Archive of Our Own ^beta

Percy had spent the last ten years of his life dedicating himself to his work, being a director had never been easy, he was slightly too flimsy for the job (according to his boss) and the new actors were a little intense.

He wasn't being fired, per say, but he was firmly being encouraged to quit, and that was what was getting under his skin.

The first film Percy watched he fell in love with, it wasn't just the explosions or the story, he fell in love with the characters.

And after that the actors.

He had originally wanted to be an actor, but his drama GCSE had proven that, whilst his skills were lacking in the acting department, he was extremely good at bossing people around. The story had to have a starting point, but he could build up from there, he started writing scripts as soon as he started college, and he sent them off to every studio he could find.

Some were accepted, Some were ignored, Some declined, but the running of his much loved "many moons I dreamt of you" lead him into the romance sector.

He started with rom-coms, and over the decade built himself up to actions, dramas, tragedies.

He loved his job, he was good at it. He didn't understand why he had to go, but his boss, Luscious Malfoy (the devil-bread git) said it wasn't going to work out for the next film.

Percy was convinced he just wanted to get his son into the film industry, once he'd read one of Draco's scripts. He was a shit writer.

Percy wandered into the bar at the end of the street, the sign out front read 'The Quidditch Inn'.

Percy oderd a shot of whisky, downed it, then oderd another. The bartender was Called Katie, she had a pretty face and a small smile, she was talking to a young man with brown hair and a silky grin,"And then this bloke is all over me telling me what a good Starius I'd make! He offered me the lead role!"

"Thats great", Katie said, serving up another beer,"The guy next to you is scowling at you, did you kill his girlfriend?"

The man turned to face him,"Hullo", he said, he was drunk, but so was Percy.

"You got the role huh?", he laughed sarcastically,"Fucking fantastic".

"Oh yeah?", Katie laughed,"Only the best actors get into Percy Weasleys films, Oliver heres been trying for years... chin up mate, maybe next time."

"So you know my name but not my face", Percy snapped,"Like everyone else in this god-forsaken place. But who cares about talented directors when you have fresh pretty faces on the stage. Fire the talent, hire the idiot"

Percy stood up and left the bar, chucking a twenty pound note on the bar. He didn't bother getting his coat, and stormed onto the street.

***

His coat (a brown blazer-style tweed jacket from his fathers wardrobe, that he'd put on age  twenty-two and hadn't taken off since) was draped over his chair, and there was a note from Lusious Malfoy as well.

I have been persuaded into letting you keep your job by one such Oliver Wood, You shall continue to direct Strawberry blonde, and I shall keep you on for the story of Starius, volume one.

-M

Percy muttered "Dickward", under his breath, but he was secretly pleased.

Strawberry blonde had another month of filming, so he didn't have to start looking for a new job yet.

He was glad to have his jacket back, and asked his assistant who left it there.

"A man came in", Penelope Clearwater divulged,"He was blushing alot, and rambling, apparently he's on for Starius? You left your jacket some place and he wanted to give it back... he also droped in the note from Malfoy"

"Did he have a name?"

Penelope shrugged,"Never mentioned it", she grinned,"If actors even have names", that was an old joke of hers. Actors go by many names, every role they play embodies them somehow, each character remains in them.

Percy got on well with Penelope, she was tough as a walnut and always understood Percy. She called it their nuro-divergent connection.

Percy thought she just got him.

They never met up outside of work, though Penelope had offered many times, Percy always declined, he had other things to do, he told her.

Percy would go home, make himself a mug of tea, water his plants, fret over his unfinished scripts and, later, he would climb into bed and open a book, which he would often fall asleep with, and finish within days.

Percy had lots of ideas, lots of feelings, and so many actors that he wanted on his set.

Remus lupin, for example, who had auditioned for the role of Peachus, an old sage who accompanied Starus on his journey, and fell in love with the villain, Mozful, who was going to be Played by Sirius Black.

Both of the actors had expressed an interest in the film early on, and Percy (who had grown up watching them as friends in every film he watched) turned the two men into star-crossed lovers.

It was a bit of a fan-girl moment for Percy if he was being honest, Lupin and Black were brilliant actors, and there was always a tension when they joined the screen together. Percy wanted to witness that himself.

He picked up his jacket, pulled it onto his shoulders, and turned back to the production.

***

A month later, Percys actors were supplied, and they sat down in the 'great hall', as it had been dubbed, and started the run through.

Oliver sat down on one side of him, and Penelope was on the other.

She shot him a look,"It was him", she said,"With your jacket"

"I thought so", Percy replied.

Oliver beamed at him,"Hullo"

Percy smiled,"Hello Oliver, Thanks for getting my coat back to me", he said.

Oliver blushed and looked down at his script," 'S alright", he said, and flapped his paper at his face,"Sorry, I'm a bit of a mess today", Oliver mumbled,"Um, Last time I saw you-"

"Okay everyone!", Penelope called,"We're gonna start the run through! Has everyone got their scripts?", there was a chorus of affirmative yes' and nods, so Penny continued,"I'm Penelope Clearwater, assistant Director, and This is Percy Weasley, the best directior in the industry".

The run through lasted fove hours, with Penelope reading in stage directions, and Percy calling out editations to the script as they went.

The group were permitted a rest break two hours in, which Oliver spent talking constantly to Percy.

He kept spewing complements and smiling when Percy returned them. Each sentence that the Director laughed at was paired with a blush on Olivers cheeks.

When he finally scampered off to get some water, Penelope turned to him,"He has a crush on you"

"Oh", Percy said, and oh , that could be useful. Pair Olivers boyant attitude with a willingness to... follow commands, Percy could turn him into a ten star actor.

When Oliver returned, all Percy could think about was what Penelope called the crush.

If it was just going to be useful , why was his heart beating so fast?

***

A week into rehearsals, Percy deemed The sceenes ready to be blocked. The head of the camera crew, the coffee lady (Percy was sure Penelope was supposed to be getting him coffee, but the coffee lady made it better than she could) and Percys finest supply of post it notes, Pencils and pens were odered.

The chairs that were previously in a circular position were moved right to the edges of the hall, Percy Stood at one end, with Penelope, and the actors stood in front of him, mildy confused at the change.

"We will start blocking", Percy said,"I want to start getting a feel of how you bounce off each other as actors, so today we're running through scenes one to twelve, tomorrow thirteen to twently, twenty one to thirty and so forth.

"I need all those in scene to have their scripts with them, ready to take notes, in all seriousness, I'm gonna need your undavided attention, so stay focused, first break will be in two hours, please grab everything you need".

***

Percy stared thinking about set, props and costume. He was stressed, to say the least, and he needed to start the filming proses too.

He was pacing his office when Oliver knocked on the door,"Uh, Hey"

"Hello, Oliver, did you need something?"

"Um... Are you okay?"

Percy stopped tugging at his hair so that he could snile at Oliver,"All good", he said,"Did you look at the costume designs? I know I sent thaem out last week but no ones come back woth a response yet which is infuriating"design

"I didn't get the designs"

"Its pretty simple, you just go, yes yes yes no, That one's good, yes yes no no no. and then the costume designers complain to me a bit but do as their told and make the things I need them to make"

"No, I mean", Oliver glanced down,"I didn't receive them, I don't think anyone has"

Percy dashed to his computer, and sure enough, the designs were all in his inbox, waiting to be forwarded,"Fuck", Percy muttered, as he slumped in his chair,"fuck fuck fuck fuck". For some reason his hands were shaking, and his throat itched, he felt tears well in his eyes.

"Ah, O-Oliver could you-"

Oliver closed the door and stood beside Percy,"Stand up", he urged.

"Can't", Percy whispered, Clutching at his chest,"Fuck- I"

Oliver knelt down,"Percy.", he said, and squeezed his knee, "look at me"

Percy looked, but tears blured his eyes,"Didn't mean to- f-fuck up"

"You didn't ", Oliver said,"Percy, look at me. You didn't." He breathed slowly,"In... and out, okay?" He breathed again,"In... and out"

Percy copied him,"Shit s-sory"

"It's fine", Oliver said, rolling his sholders in a nonchalant shrug,"I think you just had a panic attack, Katie used to get those"

"The bar-t-tender?"

"Yeah"

"I remember her"

"Everyone rememberers Katie", he grinned, "Can you stand up?" Percy stood, still shaking slightly, and Oliver hugged him, arms tight around his body and squeezed him gently.

"I promise you didn't fuck up, okay? We'll just forward them now. It's okay"

"Okay", Percy said, pulling away,"God, sorry. haha, talk about unprofessional"

"Percy, We're allowed to be friends, your allowed to freak out, I'm allowed to like you, you're a great person"

Percy dropped into his chair,"You like me?"

Oliver flushed beat red,"Should we send those Emails, then?"

***

On the first day of filming, Oliver fell down the stairs, which made Percy want to call him stupid, but he rushed over and knelt beside him,"Fucking hell, Oliver, are you alright?"

"Yeah", He winced as he stood,"I bruised my elbow"

Percy got him some Ice, and lead him towards the break room, this was probably unnecessary, but he did it anyway," You A-okay for filming? Do you need anything else?"

"Kiss it better?", Oliver asked.

Percy glanced around them, the room was empty. He lent down and kissed Olivers elbow through his shirt and snickerd, meeting Oliver eye he whispered,"Talk about unprofessional"

Oliver laughed, a bubbly, bright noise that made Percys incides twist and his heart jump about his chest.

Oliver was back to filming the next hour.

***

The flirting increased from then onwards; when Oliver was hesitant to try something new, Percy would say,"for me?"

Oliver would always obay.

***

"The story of Starius is an apocalypse story, sure, it's partly set in space, but thats not a big deal in the grand scheeme of things, There are about 1 billion people left on earth, none of whom live around the equator, humanity is split in half, and there is no way for them to reach each other. Why then, do they want to save one another?"

Oliver raised his hand,"Because of the fear of extinction"

"In part", Percy agreed,"But it's more than that, in loosing each other, human beings loose their humanity, so that means..."

"Because of Love", Remus says,"Because humans care about each other, Because their hearts are so big that their caring for other people transends physics and time and space, We read things in history books, and we don't care, but we watch a dramatisation of the plauge and we cry."

"Because Humanity is love", Oliver finished.

"Presisley", Percy said," when this plane lands, I want you to be filled woth love and joy, for all these people you do not know, because alone we are human, and together we are humanity".

"And for those of us who are part of the Alien race?", Sirius asked, Provoking a laugh from the actors.

"Fuck off", Percy joked,"You're not in this scene"

"Forever in our hearts", Remus called, and somone wolf-whistled. Percy could've sworn he saw a blush dart across Sirius' face.

Oliver mouthed,"alright?" in Percys direction, he gave Oliver a small nod.

"Okay! let's try this scene again; less solidity, move like you know you are one being, act like you are neighbors even if you hate each others clothes", Another hearty chuckle erupted from the actors,"Alright, Westerners, in the plane, Sothorners, outside, When Starius walks down that gangplank, you quieten down, make it suspensful"

On the first try, Oliver fell over again.

He sat with Percy in the Plane whilst the others took a break,"Whats going on, Oliver? Why do you keep falling over?"

Oliver shrugged, and treid to laugh it off, Percy wasn't convinced.

"Oliver."

"I just... It was an accident"

"obviously "

"Am I fucking it all up, Percy, I-"

"Shut up", Oliver closed his mouth,"You're not a fuck up, nothing you do here, now, fucks up the film, okay? Your perfect. You're a brilliant actor, you're skills are impeccable, Your accent is realy fucking hot, your not fucking up, your bringing it together, I can't Imagine a Starius who doesn't have your face, You-"

Oliver kissed him, and Percy found himself kissing him back, which was entirely strange in itself. Barley a movement of mouths and Percy was breathless, he felt his stomache drop and his face heat,"What was that for?", he whispered, as Oliver pulled back.

"Luck", he said, and grinned,"Entirely unprofessional luck"

Percy laughed and kissed him again,"Alright, good luck, then, Oliver"

Oliver didn't fall again.

***

They didn't talk about the kiss, didn't try to aproch the subject, but it sat under every conversation, and made even the most boring talks seem like foreplay.

Oliver would blush every time Percy was in his vicinity, and Percy made sure his cheeks didn't get too warm when Oliver got too close.

Percy was hyping himsef up to kiss Oliver again, tempting himself with Olivers mouth.

The idea of Oliver liking him seemed more likely after they had kissed.

Percy kept his Phone number tucked in his brest pocket so that he could hand it to Oliver if ever the opportunity arose.

It didn't.

***

Penelope texted him a week later, with a link to a news article, and a messgae

Penelope: Want supervision whilst you get wasted?   Rising star, Oliver wood, Seen on date with new Girl?

Percy: Yes

Penelope: Pick you up in ten

Percy: thanks.

***

On set Percy made Penelope do the talking, he took notes frequently, and was tempted to kick Oliver off the film entirely, but that would be petty, and they had already started filming, so they'd have to start all over again.

And on top of that was the upsetting truth, Starius wouldn't be Starius without Olivers face, they had supparsed that point and that ment the only way to distance himself from Oliver would be to kill him all together- to kill Starius. Percy sunk his teeth into the idea and chewed it around his mouth.

It was bitter and crule, but he liked the taste.

He didn't ask how Penelope knew he and Oliver had liked each other, or if she knew they'd kissed.

But he was more than thankful for her support, getting wasted had been a great idea, although the headache he had the next morning left much to be desired.

He had a feeling in the morning that he'd done something stupid, but couldn't think what.

Oliver kept trying to catch his eye, he kept booking appointments with Percy, which he brushed onto Penelope to deal with, which was beyond her work resume, but she insisted it had to be done, because it was on her freind resume.

Percy decided he liked being Penelope's freind.

***

With the adverts underway, Percy was roped into doing an interview with Penelope and Oliver, Percy didn't want to, but Penelope insisted it was needed to keep the peace.

"I'm not sure it was a real date, Percy"

"What are you on about?"

"Percy, I dont-"

"That's stupid".

"Is it?", Penelope asked,"I mean, from what he's said to me-"

"I don't want to here it Penny."

"Listen to me! He said he wants to talk to you, Okay? Your sharing a taxi back to your house, tell him to fuck off for good, if you need too, but just... try, please."

"You shouldn't have done that Penelope"

"But I did, and that's what's happening, okay? So get over it"

She stormed away from him.

That night Percy killed Starius, he thought, fuck it, and re-wrote the script.

Starius didn't get a happy ending, just the rumor of a daughter who could continue his cause.

Percy wasn't even sure if he wanted Oliver to have a kid, and then he reminded himself that it was Starius' kid, not Olivers.

Starius was Percy's creation, Starius was his story. And Oliver had taken it under his wing and opened his arms to the idea.

Oliver had taken Starius from Percy and he was lost without his character.

Percy tried to be okay with the end of Starius, rewrite it, rewrite it, rewrite it.

Percy spent the night getting wasted.

***

Oliver burst into his room,"You can't Kill me!", he snapped.

Percy scowled,"Excuse me?"

"You can't kill starius- you- you said Starius wouldn't be starius without me!"

"What are you taking about?"

"Don't do it, Percy, Don't ruin your fucking story on me"

"Oliver-"

"You can't kill Starius, he's me, you said the story wouldn't be Starius without me!"

"Exactly, so I kill Starius, and make a new character, a blank slate that doesn't have your face on it"

"But-"

"I can't believe you, Oliver, your a dick for what you did"

"You kissed me back-"

"Not the kisses, dipshit, the kisses were great, your a fantastic kisser..." Percy stared at Oliver, who's flush was bordering on both angry and bashful,"I- I mean, Going on a date with somone else! Whilst I- I... Thought we had something"

"We can have something", Oliver pleaded,"It wasn't like that, Percy, It wasn't a date."

"Please leave"

"Don't ruin your story because you hate me"

"I don't hate you"

"Don't- what?"

"I'm mad at you, but I don't hate you, I hate very few people, I'm mad at you, so I want you to go. My story is mine. You can't have Starius"

"I don't have Starius, I am Starius!"

"Starius is mine!", Percy was vaguely aware of how petty he sounded,"He's mine, okay"

"...I can be yours too, Percy"

"Please go"

"Percy!"

"In a world where I could trust you wouldn't hurt me, I'd be all over you, I'd take you home, I'd kiss you every time I saw you, but... I'm hurting, right now, okay? So I need you to go"

"...Okay"

Oliver turned for the door, trainers rubbing loudly on the carpet, the noise echoed through the room.

"...Oliver!"

"Yes?", He paused, he didn't move, scared of what Percy might say.

"I'll see you at the interview tomorrow"

"Uh. Yeah."

"Oliver- I-", Oliver turned to face him,"I'm glad it wasn't a date", Percy said, and smiled,"That... I dunno, I wouldn't have liked that"

"You're starting to sound unprofessional, Percy"

Percy laughed,"Goodbye, Oliver"

"Goodbye"

Percy watched Oliver through the glass window of his office door, as he did a stupidly happy dance outside his office.

***

The interview was boring;

How did you get into your positions?

Oliver, lots of people are asking about your date...

(Oliver: It wasn't a date)

How is the filming?

Any teasers we should know about?

Percy, this is going to be your fifteenth film, are you gonna celebrate?

(Percy: No.)

Is Oliver going to fall in love?

Penelope, How good of a boss is Percy?

(Penelope: the best)

ect.

The taxi waiting outside was for Penelope,"I've got to dash, you two can share, can't you?"

Percy knew this was coming, the blush on Olivers face suggested he didn't,"Uh, yeah, sounds good."

They stood together for a while, and when no car came, Oliver said,"You wanna grab a beer?"

Percy shrugged,"We should probably wait... but, Yeah."

They went to the boars head, which was practically empty, and the bear tasted like soap, Percy and Oliver played fotsie under the table until Percy said,"If it wasn't a date then.."

"She's an old friend", he smiled," Katies Girlfriend actually, she's realy sweet... they've been trying to have kids and she just... needed somone to talk too".

"Oh"

"Yeah"

"Oliver, I'm sorry- I... I was wrong"

"Wrong? How do you mean?"

"About everything, You, Starius, The not date"

"Percy, thats not everything"

"I suppose not", He said,"I still feel stupid though"

"Don't"

"I do!"

"Percy... go on a date with me and all will be forgiven"

"That... would be unprofessional"

"Exactly"

"Thats not what your supposed to say"

"Percy, I want to kiss you again"

"That's..."

"Unprofessional? I know, I want to be unprofessional with you, I want to take you home and you can meet my mum and my dogs, I want to move in with you! I want you to get all your furniture and all your books and fill my life with them because I like you, Percy."

"That..."

"Sorry... too much?"

"My house is just down the road, You want to get some good beer out?"

"...Yeah"

***

"Your house is full of plants"

"Yes"

"None of them are dead"

"No"

"And you have books"

"I do"

"Percy- You're bookshelf's are full of books!"

"Yes"

"I can't believe I'm in your house"

Percy grabbed two beers from his fridge and popped the lids off, he walked into the living room, handing one to Oliver.

"Stop being a fangirl"

"A what?"

"Uh... like, somone who... likes something, alot"

"I'm your fangirl" Oliver said.

"I believe you", Percy laughed and clinked their bottles together.

"To being unprofessional", Oliver said, and Percy laughed again, and raised his bottle in toast.

Percy watched Olivers mouth as he talked, hardly hearing the words. They sat down on the sofa, and Oliver ended up, two and a half bottles later, sprawled over Percys lap, talking.

"I don't want Starius to die, or for him to have a child, that's weird, because he can't fall in love with some girl and then just leave her-"

"it's for the greater good"

"It doesn't make sence!"

"You shouldn't have seen The script for volume two anyway"

"What?"

"Don't what me, it's unfinished, and the first person to see my scripts is always ment to be my editor"

"But..."

"But what, Oliver, Dems the rules, I don't know who sent it to you but-"

"You sent it to me"

"Did I?", Percy looked down at him and ran his fingers through Olivers hair,"No, I don't think I did"

"You did!"

"When?"

"I'm note sure the exact date- after the article came out, I think you were drunk, you're punctuation was nonexistant."

"That... sounds like something I'd do"

"You can't kill me"

"I won't"

"And I dont want a daughter"

"Why?"

"Because"

"That's not a reason"

Oliver groaned and stared up at Percy,"If I kiss you will you drop the subject?"

"Maybe"

Oliver pushed himself up into Percys lips and kissed him again.

The distraction was futile, but Percy enjoyed it all the same.

"Why can't Starius have a kid?"

"Because He and I are one being now, and I'm not going to run away and have a fucking daughter without you"

"...What If I want a daughter?", Percy laughed as Oliver frowned up at him, and groaned, burying his face into Percys stomach,"You need an apprentice at least"

"Fine", Oliver mumbled.

"What was that?"

"I can have an apprentice"

"A girl"

"Sure"

Percy lent down to kiss Oliver, grazing his teeth over his top lip before descending into his mouth.

"Hey, Oliver?"

"mm"

"Can Katie act?"