shot 02

"Kuroko, I could kiss you on the mouth."

"Please refrain."

"Those candid photos of Kise you gave me two days ago? Editors of nearly every major magazine were chomping at the damn bit for them!" She leaned over her desk - nearly closes enough to brush Kuroko's nose - her eyes wide with glee. "Our net profit this week alone has gone up by astronomical levels. Ten times as much, Kuroko! Ten times!"

Riko gleefully spun around in her chair, giggling relentlessly, and Kuroko bowed, fidgeting with his hands.

"That is good to hear. However, I am sure it was not just my photos that brought Seirin Snaps this well-deserved attention - "

"That's nonsense!" she said, cutting his refutation of her praise short. "Isn't that right, Mr. Hyuuga?"

The man in question poked his head into Riko's office immediately, nodding as if his life depended on it. All things considered, it was likely it did. "Of course, boss! Utter nonsense."

"See?" She stretched her arms, yawning before folding her hands under her chin. She dismissed Hyuuga with a neat tilt of her head. "Even Kagamoron's getting more exposure to readers as a result. You should've seen the way he blushed, Kuroko. He's pretty grateful."

"Don't speak for me," Kagami grumbled as he entered the room, and at Riko's look, hastily tacked on a gruff, "boss." Despite his waspish tone, his ears were a healthy red and he made no attempt to deny her words. "Yo."

"Mr. Kagami," Kuroko greeted him simply, and Kagami in turn ruffled the photographer's hair. "Stop that. I don't like it."

"Then you drop the politeness bullshit!"

Kuroko blinked. "But it's fun to see you always get so bashful. Like a little kid."

Kagami flushed scarlet, looking more and more like an irate volcano set to erupt. "What - "

"Hey!" Riko's annoyed voice interrupted their banter. "Settle down, Kagamoron."

"Why am I the only one getting scolded?!"

"Now," Riki said with a simper, "I have a gift for you two."

Kuroko tride not to flinch as he asked, "What kind of gift, Miss Riko?"

She leaned forward, dangling the rusty van keys in front of him. "You'll see."

Twenty minutes and a death-defying van ride later, the three of them stood in front of a fancy, upper class bar. Kagami looked rather uncomfortable as he took in the elegant affluence of the general area, his jaw tight and his long legs restless. Kuroko, as usual, was completely and utterly impassive.

"You want us to go drinking," Kamagi's eyes darted back and forth, from Riko's smug expression to the sleek automatic double doors. "Here? I don't think I could pay the toll to drive in this part of town."

"As a reward for your work, Kuroko, and your willingness, Kagamoron, to be Seirin Snaps's only model," Riko proclaimed, "any purchase of any sort here tonight is on me."

Kuroko bowed his head. "I am honoured. Although, I must admit, I have a rather low threshold for alcohol."

"Figures." Kagami grinned widely at Kuroko. "You couldn't handle a damn spritzer."

"It suits me fine," Kuroko said, his face a mask of innocence, "I'm not the closet alcoholic."

Kagami faltered. "Alcoholic is a really strong word," he protested weakly, his cheeks ruddy. "I like my drinks a little heavy, s'all."

"Right," Riko laughed, and Kagami bristled. "That's exactly what a closet alcoholic would say."

"Riko." Kagami's voice was a low rumble, and he leaned closer to his boss as he clasped her tiny shoulder. "Y'know how this must look to anyone lookin'. Two poor young men, being coerced into drinking with a suave cougar - "

Without hesitation, Riko grabbed hold of Kagami's broad shoulders and kneed him hard in his stomach. He wheezed out shakily, the surprise assault smacking the air right out of him, and Riko smiled pleasantly as he doubled over in agony.

"Pardon?" she inquired sweetly, as if she had never heard his jibe.

"N-Nothin'," he breathed out slowly, as if he was afraid the air in his lungs would leave him again and never come back. "I was just saying that you're so courageous for taking us out for drinks, s'all."

"Right," Riko purred, patting his trembling shoulder lightly. "Such a charmer."

After a struggling Kuroko eventually coaxed Kagami to follow in after a flouncing Riko, she led them past two stalwart bouncers, right to a trio of high red bar stools. "Hop up, boys."

"What's this place called, anyway?" Kagami asked gruffly, slowly regaining his bravado as he sat down.

"It's the Interhigh Joint," she replied. "I like coming here when I feel really down, or - " she winked at them, " - when I'm feeling pretty victorious."

"It's certainly upscale," Kuroko commented, his eyes roving about. He took in the soft-as-sin red carpet and immaculate black walls, gazing through the crystalline tables and noting the sensuous lowlight - not seeming to miss the slightest detail. "It must be an expensive place."

"Moderately."

"How the hell can you afford it?" Kagami asked bluntly, snapping his gum. Evidently, the intimidating emanation of the uptown bar had worn off of him. "It's not like you make much off the studio."

Instead of growing irate with him, Riko only winked again, far more coquettishly. "I have friends in high places."

Kuroko and Kagami exchanged wide glances, the latter of the two mumbling under his breath. "What poor schmucks got stuck owning her favours?"

"Here's one," she continued, cheerily gesturing to the approaching bartender. "Boys, I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine - Mr. Kiyoshi Teppei."

"Evening, Aika. That's an awful lot of formality," the bartender admonished her, affectionate. He was taller than even the imposing Kagami, with shoulders broad enough to make the eternally burdened Atlas jealous. Despite his imposing stature, his mien was gentle and his face was kind. Kiyoshi looked the photographer and amateur model over with a curious expression. "Who are these two?"

"My newest recruits," she said with dignity, waving her hand about. "This one's the model, Kagami Taiga," Riko thumped his head for emphasis, "and he's especially mouthy."

"Hey!" Kagami snapped, an acidic retort no doubt on the tip of his tongue before he caught Kiyoshi's eye and swallowed it whole. "I mean, uh, it's good to meet you. Sir."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kiyoshi said, all smiles. "I hope you'll treat Riko well. She used to be my manager, after all."

"Is that so?" Kuroko said, clearly startling the bartender, and Kiyoshi tilted his head down to get a better look at the slight man.

"Oh! Hello, err - "

"Kuroko Tetsuya."

"Ah! So you're the photographer Riko's been bragging about?"

He was silent for a moment, looking thoughtful as he watched Kiyoshi's face. "I suppose I must be."

Kiyoshi grinned brightly, his gaze flickering between Kuroko and Kagami. "You're in good hands with Riko," he commented, as he absently mixed a ruby red sangria. "She's an incredible woman."

"Oh please," she protested, but she accepted her regular drink with rosy cheeks. "You were just an exceptional model."

"You worked for Seirin Snaps, huh?" Kagami asked, his dark eyes flicking between Riko and Kiyoshi with an edge of suspicion.

"Oh yes. I had some great times working there. I always seem to smile whenever I think about my time spent in that cozy little building." He gave a nostalgia-laden sigh of contentment. "Those were the days, huh Riko?"

"By "cozy" and "little", I'm assuming you means "cramped" and "minuscule." Kagami quipped, oblivious to Riko's warning glare trained on him.

Kiyoshi laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling charmingly. "What can I get you two?" he asked, mercifully ending that train of conversation.

"Something weak," Kuroko requested at the same time Kagami boomed, "something strong!" Instantly, their mouths snapped shut and they looked at each other sullenly.

"Don't mock me."

"That's my line!"

"How does 80 proof vodka sound, Mr. Kagami?" Kiyoshi smoothly interjected. "And Mr. Kuroko, I'll get you some sparking water if you aren't keen on alcohol."

"That would be - "

Kuroko's voice died abruptly in his throat as his brows shot up, his line of sight fixing on something - someone? - for a few fleeting moments, before quickly turning away. Kagami shot him a quizzical look quirking his own brow at the bizarre reaction.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked, following the line that had held Kuroko's gaze. "What were - oh."

"Guys?" Riko eventually turned her gaze away from Kiyoshi to look at Kuroko's surprised expression, and Kagami's frozen face, and she followed his line of sight to find Kise Ryōta lounging a few tables away, in all of his glory. "Oh!"

The Kaijou model was dressed casually, sporting a fitted black top, hole-ridden blue jeans and feet clad in naught but black flip-flops. Besides his ubiquitously alluring aura, he looked surprisingly normal, sipping a tall glass of gin with a neutral expression. He wasn't alone, either. A lanky, spectacled man with neat, coiffed hair dyed a mild green sat with him, his gaze sharp and utterly judgmental. He was more appropriately dressed than Kise, with buffed dress shoes instead of flip-flops and a crisp black and white suit instead of knockabout wear.

Riko's eyes widened - to the point where both Kagami and Kiyoshi feared they'd pop right out of their sockets - before she hissed under her breath.

"Kuroko. Kuroko! Kise is looking at you."

The photographer didn't reply, opting to instead fiddle idly with his straw.

"Kuroko, I think he recognises you!" Her voice was rising, a note of hysteria evident in her awed tone.

With a quiet sigh, Kuroko stole another glance over his shoulder only to indeed meet the model's warm eyes. He broke eye contact immediately, a slight frown on his face. "That is doubtful. Most people don't remember me."

"And is that Midorima Shintarō next to him?!" she squealed, her voice breaking as she did so. "The sharp-dressing glasses model of Shūtoku with an infamously highbrow attitude?"

Kagami snorted disparagingly. "Big deal."

Riko turned to wag a stern finger in his face. "They're a far bigger deal than you, and until you surpass them, you have no room to turn your nose up at them!"

"What the hell are you trying to say - ?"

"Let's not," Kuroko interrupted, unusually forceful, "make a fuss. They're probably here to relax - as are we."

At Kuroko's unexpected outburst, the group simmered down, clinking drinks as if they hadn't glimpsed the supernovas sitting behind them.

"Midorimacchi," Kise whined as Kuroko turned to talk to his red-headed companion. "Why isn't he saying anything? Didn't he recognise me?"

"I'm sure that he did," Midorima replied, not sparing Kise a glance, "and that is precisely the reason he is ignoring you."

"That's harsh!" Kise lamented, his voice breaking dramatically, before he took on a more serious tone. "He really isn't interested in me at all."

"Are you that incapable of seeing that your insufferable personality is extremely stifling to any person with even an average amount of intelligence?" Midorima asked, taking a small sip from his virgin float. "Because I certainly can attest."

"You're supposed to be comforting me today, Midorimacchi!"

"Forgive me for not feeling up to comforting an overgrown brat. The same brat that happens to be the whiny perpetrator that made me leave a shoot early in an attempt to goad me to drink irresponsibly with him."

Kise buried his face in his hands, his ears a pale pink. "You were only hand modelling, anyway! God. You're always so depressingly reasonable," he complained, his voice muffled through his slender fingers.

"Then why didn't you bother Aomine? You two are better suited to such pointless debauchery."

"He's always more busy than you. And he's an awful listener. And he's - " the model hiccuped, "an asshole."

"I'm honoured," Midorima said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "May I go now?"

"No."

With a deep sigh, Midorima pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you're truly that wounded at the prospect of he and you not exchanging words, simply go and speak to him yourself." He shook his head as he took in the pallid, slender man, his skinny arms and slightly sloped shoulders. He certainly wasn't Kise's usual, but Midorima still couldn't find it in himself to bother about the other model's tastes in 'conquests.'

Kise peeked at him from in between his finger gaps. "You think I should?"

"I frankly don't care either way, so long as I can leave - "

"Don't be silly!" Kise said, slamming his hands down on the table. "I'll introduce you to him!"

"Introduce - " was all the suited man managed to sputter out before Kise was yanking him along like a rag doll. "Kise, don't be preposterous! I have far more productive things to be doing than being introduced to your so-called acquaintances - "

Kise paid no mind to Midorima's evident agitation as he secured the vacant stool to the right of Kuroko, a strangely excited flutter worming its way from his abdomen to his throat. He didn't understand why he felt so intrigued, so eager at the thought of speaking to the photographer again, but he wasn't one to question his fickle feelings.

"Hi!"

Kuroko didn't think anything of the hearty greeting, didn't even pause to think of the possibility of it being aimed at him, until a smooth finger lightly tapped at his right shoulder "You're Kuroko, right?"

He looked up to see Kise sitting to the left of him, his gaze oddly demure. "Do - do you remember me?" the model asked, his voice a little hesitant.

"...Yes," Kuroko replied after a pregnant pause, his brows arched with disbelief. "You recognised me?"

"Of course!" Kise answered far too quickly. He seemed to realise this, and waited a moment before adding in a more subdued tone, "how would I forget our meeting so soon?"

"Most people would have."

"Huh?" Kise blinked, thrown off, but shrugged off the wayward comment. "Well, I'm glad - I mean, it's good to see you again!"

"Hey," Kagami said, glaring daggers at the blond. He had shifted closer to the photographer on instinct, his body language reeking of hostility as he gave Kise a one-over. "We were in the middle of - "

"I saw your photos of me," Kise continued, talking over an increasingly indignant Kagami. "A lot of magazines picked them up, you know. They were breathtaking." He leaned his cheek into his palm, his lashes lowered in an intense smolder. "I'll certainly keep an eye out for your work."

"Thank you," Kuroko said, inclining his head. "That is a wonderful compliment to hear from the muse."

Kise flushed suddenly, blinking as he cleared his throat. "I - "

"Look," Midorima interrupted, his face pinched up with obvious irritation. Despite the intrigue of Kise's uncharacteristically bashful behaviour, he was weary of being strung along by his whims for today. "As much as this little reunion warms my heart - " he glanced at his cellphone screen fraught with seemingly hundreds of messages and reminders " - I have professional obligations to fulfill. If you would excuse me." Deaf to Kise's protests and blind to Riko's shameless gawking, he stood up and made to leave.

"Mr. Midorima." Kuroko's voice was quiet, but the dapper model turned on his polished heel to face him all the same. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Midorima watched Kuroko in a distinctly calculating way, titling his head to the left, then the right. "I hope to someday say the same."

"Uh?" Kagami threw up his hands, furrowing his brow as the model walked away in an evident hurry. "The hell?"

"Um, please excuse Midorimacchi," Kise said apologetically, his eyes on Kuroko. "He's a bit socially impaired."

"What is he, an old man?" Kagami asked tactlessly, and was rewarded with a harsh blow between his ribs from Kuroko's bony elbow. "Ow!"

"Midorimacchi is a very intelligent person." He turned to give the photographer a winning grin. "I think you'll like him, Kurokocchi."

"What's with that 'chi' thing?" Kagami asked, and Kise blinked as if he had just noticed him.

"'Chi?' What's 'chi'?" the blond replied, confused.

"I'm asking you, you damn bimbo!"

"Mr. Kise!" Riko cut into the conversation without missing a beat, half of her body practically in Kagami's lap as she leaned towards Kise. "I see you're interested in my photographer's work."

"Yes!" His reply was instantaneous, his voice genuinely warm. "He's amazing."

"I'm glad he left a good impression," Riko said, her eyes calculating despite her business smile. "He was also pleased at being able to take photos of you."

"Really?" Kise stole a glance at Kuroko, who was taking a dainty sip of his beverage. "Well, in that case, he's free to come to Kaijou shoots whenever he wants! My treat."

Riko almost choked on her drink, thumping her chest with a fist, before she managed to sputter out, "he is?"

Kise looked at her quizzically. "Of course."

"Mr. Kise," Kuroko said suddenly, and Kise pivoted to face him so fast that it was a miracle he didn't experience some sort of whiplash. "Do you know where Mr. Midorima rushed off to?"

"Oh," the blond said, embarrassed. "My bad. I dragged him away from work to humour me for a little bit."

"So you're off work yourself?"

"Mmm. I guess." Kise downed the rest of his gin. "It's been a busy week. Didn't feel like idly chitchatting with the press today."

"What a tragedy," Kagami grumbled, half under his breath, and Kise finally gave him a good, hard look.

"Ah, yes. Who are you?" Kise's face was a mask of innocence, his voice honeyed.

"Kagami Taiga." It was less words and more a patterned growl. "Do you have any damn manners at all? We were in the middle of a conversation." Riko looked at Kagami with wide eyes, indignant, but her employee was in no mood to pay attention to her. He was zeroed in on the Miracle Model, who wore a self-satisfied, indulgent smirk. As if he was above even acknowledging Kagami, never mind carrying on a conversation with him, and was merely humouring him.

"Really? My apologies. I didn't really notice you."

"That sounds like a lot of bullshit," he bit back, and Riko's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Kise only continued to smile disarmingly.

"Excuse me," Kise said, and his smile was all scorn. "Models tend to be used to blocking out interference."

The party went deathly quiet, with even gentle Kiyoshi looking mildly taken aback at Kise's overt disdain. Kagami was red with fury, his jaw clenching and unclenching, much like his fists. But before he could speak, or even so much as twitch in Kise's direction, he stilled as a hand came to rest on his bouncing thigh.

"Kagami is my work partner."

Kise blinked, shifting his mocking eyes from Kagami's angry expression to Kuroko's intense gaze. "What was that?"

"Kagami is my work partner," Kuroko repeated, a hard edge to his voice as he leaned almost imperceptibly in Kise's direction, "and I value his opinion. His eyes, usually placid and passive, were alight with a passion that twisted Kise's gut in a way he found not entirely unpleasant.

It was a challenge. That much was obvious, but Kise hardly registered it. Kuroko stared at him endlessly, and Kise felt himself swallow as he slowly took in the curvature of Kuroko's frown, his pale fingers, clenched around his drink, and those torrid eyes that he found himself wanting to drown in the longer he returned that gaze.

I'm sorry, Kise thought. Not for the redhead's sake, or for their manager, but because those words had made Kuroko look at him with those unhappy eyes.

"Of course," Kise said instead. The flames in Kuroko's expression died almost instantaneously, and he sat up straight again to take another measured sip of his water. Riko, having been dumbstruck, suddenly found her voice again.

"So! Do you have any photo shoots coming up soon?" Her voice was pitched a tad higher, a note of hysteria evident as she tried to jump start the halted conversation in a different direction. Kagami's expression was still irate, but his chest felt warm as he gruffly flagged down Kippei for another drink.

"Ah, my next shoot?" He fluttered his fingers on the table, ruminating, before his face lit up. "I just remembered." Kise had the gall to look a tad contrite as he pouted his lips. "I have a meet and greet photo shoot with Midorimacchi scheduled next week. It's a bit more formal of an event, but." He swallowed. "My agent was still looking for a official photographer for me during the event, but I think you're better than anyone she's suggested. I would be honored if you would help."

Kuroko blinked, evidently surprised. "Thank you," he replied, his voice soft, and when Kise felt the heat in his cheeks he blamed it on the gin.

"What the fuck?" Kagami articulated, turning away from his new drink to look at Kise, suspicion marring his brow. "Shouldn't you already have - "

"Kuroko would be honored," Riko cut in, her grip on Kagami's neck clamping down like a vice, "to represent Seiren Snaps."

Kagami gagged, desperate for breath, but not one person paid him mind. Both Kise and Riko were intensely focused on Kuroko, whose expression that had not twitched once through the exchange, as he quietly polished off the last of his water. After a pause, he steepled his fingers, his mouth barely quirking as he met Kise's expectant - nervous? - gaze.

"It would be a pleasure."

Kise was frowning, carding a hand through his hair absently. The Seiren crew had cleared out not long after they had accepted his instinctive offer, with Kuroko spearheading their exit while their manager practically towing the glowering amateur model way with an iron grip. The encounter had left him with an unfamiliar, bottomless feeling in his stomach, one that he had not shaken off even after guzzling down far too many shots. Through the pleasant, almost overwhelming buzz of the alcohol, he noticed a tall, supple woman - a fellow model, from a separate company - making unabashed eyes at him from her seat at the bar, but he couldn't find it within himself to slink over to her and spin his typical web of seductive smiles and teasing touches. Instead, he found himself watching his eyes in the empty glass, watching them morph into those cool eyes that always cut him to the quick. Reflecting that subtle smile on barely pink lips, that polite, endearing assent to Kise's sudden job offer.

Not good, he found himself acknowledging, but he had never been one to deny his whimsies.

"Can I get you something else, sir?" the bartender asked, breaking him out of his thoughts, and Kise decided he didn't much care for that overly understanding expression. The music, soft and almost a seamless blend into the background, pulsated through Kise's skull, and he flicked his wrist dismissively.

"An Oil Spill. On the rocks." A pause, before he added decisively, "double."

As he closed his eyes, rubbing at his temples tiredly, his eyes flicked towards the woman at the bar. Her dress was distractingly low cut, tight in all the right places, and her hair was dark and curly as it fell just past her bare shoulders. A perfect piece of candy to indulge himself in - and yet, he was still void of his regular, bestial intrigue. As they made eye contact, she quirked her plush lips in a coquettish smile, and he found himself reciprocating with a reluctant dimple. The bartender slid his requested drink towards him, his eyes lingering on his face too long, too knowingly, and Kise decided suddenly that such a distraction would be prudent.

Anything to erase the afterimage of those fathomless eyes.

Kise's drink, the Oil Spill, is sort of self-demonstrating. Despite its name and slick appearance, it's a vaguely sweet cocktail. Much like Kise, I'd wager.

Thank you for waiting! I really want to update this every other week from here on out, and I have a pretty solid outline for the rest of this story. I appreciate each and evertand kind comment - it's extremely motivating, and I love to hear how readers are feeling! Next chapter should have us chugging right along into the thick of things.

Also! Feel free to talk to me and ask any questions at post/157469471744/fisheye, my official tumblr for my writing and general fandom angst.