Title: Performance Part IV
Author: hannah_chapter
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: R
Summary: AU. London, 1969. Christopher Wolstenholme runs the biggest criminal gang in the city. Two police officers are sent to infiltrate his organisation.
Feedback: Will keep me warm on long, lonely nights.
Disclaimer: Nothing real here, just more demented ramblings.


Someone knocks at the door and Christopher Wolstenholme raises his head.

"Come in."

Simon walks into the office, nervous and trying not to show it. The boss has never called him down here so late.

"Thanks for coming down, Simon. Drink?"

"No, that's alright, Mr. Wolstenholme."

Wolstenholme pours himself a glass of whisky and laughs at the expression on his underling's face.

"Calm youself, Simon, before you have a heart attack. Would I be offering you drinks if you were in trouble?"

"You would if you were thinking of glassing me."

"Fair point.But I'm not, so you can breathe easy. I just want to talk to you. Get a chair and park yourself."

Simon sits and waits for the boss to get to the point.

"Our firm is growing, faster than I ever could have dreamed it would. We're pushing into new areas, here at home and with the big boys across the water. There's more going on than we can handle. We need more people. Fresh blood. Better blood."

"What d'you mean, better blood?"

"Muscle's all well and good, it has its uses, but I need more than that. Sharp lads, boys who can think on their feet."

"What do you need from me?"

"Go to all the usual places, keep your eyes and ears open. You find anyone you think'll be a good fit, bring them to me. Do this right and you'll get a nice bonus."

**********************************************************

Dominic lies on his side, staring into the darkness. He shouldn't have lashed out at Matthew like that. But he couldn't help himself. When the other man admitted what he was, his eyes met Dominic's and Dominic felt naked, like his own secret shame was written all over his face, where anyone who cared to look could see it.

Fear made him lash out and, while he's ashamed of his outburst, he can't help but feel a certain sullen resentment when he thinks of Matthew. Here's a man with none of the doubts that weigh Dominic down, free in all the ways Dominic is not. Free to admit what he is, to indulge himself, to fuck other men without having to sneak around...

Bollocks.

He really shouldn't have gone down that road. Oh, he's had impure thoughts about Sergeant Bellamy, plenty of them. He's always pushed them out of his head, ashamed of his lustful feelings for a man he'd always assumed was nice and normal and straight. But now he knows better and the images pour into his head and these thoughts aren't just impure, they're downright obscene...

...Dominic stumbles into the bathroom and falls to his knees in front of the toilet. Underpants down, hand on his cock, it doesn't take long. And when he comes, he's thinking of a pair of blue eyes. He rests his forehead against the rim of the bowl and then he's bent over it, moaning as everything he ate and drank today comes back up.

*******************************************************************************

The guv'nor is late, but Matthew is already in the office when Dominic gets there. Dominic looks at him, remembers what he did the other night and quickly looks away, ashamed.

"I really disgust you, don't I, Dominic? You can't even be in the same room as me, can you?"

"No, I - "

"Being queer isn't a disease, you know. You won't catch it."

"I know that," Dominic looks at his feet, then right at Matthew, "I'm sorry about the other night. Things aren't going so well, you know, at home, I'm a bit on edge at the moment."

"At the moment?"

Dominic ignores the sarcasm and ploughs ahead.

"So yeah, I'm on edge and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

"Yes. Believe me or don't, I don't care."

Matthew stares at him for a long moment, then shrugs.

"Alright, you're sorry. And yeah, I should have kept my mouth shut. I should have known a Roman'd go mad over that. But let's get one thing straight: not being queer doesn't make you better than me."

"I never said that - "

"And I'm not going to take a load of shit over it either."

Dominic's reply is lost when the door crashes open and Inspector Kirk strides in. Matthew and Dominic snap to attention, the action automatic in the presence of a superior officer. Kirk gives them a quick once over and snorts in disgust.

"No, fuck's sake, this won't do, won't do at all. You both look like you've got sticks up your arses. Slouch, try and look casual, your lives might depend on it. And another thing: you're too neat, way too tidy for Wolstenholme."

"I thought Wolstenholme liked his boys smart, guv," Matthew ventures, and Kirk rounds on him.

"Shut your fucking noise, I'm talking. As to that other thing, yes, Wolstenholme likes smartly-dressed boys ... and he likes to be the one to smarten them up. He likes taking scruffy boys and shining them up. That brings me to another point, and this is an important one. You're not his boys and you never will be. You're mine, not his. Wolstenholme is good to his boys and you might decide you like it on his side of the fence. But never forget what you are."

"We won't," says Dominic and Matthew nods in agreement.

"Good, because if there's one thing I hate more than a criminal, it's a broken copper. Now, listen up. Take the next three - no, four - days off. I want you both back here with stubble, messy hair and casual clothes, first thing Friday morning - "

The door closes on Kirk's final words as Dominic makes a sharp exit. The inspector looks at Matthew and raises his eyebrows.

"Lacks finesse, does Sergeant Howard. Can't quite get the hang of social graces. But what the fuck, I'm not sending the two of you to a garden party. D'you think you can keep him in line?"

"I'm sure I can."

Kirk watches Matthew glide out the door, then looks down at the sergeant's file. Thoughtful and soft-spoken, Sergeant Bellamy's an easy man to dismiss as a pushover. But there's a ruthless streak lurking just beneath that calm surface and anyone who takes him at face value is in for a surprise. The sergeant can, when circumstances demand it, be a very unpleasant man. And then there's Howard, the hothead, the clenched fist. A finger-breaker, a bollock-kicker, the one other coppers bring in when they want to scare the piss ( sometimes in a very literal sense) out of some mouthy little toerag.

Bellamy and Howard, Howard and Bellamy, opposites in every way. But all of Kirk's instincts tell him they'll make a perfect pair. He rubs his hands together.

Wolstenholme won't stand a chance.

Title: Performance Part II
Author: hannah_chapter
Pairing: Belldom, Dom/other, Matt/other
Rating: R
Summary: AU. London, 1969. Christopher Wolstenholme runs the biggest criminal gang in the city. Two police officers are sent to infiltrate his organisation. Both are homosexual. One accepts it, one represses it.
Feedback: Will keep me warm on long, lonely nights.
Disclaimer: Nothing real here, just more demented ramblings.


"...You're a sad and pathetic man. You're a homosexual and you don't want to be, but there's nothing you can do to change it. Not all the prayers to your God, not all the analysis you can buy, in all the years you've got left to live. You may one day be able to know a heterosexual life - if you want it desperately enough, if you pursue it with the fervor with which you annihilate. But you'll always be homosexual as well. Always Michael. Always. Until the day you die."
The Boys in the Band (1970)


The bedroom is dark and Dominic likes it that way. Propped up on his elbows, he thrusts into the woman beneath him. No heat, no passion here. He's just going through the motions, doing his duty as a husband. This only happens once a week but even this is too often for Dominic's liking. He grits his teeth and thrusts harder, desperate to come and be done with it. He doesn't want to do this, but it's the only thing that works: he thinks about hard bodies, tight muscles, arms pinning him down, being used, being abused...

That does the trick. Dominic finishes and rolls into his side, facing away from her. Lying here, in this bed, less than a foot away from another person, Dominic has never felt more alone. He suddenly feels like crying. How long can he keep this up? How long before he breaks?

*************************************************************************************************

The man on the bed looks up as Matthew enters the room.

"Evening, sergeant."

"Trevor."

Trevor laces his hands behind his head and spreads his legs slightly, giving Matthew a better look.

"Eager are we, Trev? Kit already off and ready to go."

"Just trying to make things easier for you, sergeant."

"How very thoughtful of you."

The other man scratches his chest. "I've been thinking about this agreement of ours. I think we need to make some changes."

Matthew stops unbuttoning his shirt and picks up Trevor's trousers.

Trevor sits up quickly. "What are you doing?"

"Going through your pockets."

"You can't do that!"

"Can't? Did you just tell me I can't do something?" Matthew reaches into his own pocket, pulls out his warrant card and holds it up.

"This says I can. This says I can do anything I want. I'm a policeman."

He pulls a small bag of pills out of Trevor's pocket and goes through it.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? French blues, purple hearts, black bombers. A nice little pharmacy."

Matthew throws the bag and it bounces off Trevor's forehead.

"Now, listen up, sunshine, because I'm only going to say this once. There is no agreement. I'm a copper and you are drug dealing filth. I should have nicked you months ago. But I prefer you where you are, free to pick up all the gossip and pass it on to me. Keep doing that and we'll be sweet. Mess me about, try to cross me and I'll put you away so fast your head will spin."

"Are you sure you want to do that, sergeant? You could be taking a big risk. What would your collegues say if they found out about us? What would they say if they knew Sergeant Bellamy is a shirt-lifter, a filthy queer who screws his snitch?"

Matthew continues undressing as he speaks. "I'm sure they'd be disgusted. I might even have to leave the Force. I could always do something else, though, it wouldn't be the end of the world. But what about you, eh Trev? What would your friends do if they knew about all the ways you bend over for me? How long would it be before you were fished out of the Thames?"

Naked, Matthew joins Trevor on the bed. "Stop trying to be clever, it doesn't suit you, You can't out think me, every way you look, I've got you beaten."

Matthew's hand cups the other man's scrotal sac. "You could even say I've got you by the bollocks."


"Anything else I should know about?"

"No, that's the lot."

"Alright, then." Matthew gets up and puts his clothes back on.

"Not staying?"

"No, got things to do."

"Have a good night, sergeant."

Matthew pulls the door open. "Mind how you go."

******************************************************************************************************

DI Kirk looks up. "Ah, Sergeant Bellamy. Do sit down."

"Yes, guv."

Matthew takes a seat and waits for the inspector to speak. Kirk has quite a few things on his desk: a newspaper, some photos and a file. Matthew's guessing it's his.

Kirk lifts his head from the file. "You been in London for how long now, sergeant?"

"Coming up on a year, guv."

"And you were in Devon before that, is that right?"

"Yes, guv. I was in Teignmouth."

Kirk slaps the desk. "And you have the nerve to call yourself a copper? You trundle around a fucking toy village and you think that's enough to make it in the city? Well, let me tell you something, Bellamy, this is London! We work for a living here!"

Matthew is surprised by the inspector's outburst but doesn't show it. He just sits quietly in his chair, his calm expression never changing. Kirk smiles.

"You don't rattle easily, do you, sergeant?"

"No, guv."

"That's good. That's very good."

The inspector holds up the paper so Matthew can see the picture on the page.

"Do you know who this is?"

"That's Christopher Wolstenholme, guv."

"Indeed it is. Christopher Anthony Wolstenholme. Local boy made good. Successful businessman, good family man. Gives to charity, does a lot for his local community, it's all in this article. Wouldn't surprise me if the journalist fell to his knees and gave Wolstenholme's knob a quick polish when the interview was over."

Kirk drops the paper and holds up two photographs.

"But then, he's never had to clean up any of the messes Wolstenholme's left behind. Never seen the truth behind the carefully constructed public image. Christopher Wolstenholme, the gang boss. He's into protection rackets, drug dealing, prostitution, the smut book business and more. Lots more. Then there's all the trouble between him and the Cornell mob, fighting over the West End. That's supposed to be neutral ground, open to everyone. But each gang wants the whole pie and it's getting hairy out there. West End? Wild West more like. Nobody killed yet, but we've had plenty of boys ambulanced off to the blood factory."

"It's a disgrace, guv."

"Too fucking right it is. Wolstenholme's a disease, a cancer eating away at my city and I want him gone. But it's impossible. His boys love him, so no one will talk and we can't get anything to stick to him. We did manage to turn one member of his gang but it was hard going. Then they found out about him."

The DI shows Matthew another photograph.

"Do you know where we found this body, sergeant?"

"Your front garden, guv."

"That's right. In my garden, tied to my apple tree, an extra 'fuck you' from Wolstenholme. Well, I'm not going to stand for it. I'm going to bring this bastard down and you're going to help."

"How?"

"Turning one of Wolstenholme's men won't work, as we've learned to our cost. What I'm thinking is, we send you and another copper in to join the gang. Tell me, Bellamy, do you know Dominic Howard at all?"

"A little bit, guv."

"What do you think of him? Be honest."

"I think he's one wrong word away from giving someone a rare hiding, guv."

"He is tightly wound, isn't he? But that could work to our advantage. Wolstenholme will probably have you out mixing it up with Cornell's boys, a hot head like Howard could work well there. But I need a cool head as well, someone to keep him in line, which is where you come in."

"I don't think Sergeant Howard will want to work with me, guv. I don't think he likes me."

"You let me worry about that, sergeant. I'll talk to Howard. Are you on board? Yes or no."

Matthew doesn't think twice. "I'm in, guv."

**************************************************************************************************************

Dominic is in Kirk's office, having the job explained to him, lots of shit about having to put on a good show, hiding his true copper's face behind a mask. Dominic could laugh, he really could. Masks? Don't talk to him about masks. He's been wearing a mask for as long as he can remember.

He doesn't rush to commit himself and Kirk's frustration grows.

"Alright, sergeant, my 'cleaning up the streets of London' speech obviously isn't working. Looking at your file, I see you're ambitious, a rising man. If ambition is the only language you speak, let me put it in terms you'll understand. This is a very big case. Pull it off and you'll have my office one day. You might even have a bigger office on a higher floor if you play your cards right."

Kirk looks through Dominic's file. "I see you're a married man."

"Yes, guv. Her name's Valerie."

"Been together long?"

"Since we were sixteen, married at eighteen."

The inspector smiles and Dominic can actually feel the man's next words rushing at him, like a punch he can't dodge. "Childhood sweethearts, eh?"

"Yes, guv." Oh, how Dominic hates those words, he could cheerfully strangle everyone who's ever said them to him.

"Of course, you know better than to mention any of this to her."

"Of course." Dominic hesitates, then goes on. "But why am I being paired with Bellamy?"

"Don't you like Bellamy?"

"I don't really know him, guv. But I really don't think we'll make a good team."

"I beg to differ. I think you'll be a perfect team. He's been in London for almost twelve months, you've been here for ten. You both know your way around, but you're still fresh faces. You were never bobbies on the beat here, so there's less chance of you being rumbled by Wolstenholme and his gang. And you've both done some boxing, so you can handle yourselves. Wolstenholme loves tough boys, blokes who think they're a bit tasty. He'll wet his frilly little knickers over a couple of sluggers like you."

Dominic makes one last try. "I still think I could handle this by myself, guv."

"Not a chance. I need two of you, safer that way. With two, you can watch each other's backs, keep each other in line. He fucks up it's your fault, you fuck up it's his. That way I don't have to go around trusting everybody. Now, are you in?"

"I'm in."

"Good. Oh, and sergeant?"

"Yes, guv?"

"Whatever problem you have with Bellamy, it has no place here. I suggest you get over it, quick as you can, if you want to crack this case."

"Yes, guv."

Dominic leaves the inspector's office, all the words he can't say choking him. Dominic can't talk about the way Sergeant Bellamy unsettles him. He can't tell the inspector any of this or explain how, every time he looks in Matthew Bellamy's eyes, he can feel the mask he wears beginning to slip.