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moit_ficsTitle: Falling for the First Time - Chapter 6/?
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
moit
Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Orlando/Elijah
Summary: Elijah works at the writing center, where he meets a certain tall, dark-haired student who needs help on his Shakespeare paper. Romance ensues.
Genre: Romance
Word Count: 2,121
Author's note: Sorry this took so long to get out. I'll try to get my chapters out more frequently now that I'm settled.
Spring break was upon them before they knew it. Elijah finished his last day at the writing center and picked Orlando up on his way home. They were planning to head out early in the morning since they had such a long drive.
Four hours away from Los Angeles, Orlando and Elijah stopped for something to eat because Orlando wanted to gamble. It was the only thing he really knew about Las Vegas, even though Elijah insisted there was nothing exciting in Vegas.
“But you forget that everything about this trip excites me. You live here, so you’ve been all over, but I’ve only been to California, other than a brief stop at the airport in New York. So, technically, this is my third state.”
“You seriously want to gamble, though? We’re four hours from home. We’ve barely made a dent in the trip. And it’s only . . . ” He checked his watch. “Eight in the morning.”
Orlando made a face. “Our trip. And you can hold on to your knickers while gamble a few dollars. It won’t kill you, I promise. And you know the casinos are open twenty-four/seven.”
Elijah tightened his fingers around the steering wheel and let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just get tense when I need to take a long trip.”
“We could relieve some tension when we stop . . .” Orlando ventured, reaching over to squeeze Elijah’s thigh.
Elijah irked out a squeak and caught Orlando’s hand with his own. “Stop that, unless you want me to wreck.”
Orlando placed their joined hands on his thigh, which was bouncing in time with the song on the radio. It seemed like nothing could dampen his sunny mood. As it turned out, Orlando won fifty bucks on the penny slots, and the place where they stopped for lunch had the best chicken fried steak Elijah had ever eaten. He conceded that stopping there was one of the best ideas Orlando ever had.
Eleven hours later the boys found a cheap hotel in Denver and checked in.
Orlando collapsed backwards on the bed. “I am so bloody tired.”
Elijah yawned. “Do you want to order pizza or something?” he asked, laying down so he was facing Orlando.
“Mmm.” Orlando was already falling asleep.
“Wake up, you nancy! I’m hungry!” Elijah pushed his pillow into Orlando’s face. Orlando threw it on the floor.
“You really ought to avoid using British slang. It sounds daft with your American accent.”
“Your American accent,” Elijah mimicked. “Let’s order pizza.”
“I don’t feel like pizza.”
“Then get a salad, or something.” Elijah got up and dug his phone out of his pocket. He found a pizza menu on the nightstand. “So, salad, or what?”
“I guess pizza’s fine,” Orlando said with a long-suffering sigh.
Elijah rolled his eyes. “Hi, I’d like to place an order for delivery . . . uh huh, room 106 . . . a large half-pepperoni, half veggie . . . okay . . . okay, thank you.” He ended the call. “He said it’ll be about 35 minutes.”
“Brilliant.”
“What’s wrong with you? You were all smiles in Vegas, and now you’re grouchy.”
“I’m just tired.”
Elijah laid down on the empty side of the bed. “Seriously, what’s wrong? Did I say something to upset you?”
Orlando shook his head. “You just seem so agitated. It’s feels like you’re not enjoying anything about this trip, and I don’t like being the only one having fun. It really dampens my mood, too, you know?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be such a dick. I just get worked up when I have a long drive, and I haven’t seen my family in forever . . .”
“Really, Lij, I’m the one who should be worked up and nervous,” Orlando said diplomatically.
Elijah chuckled. “You’ve got me there.”
“Maybe you need to work off some tension,” Orlando purred, rolling himself on top of Elijah’s body. Somehow they finished just moments before the pizza arrived; nevertheless, Elijah still had to answer the door wearing his shirt and holding Orlando’s jeans bunched at the waist because he couldn’t find his own.
The next day, Elijah resolved to be in a better mood. He let Orlando drive first, and willed himself to relax in the passenger seat.
“My driving never frightened you before,” Orlando said.
“What?” Elijah looked at where he was gripping the door handle tightly with his right hand. “Oh,” he said, releasing it. “It’s not your driving; I’m just anxious.”
“Do you have an anxiety medication or sommat?”
“I probably should,” Elijah said with a laugh. Then, “No, I’ll be okay.”
The look on Orlando’s face remained serious.
“I’m fine, I promise. As soon as we get to Iowa, I’ll be just a calm and collected as I normally am.”
“Because you have incredible self-control.”
“Ass. I meant I’ll be calmer because I’ll be with my family. Then again, they’re probably just as crazy as I am.” He paused for a moment. “Strike that. They’re worse than me. Turn around, we’re going back to California.”
“I don’t think so,” Orlando said, pressing ever-so-slightly on the gas pedal to inch the car forward. “I bet your family is lovely.”
Elijah snorted. “Well, I don’t know if you’ll get to meet my dad. Ever since my parents got divorced, things between me and my dad have been less than awesome. Zach kind of sided with my dad, so you might not get to meet him, either.”
“But your sister’s home for the break?”
“Yeah. Hannah goes to school at Iowa for Fashion Merchandising.”
“My sister’s got a degree in Engineering. She’s the smart one in the family.”
“That would be Zach. He’s learning to take over the deli for my dad. Hannah’s the baby of the family, so it sort of leaves me stuck in the middle.”
“Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing we found each other,” Orlando said, twining their fingers together.
They stopped for gas, and Orlando opted to keep driving. It gave Elijah the opportunity to take a nap, something Orlando knew he needed. It seemed like the closer they got to Iowa, the more Elijah seemed to relax, but when they crossed the Iowa border, Elijah (who was now driving) was practically bouncing in his seat.
“We’re only about four hours away, now. Fuck, I can’t wait to get home. I haven’t seen my mom and Hannah since Christmas.”
“Do you want me to drive for a while?”
Elijah looked over at him suspiciously.
“It’s four hours until we get there, and you’ve already been driving for two.”
“I’ll stop when we need gas.”
About an hour later, Elijah pulled off at an exit. He and Orlando got out; Orlando stretched while Elijah pumped gas.
“Sitting in a car for two days is hell on my back.” He bent over to touch his toes, and Elijah dropped the gas pump when he tried to put it back. He avoided Orlando’s curious look.
“Last night not enough?” Orlando whispered as they passed one other to trade places.
“Never enough,” Elijah said, shaking his head.
Once they situated themselves, Olrando pulled back onto the highway. It wasn’t until he took the exit for Cedar Rapids that Elijah got back behind the wheel. He pointed out different places as they drove through town. “That, my dear, is Dianne’s, the absolute best diner in town. I’ll take you there sometime this week . . . That’s my high school.”
“That’s nothing like mine.”
“Well, you went to prep school, right?”
“Yeah.”
“A uniform, and everything? Dockers and a tie?”
“I still have the tie,” Orlando said, eyeing Elijah sideways.
“We’re almost to my house,” Elijah said, gripping the steering wheel tighter and staring straight ahead. The smile never left his face.
They drove through the heart of town and soon they were back in the country. Elijah turned off onto a gravel road.
“Do you live on a farm?”
“Not a farm, exactly, but we have a fair bit of land.”
After driving a while down the gravel road, Elijah finally turned into the driveway of a modest little farmhouse. He parked the car and gave Orlando a nervous glance. “Here we are.”
Orlando leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Relax, love. I think you’re more nervous than I am.”
They got out of the car and walked up the front steps. The house had a nice big porch with a swing on one side. “It’s especially nice to sit out here when it’s raining.”
“It’s cold here, though,” Orlando pointed out.
“Colder than L.A., definitely. Isn’t England colder than L.A.?”
“Sure. That’s why I’m not wearing a jacket.”
Elijah opened the door and they stepped into the house. “Mom! We’re here!”
Elijah’s mother appeared at the top of the stairs. “Elijah! Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you!” She hurried down the stairs to give her son a hug and a kiss. “And you must be Orlando,” she said, giving him a hug and a kiss, too.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Orlando said, giving her the full force of his smile.
Debbie frowned at Elijah. “You didn’t tell me he was English.”
“‘Is,’ Mom. Not ‘was.’ He’s not dead.”
Debbie frowned and swatted at his arm. “Don’t think you’re too old for me to take you over my knee.”
Elijah giggled like a hyena. “Where’s Hannah?”
“She ran to the store, but she should be home soon. Come on, let’s go get your bags and get you two settled in.”
They marched back out to the car to retrieve their bags. Debbie led them back into the house and up the stairs. “This is Elijah’s old room,” she said, turning on the light. She had clearly redone the room, if the painting of a garden and the lace doilies on the nightstand were any indication. But the bed was a queen and its yellow and cream coverlet looked very comfortable. “I know it’s girly, but the sheets are clean.”
“Yellow is my favourite colour,” Orlando said.
“I didn’t even know that,” Elijah said, giving him a look.
“Now you do.” Orlando winked at him and Elijah felt his body go warm.
“Well, I’ll let you settle in,” Debbie said, leaving them alone once more.
“I’m tired,” Elijah said, collapsing backwards on the bed. He wasn’t expecting Orlando to cover him with his body and opened his eyes in surprise. “My mom is downstairs,” he hissed, but opened his knees to allow Orlando between them, anyway. “You know, the door isn’t even closed.”
“Then we better make it quick,” Orlando whispered, lowering his face to Elijah’s neck.
But just as Elijah wrapped his arms around Orlando’s body, his mom’s voice called out, “Elijah! Your sister’s home!”
“Brilliant,” Orlando signed sarcastically as he rolled off of Elijah.
“Hush. You were excited to meet my sister yesterday,” Elijah said, shoving at Orlando as he stood up.
“That was before I wanted a nap and a cuddle and perhaps a mutual wank.” He wrapped his arms around a pillow and gave Elijah the biggest doe eyes he could make.
“Then stay up here and have a wank. I’m going downstairs.”
Growling, Orlando stood up and caught Elijah about the middle. “I’ll get you later, little one.”
With a laugh, Elijah took Orlando’s hand and dragged him down the stairs.
Waiting in the kitchen were Elijah’s mom and a girl who looked like a shorter, blonder version of Elijah. “Hey bro,” Hannah said, giving Elijah a hug. “I’m Hannah,” she said, hugging Orlando as well.
“Orlando. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Hannah’s curious gaze turned to Elijah. “And where are you from, Orlando?”
“Canterbury, England. I take it you didn’t know, either?”
Elijah shrugged. “You never asked.”
“Well, we didn’t assume he was from England.”
“Is,” Elijah quipped.
“What?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not dead yet,” Orlando added gently.
“What?” Hannah repeated, thoroughly confused.
“Nothing,” Debbie said, shaking her head. “Orlando, would you like to see the rest of the property?”
“Sure.”
Elijah noticed his sister eyeing Orlando as he walked out of the house. “Back off, he’s mine.”
“He’s also gay,” Hannah said, rolling her eyes. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
Elijah heaved a great sigh and followed his sister into the backyard.
“You told me you didn’t live on a farm,” Orlando called over his shoulder.
“I don’t.”
“Chickens and cows don’t qualify?”
“No.” Elijah grinned and shook his head. “We only have four cows.”
“Only four cows,” Orlando repeated.
“It’s really not a farm,” Hannah added. “Mom doesn’t make any money off the animals. Think of them as pets.”
“The chickens contribute. They’re better than dogs,” Debbie said.
Orlando shook his head, clearly still confused.
“Welcome to Iowa,” Elijah said with a grin.
Author:
moitFandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Orlando/Elijah
Summary: Elijah works at the writing center, where he meets a certain tall, dark-haired student who needs help on his Shakespeare paper. Romance ensues.
Genre: Romance
Word Count: 2,121
Author's note: Sorry this took so long to get out. I'll try to get my chapters out more frequently now that I'm settled.
Spring break was upon them before they knew it. Elijah finished his last day at the writing center and picked Orlando up on his way home. They were planning to head out early in the morning since they had such a long drive.
Four hours away from Los Angeles, Orlando and Elijah stopped for something to eat because Orlando wanted to gamble. It was the only thing he really knew about Las Vegas, even though Elijah insisted there was nothing exciting in Vegas.
“But you forget that everything about this trip excites me. You live here, so you’ve been all over, but I’ve only been to California, other than a brief stop at the airport in New York. So, technically, this is my third state.”
“You seriously want to gamble, though? We’re four hours from home. We’ve barely made a dent in the trip. And it’s only . . . ” He checked his watch. “Eight in the morning.”
Orlando made a face. “Our trip. And you can hold on to your knickers while gamble a few dollars. It won’t kill you, I promise. And you know the casinos are open twenty-four/seven.”
Elijah tightened his fingers around the steering wheel and let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just get tense when I need to take a long trip.”
“We could relieve some tension when we stop . . .” Orlando ventured, reaching over to squeeze Elijah’s thigh.
Elijah irked out a squeak and caught Orlando’s hand with his own. “Stop that, unless you want me to wreck.”
Orlando placed their joined hands on his thigh, which was bouncing in time with the song on the radio. It seemed like nothing could dampen his sunny mood. As it turned out, Orlando won fifty bucks on the penny slots, and the place where they stopped for lunch had the best chicken fried steak Elijah had ever eaten. He conceded that stopping there was one of the best ideas Orlando ever had.
Eleven hours later the boys found a cheap hotel in Denver and checked in.
Orlando collapsed backwards on the bed. “I am so bloody tired.”
Elijah yawned. “Do you want to order pizza or something?” he asked, laying down so he was facing Orlando.
“Mmm.” Orlando was already falling asleep.
“Wake up, you nancy! I’m hungry!” Elijah pushed his pillow into Orlando’s face. Orlando threw it on the floor.
“You really ought to avoid using British slang. It sounds daft with your American accent.”
“Your American accent,” Elijah mimicked. “Let’s order pizza.”
“I don’t feel like pizza.”
“Then get a salad, or something.” Elijah got up and dug his phone out of his pocket. He found a pizza menu on the nightstand. “So, salad, or what?”
“I guess pizza’s fine,” Orlando said with a long-suffering sigh.
Elijah rolled his eyes. “Hi, I’d like to place an order for delivery . . . uh huh, room 106 . . . a large half-pepperoni, half veggie . . . okay . . . okay, thank you.” He ended the call. “He said it’ll be about 35 minutes.”
“Brilliant.”
“What’s wrong with you? You were all smiles in Vegas, and now you’re grouchy.”
“I’m just tired.”
Elijah laid down on the empty side of the bed. “Seriously, what’s wrong? Did I say something to upset you?”
Orlando shook his head. “You just seem so agitated. It’s feels like you’re not enjoying anything about this trip, and I don’t like being the only one having fun. It really dampens my mood, too, you know?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be such a dick. I just get worked up when I have a long drive, and I haven’t seen my family in forever . . .”
“Really, Lij, I’m the one who should be worked up and nervous,” Orlando said diplomatically.
Elijah chuckled. “You’ve got me there.”
“Maybe you need to work off some tension,” Orlando purred, rolling himself on top of Elijah’s body. Somehow they finished just moments before the pizza arrived; nevertheless, Elijah still had to answer the door wearing his shirt and holding Orlando’s jeans bunched at the waist because he couldn’t find his own.
The next day, Elijah resolved to be in a better mood. He let Orlando drive first, and willed himself to relax in the passenger seat.
“My driving never frightened you before,” Orlando said.
“What?” Elijah looked at where he was gripping the door handle tightly with his right hand. “Oh,” he said, releasing it. “It’s not your driving; I’m just anxious.”
“Do you have an anxiety medication or sommat?”
“I probably should,” Elijah said with a laugh. Then, “No, I’ll be okay.”
The look on Orlando’s face remained serious.
“I’m fine, I promise. As soon as we get to Iowa, I’ll be just a calm and collected as I normally am.”
“Because you have incredible self-control.”
“Ass. I meant I’ll be calmer because I’ll be with my family. Then again, they’re probably just as crazy as I am.” He paused for a moment. “Strike that. They’re worse than me. Turn around, we’re going back to California.”
“I don’t think so,” Orlando said, pressing ever-so-slightly on the gas pedal to inch the car forward. “I bet your family is lovely.”
Elijah snorted. “Well, I don’t know if you’ll get to meet my dad. Ever since my parents got divorced, things between me and my dad have been less than awesome. Zach kind of sided with my dad, so you might not get to meet him, either.”
“But your sister’s home for the break?”
“Yeah. Hannah goes to school at Iowa for Fashion Merchandising.”
“My sister’s got a degree in Engineering. She’s the smart one in the family.”
“That would be Zach. He’s learning to take over the deli for my dad. Hannah’s the baby of the family, so it sort of leaves me stuck in the middle.”
“Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing we found each other,” Orlando said, twining their fingers together.
They stopped for gas, and Orlando opted to keep driving. It gave Elijah the opportunity to take a nap, something Orlando knew he needed. It seemed like the closer they got to Iowa, the more Elijah seemed to relax, but when they crossed the Iowa border, Elijah (who was now driving) was practically bouncing in his seat.
“We’re only about four hours away, now. Fuck, I can’t wait to get home. I haven’t seen my mom and Hannah since Christmas.”
“Do you want me to drive for a while?”
Elijah looked over at him suspiciously.
“It’s four hours until we get there, and you’ve already been driving for two.”
“I’ll stop when we need gas.”
About an hour later, Elijah pulled off at an exit. He and Orlando got out; Orlando stretched while Elijah pumped gas.
“Sitting in a car for two days is hell on my back.” He bent over to touch his toes, and Elijah dropped the gas pump when he tried to put it back. He avoided Orlando’s curious look.
“Last night not enough?” Orlando whispered as they passed one other to trade places.
“Never enough,” Elijah said, shaking his head.
Once they situated themselves, Olrando pulled back onto the highway. It wasn’t until he took the exit for Cedar Rapids that Elijah got back behind the wheel. He pointed out different places as they drove through town. “That, my dear, is Dianne’s, the absolute best diner in town. I’ll take you there sometime this week . . . That’s my high school.”
“That’s nothing like mine.”
“Well, you went to prep school, right?”
“Yeah.”
“A uniform, and everything? Dockers and a tie?”
“I still have the tie,” Orlando said, eyeing Elijah sideways.
“We’re almost to my house,” Elijah said, gripping the steering wheel tighter and staring straight ahead. The smile never left his face.
They drove through the heart of town and soon they were back in the country. Elijah turned off onto a gravel road.
“Do you live on a farm?”
“Not a farm, exactly, but we have a fair bit of land.”
After driving a while down the gravel road, Elijah finally turned into the driveway of a modest little farmhouse. He parked the car and gave Orlando a nervous glance. “Here we are.”
Orlando leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Relax, love. I think you’re more nervous than I am.”
They got out of the car and walked up the front steps. The house had a nice big porch with a swing on one side. “It’s especially nice to sit out here when it’s raining.”
“It’s cold here, though,” Orlando pointed out.
“Colder than L.A., definitely. Isn’t England colder than L.A.?”
“Sure. That’s why I’m not wearing a jacket.”
Elijah opened the door and they stepped into the house. “Mom! We’re here!”
Elijah’s mother appeared at the top of the stairs. “Elijah! Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you!” She hurried down the stairs to give her son a hug and a kiss. “And you must be Orlando,” she said, giving him a hug and a kiss, too.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Orlando said, giving her the full force of his smile.
Debbie frowned at Elijah. “You didn’t tell me he was English.”
“‘Is,’ Mom. Not ‘was.’ He’s not dead.”
Debbie frowned and swatted at his arm. “Don’t think you’re too old for me to take you over my knee.”
Elijah giggled like a hyena. “Where’s Hannah?”
“She ran to the store, but she should be home soon. Come on, let’s go get your bags and get you two settled in.”
They marched back out to the car to retrieve their bags. Debbie led them back into the house and up the stairs. “This is Elijah’s old room,” she said, turning on the light. She had clearly redone the room, if the painting of a garden and the lace doilies on the nightstand were any indication. But the bed was a queen and its yellow and cream coverlet looked very comfortable. “I know it’s girly, but the sheets are clean.”
“Yellow is my favourite colour,” Orlando said.
“I didn’t even know that,” Elijah said, giving him a look.
“Now you do.” Orlando winked at him and Elijah felt his body go warm.
“Well, I’ll let you settle in,” Debbie said, leaving them alone once more.
“I’m tired,” Elijah said, collapsing backwards on the bed. He wasn’t expecting Orlando to cover him with his body and opened his eyes in surprise. “My mom is downstairs,” he hissed, but opened his knees to allow Orlando between them, anyway. “You know, the door isn’t even closed.”
“Then we better make it quick,” Orlando whispered, lowering his face to Elijah’s neck.
But just as Elijah wrapped his arms around Orlando’s body, his mom’s voice called out, “Elijah! Your sister’s home!”
“Brilliant,” Orlando signed sarcastically as he rolled off of Elijah.
“Hush. You were excited to meet my sister yesterday,” Elijah said, shoving at Orlando as he stood up.
“That was before I wanted a nap and a cuddle and perhaps a mutual wank.” He wrapped his arms around a pillow and gave Elijah the biggest doe eyes he could make.
“Then stay up here and have a wank. I’m going downstairs.”
Growling, Orlando stood up and caught Elijah about the middle. “I’ll get you later, little one.”
With a laugh, Elijah took Orlando’s hand and dragged him down the stairs.
Waiting in the kitchen were Elijah’s mom and a girl who looked like a shorter, blonder version of Elijah. “Hey bro,” Hannah said, giving Elijah a hug. “I’m Hannah,” she said, hugging Orlando as well.
“Orlando. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Hannah’s curious gaze turned to Elijah. “And where are you from, Orlando?”
“Canterbury, England. I take it you didn’t know, either?”
Elijah shrugged. “You never asked.”
“Well, we didn’t assume he was from England.”
“Is,” Elijah quipped.
“What?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not dead yet,” Orlando added gently.
“What?” Hannah repeated, thoroughly confused.
“Nothing,” Debbie said, shaking her head. “Orlando, would you like to see the rest of the property?”
“Sure.”
Elijah noticed his sister eyeing Orlando as he walked out of the house. “Back off, he’s mine.”
“He’s also gay,” Hannah said, rolling her eyes. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
Elijah heaved a great sigh and followed his sister into the backyard.
“You told me you didn’t live on a farm,” Orlando called over his shoulder.
“I don’t.”
“Chickens and cows don’t qualify?”
“No.” Elijah grinned and shook his head. “We only have four cows.”
“Only four cows,” Orlando repeated.
“It’s really not a farm,” Hannah added. “Mom doesn’t make any money off the animals. Think of them as pets.”
“The chickens contribute. They’re better than dogs,” Debbie said.
Orlando shook his head, clearly still confused.
“Welcome to Iowa,” Elijah said with a grin.
