Chapter Text
Felix stared down at the script on the table before him in surprise. He could feel heat rising up his neck and his ears turning red, and it took him several moments before he finally looked up at his agent questioningly. When she had said she had a great opportunity for him, something that would be a fantastic start to his career, Felix hadn’t been expecting this.
“Are you sure?” he asked, finally looking up at his agent. “This seems like a big step for the genre considering how…um…erotic it is.”
Yoomi didn’t seem to share his hesitation as she nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! I know it might seem a bit out of your comfort zone but trust me, this genre is so popular right now and it’ll open a lot of doors for you, Felix. I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was something advantageous to your future career.”
Felix was unconvinced as he traced a finger along the spine of the script. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the genre, though he really hadn’t expected to be offered a role on one of them either. Yoomi had informed him over the phone that while the script was a little more spicy than other BL movies, he shouldn’t worry. There would be plenty of time before filming actually started for him to become familiar with the process of how such a movie was filmed, including an onset intimacy coordinator to keep everyone safe. Still, he couldn’t help the reluctance he felt. This would be his first big role and he hadn’t expected it to be one where he would have to take his clothes off. Not to mention take his clothes off with another person .
“Okay,” he said slowly as he opened the cover page of the script without looking down at it again. “Who is my co-star?”
Yoomi gave him a small grin that Felix wasn’t sure he liked. “Christopher Bang.”
Felix almost choked on nothing. “Wait, are you serious? Christopher Bang? As in the former idol turned most popular BL actor in the industry?”
He couldn’t believe this. As if the pressure of his first role being a BL wasn’t enough, now he was going to be starring alongside Christopher Bang? It was a lot to take in and Felix was feeling overwhelmed. He stared at Yoomi for a moment, almost believing that she was going to tell him this was a joke and give him the real script. She didn’t and Felix’s heart lodged into his throat.
“That’s…a lot,” he croaked.
Yoomi released a soft sigh and moved to sit in the seat next to him. “You’re overthinking this, Felix. It’s just acting. You’ve acted every day since you were a kid and this won’t be any different than any other role, I promise. What do you think is going to happen? Do you think you’re going to fall madly in love with Christopher Bang?” She gave him a teasing smile, which earned her an eye roll. “Trust me, any of the spicy scenes are going to be way too technical and you don’t have to worry.”
Drawing in a slow breath, Felix’s eyes averted from his agent to the script in front of him. Yoomi was right, he had been acting for most of his life but nothing like this. He’d had small roles in various K-drama series and movies, usually cast as someone’s best friend or sibling, so it seemed like a big leap to go from that to well…this.
“You don’t have to say yes,” Yoomi continued slowly. “If you’re truly that uncomfortable with the idea of acting in a BL, but I think you should take the night and think about it. Read the script and if tomorrow you still feel like this isn't right for your first big movie, I can tell them you’re going to pass on it.”
It was on the tip of Felix’s tongue to tell her he didn’t need time to think about it, and that it was way too much for his breakout role, but he hesitated. Yoomi was right, he needed to think about it and not make rash decisions.
“Okay,” he said, releasing a slow breath. “Right, yeah. I’ll read the script tonight and think about it.”
“Great,” Yoomi said, though Felix could tell she was worried he was going to pass on the part. “Then call me in the morning and let me know what your decision is. In the meantime I’ll go through some of the other scripts I’ve been sent and see if anything jumps out.”
“Thanks, noona. I really do appreciate you.” Felix glanced up to give her a small smile.
Admittedly, he did feel a little bad because he knew that Yoomi would never steer him wrong. She had been his agent since his first role and she’d done everything she could to make sure he got decent roles. It was hard to break into the acting scene, and Felix had certainly had his fair share of setbacks. Setbacks that had, unfortunately, been a huge blow to his confidence. Korea’s bar for beauty standards was exceptionally high and Felix was already at a disadvantage for being born in Australia. Not only was he a foreigner despite his ethnicity, Felix’s smaller stature and freckled complexion made him less desirable to the public. It had been a long road for him to find even the smallest bit of success in the acting world, and it was only after he had become fluent in Korean that he’d become more accepted by his peers and the public as a whole. He knew that Christopher Bang was also from Australia, though he had spent far more time in Korea than he had, and he had become something of a darling in the BL world. Felix had to admit that Yoomi was probably right, and that this was a good opportunity.
It didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous as hell about the idea.
Yoomi reached across the table and rested a hand on his forearm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s going to be okay, you know. If you decide to take the part then I’ll be there with you every step of the way. I’d never let anyone treat you poorly or take advantage of you.”
“I know,” Felix nodded, offering her a small smile. He did know that because he knew Yoomi and he trusted her. “I’ll take it home and read it and…let you know soon.”
• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••
“You’re seriously overthinking this.”
Felix’s eyes flicked up to look at Jisung, who was lounging casually in the armchair near the sliding glass door of their shared apartment. He was lying across it, back pressed against one arm while his knees were bent over the other, feet swinging back and forth. The script Yoomi had given him earlier was in Jisung’s lap and he had flipped through the first half of it with the explanation that he wanted to get to the “juicy part”. Despite how irritable he felt at the moment, Felix still found his best friend endearing even if Jisung was saying the opposite of what he wanted to hear.
“You’re the second person that’s told me that today,” Felix retorted.
Jisung said nothing, instead flashing a cheeky smile in his direction before his eyes were back on the page of the script he’d opened up to.
“ Jaemin’s eyes roam down Haru’s bare chest, the look in his eyes hungry, “ Jisung read from the page with a grin on his features, his voice taking on a sultry tone. “ Haru attempts to cover his chest with his arms but Jaemin stops him.”
“Stop!” Felix scoffed as his ears began to burn. Shit, he could not listen to Jisung read the script out loud.
“ Jaemin’s hand moves to rest against Haru’s hip, the other grasps hold of Haru’s chin to bring his face up so their eyes meet. ”
“Hyung, I swear to Christ if you don’t stop…”
“ Haru looks nervous as Jaemin comes closer, as the space between them closes and Jaemin’s fingers toy with the waistband of his jeans, ” Jisung continued, his grin widening. “ ‘Jaemin kisses Haru and the two of them fall into the bed together.’ ”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Felix cried as he launched himself from his spot on the couch toward Jisung.
Jisung’s reflexes were amazing; he flipped himself off the armchair with the script, rolled to his feet like some kind of ninja, and sprinted across the living room. Felix was quick to give chase as he tore after the other man, though every time he thought he would get a hold of him, Jisung evaded his grasp.
“ Jaemin kisses down the front of Haru’s throat. Haru runs his fingers through Jaemin’s hair and hands wander and clothes start to come off,’ ” Jisung continued, his voice louder as he continued to taunt Felix.
“Hyung, please stop! I’m begging you,” Felix whined. He reached to snatch the script out of Jisung’s hand but Jisung turned away just in time. Felix had no choice but to jump directly onto Jisung’s back, arms and legs wrapping around him like a koala in a tree. “Give it!”
Jisung staggered under his weight even though they were the same size. Jisung just hadn’t been expecting Felix to jump on him. Felix didn’t let go even as Jisung swayed on his feet, and he reached over the older man’s shoulders with both hands in an attempt to grab the script away from him. God, he hated how wiley Jisung could be as he held the script out far enough that Felix could only brush it with his fingertips, unable to get a proper grasp on it.
The wild laughter that left Jisung as they devolved into utter chaos stopped him from reading the script at least. No matter how hard he tried, Felix had a death grip on him.
“Give it to me!” Felix growled as Jisung lurched to the right. “You’re so embarrassing!”
“It’s not my fault you’re such a prude!” Jisung retorted. “I thought you were Australian and all progressive and shit.”
Felix scoffed, “I’m not a prude! I just don’t make a habit of getting naked in front of people I don’t know.”
They continued to struggle for a moment before Jisung finally lost his footing and they both collapsed into a heap on the floor. The script went flying, pages fluttering, and landed face up before the feet of someone now standing just inside of their apartment, the door still open.
Both Felix and Jisung looked up to find Minho standing there, a bemused smile on his face. “I knocked twice but clearly the two of you were too busy to notice.”
“Jagiya,” Jisung whined as he shoved Felix off of him. Jisung got to his feet and all but threw himself into Minho’s arms. “He attacked me!”
Felix glared up at his best friend for a moment before he, too, got to his feet. “That’s a fucking lie!”
“Is not.”
“It is! You were embarrassing the shit out of me.”
Minho rolled his eyes even as he wrapped an arm around Jisung’s waist. He noticed the script on the floor and bent to pick it up, Jisung still clinging to him. Felix made a distressed sound in the back of his throat.
“What’s this?”
“It’s nothing,” he snapped. “It’s just a script for a movie.”
“Is this what you two were tussling about?” Minho asked, raising an eyebrow. His dark eyes scanned the page the script had been opened to and chuckled. “Ah, I see.”
Felix groaned and he rubbed a hand down his face. “It’s nothing. I’m not going to take it.”
Minho seemed to consider this before he closed the script and handed it back to Felix. “Why not?”
“Because it’s a BL,” Jisung said, as if that wasn’t obvious from just a glance. “Yongbokkie is nervous about it.”
“God will you shut up,” Felix groused.
Minho shot Jisung a look that instantly made him shut his mouth before he turned his attention back to Felix. When his eyes came back to Felix, he seemed to be studying the younger man in a way that sometimes made Felix squirm. He had known Jisung and Minho since he’d moved to Korea when he was eighteen, but Minho had always been the type of person that seemed to look directly into your soul. Though he had gotten used to Minho over the years he had a knack for being able to chisel away someone’s carefully constructed walls until he could see their heart. Sometimes, Felix didn’t want to be seen.
He’d also grown used to Minho being in their apartment since he and Jisung had been dating for ages, and he had a key, which begged the question as to whether or not he actually knocked. Felix pushed the thought aside since it wasn’t important.
“Nervous?” Minho asked, cocking his head to the side. “Because it’s your first big role?”
Felix nodded slowly, his grip tightening on the script in his hands.
“Who’s your co-star?”
Jisung perked up at the question, large round eyes glinting curiously. He’d been so wrapped up in teasing Felix he hadn’t asked.
He swallowed dryly. “Christopher Bang.”
“Wait, are you serious?” Jisung squeaked, his eyes widening in amused surprise. “Christopher Bang? As in like…the hottest actor in BL right now? Are you seriously going to give up this part when co-starring with him could literally be a huge advantage?”
“If you like him so much why don’t you take the part,” Felix said, his nose scrunching.
Jisung rolled his eyes. “Because I am not an actor trying to make my big break.”
Clearly Jisung didn’t understand that the question was rhetorical.
Minho said nothing though seemed to be considering the information he’d just been given. Felix glanced at him, knowing his cheeks were bright red. He hated how easily he could blush. Minho wasn’t going to offer his opinion unless Felix asked for it, which was something he was grateful for but also annoyed by. Still, the way he stared at Felix made it obvious he was waiting for Felix to ask.
He sighed.
“What do you think, hyung?” he said. At least Minho cared about him enough that he would be honest with him.
“What I think,” Minho said at length, “is that Jisung isn’t wrong. It is a popular genre of film right now and Christopher Bang is very well respected in said genre. It could be advantageous for your career but ultimately if you’re not comfortable with it then you shouldn’t take it.”
Felix bit back the retort that Minho wasn’t being helpful at all.
“I don’t know Christopher Bang,” he continued, “but I have heard that he’s a really nice guy. Good to work with and easy going. You know…you hear things around the circuit even if you’re not an actor.”
Felix wasn’t surprised. Even if Minho and Jisung were both musicians the industries often overlapped. Most people who were famous in Korea were multi-talented, many of which came from similar idol backgrounds. Still, this information wasn’t going to sway his decision one way or another.
“Okay,” he said with a small frown. “I just don’t know if this is right for me.”
Minho nodded, “I get that. I just think you should really think about it before you say no. Consider that being affiliated with such a popular actor could mean good things for you.”
Jisung made a face, and Felix could tell he was trying really hard to hold his tongue. Something he wasn’t quite adept at.
“I think if you give it up you’re an idiot,” he said with a shrug. Felix glared at him but Jisung remained unfazed. “What are you even worried about? That he’s going to fall in love with you or something?”
“Jagiya, enough.” Minho rested a hand on his shoulder. “Leave him alone. It’s his decision.”
Felix shot a triumphant smile at Jisung, squashing the desire to stick his tongue out at him. He loved it when Minho didn’t automatically agree with what Jisung thought or said.
He looked down at the script in his hands that had somehow come out of the chaos no worse for wear.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll think about it. I promise.”