Every conversation, every interview, every piece of publicity, someone just had to bring it up. What was it like working on it, what's Peter really like, did you really get Karl the part of Eomer, are you happy for your friend's success, blahblah. He couldn't even get away from it during his own fucking movie publicity. And, of course, Karl had to answer the questions. Had to drag it out. Probably would have been content to spend the entire interview that was supposed to be about "Price" reminiscing about the LOTR shoot and the tight friendships he'd formed there. "You look like someone pissed in your tea, mate." Karl strolled in, stopped, leaned against the doorframe. Arms crossed over his chest, smile curving his mouth, he just stood there, watching Harry. Then he moved, walking the rest of the way into room and dropping into a chair. "You practicing how to make children cry or what?" It was on the tip of Harry's tongue to tell him to sod off, but years of politeness still held sway. "No, just not in the best mood for company." Continued to pointedly sit there, stirring his lukewarm British Breakfast tea. If Karl wanted anything, he could damn well get it himself. "What brings you to my doorstep? Run out of friends to entertain you?" Karl just laughed and stood to grab a clean mug from the cabinet. "No, just felt like dropping by and chatting." He poured a mug of tea for himself, held up the kettle in a silent question and just shrugged when Harry shook his head. "You left pretty fast after the interview this morning." Harry glanced away, the sunlight's soft halo around Karl's grin hurting his eyes. He really should invest in some curtains. "Nothing to say," he shrugged. "You seemed to be on top of things, didn't want to get in the middle of that." "Mmm." Karl sipped his tea, eyeing Harry over the rim of the mug, fingers curled gracefully around the earthenware handle. "You seemed a little...bothered by something when you left." "Yeah, well, maybe I didn't appreciate being usurped at my own interview," Harry mumbled, staring down at his tea -- rich brown, almost the exact shade of Karl's hair. "Usur...I see," Karl replied, voice soft, hand lowering the mug to the table. "All the 'Rings' talk bothered you." "Didn't say that." Sunlight washed over dark hair, picking out highlights, as Karl tilted his head. "So what was the problem?" "Fine," Harry snapped, sliding his chair back with a loud scrape. "It bothered me." Fuck the tea. Harry dumped his mug out, headed straight for the liquor cabinet. He was in a gin mood. "Whoa." Karl blinked several times, staring at Harry's back. Then, mug forgotten, he followed Harry, catching up with him just as he opened the cabinet door. "Harry, I'm sorry. Didn't realize it would piss you off like this." "I'm not pissed." Harry slammed the bottle on the counter for emphasis. He poured a generous shot, swallowed, savoring the bitter burn, throat working. Ignored Karl's soft eyes, softer voice, and compassionate demeanor. Harry didn't want to be catered to. He wasn't in the mood for a sympathy...whatever. "Just thought it was...rude to Danielle." "Um, alright." Karl took a step back, wary eyes on Harry's face. One hand made a small, meaningless gesture that caught Harry's attention. "I'll apologize to her next time I see her. But, um, if you're not pissed...why're you drinking that like it's water?" "Cause I..." Harry paused. Hell if he knew. "I like gin?" "Not that much, you don't," Karl pointed out, taking another step back. "Look, if I did something to piss you off this morning, I'm sorry. Certainly wasn't my intention." "No, I'm...sorry." The apology tasted like dust, so Harry followed it with another tongue-numbing swallow of gin. "It wasn't you. Completely. I know I should get used to sharing yo...the spotlight. Just didn't expect I'd have to do it with my own movie." Karl gave a start, eyes narrowing. Uh oh...Harry knew that look. "The spotlight, hmm?" Karl stepped closer, heat radiating off his body, scorching Harry's skin. "That's it? You're upset about sharing...the spotlight?" "Yeah." Harry swallowed, throat suddenly dry again. Something about the look in Karl's eyes unsettled him. Couldn't quite place it. "I mean, Pete's my best friend, and I'm happy for him and all, but he's not the only filmmaker in New Zealand, and he wouldn't have even cast you without me, so I'm a bit tired of..." Harry knew he was babbling, was sure that Karl knew it too, if the tiny smirk was anything to go by. "No, no, don't stop. This is fascinating." Karl leaned in, forearm grazing Harry's chest as he reached for Harry's glass, plucking it from numb fingers and taking a swallow. Harry swallowed himself as he watched Karl roll the gin around on his tongue. "You're a bit tired of what?" "Things." There, that summed it up nicely. It was the only thing Harry could think of, anyway. Coherency seemed to have deserted him for some reason. Must be the gin catching up to him. "I see." Karl nodded as if he did see, shoulder braced against the wall, Harry's glass still in his hand. "So that's it? You're pissed about 'things'?" "Um..." Harry tried to think, but his gaze kept sliding back to Karl's hand wrapped around his glass. Thumb slowly stroking the condensation. Rubbing in tiny circles. "Yes," he whispered, swallowing heavily again. Fuck, but he needed another drink. Karl lifted the glass to his lips, took another sip, tongue snaking out to catch a stray drop. "So what 'things', exactly, are you so pissed about? Can't be just sharing the spotlight, not after the way I talked you up during the interview." "You...um...I appreciate that, but..." Okay, think. Make your point. "I don't want you to feel you have to butter me up." There. Harry was quite proud of himself for remembering that. There was that head tilt again. Harry was struck by the sudden, absurd image of a baby bird. With an effort, he forced his attention back to Karl and what he was saying. "Wasn't buttering you up, Harry," Karl said, thumb still rubbing the glass. "I didn't say a single word this morning that I didn't mean." "Well, maybe you might want to remind me. I wasn't...exactly listening." Harry gave Karl a sheepish grin, lifting his shoulders. He'd been too busy being annoyed to pay attention to Karl's words. Just enough to know that Karl was talking about the movie. Again. "Now you're just fishing for compliments, mate." Karl's grin seemed to light up the room, and Harry blinked. "You know I think you're brilliant. Hell, you take the most insane things and make them work." "I do?" "Who else could have pulled off 'Price'?" Karl smiled, shifted to bump his shoulder against Harry's. "Shooting with no idea where the story was going, all of us going into the scenes practically cold...but you pulled it off." Harry allowed himself a small smile. Impossible not to smile, really, when Karl was smiling like that. All open and friendly -- smiled with his entire body. "Did turn out pretty well, didn't it?" "It turned out bloody fantastic, and you know it!" Another shoulder bump, and then Karl pulled another glass from the liquor cabinet. "In fact, I think we should have a toast." "Alright." Harry was a little puzzled by the slight glint in Karl's eyes, but it might've been the sun shining through the window again. Definitely buying curtains tomorrow. Pesky glare. Karl just smiled, filling both glasses halfway, handing one to Harry. "To a great film, a fun time, and a wonderful...friend." Right. Friends. Of course. Because, they were. Friends. Harry obediently raised his glass. "To friendship." "And other...things." That small smirk was back as Karl clinked their glasses together before taking a long swallow, eyes glittering over the rim of his glass. "Other things?" Harry was proud of the fact that he didn't choke on his drink. That smirk unsettled him more than the smile. Karl just smiled and didn't say a word as he turned, walked away. Harry's eyes roamed over his body, jerking to his face when Karl dropped to sprawl on his sofa, legs spread, one foot propped on the edge of the coffee table. "You know...things." "No, I don't know," Harry replied, irritated again. Kid was entirely too comfortable on his sofa. Harry crossed the room, sat next to Karl, intent on reclaiming his space. "You don't?" Karl's leg relaxed, falling a little to rest against Harry's thigh. Cheeky brat. Instead of moving it, Karl just smirked again, taking another sip of gin. "What is this, a test?" Shoved his leg against Karl's, hoping to move it. Fuck, but he radiated body heat. Better than a furnace. Karl's leg relaxed even more in response to Harry's shove. Almost seemed like he was deliberately baiting Harry. "Test? No, don't think so." Karl shifted a bit, leg pressing against Harry's, shoulder coming into contact with Harry's arm. "Just making idle conversation with my brilliant director...friend." There was that word again. Somehow Harry thought he was missing a segue. The way Karl said it was just...not. Friendly. But, at the same time, too friendly. "We're not actually talking about anything," Harry pointed out, thoughts of reclaiming the sofa forgotten. He just needed to get away from...the heat. Too much of it. "Sure we are." Karl nodded, smirk firmly in place as he sipped his drink. "We're talking about things." "We are?" Karl just nodded again, rubbing the edge of his glass along his lower lip. His body shifted once more, settling down so that his side was not quite touching Harry's. He tipped his head, regarded his bare foot propped on the edge of the table. Bare foot? When the hell had he taken his shoes off? "Just make yourself at home, why don't you?" Fuck, why was he annoyed about that? And why couldn't he stop staring at the graceful arch of Karl's foot? Shit. Harry silently cursed himself when Karl's body tensed just a little, his hand tightening on the glass. "Sorry, mate," Karl murmured, moving to shift away. "Nah, it's fine. Teasing, you know." Why the hell had he said that? He should have kept his mouth shut, gotten Karl the hell off his sofa. Of course, the thought wasn't as appealing as it had been five minutes ago. "Okay." Karl's voice was a little subdued, his body still tense. But his foot dropped off the table, sliding back to press against the sofa, out of Harry's sight. "After 'Price', I just thought...you know. Your house was ours then...s'what you told us." "Well, yeah..." That was what he'd said, true. So, why the hell was he so uncomfortable? "But that was..." Harry shrugged, the movement brushing his shoulder against Karl's again. "Different," he finished, lamely. "You were around more." "Oh." Karl took another small sip of gin, and Harry could see that Karl was watching him from the corner of his eye. "I could, you know, come 'round more. If you'd like." "I'm sure you have more important things to do than hang out with me." Harry took another small sip of his drink, tried not to be depressed by that. Wasn't his fault that he'd never see 40 again...and that Karl had just turned 30. "You'll be too busy soon enough getting reacquainted with the 'Rings' cast." "Oh...well..." Karl finished his drink, then toyed with the glass, eyes sliding to look at Harry again. He took a deep breath, and another, and third. "Look, Harry, if you don't want me coming around unannounced, just say so." That smile flashed all too briefly. "I'm a big boy, I can handle rejection." "Just said I didn't mind, alright." Harry peered back at Karl, curious. "Why do you want to come around? Announced or not?" "To spend time with you." Karl looked at him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. One hand lifted, raked through his hair in a gesture that was so unconsciously graceful that it made Harry ache. "We're, ah, mates, and we haven't spent a lot of time hanging out since 'Price', y'know?" "You've been busy," Harry replied darkly, wondering if he should get up and grab the bottle again. "So, um..." Karl leaned forward to set his drink on the table. He paused, hand twitching, then fell back against the sofa. He jumped and started to pull away when his hand landed on Harry's thigh. "Oh, sorry..." All of the breath in Harry's body left in one great big rush. He couldn't take his eyes away from tapered fingers brushing against his thigh...what the fuck? It was just a bump. "I, ah..." He lifted his eyes, wholly lost his limited train of thought again at the look in Karl's eyes. Licked dry lips, would have given his soul for a glass of water right then. Karl's lashes slid down to hide his eyes for the briefest of seconds, and then the glint was back. His body twisted, shifted, leaned in until Harry could once again feel all that lovely heat emanating from him. "Yeah?" Karl breathed, hand settling more firmly on Harry's thigh. "You what?" "I..." Harry gulped, watched, thigh flexing involuntarily when fingers delicately rubbed across denim. He risked a glance up, was snared by hazel eyes that were too close...and not close enough. "Please tell me I'm not reading this wrong." And held his breath, waiting for the answer. "Funny..." Karl's mouth twisted in a smile. His fingers slid just a little, drifting towards Harry's inseam with a slowness that was maddening. "I thought I was the one reading it wrong." Harry had a split second to ponder that before Karl's lips touched his and all thought flew right out the window. Now, this was true heat. Snaring him, burning him, the lips on his, light, gentle, and so fucking hot Harry's blood blistered. The kiss continued for a few timeless seconds of bliss, then Karl drew back, looking stunned. Harry knew just how he felt. "Wow," Karl murmured, tongue running over his lips. Yeah. Wow summed it up pretty nicely. Harry had to agree. Then Karl's body twisted to face his, and Harry forgot what he was agreeing to when Karl kissed him again, running his tongue over Harry's lips this time. And this time, Harry responded, opened his mouth, lapped at Karl's tongue with his own. His hands reached up to curl around the back of Karl's neck, tugging him closer, eager for more. Soft hair slid between his fingers as they shifted, bumped, got more comfortable through the kiss. Harry wasn't particularly keen to let go of Karl's tongue, anyway. When they finally parted, both breathing harshly, Harry was surprised to find himself with a lapful of Karl. When the hell had that happened? He certainly didn't remember Karl climbing onto his lap, straddling his thighs. Not that he was going to argue, not when Karl's fingers were stroking the sides of his neck and dipping just beneath the collar of his shirt. "That was..." Karl trailed off, eyes wide, tongue sliding along that lush lower lip again. "Yeah..." Harry murmured, and watched as Karl leaned in once more. This time, it was a languid exploration. Harry savored every small taste, every soft slide of tongues, every nip of teeth on his lower lip. Harry fisted one hand in Karl's hair, placed the other on the small of Karl's back, pulled him closer. Hmm...nice. Very. Beyond. Seemed that Karl was keeping all kinds of surprises under his...jeans. Karl moaned into Harry's mouth as his hands came up to cup Harry's face, thumbs brushing over stubbled skin. "Should've done this sooner," he whispered before diving in for another kiss, hips grinding down against Harry's, chest pressing against Harry's so that all that wonderful heat surrounded them both. "Didn't know you were interested," Harry gasped, hands busy with discovering the delectable bare skin of Karl's back. "You never asked," Karl replied, lips trailing across Harry's jaw to stop at his ear, nibbling the lobe for a moment before moving on. "Didn't want to...if you didn't mean...thought you might, though..." He licked a path down Harry's throat, tongue lapping at the hollow, then moving back up again, teeth nipping firm flesh. Yeah, coherency was pretty much fucked at this point. Harry shivered, tilted his head back. Invited. "Too old for you..." Had to taste that bit of skin right there "...You had all the pretty boys around..." Sucked on Karl's tongue briefly before moving to his ear. "...Didn't stand a chance..." Moved back in for another kiss, frowned when Karl pulled back, denying him. "Too old for me?" Karl returned the frown. What? It was true. Wasn't it? "Then maybe I should just go..." Oh, hell no, he wasn't going anywhere. When Harry's arms tightened around his waist, Karl smiled. And that smile was very...unsettling. "The 'pretty boys', as you call them," Karl murmured, teeth fastening on Harry's earlobe and nipping sharply, "were the ones who never stood a chance. Didn't want them." "Then what did you want?" Harry whispered, vulnerable skin aching under the contact. Warm hands slid under Harry's shirt, splaying against his stomach. He almost whimpered when Karl pulled back to look at him. "What did I want?" One corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile. "You." "Never acted like it." Damn, that almost sounded like a pout. Luckily for Harry, he was on the wrong side of 40, and men on the wrong side of 40 didn't pout. It was in the rule book. Somewhere. "Never knew," he said, running his thumbs across the jutting bones of Karl's hips. "Kinda thought it was obvious." Another smile, hips arching up into Harry's touch, thumb rubbing along Harry's bottom lip. "Everyone else on the set knew. Got teased about it a lot." "You did?" No one had breathed a word to him. He sucked Karl's thumb into his mouth, ran his tongue over the grooves and calluses. "Yeah." Harry watched as Karl's eyes were drawn to Harry's lips around his thumb, breathing a little faster, and Harry thought of all the other things he could do that would make Karl's breathing erratic. He finally let go with a wet, popping sound, licked his lips, and winked. "So, tell me what they teased you about." "You." Karl shifted forward, groin brushing against Harry's. "How I was always trying to get you to notice me, things like that. Danielle even offered to give me advice on how to attract a man." "Did she?" Harry's chuckle ended on a groan as they shifted and rubbed against each other. Thought he could definitely get used to this. "Yeah. I told her thanks, but no." Karl's laugh was soft as he leaned in to nuzzle Harry's neck. "If I'd known it would take this long, I'd have listened to her. You know, they had a bet going during 'Price'." "They..." Fuck, do that again... "...did?" "Yeah," Karl breathed the words across Harry's throat, licking his adam's apple. "On how long it would take me to get you into bed." Harry smiled his most wicked smile -- was very gratified when Karl simply stared. "Not in bed yet," he pointed out in his most serene voice, grinding up against Karl's hips. Karl was off Harry's lap so fast that Harry had to laugh. His chuckles died down when Karl grabbed his hands, yanked him to his feet. "I know it's still early, but...." Karl leaned in, brushed his chest against Harry's as his lips touched Harry's ear. "You have any objection to going back to bed?" Harry kissed their joined fingers and gestured down the hallway. "Not at all."
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