Author's note: Happy New Year! And here we have another story! AoKuro requested by one of my friends. It will be sort of a slow build up, so if nothing provocative appears too quickly, don't worry, it's supposed to be that way. Future chapters will be M, but this one is T and under(I think). Enjoy! Leave a review, please :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke. Neither do I own the cover photo.
Chapter 1
The afternoon sun poured through the high window, outlining the girl's body like a halo. Her face was turned coquettishly to the side, the shadow from the sun hiding her finer features. Her hair tumbled over her shoulder, positioned perfectly to hide one breast, even as the other was placed just out of the artist's view by the angle at which her body was tilted.
Kuroko swept his brush over the canvas, tracing the way the light played over her body like the softest of caresses. The curve of her shoulder, the dip of her collarbone, the hollow of her neck. How the muted glow of the sunlight highlighted the swell of her buxom bosom, the forbidden fruit that was just out of reach. And the way her knees were pressed together tightly, yet just a sliver of pubic hair could be seen – temptation tantalizingly obscured.
The nude model glanced at the young man painting her from the corner of her eye, resisting the urge to stretch her cramped neck. "Tetsu-kun, are you almost done?" A shiver ran through her bare body as she said this. "I'm getting a little cold."
"Just five more minutes, Momoi-san. I need to touch up a little, and then we can wrap up for the day."
"Alright, then." Settling back into their respective silences, she let her thoughts drift, while he dabbed on a few more streaks of colour to the almost-complete painting. A darker tint here, a stroke of pink to accentuate her hair there. A dash of marigold to brighten the sunlight, a smudge of violet to highlight the shadows. After a few more minutes, Kuroko set down his brush in the cup of water designated for washing, the clinking sound alerting Momoi that he was done.
Sliding off the tall stool and stretching languidly, she then slipped into the robe that Kuroko held out for her, cinching the material shut at the waist. "Thank you for your hard work today, Momoi-san. Having you model for me is always such a pleasure."
"Oh, no, Tetsu-kun. The pleasure's all mine. It's the least I could do for you." She flashed him a dazzling smile that would have caused lesser men to swoon. "Can I ask who requested the painting this time?"
"A certain Hanamiya Makoto. He's paying quite a hefty price for it too. Strangely enough, he did not want it too revealing." His tone held a hint of puzzlement, though his face remained expressionless.
"Yes, it is weird. But who are we to question your clients' whims?" Walking around to the front of the easel, she peered at it briefly, then started towards the bathroom with jaunty steps. "Thank you for not painting all of my face. I really do appreciate that."
"I will never paint something without my models' consent, Momoi-san. I respect your privacy, and it would not do to have you assaulted over a painting. Nor do I want you to have any less of a normal life just because you volunteer to be my muse."
"Of course, I understand completely." A soft giggle escaped the pinkette's lips as the bathroom door shut behind her. "You are always such a gentleman, Tetsu-kun."
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Night was beginning to fall by the time Momoi left Kuroko's studio. Autumn was about to turn to winter, and the last of the red-gold leaves would fall in a few days. A brazenly cold wind whipped through the hair of the two figures huddled in front of the building, eliciting a shiver from them.
"Thank you again for your help, Momoi-san. I'll send you a check after Hanamiya-san transfers the money."
"Alright, Tetsu-kun. Thank you. Are you sure you wouldn't like to have dinner with myself and Kagamin?"
Kuroko shook his head, grimacing a little. "There are some finishing touches I must apply before I leave. And after that, I need to find a new model to paint. Kagami-kun says that the big-shots are looking for something different, and some are requesting for male paintings. Males are more difficult to persuade though." He sounded rather despondent, and Momoi wracked her brains for something that might help the teal haired male.
"Male? Hmm. If you don't mind, I think my friend might just be the model that you are looking for. He can be a bit 'difficult to persuade' though." She gave a little wince as she said the last part.
Despite her words, Kuroko's expressionless mask looked just a tiny bit more hopeful than it did before - at least, that's what she thought. "Really? Could you convince him to model for me please, Momoi-san? It would be a great help. And I wouldn't need him to strip completely. Not for the first few sketches anyway." He added as an afterthought.
"I can try. Anything for you, Tetsu-kun!" She threw her arms around the blue-haired man, squeezing him tightly.
"Can't... Breathe... Momoi-san..."
"Oh, sorry!" She let him go quickly, giggling sheepishly. "I'll call you when I manage to get ahold of him, alright? When do you need him?"
"Friday is a good time. I will be in the studio the whole day; just call before you come up."
"Friday, then. See you, Tetsu-kun! I'll tell Kagamin you said hi!"
Kuroko raised a hand in a half-hearted wave, only dropping it after Momoi's pink hair disappeared into the busy streets.
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Muffled banging and curses drifted through the closed door of the studio, and Kuroko looked up from his sketchbook in curiosity. He was about to disregard it when three quick, successive knocks came at his door, accompanied by muted scuffling sounds. Standing up and opening the door, a look of mild surprise appeared on his face as he took in the scene outside.
Momoi was sitting on the back of a larger male as he lay prone on the ground, her knees restraining him by clamping on both sides of his torso. She also had one of his arms in a twist hold, and he was groaning in pain. A snarl marred the girl's usually delicate features, and she pressed the downed man harder into the floor, seemingly unaware of her audience.
Her wrestling companion looked positively wretched, even if he didn't say so himself. Never incur a woman's wrath if you can help it. Kuroko decided to take pity on him to save the other man from further agony. "Momoi-san. Would you like to come in?"
The pinkette looked up in surprise, vicious expression melting away. "Tetsu-kun!" Springing off the fallen man, kicking him in the head as she did so, she enveloped Kuroko in a crushing hug, ample bosom suffocating him.
"Can't… Breathe…"
"Oops. Sorry, Tetsu-kun!" A muffled groan came from behind her, and they both turned around to see the tall male struggling to his feet.
"Dammit, Satsuki, when did you learn self-defence?" A deep baritone laced with pain muttered. Standing upright, Kuroko could see that the man was quite tall, at least two heads taller than him. He was dark-skinned, and had a curious shade of hair, not unlike his own. While his was powder-blue, this man's hair was darker, ranging from cobalt to navy, depending on the lighting. As the male stretched out the knots in his abused muscles, his T-shirt rode up, allowing a glimpse at a set of well-toned abs. Kuroko could feel Momoi's gaze on him, and gave her a brief nod of approval. Yes, this man would do very nicely as a model indeed.
"I had to learn when I started modelling for Tetsu-kun. There are all sorts of perverts out there who might recognize me from one of his paintings someday." Momoi shrugged non-committedly, but Kuroko could see how tense her shoulders were. So as to spare her further unease, he stepped forward and bowed to the taller man in greeting.
"Hello. My name is Kuroko Tetsuya. Are you the friend that Momoi-san spoke of?"
The man looked down, his eyes going wide when he realised that there was someone in front of him. Scrambling backwards and clutching his chest, he barely managed to contain the surprised scream that was about to tear its way out of him. "Oh god, when did you appear?"
Momoi rolled her eyes and stalked towards him, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him forward. "Dai-chan, you're being impolite!" She scolded. "Greet Tetsu-kun now, or do you want me to do it for you?"
"Yeah, yeah. Shut up, Satsuki, I'll do it myself. You're not my mum," he grumbled. Pulling his arm free from her grasp, he turned to Kuroko, barely bowing as he mumbled his greeting. "My name is Aomine Daiki. Nice to meet you."
Kuroko quirked an eyebrow at his lack of politeness, but decided to overlook it for now. He did require a model, and it would do him no good to scare this one off, not when he exuded potential.
"Please, come in, Aomine-san, Momoi-san. Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please, Tetsu-kun! I can't stay long though, Ki-chan got me a modelling job downtown." The pinkette skipped inside and settled herself on the sofa, Aomine following behind, hands in pockets with a put-out expression on his face.
Kuroko set two cups before them, waiting for them to relax a little before he addressed Aomine. "Aomine-san. Did Momoi-san tell you why she brought you here?"
"Hmm? Maybe. I can't remember. Which day did you tell me on, Satsuki?"
A heavy sigh from Momoi followed his words. "Mou, Dai-chan. I swear, you're such a pain. It was Wednesday!"
"Wednesday? Oh, I was going to play basketball with Kise." The bluenette yawned widely, earning himself a smack from Momoi. "Ow! Satsuki!" A heated argument began between the two, while Kuroko watched them with mild disinterest.
Kise? Could it be the same Kise-kun who occasionally models for me? Kuroko wondered. Catching himself quickly, he pushed those thoughts away. Now was not the time to be getting curious over something like that. There was much to be done.
Watching their banter was fairly amusing, but Kuroko soon caught on that Aomine truly knew nothing of why he had been brought there. Leaning forward, he interrupted their argument. "Aomine-san, perhaps you'd like to know why I asked Momoi-san to arrange a meeting for us?"
The bluenette gave him a cursory glance, his mask of boredom falling back in place. "Yeah, why not. Since Satsuki managed to drag me out of bed this early, it must be pretty important right?"
"I guess you could say that." Kuroko was beginning to dislike this man's blasé attitude. Nevertheless, he had to put aside his biasedness if he was to make a living. "I am an artist by profession, and most of my work includes nude paintings or sculptures." Aomine's eyes lit up at the mention of nude artworks, and Momoi cuffed him on the head, sure that he was thinking about some gravure idol. Kuroko continued as if he did not notice this exchange.
"Recently, the buyers on the market have been requesting something different from what I normally create. My usual models are Momoi-san and Kise-kun, for female and male pieces respectively. However, the buyers are concerned that the image Kise-kun exudes is not masculine enough, thus I am reduced to finding someone more 'masculine' who is willing to model for me."
"Wait, wait, wait. Kise models for you? Kise Ryouta?" A nod from Kuroko caused Aomine's eyes to widen in appalment. Well, Kuroko thought, That answers my question about Kise-kun.
"I thought he didn't like doing this sort of modelling." Aomine directed this at Momoi, who bit her lip and shrugged. "Ki-chan doesn't really like it, but Tetsu-kun doesn't paint the exact features of our faces, so it protects our identities."
"Some people quite like Kise-kun's countenance," Kuroko put in. "His feminine looks make him very appealing to both males and females, and most of my pieces of him have sold for ridiculously high prices."
Aomine was still slack-jawed with shock. Kise Ryouta, a nude model? He had to be kidding! Kise wouldn't go that far, he was way too shy to show off his body that way. It was only when Kuroko's lips twitched into a minuscule smile, and Momoi's reprimanding shove jostled him, that he realised he had said that out loud. Thankfully, his tan skin hid his blush of embarrassment.
"Well, Aomine-san, it appears that Kise-kun is a lot more daring than you think." Kuroko's voice held more than just a hint of amusement. "I actually have some paintings that have not been sold yet, if you would like to take a look."
Aomine shook his head. He didn't feel like seeing Kise's naked body so early in the day. Oh god, what if he has some of Satsuki too? But then again, as he pondered on it, he had seen the pinkette naked more times than was necessary, and was not bothered by it any longer. Who knew Satsuki was that daring?! Deciding to set aside such thoughts for later, he asked the other more pressing question on his mind.
"So, you asked Satsuki to bring me here because you need a more 'masculine' model right?" Aomine made exaggerated air quotes. At Kuroko's nod, he continued. "Say I did model for you, how much would I be paid?"
Momoi's exasperated "Dai-chan!" was lost on him as Kuroko chuckled. "It is a fair enough question, Momoi-san. Most people would want to know that."
"See, Satsuki? I'm not a complete imbecile." A punch to his side was all the response he got from her.
"Aomine-san," Kuroko called to get his attention. "For those people that model part-time, or model for my art students, I pay them about fifteen to twenty-five dollars an hour. For those who have worked with me for longer periods, and model for my larger pieces, I pay them about five to ten percent of what I get for the painting. You need not worry about the price. I assure you that it is quite reasonable."
Despite Kuroko's reassurance, Aomine slowly worked out the numbers in his head based on what he knew of the price of good paintings. His eyes popped when he finally calculated how much that would amount to. "Holy shit, Satsuki. You didn't tell me you earn that much!"
"Dai-chan. Are you really that brainless? The cash is nothing if you compare it to the hours you have to model. Besides," she spared Kuroko a sheepish glance. "Only Ki-chan and I model for Tetsu-kun's larger pieces. No one else wants to sit there for long periods in their birthday suit."
"Also, despite the fact that some of my pieces sell reasonably well, I am still a new face in the game. Not many are willing to place their bets on someone who has yet to show their worth." Kuroko added.
Aomine nodded slowly, digesting this new information. "But if you did strike it big, then you'd be rich, right?"
The teal haired man looked somewhat taken aback, although his expressionless mask soon slipped back into place. "That is one way of putting it, Aomine-san. Would you please consider it?"
At Aomine's hesitation, Kuroko continued. "I was hoping to have a dry run today, Aomine-san. Just a few light sketches, and you do not need to completely undress. If you are uncomfortable with it after I am done, then I will pay you for your time and we can both go our separate ways. I do hope we can work together, though."
The silence stretched a bit longer before Aomine replied. "I suppose I might as well, since I'm already here and have nothing better to do. If Satsuki can do it, so can I." He smiled arrogantly, and a hint of satisfaction could be seen on Kuroko's face.
"Whenever you are ready, then, Aomine-san. Or we can begin right away, if you prefer."
Aomine shuddered, so lightly that only Momoi caught it. She knew what that shiver meant. It was his 'Oh-freak-what-did-I-get-myself-into-forget-it-let's-get-it-over-with' shudder. Smiling mischievously, she crossed over to Kuroko and hugged him lightly before skipping over to the door of the studio. She called over her shoulder as she exited. "I'll leave Dai-chan in your hands, Tetsu-kun! I need to go help Ki-chan now, but I'll be back later."
Kuroko nodded at her. "Alright. Thank you for your help, Momoi-san."
Aomine, however, paled at the sight of her retreating figure. "Oi! Satsuki-!" A waving hand and the closing door was his only reply.
"I take it from your expression that you would prefer to get this over and done with, Aomine-san. If that is so, then please, come right this way." With no protests - or any reaction at all, for that matter - from Aomine, Kuroko stood and led him to another door, one that opened into a larger room filled with art materials and a heavy smell of oils in the air. There was a lone high stool on a platform in the middle of the room, with easels and canvases scattered haphazardly along the sides and a table piled high with drawing materials.
Kuroko asked Aomine to sit on the stool, before dragging a smaller chair in front of the platform and dropping a sketchbook and several pencils on it. "Aomine-san. I understand that this is your first time doing artistic modelling, so let me explain the basics and what I expect.
"The model usually sits on that stool you are currently occupying, and holds a pose for about five to ten minutes. Every twenty to thirty minutes the model is given a break, and can replace their robe – artists are not inhumane, Aomine-san. Models are allowed to move and relax when they are not holding a pose.
"What I expect is no fidgeting for the amount of time required for a pose, and no talking either, unless it's an emergency. If you prefer, I can play some music in the background, but any more noise than that would disturb an artist's concentration."
Aomine nodded slowly. "Do I get to change in a toilet or do I have to do it here?" He gestured jerkily to the space around him.
"Normally, yes, you would change in a bathroom, put on a robe and only remove the robe when the artist is about to begin. Today is an exception, since you are not going to be fully nude. You only need to remove your shirt, and settle into a comfortable sitting position on the chair. I need only ten minutes for a basic sketch, then we can take a break."
"Uhh. Alright then." Turning around, Aomine pulled off his shirt and tossed it on an empty chair next to him. He clambered onto the high stool and sat facing Kuroko, eyes fixated on the wall behind him, trying not to flush from the awkwardness of the situation. He had never intentionally stripped in front of a stranger before. Yet now here he was, not only doing that, but allowing said stranger to draw him! It was completely unbelievable. Well, at least I get paid for sitting here like an idiot and doing nothing.
"Aomine-san. Please sit up straight. And try not to look so nervous." Kuroko's monotonous voice drifted to him, and he changed positions quickly, chagrined. Dang. He's good at reading people. Why the heck am I so nervous anyway? It's just some dude I barely know.
Kuroko did not say anything more, and as the sounds of pencil scratching on paper began in earnest, Aomine let his eyes and mind wander. He caught glimpses of half-completed artworks scattered in the shadows of the room – a hand here, some coloured hair, a flat stomach. There were several pieces hanging from the walls as well - neutral landscapes that did not have any relation to the sort of work he knew this particular artist did. Well, maybe he actually likes looking at something that isn't naked once in a while, a snarky voice that sounded like Momoi's said. Not as everyone is as perverted as you, Dai-chan.
Aomine gave himself a mental shake. Get out of my head, Satsuki. Seriously, I spend way too much time with her, he grumbled to himself.
His lazy inspection of the room came to an end with nothing else out of the ordinary, and his eyes eventually came to rest on the male seated in front of him, sketching fervently. Slightly mussed cerulean hair, skin as pale as snow, large doe eyes framed by a light halo of eyelashes. From a certain angle, he sort of looked like a girl. Very effeminate. If he cross-dressed, I might actually hook up with him. Yet the rest of his body spoke otherwise. His biceps were not excessively thick, but they were substantial – probably from hauling sculptures and large paintings around. Aomine couldn't see his torso very well with the way he was hunched over the sketchbook, but his legs looked rather toned. Or maybe that was just his imagination talking, for reality had his legs covered all the way to his ankles. Pity. It's not every day you see men looking that delectable.
"-mine-san. Aomine-san." He vaguely recognised the voice that was calling him, and responded immediately without thinking. "Drop the formalities. '-san' makes me feel so old."
"So I should call you Aomine-kun, then?" His blurry thoughts began to coalesce into something comprehensible, and his eyes focused on the man in front of him, whose head was tilted in confusion.
"…Yeah. I suppose." Aomine berated himself internally for getting worked up, trying to keep his face expressionless. Seriously? You daydream about a stranger and then tell said stranger to drop formalities? Just what sort of idiot are you? ...Shut up, Satsuki.
Kuroko stared at him inquisitively, unaware of his internal conflict, then offered him the sketchpad. He took it, brain still in a fuzzy state, and looked at the just-completed-drawing.
He almost dropped the book in astonishment. The two-dimensional person was his exact likeness, just devoid of colour. Kuroko had captured every facet of his expression, every detail about him sitting on the stool. He was leaning backwards slightly, arms supporting himself by holding on to both sides of the stool, looking off to the side. Every aspect of his bare chest was carefully drawn out, and his abs were so detailed, he could only imagine how long the other man spent staring at them. Oh god, no, that's just embarrassing.
Somehow, the drawing managed to convey an atmosphere of boredom and arrogance that mirrored his real expression completely. And he looked good, really good. Incredibly bored, but it was like his essence had been captured on paper – it was so accurate, Aomine found it a little creepy. I knew I was hot, but this just blows my mind. Don't think I look that hot in real life. This dude must be a god of pencils and paper.
"Wow. How long did you work on this, Tetsu?" The nickname slipped out of his mouth unintentionally as his respect for the other man ricocheted up several notches.
"About half an hour. I got carried away, and I apologise for taking so long. You must be cold from sitting there for such an extended period of time, especially in this weather." He bowed deeply to Aomine, and the darker male found himself protesting.
"No, no, don't apologise. You can take as long as you need. I mean," he stammered. "Your drawing is… Very good." He trailed off lamely, but Kuroko's eyes were alight with a wild happiness.
"Thank you very much, Aomine-kun. It means a lot to me that you like my drawing. Perhaps you wouldn't mind modelling for me again sometime?" He asked cautiously.
"Yeah, I'll do it. Just give me the time and date." The words tumbled out. Somehow, he didn't feel like taking them back. After seeing him work, Aomine had a greater appreciation of the other man. To capture such great detail and emotion in only half an hour! It was a staggering thought. And perhaps he didn't mind seeing himself captured on canvas if Kuroko did it. The guy had serious talent.
"Would Sunday be a good time for you? At say, 2pm?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever's good for you. I'm free most of the time for 6 more months."
"I see." Kuroko's face was guarded, and Aomine wondered if he said something wrong. "Do you not have work?"
Oh. So that was what it was. "No, I'm technically on medical leave until my injuries heal. I play professional basketball," he added, at Kuroko's confused look.
"Ah. I look forward to working with you then." Kuroko bowed, and Aomine rushed to copy his action.
"Ah, yeah, same."