Title: Snapshot
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Pairing: Nanba x OC
Spoilers: Manga
Summary: Like most models, I was bored with life. I hated everything. And everyone.
Word Count: 1,500
Warnings: N/A
Disclaimer: Not mine. Summary is from Domino.
A/N: I am nowhere close to being a model. Most of the information I get is from Cosmo and American's Next Top Model. Forgive me for any errors.
Classic: a term used to describe older models, often in their 40s or later
It was ridiculous since she was 24, but Kali hadn't been on a date since she was sixteen and dated Michael. If dating could be what you would call it. Really, the twenty year old had taken advantage of someone much younger than him before flitting off to someone he thought would make him more famous, breaking Kali's heart in the process. He'd shown her what men could be like – shallow and vain and greedy, and she wanted nothing to do with men like that.
She just wanted to be happy.
Minami scared her a little with how happy he made her. He remembered how she liked her coffee, and brought it to her in the morning when she was bleary-eyed and half asleep (she was a chronic night-owl, and Minami, irritatingly, was a cheery and chipper morning person). He never missed a beat when she made jokes that left other men scratching their heads, even retaliated and muttered jokes under his breath at her during shoots. He caught her off guard with cheesy one-liners that made her roll her eyes. He thought she was pretty, sure, but he respected her for her intelligence – recommending books for her to read and trading his books for her recommendations. He respected her.
Plus, he was adorable when he blushed.
She had said yes to this date and then spent the next three days in a minor panic because she had no idea what to do on a date. Minami seemed like the type who might have dated a lot (okay, she knew he had, she'd Googled his name more than once). Would he expect her to act like those women? Should she dress like she was a model? Where would he take her?
"Dear, you really should calm down, it's just a date."
Kali shifted the phone to her other ear as she carefully applied a coat of blue lacquer to her nails. "Yes, mother, I am aware. But as you are no doubt aware, I haven't been on a date in like a decade."
"I'm sure that's no one's fault but your own, Kali." Her mother sounded as posh and suave as Kali remembered. "You're a beautiful young women. I can't imagine you don't get asked out on dates on a daily basis."
"Yes, but –"
"And if you give me some excuse that because of that Neanderthal Michael, I will be on the next plane there so I can throttle you myself. You were sixteen, darling. If you recall, I told you you weren't allowed to date and you went off and did it anyway. Sixteen year olds don't have the greatest taste in men."
"Mom, can we stop talking about Michael, please!" She sighed in agitation. "I just… I don't want to mess this up. I have to work with him for seven more months on this Harlequin contract. It's going to be awkward if this date doesn't go well. I could lose this job."
Her mother was silent for a long moment. "Kali, if that's really what you're telling yourself about why you're nervous about this date, fine, but don't lie to me." Her mother made a disgruntled noise. "But I'll give you a pointer…" There was a long pause, in which Kali held her breath. "Be. Your. Self."
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, mom."
"And don't roll your eyes.
Okay, well, so here she was, waiting for Minami. She'd assumed they would be going to a movie or dinner, maybe both. Or a nightclub – that's something young people did on dates, right? But he had texted her to dress casual and to meet her at the studio. So here she was, at 5 PM on the dot, wearing the most casual thing she could think of: jeans, flats, and a button-up top in a floral, pastel pattern. She was trying not to look like she was nervous, but since she jumped like a rabbit when she felt a light touch on her elbow, she didn't really think she was managing that all that well.
"Sorry, Kali! I didn't mean to scare you!" Minami's smile was bright and earnest when she turned to him. He looked incredibly handsome, with his dark jeans, white shirt, and blue blazer. Effortless.
She took a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. "No, it's quite alright." She smiled at him hesitantly. "So – where are you taking me?"
His grin doubled in its intensity. "It's a surprise! Come on!" He held out his hand to her, and after a second of hesitation, she took it.
"Lead the way."
"So what do you think?"
She knew he was looking at her, trying to gauge her reaction, but she was too busy staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the building they were in front of. Unlike the rest of the buildings on the street, this one was lit up like a Christmas tree from within, with fairylights and candles. And it was filled wall to wall with books.
"They're hosting a rare and unique collection tonight – lots of first editions and autographed books, and books with interesting hand written dedications, things like that." He sounded hesitant. "Since, you read so much, I thought – I thought you might like this more than dinner and a movie…"
She turned to him, her smile blinding and the smallest glimmer of tears in her eyes. This was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for her! "It's amazing! Thank you!"
When Minami smiled back, there was a tinge of blush on his cheeks. "Well, lead the way, Miss. Bookworm."
Kali spent the next two hours in absolute Heaven, browsing through the most incredible selection she had ever seen. Some of these books were hundreds of years old. When she asked, the curator allowed her to put on pristine white gloves and turn through the pages of a first edition copy of The Tempest. She could have cried.
And through it all, Minami followed her. Asking her input on certain books, listening to her intently when she spoke of authors, smiling at her fondly when she ran her hands worshipfully down the spines. When she asked if he was bored following her around, he gave her a mysterious look and told her if she didn't mind, he was going to pop off for just a moment.
When he returned, they spend another few minutes prowling the stacks, before retiring to a small café across the street.
"That was incredible – thank you." She could still smell the musky, vanilla scent of old books, even as she sipped her coffee.
He waved her off. "No, it was nothing. I enjoyed myself." He smiled. "Can I walk you home?"
Kali only lived a few blocks from the café, so the walk was short. But she reached out to intertwine their hands and felt her heart swell with happiness when he squeezed hers back. They spoke of their families and work – neither one of them has ever read a Harlequin book, a fact which they promised each other to remedy – and their hobbies. Much too soon, they were standing on the porch to her apartment.
She smiled at him. "I had a wonderful time." She was suddenly incredibly anxious. Should she invite him up? Would that be too forward?
"So did I…" He reached into his jacket pocket. "I got you a little something." When he pulled out the gift, she gasped. "I couldn't afford the first edition." He made a rueful face. "But this one is about 150 years old, I thought you might like it."
It was The Tempest.
"Oh. Oh, my." She held it reverently in her hands. "You didn't have to – " She's cut off went Minami leans down and presses a chaste kiss to her lips.
"No, but I wanted to." Her eyes are wide open in shock, though his are pressed tightly closed. His face looks as red as hers feels. His next words are mumbled, almost to himself even though their lips are mere millimeters apart. "Just like I want to do this."
The book is pressed between them when he kisses her again, firmly and with no hesitation. His arms wrap around her, lifting her from the ground for a moment. Her hands are still clasped around the book, so she can't return his embrace, but she tilts her face up in answer, softening her lips, letting her mouth fall open.
Oh, she thinks dizzily. So this is what happiness feels like…
