A/N:: I wanted to write a song fic to Pendulum's 'Different' but that didn't really happen. Still, it was my inspiration for this. It's also the reason why this fic is written much differently than the previous three.
Also, this fic has been sitting in My Documents for who knows how long. This ship's bug bit me, today, so I thought now would be a good time to post it. I might also write more for this ship, but those fics will either be here or in their own story. They'd be some sort of College AU, with the both of them going to art school and working at a modeling agency. Just a thought.

PHOTO OP COLLECTION ~ Kouta 'Muttsurini/Voyeur' Tsuchiya x Hideyoshi Kinoshita

Something to Prove

'Kouta's been so busy lately... He rarely comes to class and has been calling me into his studio for weeks. I think we're both getting a lack of sleep from all of this. I hope something hasn't happened.'

For some weeks, Hideyoshi – along with most of Class F, noticed a change in their resident voyeur. If his newly acquired distant expression was not a hint, then the amount of blood he was keeping in his system was. He was less of a pervert and more of a regular guy – a regular guy who either fell asleep in class or skipped school altogether.

It was... weird. Kouta was more quite and always had his photography equipment in hand. He would never use it around school, though. Lenses would be replaced constantly, film rolls would trail from him; he would always look through the viewfinder as if he were preparing for the perfect shot, but he never took it. Some students were starting to worry about him. Even a few girls would go out of their way to create suggestive situations, but Kouta never reacted to them.

The most anyone saw him do was drag Hideyoshi away from where ever he was. In the middle of lecture, after school, and even during a conversation. And the next day, students would see the both of them – poorly dressed, worn out, bags under their eyes, and barely able to walk up-right.

If anyone asked him what had happened, Hideyoshi would tell them that they were taking pictures. That's all they ever did. That's all Kouta wanted them to do. Hideyoshi wasn't about to re-tell the times he had seen his boyfriend topple over his camera and tripod due to lack of sleep, or how he has had to drag him away from the studio so he could either make them a meal or go out for one (after finding that there was nothing edible in Kouta's home and the whole place turned into a black room).

It was better to keep it simple. Their friends would understand, for now, and they could keep doing whatever-they-were-doing until things stopped.

If things stopped.

And they did. It took about two months, but Hideyoshi was starting to notice things around the studio and Kouta's home that gave him an idea of what was happening. He found recent pictures of couples and families, which meant that Kouta had real clients coming to him. There were small stacks of fliers around the floor that advertised sales and different rates, so he must have been wanting to promote himself.

The only thing Hideyoshi could not figure out was why. Why would a student at their age take on a huge work load that they could hardly handle? What reason did Kouta have for doing this to himself? If he wanted to expand his portfolio, then that was wonderful! But they had a break coming up and he would have all the time to do that, then.

–

"Here."

School had just closed for a two week long break. Students were celebrating and discussing their vacation plans as they left the school grounds. Kouta was standing past the entrance, off to the side, waiting for his main artistic focus to walk past. He had sent him a text message earlier in the day saying that he would meet him after school, and to also get him a copy of their notes and homework.

Hideyoshi was fixing his bag to accommodate for the extra papers, while talking to Akihisa and Shuji, when he saw his vision go white. An envelope blocked his view and made him double back before he could take hold of it.

He looked over and saw Kouta staring back at him. Kouta motioned for him to open it, and then became distracted by the other two boys as they asked him 'Why weren't you at school' and 'What have you been up to'.

The envelope was secured with a button and a string, which Hideyoshi started to unwind. He then squeezed the sides of the envelope and flipped the opening towards his palm. The markings of a plane ticket greeted him.

He didn't have enough time to piece together the never-ending photo shoots and the paper in his hand before Kouta pulled him over and started moving them in the direction of Hideyoshi's home. Hideyoshi waved over to their friends as they left.

"I, uh, can't tell you guys much, but we'll bring this back up after the break, alright?"

–

In about two days Hideyoshi found himself sitting underneath a beach umbrella, relaxing on a towel, and watching the waves go by. There were families around him, enjoying the sun and heat, and making most of their vacation.

A drop of water on his shoulder brings him out of his thoughts and redirects him to his boyfriend, who looks more refreshed than anyone there. He takes the glass of juice Kouta holds out and thanks him, and slides over so Kouta can join him.

"So, you worried the whole school for this? A beach vacation for two?"

"No," Kouta replies, leaning himself on Hideyoshi. "I made as much money as I could, in a set amount of time, to give you the best present without being a perv."

"...You're joking."

"Think about it; did you wear anything during your shoots that made you uncomfortable? How were you posed? Where was I when I took the pictures? I can give you the prints as proof. All of them are typical, normal photographs."

If Hideyoshi did think back, he would find that Kouta was right. The outfits had no risque parts to them, he was either standing, sitting, or posed in a way where nothing could be seen as suggestive (Maybe "moe," but still), and Kouta never went below his waist to get the pictures taken.

Everything was simple and innocent. They probably looked like photos people would assume someone their age would take.

"...Why?" Hideyoshi asked, the confusion obvious on his face.

"Hm?"

"Why would you go through all of that just for this? I don't want to seem ungrateful but, I don't understand."

"Think of it like this," Kouta starts, sitting up. "Every guy has a moment to prove they can do something they normally wouldn't do. I took this as my moment to show you I'm not a total pervert, and to show you that our relationship isn't based off of you looking amazing and me capturing every moment of it. I know that some people don't understand how we got together – even I don't, sometimes. We're complex – "

"You're dumber than Akihisa."

"But I like that. ...Wait, what?"

"We'll talk about it later, but I can't believe you actually thought about that sort of thing."

Hideyoshi moves his head to kiss Kouta's cheek, but the boy moves and their lips meet.

"Idiot. You didn't have to 'prove yourself' or 'figure us out'. We just work. Plain and simple."

Hideyoshi shifts a bit to lay down on the towel and smiles up at Kouta, "Now, let's enjoy our vacation, okay?"

Kouta stares at the boy for a few seconds, before grinning and laying closely beside Hideyoshi, taking their hand in his.