A/N: Owynsama on tumblr requested "Wait a minute. Are you jealous?" for USUK from a quote fic prompt meme.
Human AU. Arthur's acting job has Alfred a little bothered.
"You didn't have to wait up for me."
Alfred snorted awake, eyelids stiff and itchy feeling. He could hear Arthur flipping on the lights more than he could see the light itself, and he carefully swung his legs off the couch until he was in the semblance of an upright position.
"Technically I don't think I did."
He heard Arthur's short burst of a laugh and the creak of the kitchen cupboard hinges.
"Well, go to bed. I'm just having some tea and then I'll be right in."
"Nah, I'll wait. Make me some, too," Alfred said around a yawn as he finally got off the couch and crossed up to the tiny dining table. "How were rehearsals?"
Arthur arched an eyebrow at him, but took another mug out of the cupboard anyway. "It was fantastic, actually. I think we're making great progress."
He launched into a recap of the rehearsal, hands waving around to drive home this moment or that. Alfred didn't know half of the names or why half of the things he said were supposed to be amusing, but it didn't matter. There was an adorable giddiness to Arthur when he talked about this stuff, Alfred noticed. It was a passion and excitement that he so rarely showed anyone that Alfred was content to watch him talk a mile a minute and smile to himself. Sometimes Alfred felt a little excluded, that he didn't really understand anything about Arthur's life as an actor. There were so many traditions and terminologies and obligations that he couldn't remember or make sense of, but when Arthur talked so freely about his day, Alfred felt like he was maybe a little closer to sharing in it. He loved that the person he loved loved something so much.
Alfred was blissfully tuning out to enjoy just watching Arthur, but a name caught his ear.
"Ella is really a remarkable actress. I've never seen anyone so grounded and vulnerable at the same time. I think she could really make a go of it."
"Yeah?" Alfred looked down at the table and ran his fingertips over the scratches and dents in the lacquered surface.
"Oh, absolutely. She's just electric." The tea kettle whistled, and Alfred jumped and tried to mask his sudden sulking while Arthur poured water into the mugs and prepared his tea.
"She has these big green eyes, it's like she reflects everything back at you, it's incredible." He finished with his own drink and moved on to Alfred's, dumping in 2 heaping spoonfuls of sugar, exactly how he liked it, before bringing the mugs to the table and sitting. "We all love working with her. She's just perfect for the role, and so kind and gracious. I know the audiences are going to love her."
Alfred immediately took a mouthful of tea, letting it burn his lips and tongue before swallowing harshly. It tasted good, but Arthur hadn't stirred it well— being as caught up in fawning over his co-worker as he was— and it still felt gritty. Across the table, Arthur was cheerfully sipping and smiling to himself, as if there was some private joke he was recalling that he knew Alfred wouldn't understand. He was probably wasn't. He was probably just happy, and Alfred knew it, but something drove him to mutter under his breath anyway.
"Sounds like you already do."
Arthur's sipping faltered, and he ducked his head and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, setting his mug down a little too deliberately. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Alfred shrugged and pushed the tea away, scooting his chair back from the table so he could slouch. Maybe if he imitated the posture of someone not caring, he really would not care. "It just sounds like you guys have good chemistry, is all."
Arthur's brows knit together and he frowned. "We do. That's not always a given. It's nice to work with someone I don't want to strangle." There was teasing innuendo in that, the memory of one or several co-stars with less than sterling manners.
Alfred knew exactly who he was talking about and that didn't make him feel any better. He could more or less— okay, less at the moment— take Arthur being googly-eyed for some ingenue, but it was the other dudes that hit on him that maybe, sorta, kinda started to grind Alfred's gears. Whether or not he had anything to worry about in that department, and he didn't, Alfred couldn't help that heavy, hot feeling in his stomach. And he couldn't help the loaded question that popped out of his mouth.
"Is she a good kisser?"
"What?"
"You made me read the play, remember? I know what happens."
"Wait a minute. Are you jealous?" Arthur's eyes were wide with shock, but his mouth was wide with a half smile.
That made it worse. It was one thing for Arthur to call him out for being petty. It was another for him to laugh at him for it. Even if it was a little ridiculous. A lot ridiculous.
Alfred could feel his face and the back of his neck starting to burn, and he crossed his arms with a shrug. "No."
Smiling full-out now, Arthur smacked his hands on the table before crossing his own arms and leaning back in his seat victoriously. "You are! You're jealous! Oh, honestly Alfred—"
"Honestly, nothing. I'm not! I'm not jealous, okay? I mean, it's obvious you have a little crush on her or whatever because you can't stop talking about her—"
"Oh, I do not."
"— and I guess that's a good thing because you guys have chemistry, so maybe the play will be really good. and—"
"You are so jealous."
"—I mean yeah it's, like, weird or whatever, but me? I'm cool. It's cool. I'm happy for you."
Alfred forced himself to stop babbling by picking up his mug and chugging the rest of his still too hot tea, wishing it was something that would cool him down instead. He smacked his lips a little too loudly to be convincingly casual, and could only meet Arthur's mischievous gaze for so long before he opted to pretend to be concerned with the contents of the bottom of his mug.
"Well, I think it's sweet you're a little jealous. But you know you have nothing to worry about."
"Who's worried?" His attempt at sounding unconcerned was somewhat ruined by the crack in his voice.
Arthur chuckled, but caught himself and leaned forward to spread his palms on the table, the picture of consoling gentleness "And you should know that I as much as I love what I do, I miss getting to see you when you come home."
"It's cool. It's kinda nice having the place to myself. And it'll be nice to have the extra money. They are paying you for this one, right?"
If Arthur's deadpan look could kill, Alfred would have been a goner several times over. He couldn't help grinning, a little of his defensive embarrassment diffused, and after a quick, narrowed glare, Arthur was grinning, too.
"Yes, they are paying me. And don't think for a second that I don't appreciate everything you do to make it possible for me to do any of this in the first place. And just think." He stood and slowly circled the table, fingertips dragging across the surface, until he was standing next to Alfred. With a dainty sigh, he eased himself onto Alfred's lap, looping his arms around his neck and bringing his voice down to a dreamy whisper. "On opening night you can wait by the stage door for me with a giant bouquet of roses and I'll come out and give you a kiss that will make Ella turn green and everyone will know who I'm really going home with. Chemistry or not."
"God, you're so full of yourself." Alfred laughed, and craned his neck to catch Arthur's mouth in a kiss that would have deserved a standing ovation if anyone had been watching. Arthur's hands trailed down to brush the sides of Alfred's neck, and then up to his jaw to cup his face just as Alfred's hands wandered up the back of Arthur's shirt to brush against the warm, ticklish skin there. Breath hitching with a suppressed laugh, Arthur pulled back and touched his forehead to Alfred's.
"So. Are we all better now, or do I need to do some more convincing?" He walked two fingers down the center of Alfred's shirt, stopping mid-chest.
Alfred loved him. And he knew Arthur loved him right back. That's what actually mattered. Roles would come and go, and so would stage kisses and love scenes, but Alfred smiled, knowing that some things didn't change no matter how maybe jealous he got. He circled his arms around Arthur's waist, pulling him closer.
"How about a little preview performance just for me?"