Hello. I recently got the urge to write again, weirdly enough (*cough* I got a really long review + things happened in my life *cough*). So, enjoy this chapter, because I don't think I'll be writing again soon.
This takes place in the very future of The Life and Times of Dick Grayson, like post post-secondary stuff. Through dialogue, you'll see that Dick and Kaldur are roommates, and I may or may not make reference to something that hasn't happened yet during the story.
I wanted to write this chapter because I wanted to focus on the idea of fate. I personally don't believe in fate. I think that everything that happens to me has been because of my own choices and the choices of people around me. Sometimes I get lucky and things go my way, or there's a chance meeting with someone from long ago. Sometimes it feels like misfortune is clinging to my side, unwilling to let go and nothing goes my way. That's life, and that was supposed to be the point of this story, to showcase that life has its ups and downs, but you should always look forward to the ride uphill and the thrill downhill.
Anyways, I shall begin the chapter :3
Warning: Slash :P
Unexpected Surprise
Dick lay on his couch, taking a nap. Or, that's what he planned on doing, but instead he simply lay on the couch, uncomfortable due to insomnia and the book he placed on his face.
"I hope you realise, just because you place a book on your face, you do not always fall asleep," Kaldur, his roommate and best friend, drawled as he entered their apartment.
Dick let out a loud sigh, "Dick's sleeping, make snarky comments when he's awake."
Kaldur laughed and picked up Brave New World off of Dick's face, "I could say the same to you. At least use your own book next time."
Dick sat up and stretched, yawning, he quickly checked his watch, "It's only 12: 30, why're you home?"
"Is there a problem with wanting to see my best friend?" Kaldur asked, draping an arm around Dick.
He simply rolled his eyes, "No seriously."
"Rent."
The black-haired male blew locks out of his face, "Sorry, I've really been trying to get a job, but no matter how many applications I send, no one hires me, I'm over-qualified or something."
Kaldur smirked, ruffling his friend's hair, "I know, that is why I rushed home." Dick quizzically quirked an eyebrow. "My friend Garth informed me that there is a director in town looking for a young male actor. I know you were in the Drama program way back in high school, so I thought it would be good for you get out of the house, make some money, and not use my books to catch your drool whilst you try to sleep."
Dick punched Kaldur's shoulder, "What's the part?"
"Garth said she did not say, however, the audition is at the local theatre, in half an hour. For the show Hello Megan!"
"Dude, you have to make like, appointments for these kinds of things."
"Garth remembered about me complaining about rent and how you were in the Drama program, he set it up when he met her."
Dick gave Kaldur a quick peck on the cheek, "Thanks! See ya later dude."
"But you have not prepared anything!" Kaldur called after him.
"I already know something that'll blow them off their feet," Dick replied cockily, smirking back at Kaldur as he shut the door.
Dick arrived at the local theatre, and the plain-looking receptionist, who was making eyes at him, told him the auditions were on the main stage.
"Dick Grayson for the part of Emile Schneider?" a pretty redhead female asked the theatre, for it was filled with other male actors.
"Here!" Dick yelled from the top of the audience's seats, running down the aisles and comfortable red seats to the wooden stage.
"Alright, show me what you got," she said, tapping a pen on her plastic clipboard.
"This is an excerpt from an unpublished script I read in high school, I connected well with the protagonist, and I promised that for my first audition, I'd use his monologue," Dick explained. The lady nodded her head in a bored way and gestured for him to continue.
"It's way beyond creepy sneaking into the bedroom of your best friend, your guy best friend, who you may or may not have a crush on just a tiny, little bit..." Dick said, his eyes imploring the director to answer him with "Right, it's not creepy."
He paced on stage, "I can manage it. It's just a stupid crush. Right?" He yet again implored with his eyes, and the director was already leaning forward, eyes interested.
"It's only a crush because I want to watch him while he's sleeping so he can't be annoyed when I stare. I want to stare because I'm addicted to how my stomach flutters when I see him. My stomach flutters because I know he laughs with me when he should be laughing at me. He laughs with me because he's my friend. He's my friend because⦠What did I ever do to deserve this guy?" Dick asked softly, running fingers through his short black hair.
"When he and I first met, at the age of 11 and 13 respectively, I tripped over my feet like a moron. I was about to wipe myself off of the floor when he offered me a hand up. I refused to take it. He was just some little kid and I wanted to hate him. He was years younger than me but so much better. He is so strong."
She looked down to scribble something for a brief moment, and looked up again. "I wanted to be like him. I was jealous and, honestly, I still am jealous. But I'm not jealous of his skills, so why am I jealous?"
"He doesn't know how amazing he is. I'm jealous that he's stolen my heart and doesn't even notice. I can't mimic that. No one wants me. I don't inspire fantasies or mix tapes or epic love poems and I will continue to deny doing all those things for him until he likes my silly daydreams or songs or poems. I doubt that day will come," Dick furrowed his eyebrows, sounding dejecting and insightful, at the same time somehow.
"I know it's a crush because I want him and he doesn't want me back. This has to be only a crush because I can't handle anything else. If he is my first love and he doesn't want me back I don't know what I'll do with myself. I can't imagine my life without him. This is only a crush. Right? Right. It's only a crush. I just need to focus. This is the battle of willpower over hormones. This is great and wonderful and fantastic. Me and willpower are like peas and a pod or peanut butter or jelly or..."
The director cut across him, "Stop."
Dick looked confused, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, just the opposite, I thought you were doing perfectly. Have you read the script yet?"
Dick shook his head, "My roommate told me that his friend set up the audition, I only recently heard, so I made it down here as soon as I could."
She smiled at him, pulling out papers from her bag, "Here is a copy of the script, we'll be shooting a few of your scenes tomorrow at the Water Front Park, near the fountain; depending on how quickly we do this, we may even move onto scenes from the next episode. Be there at 12 sharp, or earlier to meet your cast mates." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see other male actors scowling.
The newly established actor ran to get a copy of the script, "And I'm playing Emile Schneider, yes?"
"Yes. And, my name is Tula, here is my card, call me if you have any questions, or if there's any complications."
"Alright, thank you!" he exclaimed, shaking her hand.
She shook her head, "No, thank you! I'm sure you'll be a great addition to our cast."
Dick practically skipped home and swung open the door, Kaldur was reading Brave New World on the couch.
"I got the part!" Dick said in a sing-song voice.
Kaldur looked up, "Congratulations! Except, I do not know what part this is, how much celebrating needs to be done?"
Dick shrugged, "I don't know either. Let's read through the script find out; I think I'm only a support character though."
They finished reading the episode's script within the hour, "It would appear that you are a love interest to this, Igor character, who is supposedly straight."
"Good thing I used that monologue then," Dick chuckled.
"That monologue?" Kaldur asked.
"There was an unpublished script I found while we were still in high school, I felt connected to the main character because his feelings for his male best friend strongly reflected the same ones I held for Wally."
Kaldur smirked, "Well, it certainly seems like your feelings for Wally finally did something good."
Dick only rolled his eyes; nevertheless, he was still excited for tomorrow, and to finally pay his share of the rent.
Kaldur walked with Dick to the park, to wish him luck on his first day of acting since high school, and also because the aquarium Kaldur worked at was a part of the Water Front Park anyways.
"I wonder if any one else is here yet..." Dick asked, and his question was immediately answered, when they saw a crew of people setting things up around the elaborate, elegant, marble fountain.
"Good luck, I must go now, or I will be late!" Kaldur gave Dick a fleeting hug before running off to the aquarium.
Dick approached the set, and was greeted by Tula, "Dick! I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Tula, hello! The pleasure's all mine," Dick said, shaking Tula's hand.
"Well, it seems like everyone's here early, and we're set up, so I guess we can start filming now," Tula said.
"Whoa, you mean I won't even meet my cast mates before working with them? Or get into costume?" Dick asked, taken aback.
Tula smirked, "That just means all your reactions will be natural and not rehearsed, which is what we're going for, for when you first meet Igor. Besides, what you're wearing is fine."
Dick nodded, having nothing else to do last night, he memorised the entire script of the episode, supposedly he's supposed to jog passed the fountain, before running into Igor.
After getting a few quick directions from Tula, the cameras started rolling. Dick was jogging on a paved path, on his right, the "park" part of "Water Front Part" on his left, the "Water Front" part, both incredibly beautiful scenery.
Dick plugged earphones into his ears and jogged towards the fountain; looking ahead of himself, he saw a figure running closer and closer to him, Dick blinked and before he knew it, he crashed into someone, and was on the ground. It felt like he ran into a solid wall, and his head hurt from it.
"Dude! I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going and- uh, Emile?" a familiar voice ran through Dick's ears, he opened his eyes and, Wally was there, standing over him. He was definitely more muscular than in high school, taller too (though less of a distance now between the two), but still... Wally (in other words, still hot).
Quickly recalling his lines, Dick stood up, wiping dirt off his pants, "Igor? It's been a while hasn't it?"
Wally quickly rubbed the back of his neck (though Dick wasn't sure if that was because he wanted to, or because Wally remembered his lines too), "Man, I thought you were going to go travel the world or something."
Dick smiled, "I, uh, got strapped down by something."
"Something, or someone?" Wally coyly asked.
"A little bit from column one, a little bit from column two," Dick responded, chuckling.
Even though Dick knew they were "acting" there was something in the way that Wally looked at him that made him think that maybe Wally wasn't acting. The glimmer in his eyes? The natural way Wally spoke to him? The fact that Wally took his time to listen and hang onto all of Dick's lines? He wasn't sure, but maybe, just maybe, something had changed from 8 years ago in Grade 12 when they last saw each other. Or maybe it was what Dick wanted to think.
They somehow ended up sitting on the rim of the fountain, the water flowing beautifully behind them as they spoke. Igor moved closer to Emile and placed his hand on Emile's. Igor smiled at him, and Emile smiled back. The addicting butterflies sprang up again in Dick's stomach, but he willed them down.
They both looked at each other, then away, then back at each other; Emile was blushing, so was Igor. They leaned in closer together...
"It's me!" ...and then an annoying female's voice penetrated their atmosphere.
"Hello?" Igor answered his phone, swiftly pulling his hand back and standing up, facing away from Emile, "Yeah, babe, I'll be home soon, I just ran into someone I haven't seen in a long time." He looked at Dick one last time, mouthing sorry, bye, before he turned the other way and began jogging.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cut!" Tula shouted, "Beautiful!" Wally jogged back, "The two of you have real chemistry together, I like that."
Dick looked away, knowing the reason he had chemistry with Wally, but did Wally?
"Allow me to get this right: Igor is played by Wally," Kaldur repeated yet again.
"Yes."
"And you are playing Emile, his love interest."
"Yes."
"And you are still taking this job?"
"Yes."
"Are you absolutely certain? I do not wish for you to get hurt, again," Kaldur said, sympathetic eyes watching Dick play with his food.
"Yes. I'm going to take this job, Kaldur. I kept telling myself that I was over Wally, here is my chance to prove it. Tomorrow, we'll get to our first kiss, and I'll know then whether or not I'm over him," Dick said. Though he wasn't sure if he was convincing himself or Kaldur.
"Then I will support you, 100%, but please, do not take too many risks."
"I believe I know my limits, Kaldur."
"I would beg to differ."
And that is all I have today! :D I actually got the monologue from a fic of my friend's, "Outer Monologued my Inner Monologue" by zotSOS, I sincerely recommend reading it, or any of her fics, because they're plain awesome.
Hm... I suppose this chapter will confuse most of you, seeing as it seems like Dick and Wally were just friends in high school. And that's all they actually were. Chapter 5, in essence, was only a figment of Dick's imagination.
I'm still going to say, "I'd appreciate it if you reviewed :D" because I still check my e-mail regularly and I do respond to the longer reviews I get :3 (Plus, if it weren't for the review from Trunk'sFallenAngel on this fic, this chapter wouldn't be here, so it might be a good idea to drop a long-ish review ;P)
