"Are you okay?" was the first thing Chris said to Darren when they saw each other again at work.

Darren's smile was warm and open. "Totally," he said.

There was confusion in Chris' eyes and he kept glancing at Darren as they strolled from wardrobe to the set which currently featured the Hummel lounge room pieces.

They were quickly directed to cuddle up on the couch for a scene in which Finn and Burt were to have a loud argument. Kurt and Blaine didn't even have any lines but were an important presence, witnesses to the heated discussion.

Darren sat down and opened his arms for Chris to arrange himself into them as he was directed. There was a brief discussion with the director about how they were to react to Burt and Finn in this scene but as it turned out his preference was for Kurt and Blaine to largely remain focused on each other. That suited Darren fine.

Chris sat delicately and cautiously leaned into Darren's embrace. He rested a hand on Darren's chest and his head on Darren's shoulder. One of his legs was curled across Darren's lap and Darren placed a hand on Chris' knee rubbing gently back and forth as his other arm wrapped around Chris' shoulder.
They were silent for a minute as the crew bustled around and the director spoke with Mike and Corey.

Then Chris looked up and met Darren's eyes, tapping his hand against Darren's chest where it had been resting. "I can feel your heart beating. It's fast," he said.
Darren smirked. "I get excited when I get close to you. But don't worry you won't have to deal with an 'erroneous erection' again. I had a long enjoyable shower just before during which I relived in vivid detail our recent 'experiment'. I'll be out of action for a while."

Chris blushed, cleared his throat and moved restlessly against his costar on the couch.
"I … Fuck, I don't know what to say to that," he muttered eventually laughing a little. Darren laughed lightly too and gave Chris a little peck on the lips before reminding himself that this was work and not to use the scene as an opportunity to try to seduce the beautiful man he was in love with.

They got started with a first take which Darren thought both Corey and Mike performed really well. He stayed relaxed and enjoyed Chris nuzzling in against him as he drew little circles on Chris' leg with his thumb.

As the crew were rearranging slightly for a second take Chris spoke quietly again:

"You took off pretty fast. I thought you might have started regretting what we did."
"Never," was Darren's simple reply.

Again they were silent for a full take of the scene, glancing up at Corey's entrance and again when he and Mike started shouting but mainly looking at each other sweetly and lovingly. Darren didn't even bother to switch into Blaine mode. This was too easy and fun.

When their two fellow actors went back to their starting marks Chris stretched and shifted position. They were seated more side by side now but Darren's hand was in one of Chris' and this time it was his knee being stroked and caressed.

The next take was cut short when Mike flubbed one of his lines and Darren took the short interval to gather his thoughts.
Chris had raised the issue of his rapid departure after the blow job/confession the other day. Perhaps Darren needed to explain some more.

He gently caught Chris' chin and brought his attention round until they were looking in each other's eyes once more.
"I'm sorry. If I worried you," he began.
"And ACTION," called an Assistant Director.
Darren leaned forward to whisper in Chris' ear knowing the movement would look appropriate for Blaine as well.
"I should have stayed. I bet you could teach me a few things."
He felt Chris shiver in his arms and started pressing kisses gently to his neck.
"CUT! Pulling focus again Chris!" someone shouted and Darren leaned back to voice an apology.
"My fault sorry!"

Chris looked a little self-conscious as he rubbed his neck and eyed Darren up and down before leaning in obediently to his assigned spot - all over Darren.
With his head on Darren's chest Chris murmured, "I haven't reached a decision yet. To be honest I'm very mixed up."
"Mmm?" Darren replied as shooting began once again.

They ran through the whole scene again and once the script ran out Corey asked for a toilet break because of "too much coffee".

Chris sat up to speak to Darren although he kept hold of Darren's hand ignoring the movements of crew members around them.
"It would be easy to fall into something just on the physical side," Chris said quietly. "But I have to take seriously what you told me. About being in love."
To Darren's ear there was a slight question behind the words as Chris spoke them. Like he couldn't quite believe it was true. So he didn't hesitate to answer:
"I am. With you."
Chris smiled shyly on hearing it again.
"You've thrown me a curve ball that's for sure. My minds been going round in circles. I finally persuaded myself to switch off because you'd probably freaked out and decided you were straight after all."
Again Darren detected a question although it was phrased as a statement.
"Chris, I'm serious," Darren said, squeezing his co-star's hand. "When I left so quickly it was because I wished a little bit that you were ready to return all of my feelings, although I knew - I know - it's going to take some time. I just laid my heart bare to you and you were like 'Um, maybe' which is totally cool. Really. I just … at that moment I was a bit overwhelmed. I had to let go of the fantasy that you'd been secretly in love with me all along as well. But I understand. Like you said, you've had your ways of keeping straight guys in the friend zone. Now I'm asking you to change that and consider my application for not just the Gay category but also the one and only Boyfriend role … if that position is vacant …".
This time Darren was asking the question and his heart leapt at Chris' cheeky grin.

"Yeah it's vacant. And I'm thinking about offering you a call-back audition too."
Darren groaned and nearly kissed Chris thinking of all the things they could start doing to each other if they tried another 'experiment'.

Luckily Corey returned before he lost control and more takes proceeded.

Optimism was singing through Darren's body and heart as he cuddled Chris and they played games with each other's fingers trying to remain appropriately in the background of the scene.
Finally the shoot was finished.

"Big night tonight," Henry commented as they were leaving together. Darren looked up in shock. Did everyone know?
"Yeah, Tumblr will be rioting," Chris replied casually and Darren glanced at him with eyes wide. Chris laughed and shoved him playfully.
"You forgot didn't you? Our bathtub episode is airing tonight. We've got all that press tomorrow."
"Right, of course. Klex. How could I forget," Darren replied. Real life had totally usurped the fictional developments and Darren couldn't be happier.

Chris was planning to get some food next but Darren stopped him before he approached the group of other cast members and asked Chris to get out his phone.
Chris did so and when he gave Darren a querying look Darren explained:
"Call up your calendar app. I want to schedule some dates."

Thanks to my friend Anne for helping talk through the direction of the story after the last chapter.

Reviews anyone?