Rory couldn't stop his gaze from its continuous track back to Rin's profile as they drove toward town. He idly picked at the cuticles of his thumbs as a million questions battled in his mind. He jerked with surprise as Rin's hand slid into his and forced his index finger away from his thumb. Rory's wide eyes stared at their hands as Rin laced his fingers through Rory's before bringing Rory's thumb to his lips and pressing a kiss there.
"That's a horrible habit you have, little prince." His gaze moved back out the window as his smile faded. "What has you so troubled?"
Rory frowned. "Your dad..."
"Is a pompous ass? Yes, no news there."
Rory's troubled gaze moved from Rin's profile to their still entwined hands. "I was going to say, seems to care... at least a little... in his own way..."
Rin snorted an indignant laugh. "Why? Because he stopped Beth from running her mouth?" His lips twisted into a snarl. "Trust me, his motives in that were for his own regard, not mine."
Rory furrowed his brows. "I don't understand..."
"Don't worry about it. I assure you, in time, everything will make sense."
Rory frowned as he tried to tug his hand free. "Or you can stop saying that and just tell me now."
Rin tightened his grip. "No... not yet..."
"Why not? Wouldn't it make it easier? I'm tired of being left in the dark all the time."
Rin shrugged. "One, you still don't trust me... why should I trust you with my secrets?"
Rory frowned. "I never said that..." His eyes moved back to their hands. "I... just didn't think the plan of you hitting on me in front of your dad was a good one." His cheeks heated. "I... I've become too used to it... like it too much now..." The last part was barely a whisper.
Rin jerked the car onto the side of the empty road and snapped around in his seat to face Rory. "What did you just say?" When Rory wouldn't meet his gaze, he clamped his hand around Rory's jaws and carefully forced his face up to meet his. Rin's eyes burned into Rory. "You drive me crazy, you know that?" He leaned over the console as he tugged Rory closer and crashed his lips roughly against Rory's.
Rory whimpered against the probing tip of Rin's tongue. When he tried to refuse, Rin pressed his thumb down almost painfully against Rory's chin, causing his mouth to open slightly. That was all Rin needed to invade. Rory pressed his palms against Rin's upper chest, feeling the outer ridge of his sharp collar bones and hard chest against his palms. When Rin finally leaned back in the driver's seat, they were both panting. Rory wiped at his swollen lips, his eyes searching Rin. "Were... were you serious the other night?"
Rin arched a brow. "About what? Though if I said it, then yes."
Rory frowned. "About meeting my mom and stepdad... helping me get back into their good graces."
Rin nodded. "I was."
Rory fidgeted with his hands, his focus on them. "If... If I trust you to help me with this, will you trust me with your secret?"
Rin chuckled as he placed a hand over Rory's. "Yeah, sure. Who knows by the end you might figure it out on your own."
Rory scrunched his brows. "Then why not just tell me?"
Rin blew out a sigh as he leaned back in his seat and stared up at the ceiling of the car. "To begin with? It was better you didn't know. Now... I want you to like me first... for me, the real me." He finally tilted his head to face Rory, an awkward but charming smile spreading across his handsome face. "I... guess I'm kinda scared..."
Rory's brows furrowed. "How can I like you for you if you're unwilling to show me who that is and are hiding what seems like a large part of that?"
Rin clutched the steering wheel and tapped it with his thumbs. "Maybe it's not as big of a part as you think... maybe it's an inconsequential part to the right people..."
"How can I know if it is or not if you don't tell me?"
Rin blew out a sigh. "I will in time... until then, focus on getting to know the sides I am showing you... and decide if it's something you could ever like and want in your life."
Rory bit his lip. "That... sounds like more than just..."
Rin nodded as he leaned forward and shifted the car back into gear. "Think about that too then..." Rin kept his focus on the road as he changed the conversation. "If you'd like to get a jump on things, go ahead and start searching the usual sites for some wigs and a few female outfits. I'd say nothing too girly. Regardless of what miracles Dillon can achieve with makeup, with my height and build, I'll never pass as your average girly girl. Maybe a sportier look..."
Rory pulled out the tablet and began pulling up tabs. "Thank you in advance for doing this for me... even if it doesn't work out..."
Rin glanced over and patted his knee. "It'll work out. Don't disparage just yet. I promise you..." An amused grin spread across Rin's lips before he cryptically added. "I can pass well enough."
Rory studied Rin's profile for several minutes, his eyes moving over Rin's smooth jawline.
Rin chuckled. "What?"
Rory shook his head. "It's nothing... I was just trying to think of what would look the best..."
***
Several open boxes lay out on the coffee table as Dillon and Rin stood over them, both with hands planted on their hips, staring inside the boxes.
Rory couldn't mask his amusement as he giggled from the armchair across from them.
Dillon arched a pierced brow in Rory's direction. "What's so funny?"
"The two of you! Do you realize how alike the two of you are? You both have very similar postures, heights, builds... put a bag over your heads and you'd almost be twins!"
Rin and Dillon studied each other for a second before they both burst out laughing. Dillon ran his hands through his long hair while Rin flopped down on the sofa. "What can we say, we've been together for a long ass time," Rin remarked. His gaze moved back to the boxes. "I'm not going to lie. I feel like my confidence was a bit misplaced when I agreed to this."
Dillon pulled out a 'two extra cup sizes' bra and held it out by the back strap like it was going to bite him. "Yeah..." His gaze moved to Rory. "I really have to question some of your choices, man."
Rory frowned. "In the research I did of drag queens, these were some of the most common items used."
Dillon's amused smirk turned back to Rin. "Well, you're going to have a damn nice rack at least. Mind if I titty fuck you at some point while you wear this?"
Rin kicked the back of Dillon's leg. "You first, asshole."
Dillon's focus moved to the stack of wigs they'd set out beside the boxes. "Well, at least then I wouldn't have to wear one of these..."
Rin uncrossed his arms as a mischievous grin curved his lips. "I have an idea!" Rin jumped up and began rummaging through the boxes. He tossed some of the smaller, stretchier items toward Rory. He lifted two of the wigs, holding them out toward Rory a few times before finally tossing one at him. Then he tossed Dillon a few articles of clothes. "We take pictures, post them on the Patreon, and let them vote. Whoever looks the best gets to pick my outfit for our date with your parents."
Rory frowned. "Are you going to tell them why they are voting?"
Rin rubbed his chin. "Hum... I mean, they would probably go crazy for the information..." His gaze shifted to Rory. "It's up to you. We can just tell them it's a secret for now."
Rory thought it over. "Yeah... I don't think I'm ready to go too public with things yet. I'm sorry."
Rin shrugged. "No problem. Have you ever done makeup?" Rory shook his head, and Rin shrugged again. "No worries. Dillon or I will do it for you. Just go change."
Dillon watched Rin in the mirror as he put the final touches on the makeup. "This is a new development. So, what prompted it, may I ask? Something happened with your dad the other day?"
Rin huffed out a laugh as he fumbled with the latches of the top he was trying to put on. "Something like that..." Rin met Dillon's gaze in the mirror. "Regardless, we shouldn't all have shit relationships with our parents, should we?"
Dillon shrugged. "Fair enough I guess." His penetrating gaze burned into Rin. "So... does this mean he knows?"
Rin blurted out a surprised laugh. "Do you think he would have bought all those fucking pushup bras if he did?"
Dillon's eyes moved down to Rin's chest. "Well, not going to lie. Your tits look banging in them. I've got a semi right now."
Rin rolled his eyes, and a smirk spread across his lips. "I'm glad you're getting something out of this."
Dillon lifted and walked over to Rin. He gripped Rin's now cinched waist and whispered against Rin's lips. "Trust, I'm getting plenty from this. I'm so fucking hard right now. It's everything in me not to shove all these cosmetics into the floor and bend you over the dressing table right now."
Rin smirked as he pressed his palm against the bulge tenting the sundress Dillon now wore. "Don't threaten me with a good time." A light knock sounded, before the door started to turn, drawing their attention away from each other. They watched as a foot, then a leg, slipped into the crack of the door. Rin arched a brow as he released his hold on Dillon and walked over to the door. "You good, buttercup?" He tugged the door open, and his mouth dropped. "Oh shit..." Rin glanced over his shoulder at Dillon before turning his attention back down to Rory. He stepped farther into the doorway to block Rory from Dillon's sight. "I don't know if I want to share you with anyone else just yet..."
Dillon's eyes raked over the leather and lace corset top and sexy strappy slacks Rin was sporting. "I'm sure it can't be more arousing than what you have on."
Rin's eyes roamed over Rory's delicate features, made softer by the pastel pink he was now wearing. Rin reached out and cupped his bright red cheeks and pulled him closer. "Fuck Rory... You look more like a girl than me..." Rin quickly cleared his throat. "And I'm the one who's supposed to be cosplaying one."
Dillon leaned against the wall beside them and blew out a whistle. "You know... I thought with my hair and shit, I'd win... but looks like Rory will..." He nodded into the room. "Come on, let's get some makeup on you. Nothing too heavy. Then we'll take the pictures."
Dillon was setting up the camera while Rin taught Rory a few poses when an indignant huff sounded from the door.
"What the fuck is going on in here? Are we not working today? I canceled plans, you know!" Sabastian bit out, his accent more prevalent when he was mad.
Dillon shrugged. "We didn't ask you to cancel your plans. We literally asked 'if you were free' if you wanted to run some lines and try out some pre-shots for the new story."
Sabastian growled as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And here I am! So, why are you three like this? Has the new story changed so much since this buffoon started helping with it?"
Rory began to explain, but Rin stuck a finger in front of his lips. Rin sent Rory a wink as he answered instead. "Wouldn't you like to know. Maybe had you gotten here on time, you could have participated."
Sabastian frowned as he glanced down at his fitness watch. He was now four hours late. "I... something came up..."
Rin shrugged. "I'm sure it did. It's fine, though. As you can tell, you were easy enough to replace. You and Rory are nearly the exact same size." Rin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a devilish smirk curving his lips as he added. "Though Rory is a bit skinnier..."
Rory's eyes widened as that last sentence sent Sabastian into a fit of rage. A string of French echoed through the otherwise quiet room, and he knew most of it was profanity and insults directed at him.
Rin shrugged. "Regardless, we'll be finished in a few minutes." He shooed him away. "I'm sure you can find something to do in the meantime. Look over the notes for the scenes we'll be running. You can do that, right?"
Rory struggled to concentrate on the camera in front of him as Sabastian padded his foot incessantly against the hardwood while staring daggers into him.
Rin finally stood and clapped his hands together as he turned his attention to Sabastian. "That's a wrap with this. Did you do anything other than sulk in the corner?" When Sabastian only glared back at him, Rin shrugged. "Alright, fine. Let's go ahead and get started while Dillon uploads these."
Sabastian arched a brow. "You can't seriously expect me to run lines with you dressed like that... right?"
Rin's brow lifted as he glanced down at his outfit. "It's a shape-shifting fox god... Who knows, at some point, there may be some gender bending. Will you be uncomfortable working with me then as well?"
Sabastian had the good graces to look ashamed as he lowered his gaze. "It's not THAT... You know it doesn't bother me..." His eyes moved back up at Rin before trailing over the bodice of the corset. "It's just..."
Rin rolled his eyes as he held up a hand. "Enough. I get it, truly." Rin ripped off the wig and tossed it onto the props table, and stomped off toward the hall. "Let's waste some more fucking time, why don't we?" Rin was back in a few minutes, a loose, white button-up over the same strappy pants. It gave the outfit a sexy, androgynous vibe. The eyeliner and mascara were still obvious, but everything else seemed to be removed. Rin turned an impatient glare to Sabastian. "Good enough?"
Sabastian bit his lower lip as he nodded.
"Good, now can we fucking start?" Rin tossed Dillon a pair of sweats and a tee.
Dillon caught them without looking up from the computer. "Thanks... The voting is set up, and some have already begun coming in. You were right. Rory is leading, followed by you, of course." Dillon stood and slid the sweats on under the dress before tugging it off over his head. He didn't bother putting the shirt on as he sat back down and continued tapping away on the computer. "They want to know if the winner will be doing a gender blend shoot. What should I say?"
Rin rubbed his chin as he moved around some of the props. "Not a bad idea. I hadn't thought of it before, but a lot of cosplayers do that sort of thing." His attention moved to Rory. "If you want, you can go change, too. We'll be working on the 'first spark' scenes today."
Rory nodded, his gaze moving around the room. Sabastian was still glaring at him, but as much work as Dillon and Rin always put into things, he wasn't going to slack off just to appease the rude Frenchman. When Rory stepped out of his room several minutes later, he could hear Rin yelling from halfway down the hall. Rory hesitated anxiously, his pace slowing the closer he got to the studio.
"No, no, no! This is all wrong! Didn't you read it?!" Rin bit out. "Try again. Put more emotion in it! You just caught feelings for fuck sake! Let me see that!"
"I don't know what the fuck you want! I've done this same thing a hundred times!" Sabastian yelled back.
Rory watched the two shove each other and bicker in the middle of the room as he walked quietly over to where Dillon stood behind the camera. "What's going on?"
Dillon bent the computer screen down so Rory could see and pressed the rewind button. "Sabastian isn't reflecting the emotions Rin wants in his expression or body positions. He has something very specific in mind." Dillon sent Rory a knowing look.
Rory blushed deeply but wasn't able to respond to Dillon as Rin called out. "Rory, you're back. Come here." Rin bent and retrieved the tablet from the bed. He handed it to Rory. "It's this scene. Run it with me so Sabastian can see what I'm talking about."
Rory read over the page pulled up. It was a combination of the river walk and the elevator, all mixed into one. Rin had done too good of a job assuming Rory's emotions when he described Mao's during that time. Rory's blush deepened further as he nodded and stepped in front of Rin. "Where... where do you want to pick up from?"
A charming smile spread across Rin's lips as he closed the distance between him and Rory. He wrapped one arm around Rory's waist and cupped Rory's face with his other hand. "You'll not find any frogs to kiss here, my dear little prince, only sly wolves looking to devour."
Rory swallowed hard, his tiny pink tongue darted out to moisten his lips. He pressed one hand against Rin's lower abs, both tangling his fingers into the fabric and pushing against the hard body below. His other hand slid along the arm stretched beside his head as he nestled his cheek against the palm cupping it. He wouldn't have been able to pull his eyes away from Rin's seductive gaze if his life depended on it. "And here I thought foxes were wise... yet you can't even tell your canines apart..."
"Wrap. Perfect." Dillon called out as he stood. He turned the computer around and replayed the scene as the others surrounded the table.
Rory could feel his cheeks burn as he watched his reaction to Rin play out in real time. He stiffened when hands snaked around his waist, and Rin rested his head on his shoulder. "Not bad, right?"
"Fine! If he is so much better, then why not run it all with him!" Sabastian yelled from beside them as he slammed his foot onto the floor angrily.
Rin shrugged. "That would be fine with me. I know Rory will be here day and night anytime I need him. He's a shit drinker, hates partying, and did I mention I always know exactly where he is?"
Sabastian narrowed his eyes as they moved hesitantly between Rin and Rory. "Then... why?"
Rin shrugged as he pulled Rory into a tighter hug. "Because my little prince here is shy and doesn't feel comfortable with gay PDA yet." Rin's eyes burned into Sabastian's as his voice became harsher and more serious. "Otherwise, for this project especially, I would."