Rory gulped past the hard lump in his throat as he watched Rin storm angrily from the room. He jumped with a start as the door slammed, causing the paintings on the walls to rattle. It was a good thing he was so used to Mike's violent outbursts, or there would be no way he could ever remain this calm around Rin's many mood swings. He shook his head, his eyes moving from the door to the tablet. He scrolled through the tabs and was impressed with the organization. The first few pages were the outline of the story. Unlike the current release, this one would be more modern. A smile curved his lips as he continued to read. The main male lead of this story was a mischievous fox god. He could see Rin playing that character perfectly.

Again, he found himself lost in the world building Rin seemed to excel at and even fell in love with the characters... but again found that they seemed to fall short.

He was rubbing his tired eyes when a light knock sounded on his door.

Dillon pushed it open. "As late as it's gotten, I figured you weren't coming out for dinner, so I brought it to you instead." He walked the tray over and set it on the desk across from the bed before making his way over to Rory. He sat on the edge. "Rin really isn't all bad... Rin just gets defensive of his work..." His eyes moved over to the tablet now resting in Rory's lap. "Rin said you're working on the new story. What do you think of it?"

Rory sent Dillon a timid smile. "I like it... better than the current one. It's more playful, at least. Though it seems to have the same problems..." His brows furrowed. "Can I ask... has Rin ever been in a relationship?" His eyes shot up to Dillon. "I mean no offense... outside of whatever it is you guys have..."

Dillon held up a hand to wave away Rory's discomfort. "No... It's ok... You're not wrong. He's not, actually. We've been together since Rin was fairly young... and then it built into... this... Would I call any part of what we have a real relationship... no. And as long as I've known Rin, it's always been the same."

Rory nodded. "I think that's the problem with his writing. He only writes what he knows, and he only knows how to..."

"Fuck?" Dillon supplied. "Again, you're not wrong." Dillon's eyes trailed over him. "Do you think you're the person to change that?"

Rory's eyes bugged. Too shocked to speak, he could only watch as Dillon nodded and stood. "Yeah, think about that going forward."

"Wait! What do you mean?! I told you, I'm not here to try..." Rory's words fell away as Dillon's turbulent expression met his.

"I told you, didn't I? Make yourself valuable. Something that can't easily be replaced. Something that adds value to Rin and Rodric Perish..." He shrugged, the dark storm clouds revolving around in his eyes, turning their usual bright emerald green to a deeper Kelly instead.

Rory frowned but didn't reply. He tugged the tablet against his chest, gripping it tightly as if his very life depended on it. He could feel tears burning his eyes as he watched Dillon battle with himself a minute longer before finally dropping his head. "Well... You'll do what you want regardless... Good night, then..." With that, Dillon turned and left the room almost as quietly as he'd entered.

***

Rory found himself so absorbed in the world Rin had created with the new story that even his nightmares had been replaced by images of Inari, the shape-shifting fox god, and Mao, the nerdy college student. They were the most unlikely pair, but you couldn't help but like them both. Inari had a playful, flirty personality, while Mao was the complete opposite. Mao was a quiet, bookish shut-in with very few friends and a dreary personality. Rory blew out a sigh as he ran his hand through his messy blonde hair. The story was almost perfect... except for one key element... Romance...

Inari basically forced himself onto Mao, and Mao eventually submits. Rory blew out a frustrated huff of air. "Where does that sound familiar?!" He rolled his eyes as he leaned back in the desk chair. Movement by the door caught his attention.

Rin unfurled his crossed arms and pushed away from the doorframe he'd been leaning against. As much as Rin would refuse to admit it, Rory had caught his interest. It wasn't often an assistant would continue turning down the advances or offers he made, but Rory had. Even more interesting, Rory still worked hard regardless of what nonsense request Rin made, and there had been several. Rin had spent the better part of the last week making Rory redo meaningless tasks or repeat pointless steps, loading Rory down with any type of frivolous work he could think of just to push his buttons. Rin forced a scowl onto his face as he closed the distance between him and the desk. "What looks familiar? Please, do tell. I'd hate for my work to mimic someone else's."

Rory shook his head. "It's not that it mimics anyone else's work. It's that the character Inari reminds me so much of you."

Rin shrugged. "I tend to cosplay my characters, so it's only natural to give them some of my own traits." Rin's eyes moved down to the notepad on the desk. "What's that?"

Rory followed Rin's gaze. "Oh... I was having problems leaving my notes on the tablet as I read, so I wrote them down. I'll go back in at the end of the chapter and add them."

Rin lifted a brow. "All that from one chapter?"

Rory shook his head. "No, I got so into reading I didn't stop on the last few chapters, so it's more like three or four chapters at this point."

Rin frowned. "Still, that's quite a lot, isn't it?" Rin's eyes reflected a combination of skepticism and irritation. "Do you really dislike it so much? Then why continue to read it day in and day out? We can find plenty of other work for you."

Rory shook his head. "No, I-" Before he could answer, the phone rang. Rory frowned as he read the name on the display. His gaze lifted hesitantly to Rin, praying Rin didn't see who it was, but sure enough, Rin's cold eyes stared down at the phone as well.

"Well? Aren't you going to answer?"

Rory cleared his throat. "Y-yes. Please, excuse me."

Rin nodded toward the phone. "Go right ahead."

Rory swallowed hard. "Hell-hello, Sir."

"Rory, how are you settling in? Fine, I assume since I've not heard anything from anyone at the house or you." Rodric wasted no time. "Speaking of, how is everything? Has Rin been keeping up with the schedule?" He droned on about upcoming events and releases, not giving Rory time to answer.

Rin rolled his eyes from the other side of the table as he took the notebook and pen and flipped it to a clean page. Rin scribbled something across the top and turned it to Rory.

Rory read it, then nodded. He waited until Rodric was silent before reading from the page. "Everything is prepared for the current release of 'Seduction in a Time of Cherry Blossoms'. It will coincide with the event next weekend. We are wrapping up with the planning of it now. All of the photos and videos are finished. Dillon is currently doing the editing, and uploads will be complete this week." Rory lifted his gaze to Rin as Rin took the notebook back and began writing again.

"Fantastic. Is that all?"

Rory read the notebook as it was being slid back to him. He frowned as he read it out loud. "There may be some delays with the new story. I... found some issue with the plot and..." He cleared his throat, not wanting to read what Rin had written. "Lack of romance... but." He quickly pressed on, holding Rin's glare from across the desk. "We are working together, quickly to fix the issues and should... um... have it ready soon, Sir."

Rory could hear the frown in Rodric's voice as he replied. "Tell Rin, I don't like delays. Fix whatever problem there is quickly."

Rory's frown deepened as Rin gave him a 'told you so' shrug. "Yes, Sir, and trust me, Sir. The story will be better after the changes."

"It better be, Rory. Remember, keeping a professional relationship with Rin is just the bare minimum to keep your job. I expect actual work as well, Rory."

"Yes, Sir. I understand. I am doing my very best."

"Very well. Until next time." With that, Rodric hung up.

Rin shook his head. "My father, the asshole. Better start taking fewer notes or find a faster way of doing them if you want to keep your job. You think I'm your biggest problem, ha... If my dad thinks he's going to lose a dime, then it'll be hell for all of us."

Rory sent him a skeptical glare. "I thought that was your goal, get me fired?"

Rin shrugged. "I could give a shit either way. My number one is myself and the team I've spent years trying to build behind that asshole's back." Rin's face relaxed somewhat. "Besides, you did well enough just now."

Rory furrowed his brows. "All I did was read from a piece of paper."

Rin pushed up from the chair. "That's all I need you to do. Keep it up, and we'll be cool." Rin's eyes moved down to the notebook. "Don't waste time copying that shit over to the tablet. I don't mind reading from a notebook, but there has to be a better way. We'll workshop it when Dillon gets back."

Rory nodded, at a loss for words. Rin was in no way in a good mood, but he wasn't mad at Rory for once. In fact, it seemed Rin was starting to warm up to him... Or was that just wishful thinking?

Rin glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, and before I forget... Stop by my room later. I notice most of your close are shit... No offence... I went through some of the closets and gathered what I thought would fit you."