Author's Notes: Bit of a filler chapter full of Leo/Guang Hong. Phichit's bae, but I'd love a friend like Leo, too. (*_*) Please enjoy!


Leo's parents taught him to be kind, generous, and loyal. His father told him that a man ought to protect his family and friends, while his mother told him that it was all right for a man to feel, to have emotions, and to express them, freely and openly – but also in words and with moderation, she corrected, when young Leo took her teachings to heart and displayed his frustration by kicking over an expensive vase.

As much as Leo loved his parents and followed their philosophies to the tee, he realized quickly, upon entering the fashion industry, that they had failed to imbue one thing in him: people around him might not be kind, generous, or loyal. There was a fleeting moment in fashion school when Leo felt the urge to stray from his parents' lessons and take the easier, more obvious route – the route that would work best for him. But the moment was brief, and he was quick to return to his senses and find his moral compass again.

So Leo does not blame Jean-Jacques for making the choice he did. He's upset with the man – angry, really – but he understands. It takes courage to choose the path of moral high ground, but as they say, there is a fine line between bravery and foolishness. Somehow, looking at the colourful magazine spreads announcing Jean-Jacques's new line, Leo can't help feeling more like the latter.

"I think we should sue," Guang Hong cuts fiercely into Leo's reverie, eyes wet with unshed tears.

Leo reaches out to ruffle his friend's hair with great fondness. Guang Hong had always been his most devoted fan. The Chinese boy was a year below him in his fashion school when they first met, and Leo could never forget those wide, starry eyes as they ran over the poster presentation of his final-year project, the abashed stammering praise for his designs.

Even now, although it is his designs that are stolen, Guang Hong seems a thousand times more devastated.

"We have no proof the designs are ours, just our words against his," Leo says quietly.

"Can't we show our originals? Or, or the prototypes I've started making?"

"They could easily turn the tables and say we stole it from them."

"They wouldn't," Guang Hong gasps in horror.

"I wouldn't put it past them," says Leo. Firmly, he closes the magazine and pushes it to the side. Honestly, he's not even sure why they took the damn thing with them; they're in a nice restaurant, grabbing a bite to eat after work. The last thing they need is a reminder of the horrid debacle.

"Let's eat," he says with as much as cheer as possible, nodding towards the menu in front of Guang Hong. "Have you decided yet?"

"I don't really have an appetite," Guang Hong says miserably, looking all too much like a kicked puppy. "How come you're so cheery anyway?"

"My mother always taught me to feel in moderation. Come on, when was the last time we had dinner together?" Leo cajols. He flips open the menu. "Look, they have your favourite! Crab rangoons!"

Guang Hong cracks a tiny smile. "That's your favourite."

"And there's that pretty smile," Leo says, grinning.

The smaller man blushes, before he snaps up the menu to hide his red-stained face. "C-Can we share something? I'm really not that hungry."

"Sure, what are you thinking of?"

"Crab rangoons and chicken with broccoli?"

Leo laughs. "That's what I'm thinking of, yes, but what do you want?"

Guang Hong lowers the menu to reveal large eyes and long, long eyelashes. Leo will never tire of those eyes. "I want whatever you want."

"That's rarely a safe decision," Leo says but he can't stop the affectionate smile splitting across his face. He beckons a waitress over to give their orders.

That's almost always how it worked for their meals together: Leo would select the dishes, and Guang Hong with his tiny bird-like appetite, would peck at the food till he could take in no more. The only exception is when Guang Hong takes Leo to his favourite Chinese restaurants – "You need to have some real Chinese food now and then" – and the otherwise meek boy suddenly turns into a tiger, bickering with the servers in their native language and bellowing orders like a swearing sailor. The first time it happened, Leo was so amused that he asked Guang Hong if they could eat authentic Chinese food every day, to which the boy responded with an embarrassed giggle, reverting back to his docile self.

Leo is also secretly pleased that he's only the one who has seen this side of Guang Hong.

"Leo," says the boy in question, handing his menu to the waitress. "What're you thinking right now? You've got that weird smile on your face."

"Just your demeanor whenever we go to Dim Sum Paradise."

"Oh," says Guang Hong, turning beet red again. "I really don't mean to be rude – "

"No, no, I like it!" Leo says quickly, dropping his hand over Guang Hong's on the table. "Sweet little Guang Hong, all confident and fierce. It's hot."

For some reason, Guang Hong's flush grows even darker. "Thank you…"

"Do you think Yuuri's got it in him, too?" Leo ponders.

Guang Hong frowns, his small nose wrinkling in the most adorable fashion. Leo resists the urge to stroke his thumb over the creases until they smoothen. "Maybe? He must have something for the boss to be so intrigued by him."

"I think the boss is more than intrigued," Leo says, waggling his eyebrows.

"Silly," Guang Hong giggles, before his expression falls slightly. "Do you think Yuuri's okay?"

Leo turns somber then, lips uncurving. Guang Hong had burst instantly into tears at the news, but their new co-worker had taken a completely opposite reaction: he went completely catatonic, staring into space with blank eyes. It looked almost soulless and Leo had frankly felt a little frightened for him, if it weren't for Viktor's arrival soon after.

"He seemed better after coming out of Viktor's office… and he's got that best friend in town – who was it? Phichit? So he'll be okay."

"You always sound so sure about everything."

"I was sure about Jean-Jacques," says Leo, eyes darting to the magazine.

"Jean-Jacques is a lying bastard," Guang Hong says in his soft voice.

Leo grins. "Oh, I like this Guang Hong, too."

As sure as the sun rises in the east, so does Guang Hong's endearing blush.


The next morning, Leo is surprised to find that he's not the first to enter the office.

He's even more surprised to learn that Viktor is also in the main office instead of his own, sitting atop one of the empty desks.

"Take a seat, Leo, Yuuri has an announcement to make," Viktor says smoothly, turning to glance at the marketing executive, who's pacing up and down the office with a nervous energy. "We'll wait till the rest have arrived."

"Cool," Leo says, not sure how else to respond.

When Guang Hong comes in, he sports the same look of bewilderment, before he scurries to his seat. The intern, Yuri, is quick to replace his surprise with his trademark scowl, but it's clear to Leo that the staffers are all extremely curious about this new turn of events.

"Yuuri?"

Yuuri twitches once at Viktor's call, before he hurries to stand at the center of the room. "We, um, we've made some decisions for the annual trunk show," he begins, voice wavering. When Viktor flashes him an encouraging smile, he seems to take confidence in that, straightening ever so slightly.

"We will continue with our plans to showcase the new commercial line for Lyublyu – " Leo's eyes widen, heart thrumming, as Guang Hong lets out a gasp " – and it'll be named 'L Designs' after the 'L' in 'Lyublyu' and the 'L' in… 'Leo'."

"Oh my god," says Guang Hong.

"Congrats," says the intern, face softening into a rare smile.

Leo stares at Yuuri, stunned. "Wait… really? You're naming the new line after me?"

"We felt you deserved it," Yuuri glances at Viktor, "For what you gave up for Lyublyu."

"Oh my god," says Guang Hong again.

"But… Jean-Jacques…" Leo falters. "He took the new line, didn't he?"

"That's why we'll have a theme," Yuuri replies, his voice sounding much stronger than when he first started speaking. "One that will make our real line a far better one than the collaboration with Jean-Jacques."

"And what's that?"

Yuuri smiles. "'Rejuvenation'."

The intern looks slightly pained at the reveal, but Leo is too busy reeling in his own emotions to pay much attention. He'll have his own designs under Lyublyu – his own brand – and with an absolutely fitting theme to boot.

"You'll have to create more designs, of course," Viktor says, leaning back on the desk. "Are you up for it?"

Beaming, Leo leaps to his feet. "Yes," he cries freely and openly, throwing his arms into the air, "Hell yes!"

As Guang Hong scrambles across the desks to fling his arms round Leo in a tight hug, whooping in delight, Leo makes it a note to drop his parents a thank you call.

Kindness, generosity, and loyalty, do go a long way.


Next chapter:

"I don't even know why we're talking to you, when the only thing you assholes are ever interested in are money and people's lips perpetually planted to your rotten behinds!"

There's a beat – Yuri can practically hear Yuuri's heart rate shooting to insane levels beside him – before the magazine editor arches an eyebrow. "No one's spoken to me like that before."

"I'm so sorry," Yuuri blurts out, "We've had a bad day and he's just really upset – " He stops when the editor holds up a hand.

"What's your name?" the editor asks.

"Yuri," says the blond, crossing his arms. "What's it to you?"

"Hm," says Otabek in response, a contemplative expression on his otherwise stoic face.