Billy twisted around at the low, melodious voice crooning in his ear, wide grin already in place. "Fucking hell, Orlando Bloom." "Billy Boyd," Orlando replied, waggling his eyebrows, and they shared the smile for a minute before they both stepped forward at the same time. The hug was long, heartfelt, with both of them clapping each other on the back. Billy rubbed Orlando's newly cut kitten-hair and Orlando returned the favor before making a joke about Billy losing his, and, for a moment, they were back in New Zealand, back when everything was new, an adventure to be savored. Then Billy reintroduced Orlando to his wife and infant son, and the moment passed. "I can't believe you finally made an honest woman out of her," Orlando laughed, when it was just the two of them again. It had been far too long since he'd seen Billy. Since he'd seen any of them, really, aside from having dinner with Karl a few months back when they'd both been in London at the same time. He'd made other friends – amazing friends – on other films and in other walks of life, but he knew there would never be a bond like he shared with his 'Rings' co-stars. He had too many indelible memories, each one precious, and he hoarded them like the jewels they were. These men really had become his brothers in all but flesh. And he wouldn't have it any other way. "Someone had to. I can't believe you're here," Billy exclaimed again, shaking his head in disbelief. Orlando could hardly believe it himself, but he knew he wouldn't have missed it for the world. He silently blessed his good fortune at the fact that he'd been in L.A. when the text from Billy had come. He nodded to the now-empty stage. "You guys sounded fucking great." "Yeah, it was a good time tonight. Lively crowd." "Very." "You hear Vigs telling me to show off my cock?" "That was Vig?" Not that Orlando was really surprised. He should've known Viggo wouldn't miss a chance to razz on his ex-lover. Especially if there was an audience around to hear it. "No mistaking that man's voice. Especially saying the word cock." "Well, you'd know," Orlando grinned. Billy's blush made him look even younger. "Aye, well, that was a long time ago." "Galaxy far away and all that." "Oh, don't act like I don't remember what you and Sean were up to on our camping trips." "Not just camping trips, mate," Orlando replied, forcing the light note to his voice. He wondered when he'd be able to think about Sean and not feel like his heart was going to stop beating. It'd been years, ferChristssake. He should have long since been over it by now. "Dirty bugger." "Wouldn't you like to know?" "Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't." Billy looked around, then back at Orlando with a sly look on his face. "You know he's here, right?" "Who?" "Sean." Orlando's entire body stilled. He barely breathed. "He is?" "Mmhmm. He's in town for some meetings or some such with his agent... Ah, there he is, cozy and chatting with Vigs, just like old times. Some things never change, eh?" "No, guess not." The words sounded like they were coming from very far away. He looked in the direction Billy'd given, unable to help himself. Fuck, Sean looked good. There were a few more wrinkles around his eyes and mouth and his streaked-blond hair was shorter, but he still had the same rangy, lean build, and the same low, deep laugh. Orlando couldn't stop staring. And felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights when Sean glanced up, caught sight of him. Orlando watched, still unable to move, as Sean abruptly ended his conversation with Viggo (who just looked his direction and smirked, the bastard, like he knew something Orlando didn't) and walked over to where he and Billy were standing. "Fucking Christ, Orlando." For an all-too-brief moment, Sean's arms circled around Orlando, held him tight. Orlando tried not to shake, forced himself to return the hug. He barely resisted the urge to bury his nose in Sean's neck to see if he still smelled of cigarettes and John Varvatos cologne. He didn't have the right. Not anymore. "How are you, lad, what've you been up to since I saw you last?" Sean asked, when he pulled back. He kept his hands on Orlando's arms, the light touch as hot as a brand. "Oh, you know, it's been Cristal by the pool for everyone, new Bentleys every six months, different girl every night," Orlando shrugged, trying to remain calm, in control. It didn't help matters that Billy had just up and disappeared, leaving him alone with Sean for the first time in over two years. "Just like Entourage, y'know." "Beg pardon?" It's been shit without you. But Orlando couldn't bring himself to say the words. It had been too long, too much had happened, and the time for Orlando to have made his claim had ended the day filming had wrapped on Troy and they'd gone their separate ways without Orlando saying anything that might've made Sean stay. "I've been good," he finally said aloud. "You?" "The same. Can't complain." Sean regarded him for what felt like forever, then cocked his head in the direction of the bar. "Want to have a drink, maybe catch up? If not here, I've got a lovely Shiraz back at mine we could open. I've been waiting for an excuse." Shiraz. They'd demolished a bottle of Australian Shiraz at Sean's rented house the first time they'd had sex, back during the first days of rehearsals for 'Rings'. Orlando vividly remembered how Sean's open-mouthed, desperate kisses had tasted mixed with the wine. After Troy – after the way things ended, after the way he'd let them end – he couldn't even look at a bottle of Shiraz without feeling the world closing in on him, without regret for what he'd let slip through his fingers threatening to drag him under. It couldn't be coincidence. He wondered what Sean was playing at. Why, after all this time, Sean was making such a blatant overture, when they'd barely spoken in the past two years. He couldn't fathom any reason why Sean would still want him after the way they'd parted. After the way Orlando had just let it happen without a fight, without saying anything that might've kept Sean from walking away. Without saying, just once, the words that would have let Sean know how he felt. "You sure you want to do this?" Orlando finally asked, coming to the only conclusion that made sense. Orlando was safe, a sure thing, always had been, at least, where Sean was concerned. Of course Sean would take the easy route. Why go out and risk rejection or worse when you could get someone to come to you? Sean's brows furrowed. "Meaning?" "I've been a pity fuck before. I'm not interested in going down that path again." Christ, he sounded way too bitter, especially considering he didn't have the right to be. "Is that...?" Sean's eyes narrowed. "Y'think I'm here because I've got an itch? Because we've got a past and you're available? Any port in a storm, that it?" "Are you?" Orlando asked stubbornly, refusing to back down. Better to end what little friendship they had remaining than to lose his heart again. Better to leave now than to give his body to Sean without anything else between them. "I've got places to go for a cheap fuck. Which you never were." The hard knot that had formed in the pit of Orlando's stomach loosened at Sean's vehement tone and blazing stare. "Fair enough." "Now that we've got that settled..." Sean stepped forward, ran two fingers along Orlando's cheek until he cupped Orlando's chin. For a second, he squeezed, the grip hard, tight, silently making a point. "If you ever insult me or yourself like that again, I'll thrash the fuck out of you. We clear?" "Yeah," Orlando replied quietly, not moving. "We're clear." God knew, they still had so much to talk over, and there was so much Orlando needed to clarify, but it wasn't as important as what was happening right now. Nothing was as important as this. "Good." Sean dropped his hand from Orlando's chin, then held it out, palm up. "Want to have that drink now? I think we're long overdue." And in Sean's eyes, Orlando found all of the answers he needed. "I'd love to," he replied, and slid his hand along Sean's. The fit was just like he remembered. Sean kept their hands together even after they'd made their goodbyes to everyone else, walked out to the sidewalk, hailed a cab. Kept their hands together the entire ride, and while they strolled into the lobby of Sean's hotel, then rode the elevator up to Sean's suite. They didn't say anything, but the silence didn't bother Orlando. In truth, he was still trying to work out what he wanted to say. How he was going to go about fixing something that should've never been broken. "Well." Once they reached the living area of Sean's suite, Sean dropped Orlando's hand, made a move towards the bar. "Shall I...?" "Wait." Orlando lunged; captured Sean's fingers again, stilled him from walking away. When Sean looked at him in inquiry, Orlando's tongue went dry, his heart raced. "Just...wait." Sean glanced down at Orlando's fingers wrapped around his. "Not going anywhere, lad." "I'm so sorry," he blurted, the words coming from somewhere deep inside him. They weren't the words he'd been rehearsing, but saying them felt right. "I never meant... I never meant to let you go." Instantly, Sean's gaze softened. "Christ, I forget how young you are sometimes," he mused, and lifted his free hand to toy with the skin at the nape of Orlando's neck. "You think you were the only one that let a good thing slip away?" Orlando frowned. "I don't understand." "It takes two people to walk," Sean explained, rubbing his thumb along the hammering pulse against Orlando's neck. "I could've called. I could've visited. We both let it end." The idea that Sean was just as responsible had never occurred to him. He'd been far too busy wallowing in his own self-inflicted guilt. "I guess I never thought about it like that." "I was so happy to see you tonight. Felt like, maybe..." "We'd been given a second chance," Orlando finished softly, then let out a small laugh. The relief that swept through him cleared away all of his remaining self-doubt. "We've both been bloody idiots." "You won't hear me denying it." Sean stepped closer, his hand moving up until it cradled the back of Orlando's head. "I've missed you snoring next to me at night." "And I've missed you caterwauling in the shower," Orlando admitted, leaning until his forehead rested against Sean's. He felt like purring under Sean's soft touch. Sean rubbed his lips lightly across Orlando's, the touch fleeting, not enough. Not nearly enough. "I need the words, Orlando," Sean whispered, and squeezed the hand still holding Orlando's. "This time, I need them." For the first time since he and Sean parted, Orlando felt like he could really breathe again. He could do this. And this time – well, this time would be different. This time, he wouldn't let go. Not for any reason, no matter what. "I love you," he murmured, then leaned in for his own soft kiss. It tasted like Sean, dark and mysterious, of cigarettes and beer. And when Sean kissed him back, tongue softly sliding against his, it tasted like redemption.
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