Going Back
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto as a whole or in any other way. I also do not own anything or anyone else mentioned. Those people own themselves, I believe. On that note: I do own this plot and the random players. You can borrow them, but please let me know. Otherwise, I will have a shit fit.
Chapter 2: Seeing things
Sasuke glanced at his watch under the red light; he had been at it for six hours now. He had managed to get through all the film and had found some good shots to add to his portfolio. He loved that he was independent and could take whatever photos he wanted. Over the years, he had made a big name for himself and he knew that his blond would be proud of him.
"I will always be proud of you Sasu. Just like I will always love you." Sasuke shook his head with a frown, he really needed to stop. "I lost that love when I choose to leave and we can never go back." He stretched as he moved towards his bedroom. "I just need to sleep." He looked around realizing Juugo had left. "For someone who is keeping secrets he sure wants to know mine." He sighed as he pulled the blanket over his head. He let the sleep settle in his limbs and his eyelids closed, as the sleep took him sooner than he expected.
"I dreamt of you last night and you were my moon god and I prayed to you." Sasuke chuckled as he snapped another picture of the blonde that was still lying in their bed. "Really?" The blond moved his hand over his toned abs and up his neck. "I was so excited when you took me to the heavens with you and we made love on the moon." Sasuke and the blond laughed. "Sure hope it was multiple times?" The blond sighed. "Well of course, Bastard." The blond looked up at him with eyes as blue as the heavens. "I love you Sasuke."
"Mr. Uchiha. Sasuke, it is time to get a move on." Sasuke groaned. "Yes Dozer. I know and what do you have for me?" Dozer cleared his throat. "Yes sir, I have for you, one large Berry Chai Infusion and the USA today."
Sasuke set up as he was handed his tea and newspaper. "Philinx should be up with today's agenda, any minute now." Sasuke just nodded with that damn memory still rolling around in his head. He took a deep breath as he looked over the newspaper and he felt someone landing in his bed and then another. He didn't bother to look up from the paper because it was the usually suspects. Phlinx and Andy, who was his only female assistant, she was the first female to, ever survive his abuse.
"Andy." Sasuke nodded. "Phlinx." He nodded, again. "Morning." The two rang out as cheerful as always. "This is why I cannot have a relationship, because you two would scare the person off." The two laughed as Andy moved to the closet and Phlinx started to speak. "Well Mr. Uchiha. This morning you have a meeting with Juicy, to go over the photos from yesterday. Dozer is currently sorting through the ones you deemed worthy, now." Sasuke nodded for him to continue.
"After that you have a meeting with some designers who want to go over their summer collections with you." Sasuke lifted his eyebrow. "Cho is first of course, and then there is Sui, and finally Fischer." Sasuke rolled his neck as Andy came back to the bed with a black sports jacket, black graphic tee, and some dark denim. He nodded in agreement, as he handed what little tea he had left to her. Phlinx followed him to the bathroom, like always reading off the rest of his very long day. He pouted as he rinsed his mouth out.
"And then there is the issue of your high school reunion." Andy pulled some underwear out of the drawer, making sure to listen carefully to the response. "Andy, send it in, then book my room, and flight. Fuck!" He slid into the black boxer briefs, Andy handed to him. "I am so glad you are going, sir! I still cannot believe you are old enough to have one of those! You don't look a day over twenty-two." Sasuke pulled on his tee. "Yeah, Andy. Sure, whatever you say."
*_*
Sasuke crossed the street with his three assistants in tow. He was headed to his next destination when a patch of blond caught his eye. He had only known two people in his life to have hair that color blond. He looked at the direction it was moving and sighed. "I am obviously seeing things." The three assistants frowned, but Dozer spoke. "Mr. Uchiha, are you alright." He just nodded his head as they continued on their way to his next meeting.
"I need a really big coffee with a shot of espresso." Phlinx smiled. "Alright, you three head to the casting and I will get you that coffee." Sasuke shook his head. "I need to walk this feeling off too. So, just go to the casting and I will be there in fifteen minutes. Make sure they do not pick the top thirty until I get there." The three assistants nodded and headed off in the direction of the next appointment, while he headed to the Starbucks around the corner.
The line was moving slowly when that patch of blond caught his eye again, he just shrugged and let it go. He stepped to the cashier and she just blushed. "Can I get a venti coffee with a shot of espresso?" The girl did not trust her voice, so she just nodded. He handed her the money and stuffed the rest in the tip jar. He moved to the little station to add some Equal and took a seat facing 42nd Street. He stirred the hot beverage letting his mind drift off into his memories.
"No Sasuke come on! Enough with damn camera, I am really tired! Come on! Not right now, I'm too tired!" The blond pouted with beautiful full pink lips. "You are so beautiful right now and I will never forgive myself if I miss this opportunity." The blond huffed. "So exhaustion, is this year's look, huh?" Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle softly. "I am afraid I might forget how perfect you are." The blond grinned.
"Yeah, sure…I am totally buying that bullshit line! You would tell me anything, so you can molest me with that damn camera of yours!" The blond rolled his eyes. "Compromise?" The blond asked sweetly and Sasuke shrugged. After all, he was not completely unreasonable.
"I will make love to you, all night." The blond put his lacrosse bag down before lifting a finger, signaling a condition. "If you would do me the pleasure of putting that camera down. Besides, I look exhausted and stressed out, which I am by the way." Naruto sighed, dramatically. "The look is very unbecoming for a sexy beast such as myself." Sasuke bit the inside of his lip as he lowered his camera. "I thought you said that you were exhausted?" The blond beauty lifted those eyes, revealing pure love. "I am never too exhausted to make love to you." The blond grinned mischievously.
"You are Sasuke Uchiha, right?" The raven was pulled from his thoughts by a shorthaired woman speaking to him. "You are him! God, I love your work and the fashion stuff is not bad either! In class we studied your work for like, half the semester." The girl smiled warmly as Sasuke extended his hand. "I am sorry. I don't believe you gave me your name." The girl took his hand into a firm handshake. "I can be so dense sometimes! I am Hex Gideon, a student at NYU." She smiled brilliantly. "So, you are a photography major?" She shook her head.
"Heavens no! I have no talent for it, but I know good work when I see it and yours is superb!" The girl shrugged. "But, I have been taking photos since I could hold a camera steady. That is how I know I am no good." The raven smirked at the redheaded girl. "That just means you need to stop trying so hard." The girl tilted her head in a curious manner.
"Great shots happen naturally, it is something that cannot be forced. Always make sure that what you are photographing is worth taking the time to line up in your eyepiece." The girl looked, positively captivated and the raven chuckled. "What I mean is…if it does not move you to tears or some other emotion. How do you expect it to move others?" She bit her lip.
"Wow, I never once looked at it like that. Hey were you photography major?" The raven chuckled. "No, I was a business major." He shrugged slightly. "But, then again. I had already found someone worth photographing and that was what made me realize the importance of inspiration." The raven looked at his watch. "Look, Hex. I have to go, but here is my card. I should have a spot opening up soon, for a new assistant." He slipped the card to her. "I am sure, that with a little help we can find what truly moves you." The girl nodded dumbly as he moved towards the exit. 'Dozer will be moving on, pretty soon. It is about time, because he is better than I will ever be.'
*_*
The raven smirked as he pulled open the door of the small fashion shop. "Uchiha darling, it took you forever!" The Asian woman hit his shoulder playful. "I cannot believe you don't trust me to pick my own models." The raven flashed a devastating smile. "Cho, I just need to make sure that they deserve the privilege of such elegant wear." She blushed as she nodded. "What do you have for me so far?" His assistances brought the photos up on the laptop.
There were fifty models left to compete for the fifteen spots that needed to be filled. "I thought I said stall until I arrived." Andy smiled. "There is fifty left and you clearly said thirty!" She smiled smartly. "Technically, we did as we were told! The thirty mark has yet to be hit!" Sasuke shook his head. "Andy my dear, you could talk your way out of capital punishment. However, fifty is cutting it a little close." She shrugged as she helped him remove his jacket. He moved through the photos quickly. "There is a few with potential." He looked up at Cho and his assistances. "Alright, let's bring them in and see what we have."
*_*
Four hours and two meeting later the raven found himself home with his assistances planning his next day. He frowned at the thought of wasting another weekend with the needs of others. "What is today?" The three assistances looked at their boss as Dozer answered. "It is Thursday and tomorrow a lot of people want you present at their events. I was thinking maybe that you should do an hour here and an hour there." Sasuke shook his head at Andy, she giving her prize winning pout. "Mr. Uchiha! You have to! This is like important and all those people want you there! Are you really going to disappoint everyone?"
Sasuke sighed as he set back into his chair. "I do not want to go anywhere or do anything this weekend. Work takes up seven days a week and frankly, I am tired of seeing you three every day. This weekend, we are going to have a break. Phlinx and Andy, your weekend starts now. So, go away and try not to injure yourselves. Dozer, I think it is time we have a talk." Dozer looked at his boss inquisitively, but remained seated as the others left. "Is everything okay, Sasuke?" Sasuke placed his tea on the table as he looked up at the young man. He had grown fond of Dozer over the years. "Do you remember when I hired you?" Dozer nodded his head.
"Four years ago, the year Juugo left and I was fresh out of college. Man, I was so excited when you hired me. It has been a dream come true!" Sasuke nodded his head. "You do know I only hire those with potential to be great." Dozer nodded and Sasuke smirked. "Dozer I have nothing else to teach you and you have the potential to be illustrious." Sasuke stood and walked over to his desk, pulling a card from his rolodex. "You don't have much of a passion for fashion photography, but you do have a passion for life." Sasuke walked over and handed Dozer the card.
"This is a company in London and they send photographers everywhere. They capture the truth about the world." Dozer nodded as if understanding that this was goodbye. "They are waiting for your call and when Monday comes and you do not show up here." Sasuke sighed. "We will consider this as goodbye, but if you do show up." Sasuke shrugged. "Well, then you are a complete fool. Because, there is more to life than being the assistant of a has been." Dozer shook his head. "You're not a has been! Everything you shot still has so much emotion!" Sasuke nodded.
"That is very true, but I lost my reason why ages ago. It is no longer a career, but a job and that is when you know that your time has come to an end." Dozer smiled. "It's that blond guy, huh sir?" Sasuke lifted his eyebrow questioningly. "I was cleaning out your studio a couple of years back and I found boxes full of photos of a blond kid. He was really, umm. He was beautiful. I'm not into guys or anything, but beautiful is the only way to describe him." Dozer twisted his face into a thoughtful expression.
"I found about three boxes full of his photos and I sort of figured him to be your reason why." Sasuke chuckled softly as he pulled a cigarette from the package on his desk. "You know Dozer that was a long time ago. I have journeyed so far away from that point in life. The only things I have left are my memories and regrets." He lit the cigarette and took in the smoke.
"You know I lost him on purpose." Sasuke let the smoke out slowly as he shook his head. "That is not important, but what is important is that you need to make a name for yourself. Dozer, you have more talent than I ever had and it is time for you to go. Time to go and be someone famous, let the world see that true talent with a camera still counts for something." Dozer smiled. "Seriously, go and do something amazing, fuck the lights, and do it because you can." Dozer nodded with a small goodbye as he left. "Andy and Phlinx should be ready soon." He placed his free hand to his temple. "Fuck, it is going to be a pain in the ass to train a new assistant."
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