TITLE: Remember To Breathe 21/22
AUTHOR: Elizabeth (sef7881@aol.com)
WEBSITE: https://www.angelfire.com/scary/randominsanity/RandomInsanity.html
PAIRING: Viggo Mortensen/Orlando Bloom
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: The joys of being together (Alternating POV)
FEEDBACK: It's the highlights in my hairdo, the extra arms on Vishnu
WARNINGS: Sap
SPOILERS: 'The Fellowship of the Ring', but if you haven't seen it
by now . . .
DISCLAIMER: This story is solely a product of my twisted imagination
ARCHIVE: BTF, LBES, Lothlorien; all others please ask, but I'll surely
say yes
AUTHOR'S NOTES: ***** denotes a POV change. I'm not sure what
order the FOTR premieres were in or if Viggo attended any of them, so I
just made up my own details. Sorry if I got things wrong, but I *had*
to get my beloved hometown of New York City into this fic somehow
Thousands of miles above Long Island Sound, Orli's hand is clasped tightly in mine as our plane approaches New York's Kennedy Airport. The whirlwind that is the 'Lord of the Rings' premiere blitz has yet to slow down, but the movie is the furthest thing from my mind. In fact, for the last five days all I can think about is that I'm with Orli again.
Every moment that I've shared with him since we got back together seems so vibrant and important, even if all we're doing is sitting on a plane. I truly believed that I had run out of chances and would never again have Orli as my partner, and the fact that he's by my side once again feels like nothing short of a miracle. Somewhere along the line I must have earned some serious brownie points with the powers that be, because it amazes me how lucky I am to have another opportunity with Orli.
"What are you thinking about?" I turn my head and look at Orli, who has a soft smile on his face.
"You. I was thinking about you," I murmur, running my thumb over his wrist.
Orli now gives me the megawatt grin that always makes my heart skip several beats. "You were?"
"Mm-hmm. I was thinking about how happy you make me. Being with you is like the ultimate natural high."
"Even better than bungee jumping?" he laughs.
"Yes, elf boy. Even better than bungee jumping."
*****
"Oh Frodo, Mr. Frodo, don't let me drown!" Dom cries over-dramatically as he clutches at his chest.
"I'll save you, my dearest Sam!" Billy exclaims. "And seeing you all wet like this . . . why, you are fairer than even Galadriel herself!"
"Cut it out, you two," Sean laughs.
"What's the matter, Samwise?" I ask him with a grin as we all lounge on the floor of Dom's hotel room. "Can't admit that you're Frodo's love slave? I mean, it's pretty kinky that you always call him *Mr.* Frodo."
"You're one to talk, elf tart," he shoots back.
"Hey, don't call him that," Viggo warns. "Legolas isn't a tart, he's my one true love."
"What?!" Beanie cries. "But Aragorn, what about me? That one glorious night we spent together in Lothlorien meant nothing to you?"
"Look Boromir, I like you, I really do," Viggo tells him, "but I just don't see a future for us. After all, you're quite dead now and necrophilia really isn't my thing."
"I can't believe you people are my friends," Lij mutters, shaking his head.
"They're just roleplaying, Master Baggins," John laughs. "And from what I overheard the other night, Aragorn and Legolas are quite skilled at that." My face turns bright red.
"Not again," Sean groans. "You two are really twisted."
"Thank you," Viggo beams.
"Which poor sod has the room next to our beloved nymphomaniacs tonight?" Dom asks with a grin.
"I do," Lij says mournfully. "Does anyone have earplugs they'd be willing to lend me?"
"We're not that bad!" I protest, resulting in laughter from everyone.
"Yes, you really are," John chuckles. "But don't worry about it, Orlando. We're all so relieved that you two are together again that the amount of noise you make is but a minor inconvenience."
"I'll second that," Ian proclaims. "I'd rather have you loud and together than miserable and apart."
"Agreed," Bean says.
"I propose a toast," Billy declares, lifting his beer. "To Viggo and Orli, the official couple of 'The Lord of the Rings'." Everyone clinks their bottles together.
Viggo puts his arm around me and I lean back into the embrace. "Thanks you guys," he says with a smile.
"Well, we're just happy you're back together," Lij tells us.
"So are we," I murmur, lacing my fingers through Viggo's.
"Okay, group hug!" Sean cries, and suddenly Viggo and I find ourselves at the bottom of a pile of Fellowship members.
*****
"This is so beautiful," Orli marvels as we look at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Skaters glide across the ice rink below us and dozens of Manhattanites mill about the area, nobody giving us a second glance. "I've never seen anything quite like this."
"It's pretty spectacular," I agree. "New York at Christmastime is magical."
"Well, I've always wanted to come to New York and I wish we had more than a day to experience it. But I can comfort myself with the knowledge that we're going to L.A. tomorrow and that'll be the end of my traveling for a while."
"Need a break?" I ask.
"Definitely. This whole premiere thing has been so exhausting. It'll be so nice to just relax and catch my breath."
I look at him and smile. "That it will be."
"No hectic premieres, no long flights, no hotel rooms . . . just home." Orli turns to meet my gaze and gives me a wide grin. My own smile widens at the realization that he considers my house to be home.
"Just home," I say softly.
*****
The lights of midtown Manhattan send flickering illuminations into our darkened hotel room as we lay in bed, tired and happy after yet another premiere and yet another round of lovemaking. After everything that's happened, I take every opportunity I can get to jump Viggo's bones. Okay, so I already did that *before* the breakup, but still . . . I really can't keep my hands off of him. Luckily, he always matches my eagerness and we've been shagging like bunnies for the last six days.
"You look so peaceful," Viggo comments, bringing me out of my little reverie.
"Well, that's because I am." I tilt my head up towards his for a brief kiss. "Thanks to the fact that you're here with me."
He smiles and kisses me again. "Be at peace, son of Mirkwood."
"You're nutters," I laugh. "But that's why I love you."
"That's the only reason why you love me?" he asks, affecting a hurt expression.
"Of course not. I could list all the hundreds of other reasons why I love you but it would take hours, maybe even days."
His arms tighten around my body. "I can never get enough of you, Orlando. And I know that even after we've spent countless years together, I'm still going to cherish every day I get to share with you."
The heartfelt words send a pleasant feeling of warmth through my body. "I feel the same way about you, Vig."
*****
"How was your trip around the world?" Exene asks with a warm smile as Orli and I arrive at her house to pick up Henry. It's amazing how she and I are better friends now than we ever were during our marriage. And when she met Orli earlier this year, they hit it off immediately; he told me that her willingness to say whatever she feels reminds him a bit of Atti.
"It was quite eventful," I laugh. "And there's still one more premiere tomorrow night."
"Congrats on recapturing the Boy Wonder," she tells me.
"Thanks."
She gives Orli a wink and a grin. "I knew that sooner or later you'd end up back with the crazy fucker," she tells him. "You two deserve each other." That's Exene-speak for 'it's good to see you again, and I'm happy for you and Viggo.'
"We certainly do," he agrees.
"Where's Henry?" I ask.
"He's getting his stuff together. I don't think he knows you're here."
"No, I know," Henry calls as he runs down the stairs with a knapsack slung over his shoulder. Between the green hair, sparkly black tee-shirt, and camouflage pants, he rivals Orli for fashion creativity. When he reaches the landing, he launches himself at Orli and hugs him tightly. "It's awesome to see you again."
"You too, kid," Orli says, ruffling my sons's hair.
"I'm glad you finally got your head out of your ass," Henry tells him with a grin.
Orli laughs loudly. "Yeah, so am I."
*****
"I hate jet lag," I mutter as Viggo comes into the bedroom. Our bedroom. "It's only nine-thirty and I'm already on the verge of falling asleep."
"Well, we've had quite an exhausting schedule of late," he says, wrapping his arms around me from behind as I search through my suitcase for a very elusive toothbrush. He presses a kiss to the back of my neck just below my earlobe.
"Yeah, but *you're* not tired. It's not fair," I whine.
He laughs and I have to grin sheepishly at how petulant I sound. "Orli, you should go to sleep so you won't be sleepwalking through the premiere tomorrow night. Let me just say good night to Henry and I'll join you."
"I thought you weren't tired."
"I'm not. But I don't you falling asleep without my arms around you." My insides turn to mush and I probably have a very dopey smile on my face right now. "I'll be right back, okay?"
"Okay."
Viggo kisses my neck once more and then leaves the room; I find my toothbrush and quickly get ready for bed. I'm already under the covers when he returns to the bedroom. "Henry wanted me to tell you good night again. I'm sure he's thrilled that we're going to sleep early because now he'll be able to watch TV all night long without repercussion."
"Smart kid," I laugh.
"Devious kid," he says as he joins me in bed.
"I love having my own personal Viggo-blanket," I murmur when he draws me into a loving embrace. When I shift slightly on the mattress, I realize that there's something under one of the pillows. "What the hell?" Reaching under the pillow, I pull out the stuffed pig I bought Viggo for Valentine's Day. "You slept with this?" I ask him.
"Um . . . yeah." Even though the room is dark, I know he's blushing. "I just missed you so much Orli, and the pig reminded me of you so I would sleep with it. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
I grin and place the pig on the nightstand before giving my boyfriend a kiss. "That is the sweetest thing in the world, Vig. And I promise not to tell anyone."
"Thank you, Love Pig."
"That really is the best nickname I've ever had. Love Pig," I giggle. "It's totally ridiculous but somehow it fits. Besides, it wouldn't make sense to anyone else, so it's like our own--" I pause to yawn "--private little thing."
"Get some sleep," he says gently.
"'Kay. Love you, Viggo."
He kisses my head. "I love you too, Orlando."
I snuggle deeper into his embrace and sigh contentedly. In a cocoon
of warm blankets and Viggo's love, I drift off to sleep. This is
right. This is home.
