He hurried to the darkroom, mumblin

He hurried to the darkroom, mumbling apologies, and forcing himself to focus on his sensei's instructions. By the time they'd finished up, Akihito had barely enough time to wash up and run his fingers through his hair before he had to run down to the street. He was breathless when he got there because he had taken the stairs out of sheer nervous inability to stand still and wait for the elevator.

Shit, he's going to think I'm that eager to see him.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the glass of the front door and frowned a little. He looked disheveled and probably way too casual to be spending the evening with Asami. Would he take him to a nice restaurant again? He definitely wouldn't fit in.

And jeez, were his palms sweaty? Akihito swore under his breath and rubbed his hands against his jeans.

Get a grip.

With his camera bag slung over his shoulder, Akihito peered down the street looking for Asami's sleek car and then looked at his watch. It was just eight o'clock, but Akihito scowled anyway. If Asami kept him standing on the street corner after all this then he'd really give him a piece of his mind. He had much better things to do than wait around for him all night.

Before he could work himself up into a righteous huff, a shiny, black limousine pulled up and idled at the curb in front of him, distracting him from his indignant thoughts.

His jaw sagged as he recognized the huge blond man that got out of the driver's seat and made his way around to open the rear door. Asami climbed out with easy grace while Akihito just stared.

"Akihito. Good evening. Have you been waiting long?"

"What is this? Where's your car?"

"This is my car. One of them." One corner of his mouth curled up. "Is there a problem?"

"You think you're J-Pop royalty or something? Who actually owns one of these?" Akihito looked around nervously and then shoved past the driver and an amused-looking Asami and climbed in the car as quickly as he could. "Come on, then. I don't want anyone to see me getting into this."

He shifted uncomfortably when Asami followed him into the car, sitting much too close for comfort considering the expansive interior. A jittery laugh escaped him and he tried to edge down the seat, feigning interest in a row of buttons that controlled who knew what.

"I've never been in one of these before. What are all these for?"

"Are you nervous, Akihito?"

Asami's voice was close enough that it stirred the fine hairs on Akihito's neck, and he whipped around to find that Asami had slid down the seat next to him.

"N-no. Why would I be nervous?"

This close, he couldn't help but notice again the unusual golden-brown color of Asami's eyes, or the way they seemed to see right through him.

"You tell me," Asami returned, his subtle smirk both annoying Akihito and drawing him in.

Surreptitiously, Akihito wiped his palms on his jeans again. Unfortunately, that reminded him of the shortcomings of his wardrobe choices for the evening. "Um, well, I'm sorry about my clothes. I wasn't planning on going out tonight, you know."

"Your clothes are fine." Asami leaned closer. "Is there anything else bothering you."

"Uh..." Akihito fumbled for something to say, then simply shook his head.

"Good." Warm fingers came up to curl around Akihito's nape, stroking gently at the soft skin there. "May I kiss you?"

His eyes shot wide, and Akihito blushed furiously. "Don't just ask something like that outright."

Asami's smile curved wickedly. "I don't have to ask?"

Before Akihito could respond, Asami's lips covered his and he forgot everything but the onslaught to his senses. Asami's scent, which somehow already had become familiar, overwhelmed him as much as the heat of his mouth against his. Without even thinking about it, Akihito grasped the front of his jacket and pulled him closer, unconsciously trying to get more of the taste and feel and smell of him.

His eyes were closed by the time Asami finally pulled away, and it took a moment before he slowly opened them again. Asami had a curious expression on his face that Akihito couldn't quite place, but when Akihito came to himself with a inner shudder of mortification at the way he was clinging to Asami's jacket, and he let his hands drop to his lap as he twisted his fingers together, Asami's intent gaze softened slightly.

He could feel heat bloom in his cheeks, and Akihito had to force himself not to drop Asami's gaze.

"I've had a busy day myself, would you mind if we went back to my place and ordered in?"

Akihito froze, his breath caught somewhere between his chest and throat. Back to Asami's? From the look in Asami's eyes it would be Akihito on the menu, he was sure. Some of the apprehension he was feeling must have shown on his face because Asami shifted and settled back against the seat, taking out a cigarette.

"But if you prefer, Akihito," his name rolled teasingly off Asami's tongue, "we can go somewhere else."

Akihito focused on Asami's lips as the man put his cigarette to the lighter's flame and inhaled. They pursed slightly when Asami released a long stream of smoke. Akihito raised his eyes again and saw that Asami was regarding him with a hint of amusement, one eyebrow slightly lifted in something like challenge. Akihito immediately bristled, his courage rising at the hint of condescension.

His eyes narrowed. "Your place is fine, but if we're having takeout, I want curry, Ryuichi."

There, that would show him. Asami could see how he liked being teased and treated to such presumptuous familiarity.

But Asami only smirked, once more invading Akihito's personal space to trace the curve of Akihito's mouth with his thumb.

"I like the sound of my name on your lips. Not many would dare use it. Maybe I can hear it again tonight under even more pleasing circumstances."

While Akihito fought another blush, Asami punched one of the buttons on the console and spoke to the driver. With a gasp, Akihito turned mortified eyes toward the front of the car, sighing in relief when he saw the divider between the front and back of the vehicle was raised.

Asami shot him a look that managed to be both knowing and amused. His attention returned full force to Akihito, and he turned and gave Akihito a smile that did nothing to alleviate the nervous butterfly frenzy in his stomach. "Now, Akihito, let's get to know each other better, shall we?"

"Asami, come over here and look at this. You have the best view I've ever seen!"

Akihito was standing in front of one of the full-length windows of Asami's penthouse, arms spread wide as if to take in the entire city that stretched out before him.

"I wouldn't have believed someone your age could get this drunk on a couple of beers if I hadn't seen it for myself."

"I'm not drunk! And besides, it was three beers. Anyway, I'm not drunk. Well, slightly buzzed maybe."

Asami cocked an eyebrow in amusement as Akihito chattered away.

"It really is a great view, Asami. I should take a picture. Just look!"

"I've seen it before," Asami said dryly, choosing, rather, to admire the way Akihito's faded jeans clung to the curve of his perfectly-shaped ass as he pressed his nose to the window like an excited little kid. To escape the brief pang of chagrin that thought caused him, he brought to mind an image involving a stripped Akihito with his legs around Asami's waist being fucked up against the window; the view he seemed to like so much at his back. Much better.