CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO – THE PHOTOSHOOT

After a one-hour crawl through peak hour morning traffic, the van finally arrived safely onsite at the Juzo News studios. They drove through security and then came to a rolling stop at a curb, right outside the entrance.

Dabi remained seated, dispirited as he watched Shigaraki exit the vehicle before the driver had even undone his seatbelt, almost like he couldn't wait to get out of the car and away from him. He sighed and sluggishly followed Takami and Mr. Aizawa out of the car to where their hosts for the day were waiting for them on the sidewalk.

Tokuda, the photographer, waved genially in greeting before pushing his glasses further up his nose and Cho Sato, the interviewer, was already gushing over Shigaraki ahead of Takami, Dabi and Mr. Aizawa finally catching up.

"Boys! Eraserhead." She exclaimed, as overly enthusiastic as she had been the first time they had met. "You made it!" She added while brazenly laying her hand on Shigaraki's bicep.

Dabi sneered as he watched that same hand pet slowly down his boyfriends' arm, unimpressed by her impudent touch. He very badly wanted to tell her to back off and to keep her hands to herself, but he also knew that he was being irrational. The touch was innocent enough, Shigaraki was fully dressed and wearing multiple layers, Dabi was just ridiculously jealous.

"We are very happy to have you here at the Juzo News studio." Tokuda added.

"Yes!" Cho mirrored and to Dabi's relief, finally removed her hand from his boyfriend. "Let's go inside and discuss our agenda for the day, shall we?"

… … …

There was a flurry of activity as the boys were ushered into studio chairs and seated before large vanity mirrors bordered with bright white lights. Crew members scuttled about, make-up artists rushed in and began prepping them for their shoot and straightening up anything that was out of place - like Shigaraki's unruly locks which were always mussed up from the hoods of his sweatshirts.

Dabi watched his boyfriends very quickly, souring face with a considerable amount of fondness as they fussed over him, ignoring the small talk that his own crew were trying to engage him with. He wasn't interested in conversation, he just wanted to silently brood over how much he wanted to be the one dragging his fingers through Shigaraki's hair.

"Do you ever put any product in your hair?"

The question went unanswered. Dabi was lost in his own little world until the sound of someone incessantly calling his name popped his hidden bubble and sound returned to him.

"Dabi?"

"Sorry, what was the question?"

"Your hair, do you ever put any product in it?" The stylist asked. Cho was standing by monitoring the progression of their minor makeovers and had one perfectly manicured eyebrow arched in anticipation of his response.

"Ah, no. Not usually." Dabi replied, shrugging his shoulders lightly and pushing his fingers back through his thick mane of dark hair.

"Then we won't!" Cho grinned, patting Dabi's shoulder. "Tokuda wants them looking as natural as possible for the uniform shoot."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Listen up," Cho started, her voice raising as she clapped her hands to gain the stylists attention. "Minimal make-up please. The boys will be doing the shoot looking exactly as they did when they arrived. So, no product for Dabi or Shigaraki. Takami, you look great." She swooned, praising him.

"And leave his sleeves like that." Cho grinned, motioning to Dabi's school shirt which was rolled up on his arms.

"Do I have to wear my school blazer?" Dabi asked.

"Were you wearing it when you came in?"

"You saw me." He said dumbfounded, then added. "No, I wasn't wearing it."

"Then no. I want you boys to present your most normal selves so if you don't like to wear your blazer then leave it off!" She grinned, her eyes darting from Dabi to Shigaraki. "Yuri, leave Shigaraki's hair, he will be wearing his sweatshirt which has a hood so need to fuss over it."

"Anything for Takami, miss?" A voice called out from the end of the line of stations.

"No, he is flawless. The model student." She beamed and Dabi rolled his eyes. Shigaraki scoffed in response to Cho's praise, the sound made Dabi's heart thump faster. God, he missed that sound. He missed everything about Shigaraki.

"I am very excited." Cho said, starting her chattering again. She clapped her hands together excitedly. "All three of you boys are so… unique. This shoot is going to be fabulous."

… … …

The first shoot took four whole hours. Twice as long as Tokuda would have liked it to and he didn't refrain from voicing his concerns about it either.

"Come on guys. We're almost done." He pleaded, snapping another shot.

Dabi was not really surprised that things were not going as planned. Between the three of them there was a lot of unresolved tension. Shigaraki was irritated with Takami as usual, and vice versa, Dabi was in the shit-house with Shigaraki and Takami was mad at Dabi for spending the weekend pining over Shigaraki instead of paying attention to him. They were just not getting along, which made Tokuda's job a thousand times more difficult than it needed to be. On several occasions Mr. Aizawa had to step in and play as a mediator so Tokuda could get the shots the studio wanted.

"Are they always like this?" Cho asked with a sigh as she watched Tokuda struggle to gather the boys into a rather intimate position for some final group shots.

"Unfortunately. There is a lot of history with these three." Mr. Aizawa explained, unimpressed at his students' unruliness. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.

"Oh?" She asked, curious.

"I'm not going into details. Though, I'm sure some of it will come out during the interview."

"Well, I do hope so. I feel like this year's student hero feature is going to be epic! These three truly have something. The IT factor."

Mr. Aizawa turned slightly to look at her before his gaze swung back to shoot. He was inclined to agree.

"Okay, let's get this last shot in the next couple of frames. Okay?" Tokuda smiled encouragingly at the boys who looked like they had had quite enough of the camera already. Yet, despite how challenging it had been, the photos were going to be amazing.

The camera flashed and clicked and then finally, "And that's a wrap."

Cho blew out a breath and then straightened her blouse before sweeping her hands down her skirt. "Now onto the individual shoots. Hopefully those will go a lot more smoothly."

She smiled at Mr. Aizawa before sauntering over to the boys, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked.

"Great job, boys. Let's get you ready for the next shoot!"

… … …

The individual photoshoots were a whole lot bolder and absolutely designed to serve as the fan-service for the story. The studio wanted their audience to consume their student hero feature in every way possible, on every kind of media - print to screen. And, make it as accessible as they could to the entire county.

Tokuda's vision had not changed since their first meeting, a modern art renaissance, which meant the boys were prepped and posed mostly naked whilst mimicking varying pieces of artwork.

Takami was more than eager to show off his best… self, Dabi had gone along with Tokuda's instruction neither uncomfortable nor comfortable with what was being asked of him, and Shigaraki? Well, he had a lot to say about presenting himself bare to the world. But after some small allowances and adjustments, he had agreed to continue with the shoot.

And Dabi was so glad Shigaraki's individual photoshoot was the last of the three because it offered him the opportunity to bear witness to what Dabi thought was probably the most lascivious image he had ever seen.

The Creation of Adam is what Tokuda called the pose Shigaraki was in, just like the famous painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City. He was half sitting, half laying, one arm extended gracefully out in front of him, the other bracing his weight, his muscles flexed with the movement. Tokuda said they would digitally add in the decay effects in production but even without them, it was a striking image. Dabi had many other highly salacious words to describe the pose though and he was so completely enamored and distracted that he did not hear Takami idle up to his side.

"What?" Dabi said agitatedly as Takami elbowed his side to get his attention.

Takami snickered. "You okay, Dabs?"

"Yeah." Dabi replied simply, though he did feel very warm, warmer than usual, and his mouth suddenly felt very dry.

Takami whistled low as his golden gaze drifted over to Shigaraki. "I kind of hate myself for saying this, but damm, he looks hot. Ugh."

Dabi gritted his teeth.

"I mean, who knew."

"Shut up." Dabi all but growled out.

Takami chuckled. "Not the reunion you were hoping for today, huh?"

Dabi wanted to weep as he watched his boyfriend pose for the camera, like seriously, he was so close to fucking whimpering as Tokuda and some of his assistants touched and toyed with Shigaraki's body until they had him poised exactly how they wanted. Dabi was a raging mix of emotions, fucking horny as hell and absolutely livid that other people were touching his boyfriend. But most of all, he felt like an even bigger idiot than he already did. How could he be so stupid? He wanted Shigaraki back. Badly.

"I understand, you know." Takami continued to say, "Must be hard."

"Jesus fucking Chirst. Could you please not. Just for once."

"What? I'm just saying I get it. I mean, wow. I'd be kicking myself too."

"I swear to God, Bird Brain." Dabi started, but then shut his mouth and took a deep breath.

Takami chuckled under his breath. "Well, I think I need some fresh air." He slapped Dabi on the back and then spun around, looking for the closest exit to the great outdoors.

"Where are you going, Takami?" Mr. Aizawa asked, his voice low.

"Just want some fresh air before the interview." Takami added.

"Fifteen minutes, don't go t-" Mr. Aizawa began to warn before Cho interjected, smiling brightly as always.

"He's welcome to wander for a while. Both of you are. Refreshments and food are available in the room next door if you like. Once we're done with Shigaraki, we'll break for a half hour. Let's say, we meet back here at 3PM and then we'll begin the interview."

"I'm good here." Dabi replied, unmoving.

"I'll be back." Takami winked at Cho, her cheeks flushing in response.

Dabi sighed a breath of relief but it was fleeting. A few minutes of silence did pass before he could feel a pair of eyes scrutinizing him. He shifted his gaze to his left and caught Cho staring. Though, it was in an inquisitive way, almost like she wanted to say something to him. He wouldn't acknowledge the look because he really didn't feel like talking to anyone at that moment, he just wanted to quietly ogle his boyfriend and enjoy as much of Shigaraki while he had the chance.

Unfortunately, she had other ideas.

"Dabi, can I ask you something?" Cho finally said, still smiling. He swore it was fake.

"About what?" He replied, his eyes steadfast on his boyfriend.

"About Shigaraki."

Dabi kind of sighed, though it was done very quietly. He wasn't ready for this conversation and especially not with a journalist. "On or off the record."

"Ah." Cho laughed softly, slightly taken aback. She did not expect Dabi to ask that. "Off the record."

"Shoot."

"Well, I noticed you have been paying… extra attention to Shigaraki."

Dabi did not reply, nor did he dare to look over at Cho.

"You like him."

It was more of a statement than a question. Dabi hesitated to respond. Cho was a journalist; her observational skills were likely superior to most and honed to perfection. Any normal person probably wouldn't pick up on Dabi's lovesick fixation on Shigaraki but she had, and very quickly.

"Am I incorrect?" She added, trying to wrangle a response and validate her assumption.

"I don't like him." Dabi said, gaze still fixed on Shigaraki. "I love him."

"Oh. I see." Cho tilted her head over to Shigaraki too, her eyebrows pulled together in silent thought. "Does he know?"

Dabi scoffed and shook his head.

"Should I take that as a no?" She asked, "I guess I understand considering who you-"

"We're dating." Dabi interjected before she could make any more assumptions, she didn't know him. "Or were dating."

"You don't know?"

Dabi finally dragged his lustful gaze away from Shigaraki, but not before their eyes met for a brief yet intense moment. Shigaraki was the first to look away and Dabi jerked his head over to Cho.

"It's… complicated."

"Mm, I imagine so. Teenage love." She agreed with a wistful sigh. "It would make a great story though…" She began to say, her words trailing off and leaving the idea open for Dabi to counter.

"Oh, I'm sure it would but, off the record remember? Sorry." Dabi smiled briefly before his eyes found their way back to Shigaraki.

"A shame. Let me know if you change your mind though. I can work it into the interview." She patted Dabi's shoulder and then walked off, heading in the same direction Takami had just left in.

Dabi hoped she wasn't going to hound Takami for more information, he didn't trust her and frankly, when it came to his relationship with Shigaraki he didn't trust what Takami would say either. But he had made it clear it was off the record so wasn't there some kind of honor code in that?

He would soon enough find out.