Jax's apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the AC and the occasional clap of thunder outside as it rained outside.
They sat on opposite ends of the couch, scripts unopened between them.
Kai had a serious look on his face, the kind that usually came before something career defining or incredibly stupid.
"So," Jax started, flipping a pen in his hand. "How far do you want to go with the bed scene?"
Kai didn't hesitate. "All the way. I want this series to be ground-breaking, something fans talk about for years. I don't want us to fade to black when it gets real."
Jax raised a brow, eyes narrowing slightly. "are you sure? That kind of scene, it's not like kissing. It's more intimate, way more physical. And people will talk, Kai. Like, really talk about you."
Kai held his gaze. "Let them talk."
Jax exhaled, tilting his head. "Okay then. Just so you know what you're signing up for, let's run a test."
Kai blinked. "a test?"
"Yes. a comfort test. You say you're fine being touched, let's find out how true it is."
He shifted closer, closing the distance between them slowly, eyes locked on Kai's the entire time like a challenge.
"Tell me if it's too much," Jax said, voice low.
Kai nodded once, a small smirk playing on his lips, cocky and curious. He wanted to see how far Jax would go.
Jax started with a hand brushing over Kai's forearm. "Is this okay?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah."
Then he moved up to his bicep. "Still good?"
"Fine."
Fingertips danced across Kai's collarbone and down his chest, pressing slightly through the thin material of his shirt. "Now?"
Kai's breath hitched. "Still fine."
Jax didn't stop. His hand traveled slowly, deliberately, down Kai's side, along his thigh, up his back, ghosting over his skin with growing intention.
Each touch made Kai's breath shallower, his answers shorter. "Yeah… Mhm… Jax…"
The moment Jax's fingers slipped just beneath the hem of his shirt, Kai gripped the edge of the couch like his life depended on it.
"Still okay?" Jax asked, voice teasing, smug.
Kai didn't answer with words.
He leaned forward and kissed him.
Hard.
The kind of kiss that erased everything but heat and hunger. Jax responded immediately, his hands were everywhere, pulling Kai closer, mouths colliding like they had waited an eternity for this.
The world blurred.
Somewhere in the chaos, Kai's hips shifted against Jax's, and both of them froze, startled by the very real, very obvious proof that this wasn't just "acting."
They pulled back, breathing heavy. Eyes wide.
Silence.
The air felt heavy, electric. Neither of them dared to speak first.
Finally, Jax broke the silence with a dry chuckle. "Well I guess we are ready for the bed scene, huh?"
Kai looked like he wanted to laugh, cry, and bolt out of the apartment at the same time.
But instead, he said quietly, "What do we do now?"
Jax didn't answer.
Because he didn't know either.
"I should go" Kai said and bolted out of the apartment like he was being chased.
....
The set was quieter than usual.
Jax adjusted his mic as the crew buzzed around setting up for the bed scene. He glanced at Kai. He was pretending to be busy with his phone but hadn't looked Jax's way since he walked in.
"Ready?" the director asked, clapping his hands.
Kai nodded, barely meeting his eyes. "Yeah."
Jax forced a smile. "Let's do it."
They took their positions. Kai's character was supposed to lean in close, hesitate, then let Jax's character guide the moment. Simple on paper. But as soon as the camera rolled, it felt stiff, forced, wrong.
"Cut!" the director yelled after the fourth take.
The entire set paused.
He walked toward them, frustration etched on his face. "Guys… what's going on?"
Kai looked at the floor. Jax didn't say anything.
"You two are better than this. What happened to the chemistry?"
Jax scratched the back of his neck. "I think we're just… off today."
"Off?" the director repeated. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "You were perfect during the kiss scene. You had people shaking in the control room. Now it feels like you just met this morning."
No one spoke.
"Look. I'm not wasting everyone's time like this," the director continued. "You two, take the weekend. Go to the beach house. Relax, talk, figure out whatever the hell is going on."
Kai lifted his head. "The beach house?"
"Yes, my beach house. It's quiet, no fans, no pressure. Just you two. Because we're not filming this scene again until you get your spark back."
He didn't wait for their response and walked off.
---
The car ride to the beach house was awkward.
Jax drove. Kai stared out the window.
Finally, Jax broke the silence. "You hungry?"
"No."
Jax drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "We should probably talk."
Kai shifted uncomfortably. "About what?"
Jax looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Kai sighed. "I didn't mean for that to happen. The kiss. I just…"
"You just?" Jax prompted.
"I panicked," Kai said. "You were touching me and testing if I'd be okay with the scene and I… I reacted." he looked down trying to hide his flaming cheeks.
Jax nodded slowly. "You kissed me."
Kai looked down. "Yeah."
"And then ran out like I had the plague."
Kai laughed weakly. "I didn't know what else to do."
Jax exhaled. "It's fine. I just wish you'd said something."
They drove the rest of the way in silence.
...
The beach house was quiet and cozy. It sat right in front of the water, and the sound of waves crashing filled the space.
Jax dropped their bags in the living room. "I'll take the couch."
Kai looked around. "There are two rooms."
"Right." Jax picked up his bag again and headed to the guest room.
Later, they sat on the deck with takeout boxes on their laps. Neither had touched their food.
Kai finally said, "Do you think we ruined the scene?"
Jax shook his head. "No. We just need to be on the same page again."
"Can we even go back?" Kai asked. "After what happened?"
Jax leaned back. "That's up to you."
Kai looked at him. "What about you?"
"I'm here, aren't I?" Jax said simply. "I care about the project, I care about you, too. As a friend. I just don't want us to mess things up."
Kai nodded. "Same."
They sat in silence again.
Finally, Kai said, "You were right about everything. An intense scene like that blurs the line. I didn't think it would… affect me like that."
Jax looked over. "So what do we do?"
Kai smiled faintly. "I think we should start over. Like we said from the start, friends first."
Jax offered his fist. "Deal."
Kai bumped it. "Deal."
....
The next morning, they woke up early and made breakfast together. It was clumsy, Kai nearly burned the eggs and Jax spilled juice all over the counter, but they laughed, and for the first time in days, the tension eased.
They spent the afternoon running lines and rehearsing their scene.
Kai lay on the couch, reading the script. " Are you still okay with doing it full on?"
"Yeah," Jax said, sitting on the armrest. "Are you?"
Kai looked up. "I think I am. I know I am."
Jax tossed a pillow at him. "Good, Because I'm not going easy on you this time."
Kai grinned. "Bring it."
They ran the scene again, and again. By the sixth time, they had nailed the pacing, the body language, the eye contact.
It felt right.
That night, they sat outside under the stars.
Kai finally said, "Thanks for not giving up on me."
Jax smiled. "We're a team. Even when it's weird."
Kai turned to him. "It's not weird anymore."
Jax looked at him. "Yeah. Not anymore."
The weekend ended with the two of them packing up and heading back to the set, ready to face the cameras again this time with everything back in sync.