Chapter Text
Javier hated very little more than his job at the best of times. Writing was his passion, and he was grateful he got a job at all, but more often than not, when he arrived at whatever event or business he was supposed to be writing about, he asked himself the same question.
Why the hell did I end up becoming a gossip blogger?
When he graduated university with a degree in journalism, he pictured investigative journalism that would take him places full of adventure and danger and maybe even give him an opportunity to become famous after some huge story that broke globally, like exposing human rights violations or corruption.
Instead, as he looked down at the credentials he had just been handed, he sighed. Javier Fernandez, IMPACT.
“Should have known you would be late.” Javier looked up and smiled.
“Patrick, hey,” he said, going for a half-hug. Patrick was a writer for a celebrity news magazine so they ended up at the same events fairly often. “Wow, they sent you all the way here? Who’s coming?” he asked knowingly.
Patrick scoffed. “You’re terrible at your job if you don’t know Madonna is going to be here,” he said in exasperation.
Javier hummed. “I’m here to write about the designers, not the celebrity sightings.” He winked. “That’s your job.”
Patrick shoved him playfully. “Oh, whatever. I’ll write about Madonna, you write about how high Weir’s hair will be,” he joked
Javier chuckled. “I saw photos of the outfits he’s wearing this week hanging on a rack. I will need to find new synonyms for ‘bedazzled’,” he said with a snicker.
“Well, the show is about to start, I’m getting to my seat,” Patrick said, and Javier nodded, doing the same. They parted ways when they got inside, going to opposite sides of the raised runway.
Javier didn’t particularly like fashion, and writing about it was terrible, but it got a lot of views, which was all his editor cared about. Javier still wanted to bash his head in with his own laptop every time he wrote, ‘serving looks’ and hit ‘submit’.
This season his editor had him following all of Johnny Weir’s ‘Haus of Weir’ shows for the season. The best part about his job was the traveling, and a work-week in New York was definitely nice. He always liked to sight-see when he traveled for work, so it wasn’t the worst job he could have taken. One day he would be a serious journalist, but getting paid to sight-see was not a terrible choice in employment.
Johnny Weir was a character, to say the least. Javier had seen him several times in the past few years, and though he had never met the man, you could always predict one thing about him and that was that he was absolutely unpredictable. When the lights went down and the stage lights came on, Javier knew from the backdrop of gold ribbons dropping from the ceiling that this was going to be yet another wild runway show. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and prepare for things to get Weir-ed.”
Javier bit back the laughter that wanted to tumble out, but only barely. The person next to him shot him a glare anyways.
When the music and lights started, some terrible techno music and gaudy pink lights, Javier sighed and got his pen ready to take notes. Really he didn’t even need them usually, but he was, if nothing else, professional. The first outfits were as hideous as expected, all metallic fabrics and actual metallic pieces on some of them. One woman was wearing an actual breast plate that looked like gold armor. It was quite uncomfortable looking, too. As was what looked like a chainmail speedo on a man in heels that hurt to look at. When the music shifted and the lights turned a softer, golden hue, however, the models who came out were bathed in light, airy fabrics that flowed around them as they walked. One woman looked like a Greek goddess in a sheer blue toga dress.
Javier actually sort of liked the pretty blue dress as she passed – though being able to see her naked body through the sheer fabric might have something to do with that, he admitted.
He was surprised when the other people around him started to sit up eagerly after the barely covered woman was gone, only to suddenly realize he needed to pay attention because it must be the moment that a lot of people had wanted to hear about at work: the unveiling of Johnny’s signature model of the season. Every season, Johnny Weir highlighted one model as the muse for his theme that year, and he always waited until after that model walked to reveal the theme in dramatic fashion on the runway at the end of the show. Since this was that moment, when his signature would come out dressed in his theme-piece, it was only a few minutes before the big reveal of the theme came.
The model that came out was not what Javier was expecting.
Strutting down the runway was not a leggy blonde or a strong-jawed hunk. The person coming towards them was a lithe, slender, very delicate but clearly male body in back velvet pants that showed off thicker thighs for the rest of his figure and a top with a very intricate pattern of pink and black with rhinestones and sequins and flowy, sheer sleeves. The closer he got, the more Javier was shocked by his features. Like most models, he had a face that shouldn’t work, features too dramatic, but unlike most models, instead of look alien-like, he actually looked sort of angelic or elven. The soft golden light only made his high cheeks more stark, but his face was softly angled, not sharp.
Javier could instantly see why everybody got excited by such an interesting model. Very elegant and graceful.
…And then when he dramatically raised his arms and spun to show off the sleeves, he slipped and tumbled off the stage with a weird yelp and landed right in Javier’s lap.
Javier dropped his pen and notepad and grabbed him. “Oh my God, are you okay?!” he asked, keeping him from falling onto the concrete floor.
The model sat upright, flailing and twisting, only to freeze and look mortified when he realized he was sitting on Javier’s lap. “Oh my God, I so sorry!” he squeaked in a high, panicked, heavily accented voice, and then scrambled off of Javier’s lap. Javier bit back a smile at how embarrassed he was, but then gape when he simply did a deceptively easy looking hop back up onto the platform two-footed.
Suddenly the disproportionately thick thighs compared to his torso made sense because it was all muscle.
The model finished his walk with a poised expression as if he hadn’t just fell off the stage. Once he hit the top of the stage, everybody applauded as Johnny Weir himself came out to join him and the music died and a spotlight hit them as they stood side by side. Johnny smiled at the model, who smiled back brightly. “Thank you, thank you,” he said in a very over-the-top tone of gratitude. “Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear Yuzuru here is the embodiment of this year’s theme in every way, a mix of masculine strength and feminine grace. Both strength and beauty have no gender and no restrictions. Beauty can be strong, strength can be beautiful.” He smirked. “Yuzuru can be poised and clumsy,” he added and Yuzuru covered his face bashfully. He looked around with a dramatic pause. “This year’s theme is Strength In Beauty.”
Javier was amused how people leapt to their feet applauding as if he said something super profound. The fashion industry truly was amusing.
And that model, Yuzuru, was very intriguing.
~
At the after party, Yuzuru barely got to take a sip of his apple juice before Brian found him and smirked. Yuzuru blushed, pouting. “Stop iiiitttt.”
“You fell off the stage,” Brian said in an amused tone.
Yuzuru whined. “I have so much embarrassed. And I fall on cuuuuuute boy, too!” he said, pouting.
“Oh where’s a cute boy?” Evgenia asked as she bounced up beside him.
Yuzuru sighed. “He was in the audience but I do not know if he get invited to after party,” he said, looking around the room. “He is one I fall on when I fall of the stage,” he said, pouting.
Evgenia giggled. “I wish I had seen it! I heard Brian laughing from the wings!”
Yuzuru pouted at Brian. “You are terrible agent,” he said and Brian smirked.
“I know, so horrible. I only landed you the best gig of your career,” he said and Yuzuru smiled more sweetly.
“Thank you again,” he said, throwing his arms around his agent in a hug.
“Pooh Bear!” Yuzuru straightened up and turned around to smile brightly as Johnny approached.
“Johnny! I love the decorations!” he said, gesturing around them.
Johnny slid an arm around his waist. “Come with me. I want to do a little press with my Signature Model at my side,” he said, and Yuzuru nodded, letting him guide him along. “Other than that tumble, you were magnificent, Darling,” he said and Yuzuru groaned.
“I’m still so sorry,” he said bashfully. “I just stumbled.”
Johnny smiled sadly. “I know. It’s just the ankle, huh?” He patted his hip. “You’ll last the season at least. No worries.”
Yuzuru frowned. “I am not retire from runway work just over bad ankle. I just need recover time. Everybody put me in heel and it not good, but I am not unable to do runway walking anymore.”
Johnny hummed. “Well, you are getting a little older, Dear. I love your pretty face, but you know how this industry is. There are younger, more handsome men coming up all the time. I’ll always hire you, but sooner or later some of the other designers will start going for whoever comes along next with your androgynous look. Happened to me,” he reminded him and Yuzuru smiled tightly, trying not to show how hurt he was at the implication he was getting old. Aging was death in the model world.
“Ah, Johnny, these are the reporters from Vogue, E!, Elle-“ Yuzuru’s eyes widened when he saw one of the reporters lingering near the back of the others, talking with a guy beside him.
“Oh my God,” Yuzuru blurted out, knowing he was blushing under his makeup. He then slapped a hand over his mouth at his outburst and tried to hide behind Johnny.
“Pooh Bear, what on earth-“
“Oh hey, you didn’t get hurt did you?” Yuzuru whimpered but came out from hiding, biting his lip as he looked at the handsome stranger whose lap he had fallen onto. He had a good-natured smile on his face as he addressed him.
“No, I am okay,” he said bashfully. “Thank you for catch me,” he mumbled.
“Oooohh,” Johnny said, chuckling. “You landed on someone when you fell?” he asked Yuzuru, who nodded shyly.
Yuzuru giggled some. “Actually it good I do. I might hit floor, but he grab so I do not fall off lap,” he explained. “Thank you,” he added, smiling at the handsome stranger.
Johnny smirked. “Well I might throw myself into those arms, too, if I were him.” He held his hand out. “Thank you for saving Yuzuru for us Mr…”
The man took his hand and smiled a beautiful, friendly grin that made his eyes scrunch up and Yuzuru’s heart pound. “Fernandez. I’m Javier Fernandez, from IMPACT,” he introduced.
“Oooh, Spanish I take it? I love a Spanish man,” Johnny said, flirting outrageously.
Javier smiled again, but looked over at Yuzuru. “Do you mind, what’s your full name? Yuzuru what?”
Yuzuru smiled bashfully. “Hanyu. Yuzuru Hanyu.” He scrunched his nose. “Still weird say my name this way.”
Javier chuckled. “Japan?” he asked, and Yuzuru’s smile widened.
“Yes, how you know?” he asked.
Javier shrugged. “I used to date a woman who lived there. I got used to the accent and names.”
Johnny sighed. “Oh of course. For shame,” he said, tossing his head back dramatically. “Such a handsome man would have to be straight. Tragic,” he said gravely. He looked at Yuzuru. “Well, you should take your hero here to get him a drink at least to thank him, don’t you think?”
Yuzuru smiled and looked at Javier. “You want to? I do must thank you,” he added.
Javier smiled and nodded. “Sure, Yuzuru. Lead the way.”
Yuzuru adored the way Javier said his name in that sexy accent.
~
Javier stood at the bar beside Yuzuru, who to his amusement, ordered an apple juice. “You don’t drink?” he asked.
Yuzuru shook his head. “Allergic. And it make you fat,” he added. “Juice have much sugar, but it okay, it natural sugar.”
Javier smiled. “Must be hard to keep such a slim figure. You barely weighed anything when you flew into my arms,” he teased, enjoying the blush showing through Yuzuru’s makeup.
“I dance,” Yuzuru confessed. "It my favorite hobby. Stay skinny," he added.
Javier hummed. “I’ve been known to know dancing myself.” He nodded to the dancefloor. “Care to dance?”
Yuzuru looked surprised. “Oh? Um, yes, okay,” he said, smiling wider.
Being a classy soiree, there were couples dancing, not a thumping club dance floor, so when they got there, he took Yuzuru’s hand in his and put the other on his waist. Yuzuru blushed but rested his hand on Javier’s upper arm. “Don’t be so shy. You’ve already been on my lap,” he teased, even though he wasn’t sure why. It just felt natural to flirt with the model paying him attention.
Yuzuru giggled. “You are funny. I like,” he added. “Models, life so serious so much. Friends are funny, too, but so little time to see. We fly all over world in other directions.”
Javier hummed. “So most of your friends are models?”
Yuzuru nodded. “Yes. Many models with my agency, we live in same city. Make scheduling easier for our agent. And travel. Not all agents travel with models, many do not at all, just assistants, but he has underage models so he worry a lot.”
Javier grimaced. “I can imagine. I wouldn’t want girls I represent ending up like Kate Moss and forced to model topless at fifteen.”
Yuzuru cringed. “Some do. Gross people make little girl go naked. Boy, too. Friend I have, Jun, he do ‘sexy’ magazine shoots in underwear. Brian try say no, but he need money as young model, so he make Brian let him.”
Javier could imagine. It was horrific how models were often treated. He couldn’t imagine being one. “What about you? Do you enjoy your job?”
Yuzuru perked up. “Yes! I like pretty clothes and being cute and having fun doing photoshoot and runway,” he said brightly and Javier smiled at how enthusiastic he was.
“Well, you were born for it,” Javier said, stroking a thumb along his side where his hand was on his waist. “I’ve never seen anybody with such a tiny waist compared to the rest of their body. Your body is unreal,” he said, and Yuzuru’s eyes widened before he ducked his head with a bashful little grin.
“Jabie- Javiel- Uh,” Yuzuru blushed and stuttered and Javier felt something inside of him grow warm.
“It’s okay, you can call me Javi. It’s a hard name to say sometimes,” he comforted.
“Okay, Javi,” Yuzuru said, and Javier melted at how he still said it like ‘Jabi’. He was seriously too sweet.
“You’re unlike anybody I’ve ever met,” Javier said honestly, because everything about Yuzuru was so unique. He was beautiful but in a very unique way that shouldn’t work but really did. His body was curvy like a woman but his shoulders and arms were definitely masculine. He was clearly a strong person in spite of being so thin. Javier had never really been attracted to a man at all, though he could recognize handsome men, but Yuzuru was so different. He wasn’t handsome, he was pretty.
Yuzuru smiled and ducked his head. “Sweet,” he said fondly.
Javier bit his lip as a wild idea overcame him. “Hey, you want to get out of here?”
Yuzuru looked at him in surprise. “Um, what you mean?”
Javier grimaced, realizing what that probably sounded like. “I’m not trying to take you back to my hotel room,” he said quickly. “Just, maybe we could go walk around the city, find something to eat, get away from all of this-“ He gestured around them. “And talk?”
Yuzuru smiled widely, eyes scrunching nearly shut. “Okay. Yes, we do this,” he said, then giggled. “I know good food place. I am here all week and eat there each day,” he said, then pulled away from the dance hold, took Javier’s hand, and tugged him along. “I show you,” he said, and Javier just followed along, more than willing to go wherever in the world Yuzuru Hanyu wanted to take him.