Title: Visionary
Pairing: HaruGou
Rating: M
Warning: Odds are there will be lemons later. Because it's me.
Summary: He was as complex as he was alluring, mimicking the pieces he so masterfully composed with a trained eye and subtle hands. And she was captivated. HaruGou, Museum AU.
Author's Note: Look at me attempting to write a multichapter fic wow development. Haha I had this idea, and it honestly just took off. I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Free! or anything else mentioned within this story.


And he is so devoid of color he don't know what it means...

and he's blue.

-Colors, Halsey


"That's horrible."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"Are we looking at the same thing?"

"Don't be mean, someone worked hard on it."

"Are you sure? It almost looks like whoever did it knocked over a can of paint and hoped for the best, Gou-chan."

"For the last time, it's Kou."

"But that's not your name."

Gou resisted the ever-growing temptation to roll her eyes. As much as she enjoyed her coworker, Hazuki Nagisa could try her patience like no other. His generally cheerful disposition was marred by his tendency of being so darn stubborn it made her want to pull her hair out. It didn't help that he adamantly refused to call her by her preferred title, electing to ignore her countless and oh-so friendly reminders.

They were leaning over, inspecting the new addition to their gallery. She had to admit, it was certainly unique. Red covered most of the canvas, emphasized by the soft yellow spots thrown haphazardly across. Bubble-like shapes of fuchsia finished off the look, the bright coloring drawing the eye forward. Silently, she agreed with Nagisa, but if her job had taught her anything, it was to look past the expected. Some people could take a screwdriver and call it art- it's simply their choice of expression. Who was she to judge that? Besides, Picasso was one of the most accomplished artists in history, and his works look like they could have been completed by a very strategic four-year-old.

Both Gou and Nagisa were employed by the sole museum in the motley fishing port of Iwatobi. It was small and familiar, reflecting the aesthetic of the town in which it was located. The décor wasn't nearly as modern as some museums she's visited, but the older architecture gave it a nostalgic sense. And the treasures it housed within the wooded walls were positively captivating in their beauty, causing all those who wander in to simply stare for hours on end.

At least, that's how Gou felt. For as long as she could remember, she had longed to work within the venerable halls, surrounded by the smell of canvas and sight of classical wonders. Perhaps that was why she had always dreamt of being a curator. There was something so charmingly whimsical about looking through purposed pieces, deciding what to display for the public's viewing pleasure.

And nothing warmed her heart more than to see all of the children from the camps they held working on their own unique pieces. August in particular was hectic for them, as with the conclusion of the school term came parents looking for ways to preoccupy their hyperactive offsprings. That was Nagisa's section- he was in charge of planning and running the numerous kids' programs. Despite his certain quirks, he had a way of relating to those younger than him that Gou has yet to see in anyone else.

The twenty-two-year-old sighed exasperatedly at her doe-eyed peer, electing not to pursue the issue further. She knew it would be a waste of both their time. "We should hang this up. Rei-san mentioned it should go in the north wing."

Nagisa tilted his head; reminiscent of the way Gou had seen puppies do in their fits of innocent confusion. Paired with his wavy blonde hair and eyes that were always much too large for his face, it was a perfect comparison.

"Why there? Modern art is normally in the back."

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. I think he mentioned something about renovations."

"Oh, really? Good. It needs it."

Of course, the section designated for modern pieces was by far the most outdated in the building. The irony wasn't lost on either of them.

Together, the two carried the painting out of storage and into the spot reserved for the piece. Fortunately for them, and their small physiques, it wasn't actually that difficult to maneuver. There had been much, much worse.

Like that one sculpture, Gou shuddered. She could vividly recall how close she was to a heart attack when Nagisa nearly lost his grip. That was one experience she never wanted to relive.

They had cleared a spot on the wall prior to opening the package, making it a relatively simple process. Before long, the piece was up and ready for presentation.

"It doesn't look so bad hung on the wall like that."

Gou fought off a grin, "Is this the part where I say I told you so?"

"Okay, I get it, you're right!"

They laughed lightly together, before Gou continued, "I wanted to try and find something to go with the more classical-style works, but nothing fit into our budget."

Nagisa smiled brightly, moving closer to her in a show of familiarity. "Oh, don't get discouraged, Gou-chan! I'm sure something will show up!"

If nothing else, she could always count on the boy to be hopelessly optimistic. She gave him a grateful smile, for once letting his not-so innocent blunder slide. She'd nail him later for relentlessly calling her 'Gou.'

Glancing over at him once more, she was surprised to find his attention had moved to the opposite corner of the long room. His brow was furrowed, a pout forming on his lips. "Ne, Gou-chan…"

"Hmm?"

"Doesn't he look familiar?"

Her amber gaze followed his elongated arm to the direction of which it was pointing.

A man, approximately their age, was staring attentively at one of the paintings, as if processing and storing every detail to memory. His black hair was neat, and long enough to fall enticingly into his eyes. Even from this distance, she could tell he was fit; her eyes subconsciously trailed across the shape of his triceps from underneath his pale blue button up, the slight curve- and oh my god she thought she outgrew the phase where she fangirls about muscles.

But Nagisa was right. The longer she looked, the more certain she became that she had seen him before. But where?

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

Her blonde counterpart looked on for a moment more, before turning to her with that damned sly smile that always spelled trouble. He placed a strong hand on her back, propelling her forward with surprising force. She let out a feminine squeal at the unexpected momentum, throwing her arms forward to maintain her balance.

"Nagisa, what the-"

His grin widened, feigning innocent. "Go find out who he is!" Flashing her a cheeky peace sign, the imp ran away before she was given the chance to protest, calling over his shoulder, "Good luck!"

"Wait! I'm not-"

By the time she began her stream of protests, her guileful coworker had long since turned the corner. Sighing, Gou resigned herself to her fate. She couldn't deny the part that wanted to know where she had seen the boy, after all.

He had barely moved since she caught sight of him, still gazing silently at the giant canvas. Having moved closer, Gou was finally able to see the painting that had captivated his attention so. She caught herself smiling at the sight.

It was a stylized portrait of a sakura tree, the pastel pink petals floating down as if heading to land on the viewer. The only visible background was that of the sunset, hues of reds mixed with blues, blending together in an easy and attractive fashion. She knew the moment she laid eyes on it, she had to have it for their collection.

"That's one of my favorites, too."

He was clearly startled by her comment, stiffening noticeably, before once again taking on a pose of certain indifference. He moved his head only slightly, looking at her out of the corner of one crystal blue iris. His gaze was as aloof as it was intense, and she could feel the familiar sensation of a soft flutter in her stomach.

But the moment stretched on, his silence only serving to increase the heavy atmosphere. Gou awkwardly shifted her weight, bringing her attention to the painting.

"It was created by a local artist," she spoke quickly, rambling. It was a habit whenever she felt out of place to just drone on about one thing or another. Most of the time, it was unconscious, like now. "It was donated almost three years ago, before he passed away in his sleep. He said he wanted to dedicate it to his grandchildren. They come by every now and again to look at it, they say it's more personal than-"

She was cut off by the rhythmic resonating of footsteps walking across the titled floor in even strides. Whipping around, Gou was left wide-eyed, weakly watching until broad shoulders left her line of sight.


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