Chapter 9 ✔️

1 week later

The park by the university is empty when Jefferson arrives just after the lunchtime rush. It's a huge expanse of land, all open space and green grass. There's a path running along the perimeter, and outside of that, the trees stand tall, guarding the park like sentries.

At one end, near a fountain, is a congregation of tables and benches, perfect for picnics, and a place to rest. As Jeff approaches the area, he spots a figure at one of the tables. The person is tall, and thin, but manages to seem compact with the way they're hunched over and bundled up.

It takes all of two seconds, once he gets close, for Jeff to notice the thick brown hair atop the person's head.

"Harvey?" He says cautiously, startling his companion who whips his head in his direction.

That's when Jeff notices the pasta bowl in front of Harvey, and the fork that was still between his lips.

"Jefferson?" Harvey says, words a little muffled around the fork, but understandable still.

"Hey," Jeff responds with a blinding smile, then saunters to the seat across from the student, gesturing to it, "May I?"

Harvey just looks at him with big doe eyes and his mouth slightly open in wonder. Jeff isn't fazed, it's a common look he gets, usually attributed to his fame. In this case, however, he hopes it's for another reason.

"Uh... y-uh, yeah." Harvey nods slightly, before fumbling with his food container, trying to put it away.

"Don't stop on my account." Jeff rushes to say, holding his hands up, "I didn't mean to interrupt your lunch."

Harvey blushes, "I-uh. It's okay, I was done a while ago, I'm just being greedy now."

Jefferson smiles fondly, "Nothing wrong with that," He laughs, "I've been guilty of that a lot."

This causes Harvey to break out into a shy smile and nod jerkily. It feels weird, to be so sheepish around Jefferson. He's usually so witty, using his sass as a way to hide his insecurities. But whenever he looks at Jeff, despite all the insecurities still being there, he doesn't feel like he has to hide. He feels seen. Maybe it's the way he looks at him, as though nothing can faze him, like he's happy just being able look at Harvey, never mind his flaws.

"Do you... do you want some?" Harvey asks Jeff, fishing into his bag to find some dried vegetable snacks.

"Sure." Jeff grins, then takes one out. It's glorious, the feeling of Jeff's hand reaching into the bag while Harvey holds it. It's such a small thing, and there's a layer of packaging between them, but remove that, and they're touching. The thought sends a shiver up Harvey's spine.

"Veggie chips, huh? Look at you, being all healthy." Jefferson teases as he holds the piece in his hands, inspecting it as though it were a rare diamond.

That causes Harvey to scoff and look at Jeff disbelievingly through the parting in his thick locks, "Healthy my ass. These things are so covered in salt that I'm surprised I don't have a blood condition."

Jeff lets out a roaring laugh, eyes twinkling with delight as he leans backwards in the seat. Harvey smiles that signature shy smile. But this time it's tinged with a little bit of pride that he was able to make Jeff, movie-star celebrity Jefferson Blake, lose his composure like that.

"You snort." Harvey notes. It was supposed to be a thought reserved for his head, but he found himself uttering the words in possibly the fondest voice he's ever used.

Jeff, bless his soul, blushes. The apples of his cheeks turn an aggressive pink colour, causing a stark contrast with the pale white of his skin. He looks so real, normal, adorable.

"Oh... uh, sorry." Jeff says awkwardly, ducking his head, making his orange curls bounce around his face.

"Oh god. No. I like it!" Harvey rushes to say, placing his hands on the table desperately, "It's really... It's really cute."

Harvey blushes this time, the colour in his cheeks a little less shocking than Jefferson's, but still prominent.

"Oh..." Jeff smiles softly, allowing his head tilt to one side slightly, and a content expression to wash over his features, "Thank you... I'm usually good at hiding the snorting to be honest."

"Why would you need to hide it? I think it's endearing." Harvey frowns, taking another bite of his veggie snacks.

Jeff huffs a short laugh and looks away momentarily, "It's not very becoming of a young movie icon."

"Something tells me those aren't your words."

"How could you tell?" Jefferson locks eyes with Harvey and shoots him a smirk, making the smaller man giggle, "I have to be perfect. Can't let the world see my flaws."

"That's BS." Harvey comments. And for the first time since he met the movie-star, he feels entirely comfortable saying exactly what's on his mind. Jeff has flaws. Flaws which he's afraid of showing, and that makes him vulnerable. Makes him human. "I think you could have a million flaws and be loved by a million people."

"I'd be happy to be loved by one." Jeff says solemnly, then looks down at his own hands, which are clasped together on the wooden table, "Like real love. Not as an idol and stan. But... as me."

It's like Harvey is looking at a completely different person. Like someone removed the rosy filter covering his eyes. And suddenly, Jefferson is soft-spoken, and thoughtful. He has feelings that any 20-something would have. He has fears, and worries, similar to Harvey's own. And Harvey gets it now.

"You think that someone will fall for the mask you put on and will be disappointed when you take it off."

For a moment, they just sit there in silence. The sound of their breathing creating invisible ripples in the air between them. Then Jefferson speaks.

"I just... I want people to know I'm a good guy... under all of this."

Harvey looks him square in the eyes as he utters his reply.

"I think you're a good guy."