vigorli

Title: Silent Partners (2/?)
Author: Louby

fictionbylouby
Pairing: V/O, Orlando/Christian Bale
Rating: NC-17
Summary: The causes and consequences of infidelity.
Warnings: A.U, mentions of het, (non con & violence in later chapters).
Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with any of the actors, only the plot is mine.
AN: Beta read by my amazing twin sister Pippi.

Orlando nibbled his thumbnail nervously as he tried for what felt the millionth time in the past few hours to get through to Viggo, once again getting only his voicemail. He sighed in disappointment, slumping down onto the bench at the end of his Mum’s street. He’d only managed to speak to Viggo once since he and Christian had arrived at Orlando’s family home at Canterbury for the Easter long weekend as they had done every year since they got married. It had appeared that Christian would be cancelling their arrangements yet again, until at the last minute he decided that the company could do without him for a few days, after all the majority of the staff were on holiday so there wasn’t really anyone for him to manage. A few months ago Orlando would have been delighted by this, but since becoming involved with Viggo he was getting increasingly edgy whenever he had to spend time with his husband; it would only take one small slip up and Christian would know everything. Orlando had been looking forward to being away from London just so he could relax for once. But now Christian was here and knew something was wrong by the way Orlando was acting. In the past Christian would always give his young husband space when he knew something was bothering him, knowing that Orlando would talk to him when he was ready, and Orli had loved him for it. Now he felt like he was suffocating, immediately tensing whenever he heard Christian’s voice. That’s why Orlando was desperately trying to contact his lover, just to have someone to talk to. He was sure he looked suspicious sneaking off all the time, but he was past caring. The bench at the end of the road was the best place to get a mobile signal, but more importantly it was far away enough that he could talk freely without having to worry about who was eavesdropping and whether or not he was incriminating himself.

He jumped as the phone suddenly started vibrating in his hand. He smiled slightly as he saw his lover’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hey” he said nonchalantly. What he really wanted to do was scream “I love you and I miss you!” down the phone, but he could never be sure who was on the other end. This was the same reason why the pair never sent each other personal texts or voicemails. Both were sure that neither Christian nor Maria would think twice about going through their husbands’ private messages.

“Hey baby” Viggo answered. Orli relaxed further when he realised Viggo must be alone. “Is every okay? I’ve got almost a dozen missed calls but I’ve been driving so I couldn’t answer”

“I’m fine” Orli sighed. “At least I am now, I just miss you is all. But I guess that’s understandable.”

“I miss you too, and I’m sorry I couldn’t talk before but I was visiting Henry in Durham and it’s a long drive.”

“I? So I take it Maria wasn’t up for visiting?”

Viggo snorted. “Of course not, why would she? She’s baking cakes for Juliette to take to Rainbows.”

“Well that too is an important task!” Orli giggled. “How long can you talk for?”

“Not long” Viggo said apologetically. “I’m at a service station and Maria will get suspicious if I’m not home soon.”

“It doesn’t matter” Orlando replied. “It’s just good to hear your voice.”

“You too baby, it’s only been two days since I last saw you and I’m already going mad.”

“I’ll be back on Monday evening and I’ll see you first thing Tuesday morning at work”.

“Tuesday can’t come quickly enough” Viggo grumbled. “God knows how I’m going to get any work done.”

Orlando laughed out loud. “I’m sure you’ll manage, or maybe I should just phone in sick and remove the distraction.”

“Don’t you dare!” Viggo threatened.

They chatted for several more minutes until Orli saw that it was getting late. “You’d better go” he said regretfully.

“You’re right – unfortunately” Viggo sighed. “I love you baby.”

“Love you too Vig. See you soon.” The click on the other line indicated that Viggo had hung up. Orli closed his eyes as he shut his phone, leaning back against the bench.

A few moments later he heard the front door bang shut and footsteps trotting towards him, too light to be Christian’s but just right to be his sister’s.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding” Sam sang cheerfully, sitting down next to her brother. “We were beginning to think you’d done a runner”.

Orlando smiled nervously; Sam had no idea how much her innocent teasing rang true, he wished so much that he could just run away and be with his Viggo.

Sam looked her little brother up and down carefully, something had not been right with him for quite some time and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. This time last year he had been his normal, exuberant self and now he just seemed so empty and sad.

“How’s your tummy?” She asked quietly, referring to when she and Orli had gone riding that morning and Orli had been thrown from his horse and badly bruised.

“Sore” he murmured, never looking up to meet his sister’s eyes. He just knew that the questions were about to start, he sensed the tone in her voice.

“You sure you don’t need to see a doctor?” she asked gently, shuffling closer to her brother. Since Orlando had broken his back he had been petrified of doctors and hospitals and Sam was sure that Orli would say he wasn’t hurt just to avoid medical intervention.

Orli nodded his head slowly, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his feet on the bench. “I’m fine.”

The siblings sat in silence for several minutes. Orli was well aware that Sam was worried about him, and was torn between wanting to hide away to avoid any questions, and wanting her to push him for answers, just to put her mind at rest. But he was scared; he didn’t doubt she would keep it to herself; he was just terrified of her reaction. He couldn’t bear for her to reject him, out of everyone he’d ever met he valued his big sister’s approval above all others.

He felt Sam put her arm around him as she finally spoke. “What’s wrong Orli?” she asked at last, her voice barely above a whisper. He allowed her to pull him towards her so that his head was resting on her shoulder.

“Nothing” he said unconvincingly. “I’m just a bit run down.”

“God damn it Orlando” she almost shouted, causing Orli to shudder slightly. “You’re a damn good actor but I know you well enough to know when you’re lying.”

Orli knew she was very serious, she almost never called him by his full name and the last time she had shouted at him like that was when he’d accidentally spilled tea on her new clothes when he was 15.

“Come on Orli” she urged, squeezing his shoulder. “You said once that you could tell me anything - what’s changed?” She gently turned his head so he was looking up at her, forcing him to look her in the eye. “Why are you shutting me out?”

Orli quickly jerked his head away, not being able to stand the hurt look in his sister’s eyes anymore. Because she was right, there had never been anything that he’d felt he couldn’t tell her. She was the first person he’d told when he realised he was gay, long before he dared to tell their Mum. When he got his acceptance letter for Guildhall it had been Sam that had opened it for him when he had been too afraid to read the reply, and it had been Sam, not Jake who he’d first told when he lost his virginity. They were as close as two siblings could be and he just wished that there was someway he could explain that he couldn’t confide in her this time.

“I remember when you used to sit here for hours in the summer with your pocket money, waiting for the ice cream man.” Sam smiled at the memory, looking down at her brother and partly still seeing a little boy that she needed to protect.

“Then when you got older you’d sit here and wait for Christian to arrive, you were always so happy to see him.” She hesitated, knowing that she needed to proceed with caution. “You’re never that happy to Christian any more are you Orli?”

Orli’s resolve to keep quiet quickly crumbled, as once again his sister had managed to figure out exactly what troubled him without him saying a word. He looked up at her with sad eyes and she knew what was coming. She pulled him tight against her chest as he burst into tears, soaking her t-shirt as he wept.

“Is he hitting you?” Sam asked abruptly, stroking Orli’s hair to soothe him.

“Why does everyone automatically assume that?” he asked between sobs. “Is it because I’m weak and can’t take care of myself?”

“Of course not Tigger” she soothed, glad that the use of his childhood nickname had calmed him a little. “You’re one of the strongest people I know; you’ve obviously been bottling this up for a long time and have only just cracked. But something significant must have happened for you to react like this.”

“I can’t tell you” Orli said helplessly, shaking his head. “You’ll hate me and I couldn’t stand that.”

“What could you have possibly done that could make me hate you?” Sam urged. “You could tell me you’re an axe wielding maniac and it wouldn’t make any difference to me, you’re my baby brother”

“It’s complicated Sammy” Orli sniffled. “You’re such a good person and you wouldn’t understand.”

“Believe me I’m far from perfect” she snorted incredulously.

Orli looked at her in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh nothing” she said dismissively. “Stop changing the subject.” This time it was she who couldn’t meet the others eyes. “Seriously Orli whatever it is I wish you’d just tell me so I can stop imagining the worst. And if you can’t then maybe I don’t mean as much to you as I thought I did.”

Orli dwelt on what she said for a moment, he already had such a low opinion of himself and this wasn’t making him feel any better. All of a sudden he pulled away from Sam’s hold and was on his feet and heading back towards the house.

Sam quickly followed him, calling his name. He stopped abruptly at her car.

“Get the keys” he told her

“What?” she asked in confusion. “You’re not driving anywhere in this state”.

“I know I’m not, you’re coming with me” he shot back, wrapping his arms around himself as he leant against the bonnet.

He heard Sam shout that they’d be back in 10 minutes before she unlocked the car and they climbed in.

“Where exactly are we going?” she asked impatiently as she pulled out onto the road.

“I don’t care” Orli mumbled. “Just drive us somewhere quiet and away from here.”

They drove for five minutes in silence, Sam kept her eyes on the road and Orli sat with his forehead resting against the passenger window, neither said a word to the other. Finally Sam stopped the car at the gates to the park where Orli used to play football when he was younger.

Neither made a move to say something or to get out of the car, so they sat in silence again, each time Sam went to open her mouth she stopped herself, knowing Orli needed to start talking in his own time.

“I’m having an affair” Orli whispered finally.

Sam sat in stunned silence, of all the things that she thought her sweet, innocent baby brother was going to confess to, adultery was about the last thing on her list. Or was it? She knew better than anyone how Orlando despised being alone and had a pathological fear of being unwanted, he had his estranged father to thank for that. So was it that astonishing that when Christian had all but turned his back on his husband, that Orli would find comfort somewhere else? She thought not.

“For God’s sake Sam say something” Orli said shakily when Sam hadn’t responded.

“It’s Viggo isn’t it?” she said knowingly.

Orlando’s head quickly whipped round so he was looking at his sister for the first time since getting in the car. “How did you know?”

“Don’t worry Tigger, it’s not obvious. But you used to talk about him all the time, and then suddenly you stopped, never mentioned him again. In fact the last time you mentioned him was on the phone on the morning of your birthday. I know why now”

“That’s when it first happened” he whispered softly as he remembered. “On my birthday. But I didn’t mean for it to happen Sam, I promise! I didn’t set out to hurt Chris, I love him. I just love Viggo more.”

“It’s okay Orli, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“But I do want to.” He replied urgently. “I need you to know why I would do such a thing, I need you to know that I’m not just some slut that was bored with his husband and decided to move on to his next victim.”

Sam when to speak but he cut her off. “I know you’re going to say you don’t think that, but even so, I have to get this out.”

Sam sat and listened intently as Orli recounted the last year of his life, from the moment Christian started working all his long hours, to the moment when he turned up at Viggo’s house and finally slept with him. He had to stop several times to regain his composure, but he managed to get through it, after all he was going to have to explain this to people a lot less understanding than his sister.

“Oh Orli” she had softly when he finished speaking. “You’ve gotten yourself into a right mess haven’t you?”

“I know, and I hate myself for it. But if I lost Viggo….I’d hate myself even more.”

“You’ve got no reason to hate yourself Tigger” she said sadly, taking hold of his hand. “You’re a wonderful person, otherwise why would you be in such turmoil over hurting Christian? Most people in your situation don’t give their spouse a second thought. The only thing you’re guilty of is falling in love with someone else. Of course it’s difficult and people have very strict views on this sort of thing, but they don’t know what you’ve just told me. And at the end of the day you’re only human, you’re a human being with flaws like this rest of us.”

She was glad to finally see Orli smile slightly. “And besides” she said teasingly. “It’s about time that halo of yours slipped slightly”

“That’s easy for you to say little miss perfect” he teased good naturedly.

“Stop saying that” she giggled, elbowing him in the side, but Orli knew her well enough to know she too was hiding something.

“O.K spill” he sighed.

“What?” she said innocently.

“Don’t take me for an idiot Sam, every time I say how bloody fantastic you are you go all weird.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said, shifting uncomfortably.

“Yes you do!” Orli yelled in exasperation. “You’ve just sat there and all but bullied a confession out of me but now you’re the one keeping secrets. You should practice what you preach!”

“Really Orli you don’t want to know” she said, a distinct warning tone in her voice. “I just can’t let you sit there thinking you’ve done such a terrible thing while I sit here and judge you when I really have no right”

Orli started to panic when a sickening, if a little irrational thought passed through his head. “Is this something to do with Christian?” he asked as he felt himself beginning to panic.

“What?!” she asked, dumbfounded until the look on Orlando’s face told her what he was implying. “Ewww Orli no! I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life! As if I’d do anything with Christian…well there was that time one Christmas under the mistletoe when I threw myself at him and all but forced him to kiss me, but that didn’t mean anything! He looked extremely violated for one thing, plus I only had on one shoe and had vomit in my hair, so I don’t think he saw anything in it. Actually I really should apologise for that one day, I hope he doesn’t think I’m the kind of girl that-”

“Samantha!” Orli shouted. “You’re babbling!”

“I guess it runs in the family” she said sheepishly.

“Will you stop being so cryptic?” he asked in frustration. “You too have obviously got some big secret and it can’t be any worse than infidelity. Do you think I’m going to start preaching at you after all-”

“I’ve had an abortion” she blurted out.

The only visible sign that Orlando had heard what she’d said was when his eyes widened ever so slightly, determined to be their for her the way she had been there for him.

“I’m sorry” was all he could say.

“Don’t be Orli, I’m not” she smiled, “What I mean is I’m sorry that it had to happen, but I don’t regret it.”

“But….you and Eric are engaged” Orli said in confusion.

“That doesn’t mean I’m ready for motherhood Tigger” Sam explained gently. “All I’ve done since graduating is work and I want to live a little. I don’t want to end up resenting my children, not like Dad did.”

Orlando understood, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t shocked. Sam was so naturally maternal; she had taken all her younger relatives under her wing and had made it her duty to take care of them, especially her beloved baby brother as she called him.

“Does Eric know?”

“No, I never told him. I was never worried that he would make me have it, but I took the choice away from him anyway. Maybe that was wrong, but it’s my body and my life, and I knew that if he found out he’d never get over the guilt, he’s too sensitive.”

She paused, looking out the window so she didn’t have to look in Orli’s eyes when she said what she would say next. “When you got married, I think I hated you a little bit. You were the baby of the family; you were supposed to be the one to stay at home to keep an eye on Mum. You were her favourite and I’ve always felt like I was playing catch up with you. It’s no fun when you’re a girl and your little brother is known as the pretty one. When you married Christian I felt like you just needed someone to look after you and you were just looking for an easy life. But know I realise that you were sort of pushed into it, even if you can’t see that right now. I understand why you did it; It seemed like the right thing to do but you weren’t truly ready, and then despite caring for Christian deeply, you still ended up miserable. That’s why I had the termination; I didn’t want to end up like you just because I’d chosen to do what people call “the right thing”. Which is ironic in a way, because all my life for one reason or another I’ve tried to be like you.”

The siblings looked at each other solemnly, until it all became too much and they both burst out laughing.

“God we’re a right pair aren’t we?!” Orli chuckled as he pulled his sister into a loving hug.

“We certainly are” she giggled, kissing him softly on the forehead.

Orli pulled back to look her in the eye. “I’m leaving him you know. I’m leaving him for Viggo, in just a few more weeks.”

“I know you are, I could tell by the way you were talking” she spoke gently.

Orli sighed in relief. “You’ve already done so much for me just by listening, and I know it’s going to put you in a really awkward position, but when it happens I’m going to need you to be there for me.”

“Of course I’m going to be there for you you silly bint!” Sam teased light heartedly. “I mean I think Chris is great, at least I did before I heard about how he’s been treating you, but my loyalties will always lie with you, whatever you do.”

“Thanks Sam, you’re a legend. Hang on a minute, how did you know?” Orli questioned her suspiciously. “Whenever I tell you something more often than not you say ‘I know’.

She tapped his nose like she used to when she found him doing something he shouldn’t be. “It’s big sister intuition.”

***********************************

“It hurts like hell” Orli said through gritted teeth as Christian examined his bruised stomach.

“Of course it’s hurts” Christian replied as if talking to a five year old. “You were thrown from a horse and landed on a fence.”

“And the bugger kicked me” Orli grumbled under his breath, wincing as his husband poked a particularly tender spot.

“Really Orli you’re going to have to start being more careful” Christian chided as he took in his husband’s bruised flesh.

“Oh he knows” Sonia called over her shoulder as she headed up to bed, affectionately ruffling her son’s hair as she walked past. “But as usual he doesn’t engage brain.”

Orli rolled his eyes as he mother and husband discussed him as if he wasn’t here, Christian had a great knack of making him feel like a little boy whenever his mother was around.

“You’d think someone as accident prone as yourself would steer clear of horses” Christian teased as Orli sat up on the sofa and pulled his t-shirt back down. The banter continued as the pair followed Sonia up to bed.

“I can’t help it if trouble follows me around!” shoving Christian gently in the shoulder, feeling much better after his heart to heart with Sam.

“You follow trouble around Darling!” Christian piped back, laughing as Orli gave him the finger as he pulled off his jeans, proving his point as he almost lost his balance and fell flat on his face. As Christian headed to the bathroom and Orli finished changing for bed, a sudden sense of sadness washed over him. He’d been unhappy with Christian for a long time, but every once in a while they were back to how they used to be, it never lasted long, but Orli knew that he was going to miss it.

Orlando was already in bed and half asleep when Christian got back to the guest room, Orli would have preferred to sleep in his old bedroom, but Christian said it felt creepy sleeping in Orli’s childhood room.

Orli allowed Christian to pull him into a loose embrace, it didn’t happen very often so Orlando welcomed it. However he couldn’t help but cringe when Christian’s hand started to work its way under his t-shirt. Although he would miss his husband’s company, he’d tried at all costs to avoid any sexual contact with him. As ridiculous as it sounded, it felt like he was cheating on Viggo, not the other way round.

“Chris!” he whispered seriously as he tried to wriggle away from the invading hand. “My mother’s in the next room, can’t this wait until we’re in the privacy of our own home?”

“Doesn’t matter” Christian replied indifferently as he grabbed Orli’s face and kissed him roughly, climbing on top of his as he did so. “We’re married, it’s perfectly natural.”

“Not within a parent’s earshot it isn’t” he hissed as he tried to push the heavier man off of him. He cried out as Christian unintentionally put pressure on his sore stomach.

“Sorry” Christian whispered as he placed a quick kiss on Orli’s bruised skin, but still he didn’t stop as he pulled down his husband’s boxers.

Orlando’s struggles increased as he felt fingers at his entrance, fingers that weren’t Viggo’s, and he felt sick. When Christian pushed his digits into his dry opening, Orli yelped but finally managed to free himself.

“What’s the matter?” Christian asked harshly. “I was just getting started!”

“You were hurting me!” Orlando scolded as he straightened himself up. “Did you not feel me trying to stop you? You can’t honestly think I was enjoying that!”

“Jesus Orlando when did you become so frigid?” Christian laughed cruelly, shaking his head.

“You’re such a hypocrite!” Orli snapped back. “If I do something like that then I’m branded a pervert but when you do it then I’m frigid!”

“Oh stop your whinging! We were having such a nice weekend and we haven’t had sex in months, now we’ve finally got some time together, time when I’m not exhausted from working all the hours God sends so you can everything you need I might add, but you have to go and spoil it by acting all coy and virginal! It doesn’t wash with me Orlando! I was there when your cherry was popped remember!”

At that last remark Orlando was out of bed and heading for the door with his pillow under his arm, but not before Christian grabbed his upper arm and forcefully pulled him back onto the bed.

Orli cried out in pain for the third time in a matter of minutes, knowing full well that there would be a bruise the next day. He’d have fun trying to explain that to his mother.

“Where are you running off to?” Christian whispered menacingly.

“I’m not sleeping in here with you!” Orlando spat back.

“Oh yes you are!”

“You can’t make me” Orlando hissed as he once again went for the door. This time Christian got there first, turning the key in the lock and putting it in his pyjama pocket.

“Wrong again Orlando” he grinned smugly.

“Oh so you’re going to keep me locked up are you? Coz I’m just your property aren’t I? That’s illegal Christian, its called false imprisonment!”

“Believe me darling, no jury is going to convict me after seeing what I have to live with. In fact they’ll probably give me a medal for not caving in your pretty little head.”

Orlando could never win an argument with Christian, his experience in big business meant no one could ever answer back and almost always backed down. Orlando really didn’t want to get back into bed with him but knew he back couldn’t put up with him sleeping on the floor all night, so he begrudgingly got back in, keeping as far away from Christian as was physically possible.

“Why do you have to be like this?” Orlando whispered in a tiny voice. Christian never answered, but he did creep up behind him, making the hairs on Orli’s neck stand on end. “I always win Orlando” he murmured in an unnerving voice that chilled his young husband to the bone. “Just you remember that.”

Thankfully Christian had nothing more to say, for which Orlando was very grateful. He was so unbelievably angry (and also a little bit scared) that he knew he would say something that he would regret. He had always handled anger poorly. He could handle being upset over a situation; you felt sorry for yourself, you cried, and then you forgot about it. But not anger; anger slowly boils beneath the surface, gradually driving you mad until you explode and all hell breaks loose. He finally fell asleep, all the while thinking that in a few days he’d be back in London with Viggo, and then in another few weeks it would all be over. At least that’s what he hoped, but in reality he knew things were never that simple. This evening’s wretched events had proved once and for all that Christian was not going to let him go without a fight.

TBC