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fellowshippers2005-03-23 10:42 pm
saklani2.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-03-23 10:42 pm
NEW: Always Darkest 2/30 (Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Elijah) [NC-17]
Title: Always Darkest
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Lij RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Elijah and Sean Astin share one night and then must deal with the consequences.
Author's Notes: This is one of a multitude of long, complex fictions that Wushu and I have been writing together. Basically, this is unbetaed as neither of us have time to beta this one and our regular beta readers want to kill us. We have four other fictions with them, so this one has to go out raw. We apologize for any errors, of which there are probably quite a few. Please ignore them!
Elijah giggled softly, laying on the bed on his stomach, letting his head fall over the edge and looking under the bed, careful not to lay over where Viggo was, "What's wrong Vig?"
"I think my pants snagged on something," Viggo said calmly. "Can you unhook them before I bare my ass to the world?'
"Um... ok..." Elijah wriggled off the bed and slid under it easily, "Now don't you accuse me of molesting you now..." And he started running his hands over the back of Viggo's legs and his ass searching for the snag. "Ahhh! You're belt is caught on some sort of hook." Un-catching it Elijah suggested, "I'd recommend going forward Vig, not backing out, you're sure to get caught on it again."
"Forward will take me into the wall," Viggo said with a slight grumble. He tried to crawl a bit sideways and out the other side, but then swore under his breath. "Elijah, I'm stuck again. Why did you shove this thing so far back here?"
"I didn't Vig... I only pushed it as far as my arm... Maybe it got pushed deeper by someone vacuuming or something?" Elijah had started to crawl out from under the bed but he wriggled back unhooking Viggo after a moment's fumbling, getting a rather nice, in unintended feel of Viggo's ass. Finally he held onto the hook with one hand and placed the other on Viggo's back to guide him, "Slide back slowly?"
Inching along, Viggo dragged himself out from under the bed, pulling along the CD case. He paused after he finally emerged and looked up at Elijah with definite amusement. "So, tell me, am I still nice and firm back there?"
Elijah giggled a little before he nodded rather solemnly, "It felt that way to me at least. You know... for an old man... you don't look it."
"An old man," Viggo said slowly, enunciating every word with his wicked tongue. His eyebrows slip up just slightly, but that was the only warning gave before pouncing at Elijah.
Elijah squealed loudly enough to be heard down the hall and scrambled out of Viggo's way, darting to the side and then around the lounge chair, looking at Viggo, trying to judge where he was going to attack next, "It's not like you're my age Vig... I mean... it was a compliment and all!!"
On his feet in a smooth movement, Viggo watched the cowering man with cunning eyes. He feinted to the left and then dived to the right, hoping to catch Elijah by surprise. "Old man, am I!?"
Elijah almost was, just managing to redirect his lunge away from Viggo's finger tips, back peddling quickly, not realizing how close he was to the wall, "Older than me, that's all!! Older than me?" His tone was placating.
"Hmmm," Viggo rumbled. He stopped and regarded Elijah for a moment, before sighing very slightly. "I suppose there is no way I can dispute that statement." He walked back to the case, opening it up and starting to manhandle Elijah's CDs.
Elijah almost flew across the room, grabbing Viggo's hands and stopping him, "With love Viggo!!! Some of this stuff is impossible to get any more! Only handle them with love!!!"
Twisting his hands away neatly, Viggo caught Elijah around the waist and gave his pert ass two nice spanks. "Older than you I may be, but old I am not!"
Elijah gasped and his eyes opened wide, looking up at Viggo with an astounded expression that quickly turned to a soft whimper and as Elijah's eyes dropped to the floor just a hint of pained embarrassment, but his tone was lightly playful as he spoke, "Note to self, don't call Viggo old."
Noting the reaction, Viggo gently released him. "Sorry, got a little carried away there." He brushed back a strand of gold-brown hair and sighed. "I'm not really vain, but when a man starts finding gray in his hair, he gets a little touchy."
Elijah nodded but didn't look up, "It's ok Vig... and I'll remember, promise." Elijah turned away, using the excuse of looking around the room for any missed belongings, "I think we've got everything?""
The suitcase closed and latched with a little click under Viggo's hands. He hefted the larger one, pretending to stagger at the weight and then led the way to the door. "Shall we go back to my bedroom then?" he asked in a mock seductive tone.
Elijah picked up the smaller one, looking once more around the room before walking over to the door, "Only if you promise to keep your not old dirty hands off me." And he grinned up at Viggo, "Lets go feed you, you're getting frisky Viggy."
"Hmph." Wearing his best offended look, Viggo marched down the hallway with Elijah's bag. When Billy and Dom suddenly emerged from their room, they nearly got bowled over by the larger man. He merely grinned an answer to their protests and questions, taking Elijah's case into his room without a backward glance.
Elijah waved to his fellow hobbits with his free hand, "If you need me I'll be here until we leave for the ranch." Elijah blew them each a kiss before he stepped into Viggo's room and the door closed behind him.
Viggo laughter echoed off the walls as he set Elijah's case down. "Why Doodle, are you trying to get them all worked up? You just know the hobbit jungle tom toms will be blazing now."
Elijah didn't say anything as he put the case full of CD's down carefully, "I wasn't thinking about it honest... but hell... it's not like they aren't going to notice that I'm sleeping here now... if they have a problem... well then I'll just suggest that Dom and Bills finally admit they have been a couple since they first met."
"I don't think it will be a problem for them," Viggo said, picking up the phone to call room service. "Want anything to eat or drink? Speak now or forever hold your stomach."
"Um... Can I have a milkshake, chocolate? And a banana?" Elijah looked appealingly at Viggo for a few moments before lowering himself slowly onto the bed, then turning onto his side and looking at Viggo.
"Hi there, I want to order room service.... yeah... thanks... that's right... I want a steak, medium-rare with mashed potatoes, peas, and a side salad with ranch... oh, yeah that's fine... no, I also want a chocolate milkshake, a Coke and a banana.... no, a banana... like monkeys eat... monkeys... " Viggo began to make some monkey noises into the phone. "That's right... cash... thank you." He hung up and flopped beside Elijah. "It will be about half an hour."
Elijah looks at Viggo, his eyes showing his amusement, "They didn't know what a banana was??"
"Apparently, they do not get guests who order a single banana," Viggo said with a twist of his mouth. "They kept offering me banana splits or banana muffins... I'm still not sure what you're going to end up with." He rolled on his side and offered an arm to Elijah.
"Gee... I never knew getting a piece of fruit could be a problem." And he rolled into Viggo's offered embrace, confessing softly, "I am very tried."
"I know," Viggo said, cradling him gently. "Get some sleep until they bring the food." He rubbed the back of Elijah's head and sang softly to him in Dutch.
After a few moments of listening to Viggo singing Elijah asked softly, "Vig... um... could... could you sing...." Elijah blushed a little, "In elvish?"
"Anírach únad, Egor gurth hen, Han cenin vi chen lín, Egor ú-erin le devi, Tellin men achae, Brennin men anann, Rago! Ú-erich leithio, Ú-erich o nin gwanno," Viggo sang softly into Elijah's ear, picking a song from the end of Return of the King. His soft voice caresses the elvish tongue he speaks so well now.
Elijah sighed softly, eyes drifting closed to Viggo's singing, just the sound of the elvish enough to relax Elijah after all the times he had asked Viggo to sing for him. By the time Viggo had come to the last word Elijah had drifted into a light doze.
Holding him, Viggo reached up and flicked off the lights. He hoped the dinner might arrive a bit late, wanting Elijah to sleep. His stomach grumbled a protest at the idea of supper not coming soon and a second later, someone knocked at the door. Scooting back, Viggo set Elijah on the pillows and went to fetch the tray. He carried it to a small table and set to down softly, not switching on any lights. He hoped Elijah remained asleep, as he started to munch his steak.
"You can turn the lights on if you want Viggo." Elijah's voice was heavy with sleep, it was obvious that although he wasn't all sleep, he wasn't awake either. "I don't mind." Rolling so he was facing where Viggo was sitting Elijah yawned and snuggled into the bed, eyes opening slightly.
The light over the table flickered on, and Viggo wolfed down a few more bites of dinner, before placing the lid back on. He picked up Elijah's melting milkshake and walked over to him. He reached down and gently propped Elijah up, leaning him against a broad shoulder. "Drink this."
Elijah lent against Viggo happily, taking a long swallow from his drink, "Vig, why don't you bring the tray here, eat on the bed, and I'll snuggle up behind you when I'm done?'
"All right," Viggo said. Instead, he dragged the table over and settled it beside the bed. He alternated between making sure Elijah ate his banana and milkshake and devouring his own dinner. "Finish that," he scolded softly when Elijah tried to put the banana down half eaten.
"Bossy." Elijah took another bite of the banana and washed it down with half of what was left of the milk shake. He did it again, finishing the drink and most of the banana, "I don't want any more..." putting the last bite of the banana down Elijah curled up behind Viggo and sighs, snuggling into his back.
Viggo finished his food quickly and then hopped up. The table slid easily back into its proper place, and the tray with dirty dishes soon found itself outside the door. Viggo grabbed a pair or boxer from his suitcase and went into the bathroom. A few moments later, he emerged, freshly shaved, washed and wearing only the shorts. He lifted Elijah up to pull down the covers and then set him back down. Scrambling in himself, Viggo allowed Elijah to make himself comfortable.
Elijah sat up and looked at Viggo, "You know... that looks really nice..." And giving Viggo a smile he got up, rummaging in his suitcase for a pair of clean boxers himself and his toiletries Elijah went into the bathroom. It took him a little longer to wash up and all than Viggo and Elijah was almost asleep on his feet as he stumbled back into the bedroom, heading for the bed, blinking in the way that told all who knew him Elijah had taken his contacts out.
Viggo rose out of the bed and steered him into it. Feeling like a father again for a moment, he fluffed Elijah's pillows and then tucked him in the bed. The mattress groaned once as he climbed back in and took his place next to the younger man. He thought of the last time he shared a bed with someone... Orlando... over a year ago now."
Elijah curled into Viggo in a way a child never would an adult, although Elijah had no intentions except to be held through the night. With his face tucked in under Viggo's chin Elijah whispered softly, "Thank you."
Without being bidden to, Viggo began to sing again, but this time, he sang the song Frodo overheard Aragorn sing. The words flow out of his mouth as though it were not almost three years since he first sang them for Elijah, "Tinúviel elvanui Elleth alfirin edhelhael O hon ring finnil fuinui A renc gelebrin thiliol..."
Elijah's sigh was long and slow, as if the weight of the world had been taken from his shoulders, and his body relaxed against Viggo, the tension draining out of him as Elijah feel into a deep sleep.
**********
Sean stared into the morning, holding his cell phone in one hand. He debated calling several times, before giving in and ringing the hotel. When he asked for Elijah's room, the clerk informed him Elijah had checked out. He swore under his breath and dialed Elijah's cell instead, hoping Dominic had gotten his facts wrong for once.
Elijah's sleep had been deep and peaceful, and the only thing that could have woken him short of the fire alarm was ringing. A flailing hand fell on the phone and Elijah's eyes were still closed as he flipped the phone open and groaned into it, "'Lo?"
Next to him, Viggo groaned and rolled over, away from the annoying phone and voice.
"Lij?" Sean asked softly. "Is that you? Are you all right?"
It took Elijah several moments to identify the voice, although his mouth didn't seem to care, as it was answering the question without consultation from his brain, "We sleep..." He was about to hang up when he his brain managed to scream loud enough and he asked suddenly, "Sean?"
"We?" Sean asked in instant alarm. "Elijah, who is we?"
Elijah sat up abruptly, pulling fully away from Viggo as his suddenly awake mind and body thought about Sean's question. Deciding not to answer Elijah asked instead, "What's wrong Sean?"
The phone buzzed momentarily as Sean tried to put his thoughts in order. "Elijah... Dom called me. He told me about you and- and Viggo. I just wanted to make sure everything was all right with you. Don't make a mistake... I mean... Viggo's a very attractive man, but you're vulnerable right now. Please don't... do something you'll regret." His traitorous mind added something else.
Elijah's head turned slowly until he was looking at Viggo, who was a little blurry even at this close range, asking rather disbelievingly, "Are you warning me off getting involved with Viggo?"
"I'm asking you to think carefully before you start a relationship right now," Sean said, his heart beginning to pound painfully in his chest. He wanted to believe, when he started this call that he cared for nothing but Elijah's welfare. Being truthful with himself, he realized the idea of Elijah wrapped in Viggo's strong arms made him near sick with jealousy.
A part of Elijah was completely baffled at the conversation, another part wanted to tell Sean it was really none of Sean's business, so go back to your wife, and another wondered if he was imagining the slightly jealous note in Sean's voice, "I..." Elijah shook his head before his lips quirked into an unpleasant smile, "I will think carefully before I start a relationship." He adds, "With Viggo."
On the other side, Viggo rolled back and muttered, "Tell whoever it is to take two aspirin and call tomorrow."
Sean heard the note of anger and contempt in Elijah's voice. The phone in his hand shook as his fingers trembled. "I was supposed to be your best friend... the one you could turn to when things got rough or when you needed advice. I can't be that anymore... I can't be anything anymore for you... and you asked for it yourself... I'm sorry for bothering you." He hung up, the click very final in his ear.
Elijah cursed and got out of the bed, walking out onto the balcony of Viggo's room, moving more by touch than sight before speed dialing Sean's number, his shoulders dropping.
The phone in Sean's hand rang, but he did not answer. The caller ID flashed on the screen, over and over, before he turned off the phone's power button and went to sit on one of the chairs of his porch.
Elijah's shoulder's drooped even further as Elijah sat down, curling up into as small a ball as he could, laying his cheek on his knees, trying to control the shaking of his body.
After a moment, Viggo got up, grabbing a blanket as he went and followed Elijah out. He lay the blanket over Elijah's huddled form and asked, "Want to tell me?"
"Sean. He..." Elijah curled tighter into himself, emotionally if not physically, "He things I should think carefully before getting into a relationship with you... and... Then he said that he can't be anything for me... and... And now he won't answer when I call... if rang at first... but now it's going right to message."
A deep part of Viggo sighed for the pain he could see coursing through Elijah. He sat down and wrapped a strong arm around the thin shoulders. "I'm sorry, Elijah. What would you say to him, if you could?'
"The funny thing? I don't even know what I'd say," Elijah sighs deeply, leaning against Viggo, although his tightly curled body did not relax, "I..." He sighs again, "I don't know." His laugh was bitter and very, very old.
Viggo kissed the top of his head and cradled him. "After Orlando split with me, I did not... could not talk to him for a long time. When we got back for reshoots and faced each other again, its like my tongue turned to molten lava. Everything wanted to come out angry and bitter. So, I held my tongue and let time do its work on me. We still are not as close as friends as we were once, but we can talk again."
"I... I didn't speak very nicely to him... I... part of me wanted to tell him unless he wanted it me it was none of his business who I chose to get involved with... but... another... he... he sounded jealous... or maybe that's just wistful hearing... The... the rest of me was just, is just, confused." Elijah pressed his face into the crook of Viggo's neck, "I still love him."
The urge to hold Elijah made Viggo scoop him up and settle him back on his lap. He nestled Elijah close, trying to comfort him by just being there. He thought of his first few days away from Orlando, how important knowing Bean was there had been. Of course, he could not sit very well in Bean's lap, but the silent comfort of his friend meant a lot. Viggo hoped he could give the same to Elijah.
A few hot tears fell onto Viggo's neck, but Elijah didn't dissolve into the tears that were choking up his throat too much for him to keep talking. So he just hid himself within Viggo's protective embrace and left the warm, caring presence soothe him on some deep level Elijah couldn't name.
Viggo slowly became aware of two pairs of curious eyes peering at them from the other balcony. He turned his head slowly, just in time to catch a flash of Dom and Billy running back into Dom's room. "We should go in, Elijah. You need to get some more rest and this is not the best place to sleep."
Elijah didn't answer but he looped his arms around Viggo's neck and held onto Viggo tightly, not wanting to say what he wanted, but making it very obvious he wanted to be carried. It was more truthful to say he didn't want to leave Viggo embrace for anything, but that means that Viggo would have to carry him so....
Without a word, Viggo stood and walked back into the room, cradling Elijah in his arms. He set the man out on the bed, repeating the careful covering and tucking in. His own body ached in a few places from sitting outside so long, so he stopped and stretched before climbing back in the bed. Twisting to face Elijah, he said gently, "Our plane leaves tomorrow. I was planning on saying goodbye to everyone before we left, but if you want, we can stay in here today."
"Maybe.... maybe a little more sleep? And then... then see people? I would like to... Say goodbye and all, we may not have many more gatherings of so many of us again."
"Think you'll be up to it, Elijah? You already know what Dom thinks about us." Viggo curled a protective arm around his companion.
Elijah curled closer to Viggo and sighs softly, before saying, "Don't care... do you? I... you'll might get your own phone call." Elijah sighs, "If you don't want the rumour mill going on about us, I can stay here."
Viggo tilted up his chin and smiled into the blue eyes. "I would be flattered to have them think you might want an old man like me," he said, teasingly using Elijah's words from before. "I just don't want you subjected to anything you do not feel up to dealing with."
"If I want to go, I'll let you know." Elijah placed a soft hand on each of Viggo's cheeks and said very clearly, "You're not old Vig."
"I know," Viggo said, "but its nice to have you say it." He pressed a kiss to Elijah's palm and then curled around him, letting Elijah snuggle, as he wanted.
And Elijah wanted, snuggling in close and tight, closing his eyes and pressing his face into Viggo's neck with a sigh of relaxation as he felt his muscles starting to unclench.
Easing the muscles more, Viggo rubbed at his back. "Sleep now, Elijah, and when you wake up, I shall give you a back rub to die for. Something to help you relax before we face the others."
"How about you give me one when we get back and I really need it to relax after we've faced them?" his voice was a little muffled but Viggo's neck.
"I can do that," Viggo said agreeably. He reached out and switched off the bedside lamp, settling his head into the pillows. "Let's get some more sleep... that always helps."
"Mmmmhmmm..." Elijah's sound of agreement drifted off as he fell back to sleep/
**********
The house telephone went off in Viggo's ear like a sickening screech from the depths of Hell. He grabbed for the damned thing and only succeeded in knocking it on the floor, where it continued its infernal racket. Finally retrieving it, he lifted the receiver to his ear and said, "Hello?" The blast of Dominic's friendly, but leering, voice telling him to get his randy ass out of bed so they could have some time with their fellow hobbit set Viggo's teeth on edge. He grumbled at them about consideration and decency and letting a person sleep, until Dom pointed out it was now 2:30pm. "Argh," Viggo said. "Fine, we'll be out in about a hour." He hung up on the protest and put a pillow over his head.
"You know Vig... is doesn't matter if we go out today or not... we've been branded already... I wonder when you'll get your call." Elijah didn't open his eyes as he spoke, but from the clearness of his speech it was clear that he'd been awake for a while.
"You think Sean will call," Viggo said, his voice muffled by the pillow, but the words were a statement, not a question.
"No... I didn't mean Beanie..." Elijah sighs softly before commenting, "You are not the only one who gets to hear confessions while having your shoulder watered."
"I meant Astin," Viggo said, taking the pillow off. "Bean will know what's going on, somehow. The man always does." He turned to regard Elijah with a raised eyebrow. "Orlando... has no interest in me."
Elijah kept his silence, not rising to the bait and slipped out of the bed, "I call first shower." Flashing a grin at Viggo he started looking for clothes, "Tell me what you want for breakfast? Lunch? Brunch! And I'll order while you're in the shower, that way we should get it when you're about done."
Viggo narrowed his eyes slightly and then shrugged it off. He had no reason to believe Orlando would call now, anymore than he had for the past year. His mind and stomach debated food and voted for nothing. "I'm not really hungry. I think I'll do some stretching until you're done." He slid off the bed and headed for the outside again, snagging a pair of sweats.
Elijah headed into the bathroom, letting himself linger in a long hot shower before finishing all the other required things to face the day. Such as drying and dressing. It was a good half an hour later when he walked out of the bathroom, looking and feeling better, "Bathroom's free Strider."
On the balcony, Viggo stood in only his sweats, stretching his upper body slowly and powerfully. "All right. I'll just be a few more minutes." His leg muscles sighed happily, as he stretched first one calf and then the other.
"Is all that because you were all cramped about me last night?" Elijah was leaning against the door, watching Viggo rather assessing.
"I always do this," Viggo said, his voice liquid, smooth and strong. He half turned, working on his abdominal muscles now. Each one rippled in turn with his movements, as smooth as his voice. "It soothes me mentally and spiritually, as well as physically."
"Yoga?" Elijah's head cocked to the side and he grinned a little, remembering something a very drunken Orli had blurted once, 'And he can hold off for hours when he wants to.'
"I do that, too, though mostly during the evenings, before I go to bed," Viggo said. "This is just a stretch." His arms rested by his sides, and then his body shook from head to toe once. "All right, time for a shower. Order yourself something to eat, but not too much, the other hobbits are expecting us."
"I'm not really hungry Vig... so unless you want me to get something for you..." Elijah gave Viggo a bright smile, trying to get Viggo to leave the subject alone.
"No, I'm fine," Viggo said, confused by Elijah's smiles and behavior. He walked into the bathroom and gave himself a cursory and efficient shower, shave and dressing. He walked back out in about twenty minutes, ready to face the day, "All right, here I am..."
Elijah was very pleased when Viggo didn't comment on his lack of hunger. He flipped through the TV stations when Vig was showering, watching some local news and just waiting time as he waited. When Viggo came out of the bathroom Elijah smiled at him slightly, standing, "So... where are we meeting them?"
"Curiously enough, the bar," Viggo said, He clasped a hand over his stomach. "I do not think I can manage more than a beer or two. I think they said the elf would be joining us later, too. And possibly a dwarf, but you know how Jon is...." His hand lifted toward Elijah, a silent response to offer support as they walked to face their somewhat bouncy friends.
Elijah took Viggo's hand gratefully, "But... with his skin being all settled now, maybe he'll come and say goodbye?" Elijah looked hopeful, he liked John a lot.
Long, skilled fingers squeezed Elijah's own gently, before clasping them. "I hope so, too. He made a good companion, even if he did tower over all the non-dwarfs. Only Christopher Lee would have made a more imposing dwarf." Viggo laughed easily, pushing the elevator button for the lobby. "Time for game faces."
Elijah nodded, hesitating for a long moment before his face became what he'd dubbed 'Happy Lij' and he headed into the bar with Viggo at his side. He spent the time diverting hobbit pranks, verbally sparing with John, a lot of fun, and sticking so close to Viggo's side Orli started sending him very questioning looks, and he didn't eat, drinking only water. He managed about two hours before nudging Viggo lightly and looking over at the door questioningly.
For his part, Viggo out dueled Dom in a war of words that left the slightly inebriated man giggling and practically rolling on the floor, managed to avoid a bucket of ice that Billy attempted to dump over his head, managed a serious conversation of about forty words with John and wondered why Orlando kept staring. When Elijah nudged him, after being glued to his side for most of the time, he made their excuses and headed for the door.
Elijah's smile and cheerful expression melted away as soon as their room door closed behind them and he let go of Viggo's hand only to throw himself on the bed and curls around a pillow. He could still feel the eyes that bored into them until the lift doors had closed and he just knew that they were the topic of conversation in the bar right now.
Sighing, Viggo set the door key on the night stand. He lay down beside Elijah, enfolding him in a tight embrace that further tucked him into the pillow. His lips rested lightly near Elijah's nape, blowing warm, soothing breaths over the skin.
"I can almost hear them talking about us." Elijah gave a strange little laugh, "I didn't realize how bad it was going to be, I really didn't." And he sighed again, the bad part wasn't the gossip and attention he'd garnered with Viggo, it was the deep depression he felt with his friends, knowing that Sean wasn't there because of him, missing Sean as much as he felt guilty. It was a bad combination.
"That's not what's bothering you," Viggo said. He reared back up on his knees, sinking down on his haunches. His hands rubbed themselves together quickly. When they touched Elijah's bare back, under his shirt, the skin transferred warmth. Each finger moved knowingly, searching out the tense muscles. .
Elijah gives a soft whimper and starts relaxing slowly, uncurling a little as he relaxed more and more, "No... It's really not." He sighs long and deeply before saying, "It's my fault Sean didn't stay for this today."
"He does not escape the blame," Viggo said, working a knot deep between Elijah's shoulder blades. "You might have tempted him, but he gave in to that temptation, despite the cost. Don't torture yourself by trying to carry all the guilt, Elijah. Trust me, there is seldom a situation where all the blame lies with one person."
"Doesn't matter how true or not that is Vig, I still... I still feel what I feel." Elijah sighed, "He never would have said anything... and there is no way he would have done anything... you said it yourself, that look is impossible to resist." And he sighed again, shaking his head, "It's mostly my fault Vig."
Viggo dug into the knot that renewed itself in Elijah's back. "Relax for me, Elijah. Take deep breaths. This only works if you help me release the tension." He kneaded for a few more moments in silence and then said, "I wish I could take that pain away for you, but its something only time can heal. Hell, sometimes, when I wake up in the middle of the night, I still reach over for somebody who will never be there again."
"You really love him don't you?" Elijah's voice was sad, but more a melancholy kind of sadness, not the deep biting sorrow he was doing his best to push away from him.
"I did," Viggo said, "just like I loved Exene. In the middle of the night, your brain and body forgets that they are not going to be there anymore." His shoulders lift in a shrug. "They'll always be a part of me, but the pain of the loss... its faded over time." A series of short growls escape as he attacked a vicious knot with his hands.
Elijah matched each growl with a whimper even as he scraped the plan before it was formed, "Ouch! That... oooooh... Don't hurts Doodle!"
The growls turn feral as the knot refused to ease. Viggo switched his hands for his elbow, digging in until the knot practically dissolved under the pressure. "Doodle needs this. Doodle is tense to the point of insanity."
Elijah's whimper was pained as he bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood, "Ow?" It was a tiny whimper of a word.
"Sorry." Without a thought, Viggo pressed a kiss to the red mark on Elijah's back. "Let me soothe away the wound." He rubbed tenderly there now. Easing the pain into a sedate tingling. "Better?"
"A... a little." With the pain going away Elijah started truly relaxing, the muscles melting under Viggo's working fingers as Elijah deliberately blanked his mind, using some of the tricks he'd learnt on his very first set.
As he worked on Elijah's back, Viggo thought of all the people he had given massages to over the years. Once, during a rather desperate drought for money, he took a job at a massage parlor for a few interesting weeks. He felt Elijah sag beneath him and eased up on the massage, stopping when all the muscles were relaxed. "There."
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Codes: Viggo/Elijah, some Astin/Lij RPS
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these men, or anything else I mention here. I am not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And I am NOT them nor is what I put down here real. Thank you.
Summary: Elijah and Sean Astin share one night and then must deal with the consequences.
Author's Notes: This is one of a multitude of long, complex fictions that Wushu and I have been writing together. Basically, this is unbetaed as neither of us have time to beta this one and our regular beta readers want to kill us. We have four other fictions with them, so this one has to go out raw. We apologize for any errors, of which there are probably quite a few. Please ignore them!
Elijah giggled softly, laying on the bed on his stomach, letting his head fall over the edge and looking under the bed, careful not to lay over where Viggo was, "What's wrong Vig?"
"I think my pants snagged on something," Viggo said calmly. "Can you unhook them before I bare my ass to the world?'
"Um... ok..." Elijah wriggled off the bed and slid under it easily, "Now don't you accuse me of molesting you now..." And he started running his hands over the back of Viggo's legs and his ass searching for the snag. "Ahhh! You're belt is caught on some sort of hook." Un-catching it Elijah suggested, "I'd recommend going forward Vig, not backing out, you're sure to get caught on it again."
"Forward will take me into the wall," Viggo said with a slight grumble. He tried to crawl a bit sideways and out the other side, but then swore under his breath. "Elijah, I'm stuck again. Why did you shove this thing so far back here?"
"I didn't Vig... I only pushed it as far as my arm... Maybe it got pushed deeper by someone vacuuming or something?" Elijah had started to crawl out from under the bed but he wriggled back unhooking Viggo after a moment's fumbling, getting a rather nice, in unintended feel of Viggo's ass. Finally he held onto the hook with one hand and placed the other on Viggo's back to guide him, "Slide back slowly?"
Inching along, Viggo dragged himself out from under the bed, pulling along the CD case. He paused after he finally emerged and looked up at Elijah with definite amusement. "So, tell me, am I still nice and firm back there?"
Elijah giggled a little before he nodded rather solemnly, "It felt that way to me at least. You know... for an old man... you don't look it."
"An old man," Viggo said slowly, enunciating every word with his wicked tongue. His eyebrows slip up just slightly, but that was the only warning gave before pouncing at Elijah.
Elijah squealed loudly enough to be heard down the hall and scrambled out of Viggo's way, darting to the side and then around the lounge chair, looking at Viggo, trying to judge where he was going to attack next, "It's not like you're my age Vig... I mean... it was a compliment and all!!"
On his feet in a smooth movement, Viggo watched the cowering man with cunning eyes. He feinted to the left and then dived to the right, hoping to catch Elijah by surprise. "Old man, am I!?"
Elijah almost was, just managing to redirect his lunge away from Viggo's finger tips, back peddling quickly, not realizing how close he was to the wall, "Older than me, that's all!! Older than me?" His tone was placating.
"Hmmm," Viggo rumbled. He stopped and regarded Elijah for a moment, before sighing very slightly. "I suppose there is no way I can dispute that statement." He walked back to the case, opening it up and starting to manhandle Elijah's CDs.
Elijah almost flew across the room, grabbing Viggo's hands and stopping him, "With love Viggo!!! Some of this stuff is impossible to get any more! Only handle them with love!!!"
Twisting his hands away neatly, Viggo caught Elijah around the waist and gave his pert ass two nice spanks. "Older than you I may be, but old I am not!"
Elijah gasped and his eyes opened wide, looking up at Viggo with an astounded expression that quickly turned to a soft whimper and as Elijah's eyes dropped to the floor just a hint of pained embarrassment, but his tone was lightly playful as he spoke, "Note to self, don't call Viggo old."
Noting the reaction, Viggo gently released him. "Sorry, got a little carried away there." He brushed back a strand of gold-brown hair and sighed. "I'm not really vain, but when a man starts finding gray in his hair, he gets a little touchy."
Elijah nodded but didn't look up, "It's ok Vig... and I'll remember, promise." Elijah turned away, using the excuse of looking around the room for any missed belongings, "I think we've got everything?""
The suitcase closed and latched with a little click under Viggo's hands. He hefted the larger one, pretending to stagger at the weight and then led the way to the door. "Shall we go back to my bedroom then?" he asked in a mock seductive tone.
Elijah picked up the smaller one, looking once more around the room before walking over to the door, "Only if you promise to keep your not old dirty hands off me." And he grinned up at Viggo, "Lets go feed you, you're getting frisky Viggy."
"Hmph." Wearing his best offended look, Viggo marched down the hallway with Elijah's bag. When Billy and Dom suddenly emerged from their room, they nearly got bowled over by the larger man. He merely grinned an answer to their protests and questions, taking Elijah's case into his room without a backward glance.
Elijah waved to his fellow hobbits with his free hand, "If you need me I'll be here until we leave for the ranch." Elijah blew them each a kiss before he stepped into Viggo's room and the door closed behind him.
Viggo laughter echoed off the walls as he set Elijah's case down. "Why Doodle, are you trying to get them all worked up? You just know the hobbit jungle tom toms will be blazing now."
Elijah didn't say anything as he put the case full of CD's down carefully, "I wasn't thinking about it honest... but hell... it's not like they aren't going to notice that I'm sleeping here now... if they have a problem... well then I'll just suggest that Dom and Bills finally admit they have been a couple since they first met."
"I don't think it will be a problem for them," Viggo said, picking up the phone to call room service. "Want anything to eat or drink? Speak now or forever hold your stomach."
"Um... Can I have a milkshake, chocolate? And a banana?" Elijah looked appealingly at Viggo for a few moments before lowering himself slowly onto the bed, then turning onto his side and looking at Viggo.
"Hi there, I want to order room service.... yeah... thanks... that's right... I want a steak, medium-rare with mashed potatoes, peas, and a side salad with ranch... oh, yeah that's fine... no, I also want a chocolate milkshake, a Coke and a banana.... no, a banana... like monkeys eat... monkeys... " Viggo began to make some monkey noises into the phone. "That's right... cash... thank you." He hung up and flopped beside Elijah. "It will be about half an hour."
Elijah looks at Viggo, his eyes showing his amusement, "They didn't know what a banana was??"
"Apparently, they do not get guests who order a single banana," Viggo said with a twist of his mouth. "They kept offering me banana splits or banana muffins... I'm still not sure what you're going to end up with." He rolled on his side and offered an arm to Elijah.
"Gee... I never knew getting a piece of fruit could be a problem." And he rolled into Viggo's offered embrace, confessing softly, "I am very tried."
"I know," Viggo said, cradling him gently. "Get some sleep until they bring the food." He rubbed the back of Elijah's head and sang softly to him in Dutch.
After a few moments of listening to Viggo singing Elijah asked softly, "Vig... um... could... could you sing...." Elijah blushed a little, "In elvish?"
"Anírach únad, Egor gurth hen, Han cenin vi chen lín, Egor ú-erin le devi, Tellin men achae, Brennin men anann, Rago! Ú-erich leithio, Ú-erich o nin gwanno," Viggo sang softly into Elijah's ear, picking a song from the end of Return of the King. His soft voice caresses the elvish tongue he speaks so well now.
Elijah sighed softly, eyes drifting closed to Viggo's singing, just the sound of the elvish enough to relax Elijah after all the times he had asked Viggo to sing for him. By the time Viggo had come to the last word Elijah had drifted into a light doze.
Holding him, Viggo reached up and flicked off the lights. He hoped the dinner might arrive a bit late, wanting Elijah to sleep. His stomach grumbled a protest at the idea of supper not coming soon and a second later, someone knocked at the door. Scooting back, Viggo set Elijah on the pillows and went to fetch the tray. He carried it to a small table and set to down softly, not switching on any lights. He hoped Elijah remained asleep, as he started to munch his steak.
"You can turn the lights on if you want Viggo." Elijah's voice was heavy with sleep, it was obvious that although he wasn't all sleep, he wasn't awake either. "I don't mind." Rolling so he was facing where Viggo was sitting Elijah yawned and snuggled into the bed, eyes opening slightly.
The light over the table flickered on, and Viggo wolfed down a few more bites of dinner, before placing the lid back on. He picked up Elijah's melting milkshake and walked over to him. He reached down and gently propped Elijah up, leaning him against a broad shoulder. "Drink this."
Elijah lent against Viggo happily, taking a long swallow from his drink, "Vig, why don't you bring the tray here, eat on the bed, and I'll snuggle up behind you when I'm done?'
"All right," Viggo said. Instead, he dragged the table over and settled it beside the bed. He alternated between making sure Elijah ate his banana and milkshake and devouring his own dinner. "Finish that," he scolded softly when Elijah tried to put the banana down half eaten.
"Bossy." Elijah took another bite of the banana and washed it down with half of what was left of the milk shake. He did it again, finishing the drink and most of the banana, "I don't want any more..." putting the last bite of the banana down Elijah curled up behind Viggo and sighs, snuggling into his back.
Viggo finished his food quickly and then hopped up. The table slid easily back into its proper place, and the tray with dirty dishes soon found itself outside the door. Viggo grabbed a pair or boxer from his suitcase and went into the bathroom. A few moments later, he emerged, freshly shaved, washed and wearing only the shorts. He lifted Elijah up to pull down the covers and then set him back down. Scrambling in himself, Viggo allowed Elijah to make himself comfortable.
Elijah sat up and looked at Viggo, "You know... that looks really nice..." And giving Viggo a smile he got up, rummaging in his suitcase for a pair of clean boxers himself and his toiletries Elijah went into the bathroom. It took him a little longer to wash up and all than Viggo and Elijah was almost asleep on his feet as he stumbled back into the bedroom, heading for the bed, blinking in the way that told all who knew him Elijah had taken his contacts out.
Viggo rose out of the bed and steered him into it. Feeling like a father again for a moment, he fluffed Elijah's pillows and then tucked him in the bed. The mattress groaned once as he climbed back in and took his place next to the younger man. He thought of the last time he shared a bed with someone... Orlando... over a year ago now."
Elijah curled into Viggo in a way a child never would an adult, although Elijah had no intentions except to be held through the night. With his face tucked in under Viggo's chin Elijah whispered softly, "Thank you."
Without being bidden to, Viggo began to sing again, but this time, he sang the song Frodo overheard Aragorn sing. The words flow out of his mouth as though it were not almost three years since he first sang them for Elijah, "Tinúviel elvanui Elleth alfirin edhelhael O hon ring finnil fuinui A renc gelebrin thiliol..."
Elijah's sigh was long and slow, as if the weight of the world had been taken from his shoulders, and his body relaxed against Viggo, the tension draining out of him as Elijah feel into a deep sleep.
**********
Sean stared into the morning, holding his cell phone in one hand. He debated calling several times, before giving in and ringing the hotel. When he asked for Elijah's room, the clerk informed him Elijah had checked out. He swore under his breath and dialed Elijah's cell instead, hoping Dominic had gotten his facts wrong for once.
Elijah's sleep had been deep and peaceful, and the only thing that could have woken him short of the fire alarm was ringing. A flailing hand fell on the phone and Elijah's eyes were still closed as he flipped the phone open and groaned into it, "'Lo?"
Next to him, Viggo groaned and rolled over, away from the annoying phone and voice.
"Lij?" Sean asked softly. "Is that you? Are you all right?"
It took Elijah several moments to identify the voice, although his mouth didn't seem to care, as it was answering the question without consultation from his brain, "We sleep..." He was about to hang up when he his brain managed to scream loud enough and he asked suddenly, "Sean?"
"We?" Sean asked in instant alarm. "Elijah, who is we?"
Elijah sat up abruptly, pulling fully away from Viggo as his suddenly awake mind and body thought about Sean's question. Deciding not to answer Elijah asked instead, "What's wrong Sean?"
The phone buzzed momentarily as Sean tried to put his thoughts in order. "Elijah... Dom called me. He told me about you and- and Viggo. I just wanted to make sure everything was all right with you. Don't make a mistake... I mean... Viggo's a very attractive man, but you're vulnerable right now. Please don't... do something you'll regret." His traitorous mind added something else.
Elijah's head turned slowly until he was looking at Viggo, who was a little blurry even at this close range, asking rather disbelievingly, "Are you warning me off getting involved with Viggo?"
"I'm asking you to think carefully before you start a relationship right now," Sean said, his heart beginning to pound painfully in his chest. He wanted to believe, when he started this call that he cared for nothing but Elijah's welfare. Being truthful with himself, he realized the idea of Elijah wrapped in Viggo's strong arms made him near sick with jealousy.
A part of Elijah was completely baffled at the conversation, another part wanted to tell Sean it was really none of Sean's business, so go back to your wife, and another wondered if he was imagining the slightly jealous note in Sean's voice, "I..." Elijah shook his head before his lips quirked into an unpleasant smile, "I will think carefully before I start a relationship." He adds, "With Viggo."
On the other side, Viggo rolled back and muttered, "Tell whoever it is to take two aspirin and call tomorrow."
Sean heard the note of anger and contempt in Elijah's voice. The phone in his hand shook as his fingers trembled. "I was supposed to be your best friend... the one you could turn to when things got rough or when you needed advice. I can't be that anymore... I can't be anything anymore for you... and you asked for it yourself... I'm sorry for bothering you." He hung up, the click very final in his ear.
Elijah cursed and got out of the bed, walking out onto the balcony of Viggo's room, moving more by touch than sight before speed dialing Sean's number, his shoulders dropping.
The phone in Sean's hand rang, but he did not answer. The caller ID flashed on the screen, over and over, before he turned off the phone's power button and went to sit on one of the chairs of his porch.
Elijah's shoulder's drooped even further as Elijah sat down, curling up into as small a ball as he could, laying his cheek on his knees, trying to control the shaking of his body.
After a moment, Viggo got up, grabbing a blanket as he went and followed Elijah out. He lay the blanket over Elijah's huddled form and asked, "Want to tell me?"
"Sean. He..." Elijah curled tighter into himself, emotionally if not physically, "He things I should think carefully before getting into a relationship with you... and... Then he said that he can't be anything for me... and... And now he won't answer when I call... if rang at first... but now it's going right to message."
A deep part of Viggo sighed for the pain he could see coursing through Elijah. He sat down and wrapped a strong arm around the thin shoulders. "I'm sorry, Elijah. What would you say to him, if you could?'
"The funny thing? I don't even know what I'd say," Elijah sighs deeply, leaning against Viggo, although his tightly curled body did not relax, "I..." He sighs again, "I don't know." His laugh was bitter and very, very old.
Viggo kissed the top of his head and cradled him. "After Orlando split with me, I did not... could not talk to him for a long time. When we got back for reshoots and faced each other again, its like my tongue turned to molten lava. Everything wanted to come out angry and bitter. So, I held my tongue and let time do its work on me. We still are not as close as friends as we were once, but we can talk again."
"I... I didn't speak very nicely to him... I... part of me wanted to tell him unless he wanted it me it was none of his business who I chose to get involved with... but... another... he... he sounded jealous... or maybe that's just wistful hearing... The... the rest of me was just, is just, confused." Elijah pressed his face into the crook of Viggo's neck, "I still love him."
The urge to hold Elijah made Viggo scoop him up and settle him back on his lap. He nestled Elijah close, trying to comfort him by just being there. He thought of his first few days away from Orlando, how important knowing Bean was there had been. Of course, he could not sit very well in Bean's lap, but the silent comfort of his friend meant a lot. Viggo hoped he could give the same to Elijah.
A few hot tears fell onto Viggo's neck, but Elijah didn't dissolve into the tears that were choking up his throat too much for him to keep talking. So he just hid himself within Viggo's protective embrace and left the warm, caring presence soothe him on some deep level Elijah couldn't name.
Viggo slowly became aware of two pairs of curious eyes peering at them from the other balcony. He turned his head slowly, just in time to catch a flash of Dom and Billy running back into Dom's room. "We should go in, Elijah. You need to get some more rest and this is not the best place to sleep."
Elijah didn't answer but he looped his arms around Viggo's neck and held onto Viggo tightly, not wanting to say what he wanted, but making it very obvious he wanted to be carried. It was more truthful to say he didn't want to leave Viggo embrace for anything, but that means that Viggo would have to carry him so....
Without a word, Viggo stood and walked back into the room, cradling Elijah in his arms. He set the man out on the bed, repeating the careful covering and tucking in. His own body ached in a few places from sitting outside so long, so he stopped and stretched before climbing back in the bed. Twisting to face Elijah, he said gently, "Our plane leaves tomorrow. I was planning on saying goodbye to everyone before we left, but if you want, we can stay in here today."
"Maybe.... maybe a little more sleep? And then... then see people? I would like to... Say goodbye and all, we may not have many more gatherings of so many of us again."
"Think you'll be up to it, Elijah? You already know what Dom thinks about us." Viggo curled a protective arm around his companion.
Elijah curled closer to Viggo and sighs softly, before saying, "Don't care... do you? I... you'll might get your own phone call." Elijah sighs, "If you don't want the rumour mill going on about us, I can stay here."
Viggo tilted up his chin and smiled into the blue eyes. "I would be flattered to have them think you might want an old man like me," he said, teasingly using Elijah's words from before. "I just don't want you subjected to anything you do not feel up to dealing with."
"If I want to go, I'll let you know." Elijah placed a soft hand on each of Viggo's cheeks and said very clearly, "You're not old Vig."
"I know," Viggo said, "but its nice to have you say it." He pressed a kiss to Elijah's palm and then curled around him, letting Elijah snuggle, as he wanted.
And Elijah wanted, snuggling in close and tight, closing his eyes and pressing his face into Viggo's neck with a sigh of relaxation as he felt his muscles starting to unclench.
Easing the muscles more, Viggo rubbed at his back. "Sleep now, Elijah, and when you wake up, I shall give you a back rub to die for. Something to help you relax before we face the others."
"How about you give me one when we get back and I really need it to relax after we've faced them?" his voice was a little muffled but Viggo's neck.
"I can do that," Viggo said agreeably. He reached out and switched off the bedside lamp, settling his head into the pillows. "Let's get some more sleep... that always helps."
"Mmmmhmmm..." Elijah's sound of agreement drifted off as he fell back to sleep/
**********
The house telephone went off in Viggo's ear like a sickening screech from the depths of Hell. He grabbed for the damned thing and only succeeded in knocking it on the floor, where it continued its infernal racket. Finally retrieving it, he lifted the receiver to his ear and said, "Hello?" The blast of Dominic's friendly, but leering, voice telling him to get his randy ass out of bed so they could have some time with their fellow hobbit set Viggo's teeth on edge. He grumbled at them about consideration and decency and letting a person sleep, until Dom pointed out it was now 2:30pm. "Argh," Viggo said. "Fine, we'll be out in about a hour." He hung up on the protest and put a pillow over his head.
"You know Vig... is doesn't matter if we go out today or not... we've been branded already... I wonder when you'll get your call." Elijah didn't open his eyes as he spoke, but from the clearness of his speech it was clear that he'd been awake for a while.
"You think Sean will call," Viggo said, his voice muffled by the pillow, but the words were a statement, not a question.
"No... I didn't mean Beanie..." Elijah sighs softly before commenting, "You are not the only one who gets to hear confessions while having your shoulder watered."
"I meant Astin," Viggo said, taking the pillow off. "Bean will know what's going on, somehow. The man always does." He turned to regard Elijah with a raised eyebrow. "Orlando... has no interest in me."
Elijah kept his silence, not rising to the bait and slipped out of the bed, "I call first shower." Flashing a grin at Viggo he started looking for clothes, "Tell me what you want for breakfast? Lunch? Brunch! And I'll order while you're in the shower, that way we should get it when you're about done."
Viggo narrowed his eyes slightly and then shrugged it off. He had no reason to believe Orlando would call now, anymore than he had for the past year. His mind and stomach debated food and voted for nothing. "I'm not really hungry. I think I'll do some stretching until you're done." He slid off the bed and headed for the outside again, snagging a pair of sweats.
Elijah headed into the bathroom, letting himself linger in a long hot shower before finishing all the other required things to face the day. Such as drying and dressing. It was a good half an hour later when he walked out of the bathroom, looking and feeling better, "Bathroom's free Strider."
On the balcony, Viggo stood in only his sweats, stretching his upper body slowly and powerfully. "All right. I'll just be a few more minutes." His leg muscles sighed happily, as he stretched first one calf and then the other.
"Is all that because you were all cramped about me last night?" Elijah was leaning against the door, watching Viggo rather assessing.
"I always do this," Viggo said, his voice liquid, smooth and strong. He half turned, working on his abdominal muscles now. Each one rippled in turn with his movements, as smooth as his voice. "It soothes me mentally and spiritually, as well as physically."
"Yoga?" Elijah's head cocked to the side and he grinned a little, remembering something a very drunken Orli had blurted once, 'And he can hold off for hours when he wants to.'
"I do that, too, though mostly during the evenings, before I go to bed," Viggo said. "This is just a stretch." His arms rested by his sides, and then his body shook from head to toe once. "All right, time for a shower. Order yourself something to eat, but not too much, the other hobbits are expecting us."
"I'm not really hungry Vig... so unless you want me to get something for you..." Elijah gave Viggo a bright smile, trying to get Viggo to leave the subject alone.
"No, I'm fine," Viggo said, confused by Elijah's smiles and behavior. He walked into the bathroom and gave himself a cursory and efficient shower, shave and dressing. He walked back out in about twenty minutes, ready to face the day, "All right, here I am..."
Elijah was very pleased when Viggo didn't comment on his lack of hunger. He flipped through the TV stations when Vig was showering, watching some local news and just waiting time as he waited. When Viggo came out of the bathroom Elijah smiled at him slightly, standing, "So... where are we meeting them?"
"Curiously enough, the bar," Viggo said, He clasped a hand over his stomach. "I do not think I can manage more than a beer or two. I think they said the elf would be joining us later, too. And possibly a dwarf, but you know how Jon is...." His hand lifted toward Elijah, a silent response to offer support as they walked to face their somewhat bouncy friends.
Elijah took Viggo's hand gratefully, "But... with his skin being all settled now, maybe he'll come and say goodbye?" Elijah looked hopeful, he liked John a lot.
Long, skilled fingers squeezed Elijah's own gently, before clasping them. "I hope so, too. He made a good companion, even if he did tower over all the non-dwarfs. Only Christopher Lee would have made a more imposing dwarf." Viggo laughed easily, pushing the elevator button for the lobby. "Time for game faces."
Elijah nodded, hesitating for a long moment before his face became what he'd dubbed 'Happy Lij' and he headed into the bar with Viggo at his side. He spent the time diverting hobbit pranks, verbally sparing with John, a lot of fun, and sticking so close to Viggo's side Orli started sending him very questioning looks, and he didn't eat, drinking only water. He managed about two hours before nudging Viggo lightly and looking over at the door questioningly.
For his part, Viggo out dueled Dom in a war of words that left the slightly inebriated man giggling and practically rolling on the floor, managed to avoid a bucket of ice that Billy attempted to dump over his head, managed a serious conversation of about forty words with John and wondered why Orlando kept staring. When Elijah nudged him, after being glued to his side for most of the time, he made their excuses and headed for the door.
Elijah's smile and cheerful expression melted away as soon as their room door closed behind them and he let go of Viggo's hand only to throw himself on the bed and curls around a pillow. He could still feel the eyes that bored into them until the lift doors had closed and he just knew that they were the topic of conversation in the bar right now.
Sighing, Viggo set the door key on the night stand. He lay down beside Elijah, enfolding him in a tight embrace that further tucked him into the pillow. His lips rested lightly near Elijah's nape, blowing warm, soothing breaths over the skin.
"I can almost hear them talking about us." Elijah gave a strange little laugh, "I didn't realize how bad it was going to be, I really didn't." And he sighed again, the bad part wasn't the gossip and attention he'd garnered with Viggo, it was the deep depression he felt with his friends, knowing that Sean wasn't there because of him, missing Sean as much as he felt guilty. It was a bad combination.
"That's not what's bothering you," Viggo said. He reared back up on his knees, sinking down on his haunches. His hands rubbed themselves together quickly. When they touched Elijah's bare back, under his shirt, the skin transferred warmth. Each finger moved knowingly, searching out the tense muscles. .
Elijah gives a soft whimper and starts relaxing slowly, uncurling a little as he relaxed more and more, "No... It's really not." He sighs long and deeply before saying, "It's my fault Sean didn't stay for this today."
"He does not escape the blame," Viggo said, working a knot deep between Elijah's shoulder blades. "You might have tempted him, but he gave in to that temptation, despite the cost. Don't torture yourself by trying to carry all the guilt, Elijah. Trust me, there is seldom a situation where all the blame lies with one person."
"Doesn't matter how true or not that is Vig, I still... I still feel what I feel." Elijah sighed, "He never would have said anything... and there is no way he would have done anything... you said it yourself, that look is impossible to resist." And he sighed again, shaking his head, "It's mostly my fault Vig."
Viggo dug into the knot that renewed itself in Elijah's back. "Relax for me, Elijah. Take deep breaths. This only works if you help me release the tension." He kneaded for a few more moments in silence and then said, "I wish I could take that pain away for you, but its something only time can heal. Hell, sometimes, when I wake up in the middle of the night, I still reach over for somebody who will never be there again."
"You really love him don't you?" Elijah's voice was sad, but more a melancholy kind of sadness, not the deep biting sorrow he was doing his best to push away from him.
"I did," Viggo said, "just like I loved Exene. In the middle of the night, your brain and body forgets that they are not going to be there anymore." His shoulders lift in a shrug. "They'll always be a part of me, but the pain of the loss... its faded over time." A series of short growls escape as he attacked a vicious knot with his hands.
Elijah matched each growl with a whimper even as he scraped the plan before it was formed, "Ouch! That... oooooh... Don't hurts Doodle!"
The growls turn feral as the knot refused to ease. Viggo switched his hands for his elbow, digging in until the knot practically dissolved under the pressure. "Doodle needs this. Doodle is tense to the point of insanity."
Elijah's whimper was pained as he bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood, "Ow?" It was a tiny whimper of a word.
"Sorry." Without a thought, Viggo pressed a kiss to the red mark on Elijah's back. "Let me soothe away the wound." He rubbed tenderly there now. Easing the pain into a sedate tingling. "Better?"
"A... a little." With the pain going away Elijah started truly relaxing, the muscles melting under Viggo's working fingers as Elijah deliberately blanked his mind, using some of the tricks he'd learnt on his very first set.
As he worked on Elijah's back, Viggo thought of all the people he had given massages to over the years. Once, during a rather desperate drought for money, he took a job at a massage parlor for a few interesting weeks. He felt Elijah sag beneath him and eased up on the massage, stopping when all the muscles were relaxed. "There."