NEW: The Great Outdoors 1/2 (Viggo/Elijah) [NC-17]

[saklani2.livejournal.com]

Title: The Great Outdoors
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Beta: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Codes: Viggo/Elijah
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: We don’t know them. Damn! We don’t own them. Double damn. We’ve just pretending and making them do what we all wish they really were doing.
Summary: Viggo tries to share his love of the outdoors with Elijah, but Elijah just wants to share the love.
Author's Notes: This is a little ficcy that Ems and I wrote to be in the Mundane series, but it got out of hand and grew into something that stands on its own. Happy Birthday to my co-writer [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]!!! I love you, babe!



Viggo drove the truck up a long, narrow road, his eyes and face lit up with excitement. He barely noticed the perilous drop-off on the passenger side as he babbled away at his lover, “I’m so glad you decided to accompany me on this trip, Elijah. I just know you’ll love camping! There’s this spot we’re heading toward at the ridge, where you can see for hundreds of miles in all directions!”

The truck navigated the sharp turns, a lovely river roaring far below them in its canyon. A few hardy trees clung to the sides of the ravine, but for the most part, only bare rock surrounded them.

Elijah looked at the drop-off, at the bleak rocky all around and nodded slowly. “Um... hundreds of miles, huh?” He could not help but wonder if there was anything within a hundred miles worth looking at.

“And nothing in view but ridge after ridge of mountains... there’s nothing like the feeling of complete solitude.” Viggo sighed contentedly, his hands already adjusting to take a hairpin turn that easily could have sent them plunging into the vast unknown.

“Ridge after ridge of mountains and complete solitude...” Elijah repeated the words softly, thinking to himself that this sounded worse and worse every moment.

“We’ll pitch our tent, unroll our sleeping bags, set up a campfire and be perfectly content for the whole week.” Viggo sounded happy as a clam, whatever that meant, his entire demeanor radiating contentment. The truck knocked a rock over the edge, where it bounced a few times off the ledges, before hurtling for the water. A lone crow circled overhead, surveying the truck with a disdainful eye and continuing on.

“With the rocks and the... the solitude?” Elijah did sound unsure, at least to his own ears. “Um... how... how long is the drive?”

“Another twenty minutes to the top. You should enjoy the scenery, Elijah! Look down-” Viggo actually took his eyes off the road for a moment to gaze at the river “-that’s the Russian River. Can you imagine how many millions of years of rock it cut through to make this canyon?”

Elijah gulped and gripped at the car door. “Viggo, just watch the road!” he almost squeaked, before clearing his throat and adding, “Please?”

“What? Oh, don’t worry, Doodle. I could drive this road blindfolded.” Viggo nodded in supreme confidence, as he took another hairpin turn. The truck’s gears whined slightly on this one.

Elijah whimpered and pressed himself into the seat. “Well could- could you just ... for my sake?” This was such a bad idea, but he’d promised to try.

The slight note of panic did not escape Viggo, and he maintained a very focused eye on the road the rest of the way up. As they reached the top, he let out a little whoop of glee. “There, see, now that wasn’t so bad. Just wait 'til we go down!”

Elijah wondered how much it would cost to call a copter to come and pick him up-- it would probably be worth it. He could not imagine... in fact, he could imagine and that was why he did not want to drive down.

After ten more minutes of driving, Viggo pulled into a little clearing and stopped. He hopped out of the truck and took a deep breath of the air. The smell of pines and altitude tingled through his nasal passages. His body stretched toward the sky, arms aloft in joyous reverence toward the outdoors. “Look at this place, Elijah! Can you imagine anywhere else you’d rather be?”

Deciding not to answer that question on the grounds he could incriminate himself, Elijah did a slow three-sixty and looked around at the view. “Wow.”

Viggo loped over to where Elijah stood and leaned against him, chin in his hair, body pressed against his back. “You’re looking over the Devil’s Hunchback Range. They’re quite a challenge to backpackers because they’re so rugged. And to the South” -Viggo pointed- “those are the Sawtooths. Not the famous ones everyone knows, but a nice little mountain range.” He nodded, his chin rubbing through soft hair.

“Sounds like good titles for slasher movies.” He sighed a little, leaning back against Viggo as he looked at the daunting ranges.

“Slasher movies?” Viggo asked softly, his voice full of question. “Aw, come on, Doodle... they’re friendly. Besides, I don’t expect you to go climb them or anything.”

“You’d better not, lover mine... cause there isn’t the slightest chance in hell that I’m gonna climb them.” He smiled a little before shaking his head. “So... what do we do now?”

Viggo frowned very slightly at the tone of Elijah’s voice, but then brightened again. “We find a good place to pitch our tent. Flat overall, but a bit above most of the surrounding ground, so we don’t flood if there’s rain.” He kissed Elijah’s head and then began surveying the area.

“Not flooding would be a plus... so...” He started looking around as well, but he did not really have an eye for what he was looking for.

“Here we are! Come look, Elijah!” Viggo pointed at what appeared to be just another piece of ground, though he surveyed it like a fine work of art. “A little above the rest. Flat and no large rocks or grooves to make sleeping unpleasant. See?”

Elijah followed along happily enough. “If you say so... you’re the camping expert in this relationship.” Elijah smiled at Viggo and kissed his cheek.

“Yes, I am... which is why it is high time you got some experience. So, how about I go gather firewood, while you pitch the tent?” Viggo smiled brilliantly at Elijah.

“Viggo, I’ve never pitched a tent in my life.”

“There are instructions, and you’re a very bright man.” Viggo rummaged in the back seat and pulled out his tent. Now, he may be an outdoors man himself, but he knew Elijah lacked any inbred desire to be outside. So, in honour of their first trip together, he had bought a fancy, large tent. “What do you say?”

“Viggo... do you really want to start this... this whole ... thing with me irritated and upset? Don’t try... just... just be normal and we can put the tent up together ok?”

All the responses to Elijah’s speech were quickly shot down by the more responsible side of Viggo’s mind. He carried the tent over to the chosen spot and set it down. “Never mind then. I’m sure this thing is one of those insta-tents. Just pull and it pops right open.” With no further comment, he began to put the tent up by himself.

Sighing, Elijah looked away and then walked off into the surrounding trees, starting to collect fire wood. At least that was something he could do without making a complete fool of himself.

The directions proved to be remarkably simple, and Viggo soon looked upon a bedroom sized tent with a little front porch flap. Somehow, he felt vaguely dissatisfied with the process. His first tent, an ancient thing bought at a secondhand store, collapsed three times before he got it up. “Elijah?” He glanced around for his lover.

Having wandered a little away from the clearing Viggo had chosen, Elijah did not hear him as he continued to collect more pieces of wood for the fire.

Viggo headed in the last direction he saw Elijah go. “Elijah!” he called. “Where are you?”

“Collecting branches for the fire?” He had an armful of mid sized pieces of wood now so he headed back towards Viggo’s voice.

“Good idea,” Viggo said, deliberately warming his voice with the praise. He really did want Elijah to enjoy himself. Wandering in the direction of the voice, he found Elijah walking toward him through the pines. “Want a hand?”

“More hands make for light work... or so I’m told... wanna see if it’s true?” Elijah smiled at Viggo as they got closer. “How much do we need to make it through the night?”

“This is fine. We only need it for a few hours to cook dinner and then sit beside.” He took some of the wood in his larger hands. “The tent’s huge... you could almost fit a bed inside. I bought you a thermal sleeping bag and a pad to keep you off the ground. Camping has become less of a contact sport over the years.”

Elijah giggled, unable to help it as he looked up at Viggo. “A contact sport?” He giggled more. “I didn’t know it was considered one.” He laughed some more, smiling brightly at Viggo.

“It used to be you and the elements! Now it’s you and your roomy, all luxuries included, two door tent with thermal sleeping bag and mattress. “I ask you...” He shook his head in quiet disappointment as they strolled into the clear area again.

“It doesn’t sound so bad to me?” Elijah was not sure if he was teasing or not. “Um... where do you want these?”

“I’ll build our fire circle a little away from the tent. Will you get our sleeping bags out of the truck while I build a fire?” He began to rub two sticks together. “This might take some time.”

“Viggo? I know you packed matches, and I have a lighter...” He looked at him, completely confused.

“What fun are those?” Viggo teased. He set the sticks down and walked over to Elijah. His right arm whipped around his small waist, and he pulled him into a sweet, long kiss. “Just wait 'til you try the dried bean soup. It’s very authentic.”

Returning the kiss, as it was the first thing they had done that he knew how to do, Elijah leaned against Viggo, as he asked, “Um... you do know what effect beans can have on people right?” And he glanced at the tent.

“I’ve never had that trouble,” Viggo protested, but then sighed. “How about some instant rice with dried vegetables?”

“I- I don’t mind the bean soup Vig... just... saying it’s a possibility.” He looked a little uncertain; he felt like his balance was missing or something.

Viggo nibbled his nose. “The rice is fine. Tomorrow, we can catch some fish to go with meals!” He bounced on his toes happily.

Elijah smiled at Viggo’s bouncing. “Fishing, huh? OK... I think I can deal with that.”

“We’ll get up just before dawn breaks, when the air has that sweet hint of warmth through the chill, pile into our waders and go fish like there’s no tomorrow.”

“Before dawn?” Elijah bit his lip. “On holidays?”

Its fun! I swear-” Viggo got a good look at Elijah’s face. “Well, maybe you can join me at noon? One? Two? Work with me here!” The last came out as a gasp of desperation.

Elijah laughed and shook his head. “How about nine? I’ll even make breakfast and bring it down to you?”

“Perfect.” Viggo kissed his nose again. “Have you seen our camp rations? There’s even some fresh fruit, just for you.” In camping mode, Viggo acted and sounded like an excited twelve year old. Everything about him lit up, and he could not stay still for long.

Elijah laughed softly; it was like watching himself when he had a new game or something totally cool. “You really love this don’t you?”

“Of course. I grew up outdoors. Go grab our sleeping bags, and I’ll actually make that fire.” He kissed Elijah again, his excitement there, too, and then headed off to find some large rocks.

“Sleeping bags... sleeping bags... those are the square things right?” He was deliberately teasing now, trying to keep the mood lighter between them.

“Square?” Viggo looked at him for a long moment, trying to determine his seriousness.

Elijah flashed Viggo a smile over his shoulder before picking up one of the sleeping bags.

Viggo grinned in return, somewhat sheepishly at having been caught out. He began to selecting rocks from around the area, carrying them to the camping site to make their fire circle. “How you doing with those?”

Elijah just flashed Viggo another grin before disappearing inside the tent and zipping their bags together, making one bag for the both of them. “I think I’ve got it... wanna pass me anything else that needs to be in here?”

“I’m in the middle of building a fire. Come out here with me. We can set up the rest later.” Viggo rubbed a pair of sticks together until a blaze started. “Always knew I was meant to be a caveman, really.”

“I’m glad to say your courting techniques have developed a little more though.” Elijah crawled out of the tent and moved over to Viggo’s side, resting his hands on Viggo’s shoulder and looking at the fire. “Nice!”

“What, you wouldn’t have responded to my tossing you over one shoulder and hauling you away?” Viggo opened his pack and pulled out some jerky.

“I would have responded... I just don’t know if it would have been the response you’d have wanted!” Elijah laughed and leaned over, kissing Viggo’s neck.

Viggo reached up for Elijah, wanting him in his lap. “I bet you would have loved it, really. Me dragging you by the hair to our cave in the woods.”

Elijah happily moved around and snuggled himself in Viggo’s lap, enjoying being caught between Viggo’s warmth and the warmth of the fire. “Oh... this is nice... toasty!”

“I love you.” Viggo sucked on his neck for a moment. “I’ve wanted to bring you up here since we first started going out together.” He gazed into the trees, holding Elijah gently to him. “Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in the past?”

“All the time... I used to have these most amazingly vivid daydreams about living in ... in Rome as emperor... or during the depression wandering the roads... but normally I’d remember they didn’t have modern plumbing… and decide I liked it where I was.”

“I’ve always thought I would have enjoyed taking care of someone. Taking care of each other... you know?” Viggo rubbed Elijah’s chest thoughtlessly as he spoke. “You don’t really do that nowadays...”

“Of course you do! You mightn’t be... hunting food and fighting off bad guys... but you take care of me all the time... just like I try to take care of you.” He snuggled back and smiled a little. “It’s just a different kind of care... less... basic necessities, more comfort and emotional.”

A gentle rain of kisses thanked Elijah for his words. “I love you. I never thought I would love again, but I do. Anything you want... I would get it for you if I could. “

“You don’t get it, love... you are everything I want... when I got you... when you gave me yourself... you gave me everything.”

Turning Elijah in his arms, Viggo dipped him down and kissed him sweetly. He gently slid his tongue inside the inviting mouth and curled around the warm muscle that greeted him.

Elijah wrapped his arms around Viggo’s neck and kissed back with all the love he could, trying to show Viggo with their kiss what he had just put into words.

“Mind if I take you by the hair and drag you into our tent right now?” Viggo growled, his breathing unsteady.

“Can you drag the willing??”

“I could do my best,” Viggo laughed, “but perhaps I should have you cook our dinner first. We may need all our strength.”

Elijah looked a little disappointed, but there was also a look of anticipation on his face. “I think... I think I can survive that... no promises... but I’ll try not to rape you until after dinner ok?”

A shiver traveled the length of Viggo’s body. “Now there’s a rather compelling, yet frightening image.”

Elijah laughed and kissed Viggo again, deeply.

Viggo nipped both Elijah’s lips and then his nose, before just resting against him. “Right now... if I could... I’d just preserve right now forever... you and I out here together, alone.”

Elijah held Viggo silently for a long time, knowing nothing that he could say could express his emotions completely. “I love you.” Well that seemed to work.

“So, the outdoors don’t seem so bad right now, hmm? Sure you won’t get up at dawn tomorrow to fish with me?” Viggo’s amusement soaked through his voice like warm water.

“Not a chance in hell... But I will still make you breakfast.” He grinned up at Viggo.

“Aww, well, I’ll miss you.” Viggo slipped his hand under Elijah’s shirt and caressed softly.

“Good... then you will be twice as glad to see me when I get there...” Elijah ran his fingers through Viggo’s hair playfully.

“All those lonely hours out there by myself, I may wander out in the woods and disappear.” Viggo pressed his head back against Elijah’s hand.

Elijah kept threading his hands through Viggo’s hair silently for several moments before shaking his head. “Not a chance... you’ve still got that whole ranger thing going on. You couldn’t get lost if you wanted to.”

Sliding his hands further up, Viggo held Elijah closer to him. “I’d always come right back to you.”

Elijah shivered and pressed back against Viggo’s hands with a sigh of pleasure. “I’d never stop looking for you.”

“Come on, let’s eat before we are both in no condition to do anything but slobber all over each other.” Viggo reluctantly let go of Elijah and pushed him off his lap.

Elijah laughed but stood. “Ok... I can take a hint...” He stretched before asking, “Need any help?”

“You’re the one making dinner, love. I’ll set up the rest of the campsite.” He grinned teasingly and began to unpack his bag.

Elijah eyed the implements of his possible downfall before nodding. “I’ll try... but I’ve never cooked on an open fire before, mightn’t be any good...”

“And you promised to make me breakfast... what am I to expect?” Viggo asked with a snort.

“Breakfast is simple... dinner is more complicated... and if worst comes to worst I could make fruit salad if I can’t make anything else work.”

“You need me to make dinner, don’t you?” Viggo asked, his smile at once affectionate and amused.

Elijah’s eyes narrowed. “No.” And with a very determined expression he started going through their supplies.

Even more amused, Viggo continued getting out his fishing supplies and then set up the little tent porch with two chairs. “How’s it going? You may have noticed... I packed some of your tomato soup and bread and cheese for sandwiches.”

“I found them...” Elijah handed Viggo a mug of tea before he went back to chopping the onions he’d half finished. Adding them to a pot of water suspended over the fire he added a few other vegetables, chicken stock and asked, “Do you have any plans for this chicken? I’m guessing we need to eat it quickly... cause no fridge...” He was already dicing the meat and adding it to the pot.

“I brought our ice chest, filled to the brim with ice. If we set it into the ground it will be cool enough to keep a few items from spoiling for several days.” Viggo watched Elijah with a happy grin.

Elijah rolled his eyes at Viggo, but smiled at him as he finished putting everything into the pot. “That’s gonna need to cook for a while, Viggy.”

“What shall we do while we wait?” Viggo asked, his eyes now conveying a mixture of amusement and desire.

“I don’t know about you...” Elijah grinned, “... but I’m going to spend the time watching you.” And he fixed his gaze on Viggo.

“So, we’re going to stare at each other the whole time until dinner?” Viggo asked, his eyes sparkling in the firelight.

Elijah licked his lips, saying softly, “I wouldn’t mind...”

“Do you mind if I sketch you while you stare?” Viggo dug into his pack and pulled out an old sketchbook, slightly worn.

Elijah stretched again and grinned wider. “Have I ever minded?”

“The first time, I think you did,” Viggo said, already busy making pencil lines on his paper. “We hardly knew each other...”

“Ahh... well that was something different... I was wondering if you were like doing those little cartoons with mean captions or something... once I realized you ... were just drawing... I was cool with it.”

Viggo laughed and shook his head. “I don’t believe you, Simian.”

Elijah cocked his head to the side questioningly, a slight frown wrinkling the skin between his eyes. “Why not?”

“There was something in the way you watched me sketch you that night... more than just fear that I was making comics of you... I think you thought I was mocking you in my drawing. Like you thought there was nothing special enough about you to warrant my attention.” Viggo paused, his pencil just hovering above the page. “Am I wrong?”

Elijah blushed, breaking eye contact to look down at Viggo’s feet. “Something like that... I didn’t see what was so interesting about me... all geeky looking and all.”

“You’re beautiful,” Viggo breathed, his breath visible for the first time in the cooling air. “I thought so from the first time you turned around to face me.”

“I don’t think of myself as beautiful, Vig... I ... apart from the eyes... and without them... I’m REALLY geeky... with them I’m the geeky guy with the amazing blue eyes,” he said rather dismissively.

Viggo set down his sketches and got up. He sauntered over to Elijah and knelt down. “And what am I?”

Elijah moved so he was kneeling in front of Viggo and looking into his face. He hesitated for a moment, going for a less... emotional answer, but changing his mind again as he spoke, “My heart.”

“Elijah, you sentimental creature,” Viggo said, his smile warm and soft. He pulled him into his arms. “I love you, too. What I meant, though, was what you thought of the way I looked when first you saw me.”

Elijah caressed Viggo’s face softly as he thought back to that moment. “I- I thought you... had the ... I thought you could be Aragorn in a way Stu never could. You were more... there, aware and alive even with jet lag and all that, than he’d ever been.” He nibbled his lip. “The first time I left myself look at you as more than a costar? The one thought in my brain was, ‘fuck me, when did he become pure desire.’”

Huffing a laugh of desire, delight and amusement, Viggo kissed him softly, his hands gentle on Elijah’s back and sides. “I never doubted you were the only Frodo. I also never doubted that you could steal my heart from me.”

Elijah smiled up at Viggo and pressed their foreheads together. “Once we had that first Weathertop scene I never doubted it either... about you being Aragorn... as for my heart... you became it... is that theft?”

“No, but it sounds painful,” Viggo said. “Weathertop was... fun... intense, but fun.” He nibbled the tip of Elijah’s nose, flicking out his long tongue once.

Elijah giggled and wriggled his nose a little. “You’re like a puppy.”

“A puppy?” Viggo asked, looking even more amused. “That I have never been called before.”

“Puppies lick everything...” He grinned. “And I don’t think there is a part of me that you haven’t.”

“You’re just tasty,” Viggo said, kissing him and then sticking out his whole tongue at Elijah. “Besides, I have a rather long tongue, and I like using it.”

Elijah’s eyes gleamed. “And I love you using it...” His own tongue darted out and licked over Viggo’s.

Their tongues played gently, Viggo’s larger one stroking over Elijah’s thoroughly and sweetly. Eventually, he wandered further, enjoying other parts of Elijah’s face and neck. “Should I stop? Dinner might be ready soon.”

Elijah sighed, and pulled himself away from Viggo, going to check on their dinner. Nodding slightly he added a second pot to sit over the fire, commenting softly, “About fifteen minutes.”

Settling behind him, Viggo wrapped his arm around Elijah’s waist. He nuzzled his neck and nipped lightly. “Fifteen minutes to just play with you.”

Elijah sighed softly and leant back against Viggo, a small shiver working through his body. “Vig? It’s getting cold... um... I need my sweater.”

Letting go reluctantly, Viggo dug into their pack and pulled out Elijah’s sweater. He handed it to his lover and kissed his cheek. “Later, I’ll keep you warm.”

“I’m counting on it lover mine.” He pulled it over his head before snuggling back into Viggo’s embrace.

Viggo began to chew Elijah’s ear gently, enjoying the quiet around them. “What would you think of us staying out here forever?”

“Forever?” Elijah shook his head a little. “Too quiet... too... too lonely. I’m... I’m a city boy, Vig... always gonna be.”

“Lonely with me here?” Viggo sounded slightly sad.

“I didn’t mean it like that, love... being with you... and just you is bloody wonderful...” He looked up at Viggo with a smile. “But... I need... to see signs of other people even if I don’t see them... does that make sense?”

“Yes, you know I always understand you, pretty baby.” Viggo sighed a little. “As much as I could be happy here, I would never stay if you were unhappy.”

“I know.” Elijah smiled and kissed Viggo’s neck softly.

"I just grew up so differently than you. I get tired of the city fast...” Viggo kissed Elijah’s head. Sometimes, he worried that their different views about the city would land them in trouble.

“I know you do, babe... and I know sometimes that’s gonna mean time we could have together is either gonna be apart or... or I’ll learn to like this... I... I doubt I’m ever going to love the outdoors the way you do, but we’ll work something out.”

“I hate the thought of being apart from you for any reason, love. I hope we can find a way to make it all work out.” Viggo snuggled Elijah and sighed softly. “There’s so much beauty out here, but not as much as in you.”

“Even I can see the beauty out here, Viggo, my love. It’s- it’s just a different beauty to the one I’m used to. I... I know we will make a way that works for us... just needs hard work. Neither of us ever shied from that before.”

“Yes, look, I fell in love with you. I must be addicted to trouble.”

“And I with you... we must be insane!” Laughing, Elijah pressed nibbling kisses to Viggo’s neck.

“Well, you know I am!” Viggo laughed with Elijah. He sniffed the aromatic aroma of their dinner. “Whatever you made smells good.”

“It’s just a chicken... casserole of sorts... and rice... that’s in the other pot.” Smiling, he snuggled for a moment before saying suddenly, “If there’s anything we need to do before dinner we should do it now...”

“Is there something you want to do?” Viggo asked softly. “Something special?”

“I thought maybe we could get everything ready for bed? Cause... I doubt I’m going to want to bother with it after...” He smirked slightly.

“I’ll take care of it. You prepare the dinner.” Viggo scooted away and disappeared inside the tent. He could be heard singing softly as he worked.

Elijah checked their dinner, deciding the rice needed a few more minutes and decided to cut up some strawberries for their dessert. He just finished when the rice did and took both pots off the fire. A moment later two large bowls stood steaming in the cool air and he called, “Grubs up!”

Emerging from the tent, Viggo had changed into a pair of sweats and shirt. His feet were bare, as was his custom. Not even a cold night bothered his feet. “Smells wonderful.” He took a large spoonful and chewed with great deliberation.

Elijah held his bowl, spoon in hand as he waited for Viggo’s reactions.

Viggo swallowed and then tilted his head thoughtfully. “There may be hope for my breakfast yet.”

Elijah’s smile was somehow shy, and he took a small mouthful himself. Chewing and swallowing, he nodded. “It’s not bad... there’s enough for lunch... and I expect fresh fish for dinner tomorrow.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s very good.” Viggo wanted to kiss that shy smile, so rare on his rather wanton lover. “I shall expect the same for breakfast.”

Elijah’s smile did not change, but he teased softly, “You want chicken casserole and rice for breakfast?”

“I want something as good,” Viggo said. He began to dig in quickly, shoveling food like a young man, as was he wont.

Elijah watched his lover eat for several moments before starting to eat himself, his expression thoughtful. “I wonder what I can make...”

“You can use my powdered eggs to make me some French toast... if you want. Or perhaps, some granola with fruit, if you feel lazy. “

Still looking thoughtful, Elijah nodded. “I’ll check through the supplies better in the morning. I was only looking for dinner food tonight.”

“After fishing, I was thinking of taking a hike tomorrow. Do you want to go along?” Viggo did not disguise the hopefulness in his voice.

“Sure... just... not too long? I’m not used to walking really long distances.”

“How does three miles round trip sound? We’ll pack a picnic lunch and eat at the falls.” Viggo polished off his meal with a contented little sigh.

“I think I can handle that... and if not... my big brave boyfriend can carry me!” Elijah giggled as he saw Viggo’s reaction to that idea.

Actually, pleasure suffused Viggo’s countenance at the idea of carrying Elijah. He practically beamed at his lover, as he lifted his strawberries. Taking one out, he lifted it to his mouth and sucked all the juice out of it.

Elijah grinned at Viggo before putting their dinner things away, clearing up so they could take the strawberries into the tent if they wanted. “I love that smile.”

“What smile is that?” Viggo asked, though he knew full well that he grinned like a little boy sometimes. He offered Elijah a strawberry.

“Like... like a kid who’d just been given ... the best present in the world on Christmas morning?” Elijah reached into the bowl and took a piece of berry, feeding it to Viggo.

Accepting the succulent berry, Viggo took in some of Elijah’s fingers, too. “I have the best present in the whole wide world. Didn’t need to wait 'til Christmas, either.”

Elijah just nuzzled Viggo’s neck for several moments.

Viggo offered a strawberry to Elijah and grinned back. He began to kiss down Elijah’s neck, muttering, “Nothing more romantic than a fire and your lover.”

Smiling at Viggo, Elijah sucked the berry from his fingers before he ate it. “You are a true romantic at heart... every time I am sure nothing could be more, you make it so.”

“I left one of our blankets out... in case you wanted to make love by the fire,” Viggo purred.

Elijah looked around before confessing, “I- I don’t think I’m quite ready...” He blushed a little.

“Ready?” Viggo asked, genuinely confused.

“In the face of the cold...” He pressed a little closer to Viggo. “It’s too cold for me... unless I am between you and the fire.

“We could keep you between me and the fire. How about we just make out like a pair of teenagers... not that you have to stretch too much for that... until we need to move inside?” He ate another strawberry.

Elijah pressed his lips to Viggo’s and used his tongue to steal the berry from Viggo’s mouth into his own, chewing it happily.

“Thief!” Viggo laughed. He sealed their mouths together and lowered Elijah back toward the ground, waiting to see his reaction,

Elijah just wrapped his arms around Viggo’s neck, more than happy to be laid down, tongue sweeping into Viggo’s mouth possessively.

Letting his weight sink them both to the ground, Viggo sucked at Elijah’s tongue and caressed his side with his right hand. His seeking fingers found the crease of shirt and pants, trailing under to tickle.

Elijah wriggled at the tickling and giggled into their kiss, breaking it to protest, “Hey!! No tickling!”

“Why not?” Viggo asked, his lower lip jutting out in a pout to resemble Elijah’s.

“Cause it’s not fair that you’re not and I am...” He lifted his head to suck Viggo’s pouting lip into his mouth.

The tickling fingers scooted upward to play with Elijah’s nipples. They lacked the sensitivity of his own, but he loved to make the little buds harden and pucker.

Elijah sighed in pleasure, and his own flings slid up under Viggo’s shirt, stroking the smooth muscles of Viggo’s strong back and shoulders.

“Warm enough?” Viggo asked, pinning Elijah down still.

Elijah looked into Viggo eyes and nodded. “You’re burning me... do it some more?”

Laughing once, Viggo ducked his head to kiss Elijah as deeply and sweetly as possible. Warm palms stroked up and down Elijah’s back and sides, not yet heading for his sensitive midriff.

Taking advantage of the small distance between their torsos, Elijah’s fingers ghosted over Viggo’s shoulders and stroked over his chest softly, a thumb brushing just once over each nipple.

Viggo responded like wildfire ignited his veins. He growled deep and rutted once against Elijah. His hips ground Elijah deeper into the dirt. “You little-”

Elijah’s laugh was husky and full of desire as he ground his hips up against Viggo with a low moan. “Brat?” He giggled and did it again.

“Worse than a brat,” Viggo groaned, pain and pleasure in his voice. “You know what that does to me.” He nearly dug Elijah into the ground at the next pinch of his nipples.

“You know... there’s something I’ve always wanted to find out... let me?” Elijah looked up at Viggo, his skin lit by the last of the sun light and the golden red of the fire. “Please?”

“Something you wanted to find out?” Viggo asked, panting. His brain, fogging over with lust, tried to make out what that might be.

“Just trust me, ok?” The whispered plea came at the same time that Elijah’s thumbs started a constant brushing caress over Viggo’s nipples.

More growls and snarls and helpless moans escaped Viggo. He struggled with his vocal cords, trying to remember how to use them. “Trust you?” he gasped disbelievingly.

“Just, Viggo baby... just feel...” The pattern of his caresses changed from simply brushing up and down to caressing around the nipple, then over it, up and down, side to side, even closing his fingers around the taut buds and tugging lightly.

“Elijah! Fucking Hell, Elijah! I’m going to kill myself!” Viggo thrashed helplessly under the assault, yelling less and less coherently and lacing his words with curses.

Elijah did not let up, just ducked his head and closed his lips around one nipple, sucking and nibbling at it, licking and nipping carefully, everything he could to drive his lover mad, wanting to see if he could make Viggo come just from stimulating his nipples.

“Elijah, will- just- I really don’t want to cum in my pants!” Viggo yelled finally, pushing at Elijah.

Elijah lifted his head, fingers stilling. “Maybe we should... go... go to bed?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Viggo panted, rolling off of Elijah and then glaring at him a little. “Trust you?”

“Trust me and let go...” Elijah kissed Viggo’s cheek before standing, his own arousal quite plain as he walked to the tent, calling back, “Bring a water bottle please?”

“A water bottle,” Viggo muttered, breathing like a race horse. He did not move for several moments, calming himself. Finally, he got up and kicked sand over the fire, making sure all traces went out. Snagging a water bottle, he entered the tent.

Elijah was bathed in a pale light, pale flesh almost glowing as he lay on their sleeping bag, looking up at his lover as he came into the tent.

“Water bottle,” Viggo said. He tossed it beside Elijah and sat at his feet. “You look surreal in the moonlight, almost otherworldly.”

“Viggo... lover mine... come here and let me love you.” Elijah beckoned Viggo with his finger and an inviting smile.

“You just want to rip me apart by the nipples,” Viggo said, even as he removed his sweats slowly.

“I want to give you all the pleasure you can take and then give you a little more.”

“You’re going to give me more than I can take?” Viggo grumbled, crawling over to him.

Elijah grinned before flipping them over, straddling Viggo’s hips and lowering his mouth to Viggo’s chest, pressing nibbling bites as he made his way to the nearest nipple. “Uh huh!”

“You are a cruel, cruel lover,” Viggo growled, as Elijah went right back to his chest. His already sensitized nerve endings sent out SOS signals the instant Elijah approached them.

Elijah laughed a little huffy breath against Viggo’s chest before he started sucking at Viggo’s nipples, moving between the two of the easily, fingers always playing with the nipple his mouth was not at.

Viggo lost all facility for speech, coordinated movement and reciprocation in about ten seconds. His nipples, already pleasured to near soreness before, now ached with such sweet pain that he half prayed they would fall off and never trouble him again. Until then, Elijah’s tormenting mouth and fingers were sending pulses of shocking pleasure right to his cock. Viggo felt helpless, out of control and actually, part of him did not care much for the sensation.

There was a subtle change in Viggo’s body, in the sounds he was making and that caused Elijah to lift his head and look down at his lover, butterfly-kissing over Viggo’s face. “Too much?”

Viggo petted Elijah’s head and back in thanks for stopping. His throat prevented any form of real communication, so he concentrated on his hands and breathing. Breathing mattered a great deal right now, since he nearly forgot how.

Elijah kept the soft kisses going, kissing all over Viggo’s face, neck and shoulders softly, trying to calm his panting lover. “It’s ok love... I’m here... it’s ok really...” He whispered comforting little nothings between kisses.

“I know,” Viggo sighed on a long exhale. “I just think I want my nerves rewired.”

Elijah smiled down at him and caught Viggo’s lips for a long soft kiss. “Poor love... perhaps I’ll focus my attention elsewhere...”

“I’m sorry, love,” Viggo said sheepishly. “You just get me so worked up, I have no control and then everything spirals until I’m insane with pain and pleasure.”

“I like the insane with pleasure... but the pain part isn’t ok...” Kissing Viggo again he lay himself over Viggo with a sigh of pleasure.

“It’s just the intensity that edges on pain,” Viggo said, a little sheepishly now that he felt more relaxed. “Just being with you makes me half-crazy anyway.”

“You are a strange man, my Viggo... but I think I love you more for it...” He kissed Viggo’s chin and started down his neck.

“Strange?” Viggo looked a bit affronted. “I agree overall, but not in this regard.”

“That you’re that sensitive I mean...” Elijah ghosted a kiss over Viggo’s nipples but he kept kissing and licking his way further down. “I love how you taste...”

Viggo watched Elijah with a fond smile and then arched back up into the caressing mouth. “Close, love. So close.”

“Close?” Elijah’s voice was innocently questioning. “Close to what?” He scattered kissed and nips all around Viggo’s hips, paying special attention to his tattoo.

“Have I ever told you how much of a brat you really are?” Viggo growled, arching a little to remind Elijah of the real goal.

Elijah’s mouth was still vibrating with laughter as he took Viggo’s cock into it. Lips closed tightly around the blood engorged flesh, Elijah started sucking between giggles, the vibrations of sound running through Viggo’s flesh.

Part of Viggo thought he should be offended that his lover was laughing at him in the middle of a blow job. The other half just wanted that damned little impertinent brat to just get on with it and polish him off before his entire nervous system overloaded and melted for the remainder of his days.

As the giggles died away, Elijah’s caresses grew. He took Viggo to the back of his throat over and over again as his agile tongue licked and swirled around the head with each bob of his head.

Already near finished after the ravaging of his nipples, Viggo let go with a hoarse cry that nevertheless managed to rattle his teeth. His body found the entire ordeal so explosive that he very nearly choked the experienced Elijah with a rather copious amount of fluid.

Elijah swallowed franticly, to keep from drowning as he lifted his head up, still swallowing his lover’s juices, tongue carefully cleaning up before he went still, laying with his head pillowed on Viggo’s stomach, looking up at Viggo with an impish grin.

Viggo just rested his head back on his pillow and counted to twenty about five times before he felt able to look down at Elijah. “Sadist.”

Elijah’s smile just got wider and he pressed a kiss to Viggo’s abdomen. “That’s right, don’t hold back... tell me what you really feel.”

Viggo began to speak in Dutch, letting Elijah have it with a string of curses the often bad-mouthed man would have cheered. When he tired, he let his head fall back down and just studied the top of the tent in silence.

Elijah kissed his way softly up Viggo’s body until he was lying on his lover and looking down into his eyes. “Didn’t understand a word of it.”

“Lucky you,” Viggo muttered. “What put you into such a frisky mood tonight anyway?”

“Maybe it’s all the fresh air?” Elijah giggled and kissed Viggo softly.

Viggo kissed back gently and then licked Elijah’s throat from base to earlobe, before biting down. “You just want to make sure I don’t have any energy to wake up tomorrow and fish.”

Elijah blinked and tilted his head to the side. “I hadn’t even thought about that... good idea, love...” And he kissed Viggo again.

Viggo pushed him up, scowling. “I shall thwart your evil plans by just ignoring you.” He rolled over and curled into a protective ball, preventing access to anything sensitive.

Elijah frowned and watched his lover for a long moment, and then looked down at his own neglected erection. “Looks like it’s just you and me buddy...”

A snicker echoed through the tent. “Buddy?”

Elijah reached out and ran his fingers over Viggo’s ass in a soft caress. “Yes, dear?”

“You refer to your cock as buddy? I suppose that’s better than some of the nicknames I have heard...”

“No love, I don’t refer to my cock as buddy... it just seemed to fit the situation."

Viggo rolled over and looked up at Elijah, stretching out a bit. “Well, if you’re going to take care of yourself, I may as well watch.”

“What do you think I am, some kinda porn star?” Elijah’s expression was indignant, but also amused and he shook his head. “Pervert!”

Viggo raised one eyebrow in a perfect arch. “I think if an interesting part required a bit of porn, you would be very willing.”

Elijah rolled closer to Viggo and laid his cheek on Viggo’s shoulder, looking very thoughtful. “I- I really don’t know...” His brow furrowed as he started thinking about it. “I guess... it would depend on just how... how... necessary... it was.”

“Well, what do you consider necessary?” Viggo asked, his hand sneaking forward to just brush Elijah’s erection gently.

A soft whimper was the only acknowledgment of the touch as Elijah thought about the question. “Well... it couldn’t... be- be sex for sex’s sake... I’m not a porn star. I guess I would have to feel it was needed for the story. That it was... integral.”

“You could be a porn star,” Viggo whispered, touching him again, almost as gently.

“No...” Elijah sighed this time at the touch. “No, I couldn’t...” He arched just a little towards Viggo, trying to encourage him. “I don’t want to be.”

“Ah, in that sense you couldn’t,” Viggo agreed, stroking more firmly now, in control again, “but for sheer loveliness and eroticism, you would burn a hole in the screen.”

“Only for you, Viggo...” Elijah arched up more and more into Viggo’s hand, turning his head to bite at Viggo’s shoulders lightly. “Oh... I- I don’t- don’t get seen- seen that way by others.”

“Good, I might get violent if you started letting everyone else in on what is mine only.” He pulled aggressively once and then settled for a firm, rhythmic, almost hypnotic scheme of stroking.

Elijah’s moans grew in volume as he arched into the perfect strokes, willingly giving Viggo control, control and submission. “Viggo... just yours... swear!”

“I know... I never doubt you.” Viggo watched with deep satisfaction and love as Elijah’s face changed with each stroke. His lover always seemed filled with the deepest passion, the most extraordinary sensualness.

Elijah’s gaze never left Viggo’s face, letting Viggo see everything he felt until suddenly, with the power of a cresting wave, Elijah’s orgasm came, sending him into bliss.

Viggo made no sound, just watched his lover with glowing eyes. He stroked the pulsing organ for several moments until everything was spent.

When his body stopped writhing in pleasure Elijah plastered himself to Viggo’s side, snuggling his head under Viggo’s chin and almost purring in pleasure. “Love you.”

“And I you, my Elijah,” he answered, wrapping his arms around him tightly. “Now sleep. There is not a lot of time until daylight.”

Elijah pressed a kiss to Viggo’s neck softly, closing his eyes, wondering if he could sleep at all.

Viggo closed his eyes and then sang softly, “Close your eyes and sleep attend thee, all through the night. God alone his watch is keeping, all through the night.”

Elijah sighed and yawned a little, but it was earlier than they normally went to bed. Finally, he whispered, “Do you wanna sleep?”

Viggo opened one eye and kissed his nose. “You aren’t tired, are you? I should have tormented you until you were tired instead the other way around.”

“I’m a little tired... but it’s early for us... I can be quiet if you need to sleep.” Elijah kept his voice low and pressed a soft kiss to Viggo’s neck.

“You always were a sweet little creature,” Viggo purred, voice husky with affection and sleep. “Shall we talk for awhile?

“I’d like that...” Nibbling his lip for a moment, Elijah asked, “When did you first go camping?”

“When I was just a little boy. My parents encouraged outdoor activities, as did where we lived. I learned to ride and live outdoors early.” Viggo found Elijah’s nape and stroked the back.

Elijah did purr this time, giggling softly and kissing Viggo’s neck. “Sounds lovely.”

“On cold nights, it was fun to curl up under our blankets and tell ghost stories by the fire. My parents always knew the best ones.” Viggo sighed a little and tucked Elijah under his chin.

“Ghost stories?” Elijah grinned before asking, “Tell me one?”

“You have a fondness for really scary tales? Or something lighter?’ Viggo asked, voice laden with amusement.

“Lighter... I don’t wanna have nightmares.” Elijah pressed another kiss to Viggo’s neck, licking at his skin slowly

Viggo snickered and shook his head. “Maybe another time then. My family always told us the tales of Poe or Lovecraft, the kind that made you want to cover your head for the rest of the night.”

“I should have known.” His laugh was husky against Viggo’s neck.

“Well, we always were boys... you know, wanted to prove we were brave and not afraid of anything.” Viggo laughed at the memory and kissed Elijah’s mop of hair.

“Tell me something nice... a good story? You must have lots of those, yes?”

“A good story? Yes, there are many of those... but none to compare with my own reality.”

Elijah smiled. “So tell me about your reality... to you.”

“Imagine a man who seems to have everything in the world-- talent, looks, a son, comfort... everything except love. And then, purely by chance, he gets the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than he has ever been a part of before... and he accepts, though not without some deep thought.” Viggo paused, a little smile on his face as he remembered the offer and Henry’s urging to take the part. “There he finds more than he ever expected- comradeship of the likes he has never known, a group of individuals dedicated to making a great picture and... you.”

“Me?” Elijah uttered the word with reverent tones, “nothing special about me.”

Viggo chuckled and hugged him once, a quick tightening and loosening of arms. “At first glance, perhaps not, but then I got to know this blue-eyed boy who would play Frodo. He struck a chord in me untouched by anyone else. I wanted to know him better, to know who he was.”

“Even when I wasn’t... well before you made me realize how attracted to you I was, I wanted to know you better. I wanted to understand you in ways I’ve only understood a very few people in my life, the people I’d find laying around odd corners of my life,” Elijah whispered.

“Is that what I was to you- one of the people in an odd corner? I suppose that’s as good a description as any...” He fell silent for a long moment and then continued, “The boy was... amazing, in ways I never expected to find in another person. He wanted to understand me, when so few would even try.”

“I wanted to understand you from... from just about the moment I first laid eyes on you... and you grew more and more interesting as time went on.”

“You said that, and I felt it deep within me. It didn’t take me long to want to hold you in my arms, talk to you sweetly, love you as I do now.”

“It did take me ... quite a shock to the senses to realize you wanted that... and more... but I’ve not looked back, you know that, love?”

“What did you think when I first ask you out?” Viggo asked. “I’ve often wondered.”

Laughing softly he confessed, “I thought it a prank.”

“A prank?” Viggo grinned and then kissed Elijah softly. “Why did you say yes then?”

“I- I don’t know honestly. I just opened my mouth to ask if you where joking... and instead yes came out.” He laughed. “I think I was more surprised than you.”

“I was surprised you would be willing to date such an old man.” Viggo slid his hands over Elijah to grip his ass in the firm grip he enjoyed.

Elijah melted against Viggo, moaning softly. “Fuck, I love it when you do that...” His cock twitched against Viggo’s leg.

“I guess I haven’t given you enough pleasure yet, have I?” Viggo asked, feeling the stir against his leg.

Elijah laughed. “I’ve had plenty of pleasure... but... when you touch me like that... I can’t help it, Vig... turns me on.”

“We certainly wear out enough beds...” Viggo snickered, remembering their first time.

Elijah’s snickers joined Viggo’s remembering the same. “I warned you that dinky little hotel bed wouldn’t last the night.”

“I suppose we were a little too energetic, but I didn’t expect the entire bed frame to collapse.” Viggo massaged Elijah’s firm ass, squeezing now and then.

Elijah moaned softly, rocking against Viggo slightly. “Tease.”

“Why tease?” Viggo chewed on Elijah’s hair, tugging gently.

“Cause you know if you keep doing that I’m gonna start begging you to make love to me... And I’m supposed to be good and let you get up before dawn to play with fish.”

“I guess...” Viggo paused and let his hands still. “We’ve always had a good rapport. A touch can speak a million words.”

“A touch between us can spark more than words.” He spoke softly before kissing Viggo’s ear. “We’re... combustible.”

“I don’t need any exercise outside of what I get in bed,” Viggo laughed.

Elijah laughed and nodded. “Totally... although I’m not telling my next interviewer that.”

“We don’t tell them a lot of things... ever wish we could just reveal how much we love each other?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his voice. “There are times I want to ... scream it from the top of the tallest building I can find. But... I don’t want to deal with the negative reactions. I hate that there would be some.”

“I don’t care... I would gladly face the world with you by my side, despite it all.” Viggo sighed and brushed Elijah’s hair.

“Oh love... you’re never going to have anyone else there...”

“Well, I hope not. I certainly do not want anyone else, but I hate hiding it, too. I can be a recluse, but not about love.”

“You want to go public?” Elijah voiced the question very softly.

“Yes, I do, but not if you’re not comfortable with the idea.” Viggo kissed Elijah again. “Never if you are never ready.”

“I will be... I know that... I’m not yet, but I will be... and I... I look forward to standing up with you beside me and telling the whole world... even as it frightens me.”

“There’s no rush. We can’t until after all the Rings, anyway. Still, I look forward to the day when I can claim you as my own to the world.”

“Hey, Vig? When... when we’re ready and all? Would... would ay marry me?”

“Wherever and whenever you want,” Viggo said, in a hushed tone. He lifted Elijah’s chin upward to look into his eyes. “My little romantic.”

“My Viggo.” Elijah gazed at Viggo with all his love before kissing him as sweetly as he could.

For a long moment, Viggo kissed back with deep contentment. When they parted, his mouth still split into a smile. “So, think you can sleep and have pleasant dreams now?”

“Yes...” Elijah closed his eyes and snuggled into Viggo. With no worries on his mind and full of peaceful contentment he fell right asleep.

For a few moments, Viggo lingered, but Elijah’s gentle breathing lulled him into his own dreams.
**********