Saving Smiles

Title: Saving Smiles , part 3/?

Author: Eärendil

Email: coincidenceofmemory @ yahoo.com

Rating: PG

Pairing: Orlando Bloom / Viggo Mortensen

Summary: Welcome to a brand new day.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just enjoying playing with them. It's fiction.

Archive: Lirimaer. Recent Forgeries. Anywhere else. Just ask.

Note: Sorry this took so long. I decided halfway through what I wanted to be this chapter that I was delving into things I would rather deal with in a chapter all their own. So I chopped it. :) Sorry again.


Part 3: Come And Stop The Rain
"And I will never see the sky the same way..." - Vanessa Carlton


Slowly, whether due to the crashing of the tide, the calling of the gulls, or the screaming of his stiff back, Orlando drifted awake. The morning sun glittered and danced off the waves and foamy breakers, giving the scene a serene and pituresque feel. Orli tightened the blanket around his shoulders, smiling slightly. If only I could stay this way forever, he thought.

Heaving a sigh, the young Brit withdrew the blanket from his shoulders. "Welcome to a brand new day," he snorted, standing to stretch his overly stiff back. [1]

The tempetroserose quickly as the mid-December sun and by mid-day Elves and Hobbits alike would be running for shelter to save their affixed prostetic appendages. And the smelly humans would just be even smellier, Orlando chuckled as he made his way into the house.

The light on his answering machine was blinking for attention and mindlessly Orli pressed play while he set about the kitchen, pulling out the granola and rice milk.

"Orlando," Peter's chipper morning voice piqued from the speaker. "Don't forget that we're shooting Lothlorien today and tomorrow. I've pushed you call back to eleven a.m. since we had some early morning difficulties with the hobbits. Show up a little early so I can discuss the rewrites with you." A beep indicated the end of that message. And Orlando smiled as he took a bit of his granola, poking around for more raisins.

"Orli, it's Vig."

Orlando almost choked on his cereal.

"Sorry to call you so early in the morning, but I just wanted to ask if you were doing anything this coming week. Some of the hobbits are heading home for the holdiays, and I was just wondering what your plans were. Not that you really have to tell me, but I figured since I was staying here and my son isn't going to get here for a couple weeks now that maybe, if you weren't planning on heading home for the duration that you might consider spending it with me. Maybe we can get to know one another better. The sky is so r thr this morning. Did you get to see the sun rise? Magnificent. I'll see you at the Cuntebago. Hopefully if you're staying you'll keep this old man company."

Orli blinked. He'd heard from Dom about Viggo's stream-of-conscious answering machine messages, but this was his first experience with one. He shook his head, smiling. The man could sound so disorganized and organized at the same time. Also a little on the unsure side, Orli noted, wondering why in the world Viggo would want to spend his free time with a kid like Orli.

Shrugging, he finished his granola and headed out the back to grab a quick shower before heading off to the set.

---

Unscrewing the cap of his water, Orlando resisted the urge to run his arm across his sweaty forehead. Why did the elf costume have to be so hot? Wasn't it supposed to be light and airy, even though it was warrior garb? Silly humans making movies didn't know how to make things actually be what they were not just look it, Orlando thought, sipping his water.

"Hot?" Craig asked, sidling up to stand beside the other elf.

"Fuck yeah," Orli said, wishing for a nice pool and a pair of trunks. "I wish PJ would just get on with it. The hobbits are going to lose their feet again, standing around in the heat like this."

Craig laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "So what are you doing on your Christmas break, Orlando?"

"I'm not quite sure yet. I'm not heading home, that I know," Orlando commented with a grimace. "Mum and Sam are off visiting an aunt who's ill and said they don't know when they'll be home. I might as well just stay here and see the scenery while I don't have to be the scenery."

Craig smiled. "Too bad about the aunt, but sounds like a good plan. If I didn't have obligations to host the festivities this time I'd stick around and join you," he grinned, waggling his eyebrows.

Orlando felt the sweat thicken and his breathing quicken. He tried to take slow, calming breaths. 'Think of something else. Think ometomething completely unrelated,' he told himself. Craig was giving him a worried look, but Orlando paid him no mind. With a flash of a fake smile he all but ran over the the trailer and locked the door behind him.

Inside Orlando leaned against the door, breath still coming in short gasps.

---

"Where's Orlando?" Viggo asked, looking around for the missing elf. "PJ's almost ready to start filming this scene."

Craig looked at the other actor and shook his head. "He headed over to theilerilers a while ago. I don't know what's wrong with him, I was just talking with him and joking around and such and he started hyperventilating and ran off."

Viggo furrowed his brow, but Craig just shrugged. "I'd better go see if he's ok..."

---

'You're so hot, baby.'

Shut up.

'Care if I join you?'

Yes.

'My name's Kyle...'

Fuck off.

'I love you.'

...

'Did you think I could ever love you?'

... ...

---

"Orlando?"

Thud.

Viggo blinked as another thud sounded from the other side of the door.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It sounded like someone was banging their head against the wall or door.

"Orlando?? Please open the door."

Silence.

What was going on?

---

Fucking Craig, Orlando thought, cursing his own reaction to perfectly typical Craig flirtation. It meant nothing, it should not have caused him to react the we he had. Craig's like that with everyone, Orli told himself. He's like that with everyone!

"Orlando?"

Great, he thought. No, Viggo's probably just here because Pete needs us. God, I'm making such a fool of myself.

"Just a second, Vig," Orlando called through the door. I have to get a hold of myself. I'm such a fucking panzy.

"Are you okay?" Viggo asked as the door opened and Orlando stepped through.

"Yeah. Yeah, I just got a little too hot. Had to cool off," Orlando repled, not meeting Viggo's eyes.

"Here," Viggo said, smiling as he handed the boy a icy bottle of water. "This should help, but just sip on it. If you guzzle it it'll make you sick."

"Thanks, man."

---

"That's a wrap! Thanks guys, enjoy your break!" Peter called, smiling and stretching as he waved the cast off to their trailers to de-robe.

"So what's your reply to my message?" Viggo asked as he and Orlando headed toward the trailer.

"I don't know, Vig. I mean, I'm staying here for the duration, but I mean, hell, why would a guy like you want to spend your break with a kid like me?"

"Well for one, it's Christmas and no one should be alone during Christmas... Least of all a 'kid like you' and an old fart like me--"

"You're not old, Vig."

Viggo just smiled. "Compared to a sprite like you, I'm ancient. But that's not the point, Orlando. I'd like to get to know you. The real you. Not the crazed elf who drinks with the loony hobbits or throws himself off bridges and such, but the young man who has such potential and I'm sure is very interesting, but that I've not yet had the chance to get to know. But most of all, because neither of us should spend Christmas alone when we have someone with whom to spend it."

Orlando blinked, then smiled, shaking his head. "Alright, Vig. You're a nut. Don't know how you've done it, but ya talked me into it," he said, laughing.

"Good," Viggo said with a smile.

---

The break started out well enough. Elijah and the rest of the hobbits had headed home for the holiday, but Bean and some of the other humans and elves hung around and set up parties and get togethers.

If they weren't hanging out with a group or Bean, Viggo and Orlando could be found together chatting or just enjoying one another's presence.

"... and so mum suggested that since I had my mind set on being an actor I might as well go for this role, and here I am," Orli finished, taking a sip of his orange juice. He and Viggo had just finished eating, Orli having cooked one of his favourite pasta dishes consisiting main of diced tomatoes, shredded parmasian, spinach, and artichoke hearts over a crispy tortilla with strips of feticini and alfredo.[2]

"Smart one, your mother," Viggo commented, swirling his own drink with his straw.

"Yeah, she's smart. I really should listen to her more often," Orli murmured, staring down into his glass. "Tell me something about yourself, Vig. Why did you get into acting when you hate the life it forces you into? Why not just paint and write; you're really good at it and seem to enjoy it a lot more."

"I enjoy acting itself. It's as much a part of my as my poetry and paintings, but you're right. I don't like the life-style it forces us into. Why should I have to live life in the view of the public? But that's what I've chosen. Just as I've chosen to take mostly bit parts so I could stay relatively out of the lime light." Viggo paused, turning to look at his companion. "What is it that you so regret not listening to your mother about?"

Orlando sighed. He didn't know when to keep his mouth shut, should have known Viggo would pick up on his breathed comment. "Just her intuition about a relationship that ended in quite a lot of heartbreak, and none of which belonged to the other involved."

"What happened?"

"I really don't want to talk about it, Vig. I was just a stupid kid and made some bad choices and got my ass played easier than a two bit fiddle." [3]

---

"... so this is Christmas..."

Lennon was playing on the radio.

Orlando smiled wanly. 'Yeah, so this is Christmas,' he thought sadly, looking around his small and empty house by the beach.

The sun was shining, the sky a crisp blue, heat waves wafting off the paved carpark.

The phone rang.

Orlando didn't bother to pick it up. He knew who it'd be.

"Hi, Orli, it's Viggo," the answering machine called out, the only sound in the otherwise silent house. "Bean and I were planning a little get together, seeing as it's Christmas eve and all. I'd really like it if you'd come. Can you believe this weather, it'd be amazing if it came a sudden snow. Appropriate really. We're serving dinner around six. Elijah called. He says you've not returned his calls. Orlando..." A pause. A sigh. "See you at six."

Orlando looked at the clock.

It was 4:30.

The End (TBC)

[1] "Welcome to a brand new day" -- Mast Chief 'Jack' Urgayle, GI Jane -- Viggo!
[2] My combination: Applebee's Veggie Pizza and Alfredo :) Btw, I wrote this before I found out Orli's no longer Veggie, but in the time frame he well could be.
[3] Forgive the redneck saying.

I decided to cut the chapter short because I was getting into something I decided needed it's own chapter. Next chapter: Christmas dinner w/ Viggo and Bean. Confessions? Necking? Jen, you might get your wish! Who knows yet! :)


Love lots, Eärendil