messner already had the car started when he walked out.
They didn't bother knocking on the door, Messner simply flashed his out-of-service badge and the desk clerk-who was obviously involved in more than shady business-handed over the room key. Messner nearly ran to the room, leaving Hollis behind in with a look of exasperation and begrudging acceptance. Bill was lying on the single bed in the middle of the room when they opened the door, his eyes shut and his breathing even. His cuts had been stitched up but his face was still a bit bruised, and in sleep he looked much younger and more vulnerable than the last they'd seen of him.

Messner approached and drew his gun, Hollis walking behind him and clenching his fist on his one operable hand. The door shut behind them and Bill slowly opened his eyes. Acosta was standing against the door, his expression indecipherable. Hollis could've kicked his own ass for falling into this, but Messner's eyes didn't change. He was expecting this, Hollis realizes, anger rising so quickly that he actually felt dizzy.

Bill sat up and looked at them, impassive. "You've been following us." It wasn't a question. Acosta moved around Hollis, picking up a black duffle bag and dropping it beside Bill on the bed. "He," Bill motioned to Acosta with his head, as though this were a conversation about lunch plans. "Wants to just get rid of you. I'm inclined to agree, but for all I know you're actually good guys. So, I'm gonna give you a chance here. Back off." Bill looked at his lover, then back to Messner, and finally to Hollis. When they locked eyes, Bill refused to give up the contact.

"If you don't, it'll be out of my hands." Acosta tilted his head and looked Messner up and down, reading him like an open book. "I'm sorry. About your partner." The ex-agent growled and moved forward, grabbing at Acosta. In less than three moves, Acosta had him pinned against the floor by the back of the neck, grounding his face into the carpet. Bill had a gun trained on Hollis, who'd moved without thinking. "Leave us alone." Bill said evenly, rising from the bed. He shouldered the bag. "We're none of your concern now." Tucking the gun away, Bill moved to the door and looked at Acosta, who still had Messner pinned.

"Come on." The way he'd said it made it sound more like a question, proving that though their relationship seemed consensual, Bill was in no way in charge. "Puede el cielo tiene misericordia de su alma, Messner, porque hacen no." Hollis' Spanish wasn't that great, but whatever he'd said made Bill shiver, just enough to be noticed by someone paying close attention. Acosta stood and straightened his clothes, following Bill to the door. Other than a car engine turning over outside, there was no evidence they'd even been there.

Hollis helped Messner up, wishing he could say something, anything to break the silence between them. It felt like they were mourning something, the passing of a close friend. Carruthers. Hollis didn't say it, and Messner didn't acknowledge it, but they both knew that it was time to give up the chase. Going outside, Hollis stared at the empty space where they parked the car. He looked over at Messner, who started laughing uncontrollably. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was one last cruel joke, but Hollis laughed with him.

At that point, there was nothing else they could do but give in to this insanity.