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rugbytackleTITLE: The Orange Grove (20/32): Hurt
AUTHOR: Cinzia and Gloria
Full headers here
He was smiling, that was the first thing Sean noticed: Viggo was smiling. He looked... he looked happy. Happier than Sean had seen him in what already felt like ages.
And after the smile, he noticed Viggo's swollen, bitten lip.
"Hey," Viggo said, softly, just loud enough for Sean to hear him in the shadowed street, over the voices of the people lingering in the taverna across the square. The match was over, and the bar was emptying slowly. "I didn't expect to see you here," Viggo said. He was still smiling. Still looked happy. And he took a step closer to Sean.
And. Fuck. The shirt -- the lip -- the tousled hair -- and...
Viggo looked like he'd just walked away from someone's bed.
Sean felt his face heat, even as his insides went cold. It wasn't right -- it couldn't be right, this -- for him to know what Viggo looked like -- what he smelled like, too, for fuck's sake -- just after sex.
Sean took a breath, couldn't stop his eyes going back to that dark bruise on Viggo's lip. Guys in Makeup'll have a fit when they see that, he thought. He searched for words, something to say. "I..."
"Viggo!"
The man -- the boy, Sean corrected himself -- came jogging out of the shadows that gathered among the low buildings on either side of the narrow, uphill street. He stopped dead when he saw Sean, and from the way he felt himself scrutinised, Sean could see that no introduction would've been necessary.
Sean too, anyway, knew who the boy was.
Now that he saw him -- he knew.
Dark hair. Curly dark hair. Dark eyes... huge dark eyes. Tall. Lean. Smooth, olive skin. So young.
So, Sean thought at that moment, this is why.
The boy's shirt was open on his chest, and he was barefoot, as though he'd left in a hurry. Sean caught sight of Viggo's face -- just one look -- and decided Viggo didn't need him there, right then.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said, and turned and walked away, crossing the square without looking back to see if Viggo had even noticed. He didn't think he had.
It didn't matter, anyway.
He was almost back at the car -- he must have retraced his steps through the village walking faster than on his way in -- when Viggo caught up with him.
"What's the matter?" Viggo said, falling into step beside Sean. Their footsteps sounded muted on the cobblestone paving of the street. "I wasn't... I mean, I was coming home. I left the car just over there. We could drive back together..."
He still sounded so cheerful.
Sean stopped, turned to look at him. And he let himself really look at Viggo: ruffled hair and bruised lips and stubbled chin, and the shadows under his eyes not so dark as they had been of late -- and Viggo's eyes, that under Sean's long scrutiny lost their initial gleam. Viggo looked back at him, uncertain.
"You look awfully happy," Sean said, wondering why his voice sounded so distant.
"I..."
"Maybe you should've visited him earlier. Would've been nice having you so happy to talk to me this past week, for a change--" Sean trailed off. Fuck, where did that come from? He hadn't meant to say that. Why had he said that?
Viggo looked at him, warily. "What do you mean?"
"Leave it. Go back to him -- I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sean--"
"Leave it, I told you." Irritation flared up again. "For once I'm the one who doesn't feel like talking, so just leave off, all right?"
"I'm not going back to P-- to him," Viggo said, very quietly, but he moved in front of Sean, blocking Sean's way to the car.
There was no one else around, and the houses around them were dark, silent. Suddenly, Sean didn't know what he was doing in this place, why he'd ever thought that being here was a good idea.
He took a step forward, but Viggo still didn't move, just kept looking at Sean. "I wanted to come home to you," he said, softly.
"Don't see why you would," Sean snapped at last, trying hard not to feel annoyed by the whole absurd situation, and failing. "Don't look much like Orlando, do I?"
Fuck. Viggo's eyes went very wide. Sean instantly wished he could take that back -- Viggo was looking at him like he was mad.
And then irritation -- stupid of him to say a stupid thing like that, stupid Viggo for getting under his skin like that, and that bloke... it didn't even bear thinking about -- drifted into anger, and the next words Sean heard himself say were, "You bloody well know what I mean. Been feeling crappy 'cause you weren't seeing 'im? This what you wanted all these days? This?"
He gestured at Viggo's split lip, and though he hadn't meant to, his fingertips brushed over it ever so slightly, a tactile memory of how Viggo's lips had felt under his own hurting for a moment. And somehow, his fingers rested there.
And he'd even thought... he'd even let himself think... that Viggo could've been thinking...
"This," he said again, and he pressed down a bit more, saw blood pooling up dark under the broken skin -- his voice sounded so unpleasant it almost made him flinch -- "what you need?"
He remembered Viggo teasing him about the scratches on his back, the love-bite on his neck. He remembered his own teasing back -- the amused gleam in Viggo's eyes, when he'd made as if to unbutton his shirt and offer himself to Sean.
He wondered how he could've ever found it funny.
Viggo's eyes were very, very wide. And then they narrowed, and Viggo's hand came up, grabbing Sean's wrist roughly and jerking it away from his face, but not releasing it.
"And what else," Viggo said, his voice dark, cold with anger, and so low that Sean had to actually lean in to catch the words, "am I supposed to do?" Sean felt Viggo's fingers dig into his wrist, so hard he was probably leaving bruises, nails catching the skin. "Live on childish pecks and friendly hugs forever?"
And after that Viggo let him go, as though touching Sean hurt him. Sean stumbled a little, unbalanced by the sudden move. His wrist ached, a dull throbbing when the blood rushed freely again. He didn't really notice it.
Viggo was looking at him with dark, dark eyes.
AUTHOR: Cinzia and Gloria
Full headers here
He was smiling, that was the first thing Sean noticed: Viggo was smiling. He looked... he looked happy. Happier than Sean had seen him in what already felt like ages.
And after the smile, he noticed Viggo's swollen, bitten lip.
"Hey," Viggo said, softly, just loud enough for Sean to hear him in the shadowed street, over the voices of the people lingering in the taverna across the square. The match was over, and the bar was emptying slowly. "I didn't expect to see you here," Viggo said. He was still smiling. Still looked happy. And he took a step closer to Sean.
And. Fuck. The shirt -- the lip -- the tousled hair -- and...
Viggo looked like he'd just walked away from someone's bed.
Sean felt his face heat, even as his insides went cold. It wasn't right -- it couldn't be right, this -- for him to know what Viggo looked like -- what he smelled like, too, for fuck's sake -- just after sex.
Sean took a breath, couldn't stop his eyes going back to that dark bruise on Viggo's lip. Guys in Makeup'll have a fit when they see that, he thought. He searched for words, something to say. "I..."
"Viggo!"
The man -- the boy, Sean corrected himself -- came jogging out of the shadows that gathered among the low buildings on either side of the narrow, uphill street. He stopped dead when he saw Sean, and from the way he felt himself scrutinised, Sean could see that no introduction would've been necessary.
Sean too, anyway, knew who the boy was.
Now that he saw him -- he knew.
Dark hair. Curly dark hair. Dark eyes... huge dark eyes. Tall. Lean. Smooth, olive skin. So young.
So, Sean thought at that moment, this is why.
The boy's shirt was open on his chest, and he was barefoot, as though he'd left in a hurry. Sean caught sight of Viggo's face -- just one look -- and decided Viggo didn't need him there, right then.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said, and turned and walked away, crossing the square without looking back to see if Viggo had even noticed. He didn't think he had.
It didn't matter, anyway.
He was almost back at the car -- he must have retraced his steps through the village walking faster than on his way in -- when Viggo caught up with him.
"What's the matter?" Viggo said, falling into step beside Sean. Their footsteps sounded muted on the cobblestone paving of the street. "I wasn't... I mean, I was coming home. I left the car just over there. We could drive back together..."
He still sounded so cheerful.
Sean stopped, turned to look at him. And he let himself really look at Viggo: ruffled hair and bruised lips and stubbled chin, and the shadows under his eyes not so dark as they had been of late -- and Viggo's eyes, that under Sean's long scrutiny lost their initial gleam. Viggo looked back at him, uncertain.
"You look awfully happy," Sean said, wondering why his voice sounded so distant.
"I..."
"Maybe you should've visited him earlier. Would've been nice having you so happy to talk to me this past week, for a change--" Sean trailed off. Fuck, where did that come from? He hadn't meant to say that. Why had he said that?
Viggo looked at him, warily. "What do you mean?"
"Leave it. Go back to him -- I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sean--"
"Leave it, I told you." Irritation flared up again. "For once I'm the one who doesn't feel like talking, so just leave off, all right?"
"I'm not going back to P-- to him," Viggo said, very quietly, but he moved in front of Sean, blocking Sean's way to the car.
There was no one else around, and the houses around them were dark, silent. Suddenly, Sean didn't know what he was doing in this place, why he'd ever thought that being here was a good idea.
He took a step forward, but Viggo still didn't move, just kept looking at Sean. "I wanted to come home to you," he said, softly.
"Don't see why you would," Sean snapped at last, trying hard not to feel annoyed by the whole absurd situation, and failing. "Don't look much like Orlando, do I?"
Fuck. Viggo's eyes went very wide. Sean instantly wished he could take that back -- Viggo was looking at him like he was mad.
And then irritation -- stupid of him to say a stupid thing like that, stupid Viggo for getting under his skin like that, and that bloke... it didn't even bear thinking about -- drifted into anger, and the next words Sean heard himself say were, "You bloody well know what I mean. Been feeling crappy 'cause you weren't seeing 'im? This what you wanted all these days? This?"
He gestured at Viggo's split lip, and though he hadn't meant to, his fingertips brushed over it ever so slightly, a tactile memory of how Viggo's lips had felt under his own hurting for a moment. And somehow, his fingers rested there.
And he'd even thought... he'd even let himself think... that Viggo could've been thinking...
"This," he said again, and he pressed down a bit more, saw blood pooling up dark under the broken skin -- his voice sounded so unpleasant it almost made him flinch -- "what you need?"
He remembered Viggo teasing him about the scratches on his back, the love-bite on his neck. He remembered his own teasing back -- the amused gleam in Viggo's eyes, when he'd made as if to unbutton his shirt and offer himself to Sean.
He wondered how he could've ever found it funny.
Viggo's eyes were very, very wide. And then they narrowed, and Viggo's hand came up, grabbing Sean's wrist roughly and jerking it away from his face, but not releasing it.
"And what else," Viggo said, his voice dark, cold with anger, and so low that Sean had to actually lean in to catch the words, "am I supposed to do?" Sean felt Viggo's fingers dig into his wrist, so hard he was probably leaving bruises, nails catching the skin. "Live on childish pecks and friendly hugs forever?"
And after that Viggo let him go, as though touching Sean hurt him. Sean stumbled a little, unbalanced by the sudden move. His wrist ached, a dull throbbing when the blood rushed freely again. He didn't really notice it.
Viggo was looking at him with dark, dark eyes.
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no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 11:07 am (UTC)This is waaaaaaaay too short!
[struggling to sit and wait for next chapter] and people call ME a tease and 'Cliffhanger Queen'. I am but your apprentice!
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Date: 2003-11-01 08:15 pm (UTC)Well, maybe just a little.;)*snuggles* Thanks for your patience! *g*
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Date: 2003-10-31 12:16 pm (UTC)I just love this story. Men in denial - someone should tell them that talking is quite effective. But if they'd do that we wouldn't have the pleasure of reading this wonderfully written story.
*tries to wait patiently for the next part*
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Date: 2003-11-01 08:19 pm (UTC)Eep! Sorry. O:) *veg*
Thank you for reading, and for the lovely feedback... and for your patience! ;D Next part on Monday... :)
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Date: 2003-10-31 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-01 08:22 pm (UTC)*loves back muchly* :D
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Date: 2003-10-31 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-01 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-01 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 04:09 pm (UTC)Sean felt his face heat, even as his insides went cold. It wasn't right -- it couldn't be right, this -- for him to know what Viggo looked like -- what he smelled like, too, for fuck's sake -- just after sex.
But you do, Seanie, so what does that tell us, hmm? :)
"And what else," Viggo said, his voice dark, cold with anger, and so low that Sean had to actually lean in to catch the words, "am I supposed to do?" Sean felt Viggo's fingers dig into his wrist, so hard he was probably leaving bruises, nails catching the skin. "Live on childish pecks and friendly hugs forever?"
*melts into a puddle of drool* Wow, what an impressive way to get things out into the open. And that scene had me shaking with fear, really! Angry Viggo is an enticing, but dangerous sight! *sweats* Wish I could get away from my fluffy teenage soap scenes and write something like that. But I guess I am just not a good enough writer whether with FPS, much less with RPS :( . Anyway, love this to pieces and more. *hugs*
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Date: 2003-11-02 03:28 pm (UTC)*hugs you*
PS: Fluffy is good, schmoop rules! (And this is a soap opera--and proud of it. Ahem. Just saying. ;) *hugs more*
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Date: 2003-10-31 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 03:29 pm (UTC)calledscreamed?*hides* ;)
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Date: 2003-10-31 05:51 pm (UTC)This was really unexpected, I must say! I didn't expect the anger from Sean, but that is really realistic. All that repression builds up and having this after-sex Viggo in his face (NOT after-sex with Sean, most importantly) was a good enough trigger.
"Don't look much like Orlando, do I?"
Ouch. Oh, ow. Ow. Ow. I actually cringed. I was so afraid Viggo would storm off or run away or...I dunno what. But yow, his anger matching Sean's:
Sean felt Viggo's fingers dig into his wrist, so hard he was probably leaving bruises, nails catching the skin. "Live on childish pecks and friendly hugs forever?"
*breath catches* *dies*
*waits on edge of seat*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 06:41 pm (UTC)Do you make Friday installments especially cliffhangerish, or do they seem that way because it's Friday?
Anger is progress. Vig recognizes the jealousy in Sean's anger before Sean does, but I fear Sean's defenses in the fact of Vig's matching anger. Fireworks, I think.
*whimpers*
p.s.
Date: 2003-10-31 08:40 pm (UTC)utterly devastating
Re: p.s.
Date: 2003-11-02 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 03:35 pm (UTC)Erm... It's just a coincidence, I guess! ;)
Anger is progress. Vig recognizes the jealousy in Sean's anger before Sean does, but I fear Sean's defenses in the fact of Vig's matching anger. Fireworks, I think.
*g* Next part tomorrow. Hope you'll like it... *is not saying more* ;)
Thank you for the great feedback! :D
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Date: 2003-10-31 09:50 pm (UTC)Want more NOW!!!!!
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Date: 2003-11-02 03:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-01 02:11 am (UTC)Uh, whoa. Talk about your mental images! What Viggo looks and smells like after sex?!?!?
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Date: 2003-11-02 03:39 pm (UTC)*hugs* Thanks for commenting! :)
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Date: 2003-11-02 03:40 pm (UTC)*hugs* Thanks for reading! :D
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Date: 2003-11-02 04:40 pm (UTC)"Don't see why you would," Sean snapped at last, trying hard not to feel annoyed by the whole absurd situation, and failing.
Aaaargghh!!! Wants to put them in a locked room until they hash this thing out.... *Slaps both of them for good measure.* Ok, I'm calm now....
I'm enjoying the torture so much. Lovely stuff.
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Date: 2003-11-02 05:00 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for your feedback! :D
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Date: 2003-11-02 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 09:02 pm (UTC)of course we are crueltomorrow is only a few hours away... ;)*hugs you* :D
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Date: 2003-11-03 09:39 pm (UTC)"Don't look much like Orlando, do I?"
Like someone already said: ouch. Really.
"Live on childish pecks and friendly hugs forever?"
Ouch again. But so true.
But on a happier note...
Viggo looked like he'd just walked away from someone's bed.
No comment ;)
Now I really can't wait to see how they will work things out!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-04 02:37 pm (UTC)Eee! Titles are always hard to find, so thank you for saying that. It means a lot. :)
Thank you for the thoughtful feedback as well, we're very happy you're enjoying this series--angst and all. ;) There will be more tomorrow: hope it won't disappoint! :)
*hugs*
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Date: 2003-11-07 06:39 am (UTC)Don't you dare mess this up Sean! *thumps some sense into him*
Silly, stupid boys! *g*
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Date: 2003-11-08 02:51 pm (UTC)Thank you for commenting! :D
no subject
Date: 2004-10-20 08:57 am (UTC)