Work Text:
Just before everyone left for the day, the director surprised them all with an announcement. He gathered the group of young actors and said they were going to be doing a workshop for a love scene tomorrow, to start to prepare them for filming such a scene. Nine was a little shocked, even though he knew he shouldn’t be. He had read the books. Something like this is all part of the role; it was bound to happen at some point.
The workshop was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Maybe the short notice was the director’s way of keeping them from stressing about it earlier. He even showed them videos of other actors doing similar workshops, so they would know what to expect.
Nine looked around: Pavel was, predictably, already getting over the shock and was joking lewdly with Dome and Ben. Earth was laughing nervously with Ben too, who also seemed a little hesitant.
Chen looked even more nervous than Nine felt. He had met Nine’s eyes wildly when the director gave the announcement. He and Chen had already practiced the lighter stuff, even filmed a few of the kiss scenes. But this was, well, more. Chen had never even kissed anyone before kissing Nine on the series, so he knew the other boy had never done anything beyond that either. He could just imagine how Chen felt, and Nine felt bad that all of his firsts were being stolen like this.
Workshops were very public things. Group events with a room full of staff and actors and crew. Even ones like this, where all the couples would have to basically make out on couches in front of everyone. Obviously, it was to prepare them for when the scene was filmed, which would be in front of a crowd of people, but still…
Chen had been pretty quiet for the rest of that day, and as they were heading home, Nine caught up to him and grabbed his wrist.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked Chen.
“Hm? Oh…nothing,” The younger boy seemed distracted.
Nine pulled him towards his car. “Come stay over tonight.” He thought for a second Chen might question it, but instead he just went along with it. It wasn’t that strange, after all, they were living together a lot lately…
The drive home was quiet. Chen hadn’t said much of anything the whole way. Nine eyed him from the driver’s seat. “Are you worried about the workshop?”
Chen looked over at him, biting his lip. “I’m just…nervous about it P’. I don’t know what I’m doing and…well, I wish I didn’t have to do it. Not that I don’t want to do it with you, just…you know…”
Nine nodded. He understood. “Well, that’s why you’re staying over tonight.”
They came into Nine’s room and he shut the door behind them.
“What do you mean?” Chen asked, even as he made himself at home on Nine’s bed. He already looked more relaxed, which made Nine happy. He hated seeing Chen unhappy. Though maybe it was for selfish reasons, because Chen’s smile was the sun in his sky.
Nine came and sat next to him on the bed, reaching out to hold one of his hands. “I was just thinking… that we could practice for the practice tomorrow. Here, in private, where there’s no one to see or judge or anything. If you wanted to.” Nine would be lying if he said he didn’t also want the chance to do this with Chen, just the two of them.
Chen looked at him like he had been thrown a lifeline. “Really? You’d do that?”
Nine smiled. “Of course. Also…I know you lost the chance for your first kiss, but I didn’t want you to have to do…this for the first time in a workshop in front of dozens of people. Sorry it has to be with me though…” He trailed off the last part, because it seemed like the right thing to say. He had no concrete reason to believe that Chen would choose him if there were any other option. He didn’t know what kind of other option there might be on such sort notice, but he really hoped, hypothetically, that Chen would still pick him above some random girl from somewhere. They were best friends, and they had already had some (pretty great, in Nine’s opinion) kisses together.
Chen looked confused again. “Why sorry? I definitely want it to be you!” Nine laughed in relief. “But P’? Just, thank you so much. For thinking of this. For thinking of me.”
Nine swallowed, his throat tight. He couldn’t find any words, so he just squeezed Chen’s hand and smiled.
-0-0-0-
It was still a little awkward to get started. They sat on the bed facing each other, neither one making any moves.
Eventually, Chen ventured, “Well…according to the video he showed us, we’re basically going to have to make out on a couch, right?”
Nine laughed weakly. “I think so. Or just, you know, make sure we’re really comfortable with each other. At first. I think the direction will come later. You know, acting critiques and stuff.”
“And…at some point we have to act like we’re having sex. Right?”
“…Yeah.”
At first, Nine waited on his back for Chen to take the initiative like Ming would, in their roles. But it soon became obvious that Chen was at a bit of a loss. He hovered over Nine on his hands and knees for a second, before sitting back on his heels, a hand awkwardly on Nine’s thigh, rubbing a little before pulling away. After a few more minutes of hesitant touches and Chen changing his mind, Nine decided he’d better put the boy out of his misery.
Kit would never take charge like this, but for the sake of practice, Nine could…
Nine sat up and met Chen’s eyes, turning his face with a hand to Chen’s cheek. Before he could change his mind, Nine leaned in and kissed him, moving quickly passed a peck and slotting their mouths together. Nine kissed him solidly, not letting go until he felt Chen relax. When the other boy began kissing him back, Nine lost some time just letting himself be kissed by this amazing, beautiful boy that he’d wanted for months now.
The kiss was a little sloppy, and probably wouldn’t look very good on camera, but honestly Nine didn’t care. He was in love with the feeling of Chen’s mouth and soft lips, and if they needed more kissing practice, well, that was hardly the worst thing in the world.
Nine could have lived and died just kissing Chen like this, but in the back of his mind he knew that they needed to keep going. He reached a hand up to pull lightly at Chen’s hair, the other hand sneaking up the front of his shirt. He heard, felt, and tasted the gasp that the other boy let out. Chen moaned quietly and pulled apart from him.
“Kiss my neck,” Nine said, a little breathlessly, part acting instruction and part personal request. Nine laid back and pulled Chen with him.
Chen nodded, and leaned down to burry his face in the crook of Nine’s neck. Nine felt the first soft, hesitant touches, and turned his head a bit to give Chen better access. He hummed and ran his fingers though Chen hair, encouraging him.
Chen got braver and started leaving open mouthed kisses that sometimes involved a little teeth. Nine felt him settle his weight on top of him and loved the way it pushed him into the bed. When he realized Chen had been fixated on one spot for a while, he moaned at the thought of the mark that would be left on him. He knew he would get absolute hell for it from the guys tomorrow, but right now he wouldn’t stop Chen for the end of the world.
“Mmm, yes…” Nine panted, and Chen pulled up to look at him. Nine wanted to kiss him again, but Chen was already looking at his mouth, moving down to capture his lips…
Nine ran his hands over Chen’s back, scrunching up his shirt. He felt Chen press his weight down again and it compelled him to move his legs apart to make room for Chen between them. He didn’t know where that came from, but in the moment it seemed like the most natural thing. It turned out to be the best decision ever when the new angle brought their hips together.
Chen was already starting to rock against him; Nine was pretty sure the other boy didn’t even realize he was doing it. He thought he should probably move apart a little, so he didn’t freak Chen out when he inevitably felt that Nine was getting hard. But then just as he thought it, Chen moved at an angle that pressed his own hard-on into Nine’s belly.
Nine jolted and bit Chen’s lip a little hard, but the other boy didn’t seem to mind much. Nine squirmed until they were better aligned, and then pushed his hips up, squarely grinding into Chen’s erection with his own. They both moaned raggedly and Chen shivered.
Chen muttered something that was definitely a curse word, but it was in Turkish so Nine didn’t understand it. The gist of it wasn’t hard to guess though… Nine was torn between feeling smug for finally catching the other boy cursing, and feeling wrecked at the sound of the foreign words being ripped from him. God, but he could listen to that boy speak in his other language for ever…he would never tell anyone how hot he found it.
Chen panted and looked at Nine, his eyes almost completely dark. He reached inside Nine’s shirt, pausing first with a questioning glance at the older boy. Nine was kind of surprised he had the frame of mind to stop and ask, but he quickly nodded his consent and Chen continued, scratching lightly along the tensed muscles of Nine’s stomach, then soothing the shivers with his warm palm. Nine whimpered and wrapped his legs around Chen’s waist.
Chen dropped his forehead to Nine’s collarbone, his hips taking up their rhythm again, grinding against Nine. Nine turned his head to nibble at Chen’s ear, which was at the perfect angle and just asking for it. That seemed to undo Chen. He surged up, pushing Nine’s legs up too, and thrust hard a few times before shuddering to a stop.
“Shit…” Nine said breathlessly. Chen must have come, judging from the way he was basically passed out on top of Nine now, breathing hard. Nine hadn’t—which was frustrating, but okay. He would live. This was all for Chen anyway. He hoped his friend had had a good time.
Apparently though, Chen wasn’t passed out, and wasn’t done with him.
“P’Nai…sorry, I…sorry. Let me help you though?” He asked, even though his hand was already rubbing the bulge in Nine’s pants. It was almost too much for him, and he clutched at Chen’s arm with white knuckles. “F-fuck, please…”
Chen smiled sheepishly but continued what he was doing. Everything else may have been new to him, but this was one thing all teenage boys knew how to do well. Nine was dying for some actual contact, and somehow, he must have conveyed that. Before he knew it, Chen’s warm hand was wrapped around him tightly, pumping quickly. He got lost in the feeling of someone else’s hand on him, bigger and rougher than his own. That would have been good enough, but the knowledge that it was Chen’s hand sent him over the edge quickly and he came with Chen’s name on his lips.
They caught their breath, trading shy smiles and soft laughs until one of them could think of what to say now. Had this changed things between them? It wasn’t exactly a normal best friends activity, even if it was kind of work related. Maybe…remotely work related.
Chen read his mind, like always: “Well…I’m not doing that in front of any cameras.” Then, softer: “That was only for you.”
Nine laughed and looked away, because how could he do anything else? Meeting Chen’s eyes after that last sentence would have killed him. “Yeah, no. We should…maybe be a bit more, ah, indirect tomorrow.”
“Thank you P’Nai,” Chen’s eyes caught and held Nine’s, not letting go. “I know you were just helping me…”
Nine rolled his eyes. Chen was fishing and Nine would bite. “Please. That’s not true and you know it.”
Chen gave him those confused puppy eyes. “Hmm?”
Nine scoffed. “You were here! You saw me come—hell you made me come! I liked it, okay? Happy?”
“Really?” His face lit up. God, he really was a lot like his character sometimes. “Then…can I sleep here tonight?”
“You’re always here.”
Chen pouted. “Not here,” he waved at the general room. “Here. I want to be in your bed this time, with you.”
Nine pretended to think about it. But there really was no amount of willpower in the universe that would let him turn down and entire night in the arms of this boy. He’d never felt happier about any thought in his life.
“Fine,” he sighed theatrically. He still had to keep up appearances, he supposed. Maybe he was a little bit like his character too. But the last of his resistance was deserting him and it was getting harder and harder to ever act cold to Chen.