Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way of it.

Just For Show

"-why are you just standing there?! Why aren't you answering me? You've always got something to say, haven't you, Taron? Some gibe remark or sly comment to demonstrate just how smart and charming you can be. You always have some reason or excuse for driving the rest of us barmy. No one can charm his way out of trouble like Taron Egerton, Miss. Tibbs used to say. Well charm me, damn you!" Colin slapped a hand between their chests, his fingers instinctively spreading out over the bare skin there before he gave the younger man a slight shove, recognizing the danger Taron presented on so many levels. Especially to his concentration and the fury that was enabling him to stand his ground.

"Tell me your reason you have for doing all this!" Colin pressed when Taron just continued to stare at him in shock. "For acting this way when you know, when you sure as hell have to know what it does to me that you'd…you've said nothing! We've spent hours together and you've said not one bloody word about how I left or the fucking letter! Why?"

The last word came out as a whisper, all the desperation and emotion that had fueled the rest of his impassioned, rather loud speech leaving Colin in one fallow swoop. It was all he could do not to sag like a balloon whose air had left it.

"I was waiting for you to bring it up." The words, spoken so softly and carefully, didn't sound like Taron at all. The vulnerability there in the boy's face and body language. It made Colin's hands literally itch to hug him. Hold him and assure him that everything would be all right even though they both had to know that that would be a whopper of a lie.

He looked away before he did or said something stupid.

"Do you need to sit down?"

"No, I don't need to sit down." He did, actually, but Colin wasn't about to admit it. Only now he didn't know what the hell to say because now that he'd said the rest…he didn't actually want to know how Taron thought and felt about the letter or him. Or to be more precise he was just plain afraid to know.

Taron, meanwhile, made as if to shove his hands into his pockets, only the trackies he was wearing didn't have any. The younger man was left to swipe a hand through his already mussed hair while looking over Colin's shoulder rather than at him. And then Taron was looking at him again.

"So we're doing this now, then?"

"Doing what now?"

Shaking his head Taron's lips curved ruefully. "I didn't say nothin cause I didn't want ta scare you off. Push ya before yous was ready to have this out and say ta my face what ya said in that letter."

"Taron…"

"I ain't gonna say you was wrong ta do it like ya did. Not that I didn't fucking curse ya black and blue a hundred times or more for the first little while. Cause I bloody well did and won't apologize for it. But I do get why ya had to go before. Why it was the right thing ta do."

"I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know. Ya left ta protect both of us."

Swallowing hard when Taron took a step forward, closing the gap between them, Colin flinched when the wall behind him stopped him from moving away.

"Like a fucking rabbit." The words were mumbled, but audible.

"A rabbit?"

"You. I feel like a fox with a cornered rabbit. Or a damn cat with a mouse in its paws." A sound of exasperation, the emotion written all over Taron's face before it settled into a sterner, more foreboding expression. "I ain't gonna hurt ya so stop lookin at me like that. I ain't Jack for fuck sakes. Why do ya think I haven't hunted ya down before now? Made ya face me and own the fuck up to what ya said in that goddamn letter? It ain't like I haven't had the money to hire someone, ya know. But I wasn't gonna force ya ta own up ta lovin me even if I've wanted ta throttle ya every fucking time ya sent me a letter bout one of my books without leaving a sodding return address so I could write ta ya at the very fucking least!"

"Taron."

"Oh don't ya Taron me like that. Ya think it's been so long that I don't recognize your teach voice? Fuck that and you if you think you can come here like this and then run off. Cause FY Fucking I I ain't lettin ya off the hook this time. Ya said ya loved me, COLIN. Ya said ya loved me." When he repeated himself Taron's voice noticeably softened, though his expression was fierce as he crowded in on Colin to offer him no escape as their chests met. "I'll woe ya if that's what ya need from me. I won't demand nothin from ya that you aint willin ta give me. But don't you pretend ya don't know what's between us. What's ALWAYS been between us. Don't ya even fucking dare."

Unable to breathe or look away from the eyes that held him there as much as Taron's body, Colin found enough breath to gasp when the other man's hand came up to cup his cheek, Taron's spreading fingers each a brand on his skin.

Raising his own hand without thought Colin found himself copying Taron, something in his chest breaking as he watched the other man's eyelashes come down to hide Taron's eyes as he nuzzled into his hand.

And in that moment Colin didn't know if he was asking for mercy or more when he said, "Please."

His other hand coming up Taron drew Colin's head down and Colin let him as he breathed Taron's name against the boy's lips before they met his own.

It was almost chaste, that kiss. So gentle and soft. Hesitant and careful.

Like his lips were made of the frailest of glass and might shatter if too much pressure was put on them.

Then Taron groaned low in his throat and the next kiss…oh the next kiss was something else entirely as Colin found himself experiencing all the hunger and want Taron had been reining in. Igniting his own.

The hand he'd placed on Taron's cheek naturally slid around to cup the back of his head, insuring that Taron didn't stop what he was doing while Colin wrapped his free arm around Taron's waist. And when the other man's tongue swiped across his lips in question Colin opened with a groan, wanting nothing more than for the man to fuck his mouth and-

Crash

Breaking apart automatically as their heads turned in the direction of the sound, Colin had to blink a few times to focus enough to see what it was they'd heard smash onto the floor.

"Fuck."

It was automatic to look back at Taron, who was staring at him with searching eyes, looking for something while his own eyes were full of-

"Oomph." What air he'd gotten back into his lungs in those brief seconds apart left him in a rush as Colin suddenly found himself being hugged tightly as Taron buried his face against his collar. It was instinct to wrap his arm around him protectively in turn while the other cupped the back of the boy's head. His grip tensing when he heard his name being mumbled.

"Harry."

Harry

Oh

"CUT!"

)

Blinking back into understanding, and shedding the man that was Colin in the process, Harry dropped his hands away automatically as he turned to look in the direction of their now hooting and hollering audience while Eggsy…he remained pressed up against Harry's chest for a moment and then started cursing over the damn vase they'd knocked off the table during the kiss. One of them must have bumped the table, Harry realized dimly as he watched Eggsy move away and then hunker down to start collecting up the pieces of porcelain.

"Oh for-don't cut yourself. Your hand only just healed."

Eggsy didn't so much as look up. "Yes, Mummy."

Making a sound of exasperation, and desperately grateful that the vase had fallen and given both of them an excuse not to deal with the people watching them just yet, Harry walked around to kneel near Eggsy to help him pick up the pieces. While making very sure to keep a safe distance between them to ensure that they wouldn't touch. It was best if they didn't touch just yet.

"Oi, I have it." Eggsy informed him, still not looking at him.

"We broke it together, we'll pick it up together." That was his excuse, and by God he was sticking to it. Anything to take his mind off the fact that he had Eggsy's taste in his mouth and the memory of-not thinking about it. Lalalalalala.

"Ah, you two do realize that we have people for that. And something better and safer to use than your very valuable hands."

Damn director.

"We broke it so it's only right that we clean it up." He hated how priggish he sounded, but Harry had no intention of showing his face or the erection that hadn't quite gone down yet until he absolutely had no other alternative course of action.

"And we're almost got it all anyway, Bruv. The ugly thing stayed mostly together. For the best we broke it really. A service."

"Like two peas in a pod." The director muttered loudly before he turned around and started talking to the waiting crew, stating that once the two mules were done cleaning up the lamp they'd be reshooting some of the beginning. He thought they could do better there.

Shit.

"He's right. I acted for shit during the rabbit and cat part."

"You most certainly did not. You were excellent. It was probably me. And the fact that he seems to want me to play Colin like he's a bloody drama queen." Harry muttered that last part, just in case the director had abnormally good hearing.

"I think he has problems realizing that there don't have ta be a girl in a slash relationship."

"No doubt."

Both of them now bent over a little as they searched for stray pieces, Harry joined Eggsy in cursing as they bumped heads while reaching for the same spotted piece at the same time. And then they were looking at each other and laughing, and the knots in Harry's stomach started to loosen up.

"Good thing our heads are equally hard." Eggsy joked with a wink, mockingly rubbing the side of his head for emphasis.

A clearing of a throat had them both looking in the direction of a stagehand who was holding out a small rubbish bin in their direction.

"Ah, thank you." Taking it from him Harry set it down on the floor to start transferring their pile of broken pieces into it while Eggsy retrieved the final shard and tossed it in.

"I just wanted to say I thought you both were brilliant just now. I don't know what he thinks you could possibly do better but…I thought it was great."

As was polite Harry looked back up and in the stagehand's direction as he thanked him for the compliment, the look in the man's eyes making it clear as to why he was expressing the sentiment. And it had nothing to do with their skills as an actor and everything to do with his interest in both of them. And really, eye fucking them both at the same time? Did the man possess not a shred of common sense? Unless of course he was interested in a threesome…which was a thought Harry rather wished his mind hadn't stopped to entertain.

"Yeah, thanks." His tone cool Eggsy held the bin back out to the stagehand, who took it with a suggestive smile aimed in Eggsy's direction.

Ignoring it Eggsy straightened up and then offered his hand to Harry with a grin.

Though he didn't need the help, his knees weren't quite that bad yet thank you very much, Harry accepted the hand up and didn't comment when Eggsy laced their fingers together. The gesture was no doubt intended to send a clear message to the stagehand, and he was fine with that.

"We should go see what the director wants to change."

"Lets." Another wink and then Eggsy steered them over in that direction, the stagehand wisely getting out of their way.

)

Standing in front of the mirror hours later Harry studied his face one last time for signs that he'd missed any of the makeup or neglected to quite rub in some of the cream he was under strict orders to apply to his face daily to starve off wrinkles and skin damage. That he's rather not study his face for signs of aging went without stating, but Harry was vain enough to suck it up in order to ensure that he was looking his best before he headed out for the night. Though it was late enough that most of the cast and crew had left even before they'd stated filming the last scene of the day. It had been a small scene, just him and Andrew, so only a small crew had been required to stay behind. It had gone well too, Andrew surprisingly subdued and cooperative. He hadn't expected that. He'd expected the man to heckle him about his and Eggsy's kissing scene. Everyone else had.

Not that he was complaining. His mental hit list should he ever turn into a homicidal maniac was looking rather long at the moment thanks to the comments he'd received from his so called friends this afternoon and evening.

Rolling his shoulders as he turned off the lights and then opened his dressing room door, Harry couldn't wait to get home where he could wallow for the rest of the night and the next day, which he had off. Today had gone better than he'd thought it would, thank God, but he was still bloody glad that it was over and just wanted to be alone. Thankfully Eggsy had left as soon as their scenes together had finished for the day to babysit Daisy while their mother attended the birthday party of a friend. So he didn't have to worry about him dropping by unexpectedly tonight, and would be able to have a drink and decompress in peace.

Sensing that he wasn't alone in the hallway Harry turned his head in surprise to see Andrew watching him from a nearby doorway. The man's dressing room if he wasn't mistaken. As per usual the man was dressed to the nines, the clothes and look he was trying to present just a little too young for Andrew to actually pull off in Harry's opinion. As for his own appearance Harry knew he was as put together as always, his face revealing nothing, so why was Andrew still staring at him now that he knew Harry was aware of him?

"Something I can do for you, Andrew?"

Andrew seemed to consider ignoring him, no surprise, but after a moment's pause he stepped out and pulled the door closed behind him before walking over to stand in front of him.

They'd known each other longer than either was comfortable with, and Harry wanted to wince just counting the years. And in all that time they'd never been friendly or really spoken with each other if it could be avoided. They just plain didn't like each other. But they did know each other, for better or for worst, and Harry was surprised to find himself struggling to interpret the look Andrew gave him when the other man came to a stop in front of him.

"You do know what's he's doing, don't you?"

"Sorry?"

"Your boy. Eggsy. This whole storyline he concocted for you both. The more I watch the two of you the more clueless I'm starting to think you are. So giving you the benefit of the doubt, much as it pains me, you do know what he's trying to do, don't you?"

"I am aware that Eggsy enjoys pushing me out of my comfort zone. Often for his own amusement." But that wasn't what Andrew meant or thought he knew. Harry could see that clearly in the other man's expression.

"And people say you're so smart." Shaking his head Andrew looked away for a moment, his jaw noticeably clenching as he seemed to fight some internal struggle with himself. And then he was looking back to meet Harry's gaze squarely, a surprising intensity to his stare. "Start paying attention, Hart. If you don't you're going to regret it. I can promise you that."

"I think I know Eggsy a great deal better than you do." Harry began, Andrew cutting him off.

"I won't argue that you're closer to the brat than I am. And I don't like him any more than I like you." A deep breath. "But I've been in his shoes. And I didn't have his courage. I've paid for it ever since. If he means half as much to you as I think he does…do right by him. Pay attention."

Shocked speechless Harry barely felt it when Andrew shouldered past him, the other man moving faster than Harry had seen him go in years. Possibly decades.

When he did find his voice, his 'What the hell?!" echoed in the otherwise silent hallway.