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fellowshippers2004-11-22 08:27 am
andrealyn) wrote in fellowshippers2004-11-22 08:27 am
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Title: The Signs of the Zodiac 8/12
Pairing: Bean/Orlando, Dom/Billy
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine, never happened.
Summary: Orlando's life goes through quite a bit in the course of twelve months.
Notes: So, thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
captnobvious and beizy for hand-holding in the early days and to shaenie who completely ripped the first draft of this apart. Many thanks. Couldn't have done it without you. Previous parts can be found here.
LIBRA
October 20th
“Are you going to shower?” Billy stuck his head out of the bathroom to ask Dom, who was paging through the phone book, and searching for Sean’s number. Dom figured that he could at least call Sean and tell him to be kind to Orlando. Dom shot Billy a blank look. “What?” Billy questioned with an innocent look.
“You’re not showering now, are you?” Dom gave him a doubtful expression. Billy turned to look into the bathroom. When confronted with a blank look, Dom hung up the phone and stalked over to Billy. “We haven’t…”
“Yeah?” Billy prodded.
“…you know.” Dom raised his eyebrows provocatively.
“Fucked?” Billy filled in with an amused smirk.
“That’s a word for it,” Dom agreed, nodding.
“So we have not fucked…” Billy continued.
“In over two days,” Dom responded, forcing a terribly serious look on his face. A smirk was threatening to appear on Billy’s lips, but Billy bested it, and set a serious and contemplative look on his face. He made a show of very deliberately thinking about Dom’s pained words. “Two days,” Dom repeated, holding up two fingers, as though Billy required a physical representation of the number two in order to fully appreciate its significance.
“Two, you say?” Billy repeated sounding awed.
“I believe we had an agreement,” Dom said, and nodded, pressing his lips together. Billy tapped one finger against his chin. He smirked in devilish delight as he did so. “When the entire Orlando situation was through with…we signed on it.”
“Please don’t get out the,” Billy bit his lip hard and averted his gaze as he continued, “Mutual Agreement of Pleasant Physical Intimacy Sans-Nuptial Alliance,” he pleaded with only mild frustration in his voice.
“Then cite it,” Dom demanded, and stood proudly.
“I, William Boyd,” Billy began to speak.
“And I, Dominic Monaghan,” Dom broke in, resting his right hand at a patriotic angle just above his heart in honour of Elijah. For a moment, he wished they had even made a flag for their independent republic of sweet hobbit love.
“Do solemnly swear to have wild, sweaty sex at least once every two days,” they finished simultaneously. Billy cracked up long before Dom gave in to the laughter. He pulled Billy into his arms.
“Turn off the shower,” he murmured into Billy’s ear. “We’ve got at least two hours until we have to go to Viggo’s.” Billy nodded slowly, as though he were trapped in molasses. He made his way to the washroom and back. In the interim, Dom took it upon himself to light a single candle.
Dom turned around and showed off the very lonely candle that stood there to receive only a dubious expression on Billy’s face. Dom stood behind it, and the light flickered on his face, creating artistic shadows that played around and danced over his features.
“One candle?” Billy sounded as though he might laugh at any given minute.
“It adds to the mood,” Dom responded defensively, sheltering the candle with his hands. Billy shook his head and closed the distance between them to take Dom’s hand. Billy pulled him away from the candle. “Forget the candle?” Dom asked.
“I want you,” Billy confided quietly to Dom, tugging at Dom’s shirt and pulling it off.
Billy tossed it off to the side of the candle preventing any housefires, which would definitely put a damper on their mood. Dom gave a toothy grin as his fingers worked to unbuckle Billy’s belt. He put his potential-cowboy talents to good work, reeling Billy closer to him and pushing their chests together.
“I claim you-” Dom murmured as he tilted his head to the side slightly. He lazily kissed Billy’s lips while lingering there for a moment just past teasing, “-in the name of Brandy Hall.”
“Good,” Billy growled, and slipped his tongue into of Dom’s mouth. “Because you know what they say.” Billy pulled away from Dom when they were both a little breathless, and Dom watched with want as Billy licked his lips.
Dom gave him a grin, and bit his lip. His eyes shone with mischief and supreme anticipation of what was to come. He couldn’t quite explain it, but ever since the incident with Orlando, every night together seemed better, seemed more intimate. It was something to do with how close he came to losing Billy, and how he never wanted to let himself forget how that fact. He willed every night to be the best it possibly could, and the result was something close to divine.
“What do they say?” Dom asked in a faint echo of his normal speaking voice.
“Hobbits who play together make sweet love together,” Billy announced. His face softened with a smile and it made Dom’s stomach flip-flop. Dom was ready with a comeback, but Billy plunged in for a second round of battling tongues before Dom could retort. One of Billy’s hands reached up, and began to grab roughly at bits of Dom’s hair, while the other made its’ trailway south and into Dom’s pants, inching them down.
Dom thrust his hips forward. He pulled a little harder at the leather belt and brought Billy closer. While Billy worked to get Dom’s jeans off, Dom’s tongue found its way to Billy’s neck and licked from the base all the way up – running right over the Adam’s apple.
Dom dropped the leather belt when Billy’s hand found its way inside Dom’s boxer-briefs and began to nimbly play with Dom’s balls. Dom felt himself go a little crazy, and his back stiffened when Billy’s nails grazed over his cock.
“Bedroom,” Dom requested hoarsely.
“Okay,” Billy said simply.
Billy led them both into the dark bedroom, opening the curtains so that the light of dusk spilled into the room and lit it in that perfect crimson light. It was enough to paint their skin into the colour of dim fire.
“How long now?” Billy questioned, before he threw a glance over to the clock. Dom didn’t even glance at the digital numbers once, his attention solely on Billy. “I don’t want to be late.”
“You won’t be,” Dom promised, nipping at Billy’s bare shoulder. He pulled the tank top off of Billy and ran his palms down Billy’s torso, feeling Billy’s nipples growing hard. “I promise.” He used his teeth on Billy’s right nipple – repeating the process until it stood to attention. Dom pushed Billy onto the bed and came crashing down atop him, straddling his hips.
Billy helped Dom shove his trousers down and off, leaving them tangled around Dom’s ankles until he kicked them into a pile at the end of the bed. Billy craned his head upwards, nuzzling against Dom’s stubble before they kissed again. With the help of Billy’s fumbling and frenetic fingers, the rest of their clothing was quickly discarded.
“The drawer,” Dom advised Billy as he splayed out on the bed sheets, stretching out his arms and taking in the sight of Billy’s arse as he got up and walked to the table. Dom’s head turned. His vision blurred a little. He knew his eyes were glazing over as he lost track of the end goal and could only focus on Billy’s backside.
Billy turned, and Dom was presented with an even better view when Billy walked back to the bed. Billy knelt down got a look of contemplation on his face as he looked at Dom – not saying a word – before he gently positioned Dom so that he was flat on his back, legs still splayed.
“You,” Billy whispered, and slipped two fingers inside of Dom’s writhing body. Dom hissed at the temperature before calming himself into stillness. “It’s your turn.” He smiled against Dom’s cheek and curled his hands around Dom’s hips, positioning himself.
Dom’s eyes seemed to burn, a combination of solemnity and the setting sun. He barely blinked as he watched Billy’s face, set into lines of determination. Dom slid one hand up to the side of Billy’s face, and Dom felt floored with the presence of a simple thought appearing in his mind.
“Don’t know why I get to have you,” Dom gasped as Billy pushed into him. “I’m so fucking lucky,” he hissed when Billy gave another thrust. Billy shook his head and kissed Dom hard, hands curling against Dom’s shoulders, rhythm never faltering.
“No luckier than I am,” Billy contradicted. Dom’s eyes fluttered, completely absorbed in the words. He let out a loud groan and arched as he came. Dom slumped onto the bed, happily accepting the kiss that Billy pressed against his forehead. Dom craned his neck upwards to kiss Billy on the lips, and pulled away with his eyes closed – oblivious to the rest of the world. Dom bit his lip as he felt a rush of adrenaline course through him as he watched Billy getting up.
“Shower?” Dom asked lazily. Billy caught Dom’s hand and dragged him out of bed. He then took control of both of their bodies, all the way into the bathroom.
“Can you turn the water on?” Billy requested as he dug out a second towel. Dom gave a drawn out groan of laziness.
“Does that mean I have to do work?” Dom whinged.
“Yes,” Billy retorted, and gave Dom a look of very little patience as he keened and whimpered. “It’s only turning the tap!” Billy rolled his eyes and reached over to do it himself. Dom gave a pleased grin at getting his way. As the steam began to rise from the hot water, Dom held Billy closely.
“Now shower,” Dom grunted in true Tarzan fashion.
“Shower,” Billy confirmed.
Ever since the break-up, Orlando had noticed that Elijah had taken it upon himself to care for him.
No one really understood why he did it exactly – or maybe the no one in question was really just Orlando. There seemed to be a collective ‘as long as it isn’t me’ from everyone except for Dom. The sole reason that Dom wasn’t taking care of Orlando was because he was too busy shooting his latest movie. At least, that was the reason Dom gave him. So, the task had fallen to a willing Elijah – and if Orlando had been alert and non-depressed enough to care, he’d make a comment to discourage the way Elijah rifled through papers filled the vital statistics of potential matches late at night in his living room.
Billy and Dom were juggling when they walked into the room. With the assorted costumes, party hats and streamers, the party had taken on the distinct atmosphere of a circus, and Viggo was poised to snap a picture of that. Orlando entered with a wary glance; unsure as to whether he had fallen asleep on Elijah’s arm on the way there.
“Do you see…?” Orlando began in a low voice.
“Circus!” Elijah chirped with a giddy Frodo-laugh. Orlando nodded slowly while Elijah guided him to a couch. Orlando gave a weary nod of thanks before Elijah made his way off into the crowd.
If Orlando was going to be honest, he would have flat-out, straight up admitted to absolutely not wanting to be there at all – however selfish that was. In his mind, there was nothing more alluring than his (empty) bed at home, with its welcoming sheets and his trusty pillow that never left him. No matter the night or day, his pillow was there.
He let out a tired groan as he slumped a little further in the seat, noticing Elijah with some guy in the distance out of the corner of his eye. Elijah whispered things into his ear and guided him through the crowd to Orlando’s side. Orlando listlessly wondered if he had met him before, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember his name or bring himself to care.
“Hi,” he was greeted.
“Hello,” Orlando mumbled, barely attempting a smile while keeping his eyes trained forward.
“Elijah told me about you.” The blonde sounded enthusiastic. Orlando pitied him, and simultaneously made a mental note to yell at Elijah for this later. Orlando gave a smile, feeling distracted as ever before turning to deal with the stranger. “He said you were a Capricorn,” the man murmured, pitching his voice lower and raising a suggestive eyebrow. “I’m Aaron, by the way.” He held out one hand.
Orlando hesitated a moment before mentally reminding himself not to be extremely rude. He shook Aaron’s hand – however limply – and turned a little so that conversation could take place. Orlando prayed that the conversation would be short.
“I’m Orlando,” he said, “and I am a Capricorn. Look, I don’t know what Elijah told you…”
“It’s okay,” Aaron interrupted with a bright smile – a thousand kilowatts of pure energy – and Orlando felt a little flustered at receiving so much attention from someone whose only desire was to hook up. “I’m just looking for something…” He paused and laughed a little. “Well, quick!”
Orlando did not completely reject the idea at first, wondering if perhaps the pursuit of something quick would do him good. He looked into Aaron’s desperately earnest blue eyes and closed his own for a moment. When he did so, all he could think was the same thing over and over again. SeanSeanSean. He had answered his own question. He opened his eyes and gave an apologetic look.
“I’m still getting over this guy,” Orlando began, “and I just don’t think…I mean, I don’t really feel that I can…”
“Oh,” Aaron’s mouth dropped a little before he recovered and closed his jaw. Orlando opened his mouth to say something else, but thought better of it. Instead, he simply winced a little. “I see.” Aaron nodded, looking slightly dejected, but not angry.
“I’m really very sorry.” Orlando felt guilt gnaw at him and he decided to speak, if only to ease the situation. “I’m just really not ready. I shouldn’t even be here, and Elijah most definitely should not have led you to believe I was ready for anything.”
“He does like to rush into things,” Aaron responded mildly, still appearing to be a little hurt from the rejection. He stood up, shook Orlando’s hand one more time and left without an actual goodbye.
“I’m going to kill him,” Orlando muttered.
“Kill who?” a new, chipper voice asked him as another body – a more hyperactive body – moved into the space beside Orlando. Orlando rolled his eyes at Dom, feeling about a million years old, before he forced himself to look at Dom – because of course it had to be Dom, and of course he had to be in a perfectly perfect mood. “Me?”
‘If you keep this up,’ Orlando thought.
“What’s going on?” Dom went on, a bright smile plastered on his face, showing no signs whatsoever of disappearing to Orlando’s immense disappointment.
Orlando felt weighed down. He considered his symptoms that were so obvious that even he had noticed them (the lethargy, the numbness, the unwillingness to do anything) and concluded he was most likely suffering from some form of depression. Surprise, surprise. Yet, there was really nothing he wanted to do about it. He turned to Dom, who was looking revoltingly enthusiastic. Dom had that look on his face, the one that suggested that he was determined to be happy and helpful and so annoying that Orlando would want to choke him into unconsciousness within minutes. He realized somewhere deep within himself that it wasn’t really fair to be angry with Dom just for being happy, but that didn’t change anything. He resisted the urge to glare at Dom.
“Dom, please don’t…” Orlando began.
“Come on, man! There’s plenty to be happy for! Did you see that guy who was with Elijah? I think he had his eye on you, and I bet you that he’s a devil in the sack,” Dom teased wickedly, waggling his eyebrows.
Orlando felt a pressure pushing against his chest and threatening to leave a mild ache when Dom just wouldn’t stop. He felt the air around him getting thin – or rather, he was just getting dizzy – because no matter how much he tried to make the panic and the pain go away with deep breaths, it wouldn’t disappear.
“Dom, would you fucking stop!” Orlando snapped a little too loudly. The people around them shifted a little, a few actually halting their own conversations, maybe in an attempt to eavesdrop. Across the room, Viggo, Billy, and Elijah all turned toward the couch where Dom and Orlando were sitting, their expressions ranging from curious to concerned. “I don’t need this,” Orlando hissed in a quieter voice.
“It’s been two months,” Dom said seriously, “and you are depressed.” Every word was slow, and trickled into Orlando’s ears with brutal honesty. “We thought that you would be fine with Elijah taking care of you, but there has been absolutely no change. We’re worried, all right?” Orlando turned away, refusing to look at Dom.
Dom sighed in frustration.
“I guess you just don’t care,” Dom muttered before vacating the seat. Orlando didn’t move an inch until Dom was finally out of sight; he just kept staring straight forward. He crossed his arms and slunk down into the seat once he was alone, wishing to disappear.
And no one bothered him or sat in the seat beside him for the rest of the night.
tbc
Pairing: Bean/Orlando, Dom/Billy
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine, never happened.
Summary: Orlando's life goes through quite a bit in the course of twelve months.
Notes: So, thanks to
captnobvious and beizy for hand-holding in the early days and to shaenie who completely ripped the first draft of this apart. Many thanks. Couldn't have done it without you. Previous parts can be found here.October 20th
“Are you going to shower?” Billy stuck his head out of the bathroom to ask Dom, who was paging through the phone book, and searching for Sean’s number. Dom figured that he could at least call Sean and tell him to be kind to Orlando. Dom shot Billy a blank look. “What?” Billy questioned with an innocent look.
“You’re not showering now, are you?” Dom gave him a doubtful expression. Billy turned to look into the bathroom. When confronted with a blank look, Dom hung up the phone and stalked over to Billy. “We haven’t…”
“Yeah?” Billy prodded.
“…you know.” Dom raised his eyebrows provocatively.
“Fucked?” Billy filled in with an amused smirk.
“That’s a word for it,” Dom agreed, nodding.
“So we have not fucked…” Billy continued.
“In over two days,” Dom responded, forcing a terribly serious look on his face. A smirk was threatening to appear on Billy’s lips, but Billy bested it, and set a serious and contemplative look on his face. He made a show of very deliberately thinking about Dom’s pained words. “Two days,” Dom repeated, holding up two fingers, as though Billy required a physical representation of the number two in order to fully appreciate its significance.
“Two, you say?” Billy repeated sounding awed.
“I believe we had an agreement,” Dom said, and nodded, pressing his lips together. Billy tapped one finger against his chin. He smirked in devilish delight as he did so. “When the entire Orlando situation was through with…we signed on it.”
“Please don’t get out the,” Billy bit his lip hard and averted his gaze as he continued, “Mutual Agreement of Pleasant Physical Intimacy Sans-Nuptial Alliance,” he pleaded with only mild frustration in his voice.
“Then cite it,” Dom demanded, and stood proudly.
“I, William Boyd,” Billy began to speak.
“And I, Dominic Monaghan,” Dom broke in, resting his right hand at a patriotic angle just above his heart in honour of Elijah. For a moment, he wished they had even made a flag for their independent republic of sweet hobbit love.
“Do solemnly swear to have wild, sweaty sex at least once every two days,” they finished simultaneously. Billy cracked up long before Dom gave in to the laughter. He pulled Billy into his arms.
“Turn off the shower,” he murmured into Billy’s ear. “We’ve got at least two hours until we have to go to Viggo’s.” Billy nodded slowly, as though he were trapped in molasses. He made his way to the washroom and back. In the interim, Dom took it upon himself to light a single candle.
Dom turned around and showed off the very lonely candle that stood there to receive only a dubious expression on Billy’s face. Dom stood behind it, and the light flickered on his face, creating artistic shadows that played around and danced over his features.
“One candle?” Billy sounded as though he might laugh at any given minute.
“It adds to the mood,” Dom responded defensively, sheltering the candle with his hands. Billy shook his head and closed the distance between them to take Dom’s hand. Billy pulled him away from the candle. “Forget the candle?” Dom asked.
“I want you,” Billy confided quietly to Dom, tugging at Dom’s shirt and pulling it off.
Billy tossed it off to the side of the candle preventing any housefires, which would definitely put a damper on their mood. Dom gave a toothy grin as his fingers worked to unbuckle Billy’s belt. He put his potential-cowboy talents to good work, reeling Billy closer to him and pushing their chests together.
“I claim you-” Dom murmured as he tilted his head to the side slightly. He lazily kissed Billy’s lips while lingering there for a moment just past teasing, “-in the name of Brandy Hall.”
“Good,” Billy growled, and slipped his tongue into of Dom’s mouth. “Because you know what they say.” Billy pulled away from Dom when they were both a little breathless, and Dom watched with want as Billy licked his lips.
Dom gave him a grin, and bit his lip. His eyes shone with mischief and supreme anticipation of what was to come. He couldn’t quite explain it, but ever since the incident with Orlando, every night together seemed better, seemed more intimate. It was something to do with how close he came to losing Billy, and how he never wanted to let himself forget how that fact. He willed every night to be the best it possibly could, and the result was something close to divine.
“What do they say?” Dom asked in a faint echo of his normal speaking voice.
“Hobbits who play together make sweet love together,” Billy announced. His face softened with a smile and it made Dom’s stomach flip-flop. Dom was ready with a comeback, but Billy plunged in for a second round of battling tongues before Dom could retort. One of Billy’s hands reached up, and began to grab roughly at bits of Dom’s hair, while the other made its’ trailway south and into Dom’s pants, inching them down.
Dom thrust his hips forward. He pulled a little harder at the leather belt and brought Billy closer. While Billy worked to get Dom’s jeans off, Dom’s tongue found its way to Billy’s neck and licked from the base all the way up – running right over the Adam’s apple.
Dom dropped the leather belt when Billy’s hand found its way inside Dom’s boxer-briefs and began to nimbly play with Dom’s balls. Dom felt himself go a little crazy, and his back stiffened when Billy’s nails grazed over his cock.
“Bedroom,” Dom requested hoarsely.
“Okay,” Billy said simply.
Billy led them both into the dark bedroom, opening the curtains so that the light of dusk spilled into the room and lit it in that perfect crimson light. It was enough to paint their skin into the colour of dim fire.
“How long now?” Billy questioned, before he threw a glance over to the clock. Dom didn’t even glance at the digital numbers once, his attention solely on Billy. “I don’t want to be late.”
“You won’t be,” Dom promised, nipping at Billy’s bare shoulder. He pulled the tank top off of Billy and ran his palms down Billy’s torso, feeling Billy’s nipples growing hard. “I promise.” He used his teeth on Billy’s right nipple – repeating the process until it stood to attention. Dom pushed Billy onto the bed and came crashing down atop him, straddling his hips.
Billy helped Dom shove his trousers down and off, leaving them tangled around Dom’s ankles until he kicked them into a pile at the end of the bed. Billy craned his head upwards, nuzzling against Dom’s stubble before they kissed again. With the help of Billy’s fumbling and frenetic fingers, the rest of their clothing was quickly discarded.
“The drawer,” Dom advised Billy as he splayed out on the bed sheets, stretching out his arms and taking in the sight of Billy’s arse as he got up and walked to the table. Dom’s head turned. His vision blurred a little. He knew his eyes were glazing over as he lost track of the end goal and could only focus on Billy’s backside.
Billy turned, and Dom was presented with an even better view when Billy walked back to the bed. Billy knelt down got a look of contemplation on his face as he looked at Dom – not saying a word – before he gently positioned Dom so that he was flat on his back, legs still splayed.
“You,” Billy whispered, and slipped two fingers inside of Dom’s writhing body. Dom hissed at the temperature before calming himself into stillness. “It’s your turn.” He smiled against Dom’s cheek and curled his hands around Dom’s hips, positioning himself.
Dom’s eyes seemed to burn, a combination of solemnity and the setting sun. He barely blinked as he watched Billy’s face, set into lines of determination. Dom slid one hand up to the side of Billy’s face, and Dom felt floored with the presence of a simple thought appearing in his mind.
“Don’t know why I get to have you,” Dom gasped as Billy pushed into him. “I’m so fucking lucky,” he hissed when Billy gave another thrust. Billy shook his head and kissed Dom hard, hands curling against Dom’s shoulders, rhythm never faltering.
“No luckier than I am,” Billy contradicted. Dom’s eyes fluttered, completely absorbed in the words. He let out a loud groan and arched as he came. Dom slumped onto the bed, happily accepting the kiss that Billy pressed against his forehead. Dom craned his neck upwards to kiss Billy on the lips, and pulled away with his eyes closed – oblivious to the rest of the world. Dom bit his lip as he felt a rush of adrenaline course through him as he watched Billy getting up.
“Shower?” Dom asked lazily. Billy caught Dom’s hand and dragged him out of bed. He then took control of both of their bodies, all the way into the bathroom.
“Can you turn the water on?” Billy requested as he dug out a second towel. Dom gave a drawn out groan of laziness.
“Does that mean I have to do work?” Dom whinged.
“Yes,” Billy retorted, and gave Dom a look of very little patience as he keened and whimpered. “It’s only turning the tap!” Billy rolled his eyes and reached over to do it himself. Dom gave a pleased grin at getting his way. As the steam began to rise from the hot water, Dom held Billy closely.
“Now shower,” Dom grunted in true Tarzan fashion.
“Shower,” Billy confirmed.
Ever since the break-up, Orlando had noticed that Elijah had taken it upon himself to care for him.
No one really understood why he did it exactly – or maybe the no one in question was really just Orlando. There seemed to be a collective ‘as long as it isn’t me’ from everyone except for Dom. The sole reason that Dom wasn’t taking care of Orlando was because he was too busy shooting his latest movie. At least, that was the reason Dom gave him. So, the task had fallen to a willing Elijah – and if Orlando had been alert and non-depressed enough to care, he’d make a comment to discourage the way Elijah rifled through papers filled the vital statistics of potential matches late at night in his living room.
Billy and Dom were juggling when they walked into the room. With the assorted costumes, party hats and streamers, the party had taken on the distinct atmosphere of a circus, and Viggo was poised to snap a picture of that. Orlando entered with a wary glance; unsure as to whether he had fallen asleep on Elijah’s arm on the way there.
“Do you see…?” Orlando began in a low voice.
“Circus!” Elijah chirped with a giddy Frodo-laugh. Orlando nodded slowly while Elijah guided him to a couch. Orlando gave a weary nod of thanks before Elijah made his way off into the crowd.
If Orlando was going to be honest, he would have flat-out, straight up admitted to absolutely not wanting to be there at all – however selfish that was. In his mind, there was nothing more alluring than his (empty) bed at home, with its welcoming sheets and his trusty pillow that never left him. No matter the night or day, his pillow was there.
He let out a tired groan as he slumped a little further in the seat, noticing Elijah with some guy in the distance out of the corner of his eye. Elijah whispered things into his ear and guided him through the crowd to Orlando’s side. Orlando listlessly wondered if he had met him before, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember his name or bring himself to care.
“Hi,” he was greeted.
“Hello,” Orlando mumbled, barely attempting a smile while keeping his eyes trained forward.
“Elijah told me about you.” The blonde sounded enthusiastic. Orlando pitied him, and simultaneously made a mental note to yell at Elijah for this later. Orlando gave a smile, feeling distracted as ever before turning to deal with the stranger. “He said you were a Capricorn,” the man murmured, pitching his voice lower and raising a suggestive eyebrow. “I’m Aaron, by the way.” He held out one hand.
Orlando hesitated a moment before mentally reminding himself not to be extremely rude. He shook Aaron’s hand – however limply – and turned a little so that conversation could take place. Orlando prayed that the conversation would be short.
“I’m Orlando,” he said, “and I am a Capricorn. Look, I don’t know what Elijah told you…”
“It’s okay,” Aaron interrupted with a bright smile – a thousand kilowatts of pure energy – and Orlando felt a little flustered at receiving so much attention from someone whose only desire was to hook up. “I’m just looking for something…” He paused and laughed a little. “Well, quick!”
Orlando did not completely reject the idea at first, wondering if perhaps the pursuit of something quick would do him good. He looked into Aaron’s desperately earnest blue eyes and closed his own for a moment. When he did so, all he could think was the same thing over and over again. SeanSeanSean. He had answered his own question. He opened his eyes and gave an apologetic look.
“I’m still getting over this guy,” Orlando began, “and I just don’t think…I mean, I don’t really feel that I can…”
“Oh,” Aaron’s mouth dropped a little before he recovered and closed his jaw. Orlando opened his mouth to say something else, but thought better of it. Instead, he simply winced a little. “I see.” Aaron nodded, looking slightly dejected, but not angry.
“I’m really very sorry.” Orlando felt guilt gnaw at him and he decided to speak, if only to ease the situation. “I’m just really not ready. I shouldn’t even be here, and Elijah most definitely should not have led you to believe I was ready for anything.”
“He does like to rush into things,” Aaron responded mildly, still appearing to be a little hurt from the rejection. He stood up, shook Orlando’s hand one more time and left without an actual goodbye.
“I’m going to kill him,” Orlando muttered.
“Kill who?” a new, chipper voice asked him as another body – a more hyperactive body – moved into the space beside Orlando. Orlando rolled his eyes at Dom, feeling about a million years old, before he forced himself to look at Dom – because of course it had to be Dom, and of course he had to be in a perfectly perfect mood. “Me?”
‘If you keep this up,’ Orlando thought.
“What’s going on?” Dom went on, a bright smile plastered on his face, showing no signs whatsoever of disappearing to Orlando’s immense disappointment.
Orlando felt weighed down. He considered his symptoms that were so obvious that even he had noticed them (the lethargy, the numbness, the unwillingness to do anything) and concluded he was most likely suffering from some form of depression. Surprise, surprise. Yet, there was really nothing he wanted to do about it. He turned to Dom, who was looking revoltingly enthusiastic. Dom had that look on his face, the one that suggested that he was determined to be happy and helpful and so annoying that Orlando would want to choke him into unconsciousness within minutes. He realized somewhere deep within himself that it wasn’t really fair to be angry with Dom just for being happy, but that didn’t change anything. He resisted the urge to glare at Dom.
“Dom, please don’t…” Orlando began.
“Come on, man! There’s plenty to be happy for! Did you see that guy who was with Elijah? I think he had his eye on you, and I bet you that he’s a devil in the sack,” Dom teased wickedly, waggling his eyebrows.
Orlando felt a pressure pushing against his chest and threatening to leave a mild ache when Dom just wouldn’t stop. He felt the air around him getting thin – or rather, he was just getting dizzy – because no matter how much he tried to make the panic and the pain go away with deep breaths, it wouldn’t disappear.
“Dom, would you fucking stop!” Orlando snapped a little too loudly. The people around them shifted a little, a few actually halting their own conversations, maybe in an attempt to eavesdrop. Across the room, Viggo, Billy, and Elijah all turned toward the couch where Dom and Orlando were sitting, their expressions ranging from curious to concerned. “I don’t need this,” Orlando hissed in a quieter voice.
“It’s been two months,” Dom said seriously, “and you are depressed.” Every word was slow, and trickled into Orlando’s ears with brutal honesty. “We thought that you would be fine with Elijah taking care of you, but there has been absolutely no change. We’re worried, all right?” Orlando turned away, refusing to look at Dom.
Dom sighed in frustration.
“I guess you just don’t care,” Dom muttered before vacating the seat. Orlando didn’t move an inch until Dom was finally out of sight; he just kept staring straight forward. He crossed his arms and slunk down into the seat once he was alone, wishing to disappear.
And no one bothered him or sat in the seat beside him for the rest of the night.
tbc
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Loving this!
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