fellowshippers | Bitch Buddy 3/?, Craig/Orli, R

Title: Bitch Buddy 3/?
Author: Nixxie + Gypsy
Pairings: Craig/Orli
Rating: R
Archive: Beyond the Fellowship and http://www.livejournal.com/users/nixxie_/
E-mail addresses for feedback: nitika754a@yahoo.com + kejazofi@wolfenet.com
Disclaimers: Not ours. Simple as that! The fact that we wish they were is beside the point!
Warnings: Real Person Slash - meaning these are based on real people, whether they really do this stuff is not known by us.

(8am the next morning)

Haldir stood tall and proud, feet firmly placed on the stone wall, eyes haughty, almost as if he thought he was too good to be there, helping a band of dirty Humans, Hobbits and of all things, Dwarves, fight. He said his lines, voice imposing and with an almost unconcerned distain, looking straight into Legolas' blue piercing eye's.

"Cut, print that one! Break for ten whilst we re-jig the lighting please everyone!" Peter called out to the throng in the middle of the large stone set, which today was doubling up as part of the fortress wall in Helm's Deep.

And Haldir fell away, Craig taking his place. Eyes moving away from the blue ones in front of him as soon as they could possibly manage.

_+_+_+_+_+

Orlando felt like hell, but much to his (and make up's) credit, it didn't look
like it--even though he hadn't really gotten much sleep last night. He was
exhausted, it was wet, and he was having to face down Craig like they were
brothers in arms.

Well, Legolas and Haldir were, so Orlando let himself get lost in the persona
of the elf--he'd done it more than once. When you feel like shit, emotionally
or physically, best to just get lost in the character you're playing.

As soon as a cut was yelled though, Orlando turned on his heel, blond hair
swaying as he did, and started away from Craig--he couldn't do this if he
wasn't Legolas. And he didn't have to, didn't have to stand up there and
smile pretty and pretend nothing was wrong.

He would of course, if he had to, but he didn't intend to have to. And as
soon as he could get Peter to himself he wanted to fix this little bitch buddy
thing.

Heading for the tent where he could get some hot coffee, Orlando tried to
clear his head and just think about nothing--it wasn't working overly well
though.

_+_+_+_+_+

The mask slid completely for a few seconds as Orli walked away, just for a moment, showing just how vulnerable Craig really was. But by the time PJ came walking up it was firmly back in place, smile on, cheerfulness returned.

"Right Craig, I want you to try this for the next shot..." He started as he padded up, bare feet slapping on the wet stone. They turned the water off between takes, but Craig was still almost wet to the core already, and only three printed takes had been completed so far tonight.

PJ stopped right in front of Craig, he smiled and lowered his voice. "Just wanted to say thanks mate, for yesterday in my office, it was exactly what I needed." An arm reached out to slap Craig on the arm. What no-one else saw was the thumb rubbing briefly on the inside before the hand dropped away.

Craig smiled "It was just what I needed too Peter." Smile turning almost coy. Craig wasn't lying so much as extending the truth, it had taken his mind off everything else for a short while, just like the Elf in the toilet had. "And I'm sure the scratch marks in your desk from my nails will keep you smiling for a long while yet!" Craig laughed with PJ, but his eyes wandered briefly over to where Orli had gone.

PJ didn't miss this, he turned his head towards the food tent, following Craig's glance. "Trouble with your buddy there Craig? I hope you don't think about changing, I've already had a dozen requests so far, all of which I've refused." Eyes twinkling slightly as he looked up at Craig, "And anyway..." He started as he walked away, "...You picked them all, it's all your fault so there's no way you're changing!"

Craig's chest sank a little at that, and an assistant scurried PJ away at that point. He had hoped last night might hold sway a little and he might be able to change. No likelihood now though. Craig sighed, walked off his mark and over to the food tent, over to Orli.

_+_+_+_+_+

Orlando wasn't eating, the knot in his stomach wouldn't allow for
that, but he was drinking coffee--mainly to try and keep some warmth
in his chilled body. He did his best to ignore Craig without seeming
like he was ignoring Craig as he stood there, thankful none of the
others were about at the moment to try and engage him in
conversation. He glanced at the other man, then away again, hands
tightening slightly on the cup, which only served to crush the
Styrofoam and get scalding coffee all over his hand.

"Bloody hell!" he yelped, jumping a bit at the pain and dropping the
cup.

_+_+_+_+_+

"Shit!" Craig ran the last few paces, grabbing Orlando's wrist
carefully above the burn mark, other hand wrapping around his
shoulder, tugging him over to the drinks stand where there was a
large ice bucket for cold drinks. He quickly pulled some cans out and
put Orli's hand in, covering it with ice.

He did it all on instinct, hardly even thinking. It was only when
Orli was safe and his hand cooling down did Craig really realise what
he was doing. He still kept his hold on Orli though, just loosened it
a little. "You okay now?" He asked, full concern showing.

That had really scared Craig, not just the fact that Orli had been
burnt but also the feeling in his stomach, and the hitch in his chest that
it had given him. Much that he tried not to admit it he did have
feelings for Orli, and feelings were one thing he wasn't supposed to
have.

_+_+_+_+_+

Orlando was doubly shocked from the pain of the burn and Craig's actions
towards him, so much so that he just let the man yank him over to the ice and
shove his hand down in it. He became acutely aware of the arm still around
him though, and the hand on his wrist. He shrugged Craig off, not looking at
him, unable to deal with the contact.

"I'm fine," he mumbled, pulling his hand out of the ice after a moment to
inspect it, anything to not have to focus on Craig standing so close to him. He wanted to scream at the man, to call him a bastard, to do something to alleviate the ache inside. But Orlando didn't--knew he couldn't here in front of all these people, wasn't sure he could at all.

_+_+_+_+_+

Craig kept his hold on Orli's wrist, inspecting the burn from over
his shoulder, trying not to think about how close he was to him,
trying even harder to ignore the feelings he got from being this
close to him.

"It's not fine, it's still all red, you need some more ice, or some
cream...or...something," he trailed off, uncertain of the situation
now that the slight emergency was over, totally unsure of anything at
all.

//Stop it for fucks sake. This isn't the way you go, this isn't the
way you are.//

//So why is it the way you suddenly want to be?//

_+_+_+_+_+

Orlando yanked his wrist away with a bit more force than he intended when
Craig wouldn't release him, not wanting even the barest of contact--or more
accurately not able to bear it.

"I said I was fine," he insisted, voice rather cold. Orlando didn't want
Craig's concern now, the man had made it obvious the other night he didn't
give a fuck how he felt, so why did he suddenly try to act concerned that he might have burned himself. Orlando wanted no part of it, no part of this.

_+_+_+_+_+

"I'm sorry...I was only trying to help." A true enough confession, but
the words that sprung up next Craig said before his brain could react
somehow, words that were true, "You were hurt, and I don't want to
see you hurting...not ever."

He breathed in quickly, almost a gasp as he realised he'd said too
much, admitted too much. "I'm sorry, I should go..." He mumbled as he
turned away, eyes confused, mind racing.

_+_+_+_+_+

"It's a little late for that isn't it Craig?" Orlando said, not wanting
Craig to think he could say something like that and just turn away. As if
he hadn't hurt him very badly with his actions already. "To not want to see me
hurting? Tell me, did you stay and fuck...whoever that was...in the
bathroom after I left? Couldn't you have waited until the goddamn meeting
was OVER to pick up someone else? Especially after what I said? I don't
get the impression that how I feel means a damn thing to you, Craig."

_+_+_+_+_+

"Is that how it looked? Fuck! I didn't mean it like that...it was
just...just..." Craig turned back, not meeting Orli's eyes but trying
to keep his voice low, knowing where they were. "Just what you said
got me thinking," He started honestly, "And it got me scared. And I
didn't think, I just wanted to blot out my mind, because...because..."

Eyes trailing the floor Craig's mind reeled, //because you made me
realise what I'd been trying to quash in my mind, because you made me
think things I'm not supposed to think, because you're the most
beautiful thing I think I've ever laid eyes on, because...because...//

And his eyes lifted, all his emotions written across his face, mask
in tatters, every single thing on show, including how vulnerable this
was making him feel, how unsure he was about situations like this.

But he had to say it, had to say before it ate away at him inside,
had to before it was too late...

"Because I think I'm falling in love with you."

tbc...