Heartstopper Inktober 2K24

26 - Camera (RPF!AU P3)

Sometimes, when they are together in a scene, Joe wishes there wasn't a camera. Sure, it's a bit silly to say that when you were an actor, but there were times that he just wanted to be alone with Kit, immersed within Charlie's or Nick's fake bedroom, pretending they really were teenagers again - even though they were nearly out of their teens when the series started.

It's not like they don't have their moments alone. Joe can count the number of times he's stayed over Kit's apartment on his fingers and vice versa. He can also count on one hand how many times they've shared a bed outside of work in the presence of others. Point is, he just wishes that they had more time together and he knows he's not the only one, at least, he thinks.

Joe's debut novel may as well be "Kit Connor Expressions 101" as that seems to be what he's well versed in other than acting and theatre. No matter what the latter says about himself, his face says so much and Joe seriously wishes he had the kind of ability that Kit seems to naturally have with his mouth and eyes.

The man's a nightmare to work with some days, not from his attitude or anything (Kit's no diva like one of his previous roles), but because he wears his heart directly on his sleeve and Joe sees it all.

The furrow of his eyebrows when he's confused.

The widening of his eyes when he thinks he's upset someone.

The way his hands touch arms and shoulders when he's walking past someone or checking up on someone else.

The way his fingers dip into his cheek when he's watching TV with one hand while the other flies across a phone keyboard's screen, lost in a thousand conversations.

It honestly makes him love Kit more...and makes him just as terrified to tell him that.

People always say it's cheesy and stupid to fall in love with your co-star when you're an actor. That the trope has existed since the whole concept of acting was formed and will forever live on as one of the best and worst parts of the industry. Joe can say why people say it's both when asked, as loving Kit is beautiful, but loving him unrequited is a choice out of career safety, as well as maybe some personal, but he won't admit that.

It's when they are alone in the dressing room of a photoshoot without any cameras (finally!) that he suddenly feels lips against the back of his neck and freezes. Turning, he stares at Kit with a confused expression, who stares back above him with what seems to be hope in his eyes. Fuck. He really hates knowing everything.

He should get up. He should have moved away, sat up and for the love of God, talked to him. You know, as actors and as friends and as people, but he can't find it in him. Not with that expression and not with his literal dreams and worst nightmares coming true right now. So, instead, he opens his mouth, eyes practically burning into the redhead as he does so, arching back. "Kiss me."

Kit doesn't really need an invitation, but he still goes through a varying range of expressions that Joe follows like a dynamite line to his brain, where the explosion happens and within seconds, he's making out with the man he's stupidly fallen in love with over 3 years.

This may turn out be a disaster later, but judging by Kit's face as he pulls away just to come back for a second round, Joe's hopeful that this look will stay for good.