Heaven in Your Eyes

Chap: 21


Later the next day.....

"Now I see the problem with this conversation, you're at the wrong house."

Blue eyes made a dramatic roll, fingers tapping on the hipbones where they rested. "What in the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, my former ringbearer, it's the reason this conversation makes no sense. You've got the wrong h. Th. There must be someone else you should be talking to because he is *not* in love with me, never was, don't see it happening in near future either."

"Well, it's about time for an oscar then if he's *really* got you believing that. I was with him yesterday morning and... trust me, he still wants you."

"Your mistaking want.. desire for love Elijah. I did the same thing, I know that now. I guess I wanted to believe it so much I imagined it was truly there.. it's not. Desire. Sure. We seem to have a never-ending supply of that, but that's all. Afterwards he runs like a.. like he's done something horribly wrong. He won't take my calls. Hell he's never even answered a single letter I've written him! Does that sound like a man in love? No, didn't think so." He answered his own question with a bitter bite.

He toyed with the thought of telling Viggo the letters went unanswered because they were never read, but thought better of it. For the moment anyway, he thought it might do more harm than good.
Also the thought of arrows flying towards his ass always seemed to pop into his mind whenever 'Orlando and pissed at him' were connected in the same sentence. It made him recall the last time he stood in front of Viggo in much the same way. Nervous, needing to apologize, being made to feel like a bug. Why was he doing this again? Oh yeah! Love! He loved these two idiots, and right now this one was being the bigger of the two.

"He runs because of Karl, Vig. What did you expect?"
"Why Karl? Why would he do that?"
"Well.. duh.. why do think?" His sarcastic tone was asking if Viggo had been born with a brain.
"Do something for me, will ya Vig?" He plastered his expression with an innocence that matched his tone. "Just a tiny favor if you will."
Viggo sighed his irritation, but nodded nonetheless.

"Explain. . idiocy for me? Can you do that Vig? Cause if you can you got my vote for president...hell I'll even throw in a Man O The Year d."d."
Viggo's brows started to rise with suspicion and he forged on before he lost his nerve.
"What's that. No comment, you have no answer? Wanna know why? Cause you *can't* explain it away.. JUST STOP DOING IT! Christ Vig! He's so fucking in love with you he can't see straight. He don't eat right! And he's changing! Because why Vig?"
Silence
"I know you've loved him almost since you laid eyes on him so *why* are you doing this? Why are you letting him go?" He was getting so worked up tears of frustration glistened in his eyes. Hands clenched tightly enough at his sides to turn the knuckles white.
Still, silence. Viggo had turned his back and continued staring out the window. What the fuck was up with these two and windows?

"You need to take your damnable pride Viggo..and stick it up your fucking arse!" He was almost growling now but some insane madness drove him to the edge, even knowing Viggo would probably kick him out and never speak to him again.
"While your shoving that up there.. see if you can find your head.. you know.. the one that doesn't have IDIOT written on it.

Viggo turned on him then, not in anger..a look of pure disbelief clear on his face. Elijah still took a step back and Vig smiled softly at him, still not believing the blue eyed wonder found the nerve to talk to him like that.

"Your point?"
"Why do you think he keeps coming back to you even though he knows about Karl?"
"Maybe I'm just easy."
"This *isn't* funny Vig! And your not.. neither is Orli, before you even think of going there."
"Yeah, don't I know it." His tone bittered slightly on memory of 'the chase' and it's failed ending.
"And why do you keep throwing Karl into this. Orlando knows I didn't mean for it to happen. I've explained everything over a hundred times in those letters. He just doesn't.. does Orlando know how good of a friend he has in you?"

Lij shook his head which suddenly felt full of cobwebs, "I..I would hope so." He stammered a little confused at the turn in topic.
"Of course he'd probably pay for the hit man if he knew I was over here...doing this."

Viggo nodded, gracing him with a sad smile. "Exactly. Orlando doesn't..lets see if I can remember the exact phrase he used."
Elijah knew he remembered it word for word and knowing Orli's mouth when angry, or provoked, even scared, he would probably cringe when he heard it.

"Okay, I think I have it," His tone dropped imitating the scathing bitternef Orf Orlando's voice, "Why Viggo on this god forsaking earth do you persist in believing that I give a bloody flip in hell what you say or do? Your searching for something that just doesn't exist, so stay out of my life, yeah!”

Lij felt an actual chill run up his spine and a slight wave of discomfort at seeing the pure pain repeating those words had put in Viggo's eyes.

"That was our last argument, just a few months past when we were all in New Zealand, when I tried to get him to talk with me. So you see.. your mistaken."

All fight left him and he sank onto one of the chairs, letting his face drop into hands. "Fucking dumbass!" he muttered.
Viggo looked over his shoulder at the defeated young man.
"He's not a dumbass." he stated softly before turning to look back out the window again. "He was just.. I don't really know, I guess. Angry maybe."

"Your *defending* him?" Lij laughed, "Oh, this is rich man. But of co you you would.. we always defend who we love, hm? But your right Vig. He *was* angry..at *himself*.. he can't stay away from you. He told me so."
He knew he was probably going to regret it, but it was time for the laundry to be aired.
"Look Vig. I don't know what happened between you two that night. Orlando's changed since then, won't talk to me like he used to. But if I'm understanding you right, your no longer with Karl?"
"Where do keep gettin this shit! There was *never* a me and Karl!"
"Never?"
"One huge mistake of a kiss.. that's all. And as I said.. I've explained. He just doesn't care."

"Unbelievable. Well, I think I understand his need to run then. It probably makes him feel like a cheap slut, because he's thinking your with Karl all the rest of the time; he paused waiting for Viggo to look at him; Yes, that's what he thinks. He's never read letter one Vig.. he thinks, at least I think he does, that they're about why you chose Karl over him."
"He can't think that. I would never! And all of them? Why would I keep writing him like.. no.. your wrong. He's not dense enough to believe they're all apologies."

He might still be in the shock of denial, but he could see *at least* he had made the man think. Ah, the things he went through for these two.

"You know.. as screwed up as his brain is over you.. he could be thinkin anything Vig. That there apologies for seducing him, or mee..ee.. seduction letters themselves. That's how he sees it ya know. Your seducing him. He won't even allow himself to see the real reason he keeps jumping back in bed with you. He's telling himself he's getting over you.. and you keep sedu...."

Viggo was gripping at the window sill like he might fall at any moment and Lij went to him. "Vig?" He questioned softly, running his hand comfortingly up and down his back. "You okay?"
"I can't...how could I have missed something so damned obvious..I don't.." His voice quivered and Lij lay his head on Vig's shoulder, watching his reflection in the glass.
"He didn't want you to see it Vig. It's called self preservation. It also doesn't help that he's as much of a stubborn pigheaded arse as you are a pride-ful idiot. Christ, if you two woulda just talked."

"I'm not pride-ful Lij. And I did try."
"Just an idiot then hmm?"
Vig smiled a little then, so he went on. "You will agree Orli is a stubborn arse..right?"
"Too much so." He agreed sadly.
"What ya gonna do about it?"
"Not sure if I should do anything. I.. what if your wrong?"
"I'm not. Somewhere inside.. you know I'm not. He's hurting Vig. He got slapped in the face before he ever really got to love you. He needs you. He's leaving.. well probably gone by now; he glanced at his watch; Didn't realize it was so late. So, that gives you til next month to decide what to do."

"You never cease to amaze me hobbit, but I just don't.."
"Don't what?" He chimed in, cutting the man off before he could finish that thought.
"Don't love him anymore? Don't want him back? Don't you even try to go there!"
"I just can't believe it ended because of stupid mistake and continued.. why exactly did this continue again?"
"Your kidding right?" But the confusion he saw straining the sad, tired face, wasn't faked.

"Our favorite elf was always extremely jealous of that man.. no matter what he said to the contrary. He saw, hell we all saw the way Karl drooled after you. The way he was always touching you, talking about you. And towards the end of the shoot, I started hearing a few of the slightest little hints that you and the horse lord were an item, had always been an item actually. Never detailed enough to find their origin, believe me I tried, but they were enough to get tails wagging...and if I heard them, well, it's a given Orli heard every one of them and amplified'em out of proportion. Lay this *kiss* on top of it and.."

"Damn!"

"Exactly! He probably just wanted you to be happy.. you know how he is, so he *tried* steppin aside."

That light, that sparkle of mischievous life that was Viggo's alone, *finally* re-ignited and Elijah's heart swelled with pride.
"Well, guess my work here is done. I'll get and leave you to work out the details."

"Yes hobbit, please go menace someone else and let me have my peace." He teased, then met Lij's hug with one just as fierce. "Love you too.. filthy human!"


TBC