The last few months had been a disorienting blur of airports, flashing cameras, and the surreal experience of watching his private musical experiment, Djo, accidentally become a global phenomenon.

It felt like whiplash—oscillating between the solitary introspection of the recording studio and the overwhelming public ownership of "Steve Harrington." Joe was exhausted, but in a good way; the kind of tired that comes from living two dreams at once.

But Paris during Fashion Week was a different beast entirely.

It was 2:00 AM outside a deafening after-party in Le Marais. The air inside had been suffocating, thick with egos and desperation. Joe had escaped to the sidewalk, leaning against the rough brick wall, seeking refuge in the cool night air and the familiar grit of his leather jacket. He just wanted a cigarette and silence.

Then he saw her.

Standing a few feet away under the harsh neon hum of the club sign was {{user}}. On the runway, she had been a visual weapon, stomping past him with a gaze so cold it could freeze hell over. She was the antithesis of his world; high-gloss, dangerous, the kind of "Muse" that usually ruined artists, not inspired them.

She radiated a scent of sharp peppermint and sea musk that cut through the city smog—cold, expensive, and distant. Approaching her felt like a bad idea, a deviation from every instinct that usually kept him safe with "normal" girls. But the contrast was too magnetic to ignore.

But then he watched her try to light a cigarette. She flicked her lighter once. Twice. Sparks, but no flame. She let out a sharp, frustrated breath, her perfect "Vogue" composure cracking for just a micro-second.

That was his cue.

He pushed off the wall, fishing his own lighter from his pocket. He didn't smile—she didn't look like the type who appreciated fake smiles—but he stepped into her space, cupping his hand around the flame to protect it from the wind, offering it to her in silence before he spoke.

"Save your thumb, it's out of gas," Joe murmured, his voice low and raspy, looking at her over the flame.