Work Text:
The day was like any other.
Colt woke up, got to smother his wonderful girlfriend with kisses and the love she deserves, ate breakfast and got ready for work. Early call times sucked but he was used to them by now that he woke up pretty quickly. He drove a very sleepy Jody and himself to the set, where Jody would down the rest of her coffee and prepare to put on the director’s face, and Colt would sigh and mentally prepare himself for a day full of throwing himself around like a rag doll.
It was fun, but it was also taxing.
They wanted to shoot some scenes that involved Colt being hooked up to a giant crane and being flung through the air. Jody had seemed particularly nervous about it after seeing the crane that was… oh, yeah, that’s pretty tall. If he were to guess, it’d be as tall as a fifteen story building. The scene in question was about the main character (thankfully not played by Tom Ryder) being picked up by a giant robot alien and thrown like a football. Jody wanted this really cinematic shot of the character falling through the air and while Colt was a little nervous, he knew it was going to look amazing for the film.
Luckily for him, those shoots weren’t until the middle of the day when the sun was perfectly in line for the shot. For now, he was doing small stunts like being hit by a car and hanging out of a moving vehicle.
He was thankful for the call of lunchtime, which meant he had about 30-40 minutes to eat and mentally prepare himself for the giant crane. Staring at it wasn’t helping, but the sandwiches someone bought for the entire set were absolutely amazing. Whoever made them deserved a giant pay raise.
He jumped when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out and looked at the screen, smiling at the caller ID.
“Hey, Ry, what’s up?”
“You’ll never guess where I am right now.”
Well, he wasn’t expecting that. Colt’s brows furrowed as he checked his watch.
“In your classroom? It’s a school day, is it not?” he said.
“School’s out for summer, dude. I told you this last week. Anyway, I’m looking at something interesting. What is that, a ham and cheese sandwich you’ve got in your hand?”
Colt hopped up from where he was sitting on a bench, spinning in circles as he scanned the visible horizon. People were bustling about, some with costumes on and some talking animatedly into their phones. Ryland couldn’t have known he’d been eating a sandwich unless he was here. He heard his brother laugh over the phone.
“And now he’s spinning.”
“You’re here?”
“Should—we probably should.”
“We?”
“Hang on a sec.”
Ryland hung up on him, leaving him with more questions than answers. Colt stood there looking like a dumbass, his half eaten sandwich in one hand and his phone in his other, whirling around while trying to see his brother. It was rare that Ryland got to visit him at work, so it was always fun being able to show him the magic behind cinema.
His eyes locked onto the crane in the distance.
Oh shit.
Not that Ryland didn’t like seeing stunt work or the behind the scenes of film, but he’d only been around for smaller stunts. Think a grenade going off and someone being pulled back by wires into a wall of cushy supports. The stunt planned for him in fifteen minutes was extreme, and Ryland could barely get used to him being flung around a couple of feet without dying of worry.
“Boo!”
Colt jumped again when hands grasped his shoulders. He quickly turned around, finally coming face to face with his brother who looked giddy. His eyes were bright, his glasses finally on the correct way, and he wore what Colt liked to call his teacher getup. Plain graphic tee of a cat sitting on a bridge with cargo shorts that reached just below his knees complete with his cream colored converse. Those things were ancient.
He, thankfully, didn’t drop his beloved sandwich. He patted Ryland’s shoulder in greeting. “Good one.”
“I know, I finally got you.”
Something moved right behind Ryland, catching his eye. Colt looked over his shoulder, his jaw dropping.
“Is that—?”
“Yeah!” Ryland nodded with a blinding smile.
Courtland approached, stopping when he reached Ryland’s side. He sent a small smile to Colt, smacking his arm. He didn’t look much different than the last time Colt saw him, which was months ago, maybe even a year. Courtland didn’t like to talk about his work and Colt never asked because… well, he knew his brother’s occupation well enough, he didn’t need details. Courtland had gotten a fresh haircut, that’s for sure. It was his usual cut just trimmed up a bit. From what Colt could see, he didn’t have any weapons on him (thank God, Jody might’ve thrown a fit), but he could never be too sure with Court. He always had something on him.
“Colt,” Courtland said.
“I-I thought you were… working,” Colt said in a low tone as an extra passed by. He took a bite of his sandwich and yes, it was ham and cheese.
“I’ve got a lot of leave saved up.”
“Is that code for something? Is something happening on set right now that I don’t know about?”
Ryland rolled his eyes. “Dude, relax. He’s just here to see you and to maybe see a couple of stunts.”
Colt wasn’t entirely convinced because Courtland visiting/being seen with the twins in broad daylight, as Courtland said, was never an option for their own safety. Again, Colt didn’t question it even if it made him angry at Court’s choice of work and supervisor.
“Speaking of, when’s the fun start?” Courtland asked with a playful grin. “You gonna get flung from a building or something?”
Colt took the last bite of his sandwich and scratched the back of his head. “Um… about that.”
“Oh, you’re gonna get set on fire,” Ryland guessed enthusiastically.
Colt would’ve found it funny if not for the knowledge of how his twin would react when the truth came out. Colt cleared his throat and pointed at the giant crane. He watched his brothers follow his point, both of their expressions twisting at the same time though Courtland was more subtle about it. Damn his job and the detachment of emotion.
“Y-you’re going on that thing?” Ryland exclaimed, eyes blown wide with worry. “Colt, what the—how are you—is this even legal?”
“Yes, it’s legal. It’s safe,” he tried.
“Doesn’t look safe. Do they have something for you to fall onto in case the rig fails?” Courtland interrogated with furrowed brows.
“Guys, it’s fine, okay? I’ve done worse than that.”
“Don’t say that,” Ryland said, his hands landing in his hair. “I-I thought you were just doing smaller things for this movie!”
“No. I’m the main stuntman. I get all the fun stuff.”
His phone rang again. Jody.
“Yeah?” he answered as his brothers looked back at the crane.
“We’re five minutes from shooting. Where are you?”
“I’ve got some visitors today I didn’t know about,” he replied as he started walking towards the crane. He heard Ryland and Courtland trail after him, whispering to each other about safety protocols and whatnot.
“Oh, is it Ryland? Aw, I can’t wait to see him, it’s been a while!” Jody beamed. He could picture her smile perfectly. “You know, you could learn something from him by, I dunno, answering your phone more often. Preferably immediately.”
“It’s not just him.”
“Did he meet someone? Lovely—”
“No, Jo, it’s my older brother. The one… the one that’s off the record,” Colt muttered into the device as he glanced around. No one on set paid him any mind, though he saw a couple of people staring at his brothers as they walked behind him.
“Oh. Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, um… I can’t wait to meet him,” the woman said nervously. “I’m sure he’s lovely. Just get your ass up here, we’re almost ready to start. All we’re missing is you.”
“I’m on my way.”
Jody hung up just as Colt passed a very confused looking Dan. He shook his head and the man nodded, keeping any and all questions to himself for the time being. He passed by a few people he recognized from the makeup department with a slight nod and wave.
“Are those his brothers? I thought he just had one,” a woman muttered.
“I dunno, but Seavers has some good family genes…” a man holding a clipboard drawled as he watched them pass.
Colt rolled his eyes and ignored them. As they got closer to the crane, the more Ryland started to ramble.
“—at that speed, it’ll kill you! Splat! Any part of that can kill you!”
“Calm down, Ry,” Courtland said absentmindedly, though his gaze remained on the crane. Calculating.
“Calm down—how are you not calm? Look at that!”
Colt huffed. “Look, they’ve tested this multiple times, okay? I’m not gonna die. I’ll just be flung into the air for a few seconds and come back down over there, yeah? Easy.”
Thankfully, Jody bounded up to them. She looked angry and worried and nervous and that would surely be a recipe for disaster if she weren’t so level-headed.
“Colt, hurry hurry, we’ve got to start in two minutes! Go to the rig!” she ushered him, smacking his arm.
“Jody!” Ryland said, most of his worry seemingly extinguished at the sight of her. She smiled brightly when her eyes landed on him.
“Ryland! Oh, it’s so good to see you! How have you been?” she asked as she brought him into an embrace.
“I’m good, how about you?”
“Same old same old, you know.” Jody pulled away, her gaze settling on the oldest sibling. She cleared her throat. “Who are you?”
Courtland assessed her like he was looking at a person’s file, flipping through the pages of their life to know them without speaking to them. He glanced at Colt, questioning. He hadn’t expected Courtland to be so okay with the idea of meeting Jody. They hadn’t been together for long, a couple of months now, but he knew deep down she was the one. It was important to him that she meet his family that he loves so dearly, but at the same time, he questioned whether it was right to introduce her to someone who worked from the shadows. Someone who routinely made enemies and got his hands dirty.
Courtland held his gaze, waiting. At the end of the day, Courtland’s job didn’t matter to Colt. He was his brother.
Colt nodded as the crew triple checked the rig was snug around him. He deeply appreciated Courtland’s hesitation, but Jody already knew, so… that, and the family resemblance was a bit strong. Anyone could tell that Courtland was their sibling.
“I’m Courtland, Colt and Ry’s older brother,” Courtland said, extending his hand for her to shake.
Jody shook it. “I’m Jody. It’s lovely to meet you. I’m the director for this film. I promise you Colt’s in good hands, even if it looks… horrifying.”
“I don’t doubt he’ll be okay,” Courtland nodded politely as Jody started back towards her chair.
“Come, come, I’ll give you guys the rundown. So, basically, for this scene—”
Colt closed his eyes, taking deep, measured breaths. This was it, the big stunt for the day. He was about to be flung through the open skies, probably fifteen stories high. The people he was on eye level with now were going to look like ants. This rush was what it was all about—the calm before the storm. He thrived off of the way his body flooded with adrenaline, the way his heart raced in his chest the split second before someone calls “action!”
He looked back at Jody and his brothers, finding they’ve all calmed down considerably with Jody’s explanation of the scene. He could see Courtland getting engaged in the story, probably picturing the stunt in his head even though he’d get to see it in a minute or two. Ryland still looked nervous as he swayed from side to side, one of his hands on Court’s arm and the other on the back of Jody’s chair as he leaned closer to the monitor. Colt waved because no doubt the camera was on him. He snickered when Ryland waved back.
“Alright, everyone set!” someone shouted.
Show time.
Colt breathed deeply, his hands coming up to tug on his harness. Sturdy, as always. Ryland and Courtland watched him, the worry back in full swing.
“Stuntman ready?”
Colt flashed his signature thumbs up. He could picture Jody rolling her eyes.
“Quiet on set!”
Jody raised her megaphone. “Ready? Three, two, one, action!”
Colt’s breath caught in his throat when he was suddenly raised 200 feet in the air in seconds. He stared up at the bright blue sky, feeling the harness dig into his skin. The wind felt amazing against his skin. The temperature of the day had no doubt reached its peak so it was nice to feel like he’d taken a dip in a swimming pool. He flailed his arms and legs about. He didn’t need to act scared when he was utterly terrified right now, which made his job a whole lot easier. It would look better that way, anyway.
The rig slowed down a bit to where he felt like he was in zero gravity. He was suspended in the air for a split second with no rig tugging on him and gravity preparing to take effect. He reached his arm up, touching the low, wispy cloud that hung above him. It didn’t feel like anything.
The harness hugged him tighter as the descent began. He heard the line whirring as he fell, his heart lodged in his throat. He didn’t think he could scream if he tried, he was so shellshocked. He just kept flailing his arms and legs and hoping that the stunt team he loved working with so much decided to keep him alive for another day of work.
Colt grunted when the rig suddenly started working against gravity to slow him down, the sudden motion making the harness dig into his back and thighs. The wind’s overpowering roar died down in his ears as he slowed. He could see the beginnings of the camera cranes and other vehicles around set. He was gently lowered onto an inflatable, finally back on the ground.
He exhaled deeply, his heart finally finding its spot back in his chest. “Holy shit.”
The stunt crew came to check on him with various grins and congrats thrown in the mix. He just gave another thumbs up, though his legs felt like jelly. Colt let them unbuckle him from the rig, telling him to get some water and talk to Jody about the take. He didn’t need to be told twice. He wanted to see how badass that was.
Colt started towards Jody, chuckling to himself when he saw Ryland was still hiding his face in Court’s shoulder, his hands in a white-knuckle grip against his sleeve. Jody was leaning back in her chair taking deep breaths. Courtland looked like he was constipated—his expression mixed between impressed and horrified.
“How’d that look, hon? Pretty good?” he said with a broad grin.
Jody composed herself. “Look for yourself.”
She pushed the monitor so he could see, letting it play back. He watched himself be flung into the air. It was so strange to see as opposed to feeling it. In the moment, his brain was quiet for the most part, though there was a small part of it wondering if he’d be surviving the fall. He watched as he reached the peak of the crane, reaching to touch the clouds. Damn if that didn’t look cool. He shook his head, chuckling as he watched himself fall.
“I’d say that’s pretty good,” Colt said.
“Hm, I dunno. Wanna go again?” Jody grinned back. She was fully aware of his unease around heights.
“Only if I get some liquid courage after all of this.”
“Of course. On me.”
Courtland patted his back. “I would say never do that again, but it’s literally your job, so… but that was pretty sick.”
“Right?”
“No, it wasn’t!” Ryland protested, finally looking at Colt. He clutched Colt’s shoulder as if he were back up on the rig and falling 200 feet. “D-do you know what would’ve happened if the rig didn’t slow down? Or if the harness broke? No more stunts for Colt ‘cause he’d be dead!”
Colt smiled, wrapping his arm around Ryland’s shoulders and bringing his other hand to ruffle his hair. “Well, I’m not dead, so there’s that. Stop worrying! I’m fine!”
“That was so scary! How are you not pissing yourself right now?!”
“Because I’m a seasoned stuntman. I’ve done worse.”
“Don’t tell me.”
Jody snickered. “You’re a good brother to worry about Colt, Ryland, but as I said, we have dozens of safety requirements to pass. This stunt wouldn’t have been approved if it wasn’t proven to be safe for the person on the rig.”
“Doesn’t make me feel better. I’m not visiting you at work anymore. Don’t think my heart can take it.” Ryland rubbed his chest right above the organ as if it’d soothe the fear.
“I’ll just come visit you at work, then,” Colt offered.
“Can I see that again?” Courtland asked Jody, gesturing to the monitor.
“Of course.”
The brothers watched the footage over and over again. He felt Ryland tense a little before slowly relaxing the more they watched it. Courtland was full on smiling now as he asked Jody questions of Colt’s upcoming stunts.
Colt hugged Ryland tighter. A great day of stunt work done was a great day overall in Colt’s head, especially when he gets to show off to his brothers who rarely visit. His reputation as the coolest brother remained, though he was going to have to have a talk with some of the crew for making googly eyes at his brothers (specifically Ryland for some reason). He watched the monitor back one more time. God, his job was fun.