Chapter 7
Aragorn
Legolas was in hospital for a week. It took him that long to agree to eat by himself, and then only because he desperately wanted to go home. Aragorn visited him twice a day – Ada got permission for him to leave school at lunch, and he went every evening as well.
If the blonde was doing better, Aragorn had yet to see any sign of it. Legolas was still a mess, though he was at least talking to his doctor and therapist.
"Estel?" Elrond knocked and came in. "I just heard from Thranduil, Legolas is getting out tomorrow."
"Tomorrow! That's excellent, Ada, does that mean he's better?"
"No, Estel, it doesn't mean he's better. This is going to be a long process. But it is a hopeful step."
"I should call him, he's probably worried about going back to school –"
"Not just yet. I am worried about you, son. You're trying so hard to be there for Legolas – and doing a very good job at it, I might add – but I can see the toll this is taking on you."
Aragorn shrugged. He couldn't deny that he was stressed and exhausted, but what choice was there? "What do you want me to do? I'm not going to abandon him."
"No, and I would not ask that of you. However, I do want you to take better care of yourself. Take some time to do something relaxing, something just for you."
"I'm not sure, Ada… my homework is piling up as it is…"
"Your health is more important than school work. Tonight, after dinner, you will join your brothers and me in the lounge. We'll watch a movie together. Does that sound good?"
It did. It would sound better with Legolas, but Aragorn got his Ada's point. He wouldn't be any good to his boyfriend if he collapsed. "It does. Thanks, Ada."
Elrond kissed his brow before leaving him alone. Feeling slightly calmer after their talk, Aragorn texted Legolas and settled to doing some of his neglected homework, hoping he could get at least part of it done before dinner.
The next morning, Elrond swung by Legolas' house to pick him up on the way to school. Aragorn went to the door to meet him. He looked as thin as ever, but Aragorn supposed it would take time for him to put on weight.
"Hey." They kissed, but broke away when they heard the twins sniggering.
"Hey." Legolas gave him a strained smile before turning for the car.
"You sure you want to be back at school? Ada even offered to let me take some time off if you do. We can take summer classes or something."
"No, I can go back. I'm fine."
Aragorn didn't believe it, at least the part about being fine, but he kept his doubts to himself.
After Legolas' third panic attack and Aragorn finding him trying to sneak away with sharp objects for the second time, he was voicing his doubts loudly.
"Right, that's it, Legolas, this is not working. You're a nervous wreck. I'm calling Ada, and he's taking us both home."
"No, Estel, I'm fine…"
"You are not fine, and I won't hear any more of it."
Legolas hung his head, but he didn't argue further, knowing that there really was no argument. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I thought I was stronger than this."
"You don't need to be strong right now. It's alright, come on."
Soon enough, they were home in Aragorn's room. It was lunch time, and at his prompting, Legolas dutifully brought out a lunch box carefully packed with a ham sandwich and three thick slices of apple. It didn't look like much to Aragorn, but he knew that Legolas' dietician planned the meals herself, so he'd have to trust the portions to her.
Elrond left them alone, as did Thranduil after a worried phone call with Legolas, since Elrond had told him about the two of them leaving school. Legolas leaned against the bed's headboard, his shoulder just touching Aragorn's. The blonde looked too distressed to eat just now, and Aragorn decided to try to calm him down before insisting he ate anything.
"Talk to me," Aragorn prompted.
When Legolas turned to him, his eyes were filled with tears. "You have to help me," he whispered.
Not entirely surprised by the tears, Aragorn pulled his boyfriend's head to his shoulder. "I will help you, I promise. Anything you need."
"No, Estel, you don't understand. I feel like I'm going mad. I'm watched all the time. My dad has removed anything vaguely dangerous from the house. I can't escape… please, you have to help."
"What do you need?" Aragorn thought he knew where this was going, but he let Legolas spell it out, hoping he was wrong.
"A rope. Or something sharp. Poison, sleeping pills… anything, really. Please, Estel. It hurts too much."
Aragorn blinked back his own tears as Legolas shuddered in his arms. "I won't do that, Legolas." He was just grateful that his boyfriend was too distressed to properly assess his surroundings, which could easily become deadly if one was thinking clearly. Even breaking the glass in the window would be an easy way to acquire a weapon, but of course, he wasn't going to say that.
"Please," the blonde begged. "Please, you're the only one I can ask."
"I cannot." Aragorn kissed the other boy's forehead and held Legolas as he cried, wishing he could do more. He wanted nothing more than to take his boyfriend's burden on himself, anything to spare the other this suffering. "Let me take your pain. Give it all to me. Let go."
Legolas turned slightly, wrapping his arms around Aragorn's waist as he sobbed. Then he started talking. Sometimes, his words weren't distinguishable through his tears, other times they were. Aragorn listened patiently, murmuring soothing things and stroking Legolas' hair.
"I m-miss her," Legolas choked. "It's like it's – suffocating me and I don't know how to escape it."
"I know, I know," Aragorn crooned, wrapping his arms around the blonde as he cried. "Keep going. Give me all your pain."
He didn't know if it was working, didn't know if speaking his pain was allowing Legolas to let go of it, but Aragorn kept at it. It hurt his heart enough to hear that he could fully believe he was taking it on in his boyfriend's stead.
Aragorn knew what to do for the hyperventilating, but this crushing misery was horrible to see, and it made him feel helpless. Legolas was clutching his stomach as though something was trying to burst out of it, and Aragorn tugged at his arms. "What's wrong?"
"I – p-pain – physical, sometimes – s-sort of – doctor says – man-manifesting…"
Aragorn didn't entirely understand, but he replaced Legolas' arms with his own, squeezing the other boy as tightly as he could. By Legolas' relieved sigh, he was doing the right thing. He wrapped his legs around the blonde as well, holding him firmly as he wept.
It took hours for Legolas to calm down. When he did, they lay peacefully for a while before Aragorn spoke. "Did it work?"
"Did what work?"
"Did you give me your pain?"
"I – I don't know." Legolas curled into Aragorn's side as he thought. "I think… I think maybe I did. It still hurts, but less… though it'll probably come back."
"Then you'll give it right back to me, ok?"
"Ok."
Legolas sighed and let his eyes drift closed. He was exhausted, but Aragorn couldn't let him sleep yet.
"You still need to eat your lunch. Ada will kill us if he realizes we've left it this late."
As he'd expected, Legolas flinched. "I'm not hungry."
"I know, but you have to eat. Come on, don't make me get Ada in here." Legolas didn't respond, so Aragorn tried again. "I'll tell you what. You eat lunch, and afterward, I'll take you on that date I promised you."
The blonde's eyes lit up at this. "I've been looking forward to that. Just… not a restaurant."
"No, nothing to do with food. I thought we could see a movie."
"I'd like that."
"Good, but you do have to eat, first."
"Ok," he said softly. Aragorn had expected more of an argument, but Legolas got up and opened the lunch box. He ate so quickly that Aragorn was worried he'd make himself sick. Afterward, Legolas gulped water, panting. It was clear in his eyes that eating was still an ordeal for him, but at least he was doing it.
"Estel… could you get me a soda, please? I think I need to wash the taste out of my mouth with something more than water."
"Of course – it is allowed, right? Judy didn't give you a list of things you can't eat or anything?"
"No, she's more worried about getting me to eat at all. She says that if I feel I want to eat or drink something more than my minimum meals, that's great."
"Excellent! I'll just be a minute." Aragorn hesitated. He'd already removed anything that could be weaponized from his room – at least, anything removable, since he couldn't exactly remove the glass in the windows – but he scanned it once more, making sure that there was nothing that could harm Legolas that he needed to take out.
He'd only gotten a few steps from the door when he realized he'd forgotten to ask Legolas what type of soda he wanted. Aragorn hurried back to his room, to find Legolas gone. Panic swamped him before he realized that his boyfriend was simply in the bathroom.
Before relief could come, he heard a retching noise and hurried inside, and opened the door to find Legolas bent over the toilet. His hand was deep down his throat, and he gagged, vomiting violently.
"Legolas, no!"
Aragorn dragged the blonde's hands away, but the damage was done. The entire lunch he'd just eaten was in the toilet.
"You can't do that," he moaned, trying to tug Legolas away. Legolas ignored him, calmly flushing, washing his hands and pulling a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste out of his pocket.
"How long have you been doing this for?" Aragorn asked with rising dread, watching the blonde brush his teeth.
Legolas didn't answer until he put the toothbrush away. Aragorn followed him back to the bed, walking on his boyfriend's heels, he was staying so close.
"It doesn't matter, Estel."
"Doesn't matter? Of course it matters! What's the point in eating if it's just going to come back up again?"
"I told them at the hospital I couldn't eat. It's not my fault they didn't listen."
No, no, no, this was all wrong. It was all Aragorn could do not to sit down on the floor and burst into tears. How could he help Legolas when Legolas wouldn't let him?
He'd learned his lesson about keeping this kind of thing to himself, at least. Not wanting to leave the blonde alone for another moment, Aragorn simply raised his voice. "Ada!" he shouted. He knew his father would come.
Legolas flinched and shook his head frantically. Aragorn took his hand, giving him a stern look. Moments later, Elrond hurried in. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"Yes, something is wrong. I left the room for two seconds after Legolas ate, and returned to find him forcing himself to throw up."
A look of great sadness crossed Elrond's face. "Oh, Legolas. You have to eat, and keep it down."
Legolas turned away, to hide his tears, Aragorn knew.
"I will make sure Thranduil and Legolas' team are apprised. Thank you for telling me, Estel."
"Should I try to get him to eat something else?"
"No, not right now. Let his dietician and therapist decide what to do. Just stay with him for now."
Elrond left the two of them alone once more.
"I've… I've lost my chance at that date, haven't I?"
"No, you haven't. To be honest, I would have taken you even if you refused to eat. I've been looking forward to it too."
Legolas smiled at this. "Before we go, could… could you give me a massage? I'm kind of sore from all the shaking."
"Of course. Whatever you need, just tell me."
"I'm not good at… sharing my pain."
"You're getting better," Aragorn promised, and it was true. "Is there anything else? Anything at all?"
"Just – my eyes ache, too."
"It's from the crying, your eyes are probably dried out. That's easy enough to fix, some eyedrops will help. You have to come with me to get them from Ada's room, though, I'm not leaving you alone again."
Legolas trailed willingly after him. They found Elrond in his study, and he was quick to accommodate them with eyedrops from his medical room.
"Also, do you have a soothing oil I can use for massage?"
"Ah, putting those skills I taught you to good use, I see. I believe your brothers left something in your drawer that will be quite suitable."
Aragorn didn't know why the twins would put massage oil in his drawer, but he shrugged and went with Legolas to check. Sure enough, there it was, a body oil perfect for massage, that had definitely not been there this morning. It was only when he spotted the condoms that Aragorn realized what the oil was about. He choked and tried to slam the drawer shut, but Legolas had already seen.
"Ha!" Legolas laughed as he examined the condoms. "They left us different sizes and flavors and everything. I'll have to remember to thank them."
"Right after I strangle them," Aragorn muttered, his face once again beet red.
"So am I going to get that massage or what?"
"Sure. Um, if I'm going to use the oil you'll need to take your shirt off."
"I was kind of hoping for a full body massage."
Aragorn gulped. "Off with everything, then. I'll turn around."
He did, and when Legolas told him he could turn back, the blonde was lying on his stomach on the bed. His ass was beautiful, and Aragorn resisted the urge to touch it.
He started at Legolas' shoulders, letting himself be guided by the soft noises of pleasure his boyfriend made. Aragorn's cock was soon rock hard, but he did his best to ignore it. Legolas was hurting, and he needed help.
By the time he told Legolas to turn over, Aragorn was about ready to come in his pants. He was fast becoming addicted to Legolas' sounds of pleasure, and wondered what else he could do to elicit such sounds.
When Legolas turned onto his back, Aragorn's eyes were immediately drawn to his cock. It stuck up proudly, hard and weeping. Thank God, at least he wasn't the only one having an entirely inappropriate reaction to this.
Deciding to forgo the rest of the massage, Aragorn instead kissed his boyfriend. Legolas responded with a ferocity that had them both groaning.
"No fair," Legolas murmured. "If I have all my clothes off, you should too."
Aragorn was only too keen to comply, and in moments, his cock was free as well. He tossed his shirt and pants away, then brushed his fingers reverently down Legolas' chest, making the other boy shudder. They kissed for several frantic minutes before Aragorn felt a hand on his cock. Legolas took them both in hand, working them swiftly.
Aragorn had never felt anything so good, and he was moments away from spilling. "Legolas, I'm going to –"
The hand disappeared, and Aragorn groaned in frustration. "What was that for?"
"I want you to come inside me."
"W-what?"
"Take me, Estel." Legolas' eyes held only love and trust.
"Are – are sure?" Aragorn wanted that, more than anything, but the last thing he wanted to do was rush his boyfriend. There were things more important than lust. He cared about Legolas more than he cared about physical pleasure.
"I'm sure. I want you."
That was all the prompting he needed. Silently thanking his brothers, he took the oil and coated his fingers in it.
"This may be uncomfortable at first," he warned.
"I know – I sat through the same lesson you did, remember?"
Aragorn went slowly, gently parting Legolas' ass cheeks and trailing a finger over his opening. Legolas made one of those pleasure noises that Aragorn was quickly coming to covet. When he gently pushed the finger inside, Legolas tensed at first, but Aragorn distracted the blonde by taking his cock in hand.
He started to move the finger in and out, and soon Legolas was rocking against him, moaning softly with each thrust.
Aragorn added another finger and scissored the two, opening the blonde further.
"Ah – there, right there, Estel!"
That must be the prostate. He repeated the movement, and when he touched the sensitive spot once more, Legolas bucked wildly and came hard, crying out Aragorn's name.
He fell back, panting. "Sorry," he gasped. "I couldn't –"
"Don't apologize." Aragorn kept his fingers where they were, but moved up to kiss his boyfriend. He was still painfully aroused, but Legolas looked so happy and sated, he had to ask. "If that's all you want to do today, that's fine with me…"
"No. No, I want you to take me."
With a groan, Aragorn once more captured the blonde's lips. It wasn't long before Legolas' cock was rising again, poking him in the stomach, and Aragorn shifted his hips, creating friction between their hard members.
He pushed a third finger into Legolas, careful to pay attention to his prostate. Legolas jerked his hips up against him, and Aragorn wondered if the blonde would come again before he was fully prepared.
"Now, Estel," Legolas panted. "I need you now."
After thrusting his fingers in and out a few more times, Aragorn removed them and grabbed one of the condoms.
"That had better not be the spicy one."
He quickly checked the wrapping. "Nope, the ribbed one."
"Excellent."
He got the condom on and pulled Legolas legs up so that they were resting on his shoulders. "You ready?"
"I'm ready."
He'd never done this before, but Aragorn knew the theory. He slowly pushed the tip of his cock into the blonde. Legolas murmured encouragement, and he went further. The blonde stiffened. Aragorn stopped, letting him to get used to the sensation before continuing.
By the time he was fully sheathed inside his boyfriend, Aragorn was ready to burst. He could see that it was hurting Legolas, though, so he took the time to work the other boy's cock until it was full and weeping once more.
"Move," Legolas ordered.
Aragorn did, slowly at first, but then faster as Legolas made noises of encouragement and increasing desperation.
Soon, he was pounding in and out, knowing nothing but the fierce need for release.
"Estel – can't – I –"
Legolas twisted his head desperately from side to side, and Aragorn thought he understood. He wasn't hitting his boyfriend's prostate, and took immediate measures to rectify this. He moved Legolas' legs slightly, changing the angle, and a loud cry told him that he'd gotten it right.
He leaned forward, nibbling on Legolas' ear tip, which was apparently very sensitive.
Legolas' ass tightened impossibly as his hot come spurted over Aragorn's hand. That was it for Aragorn, and he came too, muffling his shout in the blonde's shoulder. Several more frantic thrusts, and he was done. He lay panting next to Legolas, his mind still spinning with the aftermath of the pleasure.
Legolas turned into him, and Aragorn immediately put his arms around the blonde. Legolas' face was now sleepy and sated, and Aragorn gave him one more kiss, grinning broadly. "That was…"
"Yeah," Legolas breathed, still getting his wind back.
They lay there together for a long time, recovering and simply enjoying being close. Aragorn's last thought before he drifted off was that he thought he might be falling in love.
