Glossy [2/?]
Title: Glossy [2/?]
Author: Melly
Rating: Eventual MA/NC-17, kinda just PG-13 for now
Characters/Pairings: Joshua/Neku (main), Shiki/Eri, and Uzuki/Kariya.
Warnings: Language, eventual sexual situations, and alcohol use.
Spoilers: It’s an AU so not really? Except for the appearance of a certain someone you learn about in week 1, that is.
Summary: Model AU. All Neku wanted was a raise, but the so-called promotion from barista to assistant for a snobby, irritating, enigmatic model is one he could do without.
A/N: Ahh this took longer to get out than I wanted it to. Sorry for the wait, and thanks everyone for the comments and support. Enjoy!
Part 1
A text woke up Neku half an hour before his alarm did. He barely had time to fumble for his phone on bedside table and blearily peer at the screen before another followed. Resignedly, he sat up in bed, rubbing at his eyes and trying to will some clarity into his sleep-fogged mind. Both messages were from Mr. H, the first saying something about sending a schedule and a car coming over at nine to pick him up, and the second being the schedule in question.
A car? He got a chauffeur? Well, technically Joshua got one, but Neku seemed to be allowed to use his services to run errands, if the little note of be sure to get coffee and pastries @ La Maison above the first appointment of the day was any indication. Sighing, he set his phone aside and got up, not sure if moving from barista to delivery boy was actually an improvement. Regardless, he finished his morning routine, pausing only to grab his bag, and headed out of the apartment building with enough time to spare. A sleek black car was already parked across from the entrance, the diver leaning against the passenger-side door, checking his watch.
“Um. Hey.” Neku, feeling more than a little awkward, raised his arm in a slight wave to get the other’s attention.
“Oh, hello!” The driver instantly stood up straighter, offering his hand. “You must be Mr. Sakuraba. I’m your chauffeur, Makoto Miki, but most people just call me Mick. Very nice to meet you.”
“Same here… and you can just call me Neku.” He shook Mick’s hand quickly, noticing he looked a little startled at the suggestion of informality.
“Right. Where to this morning?”
“The schedule says something about a place called La Maison, but I have no idea where that is…” Neku checked his phone, just to make sure an address wasn’t included in the text.
“I do! No worries, Mr. Saku-er, Neku, sir.” Mick’s eagerness was downright overwhelming, and Neku was starting to feel uncomfortable. He could only hope the driver would relax a little over time, as unlikely as that seemed. “Just get in back and we’ll be there in no time.”
Neku did as suggested, settling down onto the plush leather seats and turning his head to peer out the window, watching the scenery roll by as they started to drive. He wasn’t one-hundred percent awake yet, the ride a blur until they rolled to a stop in front of a small café with a door painted sky blue and tables set outside, empty because of the cold. Neku slipped out of the car and quickly made his way into the shop, feeling a little better in the warmth of the interior, the smell of fresh bread and coffee washing over him. He realized that he had no idea what to get once he was standing in front of the counter, but he figured he could take his chances. First day, after all, so they had to cut him a little slack.
Once he was back in the car with the drinks and a pastry wrapped up in a white paper bag, Neku checked his phone, seeing that pick up Joshua was next. Relaying that information to Mick, he scrolled down a bit more, seeing an additional note of, text him if he’s not out by the time you’re there, followed by a cell number, which Neku grudgingly made a new contact for.
Fortunately, Joshua was standing outside by the time they pulled up, not looking impatient or irritated, so Neku supposed they were on time. He slid into the seat next to Neku without comment, giving a clipped smile to Mick when he chirped, “good morning Mr. Kiryu.” Wordlessly, Neku held out the coffee cup and pastry to Joshua, who raised an eyebrow before taking them.
“How did you know what to get me?” He asked, finally.
“I didn’t.” Neku shrugged, taking a long sip of his own drink.
“So you guessed? That’s not the way to make a good impression on your first day.” Joshua made a soft tsk noise, shaking his head, but Neku didn’t miss the way he was smirking. Asshole. “What is this, then?”
“You ordered a caramel macchiato yesterday, figured I couldn’t go wrong with that and a danish.”
“What sort-oh, blueberry.” Joshua made a face when he peered into the bag. “Well, since this is your first day, and I’m feeling generous, I suppose I can let this slide. Just remember I like apple next time.”
“What was I supposed to do, read your mind?” He glared over the rim of his cup, trying to convince himself that getting help from Eri and Shiki last night wouldn’t have made a difference. It wasn’t like magazine blurbs said what kind of danish the models liked, right? “You can’t expect me to-”
“Um. Neku, sir.” Mick cleared his throat. “I hate to interrupt, but you haven’t said where we’re going.”
“I-oh, sorry. Uh.” He scrolled through his phone quickly. “The Dragon Couture studios?”
“Roger.”
“You might’ve done that before we started driving.” Joshua tucked a bit of hair behind his ear, looking so impossibly smug Neku sustained a brief fantasy of pushing him out of the moving car. “Of course, you’re new, and I was told to expect you’d make mistakes. Lucky I’m so patient…”
“Any other requests, your highness?”
“You could keep calling me that.” He giggled, and Neku felt he might crack a molar from how hard he was grinding his teeth. “Has a nice ring to it.”
“Not a chance.” Shaking his head, Neku opted to finish his coffee and stare pointedly out the window, covering a small yawn with the back of his hand a minute later.
“Not a morning person?” Joshua couldn’t just leave him alone, could he?
“No,” Neku mumbled. “Mornings kind of suck.” Especially the one he was currently experiencing, but he decided not to mention that.
A short while later, they pulled up in front of a sleek, modern building, the glass doors imprinted with the logo of a green and red dragon winding around the handles. Neku said a quick thank you to Mick, who informed him the car would be back around at the end of the day when the shoot was done.
Following Joshua inside, Neku took a quick look around, noticing more dragon-themed décor, but considering the brand in question, he wasn’t exactly surprised. A secretary clicked away at a computer behind the desk directly across from the entrance, and after a pointed, irritated look from Joshua, Neku realized he was supposed to say something about their arrival.
“Hello?” He ventured.
“Yes, how can I help you?” The secretary barely spared him a glance.
“We’re here for a shoot.”
“We?” She turned away from her desktop finally, giving Neku an once-over, skepticism blatant.
“I mean-I’m not.” Obviously. “I’m Joshua Kiryu’s assistant, and-”
“Oh!” The secretary stood, smiling pleasantly now. “We’ve been expecting you. One moment please.” She fiddled with the Bluetooth headset on her left ear and started speaking to someone out of the room. Neku shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the tiles and trying to convince himself he imagined hearing a soft, lilting laugh behind him when he had said Joshua Kiryu’s assistant. A few minutes later and another woman, carrying a clipboard, emerged from one of the rooms hidden behind a jutting wall on the right side of the foyer. She paused when she finally got within speaking distance, only long enough to say a quick greeting before neatly pivoting back around and motioning for them to follow.
“I’m sorry for the rush,” she said as they walked. “If we want to get everything in, it has to meet a tight schedule. But I can’t tell you enough how lucky we feel to have you working with us, Mr. Kiryu.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Joshua replied smoothly, and Neku checked the urge to roll his eyes. Should have expected he was the kind of person able to turn on charm like a light switch.
“Well, the head photographer is doing some last minute lighting adjustments, so we’ll just get you into makeup.” The woman’s heels clicked as they went along a wide hallway, a smattering of crew workers and other models roaming about. She stopped at a door near the end of the corridor, Neku spotting the bright shine of stage lights around the corner, before unlocking it and ushering them inside. “The artists will be here in a few minutes. Just have a seat in front of the mirror, and if you need anything at all just tell your assistant, and he’ll relay it to us.” Neku was handed a small white business card with a cell number printed on it, which he tucked into his pocket.
After she left, Neku sunk down onto one of the plush chairs scattered about, looking over at the mirror on the adjacent wall, the table in front of it littered with brushes, bottles, thick white sponges, jars, and cases. Joshua seemed content to sit and flip through a magazine for the time being, so Neku thought it might be safe to take out his sketchbook, for just a little while.
“You draw?” He had barely gotten the vague outline of something down-twisted and dragon like, taking influence from all the decoration-when Joshua spoke up.
“Oh, yeah.” Neku shrugged one shoulder. “I do.”
“Just a hobby, or do you want to go to school for it?”
“I did go to school for it, actually.” He tapped the eraser of his pencil against the corner of the paper. He wasn’t sure what to make of Joshua’s curiosity, or what to make of himself answering everything freely. “For a year, and then I just-it wasn’t my thing.”
“I see.” Joshua hummed, thoughtfully, whatever he was going to say next lost in a brief burst of noise from a set of make-up artists entering the room. They paid no mind to Neku and went straight to work, Joshua settling back in his chair and letting them apply whatever they needed to, expression relaxed.
“You seem used to this.” He was starting to think that maybe he should take a little of Shiki and Eri’s advice if he didn’t want to be miserable. If he could learn enough about Joshua to make his life easier, that was all he needed.
“I’ve done it enough,” Joshua said lightly. “After a while, anything becomes wrote.”
“How long is a while?”
“You’ve become curious all of a sudden.” Joshua’s eyes slid closed as one of the artists swiped something over the lids.
“You started it,” Neku muttered. “And it’s a simple question.” Before Joshua could answer, or perhaps evade the inquiry entirely, one of the makeup artists interjected.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I need you to stop talking for just a minute, Mr. Kiryu.” He did as requested and Neku watched the artist, out of the corner of his eye, start to apply some sort of smoothing, lightly tinted balm. He noticed for the first time that Joshua’s lower lip was fuller than the upper one, pouty, the slow stroke of the angled makeup brush drawing attention to it, and Neku found himself staring.
“Three years.”
“I-what?” Neku jerked back, startled, nearly dropping his sketchbook. He hadn’t registered that the artists were finished, starting to pack up all the tools and supplies.
“How long I’ve been modeling.” Joshua stood out of his chair. “I have to go get changed for the shoot, but I’m sure you can find your own way out to where it will be.”
“Yeah, sure.” He sighed, wondering just how boring modeling shoots actually were to watch.
“You could stand to look a little more cheerful, you know.” The corners of Joshua’s mouth quirked up into a sly, amused smile, and Neku found his attention drawn to the other’s lips again--shit was this going to keep happening? “Not like you’re undergoing torture, here.”
Could’ve fooled me, Neku thought, but muttered quick, “see you out there” in response instead, procuring his sketchbook and bag before moving out into the hall, the door closing behind him with a soft click. It wasn’t even noon and he was exhausted.
So much for taking it easy on the first day.
****
To say Joshua was less than enthused to be getting an assistant would be an understatement. He expected someone fawning or professional and all too boring, but what he got instead was one Neku Sakuraba, who was neither of those things, and a thousand times more interesting for it. Sanae sometimes managed to surprise him in good ways, and he supposed this was one of those occasions. Where his agent found these people, Joshua never knew, but he certainly had a knack for it. But despite the plus of his new assistant being someone worth his while, Joshua still liked things done right, and in that regard Neku was a little lacking.
“You didn’t tell the driver to be back by lunchtime?” The street was unusually empty, and Joshua slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat to stave off the cold.
“Was I supposed to?” Neku looked back at him, blankly.
“Yes. Unless you ask the crew to get something to eat, but by now it might be too late.” He heaved a sigh, feigning more dejection than he actually felt, just to watch Neku twitch with barely veiled annoyance. “I’m practically starving too, since someone messed up my breakfast.”
“I-okay, fine.” Neku folded his arms, glancing towards the end of the block for a moment. “I think I might know a good ramen place around here…if, you know, you’re not above walking and food that isn’t caviar on fucking toast, that is.” Joshua just laughed, which seemed to grate on Neku further.
“Sure. I love ramen, actually.”
“Right.” With a shake of his head, he started walking, not bothering to look behind him to see if Joshua actually followed.
“I hope you know where you’re going.” He fell in step behind Neku, peering very quickly down at his watch. “We do have to be back in a little more than an hour.”
“I’m not gonna get lost,” Neku grumbled, shoulders visibly tensing. “I can’t believe how many pictures of a single outfit they have to take, anyway.”
“Well, there’s going to be a new set after the break.” Joshua shrugged. “Despite who you’re working for, you don’t seem all that enthused about fashion.”
“You should know Mr. H just kind of…sprung it on me.” Neku turned the corner, stopping after a few more steps to peer up at a sign. “Anyway, here we are. Told you it wasn’t far.”
“Good job, you were right.” Joshua pushed open the door, throwing Neku a teasing smile over his shoulder. “Do you want a reward for your efforts?”
“No, I-” He heard Neku let out a hiss of frustration, before he thought better of retorting and fell silent. It wasn’t until they were seated with their food that Joshua decided to speak up again.
“So if you’re not into the fashion world, why did you take this job?”
“Why does anyone take a job involving something they don’t like?” Neku glanced up from his bowl, warily. “The money.”
“Then what is it you’d rather be doing?” Joshua plucked a bamboo shoot out with his chopsticks idly. “Something involving art, I’d wager.”
“Yeah.” Neku’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s with all the questions?”
“I can’t get to know my new assistant better?” He tilted his head to the side, the picture of innocent curiosity, but Neku’s apprehensive expression didn’t waver. “Honestly, Neku, I’m just making conversation.” He didn’t reply, and a silence stretched out between them, long enough that Joshua was about to return to his meal when Neku shifted in his seat, bringing one hand up to curl around the shell of his ear. The gesture, done out of nervousness or contemplation, was endearing, and Joshua didn’t bother to hide his amusement.
“Something with art, is the thing,” Neku said, finally.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean-in school, I did okay, I guess, but I didn’t know what I was doing with it. Nothing was what I wanted, and it was so…” He struggled for the right word, eyes darting over to the window. “…boring.”
“Really?” It seemed the other was full of surprises. Joshua felt a small tug of connection at that. “That’s the reason I choose not to be famous.”
“You chose that?” Neku’s voice was dripping with derision, but Joshua just giggled, pausing to eat a small mouthful of noodles.
“Why else do you think I work for such a small agency? I could branch out if I wanted to, but what’s the fun in that?” He gestured vaguely with the hand not holding his chopsticks. “You get trapped when everyone knows who you are. Isn’t it better to be able to do whatever you want to?”
“Yeah, I guess…I guess I can understand that.” Neku’s frown eased into something out of confusion rather than exasperation, gazing unwaveringly at Joshua like there was some puzzle in his eyes and appearance to solve. “Huh.”
“Goodness, I might be a model, but if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll start blushing.” He laughed again when Neku immediately turned his head away, muttering something under his breath that sounded quite like jackass.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
A/N: Whew. This was also longer than I expected. Small note on the name of the café. La Maison literally means “the house/home” in French, but I read that this can be a common name for small places of business that have that cozy, quaint, hole-in-the-wall feel to them. Don’t know if I’m right, because sources on the internet can be fishy, but the name works either way, I think. Also, I hope some of you are amused at who I made to be the chauffeur. Things will come of that.
Author: Melly
Rating: Eventual MA/NC-17, kinda just PG-13 for now
Characters/Pairings: Joshua/Neku (main), Shiki/Eri, and Uzuki/Kariya.
Warnings: Language, eventual sexual situations, and alcohol use.
Spoilers: It’s an AU so not really? Except for the appearance of a certain someone you learn about in week 1, that is.
Summary: Model AU. All Neku wanted was a raise, but the so-called promotion from barista to assistant for a snobby, irritating, enigmatic model is one he could do without.
A/N: Ahh this took longer to get out than I wanted it to. Sorry for the wait, and thanks everyone for the comments and support. Enjoy!
Part 1
A text woke up Neku half an hour before his alarm did. He barely had time to fumble for his phone on bedside table and blearily peer at the screen before another followed. Resignedly, he sat up in bed, rubbing at his eyes and trying to will some clarity into his sleep-fogged mind. Both messages were from Mr. H, the first saying something about sending a schedule and a car coming over at nine to pick him up, and the second being the schedule in question.
A car? He got a chauffeur? Well, technically Joshua got one, but Neku seemed to be allowed to use his services to run errands, if the little note of be sure to get coffee and pastries @ La Maison above the first appointment of the day was any indication. Sighing, he set his phone aside and got up, not sure if moving from barista to delivery boy was actually an improvement. Regardless, he finished his morning routine, pausing only to grab his bag, and headed out of the apartment building with enough time to spare. A sleek black car was already parked across from the entrance, the diver leaning against the passenger-side door, checking his watch.
“Um. Hey.” Neku, feeling more than a little awkward, raised his arm in a slight wave to get the other’s attention.
“Oh, hello!” The driver instantly stood up straighter, offering his hand. “You must be Mr. Sakuraba. I’m your chauffeur, Makoto Miki, but most people just call me Mick. Very nice to meet you.”
“Same here… and you can just call me Neku.” He shook Mick’s hand quickly, noticing he looked a little startled at the suggestion of informality.
“Right. Where to this morning?”
“The schedule says something about a place called La Maison, but I have no idea where that is…” Neku checked his phone, just to make sure an address wasn’t included in the text.
“I do! No worries, Mr. Saku-er, Neku, sir.” Mick’s eagerness was downright overwhelming, and Neku was starting to feel uncomfortable. He could only hope the driver would relax a little over time, as unlikely as that seemed. “Just get in back and we’ll be there in no time.”
Neku did as suggested, settling down onto the plush leather seats and turning his head to peer out the window, watching the scenery roll by as they started to drive. He wasn’t one-hundred percent awake yet, the ride a blur until they rolled to a stop in front of a small café with a door painted sky blue and tables set outside, empty because of the cold. Neku slipped out of the car and quickly made his way into the shop, feeling a little better in the warmth of the interior, the smell of fresh bread and coffee washing over him. He realized that he had no idea what to get once he was standing in front of the counter, but he figured he could take his chances. First day, after all, so they had to cut him a little slack.
Once he was back in the car with the drinks and a pastry wrapped up in a white paper bag, Neku checked his phone, seeing that pick up Joshua was next. Relaying that information to Mick, he scrolled down a bit more, seeing an additional note of, text him if he’s not out by the time you’re there, followed by a cell number, which Neku grudgingly made a new contact for.
Fortunately, Joshua was standing outside by the time they pulled up, not looking impatient or irritated, so Neku supposed they were on time. He slid into the seat next to Neku without comment, giving a clipped smile to Mick when he chirped, “good morning Mr. Kiryu.” Wordlessly, Neku held out the coffee cup and pastry to Joshua, who raised an eyebrow before taking them.
“How did you know what to get me?” He asked, finally.
“I didn’t.” Neku shrugged, taking a long sip of his own drink.
“So you guessed? That’s not the way to make a good impression on your first day.” Joshua made a soft tsk noise, shaking his head, but Neku didn’t miss the way he was smirking. Asshole. “What is this, then?”
“You ordered a caramel macchiato yesterday, figured I couldn’t go wrong with that and a danish.”
“What sort-oh, blueberry.” Joshua made a face when he peered into the bag. “Well, since this is your first day, and I’m feeling generous, I suppose I can let this slide. Just remember I like apple next time.”
“What was I supposed to do, read your mind?” He glared over the rim of his cup, trying to convince himself that getting help from Eri and Shiki last night wouldn’t have made a difference. It wasn’t like magazine blurbs said what kind of danish the models liked, right? “You can’t expect me to-”
“Um. Neku, sir.” Mick cleared his throat. “I hate to interrupt, but you haven’t said where we’re going.”
“I-oh, sorry. Uh.” He scrolled through his phone quickly. “The Dragon Couture studios?”
“Roger.”
“You might’ve done that before we started driving.” Joshua tucked a bit of hair behind his ear, looking so impossibly smug Neku sustained a brief fantasy of pushing him out of the moving car. “Of course, you’re new, and I was told to expect you’d make mistakes. Lucky I’m so patient…”
“Any other requests, your highness?”
“You could keep calling me that.” He giggled, and Neku felt he might crack a molar from how hard he was grinding his teeth. “Has a nice ring to it.”
“Not a chance.” Shaking his head, Neku opted to finish his coffee and stare pointedly out the window, covering a small yawn with the back of his hand a minute later.
“Not a morning person?” Joshua couldn’t just leave him alone, could he?
“No,” Neku mumbled. “Mornings kind of suck.” Especially the one he was currently experiencing, but he decided not to mention that.
A short while later, they pulled up in front of a sleek, modern building, the glass doors imprinted with the logo of a green and red dragon winding around the handles. Neku said a quick thank you to Mick, who informed him the car would be back around at the end of the day when the shoot was done.
Following Joshua inside, Neku took a quick look around, noticing more dragon-themed décor, but considering the brand in question, he wasn’t exactly surprised. A secretary clicked away at a computer behind the desk directly across from the entrance, and after a pointed, irritated look from Joshua, Neku realized he was supposed to say something about their arrival.
“Hello?” He ventured.
“Yes, how can I help you?” The secretary barely spared him a glance.
“We’re here for a shoot.”
“We?” She turned away from her desktop finally, giving Neku an once-over, skepticism blatant.
“I mean-I’m not.” Obviously. “I’m Joshua Kiryu’s assistant, and-”
“Oh!” The secretary stood, smiling pleasantly now. “We’ve been expecting you. One moment please.” She fiddled with the Bluetooth headset on her left ear and started speaking to someone out of the room. Neku shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the tiles and trying to convince himself he imagined hearing a soft, lilting laugh behind him when he had said Joshua Kiryu’s assistant. A few minutes later and another woman, carrying a clipboard, emerged from one of the rooms hidden behind a jutting wall on the right side of the foyer. She paused when she finally got within speaking distance, only long enough to say a quick greeting before neatly pivoting back around and motioning for them to follow.
“I’m sorry for the rush,” she said as they walked. “If we want to get everything in, it has to meet a tight schedule. But I can’t tell you enough how lucky we feel to have you working with us, Mr. Kiryu.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Joshua replied smoothly, and Neku checked the urge to roll his eyes. Should have expected he was the kind of person able to turn on charm like a light switch.
“Well, the head photographer is doing some last minute lighting adjustments, so we’ll just get you into makeup.” The woman’s heels clicked as they went along a wide hallway, a smattering of crew workers and other models roaming about. She stopped at a door near the end of the corridor, Neku spotting the bright shine of stage lights around the corner, before unlocking it and ushering them inside. “The artists will be here in a few minutes. Just have a seat in front of the mirror, and if you need anything at all just tell your assistant, and he’ll relay it to us.” Neku was handed a small white business card with a cell number printed on it, which he tucked into his pocket.
After she left, Neku sunk down onto one of the plush chairs scattered about, looking over at the mirror on the adjacent wall, the table in front of it littered with brushes, bottles, thick white sponges, jars, and cases. Joshua seemed content to sit and flip through a magazine for the time being, so Neku thought it might be safe to take out his sketchbook, for just a little while.
“You draw?” He had barely gotten the vague outline of something down-twisted and dragon like, taking influence from all the decoration-when Joshua spoke up.
“Oh, yeah.” Neku shrugged one shoulder. “I do.”
“Just a hobby, or do you want to go to school for it?”
“I did go to school for it, actually.” He tapped the eraser of his pencil against the corner of the paper. He wasn’t sure what to make of Joshua’s curiosity, or what to make of himself answering everything freely. “For a year, and then I just-it wasn’t my thing.”
“I see.” Joshua hummed, thoughtfully, whatever he was going to say next lost in a brief burst of noise from a set of make-up artists entering the room. They paid no mind to Neku and went straight to work, Joshua settling back in his chair and letting them apply whatever they needed to, expression relaxed.
“You seem used to this.” He was starting to think that maybe he should take a little of Shiki and Eri’s advice if he didn’t want to be miserable. If he could learn enough about Joshua to make his life easier, that was all he needed.
“I’ve done it enough,” Joshua said lightly. “After a while, anything becomes wrote.”
“How long is a while?”
“You’ve become curious all of a sudden.” Joshua’s eyes slid closed as one of the artists swiped something over the lids.
“You started it,” Neku muttered. “And it’s a simple question.” Before Joshua could answer, or perhaps evade the inquiry entirely, one of the makeup artists interjected.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I need you to stop talking for just a minute, Mr. Kiryu.” He did as requested and Neku watched the artist, out of the corner of his eye, start to apply some sort of smoothing, lightly tinted balm. He noticed for the first time that Joshua’s lower lip was fuller than the upper one, pouty, the slow stroke of the angled makeup brush drawing attention to it, and Neku found himself staring.
“Three years.”
“I-what?” Neku jerked back, startled, nearly dropping his sketchbook. He hadn’t registered that the artists were finished, starting to pack up all the tools and supplies.
“How long I’ve been modeling.” Joshua stood out of his chair. “I have to go get changed for the shoot, but I’m sure you can find your own way out to where it will be.”
“Yeah, sure.” He sighed, wondering just how boring modeling shoots actually were to watch.
“You could stand to look a little more cheerful, you know.” The corners of Joshua’s mouth quirked up into a sly, amused smile, and Neku found his attention drawn to the other’s lips again--shit was this going to keep happening? “Not like you’re undergoing torture, here.”
Could’ve fooled me, Neku thought, but muttered quick, “see you out there” in response instead, procuring his sketchbook and bag before moving out into the hall, the door closing behind him with a soft click. It wasn’t even noon and he was exhausted.
So much for taking it easy on the first day.
****
To say Joshua was less than enthused to be getting an assistant would be an understatement. He expected someone fawning or professional and all too boring, but what he got instead was one Neku Sakuraba, who was neither of those things, and a thousand times more interesting for it. Sanae sometimes managed to surprise him in good ways, and he supposed this was one of those occasions. Where his agent found these people, Joshua never knew, but he certainly had a knack for it. But despite the plus of his new assistant being someone worth his while, Joshua still liked things done right, and in that regard Neku was a little lacking.
“You didn’t tell the driver to be back by lunchtime?” The street was unusually empty, and Joshua slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat to stave off the cold.
“Was I supposed to?” Neku looked back at him, blankly.
“Yes. Unless you ask the crew to get something to eat, but by now it might be too late.” He heaved a sigh, feigning more dejection than he actually felt, just to watch Neku twitch with barely veiled annoyance. “I’m practically starving too, since someone messed up my breakfast.”
“I-okay, fine.” Neku folded his arms, glancing towards the end of the block for a moment. “I think I might know a good ramen place around here…if, you know, you’re not above walking and food that isn’t caviar on fucking toast, that is.” Joshua just laughed, which seemed to grate on Neku further.
“Sure. I love ramen, actually.”
“Right.” With a shake of his head, he started walking, not bothering to look behind him to see if Joshua actually followed.
“I hope you know where you’re going.” He fell in step behind Neku, peering very quickly down at his watch. “We do have to be back in a little more than an hour.”
“I’m not gonna get lost,” Neku grumbled, shoulders visibly tensing. “I can’t believe how many pictures of a single outfit they have to take, anyway.”
“Well, there’s going to be a new set after the break.” Joshua shrugged. “Despite who you’re working for, you don’t seem all that enthused about fashion.”
“You should know Mr. H just kind of…sprung it on me.” Neku turned the corner, stopping after a few more steps to peer up at a sign. “Anyway, here we are. Told you it wasn’t far.”
“Good job, you were right.” Joshua pushed open the door, throwing Neku a teasing smile over his shoulder. “Do you want a reward for your efforts?”
“No, I-” He heard Neku let out a hiss of frustration, before he thought better of retorting and fell silent. It wasn’t until they were seated with their food that Joshua decided to speak up again.
“So if you’re not into the fashion world, why did you take this job?”
“Why does anyone take a job involving something they don’t like?” Neku glanced up from his bowl, warily. “The money.”
“Then what is it you’d rather be doing?” Joshua plucked a bamboo shoot out with his chopsticks idly. “Something involving art, I’d wager.”
“Yeah.” Neku’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s with all the questions?”
“I can’t get to know my new assistant better?” He tilted his head to the side, the picture of innocent curiosity, but Neku’s apprehensive expression didn’t waver. “Honestly, Neku, I’m just making conversation.” He didn’t reply, and a silence stretched out between them, long enough that Joshua was about to return to his meal when Neku shifted in his seat, bringing one hand up to curl around the shell of his ear. The gesture, done out of nervousness or contemplation, was endearing, and Joshua didn’t bother to hide his amusement.
“Something with art, is the thing,” Neku said, finally.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean-in school, I did okay, I guess, but I didn’t know what I was doing with it. Nothing was what I wanted, and it was so…” He struggled for the right word, eyes darting over to the window. “…boring.”
“Really?” It seemed the other was full of surprises. Joshua felt a small tug of connection at that. “That’s the reason I choose not to be famous.”
“You chose that?” Neku’s voice was dripping with derision, but Joshua just giggled, pausing to eat a small mouthful of noodles.
“Why else do you think I work for such a small agency? I could branch out if I wanted to, but what’s the fun in that?” He gestured vaguely with the hand not holding his chopsticks. “You get trapped when everyone knows who you are. Isn’t it better to be able to do whatever you want to?”
“Yeah, I guess…I guess I can understand that.” Neku’s frown eased into something out of confusion rather than exasperation, gazing unwaveringly at Joshua like there was some puzzle in his eyes and appearance to solve. “Huh.”
“Goodness, I might be a model, but if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll start blushing.” He laughed again when Neku immediately turned his head away, muttering something under his breath that sounded quite like jackass.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
A/N: Whew. This was also longer than I expected. Small note on the name of the café. La Maison literally means “the house/home” in French, but I read that this can be a common name for small places of business that have that cozy, quaint, hole-in-the-wall feel to them. Don’t know if I’m right, because sources on the internet can be fishy, but the name works either way, I think. Also, I hope some of you are amused at who I made to be the chauffeur. Things will come of that.