vigorli

Author: zebraljb
Rating: G to NC17
Disclaimer: It's almost done and it's STILL made up.
Note: I'm looking for a banner for this story, to go on my friend's webpage. If any of you are so artistically inclined, email me with your work at zebra.ljb.verizon.net. Thanks!

“Elijah,” Viggo said breathlessly. He then shifted his weight from foot to foot, not sure what to say. “Uh, how are you?”

“Fine,” Elijah said, also looking nervous. “And Orlando is, too,” he added before Viggo could ask.

“Good. That’s good,” Viggo said quickly. They stared at each other for a moment, and then both spoke at the same time.

“Viggo, look…”

“Elijah, I just wanted…”

They stopped and stared at each other again. Viggo then motioned for Elijah to speak. “Viggo, I’m not mad at you,” Elijah said. “Really.”

“I’m sorry for whatever I did,” Viggo said. “I still don’t know what happened. That painting is my favorite. I think it’s the best work I’ve ever done.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Elijah said. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”

“I’d like to know,” Viggo said softly.

“We could go somewhere and talk,” Elijah suggested.

“I’m, uh, having coffee with someone,” Viggo said. Elijah looked over Viggo’s shoulder and frowned. “Not like that!” Viggo said quickly. “Just coffee. We ran into each other. Can you come back to my loft in an hour?”

“Fine,” Elijah said. He turned on one heel and walked away.

Viggo went back to the table. “Sorry,” he said to Sean.

“No problem. Wasn’t that your cousin?”

“He’s, uh, not my cousin,” Viggo said, sighing. Sean raised an eyebrow. “I’d…”

“I know, you’d rather not talk about it,” Sean said with a grin.

Viggo was barely in the loft ten minutes before he heard a knock at the door. “Hi,” he said nervously, stepping aside so Elijah could come in. “Are you hungry or anything?”

“No,” Elijah said.

“Sit down.” Viggo sat at one end of the sofa, Elijah at the other.

“Orli was only angry because he cares about me,” Elijah said softly. “He knows deep down it wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

“Couldn’t have known what?”

Elijah sighed. “That I’m hiding from my family. They live in a town not far from here, and one of them could have been here somehow, and saw the painting. I’m sure they think I’m dead or something, not that they care.”

“Dead?” Viggo asked, horrified.

Elijah sighed again, looking very young and alone. “My mom and dad are divorced. My dad lives in England. Anyway, my mom got this boyfriend, Gary. We clashed from the start, and my mom only took his side. I know that she was hurting from the divorce, but at the time she only cared about Gary and what he thought. He saw me as an interruption at first, as a roadblock?”

“Roadblock?”

“Between him and my mom’s money,” Elijah said. “See, my grandfather was pretty rich, and my mom inherited it all.” He named a figure that made Viggo’s mouth drop open. “I know Gary was only after her for the dough, and he saw me as something that would make her think twice before marrying him. And then when he found out I was gay…” Elijah swallowed deeply. Viggo got up and brought him a cold beer. “Thanks.” Elijah took a large gulp before continuing. “After that, nothing I did was right. My mom wasn’t happy about my choice, of course, but she never talked about it. He ALWAYS talked about it…always brought it up. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I told her to choose, me or him, and then I punched him when she said him.” Elijah didn’t even notice the tears falling down his cheeks. “I left with the clothes on my back…wandered around the city, getting lost in the shadows whenever a cop went by. I was sure she sent them after me. I ran into Orli, and he took pity on me. Gave me a place to stay and something to eat. He tried to talk me outta doing what he was doing, but I needed money, and guys seem to like me.”

“Oh, Elijah,” Viggo sighed. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

“I’m sure she did.” Elijah got up and went to look out the large windows. “It’s been two years now. I’m sure she has the money to hire someone to find me.”

“Maybe she’d never think to look in the places you go,” Viggo said. “Think about it. You’re what, twenty? You were just a kid when you left. HER kid. She’d never expect you to…”

“Fuck for money?” Elijah said bitterly.

“CALL her,” Viggo suggested. “Use my phone.”

“I don’t want to call her,” Elijah said, but the wistful look on his face said otherwise.

“Do it for me. For yourself,” Viggo said. He picked up the cordless phone and handed it to Elijah.
Elijah stared at it for a long moment, then dialed a number with shaking hands. “Hello…Mom?”