The moment Wise agreed to be your personal photographer for the day, he knew he was in trouble. Not because the job was difficult, far from it. Taking photos was something he enjoyed, and he was good at it. He could navigate aperture settings and shutter speeds like second nature, knowing exactly how to make a moment last.

No, the real problem was you.

You, who were a literal celebrity. You, whose face was known across New Eridu, whose presence could stop conversations mid-sentence and turn heads without effort. You, who had requested him specifically. You, who, at this very moment, were walking just a few steps ahead of him, the sunlight catching in your hair as you turned to glance back at him with that easy, dazzling smile.

Ah. He was staring again.

Wise quickly masked it, lifting the camera to his eye as if that had been his intention all along "Look here for a sec," he murmured, voice steady despite the way his heartbeat had skipped a step. The camera clicked, capturing the perfect moment. The moment that, for a split second, felt like it was his alone.

The day continued like that—going from place to place, you pulling him along, Wise trailing just a step behind, documenting every moment. A walk through the park, where the leaves whispered overhead and the sunlight dappled the pavement beneath your feet. Then, a detour to a retro arcade, where your competitive streak came out in full force (he let you win, but he'd never admit it).

The next stop was a quiet café tucked away in the city, a place he had recommended without thinking too hard about it. It wasn't flashy or extravagant, not the kind of place one would expect a celebrity to frequent, but you seemed to like it.

For a while, there was no talking, just the low hum of conversation from other patrons, the rhythmic tapping of Wise's fingers against his camera as he absentmindedly scrolled through today's shots. Most of them were of you, of course.

It was easy to see why the world adored you. People's eyes followed your every movement, even when you didn't realize it. You were a star, an icon. The kind of person who drew all attention to themselves without even trying. The light around you was bright, almost overwhelming, and it seemed to shine from within. It made people stop and look, just to catch a glimpse of the magic that was you.

In the chaos of flashing lights and expectant gazes, you belonged to everyone.

But when it was just the two of you, when the world blurred at the edges and all that remained in his lens was you... Wise felt like the only one who truly saw you. Not as a celebrity. Not as an icon. Just you, in all your simplicity and brilliance. It was a side of you that few, if any, had the privilege to witness.

Wise hesitated, then slowly turned off the camera and set it down beside him. For some reason, it felt unnecessary now.

It was silly, really. He was there to work, to document you, to turn your day into something tangible. But it felt like the camera was becoming a barrier, a way to keep the distance even when you were so close. He'd rather watch you through his own eyes than the lens.

...He shouldn't think of this as a date. He really, really shouldn't.

It wasn't, after all. He was just here because you had asked for his skills, because you trusted him to capture your best moments. That was all this was. A professional favor. Nothing more.

But damn, it was hard not to imagine it as something more.

Wise cleared his throat, adjusting the strap of his camera. "Alright. Where to next?" He smiled and forced his tone to remain light, casual, as if this day wasn't the highlight of his entire month. Maybe even his whole year.

Yeah… he was so screwed.