Chapter Text
Colt loved it when Ryland visited.
He did so only so often on school breaks, trying his best to get down to Los Angeles. It wasn't his favourite city but it had his favourite person. This time, he said he had a week before needing to get back to work — Colt wanted to make the most out of that week.
Coincidentally, Jody's movie was shooting a new scene in the area. Despite his visits, Ryland has never been on a movie set ever. The idea was just dangling over Colt's head. He finished up in the bathroom, walking out to the living room to prep his bag for the day. Across the room, he could see Ryland in his knitted fox sweater with a coffee held with both hands.
"Do you wanna visit the set?" Colt asked casually.
"What?" Ryland sat in the kitchen, tired eyes trying to meet Colt's.
"I'm going there soon for a stunt," He propped an elbow against the kitchen counter. "It's pretty sick."
"Uh-" He stuttered. Colt knows he doesn't have much to do anyways if he's away. Ryland only ever goes out if his brother drags him.
He shrugged his shoulders and nodded, "Sure, yeah sure let's go."
Colt restrained himself from leaping with joy and resulted in a playful punch to his shoulder ("Ow!"). He could finally share some of his interests with his brother now. In fairness, he has already shown a few of his own movies; pointing out each time there was a stunt he did before Ryland starts telling him to 'shut up I'm trying to watch the movie' and also showcased souveniers he took from set. Ryland always acted really intrigued but Colt knew going onto set would be next level.
Hopefully he won't make a fool of himself.
"I know Jody won't mind you being here," Colt reassured as they walked out of the parking lot towards the bustling movie location. "So this the main set. My stunt will be done up there. Building to building jump."
He pointed upwards at a roof of the building. Yeesh, that's actually a lot higher than he was expecting. It'll be fine though, he can't afford to be uncool in front of his brother. Speaking of which, he turned to Ryland at his side.
The boy's eyes were brimming with curiosity. Gazing up at the buildings, all the technical work and wires being checked, his eyes then fell towards the various tents and producers discussing shots. Within the mass, Colt could eye Jody and Tom talking before then doing a double take at Colt.
Colt offered a wave at Jody (not so much Tom) as she walked over to the twins.
Her expression was absolutely priceless. Her face was knitted together in confusion, eyes flickering to both brothers as if Colt created a carbon copy of himself. God if only he could frame her face right now. She wasn't wrong though, he is the oldest by 5 minutes making him the original.
Colt patted Ryland on the back, snapping his attention to the new faces in front of him. Simultaneously, he fluttered his eyes back to Jody and Tom, giving an awkward smile.
"Ryland," He pushed his brother slightly in front of him. "I want you to meet the director of all this Jody. Jody this is Ryland, my twin brother."
"Twin?" Jody's voice raised an octave along with her eyebrows. "Aren't you full of surprises."
"Nice to meet you, Jody," He held out a hand for her to shake which she took modestly.
"He's a scientist. Does macrobiology or something."
"Molecular biology," Ryland huffed in annoyance.
"I knew that. Just messing with you."
"Right..."
Colt pulled his brother down, ruffling his hair like he did when they were kids — Ryland hopelessly attempting to shove out of his grip. Jody laughed at the sibling sentiment.
"Well, well, aren't you gonna introduce me Seavers?" Tom stepped out of Jody's shadow, gesturing his hands out.
"Fine," Colt sighed. "Ryland Grace, Tom Ryder. Tom Ryder, Ryland Grace."
"Different last names?"
"You know Seavers is a fucking stage name Ryder," He said irritatingly.
"Oh right," Ryder chuckled, acting oblivious. "Right, right..."
"Nice to meet you, Tom," Ryland held out his hand again for Tom yet he did not return the sentiment.
"Ryder please," He nudged Ryland's hand back. "Wow don't we look awfully similar. I actually need a new stuntman if you're interested in the job."
"I—" His mouth fell open. "I don't know how to do stunts."
"Oh don't worry I can teach you everything, I do my own stunts," Ryder invited himself to wrapping an arm around Ryland's shoulder, closing in on any personal space you're supposed to have when first meeting people. Ryland looked at his brother dumbfounded with all Colt offering back was a shrug and mouthing 'I don't fucking know'. Neither of them were paying attention to whatever Ryder nattered into Ryland's ear.
Colt coughed.
"Ryder can I talk to you for a sec?" He interrupted his spiel. "Hey Ry get something to eat, Jody can show you somewhere."
"I'm not hungry."
"I need to talk to Ryder alone."
"Oh, ok," Ryland unraveled himself from Ryder's arm, mumbled a goodbye and followed behind Jody for a snack. Colt waved him off then returned his attention back to Tom. Stupid fucking Tom.
"What the fuck are doing?" Colt said outright — he knew what game he was playing here. The guy was still staring at Ryland walking away.
"What do you mean what the fuck am I doing?" He faced Colt again with a smirk.
"Why are you hitting on my brother?" He questioned, the words felt rough in his mouth. That is a sentence he'd never thought he'd say outloud. And it's not because he doesn't think his brother can pull… ok that could be apart of it. It's never something that would've crossed his mind though. Ryland is a decent looking guy (he's related to Colt of course) yet he never showed much interest in dating. Or if he did, Colt doubts he would understand the social cues for it.
"Because he's hot??" Ryder said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"We're identical!!"
"Never judge a book by it's cover king," He waggled a finger at Colt.
"But you just—" Colt gaped his mouth in disbelief. "You can not hit on my brother."
"Oh I believe I just did," Ryder sneered at him proudly, feeling as though he already won the battle. "See ya later."
He patted Colt's shoulder then left back to the tents. A second later, there's someone calling him to get into position for his stunt. Colt could only shove down that fuck knows what conversation and get his job done first. He wonders if Ryland will be watching him.
"So what did you think?" Colt gazed up at his brother from his folded chair. The stunt went flawless, Jody looked immensely happy about it when he came back down — if Ryland wasn't here he would've definitely been gettig lucky tonight. His brother in question rushed over to him with Skittles in hand with the biggest smile on his face.
"Holy fudge that was so cool!!" He praised. "The way you just— and then the jump— and you rolled—"
"Sick right?" Colt replied nonchalantly, he impressed his brother; score one for him. There wasn't much use for him now after that stunt since his next one was in a later shot, giving Colt ample time to show Ryland around more. Before he could stand and give his excellent tour, something gripped down on both his shoulders.
"Good as always Colt," Tom Ryder came from behind, squeezing Colt's shoulders encouragingly yet the grip strength made Colt shiver. His attention was seized by Ryland again though. "My scenes are better though if you wanna watch those Ryland."
"Actually I was gonna show him around," Colt shook off Ryder's hands, standing next to his brother with a subtle hand in front of him defensively.
"Leaving so soon?" Ryder pouted. He reached into his pocket."If you are reconsidering the stunt job, here's my number."
He leaned forward and tucked a paper into Ryland's ear between his glasses frame. It caught both Ryland and Colt by surprise yet Ryland just thanked him and laughed it off. Colt was seething.
"And we're leaving," He flipped Ryland around, pushing both of them forward to create as much distance between them and Tom Ryder.
"Jody and Tom seem nice," Ryland commented.
"Yeah real nice," Colt mumbled a pathetic response — his brain was too preoccupied at the moment. It didn't waver as he continued to tour the set. The rest of the time was spent showboating the movie, props, crew members before finally a lunch and driving back to the apartment. Colt needed to back to set though for a final stunt but his thoughts continued to fog his mind. All of it connected to one singular thread. Tom Ryder. Ryland didn't mention him again after the tour nor at home. However he shoved his number in his pocket before Colt could protest.
Colt's muscles were taking everything in him to not bash his head onto his steering wheel right now. He's unsure what Ryder will asks when he gets back onto set. It genuinely gives his head a pounding this situation.
Why? Out of all the people, why him?