Fic: Supercalifragilisticexpi-Orli-docious (9/15)
Title: Supercalifragilisticexpi-Orli-docious (9/15)
Author: jenlynn820
Pairing: Viggo Mortensen/Orlando Bloom, Viggo/Karl Urban (not graphic 'cause ewww :P)
Rating: NC17
Warnings: AU
Summary: The last thing Orlando Bloom wants is to work as a nanny again. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need
Disclaimer: I don't know Orlando or Viggo and none of this ever happened anywhere but in my head.
Beta: eruberueth
Notes: If you're a fan of Karl's and are going to get offended by a "negative" portrayal of him then please don't read this story.
Previous Chapters: 1-8
Morning had finally arrived and not a moment too soon for Viggo. He wasn’t sure when he’d actually fallen asleep. So much had happened yesterday and it should have left Viggo exhausted but he was strangely exhilarated. Breaking up with Karl had removed a weight off his shoulders and then… then he’d had Orlando in his arms, telling him he loved him. He’d have kept Orlando in his bed all night and woken up with him this morning but the young man had acted as the voice of reason and said they needed to take a deep breath and step back. Viggo knew it was the right thing but that didn’t make it any easier when he knew Orlando was right down the hall and all he wanted was to feel his warm, soft skin and to kiss the young man’s sinfully sweet mouth…
Viggo pushed those thoughts away for the time being. It was time to take a shower and start the day. He wanted to make breakfast for them. Wanted to see Orlando smile, eat, and then lick syrup off his chin… Viggo laughed at himself, he was acting like a silly teenager and it was a pretty great feeling. He made his way to the bathroom and took a shower before getting dressed. Viggo was practically skipping as he whistled and walked to Henry’s bedroom. He stopped though and went over to Orlando’s door, opening it carefully.
Viggo looked inside and saw the young man curled up on his side, covers pulled up to his chin. Viggo smiled. Orlando was simply the most gorgeous thing he had seen. It went beyond physical beauty, though. Orlando’s kindness, his warmth, radiated from him. He could see it when the young man interacted with Henry. He could see it flickering in the depths of Orlando’s dark eyes. With a smile Viggo carefully closed the door and went across to his son. Henry was already awake, sitting on his bed and playing with his truck.
“Hey there, kiddo,” Viggo said.
“Hi, daddy!” Henry said.
Viggo sat down on the bed. “How come you didn’t come wake me up?” he said, smoothing Henry’s ruffled hair down.
Henry shrugged. “I was playing,” he said.
Viggo laughed softly. “Hen, did you hear me and Karl talking last night?” Viggo asked. Henry looked up at him with his big blue eyes and nodded a little. “We got a little loud,” he said. “I’m sorry if it scared you.”
“I don’t like him,” Henry said.
Viggo took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I know you two didn’t really ever become friends,” he said.
“Is Orli going to leave?” Henry said suddenly.
Viggo frowned in confusion. “No, Orlando’s not going anywhere. Why would you think he was?”
“Karl doesn’t want him here…”
“Yeah… well, this our house so you and me decide who gets to be here with us. And from now on Karl won’t be here anymore but I promise you that we’re not letting Orlando go anywhere, okay?”
“Yay!” Henry said, beaming. “I love Orli and I want to keep him here forever.”
Viggo kissed his son’s cheek. He wanted to say me too but didn’t think that was the best idea. “Are you hungry, Hen? How about we go downstairs and cook breakfast for you and me and Orlando?”
“Okay!” Henry grinned.
Viggo got up and scooped Henry up into his arms. “How about French toast again, does that sound good?”
“Yes,” Henry said, clinging to his dad as they went down the stairs.
When they were in the kitchen Viggo put Henry down on a chair. He gave the little boy a box of crayons and a notepad to keep him busy as he prepared breakfast. He didn’t stop at French toast. He made eggs and bacon and was squeezing fresh orange juice when he heard soft footsteps and looked up.
Orlando stood in the doorway looking like an angel. His hair was curly and untamed. He was wearing a white undershirt and plaid boxers. “Something smells really amazing,” he said, his voice husky from sleep.
Viggo resisted the urge to rush over to the young man and crush him against him. “I hope you’re hungry, I went a little overboard…”
Orlando smiled softly. He went over to Henry and kissed the top of the little boy’s head. “Famished,” he said. “Can I help or…”
“No,” Viggo said. “Sit.”
Orlando nodded and sat in the chair next to Henry’s. He shifted a little in his seat, his stomach fluttering with nerves. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to act now… last night he’d confessed so much to Viggo and Viggo had said he felt the same. But that was then… after an emotional day for the older man. He wondered if everything would be different in the harsh light of day. The older man put a plate in front of him then. “This all looks great, thank you,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome,” Viggo said, lightly touching Orlando’s shoulder. He could practically feel the nervousness coming off of the young man and couldn’t help but wonder if he was regretting the things they’d said to each other…
He gave Henry a plate before sitting down with his own. They ate in quiet for a little bit before Henry began to tell them a story about his Teddy Bear. As the little boy talked Viggo stole a glance over at Orlando and caught the young man’s eyes. They looked at each other and finally Orlando smiled softly and Viggo returned it and felt like he could breathe again.
When Henry finished his story he asked Viggo if he was staying home today. “No, kiddo. I have to go work at my studio for a little while…” Thinking of work reminded Viggo that he was supposed to meet someone from a gallery in Santa Monica today to talk about exhibiting some of Viggo’s paintings next month. “Shit…” he muttered and Henry giggled.
“What’s wrong?” Orlando asked softly.
“I have a meeting… and I don’t know if-I have to make a call, excuse me a second,” he said.
Orlando nodded and watched Viggo go. “Come on, Henry, eat a little more, yeah?” Orlando said, cutting some more French toast for him.
Henry took a big bite. “Daddy said we can keep you,” he said.
Orlando’s eyes went wide. “Keep me?”
Henry nodded. “Yes.”
“How come… how come you talked about that?” Orlando asked.
“I asked daddy ‘cause…‘cause Karl’s so mean to you…” Henry said softly.
“Oh…”
“Daddy said Karl’s not gonna be here anymore and that we aren’t letting you go,” he smiled.
“Well… that’s good… I like it here,” Orlando said, smiling a little.
“I like you here,” Henry grinned and kissed Orlando’s cheek.
Viggo came back. He sunk into his chair. “Viggo?” Orlando said softly.
“That fu-Karl cancelled the meeting. He called the woman we were supposed to talk to and said we weren’t coming.”
“What a cunt,” Orlando said. “Oh, bugger… sorry… what did you tell her?”
“That I still wanted to have the meeting. That my manager was no longer in my employ. We’re meeting at two.”
“Good,” Orlando said.
“Yeah…”
Orlando could see that Viggo was on the verge of crying or at least having some sort of emotional breakdown. “Henry, are you done?” he asked the little boy. Henry said he was. “I’m going to take him to the living room, set up that little reading video for him, yeah?” Viggo nodded. Orlando got up and took the little boy out of his chair, taking him into the other room. He set up the DVD for Henry. “You holler if you need me, okay, Henry?”
“Okay,” Henry said.
Orlando went back to Viggo. He knelt down in front of his chair and took the other man’s hands. “You all right, love?” he said softly.
“I... I didn’t think he was serious. He said all this shit last night about how my career would be nothing without him… that my art was for shit… I mean-I believed that he wouldn’t work for me anymore but to try to fuck with my work?”
“It’s not true,” Orlando said. “He’s just being vindictive. Because of me…”
Viggo shook his head. “You didn’t do anything…”
“Maybe not, but that’s not how he sees it. He wants to hurt you because he thinks you cheated or chose me…”
Viggo drew in a deep breath. “I’ve never been good at this business stuff, you know? I don’t know if I can… do this.”
“You can,” Orlando said. “Your art is what they want. You just have to show it to this woman and if she has any fucking clue she’ll beg to have your stuff at her gallery. Look… we haven’t… we haven’t even started this… whatever this thing between us is going to be but I have faith in you, Viggo. You’re brilliant and wonderful. And this gallery woman is gonna see that. And if she doesn’t then she’s a fucking idiot, yeah?”
Viggo laughed softly. “You have faith in me, huh?”
“Yeah,” Orlando said.
Viggo reached his hand out and touched Orlando’s cheek. “You’re sticky…”
“What?” he said, screwing his face up in confusion. “Oh…” he laughed. “Henry kissed me…”
Viggo smiled. He reached out now and pulled Orlando to him so that the young man was on his lap. “He asked me if we could keep you.”
“Yeah, he… he mentioned that…”
“He told me he loves you and wants to keep you forever,” Viggo rasped, his hand now moving against Orlando’s other cheek, his thumb gliding over the young man’s mouth. “I feel the same way. Sorry… that must sound slightly sociopathic or something…”
Orlando’s throat got tight, his heart raced. “No… it sounds… no one’s ever wanted to keep me…”
“Get used to it,” Viggo said.
“Not going to be a problem,” Orlando smiled.
Viggo grinned. “Am I allowed to kiss you?”
“Fuck, yes,” Orlando said and instead of waiting, placed his hands on either side of Viggo’s face and took control. He began a deep, needy kiss, sliding his tongue inside the older man’s mouth and kissing him hard. He could feel Viggo’s hands against his back, slipping under his t-shirt. They both moaned a little when their lips parted. “That whole… thing last night… the let’s wait and be careful bullshit…”
“Yeah,” Viggo whispered, his lips brushing over Orlando’s neck.
“Yeah, well… it’s a nice theory but… I think I’ll go bloody insane if I don’t have you inside me soon,” he breathed, looking into the other man’s eyes now.
Viggo felt his cock twitch. “You sure? What about… it burning out too fast or…”
“Fuck that,” Orlando said. “If it’s real it’s real… I just… I just needed a night to catch my breath. I was half afraid that you’d regret it in the morning if we had sex last night… especially after the things we said… but… but you don’t, do you?”
“Regret what I said? No. Not a word. What about you?”
“No. I only regret sleeping alone when I could have been in your arms,” he whispered against Viggo’s mouth.
“We’re going to fix that real soon,” he said, caressing the young man’s cheek.
“How soon?” Orlando asked, his voice soft, smoky.
“I would take you up to bed right now if I could… but I have to get to my studio, figure out what to show this woman…”
“I know,” Orlando said. “Tonight, then. We’ll have dinner. With Henry, of course. And celebrate your successful meeting.” He smiled and Viggo returned it. “And then afterwards…” He kissed along Viggo’s neck now.
“I’m going to have to- to explain this to Henry.”
Orlando leaned back now. “Do you think… he’ll understand?”
“Understand? I’m not sure… but we’ll… ease him into the idea and I am sure he’ll be thrilled to know that… that you’re going to be part of our lives. If that’s what you want.”
“It is what I want. I didn’t really ever consider falling in love with someone and having an instant family, yeah? But… I love Henry. And you. And I can’t even imagine how it would tear my heart out if I had to say goodbye to you both…”
“You don’t,” Viggo said. “You don’t have to imagine it because you’re not going to…”
“You should probably stop paying me though,” Orlando said. “Otherwise I might start to feel a bit sordid and…”
Viggo laughed. “We’ll figure it out, okay? All the details… but right now I really should go.”
“Okay,” Orlando said. He leaned in close and gave Viggo another wild kiss. “Have a good day at work, darling.” The young man climbed off Viggo’s lap.
Viggo laughed. “I’ll go say goodbye to Henry. See you later,” he said.
“Later,” Orlando smiled, watching Viggo go.
****
For the first time in a long while Orlando felt like taking pictures. Not just the little snapshots he took all the time with his Polaroid but he felt like using his real camera and taking proper photography. It was something he loved but something he’d all but abandoned, feeling like he didn’t really have the talent for it. But this… thing with Viggo was giving him something he had long since been lacking: hope. And that hope was trickling outward, making him wonder what else was possible.
He took Henry to the park in the afternoon and while the little boy played he took pictures. Of Henry, of some of the landscape. Of clouds and the sky. He wanted to ask Viggo later if he’d let him take some photos of him…. The thought made Orlando smile.
Henry got cranky and tired after a little while so they went back home and Orlando put the little boy down for a nap. He was feeling pretty exhausted himself and went to lie down in his room, thinking he should save his strength for tonight. He was half asleep, thoughts of Viggo playing in his head when he heard a noise coming from downstairs. He sat up in bed and listened. He heard heavy footsteps and felt his heart start to thud. “Shit,” he said.
Orlando got out of bed and crept down the stairs. He looked around the corner and sighed. “Karl,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
Karl looked over at Orlando. “What gives you the right to ask me that?”
Orlando folded his arms over his chest. “I live here. And I know you’re not welcomed anymore,” he said.
Karl laughed. “Is that right? What happened? Did Viggo give you the good news of my demise before or after he screwed that tight little ass of yours?”
“We haven’t-look, you shouldn’t be here, man. You guys broke up and I know that sucks but-”
“Oh, it does suck. Sucks harder than Viggo when he’s on his knees. Have you gotten a blowjob from him yet? You should. He’s got a mouth like Hoover as the older saying goes.”
“You’re completely disgusting, yeah? And you’re also a complete fucktard. Do you think you can actually upset me by saying crude things about Viggo or me? Man, I’ve heard lots worse.”
“I bet,” Karl chuckled. He tried to move past Orlando to get up the stairs but the young man blocked his way. “I’m here to get my stuff, all right? Get out of my way you little piece of shit.”
“No. You don’t belong here. Henry is asleep upstairs and I’m not letting you waltz around this house.”
“You might be the little woman now, Viggo’s little whore, but you’re not telling me what to do. I have had a key for years, little boy. You’re not telling me what I can do. So move out of my fucking way or I’m going to move you.”
“You’re not going upstairs. I’ll tell Viggo you want your shit and he’ll send it to you, yeah?”
“No,” Karl said. “I want it now. Move your scrawny little pansy ass.”
“Get out or I’ll call the police,” Orlando said.
Karl laughed hard and then grabbed at Orlando, shoving him aside, causing the young man to bang against the wall.
“Cunt,” Orlando said, wrapping his hand around Karl’s arm to stop him from going up the stairs.
Karl turned then. “Thank you. I’ve been wanting an excuse to do this for months,” he said.
Before Orlando could even guess what Karl meant the other man had cocked his fist and hit him hard, a solid blow that landed on the side of the young man’s face. “Fucking hell,” Orlando cursed. His hand went to the side of his head and he could taste blood in his mouth as he doubled over a little. Karl grabbed hold of him, pinning him to the wall, his arm against Orlando’s neck.
“I should kick the living shit out of you. Fuck that pretty face of yours up so much that Viggo won’t even want to look at you. You know that’s all you are to him, a pretty thing to stick his cock in. He’s always had a penchant for pretty young men...”
“Then what the fuck was he doing with you?” Orlando hissed.
Karl kneed Orlando in the stomach hard before letting go. “I’ll go get my stuff now,” he said.
Orlando was able to catch Karl unawares then. Just as Karl was about to go up the steps he slugged him, hitting him square in the face and hearing the satisfying crunch of bone. His hand hurt but he was pretty sure that wasn’t what he’d heard breaking.
Karl screamed and brought his hand to his face. “You little prick, I think you broke my nose,” he said.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be an improvement. Now get the sodding hell out, yeah?”
Karl almost looked like he wasn’t going to listen, like he wanted more of a fight. But instead he turned tail and left without saying another word. Orlando let out a heavy sigh and groaned, pain twisting in his stomach. His back hurt too, probably from being banged against the wall. Not to mention how the side of his face felt. “Shit,” he muttered and went up the stairs now. He looked in on Henry who was still asleep, miraculously not having woken up, for which Orlando was very grateful.
He went into the loo and looked in the mirror. He looked like a mess. He had a cut near his eye from where Karl’s ring had caught him and he could see that the flesh was already starting to color. He looked at his hand and saw that it too looked like it was going to start to bruise. He did his best to clean himself up, putting a small Band-Aid on the cut and then deciding to go back downstairs and try to find an icepack for his face. And maybe for his stomach, too.
He gingerly walked down the steps and into the kitchen. After getting what he needed he went into the living room and tried to get comfortable on the couch, hoping Henry wouldn’t wake up for a while and that he could think of something clever to tell the little boy so he wouldn’t get scared by how he looked.
****
It was around four p.m. when Viggo pulled up in front of his house. He was on cloud nine. Things had gone better than he could have hoped in his meeting and he couldn’t wait to tell Orlando about it. He took the bouquet of flowers he’d bought off the passenger’s seat and headed inside.
The T.V. was on and Orlando was lying on the couch with his back to Viggo. “Honey, I’m home,” he said, teasingly. He came around front and his face fell. “Holy fuck, what happened?” he said, dropping the flowers and getting down on one knee in.
Orlando swallowed. “It feels worse than it looks, trust me,” he said, trying to make a joke.
“Orlando…”
“Sorry… Um… Karl came by…”
“Karl? Karl did this to you?”
The young man nodded. “He came for his stuff and I told him he should leave and… he didn’t appreciate that.”
Anger flared in Viggo’s eyes, his gut twisted. “He hit you…”
“He tried to go up the stairs and I tried to stop him and…”
“Oh my god…” Viggo said. “Tell me what he did.”
“He hit me. Punched the side of my face and pushed me against the wall. Bruised my back a bit, kneed me in the stomach…”
“Where was Henry?”
“Asleep. He slept through it. I think Henry could sleep through anything…”
Viggo let out a sigh. He touched Orlando’s unharmed cheek. “Are you all right? I mean… you’re not but are you? Do you need a doctor…”
Orlando shook his head. “It’s just bruises, man. Nothing some ice won’t fix. I think Karl’s the one that needs a doctor, actually.” Viggo made an inquisitive face. “I wasn’t letting him go upstairs. After he hit me he let his guard drop. Didn’t think the scrawny little pansy would do anything. I hit him in the face, pretty sure I broke his nose.”
Viggo had to laugh a little. “You did?”
Orlando laughed now too and then groaned because it hurt. “Yeah. I told him it was an improvement,” he said.
Now Viggo laughed in earnest. “Can’t say I disagree… are you sure you’re okay?”
Orlando nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t know how to explain why I look this way to Henry. I don’t want to scare him, yeah?”
Viggo shook his head and kissed Orlando’s forehead. “I’ll talk to him, don’t worry. Did you say your back hurts? Didn’t you tell me you have metal in there? Maybe you should go to a doctor…”
“No, it’s all right. I can feel when it’s not and… I’m just banged up a bit. What I’m really pissed about is that… that we were supposed to… tonight was…” Orlando laughed at himself.
Viggo looked into the young man’s eyes. “I was looking forward to being with you, too”
“Well, we can still, I mean… maybe not as… vigorously but… I still want to…”
Viggo could hear a slight quiver in Orlando’s voice. “So do I. Don’t worry. One way or the other we’re going to spend tonight in each other’s arms, okay?”
Orlando nodded and then they heard Henry over the baby monitor. “You better go…”
“Yeah, I’ll go talk to my kid. You stay here,” he said, standing. “Shit, I almost forgot.” He picked up the forgotten bouquet of flowers. “These are for you.”
Orlando smiled and then made a face because it hurt. “They’re lovely… hey, does this mean your meeting went all right?”
“My meeting went great. I’ll tell you about it over dinner. I’m going to get Henry, then I’ll bring him down here, and then I am going to take care of you. Okay?”
“Okay,” Orlando said.
Viggo kissed Orlando’s mouth softly before making his way back up the stairs to go see his son.
~tbc~
Author: jenlynn820
Pairing: Viggo Mortensen/Orlando Bloom, Viggo/Karl Urban (not graphic 'cause ewww :P)
Rating: NC17
Warnings: AU
Summary: The last thing Orlando Bloom wants is to work as a nanny again. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need
Disclaimer: I don't know Orlando or Viggo and none of this ever happened anywhere but in my head.
Beta: eruberueth
Notes: If you're a fan of Karl's and are going to get offended by a "negative" portrayal of him then please don't read this story.
Previous Chapters: 1-8
Morning had finally arrived and not a moment too soon for Viggo. He wasn’t sure when he’d actually fallen asleep. So much had happened yesterday and it should have left Viggo exhausted but he was strangely exhilarated. Breaking up with Karl had removed a weight off his shoulders and then… then he’d had Orlando in his arms, telling him he loved him. He’d have kept Orlando in his bed all night and woken up with him this morning but the young man had acted as the voice of reason and said they needed to take a deep breath and step back. Viggo knew it was the right thing but that didn’t make it any easier when he knew Orlando was right down the hall and all he wanted was to feel his warm, soft skin and to kiss the young man’s sinfully sweet mouth…
Viggo pushed those thoughts away for the time being. It was time to take a shower and start the day. He wanted to make breakfast for them. Wanted to see Orlando smile, eat, and then lick syrup off his chin… Viggo laughed at himself, he was acting like a silly teenager and it was a pretty great feeling. He made his way to the bathroom and took a shower before getting dressed. Viggo was practically skipping as he whistled and walked to Henry’s bedroom. He stopped though and went over to Orlando’s door, opening it carefully.
Viggo looked inside and saw the young man curled up on his side, covers pulled up to his chin. Viggo smiled. Orlando was simply the most gorgeous thing he had seen. It went beyond physical beauty, though. Orlando’s kindness, his warmth, radiated from him. He could see it when the young man interacted with Henry. He could see it flickering in the depths of Orlando’s dark eyes. With a smile Viggo carefully closed the door and went across to his son. Henry was already awake, sitting on his bed and playing with his truck.
“Hey there, kiddo,” Viggo said.
“Hi, daddy!” Henry said.
Viggo sat down on the bed. “How come you didn’t come wake me up?” he said, smoothing Henry’s ruffled hair down.
Henry shrugged. “I was playing,” he said.
Viggo laughed softly. “Hen, did you hear me and Karl talking last night?” Viggo asked. Henry looked up at him with his big blue eyes and nodded a little. “We got a little loud,” he said. “I’m sorry if it scared you.”
“I don’t like him,” Henry said.
Viggo took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I know you two didn’t really ever become friends,” he said.
“Is Orli going to leave?” Henry said suddenly.
Viggo frowned in confusion. “No, Orlando’s not going anywhere. Why would you think he was?”
“Karl doesn’t want him here…”
“Yeah… well, this our house so you and me decide who gets to be here with us. And from now on Karl won’t be here anymore but I promise you that we’re not letting Orlando go anywhere, okay?”
“Yay!” Henry said, beaming. “I love Orli and I want to keep him here forever.”
Viggo kissed his son’s cheek. He wanted to say me too but didn’t think that was the best idea. “Are you hungry, Hen? How about we go downstairs and cook breakfast for you and me and Orlando?”
“Okay!” Henry grinned.
Viggo got up and scooped Henry up into his arms. “How about French toast again, does that sound good?”
“Yes,” Henry said, clinging to his dad as they went down the stairs.
When they were in the kitchen Viggo put Henry down on a chair. He gave the little boy a box of crayons and a notepad to keep him busy as he prepared breakfast. He didn’t stop at French toast. He made eggs and bacon and was squeezing fresh orange juice when he heard soft footsteps and looked up.
Orlando stood in the doorway looking like an angel. His hair was curly and untamed. He was wearing a white undershirt and plaid boxers. “Something smells really amazing,” he said, his voice husky from sleep.
Viggo resisted the urge to rush over to the young man and crush him against him. “I hope you’re hungry, I went a little overboard…”
Orlando smiled softly. He went over to Henry and kissed the top of the little boy’s head. “Famished,” he said. “Can I help or…”
“No,” Viggo said. “Sit.”
Orlando nodded and sat in the chair next to Henry’s. He shifted a little in his seat, his stomach fluttering with nerves. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to act now… last night he’d confessed so much to Viggo and Viggo had said he felt the same. But that was then… after an emotional day for the older man. He wondered if everything would be different in the harsh light of day. The older man put a plate in front of him then. “This all looks great, thank you,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome,” Viggo said, lightly touching Orlando’s shoulder. He could practically feel the nervousness coming off of the young man and couldn’t help but wonder if he was regretting the things they’d said to each other…
He gave Henry a plate before sitting down with his own. They ate in quiet for a little bit before Henry began to tell them a story about his Teddy Bear. As the little boy talked Viggo stole a glance over at Orlando and caught the young man’s eyes. They looked at each other and finally Orlando smiled softly and Viggo returned it and felt like he could breathe again.
When Henry finished his story he asked Viggo if he was staying home today. “No, kiddo. I have to go work at my studio for a little while…” Thinking of work reminded Viggo that he was supposed to meet someone from a gallery in Santa Monica today to talk about exhibiting some of Viggo’s paintings next month. “Shit…” he muttered and Henry giggled.
“What’s wrong?” Orlando asked softly.
“I have a meeting… and I don’t know if-I have to make a call, excuse me a second,” he said.
Orlando nodded and watched Viggo go. “Come on, Henry, eat a little more, yeah?” Orlando said, cutting some more French toast for him.
Henry took a big bite. “Daddy said we can keep you,” he said.
Orlando’s eyes went wide. “Keep me?”
Henry nodded. “Yes.”
“How come… how come you talked about that?” Orlando asked.
“I asked daddy ‘cause…‘cause Karl’s so mean to you…” Henry said softly.
“Oh…”
“Daddy said Karl’s not gonna be here anymore and that we aren’t letting you go,” he smiled.
“Well… that’s good… I like it here,” Orlando said, smiling a little.
“I like you here,” Henry grinned and kissed Orlando’s cheek.
Viggo came back. He sunk into his chair. “Viggo?” Orlando said softly.
“That fu-Karl cancelled the meeting. He called the woman we were supposed to talk to and said we weren’t coming.”
“What a cunt,” Orlando said. “Oh, bugger… sorry… what did you tell her?”
“That I still wanted to have the meeting. That my manager was no longer in my employ. We’re meeting at two.”
“Good,” Orlando said.
“Yeah…”
Orlando could see that Viggo was on the verge of crying or at least having some sort of emotional breakdown. “Henry, are you done?” he asked the little boy. Henry said he was. “I’m going to take him to the living room, set up that little reading video for him, yeah?” Viggo nodded. Orlando got up and took the little boy out of his chair, taking him into the other room. He set up the DVD for Henry. “You holler if you need me, okay, Henry?”
“Okay,” Henry said.
Orlando went back to Viggo. He knelt down in front of his chair and took the other man’s hands. “You all right, love?” he said softly.
“I... I didn’t think he was serious. He said all this shit last night about how my career would be nothing without him… that my art was for shit… I mean-I believed that he wouldn’t work for me anymore but to try to fuck with my work?”
“It’s not true,” Orlando said. “He’s just being vindictive. Because of me…”
Viggo shook his head. “You didn’t do anything…”
“Maybe not, but that’s not how he sees it. He wants to hurt you because he thinks you cheated or chose me…”
Viggo drew in a deep breath. “I’ve never been good at this business stuff, you know? I don’t know if I can… do this.”
“You can,” Orlando said. “Your art is what they want. You just have to show it to this woman and if she has any fucking clue she’ll beg to have your stuff at her gallery. Look… we haven’t… we haven’t even started this… whatever this thing between us is going to be but I have faith in you, Viggo. You’re brilliant and wonderful. And this gallery woman is gonna see that. And if she doesn’t then she’s a fucking idiot, yeah?”
Viggo laughed softly. “You have faith in me, huh?”
“Yeah,” Orlando said.
Viggo reached his hand out and touched Orlando’s cheek. “You’re sticky…”
“What?” he said, screwing his face up in confusion. “Oh…” he laughed. “Henry kissed me…”
Viggo smiled. He reached out now and pulled Orlando to him so that the young man was on his lap. “He asked me if we could keep you.”
“Yeah, he… he mentioned that…”
“He told me he loves you and wants to keep you forever,” Viggo rasped, his hand now moving against Orlando’s other cheek, his thumb gliding over the young man’s mouth. “I feel the same way. Sorry… that must sound slightly sociopathic or something…”
Orlando’s throat got tight, his heart raced. “No… it sounds… no one’s ever wanted to keep me…”
“Get used to it,” Viggo said.
“Not going to be a problem,” Orlando smiled.
Viggo grinned. “Am I allowed to kiss you?”
“Fuck, yes,” Orlando said and instead of waiting, placed his hands on either side of Viggo’s face and took control. He began a deep, needy kiss, sliding his tongue inside the older man’s mouth and kissing him hard. He could feel Viggo’s hands against his back, slipping under his t-shirt. They both moaned a little when their lips parted. “That whole… thing last night… the let’s wait and be careful bullshit…”
“Yeah,” Viggo whispered, his lips brushing over Orlando’s neck.
“Yeah, well… it’s a nice theory but… I think I’ll go bloody insane if I don’t have you inside me soon,” he breathed, looking into the other man’s eyes now.
Viggo felt his cock twitch. “You sure? What about… it burning out too fast or…”
“Fuck that,” Orlando said. “If it’s real it’s real… I just… I just needed a night to catch my breath. I was half afraid that you’d regret it in the morning if we had sex last night… especially after the things we said… but… but you don’t, do you?”
“Regret what I said? No. Not a word. What about you?”
“No. I only regret sleeping alone when I could have been in your arms,” he whispered against Viggo’s mouth.
“We’re going to fix that real soon,” he said, caressing the young man’s cheek.
“How soon?” Orlando asked, his voice soft, smoky.
“I would take you up to bed right now if I could… but I have to get to my studio, figure out what to show this woman…”
“I know,” Orlando said. “Tonight, then. We’ll have dinner. With Henry, of course. And celebrate your successful meeting.” He smiled and Viggo returned it. “And then afterwards…” He kissed along Viggo’s neck now.
“I’m going to have to- to explain this to Henry.”
Orlando leaned back now. “Do you think… he’ll understand?”
“Understand? I’m not sure… but we’ll… ease him into the idea and I am sure he’ll be thrilled to know that… that you’re going to be part of our lives. If that’s what you want.”
“It is what I want. I didn’t really ever consider falling in love with someone and having an instant family, yeah? But… I love Henry. And you. And I can’t even imagine how it would tear my heart out if I had to say goodbye to you both…”
“You don’t,” Viggo said. “You don’t have to imagine it because you’re not going to…”
“You should probably stop paying me though,” Orlando said. “Otherwise I might start to feel a bit sordid and…”
Viggo laughed. “We’ll figure it out, okay? All the details… but right now I really should go.”
“Okay,” Orlando said. He leaned in close and gave Viggo another wild kiss. “Have a good day at work, darling.” The young man climbed off Viggo’s lap.
Viggo laughed. “I’ll go say goodbye to Henry. See you later,” he said.
“Later,” Orlando smiled, watching Viggo go.
****
For the first time in a long while Orlando felt like taking pictures. Not just the little snapshots he took all the time with his Polaroid but he felt like using his real camera and taking proper photography. It was something he loved but something he’d all but abandoned, feeling like he didn’t really have the talent for it. But this… thing with Viggo was giving him something he had long since been lacking: hope. And that hope was trickling outward, making him wonder what else was possible.
He took Henry to the park in the afternoon and while the little boy played he took pictures. Of Henry, of some of the landscape. Of clouds and the sky. He wanted to ask Viggo later if he’d let him take some photos of him…. The thought made Orlando smile.
Henry got cranky and tired after a little while so they went back home and Orlando put the little boy down for a nap. He was feeling pretty exhausted himself and went to lie down in his room, thinking he should save his strength for tonight. He was half asleep, thoughts of Viggo playing in his head when he heard a noise coming from downstairs. He sat up in bed and listened. He heard heavy footsteps and felt his heart start to thud. “Shit,” he said.
Orlando got out of bed and crept down the stairs. He looked around the corner and sighed. “Karl,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
Karl looked over at Orlando. “What gives you the right to ask me that?”
Orlando folded his arms over his chest. “I live here. And I know you’re not welcomed anymore,” he said.
Karl laughed. “Is that right? What happened? Did Viggo give you the good news of my demise before or after he screwed that tight little ass of yours?”
“We haven’t-look, you shouldn’t be here, man. You guys broke up and I know that sucks but-”
“Oh, it does suck. Sucks harder than Viggo when he’s on his knees. Have you gotten a blowjob from him yet? You should. He’s got a mouth like Hoover as the older saying goes.”
“You’re completely disgusting, yeah? And you’re also a complete fucktard. Do you think you can actually upset me by saying crude things about Viggo or me? Man, I’ve heard lots worse.”
“I bet,” Karl chuckled. He tried to move past Orlando to get up the stairs but the young man blocked his way. “I’m here to get my stuff, all right? Get out of my way you little piece of shit.”
“No. You don’t belong here. Henry is asleep upstairs and I’m not letting you waltz around this house.”
“You might be the little woman now, Viggo’s little whore, but you’re not telling me what to do. I have had a key for years, little boy. You’re not telling me what I can do. So move out of my fucking way or I’m going to move you.”
“You’re not going upstairs. I’ll tell Viggo you want your shit and he’ll send it to you, yeah?”
“No,” Karl said. “I want it now. Move your scrawny little pansy ass.”
“Get out or I’ll call the police,” Orlando said.
Karl laughed hard and then grabbed at Orlando, shoving him aside, causing the young man to bang against the wall.
“Cunt,” Orlando said, wrapping his hand around Karl’s arm to stop him from going up the stairs.
Karl turned then. “Thank you. I’ve been wanting an excuse to do this for months,” he said.
Before Orlando could even guess what Karl meant the other man had cocked his fist and hit him hard, a solid blow that landed on the side of the young man’s face. “Fucking hell,” Orlando cursed. His hand went to the side of his head and he could taste blood in his mouth as he doubled over a little. Karl grabbed hold of him, pinning him to the wall, his arm against Orlando’s neck.
“I should kick the living shit out of you. Fuck that pretty face of yours up so much that Viggo won’t even want to look at you. You know that’s all you are to him, a pretty thing to stick his cock in. He’s always had a penchant for pretty young men...”
“Then what the fuck was he doing with you?” Orlando hissed.
Karl kneed Orlando in the stomach hard before letting go. “I’ll go get my stuff now,” he said.
Orlando was able to catch Karl unawares then. Just as Karl was about to go up the steps he slugged him, hitting him square in the face and hearing the satisfying crunch of bone. His hand hurt but he was pretty sure that wasn’t what he’d heard breaking.
Karl screamed and brought his hand to his face. “You little prick, I think you broke my nose,” he said.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be an improvement. Now get the sodding hell out, yeah?”
Karl almost looked like he wasn’t going to listen, like he wanted more of a fight. But instead he turned tail and left without saying another word. Orlando let out a heavy sigh and groaned, pain twisting in his stomach. His back hurt too, probably from being banged against the wall. Not to mention how the side of his face felt. “Shit,” he muttered and went up the stairs now. He looked in on Henry who was still asleep, miraculously not having woken up, for which Orlando was very grateful.
He went into the loo and looked in the mirror. He looked like a mess. He had a cut near his eye from where Karl’s ring had caught him and he could see that the flesh was already starting to color. He looked at his hand and saw that it too looked like it was going to start to bruise. He did his best to clean himself up, putting a small Band-Aid on the cut and then deciding to go back downstairs and try to find an icepack for his face. And maybe for his stomach, too.
He gingerly walked down the steps and into the kitchen. After getting what he needed he went into the living room and tried to get comfortable on the couch, hoping Henry wouldn’t wake up for a while and that he could think of something clever to tell the little boy so he wouldn’t get scared by how he looked.
****
It was around four p.m. when Viggo pulled up in front of his house. He was on cloud nine. Things had gone better than he could have hoped in his meeting and he couldn’t wait to tell Orlando about it. He took the bouquet of flowers he’d bought off the passenger’s seat and headed inside.
The T.V. was on and Orlando was lying on the couch with his back to Viggo. “Honey, I’m home,” he said, teasingly. He came around front and his face fell. “Holy fuck, what happened?” he said, dropping the flowers and getting down on one knee in.
Orlando swallowed. “It feels worse than it looks, trust me,” he said, trying to make a joke.
“Orlando…”
“Sorry… Um… Karl came by…”
“Karl? Karl did this to you?”
The young man nodded. “He came for his stuff and I told him he should leave and… he didn’t appreciate that.”
Anger flared in Viggo’s eyes, his gut twisted. “He hit you…”
“He tried to go up the stairs and I tried to stop him and…”
“Oh my god…” Viggo said. “Tell me what he did.”
“He hit me. Punched the side of my face and pushed me against the wall. Bruised my back a bit, kneed me in the stomach…”
“Where was Henry?”
“Asleep. He slept through it. I think Henry could sleep through anything…”
Viggo let out a sigh. He touched Orlando’s unharmed cheek. “Are you all right? I mean… you’re not but are you? Do you need a doctor…”
Orlando shook his head. “It’s just bruises, man. Nothing some ice won’t fix. I think Karl’s the one that needs a doctor, actually.” Viggo made an inquisitive face. “I wasn’t letting him go upstairs. After he hit me he let his guard drop. Didn’t think the scrawny little pansy would do anything. I hit him in the face, pretty sure I broke his nose.”
Viggo had to laugh a little. “You did?”
Orlando laughed now too and then groaned because it hurt. “Yeah. I told him it was an improvement,” he said.
Now Viggo laughed in earnest. “Can’t say I disagree… are you sure you’re okay?”
Orlando nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t know how to explain why I look this way to Henry. I don’t want to scare him, yeah?”
Viggo shook his head and kissed Orlando’s forehead. “I’ll talk to him, don’t worry. Did you say your back hurts? Didn’t you tell me you have metal in there? Maybe you should go to a doctor…”
“No, it’s all right. I can feel when it’s not and… I’m just banged up a bit. What I’m really pissed about is that… that we were supposed to… tonight was…” Orlando laughed at himself.
Viggo looked into the young man’s eyes. “I was looking forward to being with you, too”
“Well, we can still, I mean… maybe not as… vigorously but… I still want to…”
Viggo could hear a slight quiver in Orlando’s voice. “So do I. Don’t worry. One way or the other we’re going to spend tonight in each other’s arms, okay?”
Orlando nodded and then they heard Henry over the baby monitor. “You better go…”
“Yeah, I’ll go talk to my kid. You stay here,” he said, standing. “Shit, I almost forgot.” He picked up the forgotten bouquet of flowers. “These are for you.”
Orlando smiled and then made a face because it hurt. “They’re lovely… hey, does this mean your meeting went all right?”
“My meeting went great. I’ll tell you about it over dinner. I’m going to get Henry, then I’ll bring him down here, and then I am going to take care of you. Okay?”
“Okay,” Orlando said.
Viggo kissed Orlando’s mouth softly before making his way back up the stairs to go see his son.
~tbc~