elrhiarhodan

Title: First Impressions
Author:

elrhiarhodan
Fandom: White Collar RPS
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: All As Fictional Characters: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Simon Halls (Matt/Simon)
Spoilers: None
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: None
Word Count: ~500
Summary: And let’s just keep riding that bus to hell. It’s Matt’s first day filming the Pilot for White Collar, and he gets an extra-special charge out of watching his new co-star at work.

A/N: Written for Promptfest VII, back in November, 2012. The prompt was “RPS - Matt - First Day on Set” given to me by

coffeethyme4me.

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He was a pro, he'd done this before. He once even had a series of his own where he didn't have second billing or just guest star status. It was a pity that Traveler didn't even make it to the summer break. Just seven episodes filmed, only a handful aired. So there was no reason why he should be so damn nervous. And it wasn't as if this was going to be a lock, it was a pilot and there were no promises.

Ironically, they were shooting the next to last scene, the one where they catch the bad guy, the one where "Peter" and "Neal" really cement their relationship. Maybe that was it...

This was the first time in his career where he was working with a seasoned older actor, someone he looked up to.

Literally, figuratively.

He liked Tim, they had clicked in the chemistry reads and when Jeff asked him if he had wanted to read with anyone else, Matt shook his head and laughed. He couldn't imagine another actor in the role.

Tim had something about him - a steady strength, seasoning, and this bone-deep self-confidence that Matt couldn't help but respond to. Of course, it didn't help (didn't hurt?) that the second time they met, when they were shooting the photos that would be part of the initial marketing of the series, Tim just leaned over and kissed him.

He knew Tim's work - he'd been a fan (one of the few) of Tell Me You Love Me, and of course, he adored Tim in Carnivale. And was there a gay man in America who hadn't lusted over his shirtless torso in Big Eden?

Simon, who had come with him to New York just to hold his hand as he went to shoot what could be the most important work of his career, first told him not to let the crush on his co-star become too obvious. Then he took a step back, gave Matt that beautiful, enigmatic smile and changed those instructions.

"Let it all hang out, Matt. Pour that into Neal Caffrey - make it all about Peter, and Neal's need to please him. Take that chemistry and light a fire under it. It's all about Peter and Neal. It's all about the subtext."

Matt wondered if his partner knew what he was really saying - it was almost like he was giving him permission. Good thing that Tim was straight and happily married. A very good thing.

A production assistant fluttered around him, tousling his hair, resetting the collar of the heavy black pea coat. Someone shouted "action!" and Matt hopped down from the Dutchman's desk and opened the "door". Tim strode in, looking around like he owned the place. Looking at Matt like he owned him.

Matt recited his lines, glad that the pea coat was long enough to cover. It wouldn't be such a good idea to pop wood in front of your co-star, because of your co-star, on the first day on set.

FIN