fellowshippers | A Queer Manner of Business

Title: A Queer Manner of Business
Title: A Queer Manner of Business
Author: Q.H
Pairing: Sean/Orli
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sean is business man in the 1880's who takes a chance on a young come-by-chance...
Chapter: 2/3
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: This is purely fiction please do not make any assumptions about the actors based on what you read here.
Author’s Notes: I posted this in my LJ a while ago and it seemed to go down well so I thought I'd share it here too. Enjoy.
For

bluespirit_star because she is wonderful in every way imaginable.
First chapter can be found Here

A Queer Manner of Business

By

Q.H.

Sean woke very suddenly, he didn’t know what had thrown him so violently from his slumber but he was fully awake in an instant. Reaching for Orli he discovered he was also alone. And it was bloody cold. Cursing the winter, he threw back his blankets, grabbing one to wrap around himself, he made for the stairs to look for Orli.
It didn’t take long to find him; he was sat on the floor in front of the quietly dying flames of the fireplace. His hands held up to the little remaining heat, his eyes watching dully and a troubled frown creasing his brow that Sean very much wished to soothe away.
“Throw some more coal on, lad,” he said quietly from the doorway and saw Orlando jump slightly at the sound of his voice.
“It would be unwise to waste expensive fuel this early in the season.”
“It’s not wasted, you’re sat there for the warmth, at least partly for the warmth. Throw some more in, it’ll give you more heat.”
Sean watched as Orlando wearily lifted the shovel from the coal scuttle and threw a few more lumps on the fire. Silence descended between them as Sean watched his lover from his post in the doorway. He watched the way the heavy frown settled on a beautiful face again, watched as shoulders fell dejectedly and proud head bowed in misery.
Sean couldn’t stand it any longer. He moved and sat next to Orlando on the floor, close to the younger man but not touching. Orlando looked at him and offered a smile that quickly grew into genuine affection as he looked properly at Sean.
“Come here,” Orli whispered, “it’s not you, you daft bugger. I’m not regretting a thing, in fact I’m rather looking forward to doing it again.” He snuggled up to his lover, his face buried against Sean’s neck, kissing it carefully and sweetly.
“Then what’s the matter?” Sean was reasonably sure it was Orlando’s family that was troubling him, he would, therefore, just have to make sure that Orli understood that his place was here now, with Sean, forever.
“It’s that letter.” Orlando answered, confirming Sean’s thoughts.
“I don’t want to ever go back there, Sean.”
“I thought we’d decided you weren’t going to, have you changed your mind?”
“No.” Orlando answered immediately, forcefully breaking the hushed, intimate atmosphere they’d created. He looked about him as if he’d interrupted a room full of people, then smiled up at Sean who was currently doing his best to pull Orlando impossibly closer.
“No, I certainly have not changed my mind. In fact what happened tonight has made me more sure than ever of what I have here and how much it’s worth. I’m not leaving, Sean, but…you don’t know my family. This wont be easy.”
“How do you mean?” Sean kissed Orlando’s temple, unable to restrain himself when sat so close.
“They probably wont let me go without a fight-”
“Then we’ll fight and we’ll win because I’m certain of one thing and that is I will never let you go.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, Love.”
“You do that.” Sean replied, ridiculously pleased at the affectionate slip.
“You want to let me in on what I can expect from them and why we may be fighting?”
“I will, I promise. Just not tonight. I’m tired and I’d like to go back to bed.”
”Come on then.” Sean’s lips hovered just a breath away from Orli’s then he leaned in and kissed him, sweet and gentle and oh so promising.

The strong sun of a clear winter morning was filtering through the high windows when Sean was once again jerked from his sleep. This time, however, he awoke with his lips pressed to warm, smooth skin and his arms wrapped around a hard, yet welcoming, body. He had been woken by a pounding on the street door above them and when it sounded again he decided he was going to have to get up. He heard Orlando groan, a small plaintive moan that clearly stated what he thought of Sean’s efforts to move, punctuated by strong hands clamping over his arms, refusing to let him go. Sean smiled into his lover’s hair, kissing his head gently.
“Let me up, lad, there’s someone upstairs.” He said quietly, torn between wanting Orlando to stay and get the rest he needed and wanting him to get up with him just so they could be close.
“Mmmm, what time is it?” The groggy voice came from somewhere in the tangle of blankets that Sean was trying to escape.
“I don’t know, my watch is in my waistcoat.” Sean answered, casting a glance around the room looking for it as he dressed hurriedly.
“Which is where?” Orlando sounded tired, but vaguely amused.
“I don’t know, you took it off. It’s wherever you threw it.”
His only reply was a snort, followed by a yawn. Sean quickly aborted Orlando’s attempt to get up, pushing him gently back down and wrapping the blankets back around him.
“Stay here, you didn’t get much sleep last night.” He pressed a sleepy kiss to warm pliant lips.
“I’ll deal with whatever it is and come back down. Stay.”
Sean heard a small ‘woof’ as he headed for the stairs and turned around to see Orlando, eyes closed, curled in the blankets, with a small grin on his face.
“Good boy.” Sean praised, then slipped up the stairs to stop the fool who was still banging on his door.

“I just don’t understand how you lost a whole cart full of corn sacks.” Sean had spent the last hour desperately trying to understand what had happened to the MacFarlane order and the only thing he now understood is why Orli had been so frustrated yesterday.
The man from haulage, who was probably still smarting from yesterday’s meeting with Orlando, wisely kept his mouth shut. Sean was reasonably sure he was an idiot anyway.
“Here’s what you’re going to do,” Sean explained as patiently as he could manage, “you are going to go back to my warehouse and re-load what you need to complete the MacFarlane order. Then you’re going to deliver it to Mr MacFarlane’s bakery as was arranged. You are going to do this free of charge as compensation for the trouble your stupidity has caused me and then you are to return to your own offices and tell your master to await the bill for the sacks that you bloody fools lost in the first place.” Sean glared at the man, who was twisting his cap so hard in his hands that Sean thought it might rip if he didn’t stop it soon.
“Oh, he’s not going to like that, sir.”
“Then you can tell him that there are other companies that are willing to provide the service he does and they wont lose my bloody products!”
“But-”
“Go and do as I’ve said, I haven’t the time to waste here. Go on, you have your instructions.”
Sean sat at his desk and ignored the stuttering man, he waited for him to realise that he had been effectively dismissed and listened as the, now frantically mumbling man, left the office and slammed the door.
Sean rubbed a weary hand over his eyes, he didn’t feel like he’d really woken up yet and already his head was aching. He closed his eyes and let his head loll backwards as he leaned back in his chair.
Cool, strong fingers rubbed sweet pressured circles over his temples and then carded through his hair.
“Another headache, Love?” Orlando’s whispered voice washed over him in a low trickling of soothing words.
“No, not really.” He was kissed thoroughly, upside down. “I was just sorting out that bloody cock-up from yesterday. It’s done now.”
“The MacFarlane order? Why didn’t you call me, I’d have sorted it.”
“Because you needed the sleep,” Sean sat up and twisted in his chair to better face Orlando, “It’s sorted don’t worry.”
“Are they delivering the order free of charge?”
Sean nodded.
“And we’re sending the bill for the lost sacks to haulage?”
“Yes, I think I should go over and see Jack in the warehouse, let him know that the haulage master - what’s his name?”
“Stacker.”
“That’s it, I can never remember, aye, I’d better go and warn Jack that it’s likely Stacker’ll be over to rant at some point.”
“Alright, I’m going to dash home and get clean clothes, I can meet you there.”
Sean smiled up at him from his chair and reached out to pull Orlando to him, wrapping his arms around his lover’s waist.
“I think you should stay as you are.”
Orlando laughed, looking down at the hastily pulled on trousers and open shirt barely hanging from his shoulders. Sean, wearing a contented grin, nuzzled at the exposed skin, flicking his tongue out to taste him.
“You might, but I don’t think the customers would appreciate doing business with me when I’m not even half dressed. Sean.” His name was a moan as Sean busily nibbled his way down Orli’s side, loving the feel of sensitive skin twitching beneath the gentle nip of his teeth. When he reached the top of Orlando’s trousers he changed direction and worked his way from hip to stomach, licking and sucking as he went, eliciting small gasps from above.
“Sean.”
Orlando’s voice was little more than breath as Sean attacked his fly and without removing the trousers, nuzzled his way further down. The feel of Sean’s tongue laving it’s way down towards his sex and the constrictive brush of the fabric had Orli moaning in no time and the sound only served to spur Sean on as he slipped from his chair onto his knees.
Orlando’s hands were in his hair and on his face, reverent touches that tried not to disturb his course. Sean delved a little lower finding the coarse curl of hair and the heat of Orlando’s arousal. He kissed the cloth away from the skin and slowly, teasingly traced the length of Orlando’s cock with his tongue.
“Sean, god, Sean, please.”
The pleading moan bought a predatory smile to Sean’s face that flicked for the briefest second before he took Orlando into his mouth, opening his throat and taking it all in.
The scream made it all worthwhile.
Sean pulled back, sucking and barely dragging his teeth along sensitised skin before swallowing him again, building a rhythm that Orli unconsciously matched, panting his name. Sean snaked his hands over Orlando’s hips and held him still as his mouth worked over his cock.
Orlando’s hands tightened in his hair and Sean knew he was close, he moaned deep in his throat, sending vibrations through Orli that caused him to rock where he stood.
“Sean, I’m gonna…I’m…Sean!”
Orlando writhed and bucked as Sean swallowed, taking it all down as he came, before releasing him gently.
Orlando dropped to his knees in front of Sean and kissed him hard, tasting himself in Sean’s mouth. Sean went willingly when Orlando pulled him down to the floor, skilled fingers flicked open the buttons on his trousers and a cool hand wrapped around his hardness. Sean had been so turned on by Orli’s wanton moaning of his name that it took only seconds of thrusting into his lover’s hand before he too was lying sated and panting on top of Orli. They exchanged lazy, heart-felt kisses for long moments.
“We should move, love.” Orli purred in Sean’s ear.
“Why? I’m suddenly having a whole new appreciation for this floor.” Sean muttered in between the lingering kisses he was pressing to Orlando’s neck. God, how he loved the sound of that laugh.
“We’re on the office floor, suppose someone came in and found us like this.”
“Aye, you’re right, as usual, lad.” Sean replied not budging an inch.
“Come on.” Orlando laughed and wriggled to get up, he was quickly pinned to the wooden boards by Sean’s contemplative countenance.
“Orlando…”
“What?” He asked, a smile spreading softly across his face as his hand lifted to Sean’s cheek and fingers traced up to his brow. Sean smiled then, wide and carefree.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” Orli grinned, knowing this meant he could now get up he wriggled out from underneath Sean, pressing a kiss to his lips as he went.
“Nah, not possible, lad.”
“’Tis” Orli stood up.
“Not.”
“’Tis.” Sean watched as he unrolled his trousers and stepped back into them.
“Not.”
“’Tis.”
“Not.” He picked himself up off the floor and straightened his own clothing as best he could.
“’Tis.”
“Not.” Sean growled and jumped Orlando before he had chance to reply, stealing his words in a kiss, until all that was left was a moan. They broke apart, smiling helplessly.
“I’d better go and see Jack.” Sean murmured.
“Okay, then go. I’ll see you later.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Alright.”
Orlando leaned over and kissed him once more before Sean left, not trusting himself to stay any longer for fear he would never leave.

“Mr Bean! No Mr Bloom today?” Jack asked as Sean entered the warehouse. Sean smiled at the older man.
“No, not today Jack, he’s at the office.”
“Good, I don’t think we can afford the damages this week.”
Sean laughed and clapped his foreman on the shoulder, the old man had a soft spot for Orli and they all knew it, no matter how he tried to hide it.
“You’re looking particularly grizzly this morning, Old Man, what’s up?” Sean asked as they walked through the warehouse to take their usual position in the middle of the floor, to stand and watch the business all around them.
“I’ve had that bloody idiot, that you sent here, nagging at me for ages about how his boss is going to be unhappy and that he couldn’t believe he had to deliver an order for nothing. And, my personal favourite, if you’d have said one more word to him he’d have taken you out!”
“Stacker’s lad said that?” Sean asked torn between amused and disbelieving.
“Yep, said he could’a, knocked your lights out and he was tempted to but he didn’t want to seriously hurt you.” Jack smiled, which, for him was a sign of hilarity, and Sean couldn’t help but laugh.
“Would that be before or after he nearly burst into tears?” Sean asked, “he was a scrawny little bugger, no nous at all. I’d be offended if it weren’t so daft to even think it.” Sean stood surveying the goings on in his warehouse, contented that everything seemed to be running smoothly. “Actually, it was that I came to speak to you about, just to let you know that Stacker might come in shooting his mouth off and if he does, just direct him to my place, will you?”
“I’ll be glad to Mr Bean, you’re welcome to him. He’s a surly bastard at best and even worse when something, or someone, his irritated him.” He glared at Sean, who just grinned. Sean liked Jack, he was good at his job, ran a strict but happy warehouse and cared about every member of his workforce, from his superiors down to the cats they kept as rat catchers. He also constantly pretended not to, that the rest of them were simply an irritation – he didn’t fool a soul.
A loud crash sounded from somewhere back the way they’d came, followed by a familiar “Sorry, bugger, I’m really sorry.” Sean was hot on Jack’s heels as they ran towards the commotion. A large stack of the metal pans they used for weighing out corn were scattered all over the floor and Orlando was helping a harangued looking man back to his feet. He looked up when they came running.
“I’m sorry Jack, it was my fault, if any of them are broken Sean can stop them out my wages. I wasn’t looking where I was -”
“Well, that’s painfully obvious. Just take him out Mr Bean, get him some reins or something, I can’t stand it! I try and run a tight ship here and this lad is sinking it.”
“I’m really sorry Jack, let me help you - ”
“No! Ee gods, lad, no, don’t help, my nerves can’t stand it.”
“Sean, it’s not funny.” Orlando was actually pouting at him as he sniggered, which made Sean laugh harder,
“Sean.”
Jack cracked his second smile in a day, which was in itself a new record, as Sean wiped his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Orlando, it’s just…that couldn’t have been anyone else. I just…” He dissolved again under Orli’s furious glare.
“Oh, he’s right, lad.” Jack said, wrapping and arm around the young man’s shoulder and steering him very pointedly towards the door, Sean followed them trying to calm himself as he went.
“Jack, you won’t see me again, I won’t come here anymore, on my word.”
“Don’t be so rash, you’re to come here as often as you like, this is a good, solid building manned by a good, solid workforce. You keep us on our toes, we know if we survive a visit from you we can survive anything.”
Orlando groaned and hung his head.
“Ja-ack.”
“Come on, lad.” Sean said taking pity on his lover and replacing Jack’s arm around his shoulders to lead him out of the door.
“Good day, Jack.”
Their only answer was a door slamming closed behind them.
“I don’t know how you get away with it, my lad, if that had been anyone else, including me, Jack would’ve had them hung, drawn and quartered.”
Orlando snorted but fell quiet as they walked back towards the office.

The midday sun was bright, bedded in the opalescent blue shell of the sky, there was a mean bite in the air to remind them that it was winter but it bought with it a calm that Sean hadn’t experienced in a long time. They walked the smooth cobbled street, watching the people pass them by on foot or by carriage, going about their daily business.
“Look at them all, lad.” Sean broke the comfortable silence, “you know, I think I’d stopped seeing them as actual people a long time ago. Faceless, nameless strangers, avoiding the vapid emptiness of life by filling their time buying shoes, or clothes, or walking in the park, or closing one more deal. But, today I can see their faces. That woman over there is smiling: that child is asking questions – all children should ask questions and always get an answer. He’s smiling, look, and they’re laughing. It’s strange,” he said quietly, looking at Orlando to find his steady gaze already watching him, “I think you opened my eyes again, Love.”
Orlando didn’t answer just reached out unobtrusively and took his hand. Squeezing it almost painfully tight then releasing it. They continued to walk, shoulders touching, hands brushing, seeing and appreciating what they had.

They reached the office and stepped inside just as a messenger boy arrived carried a handful of letters for them.
“Post delivery,” He said cheerfully, “even one from out of town today, Mr Bean.”
“Thank you, boy.” Sean took the offered letters and closed the door behind the youngster who was already half way down the road.
“Let me see that.” Orlando held his hand out for the mail.
“Are you expecting anything specific?” Sean asked, sifting through it and passing most of it to Orlando. “Wonder what this one is, London mark on it,” he said, turning it over in his hands.
“Sean, let me see it.”
“Alright, lad, alright. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Just give me a minute…”
Orlando snatched the letter from Sean’s fingers and turned away to rip it open. He swore almost immediately. Sean stood for a couple of seconds waiting to be told what was going on.
“Oh, fuck you, fuck you. You bastard. No, fuck you.” Orlando was swearing at the letter in his hands and shaking his head as if it’s writer could see him.
“How the fuck is he doing this Sean, how did he know I was working here? How does he always find me?”
“Orlando!” Sean stepped towards him and took the letter from numb fingers and unfolding it carefully, he began to read.

Dear Mr Bean,

I understand that you are currently employing my nephew, Orlando Bloom. I am writing to inform you, as one business man to another, that the boy is a liability and will undoubtedly cause you trouble. He has a rather unfortunate history of meddlesome behaviour, having caused much strife and heartache for his family.
We ask for your assistance in his return home where he can be treated accordingly and reintegrated into the family business. Of course, I will be happy to reimburse you for any cost his trouble may have caused or any cost incurred during his transfer back to his family.
We thank you in anticipation of you assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur H. Woodell

Sean finished reading and looked up at Orlando, he was shaking with barely suppressed rage and his eyes were hard, he was wound so tightly that Sean feared he would shatter.
“Who is this man?” Sean asked quietly.
“My uncle.”
“So your parents…?”
“Dead.”
“And now he runs the family business and keeps the family I take it?”
“He extorts my father’s business, running it into the ground and takes all the profits to keep his wife finely dressed and his whores well paid.” Orlando spat, “he was not pleased when he was forced to take me in or when I refused to turn into his whipping boy. I tried to keep my father’s business going, tried to keep it’s respectability but I could do very little without his say so, everything was tied up, legally bound to him. I’m not a liability or a troublemaker, I simply left that place and took my knowledge with me. You see, he was never as clever as his brother, never had my father’s flare for business, something he very kindly passed to me - ”
“You’re not wrong there, lad.”
Orlando managed a brief smile before continuing.
“I took with me my knowledge of the business and knowing how it felt to be envied and despised by my own family and not a damn thing more. I owe him nothing. I won’t go back.”
Orlando stared defiantly at Sean, waiting for him to respond.
“Look, lad - ”
“I won’t fucking go, Sean, I’ll run again first – I swear it!” He yelled, backing away as if Sean’s words were a physical attack.
“Orlando. Shut up and listen to me,” he said quietly, calmly, holding a hand out to Orli.
“You are not to run anywhere. You’re not going anywhere. You said you wanted to stay here, is that still true?”
Orlando nodded stiffly.
“Then you’re not going anywhere, either you can write and tell him that or I will - ”
“It won’t do any good. He’ll come here, he’ll turn up here now that he knows where I am.”
“Will he now?” Sean growled, quite liking the idea that he might be able to face the bastard and look him in the eye.
Sean, I’ve found the life I’ve always wanted, right here with you and I’ll do anything to keep it. I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not going to, lad, I love you too damn much to let you go now. Let him come, he’ll find nothing of his here.”
Orlando stepped towards him, a small smile lifting his face. He went straight into Sean’s arms and kissed him swiftly.
“I think we should lock the door and go down stairs.”
“Aye, lad, I like the way you think.” Sean caught his lover’s mouth once more for a taste of what was to come.

To be continued…

.xx.

A Queer Manner of Business

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