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An Artist's Methods...

Summary:

You, one of the leading member's of Mr. House's creative team, have found a lull in work and commissions...so feeling bored with nothing else better to do; inspiration strikes when you stared at House's handsome body double a few moments too long. You wished you could get a better look at your references though...perhaps you would..?

Notes:

(I love drawing people I adore, and I've drawn both these men before- I LOVE ROBERT HOUSE- and I thought it'd be cute to write a little thing for it. I hope y'all enjoy! Includes both Robert House, and Bobby Apartment(Decoy House). Not proofread.)

Work Text:

You worked as part of the creative team for RobCo Industries. You were responsible for the art displayed on the securitrons' faces, the font for the ads, the lighting around the casino, and even making Robert's blueprint sketches neater...for as smart as he was, he sometimes couldn't understand his own handwriting or sketches. You were essentially a jack of all trades, using all different types of mediums to produce art. And with Robert paying you as much as he did, as well as the occasional commissions, you had plenty of time between projects to revise and make things as perfect as you liked.

You didn't currently have any projects at the moment though! You had finished a commission the other week and completed the concept art Robert asked of you. He was probably currently deciding which designs he liked best...but you were growing bored not having much to do. Restless even! It was later in the evening, Bobby had just gotten back from a meeting, and Robert was taking a phone call in the kitchen. It was a calm night, quiet too...save for the record player emitting soft sounds of blues and jazz. You had somehow gotten your hands on a memo pad and a pen, and were now sketching Bobby as he sat on the couch across from you.

The first few buttons of his shirt were undone, his tie hung loosely around his neck, and his sleeves were half-assedly rolled up. His head was tilted back, staring up at the designs engraved into the ceiling as he quietly puffed on a cigarette, and his arms rested atop the back of the couch on either side of himself...occasionally moving to take his cigarette from between his lips and tap off ashes. It started as a simple sketch, just basic shapes and just enough defining features you could tell it was Bobby. You zoned out though, getting in the zone, but you finally came back to reality when Robert set a glass down on the side table next to you.

You glanced up at him and smiled gratefully, then took a sip. As you took a sip of your drink, your gaze wandered down to the yellow lined pages in your lap...and you proceeded to nearly choke on your drink. Oh, fuck, you added way more detail than you meant to...and now you feel like a perv. You had accidentally paid too much attention to the contours of his neck and collarbones, the way his pants hugged his legs, his Adam's apple, the smoke curling around him and up into the air...your face flushed as you shut the memo pad with a cough. You're sure Bobby wouldn't mind the extra care you put into your drawing, you've sketched him before, but you still felt flustered...for some reason. It was always over the oddest shit too.

You took another large sip of your drink to hide your face before setting the glass back down on the side table. It made a little tink sound against the ceramic coaster. You huffed as you sunk deeper into the corner of the couch, slumping against the arm rest and cushions as though they could swallow you and hide you from your own embarrassment. Both the men looked in your direction, wondering what got you so worked up suddenly. "You alright over there?" Bobby asked, exhaling smoke as he spoke. You simply nodded in response, meeting his tired gaze for just a moment before immediately looking away. He hummed lowly, too drained to muster much else of a response. He'd probably get his second wind after dinner, but for now? He was still drowsy, and sexy...

He let his head tilt back against the cushions once more, a short plume of smoke escaping him as he sighed deeply. Robert though was still quite energized. He didn't have to do much today, so he wasn't nearly as drained as his double. And since he was far more awake and aware than his somewhat look-a-like, he connected the dots with ease. He noticed you were drawing someone, a man, when he delivered your drink. You also kept stealing glimpses at Bobby before promptly turning your gaze back down to your memo pad. Two and two equalling four; you had probably drawn his double. He wondered why you seemed bashful of the fact, however. Usually you were excited to show either him or his double your work, and you'd practically preen at the praise you'd always undoubtedly receive.

What was different about this drawing? Hm...it couldn't be because you disliked it. You'd always tear up and crumple the drawings you hated before either burning them or throwing them out. Admittedly though, Robert would occasionally collect your wrinkled sketches you hadn't burned and smooth them out to the best of his abilities before either hiding them in his desk or hanging them in his workshop so you'd never be aware he kept them. You were always so self critical, but he honestly adored your art, which is surprising. He didn't normally care so much for such small things, but he supposed there was a reason he had originally wanted you on his company's creative team, hm?

Robert walked over to you and sat down beside you on the couch, gently rubbing your arm. He carefully coaxed you out of the corner, and you were soon leaning into him, which he allowed. He wasn't typically one for physical affection, normally it was Bobby more open to such a thing, but your boss would indulge every now and then...especially if it was you. Professional? Heavens no, but nothing about this situation was professional. You literally lived with these two handsome men, so weren't exactly just some normal employee. Now you were by no means complaining, it was nice to come home to people you could stand.

Soon enough, dinner was completed being prepared by Victor and some other random securitron. You three begrudgingly relocated to the dining room to eat together. You'd all been so cozy in the living room...but y'all could always cozy up again once dinner was consumed. And the three of you did. You were now sitting between the two men, one of your favorite places to be in the whole world. You fell asleep quickly, practically sandwiched between two personal heaters...you felt so safe. Your earlier embarrassment? Totally forgotten...for now. Bobby was next to follow suit, dozing off. His light slumber was disturbed by his boss tapping him. "Mhh...what?" He grumbled, his already deep voice deeper thanks to exhaustion.

Robert wordlessly handed Bobby the memo pad, flipped open to the drawing you had done of the man. He had already assessed, and approved, but was curious as to what his double would think. The other man let out a tired sigh and sat up, accepting the thing without a second thought. He figured his boss had simply wrote something down and wanted him to take a look, calculations or business ideas. Sometimes they'd pass notes back and forth, especially when you were asleep and they didn't want to disturb your rest. That's what the yellow lined pages were normally used for...he didn't expect to see a drawing of himself, obviously done by you. He could recognize your style any where.

Bobby had paused for a moment, taking in the sheer detail, and genuinely wondering how you did all that with just a pen. At his silence, Robert chuckled. He was quite surprised himself when he finally saw what you had been working on. You normally just did quick sketches of either of them, never something so... would risque be the right word? "Interesting, isn't it?" Robert asked, subtly teasing the man. "Quite..." Bobby agreed finally looking up from the drawing. It was a little humorous to see the normally stoic fella almost flustered by something as simple as a drawing of him.

The next morning, you woke up in your own bed. Bobby or Robert must've carried you here and tucked you in. You smiled softly as the thought, not quite awake yet. You heard a soft clink against a coaster on your bedside table and glanced up to see Bobby leaving you a mug of coffee in your bedside table. "Good morning." He greeted, realizing you were awake. He assumed you were asleep still. "I've got an early meeting this morning, and I won't be back for a while. Make sure House doesn't get in too much trouble for me, hm?" You nodded drowsily, still smiling as you reached out for the mug to take a sip. You knew Robert didn't truly need you to look after him, but it made you feel a little better to have something to do for the day between projects.

Bobby smiled, gently patting your head before leaving your room and heading out. You finally got up after enjoying your coffee in bed, showered, and got dressed for the day. You followed your boss around all day, helping him out with small tasks he just gave you as busy work. He sent you to Bobby's room to retrieve a folder. You found it, but beneath it you also found your drawing from last night. He...when did he find that?! And why did he keep it? Well, you figured that meant he didn't hate it...but you still felt embarrassed.

When you returned to Robert, he noticed the look on your face..and then the quick glance you gave to something pinned on the corkboard in his workshop. "Robert..." You never used his first name. He knew he'd been caught. And the suspicion must've started when you found your drawing Bobby snatched. And that's how he got roped into being anatomy practice since he enjoyed being drawn by you so damn much- your words, not his. So cruel...except it wasn't in the slightest. He was quite enjoying the attention and how you gently held his face in your hands, using your fingers to help with translating things onto paper proportionately. It was also just easier to draw something if you could touch it...you can fill in the blanks.

Bobby, at some point, came back- late once again. He found you complaining at Robert about not being able to draw his shoulders and neck properly with his shirt in the way, so he took it off, leaving himself in his undershirt and slacks. You both turned your attention to the double, who had choked on his spit at the sight. He probably just learned something about himself. You rolled your eyes at him and forced him to come over as well, complaining that you could never get his torso quite right. He was practically overheating as you ran your hands over his now bare chest and shoulders, and you were somehow freakishly calm. He thought he might pass way as you noted every little birthmark and freckle he had, gently touching them.

Robert chuckled at the way Bobby squirmed, so unused to genuine interest, not just meaningless flirting from the women he normally interacted with. You promptly glared at the man and furrowed your eyebrows. "Don't you dare laugh, I'm nowhere near done with you." You scolded. Your boss was taken back...he might've never seen you so serious. And he found you were, true to your word, indeed nowhere near finished with him. It was a long night, but you now finally had some decent references and sketches of the two men...not that you didn't already have some great drawings of them, but it'd be easier now with reference sheets.

When you finally dismissed the two of them, Bobby pulled his shirt back on and disappeared for a cigarette. He could still feel the ghost of your touches all over his torso, but he didn't mind much. He did mind that he liked them a little too much...good lord, he was in trouble. And Robert simply stuck around and teased you for your artist nonsense, laying on the couch and watching that familiar spark in your eyes flicker. You seemed very pleased with yourself, happy to finally have what you needed. You now had so much power at your finger tips.

Robert laughed adoringly, watching that grin on your face grow. "You're going to be an absolute menace, aren't you, my dear?"

Your shit eating grin was enough of an answer on its own...