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Title:
Bobbing for Hobbits: A Halloween story
Written for the CIB Destination Slash challenge Summary: A Halloween surfing adventure
Archive: You can if you like please just let me know Authors note: I wrote this cause I love Karl fic but he always seems to be bad!Karl so I decided he should get to be nice for a change. He should come to my house and be nice as well but that’s another story!
Bobbing for HobbitsIt was Halloween and Peter had graciously given the cast and the crew a full weekend off. Many people were staying in Wellington, as there was a huge Halloween celebration planned. Orlando, Viggo, Billy and Dom had decided to take advantage of the two days and go surfing. Tired of their usual surfing haunts they decided that a trip to Australia was just the thing that would find them good waves. Friday afternoon saw the four of them on a plane heading for Sydney, Australia. On their arrival they had hired car and driven south from Sydney, arriving at Bateman’s Bay at midnight. None of them had ever been there before but it had been highly recommended by one of the Australian stunt men. He had told the guys about its clear blue water and excellent waves, so two hobbits, a ranger and an elf had booked a house on the beach for a weekend. Orlando, Dom and Billy slept late but were finally awakened by Viggo yelling at them that he couldn’t wait any longer to hit the water. The guys dressed and joined Viggo on the balcony admiring the view of the clean white sand that sloped down to a clear blue ocean with a three to four foot swell running. The sky was sapphire blue and the sun was warm on Orlando’s skin as he pulled on his wetsuit. The other three had beaten him to the beach and were already paddling out through the broken water. As he looked further out to sea, squinting into the bright sunlight, he was concerned because from his position higher up on the beach he could see a positively monster wave forming up out the back. He knew his friends couldn’t see it and there was nothing he could do to warn them about the danger. As they paddled over the wave that was in front of them, Orlando could see them spot the huge wave as it gained height ready to break. They must have realised that it was going to break right on top of them but they didn’t have any time to react. The top of the wave curled over and Orlando watched helplessly the huge wall of water slammed down on all three of them. Orlando held his breath as he saw the broken half of a surfboard bob to the surface but he couldn’t make out whose board it was. He anxiously counted heads as the white wash started to settle, immediately spotting Dom and Viggo in the swirling water but he couldn’t see Billy anywhere. Dom looked stunned and was clinging onto his board to stay afloat. Viggo looked unhurt and had obviously noticed that Billy was missing. Orlando could see him scanning the waves anxiously as he kept one hand round Dom’s arm to keep him steady in the turbulent water. Orlando started to wade into the water to join the search for Billy, but by the time he was knee deep he saw someone had beaten him to it. A dark haired man that had missed being hit by the worst of the wave slid off his board and into the water. As his head broke back through the white water Orlando saw that he was dragging Billy to the surface. He laid the dazed man across his surfboard and reached under the water to pull off Billy’s leg rope freeing him from the broken half of his board. In only a couple of minutes the man had got Billy to the shallows where Orlando was standing. Between the two of them they walked Billy up the beach and sat him down on a towel. Viggo hit the beach a little behind Billy and his rescuer, since he was supporting Dom who had hit his head on the bottom as the wave had smashed them under. Billy was still a little confused and was babbling something about needing to get back on set. Viggo knelt down next to Billy and was talking softly to him, trying to get him reorientated. As he did he held a towel to the long cut on Billy’s head, which was bleeding profusely. Dom was sitting next to Billy and still looked a bit shocked, a large lump rising up on his head from where it had struck the sand. “It’s lucky for you that this guy decided Halloween was a good time to go bobbing for Hobbits and not apples” said Orlando as he looked at his two injured friends. As he spoke Orlando looked over at the rescuer who was standing awkwardly off to one side. As Orlando approached him he was towelling off his short dark hair as he watched the two injured men. “Thanks for rescuing our Billy, it looked pretty bad for a minute there” Orlando said knowing his words couldn’t really express his true gratitude for the man’s actions. “That’s OK I was just in the right place at the right time, if I had paddled out a few minutes earlier I would have got creamed along with them” said the man smiling at Orlando. Orlando didn’t answer since he was a bit preoccupied thinking about how cute the guy looked when he smiled. He suddenly realised that the other man had asked him a question. “Um what sorry I was miles away,” said Orlando trying his best not to stare. “I said the bobbing for hobbits thing was pretty funny. Your friend isn’t really all that short though so why is he a hobbit?” asked the man curiously. “Oh well we are all actors and we are filming the Lord of the Rings in New Zealand. Billy who you rescued is playing a Hobbit and so is Dom. I’m an elf and Viggo the tall guy is playing the king” Orlando realised how very strange that sentence sounded and stopped talking. “Well I being in a movie is one explanation for your haircut,” Karl said looking at Orlando’s mohawk. “Oh that its so the wig looks OK,” said Orlando a little embarrassed rubbing his hand over his short hair. “I think it look pretty cool. It must be a pretty serious movie if you are willing to look like that while you are filming it,” said Karl laughing. There was a pause in the conversation as they both watch Billy cough up about a gallon of water from his lungs. Orlando had a sudden thought. “Hey we are going out to dinner tonight, you should come so we can buy you many beers for rescuing our friend” “I don’t want to impose on you or anything” “Come on its all very casual, you can bring your girlfriend or whatever. We may look strange but we don’t bite or anything. Seven o’clock at the Anchorage Restaurant. My names Orlando by the way” “I’ll see you there then Orlando,” said the man as he bent down to pick up his board and then started to walk back toward the car park. As he watched him leave Orlando had a sudden thought. “Hang on a second, we don’t even know your name” Orlando yelled to the man as he walked off. The man paused and turned back toward Orlando. “It’s Karl and by the way I’m here on my own” “Cool we’ll see you tonight Karl” Orlando smiled as he walked back to his friends. Billy was now sounding more coherent and was holding the towel on his still bleeding cut. Dom was also recovering well and was peering at the long fin cut on Billy’s forehead. “It’s going to need stitches and Peter is going to kill you,” Dom told his friend happily. “Fuck off Dom” said Billy as he gingerly touched the wound and saw a gratifyingly large amount of blood on his fingers Viggo was standing next to Orlando watching the Hobbits compare injuries. “Well I think they are both going to be alright” Viggo said looking round the beach “Where did the guy go that rescued him?” “His name is Karl and I invited him to dinner so we could reward him for rescuing our hobbit” Orlando said rather too quickly. Viggo raised one eyebrow at Orlando. “What?” Orli said. “Nothing, nothing at all” said Viggo. To cover his embarrassment Orlando walked over and started to gather up surfboards and towels so they could get Billy to a doctor and get him stitched up. *******~~~~~~~~~~****** “For god sake Billy stop poking at your stitches” Viggo was forced to say for the fifth time since they had entered the restaurant. “I swear its worse than looking after Henry” he said quietly under his breath. Orlando really wasn’t listening; he was fidgeting in his seat wondering if the red shirt he had put on really suited him and why he was being so stupid about a man he had met for all of five minutes. Viggo looked silently at Orlando who was throwing down his second beer in about fifteen minutes. “Hey there Elf boy, maybe you better pace yourself, you know what a cheap drunk you are” Viggo teased gently. “Bugger off filthy human” Orlando retorted but did slow his assault on the second bottle. Orlando looked up as Karl walked into the restaurant, pausing at the door to scan the room before he spotted them. He was dressed casually in a black v-neck sweater and jeans, but he was so handsome he made Orlando suck in a breath as he watched him walk over to their table. Orlando had managed to ensure that the only spare seat was next to him, and as he watched Karl sit down he felt his pulse rate speed up. The waitress bought menus and the table was silent as they pondered their choices for dinner. Orlando was never one for enjoying a silence and he tried to think of an opening line with which to dazzle Karl. “So do you live around here?” asked Orlando stunning himself with the banality of his chosen question. “No I’m just on holidays. I’m starting a new job in a few days and I wanted a break before I had to go back to work” said Karl. Orlando could smell Karl’s aftershave and he was so distracted he couldn’t think of another mundane question to ask. Fortunately Billy stood up to make a speech and this filled the pause in the conversation. As Billy rose unsteadily to his feet Orlando realised that he had probably had too much to drink for someone who had recently sustained a head injury. “I would like to propose a toast to the man who saved my life, dragging me from the very grip of the sea of death. I’m sure that if Peter was here he would thank you from the bottom of his heart for making sure he didn’t to have to recast another major character in his movie. More beer for the hero” declaimed Billy and then abruptly sat down, apparently overwhelmed with the effort of making a speech. Orlando watched as Karl’s face broke into a lopsided grin. He really was extremely cute when he smiled thought Orlando. “Peter is Peter Jackson, he is the director” Orlando said to Karl. Karl just nodded swallowing a swig of beer. The evening passed in a pleasant blur of good food and wine and extravagantly told stories about the movie. Karl listened attentively but said very little and this gave Orlando ample opportunity to watch as him as his blue eyes focused closely on whoever was speaking. Given the intoxication level of the hobbits most of the stories came from Billy and Dom and they grew wilder as the night went on. For some reason during the evening the group found themselves comparing drivers licenses in some drunken bet to see who looked least like their photo. Orlando noticed that Karl’s last name was Urban and strangely he had a New Zealand licence. Billy won this particular bet since his photo looked like a completely different person. This meant he was forced to buy everyone another round of beers. He protested that winning a bet usually meant he should get something but the others in the group shouted him down. Orlando looked down at his watch and saw that it was already 11 pm and they were the last people in the restaurant. The staff were standing around looking like they wanted to go home, so reluctantly they paid the bill and moved out into the street outside the restaurant. They all stood outside in the warm spring night. Dom and Billy were leaning on each other singing some incomprehensible song. “Viggo, do you think you can look after Dom and Billy? I think I might go for a walk on the beach to clear my head” said Orlando watching Karl as he spoke. “Go ahead Orlando I think I can manage to control a couple of drunk hobbits even without my sword” said Viggo as he started walking down the footpath to grab Dom and Billy as they began to weave their way into the middle of the road. “Do you mind if I come with you, it’s my last night here and the beach looks beautiful at night” said Karl “Sure the company would be nice,” said Orlando his mouth suddenly dry. They walked together down the narrow track to the beach “Without his sword?” said Karl suddenly. “Well Viggo gets pretty deep into his characters and he keeps wandering round Wellington carrying a sword. It freaks people out and they call the police who then try and arrest him for carrying an offensive weapon” “Your movie set sounds like an interesting place” You have no idea,” said Orlando smiling he sat down on a rock by the water. Karl sat down beside him sliding his hand onto Orlando’s leg as they both looked out watching the ocean. Orlando moved closer and turned to Karl kissing him hard on the lips. As the kiss continued Karl moved his hand sliding it up under the front hem of Orlando’s shirt his fingers spreading over his flat stomach “My place or yours?” said Karl with a smile. “Its going to have to be your place, mine is full of hobbits and a ranger” said Orlando huskily as he felt Karl’s fingers warm on his skin. Orlando heard Karl laugh as he reached down and grabbed his hand pulling him to his feet. “My place it is then, I wouldn’t want to scare the little people,” said Karl as he led Orlando back up the beach. The trip back up the beach took slightly longer as they stopped to kiss a number of times, each kiss getting slightly more passionate. They finally made it off the beach and Karl smiled as he draped an arm over Orlando’s shoulders. “You aren’t doing this as a reward for rescuing your friend are you?” Karl breathed into Orlando’s ear his hand sliding down to rest on his ass. “Don’t be stupid I am doing this cause you are gorgeous and I want to fuck you senseless,” Orlando replied leaning in and kissing Karl again. As they reached the house, Karl pushed Orlando back pinning him against the wooden front door. Karl kissed Orlando’s mouth sucking his bottom lip and biting gently. Then he trailed kisses down the side of Orlando’s face till he reached his neck sinking his teeth in nipping gently at the smooth skin. Orlando groaned and slid his fingers into Karl’s hair. “Lets go inside,” gasped Orlando. “My thought exactly’” whispered Karl. Karl unlocked the door and stepped into the house and Orlando followed him in his mind spinning with desire. Karl took Orlando’s hand and led him to the bedroom. *********~~~~~~~~~******** Orlando woke to the very pleasant feeling of someone nibbling on his ear. He rolled over onto his back and Karl leaned in and kissed him. Orlando thought he looked remarkably fresh for the amount of activity that they had undertaken last night. Orlando blinked to clear his vision and turned his head to look at the bedside clock. Its red numbers indicated that it was one in the afternoon and Orlando sat bolt upright. “Shit its late, I have to go.” said Orlando reluctantly. Orlando kissed Karl one more time, it felt so good that he knew he would need to get up immediately, otherwise he would want to stay the rest of the day. He rolled out of bed and made for the living room. “Shame you have to go so soon” said Karl admiring Orlando as he walked out of the room. “I have to get back to Sydney to catch the plane to New Zealand” said Orlando as he wandered round the house picking up pieces of his clothing and putting them back on. He was stalled for a moment when he couldn’t find his right shoe but he found it, for reasons he couldn’t remember, sitting on the coffee table. Finally Orlando was fully dressed he walked back into the bedroom wishing he could stay longer. The night had been fantastic and it was a shame that they probably wouldn’t meet up again. Orlando always hated these uncomfortable moments when the time came to leave. He fidgeted with the silver rings on his fingers as he looked at Karl. “Well to risk sounding really corny I had a great time last night. But with you being in Australia and me in New Zealand, I’m not sure when we might meet up again, so you know” Orlando said. “You never know we might trip over each other again sometime” said Karl lazily. “I doubt it. I think we’ll be stuck on set for a while now, no more surfing weekends in Australia,” said Orlando wistfully. Orlando stood awkwardly in the bedroom door for a moment longer. “Well just in case I have left my cell phone number on your coffee table. I guess we won’t be able to catch up anytime soon though.” “I wouldn’t want make a bet on that” Karl said softly to himself a smile drifting across his face as he watch Orlando walk out of the bedroom making for the front door. *********~~~~~~~~~******** Orlando arrived back at the house he was sharing with the others about five minutes before they had to leave to drive back to Sydney. As he burst in through the front door he saw everyone was packed and was sitting round the kitchen table filling in time as they waited for Orlando. In Viggo’s case this involved reading quietly and in the case of Dom and Billy it involved playing a rather violent version of rock, paper, scissors. “Nice of you to join us Elf boy, I thought we were going to have to send a search party,” said Viggo looking over the top of his book as he watched Orli skid to a stop in the middle of the kitchen. “Fuck I’m sorry, I’ll just be a sec getting my stuff together and we can go,” he said over his shoulder as he made for his bedroom. Orlando was in his room throwing his stuff haphazardly into his bag. As he moved around the room he looked up seeing Dom and Billy grinning at him from doorway. “What are you two smirking about?” Orlando said as he peered under the bed to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind. “Well we were just wondering where you got to last night,” Billy said. “Yes, we were really worried with you being in a place you didn’t know and all. Very unsafe behaviour” added Dom. “Sod off both of you. You know where I was and you are just jealous that I got laid last night and you both had to come back here to play video games with each other” “We didn’t play video games, we watched a DVD” protested Dom “Well that’s not really getting laid either is it?” Billy said poking Dom hard in the ribs. “I guess not,” said Dom sounding rather sad. “Regardless of what you did I’m sure I had the better night of it. However since I’m never going to see him again there isn’t much to talk about, unless you want to know all the details of what we got up to” said Orlando raising one eyebrow at his friends. “Well I think I’ll go help Viggo load the car,” said Dom escaping to the kitchen before Orlando could say anything else. However Billy stayed leaning against the doorframe. “You didn’t strike me as a one night stand kind of guy,” said Billy as Orlando finished packing. “You know there are still many things you don’t know about me Billy. Besides one night stands are good, all the fun none of the problems,” he said grinning widely at his surprised cast mate as he pushed past him dragging his bag toward the kitchen. *********~~~~~~~~~******** A pre-dawn call on Monday brought the cast back down to earth after their weekend of fun. Orli had finished make up and was yawning widely as he sat in the trailer, his feet propped up on the table in front of him. He was tired and bored as he vaguely listened to Viggo and Beanie talk about how they were going to play Boromir’s death scene later that morning. He dragged himself to his feet and left the two men deep in discussion, he wandered over to the Hobbit trailer, entering just as they, were finishing getting their feet applied for another day. “Orli’s back” yelled Elijah happily as he threw himself enthusiastically into hugging Orlando. Orlando was amazed all over again at how loud Elijah could be first thing in the morning. He disentangled himself from Frodo sitting down and watching the make-up girls apply the hobbit’s ears. He was feeling happy just to be hanging out with his friends, especially given how close he had come to losing one of them. He listened as Elijah started telling an involved story about what he and Hannah had gotten up to over the weekend. Orlando just nodded not really paying close attention as the story became more confusing to follow. It seemed to involve pumpkins and trick or treating in central Wellington while dressed as Orcs but the details were very confused. “They have picked an Eomer as well,” said Elijah suddenly. “Huh?” said Orlando vaguely, startled by the rapid change in topic. “I said they have picked someone to play Eomer, you know in the movie we are filming” Elijah said very slowly like he was talking to a child. “Yes I get it. Who have they cast?” said Orlando throwing a make up brush at Elijah’s head. “Peter said that he had cast a New Zealand actor who has been in a couple of TV series. Anyway his name started with a K, something like Kevin or Keith” Elijah paused. “Elijah you have no short term memory whatsoever, Peter just came in and told us his name fifteen minutes ago. The guys name is Karl, Karl Urban,” said Sean. “You have got to be kidding me,” said Orlando quietly. Billy and Dom’s raucous laughter broke the momentary silence in the trailer. Orlando thought they were finding this much more amusing than was strictly necessary. “Never going to see him again hey Orli?” Dom laughed as he walked past him out of the trailer. “All the fun, none of the problems” said Billy quietly as he followed Dom out the door. Sean and Elijah looked extremely confused as they followed a giggling Merry and Pippin out of the trailer. Orlando smiled as he sat in the now quiet space thinking about how this shoot was about to get very much more interesting.
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