Ack, I'm soooooo sorry for the long update. I had severe writer's block on this and I was concentrating on my other fics. Good point is, I finally finished Puppies, Dragons and Foxes, bad news is, I probably will only be able to upload this story about once every two or three weeks – as I said, schoolwork blows!
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"Hey Jou….um….how do I look?" Ryou had voiced this comment tentatively after several minutes spent frowning at his outfit, unsure of how he looked.
Jou turned around, breaking off the conversation he had been having with one of the stylists, bending his knees slightly so she could apply some last minute care to his honeyed hair.
The blonde still retained his laid back appearance, emphasised by the baggy jeans that we wore, material faded and spattered with some kind of white paint down one anti-fit leg, peetering off into the rumpled folds that pooled around his sneakered feet. A red and white checked shirt billowed open to reveal the black vest which was stark against the golden expanses of skin revealed.
Drop dead gorgeous of course, but in a place like this, everyone was.
Ryou flushed slightly as amber eyes trailed over his skinny form, shivering due to the physicality of the look. He could almost feel the eyes travelling over him and it was not a sensation that he was used to.
When Jou let out an appreciative whistle, a lazy grin hovering over his face as he continued to look Ryou over, taking every inch of his tense form. White locks tumbled out from under a black skull cap, pale against his tresses which framed his face. Gaze falling lower, amber eyes travelled over the rest of the model's attire. The stylists had obviously had a field day with their subject's pale colouring and had dressed him accordingly, the black clothes contrasting wonderfully with his alabaster skin.
Black jeans hung low on his slender hips, the denim material fitting close to his coltish legs, as did the black sleeveless teeshirt that he wore on his torso. The top rippled as he moved, occasionally riding up to reveal a line of fluid stomach muscles, half obscured by the jacket arms knotted loosely around his waist.
Black of course.
The whitenette flushed again as Jou looked up at him with a lazy grin, teeth flashing in his tanned face.
"Stunning Bambi, absolutely gorgeous. Drop dead in fact." As the blonde voiced his thoughts, Ryou ducked his chin in embarrassment, a feeling deepened by the chuckles drawn from the final member of the group.
"Very nice," Otogi commented dryly, pulling a strand of fluff out of his dark tresses, peering around Jou to get a good look at the black-clothed angel in front of them. The experienced model was more radically clothed, leather trousers skin tight as was his Native American style shirt. The cream material formed a triangular panel that extended down his front and sides, the neckline wide and revealing the sharp line of his clavicles while the angular beadwork twined sinuously around his torso, the garment clinging to a firmly chiselled chest. ((A/N: Think Silva from Shaman King if you've seen it))
Assaulted from all sides by admiring looks, compliments he was unused to, the whitenette mumbled some incomprehensible reply, flushing crimson to the roots of his snowy tresses.
One would have thought he'd have gotten used to the praise by now, but apparently not.
Jou just chuckled and was in the process of reaching out to nude Ryou teasingly, fingers aimed towards his cheek, but another hand quickly batted it away. Otogi coughed evasively as two pairs of surprised eyes were turned towards him, but it was a while before he released Jou's wrist.
"Anyway…we should probably be heading out," he said dryly, nodding towards where a group of people had assembled at their stage area. A surprisingly large number of people actually.
"Man, quite an audience," Jou commented, but his eyes were clearly battling not to look back towards a certain other black haired model.
"Yeah." On the contrary, Otogi seemed even more relaxed than before, more laid back as he nodded at the crowd in mention. "I think Mai's waiting there, not to mention Yami…and all their little people."
"'Togi," Jou scolded, slapping the darker man lightly on the shoulder, "You don't call the crew the 'little people!"
"Why not?" The two were already moving out of the partitioned off area, their banter drifting back to a surprised Ryou.
"Why not? Because it's rude! You need them!"
"I employ them, of course I don't need them." Otogi sounded smugly teasing and Jou let out a frustrated growl.
"You're impossible you know?"
A lazy quicksilver grin. "'Course, I'm a model."
Ryou chuckled in spite of himself as he trotted off after the two, long legs quickly bringing him level with the two taller males. Regarding the crowd with wide eyes, he allowed them to gain a lead of about half a step, effectively concealing himself behind them. The shy youth still wasn't sure about crowds…and this was a hum dinger of a group of people.
Jou noted his reticence and, in his customary direct manner, snaked an arm around Ryou's waist, drawing him close. "They won't bite."
Otogi might…he thought nervously as he noted the way the dark haired model was looking at him. Better keep my hands off Jou… Smiling nervously, Ryou went limp, giving in and allowing himself to be drawn towards the waiting group of photographers, Tenshi among them.
And how did he know that Tenshi was there, well…
"Ah, zere you are my darlings," he carolled cheerfully, waving them enthusiastically over, past the crowd barrier. "Zchop, zchop, come on now."
Stunned by someone who could actually get their tongue around the word 'zchop,' Ryou followed, feeling Jou push him down into one of those little canvas director's seats, the blonde and the blacknette also pulling their own up as they turned expectant eyes towards Tenshi.
"Right," the Dutch man said, clapping his hands together enthusiastically. "Zis is how it eez going to go – it's going to be faaabulous my darlings, heavenly…"
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It was heavenly.
At least if was if you considered being in close proximity to two gorgeous males heavenly. Very close proximity, very gorgeous. Suffice to say, Ryou was enjoying it.
The three were perched on the set the crew seemed to have constructed out of thin air. Warm hued brick steps led up to a fibreboard building front, but when you had Ryou, Jou and Otogi all sitting on those steps, who was looking at the backdrop?
With Ryou sitting in the middle, a step lower than the other two, he was sandwiched between them. It was hard to remember this was supposed to be a purely het shoot – according to Jou, overtly girl on girl adverts often sold like hot cakes, but the world wasn't quite ready for their particular interests.
Bummer, in the cleanest sense of course.
Anyway, it was hard to remain cool when they were this close. Jou was leaning against his legs, one arm casually cocked on his knee as he tilted his head back, that classic lazy grin on his face as he looked sidelong at his two companions. Otogi could be found stretched out on one of the lower steps, his legs crossed as his hands rested at the nape of his neck. While Jou seemed carefree, the blacknette's expression was burningly intense, with those green, green cat's eyes.
He is rather feline-ish…Ryou mused as he himself tried to look as natural as the two seasoned models did – according to Tenshi, they wanted to look like 'veal men, manly men, yah?' Just some guys, hanging out, having a few bears, just your average man…who isn't gay, who isn't interested in his fellow drinking buddies…Ryou smiled, gently, amused by his own folly, unwittingly drawing the interest of the photographer.
Yet the smile faded as he noted the hushed dispute that was going on behind the camera. The photographer faltered and turned back to where Tenshi and several other black clothed 'little' people were talking quickly, heatedly.
"What's going on?" he whispered nervously to Jou. The honey haired youth looked towards the arguing gaggle and shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.
"Nah, they do that a lot…if ya thought models could bitch, wait until ya see them." The blonde grinned and leaned unceremoniously over Ryou's legs, casually tugging on the hem of his….mentor's pants. "Ain't I right 'Togi?"
What 'Togi thought on the subject was never aired since their words were interrupted by the master himself, Tenshi coming over.
"No, no, it eez…not working, no?" Not waiting for an answer, he shrugged his pinstripe covered shoulders regretfully. "You vill aff to go, sorry."
Ryou, automatically thinking that the Dutch man was referring to him, the newbie, stood, a slight flush brushing his cheeks.
"No, no, not you sweetie," Tenshi said lightly, flicking a hand, "Ve are sorry Jou…"
The blonde blinked and Tenshi was fixed with three pairs of stunned eyes – emerald, amber and mahogany.
"J-Jou?" Ryou stuttered incredulously, still frozen in a rather comical half standing position. "Not me, surely me."
"Yah, Jou," Tenshi said, just as brightly. "Ve feel zat another model might add a better look. You see, Bambi here…" Ryou flushed again at that nickname which seemed to have stuck so persistently. "Bambi here is very pale, but we lose that next to Jou. Jou darling, you are too…sunny, we need somevone more brooding, somevone like…"
"Let me guess." Otogi's voice was harsh as his green cat's eyes while he looked over the portly stylist's head. "Someone like Kaiba Seto?"
"What can I say? They requested me." An equally mocking voice sounded from behind Tenshi and Ryou's eyes rose to behold the sight that was the blue eyed brunette.
Oh God he looks good…the whitenette's mind commented dreamily, brown gaze lingering on those long legs, so tastefully enclosed in dark material, not to mention the blue shirt. He certainly has a nice chest…I wonder if he wears trench coats often? They look good on him…
((A/N: XD Sorry, too good to pass up – I have a Kaiba coat and I luff it very much.))
"I notice you didn't dare to throw me off, but it's Jou you attack," Otogi said acidly, all traces of his formerly pleasant demeanour gone as he looked at his rival with open hatred.
"I have no interest in who gets kicked off, Ryuuji, unlike you, I don't need to resort to petty tricks." Seto's smile was smug as he watched Otogi react heatedly to his deliberate goad.
"Listen to me you son of a bitch," the green eyed model snapped viciously, now also on his feet as Ryou sank back down, cowed by the two angry, yet beautiful men fighting over his head. "If you think that getting at one of my employees will get you anywhere, you are sadly mistaken…"
His rant was halted as a large hand grasped his elbow, squeezing gently and he looked back into amused honey eyes.
"Cool it 'Togi," Jou said calmly, rubbing his fingers soothingly over the limb he held, skin on heated skin. "I don't mind, honestly." The ingeniously charming man grinned, smile lopsided as he nodded towards Seto. "I don't mind if he covers for me, I still get my paycheck, don't worry 'bout that."
Otogi opened his mouth, as if to protest, but Jou squeezed more firmly, smile becoming even more languid. "Just think how great it'd be for newbie here to work with both of ya, the big guys." The blonde snickered at the blacknette's growl and glare towards Seto, but he let go of his arm, giving a mocking salute. "I'll see you after da shoot, kay?"
Relenting, the feline eyed model nodded, rewarding Jou with a soft, fond smile which he seemed to relish. "Good, cause now I can go get some sleep." Even Ryou laughed softly at that as he gave a dramatic yawn, satisfied that he had at least defused a potentially explosive situation. Walking past Seto, Jou gave him a friendly look, one that the taller man ignored pointedly. Undeterred, the blonde walked off, casting a sultry look back at Otogi as he walked away, hips swinging with a lazy seductiveness. "Now you two look after my Bambi, kay?" he called back, earning another blush from Ryou. "And 'Togi…don't be staring at my ass as I go now."
This was an order that the blacknette clearly refused, blatantly watching the jean clad behind as Jou disappeared from sight before turning back to Ryou with a smirk.
"Sex on a stick, eh?" he asked teasingly, enjoying the predictable blush which covered Ryou's cheeks as he mumbled some unintelligible answer. Otogi's chuckle was cut short as Tenshi clapped his hands together, obviously relieved that the 'spat' seemed to be over and was eager to get on with the shoot now the divas had been seen to.
"Right, let us get on, yah?"
The breath caught in Ryou's throat as Seto casually took up Jou's previous position, leaning back against his own legs. It allowed him to see the pale nape of his neck, stark against the glorious chestnut of his curling hair.
Oh…my…God…
"Ya ya, dat ist gut!" Tenshi enthused, nodding towards the photographer. "The white between the dark, ya, I see it now. His hair, against theirs, it is vonderful, non?"
Guess that's my place, trapped between these two.
Indeed he was for over his innocent little head, a power struggle was raging. Glacial blue eyes met narrowed green ones and a silent challenge was issued.
Beat me it said, Just you try.
The flash of a photo bulb caught it all, imprinted forever on one reel of dark film, perhaps even more in the advert which showed two gloriously powerful men and the one pale youth, lit up by a single overhead light.
Illuminated, the light between the two darks.
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Okay, I know it's a short one, but hey, at least it's a update, ne? At least it's SOMETHING!
Reviews:
Elle-Fate2x1-2: Hehe, thanks – yesh, Seto ish mean in this…I guess it's just a different Seto from my normal writing. I know, Ryou is just a gorgeous ANGEL! -Drools-
Amichanfan: XD Yesh, Jou and Otogi, funfunfun. And I finished it, so ha!
Crazy eights: Heh, don't tell anyone, but Tenshi/Paolo is actually my Spanish teacher…who is Dutch. Odd I know…
Eve of Misery: Short is good, especially when I'm in a hurry to do all the reviews. Bambi is good…a result of late nights and sugar, but hey XD
Johnny-depp-luv: You don't have to if I don't want to XD Nah, but as I said, the pairings are pre-decided so asking for one won't change it. Hey, I like Honda/Jou, I love the whole best friend thing!
BobGod: Yesh, all the –nettes are good. And no, I don't hate Anzu, it just served my purposes in this story…okay, maybe I dislike her a wee bit, but I won't bash her in every fic of mine – I don't diss characters, everyone has their own favourites.
MotherCHOWGoddes: Hehe, I'm glad you think so. As I've probably said, my English teacher is failing me Well, I'll get around to reading it as soon as I can – I'm so Ra-damned busy!
Amari Koorime: Well…not everyone's gay, just six people…yep, blame it all on Pegsy XD
Relinquished: I'm so sorry I haven't updated – your reviews are just fun! Yesh, fun is on its way!
Kurayami ryou-sama: There may be no such word, but then there's no such thing as an ancient Egyptian Pharoah who invades a young boy's body through a rather encumbering piece of jewellery XD I just like the words and they make description easier.
TonyVlownBean1: The one shot is ALMOST finished, I just need to kick my beta's ass into gear…I'm so glad you like it – I hope this one was worth the wait too.
Ragdollsally13: I am soooo sorry I haven't updated this story, the story for you! I'm also very glad you like it – you were worth writing it for XD Me? Your idol? Oh no sweetie, you need to find someone else, really!
Wish he was Mine: Hehehe, well, he is pretty animal-like. Bambi ish good! Meep –Watches as Anzu is beaten- Um…call it a writer's licence? Yesh we love our bishies! KiKi? Shudup! -Looks nervous- It's just Lell, always Lell. Pah, Adara doesn't care, Adara has Yami and Mai and Kai and Seto….Jebus just steals that unfaithful yami of yours.
Longa Ragged Moan: hah, a story you finally review. Yes I know Tenshi means angel, I know you think I'm Japanese illiterate, but still…anyway, Bambi is a good name! Leave it alone!
Maedhros: Hee hee, thank yee kindly.
Lomedraug Daughter of Midnight: I hope it stays good!
SnowIce: Yep, tis very cute – sorry for the wait and thanks again for the compliments! I feel so special!
Tenshi no Nanimo: Gah, I feel like such an ass for making you wait so long!
Kitsune's Grrl: I like it too, fingers crossed I can update soon.
Kokura: Sorry! I know I should have updated, but I was so busy….and and…nah, I don't really have an excuse, do I? XD