pslasher

See the story tag for the other chapters.

Ch 3

“I was thinking about organizing a trip for the cast. A day trip, something we can all do together, something fun,” Karl said, watching as Bruce moved a pawn in the chess game he had going with Anton.

“Where to?” Anton asked absently, studying the board intently before moving his bishop.

“I was thinking Pinnacle Rock at Point Lobos State Park? I hear it’s beautiful, and I’ve never been there. And it would be less crowded than Big Sur.”

“I haven’t been either,” Anton said as Bruce silently moved his rook. “What made you want to do that?”

“The cast all took an overnight camping trip together when I was filming Rings and it was one of the best times I ever had with a crew. I thought it would be fun for all of us to do one, too.” He could still remember Viggo happily holding up the fish he’d caught, the sharp, bright New Zealand sun coming up over the mountain and illuminating his contented grin. It was one of Karl’s most cherished memories, and he wanted something like that with this group.

“That’s cool,” Anton nodded eagerly, moving his king. “Check. I’ve never done anything like that with co-workers, but I think it would be really fun.”

“Fuck!!”

Karl jumped, startled by Bruce’s outburst.

“Fuck, kid. You came out of nowhere with that king.”

Anton smiled a little, his expression a little proud and a little bashful. “You left the spot open, I just took it. What do you think about this outing?”

“What?” Bruce looked over at Karl, looking almost like he was seeing him for the first time. “Oh, that. Yeah, that would be really fun. You should arrange everything and I’ll show up at the time and place, just let me know.” He turned back to Anton. “Rematch, you little bastard.”

~~~~

“Coffee,” Chris said, shoving a paper cup in Karl’s face the moment he had the door open.

“Thanks, man,” Karl said, inhaling the scent of dark roast from wherever Chris had gotten it from.

“No problem,” Chris said, lowering his eyes and bowing his head a little before winking at Karl. “Just a chance to pay you back for taking care of me the other day. Come on, let’s head out.”

Karl was so thrown by the subby, flirty gesture that all he could do was watch as Chris sauntered down the hallway back towards the parking lot of their hotel, then scramble to lock his door and catch up. He slid into the passenger seat and Chris pulled out.

“You know it’s cold this morning,” Karl said, gesturing to Chris’ light sweater.

“Yeah, but it’ll get warmer later. I’ll be fine.”

When they pulled up to the parking lot for the park the group was already forming, milling around in the early morning light that was filtering in through a light fog. Everyone called out greetings and John came over to chat, nodding hello and rubbing his hands together.

“Hey, man, thanks for arranging this. You know I’ve lived here my whole life and never seen this place?”

Karl smiled. “Isn’t that always the way? There are places in New Zealand I’ve always wanted to visit but have always been too busy for. That’s why you have company over, to get out and do this stuff.”

Bruce pulled up after that, the last of them. They were the only cars in the parking lot, which Karl had hoped for since it was a weekday in November – not the height of tourism season. They set out towards the trail head in a large group, chatting and laughing. Karl flowed along with them, bumping along at the back of the group and enjoying their easy camaraderie. They’d worked hard these past few months, putting in long hours at times to get the shots J.J. wanted so they could do the franchise justice. They deserved a bit of a break.

They hiked up the trail at an easy pace, enjoying the beachy scrub bushes growing among the rocks. Eventually they came to the first trail offshoot with a little sign that said it led to Whaler’s Cove.

“This is where that little fishing hut museum is,” Zoe called out. “Want to go and see it?”

Everyone agreed and turned off down the path. The breeze grew saltier and stiffer as they went on, blowing away the last of the fog, until Karl was sure they’d hit the beach at any moment.

“Hey, there’s a little secret cove down this path,” Chris said, bumping Karl’s elbow. “Want to see it while they all hit the museum?”

“Sounds lovely,” Karl said, and got Bruce’s attention to let him know they were branching off.

The trail grew rougher as they progressed and pretty soon it opened out onto a rocky lagoon that was enclosed from the sea by a jetty with small waves coming in through channels carved in the rock. Scrubby trees and plants grew all around, enclosing the area so it really was a private little retreat.

“Oh, wow,” Karl said, and drew in a deep breath. The air was cold and briny, that perfect marine smell that took him back home every time he found it, no matter where he was in the world.

“Hey, look!” Chris pointed down onto the sandy beach below them.

Karl stepped closer to the edge of the trail so he could see what Chris was pointing at. There were several seals down there laying together in a pile, calling out and making noise. “That’s so cool.”

“They’ve got the right idea, don’t they?”

Karl looked over and Chris was shivering a bit. He wanted to say I told you so, but instead he just took off his jacket and slid it over Chris’ shoulders.

“You aren’t cold?”

“I dressed in warm layers,” Karl said pointedly, indicating his heavy sweater.

Chris smiled at him, that warm, eye crinkling smile that was starting to make Karl’s stomach flip every time he saw it. He pointed to a flat rock a few paces away, one that was beside a big bush that might act as a wind break. “Let’s sit down and watch them for a bit?”

The rock wasn’t very big so they wound up huddled against each other, but that was okay with Karl. It was warmer that way. The seals chattered and occasionally moved, birds flew around and called to each other. They couldn’t hear the others. It was an utterly peaceful moment.

“You know people dive out here? It’s supposed to be real beautiful off the coast here,” Chris said quietly, as if he was loath to break the peace.

“I imagine it would be,” Karl said. “I wish I had time for that, I’ve never dived in California.”

“You dive?” Chris asked, looking sort of impressed.

Karl nodded a little. “I love the ocean, always have. It seemed like the natural thing to be able to extend my time under the water. I’m working on getting Natalie certified so we can go out together.”

Chris hmmed a little and nodded. “That would be fun. I’ve never done it, but I have friends who do and they swear there’s nothing more beautiful.”

“There isn’t. Maybe you can get certified and we could go out sometime,” Karl said. “I could help you practice and study if you wanted.”

Chris smiled warmly. “That would be cool. I’ll think about it.” He bumped his shoulder against Karl’s. “That would mean coming back to visit after shooting wraps.”

“I’m here all the time anyway, it’s where the business is.” Karl bumped him back. “But I’d make a special trip for you.”

Chris ducked his head so Karl couldn’t see his expression, and he became aware of their position. Chris was hunkered down in his jacket and pressed close to him, shoulders and thighs pressed tightly to Karl. If he were Natalie Karl would have wrapped his arm around his shoulders, but that was probably too intimate.

“Cold?” Karl asked.

“It’s not too bad. It’s worth it for the view.” He stared idly into the distance. “My parents brought me here years ago. I was a little punk teenager and thought it was hokey to go on trips with my parents, but it was a fun trip anyway.”

Karl chuckled. “Yeah, my boys are young enough still that they think it’s fun to go on family trips. I’m dreading the teenaged years when they stop thinking I’m cool.”

“Hey, it will always be cool to have a famous movie star for a dad.”

Karl snorted. “Not from what I hear. You could have Hugh Hefner for a dad and your teenager would still think you’re lame.”

Chris burst out laughing. “Oh my god, I cannot even imagine. What if your dad got more subs than you did!?”

Karl shook his head. “That is not something I want to contemplate.”

“Your boys will always think you’re cool. How could they not? You sent them home those awesome Trek Leggo sets, they’ll be so excited about them.”

Karl shrugged a little. “Truthfully, I spoil them a little when I’m away because I feel guilty about being gone for so long. I miss them, you know? I miss so much when I’m gone.” He paused, his voice lowering. “I don’t want to be irrelevant to them when I come back.”

“No way, that could never happen. No one cares about their kids as much as you do. You talk about them constantly, you’re always texting and calling. I mean, you were pissed that Indy got a low grade on his test last week, you are not irrelevant.”

Karl ducked his head, absurdly pleased with Chris’ adamant statement. “Thanks. It’s hard, but I try. What else can you do? This is how I make my living. I don’t want them to resent me for always being gone and not seeing all the little stuff along the way.”

“I’m sure they understand that. They know you love them. And, they have Natalie. She sounds like an amazing mom.”

“She is. It would never work without her being there to keep everything together. She’s like a part-time single mom, she’s so strong. It still blows my mind.” He scuffed his toe in the sand at his feet. “It’s not really fair to her, though. She used to have a career, too, but we can’t both be on set for the long shooting hours and traveling that film requires.”

“Was she an actress?”

“She did makeup and hair. It’s how we met. She was amazing at it, too.”

Chris quirked an eyebrow at him. “I’m sure that went over well, the handsome actor seducing his helpless submissive makeup artist.”

“I didn’t do anything until after shooting wrapped, you dumbass. And Natalie is anything but helpless. She’s actually a switch.”

“Really?” Chris whistled. “Those are rare as hen’s teeth.”

“Yeah, she’s pretty special. We have some close friends that she Dommes for sometimes while I’m away, when she gets the itch. We all Skype and have a fun time. It seems to work for us.”

“Wow. Who knew you had such a deviant little lifestyle?”

Karl punched his arm. “It’s not deviant just because most people don’t do it that way, you jerk. There are plenty of switches out there whose dominants do the same thing. It’s not like she doesn’t have a dynamic at all, like some people. Those are rare as hen’s teeth.”

Chris laughed. “I know, I know. Just messing with you.”

“Yeah, keep messing and see what happens.” His voice hardened a little, taking on the toppy edge he got when he was flirting or talking to Natalie. He hadn’t meant it to, but then the smile fell off Chris’ face and his eyes widened a bit and suddenly Karl wanted to see what would happen if Chris did in fact push him just a little bit more. He cleared his throat. “Should we head back, see if the others are ready to move on from the museum?”

“Yeah.” Chris moved to pull off Karl’s jacket, but Karl motioned for him to stop.

“Keep it. I’m good.”

Chris’ small smile was dangerously warm, so Karl stood and stretched, walking away to put some distance between them.

~~~~

“I brought you Lamil’s this time,” Chris said, handing Karl a to-go cup when Karl stepped onto the Kobayashi Maru set. “Actually decent coffee, unlike last time.”

Karl inhaled the rich scent of dark roast, which admittedly smelled better than the last cup Chris had brought him. “Is this what you’re always drinking because you can’t make coffee?”

“Hey, I can make coffee, okay. I’m not a complete moron.”

“I’ve seen your kitchen, Chris. If you’ve done anything besides heat up leftover pizza in the oven or boil water for mac and cheese I’d be shocked.”

“All right, so my coffee sucks a little. But what’s the point when you’ve got the fine taste of Lamil’s thirty seconds down the road?”

Karl quirked a doubtful brow at him, already getting into the spirit of Bones.

“Try it.”

Karl did. It was dark and rich, not the least bit bitter. Also, it had the exact amount of sugar and milk that Karl took. He quirked another brow at Chris, this time in question.

Chris ducked his head a little. Karl thought there was a hint of red on his cheeks but he couldn’t tell through all the stage makeup. “I saw what you put in yours the other morning.”

He was so adorably bashful about it that Karl wanted to pat him on the head. “That was really thoughtful, Chris. Thank you,” he said warmly.

Chris grinned at him and winked, then turned and sauntered off towards J.J. to check in, leaving Karl sidetracked again by his grin and the warmth in his gaze and the cock of his hips.

“Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them…. Captain,” Chris said, and Karl as Bones rolled his eyes.

Karl was actually enjoying Chris’ performance. They’d had to re-do this scene what felt like a million times, and each time Chris became a touch more of a prick. He seemed to be enjoying putting on the show.

“Two Klingon vessels have entered the neutral zone and are locking weapons on us,” Karl said, flipping fake toggles and trying to maintain the appropriate gravitas.

“That’s ok,” Chris said.

“That’s ok?” It was supposed to come out with Bones’ typical surlyness, but when Karl swiveled in his seat to look at Chris and caught a glimpse of the goofy smirk on his face he burst out laughing. He clapped his hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Chris was laughing back.

J.J. yelled, “cut.”

Karl lent over and put his elbows on his knees and let the mirth roll through him until he could catch his breath and look up at Chris, who was wiping tears out of his eyes.

“Jesus, Pine, keep control of your face. Now we have to wait a half hour for them to reset everything before we can get going again.”

“Me?! You’re the one laughing!”

“Yeah, at your stupid expression, which you can’t seem to keep under control. You’ve been goofy all day. I’m going to make a complaint about these deplorable working conditions.”

“Your face is stupid.”

Karl flopped back in his chair and groaned loudly. “Seriously, you’re like a child sometimes.”

Chris stood up and paced around a bit, stretching his arms over his head before walking over and slapping Karl on the back. “I’m just feeling a little punch drunk with the long hours, and ready for the weekend. Last week I found this top with a wicked pair of nipple clamps, maybe I can call him and hook up again.” He lent his hip on the console in front of Karl and waggled his eyebrows, and Karl rolled his eyes.

“You must have a little black book the other subs are envious of. You seem to go through a new top every week.”

Chris shrugged. “A sub’s gotta do what a sub’s gotta do. I can’t help it if I’m too much to handle for most of them.”

Karl snorted softly. He wasn’t going to touch that comment, but he was starting to think there was more truth to it than not. He was starting to see a pattern with Chris, was starting to be able to pick out the times when it had been days or weeks since he’d been taken down, and the way it affected his work. He didn’t think Chris would be a particularly difficult or bratty sub, just that he was one of those subs that needed the daily domination of a committed relationship to be his best self. He didn’t think Chris thought that, though. Not with the way he seemed to relish the hunt for a new top every weekend.

Finally J.J. called everyone back to attention. They’d already been chastised multiple times: for breaking out into previous giggle fits, Chris looking at Karl too much, and Karl dropping the southern accent every time Chris looked at him with that cocky smirk that made Karl want to wipe it off his face. J.J. was having a field day with his microphone, rapping out a symphony or something on it. Karl thought he was pretty close to actual irritation with them, even though he was usually a pretty easy going guy. Karl thought it would be wise to get things back on track before they could get too derailed.

“Stop laughing and keep it together now, Christopher. We all want to get out of here sometime before midnight.”

He had let a little authority slide into his voice and was interested to see Chris’ expression get a little more serious and his posture a little straighter as he walked back to his chair.