Chapter Text
Net knew this was coming. He knew there were going to be hard episodes, episodes where they're both going to cry and episodes where it will be hard not to feel for their characters.
But nothing prepares him for seeing James crying like he's the one breaking his heart.
As a rule, Net does everything and anything that is under his power to make sure the younger doesn't feel sad ever. Whenever he has seen James cry has made his heart feel like it was being ripped apart piece by piece. It was one of his worst sights in the world.
And to be the one to perpetuate that is even worse.
He knows logically its not him saying things that are hurting "Uea", its King. But he's the one who has to be the one to say them out loud, all these vile and hurtful things. And when he sees tears in James' eyes, he can't go forward and hug him till the scene is over. And how his hands twitch to.
"Cut! Net!" The director calls for him from the side but all he can focus on is James wiping away tears with the back of his hand. The scene has a break, right? Technically, he can stop being King for a second.
With that in mind, he puts a protective arm around the younger, making his head rest on his chest hiding him in his arms.
"You're being too soft. King is actually angry at him and hurt during the first half of the scene, before he realises what's wrong. Can you do that?" The director again mentions how Net refuses to be anything that could possibly bring harm to his James.
"Okay." He gives his coworker one last squeeze before stepping back.
It doesn't take a lot for him to cry, seeing James crying.
"What do you have in your mind?" James asks, with sadness that Net can't stand to see in his eyes. His hands itch to go to him.
"How do I know?"
The scene continues, getting to the point where they're both full on crying and Net has to walk away from him.
"It's my fault for worrying about you." I'll always worry about you. "I'm sorry."
And he begins walking away, then looks back as a tear drops from his eye. He keeps waiting for the director to end the scene, so he can run back to James and take him back in his arms so that he can ease the pain in his chest.
"Cut!" And he's walking full speed back towards the younger, wrapping both his arms around him and pressing his face into his neck.
He feels a hand wrap around his nape as a wet voice laughs, "That was good, P'Net. I'm proud of us."
But Net can't hold back his sobs, letting a painful one cry out.
"P'Net?" James asks worriedly as he tries to step back but Net can't bear the thought of letting him, not right now not ever. "Hey, Phi, it's okay."
"It's not." He manages to garble out. "Please don't make me let you go."
He hears a makeup artist approach them with wipes, also hearing James smile and say, "Can you give us a minute please?"
"Hey, listen." The younger sifts through his hair with a gentle hand. "It was just fictional, okay? I'm okay, and so are you. We're okay."
"I hate seeing you cry so much." Net mumbles into his shoulder, pressing a kiss there. "You don't understand how much."
"But it was all acting, right?"
"Sometimes I hate how good you act." Net mumbles angrily, obviously not meaning it. He's always admired James' talent and work ethic. The way he can feel the character's emotions like they're their own and enact them so well, he's always been in awe.
"P'Net." He hears the most beautiful laugh in the world and a piece of his heart mends. He traps that sound in his heart, locking it in forever.
"Can you let me be clingy today, please?" Net doesn't think he can stand to be apart from him for a prolonged period of time.
"Of course I can, when don't I? You big baby." He laughs again, "Can you stop crying though, please? It breaks my heart too."
"I'm sorry." He sniffs a little. "I can't stop. I keep picturing you sad and looking at me like I broke your heart and I never, ever want to see that again. Like its at the bottom of my list of things I ever want to see again."
"You big softie." He feels a kiss drop down on his temple. "Under all those big muscles is just a soft emotional baby, isn't it?"
"You think my muscles are big?" Net perks up.
"You're insufferable." James chuckles, his nose scrunching up cutely. Which of course Net rushes to kiss.
"P'Net!" He receives one of James Classic Slaps, which the younger always gives him whenever he tries to do something too cutesy to him.
"Come on, I think we have go get ready for the next scene." Even though Net feels like he doesn't have an ounce of energy left in him, he doesn't want James to have to stay on set longer than he has to because of him.
"Do you want to sit down for a second?" James asks, worry evident in his eyes as he takes in the bloodshot eyes of the elder.
"No, I think I'm good." Net rubs a hand up and down his back.
"Are you sure?" The younger asks.
"Yes, baby, I'm sure." After another sneaked kiss on his cheek, he rushes through the dark room hearing a indignant 'Hey!' call from behind him.
After shooting another two scenes that weren't half as emotionally taxing as the one before, Net and James make their way toward the elder's car.
"You do know you don't have to drive all the way to my condo if you're tired, right? I can take a cab." James offers like he always does, which always goes unheard or waved off by Net.
"Get in the car, Nong." James blushes and opens the passenger side of the door.
"Do you want to get dinner on the way to your condo or order in takeout later?" Net asks as he gets in the car too and turns on the ignition.
But James doesn't think he's ready to be separated from him yet either. As hard it must've been for Net to see him cry, it isn't easy for him either. Especially seeing the older sob even when the scene was over.
"Do you, um, think I could stay over? If you don't mind me of course." James folds his hand nervously looking forward at the parking lot.
"James." Net laughs. "What do you think I am going to say? No? If it was up to me, you would've already moved in and wouldn't be apart from me for longer than twenty seconds at a stretch."
James feels something bloom in his chest as he tries to downplay how his words have affected him, "Okay."
"Okay." The elder ruffles his hair affectionately, then turns around to focus on driving them home.
James continues to stare at Net's profile, thinking of how the elder will do anything to keep him safe. How he always walks behind to protect him from anything that might harm him, how he's always looking out for him from the corner of his eye.
"Hey, I know I'm pretty, but you could try to be a little less obvious, you know?" He's snapped out his thoughts as he turns around to see Net smirk.
"I hate you."