[boyband au]

[angstennou]

Who: Nephrite and anyone who comes visit him!
What: Nephrite and Ami discussing what to do about Kunzite's blackmailing
When: After Nephrite gets arrested for punching Kunzite in a concert
Where: Juuban district's jail

Nephrite was sitting at his cell, still fuming. Kunzite, that bastard. He doesn't have the right to treat Ami like that. And he dared to say he loved her? Yeah, sure. They say Nephrite is a bad loser because of his temper. At least he doesn't try to hurt someone he likes. Aaaaargh he should have broken all the bastard's teeth, so he wouldn't be able to show up at that meet and greet tomorrow.

Nephrite didn't care anymore if Beryl fired him. He never got paid and he didn't want to share a stage with such an asshole. But he didn't want to ruin Ami's career too. He wished he still had his phone, so he could text Mamoru for help. He started pacing as he tried to think of a way to help Ami while he couldn't get out of the jail.

Comments

[honorsword]

"Blackmailing her?" The empty, innocent question again. "Really, Nephrite, you shouldn't be so quick to believe someone with every reason to fabricate the story."

"After all," he added, "we're her competition."

He wasn't sure whether he expected Nephrite to believe it. It was, of course, plausible; rivalries in their business could become quite heated. But the girl was... well, Kunzite had always wondered whether she could ever truly be cutthroat.

[angstennou]

"She wouldn't do something like that!" Ami would play fair, no matter the competition. And Nephrite didn't like that his group didn't play fair. He might have left it even if he hadn't been fired.

[honorsword]

"So willing to trust her?" Although the question was deliberately casual, it bothered Kunzite a little on some level. Not that he expected Nephrite to be particularly happy with him right now, but he didn't like seeing the boy so quick to believe in someone outside their group - and so quick to protect and defend her - either.

[angstennou]

"Have a problem with that? I'm not a part of the group anymore, I won't accidentally reveal to her any ~secret plan~ you might have." He wouldn't betray his bandmates on purpose, but he was aware that he wasn't the subtlest person around, and for smart people like Ami and Kunzite, it ws pretty easy to read him.

[honorsword]

Kunzite's limps clamped shut in a frown as his jaw tightened. Nephrite was-

A fool. A ridiculous, oblivious, fool.

When he spoke again, his tone was deliberately even, and neutral. "Are you saying you're not planning to try to recover your job?"

[angstennou]

Kunzite, what are you talking about? It almost sounds like you want Nephrite around? There's still Jadeite to pick on if you need someone to tease.

"Oh yeah, of course Ms. Beryl and the media will give another chance to a guy that was in jail. And from what I heard, the concert went on just fine without me, eh?"

[honorsword]

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Sure, Kunzite was supposed to end up getting away with the girl, his plots to neutralize her group, or preferably both; but Nephrite wasn't actually supposed to be in jail. Or out of the shitennou's performances.

Well, it couldn't be helped now. It wasn't his fault anyway. The boy could have left well enough alone. There was no point in worrying himself about it.

Wait. He heard about the concert?

"Ah. Zoisite was here," he guessed. After all, Jadeite certainly didn't have the spine to come behind Ms. Beryl's back.

[angstennou]

When had Nephrite ever left anything alone? You should have taken that in account, Kunzite. But he was just an additional eye candy to the band, easily disposable.

"Yeah. Planning on telling Ms. Beryl?"

[honorsword]

"It's Zoisite's own business," said Kunzite nonchalantly. At least, when it came down to a question of whether to side with one of the other shitennou or with their manager... well, it wasn't really a question at all. He had no intention of going to Beryl. He had no intention of talking to her more than absolutely necessary.

[angstennou]

Well, Nephrite wasn't sure of Kunzite's character anymore. He had always respected and admired the man, and then learned he was playing dirty to get stuff. Part of his anger wasn't related to what he did to Ami, but to feeling betrayed by the older tennou.

"So, had enough fun coming here laugh at me already?"

[honorsword]

Why shouldn't he play dirty, if it was the shortest path to his goals? He saw no problem with it, anyway.

As for Nephrite..

"Well, it's always a pleasure to see you. But you're right; I'll be going now."

And just to remind Nephrite this wasn't the end?

"Until later."

[angstennou]

"Later?" Nephrite groaned as Kunzite left. Now he hoped the other man got really busy with his stupid contracts and forgot about him.