You know, posting another update the day after I keep insisting there won't be regular updates isn't really helping my case.
Nothing belongs to me except for my awful words.
Lee let out a long sigh as he opened eyes he didn't recall closing. Despite his chaotic first experience at Paradise, Lee found himself oddly found of the strange duo that ran the establishment. While Kakashi had been seemingly aloof and disinterested at first, he had walked Lee home at the late hour he found himself leaving the club. This small gesture of kindness, that Lee was more than grateful for, instantly warmed him to the serious faced man.
And Gai, well Gai just made Lee feel instantly welcome, like his presence alone was actually worth something. Gai, with his easy smiles and quick laughter made Lee feel at home at Paradise and quickly banished any hesitations Lee had in accepting the position he had been so kindly offered.
It was nice to feel that way, Lee mused to himself, maybe this job will not be as bad as I initially assumed. I really should not have judged it before I actually got to know more about it. Smiling to himself, the raven haired boy stretched from his reclining position and looked back to his clothes. Now if only my outfit problem was as easy to overcome…
Glancing at the small clock that sat on his tiny bedside table, Lee was alarmed to find that an hour had passed as he mused over what had transpired at Paradise the week before. This meant he had less than twenty minutes to get to work.
Bolting to his feet, Lee ripped his school uniform off, keeping his thin black undershirt on, and scrambled into his green sweater figuring that the off the shoulder look would be a definite bonus (especially if he was going to be late). He then pulled on his light grey skinny jeans that had rips clean through the knees and some, more daringly, near his upper thighs.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Lee took a moment to spare a look at himself over in the small mirror hung to the right of his closet. Dark eyes roved over his own form trying to take everything in as fast as he could. With a quick nod of his head, figuring it really wouldn't get better than what little he had done, Lee pulled on his nicer shoes (which really meant scuffed up dress shoes that pinched his heels) and grabbed his bag and keys.
In a split second decision as he rushed out the door, Lee pulled his hair out from the constricting braid letting it flow in loose waves down his back. Giving on final look of regret to the unfinished homework that sat in a haphazard pile on his bed, Lee locked his door and practically flew out of the apartment complex and into the welcoming city streets.
~~~*timeskip*~~~ ~~~*timeskip*~~~
"First day and you're late, I can't say i'm surprised" Kakashi greeted Lee at the door without looking up from the small novel in his hand.
Lee felt himself flush as he dashed past the stoic man while repetitively shouting quick apologies for his tardiness. Rushing behind the bar, he hoped that Gai wouldn't be too disappointed in him. Maybe if I explain what happened he will understand, Lee reasoned internally, honesty is always best, is it not? But…what if he thinks that I am just making excuses!? Lee raised his hand to knock on the office door, still fretting over how he was going to explain his lateness, but before his outstretched fist could make contact, the door swung open heavily. Lee looked up with an apologetic expression on his face ready to beg for forgiveness, to see not the beaming face of Gai, but the pale man whom Lee recognized from the performance he had witnessed the week before.
Lee could feel the faint blush on his face darken as he recalled just what his first one sided encounter with this man had been like, but hastily shook himself out of his stupor, berating himself for being so rude. He pulled the hand he still had extended back down to his side and smiled in polite greeting.
"Hello fellow colleague, I am Rock Lee and today will be my first shift at Paradise! I hope that we can become great friends!" Lee finished with a small tilt of his head, face radiating nothing but sincerity.
His smile began to falter slightly as the ashen faced man merely continued to stare Lee down with his dark dull eyes, mouth held steady in an expressionless line. Suddenly the ebony haired male turned to face the inside of the office calling out to somebody in the room.
"Gai, that new cutie you hired is here," the still unknown male informed Gai in an unexpectedly soft voice. Facing Lee once more, he gave him a quick smile that, although felt genuine, looked oddly plastic. "I like this one so don't scare him off," he concluded as he walked passed a crimson faced Lee and over to the stage where Kakashi was talking to a small group of men.
Lee was literally plucked from his attempts to process what the pitch eyed man had said as Gai rushed out of the office and scooped him up into another one of his bone crushing hugs.
"LEE YOU HAVE ARRIVED!" Gai yelled delightedly as he spun them around in happy circles.
"I am so sorry for my lateness," Lee began as Gai gently lowered him to the ground. "It is completely my fault for not arriving on time and I take full responsibility for my less than professional actions. I understand if you would like to fire me for my irresponsibility," he regretfully stated bowing deeply in apology.
Lee jolted slightly as a large, warm hand landed on his shoulder. Looking up through his lashes, he saw Gai staring back at him with a serious expression on his face, eyebrows drawn together sternly. Closing his eyes in anticipation of the words of rejection he knew were bound to come (like everyone else, Lee reflected sadly, of course it would up this way…) he was shocked when loud, joyful laughter easily cut through the suffocating atmosphere that had formed.
"Lee, my little Lotus, why you have turned up just on time! There is no need to be so upset, you have apologized and I have excepted and now it is behind us!" Gai effortlessly waved off the storm of emotions that had risen inside Lee.
Overwhelmed by the easy acceptance, Lee felt himself tear up slightly. He had been given another chance! "THANK YOU SO MUCH GAI!" the smaller male shouted happily, bowing once again in thanks. "I will not betray your kindness in the future!"
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!" Gai agreed instantly, smiling widely at Lee and flashing a quick thumbs up. "Now, we shall begin again in a more cheerful manner becoming of your youth! If you would be willing, I would appreciate if you followed me into my office so that we could discuss more on the role you will be fulfilling at Paradise."
Entering the small room, Lee once again found himself sat upon the leather couch tucked in the corner as Gai pulled over his computer chair.
Jumping right into business, Gai pulled out a small pile of paperwork skimming over the pages quickly. "So at first you will be starting out as a server which means you will be required to take and deliver customer orders.I have felt the aura of dedication that you exude, so I am most certain that you will easily excel at these tasks!" Gai assured Lee with a warm smile.
"If anyone at any point becomes too handsy or makes you feel uncomfortable in any manner do not hesitate to find either Kakashi or myself. We will be sure to deal with their most unbecoming behaviour ourselves" Gai added with a threatening glint in his eyes. "Do not feel bad for walking away from these situations, you are not required to help those who do not respect you."
"Now that that has been covered, I must ask you how do you feel about the prospect of becoming one of our performers?" he asked nonchalantly.
Lee felt his body relight in a harsh flush as he remembered some of the things he had seen these performers do. "I…..I am not sure if I a-am really…..suited f-for the task." he stuttered out embarrassedly.
"Nonsense!" Gai brushed off instantly, "with your large round eyes and pouty lips, not to mention your most youthful physique, you will have the customers practically eating out of your hands!"
Lee's face burned even brighter as Gai's words sunk in. "I do n-not know a-about that," he quickly deflected gripping his upper arm harshly. "I am really nothing much to look at." Lee concluded as he broke eye contact with Gai, remembering the harsh words that had been directed his way most of his life.
"Well whoever told you that is either blind, jealous, or a complete idiot…..or perhaps all three," a new voice interjected.
Both Gai and Lee looked over to see a tall man with spiky chocolate brown hair pulled back into a bushy ponytail lazily leaning against the wall just inside the room.
"It is exactly as our dear Shikamaru has said Lee, you are most adorable and shine brighter than a thousand suns in your youthful vitality!" Gai beamed at Lee then turned his attention back to the newcomer. "what delightful thing has occurred that has brought you into my little office Shikamaru?"
"Kakashi sent me to tell you that he will be opening soon." Shikamaru huffed out, tsking in an irritated manner."How troublesome, he should have come himself," he added as he walked out of the office in a slow, careless stride.
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SHIKAMARU, I AM MOST GRATEFUL!" Gai shouted to the retreating back of the passive man. "As for you Lee, I would like you to think on the matter of becoming a performer. Although I believe that you would be more than exceptional at the job, I do not want you to do anything that will cause you unnecessary stress!"
Lee released a small sigh of relief at Gai's words. Gai is such a kind man I am so very thankful to have met him, Lee mused happily. After months of worrying and feeling down about his situation Lee felt a weight lift off his shoulders. I do not know why but I somehow know that Paradise will be something so very good for me, the raven haired male decided.
"One more question before you start, and I do understand if you do not want to answer me which is more than alright," Gai thoroughly assured, "but as a gay club we do tend to hire men of the same or similar sexual orientation. That is not to say that we discourage straight males to apply nor discriminate against their right to be employed here, but we do not want anyone to feel uncomfortable if they are shown interest by people of the same gender. Do you feel as if this will be an issue?"
Lee was a bit thrown at the question Gai asked. He wanted to answer Gai honestly but found himself hesitating. It was not that he did not trust Gai, because he did completely, it was just that…..he had never voiced it out loud. He had always known he was strange, and that had been constantly reaffirmed by the people who had pointed out his looks or mannerisms, but only Lee really knew how different he was.
He had found himself rather early on looking at the strong lines of men and the beauty he found there when other males his age were finding beauty in the soft curves of women. Fearing even greater rejection, Lee had never admitted to his longings and had made sure to keep to himself when such conversations occurred. However, he was certain Tenten had figured it out after one innocent comment Lee had made about how handsome Neji had looked in his new school uniform.
Lee took a deep, calming breath, and pulled his shoulder back in determination. He was ready to move on from the suffocating claws that his past had on him, no longer willing to curb himself to their whims. He was beyond his childhood fears and really wanted to embrace the fresh start he felt that Paradise could offer him.
Looking directly into the encouraging grin on Gai's face, Lee's resolve was solidified. "It will not be a problem at all Gai-sama," came Lee's impressively steady reply, "I myself am also g-gay and find no issue in the harmless attention of other males."
"I AM SO PROUD OF YOU LEE," Gai's thundering voice responded in a joyous tone as he swooped over and enveloped the slender male in his strong arms. "You will fit right in at Paradise, I just know it!"
Lee relaxed into the warm embrace wrapping his arms around Gai's back, giving a tight squeeze in response.
Pulling back slightly, Gai and Lee shared warm smiles as Lee hastily wiped away the moisture that had formed in his eyes.
"Now all that's left is for you to get changed and then I will get Sai to give you the basics of serving drinks and taking orders." Gai resolved.
Lee blanched slightly at what Gai had said. Letting out a peal of nervous laughter, Lee awkwardly rubbed the back of his head as he sheepishly looked back to Gai.
"Actually….these are the only suitable clothes that I have…" he admitted shyly.
"I see," Gai said rubbing his chin in thought, "Do not worry my friend! I am more than certain that we have something lying around that we can piece together! Just you wait, you will be looking the part in no time!" Gai laughed loudly.
Although Lee was more than ready for whatever challenges Paradise could present, he couldn't help but feel slight worry for just what Gai deemed looking the part to be.
So Lee has worked through all his doubts about Paradise, but will he feel the same after he finds out just what being Paradise material really means?
Thank you so much for the kind words that were left on this shitty story, it warms my heart to see them!