million_star | The Abso (1/2) (Reply)

Title: The Abso (1/2)

Author:

Pairing: Belldom

Rating: R

Warnings: Disturbing images, language, horror, mpreg

Summary: 1966. Newlyweds move into New York City's oldest apartment building. It is a decision one of them will regret.

Feedback: Is always appreciated, please, just enjoy if you decide to read.

Disclaimer: I don't own Muse, no profit is being made and this is fiction.

Beta/Support: As always,

dolce_piccante, and

waltzingstar - thank you also to my horror hero

lalalive23 for her brilliance.

Author's Note: This was to be my entry for the October MS challenge but suddenly it got to be nearly 4,000 words long (oops!!). The challenge asks for a drabble length fic) I am still gonna post it cos I had too much fun with it. This is a Belldomy take on one of my all time favorite horror films, Rosemary's Baby. I do not claim to stick right to the story, at all. I merely wanted to play a little. Important note: In this universe same sex marriage is and has always been acceptable, and male pregnancy is a regular occurrence. It's my first mpreg AND my first attempt at horror. Be gentle; I'm nervous.

Thank you, and enjoy.

Manhattan, 1966

"Oh my gosh!" Matthew exclaimed, Dominic laughing as he carried him through the threshold of their new apartment. "We're really here!"

Dominic put Matthew down, Matthew turning to him for an impromptu kiss or six. They smiled into each other's lips and held on to each other tightly. "Never thought we'd be living in such an amazing building."

The Abso was one of the oldest and most storied apartment buildings in the city. Dominic and Matthew had received a blank check from Matthew's father as a wedding gift and they opted to use it to secure the apartment for themselves.

"We sure lucked into it, didn't we? Now I just need to get a few more gigs drumming, get some money saved up so we can furnish it properly. The nursery, especially."

"You haven't knocked me up yet," Matthew giggled.

"It's a work in progress," Dominic shot back cheekily. "Just need to get some money saved, you know?"

"Hey," Matthew said softly, noting the look of anxiety that began to cloud Dominic's eyes over. "Don't worry, we'll make it. I have plenty of writing to put out, and Monty says he's nearly found a publisher for Last Hope, so turn that frown upside down, mister." Dominic smiled, his heart bursting with love for his husband and his ever constant positive attitude. Dominic was the worrier in the couple, but only because he wanted to be able to provide for them both as well. Matthew's previous novel had been published to glowing reviews and moderate success, but Dominic's gigs as a session drummer had fallen off lately.

"I'll try, babe," he answered, a smile forming on his lips, "for you."

* * *

"Let me help you with that!" a shrill voice rang out.

Matthew looked up to see an older woman strolling his way. She was tall and moved with an elegant grace that comes from age. Her long brown hair flowed and shone beneath the hallway lighting. She was dressed in a trendy pantsuit colored a dark green. He dropped the grocery bags he'd been struggling with while busy staring at her, much to his chagrin.

"What are neighbors for, yeah?" she continued to rattle on cheerfully. "Here, sugar, let me help you pick this mess up. My name is Kelly, Kelly Wolstenholme, what's yours?"

"Matthew. Bellamy," he smiled, a little nervous suddenly in the woman's presence. "My husband and I are new to the Abso."

"Wonderful building, The Abso, and make no mistake! It's been very good to Christopher and I for twenty years now. I do hope we can all be fast friends, Matthew, as well as your husband!"

Matthew smiled, unsure of what to say as his natural shyness kicked in.

"Oh, now what's this?" she exclaimed, holding up a bunch of bananas. "I can make a banana custard that will knock your socks off. In fact, I think I will do that tonight. You and, what is your hubby's name again?"

"Um, Dominic."

"Dominic! You and Dominic must come to ours for dinner tonight." Matthew opened his mouth but she shook her head. She continued to talk as she helped Matthew refill his bags. "No, I simply will not take no for an answer. I insist. Apartment 604. Seven o'clock. I shall see you then!"

And just like that, as quickly as she'd appeared, she was gone, leaving Matthew to shake his head in wonder. He didn't have much time to ponder on it, for Dominic walked up as he was letting himself into their apartment.

"Hey, you. Good audition?" Matthew asked, kissing him on the cheek.

"No. Didn't get it." Dominic bristled and exhaled shakily.

"Oh, well, next time, then. Next time, yeah? Oh, a neighbor has invited us to dinner tonight. She seems quite a character."

"For fuck's sake, Matt, I'm not interested in meeting anyone tonight. It's been a bad enough day! I know you get to sit here and play on your typewriter all day but I've been out all day trying to secure some work. I'm tired!"

Matthew winced but said nothing. He'd grown accustomed to Dominic's occasional mood swings in the weeks since they'd moved into the building, but that didn't make them any easier to take. He watched as Dominic's shoulders sagged, his hands covering his face. The brief storm passed and he brought his eyes to Matthew's own. "I'm sorry, forgive me. I'm just stressed, that's all. Of course we can go if you wish. Would be nice to make friends here."

* * *

Making friends was just what they did. Well, partly.

Dominic and Christopher had hit it off instantly. Despite the obvious difference in their ages they became very close (Christopher and Kelly were in their early fifties, if Matthew's estimates were correct.), to the point where Dominic would often insist that he and Matthew spend nearly every evening with the couple, something that unnerved Matthew in a way he couldn't explain.

Indeed, in the three months since their first dinner together the two of them became close friends. Christopher had musical inclinations himself, the bass being his instrument of choice. Even more wonderful was the fact that suddenly, as though from out of nowhere, Dominic was getting requests for gigs like he'd never known before. They were amazing musical sessions that paid enormous sums of money. Dominic was like a new man.

It was a great coincidence and Matthew was thankful for it.

Not long after they started spending time together, Kelly presented Matthew with a necklace with a small locket on it in the shape of a star.

"There," she beamed as she fastened it around a blushing Matthew's neck, "it's a good luck charm; wear it in good health, my new friend!"

There was something about the older couple that disarmed Matthew. He couldn't put his finger on it. Their apartment was filled with an odd odor, nothing necessarily unpleasant, but something decidedly medicinal, or in the very least, some sort of spice. He remarked on it to Kelly the next time they met for dinner whilst their spouses were in the other room talking.

"That's tannis root, darling. Do you like it? It's the same thing in your good luck charm."

"It's very... interesting," he murmured, sipping his coffee. He had to admit that his mind was elsewhere that night; he and Dominic were hoping that tonight would be the night that they'd finally conceive. It was getting late and he was anxious to leave.

"It's good for all sorts of things," Kelly said casually.

About an hour later they said their goodbyes, Kelly sending two ramekins of her famed banana custard with them. Dominic's hands were all over Matthew's body as they unlocked the door to their apartment. Yet, somehow, as soon as they made it inside Dominic got each of them a spoon and put them in the ramekins, presenting one to Matthew.

"Seriously. You want to eat now?" Matthew asked, his jaw hitting the floor.

Dominic smiled wickedly. "Why not, it won't take long. Besides, it's good."

"I guarantee you I taste better than that does right now," Matthew purred, palming a rapidly-hardening Dominic through his trousers.

Dominic pressed his groin into Matthew's touch with a groan.

"Then you'd better eat up, you're gonna need your strength for tonight."

"Not hungry, though."

"Oh, come on, it wouldn't do to waste it!"

"I don't want it, Dom."

"What's the big deal? It was nice of Kelly to make it, it would be disrespectful to waste it, don't you think?" Dominic asked. "Hurry, then we can get down to it."

Matthew was more than a little irritated but he acquiesced with a sigh, taking a bite of the custard. His brow furrowed, there was something off about the flavor. He took another to be sure then turned to Dominic. "It's off. Chalky. Is yours okay?" He felt lightheaded, and woozy in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He reached out to steady himself on the counter.

"You're imagining things. Just finish it."

Three bites were all he could manage, though, before he emptied the rest of it into the sink.

"What are you doing?!" Dominic exclaimed.

"It tasted funny," Matthew mumbled as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Bodies.

Skin.

Matthew writhed on the bed, unable to focus on the flashes of fragmented scenery passing through his mind. He felt hands all over his body, some harsh in their touch, some soothing, but all urgent. If he focused he could see Christopher and Kelly amongst them, unclothed, as well as Dominic and a handful of others he recognized as neighbors he'd passed in the hallways of The Abso.

Foreign sounds bounced off the walls from every direction, voices hushed yet ringing out in unison as though they were crying out, perhaps chanting. He tried to sit up but a dozen hands held him down securely as though they held the weight of a ton of bricks.

The chanting seemed to get louder and more intense as minutes (hours?)passed and time ceased to have meaning.

His eyes were about to fall closed in surrender when suddenly two eyes which shone amber were gazing down on him with cruel, unspoken intent. They were not human eyes, they were other-wordly eyes, and Matthew was determined to wake up now, determined to shed himself of this nightmarish vision that somehow had crept into his psyche.

"This is no dream, this is really happening!" he gasped in the moment he was violated.

Matthew woke with a start.

A glance at his clock told him it was five in the morning.

He looked around the room but it was empty, save for himself and Dominic, in bed, both naked as the day they were born. The bedclothes were askew and the pillows were on the floor. Matthew's body was drenched in sweat and was was sore in the manner that would leave one to believe that he'd indulged in something very pleasurable, but he couldn't seem to remember anything. He couldn't shake the nightmare he'd just managed to break free from; he trembled as he panted in shock.

"Matt? You okay?" Dominic mumbled, pulling him close.

"Y-yeah. I-" he was in the act of rubbing his chest absentmindedly when he felt broken skin and was startled into a completely awake state. He switched on the light and was stunned to see his chest held a few scratch marks. He glanced at Dominic. "Whoa. Really?"

"Don't you remember? You were insatiable," Dominic groaned, kissing along Matthew's bare chest. "Was all I could do to satisfy you. I suppose," he peppered kisses along the scratches on Matthew's ribcage, "I might have gotten a little rougher than usual? You seemed so into it, are you angry with me?"

"No, of course not. I just wish I could remember it! I had such strange dreams last night. My mind..." he shook his head with a frown, "it's like it's cloudy this morning."

"Which is proof that my lovemaking is just that good. I mean, come on, I rocked your world to the point of giving you temporary amnesia!"

Matthew slapped him playfully, the two of them grinning into another kiss, the upsetting nightmare forgotten.

It was with a sense of shock as well as delight that they learned shortly thereafter that Matthew had finally conceived successfully. Dominic was over the moon and had insisted on sharing the news with Christopher and Kelly immediately.

"Dom. Wait. I just... do we have to? I'd rather tell Thomas and Mia and our friends first."

"What?"

"I mean, Kelly and Chris are lovely, they are," Matthew began gently, "but I'd like to spend some time with our own friends. Don't you ever feel that way too? Ones closer to our age. I miss them."

"Of course I do, but-"

"Dom, Chris and Kelly frighten me a little."

Dominic blinked and continued as though he hadn't heard Matthew's statement. "It won't take a moment, come on."

Before Matthew could protest his husband had dragged him from their apartment and to the Wolstenholme's own. The door seemed to open just as they reached it, Christopher smiling at them both.

"What brings you here tonight? Please, please, come in!"

"We're going to have a baby," Dominic said excitedly, squeezing Matthew's hand as Kelly advanced into the living room. "Matthew's pregnant and we wanted you to be the first to know!"

The Wolstenhomes looked at each other, then to their friends, and the celebrations began. Christopher pulled Matthew into a fierce hug.

"My dear boy, I am so happy for you, for both of you! I wish you all the best and as for the little one growing inside you I trust you will allow me to shower it with love and good wishes all the days of its life! May it be a long and prosperous life indeed!"

"Hear, hear!" Kelly exclaimed. "And you are in luck! One of my dearest friends is an obstetrician and one of the best around! I insist that you let him look after you, and I also insist that you allow us to take care of the financial aspects of your care. Consider it a late wedding gift!"

Matthew was flattered by the offer but was also determined to squash this talk instantly. He put one hand up politely. "Oh, that's so kind of you, but I have a doctor of my own in mind, one who delivered a few of my other friend's children, Dr. Hill."

A silence descended over the room, Dominic, Christopher and Kelly all staring at him with an expression he could neither read nor process. Kelly smoothed her skirt and forced a smile onto her face.

"Matthew, don't be rude!" Dominic hissed.

"What? No, I didn't mean to upset you! I just-"

"No, no, it's fine, Dominic. Let Matthew make his own choice in this, but my offer will remain on the table. Dr. Saul is a personal friend of mine and I can assure you he would be willing to attend to your pregnancy if you so wish it." Kelly said quietly.

* * *

As in so many aspects of their relationship suddenly, Dominic got what he wanted in the end and Matthew found himself sitting in Dr. Saul's office one week later. The fight between them that had ensued after leaving the Wolstenholme's that night was the worst between them in the history of their relationship.

"You spend more time with them than you do with me!"

Dominic had scoffed. "Don't be dramatic, Matthew. You're not five years old anymore. Besides, they've been nothing but kind to us."

"Don't you dare condescend to-"

"I thought the offer to pay for the treatment was exceedingly generous. I know I'm bringing in more money lately but we both know that every penny counts. That would be a big help, having free prenatal care for you. But perhaps you wish for me to take on a second job to be able to afford it ourselves. I will do the best I can."

Their finances, in the end was what caused Matthew to change his mind, but it was still with a heavy heart that he agreed to have Dr. Saul for his obstetrician.