Not So Perfect Strangers
Chapter 7
A few days removed since "The Kiss" happened and nothing really changed between the two. They chose to play it that way in case anyone asked about their friend/relationship because really neither was ready to admit that they were in a proper relationship yet. Kise was probably the most uneasy because with the way his job is he mostly caters to the female demographic and how would they feel if they knew that their "dream guy" was in a relationship and with another man no less! It wasn't that he didn't love Kuroko…far from it actually but they weren't really ready yet to come out and tell everyone because well…that's one of the faults that they still had to overcome together. Being able to be happy enough to be able to tell everyone what the deal was something they were working together on and Kuroko knew how hard it would be for them.
That day at the office for Kuroko was an interesting one. A few publications came asking him to do some articles for them and he was asked to do something for his boss on top of that! This was the kind of day that Kuroko wished he had Kise's "Pressure Valve" to relieve stress because today was definitely going to be one of those days for him…he could only imagine what it was going to be like for Kise on his own today!
When Kise got to the location for his newest shoot everyone asked about Kuroko and specifically him and Kuro as an item. Kise told them politely that they weren't dating and even if they were he would respectfully rather not discuss it out of respect to his friend. Kasamatsu backed him on this when he was asked about it from the other members of the staff and told them if they asked about it to be nosy they better go look for another job. Kasa knew how things were getting and if they reached "critical mass" he knew Kise would quit. He didn't need that because he knew how good Kise was and the other models TRY to emulate him but none even come close! There was one guy that people considered competition for him but really…there was none. Kise was a level that no man (or woman) could hope to be because he was that special. The friendship that he developed with Kuroko was proof of that and in many ways Kasa wished he could get Kuroko to come over to the agency to be Kise's PR but that would only enhance the problems and cause more crap to be stirred that he didn't need. He had enough problems with some of his execs and the passive way they looked at Kise's mental state. If Kuroko didn't say anything he wouldn't have known that Kise was starting to "break" and that was why he was starting to worry about his friend's schedule. Was the agency pushing him too hard?
As the day went on Kise showed signs that him living with Kuroko was really starting to pay off but he also had "bouts" where his "plastic self" reared his head. Kise HATED this part of him to no end but he had to do it sometimes and Kuroko understood. His friend just wished that one day the agency would see a carefree Kise that wasn't "manufactured" anymore and maybe there was a way to do that but it might result in Kuroko doing something that he might not want to do.
Day turned into night and Kuroko came towards the tail end of the festivities when he saw Kise sitting in his chair and casually walked over to him and shook his hand. They did this by design as again they weren't ready to admit to each other that they were a couple let alone Kasa and company. Kise's boss "kind of" knew but played like he didn't for privacy reasons and again he didn't need chaos on the sets because of it. He always respected Kise for who he was and that was why his friend always showed that in kind and didn't try to act up or act in a way with other people unbecoming of the agency. As the photographer and everyone got their stuff and packed up for the night Kuroko followed Kise to his trailer where he waited outside for the blond to get changed into his street clothes. Yes they were technically seeing each other and they were roommates but again it was a respect thing. Eventually when they were ready to go public he just won't care and follow Kise but for now…no it just wasn't possible.
Inside the trailer Kise thought about some of the stuff he was doing at the shoot and the fact that he had to do it for two more days was mentally exhausting. It was more exhausting for him because to change from "Kise Ryota: Human Being" to "Kise: The Model" wore him out. There was that part of him that for a good time just wanted to take time off and not be bothered with his job but he couldn't do that to Kasamatsu and everyone else that he cared about there. He had a lot of good friends that worked there and to leave them for any reason just didn't suit him…it never did!
When Kise finished dressing he walked out and saw Kuroko smiling as they walked off the property and towards Kise's car. A Dodge Viper that, despite it being a fast car, Kise never drove like a street racer. He always drove like he had someone important in the car and this was even before he met Kuroko. He had a friend that got into a really bad accident for driving recklessly and he didn't want to end up like him so he made sure that whenever he drove he was careful and with Kuroko in the car he was extra careful. If something happened to him…we don't want to think about what kind of state Ryota would be in!
On the way home from the shoot Kise took some time to think about what his end goal would be as far as where he wanted to live truly. Part of him loves the city and the apartment that he now shares with the teal-haired young man that he has grown exceptionally fond of but what's the next step? They didn't want to live in that apartment forever and after a year would they want to stay there or leave and find greener pastures?
Little did he know that his teal-haired "boyfriend" had similar thoughts…
Kuroko was silently sitting in the passenger seat admiring the view that was zooming by and seeing the street lights begin to come on made him smile. He really didn't get to see that much when he lived at home and he actually liked hearing the noise of the cars on the city streets but where did he want to be in a year or two? Could he actually see himself living in the city a year from now and now that he was "with" Kise…where did he really want to be?
It was an interesting thing to think about because he had an idea of where he wanted to live and where his dream home would be: A nice home that was big enough for the two of them and out in the country away from people and nonsense. He could still work on projects there and Kise, when he was ready, could just use it to really begin the process of "healing the damage" that the industry that he worked in caused him. They both needed a place where their life could be theirs and the idea of chaos was virtually non-existent!
Wait a second! Here are these two young men that have really been living together for what, a few weeks, and they are thinking about this? How did either know honestly they would really be dating in a month let alone a year from now? Was it something about the current situation that just made it so easy to think about?
Let's examine the situation: Here are two men that might have HEARD of each other before moving in together as more or less a favor to each other and the Landlords and now they shared a kiss and are thinking about…this?!
It was an interesting thing to think about though because face it right? The two complimented each other so well and balanced the other out so that when one started going into extreme behaviors the other could be there to balance them. It was a situation that no fairy tale could really write if you thought about it. Kise was a bit of an eccentric personality at his job and Kuroko was someone that, before he met Kise, wasn't easy to get to know. He was as close to a shut in or wallflower as one could be without actually BEING one!
As the two friends pulled into the driveway of the complex Kise walked around to the other side and let Kuroko out which his friend appreciated and they made their way into the front entrance where Imayoshi was waiting for them with a pleasant smile.
"Good evening you two" He began "I trust everything went well at the shoot today for Kise-san?" Shoichi finished and Kise smiled before answering.
"Everything went well Imayhoshichi. I have about two more days of stuff to do for them but then I'm done with this client and can move on to the next project." Kise explained to the megane whom smiled before asking Kuroko how his day was
"Got assigned to do some events in the next week and one is a weekend trip. When I get back I have to make sure the articles are done and then I have a personal project that I want to start for when the time comes that I leave here." Kuroko explained and Shoichi understood exactly what he meant. Most tenants don't stay past a year unless they didn't have a clear idea where they wanted to go after they left. The longest tenant was about 4 years but it was a college student that couldn't afford to stay on campus and he thought he was going to be given help but wasn't. It was the only time that the complex (under different management) allowed a tenant to stay for free. Kise sort of knew about the "project" that Kuroko wanted to start and applauded the initiative that he had for it. Sometimes Kise really wished he had his drive (and I don't mean "Vanishing" either).
When Kise and Kuroko got into the apartment Kise asked about the events Kuroko was asked to cover and Kuroko facepalmed because he had forgotten to tell Kise ahead of time that this could happen.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Kise. There was a possibility that I was going to have to go cover two press conferences for some companies and then I have a trip where they want me to do a speaking engagement and a sit down for a big client the editors know. Its not often I get asked to be the subject but they know that I'm usually reserved enough to do it." Kuroko explained and you never saw a man so sad in his life when Kise heard the news. Oh don't misunderstand…he was happy that Kuroko was getting to do these things but what would he do without his Kuroko? The apartment is going to feel so cold and lonely without Kuro there. The worst part was that he feared he could have a dangerous relapse back into "Old Kise" and the more he thought about that the more he felt sad because he seriously didn't WANT to see him anymore. The fact that when he has to "act" like him physically and emotionally drains him and its seriously something that was going to push him to his breaking point sooner than later and it was definitely something he thought about more and more now.
Kuroko knew about the concerns that his friend had and they were all valid. Kuroko hated seeing the "fake Kise" that existed for the model world but he needed Kise to "live with him" just for a little while longer. Yes they had a lot longer on their lease but he felt that if he could talk to some people something could happen sooner rather than later. He just needed Kise to be able to hang on long enough when he left. That wasn't for a few weeks but it was something that needed to be planned for. Fortunately for Kuro, Imayoshi did say he had someone that Kise could stay with for the week, but would Kise be able to tolerate the person for the week that he was going to be gone?
That night at dinner Kise tried to find out through Kuroko who he was staying with but Kuroko didn't tell him and not because he didn't want to either. It was actually because Sakurai and Imayoshi didn't tell him either! All Kuroko knew was that he was going to be staying with someone for the week that Kuroko was gone…oh and they were going to be coming over after dinner!
After the duo finished their meal, as if on cue, the doorbell rang and Kise went to go answer it. When he got to and opened the door his look of shock went to that of fear.
Let's just say…Kuroko better hurry back before he goes really nuts!