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awritinglilypeaTitle: Newspaper Clippings
Fandom: Lotrips
Pairing: Orlijah eventually, Viggo/Bean
Rating: R
Complete: Only in my head.
Genre: Angst, hurt/comfort, romance.
Chapter Summary: Bean and Viggo team up on the lads to get them to talk. The two of them talk and a little bit of information comes out.
Thank you to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sparkly_shiny, the Watson to my Sherlock, or the Sherlock to my Watson.
Previous chapters
Elijah opened his eyes and tried to roll onto his side, registering sleepily that he couldn’t because someone was holding onto his wrist lightly, impeding his movement. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand, the white of the gauze wrapped around it startling.
“Wha?” he mumbled to himself, rolling back over; he spotted the curly haired head resting on the edge of the bed and tried not to feel too hopeful.
Just because Orlando felt guilty he’d gotten sick didn’t mean that he was back for good, or even that they would be friends from now on. After all, the other man had walked away from him before.
Sean pushed open the door to the bedroom a moment later and met Elijah’s startled gaze, “oh good,” he said softly. “You’re awake.”
Elijah nodded his head, shoving his hair off his forehead with a sigh. “I am,” he pushed himself up, wincing at the pressure on his hands.
“Good, good, I’ve got some soup here for you,” Sean told him, lifting the tray in his hands lightly, drawing some attention.
“You do?” Elijah couldn’t help the surprise which coloured his voice as his eyes widened and his stomach growled.
Sean nodded his head with a chuckle, stepping closer to the bed. He set it across Elijah’s lap and sat on the edge of the bed to watch him eat. “Do you mind if I stay here?”
Elijah looked up into the older man’s eyes, seeing his concern. “It’s fine,” he murmured, lowering his eyes and feeling a little ashamed of himself for reasons he couldn’t explain or didn’t even want to think about.
“Good,” Sean nodded his head and turned to study Orlando, who was just waking up, long fingers running through the curly mop of hair on his head. “Orli, Viggo wants to talk to you and you should eat something too.”
Orlando looked like he might protest, a lost look in his eye as he looked from Sean to Elijah and back again before nodding his head silently and making his way out of the room, albeit unhappily.
“How are you feeling?” Sean asked Elijah, leaning back on one hand and then turning to look at Elijah keenly, as though analyzing him.
It made Elijah feel uncomfortable, in a way that only countless therapists had done, but yet there was something comforting about the fact that Sean was even willing to ask, instead of just judge and presume.
“I don’t know,” he admitted and it was true, and perhaps the most honest he’d been with anyone as of late.
Sean nodded his head and smiled in a warm manner that made Elijah inch more toward feeling better than worse. “So why don’t you explain to me what happened lad?” he asked in such a soft voice Elijah found it hard to resist.
“My mother came to visit,” Elijah mumbled, looking down at his bandaged hands with sorrow filled eyes.
Sean made a soft noise which to Elijah sounded like a growl and he had to force back a smile and wiggled slightly, warmth flooding him at the thought that anyone besides Dom would be protective of him.
“And what did your mother have to say?” he prodded Elijah gently.
Elijah shrugged his shoulders, wondering if he should respond.
“None of us want you out of our lives, Elijah,” Sean said in a level voice and when Elijah jerked his head up to meet Sean’s gaze all he saw there was anger at his mother there and nothing but affection for him, and worry.
Elijah swallowed heavily, feeling horribly like he might cry and pushed back that feeling, swallowing again to try and loosen the lump in his throat. He remembered Orlando’s recent behaviour and shook his head, finding he only half believed Sean’s words despite knowing the older man was always extremely blunt and to the point.
“Orlando doesn’t either,” Sean said firmly, a little anger making its way into his voice this time around.
“How can you be so sure?” Elijah burst out, waving his bandaged hands in the air for a moment before he realized he was most likely overreacting and also looked ridiculous.
Sean sighed, dragging his hand through his hair and then lowering it to Elijah’s shoulder so cautiously, like he thought Elijah would break down at one touch.
Elijah ducked his head again, not moving away from the touch, but not finding the comfort in it he might typically.
“I know because I’ve known that boy for a long time and it’s time the two of you had a talk about why you both act as though you’re not friends when it comes to the shit that matters, and stop avoiding people,” Sean said bluntly, unforgivingly.
Elijah looked startled and felt it to the core, surprised at the way Sean was talking to him and even more surprised when the gruff actor dropped a kiss on the top of his head.
“Talk to him,” Sean told him simply, standing up and gesturing. “After you’ve eaten, I put it in a cup so you could drink it. Call if you need help lad,” he mussed Elijah’s hair and then winked before leaving the room.
Elijah didn’t even know what to do and sat there staring wide-eyed at the door for about a good minute before he realized he should probably eat the soup before Sean or Viggo came back into the room and attempted to feed it to him, furthering his humiliation.
His embarrassment hadn’t mounted though, and he was surprised at that because usually he would want to hide away from people who had seen him in a vulnerable state but for some reason he didn’t. He found himself wanting to seek them out, to garner comfort from their presences.
It heartened him more than he thought any human contact ever would and picked up the cup of soup carefully, taking a sip and sighing to himself. Orlando, though...no matter what he wanted he was going to have to talk to Orlando and apparently whether he was ready or not.
~
Elijah emerged from the bedroom a half hour later, and glanced around the room, his eyes rapidly scanning the room to take it all in as Viggo emerged from the kitchen, a dishtowel held loosely in his hands.
“Sean and I were going to pick up some groceries for your apartment,” Viggo told Elijah, smiling as he did so.
Elijah nibbled on his bottom lip, realizing the attempt for what it was, and that it was designed in order to get him and Orlando some time alone.
“You don't have to do that,” he found the words a moment later, his eyes wide at the thought of being left alone with Orlando. He just didn't know what he was meant to do, meant to say, or if he would even be able to say anything at all when it came to working out their problems.
“We want to,” Sean piped up, grabbing his coat as Viggo disappeared into the kitchen once again then came out, the two of them grabbing their jackets and heading out the door.
Elijah dropped his hands to his sides, wincing as the blood rushed into the sore appendages.
“Why don't you take a seat?” Orlando asked him, anxiety showing in his eyes.
Approaching the couch slowly, Elijah sat down next to him and pulled the throw blanket over his lap as though it would offer him protection from the potential hurt he knew might be inflicted on him by the other man.
“I'm sorry Elijah,” Orlando apologized and Elijah raised his eyes to Orlando's face, seeing he did actually look genuinely sorry.
Elijah nodded his head, clearing his throat somewhat. He raised a hand to his lips as he coughed, well aware that Orlando was watching him with a great deal of caution.
“Why did you run away?” he asked after a moment's pause, lowering his eyes again as he asked the question. “What did I do so wrong?”
Orlando's eyes clouded with regret and he shook his head rapidly, sending his mop of curly hair into disarray. “No, no you didn't do anything wrong at all and the fact that you even think that just guts me,” he sighed and shifted forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. “Everyone has their damage, Elijah.”
“Okay,” Elijah responded in a confused tone of voice. It was hard to comprehend what was really going on here. He wasn't the cause of Orlando running away, despite their kiss, but that didn't explain his subsequent anger when he'd come home.
“The last person I got close to killed himself,” Orlando muttered in a soft voice, almost whispering.
Elijah slumped back against the couch, letting out a soft gasp as he did so. He didn't know what to say, and studied Orlando for a moment, observing the tension in his frame and the naked pain in his eyes. Reaching out slowly, Elijah squeezed Orlando's shoulder very gently, “I wouldn't do that.”
Orlando smiled weakly and covered Elijah's hand with his own and squeezed back. “I know you wouldn't,” he glanced over his shoulder at Elijah.
Smiling back, Elijah leaned forward, “but you get scared?”
“Yeah,” Orlando laughed briefly, the sound grating and abnormal coming from him, especially when he normally exuded such warmth. “I get scared, and when I feel too deeply it...as stupid as it is it kind of hurts.”
“It's not stupid, I know that feeling,” Elijah responded. “Is that why...I mean the kiss...”
Orlando nodded his head, “I got scared, because I don't want to hurt you.”
Elijah smiled at him, “you hurt me,” his words were blunt, honest and to the point. “But more when you ran away the second time...what did I do wrong?”
Orlando sighed softly, glancing down at his hands. “I heard Dom,” he muttered, raising one hand to rub at the back of his neck.
“The jealousy thing?” Elijah said, feeling as though a light had just come on or he was suddenly plugged in. It was all beginning to make sense now. Orlando had thought....oh...Orlando had been jealous. A flush rose in his cheeks and he had to push back a nervous laugh.
“I was jealous,” he told Orlando honestly. “I was jealous because I want what Dom has with Billy, not because I want Dom. That would be like getting involved with a family member.”
Orlando looked surprised, brown eyes widened and his lips parted just the slightest bit. “Really?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
Elijah smiled. “Really. Besides, I still have some things to work out.” He lifted his hands which were bandaged.
Nodding Orlando smiled at him. “Am I forgiven?” he asked Elijah, an intrigued look in his eye.
“Yes you are,” Elijah told him, licking his lips and smiling a little wider, the gap in his teeth revealed and his eyes alight.
Orlando ducked his head, then laughed a little. “Good, good. And as for those things you need to work out, can I uh....”
“Help me?” It was the first time Elijah had asked that question without any indecision. He trusted Orlando, and felt as though they were becoming closer because of the honesty which had occurred between them.
“Yes, I'll help you,” Elijah hoped that the promise he saw in Orlando's eyes wasn't just a hallucination. He wanted that promise.
“Slowly?” Elijah questioned this time, no hesitancy in his words.
Orlando nodded his head and pulled Elijah close for just a moment in a half-hug that had Elijah feeling as though he'd been flooded with warmth. “As slow as you want it.”
“You too,” Elijah murmured, closing his eyes with a soft hum then pulling back and standing up to go make himself some tea.
“Let me help,” Orlando stood, and followed him into the kitchen.
Elijah felt all urge to return home flee, he was home.
Fandom: Lotrips
Pairing: Orlijah eventually, Viggo/Bean
Rating: R
Complete: Only in my head.
Genre: Angst, hurt/comfort, romance.
Chapter Summary: Bean and Viggo team up on the lads to get them to talk. The two of them talk and a little bit of information comes out.
Thank you to
sparkly_shiny, the Watson to my Sherlock, or the Sherlock to my Watson.Previous chapters
Elijah opened his eyes and tried to roll onto his side, registering sleepily that he couldn’t because someone was holding onto his wrist lightly, impeding his movement. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand, the white of the gauze wrapped around it startling.
“Wha?” he mumbled to himself, rolling back over; he spotted the curly haired head resting on the edge of the bed and tried not to feel too hopeful.
Just because Orlando felt guilty he’d gotten sick didn’t mean that he was back for good, or even that they would be friends from now on. After all, the other man had walked away from him before.
Sean pushed open the door to the bedroom a moment later and met Elijah’s startled gaze, “oh good,” he said softly. “You’re awake.”
Elijah nodded his head, shoving his hair off his forehead with a sigh. “I am,” he pushed himself up, wincing at the pressure on his hands.
“Good, good, I’ve got some soup here for you,” Sean told him, lifting the tray in his hands lightly, drawing some attention.
“You do?” Elijah couldn’t help the surprise which coloured his voice as his eyes widened and his stomach growled.
Sean nodded his head with a chuckle, stepping closer to the bed. He set it across Elijah’s lap and sat on the edge of the bed to watch him eat. “Do you mind if I stay here?”
Elijah looked up into the older man’s eyes, seeing his concern. “It’s fine,” he murmured, lowering his eyes and feeling a little ashamed of himself for reasons he couldn’t explain or didn’t even want to think about.
“Good,” Sean nodded his head and turned to study Orlando, who was just waking up, long fingers running through the curly mop of hair on his head. “Orli, Viggo wants to talk to you and you should eat something too.”
Orlando looked like he might protest, a lost look in his eye as he looked from Sean to Elijah and back again before nodding his head silently and making his way out of the room, albeit unhappily.
“How are you feeling?” Sean asked Elijah, leaning back on one hand and then turning to look at Elijah keenly, as though analyzing him.
It made Elijah feel uncomfortable, in a way that only countless therapists had done, but yet there was something comforting about the fact that Sean was even willing to ask, instead of just judge and presume.
“I don’t know,” he admitted and it was true, and perhaps the most honest he’d been with anyone as of late.
Sean nodded his head and smiled in a warm manner that made Elijah inch more toward feeling better than worse. “So why don’t you explain to me what happened lad?” he asked in such a soft voice Elijah found it hard to resist.
“My mother came to visit,” Elijah mumbled, looking down at his bandaged hands with sorrow filled eyes.
Sean made a soft noise which to Elijah sounded like a growl and he had to force back a smile and wiggled slightly, warmth flooding him at the thought that anyone besides Dom would be protective of him.
“And what did your mother have to say?” he prodded Elijah gently.
Elijah shrugged his shoulders, wondering if he should respond.
“None of us want you out of our lives, Elijah,” Sean said in a level voice and when Elijah jerked his head up to meet Sean’s gaze all he saw there was anger at his mother there and nothing but affection for him, and worry.
Elijah swallowed heavily, feeling horribly like he might cry and pushed back that feeling, swallowing again to try and loosen the lump in his throat. He remembered Orlando’s recent behaviour and shook his head, finding he only half believed Sean’s words despite knowing the older man was always extremely blunt and to the point.
“Orlando doesn’t either,” Sean said firmly, a little anger making its way into his voice this time around.
“How can you be so sure?” Elijah burst out, waving his bandaged hands in the air for a moment before he realized he was most likely overreacting and also looked ridiculous.
Sean sighed, dragging his hand through his hair and then lowering it to Elijah’s shoulder so cautiously, like he thought Elijah would break down at one touch.
Elijah ducked his head again, not moving away from the touch, but not finding the comfort in it he might typically.
“I know because I’ve known that boy for a long time and it’s time the two of you had a talk about why you both act as though you’re not friends when it comes to the shit that matters, and stop avoiding people,” Sean said bluntly, unforgivingly.
Elijah looked startled and felt it to the core, surprised at the way Sean was talking to him and even more surprised when the gruff actor dropped a kiss on the top of his head.
“Talk to him,” Sean told him simply, standing up and gesturing. “After you’ve eaten, I put it in a cup so you could drink it. Call if you need help lad,” he mussed Elijah’s hair and then winked before leaving the room.
Elijah didn’t even know what to do and sat there staring wide-eyed at the door for about a good minute before he realized he should probably eat the soup before Sean or Viggo came back into the room and attempted to feed it to him, furthering his humiliation.
His embarrassment hadn’t mounted though, and he was surprised at that because usually he would want to hide away from people who had seen him in a vulnerable state but for some reason he didn’t. He found himself wanting to seek them out, to garner comfort from their presences.
It heartened him more than he thought any human contact ever would and picked up the cup of soup carefully, taking a sip and sighing to himself. Orlando, though...no matter what he wanted he was going to have to talk to Orlando and apparently whether he was ready or not.
~
Elijah emerged from the bedroom a half hour later, and glanced around the room, his eyes rapidly scanning the room to take it all in as Viggo emerged from the kitchen, a dishtowel held loosely in his hands.
“Sean and I were going to pick up some groceries for your apartment,” Viggo told Elijah, smiling as he did so.
Elijah nibbled on his bottom lip, realizing the attempt for what it was, and that it was designed in order to get him and Orlando some time alone.
“You don't have to do that,” he found the words a moment later, his eyes wide at the thought of being left alone with Orlando. He just didn't know what he was meant to do, meant to say, or if he would even be able to say anything at all when it came to working out their problems.
“We want to,” Sean piped up, grabbing his coat as Viggo disappeared into the kitchen once again then came out, the two of them grabbing their jackets and heading out the door.
Elijah dropped his hands to his sides, wincing as the blood rushed into the sore appendages.
“Why don't you take a seat?” Orlando asked him, anxiety showing in his eyes.
Approaching the couch slowly, Elijah sat down next to him and pulled the throw blanket over his lap as though it would offer him protection from the potential hurt he knew might be inflicted on him by the other man.
“I'm sorry Elijah,” Orlando apologized and Elijah raised his eyes to Orlando's face, seeing he did actually look genuinely sorry.
Elijah nodded his head, clearing his throat somewhat. He raised a hand to his lips as he coughed, well aware that Orlando was watching him with a great deal of caution.
“Why did you run away?” he asked after a moment's pause, lowering his eyes again as he asked the question. “What did I do so wrong?”
Orlando's eyes clouded with regret and he shook his head rapidly, sending his mop of curly hair into disarray. “No, no you didn't do anything wrong at all and the fact that you even think that just guts me,” he sighed and shifted forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. “Everyone has their damage, Elijah.”
“Okay,” Elijah responded in a confused tone of voice. It was hard to comprehend what was really going on here. He wasn't the cause of Orlando running away, despite their kiss, but that didn't explain his subsequent anger when he'd come home.
“The last person I got close to killed himself,” Orlando muttered in a soft voice, almost whispering.
Elijah slumped back against the couch, letting out a soft gasp as he did so. He didn't know what to say, and studied Orlando for a moment, observing the tension in his frame and the naked pain in his eyes. Reaching out slowly, Elijah squeezed Orlando's shoulder very gently, “I wouldn't do that.”
Orlando smiled weakly and covered Elijah's hand with his own and squeezed back. “I know you wouldn't,” he glanced over his shoulder at Elijah.
Smiling back, Elijah leaned forward, “but you get scared?”
“Yeah,” Orlando laughed briefly, the sound grating and abnormal coming from him, especially when he normally exuded such warmth. “I get scared, and when I feel too deeply it...as stupid as it is it kind of hurts.”
“It's not stupid, I know that feeling,” Elijah responded. “Is that why...I mean the kiss...”
Orlando nodded his head, “I got scared, because I don't want to hurt you.”
Elijah smiled at him, “you hurt me,” his words were blunt, honest and to the point. “But more when you ran away the second time...what did I do wrong?”
Orlando sighed softly, glancing down at his hands. “I heard Dom,” he muttered, raising one hand to rub at the back of his neck.
“The jealousy thing?” Elijah said, feeling as though a light had just come on or he was suddenly plugged in. It was all beginning to make sense now. Orlando had thought....oh...Orlando had been jealous. A flush rose in his cheeks and he had to push back a nervous laugh.
“I was jealous,” he told Orlando honestly. “I was jealous because I want what Dom has with Billy, not because I want Dom. That would be like getting involved with a family member.”
Orlando looked surprised, brown eyes widened and his lips parted just the slightest bit. “Really?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
Elijah smiled. “Really. Besides, I still have some things to work out.” He lifted his hands which were bandaged.
Nodding Orlando smiled at him. “Am I forgiven?” he asked Elijah, an intrigued look in his eye.
“Yes you are,” Elijah told him, licking his lips and smiling a little wider, the gap in his teeth revealed and his eyes alight.
Orlando ducked his head, then laughed a little. “Good, good. And as for those things you need to work out, can I uh....”
“Help me?” It was the first time Elijah had asked that question without any indecision. He trusted Orlando, and felt as though they were becoming closer because of the honesty which had occurred between them.
“Yes, I'll help you,” Elijah hoped that the promise he saw in Orlando's eyes wasn't just a hallucination. He wanted that promise.
“Slowly?” Elijah questioned this time, no hesitancy in his words.
Orlando nodded his head and pulled Elijah close for just a moment in a half-hug that had Elijah feeling as though he'd been flooded with warmth. “As slow as you want it.”
“You too,” Elijah murmured, closing his eyes with a soft hum then pulling back and standing up to go make himself some tea.
“Let me help,” Orlando stood, and followed him into the kitchen.
Elijah felt all urge to return home flee, he was home.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-01-11 08:34 pm (UTC)This fic is just simply amazing. You have an ability to really dig deep and bring feelings out, and I really sympathize with Orlando and his needing to take things slowly. That experience would rattle anyone, and I wanted to hug both he and Elijah. Aww.
*huggles* Love you wifey, you are the Sherlock to my Watson.
<3
no subject
Date: 2011-01-11 09:11 pm (UTC)Next chapter will be an interlude about Orlando.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-11 10:23 pm (UTC)I can't wait to see where our boys go from here. This was and always is well worth the wait my friend. Keep up the good work.
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Date: 2011-01-12 12:37 pm (UTC)Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 05:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 12:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 06:00 am (UTC)I look forward to more!!
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Date: 2011-01-12 12:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 02:31 pm (UTC)And thank GOODNESS for Bean and Viggo.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 02:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 03:26 am (UTC)Orli's confession was just heartbreaking. Is it mean to say that I find Orlando not being so perfect to be a mighty relief? There are so many people who seem to have their shit together so well. I guess it's just refreshing to see that he's got weak spots too.
I just want to cuddle them both... *squeezes boys*
Great chapter! I can't wait for the next bit.
Oh, and I've been meaning to ask you: Is there going to be any more of Elijah in the bookstore w/Astin? Because that was a lovely dynamic. Something I could totally get lost in because I can completely relate...
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 05:09 am (UTC)I don't know if there will be or not, there is a STRONG possibility in one of the later chapters because of what I had planned out, but Astin and I aren't seeing eye to eye lately.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 06:47 am (UTC)I love the way this chapter turned out, btw. It hurts my heart in all the right ways and makes it surge with hope at the same time.