Communication Series: a quartet of drabbles
by
Bluespirit

Fandom: Lord of the Rings RPS
Pairing: Sean/Orlando
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Words are important.
Word count: 400 in total

Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. The author is not making any claims as to the real life sexualities or preferences of the people portrayed here. This is purely for entertainment, not profit.

1.  Goodbye

"How can you be so fucking casual about all this?"

Orlando stared in shock as Sean's voice broke on the last word. "What do you mean? What *this*?"

Sean sighed sadly. "That's just it, isn't it? You don't even know what I'm talking about…so fucking casual…just casual fucking…" His expression hardened and he stood up. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry…I just can't."

"What are you doing?" Orlando grabbed Sean's arm. "I don't understand."

"I'm leaving," Sean said quietly, gently moving Orlando's arm. "Goodbye, Orli."

Orlando stared at the door long after Sean's footsteps echoed away into the night.

2.  Please

"Can we talk?" Orlando asked, not even bothering with the social niceties. "*Please*?" he added urgently, praying that Sean wouldn't just turn him away and close the door in his face.

Sean looked haggard, the light from the hallway setting his face into starkly shadowed relief. He hadn't shaved and red-rimmed eyes told their own story of elusive sleep. Orlando knew exactly how that felt.

"Please, Sean. I made a mistake…I need to explain…" Orlando stared into the beautiful, sad eyes and waited, his heart in his hands.

"Please?"

Time stretched out endlessly, finally broken by a softly whispered, "yes."

3.  Assume

Orlando held the glass tightly, not drinking - just clinging to its solidity, its smooth, flawless strength. "I didn't know… I thought that was how you wanted it," he said quietly. "You never said anything and so I just assumed…"

"Assumed what?"

"That you were only in it for the fun… the sex… that you didn't want anything more." Orlando cleared his throat and took a drink. The burn felt good. "I didn't think that you actually wanted…"

"Wanted?"

He couldn't see anything except Sean's eyes, they burned more deeply than the scotch.

"*Me*… I didn't think you wanted me."

4.  Wanted

Orlando felt hollow as he dipped his head. He'd bared himself to the core and now he was waiting.

The room was quiet, just a murmuring hiss of logs and the steady tick of the mantle clock. He heard movement as Sean walked over and stood in front of him but he couldn't look up, couldn't look into the eyes that had held him captive only a moment before.

The sofa dipped and a familiar warmth settled next to him. A gentle hand guided his chin up.

"I've only ever wanted *you*, Orli… just you."

Orlando breathed into the kiss.


The end