Chapter Text
"Look slightly to the left for me and... perfect."
The room seemed to freeze completely as the recognisable sounds of a camera flash came yet again.
"Now just tilt your head in the same direction..."
Vanilla did what he was told as he continued listening and repeating the photographers movements.
God how he hated this job.
The constant bright lights, the what felt like thousands of pairs of eyes on him, he didn't even know what was going on half the time.
"No no no something just isn't right," the photographer clapped his hands together and a team of people came practically scrambling at Pure Vanilla.
Doing things like: adjusting the collar on his white blazer, smoothing out and creases or wrinkles, checking the embroidered gold hems for any frizz or fraying.
Eventually they all cleared away giving him some space to breathe. He took a deep breathe and got back into position plastering the oh-so practiced smile he wore everyday.
"Yes yes just like that. Well I think we are done here today, great job everyone" the photographer started packing up his things as everyone rushed around again to get ready to go home.
Finally. Over.
He walked back to his dressing room with practised ease - opening the door and finding his assistant already waiting for him.
"Oh my gosh you look like an absolute train wreak! What happened out there?"
Pure Vanilla let a small (real this time) smile slip before answering "It was nothing, I was just in this same suit, in the same pose all day and im sweating like crazy."
His assistant let out a sigh "Oh well just go get changed, your coffee is in there aswell. I got you a new one as the other was smelling like shi-"
"Thank you."
Vanilla was honestly too tired to care about just interrupting her and simply strided past her to slip into the second room where there was a steaming coffee cup waiting for him.
He got changed into sweatpants and a black t-shirt with a black un-zipped coat to go with.
He walked back out coffee in hand and thanked his assistant graciously again before finally leaving the double doors on the front of the modeling agency.
Tiredness washed over him when he was walking past the car park, it was late and he probably didn't look the best. He pulled up his hood and made his way to the bus stop.
He pulled out his phone quickly as he was walking, 23:24 (11:24 pm for the Americans) hopefully custard listened to him and went to bed at a reasonable time for once.
He needed sleep aswell, tomorrow was another day at his travel agency, he was a member of the board, but was hoping to be promoted as the company recently went viral due to his ideas.
As soon as he got underneath the small plastic shelter of the bus stop rain began coming down slowly but surely soaking everything and adding an extra layer of cold to the already freezing night.
He looked at his phone again. 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes and he would be on his way home.
"Hey" a croaky voice ame out from a nearby alleyway and sent shivers down his spine.
Thay was when he saw a shadow come out from said alleyway.
It was a man, round with a shirt that barely fit him, tatterted trousers that looked like they came from a landfill, and a wild hungry gaze in his bloodshot eyes. The stench that wafted from him reminded Pure Vanilla of the time Custard tried to flush a full can of beans down the toilet.
"You're a pretty little thing aren't ya'? Why don't you come with me." His tone didn't shift like it was a question, more a demand.
Pure Vanilla stood up quickly, not engaging and turned away from the man. He would walk home, anything to get away from the man.
But before he could even take a single step, a strong grip tugged him backwards.
It was the man, "I wasn't asking sweetheart" he flashed a smile, putting his yellow plaque-covered teeth to show.
He was too stunned to reply as his tried to tug his arm free, but the man's grip only tightened like steel.
"Now, you are going to come with me, nice and quiet. Or things will have to get messy." He lifted the side bit of his shirt to show a small gun strapped to his side.
Shit.
Thoughts spiraled through his head as he didn't dare tug him arms back again.
What was he supposed to do? Who knows what this man will do or where he will take him.
The bus wouldn't be here for another 7 minutes, plenty of time to get dragged into an alleyway and probably killed.
... "What's going on here?"
The wild look in the man's eyes quickly turned to panic as Pure Vanilla felt a presence walk up behind him and place a calming hand on his shoulder.
It was then the Man started smiling again, he unhooked his pistol from the strap at his waist and pointed it at the newcomer.
Pure Vanilla decided to sneak a glance at the person at the same time.
They had long, blue hair with bright black strands on the underside.
Shadow Milk.
Oh great, now one of the most successful business owners was about to get shot because his dumbass decided to take the bus alone at night.
Shadow Milk let out a weary chuckle before his face went back to neutral before whipping out a gun of his own, pointing it at the man.
"So we're playing this game are we?" A crooked smile graced his face before a shot fired.
Pure Vanilla quickly looked over himself, it was a little hard seeing how half of his arm still being gripped upon.
No pain, no injuries could Shadow Milk have?
He then looked down and saw a crak in the pavement that wasn't there before.
A warnìng shot.
Pure Vanilla didn't know who fired it but it was quickly answered as the man completely let go and ran back into the alley.
"Are you okay?" Shadow Milk turned fully towards him and took in the sight, he probably didn't look his best right now.
"You're Pure Vanilla right? Why don't I walk you home? It's quite dangerous being out in this part of town completely by yourself."