One Night

Title: Epiphany - Viggo
Series: One Night - Companion Pieces
Author/Email: eviltwin (tracey737uk@yahoo.co.uk)
Pairing: VM/CP
Rating: PG
Summary: Viggo gets a second chance.
Feedback: Bunnies need it.
Disclaimer: I makes no claims as to the actual sexual preferences of the people I portrays. I makes no money from it either. It's FICTION.
Website & Archive Rights: The Showcase ( www.dreamreaver.com/showcase ) & BTF


This will always be Viggo's place to come to when he's in this kind of pain. It holds the memories he needs right now. The good ones. Like Karl and Harry getting together. Elijah's first time with him. Sean's last day of filming when Billy finally told him what everyone else had already guessed. Orli getting drunk and draping himself over anyone who was near enough. Including Viggo one time. Peter and Fran's famous barbecues.

Craig.

The thought of Craig lifts his spirits a little. They had some good times together over Helm's Deep. Him, Craig and Orli. He remembers that mild pang of jealousy he felt when he heard that Orli had bedded Craig after one of his drunken nights out. Someone else had turned Orli down and he'd called Craig, upset and horny. Craig, of course, had gone round there. At half three in the morning he'd gone round there to try and comfort Orli, make him feel better. And they'd ended up in bed.

But Viggo wasn't meant to feel jealous. And he didn't, not for long anyway, because he was in love with Elijah. But just for that short time, for maybe a day, he found himself looking at Craig and wondering, what if? Craig had asked him first, after all. Something he told no-one. It was during that week when he was getting to know his fellow cast and he spent a day with Craig being shown the art of Wellington. One of the best days he had there. Craig had turned to him at the end of it and asked if he'd like to join him at his place for coffee. Maybe stay a while? And Viggo had said no. He thinks if he hadn't spent the previous evening with Elijah and Astin, and hadn't fallen instantly in love with the former, that he might have said yes. Because Craig Parker was just as sweet and thoughtful and handsome as Elijah.

So here he is, in a cab, on his way to Craig's place. Thinking about the day he turned down the chance to sleep with him. Unless, of course, Craig had actually meant just coffee. He wonders if he should ask.

He doesn't ask, of course. He compliments Craig on his shirt because he likes the colour of it. It matches Craig's eyes. Reminds him of Elijah's. Craig asks him what's wrong. What's brought him to New Zealand. He knows that this is Viggo's retreat.

He spends the afternoon telling Craig about what has happened. Craig listens. He doesn't interrupt, doesn't seem bored. He just listens to Viggo like he understands it exactly and he doesn't make those inane comments that Viggo got fed up of hearing from his other friends after his divorce. Craig asks him if he is angry with Elijah. It's a question Viggo has to think about, because he hasn't really thought about it since that night. He decides he isn't. He never could be. Elijah has more right to be angry with him than the other way around, because it was him who left. Anyway, how can he be angry with someone he still loves?

Fuck.

Viggo is not one to swear offhand like that, but..Fuck. He is still in love with Elijah. He thought...after so much time, he thought he was getting over it. But he's nowhere near. Craig doesn't make any comment when he starts crying, just hands him a box of tissues and rests a hand lightly on his arm. The gentle pressure of his fingers helps. Anchors Viggo to the ground and stops him flying off the edge of his world.

He realises he's never cried in front of Craig before. For that matter, he's never cried in front of anyone from the Rings cast. Except Elijah, of course. He thinks Craig is taking this pretty well. Having him show up here with the intention of just spending time relaxing and on the first day he's breaking down in Craig's kitchen.

It takes him a little while to calm down. When he does, Craig's hand leaves his arm as he gets up and sets about making two mugs of tea. Doesn't even ask, just knows it's what Viggo needs. Because Viggo likes Craig's tea. It soothes him and he's not sure why. Even watching it being made is relaxing because Craig does everything so carefully and meticulously; it's like a study in timing. The photographer in Viggo sees still shots. Close-up of Craig's fingers pinching the string of the teabag. Close-up of steam rising and curling against a background of blue silk shirt. Close-up of Craig's eyes. No reason, just because.

Yeah, right. There is a reason. Craig's eyes are blue, Elijah's eyes are blue. Viggo wonders what blue silk will look like sliding off of Craig's skin.

The mug of tea is placed in front of him and he lifts it to his face, inhaling the steam. He loves Elijah but if Craig asked him up to bed right now, he would say yes. But Viggo knows damned well that he won't ask. Not after the crying. He thanks Craig for the tea and blows gently on its surface, cooling it down. Wishes someone would blow on his surface to cool him down and thinks his face might be red. Which he supposes he can put down to the crying.

Craig is watching him while he drinks his tea. And what's that in his eyes? Curiosity? Pity?

Lust?

Ha. Lust. Good one. Viggo jumps when Craig's phone rings behind him. He watches Craig move around the table, doesn't turn his head, listens to him picking up the receiver and answering, doesn't hear the words that are spoken. Instead he hears the subtle shift of silk on smooth skin, the scuff of bare feet on lino as Craig shifts his weight restlessly from one to the other. He likes that Craig is always barefoot when he's indoors. Realises that Elijah never was apart from at bedtime. Always in socks or those godawful designer sneakers he insisted on wearing because Dom thought they were cool.

As Craig hangs up, Viggo swivels round in his seat to look up at him. Finds himself smiling, which makes Craig smile in return. Before he knows what he is doing, Viggo is asking Craig about the coffee. That evening with the coffee when he said no. Craig frowns for a moment and Viggo thinks he can't even remember, but then he is back to smiling and the corners of his blue eyes crinkle and that is the sexiest thing Viggo's ever seen.

Craig tells Viggo that, yes, he wanted more than coffee from him. That he still does, but he won't even think of asking for it if it's not what Viggo wants. If he's unable to offer anything more than a night. Because Craig wants a lot more than that. Viggo asks, because he has to be sure, if Craig minds that he still has feelings for Elijah. Craig shakes his head in reply. He knows that, eventually, those feelings will be for him. He holds out a hand and Viggo takes it.


~end.