Chapter Text
"I'm still waiting around for that poster, blondie."
"I told you, I threw it away."
Uzui snickered, sauntering into the condo like he owned the place; well, he did, but he would have sauntered in confidently either way. His hands were still in his coat pockets as he entered, looking around and only somewhat admiring the clumsily furnished living room. He had spent all of yesterday happily wasting his time, helping Zenitsu unpack his luggage and try and settle properly into the sleek home.
But if Uzui was being honest, he was rather just enjoying the whines that the blonde let out, the older of the two having mostly watched the blonde struggle with unpacking his things, having lounged from the couch for most of yesterday. Mostly just clothes and a few precious paraphernalia of comics and pictures, but Uzui was still keeping his eye out for the poster of himself. He had expected it to be displayed front and center in the living room, but alas it was still hidden away.
Zenitsu made a face, closing the door that he opened up to Uzui just moments earlier. It was a reasonable time to be awake at least, the sun shining comfortably through the high windows of the condo, the curtains tucked away to let the light and warmth in. However, Zenitsu held little appreciation for the day, now that Uzui was here. He made his disdain known as he scrunched his face up, wagging a finger at the taller man. "And take off your boots! Didn't anyone teach you manners?!" Zenitsu chided, his own barefeet on the ground tapping impatiently. He continued to rave as Uzui merely cocked his head back at him, a raised brow and an amused smile on his handsome face. "Seriously! If you were back home with my gramps, h-he'd tell you right off! He's probably even hit you! He would! Honestly, all the money someone could want and no manners..." He muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and his face pulled into a scowl.
Uzui merely waited for him to continue with his tirade, but after a few more moments of Zenitsu just glaring up at him, he simply retorted by asking, "...You done?"
"...No." Zenitsu huffed through gritted teeth, his cheeks warming in frustration at the complete disregard Uzui had to his scolding. However, despite his answer (Or more likely because of his answer) Uzui grinned brightly and waved his manicured hand dismissively.
"Good! Besides, it's not as if we're going to stay for long; Get dressed, we're heading out." He declared. He watched in amusement as Zenitsu's brows furrowed in confusion, then slowly raising as the date dawned on him. As if to rub salt into the wound, Uzui cheerily raised his two fingers up into a peace sign, wiggling them playfully. "Two days, Zenitsu. Times up, now to get back to reality." He reminded, a not so subtle reminder of their deal. That last occured two days and the day itself, when he promised the blonde.
Zenitsu seemed to shrink in on himself, the bravado of earlier almost instantaneously dissipating as he slumped, his feet fidgeting against each other. He was merely dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants, a pair of hand me downs from his brother that bunched around his ankles. "...Do I have t--"
"Yes." Uzui answered, rolling his eyes. "C'mon crybaby, I've spoiled you enough. I brought you here for business, remember?" Zenitsu winced at the words, but after another pleading look given to Uzui which was promptly smirked back, Zenitsu deflated and sighed sadly.
"Fine...um, what're we going to do today?" He asked, swinging his arms to hang behind his back. It was a simple attempt at stalling for time, one that Uzui saw through quite easily, but...the annoying little endearment that he had to the brat could give Zenitsu this grace, at least.
With a huff, Uzui pulled back the sleeve of his coat and checked his watch. Expensive and glinting in the light, the gold metal read that he had at most an hour and a half to get the little twerp ready. "I'm gonna introduce you to the CEO of our entertainment company," A small, wounded whimper went ignored as Uzui continued, biting back a chuckle at the sound. "Then I'll show you around the studio we're going to be working at, and we'll probably start showing you off."
"Showing...showing me off?"
"Introduce you to everyone, post about teasers online, start with your brand...but you don't have to worry much about that part," Uzui said, letting the sleeve of his coat slip back around his wrist as he dropped his hands back to his sides. "What you'll have to worry about is singing, and with a voice like that, it'll be easy and flashy." He finished, his voice sounding smooth and confident as he laid out the day's plans for Zenitsu.
However, the blonde seemed even more apprehensive, making a face and clutching at the hem of his shirt. Already, he could feel his stomach feel queasy at the sheer description Uzui gave. That was a lot, wasn't it?! "So I...just have to meet the CEO and sing today, right? I d-don't need to do the rest of it?" He had never really been good at social media, most of his individual posts capping off at 13 likes at best; he had earlier tried to research the best posting times, but even with research it did little to really bolster his online standing. Before the entire song debaucle happened, that is. He didn't like having too little attention, didn't like having too much, always flip flopping on what he really wanted.
But right now, he missed back when he had barely a pair of eyes on him. Now, he was faced with bright, magenta eyes that for so long he had adored; now looking at him with a sharp thrill to them that had Zenitsu worried. "That's right. As your new manager," Uzui bragged, a hand placing itself on his own chest and ignoring how Zenitsu's golden eyes widened in shock. "I'll handle hiring your marketing team--"
"Manager?! You?"
"Well, obviously." Uzui blinked, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I've been working for the company for practically a decade, I know how to make people famous, I've already been babysitting you ever since you arrived--"
"Hey!"
He continued, ignoring Zenitsu's indignant outcry. He'd argue about that later, once the two were done with today. Or earlier; would probably depend on how much he wanted to tease Zenitsu later. "And, most important of all, I promised." His sound, still confident, now held something else--not his voice, but his innate sound, a twinge of something more sincere. Caring, and Zenitsu could feel his incredulity fade as Uzui continued to reassure him. "I promised your father I'd take care of you, didn't I?" He finished. Then with the hand that had previously been resting on his chest, he then pointed to Zenitsu. In all of the blonde's hand-me-down glory, still looking just as flashy as he sounded. A strong melody, wavering only from a fear that Uzui could only hope to one day unwind. "So, trust me just a little bit."
Zenitsu stared back at Uzui, chewing the inside of his cheek as he considered what he was hearing. Not the words, but the melody that resonated from Uzui's chest; a genuine promise that he was going to be ok.
After another beat of silence, Zenitsu let out a breath and shook his head, as if to clear his mind from the deceptively sweet and caring sound that he almost fooled himself into thinking he heard. "I don't...have much of a choice now, do I?"
A toothy grin, and the rumble of excited fireworks bloomed in Uzui's chest. "That's more like it! Now," Having been the owner of the condo himself for a time, Uzui was well aware of where everything was, which included the bathroom. Pointing to it, he posed Zenitsu a question. "Are you going to head into the shower, or do you need help with that too?"
Biting back a strangled, embarassed shriek of 'Annoying!', Zenitsu merely held what little dignity he had left by turning beet red and practically sprinting to the bathroom to wash up, hearing Uzui's teasing cackle behind him.