A/N: This story is also posted on A03 account. I'm on chapter four on that site, so that's why you probably won't see many comments on this story. I'm posting all four chapters at once. I still do want to ask that if you're enjoying it to comment. Comment, COMMENT, COMMENT. Feedback is dying in this world of fanfics and it is SUPER discouraging.
A/N/N: I should let you know that I did a big, big NO-NO in reading a celebrity gossip forum. Not a lot of great things were said about Jared. Most of it was borderline criminal. It might make writing this story tougher for me. Just telling you now.

Limes With Lipstick

California plastic melted your heart away,
And I'm never gonna go back again.

Chapter One: Liar

"Your opinion?" Long brown locks were being swept away. The unfaltering commitment to growing out his hair was gone for his iconic role in the Suicide Squad. He was clean shaven, eyebrows barely visibly. Brown had been stripped away to green. His skin seemed paler under the florescent lighting and his age showed through, making him look rougher than usual.

"Mine, sir?" She looked up from her Surface Pro, noticing that the stylist had left the room. Only two remained, her and her new boss. "My opinion doesn't matter."

He tilted his head at her, "Yet still I'm asking for it."

"You look like a lime. A lime with lipstick, sir."

"Please don't address me as 'sir'."

"Of course. My apologies, Mr. Leto."

"Or that. Jesus Christ. 'Mr. Leto'… Mr. Leto." He slapped his hand down on the table in front of him, because it really was that fucking priceless. The loud impact of it resounded in the room, causing her to flinch visibly.

He narrowed his blue eyes at her, wondering how long it would take her to finally learn the basics. Every new assistant he hired seemed to be worse than the last and she had come recommended. The very first second of meeting her, he realized that it must've been a favor owed that was now repaid. He was more than likely her first employer in this line of business.

"Wake me when it's time for the shoot." He found his way to the leather couch at the back of the room, shrugging deeper into the large black cardigan he'd brought with him. The hood itself was rather large, fitting over his eyes and down past his nose. Music streamed through his ear buds and it was only then that he was able to close the world out.

The girl left the room, certain that she would suffocate if she stayed with him. Without being under his scrutiny, she was able to check her messages. There were several Snaps from her friend, Gee. Instead of replying with a picture of her irritation, she gave her a call. Besides, she might feel better if she spoke with someone who was actually human.

"Hey! Did you get my snap?"

She nodded, despite Gee not being able to see her. "All forty-five seconds worth."

"Mitsuwa was having a weekend festival and I know how much you love Jackie Chan land, okay?"

"It's a Japanese store and no, you don't sound racist, not at all."

"Oh, ho, ho, the sarcasm. Not all of us had the option of taking Japanese in college. So, how are things with Jared Leto?" Gee asked with a fit of laughter, unable to control herself. "I'm sorry. I still can't take that seriously. Like, I get to ask that as a for real question and that's amazing."

"I'm pretty sure he hates me. The more polite and careful I am, the more resentful he becomes." It wasn't practical for her to care about what he thought of her, so long as she was doing her job.

"When do I get to thank him for stealing my best friend away? You know you basically don't have a life of your own anymore, right?"

"I'm sure he'd be more than happy to cut me loose, although I don't think he can go a day without being condescending towards me. He gives me this look that makes my skin crawl."

"Just imagine how long it must've taken him to perfect. In front of a mirror. For hours, maybe even days. How does he look as the Joker? He's probably babe-ing out."

"If you think limes are babes," she muttered, not exactly sure what to think of his new appearance. One minute he looked like the brown and blond version of Yukon Cornelius, the next something else entirely. "Anyways, I should go see how much longer until.."

She stopped mid-sentence as the hairs at the nape of her neck stood up at attention. It felt like metaphorical holes were being stared into the back of her head. She turned reluctantly and the blood drained from her face. Jared stood there in his fitted jeans and long cardigan. It was open, exposing his temporary tattooed chest, and powdered skin.

She wordlessly hung up the phone and slowly placed it in the back pocket of her shorts. The raw intensity of his stare pinned her on the spot.

"Sir, I mean.." She stammered, unable to form the correct words. "J-Jared…"

It felt wrong being so informal, especially now, when he was glaring hard at her.

"It was a simple task. I close my eyes, you stay awake. When they're ready for me, you wake me up." He approached her with the same smooth grace as every sentence that rolled off his tongue. "It's as though I knew you would be incompetent. Restless, I come out to find you here, on the phone, talking shit about me no less."

"I wasn't…" She shook her head at him, unable to look away from his eyes. Maybe she would crumble. He certainly had the power to make her do so. He was confident that he could tear her into pieces, show her how quickly Hollywood could turn into hell.

"You can fuck up time and time again. Fucking up is tolerable (to some degree), as I am so patient and considerate." He watched as she took a step backwards as he proceeded to close the distance between them. The actor didn't stop, until her back met the wall behind her. "But the one thing that I absolutely cannot stand is lying."

"But I –"

He placed his hand against the wall beside her head and leaned in closer, "Lie to me again. I. Dare. You."

She closed her mouth and felt her body tremble with silent rage and humiliation.

He grinned at her then, red lips, and eye shadow, "Good girl."

What an evil fucking lime.

TBC