Chapter Text
During filming, everything was loud.
There were lights, jokes, somebody laughing too hard at something that probably wasn't even funny. The energy fed itself.
But afterward?
Afterward, there was only the occasional scrape of a chair against the floor.
Aaron Branch liked those moments. All of that was more real than the performance they put on for the camera. The audience only saw the finished product.
They didn't see the pauses between takes, or the staring at their phones, or the awkward silences when nobody had anything clever to say.
They definitely didn't see Aaron sitting alone on a production case while everyone else packed up.
He squeezed a plastic water bottle between his hands and watched the crew dismantle their equipment. A few feet away, Denny was helping move a camera.
Aaron smirked.
"You strong enough to lift that?"
Denny glanced over.
"I got it."
"You said that ten minutes ago."
"Because I got it."
The camera started to fall sideways.
Aaron laughed, and Denny shot him a look.
"Don't start."
"I'm not starting anything."
"You literally are."
Aaron grinned.
The exchange lasted less than thirty seconds before a crew member came to help Denny and they headed off. Aaron returned to his water bottle.
He thought about how cute Denny was, then quickly shook the idea from his head.
By the time Aaron finally left the studio, most of the parking lot had emptied.
The evening air was cool. He pulled his jacket tighter around himself as he crossed toward his car. A voice behind him stopped him.
"Aaron."
Aaron turned.
Kevin stood near the door of the building. His hands were shoved into the pockets of a dark blue hoodie.
The bright personality he carried on camera was gone, and this version of Kevin was harder to read.
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"What's up?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he started walking. Aaron watched him approach. Something about his expression made Aaron uneasy.
Kevin walked up to Aaron until he was standing uncomfortably close, just inches between their faces.
"Can we talk?"
Aaron laughed nervously, backing up a little.
"That sounds ominous."
"I'm serious."
The smile slipped from Aaron's face.
"Okay."
For a second neither of them spoke. Cars passed by.
Then Kevin finally did.
"What the fuck was going on back there with you and Denny?"
Aaron blinked.
"What?"
Kevin stepped closer.
"Don't play dumb."
Aaron stared at him. Then he laughed.
"Are you serious?"
"Very."
Aaron shook his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Kevin rolled his eyes, exasperated.
"Please. I saw you touching his legs the whole video."
Aaron's amusement faded. They were all always grabbing each other when they talked and laughed.
"You're reaching."
"I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
Kevin crossed his arms. Aaron noticed the tension in his shoulders. Aaron tilted his head.
"And why do you care anyways?"
The question seemed to hit harder than he'd intended.
Kevin froze. Aaron did too.
He stared into Kevin's eyes and thought about the night they once shared.
Kevin looked away, then back.
"Because I care about you. What about Orlando?".
Those words hit harder than Aaron's.
Aaron felt his chest tighten. Orlando. Mistakes.
"Orlando's done, Kev."
The parking lot suddenly felt much quieter. Kevin's expression shifted.
"Since when?"
"Since I found people who don't treat me like a toy they can pick up and play with whenever they want."
"What? I didn't... I never-"
"Never what, Kev? Never ignored me? Never left me alone when I needed you? Because you did that shit. Like I said, I have better people now."
Kevin stared at him.
"Who? What people?"
Aaron shrugged. Kevin continued.
"And you didn't think to mention it?"
"Why would I? You didn't seem to care about me ever."
Kevin opened his mouth, closed it, and looked away again.
Aaron watched him carefully. They began to relax a little. Aaron thought about how weird Kevin had been acting lately. Texting more often, checking in when Aaron disappeared for a day. He just hadn't thought much about it. Until now.
Now he couldn't stop thinking about it. More than anything now, Aaron was angry. Why hadn't Kevin given two shits about him a year ago? Kevin hadn't even picked up the phone when Aaron called him crying and begging Kev to help him get away from his abusive ex.
And then Aaron looked around the parking lot. There was no one else there. He looked around nervously, then at how much bigger and stronger Kevin was than him. For the first time ever, he felt genuine fear. As much as he wanted to scream at Kevin about all the awful things he'd done, he decided to play it safe.
"You okay?"
Aaron asked.
Kevin laughed once.
"Yeah."
"You're lying."
"I'm fine."
"Kev."
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck. Whenever Kevin didn't want to say something, he did that.
Aaron started to relax. He was disgusted to find himself actually caring for the man who had hurt him so badly.
Finally Kevin sighed.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"Forget it."
Aaron frowned.
"No."
"No?"
"No."
Kevin rolled his eyes. Aaron stepped forward.
"You're the one who stopped me."
"I know."
"You interrogated me in a parking lot."
"I know."
"So now you have to explain yourself."
Kevin laughed despite himself. Aaron pointed accusingly.
"See?"
"What?"
"That."
"What?"
"That thing you do."
Kevin looked genuinely confused. Aaron shook his head.
"You start a conversation then try to run away from it halfway through."
"I don't do that."
"You absolutely do."
Kevin thought for a moment.
"Okay, maybe sometimes."
Aaron smiled.
"Exactly."
Aaron started walking towards his car, gesturing for Kevin to follow. Kevin trailed a few feet behind. It was farther from Aaron than he ever wanted to be.
"Can I ask you something?"
Aaron said. Kevin nodded.
"Sure."
"Why did it bother you?"
"Why did what bother me?"
"Me and Denny."
"It didn't bother me."
Aaron gave him a look. Kevin groaned.
"Can we talk about anything else?"
Aaron shook his head.
"You are impossible."
"So I've been told."
They laughed again.
"Aaron."
Aaron looked away. The parking lines suddenly seemed very interesting.
Kevin continued.
"I don't know."
Aaron glanced back. Kevin's voice had grown quieter.
"I guess I just..."
He stopped. Aaron waited.
"Do you wanna... go get food?"
Aaron thought about it.
"What? Seriously?"
"Oh! No... I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that-"
"Stop. What the fuck. What the actual fuck. You haven't wanted to talk to me like this in two months and now you want to go on a date? What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"No! No, not a date I just-"
"Just what? I'm done playing into your stupid games. I don't belong to you. Fuck off."
Aaron got into his car and slammed the door. Then he drove off, leaving Kevin stranded in the parking lot. Thinking about Orlando.
As Kevin walked back to his car, he pulled out his phone and sent Aaron a text.
Kevin: Hey, I'm sorry. Can we talk again? I didn't mean for it to go like that.
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