They told me to do the REMIX!

[faded_lace]

Another REMIX for you to be disturbed by enjoy. :D;

Pairing: Donavan/Faustino
Rating: NC-17 (what were you expecting? XD;)
Warnings: yaoi (graphic m/m sex), shota, some language, solo

Backstage, everything that could go wrong was going wrong. It was their first dress rehearsal, and Donavan was struggling to get Faustino’s costume to fit him correctly. He kept dropping the pins he was supposed to be using to fit the garment to the young boy’s slender frame, but as the space to stage left was so tiny, they were constantly getting bumped and pushed out of the way of the other actors. On top of that little wardrobe problem, Donavan still hadn’t gotten the chance to do either of their makeup, and the curtain would be going up any minute. Still, they had to do the best they could with the time they had, and Donavan felt confident that Faustino’s boyish face would still make a semi convincing female.

Faustino was to play Hero, opposite Donavan as Claudio, in the new play that was to be preformed. Surprisingly, they were both substantial parts, and Donavan had been initially quite surprised by their good fortune. For immigrants who’d fled the Gallian monarchy after being persecuted for their part in the attempted coup, they were really doing quite well for themselves.

Donavan had always enjoyed acting and theatrics, and was delighted to pass n more of his knowledge to Faustino. Together, they’d managed to get jobs with a wandering troop of actors who preformed all throughout Albion, and lately, their luck had been getting increasingly better; these roles were just the sort they needed to jump start their new carrier. Of course, that was only if they could get it together in time.

Donavan sucked lightly on the last pin he had to attach as he pulled and straightened the hems and seems of Faustino’s dress. Now that most of the pins were in successfully, the boy was really starting to look like a very attractive woman. Laughing to himself at the thought, Donavan shook his head lightly and attached the final pin before spinning the boy around to face him. “I think that should do it. How does it feel? Do you think we ought to stuff your corset any more?”

Faustino smiled, moving his hips back and forth subtly so that his skirts swished around his legs. "It feels all right, I think. We ought to hurry and get made up before the show starts," he replied. Reaching for the case that held their collective makeup sets, he opened it up and began unpacking things, smiling softly to himself. Even though things sometimes got hectic and didn't turn out quite right, Faustino really liked his new life with Donavan in Albion. Sure, the language was funny, and he was far away from anyone he knew, but being with Donavan and acting suited him well, and he liked it. The only thing he really missed was his mother, but he knew she was doing well in Gallia, and it was enough for him.

"Places!" someone called in the distance, and Faustino jumped slightly. "We haven't got much time, " he stated the obvious, handing applicators to Donavan. Should I do you first, or do you want to do me?"

“Let’s get yours done first—you’re up before I am.” Donavan said decisively, taking the kit from Faustino and setting to work. Donavan loved makeup, and he especially loved putting makeup on Faustino, because he generally looked particularly good. The shades of color Donavan liked to use always looked perfect on the boy’s slightly darker skin, and the over all look simply enhanced Faustino’s natural good looks.

“Okay, you’re good to go.” Donavan smiled as he admired his work. If he didn’t know better, he might actually think Faustino was a girl, and a good looking girl at that. “I’ll go ahead and do mine myself so you don’t miss your cue.”

"Okay, thanks," Faustino said with a quick smile, lifting up his skirts and hurrying towards the wings. Donavan had trained him to play girls down to the smallest details, and, with practice, he had gotten used to the art of wearing skirts and corsets to the point where he was comfortable with it. With his hair done up and makeup on, he was pleased that he was convincing girl, and he knew it assured him parts at least until he grew up.

His cue came quickly, and he entered, putting on his best feminine charm. He was good at memorizing lines, and was confident that he delivered them well. He was anxious for Donavan to join him on stage, however, he always enjoyed acting the best when Donavan was there, acting opposite him.

For the next few scenes, it was easy for Donavan to act enamored with Faustino’s character; he knew the boy looked perfect, and he enjoyed acting opposite him, feeling a swell of pride each time he saw his protégé on stage. Faustino had always been a quick learner, and he made all the rolls he played seem natural and perfectly feminine.

As they play progressed, everything was going perfectly, and everything was just beginning to develop in a serious way for their two characters. Looking longingly at Faustino, Donavan said as Claudio to Hero, “Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but a little happy if I could say how much. Lady, as you are mine, I am yours. I give myself for you, and dote upon the exchange.”

When the young boy who played Beatrice said laughingly to Faustino’s character, “Speak, cousin, or if you cannot, stop his words with a kiss and let him speak neither,” Donavan found himself wishing sorely that Hero did kiss Claudio… It was a silly thing to wish for now, however. They did kiss later, and it was an awkward proceeding. Donavan decided that he was just becoming too wrapped up in the character, and though it was probably good for his acting, it was not good for his mental wellbeing.

Faustino felt himself blush, and, surprisingly, it was completely unrelated to the act of innocent embarrassment he was in the process of putting on. He couldn't understand why he was suddenly really blushing; it wasn't as if it was really Donavan saying things like that to him, and even if it was...it was Donavan. He told himself it must be because he was so eager to please Donavan, that if he could say his lines so convincingly, Faustino must have been doing a good job, too. And so, with a smile, he was able to get back into his acting with ease. He had to keep it up, if he wanted to keep pleasing Donavan.

Everything continued to run smoothly right up to the last curtain. Donavan was very pleased, especially with his and Hero’s parts, and immediately went to find Faustino backstage. He helped the boy take the dress off without pulling out any of the pins and handed the garment to the seamstress who was collecting all of the costumes that needed repair. After the lady had bustled off with the collection of clothing, Donavan turned back to Faustino with a broad smile. “You were great today, and very convincing in that costume.” Donavan nodded. It was hard to imagine Faustino as a girl now that he was out of the dress. His boyish figure, which Donavan couldn’t help but look over, was lithe and lean; very unlike a girl’s form. With another rather uneasy smile, Donavan looked away and started taking off his own costume.

Faustino smiled proudly; Donavan's praise was the highest reward in his book, and he was delighted to have received it. He felt cheerful as he went about dressing and removing the heavy stage makeup, lightheartedness adding an extra lightness to his movements and a bounce to his step. He looked in the mirror as he straightened his cravat, then turned around to see if Donavan was ready to leave yet.

He turned back quickly; obviously, Donavan was not ready to go, as he was still undressing. Faustino blushed bright red at the sight of Donavan's bare buttocks as he pulled on his own pair of knickers. He knew that, in the acting business, it was often required that actors change in the same rooms, and he had seen Donavan partially undressed many times before, so he wasn't sure why he was reacting this way. His heart pounded against his chest, his face was burning up...he convinced himself he was just embarrassed for turning around at a bad moment, and asked, from his facing away position, "Are you ready to leave yet?" That way, he was safe from any accidental glances.

“Yeah.” Donavan said as he turned around to see Faustino facing the wall and standing stiffly. He finished buttoning his blouse, only going about half way up as was his custom, and dropped a hand onto Faustino’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” He inquired with regards to Faustino’s strange posture and body language.

Faustino started, turning quickly to face Donavan and trying to force himself not to think about what he had seen. "Yes, I'm fine!" he replied a little too hurriedly, offering a smile to make it more convincing. "I was just...um...well, anyway, let's go home." Trying to change the subject, Faustino made his way quickly to the door, then held it for Donavan. "I'm kind of hungry. What do you want to do about dinner?" As a child, Faustino had learned a little bit of cooking from his mother in an attempt to help her, and was making his best effort to get better now that he was living with Donavan, but he still wasn't very good. Still, Donavan never seemed displeased with his cooking, and he was determined to make it better. "I could cook something, if you want...?"

Donavan laughed at his reaction and followed Faustino out of the building. “I’m not sure, but if you’re up for cooking, by all means.” Donavan smiled. Faustino was so good at everything he did; it seemed that with each time he cooked, the food just got better and better. Donavan was happy to let Faustino practice on him, too. He wasn’t a picky eater, and even so, Faustino’s food really wasn’t all that bad.

They walked the short distance from the theater to their small hovel of an apartment and climbed the four flights of stairs up to the tiny flat. It was in a dingy rundown neighborhood, and the apartment itself was only two rooms, but it served their purpose, and they were lucky to have it. Donavan had managed to take some of his family fortune with him when they fled, but he wanted to use what they had sparingly so that they could prolong their emergency money. Besides, they had to keep up their front as poor actors; if they lived anywhere nicer, it would be far too suspicious.

Faustino, finally back to thinking normally, wandered into their meager kitchen/dining room/living room and dug around into the pantry to find something edible. He pulled out a near-empty sack of rice, poured the contents into their one pot, and filled the pot with water. Lighting the stove, he set the pot on, then pulled out the small piece of chicken Donavan had brought home that morning and began cutting it. Putting it in their only pan, he put that on the stove, as well. He stirred the rice, then looked over his shoulder to Donavan and said, "We're out of rice. Can you buy some more tomorrow morning?"

“All right, no problem.” Donavan said as he stowed away the few belongings they brought each day to the theater before collapsing onto their single decaying sofa. Their designated living area was across from the kitchen and the sofa provided a good enough vantage point; Donavan liked to watch what Faustino was doing, and also he liked being close enough in case the boy needed any help. He hardly did however, but Donavan didn’t mind just watching. “Oh,” Donavan said with a start, as he remembered something. “I bought some candy for you this morning, too.” He grinned as he began fishing around in a bag for the treat. They may have been tight on money, but there was no expense Donavan wouldn’t be willing to pay for Faustino, and he liked to make the boy happy however he could.

Faustino's face lit up, and, for a moment, he forgot cooking and being poor and everything else. "You did? Oh, thank you!" he exclaimed excitedly, hurrying over to accept the treat. He held it gingerly, looking at the three small pieces of chocolate. It was fairly good candy, too, something they really couldn't afford, but Faustino knew it was useless to argue with Donavan, so he just smiled. "Thank you, Donavan." He looked at his gift for another minute before setting it aside for later and turning back to dinner.

It was almost done, and so Faustino began setting their small table. He retrieved two of their three plates and their only two forks on the table, and washed their only cups, which he had left in the sink that morning. "Dinner's ready," he reported to Donavan, then returned to the stove to serve the dinner. It wasn't much, but they were lucky to be eating at all.

“Thanks,” Donavan grinned, “It looks great.” He took his customary seat at the table and poured them each a glass of ale before settling back into the chair. Faustino brought out the meal, and Donavan immediately began serving himself. He was always hungry by the time dinner rolled around, as they generally didn’t have the time or the means to eat much during the day. Their’s was a rather pitiful existence, but Donavan was happy, especially if Faustino was satisfied.

“It’s really good tonight, Faustino.” Donavan commented. “I think you got the chicken cooked just right this time.” He added as he finished off his portion of the bird. The rice was plain but filling and Donavan finished it quickly as well and leaned back in his chair to sip at the ale. It wasn’t, by any means, high quality, but it was decent enough. What he was really looking forward to however, was seeing the look of delight on Faustino’s face again when he got to eat the chocolate—Donavan liked seeing the stuff enjoyed even more then he liked eating it himself.

Faustino brightened; he was always excited when Donavan was pleased with what he did. "I'm really glad!" he replied, blushing slightly and smiling. Though he had always liked it when Donavan complemented him, it was strange how recently, he had been getting a sort-of fluttery feeling in his chest. He dismissed it, however, and instead focused on how quickly Donavan had eaten. He hated to think that they were too poor even to eat dinner properly, and so, hesitantly, asked, "Are you still hungry? I don't need all of mine, if you want some more." He pushed his plate towards Donavan slightly, hoping he could do something to help. Donavan was always taking care of him; as if breaking him out of prison wasn't enough, he had helped him escape and build a new life and taught him to act, and Faustino felt he had to do as much as he could to repay him.

“No, you eat it.” Donavan smiled, genuinely touched by Faustino’s offer. He was still a bit hungry, but it was more important that Faustino ate the food. “You’re still growing, and you need it more then I do.” Back in Gallia, Donavan was used to pretty easy living, and he was still getting used to the shift, but he was also determined to adjust, and the last thing he wanted was to compromise Faustino in anyway. “Besides, this will fill me up.” Donavan grinned, lifting his glass and taking a long swig of the drought.

Faustino hesitated slightly, then began to eat his food again. "All right," he replied slowly, "Well, if you want any, let me know." Dinner finished relatively quickly and quietly; when they were done, Faustino cleared the plates and put them in the sink before retrieving his candy from where he had set it earlier. He almost felt guilty having it, knowing that with the money, Donavan could have had more to eat, but he also knew that it was Donavan's choice, and there was nothing he could do about it now but be very thankful.

"Thank you again for buying these for me," he said reverently as he unwrapped the first candy slowly and deliberately. He didn't want to eat them too quickly, so he made sure to pull the paper away slowly, without ripping it. When he had finished removing the packaging, he took a small bite of the candy, then brightened. "Oh, wow, this is really, really good! Than you so much." He took another bite happily, forgetting for an instant that he was supposed to be being an adult.

Donavan grinned and placed his elbow on the table so he could lean against it. “I’m glad you liked it. I wanted to get you some high quality stuff…” Because everything else you have to eat is trash. Donavan didn’t say it out loud, but that had been his reasoning. Faustino always worked so hard, and so Donavan was happy to reward him with little treats whenever he could. Apart from that, Donavan thought it was good for Faustino to have the chance to really enjoy something and be able to act his age every once and a while. While he appreciated Faustino’s maturity, Donavan often worried that Faustino had been forced to grow up too soon because of everything he’d put him though, and Donavan felt that spoiling Faustino to the best of his abilities was his penance and the least he could do for the boy that meant to much to him.

As Faustino finished the last of the chocolates, he felt his eyelids growing heavy. The alcohol together with the long day at the theatre left him feeling drained and sleepy, and so he rose with a yawn. "I'm going to go to sleep now," he decided out loud, then turned and headed for the bedroom. Removing his jacket and cravat and setting them aside, Faustino sat down on the mattress on the floor that he and Donavan shared. He removed his shoes and stockings, setting them neatly with the rest of his clothes, then climbed under the one blanket. It was cold, and he shivered, pulling the thin blanket closer around his body. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the cold air around him and get some rest. Tomorrow was opening night, and he had to be well rested.

Donavan waited a few minutes out of courtesy, leaving Faustino plenty of time to change and get settled, before he too started for the room, undoing his cravat, jacket, and blouse as he went. As he sunk slowly down onto the mattress, he noticed that Faustino was shivering uncontrollably and began to worry. “Faustino?” He whispered gently as he reached over and rubbed Faustino’s back vigorously in an attempt to warm him up through pure friction. It didn’t seem to have too much affect however, and so Donavan decided that measures had to be taken. Tomorrow the play was to open—it would be a disaster if Faustino got sick—and it wasn’t just for the sake of the play, either. Donavan wanted to do everything he could to take care of Faustino, and he knew that making sure he stayed warm during the cold winter nights ought to be one of his top priorities. Slowly, carefully, Donavan extended and arm and placed it around Faustino’s trembling form as he scooted closer so that they were almost touching. “It’ll be warmer if you stay close.”

Faustino, in a state of semisomnia, felt Donavan's warm arm around him and immediately scooted himself backwards towards to source of warmth. Pressing his body up against Donavan's, he felt the shivering slow to a stop, and snuggled into the warmth gratefully. "Thank you..." he murmured sleepily, feeling more comfortable and secure than he had in a long time as he drifted off to sleep.

Donavan was a little surprised by the unexpected closeness, but he found he didn’t actually mind in the slightest. He smiled peacefully as he rearranged himself slightly to accommodate Faustino’s close proximity and position, before he too fell into a deep and contented sleep as well.

Donavan woke up before sunrise the next morning to the pleasant sound of Faustino’s steady breathing. All through the night, they’d remained close, and Donavan was glad to both see and feel that Faustino was no longer shivering, and that he actually felt quite warm. Sinking back contentedly into their low quality mattress, Donavan squeezed Faustino lightly. They still had a bit of time before they had to get up, and Donavan wanted to wait until Faustino woke up naturally.

Faustino slowly came into consciousness, vaguely aware of light shining in his eyes and a warmth around him. It was strange, he didn't recall the blanket being that warm or that heavy before, but he certainly wasn't complaining. He wanted to stay in the warm comfort and not get up, but he knew the show was today, and he had to get up and get ready, so, slowly, he forced his eyes open.

The first thing he saw was the sunlight streaming in around their tattered curtains, and he squinted and tried to roll over. He found, however, that there was an arm wrapped around his torso, and suddenly realized that the warmth was not coming from a blanket, but from Donavan, whose body he was pressed up against. Going bright red, he sat up abruptly, sputtering embarrassedly. What had gone on? He remembered last night being cold, and then managing to warm up and fall asleep...had he imposed on Donavan's space last night in an attempt to get warm? "I-I'm sorry!" he stuttered, flushed and flustered. "I-um-I didn't mean to impose on you."

Donavan laughed at sat up as well. “No, you weren’t imposing.” He smiled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “I didn’t want you to be cold, so I…I didn’t mind.” He concluded, suddenly feeling a bit awkward about it. Really, seeing Faustino be so embarrassed made it seem like a bigger deal then it was, and Donavan felt slightly embarrassed now as well. However, he shook it off and got up out of bed. “We should get ready to go.” He said quickly.

Faustino, though still blushing, managed to calm down a little. "A-all right, as long as you don't mind..." He stood also, hurrying over towards the small wooden box in which he kept his few outfits. He withdrew a clean shirt and pair of knickers, then began unbuttoning the shirt he was currently wearing. His face was hot, however; he could still feel Donavan's bare skin pressed against him, and it was making his heart race (with embarrassment, of course.) In addition, for the first time, he was feeling somewhat awkward about changing while Donavan was in the room. They had always gotten dressed in the same room; they didn't have a whole lot of space, and there was the mutual understanding that no one was looking, and they would stay in their own corners of the room. Still, now, as he hurriedly stripped off his dirty clothes and replaced them with clean ones, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. On top of it all was the worry that he would turn around too early accidentally again, and so, he stood, feeling awkward facing the corner, not really sure of what to do besides try desperately not to think about the fact that he spent the whole night pressed against Donavan.

When Donavan finished dressing, he looked over to see if Faustino had changed as well, and once again found him staring awkwardly at the corner. Donavan laughed amusedly at Faustino’s resent strange behavior and walked over to where he stood. “Are you ready?” he asked grinning. “You don’t have to feel so embarrassed, you know.” He added reassuringly. “I didn’t mind.”

"Um! Yeah, I'm ready, sorry," Faustino replied hurriedly, turning around abruptly and looking up at Donavan. "Sorry, I...um...I guess we should hurry and get some food before the show," he said lamely, changing the subject. "Let's go." He gave Donavan a lingering look before walking out of the room, trying desperately to fight down his blush.

The entire walk to the store and most of the time they were buying food, Faustino kept being distracted by the lingering sensation of the close proximity to Donavan, and, as a result, he was acting rather bizarrely. Whenever Donavan would ask him something, he would stutter and blush, and, no matter what he tried to do about it, he couldn't make it stop. It was stupid, really, really stupid, so why was he doing it? Still, they managed to buy a small pastry to share for breakfast and some bread and cheese for dinner in between shows, then headed off for the theatre.

Donavan figured Faustino was acting strangely because of his nerves about the play, and was worrying about him for most of their trip to the store. No matter what Donavan said to him, Faustino always replied embarrassedly. Donavan could only hope Faustino would get a hold of himself by the time the first performance began, though, or everything would be a disaster.

When they arrived at the theater, their now repaired and fitted costumes were pressed into their arms, and they immediately went off to change. They had to make sure everything was perfect for the matinee performance. They found a corner out of the way and stashed their dinner before they began dressing hurriedly. This time, Donavan wanted to have plenty of time to spend on Faustino’s makeup, and he hoped that he would ease into everything as they prepped and calm his nerves.

Faustino allowed Donavan to lace him into his dress with an uneasy smile; he was finally beginning to get over his embarrassment, though he probably had nerves for the play to thank for that. By the time Donavan had done his hair and was starting with his makeup, he had managed to get his focus completely on the play, and smiled up at him. "Thanks for helping me get ready. Do you need me to help with your makeup?"

“If you would, that would be great, since we have time today.” Donavan grinned as he put the finishing touches on Faustino’s lips. He looked fabulous, of course—like a perfect and attractive young lady. Sometimes, Donavan worried that he found Faustino a little too good looking, but he knew it helped him play his roll accurately, and figured it really wasn’t a detriment. They earned their living based on how well they could act, and so even if it was a little strange, it helped get them their food. Besides, Donavan didn’t really think about it off stage; Faustino was a little boy, his protégé, and really, he had no business thinking about it at all. With a small smile, Donavan passed Faustino the supplies and closed his eyes so that Faustino could apply the base coat.

Faustino dipped a wool swab in the base and began applying the makeup to Donavan's face, taking care to make it even. Though he looked a little silly in stage makeup (but didn't everyone?), Faustino had recently begun noticing that Donavan was really a very handsome man, and wondered why he hadn't married or ever dated. He assumed Donavan just didn't have the time or desire, and for this, Faustino was eternally grateful. He knew it was silly and selfish, but he didn't want someone else to take Donavan away from him. He was the only thing Faustino had in the world, and Faustino cared about him more than anything else. Even with this strange new development of embarrassment, Faustino knew that he could never survive without Donavan.

Finishing off the makeup, Faustino smiled. "You're all set. They're probably going to call places in a few minutes, so we ought to be ready."

Donavan grinned taking a quick look at his makeup in the small mirror. It looked excellent of course, and he stood up quickly, pushing their box of makeup into a corner with his foot. “Right.” Donavan nodded, and they headed off to their starting places for the first scene.

Donavan listened to Faustino deliver his first few lines, and was pleased to hear that he sounded brilliant. All of his apprehension must have dissipated in time for the show, for which Donavan was extremely grateful.

When Donavan entered the stage, he spent the time before he had his first lines steeling glances at Faustino, as he was supposed to. Remarkably, Faustino looked very good in the bright stage light, and he stood with the perfect ease of a woman. Later, it was easy for Donavan to be enamored with Faustino’s character and say to the actor playing Benedick, “That I lover her, I feel.”

However, speaking such awful and accusatory lines to Faustino when it came time for their character’s wedding was a little difficult; Faustino seemed truly distraught and upset, and Donavan felt a little bad when he declared, “Fair thee well, most fowl, most fair! Farewell! Thou pure impiety and impious purity! For thee, I’ll lock up the gates of love, and on my eyelids shall conjecture hang to turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, and never shall it be more gracious.”

Faustino felt a strange pang of hurt at what Donavan was saying. It was the character, he assured himself, not Donavan saying such cruel things to him, and so he pushed the thought from his mind. Still, it allowed him to react accordingly, he even managed to let some tears well in his eyes, and, when he had to faint a little bit later, he did so with perfect ease, dropping to the ground as if he were dead.

Things got better for Hero nearing the end of the play, and Faustino was happy when Donavan removed his mask and found it to be him, not Beatrice. He allowed himself to be swept up and kissed, and he tried not to think about the fact that it was Donavan kissing him, focused on the play, and acting innocently happy and all, and somehow, he managed, because the audience applauded when they bowed at the end, and everyone congratulated one another on the good job before dispersing in the time they had between shows.

Faustino was still working on getting his brain to function normally when he and Donavan, having gotten out of their costumes for their few hour break, met up again to eat dinner. Still, he managed to act normally somehow, and smiled. "Good job today. Your acting was really good."

Donavan smiled at the complement. “Thank you. You were really great today, too. It’s easy to act when whoever you’re with is doing such a brilliant job.” Donavan grinned. “You’re very convincing.” He added with a laugh. Donavan knelt and retrieved their dinner, a loaf of bread and cheese, and began slicing both food items with his dagger, divvying up the pieces as he went.
"Thanks," Faustino replied with a smile, accepting his dinner. He was feeling rather optimistic; their first show had gone very well, and they were sure to have a decent length run if they continued this way. Still, the kiss was still slightly worrying him; he wasn't sure why he was acting so strange about it, but it would have to stop. He tried to think of ways, but the only thing he could think of was to practice and beat it out of his system. Later he'd have to talk to Donavan about rehearsing the scene at home; the last thing he wanted was for that scene to get messed up on stage. It was a fairly decent plan, he decided.

That settled, he was able to enjoy the rest of his dinner with Donavan, and their little bit of down time before the next show. After a while, however, he rose with a decisive nod. "I guess we should start getting ready again."

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” Donavan agreed, getting to his feet and looking around for Faustino’s dress. Locating it, he helped Faustino slip into his costume and laced it up for him before he started to get dressed for the play himself. They redid each other’s makeup, and before long, they were back out on stage. Donavan felt that their second performance went, if possible, even better then the first on had, and as they concluded the final scene, with the kiss, he felt a swell of happiness well up inside him. Faustino was amazing, he truly was, and Donavan was completely impressed with his performances. Everything seemed so genuine in Faustino’s acting…it was almost enough to make Donavan believe it were real. Faustino was truly very skilful, and Donavan was proud to act along side him.

After the play was over, they changed quickly in silence before leaving the theater. Their last show was a late one, and it was very dark when they got out. Still they made their way back to their apartment without any hassle. Donavan was glad to be done for a little while; tomorrow was a Sunday, and they had the day off. Acting took a lot out of him, and he was looking forward to the break. “I’m pretty tired,” Donavan said with a yawn. “I’m going to go to bed right away tonight. How about you?”

Faustino yawned also, but shook his head. "I'm going to take a shower, if you don't mind." The stage makeup had made his face feel gritty and dry, and all the hot stage lights had made him feel generally gross overall. "I'll be in bed after that, so I'll try not to wake you."

When they got inside the apartment, Faustino bid Donavan good night before heading for their tiny bathroom. Stripping off his clothes, he turned on the water, hoping he'd be able to use some hot water before it ran out. Luckily, warm water ran out of the faucet, and he quickly got in, not wanting to waste any.

As he washed his face and body, Faustino's mind wandered back over the events of the day. The play had gone well, and they were definitely going to have a job for some time, which was very good. Maybe, if it got popular enough, they'd get a raise, and they'd be able to eat properly, which would be nice. Still, the continuation of the play also meant that he was going to have to continue to kiss Donavan, and he definitely needed to get over whatever strange reaction he was having to him. He could still feel Donavan's lips against his, and his body had not forgotten the sensation of Donavan's body pressed up against him...

Faustino tried desperately to push the thought from his mind, but, strangely, after a few minutes, his will faded. A strange feeling was growing in his lower abdomen, but it didn't necessarily feel bad... Then, all of a sudden, Faustino realized what was happening. This had happened to him a couple of times before, and he had tried to make it stop, because he knew it was wrong. But now it was happening to him again, and he was stupid to have let it, but there was nothing he could do now but take care of it...

Donavan stripped down to his knickers and slipped under their single blanket, shutting his eyes and waiting for sleep to come. However, he felt too distracted to fall asleep just then. It was cold, and Donavan missed having Faustino so close…Additionally, Donavan kept thinking back to his and Faustino’s kiss. As much as he tried not to think about it, he simply couldn’t push it from his mind. It was…it had been really nice to feel so close and connected to him in another way than just as student and mentor. But, it was wrong for Donavan to think that way and he knew it. Faustino was still just a child, and Donavan had to be responsible. Though he hadn’t had a woman since long before they’d fled from Gallia, it was still no excuse to be projecting his own urges on to a child. With a sigh, Donavan rolled onto his side feeling disgruntled and dissatisfied.

He could hear the shower running from the bathroom through the thin wall, and found himself unconsciously listening to the sound of the water falling. Faustino would have to hurry if he didn’t want to get the cold stuff… As Donavan’s mind started to wander however, he was jolted back to the sound of a small stifled cry. He sat bolt upright in a small panic, wondering what had happened to Faustino. He realized after a moment though, what Faustino was up to. Feeling guilty for listening, Donavan lay back down and pulled the covers up over his face. He really really didn’t want to be thinking about Faustino…especially not in that sense. It wasn’t healthy.

The water began to turn cold just as Faustino was washing himself off, and he hurried to get out of the shower so that he didn't catch a chill. He felt extremely guilty not only having touched himself, but having done so while thinking of Donavan. He knew this had to stop, and the only way he could think of was forcing himself to stop thinking about it while he was actually around Donavan. He quickly dried himself off with the one tattered towel and pulled his knickers and shirt back on before making his way back to the bedroom and quietly climbing into bed. He was cold again, because he was wet, but he was sure Donavan was already asleep, so he wouldn't have to worry about being put into another situation that would make him think bad thoughts. Pulling the covers over his slightly shivering body, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

Donavan was still awake when he heard Faustino come into the room and crawl into their bed, and he waited only a minute before he rolled over closer to him. “It’s cold again tonight…and you’re wet.” He stated the obvious dumbly as he snaked an arm over Faustino. “I don’t want you to catch a cold…”

"T-thanks," Faustino managed, feeling himself blush again. Donavan really did mean well, and he felt bad for perverting the meaning of his actions in his mind. He fought any inappropriate thoughts from his mind, however, and focused on the fact that he was now warm. Relaxing into the comfort of Donavan's arms, he fell softly to sleep, assuring himself that he'd fix everything tomorrow...

Faustino awoke the next morning to light streaming into his eyes, and he was glad that he had gotten to sleep in. He still felt a little groggy, but he was looking forward to relaxing before another week of shows. He tried to roll over, then realized that Donavan was still there, draped over him to keep him warm. He blushed slightly, but fought it down and smiled. "Good morning."

“Good morning.” Donavan replied sleepily lifting his arm off of Faustino and using it to push himself into a sitting position. It was already bright in the room, and Donavan was glad they’d been able to sleep in so late. However, even on their day off, they still had to get a few things done. Donavan rubbed his eyes and rolled his shoulders before getting to his feet. “Shall we go get some breakfast?” He asked cheerfully as he started to pull on a shirt.

The fact of the matter was, he was trying very hard to act perfectly normal, and he was worried he was coming off as a bit fake. Last night, though he’d appreciated the extra warmth, he’d had a lot of trouble keeping his thoughts from wandering to what he’d heard, how he now felt, and of the body pressed up against him. He’d even gone so far as to justify his recent…feelings with the fact that, as Faustino was at least old enough to be wanting the same thing, it was only natural that he started to recognize him as something other than a child. Still though, Faustino may have been old enough to want it, but he was not old enough to really understand what it was and meant. Donavan was his over twice his age and had to be responsible.
Faustino smiled also. "Yeah, sounds good, he replied, taking out fresh clothes to change into, as well. He made a point of changing extremely slowly, so that there was no chance of him turning around and accidentally seeing something that would make him feel the wrong way. When he finally was done, he turned with a smile, and together, they headed out for groceries.

Donavan seemed to be acting somewhat strangely to Faustino as they went about getting their food for the day, but he pushed it aside and figured it was his mind working strangely again. He was confident that today, he would finally manage to get himself back to normal, and therefore in a fairly good mood. Having purchased some mutton for dinner, they spent a little extra to have bread and fruit for breakfast, since they had already been paid for the first two shows, then made their way home again.

They were just finishing breakfast when Faustino brought up his question. "Um...I was feeling a little unrehearsed on the last scene...would you mind practicing it with me later today?" He assumed Donavan wouldn't mind, it wasn't as if they had anything better to do, after all.

“The last scene?” Donavan asked slowly. He looked at the wall quickly and bit his lip. The last scene!? He repeated in his head. Surely, surely Faustino didn’t really need work on that; he’d seemed perfect on stage. Too perfect, in fact, for Donavan had been constantly thinking about those two kisses as well. Really, he didn’t think he could handle “practicing kissing” Faustino; it would simply be too difficult to restrain himself. He had to get things under control first, before they did anything like that… “Ah-are you sure you need w-work with that one?” He stuttered slightly. “Because I thought you did it just f-fine.”

Faustino blinked, wondering why Donavan was acting so strangely. "Yes...is that all right...? If you don't want to, that's fine...I just felt like I needed to run it a few more times." Maybe Donavan had other plans...? Or maybe, he just didn't want to...? Faustino wasn't sure, but Donavan's sudden strangeness worried him slightly, and he furrowed his brows with concern.

“Ahh, no. It’s not that I don’t want to…” He wished that he didn’t want to as badly as he now did, “I just thought you…had done pretty well with it, is all.” Donavan managed an insecure little smile and hoped he didn’t sound as strained as he thought he might. He wondered vaguely weather Faustino really did think he needed work on the scene, or if it were just his hormones starting to kick in… Donavan hoped it was truly for the sake of practice; he didn’t know if he could keep it together otherwise.

Faustino smiled back. "Thank you, I'm glad you think so. I just feel like I need to run it one or two more times," he clarified, hoping that Donavan really didn't mind. He only needed to make sure he could get a hold of himself, and then everything would be fine.

The day went by relatively uneventfully; day melted into evening, and soon, Faustino started on an early dinner so that they could get lots of rest before the next day's shows. Still, as they ate dinner, Faustino couldn't help be feel an air of awkwardness from Donavan, and he wondered what was wrong. He supposed the best thing would be to get it all over with, and get everything back to normal as soon as possible.

Clearing the dishes, Faustino made sure to smile politely as he asked, "Is it all right if we practice that scene now?"

Donavan took a deep breath before looking back at Faustino and returning the smile. “Yes, I don’t see why not.” He said, making sure to keep his voice steady and cheerful. They moved out into their small living space, and Donavan tried to clear his head and not think about this as anything more then a little acting exercise. It was his responsibility to teach Faustino everything he needed to know so that they could continue to act, so running through scenes Faustino was having trouble with was his responsibility, regardless of what the scene was.

“Shall we start from where Claudio removes the veil?” Donavan asked feeling slightly uncertain.

"That's fine," Faustino replied with a smile, moving into his position opposite Donavan. He waited, looking a little anxious, while Donavan said his lines and removed the imaginary veil. When Donavan, as Claudio, realized who was behind the veil, Faustino smiled back, playing the part just as if he were in the theatre. Then, the moment of truth came, and their lips touched; Faustino's heart leapt and he blushed. He tried desperately to lessen the reaction, but it was all over so quickly that there was little he could do. Disappointed with himself, he smiled apologetically and asked, "Could we do it one more time?"

The second run was a little better than the first; he managed not to blush so much, but his heart still fluttered and sped, and he knew it wouldn't do. He apologized again. "Could we maybe do it one more time, please?"

Donavan blinked, glancing side long at the floor. It was getting increasingly difficult now for him to keep himself from going any further then the quick kiss the script demanded, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could bare. “Yeah…I think we can try it once more…” He said slowly, moving back to start again. Clearing his voice he began, “Give me your hand. Before this holy Friar, I am your husband, if you like of me.” Donavan barely heard Faustino’s reply, he was trying very hard to steady his shaking limbs and breathe normally as he took a hesitant step forward and pretended to lift a veil at the appropriate cue. “…Another Hero…” He choked, leaning a little closer as Faustino said his next lines flawlessly. Then slowly, when the other characters would have been speaking, Donavan pressed his lips to Faustino’s. At the sensation overwhelmingly pleasurable sensation however, Donavan felt all his sense and judgment leave him. He should have pulled away, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it, not now, not after he’s had to endure so many brief and unfulfilled exchanges. He pressed forward closer, deepening the kiss slightly and lifting a hand to Faustino’s full, boyish cheek. It was in was in that instant however, that Donavan realized what he was doing. He pulled back quickly, stumbling backwards and falling to the floor. “I’m sorry!” He said hastily looking away. “I-I didn’t mean for that to happen!”

Faustino blushed, his heart was racing, and for once, he didn't care. Donavan had kissed him. And not just stage-kissed him, really, really kissed him. If Donavan had really kissed him, then...then it was okay? It was okay for him to be feeling this way about Donavan? Faustino felt as if a weight had lifted off his shoulders, and suddenly, he could almost laugh. All this time he had been fighting it, when it was really okay. After all, if Donavan had done it, then it must be okay.

Without even another thought, Faustino took a few steps forward, then dropped to his knees in front of where Donavan had fallen. Smiling reassuringly, he placed a hand softly on Donavan's shoulder and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. It felt so right...Faustino knew this was exactly what he had wanted for so long.

Donavan’s eyes went wide with shock as he felt Faustino’s lips against his, and he considered pulling away again. However, it seemed that sort of movement was completely beyond his control now, and all he could do was press back into the kiss, relishing the feeling and the moment. When he pulled away to breathe however, all of his responsibility came flooding back to him, and found himself feeling terribly guilty for allowing the second kiss to last as long as it did. “Faustino…” He said weakly, “We…I shouldn’t be doing this. I’m sorry I let it happen but…” he looked back longingly at the other, and felt now that he wouldn’t be able to continue to exist with out this...he just couldn’t put a stop to it now. “I-I’m sorry.” He choked, leaning forward once again and kissing Faustino hard on the lips.

Faustino was troubled by Donavan's apologies, and kissed him back reassuringly. After a few moments, he pulled away softly and smiled at Donavan. "Don't be sorry. I don't want you to be sad. I love you." Donavan seemed surprised to hear him say this, so he decided to continue. "You've always been there for me and taken care of me...I love you, Donavan. So please don't be sad?" He looked hopefully at Donavan.

Donavan felt his heart melt. Just to hear Faustino say that made everything seem alright. To know that Faustino loved him, even after all that he’d put the boy through, was a relief. Still, he couldn’t help but feel another pang of guilt. Donavan really, truly had manipulated him, taken advantage of all of his innocence and sculpted him to be perfect in everything he did. And he was. And Donavan was in love with him for it. It was then that Donavan made himself numb to the remorse that plagued him—it was easy to do; he’d had lots of practice before—and looked into Faustino’s eyes. “I love you too.” He said softly. “You could never make me sad, Faustino…” Donavan shut his eyes and collected himself. There was nothing he could do now, there was no turning back. This was how it was going and he would have no regrets.

Donavan took Faustino by the shoulder and pulled him gently in closer, catching his lips in another kiss. This time, he ran his tongue over the boy’s lips, pressing for entrance. Of course Faustino obliged, and parted his lips slightly so that Donavan could seize the opportunity and push deep inside the other’s mouth. He ran a hand over Faustino’s chest, gently caressing the young boy’s form and testing for a reaction.

Faustino kissed back, feeling overwhelmingly happy that Donavan wasn't sad and loved him, too. He moaned softly against Donavan's lips and wrapped his arms around Donavan's neck, moving closer to him.

Donavan broke the kiss abruptly, shifting positions and getting to his knees so he could have the angle he desired. Slowly, he moved yet a little closer and lowered his head, biting Faustino lightly on the neck. He then slipped his hand deftly up underneath the boy’s shirt and dragged his fingers over the sensitive skin. Donavan moved carefully up the boy’s neck and paused before nibbling lightly at his ear as his hand moved lower, pressing against Faustino through his knickers. “Is this what you want, Faustino?” Donavan murmured breathily into his ear.

Faustino inhaled sharply, feeling his body already reacting to Donavan's touch. "Yes," he managed, but his voice was tight and strained. This was definitely what he wanted, he wanted Donavan, more than anything else in the world. Squirming slightly, he pressed closer to Donavan, longing for more contact.

Donavan smirked hungrily. That was all the encouragement he needed. Pushing another bruising kiss to Faustino’s lips, he caught Faustino quickly by the back of his legs and managed to get to his feet, hoisting Faustino up as well, so that Faustino was straddling his hips. Donavan grunted both with the effort of lifting the boy, and with the pleasure of their hips grinding together, as he shifted Faustino’s weight, cupping his buttocks and hitching him up a little higher so that he could walk to the bedroom. Inside, Donavan practically dropped Faustino onto the mattress and clambered over him, pressing their bodies together urgently and kissing Faustino hard, and without restraint.

Faustino moaned softly against Donavan's lips, arching up against Donavan and kissing back fervently. He wanted so badly to feel Donavan's skin against his own, but was unsure of what Donavan wanted him to do. Tentatively, he tangled his hands in Donavan's long hair and pulled it free of its ribbon, murmuring softly against Donavan's lips as if asking for approval.

Donavan grunted his sanction, wriggling out of his jacket and already open vest before tugging at Faustino’s cravat and tossing it aside as well. He broke the kiss and hurriedly began undoing the buttons of Faustino’s blouse, urgently pressing his mouth to the skin he revealed beneath. Licking and biting his way down the boy’s torso, Donavan finished with the other’s blouse and pulled away briefly, just long enough to get his own off, before he pressed back against Faustino, relishing the feel of Faustino’s bare skin against his own.

Pressing up against Donavan, Faustino moaned his delight to feel Donavan's skin against his own before once again pressing his lips to Donavan's desperately. Wrapping his arms around Donavan's neck, he tried to pull even closer, to get more contact.

Running his fingers over Faustino’s bare chest, Donavan slid a hand under the waistband of Faustino’s knickers and began to slowly work the buttons undone as his other hand moved to cup Faustino through the knickers, squeezing lightly.

Faustino squirmed under Donavan's touch, letting out a small cry of surprise and pleasure. He wiggled his hips, trying to hurry the process slightly; it seemed as if Donavan was taking ages.

Donavan finished with the buttons at last and took advantage of Faustino’s wriggling to pull the knickers down off of his hips and around his legs. He moved quickly off of Faustino and pulled them the rest of the way off before he began working at his own. With his knickers successfully removed and cast aside, Donavan returned to Faustino, pressing eagerly against him and grinding their hips together, moaning with sheer pleasure as he pushed another kiss to Faustino’s lips.

Faustino's cry was swallowed in the kiss, and he mewled against Donavan's lips, desperately pressing his hips back against Donavan's. He grasped the blanket beneath him, overwhelmed with the feelings.

Drawing back slowly, Donavan cast about the room for something they could use as lubricant. He caught site of the box of makeup, only a few feet away, and a smirk crawled across his face. That would do just fine, he thought. Crawling over to where the box sat, he opened it roughly and searched through the box unceremoniously, far too impatient to take his time. He found what he’d been looking for, the base makeup. It was viscous and oily, the perfect thing to use with their limited resources. Moving back over Faustino, he dipped his fingers into the stuff, and grasped Faustino’s erecting with his other hand as he pressed the first digit inside.

Faustino looked up, trying to figured out what Donavan was doing as he rummaged through the makeup box. He lost his train of thought, however, and inhaled sharply at Donavan's hand on him, trying to ignore the slight discomfort. He squirmed slightly, biting his lip and squeezing his eyes shut.

As Donavan inserted the next finger, he brought his lips to Faustino’s roughly, and stroked his length from base to tip. Working to stretch the muscle, Donavan pushed a little deeper inside, curling his fingers before adding the third and spreading them apart. Faustino was understandably very tight, and Donavan liked to flatter himself by wondering how he would fit. Still, he knew it would be well worth the effort when he had the other fully prepared, and deepened the kiss zealously as he continued to work at stretching the muscle and making sure Faustino was used to the discomfort.

Faustino moaned softly against Donavan's lips, kissing back fervently. He squirmed a little more, but had always been good at ignoring things he needed to ignore, and he trusted Donavan knew what he was doing.

At last satisfied with his preparations, Donavan withdrew his fingers slowly, once again dipping his hand into the makeup, and lathering a think coat of the stuff over his length. Then, repositioning Faustino’s legs and lifting one over his shoulder, he lined himself up over Faustino’s opening. With a moan of pleasure, he eased his way inside, bracing himself against Faustino’s hips and resisting the urge to drive forward unrestrainedly. He didn’t want to be over eager, and enjoyed the buildup anyway. He was sure Faustino would learn patience eventually, but didn’t want to keep him waiting nevertheless, and encircled Faustino’s erection with his hand, pumping it as he withdrew slightly and pushed back in deeper.

Faustino rocked his hips up, moaning at Donavan's touches. As Donavan began to thrust deeper inside of him, he was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of sheer pleasure. Crying out, he bucked his hips involuntarily, trying to allow Donavan even deeper penetration.

Donavan picked up the pace slightly and angled his thrusts; lifting Faustino’s other leg as well so that he had greater control. As Faustino arched up into him, meeting his every thrust, Donavan continued to get deeper and drive harder, and he grasped Faustino tightly, keeping time to his rhythm with his hand.

Faustino cried out as Donavan thrust inside of him again and again, sending waves of pleasure through his body. The feeling, combined with the feeling of Donavan's hand on him, was too much, and it pushed him over the edge. He came, crying out Donavan's name.

Donavan knew Faustino’s age and inexperience were sure to factor into how long he lasted, but as with all things, Donavan was impressed by his performance. Donavan thrust forward the final time he needed to reach his own climax, and moaned incoherently as his vision swam and he spilled his seed deep inside Faustino. Pulling out slowly, Donavan untangled their bodies and collapsed next to Faustino, pulling him into an embrace.

There was makeup everywhere, and they were both sticky with cum and sweat, but Donavan couldn’t be bothered now. “You’re amazing, Faustino…” Donavan murmured, placing a tender kiss on Faustino’s lips. “Thank you.” Donavan paused for a long time, finding it almost difficult to say, “...I love you.”

As Faustino recovered and his vision returned to him, he snuggled into Donavan's arms, for the first time glad for the embrace. "I love you, too, Donavan," he replied sleepily, feeling warm and content. Curling up in the embrace, he drifted off to sleep, feeling happier than he had in a long time.

Donavan stayed awake for a long time after he felt Faustino drift off in his arms. He was reflecting on what it meant to be in love. He’d always known that he was deeply attached to Faustino, but it had never occurred to him before that it was love, or that he could fall in love, especially with someone so young. But now, he thought that he really was in love. This had felt like more then just the casual sex Donavan was used to; it had a deeper meaning somehow. Donavan wasn’t sure why, but he was happy, surprisingly so, and he was satisfied to admit fully to himself that he was indeed in love. Thus appeased, Donavan fell asleep contentedly basking in the warmth of Faustino curled up in his arms.

Donavan made a special effort to get up early the next morning; he knew they both needed showers before they went into work, and wanted to make sure they had plenty of time. Rousing Faustino gently, he informed the other of what he was doing, and offered to share so that they could both have hot water.

Faustino awoke to Donavan shaking him gently, and slowly opened his eyes. It was barely light out, and, for a moment, he wondered why he was getting up so early, even on a work day. When Donavan explained their need for a shower, however, his memories of the night before suddenly hit him, and he blushed, sitting up. He felt sore and sticky all over, and would be glad to take a shower. Slightly embarrassedly, he agreed to take the shower with Donavan, and rose, following him to the bathroom.

The water took a few moments to heat up, and they quickly got in, trying to waste as little as possible. It was a small shower, and Faustino couldn't help brushing against Donavan a little as he went about cleaning himself off, blushing deeply the whole time.

Donavan stole a few glances at Faustino every so often. He was slightly concerned about his condition and how he was fairing after everything, but it felt a little too awkward to bring up, and so he kept to his own business as he cleaned himself off. Donavan knew the hot water wouldn’t last long enough to wash his hair, but just by getting it a little wet he was able to tame it back into a ponytail. By the time he was satisfied with his level of cleanliness, the hot water was just starting to turn lukewarm, and he stepped out of the shower abruptly, wanting to give Faustino some space if he needed it. Donavan then toweled himself off quickly and went to the other room to dress.

Faustino hurried to finish washing his hair as the water turned cold, getting out only a few minutes after Donavan as the water became intolerable. The shower had really woken him up, and now, as he padded back into the bedroom to get dressed, he felt fully rejuvenated.

After pulling on his clothes and putting his hair up, he turned back to Donavan, smiling hesitantly. It worried him that Donavan had been so quiet that morning. "Are you feeling all right, Donavan...?" he asked tentatively, "You've been kind of quiet...have I done something wrong?" He certainly hoped not, because he was feeling better than ever, and was hoping to share the feeling with the one he loved.

Donavan smiled and took a step closer to Faustino. “No, not at all.” He said quietly, bending his knees placing a kiss on Faustino’s lips. “Quite the contrary, in fact.” Donavan grinned as he straightened up after breaking the kiss. “I’ve just been thinking a lot…” He trailed and looked over Faustino, admiring everything about him. “…about how much I love you.”

Faustino blushed. "I'm glad," he said brightly, "because I love you, too, a lot!" He bubbled happily for a moment, smiling up at Donavan, before adding sheepishly, "We probably ought to go get breakfast before we have to go to the theatre. Do you want to...um...pack up the makeup?" He blushed again shifting embarrassedly.

Donavan laughed, forgetting the mess he’d made. “Yeah, I’ll get that together.” He said kneeling to try and sort it all out. “I think we might need to buy some new base stuff.” He said as he salvaged what was left of theirs. “Or else find something else that would work.” He added with a rather devious grin.

After he’d righted the makeup, they set off to purchase something for breakfast. After they spent money on an extravagant thing for yesterday’s morning meal, they were back to a pastry to split. Donavan didn’t mind however, and enjoyed sharing with Faustino. After they finished their meager meal, they made their way to the theater and quickly set about changing and getting ready for the performance.

Faustino allowed Donavan to lace him into his dress and do up his hair, then opened the makeup box and began getting the cases out for Donavan. He sat patiently as he put the stuff on his face, but began feeling strangely impatient, and, by the time Donavan was doing his lips, he was almost fidgety. Feeling a little mischievous, he smiled as he looked in the mirror. "I think I have a little too much, don't you think?" He grinned up at Donavan, putting a hand on his shoulder and pulling him down slightly to press a quick kiss to his lips. The grin remained firmly on his face, though he was blushing slightly. "There, I think that's better."

Donavan licked his lips, smirking broadly. “I think you’re right. It’s definitely much improved.” If it weren’t for the makeup, Donavan was sure he’d be all over Faustino now, but he would have to get used to practicing restraint, and so he passed the supplies to Faustino and waited patently for him to begin. As Faustino lifted the brush to apply the base however, Donavan took hold of his hand and kissed it lavishly, hoping that would do for now.

Faustino blushed, and his hand felt as if it was on fire. "Come on, if you don't let me do your makeup, we'll miss our cues, and that wouldn't do us any good. After the play, you can do whatever you like." He grinned at Donavan before starting on his makeup.

They finished just before places were called, and Faustino hurried to the wings. For once, he wasn't nervous at all that anything would go wrong, and was more excited than ever to act opposite Donavan. His cue came, and he glided onstage, feeling positively wonderful.

Donavan watched Faustino whenever he got the chance and was completely impressed with his every line and each slight movement. He looked amazing, and beautiful, and Donavan was pleased to be able to admit that it wasn’t just because of his costume that he looked so good.

Donavan felt an increased confidence about his own performance as well; throughout the whole play, he felt so at ease, and knew that he was playing the part of a star-crossed suitor quite well, because he really truly felt in love. They both pulled through Donavan’s accusations of Faustino’s character, and when they got to the final scene, Donavan couldn’t have been more excited. “Give me your hand. Before this holy Friar, I am your husband, if you like of me.” He said passionately. When Faustino delivered his line, Donavan felt a swell of delight and happiness, and eagerly lifted the veil. “Another Hero!” He exclaimed delightedly. Donavan barely gave him time to say his line before he was pressing his lips to Faustino’s, in a fervid kiss.

Faustino placed his hand on Donavan's shoulder and kissed back enthusiastically for what seemed like far too short a time. When they broke apart, he smiled lovingly at Donavan. He was blushing bright pink and his heart was pounding, but, for once, he was perfectly happy with that.