The Way You Look Tonight.docx

Title: The Way You Look Tonight
Pairing: Asami x Akihito
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None


1.

Akihito rubbed the back of his neck with a tired hand and flexed his muscles, trying to remove the ache. He hated shooting weddings. There was no challenge, never anything new to look at.

How much longer was this thing going to go on anyway? The contract stipulated that he couldn't leave until the party was declared closed by the groom's father, and the groom's father looked like he'd dug in for the night.

Unfortunately the contract was also far too expensive for him to risk screwing it up. He wouldn't have taken it if he hadn't badly needed money. The amount offered was too good to be true. Lately he'd a habit of finding well paying jobs in the nick of time. His luck had recently come through again and brought him this one. He wasn't going to lose it.

He should get back to taking pictures. In a few minutes. He'd just stand here and close his eyes for a moment and will the ache out of his back. He started rubbing his shoulder again.

He froze as his hand was pushed aside by a larger warmer one. Another came to rest on the other side of his neck. They slowly began squeezing and kneading the muscles there. He'd pull away, only it felt too damned good.

He knew the hands like they were his own. He knew the touch, strong and possessive. He knew the scent, light sandalwood with a hint of citrus. He knew the sight of them, long fingers, strength in each, manicured, wicked digits, capable of arousing so much with so little effort. His heart began to beat more swiftly at the sight of them flexing across his shoulders, so near to his face, so close to his mouth. He clenched his jaw to keep his tongue trapped behind teeth, when it so badly wanted to flick out and taste.

The knuckles of one hand brushed his jaw line. A low voice spoke by his ear. "What's wrong Akihito? You look hungry. I'd be happy to feed you."

Akihito bit back a sharp response. He was working, and really didn't want to cause a scene. But something about Asami always brought out the worst in him. It was almost a habit now, the fight between them. So the sarcasm slipped out. "Just keeping doing what you're doing. I like it when you're a good boy, Asami.

He heard what sounded like a low growl at his response. Then something unexpected. Something that didn't belong in the ritual. Something mild. "Dance with me."

The response was automatic. Fuck you. "I can't. I'm working. Leave me alone."

He heard a soft sigh behind him. "Dance with me or I'll take you right here, behind that bridal bower of flowers. Or could it be that's what you want?"

"Damn you, you would, too."

"Don't damn me for what you're feeling. Take some responsibility for once. Admit what you want."

"I want you to leave me alone."

"Stop lying. A fuck, or a dance? Which will it be?"

The words sounded tired. But he knew the choice was real, and that he'd best make it, or it would be made for him.

The hands on his shoulders had never stopped working. He grabbed one of them and began to tug Asami toward the dance floor. Asami stopped him, and made him remove his camera and equipment. "We wouldn't want to let some film come between us, would we?"

That was his cue. Akihito got pissed. His fists clenched and he swung about to stare into eyes that always burned brighter the angrier he got. He knew he was being egged on. He knew he shouldn't give into his temper. But he always did. He already had the next part memorized. He didn't get a chance to deliver it.

"Ah, Asami-san, you made it. Welcome to our little party. This boy you recommended has been doing a fine job. I look forward to seeing his photographs of the reception."

The groom's father. Idiot. Well, it was a welcome interruption.

Wait a minute. That was new. Asami had gotten him the job? Asami? Not his own merit? His cheeks burned. He'd been paid so Asami could have a sexual rendezvous? That was just what he would expect from him. He was being used like a whore. He stared at the man, so angry he could barely think.

The crime lord's voice was cold. "Leave. Now." That was meant for the groom's father, who flushed and backed away. Asami's eyes hadn't wavered from his. "It isn't what you think."

"Isn't it? I'm not for sale."

Asami rolled his eyes. "You've made that clear any number of times. When's the last time I tried to buy you? Besides, why should I buy what's already mine?"

Akihito wanted to swing at the man. His breath hissed unsteadily between his teeth. "You don't own me. Sure, sometimes you manage to trap me, but I always get free. I'll always be my own person. Nothing you can do will change that."

Asami's eyes were angry. There was no amusement in them now. "How long will you let your stubbornness blind you?"

His head jerked to the side. He stared at the ever present blond bodyguard stationed near him. "Clear the room."

The bodyguard didn't even flinch at the extraordinary order. He simply obeyed, quickly removing the remaining guests politely, insistently, even picking a few reluctant ones up and carrying them toward the exit.

Akihito wasn't about to stick around. He stepped to the side, toward his equipment. A firm hand on his arm stopped him. Another snaked around his waist. He couldn't move, except for a slight wiggle. "Let me go or I'll make a scene the like of which you've never seen."

The bored amusement was back in the voice that responded. "Really? Please do. That would be something new. Unfortunately I think I've seen every scene you have within you."

This wasn't playing out the way it was supposed to. Everything seemed to have turned on its head. He didn't know how to respond, how to act, what was expected. He hated the feeling of helplessness that was growing in him.

His body was pulled back against Asami's chest. He could feel every button on the man's jacket through back of the cheap suit he wore.

"Why are you trembling Akihito? Could it be that you've finally realized the truth?"

What truth? This was the same as it always was. Except it wasn't. Something was off. His body was turned around to face his tormenter.

Asami stared down at him. Akihito wasn't sure what he was seeing in his face, but it wasn't the angry possessive stare he'd come to expect. Possessive, yes, but it was almost as if Asami were as frustrated with the game as he was.

The wedding guests were all gone. Asami waved a hand toward the other bodyguard, who evidently threatened the musicians, because in a moment the squeaky strains of an instrument or two started up. Playing The Girl from Ipanema.

Akihito couldn't help it. He snorted with laughter. The whole bizarre situation had just gone off the deep end. His anger fled, leaving him feeling rather empty.

Asami closed his eyes with a sigh. He opened them and shot a withering look at the band. The music paused and there was a slight shuffling of pages on the podium. Then the strains of an old Sinatra song began. Akihito didn't know it well, he just remembered his father singing some of the words to his mother.

Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

His heart ached, thinking of the lyrics. What would it be like, to have someone who thought that of you?

As if in response to his thoughts, Asami's fingers brushed over his cheek lightly and he blushed. Confused, he ducked his head, his forehead coming to rest on the chest in front of him. Asami's right hand had slipped to the back of his waist, pressing their bodies together. It felt good, to be close like that. Asami's left hand held Akihito's right in its grasp, between their chests.

"Dance with me Akihito." Not a command. But not quite a request.

Akihito looked up at the man holding him. He didn't understand. Something within him warred against his need to stubbornly refuse the man everything. He never felt comfortable in the man's grasp, yet now, here, he felt drawn to it. Warm. Safe. Wanted. Just for tonight. Just for this moment.

He shook his hand free of Asami's grasp. The eyes before him emptied of all expression. Then he stepped in close and slid his arms up around Asami's neck. He quickly tucked his head under Asami's chin so he didn't have to see those self-satisfied eyes that he knew were now above him. But he felt a soft sigh come from the chest he leaned on. Asami's arms moved to his waist, his cheek rested on Akihito's hair. They slowly began to move, a simple step, swaying back and forth, a slow dance, one that barely moved them around the floor.

Their hips brushed softly against each other, the slight friction more of a turn on than any direct grasp had ever been. Akihito could feel the heat of Asami's body. The cloth of the man's suit was in the way. It was disturbing his skin, which suddenly felt sensitive enough to feel the slight breeze of their slow movements.

Their feet shuffled slightly as they moved in a lazy circle, but Akihito was no longer aware of the floor. He closed his eyes and let himself be led by the man he clung to, for once giving into the pleasure of being tended to. He was enjoying it and he didn't want to think about it.

But the dance that barely moved him across the floor was shaking him emotionally. Who was this, this Asami holding him? He knew the man was a beast. He'd seen it not ten minutes ago. And knew the slightest thing could change him back into the Asami he'd come to know. That's the way it always was. He was frightened, yet he yearned for more.

He looked up, confused, into eyes that were so close to his. Eyes that hadn't been focused on him, that flickered to his as if caught unaware. That then looked at him as if they'd never seen him before.

They narrowed as he tilted his chin up, wanting to ground this in the physical, bringing his lips closer to the other's face.

Asami pulled back slightly, and pressed Akihito's head back against his chest. "This isn't about sex. We're just dancing, Akihito," he murmured.

Akihito was confused. Since when did Asami turn down sex? Was he tired of him? Was this some kind of goodbye? That was good, right? His heart began to beat rapidly, too rapidly. Where was the panic coming from? "Asami? Don't you want me?"

Strong hands slid down from his waist to his ass, cupping it and lifting him slightly, pressing their erections together. He felt relief that they were on more familiar ground. Then the grip loosened, letting him slide down the other's body to his feet. He was trembling with the need for more. Why was Asami letting him slip free?

Asami stopped moving. Akihito realized the room was silent. He cautiously raised his head again. Asami was still, his hands light on Akihito's waist, a strange look on his face. Asami's hands rose to his neck and loosened Akihito's hands, then he stepped back.

Akihito stepped forward, and Asami turned away. There was a rustle of clothing, a click of a lighter, then the familiar smoke from Asami's favorite brand of cigarettes. When he turned back around, the familiar mask was in place.

Asami shrugged slightly. "I agreed. A dance or a fuck. I keep my word."

Akihito didn't get it. This was it? Shouldn't he be relieved? Why was he hurting, like he'd been rejected?

Asami stepped forward and placed a light kiss on his lips. "Don't be so sad princess. There will be other balls." Asami signaled his men, then turned and headed for the exit.

Akihito couldn't believe this. Here he was, shaken to the core, and Asami could just walk away like it was nothing?

He realized he'd said that aloud when Asami paused, still facing away from him. "Sometimes, Akihito, you're a fool." Then he stepped through the door and was gone.

Akihito stood staring at the empty space, willing it to fill with that form again. What the hell did that mean? He got mad because I wanted sex? When has he ever wanted anything else?

The musicians muttering and scraping chairs made him remember where he was. He stepped to the table to grab his equipment before the caterers came in to clean up. He fussed with it, the last half hour playing over and over in his mind.

The initial request. The anger. The demand. The dance. The look they shared. The withdrawal. The exit.

He was breathing quickly by the time he finished. Sometimes he just needed to adjust his focus to see clearly.

He shoved his remaining equipment into his case and slung it over his shoulder. Then he ran from the room.

Asami hadn't said where he was going but he knew where to find him. And this time, this time, things would be different.

He finally recognized what he saw in his viewfinder.






2.


He couldn't wait for the elevator. He ran up the stairs, all 30 flights. He fell against the lone doorway on the last floor.

There was a quiet shuffle inside the apartment, then the door opened, making him fall inward at Asami's slippered feet.

He stared up, breathing hard, into the impassive face that looked down, considering him.

Asami's cigarette dangled from his lips as usual. A pistol dangled from one hand. Akihito could smell the scotch on his breath. Asami pulled the cigarette from his lips and blew a stream of smoke out, watching him. He set the pistol on the hall table.

"You didn't have time to get drunk. So to what do I owe the pleasure Akihito?"

Akihito rolled over and pushed himself into sitting position, letting the door close behind him. Now that he was here, he wasn't certain what he wanted to say. Only that he didn't want to fight. He wanted to feel what he had earlier, with Asami.

Asami crouched down in front of him, studying him. "Well, well. Speechless. Will wonders never cease?"

The angry words started out of habit. "You don't have to act like—" He cut them off. Dammit this isn't how he had wanted this to happen. He took a deep breath and started over.

"What you said, at the reception. You were right."

Asami didn't move, didn't blink. He reminded Akihito of a predator watching for a deadly opening.

"Right about what Akihito?" His voice when it came out was mild and unconcerned, but that no longer fooled Akihito. He now knew that to be a sure sign of tension in the man.

So he spoke the truth. "About me being a fool."

He stood up and walked deeper into the apartment, too nervous to sit still. "I thought about it, after you left that way. I could tell I was missing something."

He spun about. "Did you ever take pictures, Asami?"

Asami's eyebrow went up. "Not much. A few, when I was younger."

Akihito scowled. He'd try to explain it anyway. "It's like this. Sometimes you go out, and you're looking through the finder, and you think you see a great shot and snap it. Only when you look at it, it's not quite what you had in mind. And you're determined to get that shot. So you set up and try again, and again, changing lighting, changing lenses, only nothing seems to work. So you throw all the photos on the table, or the computer screen, and look at them, sorting through, trying to find the pattern that will make it right. And then sometimes it jumps out at you."

He walked over to Asami, who was now standing there with a bemused look on his face. "Don't you get it? You can't take the picture because the focus of it was always wrong. You were trying to photograph what you thought you saw, instead of what was really in front of you. After you realize that, the picture becomes easy. It just may not be what you expected."

He stepped even closer, his hands coming up to frame Asami's face. "I was seeing what I wanted to, out of habit, instead of seeing what was in front of me. But tonight, you made me look again. I was wrong, wasn't I? Not just about me, but about you as well. God, it's always been that simple, hasn't it? Reframing the shot."

His breath caught as a small smile appeared on Asami's face. Asami was a beautiful man, but Akihito had never seen him like this. The man would never be effusive with his emotions, but just the hint of them, like this little smile, transformed him.

Akihito found himself reminded of the song from earlier that evening, and responded with a smile of his own. Asami's lips quirked up even more, but there was no hint of sarcasm for once. A little smugness, perhaps, but that was allowed.

Asami stepped into the middle of the entrance hall, then turned back to Akihito. He held his hand out. "May I have this dance?"

Akihito looked at him for the first time with unclouded vision, and knew joy. He stepped forward, smiling, to join his partner.




~end~