Chapter Seventeen: Firecracker
With the end of December came the return of the rain, and of Nagisa to his own house. He was still seeing Rei quite often, on account of their coffee shop lunch dates, but for once their conversations were predominantly in the blond's area of expertise - modern, cutting-edge fashion. Only the main cause of their last four arguments, post-Christmas.
"A simple black tuxedo isn't gonna cut it if you want to stand out," Nagisa maintained, trying to get his boyfriend to come around to the idea of an actual color. "And not a word about that lavender set I got you, it's too pale to be appropriate for evening, really - not if you want to keep classy about it." The brunet was haughtily ignoring him in favor of the crossword, and the younger man put his chin in his hand, his elbow against the tabletop. He was right. He knew he was, and he knew Rei knew too.
"'Cobalt,'" the older man scrawled stubbornly in the 12-down spot. Nagisa blinked and snapped his fingers.
"That's it! How about a cobalt tux?" he proposed, excitement plain in his voice. The attorney sighed, turning to face his boyfriend for the first time in ten minutes.
"I don't even know what color that is," he stated warily, watching as his young boyfriend whipped out his phone. His face softened slightly as he saw the case he'd given Nagisa between his stylish fingers. The blond pulled up a Google search of the color, and his beau was immediately taciturn again. "Oh, certainly not. I won't be shoved in some electric blue monkey-suit," he huffed, swiveling back around.
"Well, obviously we'd pick a darker tone. More of a saturated navy than bright blue," Nagisa quipped. Rei snapped his briefcase closed, and the newspaper along with it.
"No." The blond grit his teeth.
"Listen, dear, do you want my help or don't you?" The fashionista delivered the ultimatum, standing from his chair with his hands on his hips. "'Cause if you do, you're gonna have to listen to me without throwing my advice out the door, you know." The lawyer sighed with a defeated look, and stood as well.
"I don't mean to be difficult. I do want your help." He bent over and kissed Nagisa on the cheek as they exited the coffee shop. Brushing off the older man's lapels, the sunny boy smiled pointedly.
"Then I'll see you on Wednesday," he stated in a manner-of-fact way that was beginning to resemble the humbled man before him. "Now, off you go. Have a good rest of your day."
On account of continuing cold weather, the pair had postponed their jogging sessions for a shopping trip, and not a day too soon. New Year's Eve was on a Saturday night this year and what between Nagisa's article and a sudden wrench in Rei's case, they wouldn't have time to look for clothes on any other day. Back at the office, Gou and Hana were ever helpful in narrowing down the options beforehand with their unlimited knowledge of the go-to trends.
"Cobalt's a good move," Hana agreed with Nagisa when he relayed the hour's events, "but what exactly does the invitation say is the dress code?" The blond groaned.
"It says formal, but Rei insists that people go in anything from cocktail dresses and suits to full-on black tie tuxes! I hardly know what to do with that!" he whined, appealing to his friends for help. Gou looked aghast, and Hana, thoughtful. An icy voice from behind the trio scared them out of their minds.
"If you want my advice," cut in their boss, "the three of you should get back to work." Slowly, sheepishly, they turned to face Ms. Amakata, whose finely sculpted brow arched over a watchful eye. Gou scurried to her lunch break, and Hana dashed to her shoot, leaving the heartily embarrassed blond to type a few uncertain words on his open document. The editor turned on her heels, and he let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, buckling down to get some work done.
It wasn't ten minutes later that he received an email from the older woman. In his paranoia, he glanced to her ice-cube office. His rosy eyes found her brown ones, and her face was much frozen in the expression it had before. She cocked a brow. He hurriedly read the notice.
"Go with sleek and modern, but not cocktail - M. Amakata," it read. When he glanced up once again, she smiled at him pleasantly, if not with an edge of exasperation, and tapped her computer with a pen. At ease, the blond continued with his article, much more eloquently.
Once Wednesday had crept on the couple, Nagisa had finally chosen a style for their outfits, thanks to his boss and endless Pinterest boards. He and Rei had decided to meet up at their usual coffee shop, around ten in the morning, for a bite to eat and a bit of direction from there. The attorney had suggested a few suit boutiques, but resigned himself to the fact that those were last on the list. He would dress to match Nagisa, as opposed to the other way around, considering the young man's penchant for bold statement pieces. The blond, at present, relayed his ideas to his beau.
"I came up with a two-piece for myself. I can't do any of that midriff-bearing formalwear Gou wrote about, but I thought a skirt and button down would be quite appropriate," he informed the older man, sipping at his blessedly hot coffee. The snow may have melted, but it remained dreadfully cold.
"You mean like a business ensemble?" Rei questioned, a frown forming on his face - the likes of that would be too casual at a party. The writer grinned wryly, imagining it.
"No, it's a full, floor-length skirt. Ballroom style, you know. It's become a trend." The lawyer just looked confused, and his boyfriend laughed at the look. "The white button-down will dress down the look of the skirt, giving a more modern appearance," he informed his beau graciously. Rei waved him off.
"Whatever you say. I trust you," the brunet replied. He stood and tossed his finished coffee. "Are you about ready to go? You know which store we're headed to?" Nagisa nodded, preparing himself to leave the warm store behind. His lover easily offered his arm for the blond to cuddle up to, which he did without hesitation, now much happier to be on the way.
It was a fifteen minute walk to get out of the business district (they paused in front of Elite's building to snapchat a photo to Nagisa's coworkers). The square they came to was rather a favorite haunt of those working for the magazine, and the blond and his friends were of no exception. An upscale area, many of the storefronts had been featured in the glossy pages of the high-class magazine.
"See that store over there, Rei?" The blond tugged on his boyfriend's arm and pointed to an unassuming, quiet front with an old fashioned baker's window. "That's where I got your tie and pocket square. They have menswear too, as I recall. Do you want to drop in after we've picked up my skirt?"
"Yes, that sounds lovely. But where was it you wanted to go, anyhow?" his older beau asked him, eyes glittering with chill from behind his glasses. The blond grinned.
"That one." He pointed to an elegant white facade three storeys high - easily the tallest of the buildings in the little London square. The front windows featured everything from glittering jewelry to elegant dresses. He'd come here once before to take pictures for Gou, and had fallen in love with the window displays.
The inside was equally graceful. The high windows illuminated a lattice work wooden walkway that the blond swore was the path to heaven. On either side was plush red carpet. Jewelry displays with emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires lined either side, casting tiny fractals of light onto their pillows. Designer names hung above them. The fashionista felt like he could cry every time he walked in.
Without any heed to his surroundings, Nagisa dashed to the escalator, followed closely by his scolding beau. The next floor was much like the first, except instead of jewelry, bags, and shoes, there were mannequins done up in finery - silks, velvets, and furs decorated each and every one. The couple approached the register, informed the attendant that they had a hold on a skirt, and left for the dressing room to try it on - the woman had already set it aside.
"May I show you to your room, Mr. Hazuki?" the attendant asked pleasantly, introducing herself as Hannah. She opened a door slightly down the hall, allowing him into another perfectly private area with a mirror. His skirt and a matching white blouse hung beside it neatly, not an inch of the fabric touching the ground. "Please tell me if you need any other sizes, or if I can get you anything like water, tea... And if you would like, I can bring you a pair of shoes in your size as well," she offered. Nagisa nodded, not sure which one he was agreeing to.
"My shoe size is a women's ten," he informed her distractedly, his eyes glued to the outfit. She smiled in acknowledgment and ducked out of the room to give him his privacy. As soon as she shut the door behind her, the blond tore his plain clothes off of his body and slipped into the ensemble.
The skirt was a floor-length, full A-line black taffeta with pleats and an embroidered chiffon layer on top. Winter flowers of all sorts were stitched finely over the fabric, in deep reds, cherry-blossom pinks, mint greens, and pastel blues. He had picked out a fitted three-quarter sleeve white blouse to go with it, offsetting the traditional old-style embroidery with a sleek and professional edge. He tied the back in a waist-hugging bow and checked his appearance in the mirror. "Oh, yes," he breathed. In one hand, he gathered up his skirts and pushed the dressing room door open.
The attendant gave him a pair of simple heels and helped him arrange the dress as he stepped up onto the platform and examined himself in the mirror. Through the reflection, he saw his boyfriend's exceptionally pleased face when they caught one another's gaze and smiled. Nagisa felt rather like a bride.
"It's absolutely perfect, dear," the brunet summed up easily, picking up an edge of the chiffon and twiddling with it in his fingers.
"Isn't it just?" agreed the younger man enthusiastically, admiring himself in the mirror.
"Since it didn't take long to find," Rei offered, "I wouldn't mind if you wanted to find a new pair of shoes, or something else to go with it." The blond hummed, not one to want to give up such a fine opportunity, but ultimately pursed his lips and sighed.
"No, I don't think that's necessary. Even though it's on sale, the combined price of the shirt and the dress is almost too much," he replied, reluctantly stepping down from the mirror. He was sure a necklace or a pair of earrings would absolutely make this outfit, but it was fine on its own.
"Well, it's how much - £3,250? The budget I set for myself was £4,000, you know, and even then, I was prepared to pay more if you really wanted something..." Rei admitted, uncrossing his arms from where he'd stood to admire his beau. He stroked Nagisa's cheek, and the attendant had the tact to look away.
"I hope that wasn't including your suit," the younger man pouted, really wanting to say yes, but at the same time having no desire to give into his older boyfriend's wiles. He slipped out of his grip and hurried back to the dressing room, changing back into his everyday wear and emerging again as the plain Nagisa, the skirt and shirt tucked safely into his arms. "Well, let's get going, we haven't got all day," he ordered. That ought to put the idea of shopping for anything other than a suit out of Rei's mind. The attorney checked his phone.
"Oh, you're right. We really should be on our way." Distraction, success. The attorney furrowed his brow and briskly walked after the attendant to the register to pay, and a moment later he came back with a large bag slung over his arm. "All right, let's go to the menswear store," he said, grabbing Nagisa's hand and dragging him out. The blond was quite pleased - he loved the idea of getting to play dress-up with his boyfriend and maybe get him out of grey for once in his life. He even thought that shopping for his boyfriend would most likely be more fun than shopping for himself.
The couple popped back out on the road and walked a few stores down to the unassuming yet regal single-storey front. A sign at the front dubbed it Regis St. Menswear, est. 1918 - just the sort of classy place that would suit the rather interested-looking attorney at his side.
"Let's go!" Nagisa enthused, tugging his boyfriend in and immediately scanning the store for anything acceptable to him.
The shop had a collection of classy outfits that made the blond's mouth water. Nothing stood out as tacky or inappropriate, and the more he cast his gaze about, the more in love he fell in love with these clothes. Or at least, the idea of Rei in these clothes. On one side of the room stood tall, uncrowded racks with tweeds of all shades, from earthen greens to peppered browns to textured greys. The other side held lightweight, summery feeling suits. On either side of the register were the most expensive selections - all the fixtures for tuxedos, with white dinner jackets, the classic black, and the more modern navy. Dotted intermittently throughout the store were tables presenting folded shirts, some patterned and colorful, others as prim and proper as the one Rei currently wore. And of course, the beautiful cufflinks and ties with which Nagisa was quite familiar. He tugged on his beau's arm and pointed to them.
"That's where I found your gift. They've replaced it with a lovely red set, see? Oh, these are the cufflinks I wanted to buy you. I couldn't afford them, though. Swarovski, you know. Don't you think this color is lovely?" His amused boyfriend nodded and commented a soft "I see", while the noise drew the attention of an employee that had been helping another customer.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," an older, stately man greeted the pair. Nagisa tore his eyes away from a lemon-yellow tie that he was absolutely sure he'd never convince Rei to wear. "Is there a particular occasion you're shopping for today?"
"Yes, a formal charity event," Rei informed him. The employee graciously extended a hand.
"If you'd like, sir, you may wait over here. My colleague can take your measurements and we can begin a fitting room for you." When he turned to the blond, he waved the employee off to indicate he wouldn't need assistance, but as soon as Rei's back disappeared around the corner, Nagisa immediately dove into the racks.
"Oh, these would be too handsome on Rei," he told himself as he picked his way through each and every suit, getting giddier at the prospect of his handsome, older partner dressed all fancy. He took a deep breath and smacked his cheeks. "All right, Hazuki, time to focus," he told himself. It'd only take so long until Rei found him out, after all.
His first selection was a carmel Saxony tweed sport coat accented in slate blue. To go underneath, he picked out a cashmere cardigan in the accent color, and a cold navy tie polka-dotted in ivory. He wouldn't find them here, but an actual pair of jeans would make that look - or maybe a pair of darker corduroys. And chestnut brown oxfords. He called over an employee to take the selection to Rei's fitting room.
The next look would have to work with a courtroom environment as opposed to an everyday one. A particularly light grey suit with a closely tapered leg caught his attention. Perfect - not too far out of the lawyer's comfort zone, but much more easy to accessorize brightly as opposed to the darker looks he went for. Lavender would be a good color. A black shirt, unbuttoned at the collar would make for a sexy casual look. And for the office, a blue-with-white pinstriped shirt and a white contrast collar - it would look perfect with any range of yellows and purples and maybe even reds! He handed it off to an employee with a selection of shirts as well. The poor man was beginning to look quite hassled.
Nagisa had just got his start on a navy suit with turquoise accessories when Rei himself came back from the tailoring area looking quite annoyed. Sheepishly, the blond put a double-breasted coat back on the rack when his boyfriend crossed his arms to match the crossed look on his face.
"Nagisa, what on earth is all that in my fitting room?" he demanded when the younger man slunk up to his side.
"I knew if I didn't get started on it now, you'd never revamp your wardrobe," he admitted, latching himself onto the other man's arm pleadingly. "Won't you try them on? For me? I even picked out a grey one..." He pouted. The attorney's irritated look began to crumble the longer he tried to stare down his lover's rosy gaze. It didn't take him long to give in.
"Fine. I will try them on, but we are not buying anything except for a tuxedo. Do you understand?" he said firmly.
"Yes, sir!" the blond chirped while his thoughts said 'fat chance'. He followed Rei back to the dressing area and found a place to sit beside a full-length mirror just outside the rooms. He crossed his legs and hurried his boyfriend along. "Now, go on, I want to see those combinations on you."
Just as Nagisa started to get impatient, Rei's face emerged from around the corner of a door. The blond perked up, but his beau wouldn't move an inch pass that.
"Well, aren't you going to show me?" he urged after they spent a minute just looking uncertainly at one another.
"... I feel silly," the older man confessed. The blond caught a glimpse of the tweed sport coat and sighed.
"You said that when you tried out that blue sweater too, but you've worn it a couple times since, haven't you?" he prompted. Offering a sympathetic smile, he sought Rei's gaze. "I'm not going to laugh at you, you know. I love you how you are." He saw the older man's shoulders relax a touch. Jokingly, he added: "Besides, there's no way I'd mock an outfit I made myself!"
"No, I suppose not," the attorney replied with a cocked brow. The humor had at last coaxed him out, and he stepped toward Nagisa looking more dapper than ever in the combination, which featured lightly textured navy pants instead of jeans. His hands flew to his mouth to cover his smile while Rei paused to slip on a pair of brown oxfords, per the blond's suggestion to the attendant.
"Oh my God, you look so perfect," the younger man sighed. It brought out his nerdy side quite cutely, and the slight red influences in the tweed complimented his glasses. He couldn't stop himself from hugging his boyfriend from behind. "I love it. What do you say, is it your style?" His boyfriend grinned bashfully.
"It's a very English look, isn't it?" he asked uncertainly, but the look in his eye as he saw himself in the mirror was one the blond knew quite well - he was adjusting to the look, and would feel pleased with it soon. Nagisa had felt that way the first time he wore an actual dress in uni.
"It is," he agreed. "Very gentlemanly, just like you. I think it fits your casual image." He stepped away from his boyfriend, checking him out from the front. "With jeans, it's a wonderful date look, but slacks makes it appropriate for the office." Rei hummed thoughtfully.
"I couldn't wear this in court, but it could pass in the office. Well, anyways, onto the next one, I suppose," he concluded, slipping back into the room without so much of a peep as to whether or not he'd actually purchase it.
His next look was the grey suit, in which he was considerably comfortable, and the blue contrast collar shirt. Without any proper accessories, it looked a little plain, and he supposed that was what made his boyfriend most comfortable.
"I'm rather pleased with this one," Rei informed him with more confidence than he'd sported with the last one. Nagisa picked up a collection of ties beside him.
"That's because you haven't accented yet," he informed his beau. "Now, you're darker than I am, but you've still got a high contrast look to you, so in a paler suit like this, you need a color pop." In front of the mirror, he held up a coral silk tie. "Pinks and lavenders are feminine colors, so most guys stay away from them," he explained, "but that's because most guys don't know how to use them. A feminine color could potentially be more soothing to a victim when you meet them for the first time, for example." Rei attentively nodded, and Nagisa swapped the pink out for a lovely shade of yellow. "Now, yellows are good for concentration, but cheerful, and blue is a tranquil color." He hung a dark navy tie over Rei's shoulder. "Grey suits are versatile in terms of accessories, so you should take advantage of your affinity for the color," Nagisa pushed.
"I never thought colors would have a big impact on my work," Rei sighed, gently setting aside the ties. "I must've appeared so grim to my clients, which certainly wouldn't improve their confidence in me..." The blond smacked him lightly on the arm.
"None of that, dear. You're terribly underconfident in yourself. And as for colors, it doesn't have nearly as big of an impact as I'm making it out to. It's more important to look well-dressed and comfortable, anyways," he informed the man at his side. Softly he pet the spot on his arm that he'd lightly hit but Rei took his hand and kissed it.
"Thank you for your help," he said. The tender look on his face made the young blond pause. Had what he said really made such an impact?
"You're welcome," he replied absently, wondering why the attorney appeared almost sad.
The brunet modeled a few other looks, but Nagisa couldn't get the look on his face out of his mind at all - had he said something wrong to bring it on? Was it that he admitted the lavender look was feminine? But try as he might to think of something, the blond was baffled as to what brought that bittersweetness on. He was temporarily distracted when Rei finally put on his tuxedo.
"Well, what do you think of this? Too traditional to match your skirt?" he asked when he came out, followed by the employee with a measuring tape, presumably for tailoring needs.
"Not at all!" the younger man enthused. Rei was in a classic one-button black jacket, but the slim size of the shawl lapels lent him greater height. Like the light grey suit, the mid-rise pants were tapered and well-fitted to his form. Black silk socks and patent leather shoes finished off the look. "Have you picked out a tie and cufflinks, though?" he asked - that would be the most important matching factor. The attorney shook his head.
"I figured I would have you do it. I don't know what to pick, since my glasses are red and your skirt's got all sorts of colors in it." Nagisa paused to think a moment.
"We want a modern look, so let's bend the rules a bit. Of course, we have to stick with a black bow tie. A diamond knot should do the trick. But we can add color in the form of the pocket square and cufflinks," he suggested. "Personally, I think a nice pink would give it quite a modern appeal, as opposed to jewel tones."
"Like that color?" Rei asked, pointing to a fuschia tie and looking quite grim. Nagisa barked a laugh.
"No, I don't think so," he replied, glancing about the room. He scurried off for a moment and picked up a diamond-textured pocket square, pale rose-gold in color. The slightly red hue would accompany his skirt and Rei's glasses quite perfectly. "This would be perfect," the blond summed up as he brought it back. "I think a square fold would be excellent for an ultra-modern look, but if you insist, I can support a one-point."
"No, a square fold sounds perfectly reasonable." The attorney walked over to the table featuring the cufflinks and picked up a set of mother-of-pearl set in silver. "Do you think these would be nice?" he asked.
"Yes, I think so," Nagisa replied, quite pleased with the choice. The slight pink accents would go wonderfully with the pocket square, and the silver setting was in step with the modern cut of the suit. Most importantly, Rei himself seemed happy with the overall look, and with the fact that he'd accomplished his goal of dressing to match the blond. He added the pocket square and cufflinks to his bill, and the couple decided they would be on their way rather earlier than they'd expected. They spent their extra time window shopping along the streets, simply walking without aim. Nagisa was teasing Rei about his extra purchase that was previously deemed 'unnecessary'.
"Honestly, you looked so embarrassed when you asked the guy to bring everything up to the register," he laughed, picturing the brunet's chagrined look when met with his boyfriend's triumph. The older man huffed, but made no other reply. In the end, he'd bought everything Nagisa picked out short of the pale grey suit, since apparently he had one he didn't wear often in the winter.
"Don't tease me so much," he muttered with a blush. "It's a hard adjustment..." The blond reined in his comments, and his amused smile faded into an affectionate one.
"You're right, sorry," he apologized. "But why are you so opposed to the idea of changing your style?" he asked sincerely. "Usually people have more flexibility than you do, or at least more than one color in their closet."
"I used to have more," the attorney defended himself, "it's just that Kent didn't think it looked good or professional, so I just got rid of it all." The blond stopped in his tracks, causing his boyfriend to lurch slightly against his arm. He turned back, surprised, and was met with Nagisa's aghast face.
"You let someone control your style?" he cried. "I mean, if it's your boss saying what is and isn't acceptable at work, that's one thing, but if it's anyone else, why on earth would you listen? Who is Kent, anyways?"
"Kent is my ex-boyfriend I've mentioned a few times," Rei explained briefly, as if that made it all okay. "I just wanted to look handsome for him, which is to be expected. And after we broke up, I didn't feel like wearing colors anyhow, to the point where it became a habit."
"That's even worse!" he exclaimed, finally recovering enough to keep walking - they were blocking traffic, and people had given him weird looks. "Just for how long did this guy tear down your confidence in yourself?" he demanded, angry that a single person could have done this much damage to his lover's sense of presentation. The more he heard of this ex, 'Kent' as he was called, the more he felt it was acceptable to hate him, jealousy that he'd been Rei's first choice or not.
"He didn't do away with my confidence," the lawyer replied, "he just told me I didn't look good. I think he was just trying to help."
"Well, that was very nasty and controlling of him. A person's sense of style is how they present their inner selves to the world, you know, and I think you're a dynamic, complex man deserving of every color on the spectrum." Rei paused and kissed him on the cheek.
"Your confidence in me really means a lot. But let's not talk about him anymore. It's over and done, and thank God for it, because now I have you." At that moment, a nearby clock struck the hour, and a bell tolled in the distance. The older man sighed. "But not for much longer, apparently. I had to pencil in a client last minute today - I hope you'll forgive me, but I'll have to be on my way." Nagisa smiled wryly - there was nothing to be done.
"All right. I'll see you Saturday," he replied, standing on his tiptoes to kiss his beau chastely upon the lips. Rei gave him a sharp nod.
"I look forward to it," he replied easily, and they left each other at that.
The day in question came much sooner than Nagisa had anticipated. He'd been as buried in his article as his boyfriend had been in his cases. Wednesday had given him a whole host of experiences to work into his column, details ranging from reasons of reluctance to the feeling of freshness one felt when emerging in an outfit that was unquestionably them. It wasn't until early evening that he was able to completely set his writing aside and focus on himself for a change. He'd soaked in his less-than-adequate (as compared to Rei's) tub, giving himself a much needed exfoliating scrub, and began his cosmetic routine with a mask, tea, and some snacks. He was in the middle of a rom-com when the door opened and Haruka entered, carrying a black garment in a plastic bag.
"Hey, Haru," Nagisa called to him. "What's that?" His friend ignored the question, as he was prone to do.
"I thought you were working on your article all day," he commented. He thought he noticed a redness to his roommate's cheeks - an uncommon occurrence. Perhaps it was due to the evening sun?
"The day's almost up. What are you holding?" he tried again. "Why are you trying to hide it from me?" he whined as Haruka, shifted it out of view. His face was flushed, it seemed.
"It's a tuxedo," he confessed, if only to get the blond to stop pestering him. Suspicion crept into Nagisa's mind. He paused his movie and draped his arms over the couch, an insufferably smug grin on his face. There weren't many reasons his casual American friend would have his hands on a tux...
"Whatever do you have that for?" he pressed, and under the pressure of his triumphant smirk, the secretive Haruka began to confess all.
"I'm going to a party... with Makoto." He flinched as the blond squealed out an "I knew it!".
"So are you going to come with me, then? Is it the same one? We have to get you ready!" the blond plowed on, having completely forgotten his own engagement for the evening. His roommate, in an effort to worm out of the situation he'd put himself in, answered his questions with an characteristic straightforwardness.
"No, it's not. I'm already good to go, just need to change. Besides, you're leaving sooner than me. You should put makeup on, right?" And in the amount of time it took Nagisa to think he was right, he'd slunk out of view and into his own private world. Judging by his unusual embarrassment and the apparent effort he was making to impress, he'd fallen quite hard for the fairy tale prince. While Makoto must have certainly been easy to fall for, Nagisa was still quite surprised - he wasn't Haruka's usual type at all. An impulsive man by nature, Haruka had tended toward the 'bad boy' type in uni, having unwittingly ensnared a few of the blond's would-be suitors over the course of their friendship. Not that the easy-going boy noticed at the time, of course.
The blond relinquished Haruka to his privacy without further fanfare. Besides, his friend had been right - he needed to get started on his makeup and hair if he wanted to make good time. Rei would be picking him up around 9:30, and while Nagisa was a little embarrassed that they would be arriving right on the dot as opposed to fashionably late, he was eager at the thought of exploring so fine a party.
His makeup was nothing too loud for an evening affair, all shimmering pinks and matte burgundies, with charcoal colored mascara and eyeliner, and only a tinted chapstick for his lips. He flipped his part to one side and took care to fluff up his natural curls. The effect was an asymmetric golden halo around his sparkling face. And when at last he slipped into his tight-fitting blouse and embroidered skirt, he felt he made quite the pretty picture.
A knock interrupted his brief self-inspection. Right on the dot as per usual, Rei stood at the door, as sharp as the blond had ever seen him, although obscured by a rather large coat and miffed expression (presumably a result of the night's chill).
"Rei, come on inside," Nagisa invited hurriedly. He may have had his clothes on, but that didn't mean he was ready by any means.
"Do you have a coat? It's likely to rain," the lawyer informed him by way of a greeting.
"Yes, I just need to get everything else!" the blond called from his room, where he filled a clutch with the essentials - his lip tint, a credit card and cash, cellphone, keys, and extra eyeliner. He glanced once more in his mirror, ensuring he was nothing short of perfect, but an onset of nervousness caused him to think himself rather plain. His face formed a pout.
"What's that look for?" Rei asked as he trailed in behind his lover, placing his coat over his shoulders. "You've been looking forward to this all week."
"I feel underdressed," he declared, not for the first time noticing his lack of accessories. His fingers traced his bare earlobes. He could've invested in a nice pair of earrings at least, but if he bothered to look through his collection now they'd most certainly be late.
"I think I can remedy that," Rei replied most unexpectedly. The blond had the time to look incredulous before his beau undid the top couple buttons on his shirt, just far enough to expose his collarbone. A delicate color crept up his neck. He wasn't in the habit of Rei seducing him. But the lawyer undressed him no farther, and instead procured a four-strand pearl choker with rows of smaller pearls in between to cover any empty space. It was light pink in color - a perfect match for the cufflinks and pocket square they'd purchased together. "I was on the way to my client," he explained, "when I came across a jewelry shop and saw this in the window. I can't explain how, but I knew you had to have it. I hope the gift doesn't ruin your outfit, but I was hoping you'd wear it tonight." The brunet clasped it around his neck. Nagisa was rendered speechless as he toyed with the collar. He took a moment to catch his breath.
"Of course. It's gorgeous, Rei - thank you." They kissed each other, and once Nagisa had slipped his coat on, the couple were on their way to the hotel hosting the event.
The charity ball wasn't terribly far from either of their offices, but its distance from Nagisa's house was quite another matter. As it was, they were indeed fashionably late, arriving at 10:10 rather than the intended time of 10:00 sharp. Rei seemed rather put out by the fact, and hurried his boyfriend along into the lobby of The Royale - he recalled it as being rather close to Amber Alley, where the two had shared their first date. The two were on par for levels of class, and though the hotel's exterior was perfectly old and charming, its interior was swanky and modern, accented by the classique of the architecture.
The attorney methodically dropped their coats off at the front desk and presented his invite, and they were escorted by a footman to the elevators along with a number of other finely dressed people, presumably heading to the same function. They were packed in rather tight, and the blond found himself pushed up almost indecently to his boyfriend as they ascended to the tenth floor. Rei wrapped an arm around his smaller beau's abdomen, ensuring that he wouldn't move away. As though he could - it was push himself against the attorney or some stranger, and he knew exactly who he preferred.
The elevator doors opened to a hallway, towards the end of which were a set of grand doors thrust wide open. As the other invitees leaked out of the elevator, the attorney offered his arm, just as the other couples did. Nagisa took a deep breath to steel his nerves, closed his eyes, and stepped through the doors.
The first thing that registered with the writer was the music. In keeping with the modernity of the venue, a live band was playing a jazzy tune masked by the low hum of chatter and soft clinking of glasses. Now he was very much reminded of his first date with Rei and felt comfortable enough to open his eyes. The room was bathed in blue and violet lighting, and one wall was entirely glass overlooking the Thames - perfect for a midnight fireworks display. From the top of the two-storey ceiling hung a crystal waterfall chandelier, lending a considerable amount of class to the environment. Each stone reflected the light, so that the venue, while dim, was by no means dark.
As he and Rei made their way towards the center of the room, he noticed that they emerged beneath a symmetrical curved staircase leading to a balcony level for a better view of the city's golden skyline. Nearer to the dance floor was a long table of food and refreshments, attended by a small number of the hotel's footmen. Nagisa's mouth made a small "oh" but any sound that may have emerged was lost in the noise of the party. They hadn't been more than 15 minutes late, but there were already one hundred-odd people milling about the ballroom.
"I think I need a shot," he muttered sarcastically to his boyfriend. Rei gave a wry grin.
"I'm afraid champagne will have to do." He led him over to the refreshments table and they each picked up a glass and clinked them softly together. The chilled drink and refreshing bubbles along his tongue gave him the kick he needed. He was at a party. This was his scene, much more so than Rei's. Why was he nervous? When a few minutes later, a red-cheeked older man with a bit of a gut walked over and addressed his boyfriend, he felt perfectly at ease.
"Rei, how are you?" he demanded in clipped tones, temporarily overlooking the smaller man by his side.
"Mr. Halford," he acknowledged, "I'm well. And you? Have you been making headway on Stafford case?" The gruff man nodded, impressively downing a full glass of sparkling wine.
"Fine, fine!" he replied, waving off the mention of work. Nagisa thought he might already be a titch inebriated. "That's not why I'm here, and you know it! I came to ask about this beauty you got on your arm! A new girl, eh?" The blond colored considerably at what he took to be a compliment on his makeup skills.
"Of course," Rei replied, embarrassed for his boyfriend. "This is actually my boyfriend, Nagisa. He writes for the magazine, Elite. I believe you once said Mrs. Halford was fond of it?" The writer held out his hand to the blustery man, slightly amused at the significantly red color in his cheeks that doubled over his error. "Darling, this is my boss, Richard Halford," he murmured to Nagisa.
"Charmed," he quipped, shaking hands with him.
"Likewise," Mr. Halford replied as he recovered from his mistake. "You write for a well-known magazine, then. You're so young, too. Rei, you must've got yourself a smart one," he stated matter-of-factly. "Good luck, I've got to be off," and as soon as he had come, he was gone. The blond let out a breath.
"He seems an excitable fellow," Nagisa remarked upon his retreating form. Rei nodded.
"He tends to be a busybody, but that attention to detail makes him an exceptional prosecutor - nothing escapes him, except perhaps the fact that you are male," he commented. They strolled through the growing crowd, taking tentative sips of their drinks, until they stumbled upon a young man and a middle-aged redheaded woman that looked very much like she was in charge. Nagisa was reminded distinctly of Ms. Amakata. Rei appeared slightly uncomfortable, but again introduced his beau.
"Sophia Wiseman," the woman chirped after hearing the brunet's greetings, "defense attorney at Wiseman & Ashford." Ah. That explained his boyfriend's discomfort. "And Rei, you haven't met Jonathan Curley here. He's just joined our firm, he's been working on your case." He nodded and shook hands with the younger defense attorney. If Nagisa could peg him, he'd have guessed the young man was around 27, with sleek black hair and brown eyes.
"I recognize you from court," Rei commented as they shook hands. The other man smiled and glanced between the blond and his beau with a look that neither of them liked.
"I've observed a number of your trials," he acknowledged easily, a simpering grin splitting his sharp, handsome face. He turned his attention to Nagisa and, still addressing Rei, remarked: "What an... interesting partner you have here." Sophia narrowed her eyes and the brunet drew himself up to his full height, standing quite taller than the other man.
"Yes, he most certainly is. I wouldn't expect a man like him to be dull, what between his many accomplishments," he bragged, his brow arched high over the rim of his glasses as he stared Jonathan down. "Now if you'll excuse us, Sophia, we're making our rounds. It's lovely to see you, as always." As soon as they were well out of earshot and view, the blond shuddered.
"God, he was a creep," he summarized, finishing off his champagne and wishing he had something a bit stronger. He felt like he needed a bath after being looked at like that. Rei nodded.
"I noticed him the very first time he observed one of my cases - I was up against Sophia Wiseman. He looks at me like he knows everything about me, which wouldn't be half so unsettling if it weren't for the fact that it could completely break someone down on the witness stand. Sophia is a good woman, though, and an excellent lawyer." After that, they made their way toward the food table, where the younger man munched happily for a while and replenished his supply of champagne. They made another round and met with donors to the charity, a pair of Rei's coworkers who were soon to be married, and the host of the party - the CEO of the Innocence Foundation, introduced to both of them by Mr. and Mrs. Halford.
While the CEO, Mr. Halford, Sophia Wiseman, and Rei discussed the details of incredibly complex case that had been settled in the 90's, Nagisa chatted with Mrs. Halford, an apparent fan. When she too got sucked into the discussion, however, he excused himself to the food table. It took a lot of energy to listen to keep track of something so deep.
The food certainly didn't disappoint. There was an entire table dedicated to little desserts - petit fours, macarons, and creme brulee cups to name a few - where he found himself quite settled. And if he got sick of sweets, there was alcohol and prosciutto bites and little sandwiches to keep his palate entertained. All the while, the music danced between jazzy swings, flirty tangos, and smooth waltzes.
A tap on the shoulder interrupted his eating and thoughts. He expected to see Rei at his side, but was faced with that Jonathan Curley from earlier. Rudely, the blond felt himself jump at his appearance, though he quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, you startled me," he explained, uncertain of what to say to the man that he'd just met. He thought that this Jonathan was rather handsome when he didn't smile, but again that taut smirk appeared on his lips.
"Don't apologize, I only came to ask for a dance." He waved off the offense and gazed down at Nagisa, stepping in a little too close for his comfort - especially considering that he was here with another man. The blond couldn't answer. He wanted desperately to push him away and scream "fat chance" at him, but he absolutely did not want to reflect poorly on his boyfriend. Evidently reluctant, he nodded.
"Sure, that's fine..." he said in a tone that screamed not to lay a hand on him. Whether Jonathan was dimwitted or sadistic, he couldn't tell, but he placed a strong hand on Nagisa's arm and forcibly tugged him out to the dance floor where an orchestral tango began playing. With Rei, he was sure it would have been romantic, but as Jonathan tugged him in too close by the hips, the writer felt that it was gaudy and repulsive. For awhile, they spun in relative quiet. Just as he caught Rei's incredibly bothered gaze, the man spoke so as to distract him.
"What is it you do - Nagisa, was it?" he demanded, his brown eyes looking down into the blond's rosy ones.
"I'm a writer," he said without generosity. The man dodged his cold tone easily.
"Yes, he said as much. What kind of writer? I was sure my question implied as much." His tone was critical, and Nagisa rather felt like he was a schoolboy with a much despised and condescending teacher.
"A columnist."
"For what publication? Come on, be clear." Nagisa grit his teeth and forcibly stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Anyone watching them would think him quite rude if he did.
"Elite," he stated, clearly not inviting any further conversation.
"Women's fashion. I should have thought as much," he stated derisively, pinching the blond's bottom through the multitudes of fabric, just as they spun out of anyone's view. The interrogation did not stop there.
"How old are you?" The writer was thus determined not to reply any further, but was met with another incredibly sharp pinch. "Come now, I asked you a question. Don't be rude."
"Twenty-five," he stated, his face flushed with humiliation and anger.
"Where are you from?"
"Yorkshire," he replied without hesitation, not wanting another retribution. Jonathan's hand hovered on the small of his back, threatening to sink lower if need be.
"A country bumpkin, then," he replied with a disdainful click of his tongue. Just when would this song end? Nagisa wanted to get out of his arms, crawl in a hole, and die. "Are you an only child?" The blond's teeth ground against one another.
"No." His dance partner's hand slipped down to his arse again, and he flinched away, unwittingly pushing the rest of his body closer to the defense attorney.
"I thought we'd gotten to know each other better than that," he threatened. Before he could get any grabbier, Nagisa replied.
"Three older sisters, and I might mention one is an inspector with the London police," he said loftily as at last the tango came to an end. Jonathan held him captive for a moment longer in the lingering silence between songs.
"I don't recall country bumpkins being so feisty," he said, releasing Nagisa and relishing in the way he scrambled backwards. When the blond glanced over his shoulder to ensure he wasn't being followed, he accidentally met Jonathan Curley's eyes - and the sharp blue eyes of another at his side. He shuddered and immediately sought Rei in the crowd which, at this late hour, had swelled to over three hundred people. He found him beside the staircase, away from anyone else, with a clearly unsettled look on his face. Relieved, Nagisa rushed into his arms.
"What on earth was that about, dear?" Rei questioned, light concern evident in his voice. The way his boyfriend hurried over worried him.
"I have no clue," he declared, folding his arms over his chest protectively and trying to ignore the lingering sting in his bum. "He just asked me a bunch of weird questions about my family and where I'm from and where I work... so on, so forth." Nagisa's beautiful face curdled. "If I didn't answer him, he'd pinch my arse," he confessed, leaning his red, embarrassed face against Rei's chest.
"He what?" the prosecutor exclaimed, pulling his small beau into his embrace, one hand softly detangling his curled locks. "That's unacceptable - inappropriate - that bloody bastard," the brunet sputtered, rendered inarticulate with fury. Nagisa was suddenly exhausted.
"Rei, I really just want something to drink right now. Do they have anything stronger than sparkling wine, do you think?" he asked, curling himself into his boyfriend's arms. The older man took a breath to relax himself.
"Right. They probably don't, but we can check," he replied, guiding the blond over to the table with the drinks. Nagisa groaned internally when he saw the man with icy blue eyes standing right there. Rei himself froze, as if those eyes had some sort of hold over him. A pleasant smile graced the face of a beautiful young man with a lovely crop of dark brown hair. He was taller and thinner than the blond, and came perfectly up to Rei's chin.
"Rei!" he exclaimed in an amicable tone that the writer did not trust in the least. "It's wonderful to see you again. Would you care to introduce me to your friend?" Nagisa tightened his grip on his boyfriend's arm.
"Oh..." he began uncertainly, but the rules of politisse would not allow to him to stop altogether. "This is Nagisa Hazuki..." With dissatisfaction, the blond noticed that he didn't correct the nature of their relationship. "Nagisa, this is Kenton James, my, erm..." His voice trailed off and there was no need for him to finish. Ex-boyfriend.
"It's wonderful to meet you." Kent offered his hand, and Nagisa cautiously took it.
"Likewise." For a man he'd convinced himself he hated, he sure seemed pleasant. It wouldn't make Nagisa reevaluate his opinion, though.
The following silence between the three was split by Rei's boss calling him over. Hopelessly, the brunet tossed his gaze between the two men, before disentangling himself from his beau's tightening grip and hurrying over to his boss. They were left to evaluate one another, and the blond was feeling more and more miserable with every second that passed. With a beautifully agreeable smile still plastered upon his face, Kent spoke.
"Rei must not have paid much for a whore like you." Shocked, the blond physically recoiled.
"I beg your pardon?" he cried. The other man's face didn't flinch.
"Oh, and dumb to boot. He could've done much better finding a pick-me-up than a thing like you." Nagisa didn't reply. He was astounded, tired, violated, and mortally offended. The noise in the room confused him. Absently, he realized the voices were counting down in unison, all focused on the windows where a fabulous light show would begin in a matter of thirty seconds.
"Well, aren't you the bitter little boy?" Nagisa crooned, summoning up the last of his energy to counterattack. He wouldn't damn well be defeated by his boyfriend's ex.
"Bitter?" Kenton barked out a laugh. "As if. I feel sorry for Rei, needing to buy sex from a wannabe jezebel like you just to boost his confid-ah!" His insult was interrupted by a gasp as from behind him a waterfall of champagne tumbled over his brown locks.
"Oops," said the unforgivingly cold voice of Miho Amakata, "I must have spilled." Kent whirled around, any attempts at pleasantries totally forgotten, and was about to speak before the woman interrupted him yet again. "If I ever see you or your infuriatingly snobbish boyfriend speak a word or lay a hand on my employee again, I can guarantee you'll get worse than an expensive bottle of champagne coating your tacky suit. Now get out." The voices around them rose in volume, quite unaware of the spectacle happening at their backs.
"Ten, nine, eight -"
"You bitch," Kenton spat over his shoulder, whirling around to leave. Jonathan Curley stepped in place behind him. The voices in the room reached their peak.
"Three, two, one - Happy New Year!" And as the fireworks roared thunderously behind him, bathing the room in blinking lights, Nagisa watched their receding forms with disquiet in his heart.
A/N: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)