Chapter Text
Archie got on the plane miserable. He was only going to New York for now a short flight but he would miss Luca like a limb. They had already said their goodbyes with Archie still inside him pressed against the shower door. A last minute moment of passion as he tried to leave that morning. If he didn't need to be in LA and an absolutely ungodly time tomorrow he would've stayed longer. As it was he did have responsibilities that weren't fucking his super hot hockey boyfriend.
He took a cab with another Canadian who didn’t even blink when Archie got into his car, and Archie realized he would miss this. The movie had been released last night but he had obviously been to busy to check any social media or reviews. He had a whole plane ride to catch up. And about twelve hours in New York to visit his house and take a well needed nap.
Unfortunately for him sleep was never coming again. he thought he could quickly scan through the usuals, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and be done in five with enough space for a forty minute power nap on the plane but no. The movie was a blockbuster hit. The first day sales were slow going as it released on Independence day. Those who had seen it though, they were posting. Archie found a three thousand word essay on his ass aerodynamics. Then another one on the dangers of body image and condition on actors using his transformation from frail small kpop idol body, to American breed super hero. The article failed to capture that it took him six months and an ungodly amount of food.
The first week sales then blew past the whole run of X-squad. Archie went viral, more than he had ever been in his life. His old fans resurfaced with a vengeance. New edits from his rookie days, and his time as Mcountdown host was shared everywhere. People brought back iconic Disney quotes that he had hoped died. The season he was in of American Horror Show rose back up to the top of Netflix most watched. The rest of the cast of Young Justice, the ones that previously had no previous exposure to this kind of success, were texting him in panic that they couldn’t even leave their house. He just replied with reliable security contacts, and delivery services. By the time he was in LA his calendar looked like a Tetris game.
So he worked. He texted and called Luca, who attended the actual gay hockey wedding of the year! Literally the Royal Wedding for every non-homophobic hockey fan. And Archie spent it yet again on Jimmy Kimmel, showing off simple stunts that could be done in a suit. A backflip it should be noted was not great in a suit and tested the limits of the seat of his pants but it got a standing review. All in between two red eye flights. From the worst two airports in North America.
He looked for a place in LA half heartedly. It wasn’t fun looking for somewhere to live without Luca. He didn’t want to. So, he got a short term rental in a, shudder, apartment! To be fair it was a complex specifically for actors, musicians etc; so the security was tight. There were only ten other residences, one of them the old owner of his New York condo, so the building constantly smelt like something delicious and Archie had his own elevator. He paid a used car amount for it but it was fully furnished and came with a cleaning service. That he didn’t use. He’s not an amateur.
There was a Armani black block of space in the last week of August. Four shoots over four days and blessedly nothing but an appearance on Wednesday. He still had his scheduled rehearsals and stunt practices since shooting was starting shortly in October. A fitting on Thursday. But from Tuesday to Tuesday he was almost free. To spend copious amounts of time with Luca Haas, his boyfriend.
Archie needed to thank his uncle. He realized in his busyness he had forgotten to even tell them the status change, oh well.
Archie was having a very confusing day so far. On one side he was excited Luca would be here by 2pm the problem was Archie had a shoot at four. A last minute cast thing with for a magazine. It was already hard to find time for more than two of them to make an appearance at a time. He knew his uncle's work phone was on fire.
“What am I going to do while you work? Explore LA? Take a bus tour?” Luca’s laugh even over the phone was like a little reward.
“You could come with me.” It was a half baked idea but as Archie continued to think on it, it didn’t sound so bad. Having Luca on set with him was already fun when they had modelled together. It had to be more fun to just hang out together.
“What? How would we explain that? The boyfriend thing is only one problem, I doubt they'd let even your significant other on set with you."
“Well, what about a disguise?”
Luca wasn’t shocked by Archie’s level of fame per say but he was shocked with how much work went in to keeping him looking like Archie Lanes. He travelled with a small entourage now. Besides the two bodyguards that pretty much kept their distance but Luca could feel them in the air. Then his personal squad, his stylist, his groomer and sneaking on this week, his personal assistant. Who was just Luca in thicker glasses and a beanie. He looked like the cutest little hipster, at least that’s what Archie told him while pulling the beanie down on his head. The best thing about LA types is that they didn’t actually care who the little people were. Luca flew right under the radar.
The hockey player was having fun. Archie was like a different person in front of the cameras. He was still his incrediblt, hot, thoughtful, talented boyfriend, which even weeks later Luca was thrilled by. The way he held himself was even different. He glided across surfaces when Luca had seen him trip over a bean bag chair in his apartment. He was still funny but didn’t say most of the unhinged things Luca knew floated through his mind. Instead answer with a soft tone and mischievous grin. Like he was having fun lying to the masses.
Luca had watched more boring hockey games than the dynamics on set unfold and that was saying something. He hadn’t been introduced to any of the cast as it would seem weird to do but he knew all of their names. He’d already watched the movie three times. Todd Robson, Tilde McInnis, Jessica Harnet and Rose Landry who Luca had actually met at the Hollanov ™ wedding. Watching them now interact Luca could see some of the Archie leaned into Rose's jokes, slapped Todd's thigh when he exposed Archie for being a constant snacker on set. He was comfortable around them unlike how he had been amongst all the staff and crew earlier. He also watched how he was a little stiffer around Jessica, which Luca knew was because how she had been feigning for a relationship real or otherwise with him for clout. Archie complained all about it one night in Ottawa until Luca found better uses for his mouth.
They were all clustered on set, a white background with chairs. They were shooting a how well do you know your cast member type interview that Luca would frankly hate. He didn’t love press in general. He was fluent in the language and still found the interview questions confusing most of the time. Luca thinks if his team did a How well do you know each other interview it would be the most unhinged thing on the internet. They knew each other too well and too little.
He carried Archie’s iPad with a small stylus and when Archie first talked to him in public he had answered in the strongest Swiss accent Luca hadn’t used outside of getting out of a parking ticket. Archie was a fantastic actor though, so he hadn’t break into giggles immediately. Archie later commented when they were alone that Luca’s English was usually so flawless that Archie forgot he spoke not just two languages but four.
Hollywood was crazy. First thing Luca had noticed was the traffic, Luca would go insane waiting in traffic like what they had to wade to to get to the studio. New York hadn't even been that bad. Second of all the glamour of everything, it was so glitzy and big. So different from his home town, Ottawa, or many of the other cities he had been too. He had been to LA before obviously, for games. Unfortunately only the heinous airport, getting destroyed by the Monarchs, combined with the inside of a few hotels was the only frame of reference he had. This was completely different.
He was travelling with Eva, Archie’s groomer a woman Luca was starting to think he might have seen before. Her face was so familiar. Lyn, Archie’s stylist. Outside of their shoot near the end of the week, Archie had an appearance and a commercial booked this week that he couldn’t wiggle out of. Luca had an iPad and unrestricted permission to stare at one of the hottest men he knew. He also had access to Archie’s App Store so procreate was downloaded during the very long ride earlier. He planned on drawing detailed photos of every single part of Archie's face. Archie had introduced Luca to the rest of his team as a temporary fill in for his uncle. Luca had just waved silently with the hope that he wouldn't blow his cover immediately. Luca felt bad lying to the two women who spent the most time with Archie. Especially when he knew Lyn, the stylist, had been the driving force behind the famous matching but not exactly matching suits. And the uncanny recognition he had of Eva.
Luca stood against the wall of Vanity fucking Fair, he was far removed from the staff of the production. Archie was filming with the rest of his cast members from Young Justice. The actors of Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven and Bluebettle. He absolutely would say something stupid in front of them. But that wasn’t the real reason he was not sitting with them. Eva and Lyn were both chatting alongside the food table with the other actors’ team just a few feet away. Luca had already grabbed like ten of those stupid little herb cheese balls.
To be honest he was having trouble sitting on anything. Luca hadn’t wasted more time than Archie locking the door before he had dragged Archie into the shower for round one of three over the past twelve hours. Paired with the absolutely brutal workout routine they pushed each other through this morning. Which led to round four and well, Luca’s ass was sore.
Luca watched the interview with rapt attention. If he was allowed to, he would've taken so many photos. Wyatt would kill to be here right now. That being said he was only really paying attention to things that came out of Archie’s mouth. So, it was almost too late when Archie answered a question that was definitely not allowed.
“Archie, was there anyone special in your life that was excited for the movie?” Luca expected to hear an answer about his Uncle being his manager, that was at least the answer put on the info sheet. Though from what previous answers he heard come out of Archie's mouth, he doesn't think the man had even read it.
“Well I mean, my partner is a huge superhero nerd, so yea it was a big surprise when the casting leaked. We were just friends at the time and knew I was filming something but not what because I don’t break my ndas. But we watched the movie together already, there were tears.”
Luca shook his head and dropped the no doubt heart struck look on his face. He sprung up and ran to the producer. He knew all relationship topics were off limits. That was highlighted in the contract three separate times.
“This section needs to be cut.” Luca was in PR mode as much as he could be he still at least tried to over exaggerate his swiss accent as much as he could. “Clear violation of contract.” He had the iPad text screen up already texting “Agent from U.N.C.L.E” which was a genius text name. “We will want it removed from final production.” It was one of the only briefing things that directly related to Luca, so he took extra note. Not that he didn't want every single person to know that Archie was his and off limits. He was mid text when the actors caught on to the commotion.
“No, no it’s fine!!” Luca’s panic stilled as he heard Archie’s laughter. “The cats out of the bag. I’m a taken man. The rumors will be good for publicity. Don’t run to my agent!” Archie pointed out clearly at Luca but the cameras hadn’t stopped rolling.
“The air date won’t be until January at this point." The produce seemed used to the antics of actors against their team, he sounded resigned. "The film is doing too well and we wanted to wait until dvd and streaming release.” Luca nodded at the producer but didn’t stop typing his text, he wanted to be on good terms with his future in-laws. “We will make sure to send over the edits before posting.” The producer could probably see the sweat on Luca’s brow from his panic.
Luca paused after sending the text, he had just considered Archie his future. What? Husband.
Oh.
Luca couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face, he lifted his eyes from the iPad and saw Archie smiling back at him. Maybe after he started he’d ask Shane where he bought Cap’s ring.