Chapter Text
Things have been great since Tom Ryder has been out of his life.
Well, to be clear, he's been “out of Colts life” for at least a couple years now, but not to see his face everywhere he goes and for people to know what a dipshit he could be was nice. And, even nicer, was now that his name was cleared he could stick to his dream job- he basically had a contract with Jody to help her with any of her movies in the future afterall. It was a pretty sweet gig all things considered. Colts life was pretty set, and perfect. It is anything that he ever could have asked for.
The most obvious next step would be helping Jody with her next movie, since MetalStorm was released she wanted to go bigger with her directing career. MetalStorm would only be the start to a lineage of amazing films, and Colt felt that in his very soul. Even though Jody had wanted to stay friends for awhile before trying something again, Colt couldn’t imagine a better director. Honestly he was just glad that she was still in his life, and he would go at her pace whenever she wanted. He was all hers.
And now? Now Colt was on the set of what was gonna be the best movie ever made, Crushers. He watched from the sidelines as Jody ran back and forth between people, rambling off needs and demands like it was a second language all while he laid back with a hot coffee in hand.
“Ok- ok Listen. I think we are going to be doing some of the car scenes next. Our actors need a little break so we are gonna bring stunts in- Stunts??” Jody shouted and Colt knew his time lounging had finally come to an end. He pushed himself up on his feet and saw as a couple other people stood around Jody, most of which Colt recognized from other films.. All expect one.
The man was slightly shorter than Colt was, with short cropped dirty blonde hair that didn’t have a single strand out of place. He wore a white jacket with a golden scorpion on the back, his hands shoved in the jackets pockets like he was trying to keep warm in the blazing heat of the desert. While everyone was smiling, some even bantering with Jody, the man stood firm and quiet, hanging onto every word she said without a peep. Colt caught himself staring for a little too long, because as his eyes came back up from his full body scan- they met the man's gaze.
Even then Colt didn't avert his eyes away from the man, just raising an eyebrow as he folded under no pressure and looked back to Jody. Maybe he was just shy? That would explain the quietness. Or maybe he just knew what it was to be polite-
“Colt? Colt, did you hear me.” Jody's voice broke through his thoughts as he looked back at her. The look on her face was that small, amused but very annoyed look she got on set all the time, and he took the opportunity to stand up straighter and nod. “Yea, yea. But for like, everyone else.. What are we doing?”
Jody sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, that man was gonna be the death of her. “You are going to take the new guy over to the cars and show him what he needs to do, he's gonna be our driver.” As she spoke, she nodded over to the man. Colt saw this as an excuse to finally speak to this guy, taking a couple of steps forward and holding out his hand. “Hey man, nice to meet you”
Driver stared at his hand for what felt like forever, slowly taking off his leather gloves to finally reach out and shake his hand. “You too” the man's voice was quiet, Colt almost didn’t hear it over all of the noise going on around them. Though it didn’t seem like he wanted to talk anymore, Colt just took his hand back and looked to Jody “Alright, I’ll be back then, come on” Colt started walking off to the sidelines, Driver following close behind.
As they got to the car, Colt got into the passenger as Driver settled into the driver's seat. He gripped the wheel tight enough that the leather creaked and groaned, more noise then he has made this entire time. “Alright, this is fairly simple, it's just the safety precautions you gotta worry about. It's different from a lot of stunt cars- hey- have you done other car stunts before?” The question seemed obvious, Jody needed someone experienced after all, but maybe Colt just wanted to hear the other confirm it. Or just… hear him. In general.
“Yea.” Well at least he got his first want. Colt nodded quickly, putting his arm on the back of Drivers seat. He spent a while detailing all of the mechanisms in the prop car, explaining what he would need to do inside the car to make the outside shot happen. That, and all of the safeties that he would use in case of emergencies. Colt rambled on, mostly focused on the dash in front of them, but every now and then he would look back up at Driver and every time without doubt he would be looking straight at Colt. It felt somewhat weird, but at least he was listening? That, or he was zoning out and the center of that just so happened to be the side of Colts head.
“Alright.. That should be it. This puppy can do a lot so don’t be afraid to really send it, yea?” “...yea.” “Cool. They should be ready for the shot so I’m gonna get out of the way, be safe out there man.” “mhm.” Driver just hummed, Colt getting out of the car and walking back over to Jody.
She seemed immensely stressed, but when wasn’t she on this project? “Will he be ok?” “Hm? Oh Driver?” Colt looked back over at the car, and caught his gaze in the mirror before turning back to Jody “He should be fine, where’d you even get this guy anyway” The two of them stood side by side, walking off of the set so Driver could perform the stunt without anyone in the way. “Well.. I needed another driver so it was a job application. He just… showed up with a filled out application and a demonstration. He isn’t one for words but he's good with a car so..” Jody shrugged quickly as Colt went back to his spot in the tent.
“Well, what's his name then?” “Well.. the application said it was Casey. But he hasn’t really said that out loud so that and ‘Driver’ is what we are running with” Colt nodded, about to speak more but he kept finding his eyes being trained on that car. Or more alternatively, the person in it. Colt really didn’t know what his deal was, why this random guy had suddenly become some sort of fixation. He said maybe 5 words total, but still Colt felt drawn in. Like he was familiar without ever getting to know him. Colt couldn’t quite put his finger on it..
Whatever it was, it would have to wait because the effects crew was ready and the cameras started rolling. Colt kept an eye on the car, the back wheels beginning to kick up sand and debris before speeding off in the opposite direction.
The car swerved and the back spun out with a controlled chaos, leaving a circle of sand that covered the sky. By the time the camera found the car through the dirt again, it was time for the flip. The front wheel collapsed and flung the car into the floor, the sound of crunching metal rang in people's ears. Everything seemed fine, the crunch points were gonna soften the blow after all.
After a couple more rolls, the camera cut and people ran over to the car to get Casey out. But- to everyone's surprise, he was way ahead of them, out of the car before the first medic came around. Colt couldn’t hear what they were talking about, all he knew was that Casey was shaking his head and holding his stomach… he seemed ok.. Maybe he should-
“Jody I'm gonna go check up on new guy, be right back.” Colt pushed his way out of the tent before Jody could question his motives, and jogged over to the car. By the time he got there, the medic was mid insisting that Casey get himself checked with medical, apparently something had gone wrong inside the vehicle- unknown to the camera and on lookers.
It was only after Colt looked him over did he see the growing blood stain on his back. The sight made his spine ache with pain he would rather forget, so just as quickly as he saw the stain he turned to face Casey's front. “Come on, let's go.”
The medic looked confused, going to speak but before they could get a word in he placed his hand on their shoulder “I am gonna get him to medical, you worry about the next couple of stunts, yea?” “..Yea- yea. Just make sure that he gets checked, one wrong move and-” “Believe me I know what ‘one wrong move’ could do, come on Driver lets go.”
It didn’t leave any space to disagree, which was good cause Casey didn’t seem like he wanted to argue anyways, following after Colt without another word. The medic seemed confused at the sudden turn around, but whatever got the man to professional help would be good.
Colt walked with Casey in relative silence, shoving his hands in his pockets and nodding to people on the way to the medical tent. Casey however seemed to be focused on the ground, or maybe even the pain that had been blossoming in his back. It wasn’t anything that he couldn't deal with, hell it wasn’t even the worst pain that he had experienced.
It didn’t make the sting any better though. And Colt seemed to notice.
“You know medical is there for a reason right? They aren’t just gonna let you get hurt like that and not do anything” Colt spoke, turning his head to face Casey- even if the other man's eyes seemed entirely focused on the ground. “I know.”
“You know? Then why were you arguing against going to medical??” Colt stopped in his tracks as they got to the entrance, staring at Casey with a great deal of confusion. “Didn’t need.. Didn't think I needed it.” Casey mumbled, finally looking up to the taller man.
Colt stared. It was awkward for sure, but then again there was something.. Off. He knew this guy from somewhere. It wasn’t just a feeling- or a draw to him- no. Colt has seen this guy for sure.
“...where do I know you?”
The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife, Colt having to wait several moments to get his answer. “I do movies.” It was an easy explanation. Simple. But Colt didn’t believe it for a second.
Even with all of his doubts, Colt sighed and reached out to pat his shoulder. “Go in there and tell them you need help, if you need anything else just get me or Jody, ok?” Casey nodded, opening the tent up and taking a single step before turning back for a final goodbye.
“Thanks, Colt.”
Casey walked in, disappearing behind the white fabric that shielded the medical team from the sun and Colt was left standing there. It wasn’t right. The answer- the words, anything. Something didn’t click for Colt. It was only as he was walking away that he finally connected some dots.
Casey knew his name.
Colt didn’t tell him his name, and surely the man wouldn’t know a random stunt performer.. Even one that doubled for one of the most famous actors in Hollywood. That was his job after all, don’t be noticed, make it look like someone else is doing the cool shit.
With all that being said.. How the hell did he know his name?