it's not the first, but it is brand new
Title: it's not the first, but it is brand new
Word Count: 438
Prompt: First kiss
Rating: G
Written For: Jess, the queen of my askbox
“Karen…?” It’s late by the time KAren finishes in hair and make-up, the”36 years later” prosthetics taking forever to clean off - so, really, Matt should have gone home already. Except he hasn’t; he’s waiting outisde her trailer, sounding more and more bored, and Karen catched herself taking a little too long on fixing her hair before rushing out to meet him.
“Matt!” she says, smiling quickly. “What’re you still doing here, idiot? Should have gone home!”
“I know, I know,” he counters gently. “I just wanted to say g’night, see how you are.”
“Well, I’m fine, thank you for asking,” Karen rolls her eyes at him
“Sure?” Matt looks at her, his eyes sympathetic; Karen curses inwardly, because of course she’s not all right. She’s spent all day - all week - filming some of the most emotional scenes she’s ever had, and Matt has barely been there.
“Fine,” she murmurs, eventually. “Just a bit shaken. Exhausted.”
“Mmm,” Matt nods sympathetically. “Sorry I couldn’t get away and come to set, Steven had me doing radio interviews all day and -“
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Karen interrupts him with a smile. “Don’t worry.”
Matt looks at her, still not convinced; the chinks in her armour are showing in the flush in her cheeks, the recently-raked through hair, the odd brightness in her eyes.
“Matt, I -” Karen starts speaking at just the wrong moment.
“Karen…” Matt breaks off; catches her eye; laughs a little nervously. Then he ploughs on, determined to get through what he’s been trying to say for weeks. “I wanted to be there, though. I wanted - I needed - to be there for you. To make you laugh in between takes. To get you tea and crisps. To give you a hug when you nail each scene. Karen, I guess -“
He breaks off again, and Karen can’t quite believe she’s hearing him correctly. Surely he couldn’t - surely he isn’t - well, there’s only one way to find out; she leans forward then, bridging the gap between them, and kisses him.
It’s not their first kiss, not really; their first kiss happened over a year ago, only a week into filming, with cameras trained on their every move and both of them totally, absolutely, definitely, only in character. But then again, this is different. They’re allowed to feel this kiss, and Karen does; feels it in every inch of her body, feels it in her pounding heart, feels it in the way he snakes an arm around her and pulls her close.
So, no, it isn’t the first; but it is brand new.