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It was half an hour until the show started and Grantaire was still not ready. The sound tech had put his microphone on him and tested it, but that was all Grantaire had done so far. He had to put makeup on, do his hair, get dressed and do vocal warmups. Not that he was stressed- Grantaire very rarely got stressed when behind the stage. On stage was a different matter.
It was one thing to be in his favourite show playing his dream role, but to be playing it alongside Enjolras- a very good actor, who was leagues above Grantaire- was another level. Speaking of Enjolras, he arrived late today and was currently looking very stressed. Well, Grantaire couldn’t have that.
“Have you read the critics review of our first performance?” He asked.
“No. I need to get changed. So do you.”
Sometimes, Enjolras was no fun.
“You’re in the way, ange.”
“Not today, Grantaire.” Enjolras snapped and looked at Grantaire in the mirror. “Christ, you haven’t even put your makeup on.”
“You can’t swear with your own name,” Grantaire smirked and shifted forward in his chair. He really should start his makeup. “Why were you late anyway?”
“Courfeyrac. Stop talking.” He murmured, getting stuck in his shirt. “I can’t think when you talk.”
“Thanks.” He scoffed and went to help Enjolras into the shirt.
He went back to putting his eyeliner on. If Enjolras gulped and looked away with his cheeks red, Grantaire didn’t notice.
This version of Jesus Christ Superstar had Jesus and Judas as ex-lovers, rather than just close friends. For Grantaire, it was easy to play that; within the rehearsals, he may have ended up with a small crush on Enjolras. Judas’ jealousy of Mary came easy to him then.
The fact they had to share a small dressing room didn’t make things any easier. They were at each other’s throats constantly. For Grantaire, it was fun to wind up Enjolras before he went on stage. For Enjolras, he just couldn’t help but to react to Grantaire.
It was the last show, and both of them were sad in a way so the usual banter stopped. They were more focused on making sure this was a good show. The critics were back again.
For Grantaire, it was more than that, though. Tonight, he was going to confess his love for Enjolras. Tonight, he was going to kiss Enjolras. Well, he kissed him every night, but that was on the cheek, so it didn’t count. If it all went wrong, then at least he wouldn’t have to work with Enjolras anymore.
He finally finished his makeup and ran a hand through his hair. It’d do. Judas was meant to be a bit unhinged anyway. He finally put his shirt and jacket on, silently cursing the costume department for making the costumes so heavy and hot. Under the studio lights, he almost died from heat exhaustion every night, while Enjolras paraded around the stage in a billowy shirt. It just wasn’t fair.
The first act went extraordinarily well to say it was the last show. Usually, someone would have started crying by the closing number. However, everyone was keeping it together. Grantaire did the moves set by the director, if not shuffling a bit closer to Enjolras wherever possible. Enjolras always shuffled away and sent him a pitying look that Grantaire hoped was just in character.
At halftime, Enjolras was quieter than usual.
“Are you nervous, Enjolras?” Grantaire asked, smirking up at him.
“No.” Yes. Grantaire knew his nervous habits by now- picking at his nails, biting his lips, not speaking.
“Who’s watching you?”
“What?”
“Who’s watching you? Usually, you only get nervous if someone you know is watching you, so who’s watching you?”
“No one.”
Grantaire frowned. “So, why are you nervous?”
“Because you-”
“All actors on stage please.” The stage manager’s voice broke through their conversation.
“Go on.”
“Grantaire, we’re going to be late.”
And with that, Enjolras rushed off through the door. Well, that was strange. However, Grantaire wasn’t going to back out of his plan now.
Throughout the Last Supper, maybe he pushed Enjolras a bit too hard, but Enjolras did shove him down to the floor with some force. Grantaire only just managed to get up in time for his line.
The time between being kicked off of the stage and the time he came back on was too long. What would happen if Enjolras reported him for assault or something? Or claimed he was bullied by Grantaire throughout the production?
The first opening notes of the arrest rang out and he knew that was his key. There was no backing out now.
“There he is. They’re all asleep, the fools…”
He walked up to Enjolras, his footsteps ringing out across the theatre. Everyone was silent. Enjolras turned to him, and Grantaire took the opportunity. His lips met Enjolras’ and he kissed him. For a moment, Enjolras stayed still, but he kissed back eventually. He kissed back, until the music started up again, and maybe for a second longer.
“Judas…” There were tears in Enjolras and Grantaire’s eyes. “Must you betray me with a kiss…”
Grantaire rushed forward to try and kiss him again, but the actors who played the guards were too quick. They’d grabbed his arms before he could get back over, and they’d arrested Enjolras as well.
He weaved in between the other actors’, trying to spot Enjolras again. The hood of the jacket was up, and he’d found his spot.
“Judas, thank you for the victim.” The spotlight was on him, and he walked forward and away, as he was supposed to. What he wasn’t expecting was for Enjolras to try and grab his hand. He recoiled as the guard pulled Enjolras away.
“Stay a while, and you’ll see it bleed.” He flinched and went to go and punch Annas, as was planned, but the guards dragged him off.
Luckily, he was off stage until Judas’ suicide, so he could get over the adrenaline. Everything would be fine.
When Superstar came around, Grantaire had made another plan of action. He could torment Enjolras more. The music started up, and Grantaire went for it.
‘Or was it just PR?” He sang, pushing Enjolras back down into his chair. He would usually move at that point, but he kept his hand on Enjolras’ shoulder, trailing it down to Enjolras’ bare chest. “I only want to know…”
“Jesus Christ, Superstars.” Grantaire read the article, “The new, hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical closed with a bang, literally. The two leads have created quite a stir by sharing a passionate kiss onstage.”
“That was you who did that…” Enjolras murmured, running his hand through Grantaire’s curls.
“You kissed me back! And then you tried to grab hold of me when I was running away.”
“Because you were crying.”
“So were you. It’s called acting.”
Enjolras huffed and bent down to kiss Grantaire again.
“Are you going to the RENT audition today?”
“Yes. Obviously. Are you?”
“Mhm.”
“May the best man win.”
In the end, Enjolras got the role of Roger, and who was his Mimi?
Grantaire, of course