The Bridge

Ok, this is very much an AU fic. No LOTR, just the guys. It's a bit wierd, very angsty. Viggo isn't a nice guy in this at all, in fact he's a complete bastard. Please don't read if you're uncomfortable with that. Please don't read if you're uncomfortable with homosexuality.
Written for Kerry's Halloween challenge.
Disclaimer: I wish!


The Bridge
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A slight, trembling figure stood on the large, ornate bridge, staring blankly into the black icy water running below. He closed his eyes against the onslaught of the bleak autumn wind, the action allowing previously unshed tears to stream down his bruised and battered face.

"This can't go on." He whispered, his voice shaking with barely contained sobs.

"I can't do this anymore........no more."

Wrapping his arms around his thin frame in a futile attempt to shield himself from the cold and ease his aching ribs, he lifted his head, opening his eyes to the blanket of stars in the evening sky. The moon was out in all its glory, occasionally dimmed by wisps of cloud floating pass sis silent features.

'Perfect Halloween sky' he smiled to himself. 'A night of magic'........ He looked down at his bruised wrists and the tattered remnants of his costume........'A night of evil'.

-------------------

Orlando's stomach lurched in anticipation as he made his way up the path toward Viggo's house. Subconsciously smoothing imaginary wrinkles out of his costume, his steps faltered, mind suddenly in a panic as to what his lover would think of his chosen outfit.

Vig had announced to their friends and family that he was throwing an X-men Halloween party. He had then posted the invitations to everyone, along with details of their designated 'X-man', explaining to Orlando that it would "save the embarrassment of people turning up in the same costume". 'God bloody forbid that should happen' the young man thought dryly.

Orlando looked down at his slightly smudged blue painted hands as he needlessly straightened the tight black cat suit.

"You're stalling for time" he whispered to himself, the butterflies in his stomach making him feel weak and nauseous.

Straightening his posture and taking a deep calming breath, Orlando continued up the path, veering left just before he reached the house, opening the gate to back garden.

Viggo didn't allow him to enter the house by the front door on social occasions such as these. He didn't want his lover "making a grand entrance", preferring Orlando to arrive quietly and blend in. Unnoticed, unseen by everyone except him, when he felt inclined to grace the young man with his attention.

Steeling himself against the invading bitter thoughts and wishing to god he'd thought of having a few drinks before he set off, Orlando pushed open the back door.

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Shaking hands grabbed tightly on to the rail of the bridge, softly caressing the flaking paint. Png ong over the side, the shivering young man noticed how inviting the water looked, like a large rippling blanket he could wrap himself in against the cold that was creeping into his body. Into his soul. He could just jump, lose himself in its depths, stave off the chill for ever.

Angrily brushing away an errant tear, wincing at the pain his rough treatment caused to his injured face, he climbed onto the ledge.

"No.............please don't."

---------------------

The evening was going surprisingly well so far. Orlando had calmed somewhat, partly due the large glass of whiskey he had consumed upon arrival, and partly because Viggo had approved heartily of his outfit. Orlando's body was still tingling with after-effects of Viggo eagerly showing his approval in the utility closet. The young Brit had received numerous 'safe' comments on his outfit, mostly along the lines of "you look great" and "I didn't recognise you under all that blue paint". The latter definitely brightening his lover. Unrecognised, unnoticed. Perfect.

Vig, AKA Wolverine, was currently toying with his Orlando's makeshift tail as they chatted amiably with Magneto and Jean Grey about everything from the weather to the perils of greenfly versus roses. Ian had suffered a bad season in that particular department and was debating on the ethics of mass greenfly genocide in the interests of his flowers. A part of Orlando rebelled slightly at the sight of Magneto whining about insects getting the better of him in battle, laughing when Viggo suggested he recruit their friend Karl, AKA Cyclops, to zap them with his eye laser. The relaxed mask was firmly in place, hiding the churning fear inside him. Everything was going well; Vig was in a good mood. All he had to do was get through the evening without incident, pray that nothing would happen to sour his lover's countenance.

Of course Orlando knew too well that the gods never listened to his pleas. Proof, if needed, arrived in the form of Viggo's younger brother Elijah, who unwittingly sent the relative calm and safety of the evening crashing down around Orlando's feet, by uttering one simple greeting.

"Hey guys! Orli, you came as Nightcrawler? Damn! I love your outfit, you look so sexy."

'No! Oh god no.........please tell me you didn't just say that.'

The tightening of the grip around his tail and the venom in Viggo's previously relaxed gaze confirmed Orlando's fears.

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"What?"

The troubled man turned from his ascent to regard the figure slowly advancing on him.

"Whatever it is, it can't be worth it."

The stranger stood barely a foot away now, his clear blue eyes silently pleading, his posture relaxed, but ready for action should the suffering young man decide to continue with his plan.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Craig. You?"

Casting a wary gaze over the man before him, he turned fully around, once again wrapping his arms around his shivering body as he spoke. "O...Orlando."

Craig smiled kindly, his heart aching at the sad, resigned brown eyes and the beaten face before him.

"What happened?"

Orlando broke at the gentle inquiry, the tight shuddering knot in his stomach giving way to weakness as he collapsed to sit on the cold floor of the bridge.

"Does it really matter?" He sighed.

"Yes." Came the answer, as Craig sat opposite. "Please tell me."

"You don't want to know."

"I do. Please."

"Why?"

"I want to help."

Craig's admission was met with a bitter chuckle. " You can't help me."

"Try me. It can't result in anything worse than you already have planned."

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Orlando shuddered at the sickening feeling of dread in his stomach as his lover forcibly shoved him into the bedroom.

"Please Vig, I....."

"Shut the fuck up!" The taller man growled, pulling Orlando close only to backhand the frightened young man ferociously, sending him sprawling to the hard wood floor.

"This is why you dressed in that outfit tonight. You dressed for him, not me!"

"No, I wore it for you."

"Liar!" Viggo yelled, sending his booted foot into Orlando's stomach, causing his lover to cry out, curling into a foetal ball.

"I'm not lying." Orlando whimpered. But he knew it was useless, Viggo was in a rage. As the barrage of slaps, punches, kicks and foul words descended upon him, Orlando brought his arms over his head and his knees up to his chest, trying to provide at least some protection from the beating.

"You think he'd take you? Do you?!" Viggo screamed as he vented his anger on the terrified form at his feet. Kneeling over his lover, bringing his mouth close to Orlando's ear he whispered his parting shot. "You're worthless. Look at you, weak. No one wants you but me. No one would take care of you but me. You belong to me, forever. Don't even think about forgetting that." Kissing Orlando with a ridiculously contrasting tenderness, Viggo straightened himself and walked to the door. "You stay here." He ordered quietly. "You don't move, you don't make a sound. You sit and think about what you've done." With that he switched the light off and left the room and it's quietly sobbing occupant huddled on the floor.

-----------------------

Craig closed his eyes, his body sagging slightly from the burden his companion had softly unravelled.

"Why........" Craig swallowed to alleviate the rough emotion in his voice. "Why do you stay with him?"

Orlando smiled sadly, running his hands through his dark wavy hair. "Because......" He began, his tired voice barely managing a whisper. "Because a large part of me believes what he tells me. Because he was so damned wonderful in the beginning, another part of me is waiting for him to see sense, realise what he's been doing and take me in his arms with promises of love and pleas for forgiveness. Because I love him." Orlando raised his head, making visual contact with the heartbroken eyes regarding him. "Because I.......I don't know what else to do. I can't escape, I know that. I've only got two options. Go back to what passes as my life, or leave it completely."

"What about your family?"

"Mum lives hundreds of miles away."

"Do you keep in contact?" Craig shuffled closer as he questioned, desperately wanting to provide Orlando with some comfort, but knowing he couldn't invade the young man's personal space.

"Yeah. We call each other a couple of days a week, write and stuff you know." Orlando shrugged, smiling slightly as he thought of his mother and wishing he could just go to her, sink into her warm embrace. "She could always chase the demons away."

"She loves you."

Orlando frowned at the statement. "Of course she does."

Craig sighed. "The biggest nightmare for any parent is to lose their child. Especially if they're left with the guilt that they could have prevented it somehow. Left with the feeling that they failed when needed the most."

Orlando closed his stinging eyes once more, his chest burning at the thought of his mum's reaction, her crying at his funeral. "Don't do this to me. Please?"

Craig bit back his guilt. He'd dealt a low blow, but he'd looked deeply into Orlando's eyes. Seen the barren devastation, the absence of hope.

---------------------

Orlando had managed to drag himself into the adjoining bathroom. He ran the hot tap on the sink, scooping handfuls of the steaming water and scrubbing gingerly at his face. His entire body throbbed viciously from the previous battering. The intense pain had caused him stop his ministrations twice in order to empty the contents of his stomach down the toilet, the violent heaving bringing more agony to his already abused body. The muted sounds of the party still raging downstairs were lost to him as he regarded his swollen features in the mirror.

'Look at you. Weak.'

Orlando bowed his head, choking on the steadily flowing tears, his mind assaulted with Viggo's vile words.

'You belong to me.'

"No." He sobbed softly, not for a minute believing his own denial.

The sound of the bedroom door opening and muffled voices caught his attention. Shuffling silently to the bathroom door, Orlando paled at the sight before him.

"Oh yes!" Viggo moaned, as Dom sank to his knees in front of the older man, drunkenly fumbling with the fastenings on Viggo's suit. Neither noticed the quiet gasp of their unwilling voyeur, or the awkward stumbling body fleeing the room.

-----------------------

"Go home to her."

Orlando regarded the questioner with heavy lidded, swollen eyes.

"You can't stay here, you know that. You're alone here, and that's one of the things he relies on." Seeing the fear and indecision in his companion, Craig continued. "Come on" he softly encouraged, rising to his feet and holding his hand out to the young man below him. "He's already done his best to ruin your life, don't let him ruin your mum's as well."

Orlando's eyes widened slightly at Craig's words, meeting his gaze briefly before lowering to suspiciously study the proffered hand.

"Shit. I'm sorry” Craig muttered. He withdrew his arm and stepped back a couple of paces from Orlando, inwardly cursing his own stupidity and forgetfulness.

Long, tense moments passed before Orlando braced himself and stood shakily, stretching his limbs stiffened from the combined cold and inactivity.

"Thank you" he whispered. "I wish I could see things as easily as you do."

Craig shook his head slightly at the compliment, his expression sad. "My own stupidity caused me to lose someone very dear to me. I just.......I just don't want you to make the same mistake, that's all."

Orlando looked hard at Craig, his eyes moving over the handsome, but tired features of the man's face. He wanted suddenly to hold this man in his arms, take away whatever sadness was troubling him. He wanted to sit him down with a stiff drink in a warm room and listen to his pain as Craig had done for him. But the more he studied the stranger, the greater his desire to just run from him. Run from the hellish night, run from the cold bridge, run from his life, and his death. The burden of his sorrow had been alleviated slightly, only to be replaced with an uneasy feeling. "I...I need to......" Orlando began, feeling guilt at his need to leave this man who had willingly helped him.

"I know" Craig smiled. "Good luck eh."

Orlando's sleepy and aching brown eyes locked briefly with Craig's sympathetic blue gaze, smiling slightly at the understanding he could read there.

"Thank you" he whispered, before turning and walking unsteadily away.

After watching the retreating form disappear into the darkness beyond the bridge, Craig moved to the rail and looked over into the river below.

Heallyally allowed long unshed tears to fall, the water as inviting and comforting to him as it was a year ago. "I'm so sorry Billy" he whispered brokenly, his gaze falling to a small bunch of flowers taped to the bottom of the rail. His mind filling with the memory of the beautiful, crying young man who had placed them there earlier. He had wanted so badly to reach out and touch his love. Hold him; tell him how sorry he was. "I never meant to leave you alone. I'm so, so sorry baby" he sobbed into the night, his form slowly dissipating until all that remained was a broken whisper.