For belle_lestrange: Live and Learn
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. The author has no knowledge of and is making no claims about the real-life activities of anyone depicted herein. This is for entertainment purposes only and no profit has been made.
Rating: The overall rating for this challenge is NC-17. Not all fics are, but some will be.
Note: All headings that could reveal the author's identity have been stripped. Authors, please do not reveal yourself yet. Readers, feel free to guess who wrote which fic. A list of authors is here.
For belle_lestrange, who requested get together story in NZ. Orlando has worked as a model before he came to NZ and now people think he is nothing more but a pretty face. Orlando thinks everyone hates him and is homesick and lonely.
Summary: Orlando has a hard time fitting in on the set of Rings. Viggo helps out.
Live and Learn
~*~
Viggo remembered how it was in the beginning.
He remembered the pretty, innocent boy that bounced onto the set one day, looking to make everyone his friend.
He remembered that boy quickly disappearing as cold shoulders turned his way.
Everyone had pre-conceived notions of their new Legolas. They’d seen the magazine spreads, the television commercials and that pap pictures that graced the tabloids. They didn’t need to ‘get to know’ the real person, as Peter would put it. They already knew. Or so they thought.
So Orlando became the outcast before he’d ever stepped foot on the set. Though they were about the same age, the Hobbits refused to have anything to do with their new “pretty boy”. The older members of the cast tended to stick with their own, so he had no place there either. Alone and ignored, the elf drew into himself more and more each day.
Viggo still remembers, with a sharp pang of guilt, how he’d exclude the young man every morning. He remembers how Orlando would come bouncing into the trailer, ready for his make-up and wig, full of energy, only to deflate noticeably when Viggo and Sean would continue their discussion like he’d never entered.
He was a fool. He knew that now. He never took the time to look past the pretty face and learn the person underneath.
~*~
“Vig…you’re thinking again.”
Viggo sighed and hid his face against Orlando’s neck. “Sorry,” he mumbled, holding tight to the young man.
“How many times do I have to tell you…”
“It doesn’t erase it,” Viggo whispered.
“It doesn’t have to,” Orlando replied, holding Viggo close.
~*~
It took a broken rib to change Viggo’s opinion of the young man.
Not that the broken bone itself had anything to do with it. No…Viggo is the first to admit that he was a real ass even after Orlando was injured.
“It’s a broken rib, Pete! I’ve been running my ass off with a broken toe for three days!”
“Give the kid a break, Viggo. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Viggo sighed, turned and stormed out of the trailer. One day’s delay meant one less day he’d get to spend with his son. The spoiled brat of an elf was just milking this for all it was worth, Viggo was sure of it.
Until the following day.
Orlando didn’t bounce into make-up the next morning. Instead he slowly climbed the stairs into the trailer and gingerly sat down in his chair. Viggo could see the dark circles under his eyes and the pained expression on his face as he moved around, trying to get comfortable.
“Feeling alright, Orlando?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” the Brit mumbled as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
Viggo didn’t believe him for a minute, but left it alone. It’s not like they were friends anyway, so his sudden concern wouldn’t be welcome, he was sure.
Filming was brutal that day; more of the horseback riding that had caused Orlando’s injury in the first place. But not a word of complaint came from the Elf’s mouth except for when Peter would ask if he needed a break.
At the end, two things happened. One, Orlando had to be helped back to his trailer by a medic and two, Viggo’s opinion of the young man had drastically changed.
~*~
“To think I almost missed out on this,” Viggo sighed softly.
“But you came to your senses,” Orlando said cheekily as he pressed closer to the man now holding him tightly.
“Yeah, I did,” Viggo agreed readily.
They were both quiet for a few moments before Orlando spoke again.
“Vig?”
“Hmm?”
“Why?”
Viggo sighed as he ran his fingers through Orlando’s hair. “You getting hurt made me realize you weren’t what I thought you were,” he admitted softly. “It made me realize just how wrong I’d been.”
“Knew there had to be something good about breaking a bone!” Orlando quipped.
Viggo smacked him on the thigh and chuckled. “Cheeky brat.”
Orlando let out a protest and then a laugh before turning serious once again. “So how…”
“How what?” Viggo asked after Orlando didn’t continue.
“How did we end up here?” he asked quietly.
Viggo thought for a moment before answering. “Helm’s Deep.”
~*~
Helm’s Deep. The most grueling shoot Viggo had ever experienced in all the years he’d been acting. Sleeping during the day, being cold and wet the entire time he worked his ass off every night…it almost broke even the strongest of them.
And standing strong next to him, through the entire thing, had been Orlando. He’d worked as hard as any stuntie, never bitched or complained, and was always ready to help in any way he could. Though the crowd as a whole seemed to look to Viggo for support through the hell, there were several times that Viggo had run across Orlando giving pep talks to those who’d had enough. More than once he’d caught the young man unawares as he was holding a sobbing Orc who’d broken under the pressure.
And as luck would have it, it was Viggo who found Orlando when he broke.
“Where’s the elf?” Peter yelled. “He’s in this scene!”
Viggo picked himself up off the ground, not bothering to wipe away the mud that coated his trousers. “I’ll find him,” he called, heading for an unused part of the set he’d noticed Orlando heading for earlier.
He called Orlando’s name a few times and received no response as he walked through the darkness of the rocks. He could hear the dull roar of the set behind him, but no voice calling out in answer to his shouts. Just as he was ready to turn back, he heard a sound to his right. Turning a corner, he found a niche in the rock he’d overlooked. And in it sat a huddled Orlando, knees drawn up to his chin with his arms tightly wrapped around them. The sound he’d heard was the young man crying.
“Orlando?”
The young man started, and in the dim light, Viggo could see him quickly wiping his face.
“Are you okay?” Cautiously he made his way over and dropped down next to the elf, reaching out carefully and laying a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m fine,” came the automatic response, though from the sound of his voice, Orlando was anything but fine.
“No you’re not. What’s wrong?” Viggo asked softly.
“Why do you care?” Orlando shot back, sounding angry and hurt at the same time as he jerked away from Viggo’s touch.
Viggo sighed and dropped his hand. “I deserved that,” he admitted. “I haven’t exactly been nice to you since getting here. And I’m sorry. So sorry. I was so wrapped up in me that I never saw the real you. I wish I could change the past, but I can’t. All I can do is try to make up for it in the here and now.” He paused and ran a hand over his face. “This shoot has been hell on everyone. But for most of us, it’s been made bearable because we’ve supported each other. But in all of that, you got left behind. I’m sorry” he said again, so softly it was barely spoken.
“What did I do to deserve this?” Orlando asked brokenly, leaning his head back against the wall behind him. “What have I ever done to any of you to be treated like some reject who doesn’t deserve the time of day? I’ve done the best I could and as far as I know, Peter’s happy with me. I broke my ribs and still came to work the next day! I haven’t caused horrible delays, I haven’t ruined the film for any of you! What else do you want from me?” By the end he was nearly shouting, though is voice was rough and raw.
“I’m sorry, Orlando” Viggo whispered, hanging his head. “God, I’m so sorry.” Viggo didn’t know what else to say or do to make Orlando understand just how much he meant those words. But then he heard a sob break from the other man’s throat and looked up in time to see Orlando practically collapse into himself.
Without thought, Viggo scooted closer and pulled the younger man into his arms, holding him tightly as Orlando struggled for a moment before giving in and sobbing against Viggo’s chest.
“It’s okay, Orli,” he whispered into blond hair that tickled his nose. “You’re not alone. Not anymore. You lean on me as much as you need to.” Viggo continued to whisper comfort and his grip on the sobbing elf never loosened until Orlando finally calmed down and pulled away on his own.
“Did you mean it?” Orlando whispered roughly.
“Every single word.”
~*~
“I remember that night,” Orlando said softly as he snuggled even closer.
Viggo chuckled and reached down to lift the elf’s chin up until their eyes met. “You should. It was only last week!”
Orlando grinned at him before leaning up to kiss Viggo hungrily. “Seems like a lifetime ago,” he whispered when the kiss broke.
Viggo rolled them over until he was staring down into deep brown eyes. “And I’m looking forward to many more lifetimes,” he said seriously.
Orlando stared back at him for a moment before he grinned. “As long as you’re not such at arse in the next one!”
Viggo looked at him for a moment before breaking out in a laugh. “Why you little…!” He reached down and started poking Orlando in the ribs, causing the young man to laugh hysterically. “And here I thought you liked my ass…!”
“Viggooooooooooo!”
Rating: The overall rating for this challenge is NC-17. Not all fics are, but some will be.
Note: All headings that could reveal the author's identity have been stripped. Authors, please do not reveal yourself yet. Readers, feel free to guess who wrote which fic. A list of authors is here.
For belle_lestrange, who requested get together story in NZ. Orlando has worked as a model before he came to NZ and now people think he is nothing more but a pretty face. Orlando thinks everyone hates him and is homesick and lonely.
Summary: Orlando has a hard time fitting in on the set of Rings. Viggo helps out.
Live and Learn
~*~
Viggo remembered how it was in the beginning.
He remembered the pretty, innocent boy that bounced onto the set one day, looking to make everyone his friend.
He remembered that boy quickly disappearing as cold shoulders turned his way.
Everyone had pre-conceived notions of their new Legolas. They’d seen the magazine spreads, the television commercials and that pap pictures that graced the tabloids. They didn’t need to ‘get to know’ the real person, as Peter would put it. They already knew. Or so they thought.
So Orlando became the outcast before he’d ever stepped foot on the set. Though they were about the same age, the Hobbits refused to have anything to do with their new “pretty boy”. The older members of the cast tended to stick with their own, so he had no place there either. Alone and ignored, the elf drew into himself more and more each day.
Viggo still remembers, with a sharp pang of guilt, how he’d exclude the young man every morning. He remembers how Orlando would come bouncing into the trailer, ready for his make-up and wig, full of energy, only to deflate noticeably when Viggo and Sean would continue their discussion like he’d never entered.
He was a fool. He knew that now. He never took the time to look past the pretty face and learn the person underneath.
~*~
“Vig…you’re thinking again.”
Viggo sighed and hid his face against Orlando’s neck. “Sorry,” he mumbled, holding tight to the young man.
“How many times do I have to tell you…”
“It doesn’t erase it,” Viggo whispered.
“It doesn’t have to,” Orlando replied, holding Viggo close.
~*~
It took a broken rib to change Viggo’s opinion of the young man.
Not that the broken bone itself had anything to do with it. No…Viggo is the first to admit that he was a real ass even after Orlando was injured.
“It’s a broken rib, Pete! I’ve been running my ass off with a broken toe for three days!”
“Give the kid a break, Viggo. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Viggo sighed, turned and stormed out of the trailer. One day’s delay meant one less day he’d get to spend with his son. The spoiled brat of an elf was just milking this for all it was worth, Viggo was sure of it.
Until the following day.
Orlando didn’t bounce into make-up the next morning. Instead he slowly climbed the stairs into the trailer and gingerly sat down in his chair. Viggo could see the dark circles under his eyes and the pained expression on his face as he moved around, trying to get comfortable.
“Feeling alright, Orlando?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” the Brit mumbled as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
Viggo didn’t believe him for a minute, but left it alone. It’s not like they were friends anyway, so his sudden concern wouldn’t be welcome, he was sure.
Filming was brutal that day; more of the horseback riding that had caused Orlando’s injury in the first place. But not a word of complaint came from the Elf’s mouth except for when Peter would ask if he needed a break.
At the end, two things happened. One, Orlando had to be helped back to his trailer by a medic and two, Viggo’s opinion of the young man had drastically changed.
~*~
“To think I almost missed out on this,” Viggo sighed softly.
“But you came to your senses,” Orlando said cheekily as he pressed closer to the man now holding him tightly.
“Yeah, I did,” Viggo agreed readily.
They were both quiet for a few moments before Orlando spoke again.
“Vig?”
“Hmm?”
“Why?”
Viggo sighed as he ran his fingers through Orlando’s hair. “You getting hurt made me realize you weren’t what I thought you were,” he admitted softly. “It made me realize just how wrong I’d been.”
“Knew there had to be something good about breaking a bone!” Orlando quipped.
Viggo smacked him on the thigh and chuckled. “Cheeky brat.”
Orlando let out a protest and then a laugh before turning serious once again. “So how…”
“How what?” Viggo asked after Orlando didn’t continue.
“How did we end up here?” he asked quietly.
Viggo thought for a moment before answering. “Helm’s Deep.”
~*~
Helm’s Deep. The most grueling shoot Viggo had ever experienced in all the years he’d been acting. Sleeping during the day, being cold and wet the entire time he worked his ass off every night…it almost broke even the strongest of them.
And standing strong next to him, through the entire thing, had been Orlando. He’d worked as hard as any stuntie, never bitched or complained, and was always ready to help in any way he could. Though the crowd as a whole seemed to look to Viggo for support through the hell, there were several times that Viggo had run across Orlando giving pep talks to those who’d had enough. More than once he’d caught the young man unawares as he was holding a sobbing Orc who’d broken under the pressure.
And as luck would have it, it was Viggo who found Orlando when he broke.
“Where’s the elf?” Peter yelled. “He’s in this scene!”
Viggo picked himself up off the ground, not bothering to wipe away the mud that coated his trousers. “I’ll find him,” he called, heading for an unused part of the set he’d noticed Orlando heading for earlier.
He called Orlando’s name a few times and received no response as he walked through the darkness of the rocks. He could hear the dull roar of the set behind him, but no voice calling out in answer to his shouts. Just as he was ready to turn back, he heard a sound to his right. Turning a corner, he found a niche in the rock he’d overlooked. And in it sat a huddled Orlando, knees drawn up to his chin with his arms tightly wrapped around them. The sound he’d heard was the young man crying.
“Orlando?”
The young man started, and in the dim light, Viggo could see him quickly wiping his face.
“Are you okay?” Cautiously he made his way over and dropped down next to the elf, reaching out carefully and laying a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m fine,” came the automatic response, though from the sound of his voice, Orlando was anything but fine.
“No you’re not. What’s wrong?” Viggo asked softly.
“Why do you care?” Orlando shot back, sounding angry and hurt at the same time as he jerked away from Viggo’s touch.
Viggo sighed and dropped his hand. “I deserved that,” he admitted. “I haven’t exactly been nice to you since getting here. And I’m sorry. So sorry. I was so wrapped up in me that I never saw the real you. I wish I could change the past, but I can’t. All I can do is try to make up for it in the here and now.” He paused and ran a hand over his face. “This shoot has been hell on everyone. But for most of us, it’s been made bearable because we’ve supported each other. But in all of that, you got left behind. I’m sorry” he said again, so softly it was barely spoken.
“What did I do to deserve this?” Orlando asked brokenly, leaning his head back against the wall behind him. “What have I ever done to any of you to be treated like some reject who doesn’t deserve the time of day? I’ve done the best I could and as far as I know, Peter’s happy with me. I broke my ribs and still came to work the next day! I haven’t caused horrible delays, I haven’t ruined the film for any of you! What else do you want from me?” By the end he was nearly shouting, though is voice was rough and raw.
“I’m sorry, Orlando” Viggo whispered, hanging his head. “God, I’m so sorry.” Viggo didn’t know what else to say or do to make Orlando understand just how much he meant those words. But then he heard a sob break from the other man’s throat and looked up in time to see Orlando practically collapse into himself.
Without thought, Viggo scooted closer and pulled the younger man into his arms, holding him tightly as Orlando struggled for a moment before giving in and sobbing against Viggo’s chest.
“It’s okay, Orli,” he whispered into blond hair that tickled his nose. “You’re not alone. Not anymore. You lean on me as much as you need to.” Viggo continued to whisper comfort and his grip on the sobbing elf never loosened until Orlando finally calmed down and pulled away on his own.
“Did you mean it?” Orlando whispered roughly.
“Every single word.”
~*~
“I remember that night,” Orlando said softly as he snuggled even closer.
Viggo chuckled and reached down to lift the elf’s chin up until their eyes met. “You should. It was only last week!”
Orlando grinned at him before leaning up to kiss Viggo hungrily. “Seems like a lifetime ago,” he whispered when the kiss broke.
Viggo rolled them over until he was staring down into deep brown eyes. “And I’m looking forward to many more lifetimes,” he said seriously.
Orlando stared back at him for a moment before he grinned. “As long as you’re not such at arse in the next one!”
Viggo looked at him for a moment before breaking out in a laugh. “Why you little…!” He reached down and started poking Orlando in the ribs, causing the young man to laugh hysterically. “And here I thought you liked my ass…!”
“Viggooooooooooo!”