Fic: Camping

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

This was the first VigOrli fic I ever wrote. So it's old. Thank you lenalovefor beta-ing this one for me! Just wanted to say that all of the lovely comments I receive just make my day. Not only that, they've inspired me to start writing again, not just in VigOrli but in the other fandoms I love, and original stuff! I'm so glad I decided to post in this community! All of you are the best!!!

Title:  Camping
Author:  ranmaru
Rating:  PG
Summary:  Near a lake in NZ, some of the cast and crew laze around a campfire, and a couple gaze at the sunset.
Disclaimer: Don't know, don't own, just playing.

“If I wasn’t so damn cold I’d tell you what a great idea this was.”

 

Viggo turned to look at the young man approaching him. The campfire behind Orlando put the boy in shadow but Viggo could see how his arms were wrapped around his waist. Not really a boy, now is he? he thought, waiting until Orli was beside him before answering.

 

“You just did.”

 

Orlando paused then sighed. “The cold has frozen my brain.”

 

“I see.” The older man turned back to watch the sunset. He waited for Orli to start talking, to ramble on about nothing in particular as he was wont to do but he was quiet. The stiff grass under the young actor’s feet cracked as he shifted from foot to foot, a reminder of the boundless energy locked inside his lithe frame, but no words. Viggo felt a strange sort of tension creep into his blood. He wanted to fidget or just start running to drown out the humming of his nerves. He wondered if it was coming from Orli, if the younger man had something he wanted to say but was unsure of a reaction. That would certainly explain the unusual silence. “Orli-“

 

“I saw Miranda watching you.”

 

Whatever Viggo had been about to say was forgotten. He faced Orlando who was staring intently at the spot where the sun had gone down. “I don’t understand.”

 

“I think she likes you.”

 

“It would certainly help since we’re working together,” Viggo replied slowly, unsure of what path Orlando’s thoughts were taking. Unsure if he wanted to know.

 

“I think she’d like to do more than work with you.” Orlando’s voice was missing the warmth, the personality, anything that marked it as Orli’s voice. There was the accent and then…nothing.

 

“You were right. The cold has frozen your brain.” Viggo crossed his arms and followed Orli’s gaze into the darkness. “Maybe she’s letting her character’s love for mine effect her emotions off of the set but she won’t act on them. She’s a professional.”

 

The younger man didn’t answer but he’d gone still. For some reason, that utter lack of motion bothered Viggo more than his unsaid words. He knew there was something between them, something that shimmered like the air over a hot car hood. It was almost tangible sometimes, making Viggo look around to see if anyone else had seen it, felt it, touched it as they stood close. It was exhilarating and frightening, everything desire and attraction should be but shouldn’t be between two men twenty years apart.

 

Viggo laughed off Orli and the hobbits calling him “old man” because he’d never once felt old. It was a state of mind and if his back twinged a bit more than it did last year, or if he couldn’t stay up and drink the night away with the younger actors without feeling useless the next morning, well, he’d been there and done that once upon a time. He didn’t need to be the father-figure on their wild nights at the pub. He was a father, he couldn’t help but want to watch over and take care of the younger members of the fellowship, just as he knew Ian and Chris felt the same need for everyone they came in contact with. It was natural.

 

What he felt for Orli had gone past natural into the realm of insanity and to have the younger man almost, yet not quite, admitting he felt the same, it made the muscles in Viggo’s body knot until he felt himself trembling. Stray but a little and you will fall. The question was: which way did he want to fall?

 

“And if she isn’t professional?”

 

Quietly spoken, the words echoed in Viggo’s mind. What will you do? That was the real question Orli wasn’t asking. Viggo had become an expert at reading between the lines. One had to with a teenaged son.

 

…you will fall…

 

“That depends on you.”

 

The question startled Orlando. He sucked in a breath and half turned, arms dropping to his sides. Viggo wished the moon were brighter so he could see Orli’s eyes.

 

“I…”

 

Anticipation danced in Viggo’s stomach and he did fidget, running a hand though his short hair and widening his stance. He felt like Aragorn going into battle, ready for the first blow, knowing the moves he had to make yet a sliver of fear flashed through him. Fear not of making a mistake himself, but that Orlando would back down from what had been building since their first meeting.

 

Orlando could make a simple greeting into a wondrous adventure of hugs, kisses and laughter. He was like a playful puppy, innocent of restraint and generous with his love. It had fascinated Viggo, drawn him in. He’d been missing his son desperately and being around Orlando, this vital and carefree young man, had been like a balm on his heart, making the time away from Henry bearable. At some point, Viggo had seen a difference in the way Orli touched him as opposed to say, Elijah or Dom. At some point, Viggo had grown to need that difference.

 

“I…” Orli cleared his throat and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I think you should be professional.”

 

Don’t accept her advances.

 

“But-“

 

Viggo stopped breathing. But?

 

“But…not with me.”

 

Orlando was looking at the ground, shoulders hunched. Viggo sighed, seeing his breath crystallize on the air. He stepped closer to the younger man, letting their shoulders brush lightly.

 

“I can do that.” Viggo breathed in the crisp air, catching the spicy scent of Orli’s deodorant and the wood fire behind them. Orlando inched closer until their arms pressed together.

 

“Good,” he said with a quick nod. “That’s settled then.”

 

“That’s settled.” Viggo let himself smile knowing Orli couldn’t see him in the darkness. He felt…he felt good. Good in a way he hadn’t in a long time. He wanted to find a better description for it but Orlando shivered beside him. “Let’s head back before you freeze.”

 

“Too late but okay.”

 

“Try channeling Legolas, he’s not affected by the weather,” Viggo suggested with a grin.

 

“Oh shut up,” Orlando muttered, his stride lengthening the closer they walked towards the fire. Viggo sat in his abandoned folding chair next to John. He watched Orlando as the young actor stood as close to the fire as possible without actually jumping into the flames.

 

“Vital parts have been known to singe doing things like that,” John called out good-naturedly in his booming voice.

 

“At least I’d know they were still there,” Orli returned without moving.

 

Viggo laughed along with the rest of the cast and crew. He felt Miranda’s eyes on him and glanced over. She smiled and for a moment he considered ignoring her, nipping whatever feelings she may have in the bud but he couldn’t. It wasn’t right. He returned her smile but didn’t linger, instead letting his eyes wander around the circle of chairs. He was content, knowing that despite initial misgivings everyone was enjoying themselves. If nothing else, his time by the lake with Orlando was well worth the trouble.

 

Feeling the need to capture this night on film, Viggo reached under his chair for his camera.

 

“Big smiles everyone,” John warned. “Viggo’s at it again.”

 

“Thanks,” Viggo growled at his co-star who just laughed. Orlando turned around and held out his arms.

 

“Take one of me to look at and remember when my bits and pieces are hacked off from frostbite!”

 

“Camera hog,” one of the cameramen said laughing.

 

“I’m very photogenic,” Orli informed him, flipping back a mane of imaginary hair. Viggo let his camera capture the moment when Orli turned towards him, his pale skin burnished by the fire, his face half in shadows.

 

“Ah the foolishness of youth,” Bernard sighed dramatically, one hand to his forehead.

 

Viggo grinned and snapped Orlando’s disgruntled frown.

 

“Now look, you’re made the boy lose his lovely smile,” Miranda said, sounding like Eowyn. “Such a tragedy.” The camera adored her mysterious grin.

 

“I am no boy, filthy human,” Legolas stated, head held high. The camera clicked again.

 

“You dare speak to the niece of a king thusly!” bellowed King Theodin. Viggo caught the exaggerated expression of outrage.

 

“Now now, kings and elves had just better be calm,” Gimli said, raising his plastic cup. “Drink some lovely malt beer fresh from my very own stock.” Viggo was sure he got one of those rolling r’s on film.

 

“We have not heard from Aragorn.” Orlando turned to fully face Viggo, his face in shadows except for the gleam in his eyes. Viggo lowered the camera to his lap.

 

“I can find no fault in the dwarf’s suggestion. Drink my friends. Tomorrow is yet many hours away.” There was a round of cheers, plastic cups raised in a toast.

 

“You haven’t a drink, my lord Aragorn.” Viggo took the cup Miranda offered.

 

“Thank you Miranda,” he said softly. She blinked as if hearing her own name brought her back from Middle Earth. “But I am not the only one.”

 

“No one wants to remember the pretty ones,” Orli bemoaned, leaning against the trailer beside Viggo. “Its hell looking like this, you know.”

 

Miranda chuckled. “I think the cold has affected your brain,” she teased.

 

“So I’ve been told,” he said with a grin.

 

Viggo held up his cup. “Here, have mine.” He let his fingers deliberately brush over Orlando’s, wrapping himself in the warmth of Orlando’s smile.

 

“Cheers,” the younger man said before taking a long drink.

 

Miranda had returned back to her seat and was engaged in conversation with Bernard. Viggo checked the counter on his camera. The lightest touch drifted across the back of his neck and he leaned back with a sigh. He decided to wait a while before taking more pictures. He had a feeling more interesting things were to come.

 

The end

Comments

[simply-rubbish.livejournal.com]

Sweeeeeeeet. Love it. :-D And that's fantastic to hear about your writing inspiration. :-D

[laura-iskra.livejournal.com]

what a way you have to picture scenes with words.. the part of viggo taking pictures is awesome, and this is another lovely piece!

[ireth06.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I can help to feed the muses!! And with fics like these, I'm quite happy to be of service!!

I loved how you make them says things without saying anything!! And Viggo capurring the conversation is utterly awesome!!

Thanks for sharing, huggles!

[tularia.livejournal.com]

I love budding romances! Wonderfully done!

[dreamerswings42.livejournal.com]

Your first Vig/Orli? OMG this is amazing! You captured that moment with such tenderness, and finesse just like Viggo would be. Loved it. Thanks for sharing!

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading! And commenting! I'm turning into a complete feedback whore from posting here. ^_^ Ah Viggo, what I wouldn't do to sit and just listen to him ramble on about whatever was in his head. How amazing would that be?!

[dreamerswings42.livejournal.com]

You and me both! His voice has that way of hypnotizing you!

What the next fic you are going to post?? :-)

hugs

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

"Dear Henry" a fic from Viggo's POV, a mental letter to his son.

[dreamerswings42.livejournal.com]

Cool! Can't wait to read! Take care.

[eenoogje.livejournal.com]

The lightest touch drifted across the back of his neck and he leaned back with a sigh

That's just perfect, nobody can see it,but it's there!

[galor5.livejournal.com]

This was really intriguing. I love the subtle ways they agreed to not be professional with each other. great job!

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Love your icon! Is that Viggo wearing a hat?

[nverland]

That's your first? Wonderful!

[lenalove.livejournal.com]

I loved this from beginning to end. You captured my idea of the kind of banter and easy friendships and various personalities of them all so easily. Viggo snapping pics of everyone's expressions was beautifully done. You are a natural writer, my dear.

Lena XXX

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[lenalove.livejournal.com]

*snogs*

[maiwen05.livejournal.com]

This was really your first fic? Well done, I must say.

It's great to hear that you're being inspired to write some more. And thanks for sharing them!

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

First VigOrli, I've been writing in other genres for years. Anime mostly.

[ranmaru.livejournal.com]

I mean fandoms.