Pygmalion 14/17

[zebraljb.livejournal.com]

Author: zebraljb
Rating: G to NC17
Disclaimer: This is written without permission. It is made up, and AU.



“Orlando!” Viggo yelled, running out of the studio. Orlando and Elijah were nowhere to be seen, however, having learned long before how to blend into the woodwork. “Dammit!”

“Viggo?” Dominic walked up and lightly grasped Viggo’s shoulder. “Is there a reason you just ran out of your show, screaming and yelling?”

“Orlando…he and Elijah disappeared…” Viggo whispered. “He’s so angry…”

“You can deal with them later,” Dom said, plastering a polite smile on his face as he led Viggo back inside. “This is a big deal, Vig. Don’t ruin it,” he whispered.

Viggo sighed. “Fine.” He went with Dom, though his heart was no longer in it.


Orlando angrily threw the cellphone behind his bed as it rang yet again. He and Elijah had walked along the river for hours before finally heading home. The cellphone had rung constantly, and Orlando knew Viggo was calling whenever he had a free moment. “Damn piece of annoying shit!” Orlando snapped.

“Don’t, Orli,” Elijah said tiredly. He took off his coat and jacket and tossed it in a corner. “This is all my fault.”

“No, it’s not, ‘Lij…” Orlando sat down on his bed, which was basically their sofa. “He shouldn’t have painted you like that, put you up on a wall for everyone to see.”

“He didn’t know,” Elijah said, sitting down next to him.

“You’re better than that. Better than some artist’s model,” Orlando continued, ignoring Elijah. “You’re better than this, too, but I gave up telling you that long ago.”

“Orlando.” Elijah cupped Orlando’s chin in his hand to get him to stop talking. “Viggo didn’t know. It’s not like my mom put posters up on telephone poles or anything,” he said wryly.

“Your mom loves you, Elijah,” Orlando insisted. Elijah rolled his eyes. “He shouldn’t have put you up there like that,” Orlando repeated.

“Because I’m better than you?” Elijah asked. Orlando nodded without thinking, then frowned. “Orli, you and I are the same.”

“No, we’re not,” Orlando said. “You come from so much more, Elijah. You deserve a big house and a fancy car, and…”

“I had all that. And now I have this.” Elijah motioned around the room and Orlando had to smile. Elijah sighed. “You know, when I was talking to that Billy Boyd guy, he was really nice to me. He didn’t know I sleep around for money. He thought I was good looking, and interesting. It was nice,” he finished wistfully.

“You are good-looking and interesting,” Orlando said. Elijah laid his head on Orlando’s shoulder and said nothing.


Viggo sat at his window, staring out at the city. He didn’t see the buildings or the streetlights. All he saw was a pair of brown eyes filled with shock and dismay.

He awakened four hours later with a horrible crick in his neck. A pounding on the door made him growl with annoyance as he stood up and stretched. He peeked through the peephole and growled again. “Hello, Dom,” he snapped, opening the door.

“Did you see?” Dominic fairly danced into the room, waving a newspaper in the air.

“I just got up,” Viggo informed him. “What are you talking about?”

“Your show!” Dominic flipped the paper open. “It’s in the Culture section. You’re a hit! Even Billy Boyd gave a quote as to how great your work was!”

“That’s great,” Viggo said quietly. At one time, this would have been everything he could have wished for. Now, it didn’t seem all that important.

“Don’t get too excited there, Vig,” Dom said, frowning.

“I’m sorry.” Viggo rubbed at his neck. “Want some coffee or something?”

“No, thank you. I can tell you want to be alone.” Dom folded up his paper. “Someone else will come along, Vig.”

“Not someone like this,” Viggo said with a sigh.


Viggo tried to nap after Dominic left, but sleep wouldn’t come. After tossing and turning for over an hour, he finally got up, took a shower, and headed out for coffee and some breakfast. He was walking down a city sidewalk when someone called his name. He turned around and sighed.

“Hello, Sean.”

“Viggo.” Sean Bean fidgeted uncomfortably in front of Viggo. “How are you?”

“Not so good,” Viggo said honestly.

“I, uh, saw the review of your show in the paper this morning. That’s great, Vig.”

“Thank you,” Viggo said politely.

“Look, Viggo, I know I’ve been a real ass lately, and I apologize. Can we get some coffee and just talk? Like friends.”

“I don’t know if we CAN be friends, Beanie,” Viggo said. Sean smiled a little.

“You won’t know unless we try,” he said encouragingly.

Viggo sighed. “Okay. JUST coffee.”

“Great. I’ll buy.”

They headed up the street to a small café. They got coffee and pastries and headed outside to a small table under a green umbrella. Sean blew on his coffee and Viggo stared into space. “How’s the business?”

“Good,” Sean said. “I got a piano player. Some guy named Josh Chasez. He brings the girls in, which is good, and he has talent.”

“That’s good,” Viggo said. “Cute?”

“Very,” Sean said, laughing. Viggo could read him too well. “But too young. Not that it seems to bother you…”

“I’d rather not talk about him, thank you,” Viggo snapped.

“Okay. Sorry.” Sean held up his hands in defeat. “So, tell me about the show,” he said, quickly changing the subject.

Viggo began to talk about the night before, making sure to ignore any reference to Orlando. He was in the middle of a story about a rich woman who had flirted with him when something caught his eye. “Would you excuse me?” Viggo was up and walking away before Sean could reply. Viggo jogged after the thin form and put his hand on the man’s shoulder.

Elijah turned around and gasped. “Viggo!”