This is a re-working of a classic as suggested by loves_sg1
More than one pair of appreciative eyes took in the agitated young man clearly waiting for an incoming flight, but his own anxious, jade orbs were oblivious to them all. If he was not staring at the board checking that there was no delay on the flight he awaited, he was looking at his watch. He began to pace a little, eyes flitting from his watch to the board as the arrival time became imminent. The moment the board indicated the plane had arrived, his eyes fixated on where the passengers would start to come through.
It did not take long for his vigilance to be rewarded. A wheelchair soon became visible, pushed by a member of the plane's crew. It seemed to take an eternity for them to reach him.
"Sorry, bro."
"I'm just glad you're ok, Leon."
The Flight Attendant who had been pushing the chair stared at the two young men as they hugged. Twins. He might have been looking at a mirror's reflection from the thick, golden-brown hair to the small beauty mark just to the side of their full, sensual mouths.
"You must be Noel," he said."
"It's pronounced Nole, not No-el," came the automatic reply without Noel even looking away from where he fussed around his brother.
The other man saw Leon's wink. It was obviously a mistake many made with the name.
"Are you alright if I leave now, Leon?" he asked, certain of the reply.
"Sure, my baby brother'll take good care of me, won't you, Noel?"
"Of course I will. Thank you."
The Steward received twin smiles, identical in their brilliance, as he looked towards the brothers.
"That's great. Thank you for flying with us and I hope we made your journey as comfortable as it could be in the circumstances."
"Fault was all mine. The flight was great. Thanks for looking after me."
The Attendant watched for a few seconds as Noel fussed over his wheelchair-bound brother. He saw him check that the leg encased in a plaster cast from ankle to knee was comfortable as was the casted wrist. He smiled. He was sure his charge was in good hands and hurried back to join the rest of his cabin crew.
****
The journey home was mostly silent. Noel focused on the drive, trying to ensure he jolted his brother as little as possible and Leon was lost in thought. Occasionally Leon glanced furtively at his brother. He knew what he was going to ask of Noel would be difficult for his younger twin. However, he was equally sure Noel could do it. He just needed the right way of asking.
When they got home, Noel fussed around his brother, making sure Leon was comfortable and hurried into the kitchen to make drinks. As he flicked on the kettle he stared at his shaking hands. Seeing Leon with the casts brought home how easily the skiing accident could have been so much worse than a fractured ankle and dislocated wrist. Just six to eight weeks in plaster, at most, and Leon would be no worse for wear. At least, that is what he had been assured by the Orthopaedic Surgeon over the phone.
"Noel, could you come here, please."
At his brother's voice Noel whirled and rushed back into their living room.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Come here, bro," Leon said softly. His brother had been too quiet and the older twin knew that Noel was holding back. As Noel sat next to him, Leon drew the younger man into a gentle hug.
"I'm an idiot. You were right. I should have cancelled the trip. But I am ok." He kept hold as he felt the tremors that told him that Noel's tenuous grip of his emotions was finally breaking. "Just let it out, bro. I'm fine, we're fine."
"I'm ok," Noel whispered. He knew everything was alright and took a couple of wavering breaths. The last thing he needed was an asthma attack.
"Look at me," Leon murmured. He smiled into the face that he knew as well as his own. The mirror image was always a reassurance for them both, even from childhood. "Better?" he asked as he could see Noel visibly calm.
"Yeah, sorry," Noel whispered.
"I need you to do something that's important for me, for us," Leon continued as Noel finally drew back to smile at him.
"Anything, you know that," Noel said earnestly.
"There's no way I can start my six month placement with Celestin Fashions. Not like this. I need you to be me for six weeks or so."
"I can't..." Noel began to object, but Leon interjected quickly to stem the flow.
"You can. It's something we've done before and we've never been caught. We both know that if I hadn't been the selfish half of the family you wouldn't have had to care for mom and dad on your own a few weeks back. We both know because of that you picked up their flu bug. I could have lost you when it went straight to your chest and became pneumonia. You were in hospital three days."
"It was a precaution more than anything," Noel demurred.
"You never said you were ill when I texted to say Celestin had an internship up for grabs," Leon continued. "I went ahead and applied not knowing you were too sick. I could have submitted yours if I'd known. If it had been a choice between the two of us you would have got it. You've always drooled over Celestin and his Fashion House, just like I have Madeleine. I'm doing this internship for the experience, nothing more, and you know I was going to drop your name as much as possible. Look at it this way, you get an opportunity to see the place and people first hand. Learn their likes and dislikes. I'll still push you for a stint there when my internship ends and you'll know the place to be able to tailor an application. It works for both of us, bro."
Looking into his brother's eager face, Noel knew he had capitulated even before he said 'yes'. Leon had always been the leader. From the two minute difference in their births, through infancy, childhood and, even now, he could still get Noel to fall in with his plans. On the other hand If Noel needed him Leon would drop anything and everything. He gave a sigh.
"You're sure this won't bite us in the ass?" he asked, tilting his head to the left. He smiled as Leon unconsciously duplicated the movement, but to his right.
"How can it? We're both excellent designers. You can come home and discuss everything with me. No one can tell us apart. No problem."
"No problem," Noel echoed.
****
Noel wished he felt more comfortable in Leon's clothes, but they were always just that bit too tight or too flashy for his tastes. Leon was a natural-born extrovert. However, Noel liked to melt more into the background. It was going to be a little difficult to imitate his more gregarious older brother, but he hoped that anything like that would simply be put down to 'newbie' nerves.
"Leon? Leon Dancer."
The full name caught Noel's attention and he turned quickly. He immediately recognised Paytah. He was Celestin's right-hand man and had been for years. Paytah was half-blood native-American and his heritage was reflected in the dark skin and poker-straight, black hair.
"Sorry," Noel offered as he hurried over. Rumour in the trade was that Paytah and Celestin both were hard, but fair, taskmasters and neither tolerated fools. He would have to step up his game to avoid slip-ups over the name. "Just taking it all in," he added as he came alongside the older man.
Paytah looked over the newcomer. Something about the young man was setting off his alarm bells. He had no idea what it could be. Just something seemed off-kilter about the younger man. He pushed it out of his mind. He let his subconscious work on it. He was far more likely to find the answer that way than if he stewed over it. He gave a swift smile of welcome.
"Understandable. Celestin is away today and tomorrow. That gives me time to get you set up and looking through the projects with me that need completion. Celestin rewards diligence and commitment. He'll push hard and so will I, but it will make you all the better at the end. Who knows, there may even be a position available when the internship come to an end."
"Thanks. I promise I'll work hard and learn fast," Noel said. Just to be able to spend time learning from Celestin was a dream come true for him. He would push himself to achieve any goal that was set. He could easily chat things over with Leon at home.
Following the older man Noel's eyes roved everywhere as he soaked up the atmosphere. There was a large room with a mixed group who were busy with draft-boards, materials and models. Soft, low-key music in the background and a continual murmur of voices and material being swirled around was dominant.
"These are some of our current designers," Paytah said. "There are some who are working in other offices here or at home and a couple are abroad on assignments. You'll be with another intern.
The excitement Noel felt was tempered by the knowledge that it was only going to be fleeting for him and that he was only there because Leon was hurt. He tried not to let it dampen his enthusiasm. He had to make a good impression for his brother's sake. He knew that Leon was a good designer and he was pleased for his brother. But he could not help but wish he had got a placement with Madeleine rather than Celestin.
It had been a long-standing dream for Noel to work in Celestin Fashion. It was ironic to him that the two fashion houses were bitter rivals, yet he and his brother each wanted to work in one or the other. It could prove interesting if they both got their wishes. He stopped as Paytah indicated an open doorway.
The young man sitting at the draft-board looked up and it seemed to Noel as if he was being stripped as the gaze raked over his body. He would have estimated the other man was a couple of years older, mid to late twenties perhaps; his dark eyes, however, seemed older. His chestnut-brown hair was fashionably styled, combed forward and gelled into wisps around his face and he wore black jeans with a red shirt.
"This is Darren. Darren this is Leon Dancer. He's the other intern and will be working in this office with you, although you won't be collaborating. You'll each have your own portfolio. I'm taking Leon on a quick tour and then to my office to discuss what's expected of him."
"Of course, Paytah."
Paytah was impressed with his charge's attention to detail and reiteration of what was needed for the assignment he set. His brow furrowed a little. When interviewing Leon, he had got the impression of a young man who often just 'went with the flow'. However the way a check list was immediately created to ensure everything was listed and prioritised to achieve Leon's goal seemed a little at odds with his perception. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Of course Leon was new and would want to make an impression.
Celestin and Madeleine were the two biggest fashion houses in the area and had many young men and women who desperately wanted to join the teams. There was no guarantee of a permanent contract at the end of internships, but if he and Celestin saw talent, commitment and a desire to work hard to achieve dreams, they would often offer a job to an intern.
