Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thursdays were always Naruto’s slowest days. In hindsight, it was because of his stupidity. A couple of weeks prior, he had dedicated Thursdays to walk-in clients and walk-in clients exclusively. Which was a decision he was slowly coming to regret. It was 4 pm and he had gotten a whopping zero walk-ins since the Shinobi’s Tat’s shop had opened at 10 am. 

The tattoo booth that he resided in was quaint and small but in a good way. The black-painted walls went from the ceiling to the ground and had a large opening with no door that led inside. The walls were lined with band posters and Naruto’s art, framed for display. In the center of the room sat Naruto’s client chair, made of black leather, and his stool that offered the him a wide range of mobility. He also had cabinets full of supplies and two metal trays with wheels that bordered the walls. 

Naruto was quite fond of his working environment. He did decorate it himself, and it was certainly an upgrade to the busted-up chair he rented out at his old workplace. He spun back and forth in his chair twiddling his thumbs, as the low hum of the tattoo gun in the booth over one, loomed as a heavy blanket. This did nothing to aid his heavy fog of boredom, however.

Now, should Naruto have listened to his best friend when he said that refusing to make appointments on Thursdays was a moronic idea? Probably. Would Naruto ever admit that to Shikamaru? Absolutely not. The prodigy bastard already knew he was a genius, Naruto was not going to amp up the fact anymore.

Speaking of his best friend, typically that is where Naruto would be during his slow days; In Shikamaru’s area, irritating the hell out of him. Shikamaru had been blessed by the tattoo gods and was swamped all day with appointments. Between the three thirty-minute appointments he had that morning, to the multi-hour-long sit he had that afternoon and was currently working on, Naruto doubted he would have been able to sit in Skikamaru’s booth. Well, without getting something thrown at him at least. 

To be fair, Naruto understood, he was a professional first and foremost. He wasn’t going to make Shikamaru’s client uncomfortable with his unnecessary presence and perpetual chatter. Plus, he had overheard that Shikamaru's current client was a tattoo newbie, who was not only scared out of her mind but non-verbal and also needed frequent breaks. So Naruto knew going in there would be a huge dick move on his part. But a round of applause to her for choosing her first tattoo to be a six-hour spine tat. The girl’s got some balls.

But dear God, someone, anyone , please walk through the doors looking for a tat. Naruto was suffering substantially.

“How’s ‘walk-in’ Thursday going? Ready to open your schedule yet?" Shikamaru commented smugly as he walked over to Naruto’s booth presumably from his own.

“Oh fuck off Shika! My Thursday’s going great I’ll have you know.”

Shikamaru laughed. “Right.”

Naruto flipped him off before asking. “How’s it going with you? Another break I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, fifth one, but she’s a real trooper. Didn’t even flinch at the shading directly on her spinal cord,” Shikamaru marveled, clearly impressed.

“Damn, badass! You know what they always say about women being freakishly intolerant to pain!" he laughed.

“Shit, don’t I know it. Men are such a drag when tattooing,” Shikamaru complained, clearly thinking back to past horror stories.

Naruto just laughed, thinking back to all of his own not-so-fun tattoo stories.

Shikamaru slighted a smirk at his friend's obvious boredom. “Mm, well, I better be getting back. We should finish early, come by when we’re done. I’ll keep you company.” 

“Can I kiss you?” Naruto cooed drastically, overjoyed at the thought of his boredom and solitude ending.

“Temari would kick your ass so no. Besides, your insufferable talking is about all of your mouth I can handle,” Shikamaru laughed as he started to walk back to his booth.

“You love my insufferable talking!” 

“No one does Naruto,” a voice remarked from the booth across from Naruto’s. Gaara.

“I would like to second that opinion,” yet another voice adds in from the same direction. Neji.

“You all are terrible friends.”

Naruto didn’t mean it of course, and neither did they. It was typical banter between friends. Naruto was surely glad he met this bunch four years ago. He didn’t know where he would be if he didn’t. This lot had saved his ass on more than one occasion. Whether it was a personal call or a professional call, any one of these guys would come running. Well… Shikamaru would come in a fast-paced walk. Like hell, he’d run anywhere.

Naruto felt as if he’d known these guys since childhood, but in reality, it was only a couple of years. It’s crazy how time works sometimes; Between Gaara, Kankuro, Neji, Shikamaru, and Kiba, Naruto was content. He couldn't recall a time in his life when he felt more cared for, or had been in a friend group for that matter. Growing up, Naruto moved around a lot, from foster home to foster home. Never had much of a chance to set down any roots. But after his old perv got him when he was sixteen, life started to look up for the blonde and continued to do so.

But man, what Naruto wouldn’t do for someone to finally settle down and start an actual adult life with. He was finally set. He had his own place, a stable income, hell, he finally knew himself. He just needed that someone to come along. But fuck, he was getting tired of waiting.

~xXx~

It had been probably around 45 minutes since Shikamaru had left Naruto to his seclusion and silence and Naruto was so very close to calling it a day. Yet he just had an aching feeling that someone would walk in. He felt it in his jigglies. And Naruto knew that if he were to leave early he would be submitting to the fact that Shikamaru was right. Furthermore? That could not happen. So, here he was. Alone. With a dead phone. And the thought of a forgotten charger.

Until his savior in the form of Gaara appeared at his booth like an emo angel from the heavens.

“Naruto, there’s a walk-in at the front for you,” Gaara informed, as he walked into Naruto’s booth.

Yes , finally, Naruto thought.

“No way, really? Sick! Tell them I’ll be right there!” 

“Hn,” Gaara responded, as he walked back up the hall to the front.

Fucking, at last! Naruto hopped straight up and walked over to one of his drawers that held the paperwork necessary for a new client, grabbed it, and practically skipped out of his booth. He walked down the line of booths that his coworkers and friends sat in, all with clients, and turned the corner that led to the door that would take him to the front desk.

Upon opening the door his eyes landed on two people standing in front of the desk. It was a man and a woman. The man was taller than Naruto by maybe a couple of inches. His hair was dark and spiked out at the back of his head, looking like a duck’s butt. His skin was as white as porcelain and his expression looked as sour as a lemon. He was dressed in a white t-shirt with a black jacket and black ribbed skinny jeans with a long chain that laid against his right leg. He also sported combat boots and single ear lobe piercings.

The woman was considerably shorter. She had short pink hair that was wrapped in a floral headband. Her skin was tanner than the man’s, but still quite light. She wore a simple floral dress that matched her headband and white sandals. Her expression however was light and sweet.

But goddamn, mister, I hate life , was hot. The girl was also easy on the eyes, but shit that man was a walking wet dream. Practically pornstar material. Naruto could totally see wet dreams and Gaara getting along like two peas in a pod. They both looked like they hated the world and everyone in it. 

“This is Naruto, he’ll be taking care of you guys, please excuse me,” Gaara mumbled to the two as he gestured to Naruto. Then proceeded to walk back through the way Naruto came in.

Both of them looked over at Naruto. The girl smiled and her accomplice looked annoyed.

Naruto hoped it was the girl that would be getting tattooed because as much as he would love to be able to tattoo mister stoic, he doubted it would be a fun experience given he looks about as welcoming as a cactus field.

Naruto greeted them with a blinding smile. “Hey, guys! I’m Naruto Uzumaki, nice to meet you!”

“Hello! I’m Sakura, nice to meet you as well,” Sakura said with a meek smile, pausing for a couple of seconds before she bumped the man with her elbow.

The man scoffed. “Sasuke.”

Yeah, he’s going to be a real treat, Naruto thought. In spite, Naruto just put on his customer service smile and bit back the rude commentary he wanted to throw at Mr. Stick-up-my-ass.

“Well, it’s awesome to meet both of you. So, who here is getting tatted, or is it both of you?” Naruto asked as he walked behind the desk and set down the papers he had brought with him.

Sakura laughed nervously and pointed to the raven. “Oh my, I could never! Me and needles don’t mix, Sasuke’s the one getting the tattoo.” 

Of course, he is.

“Completely understandable! Okay cool, are you looking to get it done today or would you rather make an appointment for a future date?” Naruto asked, who he has settled on calling stick-up-my-ass.

“Today.”

Fan-fucking-tastic . So much for shoving stick-up-my-ass onto someone else… Well, maybe he could try something else.

“Okay, man. So, really quickly before I have you fill out the papers and all the boring yet necessary stuff, is it going to be small or big because we close in… eh, about two-ish hours, and anything larger than 4'' by 4'' is going to have to be another day.” 

Naruto never thought he would complain about a hot client on the one day of the week he was lucky to get any clients, but honestly screw this guy. He’s said not two words, and Naruto already loathed this dude, hotness be damned.

“Small, it’s just a sentence and details,” Sasuke answered, monotone as ever.

“Ah, sick! Okay, so uh, here's the paperwork then. It’s relatively simple, but ask if you have any questions,” Naruto was quietly dying inside.

Sasuke didn’t respond, he just took the papers and the pen that was on the counter and went to sit down on one of the waiting chairs that lined the wall to fill them out.

Ho Ho Ho, stick-up-my-ass better fucking tip like he’s got a thousand-pound wallet. Naruto wanted to wash his hands of this guy A.S.A.P. And to be completely honest, Naruto didn't even understand why this guy made his gears grind. Sure, he was rude and untalkative, but he's had worse clientele. But shit whatever it was, this emo prick did it royally.

Sakura stood awkwardly at the desk and decided to make conversation with Naruto. At least she was sweet.

“So… will you be the one to tattoo him?” 

“Yep! All of our other artists are busy with clients for the rest of the day. But I’m glad you guys walked in. I've had no clients or work to do so I was bored!” Naruto responded with a smile and a chuckle.

“Oh! Well, that’s good then. How long have you been tattooing people?” 

“Hm, well since I was nineteen, so… about six years now.” 

“So, you have lots of experience then, right?” she laughed awkwardly.

“Don’t worry, your boyfriend is in good hands. Believe it, I have many clients, today’s just my walk-in day,” Naruto assured her, her comment didn’t offend him, he understood her worries.

“Okay then! But he’s not my boy- Oh..,” she paused as her phone rang then proceeded to reach in her pocket to check it.

“Oh no… Hello?... Yes… Yes… Okay… No yeah, I’ll be right there Ino…No worries, I was just dropping off Sasuke to get his tattoo… See you in a bit… Bye,” she finished as she hung up the phone and put it back into her pocket.

“Sasuke, there’s an emergency at the hospital, Ino needs me there. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to stay and take you home. Can you see if Jugo or Suigetsu can pick you up?” Sakura asked, sounding remorseful.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Sasuke responded, not looking up from the papers.

“Okay, well, good luck with your tattoo, you’ll do great,” Sakura encouraged Sasuke, grabbing his shoulder comfortingly for a quick second before turning her attention back onto Naruto.

“It was very nice meeting you Naruto, I’m so sorry to cut our conversation short, but an emergency came up at work, I hope you can forgive me,” Sakura said genuinely as she made her way to the door.

“No apologies needed! Good luck with your job stuff,” Naruto commented as Sakura made her way out the door. She just looked back and smiled simply at the blonde as she walked to her car.

Now it was just Naruto and Mr. Stick-up-his-ass. He was hoping that she was keen on staying, but Naruto’s luck seemed to run short.

What god did he piss off in his lifetime to cause this? This better be one hell of a small tattoo, Naruto's thoughts continued. Lost in said thoughts he didn’t realize when the cause of these thoughts stood up and walked towards him.

“You gonna take the papers, or just stare out the door at Sakura’s ass?” Sasuke asked as he shoved the papers rudely at Naruto.

“Oh, sorry man… wait what!? What the hell is your problem!? I was not staring at her ass at all buddy! You got the completely wrong idea and you know what, I don’t know what crawled up your ass and died this morning, but you are acting like a complete and utter di-,” Naruto was cut off by the creak of a door and his name being yelled.

“ Naruto! Watch your tongue, you are being incredibly disrespectful! What is wrong with you?!” Naruto heard his boss and guardian, Jiraiya, hiss from behind him.

Well, shit .

“I am so unbelievably sorry sir, I have no idea what’s gotten into him,” Jiraiya continued, as he came out completely from the back door to approach Sasuke.

Sasuke said nothing, just a small ‘Hn’, from the back of his throat. 

Oh, Naruto could kill him, he could kill him.

“If you would like I could have you consult with a different artist, given this one is being unremarkably ill-mannered,” Jiraiya finished, as he gave Naruto a pop on the back of the head.

“Ow! You Perv, don’t just go around hitting people!—Damn, that really hurt,” Naruto yelled out.

“Enough from you,” Jiraiya firmly stated, waiting for the raven's response.

“No need,” Sasuke said, smirking slightly at the blonde.

Naruto was contemplating just how bad catching a charge could be in reality. It couldn’t be too bad right? He could hold his own in prison. He’s been in enough fights throughout his childhood to support his claim. A murder charge could even earn him some respect. He could probably make some pretty good bank in there too, being a tattoo artist and all.

“Okay, if you insist sir, but please do let me know at any time if you would like to switch artists or file a complaint, I will handle both personally. Again, I do apologize for his actions,” Jiraiya finished and started to walk back to his office, but not before he shot a glare at Naruto. “This is not over, we will be having a conversation later regarding this Naruto.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I get it you perv,” Naruto shot back quietly.

Jiraiya then proceeded to walk back through the door leading to the booths and his office, not responding to the raging blonde.

Naruto looked down at the papers that jackass gave him and did a once-over looking for anything, anything that would hinder Naruto from having to deal with this guy, but of course, he came up short. Shikamaru will definitely be hearing about this jack-off later.

Well, might as well just get this done.

“Come on back, we’ll finish the consultation at my chair.”

Sasuke didn’t respond, but followed Naruto.

Damn, couldn’t this asshole spare a single pleasantry for him? He was about to permanently ink him for life, ruining his practically perfect pale skin. He could show Naruto a bit of respect and decency. He thought it was a pity he couldn’t accidentally fuck up stick-up-my-asses tattoo. Naruto could be a cruel man when times called for it, but that was honestly beneath him, so, of course, he wouldn’t. Even if it had crossed his mind more than once.

Naruto opened the door to the back area and began to walk around the corner and onto his booth, passing by all his friends. Naruto strutted into his area and started to get his tools and equipment ready as Sasuke took his seat in Naruto's chair. Naruto got his tray wrapped, and his gun prepped, laid out his ink containers, and got his water and towel ready. He wanted to get this done as quickly as possible.

Naruto looked up at jerkface expecting to see some asshole expression, but was surprised to see what almost looked like fear and heavyset apprehension, in his eyes. He also saw a bouncing leg and slim eyes darting around his area. Some actual emotion and unease lacing Sasuke’s face.

No. Fucking. Way .

Mr. Too Cool and stuck up for basic pleasantries was nervous. Plain and simple. Naruto could not believe it. He had tattooed hundreds of people before. He was well versed with the anxious, scared look that people got when they first sat in his chair. Naruto wondered if this is why Sasuke was being such an ass. Well shit, now Naruto feels… kinda like shit. Not too much like shit though, Sasuke was still an absolute prick.

Naruto looked at the Sasuke with placid eyes. “Is this perhaps your first tattoo?”

At first, he didn’t respond. Naruto would have never thought that Mister My Chemical Romance would have virgin skin, but everyone has a first tat, he supposed. 

Naruto felt like the man sitting in his chair did a complete 180 from the previous smirking man from five minutes ago. His unease and tension were starting to creep through his hard exterior more and more as the seconds ticked by.

Sasuke eventually mumbled a ‘yes’ after the Naruto's eyes started to drill imaginary burr holes in his head.

Naruto's facial expression calmed as he spoke, “Hey man if you want, our shop supplies various relaxers to help with nerves. We get a lot of clients that actually come to us because of it. Especially first-timers. Being nervous is perfectly okay, you know? Definity is not something to be ashamed about either by the way. Ya know, I cried when I got my first tat, haha,” Naruto explained calmly to the very obviously nervous man.

“You don’t know what you're talking about, I’m not nervous.”

Who did this guy think he was fooling, honestly? Anxious eyes, fidgeting, and sweating up a storm? If he wasn’t nervous, Naruto was sporting natural sky-blue hair and purple eyes.

Naruto sighed and slid a little closer to the man, “Look, I guarantee you that this will be a horrible experience if you try to hold it all in. I’m well versed in pre-tattoo jitters, you ain’t fooling anyone here man. I know that a lot of tattooists think it's taboo or weak when someone is nervous about a tattoo, but quite frankly that's dumb, believe it. I promise you everyone gets nervous,” Naruto explained further with a small smile.

Sasuke looked away from the blonde and they sat in silence for a couple of minutes before the raven mumbled something that Naruto couldn’t quite catch.

“I’m sorry dude, I didn’t quite hear that.”

“I said… What relaxers?” Sasuke mumbled louder.

Naruto smiled softly at him. Okay, maybe Mr. Stick-in-his-ass doesn’t have that long of a stick in his ass.

“We have physical things like blankets or soundproof headphones to kill the sound of the gun. Or we have candy and gum to chew or suck on, which can help take your mind off it. Then we also have numbing cream if it’s the pain that freaks you out. It’s up to you which one or which ones you want to use… Oh! There are also candles that smell like lavender, but I don’t really get that one. I've never seen it help anyone. Then there's always just talking through it, that helps a lot of people too,” Naruto explained slowly to Sasuke as he started to jot down some notes regarding Sasuke's anxiety to put in his file just in case he comes back and requests another artist.

Sasuke was quiet in thought for a hot minute. Naruto let him take his time, he wouldn’t mind some overtime tonight. Mister brooding was quickly growing on Naruto, he wasn’t going to lie. Naruto always was good at handling people who came in with nerves.

“Gum… And… The numbing shit, I guess. If it makes you shut the hell up,” Sasuke said, his pride clearly wounded at how fast Naruto’s trained eye saw right through his front.

“Alrighty then, gum and numbing shit, be right back with that!” Naruto said, ignoring his last little retort as he stood to make his way to the storage closet where they kept all of their equipment and various things.

Walking down the aisle of booths and passing the door that leads to the front. Naruto stood in front of the closet punching in the code before opening it to reveal the shop's stash of tattoo hardware and the ‘relaxers’. Grabbing the gum and cream, he then made his way back to his station.

“Okay so, here is the gum and the numbing cream we’ll put on in a minute after we finish the consult, okay?” Naruto said after returning from the closet and handing Sasuke the gum.

“Whatever.” 

“Haha, okay. So now I need to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind, so to start, have you consumed any blood thinners like painkillers or alcohol in the past 24 hours?” Naruto asked with a calm smile on his lips.

“No,” he responded.

“Awesome! So, you are of age, yes?” Naruto continued.

“No shit,” Sasuke replied impassively.

“Hey man, you’d be surprised how many kids come in here asking for ink. But I’ll take your word for it. So where exactly do you want your tat?” Naruto asked as he grabbed a clipboard and a pen to get ready to sketch Sasuke's tattoo.

“Mid-upper back, near my neck.” 

“Mm, okay, gotcha. You said you wanted a sentence right? Can you write out the exact spelling of everything on here real quick,” Naruto requested as he passed the clipboard to the raven and a pen.

Sasuke took the board and wrote out what looked to be a name and date along with something else before he handed the board back to Naruto. Naruto looked down at the board and read ‘Itachi, January 13, 2023’, then looked at what was a sentence in another language. Naruto thought it was Japanese, but wasn’t entirely sure.

“Okay, thank you for that. I thought you just wanted a sentence though. It’s no problem, honest, but I normally don’t tattoo foreign languages on people unless they know the language,” Naruto explained, scratching the back of his neck.

Sasuke looked at Naruto for a long minute before beginning to speak. “ Watashi no kyōdai yo, yasuraka ni o yasumi kudasai. I speak the language, dobe. ” 

Naruto’s eyes lit up. “Oh! No shit you speak… Japanese? It is Japanese right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Cool! I’m Japanese myself, but born and raised in LA, haha! Are you from here or did you grow up in Japan?”

Sasuke glared. “I don’t see what that has to do with the tattoo.” 

Naruto let out a nervous laugh. “I guess it doesn’t, just curious.”

Sasuke didn't say anything, just glared.

“Um, so moving on, did you have a particular font in mind? Because if not I have a book of all the font’s that I can do.”

Sasuke thought for a minute before coming up with an answer. “No, not particularly I guess.”

Naruto nodded before he reached down under the chair that Sasuke was sitting in and grabbed a brown leathered book and flipped through it for a second before landing on the page of fonts, “So these are the ones that I’m well acquainted with, but these over here are ones that I’m open to as well,” Naruto explained as he gestured to the different sections of fonts.

Sasuke looked over the various fonts for a few minutes before pointing to a pretty looking cursive.

Naruto smiled. “Mm, nice choice. That one’s my favorite.”

“Hn.”

Naruto let out a laugh as he moved his chair to his computer and drawing tablet so he could get started on the stencil. “So this will only take me about ten or so minutes to complete, so you can just chill here, yeah?”

“Hn.”

“Is that your favorite word, ‘Hn’?” Naruto asked, sketching out the wording on his tablet.

“Maybe.”

Naruto looked up and smiled when he saw that bastard smirking at him, but didn’t say anything else while he worked. Neither of the men said a word to each other while Naruto sketched up Sasuke’s tattoo. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence though, which surprised Naruto vastly. 

Naruto set his pen down on the tray and handed Sasuke the tablet. “Okay go ahead and look at this and see if it’s what you are wanting.”

Sasuke took the tablet and glanced down at the lit screen to see the mix of English and Japanese writing in beautiful cursive. Identical to the cursive that he was shown in the book. Sasuke’s eyes softened at seeing it.

Sasuke quickly righted his expression before he looked up at an impatient blonde waiting for feedback. “It’s not horrible.”

Naruto scoffed, “Great to know it holds up to your expectations,” Cheeky bastard… Naruto thought to himself.

Sasuke sneered. “I didn’t say that.” 

A twitch started to form in Naruto's right eye. “Oh really? Then how about you enlighten me on how ‘ not horrible ’ it is? Because maybe if your expectations were so high, you should have brought in your own design, because I am not gonna take shit from someone who requ-”

Sasuke interrupted Naruto’s blabbering.“Would you shut up, it’s fine. I would tell you if it wasn’t, dumbass. It’s going on me forever , I’m not stupid like you.”

Naruto looked as if he just saw someone fly around the room. “Was that… a compliment , Sasuke?”

Sasuke scoffed. “Hn, you wish.”

Naruto smiled before bursting out laughing. “Damn, you are a cold-hearted bastard, ya know.”

A smirk played on Sasuke’s lips. “I’ve been told.”

Both of the men were interrupted by Shikamaru clearing his throat.

Naruto looked up to where his best friend stood. “Oh, sup Shika.”

Shikamaru eyed Sasuke and smiled cockingly before looking over to Naruto. “Sup… Finally snatched a client I see.” 

Naruto groaned, finally deciding to just cave and accept his fate. “Okay fine, I give up, I get it, I should take appointments on Thursdays okay, damn… You don’t gotta be a prick.”

The man chuckled before shouting behind himself. “Hey, Kiba, Neji! You owe me 20 bucks.”

A voice could be heard across the shop. “Aw, man… He caved already? Goddamn it, couldn't hold out a little longer, could you Naruto!”

Naruto’s eyes grew wide. “You motherfuckers were betting on me? Seriously!”

Neji stepped in front of Naruto’s booth next to Shikamaru, handing him a twenty. “Well, yes, you see Naruto, Kiba and I both were running low on cash, as was Shikamaru, so we put a bet in place. That bet was that if you were to cave within a month to Shikamaru’s pestering, Shikamaru would owe each of us a twenty. And if you caved sooner we would owe him. Given you caved within two weeks we both have mournfully lost.”

Naruto was flabbergasted. “Yeah, I stand by my statement that you all are shitty friends.”

Sasuke cut in with a serene laugh.

Naruto snapped his head at the sound of Sasuke laughing. God, it was a gorgeous noise. Naruto just smiled at Sasuke like a dumb fumbling moron. How had this prick made Naruto swoon and want to punch him in the face at the same time? Naruto just couldn't believe he was starting to like this guy. Was Naruto just fucking gullible? That had to be it. Not to mention, Naruto was pleasantly surprised at how fast Sasuke softened his prickly exterior in such a short amount of time. Did it make much sense? No. Was Naruto going to complain? No.

Sasuke looked at Naruto curiously before looking at the time. “Hey stupid, don’t you close in twenty minutes?”

It took Naruto a few minutes before he was brought back down to earth after hearing what Sasuke had said to look at the time. “Oh shit, yeah, yeah we do… Um, you know what… I already have everything set up. It’d be a waste to throw it out. I don’t mind staying late, to be honest… Hey, Shika, I'm going to close out tonight.”

Shikamaru huffed before walking away, Neji in tail. “Better you than me, closing is a pain, I’ll let Jiraiya know.”

Naruto thanked the small graces in life, not wanting to deal with that perv tonight. “Thanks, man.”

Naruto glanced back at Sasuke, his smile returning. “Okay, where were we?”

Sasuke handed the tablet back over to Naruto with a scowl. “You were going to finally do what I’m paying you for.”

Naruto simply rolled his eyes, already getting used to the raven's boorish commentary, “Okay Mr. Prickly,” Naruto uttered slightly under his breath before moving to his machine to print out the stencil.

Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow at the remark.

Loud beeping could be heard before the thermal imager started to make the stencil. Naruto stood in front of the machine waiting for it to do its job thinking of how he was going to go about this with Sasuke. He knew that an upper back tattoo wasn’t the most uncomfortable area to get tattooed, but it wasn’t pleasant either. Sasuke could lie on his stomach to get it done or he could straddle the chair backwards as he sat up. Naruto would have to ask him which way he wanted to do it.

As the stencil finished up, Naruto moved over to his cabinets to grab a razor and shaving cream. He then grabbed the stencil before making a few steps back to Sasuke.

“So, there’s two ways to go about this. I can adjust the chair to a lying down position and you can lie on your stomach or you can turn around and just straddle the chair and put your chest on the back of it. It’s completely up to you,” Naruto explained as he set down the stencil and shaving tools before continuing with a laugh. “Also, I can’t tat you through the shirt, you're gonna have to take it off.”

Sasuke didn't answer. He just slowly lifted his shirt over his head, then stood up to turn around and straddle the chair. He put his shirt in between his lower stomach and the back of the chair as he leaned on it. He then unwrapped one of the pieces of gum before popping it into his mouth. “Like this?”

Naruto has tattooed an abundance of people. Young, old, hot, not so hot, and have had this exact conversation with all of the above. But, never had he been so turned on by the response. Naruto was split down the middle in his feelings for this guy. Yeah sure, Sasuke was the embodiment of sex and the shit that made up Naruto’s fantasies, but he was also a huge dickwad. “Um, yeah… That’s---That’s perfect.”

“Hn.”

“Right, so firstly I’m just going to shave the peach fuzz off of your back, it’ll help the tattoo go on smoother,” Naruto said as he grabbed his gloves to put them on, then grabbed the shaving cream and razor before scooting over next to Sasuke on his rolling stool.

Naruto squirted some cream in his hand prior to rubbing it against Sasuke's back. He took the razor in his right hand and made even strokes vertically downward against his back, picking up the cream as he went.

“Okay, so I’m going to clean the area and then put the numbing cream on you. It should take about 15 minutes to fully kick in since it’s fast acting. Once it does, your skin might feel tingly,” Naruto clarified as he wiped away the excess shaving cream.

“You don’t have to tell me everything you do, you know,” Sasuke retorted back.

Naruto laughed. “Haha, I do this with everyone I tattoo. Helps with nerves as I said before and it also helps me not forget anything. I can stop if you’d rather it be a quiet session.”

Sasuke paused. “...Do what you want.”

Naruto beamed. “Happily.”

Naruto reached over to his table to grab the numbing agent and an alcohol wipe. Not saying anything, he cleaned off the area he just shaved, then started to apply the cream. Upon doing this, the man sitting flinched.

“Oh, sorry! It’s probably cold huh? My bad.” 

“Hn.”

After the cream was applied they sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Naruto decided to attempt to make conversation with the unflappable man. He wasn’t entirely sure how to start the conversation up, though. “So… Itachi… Is that like a person?”

“Yes.”

Oh my god, he actually answered the personal question with words, Naruto was baffled, “Oh okay—Is it like your girlfriend's last name or something?” Naruto asked, uneasy because he couldn’t see the raven's expressions to his questions.

Sasuke blew air through his nose audibly, now clearly annoyed at the blonde's interrogation. “Sakura isn't my girlfriend.”

Naruto tried to hide the unwanted smile that crept onto his lips but failed. “Oh! Really? I mean— I wasn’t exactly saying she was, but okay… cool.”

Sasuke hummed, starting to relax against the chair before slyly saying. “Why? Interested in me dobe ?”

Naruto froze. Was he being that obvious? Was Sasuke— flirting with him? No, no, Naruto doubted that. He was terrible at hiding his feelings about anything typically, but Naruto didn’t think he was that bad at it. Something tells him that this is going to be a very awkward appointment.

“What? Pfft— no, no I am not. I’ll have you know that I have more dignity than that. Why would I be interested in you ? You're an asshole, I don’t like assholes,” Well… not in that context at least , Naruto thought after his ramble.

Sasuke whipped his head around, eyes wide.

Shit. Naruto needed to work on his filter.

“I said that last part out loud didn’t I?”

Sasuke, still staring at the blonde wide-eyed, nodded.

Naruto groaned. “Ahh, look man— I’m sorry. I’ve probably made this appointment awkward for you. I can see if Shikamaru’s still here to do this if you want.”

Sasuke looked at Naruto, almost puzzled. “Why would I switch artists, I requested you .”

Hold the phone, he requested him? I beg your pardon, what !? Why would he request Naruto? How did he even know Naruto? Did they meet before? No, they couldn’t have. Like hell, Naruto would never forget a face like his.

It was Naruto’s turn to look puzzled. “You— requested me?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes as if it was obvious. “A friend of my… brother, said you were good and recommended you, so yes I did.”

Naruto smiled again, “No shit, really? Who’s the friend?” Naruto asked, genuinely curious.

“His name’s Deidara,” Sasuke responded.

Naruto laughed. “No way! I just touched up his sleeve the other day, how’s it doing?”

“Hn, fine I guess, he says it’s itchy.”

Naruto was glad that prickly pants was starting to open up a bit more. It was most likely just the nerves that caused him to act like a royal dick in the beginning… Well, hopefully . 

Naruto’s smile beamed brighter. “Well, that’s to be expected! Hmm, now that I think about it, I– I think he got the same date as you added to his sleeve… Is that an important date for you guys? Like a birthday or something like that?”

Sasuke's eyelids lowered and his face paled. He didn't speak, just turned back around toward the back of the chair.

Naruto did have a knack for making this guy bitter. He didn’t know what he did or if he kept saying the wrong things. It just seemed that every time they made progress in making a conversation, Naruto just shoved his foot in his mouth. This was indubitably a hard topic for the man and Naruto didn’t know if should just go on with the nagging stillness of the room or press for an answer. Neither sounded like a good idea. They did barely know each other, so it’s not bewildering that the raven didn’t want to share his personal life with the blonde. Naruto just silently wished he did. Naruto, in truth, wanted to get to know the stoic man past his bastard layer.

“Well, it seems that my catchphrase of the day is ‘sorry’. I didn't-” Naruto stopped at hearing Sasuke’s voice.

“My brother… he,” Sasuke paused, collecting himself before continuing, not understanding why he was telling the blonde this, “He was sick… Leukemia. He's had recurrences of it since he was a teen. This last time— he couldn’t pull through again. He died on January 13th of this year,” Sasuke finished, voice full of apprehension.

Naruto didn’t have the words. He didn’t know what he expected the explanation to be, but that was not it. This would explain Deidara's untypical sour mood last week though. But, why would Deidara get the tattoo too? Were they close or something?

“It was Deidara’s stupid idea to get matching tattoos in his honor. But the fucker had to work today, so I came with Sakura,” Sasuke explained further.

Naruto wanted to cry, curse his emotional ass. He sniffled. “Is Deidara your brother as well?”

Sasuke paused, finally turning back around to face Naruto, giving up on his mysterious persona completely. “No— he was engaged to Itachi. Their wedding was supposed to be tomorrow, we were– are you– crying?”

“No! My eyes are just… leaking, involuntary… Don’t judge me! I wasn’t expecting some depressing main character sort of backstory okay?” Naruto said, tears running down his tattooed cheeks.

Sasuke chuckled before raising an eyebrow, noticing six faded yet still deep lines on the blonde’s cheeks, wanting to change the subject he asked. “Hn… Are your cheeks tattooed?”

Naruto looked up at the smirking man. Successfully being deterred from the heavy topic previously being discussed and not minding it at all, since Sasuke had actually asked Naruto a question about himself. Nope still a bastard, “Ah, saw those did ya? Stupid mistakes we make when drunk sometimes really come back to bite you in the ass… My friend Kiba and I both thought getting face tats was a great idea one Saturday night after a party. Don't worry, I’m getting them lasered off, haha,” Naruto said, brushing his fingers against the marks on his face.

Sasuke faltered for a second before quietly saying. “They suit you.”

Azure eyes met dark stygian ones. Something in the air surrounding the two men shifted that moment and Naruto couldn’t put his finger on the reason why. Naruto’s hands turned clammy. 

“You think so?”

“Yeah, a dumbass tattoo for a dumbass blonde.”

The air returned to its previous state. That asshole couldn’t say one endearing comment without ruining it, could he?

“Damn, and here I thought we were having a moment,” Naruto replied chuckling before moving to get his ink set up, the 15 minutes passed.

Sasuke didn’t say anything, just smirked, well, before his eyes landed on what Naruto was doing. His face vacillated between a scowl and a face of perturbation. This of course was not missed by Naruto.

Naruto smiled softly at the agitated man across from himself. “It’s okay man, I’m not starting just yet, I need to put the stencil on first.”

Sasuke didn’t make a smart-aleck remark to Naruto’s soothing, but just turned back around facing the wall behind the chair he was sitting in. Naruto moved his stool a couple of inches to grab the stencil, water, and towel. Moving back he began explaining the process to him. “I’m going to put the stencil on, okay? It’s just some paper and water, then some pressure, no biggie.”

The pale man merely nodded, keeping his face and back turned away from Naruto. After seeing the nodding, Naruto laid the stencil across Sasuke’s upper back, checking to make sure it was straight and looked good before spraying the paper with water with his left hand. With his right, he situated the towel evenly across the stencil before pressing both his hands firmly against the stoic man's back. “This will only take a couple of seconds to set.”

Seconds later, Naruto removed his hands and the towel, inspecting the paper to see if any part of the stencil wasn’t dampened and flat. Satisfied with the result, he started to steadily peel the stencil off of his back. Looking at the shiny overlaid stencil Naruto smiled at the good outcome and nudged Sasuke, “There’s a mirror right over there, go check and make sure you like the placement yeah?” Naruto explained, pointing his hand out of his booth where the mirror was located.

Sasuke looked back at the blonde, nodding before he stood and made his way out of Naruto’s area to inspect the stencil positioning. Leaving Naruto’s field of vision, Sasuke slowly came back after a minute of inspection, “It’s good,” he said tacitly, leisurely making his way back to the chair on purpose, knowing what was next in the process and not looking too pleased about it.

Naruto waited patiently for Sasuke to sit back down before grabbing his tattoo gun to plug it in and select the right size needle head for the outline of the tattoo, “Okay Sasuke, I’m going to start the actual tattoo now. At first, I’m going to press the gun against you for only a couple of seconds so that you can make out how it feels. Then, when you're ready, I’m going to start outlining the wording,” Naruto paused, as he felt a sneeze approaching. 

He sneezed.

“Uh, sorry about that! Anyway! This part is normally the worst bit, so once you get through it, it won’t be as painful during the shading. Starting, it’s going to feel like a pricking sensation, later it may change to more of a scratchy feeling. Normally people become more numb to the pain after 10 or so minutes because of adrenaline, others don’t, it just depends on the person," Naruto paused trying to look at the pale man’s face, unsuccessful in his endeavor. “So… You ready, Sasuke?”

Pretending to be aloof and callous at Naruto’s in-depth explanation, Sasuke grunted, still not turning around to face the blonde.

“Your words, dude,” still not getting a response out of the mulish man, Naruto sighed. “If you don’t think you're ready or would rather have a friend with you, we can do this another day, I don’t mind at all bro.”

Sasuke, reiterating Naruto’s sigh, finally spoke. “No. It’s fine. I’m fine, okay? Just get on with it already.”

Despite Sasuke's unconvincing words, Naruto proceeded to move in closer to the man putting his left gloved hand next to the stencil and moving in with his right hand holding the gun. Getting not two centimeters from his skin, Naruto halted himself, at seeing how still the man had become, “Sasuke look at me,” he said sharply.

Surprised at the serrated tone in the tan man's voice, Sasuke complied and turned around, looking at the tattoo artist.

Naruto held Sasuke's eyes with his own for a minute before serenely speaking, “Breathe Sasuke. Breathe … Don’t hold your breath like that, you’ll end up passing out," Naruto stopped speaking for a second, awkwardly laughing. “Oh, and, um please stop digging your nails into my chair. I understand you're scared, but it’s a really expensive chair and my old man Jiraiya will kick my ass if I mess it up. Do you need something to hold? I can get you something if that’s what you need, no shame man.”

Sasuke flinched and looked away from the heavy blue eyes staring at him, acting as if he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, “M', not scared dumbass,” he mumbled, releasing his grip from the chair and returning to expanding his lungs with oxygen at a natural, habitual pace.

Naruto blew air through his nose with a huff, about to speak, before a hand grabbed his own and pulled it forward, moving Naruto even closer to the man in front of him. Stunned at the sudden movement, Naruto stuttered trying to find words to respond with before his thoughts were interrupted by a stern voice.

“Not. A. Word . Uzamaki,” Sasuke said, with a tongue of steel, hiding a very obvious reddening face from view. Sasuke had no fucking clue what had gotten into him, but no backing out now.

Naruto snickered at the surprising actions before retorting back, “As much as I don’t mind being your squeezing object, I kinda need both of my hands to do this… Here, use this,” Naruto sat down his gun and grabbed a small foam orange fox that sat on his tray and handed it to Sasuke over his bare shoulder.

Sasuke, shoving Naruto’s hand away as if he wasn’t the one to grab it in the first place, took the orange fox and threw a middle finger at him.

The tanner man let out a hardy laugh, clutching his stomach before picking up his gun again, dipping it in the black ink, and moving back in position to finally get working on the bastard's tattoo. “Ready?”

Clenching the fox in his right hand, Sasuke let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 

“Whatever.”

Watching the dark-haired man closely, Naruto moved his gun against Sasuke’s back making a small dot over one of the stenciled lines. Hearing a hiss, Naruto moved his gun away. “You okay?”

Sasuke nodded, putting his ‘tough guy’ face up again, despite the toy he was practically squeezing the life out of still in his hand, not going anywhere soon. “Yeah, it’s whatever, keep going.”

Not responding with words, but just a laugh, Naruto looked back down to his canvas and brought the gun back against the skin, starting to outline the wording carefully and explicitly.

~xXx~

Finishing up the outline 30 minutes later, Naruto realized Sasuke had gotten used to the scratchy pain around halfway in and was now relaxed against the black chair. They hadn’t talked throughout the entire outlining but just basked in the buzzing of the gun. It was pleasant for the artist. Normally he’d be talking to his client throughout the entire process, but after seeing Sasuke's ease under his hand, he decided against it. Not wanting to disturb his focus on staying calm and relaxed.

“Hey man, I’m all done with the outlining, wanna take a short break? I could get you some water if you want,” Naruto asked, stretching his arms above his head after setting his gun down and discarding his black gloves.

“Hn,” Sasuke responded, still leaning against the chair, toy still clutched in his hand.

“Pfft, I’ll take that as a yes to both the break and the water,'' Naruto retorted, standing up to fetch a water bottle for his taciturn client.

Walking out of his cubicle, Naruto made his way down the hallway toward the supply closet once again. Opening the door and looking around for the case of water the shop kept in there, his eyes landed on a basket full of snacks and mini waters. Naruto grabbed one water for each of them and two bags of chips, not looking at the flavors; Before turning his heel and walking back towards his area, kicking the closet door closed in the process.

Approaching back to his little box, his eyes landed on a still-sitting Sasuke. His head against his propped-up arms, body leaning against the back of the chair. Almost as if he were sleeping. 

Naruto smiled gently, happy that the man finally let down some of his walls and was relaxed. Naruto paced towards his relaxed client, setting the water and the red bag of chips next to Sasuke on the tray, then proceeding to set his own refreshments on the floor next to his stool. 

Naruto sat back on his stool. “I got you some chips too, in case you were getting hungry.” 

Sasuke turned his head towards the blonde and then to the water and bag of chips residing next to him, reading ‘Lays: Spanish Tomato Tango’, he chuckled, “Thanks,” he said authentically before reaching over to grab the chips, spitting out his gum into one of Naruto’s napkins. Then proceeded to open the bag and popped a few in his mouth. 

Naruto’s smile somehow got even brighter at the comment. “No problem! Hey, what flavor are those? I didn’t check.”

Sasuke paused, still chewing. “Tomato.”

Naruto looked almost offended and squinched his face in disgust. “Tomato? What horrible person decided that was a good idea?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Tomato is good.”

Naruto watched as Sasuke ate a few more chips, looking content. “You have horrific taste in chips— Ugh , you probably eat salt and vinegar too, huh?”

The pale man just smirked at Naruto’s comment, affirming the fact that he did indeed partake in eating salt and vinegar chips occasionally.

“That’s some jail-worthy activity right there Sasuke, I’m not gonna lie,” the blonde remarked before moving his stool closer to his tray to clean and switch out the needle on his tattoo gun, subsequently putting on a new pair of black gloves.

Naruto, not wanting to interrupt the current tranquil man’s snack, waited enduringly for him to finish. Not minding the view of the truly stunning man before him one bit. Blue eyes glanced at the clock on the wall reading 6:47 pm and turned back to Sasuke, hoping he ate slower so he could savor their time together more. 

It was ridiculous how fast the asshole had Naruto wrapped around his finger. Especially when he’s said next to nothing , the entire time. Not even three hours ago, Naruto would’ve paid good money to see a football team tackle the bastard to the ground. But, now… Naruto, he didn’t know how he felt. The blonde was inordinately amazing at judging someone's character. He could tell from their short time together that the man was complex beyond belief. Sasuke had layers upon layers that would have to be cut through to get anything out of him. Albeit, Naruto wanted to see all those layers, and wanted to unwrap them himself. He wanted to know what made the apathetic man tick. He wanted to know everything he could about him. Naruto was just simply drawn to Sasuke… and he didn’t know why.

It might be Naruto’s guileless nature that drew him towards Sasuke, perhaps. The whole ‘sweetheart’ gets with the ‘ bad-boy ’ trope. By contrast, Naruto didn’t even know if the whole ‘ get with ’ part had any grounds to stand on. He didn’t know if Sasuke was even into guys. He very likely could be straighter than an arrow and Naruto was just being obtuse, but in spite, Naruto still wanted to have a better deal with him. Platonically or not, Sasuke had to be the most alluring man he’d ever met, and that was a hill Naruto would die on.

Naruto knew that getting involved with someone could be a slippery slope. Which caused him to dither in making a move on the comely man. To test the waters of course. If Sasuke’s comment and reaction to his little slip-up earlier was anything to go by… it could be received in either direction. He was more than likely just joking around. However, if the man reciprocated the blonde’s advances, Naruto knew he wouldn’t want a strictly amatory relationship. He’s dabbled in the hooking-up culture of late and during college. It wasn’t something he wanted to indulge in anymore. Naruto had his fun. He wanted… something serious. Someone to have a life with. He wanted to be loved, not just be someone’s sex toy. Of course, Naruto was getting way ahead of himself though.

“So, ready to start back up again?” Naruto asked after seeing the empty chip bag being thrown into the trash can against the wall.

Sasuke simply hummed before leaning forward against the chair, back in the position he was in during the first half of the tattoo. Toy miraculously back in his pale, slender fingers.

“Well, okay then! Let’s get this thing back on the road!”

Chapter Text

The amount of people that had accumulated into what once was a minuscule inner circle, was absolutely absurd. If Sasuke could recall his childhood and teen years, he only had three friends. He wasn’t very close to any of them. But, they were well-versed acquaintances and he hung out around them during school and even at a few sleepovers and parties. However, originally, the only reason he even kept any so-called friends was to put his family at ease. 

When Sasuke was young he frequently overheard conversations about how he had trouble making friends and how it worried his family. It normally made Sasuke chuckle. Trouble? No, Sasuke didn’t have any trouble in that department. He just chose not to bother with unnecessary and trivial matters like friends. He didn’t see a need for them.

This of course was until one night, he had caught his mother sobbing into his father's shoulder in their living room. Saying how she had failed him as a mother. How he always looked so lonely, it broke her heart. This widely confused young Sasuke. Why would he be lonely? He had his brother. Who else would he need? He didn’t want any more friends than him. Sasuke was in a state of tranquility with just his brother, he didn’t need nor want anyone else. Although, Sasuke still wanted to know why his supposed ‘lack of friends’ upset his mother to such an extent. So, he went to the only person he ever would go to for such a question. Itachi.

~

Sasuke ended his eavesdropping on his parents to make his way to Itachi’s room, where the thirteen-year-old Uchiha would reside.

Walking down the hall of the upstairs area of his childhood home, Sasuke walked quietly, but briskly. The walls that lead the young boy to his brother were lined with framed photos of him as an infant to photos of his seven-year-old self. Itachi did have many more photos, however, him being the elder brother. 

Approaching Itachi’s door, Sasuke knocked tacitly, hoping that his parents wouldn’t hear him.

“Yes?” Itachi asked from the other side of the door.

Sasuke slowly opened the door to reveal his small self to his brother, who was seated at his desk, working.

Itachi looked up from what he was working on, at the door where his brother stood. Itachi smiled tenderly, “Oh, Sasuke…” Itachi looked back down to his paper before continuing. “What are you still doing up at this hour? It’s… oh my, it’s two in the morning. I didn’t realize…”

Sasuke walked into the room, closing the door behind himself as he approached his brother, “Why does Mother cry for me?” Sasuke asked directly, disregarding his brother's question and commentary on his own lack of awareness of how late it really was.

Itachi looked up at his little brother, surprise lacing his face. “What are you talking about?”

Sasuke sniffles, as his eyes start to become irritated as salty tears fill them. “She cries into father’s arms downstairs, saying how I don’t have friends, but I do! I have you! Did… Did I hurt her?”

Itachi takes a second to process before gesturing for Sasuke to come closer to him, with the same calming smile he displayed a few minutes earlier. “Why do you think you hurt her, is it because she cries?”

“Mhm.”

Itachi stands to approach his brother who stands a few feet in front of him. He lifted him swiftly and placed him on top of his desk sitting, before returning to his desk chair. “Sometimes, when someone cries, it isn’t because they are hurt or because they are sad. Sometimes, it’s because they are confused.”

Sasuke looked puzzled, “Why would someone cry about something they don’t understand?” Sasuke asked, swinging his legs back and forth, fidgeting with his sleep shirt.“That seems silly.”

Itachi chuckled, “I guess it could appear that way. But that’s just how some people express abashment or their confusion of something they can’t quite grasp,” Itachi paused, “But Sasuke… she’s not crying because you hurt her. So don’t think like that, hm? No more tears,” the long-haired teen finished, before wiping a tear off his younger brother’s cheek.

Sasuke was in the common position of being lost in his brother’s explanations about things he’s asked him about. But today, Sasuke thinks he understands.“Okay… but why is she confused?”

Itachi sighed, not knowing how to explain the situation to Sasuke. “Do you think you would be open to answering a question for me, Sasuke?”

Itachi didn’t commonly ask Sasuke questions during a conversation of this nature, so Sasuke was curious as to what his brother was going to ask.

Sasuke tilted his head. “What is it?”

“Why is it that you are against making friends with your classmates?”

Huh? Why would Itachi ask that? He’s starting to sound like father and mother. Sasuke wasn’t against making friends, he guessed. But, Sasuke didn’t need them. Why couldn’t anyone understand that?!

“Ugh, not you too! I’ve told you before, I don’t want them or need them!” Sasuke huffed out with a pout, turning his head away from his brother.

“Sasuke, there’s no need to get an attitude,” Itachi scolded. “I’m aware of that fact, but my question is why? Why don’t you need or want friends?”

Sasuke, he didn’t know why he ruminated this way. He always had the notion that the classmates he had at school were annoying and immature. So, Sasuke couldn’t see himself partaking in playing or talking to them. But most of all, secretly, he didn’t want anyone to replace Itachi. What if he made a friend and Itachi got jealous? Sasuke didn’t want to make him upset at him.

Sasuke mumbled something under his breath that Itachi couldn’t quite discern.

“Hm?”

Sasuke puffed air through his nose, “...you,” he mumbled a little louder.

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows, bewildered, “Me? Why would I…” Itachi paused, thinking about what Sasuke was trying to get at before it registered. Itachi cocked a smirk at him. “Sasuke, you don’t think that I would get jealous of you finding friends, now do you?”

Oh, how Sasuke hated how sharp his stupid older brother was.

“No! As if I would think that! Plus, I don’t care about your stupid feelings!” Sasuke yelled.

The older teen practically cackled at his remark, throwing his head back slightly against the head of the chair, “Pfft—-You foolish little brother. Don’t become a hermit with no friends on my account.” Itachi ceased himself for a second to halt his laughter, his face turning more serious, “You need friends, Sasuke. It’s unhealthy for you to be cooped up with me all the time, I’m… I’m not always going to be around.” Itachi halted his sentence, something clicking in his head before proceeding. “I have to go to college sometime you know. What do you even do during recess at school?”

Sasuke shook his head, “I know Itachi, but that’s a long time from now,” Sasuke paused, looking to be in introspection for a short minute.“Hm, normally I study or read. Sometimes I run a couple laps around the field depending on how hot it is.”

Itachi sighed at his kid brother, shaking his head. “Every so often I see myself in you a little too much little brother.”

Sasuke smiled at what he thought was a compliment. “Really?”

“Yes… but that’s not to say that it’s always a good thing Otouto .”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” Stupid Brother.

The two boys sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Itachi spoke again. “I want you to do me a favor, Sasuke. Can you do that?”

Sasuke nodded his head, a smile creeping onto his tear-stained cheeks.

“Tomorrow, during recess, I want you to approach someone from your class, and ask to play with them. You think you can manage that?” Itachi questioned, quirking a brow at his kid brother.

Anytime Itachi asked a favor of the smaller Uchiha, Sasuke knew what that was code for. Itachi was challenging him.

“Is this a dare , Itachi?” 

Itachi’s smirk was back on his face. “So what if it is? Are you up for it?”

Sasuke laughed as if it was a palpable fact, “What kind of question is that? You can just call me mister affable!” Sasuke pronounced, proud of his use of a big word around his brother, as pointed to his chest with a bright smile.

Itachi snickered. “Affable, huh? Someone’s been studying the dictionary.”

“Mhm!” Sasuke gleamed.

Sasuke hopped off of his teen brother's desk before making his way to his door, stopping before he could walk out, and turning to face Itachi again. “Me completing this dare… will it make Mother stop crying?”

Itachi smiled gingerly prior to standing and walking over to his kid brother, poking his forehead with two fingers. “Yes, Sasuke, I assure you it will.”

Sasuke looked up at his brother, “Why is that? How come I need to do something I don’t want to do, to make someone else happy?” Sasuke asked agilely.

Itachi stood straight looking down at his little brother, contemplating what to say, “Sasuke… Hm, well, occasionally in life, people have to do things that they inherently don’t want to do. Sometimes it’s to make someone we care about smile.” 

Itachi hesitated before continuing his explanation.

“I didn’t want to join my school’s basketball team, you know? But I did. Father wanted me too. It would make him happy and smile, so I joined. Do I like basketball? No, but I do it anyway. I think it’s worth it in the end. When I get to see his eyes light up when I talk about how practice goes or how we won a game, it makes me smile… The same concept applies here to you, Sasuke. You may not want to have friends, and while I don’t agree with that, it’s in your own right to think it. But, mother, she… she won’t understand that. Do you understand?”

Itachi was wise way beyond his years, and Sasuke knew this all too well. Ninety percent of the time Itachi talked, Sasuke had no clue what he was talking about. He talked so adult-like that it just made Sasuke admire him even more. However, every time Itachi talked to him as the crow flies, he always knew how to phrase himself just right to where Sasuke wasn’t completely lost. 

Sasuke smiled softly. “I do . ”

Itachi ruffled Sasuke’s hair. “Good… now good back to bed before someone catches you up.”

Sasuke nodded, turning away from Itachi before he opened the door and made his way to his room.

The young Uchiha knew what he needed to do. God, what would he do without Itachi's guidance? But, Sasuke didn’t want to think about that right now. He had a dare to fulfill.

~

Sasuke remembers deciding to take action to fix his mother's pain after his little talk with Itachi. He didn’t like the feeling of the heavy boulder being pressed down inside his stomach at seeing his mother cry, so he would make her smile.

The next day, during his first-grade morning recess, he had approached a group of three kids from his class. After deciding that they looked the least annoying, Sasuke attempted to talk to them. He was awkward and stuttered at first, not realizing how unaccustomed he was to talking to kids his age. The three just smiled and introduced themselves as Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo, not even slightly bothered at Sasuke's clumsiness. From there on, Sasuke was a part of their inner circle. Sasuke’s mom was ecstatic when he brought his newfound friends home for a playdate a couple of weeks later.

Sasuke stayed friends with them throughout college and into his adult life with no complaints. Even after Karin snuck through his window one night to try to get into his pants. Drunk. And very much not single. Karin and Suigetsu had been fucking since middle school, and everyone knew that as a fact. But even with all of this, he was still friends with her. Sasuke, to this day, couldn't figure out why the hell he let that slide, but he did. In all honesty, it was probably because he didn’t want to deal with a pissed and loud-mouth Suigetsu trying to start shit, but the jury was still out on that one.

Nevertheless, miraculously, over the last couple of years , those three friends grew into eight and that eight grew into he didn’t even know how many people. He sure as hell wasn’t keen on counting heads. So, this led to a shit ton of unwanted people probing him and poking their noses into his business. Sasuke was not pleased with this, but he didn’t do anything about it either. Not that he could anyway, there was no shaking half of the fuckers.

Surprisingly, Sasuke had gotten close with a few of his new ‘friends’. The original trio talked almost every day through a group chat. A group chat that Sasuke may or may not read all the messages of and respond to occasionally. Sasuke had gotten quite close with Sakura. A sweet, but temperamental woman that had been introduced through Karin. Apparently, they’re gym buddies? Whatever, it didn’t matter. Through Sakura, Sasuke and the trio met Ino and Sai. Sasuke always thought that those two were a weird pair, but it wasn’t any of his business. 

One regrettable night at a club on his twenty-first birthday is where he met Kabuto and his little gang. Sasuke honestly couldn’t place the guy. The most he knew about him was his name and the fact he wore glasses. That’s it. Sasuke had his suspicions that Kabuto was mixed up with some shady shit, but he really didn’t care. As long as he wasn’t dragged into it. Kabuto and his friends were in good company and supplied strong weed. Sasuke would turn a blind eye for now.

The rest of the people that made up this big-ass friend group were all of Itachi’s friends. Sasuke couldn’t recall half of their names but could recognize their faces in a line-up. The one that he knew the most was Deidara. Deidara was Itachi’s long-term boyfriend since undergrad, and eventually turned fiance. Sasuke had known him since he was a freshman in high school. He generally liked the exuberant blonde, but he was loud and more than talkative. So Sasuke could only handle him in spurts. However, those spurts started to become longer and longer after Itachi had this last recurrence of Leukemia. His last recurrence.

After they found out that Itachi wasn’t going to pull through this time, both men completely quit their jobs to have their last month with Itachi undisturbed. Sasuke's and Itachi’s parents funded all three men the entire month without hesitation. The month was painfully short. The entire thirty days Sasuke felt as if he was on a slide that led to a pit of acid. It sure felt like just that when the heart monitor attached to his brother led a straight line. 

All Sasuke could remember feeling in that moment when his brother's hand went placid and fixed in his hands was feverish pain spreading like a virus from his head to his toes. Sasuke had thought he was prepared for this since he was young. Itachi was always in and out of the hospital, so he was ready for his parents to come home one night with tears in their eyes, not ready to break the news to him. But Sasuke never would have ever been prepared for this raw throbbing ache he felt. He didn’t know where it came from, but it engulfed Sasuke completely. 

Sasuke even recalled trying to shake his brother's arm, in a futile attempt to wake him… Sasuke didn’t know why he did it. Maybe he was hoping it was a nightmare that Sasuke would wake up from. He'd wake up and walk out of his childhood room to see Itachi studying in the kitchen, all the same, and calm. 

Needless to say, neither of the men woke up.

The last memory that Sasuke holds with himself of that wretched day is perhaps the worst recollection he has of the past. There were nights when Sasuke couldn’t sleep because it played on a constant loop in his brain like a broken record.

~

The sound of two agonizing screams were relinquished. They filled the solemn hospital room as a long beep hovered over like the Grim Reaper of Death. Deidara and Mikoto collapse on top of the deceased body of Itachi, bellowing sob after sob. Their hands grip the thin sheets and the sweat-laced hospital gown as they hold on to the last sliver left of a lover and a son. 

~

Sasuke remembered wanting to run, wanting to scream, wanting to cry. But he didn’t, maybe he couldn't. He just sat in the chair next to the bed. Numb . Someone could have punched the shit out of him, and Sasuke wouldn’t have even flinched. 

Everything after that day was a blur for weeks. 

Well, until one particularly persistent pink-haired woman knocked so hard on his apartment door he swore there were cracks. She yelled at him through said door, saying to let her in before she took it upon herself to get to him, however, she had to.

Sasuke did eventually cave to her tenacity, in fear of losing his deposit on his apartment to whatever antics she was going to try and pull to get inside.

When Sakura's eyes initially landed on the raven, she was in shock. Sasuke didn’t remember what he looked like, but there was no way he had looked like anything except utter shit. He hadn’t showered, he didn’t remember the last time he ate, and he hadn’t even thought of looking for a new job.

It wasn’t to say Deidara or Mikoto were doing any better, however. Quite frankly, Deidara hadn’t left his apartment for months with an exception for the funeral, and Sasuke’s mother wasn’t faring much better at the time either. Fugaku, Sasuke’s father, never showed an ounce of emotion the entire time though. Not a single tear, and still hasn’t to this day.

Sasuke wanted to know why the hell he hadn’t inherited that trait. Because what he wouldn’t give to forget the memories of finally breaking and letting go for the first time after his brother's death. Sasuke remembered crashing into Sakura when he finally let her in. In more ways than one. Sakura held him securely as he wept into her shoulder, and let out all of the bottled-up emotions he’s held in for years regarding his brother's condition.

Sasuke didn't know where he would be if he’d be anywhere at all if it weren’t for Sakura. She provided sympathy in Sasuke's lows and offered solutions and stability in his highs. It wasn’t as if Sasuke would admit it, but he was truly indebted to her. He owed her a lot for pulling him out of his hole of despair with sorrow and setting him straight.

Soon after Sakura yanked Sasuke back into the walking and breathing of the normal, he started to get visitors daily. His friends and even Itachi’s friends came to give their condolences or to just simply hang out. Sasuke, normally, would’ve been irked by this. All these people, in his apartment—in his safe space ? The impassive man would ordinarily shake at the thought… but he wouldn’t tell them to bug off. He couldn’t. Not after everything they’d done for him.

Itachi, he was right about friends all those years ago, Sasuke needed them. But he shouldn't even be surprised at that. Itachi was always right.

Sasuke quickly realized that these people cared about him, well… everyone with the exception of Kabuto. Again, Sasuke had no idea why Kabuto kept him around. But everyone else? They weren’t just around him because of his last name or his pretty face. They were an extension of his family. Of Itachi’s family. He wouldn’t push them away. It was a repugnant thought nowadays. These people—these friends were some of the last reminders he’d have of his brother. 

All the parties. The hangouts. The stupid car rides and staying up until the early hours of the morning drinking and smoking. All happened, with stupid Itachi present.

Itachi, he was Sasuke’s brother, yes, but he was so much more than that. He was Sasuke’s best friend, his idol. From Sasuke’s first memory of his brother to his last, Itachi was Sasuke’s whole world.

Sasuke, he would never have that again. But he did have everyone else to help fill the void. While he would, on no account, not mourn for Itachi. Sasuke now, eight months later, could smile and joke with ease like he used to before his brother got sick again.

Sasuke wouldn’t give up that fulfillment for anything in the universe. He truly believed he had everything he could ever need. 

That of course, was until the day Sasuke met one dumbass blonde, blue-eyed tattoo artist. Who, might he add, rambles even more than Deidara, Sasuke didn’t even know that was possible . Sasuke could feel Itachi’s gloating from the grave . Sasuke, at one point in his life, had said he would have staked his life on never thinking it was possible to have the same taste in men as his brother. But shit, he’d been wrong against his brother before. And Sasuke; Fucking. Continues. To. Be .

~xXx~

“Well, okay then! Let’s get this thing back on the road!” Naruto had said, as he held his gun, nearing Sasuke.

This appointment had been filled with Sasuke’s most embarrassing and aggravating moments in his entire life. To start, Sakura had particularly abandoned him, alone, with someone Sasuke could only call a fucking moronic, loud-mouthed, idiot . An idiot that didn’t know how to not stick his nose up Sasuke’s ass and into his personal information and business. The said idiot who also had managed to read Sasuke faster than his, near genius , brother could. Sasuke had never felt more emotionally vulnerable than he had been today and he hated it.

He would have to repay his agony to Deidara with a good punch to the gut and a rant. He was sincerely considering beating the man to a pulp because of what he’d caused. And for having the nerve to call into work, on the day he said he’d take Sasuke to get his tattoo.

Naruto sure did know how to make one memorable first impression. He had seen the guy, in a matter of one hour, burst in like a visible ball of kinetic energy. Hit on Sakura. Yell at him for defending Sakura's integrity. Proceed to watch him get castrated by his boss for the said yelling. That one? That one Sasuke found particularly amusing. Naruto then moved on to reading him like he was an open book, which Sasuke was anything but. Naruto mentioned how he fancied assholes. And honestly, Sasuke did not want to continue, this did more harm than not. The point of the matter is, Uzamaki has to be the biggest dumbass Sasuke has ever had the displeasure of meeting.

Fourth, he wouldn’t deceit himself. He did find Naruto kinda attractive… In the dumb blonde kinda way though. 

Sometimes Sasuke swore he was morosexual. Especially given all the people he’s ever been with or liked were absolute morons. Oh, but Naruto? He had to have been the worst case of this. The cordial guy was a little shorter than himself but was built leaner and his skin was of a sun-kissed tan. Naruto’s hair was golden and his eyes practically glowed a vibrant blue. So, in the looks department, he was a solid ten. But oh holy lord above, when that man opened his mouth Sasuke could swear he could see actual human feces fly out. He was annoying, chatty, and thought he knew everything. And worst of all… Sasuke didn't hate it.

Sasuke remembered his first crush on someone of the same sex. Sasuke was fourteen, he was eighteen, and a blonde. Itachi got a real kick out of that one, upon finding out. It did surprise him, the attraction, but he didn’t have any sexual crises. It was, what it was. And so was this little puppy love situation. Sasuke would forget about it in a day or two. He wasn’t one to linger on some mindless infatuation like this. Sasuke didn’t even know him, at all .

However, something that did concern him was Naruto’s special talent.

This man had not only seen straight through Sasuke's front immediately, he had somehow gotten Sasuke to expose some of his most fragile parts to him. They were perfect strangers, and Sasuke was practically laying naked and emotionally bare under his cerulean gaze. Naruto knew more about him in a few hours than any of his friends knew about him in over a decade . Sasuke wanted to know how the blonde had done it. How did he crack his outer layer so easily?

Sasuke had even grabbed his fucking hand. He grabbed it like a fucking million-dollar bill! Sasuke would never live that down. It was the most out-of-character thing he could have ever done and he absolutely detested himself for it. 

The pain of the tattoo was tolerable, but the idea of it is what brought up some unpleasant memories for the stoic man. The design itself wasn’t that bad. It was actually very beautiful. Not that he would admit that to Naruto, even if someone held a gun to his head. And just to continue the list of the things he wouldn’t admit, the gum and cream helped… more than he was expecting. That and the fox. And definitely not Naruto’s hand. Sasuke still couldn't believe he did that. What was he thinking!? 

Naruto was dangerous and this tattoo is beginning to be more of a hassle than it was worth.

“I’m starting now Sasuke,” Naruto informed him as he began the shading.

Sasuke wanted to flinch and squirm at the feeling of the needle being pressed into his skin at rapid speeds but held it in. Sasuke closed his eyes and held the toy tighter. He focused on his breathing and tried his best to relax and think of something else. Yet he was having trouble for some reason. Which confused him since he had no issues preoccupying his brain with other thoughts previously.

Naruto luckily decided that he would try talking during this half of the session. Sasuke was silently thankful.

“Hey, so, how are you holding up over there?”

How did the dumbass think he was holding up?

“Just fantastic,” Sasuke responded blankly.

“Oh, really?” Naruto asked, optimism lacing his voice.

“No.”

Naruto ‘tsked’. “Ah, you know, you’re one pessimistic fellow.”

He just noticed this? Sasuke was never really known for his pleasantries. He could recall quite a few pops he had received on his mouth growing up for his negative attitude. But alas, it’s just who he was.

Sasuke opened his eyes, just to roll them. “I know.”

The room was silent for a couple of minutes. The only sound that could be heard was Naruto working with his gun against Sasuke's pale skin. This silence was quickly interrupted.

“Um, do you want to talk? Or, I guess I should be asking if it’s okay if I talk. I know you're not exactly a chatterbox… but I had a question that’s kinda been nagging me.”

Sasuke didn’t know if he liked the sound of that. A question? From him? This could be near anything and he already had shared more than he would’ve in his worst nightmares… On the other hand, though, Sasuke could use the distraction.

Sasuke sighed. “I don’t care what you do.”

Naruto laughed softly. “Right, okay so, you don't have to answer! But… What does your tattoo say? Like, in English?”

Sasuke sort of expected this. However, he didn’t want to share what it said. Sasuke wasn’t even planning on telling Deidara or Sakura. His brother's death, while it’s a lot better, is still a sore spot and he didn’t want to discuss it. He had been hesitant to even get this tattoo in the first place. A permanent reminder that he would never see or speak to his brother again? No, thanks. But Deidara wanted to do it and he was one royal nagger. So, Sasuke did cave eventually. He even liked the idea of it after some time passed. Although, why would he share it with this dumbass? All that telling him would lead to is questions. Questions that he did not want to answer.

Be that as it may, Naruto was the one writing it. He did kinda deserve to know what he was writing. Sasuke was torn.

“If I were to tell you, I want no more questions regarding it, or my brother, understood?”

Sasuke could practically feel Naruto's pearly white smile radiating off of his mouth.

“Absolutely!”

Sasuke hesitated, already regretting his decision in telling the idiot. “It says, ‘My brother, may you rest in peace.’ That’s all.”

Sasuke could feel Naruto's hand still at hearing his voice. The air became heavy in Sasuke's lungs and he began to sweat some. What’s with that reaction? Why did Naruto freeze up like that?

Prior to Sasuke being able to ask why he stopped, Naruto’s voice came out husky and full of emotion, “Sasuke… I know that I don’t know you very well. Hell, you’re a stranger, we’re strangers, but… despite the bastard attitude you put out, I can tell you’re a breathtaking man.” 

What… What did Naruto mean by breathtaking? Was this fucker hitting on him right now! Seriously!? Sasuke was pouring himself out for Naruto, something he never does for his closest friends, let alone strangers, and this is how he’s repaid!? Sasuke was going to murder this man.

Sasuke was about to go off before Naruto started again, realizing his mistake, “Wait! Not in the appearance way! Wait, ah! No, no, no, I mean you’re not bad looking in the slightest! But, I mean as a person. You must be one hell of a brother too, haha… Ugh, What I’m trying to say is, I’m sure you love your brother very much. That and he must have been a very good man, to help bring up such a remarkable guy,” Naruto finished.

Sasuke… he didn’t know what to say. What does someone say to something like that? He was well accustomed to being complimented on his looks or people recognizing him by his last name but… no one’s ever said anything remotely close to what Naruto had just proclaimed. Naruto knew nothing about him! ‘A remarkable guy’, in what world…

This guy was something else.

“You're a dumbass Uzamaki. You know next to nothing about me, and you're making comments like this? I could be a terrorist that’s killed hundreds for all you know.”

Naruto laughed a short titter as he continued to shade in the lettering on Sasuke’s back. “No, impossible. My people-reader is always on point, you’re no terrorist.”

“So, you meet terrorist’s regularly then?” Sasuke quipped.

“Uh… duh… totally? Maybe? Ugh, all right, fine, I’m not well-versed in terrorism. But! I am a great judge of character.”

“Right.”

“I am! I’ll prove it to you!” Naruto declared as he moved to get more ink on the needle.

This conversation is one that Sasuke in a million years would’ve never guessed he’d be having. He was arguing with Deidara’s tattooist about terrorists and whether or not he was one. This was one for the books. Hell, Sasuke would be lying if he said he didn’t find it entertaining though. There was also the surplus of being distracted away from the tattoo, by Naruto’s incredible lack of taciturness.

Sasuke figured he’d humor the simple-minded man. “By doing what?”

Naruto was in deep thought seemingly, since he stifled his speaking completely. “Hm… Oh! How about we play 21 Questions?”

Really? Sasuke could not believe that this man was a legal adult , who was given the responsibility of drawing permanent pictures on people. Well, actually… he guessed it wasn’t so far-fetched after thinking about it. “What is this, a middle school girl’s sleepover? You want to paint my nails too?”

“If you're offering! Positively! Pink or blue for the color and did you want glitter with that? And was it just the manicure or were we gonna do the full package of mani-petty and haircut?” Naruto jeered at the brutish man under his palm.

“Funny.”

“Dude, I’m being so serious right now. Let’s play, yeah?”

Sasuke sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day. “Okay.”

“Really?” Naruto gleamed happily.

“No.”

“Ugh! Come on asshole! It’ll help pass the time, you know?”

Did Sasuke really want to deal with this dumbass asking him twenty-one unknowable questions? Not in the infinitesimal. Was the feeling and the thought of the needle getting any better? No, quite frankly it was getting worse. So, the question was, which path would make Sasuke go through the least agony?

“Why are you so set on this?” Sasuke asked.

“Because! I want to prove myself and I want to make you eat your words.”

Sasuke huffed a snarky chuckle. “Good luck with that.”

“So… Is that a yes I hear?” Naruto murmured, as he drew out the ‘o’ in ‘so’.

Sasuke groaned internally. He could not believe he was going to do this.

“It's a ‘get on with it before I change my mind’,” Sasuke could feel the penitence that leaked off his words.

“Yes! But you have to be honest if I’m right or not!”

“I don’t have to do anything.”

“Whatever, bastard, you better! Okay, first assumption…you ride a motorcycle!” Naruto said immediately, as he adjusted his stool to get a little closer to Sasuke. He could feel the other man's body heat radiating off of his tanned skin. Sasuke began to sweat even more.

Sasuke was offended. “A motorcycle, really?” 

“What!? You totally look like you’d be a part of Hell's Angels or something.”

Saying that Sasuke was disconcerted would be the minimization of the year. “Hell’s Angels, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Firstly, when have you ever seen an Asian member of that heinous group? Secondly, the fact that you think I look like a biker, is the most offensive comment I think I’ve ever gotten.”

Naruto laughed. “Damn, he can speak more than five words! Stroke a chord with that one, huh?”

Sasuke was beginning to return to his previous goal of murdering this man in cold blood. Sasuke Uchiha did not ride motorcycles. It was beneath him. He remembered Jugo’s little phase of motorcycle riding and obsessiveness back during their junior year of high school. Let’s just say, Sasuke hadn’t even looked at the red-head until the phase sub-sided. If his father knew that he had associated himself with Jugo at the time, Sasuke Uchiha would’ve soon been Sasuke Orphaned in a matter of seconds. He couldn’t even imagine what his father would say at the fact that he was getting a tattoo. Another thing he absolutely detested. 

“I do not ride a motorcycle. Drop it,” Sasuke spitted, venom lacing his voice.

“Fine fine, next assumption then… Hmm, you're a total clean freak aren’t you?”

A clean freak would be an exaggeration. Sasuke was an orderly and clean person, yes, but a clean freak? Probably not. He’s had a pile of dishes in his apartment go untouched on more than one occasion.

“Hn, not entirely. But I’m sure I’m cleaner than you,” Sasuke whipped.

“Hey! I’m… I shower every day!” Naruto yelled back, as he wiped some ink off of Sasuke's back with a damped paper towel.

“When was the last time you washed your bedclothes?”

“You have— Wait, you're supposed to wash those?” Naruto asked as he paused his movements on Sasuke’s back.

Sasuke shook his head and made a face of disgust. “My point.”

“Oh…Uh, moving on!” Naruto broke off for a minute to think, “...You're good at cooking.” Naruto stated, starting back up his movements with the gun.

Generally? Yes, yes he was. It was always Sasuke’s and Itachi’s thing. Cooking. So, he had learned from the best.

“Hn.”

“Okay, that’s totally a yes,” Naruto jested.

“It’s a ‘hn’,” Sasuke bantered back.

He laughed at this, “Hehe… I've got two correct. I am on a roll and you now must eat your words, my good sir! ” Naruto divulged as he stopped his movements and set his gun down on his tray.

Technically this was not true. He had only gotten one correct, but Sasuke wasn’t going to say anything about it.

“Think what you want, and you’ve only asked three questions, not twenty-one. You’re getting ahead of yourself now.”

“Oh no no, it’s the truth, I have won, hahaha!” Naruto started as he grabbed a towel and water to wipe off Sasuke's back. “But, as much as I hate to say it, we will have to pick this up another time man. I’m finished with your tat.”

Naruto… he was done already? They had been talking that long? Sasuke looked at the clock on the wall, and it had been about forty minutes since they had taken their break. It had felt not even as much as ten minutes. Sasuke would give it to Naruto, he was right, the man was good at what he did.

Naruto patted Sasuke's shoulder before he sat up off of the back of the chair. “Go look at my glorious work!”

Sasuke didn’t say anything, he just looked at Naruto before getting off of the chair he had been sitting in for well over an hour. Setting down the little fox, he walked his way out of the booth and onto the mirror. Approaching the mirror, Sasuke turned around and looked behind himself at the tattoo that was now present on his back. It was black and surrounded by red irritated skin. In the perfect center of his lower nape sat his brother's name, with his death date, in Signarita Zhai cursive script. On both sides of the name, thin embellishments were bordering it. Under sat the combination of hiragana and kanji writing that made up the sentence that Sasuke had requested. The tattoo… it was… it was faultless. Sasuke loved it.

The now sore man made his way back to Naruto's booth in a now-empty tattoo shop. Everyone had left about an hour ago, but Sasuke didn’t notice since he hadn’t left Naruto’s area in over an hour.

Upon arriving, he saw Naruto cleaning up his booth and putting things away. Sasuke didn’t know what he was supposed to do, so he just stood a little past the entrance.

Naruto looked up from what he was doing and smiled. “You like it?”

Sasuke wasn’t going to lie to him, “I do… It’s nice Naruto, really,” Sasuke hesitated for a second, “... Thank you,” he finished with a barely visible smile.

Naruto seemed to have caught it though, since his smile flashed even brighter, “That’s awesome, Sasuke. I’m glad you like it.” Naruto calmly spoke out.

The two men were quiet as they simply stared at each other, it wasn’t weird, it just… was.

Naruto seemed to have snapped out of whatever held the two men in silence because he began to speak yet again. “Can you come here for a second, I need to wrap you. Afterward, you can put your shirt back on, okay?”

Sasuke didn’t reply but moved toward Naruto. As he approached he held the gaze of the other man with his own. He stopped not two inches away as he stared into the blue depths of Naruto’s eyes, before slowly turning around.

Sasuke could hear the sound of paper being crinkled and then plastic being removed. He then felt Naruto’s ungloved, warm hands press a sticky plastic across his tender upper back. Sasuke could have sworn he felt the hands linger for longer than necessarily needed, but he didn’t want to look too much into it. Sasuke soon turned back around to face Naruto once again.

Sasuke was so close to him, he could see his whisker tattoo’s with more clarity and inwardly chuckled. A stupid mistake, indeed. Sasuke could also see the light sprinkle of freckles that covered his face and his partially chapped lips that were rosy pink. He really was a handsome man

Naruto cleared his throat before he slowly stepped away from Sasuke slightly, “This is called a second skin. It will help prevent things from directly brushing against your tat and will keep bacteria from getting to it while it heals. Uh, you can do everything you normally would with it on, even shower. I recommend taking it off after three to four days of healing. It can sometimes be uncomfortable to take off though. So, I would suggest you take it off when you're showering. Do it very slowly with water and soap so you don’t irritate it further. Make sense man?” Naruto explained to Sasuke as he continued to clean up his area, and got ready to close out the shop for the night.

“Yeah, it does,” Sasuke responded as he put his shirt back on and made sure he had everything he had brought, which was only his phone and wallet.

“Awesome dude, so um, I’m just gonna finish cleaning up back here real quick. You can go ahead and head up to the front, it'll be like five minutes. We can figure out payment and I’ll teach you the aftercare stuff then, yeah?”

“Hm,” Sasuke responded as he started to make his way out of Naruto’s booth.

Walking to the front, many thoughts were racing through Sasuke’s head. He had met Naruto a couple of hours ago, and his emotions regarding him have changed eminently. He started out thinking he was just a dumbass tattoo artist that he was going to have to put up with but soon came to realize that this wasn’t the case. If anyone was ‘putting up’ with anyone, it was Naruto ‘putting up’ with Sasuke. Sasuke felt weirdly comfortable around him too. In a way, he hadn't been comfortable since before his brother’s death.

Naruto just had something, Sasuke didn’t know what it was, which kinda pissed him off, but Naruto just did. He had something. That something grew and grew the more time Sasuke spent around him.

Not that Sasuke would say this aloud, but… he was kinda upset at how fast this appointment had passed by. He wanted more. More banter. More incident chatter. More hearing Naruto’s loud-ass laugh. More comfortable silences, filled with the low humming of a tattoo gun. Just. More. Naruto. Sasuke felt like he really was a middle school girl right now, leaving the class that he’d shared with his crush.

Sasuke was conflicted about a lot of things right now. But the one thing he wasn’t conflicted about, was not wanting to leave this shop tonight and never being able to finish answering those eighteen more questions.

Chapter Text

After finishing up signing and dating his portion of Sasuke’s paperwork, Naruto stapled it together and walked out of his booth and onto Shikamaru’s. He set the paperwork on the man's tray and picked up a pen and a Post-It note. Naruto began writing out a quick message to his friend in complete chicken scratch, using the metal tray as his table.

Hey Shika

Pls give this to the perv

His office is locked

Thx :)

Naruto was going to try his most earnest effort to avoid his next meeting with his foster dad for as long as possible, and as it was, Shikamaru, despite being the laziest out of their friend group, always ended up being the first to arrive at the shop to open. So, Naruto would just have Shikamaru deliver the documentation of Sasuke’s tattoo to Jiraiya, to be filed properly. Problem solved… for now 

He didn’t know why he was putting off the inevitable to such an extent. Purposely taking action ahead of time to avoid his dad? Naruto could laugh. He felt like he did back in high school when he would sneak a girl or the occasional boy into his bedroom. He knew he’d have to face the music soon enough, but Naruto did not want to talk to Jiraiya about the little mouth-off between him and Sasuke. Ever, if possible. The perv already had been in a crabby mood of late, for unknown reasons, might he add. So Naruto didn’t want to be an outlet for the older man’s emotions. Especially since Naruto hadn’t even begun to sort out his own regarding his new client.

The second half of the appointment was… interesting . He had learned some superficial information about Sasuke, which was great in its own right and made the blonde happy. But, there was this tension , after the tattoo was finished. 

Naruto could recall the air that surrounded them had felt impenetrable . He remembered sweating and feeling the heat that radiated off of Sasuke's skin noticeably more when he was applying the second skin than he had a few minutes prior. He couldn’t conclude what it meant. Was he coming down with something maybe? 

The jovial man knew he found Sasuke insanely attractive and he knew that he wouldn’t mind going on a date with the man if he ever worked up the guts to ask. However, there was a new arising issue. A feeling , an overbearing feeling. That he couldn’t quite place, no matter how hard he tried. Naruto had never felt it before with any of the other people he’s been around and he wasn’t going to lie to himself, it scared him. It was completely uncharted territory. It could be a loathing he felt towards Sasuke. They didn’t exactly meet with fireworks going off in the background. But would Naruto want to date the same person he supposedly loathed? He didn’t know. What he did know was that there were only two strong enough emotions that could fester this way and, intelligibly, Naruto did not want to humor either of them. 

He would have to be cautious around Sasuke until he figured out what exactly this feeling he felt towards him was and how he was going to handle it.

Whatever it ended up being though, whether a burning passion of desire or a burning passion of pure hatred, he was not going to get his heart broken again. Naruto has had his fill of that horrible raw pain and he was done being played with. He may seem like an open book most of the time. Which was true in its own right. But his heart, however? It was closed off, locked, and not easy to open for anyone. 

So, if he ever ended up wanting Sasuke, no matter the intensity, the bastard would have to give the same or more in the end. No more one-sided bullshit or quickies in a club bathroom. Naruto wouldn’t budge on this, regardless of what happens between the two.

If it was hatred that he felt, well, Naruto didn’t know what he would do. Punch him maybe? He hadn't had a good fistfight since high school or maybe he would only use his words to show forth his abhorrence. Hell, he had not a single clue how to handle any kind of negative emotion, if it wasn’t obvious already.

Exiting Shikamaru’s booth and switching off his light, he walked back to his own designated area to do a once-over. The room was back in order and ready for his Friday workday. Naruto grabbed his phone and bag off the client's chair where he had placed them when he had cleaned the room. Turning off his own overhead light, he stepped out into the hallway and walked down to the door that led to the front office. Naruto turned all the rest of the lights off in the back area, before opening the door and stepping through the doorway.

Upon walking through, his eyes rested on the pale man that was sitting with one leg resting on the other in one of the waiting chairs that lined the back window wall where the glass exit door stood. The sky outside was a dark navy blue and the moon was beginning to brighten. The light from it was starting to reflect against all of the cars in the parking lot. It was around eight, so the fact that it was getting dark wasn’t surprising, it was the beginning of Autumn. 

Sasuke’s gaze looked up from his phone and he slowly stood at seeing Naruto walk through. Naruto quickly turned around to lock the door before walking behind the front desk and setting his belongings on it.

“It’s been longer than five minutes,” Sasuke remarked, sounding annoyed as he walked forward until he was directly in front of the desk.

Naruto didn’t realize just how much cleaning he had to do to close out the shop. Plus the paperwork for Sasuke’s file, to add to that. It all made him lose track of the time. There was no way it had been any less than twenty minutes, but Naruto still felt bad for keeping him waiting.

“Ugh, I know I know , I’m so sorry man! I didn’t realize just how much I had to do, I’m not used to closing out. I should have probably finished up with you before doing all of that stuff,” Naruto apologized.

“Hn.”

Okay, he wasn’t as pissed as Naruto thought he would’ve been. That’s… surprising.

“Right, so uh, aftercare for your tattoo. After removing the second skin, only touch it with washed hands and keep the area clean. Avoid perfume-scented lotions and try to keep it out of direct sunlight. Don’t pick at any ink bubbles or scabs, no matter how bad they itch. Also, keep it very moisturized. We technically have ‘ointments’ that you can buy for like thirty bucks, but honestly just pick up some Aquaphor. It works wonders plus it’s a lot cheaper,” Naruto explained as he opened his personal pricing book to calculate how much Sasuke’s appointment would be.

“Do I need to sleep on my side?” Sasuke asked as he looked back down at his phone, scowling.

“Uh, you might want to. Your tattoo is more towards your neck so sleeping on it shouldn't damage it. But, it will be tender for a couple of days. So…Technically, it’s up to you and your pain tolerance!” 

“How much?” Sasuke questioned, still looking down at his phone.

Naruto was debating whether or not to charge Sasuke overtime. Naruto found great displeasure in closing out the shop, it was a hassle. But, he did take part in extending their appointment a little longer than necessary. “It’ll be $150 even, man.”

Naruto decided against it.

Sasuke set down his phone on the counter and reached behind himself to his back pocket to pull out what Naruto supposed was his wallet. Sasuke pulled out three one-hundred-dollar bills before handing it over to him. “Keep the change.”

“Oh wait, you gave me an extra hundred, here,” Naruto informed as he tried to hand the extra hundred back.

“I said keep the change.”

What!? A one-hundred-fifty dollar tip?! This had to have been the largest tip he had ever received… There was no way he could accept it, it wasn’t right. He felt like he was ripping Sasuke off.

“No, Sasuke, I can’t. I can’t accept this. One-hundred-fifty dollars is way too much for what you got done. I’ll take the fifty, but please take back the hundred. Accepting this is like highway robbery, ” Naruto ended with a nervous laugh.

Sasuke rolled his eyes before leaning in closer to Naruto across the counter. “When someone gives you money for causing trouble, you take it, dobe.”  

Naruto felt his face heat at the sight of Sasuke, not even three inches from his face. He could feel the distant breath that came out of the other man. It made his heart flutter in circles. Shit, Sasuke was close.

Also, what the hell does dobe mean?

“Um… Okay… You sure? This—This is a lot of money Sasuke,” Naruto conveyed softly.

Sasuke leaned back away from Naruto, turning around to make his way to the door. “I’m not taking the cash back. So stop trying to persuade me to.”

Naruto quickly grabbed his things before following the raven. Naruto stopped though, remembering he needed to set the alarm. “Ah— Hey Sasuke, wait a minute!” 

Turning back around and jogging to the desk, he stepped back behind it. Naruto set down his things on the floor and opened the panel on the wall that would set the alarm. He quickly typed the six-digit code and heard the high-pitched ‘ beep-beep ’. He swiftly picked his things back up, turned off the light, and trotted out the door. Naruto saw Sasuke standing on the curb of the sidewalk, right outside the shop’s entrance. He pulled out his key that would lock the front door and locked it before he approached Sasuke.

“Fuck, thank you so much for the cash, man! I appreciate it like crazy,” Naruto voiced, scratching the back of his neck with one hand, while the other pulled out his wallet to put his newly earned pay away.

Sasuke, still looking down at his phone, responded. “It’s whatever.”

Naruto wondered if this guy was secretly loaded or something. Because one-hundred-fifty dollars was nothing to sneeze at for Naruto, but given how easily Sasuke handed it over like it was just some chump change. It very well could be for him. 

“Well still, thank you,” Naruto said as he started to walk away from Sasuke, getting ready to begin his search for where he parked his car.

“Hn.”

Naruto didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay with Sasuke. He wanted to get to know him, to crosstalk, to just… be in his presence. He liked just being around Sasuke, even if they weren’t talking. Plus, he kinda wanted to ask him out. Just to test the waters, and see if it would help him figure out his own emotions. But Naruto didn’t think he could. The blonde was nervous and quite frankly, scared. What would it lead to? Assuming Sasuke was into dudes and Naruto determined that it was desire and not hate he felt towards him. What if he had a girlfriend or something? Naruto knew he said that Sakura wasn't his girlfriend, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have one. Or what if he had a boyfriend? And that said boyfriend was also some 6 '4 hunk, that was a professional boxer. Naruto couldn’t compete with that, and he didn’t really want to get beaten to a pulp for hitting on some stud's boyfriend.

Naruto couldn’t. Maybe if they ran into each other again in the future, he’d work up the balls, but right now? His reproductive organs had left for The Bahamas. 

“So, I guess I’ll see you around then, yeah?” Naruto asked as he walked backward slowly towards the street, facing Sasuke.

Sasuke looked up from his phone. Naruto couldn’t read his expression at all, but it wasn’t one he had seen on the man before.

“...Whatever.”

Naruto laughed. “See ya’, Sasuke.”

With no worded response, Sasuke just looked back down at his phone and waved.

Naruto wondered what was drawing Sasuke into his phone so much. He hadn't been on it at all during their appointment. Naruto really hoped everything was okay.

Ignoring his curiosity, Naruto turned his back to Sasuke. He walked out into the parking lot and began his search for his truck. He wandered through a few different lanes before spotting his red 1992, F150 flatbed truck. 

Saying Naruto liked his truck would be incorrect. He loved his truck, it was his baby. Carla was his first big purchase as an adult, without his perv’s help. It felt amazing when he bought it. He’s kept Carla in pristine condition. Because of this, it looked like he had just driven her off the lot. Let’s just say, Naruto was very proud of this fact.

Fetching his keys out of his bag, he unlocked his vehicle and hopped in. He set his bag in the passenger's seat and set his phone in the cupholder. Sticking the key in the ignition and turning it, he started her up, with a little bit of a stutter. He began pulling out of his parking space and turned to start driving home. That was before he looked in his rearview mirror and saw Sasuke still at the curb now sitting down, on his phone.  

Okay, something was wrong. Where was his ride? Naruto remembers Sakura saying something about how she wouldn’t be able to pick Sasuke up, but he had other people to do it, right?

Concern taking the forefront, Naruto turned around and began to drive toward the entrance of the parlor. Turning down the two-way street that was in front of the parking lot, he stopped in the middle and rolled down his window.

“Hey, Sasuke! You good?”

Sasuke looked up from his phone and up at Naruto through his window. “I’m fine.”

Naruto could feel his eyes roll. “ Right , that’s why you’re sitting on the sidewalk in front of the shop. Did your ride ditch you?”

Sasuke sighed. “Go home Naruto.

That long stick is starting to slowly penetrate this guy’s asshole again.

“Hah! Look bastard, I don't see how you can dictate when I leave my workplace. And I’m not too fond of people loitering in front of the shop, suspiciously, in the dead of night. So, you can either answer the question, or I’ll have to call the authorities on you I’m afraid,” Naruto drastically stated with just a little shrug to show how much he 'didn't' care.

Sasuke cocked a brow at his remark. “Dead of night? It’s half past eight. And call the cops all you want. I’m not loitering, I’m waiting. There’s a difference.”

“What are you waiting for then?”

Sasuke tossed his phone down on the sidewalk, not checking to see if the screen cracked. “For someone to fucking answer me.”

“Hm, so you did get ditched then?” Naruto teased.

Sasuke sucked his teeth. “Fuck off Naruto.”

Naruto chuckled. “I’m just having some fun, relax.”

Did Naruto think Sasuke should be left alone out here at night? Not particularly, it wasn’t the best neighborhood. The shop was in Compton. But what could he do? It's not like he could just drive him home or something… Wait a damn minute… Wow okay, maybe Naruto was a massive dumbass.

“Hey, I could take you home if you need. I don’t mind,” Naruto stated as he awkwardly tapped an unrecognizable rhythm on his steering wheel.

“And I’m supposed to trust you with my life in that contraption that looks to be about seventy years old? I’ll pass,” Sasuke remarked, with a slight smirk on his mouth.

Naruto gasped.

He. Did. Not. Just insult Carla. Who did he think he was!? Naruto was going to avenge her in this heinous act of great slander. No one comes after Carla.

“You asshole! You keep your tongue lashing , away from my Carla! She’s done nothing! She has taken care of me for eight years! So what if she’s an old soul… it’s part of her sparkle!” Naruto yelled out the window, pointing at Sasuke accusingly. 

Sasuke’s brows shot up under his long bangs before his face broke his stoic character, and he began to chuckle. “ Pfft — You’re fucking stupid.”

Sasuke’s laugh had to be a part of the seven wonders of the world. It was so… Naruto didn’t know, but he wanted to hear it on a constant loop.

“Ugh, you know what bastard? Maybe I shouldn’t have offered to help you. Not if you're gonna be a dick to my baby!” 

A sigh was let out by the raven as he tried to relax his facial expression back to what it normally was. “...Fine. I’ll let you drive me.”

Naruto could feel the twitch coming back to his eye. “ Let me !? I’m the one who offered, you prick! Oh , I am so close to just abandoning your ass here. No wonder nobody what’s to pick you up! I sure as hell wouldn’t! Not with your shitty commentary.”

“Then leave,” Sasuke scoffed as he picked his phone back up off the sidewalk.

Naruto could see what Sasuke was trying to do. That whole reverse psychology bullshit and he wouldn’t fall for it.

“Just hurry up and get in the car.”

Sasuke glanced up at Naruto through the window, smirking yet again, as if he’d won and began to stand. “If you kill me, I’ll kill you.”

“Um, you wouldn’t be able to kill me if you were dead,” Naruto responded.

“Don’t underestimate my capabilities, Uzamaki,” Sasuke states matter-of-factly as he dusted himself off and walked towards the passenger door of Naruto’s truck.

Naruto watched as Sasuke opened his passenger door. He quickly moved his things to the backseat, before Sasuke got in and sat down. Reaching across himself, Sasuke grabbed the seatbelt and locked it in place. Naruto waited patiently until his rider was comfortable before he asked where exactly he’d be driving him to.

“So, where’s our destination, my dear voyager?”

Sasuke looked over at Naruto before saying. “Bel Air, 130 Sepulveda Boulevard. It’s a thirty-minute drive from here.”

Did—Did Sasuke just say Bel Air? He lived around Bel Air !?! Well… the wealthy part checked out, “Damn okay… Bel Air huh? Not really familiar with that area, could you put the address in the navigator?” Naruto asked as pointed to the little GPS device he kept in his front seat.

Sasuke took the device and typed in the address and set it back against the car, behind the cupholders. The navigation voice began to speak. Listening to what it said, Naruto began to make his way out of the parking lot.

Naruto wondered what exactly Sasuke did for a living to be able to afford living up there. Or maybe his parents paid for it? Ah, Naruto doubted that. He didn’t know him all that well, but he couldn’t see Sasuke taking handouts like that. Not to mention that’s kind of a low thing to do as a twenty-seven-year-old man. Naruto hoped he earned his living out there, and didn’t leach off his parents. He didn’t really know the man. He very well could be doing exactly that.

“Hey, so uh, let’s continue our game, yeah?”

Sasuke looked back over to the driving blonde before looking back down at his phone. “Do what you want.”

Naruto smiled. “So, what do you do for a living?”

Sasuke paused his fingers from typing for a second before resuming. “I work at White Memorial."

The hospital? Was Sasuke a doctor? Naruto guessed it would fit him. He just hoped that Sasuke didn’t work with kids. All those poor innocent children being subjected to this asshole? Yikes.

“Nice! What field? I bet it's something sophisticated like neurosurgery or something,” Naruto asked with a chuckle.

“Pediatrics.” 

Oh, you’ve got to be shitting me…

“Oh god… You? Pediatrics?! Why? ” Naruto asked, absolutely flabbergasted.

Sasuke scowled. “None of your business.”

Put off by Sasuke’s sour attitude towards his little jab, Naruto decided that it would be unwise to push him on this. It was evidently another sore spot for him.

“Ah whatever, fine,” Naruto paused, thinking of his next inquiry as he merged onto the I-405. Deciding to investigate a little more into Sasuke’s possible attraction toward men, Naruto thought up the perfect subtle question. “...Do you go clubbing often?”

Sasuke again paused his actions on his phone, aiming his head up and taking a glance out the window, he says. “Used to. Haven't in a while.”

Why did Sasuke always have to act so glum? The whole ‘ woe is me ’ stuff was starting to put a damper on Naruto’s mood. He could only supply so much merriment in a conversation.

“Okay, what clubs did you use to go to?”

Sasuke turned his head and looked directly at Naruto, almost analyzing him. “Why?”

Naruto looked back and forth between the road ahead of him and Sasuke’s face. Shit, how was he going to answer this? He didn’t want to just come out and say ‘Cause I’m wondering if you went to any ‘I’m down for dick’ hangouts?’. That wasn’t exactly smooth. Naruto, normally, would just ask straight out if he was interested in someone, whether or not they were gay or bi or whatever. But Sasuke? He didn’t know if that was a good ally to take.

“Just curious if we would go to the same spots.”

Silence filled the car for a couple of minutes before Sasuke smirked. “And why’s that?”

Naruto did not like that look. Don’t get him wrong, Sasuke’s smirk wasn’t exactly ugly, ingenuously, it was hot. Really , hot. But, he didn’t like the glint in his eye. It showed something of knowing.

“No reason, it’s just a question,” Naruto stated simply, trying to hide the imaginable bead of sweat that started to run down his neck.

Sasuke set his phone down on his lap and turned his head away from the blonde. “I never picked the clubs, so I wouldn’t be able to supply names.”

Wow, this was beginning to become pointless. 

Giving up on this tactic that wasn’t working, Naruto decided on something else, “Okay… Did you maybe wanna ask me a question or two? That is , how this game normally works. It’s not supposed to be a one-sided interrogation,” Naruto laughed, as he took an exit ramp that led off of the highway.

“I don’t have anything to ask,” he responded blankly.

“Oh come on! That can’t be true! Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

Naruto stopped speaking. He was stumped. What could he say or ask? For once, the chatty man ran out of things to mention or comment on. Sasuke was just so hard to talk to! Naruto loved talking to him, but that was when Sasuke would talk back! Naruto didn’t want to give up, but oh well, he was tired. He'd just drop this asshole off, and be done with him. He couldn’t see this conversation going anywhere anyway. Luckily they started to pull onto the street where his apartment complex was located.

The street was lined with gaudily designed buildings on both sides. Fountains and weirdly shaped bushes were also splotched here and there. The cars that were parked in driveways and alongside the street were mainly sports cars and luxury-branded SUVs. 

Pulling up next to where the building was shown on the map, Naruto put his truck in park and looked out the window at the multi-story complex that looked like something he’d seen on a reality TV show. Naruto didn’t feel like he exactly fit in here. He started to feel out-of-place and unwelcomed, even though no one was even out right now. It was a weird concept.

Naruto glanced over to Sasuke who was busy unbuckling himself to step out of the car. He watched as Sasuke left the vehicle and shut the door firmly. Walking around the truck Sasuke stopped to tap on the driver's side window before Naruto rolled it down.

“... Thanks for the ride,” Sasuke uttered.

“Anytime!” Naruto responded with a toothy smile.

Sasuke stood still in front of the truck door, looking past Naruto. “Hey… give me your phone.”

Naruto eyed Sasuke puzzledly. His phone? “Um, why? If you don’t mind me asking.”

An exhale was released between Sasuke’s lips. “We're swapping numbers, so that if something happens with my tattoo I can just ask you directly, instead of having to deal with Deidara.”

Naruto’s heart began to beat more noticeably and his hands started to become warm, “Oh! Right, of course! Good idea, the only thing is… my phone is dead,” Naruto paused looking around his front seat before spotting a piece of paper and a broken green crayon on his floorboard. Now how he got a crayon on his floorboard, he wouldn’t know, but it didn’t matter. He’s just glad he did. Reaching over his middle console he grabbed both, “Um, here! Write your number down on this and when I get my phone plugged in at home, I’ll shoot you a text,” Naruto stated as he passed the crayon and paper over to Sasuke.

To note, would Naruto usually pass out his personal number to random walk-in clients? No… No, he wouldn’t. It was pretty unprofessional. He usually just gave out the shop’s number when people asked for one. But Sasuke didn’t have to know that.

Sasuke took them and used his knee to write out his number before handing it back over to Naruto, “Thanks again for the lift, I’ll owe you one,” Sasuke said as he started to walk away from Naruto’s truck and up to the stairs that lead to his apartment.

“It was no problem, really! I’ll, uh, catch you later!” Naruto shouted at Sasuke as he walked up the stairs. Sasuke just simply waved at the comment, back turned away.

The blonde watched Sasuke walk up to his apartment door and unlocked it to step inside. After seeing he got in safely, Naruto looked down at the number he held in his hands and smiled.

Naruto felt like a giddy child on Christmas morning. He got the bastard's number! And he didn’t even have to ask for it! He puffed out a puff of air and slid down into his seat. Naruto felt good.

Realistically, Sasuke didn’t have to give him this. If he had a question regarding his tattoo, he always could've just called the shop or Googled it. But he didn’t. He gave him his number. Naruto of course could be reading too much into it, but maybe, just maybe , Sasuke was interested. 

Looking over at the time displayed on the dashboard he read nine o’clock. While happy, Naruto was exhausted and wanted to crash. So, he set the piece of paper down next to his phone in the cupholder and began to make his way home.

The drive was quiet and peaceful. Other than the loud ass traffic, but that came wherever you were in Los Angeles, so naturally, he was more than used to it. Driving back onto the highway, Naruto sped through cars and other trucks, listening to the quiet music that he had turned on. 

His eyes were focused on the road before he saw a white flash of paper float through the air, out of his peripheral vision. Whipping his head towards the movement, and off the road, he saw the small piece of paper with Sasuke number on it glide through the air, making its way to his cracked back right window.

Freaking out and not wanting to lose the man’s information, he hastily slowed his speed and tried to move lanes, but was only met with a lone line of cars, with no openings. Naruto shot his head back to where the paper was and was met with an empty backseat. The paper, nowhere near in sight.

Well, shit.

~xXx~

Walking into Shinobi’s Tat’s at around ten-thirty, Friday morning, Naruto immediately jetted to where he knew Shikamaru would be at this time of day. Making his way through the line of booths, he stopped quickly inside his own, to set his things down, before continuing his journey. 

Arriving at the back door of the shop, he punched a four-digit code in and stepped through.

Looking right and left, he spotted his ponytailed best friend, leaning against the back wall of the alley, on his smoke break.

“Hey! Shikamaru! I need that paperwork back real quick!” Naruto shouted as he jogged up to the man.

“Hello to you too Naruto. My morning’s been just fine, thanks for asking, ” Shikamaru sarcastically remarked after he blew out a cloud of smoke.

“Ah, I don’t have time for that right now! I need the papers!”

Shikamaru sighed as he let his head fall back onto the wall. “Even if I wanted you to humor me as to why you need them back, I’m the wrong person to go to. I already handed them to Jiraiya twenty minutes ago. Go to him.”

Jiraiya was never this early to the shop! What the hell! Naruto had to get those papers back. He needed to get Sasuke’s number off of them! “What!? He’s never here this early! Ugh, I need those! Can you ask for them back for me? Pretty please Shika!” Naruto pleaded with his hands pressed together. 

Shikamaru shook his head. “Absolutely not, I already got chewed out by him for turning them in for you. I’m not going near that office again today. You're on your own.”

Naruto groaned. This had to be the worst-case scenario. All his work that went into avoiding the stupid perv was about to be thrown into the dumpster. Naruto wanted to collapse into a defeated puddle of goop, “Fine. Thanks anyways,” Naruto sighed as he turned around to walk his way back to the door.

Naruto heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Shikamaru throwing his stepped-on cig in the trash can outside the door. “Don’t make me regret asking this Naruto, but why exactly do you need the papers back?”

An awkward laugh was let out by Naruto. “Oh, haha, well you see…”

It was Shikarmaur’s turn to groan. “Naruto, what’d you do now?”

“I did nothing! It’s not my fault his number flew out the window!” Naruto clamored.

Shikamaru raised a brow. “His number? Naruto, you better not have done what I think you did.”

What did he think Naruto did? What was he… Oh . “We didn’t! Shikamaru, trust me, we… we didn’t do anything like that.”

“Right. Well, you better not have cleaned up your mess, if you didn’t do anything in the shop,” Shiakamru addressed, as he attempted to pass Naruto to open the door.

Naruto put his hand on his chest to stop him from opening the door. “No seriously, we didn’t fuck! I swear, okay? He just… Ugh, he gave me his number after I dropped him off at his apartment. No, it’s not what you're thinking, he was left without a ride at the shop. He gave it to me saying it was just in case anything happened with his tattoo and he needed to contact me. He didn’t want to have to go through someone else to get a hold of me. But, I put the paper with his number in my cup holder and I didn’t realize my back window was cracked open until it flew out.”

“Yeah, I’m regretting I asked,” Shikamaru paused, seeming to contemplate whether or not he wanted to continue the conversation with the frazzled blonde. He sighed again, “If he needs to contact you regarding his tat, he could just call the shop. Or better yet, if something is wrong and he’s in pain, he could just go to the ER. There’s no real reason he would need to contact you specifically. I mean, most of the stuff he’d hear out of you, is just a quick Google search anyway,” Shikamaru finished.

“Hey! Are you saying my information is useless!?” Naruto retorted.

“Yes. Now would you move? I have a client waiting.”

Naruto placed his hands on the other man's shoulders. “No, listen. I get that. I do. Except, I told him I would shoot him a text last night. And I didn’t. Because I don’t have his number. So he's probably thinking that I just blew him off or ghosted him! I can’t let that happen!”

Shikamaru placed his own hands on Naruto’s shoulders. “What does it matter? He’s just a walk-in. Probably just thinks you forgot. Not to mention, when have you ever given out your number to any of your clients? That paper flying out your window is totally like a sign or some shit. Take it.”

Damn. Shikamaru wasn’t wrong. What if that was a sign that he shouldn't get involved with Sasuke? Should Naruto take it? Now that he began to truly think about the previous afternoon. He acted… differently around Sasuke. Different than any of his other walk-ins. Different from any of his other clients. Different from any of his friends . Yes, Sasuke was hot. It was a well-established fact by now. But he’d had plenty of other good-looking people in his chair before and just in his life in general. What makes this time any different? Was it the loathing? Does loathing someone make you go to just drastic measures to keep in touch with them? To keep being around them? To have the smallest sliver of possibility to be able to touch them again? Naruto didn’t think so. Fuck , what was this whole ordeal about!

“You're probably right… it’s just, it feels wrong to ignore him. You know? Like I said I would message him, and practically lie to him by not doing so? It makes my stomach churn, I don’t know.”

Shikamaru took a couple of steps backward after releasing Naruto. His eyes squint in thought. “Naruto… look. I don’t know exactly what happened last night, but that guy? He’s… off,” Shikamaru paused to sigh. “It’s just… I don’t want to see you get hurt, okay? And that guy, he just seems to be bad news.”

Bad news? What was Shikamaru talking about? Shikamaru didn’t know a lick about Sasuke, and he was judging him like this? What the hell!?

“Shut the fuck up Shikamaru! You don’t get to decide who’s good and who’s bad for me. You don’t even know him!”

“Yes , I do. Gaara? His tattoo mentor was friends with his late brother. Yes Naruto, I know about the dead brother. From what I’ve heard from Gaara, they're all a rough crowd. Your little Sasuke included. So, before you go running your mouth about things you don't know about. Think. I don't mean to be an asshole Naruto, I don’t, but don’t yell at me like that again about something you don’t even know the half of.”

Naruto was fuming . How could Shikamaru talk about Sasuke’s brother like that!? He didn't see the look in Sasuke’s eyes when he was talking about him. It was raw pain. Why… Why was Naruto so angry right now? It was Shikamaru. Shikamaru . If anyone knew what they were talking about, it was him. So why did he have the urge to punch him? This all could be very true. Sasuke could hang with a rutted, nasty crowd. He could do plenty of indecent things, and Shikamaru’s right, he wouldn’t know. He didn’t know Sasuke. So, why did he jump to his defense so quickly?

“Ah shit, I’m sorry Shika… I don’t know what’s gotten into me today. I think I broke like twenty driving laws getting here, I yelled at the lady who was taking my coffee order because she was going so fucking slow, and now I’m picking shit with you! What the hell is wrong with me!” Naruto rambles out, throwing his arms in the air.

Naruto could hear Shikamaru laughing. “You’ll figure it out soon enough, man. Now if you would please excuse me, I need to apologize for you keeping my client waiting for twenty minutes.”

Naruto felt like a dick now, “Oh, shit bro, I’m so sorry. I didn’t… I wasn’t thinking straight, I’m not thinking straight,” Naruto apologized, as he moved out of Shikamaru’s way.

“In more ways than one apparently,” Shikamaru commented with a smirk, opening the door and walking inside.

Okay, Naruto deserved that one.

“Yeah yeah, funny funny,” Naruto responded back, tailing the other man into the shop.

~xXx~

It had been three hours since Naruto’s little squabble with Shikamaru and he could not make up his mind on whether or not to go to his dad, in the search for Sasuke’s number. Shikamaru had made plenty of good points as to why he shouldn’t go, but could Naruto ignore his gut feeling about Sasuke? Maybe. Maybe not. 

Naruto was a person that relied heavily on instinct and his true feelings regarding a matter. He was not someone who thought about anything from a realistic or logical point of view. It isn’t who he was. He followed his heart. He followed the butterflies in his stomach and where they pointed. He’s a headstrong, stubborn mule, who wouldn’t be swayed by the feelings or opinions of another. Shikamaru included.

Naruto was the type of person to rush into something without thinking twice about the consequences. Even if those consequences led him only to be hurt in the end. He’d still do it. He’d do it because that’s what he believed was right. He’d been this way his whole life. There wasn’t any event or person that caused it. It was just his way of life, and how he walked it.

He could recall many times in his life when this ideology had gotten him into some nasty trouble. But then again, on the flip side of the coin, he could remember many times when this had led him to help people out or had led to good. In more ways than one.

Naruto sometimes wonders if his ideology was born from the type of childhood he had. The blonde wouldn’t sugar-coat it, it wasn’t the best time in his life. 

He could reminisce on when Jiraiya had first gotten him when he was sixteen. He remembers being picked up from the trashy group home he’d been thrown into. Naruto was beaten, bruised, and scarred. He was mistrusting and even cruel at times. Two things, that he wasn't now by any means. He had his trauma load, sure, but he’d worked through it long ago. 

Naruto could recall the first time he could smell his new foster dad’s cologne and got to listen to the music he liked on the way to the new house he’d be living in. The first meal he had eaten with him was takeout from a Thai restaurant. He remembered hating it but was too scared to say anything. He remembers not trusting Jiraiya, not one bit. Naruto hadn’t had a good run with ‘ father ’ figures. And Jiraiya, at one point, was no different than any of the others.

This changed about three weeks into his stay with him, however.

Jiraiya had pulled him aside one morning, saying that he wasn’t going to school that day. That they needed to talk about a few things. Naruto had originally thought that he was in trouble, but this turned out to be very wrong.

~

Jiraiya gestured to his leather couch as he sat down on it himself, trying to get Naruto to follow.

“I’ll stand,” Naruto stated firmly.

Jiraiya sighed. “That’s fine, I just figured that you would want to sit down for this.”

Naruto scoffed. “And what exactly is this ? I shouldn’t be missing school you know, it’s considered child neglect. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble for that.”

Jiraiya smiled calmly, not faced by Naruto’s remarks. “Kid, I know you don’t trust me. And that’s fine, but there are a few things that you should know.”

“About what?” Naruto asked, crossing his arms.

“Well, for starters, your parents… And more specifically how I knew them.”

Naruto’s eyes shot wide and his breathing became heavy. He got dizzy on his feet and moved to sit down next to Jiraiya. His parents?

“What… W-What are you talking about? My parents… I don’t…”

“I know you don't know anything about them. At least that is what I’ve been told… Would you like to?”

In all of his sixteen years of life, Naruto had never been asked if he would like to know about his parents. The few times he worked up the courage to ask one of his temporary foster parents, they always said they didn’t know or it wasn’t any of his business. Naruto could feel tears start to work up behind his eyes.

“Y-Yes… Yes, I would,” Naruto responded, his voice cracking at its seams.

Jiraiya smiled even harder. “I was hoping you might say that.”

The older man reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet. Opening it, he fished for what looked to be an old photo. “Here, take it. This is me, your parents, and Ms. Tsunade. The woman you met a few nights ago."

Naruto took the photo and looked down to see four people. He saw Jiraiya and Tsunade, but he also saw others. A man and a woman. The man had a blinding smile, golden-tousled hair, and bright blue eyes. He… he looked just like Naruto. The woman was shorter, had vivid red hair, and a calm smile graced her lips. These… were Naruto's parents? Naruto felt as if he’d known the people in the photo his whole life, but didn’t know it. It was a strange feeling.

“These… These are my parents?” Naruto asked, looking up from the photo to Jiraiya.

“They are.”

“But, how? I mean… How do you…”

Jiraiya looked away from Naruto, sighing, “I knew your dad since he was young. He was a few grades below me in elementary school. I remember he used to follow me around when he was young, asking for me to teach him cool Tai-Jutsu moves or for me to draw him something… Years passed and we both grew up, still attending the same schools and eventually colleges. The both of us became good friends,” Jiraiya paused, looking back at Naruto.

“Eventually he met your mom at an art convention our art school was putting on that we were attending down in San Diego. You see, all three of us were planning to go into the tattoo business. We all finished school, and I eventually bought my current tattoo shop, Shinobi’s Tats. Unfortunately, me and your dad lost contact when that happened because I was so busy all the time. I heard three years later that they both had passed in a horrible plane crash. They… they were flying out from New York where they had moved to surprise visit me… I didn’t know until a friend of your father’s contacted me about it. I believe his name was Kakashi.”

Naruto didn’t know what to say to that. What does someone say to that?

“I didn’t find out about you until fairly recently. Apparently, no one cared enough to mention to me that they had a baby before coming to see me. They had left you with Kakashi for the few days that they’d be gone, but he couldn't keep you because he was just a kid at the time. So, you were moved into foster care in New York. A family had adopted you when you were a baby and moved to California, but the wife had died, so they had to give you back because they couldn’t afford the extra expenses,” Jiraiya continued.

Naruto was awestruck. “Were… Were they good people? My parents, I mean.”

Jiraiya smiled again at Naruto. “Exceedingly. Your parents were some of the kindest and most caring people I have ever known,” Jiriaya paused, pulling himself together before he broke down in front of Naruto. “And Naruto? I see both of them, as clear as day, in you .”

Naruto could feel the tears start to roll down his cheeks, “R-Really?” he stuttered out, overcome with emotion.

“Oh yeah! You look like you could be your dad’s identical twin. And well, I haven't known you for very long, but I can tell that you're the same firecracker that your mother was. You're their son, no doubt about it!”

Naruto felt like crying, smiling, and jumping up and down all at the same time. Every emotion that he felt was so staggering. He couldn’t believe that he was speaking and living with a man that had not only known his parents but was good friends with them. Naruto had never felt so fulfilled and gleeful in his life.

Without thinking, Naruto flung himself on Jiraiya and wrapped his arms around him, “...Thank you… T-Thank you so much. I—I can’t even begin to… Just, thank you,” Naruto mumbled against the elder man’s shoulder, bawling.

If Naruto were to look up he may or may not have been able to see a single tear escaping and rolling down Jiraiya’s cheek, “No kid, thank you… Thank you for existing…And I’m sorry that I wasn’t here sooner,” Jiraiya said sniffling, before wrapping his own arms around the sobbing teen.

~

From that moment on, Naruto knew that Jiraiya was someone that he could trust and confide in. And candidly? It was about damn time.

Jiraiya. What would he even say about this whole conundrum? If Naruto was, to be honest, he’d probably just laugh. That’s all. Naruto remembers when Jiraiya found out about his interest in the opposite sex. It was either two or three in the morning, he couldn’t quite remember. Naruto couldn't even recall his name now, but he was Naruto’s obsession at the time. He had snuck him through his bedroom window after they both had gone out to get high after that Friday night’s football game. 

It was Naruto’s second time having sex, but his first time with a boy. He could remember it being clumsy and awkward, but it was nice and it felt incredible . Well… It was nice until Jiraiya came bursting through his door, with his twenty-two cage shotgun, ready to take down a robber. Apparently, he had thought that the moaning had been some idiot that had injured himself trying to rob the place. 

In Jiraiya’s defense, Naruto did tell him that he would be staying elsewhere that night. But that fact did not take the embarrassment away from his foster dad seeing his short-term boyfriend ride him. Let’s just say that the next morning Naruto had gotten the most thorough lecture and sex education lesson that he had ever gotten. This is actually where Jiraiya earned his nickname from Naruto, because with all the things this guy knew? The man was a massive pervert.

This of course circled back around to Naruto’s current issue, however. What should he do about Sasuke? Does he trust in Shikamaru’s words or does he trust in his own intuitiveness?

Maybe everything that’s happened in the last twelve hours was signs that he shouldn’t get involved with him. Naruto wasn’t ever one to believe in bad signs or whatever, but… maybe he should start.

Chapter Text

Chinese Monks. The invention of gunpowder came from the ingenious minds of Chinese Monks. And as it would have it, gunpowder is a key ingredient in the makeup of fireworks . Now why exactly is this historical fun-fact-of-the-day relevant to anything Sasuke has going on in his life? It was a tale to tell.

After getting dropped off at his apartment last week, by a particular dick of a blonde, who still has not ‘shot him a text’ as he said he would. Sasuke had the unadulterated delight of sitting in a hospital waiting room. Waiting for another blonde to get out of hand surgery.

Now, one might think that someone who was a part of the Los Angeles Police Department's Bomb Squad might know a thing or two about how not to blow up their hand when handling fireworks. Oh, but no, Sasuke and the rest of the world who possesses common sense, had been erroneous. And apparently, Sasuke’s munificence of being by the idiot's side had led him to believe that his apartment was an Airbnb for unwelcome morons.

~

“What the hell were you thinking?” Sasuke chided as he stormed into the PACU room, coming straight from the nurse's desk to see exactly what trouble this idiot had conjured up this time.

“Hey, Sasuke! Aw, how sweet of you to come visit little ole me!” Deidara proclaimed, raising both his arms, his right one being mummified from the forearm up.

“How sweet of me? You called me while you were being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, blabbering about how you blew off your arm and were going to die!” Sasuke shouted as he moved closer to the laying, disfigured, idiot. “I had to take two different buses to get here and I’m sure that you are well aware of how much I just love public transportation. So, if I were you, Deidara , I’d keep my mouth shut.”

Deidara blew out an exasperated sigh. “Come on… It wasn’t like that. When I called, I didn’t even get to the dying part yet! The EMT took the phone from me too fast… And how was I supposed to know that you wouldn’t have had a ride!”

The agitated man moved to the computer in the room to look over Deidara’s file and analyze it. “My car is in the shop right now, you idiot. And what? You think I couldn’t hear your loud-mouth scream, ‘I’m dying Sasuke and it hurts! Say goodbye to everyone, for me! I’ll say hello to Itachi on the other side for both of us… Oh! And you can keep my favorite dildo, if you want, it’s yellow and an absolute work of art! I made it my—Ow, fuck!’ from a few feet away?”

“Hey! The details of my… distress , are inessential to this conversation.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, as he began to type in his employee code and instituted reading Deidara’s file and looking over his X-Rays. He perused through the information and scrolled down to his diagnosis, and doctor’s notes. Reading the documentation, the idiot had been holding a firework and didn't realize it was lit. The firework exploded in his hand. 

Shockingly the only main damage was on his right hand. With multiple burns, lacerations, and nerve damage. He also had multiple broken bones throughout his hand. However, the biggest issue was the fact that the explosion caused his pinky finger to be nearly blown off. Sasuke had treated a few firework calamity aftermaths in the pediatrics ward and it was never pretty. Deidara was one lucky bastard. The fact that the surgeon was able to reattach the near-decimated finger, was a miracle in itself. 

Sasuke closed out Deidara’s file and turned off the monitor, after a headache started to form. “Where the hell did you even get a firework in August? I thought you called in to work today?”

“I did! But there were already too many people on shift when I got there. So after a couple of hours, they just sent me home,” Deidara explained, sipping some apple juice from his bedside table with his left hand.

That headache was starting to form into a migraine. “Okay… That still doesn’t explain the firework. Or more importantly, where the hell you got an illegal one? Since I know for a fact, that none of the ones that are legally sold, would do even half the damage you inflicted.”

Sasuke wasn’t even completely sure if he wanted to know where Deidara got the firework, but he wouldn’t take the chance of getting pulled into some shit he didn't want to be pulled into. 

Deidara better not get fired for this. Itachi worked his ass off to clean up the pyromaniac's sketchy past, to land him this job. He better not fuck it up and throw everything his brother did for him away. Deidara was already lucky that they took him back after he quit when Itachi got sick. Deidara was exceptionally good at his job given he had a passion for explosives. So hopefully his boss would just look past this incident.

Sasuke could understand that Deidara was still hurting, and so was he, but his coping mechanisms were getting out of hand.

“Oh, what? Like you haven't done anything illegal before, Sasuke? You and I both know that’s a fucking lie.” Deidara criticized, rolling his eyes.

Deidara didn’t know the appropriate time for anything, did he? Mentioning Sasuke’s reprobate past, when he knows that it isn’t something Sasuke likes to even think about, let alone address? And at his workplace of all places, really!? He wasn’t mistaken, Sasuke had done things during his teen years that he regrets and doesn’t even acknowledge happened anymore. But that does not mean he still was involved with those dissolute things to this day.

“Deidara, don’t . Did you get it from Sasori?” Sasuke said as he moved to sit down in the chair next to the right of the bed.

“Ugh, your real fucken anal today. Yes, okay? I got it from Sasori. He stopped by my place to light up, after I messaged him that I got off early. A couple of hours later, we’re both high and setting off fireworks on top of my apartment’s roof. It’s not that big of a deal really, hm.”

How has he not gotten arrested yet? 

“Not that big a deal? You just got out of surgery, you moron. How the hell have you not been arrested?”

Deidara laughed, “Me? Arrested? As if! Never been in the slammer before, and I don’t plan on taking a trip anytime soon. Plus, it’s not like we weren’t careful,” he finished, laying back against his pillow more firmly.

Sasuke was oh so very close to setting off a firework of his own, straight into this imbecile's face. “You're in the hospital, with your ass hanging out of a gown, hooked up to a morphine drip. You two idiots were about as careful as a bull in a red-walled china shop. The only reason that you haven’t been arrested over the years, was because of Itachi. And his jurisdiction in the prosecutor’s office. But Deidara? He’s not here anymore and neither is his influence. So you need to tone down your bullshit.” 

Just as Sasuke finished his rant, a short-statured, indigo-colored-hair nurse stepped through the door, “Oh, I-I’m sorry! I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything,” she apologized, as she made her way to Deidara’s monitor with her work tablet. “I need to check his vitals real quick, please excuse me.”

Sasuke looked over at her and recognized her face from passing encounters. It was Hinata. She was a sweet, timid nurse that worked mainly in the trauma ward. He didn’t know much about her or her skills, but then again, he didn’t really care. 

Hinata inspected Deidara’s vitals, and took a glance over his chart, “Um, so from what I can see, you look to be doing well, but your nerve damage was quite extensive in a few of your fingers. Also, the doctor would like to take a look at your pinky in the morning. So, because of that, we’re going to go ahead and hold you overnight, just to be on the safe side, okay?” Hinata explained to Deidara softly, with a meek smile.

Sasuke glimpsed over at Deidara. His face was no longer of its normal playful and exuberant semblance but was vapid and inane. 

Deidara let out a nervous chuckle. “Oh, is that right? Um, is there any way for me to just come back in the morning and not have to stay the night?”

Hinata smiled sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, but no. The doctor requested it specifically.”

He tried his best to smile back at her. “Well, okay then. If the doctor orders it, then I guess I’ll be staying!”

Her eyes crinkled as she shot him another warm smile. Hugging the tablet she carried with her, Hinata made her way to the door to continue her rounds.

Sasuke peered his eyes back at his long-known acquaintance. Sasuke wouldn’t lie, Deidara wasn’t exactly the most mature or finessive man, but he meant a lot to Sasuke. He was like another older brother. When Itachi wasn’t able to be there for him, Deidara was. He knew exactly why Deidara didn’t want to stay longer than necessary at the hospital. Sasuke didn’t either. Even though it wasn’t at White Memorial where his brother passed, the room looked all too familiar. The same white walls and uncomfortable waiting chairs made Sasuke suffocate with lingering desolation.

Sasuke despised the hospital, possibly even more than Deidara. The harsh and bitter antiseptic scent always brought up unwelcome memories for the man. He had spent the better part of his childhood stuck in one. Whether it was in regards to his brother or… other reasons, he felt like his whole life had been spent living in the dreadful place. 

So, why did Sasuke choose to continue this long streak of suffering by choosing to work in one? He didn’t know the entire truth. Sasuke had originally got the idea from his brother's experiences. If it hadn’t been for his pediatric doctor sending out a script for blood work, on the slightest suspicion that something was wrong, Itachi wouldn’t have lasted for even half the time he did. Young Sasuke was incited by this and wanted to help kids like Itachi too. But what Sasuke couldn’t figure out, is why that childish dream carried over into his adult life, and was eventually made into his career.

There wasn’t very much he could do about this now. He had spent nearly a decade in school, training to be a pediatrician. Sasuke was nearing thirty, he couldn’t exactly do a career switch now. At least on the optimistic side of things, Sasuke didn’t have to deal with the solemn white walls in the pediatric unit. They were kaleidoscopic over in that ward. A different color of the rainbow is composed on each wall. Some even had characters from numerous cartoons.

Feeling bad for Deidara, Sasuke decided he might as well take action. Not to mention, he also didn’t want to hear the man grumbling about it later. “Deidara, if you want, I can see if I can wave-”

“No… No need. It’s all right. I mean, I can’t avoid stuff like this forever. It’s just one night, I’ll be okay,” the blonde interrupted, looking down at his hands.

Was Sasuke in a good mood? No. Was he in a generous mood? Even further down the line of no. So he couldn’t believe that he was going to offer what he was about to offer to Deidara.

Sasuke sighed. “... Do you want me to stay?”

Deidara's eyebrows shot up in surprise as his mouth simultaneously pulled into a slow smile. “No… Sasuke, you don’t have to do that. You're here all the time as is. I doubt you want to sleep here too.”

“Just take the damn offer before I change my mind,” Sasuke stated, trying to move into a more comfortable position on the chair and failing, “ And I’m having a cot brought in here. Fuck sleeping on this, my back aches too much,” he continued as he stood and moved towards the door to fetch a nurse.

“Aw, the baby Uchiha wants a sleepover? How adorable!”

Sasuke scowled at the teasing remark, making his way out the door. “ Don’t push it.”

Deidara chuckled, his face turning serene, “You're a lot more like your brother than you realize, Sasuke.” he spoke out to the leaving man.

Sasuke didn't turn back around to Deidara after he heard that. He just kept the small grin and the ache that appeared behind his eyes to himself. Something that he realized a while ago, was that he and Deidara were grieving together not separately. And Sasuke couldn't even bring himself to be mad about that.

~

One week later and this brought Sasuke back to the Chinese Monks. And how they now earned a spot on his ‘fuck around and find out’ list. Because if it would not have been for them, then Sasuke wouldn’t be in his current predicament, of having his deceased brother’s fiance , sleeping on his couch! 

Yes, Sasuke did propose the idea of him staying with Deidara for the single night when he was in the hospital. He did not, however, sign up for a fucking roommate.

“When are you going to leave my apartment? You have vastly overstayed your welcome.” Sasuke asked, walking into his living room from his bedroom. Dressed in his light blue scrubs that had small gray cats on them and his white coat, ready for work.

Deidara looked over to Sasuke from the couch, sipping on what appeared to be Sasuke’s freshly brewed pot of coffee. “Ah, don’t get your panties in wad. I plan on taking my leave after the festivities this weekend. I figured it would be easier to help you plan out everything if I stayed here!”

These festivities that Deidara talks about, were originally planned for last Friday. But since the idiot got himself blown up on that Thursday, they had to send out a notice of reschedulement. 

The party itself was initially supposed to be the rehearsal dinner for Deidara’s and Itachi's wedding. Five months after Itachi’s passing, they eventually canceled all of the wedding arrangements. However, both Sasuke and Deidara felt that there should still be something held. Not only out of respect for Itachi but to still celebrate their previous engagement.

The two of them were the ones that had planned the entire event. They invited all of their friends and family to it, even some of their friend’s friends were welcome to come. Normally, Sasuke despised large gatherings like the one that was being held. But for this one? He was content in throwing it. The event was for Itachi and Deidara after all.

Sasuke’s parents had given them access to their summer vacation home out in Santa Monica, to hold it. It was a glamorous, seven thousand-square-foot house that had a direct view of the beach. It even had a pathway that led to a private section of the beach that his father had leased every year. Sasuke could remember going on vacation there when he and Itachi were young. He could recall all the fun times they had. Sasuke hadn't been there for quite some time, so going there tomorrow to set everything up for Saturday was going to be a huge step into the past for him.

Sasuke walked into his kitchen which was connected to his living room area, to make his to-go cup of coffee, “You're planning on staying two more days, seriously? There’s no need for this. We already had everything planned last week, and last time I checked, even if there were still things to plan, there’s this invention called the telephone… And, Deidara , the next time you drink all of my pot of coffee, fucking refill it! ” he yelled, before throwing his to-do cup back in its cupboard. Today’s gonna be miserable.

Deidara laughed nervously. “Oh, whoops… Anyway, where is the fun in a phone call, when you could have my amazing self present!”

“Deidara, by the time I get home tonight, there better be zero traces left of you in this apartment. I hope I make myself crystal clear because so help me God, if I see a single flash of blonde hair upon my arrival tonight. You, will be celebrating with Itachi on Saturday,” Sasuke said sternly, making it acutely clear to the other, that he was not in a cheerful mood this morning.

Sasuke could hear the other man let out a quiet titter, as he moved to grab his bag and keys off their hooks. Making his way to the front door.

“I’m serious, Deidara. Leave.”

Deidara huffed. “Yeah yeah I get it,” his voice got quieter, before saying. “You’re such an asshole sometimes, you know.”

“I heard that.”

“Good ya’ jackass!”

~xXx~

It was noon and it was Sasuke’s lunch break. As it had been four hours since his shift started. He made his way to his office, with the small salad and water he had picked up from the hospital’s cafeteria. The only thing that he viewed as edible in the wretched place. It was a hospital. One might think they would supply healthy, non-mold-covered, sustenance.

Opening his office door, confused as to why it was unlocked, his eyes immediately land on a pink head of hair sitting in his desk’s chair. How the hell did she get in here?

“Oh hey Sasuke, I was waiting for you! I have some papers I need you to sign off on, and well, I haven’t run across you in like a week! Have you been hiding from me?” 

Sasuke wasn’t exactly avoiding her, but he wasn’t avidly searching for her either. He had a feeling she would want to discuss how his tattoo went. Which was something he did not want to disclose, for more reasons than one. “Sakura, my door was locked. How’d you even get in here?”

“You think a locked door would stop me? Come on Sasuke, you know me better than that. You’ve been avoiding me, and I want to know why.” Sakura puffed out, standing to move the other chair, on the other side of the desk. She picked up her water to take a sip, after sitting back down.

He sighed, “I’m not avoiding you Sakura. I’ve just been busier than usual,” he pronounced, moving behind his desk to claim his previously stolen chair.

“You’re always busy. I think you can’t be ‘ busier ’. Your avoidance wouldn’t have anything to do with last Thursday, would it?” she smirked.

She better not be insinuating what Sasuke thinks she’s insinuating. “What event from last Thursday are you referring to? Or more frankly, which idiot blonde are you referring to?”

Sakura laughed. “Oh my, I did hear about Deidara’s little accident from Ino. He's something else, but no, I was indicating the other cutie you had the pleasure of being acquainted with.”

The noise of Sasuke's plastic box being opened filled the room, as he inwardly cringed at the ‘pleasure’ aspect she had inserted. “ Little accident? He blew up his hand, and I don’t want to address it, but ‘cutie’ is definitely not the word I would use to describe that dumbass.”

Sakura leered at the man. “If you didn’t want to address it, then why did you?”

The times that Sakura read Sasuke to absolute filth, often outweigh the times where she didn’t. Oh, and Sasuke was no fan of it. There were only three people from his life that could do it. Sakura, Itachi, and his mother. However, he was recently introduced to someone who could do it better than anyone else so far, and it confused the living shit out of him. How could a perfect stranger read him better than the people who he’s known for years could?

Naruto . A man that Sasuke was writing down right above the Chinese Monks as of now. He couldn’t place him. Did he just get off on being a manipulative, fabricated, moron to people he met? Because the idiot not only lied to Sasuke but made him feel weirdly comfortable around him. Like he could just do or say anything, and no consequence would come to bite him in the ass later. Sasuke had even allowed him to drive him home! Naruto could very well be a serial killer because he certainly fits the vibe of one. It was always the nice ones. Not that Sasuke would admit such a thing, but he was still salty about the fact that Naruto broke his promise of messaging him.

But, Sasuke would no longer be acknowledging Naruto's existence. Regardless of the fact that he found him hot. In all honesty, Sasuke just needed to get laid. That was probably what caused his short, very short-lived infatuation with the blonde. Maybe on Saturday, he could find someone to help out with that.

All in all, Sasuke would not make any attempt to contact him. He would not be going back to the tattoo shop. He would not be talking to Deidara about him, any more than he already has. And he would stop , being obsessed with the thought of the guy in bed. There were plenty of men he could rope into bed with him, with just one venereal glance. He didn’t need nor want Naruto. And candidly, he should probably do his best to avoid the man entirely. Sasuke didn’t need any more of his dangerous intuition prodding at him.

It was a slippery slope, that Naruto. Sasuke could just tell. And the last thing he needed was for these transient desires to become more than just the fleeting desires they were. Sasuke did not want to deal with the repercussions of that. He didn’t have the time for it. All he needed was the occasional warm body, that was it. And Naruto? Would never be that warm body.

“Sakura, there’s nothing to entertain there, so just give up. I just stated a blatant fact, that’s all,” Sasuke said, taking a bite of his salad.

She shook her head. “If there’s nothing to entertain there, then why did you continue the conversation, instead of just shutting it down like you normally would?”

“I just thought that I should make it clear to anyone who’d listen, that that tattoo artist should be sued for moronic intent. It’s a miracle that my tattoo turned out as half-decent as it is.”

“You don't like it? Sasuke , you should have said something to him if that was the case! I know you think he’s dumb, but he seemed sweet still. I highly doubt that he would have minded.”

Sasuke was beginning to become annoyed. “I didn't say that. It’s fine. Can we stop talking about it? I would like to eat my lunch without the thought of that dumbasses flugly face.”

Sakura burst out with a loud laugh. “Flugly!? Oh, wow Sasuke… You have it bad… I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say such a farcical word in my entire time of knowing you.”

She was right. Sasuke would have never used such a word in any ordinary situation, but Naruto was no ordinary anything. Such a ridiculous man deserved such a ridiculous word. However, she was right about another thing. He did have it bad. He badly wanted to punch the said ridiculous man square in the nose, for causing all this mayhem in his life. God, Naruto was starting to bring Sasuke back into his teen self’s mindset. This man was minacious.

“Not that I appreciate receiving work during my lunch break, but what are these for?” Sasuke asked, as he picked up the papers that Sakura had brought in with her.

“Oh! A kid came in here with his dad a couple hours ago, saying that his skin was itchy and burning. Ino and I checked the area and saw pen marks that were red and irritated. We cleaned off the ink, and gave him some Diphenhydramine. We think he was allergic to the ink.”

“Okay? But what exactly do I need to sign off on?”

Sakura’s face became grim. “Something felt off , Sasuke. Like really off. The dad looked about as slimy as someone could be and the poor kid looked terrified. He declined to give out either of their names and refused for his son to stay for further observation after he received the Diphenhydramine. Me and Ino both agreed that we should get a home check assigned to them from CPS.”

Sasuke knew that Sakura was not one to exaggerate things like this, so he would take her word for it, “I see…What did the dad look like?” he asked, reading over the papers.

“Um, pale? Like the guy looked dead. He also had long greasy black hair.”

The description seemed vaguely familiar to Sasuke, but he couldn’t figure out why. Was this someone he knew? “Hn. Send out a description to everyone in the hospital. If he brings in another kid, I want to know,” Sasuke requested, signing off on the paperwork.

“Will do.”

~xXx~

The smell of stores, or more specifically grocery stores, had to be one of Sasuke's favorite scents. The air was always cold, fresh, and had a lingering aroma of produce. He also enjoyed how each area of the store had its own fragrance, dependent on what items were present. The fish aisle smelled of fish, the coffee aisle had a smoky nutty scent, and so on and so forth. It was a peculiar thing to enjoy Sasuke supposed, but he appreciated it nonetheless.

Speaking of aisles, the current aisle he was on was giving him a headache. Sasuke knew next to nothing about alcohol, yet he was stuck with picking out the correct bases and mixers for the cocktails that were going to be served on Saturday. Suigetsu had given him a list of the specifics, but it didn’t help all that much since he didn't know what the bottles looked like. Shouldn't the bartender of the event be picking out his own alcohol?

It was going on eight pm and Sasuke was exhausted. This was the last store he needed to go to tonight before tomorrow’s setup. Technically he could always go tomorrow morning if he didn’t finish all his errands tonight, but he didn’t want to deal with it. So he settled on getting everything done after he got off work. However, this was a decision he was starting to repent.

One thing that Sasuke abhorred about grocery stores was the workers. Which he knew sounded unrealistic, how would the store run without them? Robots. That’s how. He would rather interact with a glitchy robot than deal with the ignorant, cheesy-smiled cashiers and stockers. But unfortunately, this store did not have the said robots, so he was stuck with dealing with the baboons who wandered the store.

Sasuke walked up to a worker who was setting various bottles of wine on shelves, on the other end of the aisle, “Excuse me? I need-,” he was interrupted by a loud crash from an entire box of wine falling to the floor from the top shelf.

“Ah, shit!” the worker clamored, rushing over to the now pile of glass and wet cardboard.

Sasuke looked down at the ground to see a whole river of red liquid moving across the tile. He also saw a generous splash of red, now covering his shoes and work pants. Are fucking kidding me?

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry sir! I didn’t—Wow, I’m so fired.”

Sasuke glanced at the worker's name tag and read ‘Spencer’. If you're not fired now, you will be.

“Um, did you need my help with anything?” Spencer asked, walking towards Sasuke and stepping over the disaster that covered the floor.

Sasuke scowled at the person now in front of him, “What? You want to pour more liquor on me? Maybe try some Brandy or Vodka this time, yeah?” he scoffed.

The workers' eyes squinted together more, as a tight smile started to form. “ Sir , that was not my fault. The box, that I did not place, fell on the floor and happened to splash you. I do apologize for it happening, but I don't appreciate your rude remark.”

Sneering and not even acknowledging the person anymore, Sasuke turned around and made his way back to the other end of the store, ignoring the person's shouts and blasphemy.

Sauntering around the store for a short while, he picked up a few tomatoes and a package of rice and went on his way in a dour mood to the self-checkout. After finishing, he pulled out his phone. As he walked to the bus stop, his grocery bag in his other hand, he sent Suigetsu a quick text message concerning how he will be picking out his own damn liquor, and that Sasuke hadn’t the patience left for it.

As he stood under the small makeshift roof the stop provided, all Sasuke hoped for was a peaceful home to return to. With no chipper blonde in sight, might he add? He had a long day and was ready to shower, eat, and sleep. He did not want to have to deal with Deidara and his antics . Tomorrow was going to be even more of a perpetual and stressful day. The only thing Sasuke asked for was a tranquil night before the non-compos-mentis day he was about to have.

~xXx~

Getting off of the bus after a brisk ten-minute ride. Sasuke began his short walk down his neighborhood's streets to get to his apartment. Sasuke normally would enjoy a walk like this. The air was crisp and the sky was inky black with small patches of twinkling stars. He always felt safe in his locality, although he wasn’t familiar with any of his neighbors. It was a choice of his own. He did not need any more nosey people in his life, he had a lifetime supply of them.

Finally, he had made his way to his complex. However, drowsy and not paying attention to his surroundings he did not notice the familiar truck that was parked in front of his apartment complex.

He walked into the entrance gate that led to all of the buildings, and tread up to his door. Reaching in his back pocket he pulled out his keys to unlock the door. Upon sticking his key in the lock, he heard distant voices, as in plural , coming out of his apartment. He was going to kill Deidara. It was official. Not only had he not left, as Sasuke told him to. But he had the audacity to invite people over? Deidara was barking up the wrong fucking tree here.

Stepping into his place, Sasuke set his bag and keys down on the cabinet that was sitting next to the front door. He strolled further into the apartment but stopped at the sight of two blonde heads seated on his couch.

Oh, Deidara was a dead man.

Chapter Text

It had been one day short a week since Naruto decided not to contact Sasuke and it had come to be the only thing that was on his mind for the entire six days. He was bitter and irate, but it was mostly directed towards himself. How could he be so arbitrary towards Sasuke? Judging him based on one person's words? It wasn’t like him.

Naruto wasn’t resentful towards Shikamaru for sharing what he thought was true. He knew that his best friend based his life on verity, and not feeling. That, and he knew Shikamaru only said those things because he cares about him. Naruto just couldn’t believe that he let words sway him to take such drastic action against Sasuke, even if the words were true.

Naruto had done an abundance of thinking and figuring things out this past week, and he was happy to say that he came to the best conclusion that he could with the information he had. He was smitten. There were no queries about it. Naruto has had plenty of crushes, so he could differentiate between loathing and desire after some time of thinking about his emotions. But the contrast was, it wasn’t just desire he felt towards Sasuke. It was so much more than that.

Naruto would in no way say or think about the L word. Not only did Naruto have a dire relationship with not only the word but the feeling, Shikamaru was right, he didn’t know the guy. So that was way out of bounds and then some. Naruto wanted to get to know him all the same, however. He was stricken with the man.

What Naruto needed was a conversation. A conversation with Sasuke. A heart-to-heart. He realized that it was going to be vital to just be honest with Sasuke and whatever reaction he got from him, he got. Naruto was ready. After a week of yearning and his brain not being able to focus on what it needed to focus on, Naruto was ready to take that dive.

If what Shikamaru said happened to be accurate, then Naruto would deal with it. They would hopefully deal with it. He just hoped that the ‘they’ was on the table after what he did. Naruto wanted to get the truth from Sasuke, not someone else. Word of mouth was still only word of mouth. Sasuke had the right to explain his own situation. 

He had a pretty good feeling now that Sasuke wasn’t straight, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t incensed. Naruto would be. Hell, he was! At himself!

Naruto had about forty minutes until his next appointment, and he was going to use this free time well. He was going to get that number from Jiraiya. Naruto just hoped that he had forgotten what happened last week, and wouldn't address it. Naruto managed to dodge his dad for a week. 

His wish was that his dad’s old age was starting to catch up to him, and he was able to draw a blank when Naruto stepped into his office. But then again, Naruto could also be walking into a battlefield, guns raised. 

Walking out of his booth, Naruto made his way to his dad’s office. He walked down the hallway and passed the door that led to the front desk. Continuing down to the storage closet, he made a right. Stopping in front of the older wooden door that read ‘Big Boss Man’, he hesitated. Naruto was nervous. Based on what Shikamaru has said, Jiraiya had been in a ratty mood of late. He just hoped that he wasn’t the cause of it.

Letting go of the breath he’d been holding, Naruto knocked on the door. A short silence followed before he heard a distant ‘come in’.

Reaching for the handle, Naruto turns it before using a tad bit of force to push the door open. Upon walking in, Jiraiya looks up from his laptop and his eyebrows go up at the sight of Naruto. He closes the laptop and leans back into his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Finally decided to stop avoiding me, huh?”

“Avoiding you? Pfft– What are you talking about… I wasn’t avoiding you,” Naruto awkwardly laughed, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

“Uhuh, then why have you been ignoring my calls and texts this last week? And you didn’t come to Wednesday dinner either. Not avoiding me, my ass Naruto.”

Open gunfire it was.

“I had to listen to Tsunade bitch and moan about how I did something to piss you off. When both of us know the real reason you were avoiding me. What were you thinking, Naruto? Cursing out a client? Are you trying to downgrade my shop’s ratings?!” Jiraiya shouted.

This was the exact thing that Naruto had been trying to avoid the past week, and waiting as long as he had, just came back to bite him in the ass.

“Ugh, I didn’t come in here to discuss that!”

“I don’t care what you came to see me for. When I said we weren’t done talking about this, I meant it. So stop acting like a child, and sit. ”

Naruto mumbled something incoherently and moved to sit down in one of the two chairs that sat in front of Jiraiya's desk.

The older man let out a sigh, rubbing two fingers against his forehead in a soothing motion. “I don’t understand what would come over you to say those things Naruto. I almost thought that I was listening to your teen self there for a second. I’ll recognize that he wasn’t exactly a pleasant person to deal with, but I know you’ve had to deal with much worse. So what gives?”

Jiraiya was correct on multiple points. Naruto didn’t think he’s ever blown up like that towards a client, or anyone in general since he was a teen. And he was also right about Sasuke not being a great person to handle, professionally . Naruto couldn’t say what exactly ticked him off during that conversation to spark such a response. However, a pattern was starting to occur with Naruto doing or saying drastic things when it came to the arrogant man. So maybe it was just Sasuke's fault in the end. 

Things were a lot different than they were during that little squabble, though. Sasuke was still an ass, but he was an ass with better qualities attached. Qualities that Naruto would make his mission to find out more about if Sasuke matched his stirred feelings.

“Okay, look. I know that it didn’t sound good, but trust me it’s fine. I think, well I hope , that we’re on good terms now. It was just… a bad first introduction. That's all. Sasuke, he’s not a bad guy, and I doubt he’d ever write a bad review and ruin your ratings, so chill,” at least that’s what Naruto was hoping for.

Jiraiya looked at Naruto inquisically for a few minutes. “Naruto, I’m not one inclined to be interested in my son's sex life, but if-”

Why did everyone think that they had sex?!

Naruto interrupted that sentence nowhere near soon enough. “Woah, woah, woah. Nope! Nuh-uh. We are not discussing my sex life in any magnitude right now. And even if we were, Sasuke would not come up in the conversation, in the slightest. So drop it perv, okay? Am I slightly interested in him? Yes. I’m not going to lie to you about that, but a one-night-stand has nothing to do with it.”

A silence grew between the two men before Jiraiya sighed once again. “Look kid, I know that you enjoy being with someone. You always have. Hell, you thrive off of it when it’s going well. But Naruto… We both know what happens when it gets bad and I don’t want to see you hurt again. So, just… please be careful.”

Naruto smiled. He knew that Jiraiya cared about him to indescribable lengths, but it was also nice to hear him say things like this, “I know Dad. I’m being careful, I promise. It’s just… Sasuke he’s… I don’t know. I like him a lot… ya’ know? I don’t think I’ve ever been this drawn to someone before. Yeah, it’s scary. But… It's also exhilarating at the same time. I haven't felt this way about someone in a long time,” Naruto finished with a hum.

The other man smiled calmly before shaking his head at the blonde, “I’m glad that you’re getting over him, Naruto, really. But if this Sasuke does anything, that I don’t agree with. Or shit forbid, hurt you? You better fucking tell me. Because I will be the one to handle him, personally,” Jiraiya finished with his eyes closed and an eerie smile on his lips.

The him that Jiraiya was referring to at the start, was his latest ex. Well, it wasn’t recent exactly, Naruto broke it off around a year ago. 

Haku . He was definitely… a time for Naruto. And some of the best sex he’ll add. But that’s all the relationship was. Sex . Nothing else. The partnership was empty. The only times Haku ever had a genuine conversation with Naruto, always led to him getting into his pants.

He was by no means a bad person, however. Haku was and still is a very sweet man. He’s just a very sex-driven partner. Which is fine, but it wasn’t what Naruto was looking for, and still wasn’t. They didn’t keep in contact after the breakup, because both knew that a friendship wouldn’t really work out between the two of them. The last thing he heard about Haku was that he had gotten engaged to some bodybuilder named Zabuza. 

Naruto was happy for him, he was. It’s just… When was it his turn?

Naruto rolled his eyes. “How about we not talk about him, okay? And no need to go all papa bear on Sasuke. I haven't even talked to him since last Thursday… Actually , that was why I came in here to talk to you in the first place.”

Jiraiya looked skeptically at Naruto. “And how exactly does talking to me help you talk to him? Because I know that you wouldn’t ask to get into the shop’s files to retrieve his number, since you are still very much banned from touching them.”

“Ugh, come on! That was like forever ago! And I wouldn’t even need to get the number from them if the paper with his number on it didn't fly out my window!” Naruto groaned.

Jiraiya laughed sarcastically, throwing his head back over the head of the chair, “Forever ago? Naruto that was last month. And I am not going to risk you spilling ramen broth all over my files again. They still smell like chicken!” He paused to look at Naruto. “The answer is no. Find another way to get his number if you’re so desperate. You’re not even supposed to take information off of private paperwork like that anyway.”

Naruto fell back against the chair and slapped his hands over his face. “Then how am I supposed to get his number? It’s not like I can get it from Deidara, I don’t have his either!” 

He silently thought about what Shikamaru said. How Gaara’s mentor was a part of Sasuke's inner circle. Naruto wondered how much water that held, and if he could maybe get the number from Gaara since his old man didn't seem to be budging. What was Naruto saying, ‘how much water that held’? It was Shikamaru , the glass was overfilled.

“Oh, come on ya perv! I’m an adult, you need to start treating me like one,” Naruto ended with a murmur, crossing his arms.

Jiraiya shook his head. “Naruto, I’ll start treating you like an adult, once you start acting like one. I mean, look at yourself! Right now you're pouting like a five-year-old! Now would you leave, I have work I need to do.”

“Writing porn is not working,” Naruto said as he stood to exit the office.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that this porn helped me keep food on the table for one ungrateful brat!” the older man yelled.

Naruto walked over to the door and opened it to walk out. “Yeah yeah, you’re starting to sound like that old hag, you’ve been hanging out with her too much.”

“Well, maybe I wouldn’t need to hang out with her if my son came to visit more than once a week.”

Naruto knew that he should probably go see his adoptive dad more often. They did work in the same building, but there were days when they didn’t even see each other. Jiraiya was getting older. And while Naruto hated to acknowledge that fact, it was still a reality. He just wished that his dad had someone to be with. Other than him, the only person he ever hung out with was Tsunade. Naruto’s tried in the past to get Jiraiya to make a move on her, but he refuses. It was always painful to watch them dance around each other. It was blatantly obvious that they’d had a thing for each other for years if not decades.

“What? And cock-block you and that hag? That’s sinful!” he stated playfully, stepping out the door, and beginning to close it behind himself.

“ Naruto , I’m done-” Jiraiya was quickly cut off by Naruto as he finished closing the door.

He would have to find out how to get those two together somehow in the near future. But right now, Naruto had an appointment to handle and then a misanthropic redhead to find.

~xXx~

“Kiba!” Naruto yelled, stepping into Kiba’s area after walking from his own. He had just finished his one-hour sit with a returning client and was ready to begin his search for the apparent missing Gaara.

“Naruto! What do you want?” Kiba responded, dipping his gun into the ink cap to collect more pigment on the needles.

“Oh, sorry man! I didn't realize you had an appointment, I’ll come back later,” Naruto apologized, slowly stepping his way back out of his friend's space.

The older woman Kiba was tattooing opened her eyes and looked over to Naruto, from her sitting upright position, “Oh dear, don’t mind me. You talk to your friend,” she said, smiling adroitly.

Naruto smiled back. “Thank you, Ma’am. I only have a quick question for him, I’ll be outta your hair in a minute!”

The woman just nodded, resuming her position with her eyes closed.

“So, what’s up?” Kiba asked, briskly looking up at Naruto, before carrying on with his focus on the lady’s arm. 

Naruto’s eyes went back to Kiba. “Have you seen Gaara?”

“Gaara? No, not today. I don’t think he came in.”

He figured as much, but it was still weird. Thursdays were always Gaara’s busiest days. “Huh… is he sick?”

Kiba huffed a laugh, “Sick? The bubonic plague couldn’t affect that guy, I highly doubt he’s sick. I don’t know why he didn’t come in though. He didn’t mention anything that I heard. But I’m not exactly best buds with him, why don’t you ask Kankuro?” he asked, starting to shade pink into what looked to be a bundle of roses.

Naruto would have asked Kankuro. If he was here! “Yeah, already tried. He isn’t here either.”

Kiba rolled his stool back away from the lady, and to his tray to grab what looked like a spray bottle. “Maybe they're dealing with some family stuff, man. Why don’t you ask Shikamaru if you're so curious? Isn’t he dating their sister? Ah… What’s her name… Temara, or some shit?”

That was Naruto’s original plan, to ask Shikamaru. However, the difference between Shikamaru and Kiba was that Shikamaru would want to know why he was asking. Kiba wouldn’t. The reason Naruto was asking around about Gaara in the first place was because of Sasuke, so he wanted to try other outlets first before going to Shikamaru. Naruto didn’t want a repeat of their argument from last week. The topic of Sasuke would most likely lead to not only that but information that Naruto wanted to hear from Sasuke himself, not through the grapevine.

“It’s Temari, and yeah. He’s gonna be my next stop,” Naruto responded, as he turned away from Kiba and started to walk towards Shikamaru’s area. “Thanks anyway, man.”

“No problem.”

To say that Naruto was dreading this would be a substantial understatement. He didn’t want to go to Shikamaru, but he would be the only one here that could possibly have anything on what was going on with Gaara or just the siblings in general. So, Naruto would just have to suck it up and get it over with. Hopefully, Shikamaru wasn’t in a prying mood today.

It was a funny word to associate his best friend with, prying. Shikamaru was smart-witted and perceptive, but his downfall was that he was the most indolent person Naruto knew. So one might think that he wouldn’t be interested in details and such. Yet, when it came to people that he cared about or was directly impacted by, he did immensely. It was almost scary at times the lengths that he would go to protect or help someone he cherished.

Treading down the hallway towards his area, Naruto stopped at the one right next to his own and peaked his head inside. He saw Shikamaru sanitizing down his chair with spray and a cloth.

Well, here goes nothing.

Naruto slowly stepped into the room. “Hey, Shika!”

Shikamaru glanced over at Naruto, hunched over the chair, cleaning it. “Hey.”

“So, uh… Whatcha doin'?"

Shikamaru stood back up straight and arched a brow at the question. “What does it look like I'm doing?”

Naruto laughed nervously. “Oh, right… Cleaning I guess, huh.”

The longer-haired man set the cleaning supplies down on his tray and crossed his arms to begin staring at Naruto intently. “What’s your problem? You’re acting stupid. Well… Stupider than usual.”

Naruto raised his right arm to scratch his neck. “I don’t know what you're talking about, I just asked you a question, that’s all,” Prick.

“Yeah, a stupid question,” he responded, picking the supplies back up and moving to put them in the cupboard where they belonged. “Did you need something, or did you come here just to annoy me?”

“Har har har… Yeah, I do, I have a question for you,” he responded, leaning against the archway that led into the room.

“Is this another stupid question?”

The blonde groaned. “No you prick! I’m just wondering where Gaara is… jeez.”

A quiet laugh was let out by Shikamaru. “Gaara? He’s not here today.”

“Oh? Really? I had no idea, ” he replied sarcastically. “I know that already! My question is why.”

Shikamaru moved to sit down on his stool. “Since when do you take interest in his business?”

Gaara was Naruto’s friend, yes, but Shikamaru was partially accurate. Naruto wasn’t very close with him, so he wasn’t exactly privy to his business. The only reason they even knew each other in the first place, was because they worked in the same shop. Naruto could count on a single hand the number of times he’s talked with Gaara one on one. He did wish that the redhead was more approachable though, because he would love to become closer friends with the man. Gaara was just very reserved and hard to talk to.

“I’m not necessarily, I just thought it was weird for him not to be here on a Thursday. And I figured if anyone would know why it would be you. Because of Temari and all,” It was also because Shikamaru seemed to know everything about everyone, but Naruto didn’t mention that part.

Shikamaru tilted his head a bit and looked to be in thought as he examined Naruto’s words. He hoped that Shikamaru wouldn’t look too much into this. He didn’t want to cause an argument in the best-case scenario or fallout between the two of them in the worst. Naruto could tell that the whole Sasuke situation wasn’t something Shikamaru was going to take lightly, so he’d have to tread carefully.

“Why are you looking for Gaara in the first place?”

“I… just have a question for him.”

Shikamaru curled a brow again. “Why’d you stutter?”

“I didn’t stutter.” 

Naruto was beginning to sweat. Shikamaru would make one hell of a good investigator that’s for sure. 

“Right,” he paused and let out a sigh. “Naruto, this doesn’t have anything to do with Sasuke, does it?”

God fucking damn it…

Naruto really hated the intelligence of his friend. What does he do? Should Naruto lie to him or tell him the truth? Which would lead to the best result? He didn’t know.

Not wanting to stand there looking like an idiot, he made a hasty decision.

 “What? No. What does Sasuke have to do with me wanting to talk to Gaara?”

Shikamaru did not seem to buy the white lie. “So you’re telling me that this has nothing to do with the fact that I told you about Gaara’s mentor and how he's familiar with Sasuke? That you’re not in search of someone with his number? Since I'm sure that Jiraiya outright denied you since it’s against policy to take any information off the paperwork a client fills out, for personal use.”

How the hell was Naruto supposed to respond to that!? This asshole had read him straight dirty ! Per. Fucking. Usual! “Wow, I don’t even know why I tried to lie to you,” Naruto sighed as he walked closer to Shikamaru.

“Okay look. I don’t want this to turn into an argument. I’m sorry I lied at first, but yes, you’re right. This is about Sasuke. It’s not that I don’t believe what you said, Shika. I just think that Sasuke should be the one to clear out any of his dirty laundry if anything were to happen between us. To be honest with you, I don’t even know if that’s a capability anymore because I ghosted him for a week. And I mean hell, he could not even like me, or even be into dudes for that matter…It’s just… I wanna give him a chance. I have a feeling about him, Shika. I do,” Naruto finished with a soft smile, thinking about the man that’s clogged his mind since he met him.

Shikamaru chuckled, “To think that I could convince your bull-headed ass into anything you don’t agree with, was a mistake of my own. But I don’t want to hear shit when I’m right,” he said, standing up from his stool and moving it off to the side out of the way.

Naruto let out a loud cackle. “As if! I’ll prove you wrong, believe it!” he paused to halt his laughing. “Now… if you wouldn’t mind helping a friend out. Gaara? What’s up with him?”

The other man sighed yet again, picking up his belongings that were on his tray. Appearing to be ready to head out for the day. “From what I’ve heard from Temari, all three of them are helping out that mentor I mentioned before. Apparently, the guy’s helping out with some big party that's happening on Saturday and needed extra hands.”

A party? “Huh, okay. Do you think that he’ll be in tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but only for the morning. They're supposed to go back out and help tomorrow night.”

Damn, how big was this party!?  

“I’m actually being forced to go on Saturday because Temari didn’t want to go alone with her brothers. It’s a drag if you ask me, but she was insistent on it. She said that she knew she wouldn’t be comfortable around a lot of the people that are going to be present. Huh, imagine that Naruto ,” Shikamaru continued, in a condescending tone, moving to switch off his light and step out of his area.

Naruto wondered if Sasuke was going to be at this party. If this mentor was, and he was friends with Sasuke, then maybe he’d be there. It sounded like it wasn’t going to be a small get-together, so there were probably going to be a lot of people there. He pondered the thought of asking to tag along with Shikamaru. It’d probably be better to talk to Gaara first before making any decision like that though. Naruto could always ask Gaara directly if Sasuke was going to be there. And in that case, he may not even need the number. He could just talk to him in person. Well, if he was allowed to go to this party that is. What was it even for?

Both men began to walk out of the shop through the back door and onto Shikamaru’s car, which was parked on the back side of the shop, “Do you think Sasuke will be there? At the party I mean,” Naruto asked.

Shikamaru shook his head as he opened the back door. “Did you hear nothing of what I just said? A lot of shady people are supposed to be there. It’s not going to be your exact scene, Naruto.”

“Yeah yeah, I get that. But still… Wouldn’t it be better to talk to him in person, not over text? He may not even respond to a text after all this time. And what? Like it’s your scene either?” Naruto questioned as they both walked the short distance across the alley to the black sports car. 

Shikamaru groaned, clearly over this whole debacle. “I didn’t say that, but at least I’ll be with someone the whole time and not walking around the place aimlessly, looking for someone who might not even be there,” Shikamaru halted his speech and set his things down on the top of the trunk of his car. He turned back to meet Naruto directly in the eyes. “Look Naruto, I don’t want to have a hand in whatever this thing is with you and that guy, okay? I’ll wish you luck, but that’s it. All I know about this party is what I said. I have no clue who will be there, or what it’s even for. I’m just going because Temari wanted me to.”

It still seemed that Shikamaru was on the fence when it came to Sasuke. While Naruto couldn’t be mad about that or surprised for that matter, he still hoped that he’d be able to change his mind about him. Show Shikamaru that Sasuke’s not the gangbanger that he thinks he is. But that’ll take time, Naruto supposed. Time between him and Sasuke, and honestly, time between Sasuke and Shikamaru. He didn’t like the fact that his best friend was against the man he was after, but it couldn’t be helped currently.

“I know, Shika. I’m not asking for you to put yourself in the middle of this, quite frankly, I don’t want you to. I can handle it. But, I will happily take the moral support if you're handing it out,” Naruto finished with a laugh.

Shikamaru smiled as he grabbed his things to put them in the car. “Naruto, I’ll always be behind your back in any decision you make, regardless of how stupid.”

“That’s good to hear,” Naruto responded, with a smile of his own.

Naruto watched Shikamaru pack his car, and hop into the driver's seat. He started the car and rolled down his window. “I’ll see you tomorrow, don’t do anything that’ll get you arrested, yeah?”

“ Funny ! See you tomorrow ya’ prick.”

Naruto began to walk back inside the parlor after watching his friend drive out of the alley. He thought back on how the conversation went… It had gone a lot better than he was expecting. He could’ve just been overthinking in the beginning. Shikamaru wasn’t the type to start arguments, that was usually Naruto. And since he kept a cool head the entire time, it all went smoothly. He was crossing his fingers that Shikamaru was wrong about Sasuke. The man was rarely wrong, but he still was from time to time. Naruto just hoped this was one of those times.

He had a lot more to think about concerning how he was going to contact Sasuke. He would wait until after he talked to Gaara to make his final decision but by the way it was looking, Naruto had a whole new plan forming in his mind. 

~xXx~

Driving for Naruto was always an enjoyable activity. Especially at night, when all of the streets were lit up by dingy white lights from posts or the colorful lighting from buildings. When Naruto needed to think or just unwind, driving is what he did. Running was also a big contender, but he only did that in the early mornings before work.

He didn’t normally have a destination when he drove indiscriminately, but tonight Naruto did. Turning down a familiar street filled with nice houses and fancy cars, he parked in front of what could be considered a literal mansion and climbed out of the car. Walking past a few houses, with his phone in hand, he stopped at a gated entrance. Looking down, he typed in the four numbered passcode into the little gray box, before opening and stepping through the now unlocked gate.

Strolling down the pathway and taking the few steps that led up to the front entrance of the house, he stopped and reached his arm over to ring the doorbell.

A few minutes passed before he could hear footsteps approaching the door. Soon enough, the door flew open and a very displeased hag was now standing in front of Naruto. With a scowl on her pink-stained lips and green curlers in her long blonde hair, she crossed her arms and began to yell.

“What the hell are you doing here at this time of night, on a goddamn Thursday, you brat !”

~xXx~

Only one appointment before noon on Friday, caused Naruto to go straight to Gaara upon arriving that morning. 

He was tired, to say the least. After getting home at around midnight last night, and not even being able to go to sleep until two or so. Having to get up again at seven that morning was not pleasant for the blonde.

What Naruto had not realized last night was just how long he’d end up talking to Tsunade. He had gotten there around half-past nine and didn’t leave until about eleven-forty. His original reason for going to visit her was Jiraiya and more importantly, finding out her feelings regarding him. And as it turns out, she’s in just as much denial as his dad was! Naruto didn’t fancy playing matchmaker, but no one else was going to get their hands dirty for them. So he would.

The conversation did eventually switch to Naruto and his troubles after she started to get pissy at the interrogation that he was putting on. He didn’t want either Tsunade or Jiraiya to catch on to what he was doing, so he let her switch the topic. They ended up talking about Sasuke, and everything that happened so far. Surprisingly, Tsunade was an amazing listener and gave great advice… Well, when she wasn’t drunk that is.

She had told him to follow his gut feeling and not be persuaded by others' words, just to not be stupid about it. If he had a good feeling about Sasuke, then pursue it. But that didn’t mean to do it blindly. Tsunade also mentioned that while Naruto had good intuition about people, it wasn’t failproof. So just because he had a sort of ebullience feeling when it came to Sasuke, that didn’t mean that it was one-hundred percent warranted. Again, Naruto didn’t know much about him.

He was thankful for all the advice he’d received and took most of it to heart. Tsunade and Jiraiya both were both great at being realistic while also being idealistic and comforting in a sense when giving advice. Naruto loved them both to the high heavens and always would. Jiraiya was the best dad that he could ask for and Tsunade had had her mothering moments over the years. After all the stuff they’d done for him, he wanted to return the favor. It would just have to wait until after he figured out all this stuff concerning Sasuke.

Ambling down the hallway between the various appointment areas, Naruto stopped in front of where Gaara would reside. Looking inside, he saw the redhead hunched over a tablet sitting on the client's chair sketching with a pacific expression.

Stepping inside the space, Naruto slowly approached Gaara, not wanting to startle him. “Hey! Gaara my man.”

“Naruto,” he responded, not looking up from what he was doing.

“Whatcha’ workin' on?”

“A Stencil for a client.”

This. This right here is what Naruto meant by ‘impossible to talk to’. The guys' responses were so monotone and hard to carry on to another topic after. It was like talking to an automated voice machine who really hates its job. Naruto could swear that talking to a tree stump would be more entertaining. There was no surprise that this guy didn’t have a girlfriend… Or boyfriend, Naruto had no clue what Gaara was into, but he wasn’t in any position to judge preference with his own bipolar one.

“Nice, nice… Um, so I kinda had a question for you. If you don’t mind me asking.”

Gaara looked up from sketching for a quick second before looking back down. “Yes?”

“Well, do you happen to know a guy named Sasuke? He was here last Thursday.”

Gaara’s movements froze before he turned off his tablet and set it aside on his tray, looking up at Naruto. “Uchiha? Yes, we're vaguely acquainted.”

So there was some truth in what Shikamaru had said.

Naruto laughed awkwardly. “Oh… Sick! Um, is there any chance that he would be at that party tomorrow? I heard about it from Shikamaru.”

Gaara’s eyes squinted at the question, “It’s his-” 

He was interrupted by a voice coming from behind Naruto. 

“Gaara.”

Naruto turned around to see who the unfamiliar voice was coming from and was met with the sight of a short-statured man with bright red hair and fair skin.

“Sasori, you’re early,” Gaara addressed the foreign man.

Sasori moved his glance to Naruto and gave him a smile that made the blonde feel at dismay, “Is this a friend, Gaara?” he asked.

Naruto looked back at Gaara, confused at who exactly this is. Was it Gaara’s next appointment? 

“Yes, I’d say so,” he responded, not looking at Naruto back, but holding his gaze on Sasori. Naruto didn’t know why, but the way that Gaara said that just now, made him shiver. What was with this tension in the air?

Sasori moved his eyes to meet Gaara’s. “Mm, I see then… I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but I need your and Kankuro’s help earlier than I expected. Do you have any appointments left this morning?”

“Yes, one, it should be short. I’ll be free soon, but you’ll have to ask Kankuro about his schedule. I don’t know what he has for the rest of the day,” Gaara answered, still not taking his eyes off Sasori.

“I’ll have to ask him then, but please hurry the appointment. I’m not a fan of being kept waiting.”

Naruto stood as still as a statue, listening to the two men converse, and didn’t say a thing. He had no clue who this guy was, but Naruto had acrimony go through him like a blade at the sight of the man.

Gaara’s eyes switched from Sasori to Naruto. “Hn, Naruto, if you have a question about the party, you should ask Sasori. He’ll know more than me. My client is at the front, excuse me,” he said as he stood and walked out of the room, leaving Naruto alone with Sasori.

Naruto was made to look back at Sasori and was met with Sasori’s gaze already on him.

“You have a question?” he asked, a discomforting smile plastering his lips.

Naruto hesitated for a second, trying to find his words. He would rather discuss this with Gaara, even if this guy did have more information. Naruto did suppose that Gaara wouldn’t leave him with someone dangerous or anything, but he was still going to be cautious. Shikamaru seems to be right so far, especially if this guy was someone who was a part of Sasuke’s and Itachi’s friend group. “Oh…Um, yeah, I do. I was wondering if someone named Sasuke would be present tomorrow.”

Sasori’s brows raised upon hearing the name. “Little Uchiha? Why? What’s your business with him ?”

Naruto was not appreciative of the questioning from him. None of that was his business. He wouldn’t be rude to him, however. Naruto had no clue who this guy was or what he was capable of doing. “I don’t see how that's exactly relevant man, but he’s a tattoo client of mine. I just have some stuff I would like to talk to him about in person.”

Sasori was quiet for a few seconds before he began speaking. “You’re Deidara’s artist, aren’t you?”

He knew Deidara? “Yes…I am.”

“I figured… Your art’s nice. You have a very unique style.” 

Naruto could not get a read on this guy! Now he was complimenting him? “Thank you… Are you an artist?”

Sasori’s smile switched from an alarming one to a genuine one. “Yes. I work at a tattoo shop myself. I was the one that taught Gaara everything he knows.”

So this was the mentor that Naruto’s heard so much about? He wouldn’t lie, he was kinda expecting someone very different. And less young. “Oh really? That’s awesome man! You must be quite the artist then if you're the one who taught Gaara!”

Sasori’s smile turned calm. “Thank you, Naruto. Oh, and as for your question, yes Sasuke will be there. He’s the ho-”

Before Sasori could finish, Naruto heard another voice yell something sternly behind him. This time, however, the voice was extremely familiar.

“What the hell are you doing in my shop? Get the hell out, now .”

It was Jiraiya.

Sasori’s face went from that calm smile to a cold glare as he turned to face Jiraiya. “It's a pleasure seeing you again too, but don’t mind me. I was just leaving.”

Jiraiya walked up to the two of them and glanced at Naruto, “Naruto, meet me in my office and tell Gaara I’ll be needing to speak with him.” he said scoldingly. 

Turning to Sasori, Jiraiya didn’t say anything verbally, but enough was said with the admonitory stance and expression on his face. Sasori simply ‘tsked’ and began making his way out of the shop, not putting up a fight. However, that wasn’t before he shouted out to Gaara who had just passed him, as he made his way back to his cubicle.

“Meet me at the house in two hours! Bring Kankuro, Gaara!”

Gaara didn’t respond or stop walking with his client in toe, but just threw a volitional hand up as a wave. Acting as if this was a normal occurrence for the man.

Naruto watched his old man dilatory walk his way back to his office, not taking either eye off the leaving Sasori.

If Naruto didn’t think this was the most befuddled he’s ever been in his life, he would be bullshit lying to himself. What the hell was going on?! First, Gaara’s mentor, who also happens to be conversant with Sasuke and not just Itachi, makes an abrupt appearance out of nowhere. Then the same mentor appears to have seven different personalities , since Naruto almost shit himself at the sight of Sasori upon first meeting him and then just now, he was laughing and carrying along with a guy! And now finally, his dad comes stomping in, yelling at the guy to get out!? And everyone acts as if this was just a normal Friday phenomenon?!

Someone needed to start explaining some shit. 

~xXx~

Sitting in his father's office waiting for him to start speaking made Naruto feel like he did when he was about to receive a punishment for doing something stupid back in high school. It made him feel small and young again. It was crazy how Jiraiya still had that effect on him eight years later. Naruto didn’t think that Jiraiya was mad at him or anything, but this whole ‘situation’, if you could even call it that, seemed to be a pressing concern for the older man nevertheless.

How did Jiraiya know Sasori and why did he nearly blow a gasket at seeing him in the shop? Were they just not on good terms or did Sasori—do something? Was Shikamaru unreservedly right? Were these people just as sketchy as he made them out to be? Naruto knew that Shikamaru wasn’t one to exaggerate commonly, but he thought maybe— hopefully —he had been. That Sasuke wasn’t a part of what Shikamaru was talking about—hell, he didn’t even know the full story of what he was talking about. How did Shikamaru even know about all this? And what exactly was so wrong with these people to cause all these reactions?!

Naruto had been sitting soundlessly in his foster dad’s office for what felt like hours—alone. He had been waiting for him to come back from talking to Gaara, but he was growing antsy. Didn’t Jiraiya know that he had appointments today? He couldn’t exactly wait all day.

As if on cue, Naruto heard the door behind him swing open, and in walked Jiraiya. Twisting his back, he looked up and saw his dad. He had the same harrowing and acrimonious expression on his face that he had earlier. Naruto wondered how that talk with Gaara went. Because solely based on his countenance, it didn’t look like it went well.

Jiraiya santered his way around the desk and sat down in his rolling chair. Leaning against the back of it, he let out a sigh before looking at Naruto. Running his hand through his hair— he leaned forward towards him.

“I’m sure you’re probably confused.”

That was an understatement, “Uh, yeah, just a little,” Naruto ended with a laugh.

Jiraiya nodded. “I figured. There are a few things that I haven't told you kid—About me, my past, and more importantly, the people that I had associated myself with in the past,” he paused to sigh yet again. “I haven't told you because I don’t like to discuss it and quite frankly I haven’t seen a need to—But after today… I suppose it’s time I probably should.”

Naruto wondered where this was going. What was his dad talking about? He sounded so… ominous. Naruto’s stomach was starting to turn in knots.

“Do you remember that photo that I gave you when I first told you about your parents?” Jiraiya asked.

What did that have to do with anything? “Yeah, it’s actually in my wallet right now.”

Jiraiya nodded again. “I know. Take it out.”

Naruto complied. He lifted himself slightly off the chair so he could reach into his jean's back pocket to fetch his wallet. Grabbing it, he opened it and skimmed through the few hundred-dollar bills and credit cards to grab the small aged photo that sat in the back. Pulling it in front of his face, he analyzed it. It was the same photo it's always been. His dad and the hag were next to each other standing aside his birth parents. The photo was a bit more dingy and yellow than it was a decade ago, but that was to be expected. What was the point of this?

“What does this have to do with that Sasori guy?” Naruto asked, impatient and frustrated.

“Naruto, in order for me to explain that there are past events that you need to know about first…If you look at the left edge of the photo you’ll notice that it's rougher than any of the other sides.”

The younger man looked closer at the left side of the photo and noticed that it was indeed rougher, almost as if a section of the photo was hastily ripped off. That’s weird… Naruto never noticed that before.

Watching Naruto come to the realization of what he was talking about, Jiraiya began speaking again. “That isn’t the entire photo. There used to be one other person that stood next to me and Tsunade in it.”

Why did the person get ripped off? Is what Naruto wanted to ask, but figured that Jiraiya would tell him soon anyway. “Who was it?”

Jiraiya sighed and rubbed his forehead, another headache seeming to abroach. “As you know, me and Tsunade have been friends since elementary school. We were practically inseparable,” he paused, looking at Naruto directly. “However, the truth is, our duo used to be a trio at the time. It was all three of us that used to be inseparable, not just me and Tsunade.”

Naruto figured that something like this was the case after seeing the tear in the photo, but his question still stood as to why? Why’d he take the person out of the photo? Did the three of them have a falling out or was this something so much more?

“Throughout grade school and the first half of high school, the three of us were good friends. It wasn’t until junior year that he … started to change,” Jiraiya halted again, before continuing. This wasn’t easy for him to talk about, that had become very obvious. “Orochimaru. That was, well, is his name. During that year, he had started to get involved in some rough crowds. The ten or so of them at the time were just wanna-be gangsters. The worst you ever heard of them doing was selling low-grade weed and carrying the occasional pocket knife around the school campus.”

His face began to go steely and grim the longer he spoke. “Do you remember when you first got into art and tattooing, Naruto?”

“Yep! It was soon after you took me in, if I remember correctly, right?”

Jiraiya had the ghost of a smile trying to appear on his lips, but it had failed. “... After the first time of finding something you’re good at or enjoy, you know that pull that it has on you? The urge to engage in it all the time?”

“Yeah? Kinda I guess,” Naruto responded, still very much confused.

“Following Orochimaru’s fall into the heinous group, that urge? It pulled him under into… actions. Actions I never thought he was capable of. Horrible horrible deeds that only got worse post-high school. After graduation, he sought out that urge on his own and did things to pleasure it. It wasn’t peer pressure pushing him into these things anymore. It was himself. He chose to do it.”

“Okay… I understand that this guy’s done some sketchy things, but you’re not exactly saying what he’s done.”

Jiraiya’s expression somehow became more grim. “It started with drugs. Consuming and dealing. At first, it was low-level ones like Weed and Ecstasy. Then over time he slowly started to handle more harsh ones like Opium and Crystal Meth. He started in junior year and still handles drugs last time I was made aware of anything regarding him.”

Okay, so he was a druggy? Naruto’s heard of worse. Probably had worse clients, when it came down to it. He didn’t know all of his customers that well.

“After high school—he—he made some new contacts. People in the trade, of other things.”

“Other things? What other things? Guns?! Like, come on! Would you stop being so vague?” Naruto complained.

Jiraiya scowled and let out a harsh laugh that did not display, anything about this was funny. “No Naruto. Not guns . People . Underling workers, prostitutes,” he stopped, his face growing more disgusted than what was already present, “... Children . Innocent. Children. He-” Jiraiya halted his speaking completely and rubbed his mouth with his hand. 

Oh. He—he did those things? Naruto, he didn’t think that… Why would he… How did Jiraiya know about all of this? His throat started to feel sticky and his skin began to leak perspiration. Naruto felt sick to his stomach.

“How—do you know that he did all this? Are you sure–”

“I saw it, Naruto… Tsunade, she was worried. He wasn’t answering either of us when we would call and… we knew he was mixed up with some shady things. So we were worried . Scared he was hurt, dead, or worse… Now, thinking back,” he laughed bitterly. “Kinda wish he had been. After seeing what he was doing to–”

Naruto didn’t know if he wanted to know what he was doing, he already had a hinting idea which made his throat close even more. However, he did want to understand how all of this connected to Sasuke. So, he listened and held his stomach, hoping that the sickness would bypass.

Just as a spoiler. It didn’t.

“We were all in our mid-twenties at the time when I went to his apartment to check on him, to make sure he was okay , to reassure Nade and myself…”

~

The street was dark and appeared abandoned. The halfway houses and makeshift apartments that lined the street had boards covering up windows and graffiti plastered all over the walls and broken down wooden fences. The one or two street lamps flickered on and off in no particular pattern, which set the eeriness of the neighborhood even higher than it already was. 

Jiraiya was walking down the cracked and broken-off sidewalk at a brisk pace, trying to find the address that Orochimaru had sent him months ago. He had taken the bus here and didn’t realize that he would have to walk down this street, alone. Jiraiya wished he had taken Nade’s car, he would at least feel safer.

He and Tsunade both agreed that one of them would go and check on their… friend . He hadn’t been responding for months, and as bad of a feeling that Jiraiya had about this, he still agreed to go and check on him. 

They knew that both of them going wouldn’t be a great idea. Neither of them knew what would happen, and if both of them were there? No one would be able to call for help if things went south. They made a plan that if the one who went didn’t contact the other within the next hour, they would call the police and send them there. Tsunade didn’t need to be walking alone in this area. Hell, Jiraiya didn’t want to, but he had a better chance of defending himself against someone or multiple someones. Tsunade was strong as hell, sure, but she still was smaller. Jiraiya didn't want to take the chance.

Finally finding the one-story complex, Jiraiya walked into the opening between the two separate buildings and looked around for the apartment number where Orochimaru resided. 

Trudging down the pathway further, he spotted the number that was typed out on the old text message. Quickly walking up to the gray door that was covered in dirt and lord knows what else, he eyed the crooked number plate, just to make sure it matched the number. It did. 

Looking for the doorbell and only seeing a hole in the wall that was covered in cobwebs, he turned his hand into a fist and knocked on the door three times. Not hearing anything for a couple of minutes, he raised his hand again but stopped as he heard the door unlock and saw the handle turn.

Stepping back a few, the door slowly opened outward toward him and there he stood. His skin was pale and clammy. His dark oily hair reached his mid-back. And he was wearing a maroon shirt and black dress pants. He didn’t look very different, even though Jiraiya hadn’t seen him for a couple of years.

“Oh. What a delightful surprise. Jiraiya,” he said, with a slimy smile on his mouth.

“Orochimaru. Still alive I see.”

He let out a viscid laugh, “Of course. You didn’t think I was dead, did you?” he asked, stepping aside and gesturing for Jiraiya to come in.

“Didn’t know. You haven't exactly returned any of our— my , calls,” Jiraiya responded, regretfully accepting the gesture and walking inside.

“Oh yes. I do apologize for that. I am a busy person.”

Jiraiya nodded and looked around his new surroundings. The apartment looked a lot better on the inside than it did on the outside. He stood in a living room that connected to a kitchen and dining room. He looked past the kitchen and saw a hallway that most likely led to the rest of the flat.

The living room had a couch and tv that was on but muted. It also had a table in the center that had various things on it. Magazines, beer bottles, pipes, and a few other illegal items that Jiraiya chose to ignore.

“So what do I owe the pleasure of your presence? Did you need something?” the greasy man said, moving to sit on his couch.

Jiraiya made a disgusted face. “Hardly. Tsunade was worried that you were dead in a ditch somewhere. So I came to ease her concerns.”

Orochimaru hummed. “ How thoughtful … Would you like a drink?”

Jiraiya was about to comment on how he fulfilled his reason for coming here and was gonna leave, so he’d have to decline. However, he heard a loud crash that came from somewhere in the hallway.

His head shot towards Orochimaru and saw the man sitting preternaturally still. Almost as if he was holding his breath. He watched as he slowly stood and walked towards the area where the sound came from, and turned to face Jiraiya.

“As much as I’ve enjoyed your company, old friend. I do believe that it is time that you should take your leave.”

Jiraiya should’ve listened right there and then. But he didn’t. He stepped towards Orochimaru and even further away from the exit.

“What was that?”

Orochimaru’s already present smile turned menacing and blood-curtailing as he took his turn slowly stepping towards Jiraiya. “Hmm, product, you could say… being bothersome .”

The words he spoke made Jiraiya’s spine tremble and his skin develop goose bumps. “Product?”

He glided even closer. “Yes. A new development that I’ve received just today. I do think it’s going to be a bestseller .”

Jiraiya wanted to leave. He shouldn't have come at all. He didn’t want to know what it was that made the noise… But if someone was in danger… he didn’t think he could just stand by and let it happen. He slyly glanced back to the table and to the multiple guns and bags of white substance that were set on it. His stomach was starting to create more knots.

He put on his best-intrigued face and passed by Orochimaru and on to where the noise came from. “And what exactly is it ?”

Orochimaru raised a brow and his smile became even more unsettling. “Interested are we? I didn’t peg you as the type, Jiraiya .”

“We all have our secrets,” as the words fell out of his mouth, Jiraiya felt vomit creeping up behind them. This was sick.

Orochimaru began following Jiraiya to the hallway that was behind the kitchen. “I don’t normally do this, however, you are a dear friend of mine. So, I suppose I could make an exception.”

What was Jiraiya getting himself into?

Orochimaru passed him and walked down the hallway and stopped at the last door that was on the left and Jiraiya followed. He motioned for Jiraiya to open the door, and he hesitatingly did. The door slowly creaked open, and the waft of stench hit his nose. What the fuck was that?

Orochimaru stepped in first and Jiraiya looked at him with askance but followed anyway.

This had been the biggest mistake he’d ever made that night.

Moving into the room and looking around, his eyes went wide as he immediately saw the ‘ product’ .

He froze and his breathing stopped as he looked at him . It was a small boy, bound and chained to the wall. He was skin and bone and had long light raven hair that was tangled and greasy. He couldn’t have been older than four. He was laying on the concrete floor with not even a blanket with him. The only sign that the child was even alive was from his small chest faintly moving up and down, but other than that, he looked dead. 

That vomit was thickening and coming up his throat faster now. He wanted to look away, but his body had gone rigid. He couldn’t move. So, he just stared. The boy’s eyes were covered by a black cloth and all he had on was a pair of dirty shorts. The rest of him was bare. 

This—This was what he meant by product !? A fucking child! The disgust that he felt started to be overtaken by pure unfiltered rage. Jiraiya knew however that he wouldn’t be able to show it if he didn't want to dive into deep shit. When Orochimaru said product he thought that he was talking about drugs or maybe even dogs or something, for fights. But this… he never thought–

“What do you think? A disciple of mine got him from a hospital. His parents were away and well, the kid is sick anyway. Supposed to die from some kind of cancer, poor thing . He’s a bit pale and ghastly, but the skinny ones are in right now. I already have three different offers. Would you like to put one in, since you seem so captivated by him?”

What was Jiraiya supposed to do? He was supposed to be interested in this. The thought made his blood run cold and his stomach turns even more. He wanted to kill this man. How could he partake in these things? Kidnapping a dying child!? To do lord knows what with! To sell him off?! To—And be so… happy about it? Like he enjoyed it. Jiraiya… he was gonna throw up.

His body finally unfreezing at the feeling of his stomach pushing the vomit up, he jetted out of the room and ran into the bathroom next to the room. Rushing to the toilet he opened it and spilled his guts. The acid burned his throat and the dry heaving didn’t assist in the displeasure. He hadn't eaten much that day, so the majority of the few minutes that he was on his knees grabbing at the seat was spent retching.

He heard a door one over close and footsteps come up from behind him, but he was unable to look away from the porcelain toilet.

"He wasn’t exactly to your tastes then, hm?”

Jiraiya was able to lift his head and spared a cold glance at his former friend upon hearing his words. Seeing red at the sight of the smirk that was on the other man's face. He lost it. Jiraiya shot up and charged at him. Swinging his right arm, he sucker-punched the man straight in the jaw. He could feel a bone crack under his fist and it felt good .

“What the fuck, is wrong with you?! What happened to you!? Trafficking children? And… are—are you…” 

Shocked at the assault, Orochimaru didn’t answer for a minute or two as he pressed his left hand against his mouth, “You never were a good liar, Jiraiya. But no, I don’t touch the product as you were insinuating. I just hold them until they're sold,” he finished with a grainy smile.

Filled with fury, Jiraiya swung again, however, his attempt was dodged with grace.

“Never the better fighter between the two of us, either,” Orochimaru laughed, kneeing Jiraiya on the left side of his ribcage. He could feel the bones bruise and crack the further the knee went into his ribcage. Falling to the ground in the hallway with a grunt and holding onto his side, Jiraiya realized he needed to leave, now . Orochimaru, this wasn’t the same friend he once knew. This—He was a monster . 

Feeling ill and fatigued he tried to stand up only to feel a foot kick him on his spine and he fell back down.

Orochimaru knelt and leaned into Jiraiya's ear, beginning to speak as Jiraiya withered in agony. “Did you really think that I would believe that you’d be interested in something of that nature? I’ve known you since you were in diapers. I know more about you than you do… Mm, but let me tell you a secret . If I find out that you run your mouth anywhere that it's not supposed to be, this boy will be the least of your worries, yes? So, I’ll let you run back to Tsunade, but if she finds out? I’m sorry friend, but I don’t think I can take that risk . I will take her from your piss poor ‘protection’ , and gut her like a fish . Yes?”

He turned towards Orochimaru to the best of his abilities and spat in the other man's face, “You lay a finger on her, you snake bastard , and I will fucking murder you,” Jiraiya bit out between his teeth.

The pale man wiped his face with his sleeve, and his smile turned more deadly. “Oh? But you are in no position to be saying such things. Just heed my advice, friend . I don’t want to hurt Tsunade since it would come back to me. But that’s not to say I won't,” he paused for a second before his voice dropped an octave and continued with a whisper. “And can I tell you another secret? I would bet that her blood and insides would feel amazing between my fingers. Hiruzen certainly did.”

Hiruzen—He— he’s the one who killed their Nin-Jutsu teacher? Jiraiya remembers seeing it on the news. His full name was on the headline, and murdered following it. None of the three of them had spoken to him in years, but… he still remembers the pain in his chest at seeing it. All three of them went to the fucking funeral! And little did he and Tsunade know that they sat next to the murderer of the man that lay in that casket. How could he… How was he capable of this?

Jiraiya couldn’t remember much after he stood and staggeringly ran as fast as he could out the door, ignoring whatever the other man said. He would go straight to Tsunade, but he wouldn’t . He couldn't tell her. He couldn't tell anyone . If Orochimaru could get away with what he’s done, and with what he's doing . Then… Jiraiya knew. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop it and he sure as hell wasn’t going to get the women he loved killed over it. Jiraiya would just hope that Orochimaru would leave them alone after this. He made his point. And Jiraiya would listen.

~

Whatever direction Naruto thought that this conversation would go in, he never would’ve guessed it would get this cataclysmic. Jiraiya—he’d gone through that?

“I’ve never told anyone this, Naruto. Not even Tsunade, okay? I can’t stress this enough, you cannot , by any means or reason, tell anybody .”

Naruto understood this, but shouldn't someone know about this Orochimaru guy? He’s very obviously a dangerous asshole. “I understand, I do, but-”

“No. No ‘but’s’ Naruto. No one can know about this,” he stated dourly.

Naruto didn’t like the idea of this guy just being able to do as he pleases, but what could he do? “Okay, I promise, I won’t. But that kid… What happened to him? Is he—you know?”

Jiraiya sighed, his old age seeping through the creases that have formed around his eyes in the last hour . “No. Two weeks after the whole debacle there was news that a kid was found roaming a park somewhere downtown, alone, late at night. I don’t remember the exact location, but it was the kid. He had been missing for a month and was the son of some hotshot corporation owner. Ah… What was the name… Uchahi, or something like it? I don’t recall it well. Anyway, I remember feeling like crap for leaving that kid behind. With him . I was stupid and young and wasn't thinking straight when I left. All I was thinking about was Tsunade, and what he threatened to do to her. I can't even begin to describe the relief that I felt at seeing the news headline that he'd been found. Alive.”

Naruto’s heart stopped. Uchahi? No. No , it couldn't be. Did he mean Uchiha? Was that kid, Itachi ? Is this how Sasuke was attached to all of this? No, that couldn’t be right. Jiraiya didn’t know Sasuke's last name and he couldn't even remember the name from the news. So, there was still another connection? What was it? And how did Sasori tie into all of this, he still hadn't said?! Naruto would withhold his knowledge for now, until he got more information out of Jiraiya.

But, was that kid Itachi? Did—Sasuke know , if it was? The first name of a minor would never have been leaked, but the last name… He had to have known. And if he still chose to be around these people, after knowing what one of them did to his brother… No . Naruto needed to stop. He would find out this stuff from Sasuke. There was no need to speculate and let his brain run wild.

“Okay… and how does Sasori tie into this exactly? You haven’t even mentioned him.”

“He was one of Orochimaru’s disciples. Before he joined up with his current group, he worked under Orochimaru, handling and dispersing weapons for sale. I believe he even made some. The current group he’s in, however, they call themselves the Akatsuki. They’re a high-power gang affiliation, with ties to the mafia I believe. Last thing I heard, all the members had disconnected from Orochimaru and no longer work with him, for reasons I’m not sure of. But, I still think that’s a load of shit.”

Wow, so that’s what Shikamaru meant by shady. Sasuke was cozy with a gang affiliation. Great. Why did Naruto always fall for the fucked in the ass sideways ones? Couldn’t he snag a crush on a normal fucking person for once? Like, someone who was an accountant who went to bed at eight and had zero special anythings. The definition of an average Joe. An NPC if you will. Sure, Naruto would probably be bored out of his mind, but maybe the accountant could be like a sex god or something. Because holy seven shades of shit, Naruto was tired of chasing after the ‘bad boys’.

Jiraiya stood to stretch his legs and groaned as he did it. “So, I forgot to ask, what were you even talking to Sasori about anyway?”

This was it. Does Naruto tell him the truth or does he lie? If he told the truth he would risk his dad freaking about Sasuke, and being against him going after him. Now, while Naruto wasn’t exactly happy about the people who surround Sasuke, Sasuke wasn’t a part of the Akatsuki, right? No. He doubted it. He worked with children for Pete's sake. If he had any record, Naruto didn’t think that he’d be able to work in the pediatrics ward. However, if Naruto lies, he knows that’ll come and bite him in the ass later.

“I was asking him about a party that’s happening tomorrow.”

Jiraiya raised a brow. “A party?”

“Yeah… Shikamaru told me about it since Gaara wasn’t here at the time.”

“Okay, I'm confused. What are you talking about exactly?”

Naruto groaned. “After I went to talk to you about Sasuke, I went—well I tried to go to Gaara to ask for Sasuke's number since Shikamaru had mentioned that Gaara’s mentor, Sasori, knew him well. But he wasn’t here, so I eventually just went to Shikamaru, which is how I found out about the party. So, I went to Gaara today to ask him about the party since I figured it would be better to talk to Sasuke in person. That’s when Sasori walked in. Gaara said that he would know more, and to ask him. So, I did. And as it turns out, Sasuke will be there. So… yeah, that’s all.”

Jiraiya's eyes squinted together, and he looked to be in thought. “Naruto… This Sasuke… Do you know his last name?”

Ah, shit.

“Yes…” Fucking shit dick hamster roll, Naruto was so fucked .

“What is it?”

A long silence was drawn between the two before Naruto caved. “...Uchiha.”

The older man’s eyes went wide and he didn’t speak for what Naruto thought to be an uncomfortable amount of time. He didn’t know what was going through his dad’s head, but it couldn’t be anything good.

The silence was broken by something that Naruto didn’t want to hear.

“I don’t think you should go to that party tomorrow.”

Naruto wanted to scream. He knew that this was how this was going to go after hearing his dad’s poor attempt at remembering the Uchiha name. Jiraiya now knew that Sasuke was tied up in all of this. But, there was still a question that lingered in Naruto's mind despite that: How ignorant did Naruto feel like being tomorrow?

He knew just how dangerous and ruthless these people could be. He knew that his dad wouldn’t lie about something like this, yet… That pull hadn't just magically disappeared. He could be delusional or in denial about the entire situation perhaps, but his thoughts haven't changed an inch. He still wanted to talk to Sasuke. He wanted to hear his side of the story if he’d be willing to tell it. Especially , after hearing all of this.

Naruto knew what he was going to do. Was he going to regret it? Possibly, but that’d be future Naruto’s problem. Current Naruto? He just wanted to hear that sweet baritone voice again wash over his ears. He wanted to see the pale skin of that gorgeous man’s face. 

So? That's exactly what he was going to do. Consequences. Be. Damned .  

Chapter Text

~ The Party: Part 1 ~

Everything went quiet and black. The loud booming music turned muddled, and the talking became distant. Sasuke felt as if he was floating and weighed nothing. He couldn't breathe, his head was pounding, and his nose burned up something awful. He opened his eyes to a burning sensation and blurry vision. All he could see was a white wall with a blue tint. Moving his head back, he saw a strange textured surface, with the occasional flash of colorful light abstracting it. Moving his hand was more challenging than it should have been, but he brought it in front of his face, and the sudden realization hit him.

He was underwater.

Why was he underwater? Dressed in full clothes and shoes, no less. What happened? 

Moving his head around, he saw a flash of tattooed whiskers embedded on tan skin, moving upwards towards the surface, not three feet to the right of him. It was like the water turned to ice as everything that had happened the last two hours came crashing back into Sasuke's memory.

Fucking, Naruto .

~ Four Hours Prior ~

Sasuke's parents were two of the most punctual people that he knew. They were always twenty minutes early to everything. "On time was late, and late was unthinkable," they said. So, his parents arriving at the gathering twenty till six was something that Sasuke had been anticipating. 

Upon sending out the invites, he separated the party into two-time frames. The first time frame, six to eight, was for family and close friends. The later time frame, eight-thirty to when everyone left, was for the rougher crowd Sasuke and Itachi were acquainted with. Sasuke wanted to keep those two lives separate. He didn't indulge in the more heinous things he used to do with his older friends, but he still enjoyed their company here and again. That and many of them were good friends with Itachi, the person this whole gathering was for. Well, his and Deidara's engagement.

The people attending the first half would be his and Deidara's parents, various uncles and cousins from both sides, Sakura, Ino, Sai, Karin, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Sasori, for some odd reason. Deidara had insisted that Sasori should be able to attend the first half. Sasuke didn't know why Deidara wanted this, but he wasn't exactly pleased about it. Sasori was one of the people he didn't want his parents to know. He could hear the lecture from his father already, "You should not associate yourself with such a lowly person. You are an Uchiha; act like it." 

It was only six, and Sasuke already wanted a drink.

If Sasuke parents were to know half of the things that Deidara wallowed in, he was sure they would've died a long time ago from a heart attack. They didn't because Deidara was more than aware that he needed to be on his best behavior around his parents. Sasuke was sure that Itachi must've drilled it into his head very early in their relationship.

Another aspect of the first half of the party was the fact that there would be an extravagant dinner. Sasuke may not be the same kid, always trying to kiss his parent's ass, but he still wanted to show them he was successful. Just as successful as Itachi had been in his short time. Even years later, Sasuke was still salty about always being in his brother's shadow. He loved his brother, but he was much better at everything, and their parents never let Sasuke forget it. He was always sick, was always this, was always that. All the attention was constantly on him, and quite frankly, it still was. 

Everyone was sitting at the long rectangular table in the middle of the extravagant dining hall, eating dinner. Sasuke believed this room was his least favorite out of the whole estate. The walls were boorish gold, with brown accents made with complicated wallpaper. The ceiling reached nearly twenty-five feet tall, and multiple gaudy chandeliers hung from it. But as much as Sasuke believed the decor to be tasteless, which he most certainly did, that wasn't why he abhorred the room. It was because of the memories he had with Itachi here. This was their room. This is where they ate together, where they read, and even where they plotted their childish pranks against their parents during their vacations. Sasuke could swear he could still smell the black coffee he would drink and hear the low hum of Korn or Bach. The absolute bipolarity of his brother's taste in music was always comical.

"Oh Hun, this food is just lovely," Mikoto complimented Sasuke, dressed to the nines, sitting across from him. "Isn't it, dear?"

Fugaku's face seemed unamused at his wife's exuberance towards what Sasuke assumed was the unsatisfactory dinner that he had catered. "My wagyu is dry, but yes, it's fine."

No, not just one drink for Sasuke; make that two.

"Oh, come on, Fugaku, give the kid a break. The dinner is just fine," Obito, sitting two down the right from Mikoto, retorted against Fugaku's passive-aggressive commentary. Obito was a distant cousin to Sasuke… he believed. Honestly, Sasuke had zero clue when he met Obito or where he even came from. He just arrived at one of the family reunions years ago and never left.

However, Sasuke was not appreciative of the whole "kid" comment. He was almost thirty, for fucks sake. Far from being an adolescent.

"Yeah, come on, there's no need to be grumpy, Fugaku. Today's about celebration! Not nit-picking," Sasuke should be surprised at how Shisui was allowed to speak to his parents, but he wasn't. Sasuke's parents considered him to be their first son, and he was even more spoiled than Itachi was. The amusing thing about this was that he wasn't even their nephew. He was the kid of a family friend.

Sasuke almost felt terrible for Deidara's parents for having to sit through all the family drama about to ensue. But looking over at them, they were perfectly content with amusing themselves in conversation with their son and Sasori on the opposite side of the table.

Sasuke smiled calmly at Mikoto, saying, "Thank you, mother. I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying the meal."

"Yeah, Sasuke, this food is just lovely ," Suigetsu teasingly voiced to Sasuke from across the table, sitting between a giggling Karin and Jugo.

" Suigetsu –"

Sasuke was cut off by the sound of his mother's laugh. Something that even to this day was a rare sound to hear, "Oh dear, Sasuke, I'm so happy to see you're still in contact with your friends. After well… you know. I was afraid that you had cut contact with all these guys, but it's nice to see that I was wrong," she ended with a smile as she turned towards Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo as well as Ino, Sai, and Sakura, "Thank you all for sticking with him through all these years. I know he can be a bit of a grouch sometimes," she finished with another chuckle.

Oh, Sasuke was never going to live this down. "Mother, I'm not a child. You don't need to–"

"Nonsense. I raised you and am more than aware of how much of a pain in the ass you can be."

A hush fell over the room, and everyone darted their heads toward Mikoto. Shocked at her words, Sasuke looked down at his mother's wine glass and saw it empty. He had thought she had been drinking quite a lot compared to normal tonight, but he'd never heard his mother swear. She only drank to this extent with Sasuke's father in the privacy of their own home.

“ Mikoto ! That is not–” Fugaku started.

"Oh, hush you! A woman is more than allowed to speak her mind about her son."

Sasuke wanted to laugh at his mother's words but wouldn't dare at the expression on his father's face. "Mom, maybe you should slow down with the wine."

She shook her head, "No, because you see, I have the responsibility to celebrate for Itachi too. He's not here to drink his wine, so I will for him," she pronounced as she grabbed the wine bottle from the center of the table and poured more in her glass.

Realizing what was happening, Sasuke's stomach dropped as his heart throbbed. He looked at his father, and they shared a solemn, knowing look.

Fugaku turned towards his wife, took her hand, and whispered in her ear. "Hun, I'm not feeling too well. I hate to do this to you, but can we take our leave a little earlier than originally planned?"

Watching his father turn so soft toward his mother was always an anomalous sight for Sasuke. He was always such a hard ass. So seeing him comfort someone was bizarre, but something Sasuke knew was that he'd only be soft-hearted to his wife. To Sasuke's mother. Just her.

"I'm also not feeling too well. I think you're right," Mikoto turned her paling face away from Fugaku and looked back at Sasuke. "Dear, I'm sorry to leave so early, but this celebration looks wonderful. You and Deidara did a splendid job. Itachi would've loved it," she ended as she began to stand, only to fall back into her chair.

"Mom! Are you okay?" Sasuke shouted as he stood and rushed around the table to assist his mother.

"Oh yes, dear, I'm fine. I just stood up too fast," Mikoto laughed.

Sasuke looked behind himself and saw Jugo approaching them, "Um, Mrs. Uchiha, would you like some help? I could help walk you to your car," he asked.

"There's no need for that, sweetheart. I'm sure Fugaku can handle it," she smiled.

Sasuke watched closely as Mikoto stood with the help of Fugaku and grabbed her purse to begin making her way to their car.

However, she stopped dead in her tracks, "Oh! Wait a second. I need to speak with Deidara before we leave," Mikoto declared as she released Fugaku's grip on her arm and walked to the other side of the table.

"Hun, please be careful," Fugaku stated, rubbing his fingers against his forehead, soothing an oncoming headache.

She simply waved behind herself at the comment and approached Deidara, Sasori, and Deidara's parents. She knelt on her knees to be at eye level with Deidara.

She smiled at him before she spoke. "My dear, Itachi would've loved today, you know that, yes?"

He nodded as his eyes began to turn hydrous, and a small smile pulled on his lips that matched hers.

"He loved you so, Deidara. And as hard as today will be for you, for all of us, we'll persevere. Okay? You'll persevere, and if you ever need someone for anything , my arms will always be open for you, my dear," she comforted, grabbing his arm and giving it a consoling squeeze.

He grabbed her hand with his own. "Thank you, Mikoto. I appreciate that."

She moved in to hug him, and he reciprocated, "You are always welcome at my table, and you will always be a son to me. Don't you ever forget that," she slurred in his ear, squeezing him harder. The effects of the alcohol were sinking in more and beginning to take on a full swing as she moved away from him because Sasuke watched as she almost fell over again.

Sasuke stood away from the interaction, with Jugo still at his side. He wondered just how this night would go because so far? It had been such a roller-coaster. Starting with the bittersweet memories of his brother to the stress of his father's presence. Up to the feeling of a closing throat at the sight of his mother drinking herself to such a state. And to the impending future hours and what they held.

Sasuke didn't want any more surprises tonight. He just wanted to lose himself for once. To be able to drink, party, and forget. Forget the past. Forget his responsibilities. Forget the ache of a loss. And especially forget that blonde fucker. He wanted one night—one fucking night where he could fall back into bad habits and not have to worry about the consequences. And with his parents gone early, that was his exact plan. He wasn't concerned about any of his other family that was present. They weren't exactly angels themselves. So, even though tonight was Itachi's and Deidara's night, Sasuke would take full advantage of it. Because he damn fucking earned it.

~xXx~

The pounding music shook Sasuke to his core. He could feel the pulsing spread through his bones like wildfire. He reached behind himself and clawed at the neck of the person flush with his back and ground back into him. A musky sweat scent, laced with liquor, filled his nostrils. Sasuke couldn't remember who he was dancing with now, but he couldn't say he cared. 

Not long after his parents left, people began showing up for the second half of the gathering. New friends and old. Faces that were recognizable and faces that weren't. Sasuke would admit he was expecting fewer people to show up than he did, so word must've gotten out. Which was something that sober Sasuke would have cared about very much, but sober Sasuke was taking a long-needed nap.

The main dancing area was the downstairs lounge, which connected to two massive sliding glass doors that led out to the central patio where the pool was. The entire lounge, inside and out, was a throng. A ruckus of dancing, talking, and drinking. The overhead lights and chandeliers were turned off, so the only sources of light were the colored lasers and the off-white string lights that were hung around the illuminated pool. 

Sasuke's eyes were closed as he swayed his hips in tune with the music. He felt like a teenager again, and a euphoric wave crashed over him at the thought. He had forgotten how good it felt to just let go.

His rhythmic movements in the center of the sweaty and sticky crowd were like a beam of licentious desire. Eyes were on Sasuke, and he knew it. Moving from person to person, dancing, and just feeling . A dirty thrill shot up his spine whenever someone grabbed his waist and squeezed, forcing him to move with them, not on his lonesome. Sasuke couldn't recall the last time he danced like this. He was in a smoky room, with warm alcohol rushing through his veins as his brain was on cloud nine. Just simply existing in a blissful haze.

Sasuke wouldn't lie; he missed this. Yes, sure, he was now edging on thirty, an established professional with a galore of responsibilities. But… What was just one night of negligence?

Speaking of negligence, Sasuke needed to get laid. Because even in his inebriated mind, he knew he was acting like a damn animal in heat. How long has it been? Seven months? He couldn't remember. His life was so hectic. However long it had been, it didn't matter now because he was getting something tonight, even if it killed him. He needed someone to take him out of his mind and make him forget. Even if it was just for a short while. The weed and alcohol only did so much.

He was moving around the room, from person to person, until he saw Sakura and Ino sitting on a couch lazily. He gracefully ditched his latest two-second partner and stumbled over to his girls for a much-needed timeout. Just because he was acting sixteen didn't make him sixteen.

"Woah, Sasuke, you alright?" Ino asked as he sat between them, causing all three of them to be squished together.

"Mm' fine, just enjoying myself," Sasuke slurred, resting his head against the back of the couch.

"I see that… maybe you should slow it down with the drinks, yeah? How many have you had exactly?" Ino suggested.

"Five, six, maybe. But it's fine. I'm not a lightweight."

Sakura chuckled. "He says, after almost falling three times walking over here… Oh God, you are going to hate yourself tomorrow. Have you even seen how you've been acting? I thought I was looking into a memory of high school."

They weren't wrong, which Sasuke knew, even drunk off his ass. But he was still salty about Ino showing up unannounced the other day, so he was playing naive against their wisdom. Sure, it was childish and uncharacteristic, but today wasn't exactly the most ordinary day for Sasuke. So why not go the whole ten yards and fully revert to immaturity? Plus, he already had to deal with Deidara. He hadn't needed yet another chatty blonde to make a nuisance of themselves Thursday night. He had had his fair share of those for a lifetime.

"Whatever, you don't know what you're talking about."

Sakura laughed sarcastically, "Sasuke, if anyone knows you, it's me, and you're acting stupid. What's gotten into you? I swear—have you been–" Sakura was cut off by Sasuke waving his hand.

"No. I haven't. I wouldn't do that. I'm just enjoying the party I put on. Is that so fucking awful?"

Ino cut in to assist Sakura in their very firm. "Yes."

"Fuck you two."

Ino laughed, "Oh, Sasuke, I've been up for that since I first met you. But I think both of us are missing a very key piece of anatomy for us to do that for you, Hun. Well, unless you're okay with a used strap-on? But as a fair warning, if we get caught by Sai, he'll be pissed he ain't the one getting pegged and probably kick you out to take your place," she ended in a sultry whisper, well, more of a whisper yell. Not a soul would've been able to hear her if she did whisper.

Sakura let out such a roar of laughter she snorted, as Sasuke made a very disgusted face and gagged at the thought of getting fucked by either of them.

"That's revolting."

"You offered."

He didn't say anything but just glared at Ino. However, this did fucking nothing, given she reached over and ruffled his hair.

"Good luck trying to be all Uchiha , with a flushed face and that slutty outfit. You ain't getting nowhere with it, sweetie," she finished, stood, and walked away.

Sasuke knew he shouldn't have changed his clothes and that it would come back and bite him in the ass. And this conversation was golden proof of it.

What he was wearing, he hadn't worn since undergrad when he went clubbing with Suigetsu and Karin. He was sporting a burgundy loose button-up that rose about an inch above his waistline, with a massive hole in the back that showed off his angel wings. The sleeves were rolled slightly, the two top buttons were undone, and he was wearing a fishnet shirt under it. Tight, ripped skinny jeans hugged his figure, and he was still wearing the nice dress shoes from dinner with his family. 

He changed his hair from its standard lay to a more tamed version. And he also decided that wearing some eyeliner wouldn't kill him, under Deidara's suggestion, might he add. 

"Hey, you're sure you're okay?"

Sasuke moved his head to look at Sakura and saw genuine worry creases lining her face, "I'm fine. Don't dwell on it," he said, reaching over and rubbing his thumb against her forehead. "Stop furrowing. You worry like a mother."

She smiled, taking his hand with her own. "Please don't lie to me. You're worrying me. Why are you acting like this?"

Sasuke sighed. He had forgotten how differently he tended to act under the influence. He could understand her worries, "I'm just letting off some steam, I promise, I'm okay," he paused briefly, "If I get… you know, I'll come to you, sounds good?"

Apprehension filled her expression, but she nodded regardless.

Sasuke returned her nod, then looked over to where he felt a pair of eyes on him. He saw a man shamelessly watching him. He was lean with ash blonde hair and fair skin. The man was dressed comparatively casually and was leaning against a table, with girls dressed skimpily surrounding him.

Oblivious to the interaction, Sakura took out her phone and began scrolling. But Sasuke was still caught intrigued by the man. Raising an eyebrow, he moved to stand before Sakura grabbed his arm.

"Where're you going?"

Near annoyed, Sasuke brushed her hand off his arm. "Bathroom."

Not looking back at Sakura, he walked towards the man but adroitly avoided him and walked towards the grand staircase that led to a surplus of bedrooms and bathrooms. Still feeling the eyes scanning his body, Sasuke glanced back toward him and raised a brow before treading the stairs.

Making it to the top, he heard faint footsteps behind him but didn't stop on their account. Striding down the long and dark corridor, he halted at the last door on the right that led to a guest bedroom. He reached for the handle before he felt fingers encasing his hand.

"Sasuke, right?" a man asked, with a tone of resonant blanketed over his voice.

Sasuke turned his head towards the man and nodded. A smirk grew on the stranger's face as he turned the handle down and opened the door. "Good to hear."

Stepping inside, Sasuke didn't even get the chance to register the room before he was being pushed into the now-shut door.

"You want this, yeah?" the man purred in his ear as he scraped Sasuke's wrists against the door and pinned them above his head. Sasuke didn't answer with words but threw his head towards him and crashed their lips together. It was a tussle of tongue and teeth and had a lingering taste of vodka, which only enlivened Sasuke further. 

Fuck… Yes, this is precisely what Sasuke needed right now. Sasuke could feel himself hardening under the coarse fly of his jeans at the stranger's touch. Shit, it'd been too long.

The man relinquished his grip on Sasuke's wrists before parting from him. He looked Sasuke down from head to toe and groaned quietly before leaning his head into Sasuke's neck to kiss and nip at the sensitive skin.

Sasuke's breath hitched at the unexpected pricking sensation on his neck, and he involuntarily rolled his hips against the stranger's at the possessiveness of the action.

"What's your name?" Sasuke asked, tilting his neck to the side to give him more access.

"Little too late for that now, isn't it?" he chuckled, hovering over Sasuke's collarbone and licking a long stripe toward his ear.

Sasuke hummed. "Maybe, but shouldn't I know the name of the person trying to fuck me?"

The man laughed again, "Fair, I suppose," he said as he slowly sank to his knees. Sasuke could feel him brushing the tip of his nose against his clothed skin, which was teasingly cruel. Sasuke wanted this over with. He wasn't here for drawn-out lovemaking. However, there was something that he nearly forgot to ask in his stupidly drunken haze.

Sasuke grabbed the short tufts of hair at the base of the stranger's neck and moved his head to see the man's face, "You clean?" he asked sternly.

The man looked puzzled. "Clean? Like, did I shower today?"

What was with Sasuke's attraction to morons of late? "No, as in, do you have any diseases I should be worried about?" 

"Uh, I'm not sick, no," the man responded, still very confused.

The small hard-on that Sasuke developed had shrunken and shriveled up by this point. This guy was a fucking imbecile.

Sasuke sighed before pushing the man away, "What's your name?" he asked, all arousal lost from his voice, which the guy looked disappointed at as he stood.

"Um, C." 

"C? As in the letter?" Sasuke asked, wondering if he heard correctly.

He sighed. "Yeah."

The hell kind of name was that? "Hn… Well, not that it matters anymore, but I was referring to STDs and if you had any," Sasuke explained, moving sideways to get out of the trap that C had pushed him into.

An expression of realization dawned on C's face as he watched Sasuke move away. "Oh! Okay, but how should I know if I have that? My regular doctor hasn't mentioned anything about it."

What the fuck… Sasuke was more than over this guy. "You have to ask for tests to be ordered."

"Oh, okay, I'll remember that… So, shall we resume?" C asked sensually, moving in towards Sasuke again.

Sasuke put his hand against C's chest to stop him, "No, we will not be, excuse me," he finished before trying to turn and open the door to exit. How in the hell did this guy think he would be getting anywhere near Sasuke's dick when there was a complete possibility that the fucker had gonorrhea up his ass and out his urethra? The thought made him shiver. Sasuke Uchiha would never contract any form of venereal disease from anyone.

C grabbed Sasuke's arm and yanked him away from the door, "Wait, wait, wait, what's this? No ? You're the one who was eye fucking me from across the room, and you're the one who leaned in to kiss me. And now you're just walking out and leaving me hanging? No, I don't fucking think so bitch," he finished with a cold laugh and pulled Sasuke closer to him.

Who the fuck did this bastard think he was? Spewing bullshit like this. Sasuke was drunk, not incapable of sane thoughts and actions. "I'm going to be as civil as possible with you, C. For starters, I'd recommend you let go of my fucking arm unless you want to find your fingers surgically attached to your rectum. Secondly, if you want to keep your tongue intact to your throat, I'd say you should shut the fuck up," Sasuke spitted unapologetically, with agitation underlying his tone.

Sasuke didn't know if it was his words or his glare, with deathly stillness, that caused all the color from C's face to dissipate, but he wasn't interested in the particulars. 

C released his grip from Sasuke's arm right before the door behind them burst open.

"Sasuke! Oh, thank God, there you are. You need to come and handle Deidara, like now." 

Sasuke groaned internally at Suigetsu's words. What had he done now? "Why? What's going on?"

"Well, no one had seen him around since dinner, but suddenly, Deidara came striding down the stairs, wearing uh… not much. Then he began shouting about something to do with art and climbing on tables. Sakura, Karin, and a couple of others are trying to calm him down, but he isn't exactly listening," Suigetsu explained, scratching at the back of his neck.

What the– Sasuke was nowhere near drunk enough for this. "Fantastic. Where the hell's Sasori? He's always fucking glued to him."

Suigetsu let out an awkward laugh. "Ya' know, funny you mention him…"

" Suigetsu ?"

"He's uh, decided that filming the whole debacle would be a better use of his time instead of trying to get him to stop… Funny, right?" he ended with another awkward laugh.

"I'm going to fucking kill them," Sasuke proclaimed as he walked towards the door.

Suigetsu let out a quiet snicker before looking over to C. "Oh shit, wait, did I interrupt something?"

It was Sasuke's turn to laugh. "No, you didn't."

Without looking back at C, Sasuke followed Suigetsu out the door and down the hallway before they both halted at the top of the staircase. It provided both of them a golden view of Deidara's performance for the hundreds of visitors and the filming Sasori was conducting.

It was at this time that Sasuke felt his first gray hair sprout from the top of his head. These two were gonna be the death of him.

Walking down the stairs, Sasori's eyes immediately landed on Sasuke, which caused him to try to sink backward into the crowd. This action was done with a fatal outcome.

"Deidara. Get the fuck down. Now ." Sasuke demanded brutally.

Deidara, unobservant to his surroundings and, more importantly, to his impending death sentence, did not hear his stern words, as he was too caught up in the music. And Sasuke, having zero patience for him, decided to just take action. Walking around the furniture and people, he stopped at the table that produced the music and stopped it.

The whole room turned silent except for a few murmurs and a very distasteful singing from Deidara.

It took a full three minutes for Deidara to even realize the change. Sasuke swore his parents had to have been baboons in disguise because who the fuck acts like this in a public setting? Sasuke could feel his reputation being shredded to pieces the longer he stood, waiting for Deidara to pay the fuck attention.

"Hey! Who–woah, when did my legs turn green, huh… Why'd you turn the music—" Deidara babbled on before looking up to a very displeased Uchiha. "Oh shit… Hey! Sasuke! How are ya'? Enjoying… the party?"

Sasuke did nothing but quirk an eyebrow, and the drunken idiot's feet were back on the ground. Nobody screwed with Sasuke's reputation like this and got away with it. Sasuke himself was the only person allowed to fuck himself over. That was it.

Sasuke began walking back upstairs, expecting Deidara to follow, but when was his life that simple?

"Ugh, don't be such a sourpuss! Everyone's here just to have a good time! And from what I've heard, so have you," Deidara shouted suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.

A dead man walking. That's precisely what Deidara knew he was after seeing the look on Sasuke's face. Ferocious, utter rage . He said not a word more and followed him quietly upstairs. Ass still hanging halfway out his underwear, the only thing that kept him modest. 

The room that Sasuke led him to was another bedroom. He didn't want to run into C again, so the room was on the other side of the hallway.

All the guest rooms were small but simple and elegant. Browns and golds, intertwined with accents of white, painted the walls and ceiling. A queen bed sat against the wall in the center, with bedside tables on both sides. The carpet was dark but smelled stale. The house probably needed a good deep clean. Sasuke would have to convince Sakura to help him.

"How much?" Sasuke asked as he sat down on the bed.

"How much what?" Deidara asked back, leaning against the bed frame posts.

"You know what."

Deidara looked down at his feet. "Three, I think."

" Fuck … What the hell were you thinking? You were clean, Deidara. Two years, two fucking years, you were clean."

"I know! You–You don't think I know that… it's just–" Deidara was starting to break down. Usually, Sasuke would feel bad, but tonight? He didn't. He was over his bullshit. More than over it.

"It's just what? You get back involved with Sasori again and just say, 'Hey, fuck it! I'm going to just ruin my life! Again .' Deidara, I've tried to be understanding, I have. But this… Why? Why'd you do it?" 

"I–I don't know! They were just there , you know? And Sasori, he was… nevermind.”

" They ? What all did you take?!" Sasuke shouted, begging to feel dizzy.

"You don't have to be a fucking asshole about this, Sasuke. I know I screwed up. You yelling at me doesn't help! Molly! That's it! It's not as big of a deal as you're making it! And you bitching at me like you haven't taken worse is hypocritical, Sasuke."

"We aren't talking about me , Deidara. You don't think I'm more than aware of the shit that I've done? That I'm still paying for? Every day I fight tooth and fucking nail not to go fall back into it. So keep my bullshit out of your mouth, Deidara."

A long pause stretched between them. All that could be heard was Deidara's quiet sniffing.

"I don't know what you want me to do anymore. I've tried. I've given you my time, home, family, and unconditional support, but it's done nothing . Ever since Itachi died, you've been a loose fucking canon, and I can't keep cleaning up after you."

Deidara sucked his teeth. "Why is everything always about that fucking prick? Huh!? Every time I talk to one of you Uchiha's, it's always Itachi this, Itachi that. I don't fucking care anymore! It's not like any one of you knew him anyway!" Deidara bellowed out, slamming his fist into the post.

What was he going on about? Itachi was his fucking fiance?! How the hell could he say such things? Didn't he still love him? Didn't his heart sting every time he saw his picture? Saw his brand of tea still sitting in the cupboard? This day was for them. Sasuke felt a pain shoot through him at the way Deidara was speaking about Itachi. Something wasn't right. What was he hiding?  

"How fucking dare you. I think that ecstasy has really fucked with your brain Deidara, because how — how could you say all this? He was your lover!" Sasuke wailed out, an uninvited tear joining in as it rolled down his face and throat.

" Lover . Right. I think that has to piss me off the most," Deidara paused to let out a cold laugh fueled with anger. "Itachi was no lover, Sasuke."

"What are you talking about?" 

"Two months. It's all it took before Itachi started to fuck around. I wasn't his lover, Sasuke. I was a pity case. He didn't love me. He just couldn't collect the balls to crush my heart, which was already cracked and bleeding because of him, mind you. So, it's a good fucking thing that I did it for him, otherwise… shit, I don't even know."

No… No, it wasn't true, this… this wasn't true. It couldn't be. Itachi… He was Itachi . He was a good man; he'd never do that to him. Deidara was a shitface liar. 

"My brother would never do that. He's kind and caring, and he loves you, Deidara. Whether you believe it or not. You're just drunk."

Deidara looked at Sasuke with shock written on his face before it broke into concern, "Was, Sasuke. He was kind and caring. And I know that. It's why he couldn't tell me, because I did love him."

Sasuke's walls started breaking down, and he began to panic. No, no, he couldn't do this now! Tears began to fall faster as the truth started to sink in more. Did Sasuke know his brother at all? Was it all just some shitting illusion that he fell for? One-hundred-and-one made-up lies, made to make Sasuke live and believe in a false life? What else did Sasuke not know? And why did he think of Itachi as if he was still alive!? Itachi is dead . He felt that he had gotten past that months ago…

"Ugh… Sasuke, don't cry, please. You're making me feel like shit."

How the fuck does Deidara think Sasuke feels?! Crying in front of this moron over this–this shit? Again? It was humiliating. When the hell was Sasuke going to get over Itachi's death?! It was getting hysterical, not to mention immature. Sasuke was an adult. He needed to grow the fuck up and act like it already.

Sasuke gave Deidara a look that made the blonde laugh, "Hey, before you go and have some crisis. Why do you think he proposed to me? It sure as hell wasn't because he loved me, but he did care about me and my feelings. I only agreed because I was okay with it. I was okay with the fact that he didn't love me. He couldn't. Hell, how could he… but, you're right, Itachi was kind and caring. He was an amazing man, Sasuke. I know that," he paused before continuing, suppressing a laugh.

"I mean… How could I not? Sasuke, I had his dick up my ass more times than I care to count. I'm more than aware of how good he was," he ended with a smirk.

Sasuke was pissed that he was crying over something so stupid and pissed that Deidara had the nerve to make a sex joke right now. Sasuke tried to right himself and wiped his face with his arm. "What'd you mean, "How could he?”, and just because he's dead doesn't mean I care to hear about his sex life, Deidara. The vulgarity was so uncalled for… Jesus."

Deidara laughed before moving to sit on the bed next to Sasuke. "Oh stop, you love it… But, I meant that he loved someone else… and he loved him long before me."

This was becoming too much for Sasuke. He needed another drink. "Who?"

"It's not my place to say. They were secretive about it."

A pause.

"Is it even hard for you? Him… being gone."

Deidara looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh. "Honestly? No. Not anymore. I stopped loving him a long time ago, Sasuke. I stayed because it was the right thing to do. Especially after everything he did for me."

Sasuke nodded.

The room was quiet and uncomfortable. Sasuke had lots of things he needed to figure out. If he didn't know about this, what else did he not know about his brother? What else had been buried over the years? He wanted, no, he needed to know. It weighed heavily on him, and he needed this new pressure released immediately.

"Sasori… Why do you hang out with him so much?" Sasuke asked, wanting to stop talking about his brother for the time being.

Deidara looked down to the ground and smiled but didn't answer immediately.

Oh.

"You love him."

Deidara's head shot up, and looked at Sasuke with wide eyes, but his mouth never denied it. The words were stuck in his throat, or he didn't have it in him to lie.

"Before or after his death?" Sasuke asked.

Deidara ran his hand over his face before looking down at what looked to be disgust. Disgust with himself. "Before."

"Hn."

Deidara laughed another harsh laugh. "You know what's even sicker than that? It was during. He was on his deathbed, and I was in Sasori's. You were next to him the entire time, and I would make excuses to run off and have sex. How fucked up is that?" he choked. "My fiance was dying, and I was off fucking one of his best friends."

Sasuke wanted to be mad with Deidara, but how could he? Itachi was apparently doing the same. "You're with Sasori now."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not. We fuck, but that's it. Sasori… he doesn't do romance. "

Sasuke could see it. Sasori didn't really look like the type to be domestic. Sasuke would feel bad for Deidara, but he was having enough trouble organizing his own emotions. He couldn't handle anyone else's. Plus, he was still pissed at him for relapsing. Deep down, Sasuke knew he shouldn't be, but he still was. It was a selfish thing to do, and Deidara knew that.

Deidara sighed. "Sasuke, look… I'm sorry. You're like a little brother to me. I don't want you to deal with all of this shit."

Sasuke was sick of still being seen as a little kid. He was a goddamn adult, he could handle it perfectly fine. He wasn't some fucking fragile glass doll, and he was tired of being treated like it. Hell, it had only gotten worse after Itachi's death. Yes, his brother died. And yes, he took it harder… than the majority. But it had been months. He was okay now. He was more than okay. He was back working and running his everyday life. He missed Itachi, but that was normal. It was all normal. Everything, it was—it was fine. He was fine.

"I'm not a child, Deidara. Stop treating me like one."

He rolled his eyes but didn't protest at Sasuke's defense. "How hard would you kick me in the balls if I hugged you right now?"

"You get anywhere near me with your sweaty chest and your dick hanging half out, and you will be singing coloratura soprano notes in your sleep."

"I have no clue what the fuck colurtowa soprano notes are, but duly noted! No hugging."

It was Sasuke's turn to roll his eyes. He hated how much he cared about this dimwit. "If you think I've forgotten about your little drug escapade, think again."

"I hate you," Deidara groaned, falling backward on the bed.

"Hn," Sasuke murmured, following Deidara, falling backward on the bed. "Me too."

Deidara snorted. "You hate yourself? Or me?"

"Take a guess."

Deidara didn't respond, just laughed.

"Are you sober?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm moderately functional, unfortunately. I think everything wore off."

Sasuke was already regretting what he was about to do, "Wanna go get a drink with me?" he asked, sitting up.

"Oh, I thought you'd never-"

The door opened, and a bright but husky voice filled the bedroom, interrupting Deidara.

A familiar voice, an all too familiar voice. It was a voice Sasuke had heard way too often in his dreams of late. A voice that pulled out something in him that Sasuke didn't care to address, and lastly, a voice that filled him with pure, unfiltered rage. Looking over, Sasuke saw him. The source of the voice. He had thought that maybe his mind was messing with him, but no. When was he ever that lucky?

Naruto.

 "Hey, Sasuke…"

To be continued…

Chapter Text

~ The Party: Part 2 ~

A door opened, and a bright but husky voice filled the bedroom.

A familiar voice, an all too familiar voice. It was a voice that Sasuke heard way too often in his dreams. A voice that pulled out something in him that Sasuke didn't care to address. And lastly, a voice that filled him with pure rage. Looking over, Sasuke saw him. The source of the voice. He had thought that maybe his mind was messing with him, but no. When was he ever that lucky.

Naruto.

~ Elsewhere, Three Hours Prior ~

"Oh, fuck you, Shikamaru!" Naruto shouted from the backseat of his best friend's black sedan, continuously spraying himself.

"Hell no! Quit spraying that shit, I can't breathe!" Shikamaru retorted, holding his inner elbow to his face while rolling down the car window. "Who even uses that cheap stuff anymore? Axe body spray? Really Naruto? What are you, thirteen?!"

Ignoring Shikamaru's request and shouting from the passenger seat, Naruto continued spraying the cologne all over himself. "No! It was your fault I got sprayed by that fucking skunk! I can't go to a party smelling like rotten eggs, and what's wrong with Axe? It smells good! So what if it's cheap?" Naruto ended in a murmur.

Naruto had zero sympathy for Shikamaru's nostrils. It was his fault that they were running late in the first place because his lazy ass overslept his nap. It was also his fault that they had almost run over a family of skunks passing the road because of him not paying attention to the damn navigation app and leading them through a shit-ton of off-roads! Naruto could not believe that he let himself be the one to shoo the skunks away. Naruto could picture Sasuke's face now as he asked him,  "Hey Sasuke, I know I completely ghosted you like the dickhead I am and that I smell like the inside of a hobo's asshole, but would you be willing to go get drinks with me sometime?"  Yeah, because that would go down  wonderfully .  Naruto  didn't even want to be in the same vicinity as himself; he wouldn't blame anyone for kicking him straight to the curb when they got a whiff of him.

"Naruto, I swear to God, if you do not stop, I will have Temari pull this car over, just so I can beat the shit out of you," Shikamaru warned, as he waved his hand through the air, trying to clear some of the clouds of cologne.

Naruto knew that Shikamaru would do no such thing. It took more effort than Naruto had ever seen his best friend display in his entire time of knowing him. However, he could see Shikamaru screwing with the shop's schedule, so Naruto would have a shit ton of no-shows. His friend could be petty like that sometimes.

"Oh, will you now? You'll  tell  me to pull the car over?" Temari questioned, glancing at Shikamaru from the driver's seat.

Shikamaru awkwardly laughed. "Did I say " tell ," I meant-"

"Would you all shut it? I'm trying to sleep and stop spraying it. You're just making it worse, Naruto," Gaara murmured from the right side of Naruto, the side of his head lying on the car door.

"You're trying to sleep? Seriously? Before a party?" Naruto asked, finally setting the can back in the bag he brought.

Kankuro laughed at Naruto's remark from his left side, "He's probably just trying to sleep off whatever pill he took earlier. Which Gaara, why the hell didn't you care enough to share?" he asked, sounding salty.

Gaara didn't say anything, but Naruto could feel his smirk radiating from him.

"Wait, pill? Gaara, you sick?" Naruto asked, turning his head towards Gaara, worry lacing his voice.

Everyone in the car either snorted or chuckled at Naruto's mindless comment, "No, he isn't sick in the way you're thinking," Shikamaru said, annoyed, rolling his eyes.

Gaara moved his head to look at Naruto, ignoring Shikamaru's comment, "I can give you one if you want?" he asked, a slimy smile plastered on his face.

"Oh! So you'll offer him some, but not your brother? Wow, I feel so loved," Kankuro stated, crossing his arms.

Naruto let out a short titter at Gaara's offer. "Um, no thanks."

Naruto knew that Gaara and his siblings dabbled in drugs and the more hardcore side of life. Nevertheless, he was still friends with them regardless. Even if Naruto knew that he would never bond with them in  that  way, he still cared for them and had no plans to cut any of them out solely based on such a superficial thing. Naruto was hoping that this same ideology would work for Sasuke. Well, if he could even get the stoic bastard to talk to him in the first place, that is.

The rest of the car ride was filled with pointless banter between the five, but Naruto couldn't say he hadn't laughed through half of it. Naruto was one of those people who adored the car ride more than the actual event, nine times out of ten. He loved being surrounded by his chosen family, the chatter, and the gas station snacks that would accumulate. The tiny joyful moments like these always kept his blinding smile blinding.

Arriving at the address, Naruto looked out of the window past Kankuro to see the gorgeous mansion that practically glowed. String lights wrapped the fences surrounding the building, and the warm sun from the late evening cast an orange film over the bright white paint. He could see the glistening ocean waves collide against the sand behind the mansion and wondered what Sasuke would look like with just swimming trunks on, letting the water crash over his skin and hair as he walked out into the open sea. He wondered how sexy the tattoo would look when it peaked under his long hair. How Sasuke's angel wings would extrude out of his slim back as he dove into the water.

Thinking more about the tattoo, Naruto hoped it had healed all right. He usually liked to check in with his clients, but Sasuke technically wasn't  his  client, so he didn't. Plus, all of the other stuff that had happened, he nearly forgot that he was his tattoo artist in the first place. Naruto should probably check in with how the tattoo had healed on Sasuke tonight. Well, among many other things.

Numerous cars lined the street where Temari slowly drove through as Naruto watched her look for an open spot. He looked at the various cars and was surprised they weren't all expensively branded and in perfect condition. Many looked like his old beat-up truck, eliminating some of the anxiety festering in Naruto's gut.  At least there wouldn't be a bunch of snobs at the party…

After Temari finally found a parking spot, the five of them began getting out of the car to start their trek up the hill, given they had to park a good quarter of a mile away from the house.

"Dude, please tell me you have something I can change into. The smell is not going away," Naruto groaned to Shikamaru.

Sighing, Shikamaru moved to his trunk. "I have a box of old clothes that I keep forgetting to drop off at the shelter, but I doubt there's anything in here you're gonna wanna walk into a party wearing."

Looking through the box for a few seconds after Shikamaru opened the trunk and pulled it forward, Naruto found an old wrinkly orange long-sleeve t-shirt and pulled it out, "I think this will work, yeah?" Naruto asked Shikamaru, holding up the shirt.

Seeing Shikamaru's eyebrows raise before he smirked and nodded in agreement, Naruto pulled off his gray button-up and replaced it with the shirt, pulling it down some to try and de-wrinkle-fy it.

"At least I don't smell like shit anymore, right?"

"Well, no more than usual, no," Kankuro replied before Naruto heard him and Gaara both begin laughing. The weird thing about it was they were laughing a lot more than what was warranted for the joke that was told.

"First off, fuck you too, and secondly, what's  wrong  with you two?" Naruto asked, trying to style his hair in the reflection of the car window.

"Nothing," they both replied in unison, trying to suppress laughter.

Naruto simply shook his head at their oddity and began walking up the hill, thinking about how he would approach Sasuke and what he'd say to him. Naruto had a lot of things he wanted to address, but he didn't want to come off as overbearing or creepy.

Arriving at the front gate of the residence, Naruto could feel the vibration of the pounding music shoot through the concrete and into the souls of his shoes. It kind of tickled. 

Being the one to walk in through the door first, in front of his friends, Naruto immediately was caught in a swarm of people. The smell of liquor and food wafted into his senses the further he walked into the grand room. The lights were completely off, and the only light source came from the outside orange sunlight, the string lights casually dangled over furniture, and what looked like a lit pool.

"This is gonna be such a drag," Shikamaru groaned to Temari, directly behind Naruto. "You're lucky I love you."

Naruto smiled softly at hearing his best friend comment to his lover. He was happy that Shikamaru had found such a woman to stand by him. They fit so well together. However, it made Naruto jealous to no end.

"Hey, I'm gonna go get a drink before I start searching for Sasuke. Meet you guys back here at, say—uh, ten?" Naruto asked his friends in a loud voice, looking down at his phone to see the current time of 8:42 PM.

"Sounds good," Shikamaru answered.

"Need some liquid courage?" Gaara asked with a chuckle.

Naruto let out a genuine laugh. "Yeah, you have no idea…"

Turning around to make his way to wherever they were keeping the drinks, Naruto waved behind himself at his group and wiggled his way through the dense crowd. Finding the bar on the other side of the room with a white-haired man standing behind it mixing drinks, Naruto approached.

"Hey, man! Can I have a Vodka Soda?" Naruto asked with a smile.

"You got it!" the bartender responded, his pointy teeth poking out in a smile.

Nartuo's eyebrows rose at the strange but sick teeth. "Yo, dude! Those natural!?"

The bartender looked up at Naruto for a second before he smiled and laughed. "My teeth? Oh, no, they're not! I got 'em shaved down!" he shouted, squeezing lemon into the tall drink.

"They're fucking awesome!" Naruto shouted back, taking his drink from the man's hand. "Thanks!"

Naruto leaned back on one of the stools placed by the bar and quickly took a large gulp of his drink before he began scanning the crowd for any spiked black hair. Looking over what felt like hundreds of moving faces and waving hair, he sighed and took another drink.

"Trouble in paradise, blondie?"

Naruto looked over to his right, where he saw a gray-haired man with circular glasses sitting on the stool beside him.

"No, just looking for someone is all," Naruto clarified with a small smile. Naruto had zero idea who this man was but didn't want to find out. He made Naruto feel unusually uneasy.

"Oh, well, I'm pretty familiar with many people here. I might know who you're looking for. Also, I've never seen you before. What's your name?"

Naruto really didn't like that the man decided to continue a conversation, but he had no idea how to deter him without being rude. "Oh, um, it's Naruto, but it's okay. I'm sure I'll find him soon," Naruto awkwardly stated, turning his head away, trying to give the guy a hint.

If Naruto was looking, he would have seen the man's eyebrows raise before a smirk slowly pulled on his mouth. "Naruto, huh. Pretty unique name… Say, are you a tattoo artist by chance?"

Naruto looked back at the man, eyebrows furrowed. "...I am. How-How'd you know that?"

"A friend of mine was talking about his sleeve the other day and mentioned how his tattoo artist had whisker tats," the man ended before sipping his drink and pointing to his cheeks.

Wow, the man certainly hadn't taken the hint. Naruto wouldn't lie; he began feeling extremely uncomfortable, "Oh, okay… Yeah, that's me," Naruto ended with a clumsy chuckle.

"I see. Nice meeting you,  Naruto ," the man started before standing, leaning in towards Naruto's ear, "Also, the man you're looking for,  Sasuke , right? He's the one dancing over there," the man whispered in Naruto's ear, as he pointed directly to the center of the swarm of dancing guests.

Extraordinarily creeped out by the dude officially, Naruto leaned away from him but still looked to where he had pointed. Squinting his eyes, he darted around various faces until they landed on what should've been the most illegal dancing being displayed by none other than Mr. Stick-up-my-ass himself.

Naruto watched him spin and sway in tune with Farruko's Pepas louding playing over the speakers. Sasuke's arms were above his head, as his hips popped from left to right on every beat. Gulping down the rest of his drink, Naruto completely disregarded Mr. two-thousand feet from children at all times, wholly mesmerized.

It wasn't just the dancing, his attitude, the way he held himself on the floor surrounded by men and women alike, his clothes, oh god,  fuck  his clothes. The things Naruto would do to just rip them all off right now. Sasuke radiated not only sex appeal, but he just  radiated . The good majority of eyes that were present in the room were on him, and as much as that slightly pissed Naruto off, he couldn't blame a single pair.

Sasuke was pivoting from person to person, gliding his hands and torso against them and nearly forcing them to comply with his dancing. Naruto could barely keep up with how fast he was moving, but the single thing that kept Naruto's eyes locked was the man's gaze. Glazed over with sybaritic intent, his eyelids were lowered. His eyes were dark, with a glint showing anything but innocence. Naruto wanted to know  everything  about Sasuke, but he wanted to know who gave Sasuke that glint and how much he could intensify it in just a single night. It was a selfish thought, but right now, venereal thinking wasn't in Naruto's book of worries.

Setting his glass on the bar table, Naruto stood, ignoring four eyes entirely, and began trying to sidestep his way through the crowd to get to Sasuke. Slowly getting past people and making it within arms reach to Sasuke, he suddenly felt his wrist grabbed and pulled.

"Hey, cutie! Wanna dance!"

Naruto looked down at the woman tugging his wrist and tried to smile. Still, he didn't think it came off very convincing, "Oh, uh, thank you, but no thank you! Please excuse me," he shouted over the music, trying to walk away, only for the woman to look extremely offended and to snatch her hand away from his wrist.

"Hmf, whatever. It's always the fucking blonde himbo's in the need of an attitude check. Maybe next time, wear a different shirt if you don't want attention," she stated as she walked away to her next target.

Himbo?  Himbo?!  Did she just call Naruto a fucking  himbo ?!   Naruto was  not  a himbo! What the shit!? Mouth hanging open and eyebrows furrowed, Naruto stood for a solid minute in shock, not even processing the other things she had said. Oh my God, was Naruto a himbo? "Holy fuck, I'm a himbo…"

Hearing loud and bright laughter behind him, Naruto turned to see a near-naked Deidara.

"That's some funny ass shit ma- Oh no shit! Naruto! What are you doing here?" Deidara shouted as he laid his arm around Naruto's shoulder.

Ah,  fuck ! No! Naruto needed to get to Sasuke! "Oh, hey, Deidara! Nice seeing you, but if you will please excuse me-"

"What!? No, man, come on! It's a party, let's dance!" Deidara yelled as he yanked Naruto by his arm further away from where Sasuke was and began waving their arms together to the music.

"Deidara, wait!" Naruto clamored but was ignored by Deidara, as he was too busy dancing and trying to get Naruto to sway with him. Naruto looked back to where Sasuke was but found that he was no longer there.  Godamnit!

What was with the world being against Naruto finding and talking to Sasuke! He just wanted to get a chance with him. Just one possibility, but Naruto couldn't even have that at this point! He was going to go ballistic!

Pulling Deidara closer, Naruto moved to talk in his ear. "Hey man, catch me later, and we can dance, yeah? I need to go take a leak." 

Naruto felt terrible for lying to Deidara, but something told him that Deidara wouldn't probably even remember that Naruto was present, given how wasted he seemed to be.

"Oh shit! Yeah, sure! You go take care of your business!" Deidara shouted back in Naruto's ear, before swaying his ass away from Naruto and onto his next poor victim. Naruto put a small reminder in his brain to go out drinking with Deidara sometime because he looked like he knew how to have a  damn  good time.

Moving around, Naruto tried to scan through the crowd but couldn't find Sasuke. He was very close to just catching up with his group and trying to find Sasuke toward the end of the gathering, but that thought was thrown away immediately after he caught a glimpse of pink hair.  Nice girl from the shop! 

Shimming through the crowd at what must have been record speeds, Naruto got closer to Sasuke's friend until he was directly in front of her. She was sitting on a couch next to the big glass sliding doors that led out to the outside garden and pool. Looking out quickly, Naruto realized it had gotten completely dark since he arrived and groaned internally. This night had not gone how he wanted at all so far.

"Hey! You're Sasuke's friend, right?" Naruto asked as he sat down next to the pink-haired woman.

"Oh, my! You're that tattooist! It was… Harutop, right?" she averred.

Naruto had some wild name butchers before, but Harutop was new. "It's Naruto, actually, but yeah, that's me!" he laughed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! So, Naruto, what are you doing here? Did…  Sasuke , invite you?" she mused with a smirk.

Huh? Why would Sasuke invite him? Naruto hadn't spoken with him since…  Wait , if this girl was as close to Sasuke as she seemed to be at the shop, then she would know if he was interested, right? When she asked if Sasuke had invited him, the tone in her voice was very… suggestive. So, is Sasuke actually interested and just nervous to address Naruto? Or maybe something like that? Ahh, Naruto couldn't believe he was conspiracizing over a guy. He's a  guy , and Naruto was a guy, so of all people, he should know how pathetic this was. Sasuke better either deny him right off the bat so Naruto could move on, be a sex God, or be the damn best lover in the books because this was getting absurd. Naruto was sure he was getting to a stalker level at this point.

"No, he didn't. I'm friends with Gaara. I'm not sure if you know him or not. He's aquatinted with Sasori," Naruto explained.

The woman's eyebrows shot up before she let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, right, Sasori. Yeah, I'm familiar with him…"

Naruto could not blame her reaction. The dude was a solid creepo, "Um, so I know this is kinda late in the conversation to ask this, but what's your name again?" Naruto chuckled out.

Giggling, she replied, "Sakura."

"Ah! Right, Sakura. Pretty name."

Sakura smiled at the compliment. "So, did you need something or just want to start a conversation?"

Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Well, I was wondering as to where I might be able to find Sasuke."

Sakura eyed him with a knowing look but didn't ask for any details. "You just missed him, actually. He told me he was going to the bathroom, but I highly doubt that's where he went."

Naruto gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

Sakura took a sip of her drink. "Sasuke was just eye fucking some blonde, and I watched the guy follow him upstairs. So, if he's in the bathroom, I doubt he's in there for its intended purposes, that's all."

Is it strange that those sentences pissed Naruto off to no end? Sasuke was still a near complete stranger, and Naruto was already feeling like this?  Shit…

"Ah, I see then… Well, you mind keeping me company in the meantime, then?" Naruto asked, pulling out his phone to check the time.

"Of course, actually– Oh no…  Dammnit Deidara ."

Naruto looked up from his phone at the unexpected change in tone and followed Sakura's eyes until they landed on who was most definitely Deidara, jumping from table to table,  gyrating . The fact that Naruto could see his balls through the open crack of his underwear made him cringe internally. Naruto felt embarrassed, and he wasn't even the one who was hosting this party. Now that he thought about it, who  was  hosting this? He couldn't remember if anyone had mentioned it to him.

"Hold that thought; I need to try to get Tweedledum to calm his ass down," Sakura mumbled, standing up and stomping over to the current table Deidara was performing on. Naruto was certain he would never mess with that woman if he loved his life because she looked  terrifying  when she was mad. Plus, if she could handle being Sasuke's close friend, he wouldn't doubt that she could pack a punch.

Naruto watched Sakura and multiple people try to get Deidara down from the table. The bartender with spiky teeth made a late appearance to help as well. He wouldn't lie; it was funny as hell, but Naruto was glad he was no part of it. 

Through the shouting and people trying to grab Deidara's limbs to pull him down, Naruto saw the bartender separate from the group, looking around for someone. Naruto wondered if that someone was whoever was hosting the party. The man walked around the room before darting up the same staircase Sakura said Sasuke had taken.

Was… Was he looking for Sasuke? Or maybe that guy that had followed him upstairs? Now that Naruto thought about it, why would Sasuke go upstairs in someone else's house? Naruto knew people would sneak into people's rooms to hook up during parties, but Sasuke didn't seem like the type. Not to mention, no one else was up there as far as Naruto was aware, and it was pretty dark as far as he could see. So, was Sasuke the host of this thing? It would make sense if he owned this place. It sure didn't seem that the bastard had any money troubles.

Naruto stood and walked through the stagnant crowd as everyone watched the fiasco. He wanted to try and find his group and see what they were up to; however, he froze when he saw who walked down the stairs with the bartender.  Sasuke…

He wore the same clothes as earlier, but were all wrinkly now. His hair was disheveled and sticking out even more bizarrely than when they met, and his expression mirrored one of pure agitation. Naruto wouldn't lie to himself. He found it hot.

Stood frozen in the mess of the crowd, Naruto watched as Sasuke walked over to Deidara in a choleric manner to try and get him down. Which was useless at first because the blonde was so far gone, but after Sasuke went and turned off the music, he started to pay attention.

Naruto could hear the demanding tone in Sasuke's voice as he told the naked man to get his ass upstairs, and it made him imagine how that demanding tone would sound under different circumstances…

Naruto wasn't sure what to do. He knew it probably wasn't wise to approach him right now, but he didn't want to search for him again. Especially since this house was so huge, Naruto was sure he'd get lost if he tried to adventure upstairs.

Stuck in his thoughts, he didn't notice Sakura approach him until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Not yet," she started. "trust me, you don't want to get involved in what's about to happen between those two."

Naruto turned around to face a very concerned-looking Sakura. "Yeah, I figured… If it's not rude to ask, what's up with Deidara? I mean, I knew he was more eccentric, but this…"

Sakura grimaced. "Let's just say alcohol wasn't the only thing he was consuming tonight."

Oh .

Naruto nodded in understanding. 

The two of them returned to the couch they previously inhabited and spent a good forty minutes just chatting back and forth. Naruto had been trying to pry some information about Sasuke, whether embarrassing stories or cute childhood memories, but she kept her lips sealed. It slightly annoyed Naruto, but he figured that getting the information out of Sasuke would be best anyway. Would it be easier? Absolutely not, but Naruto could hope.

"Hey, I'm sure they're probably done now, Naruto. If you want to go and talk with him. I will warn you, though, he's not exactly happy with you," Sakura chuckled.

The sentence of dread Naruto knew was coming, "Ugh, I know. I'm hoping that maybe he's in a good mood? Maybe?" he asked in a high-pitched voice.

Sakura laughed. "Sasuke doesn't get those."

Her comment made Naruto laugh loudly and wonder exactly what he was about to get into.

Rising back on his feet, Naruto began walking over to the staircase after shooting Sakura a "please wish me luck" glance, which earned him a giggle.

Climbing the steep stairs covered in a thin but old rug, Naruto tried to organize everything that he wanted to say and how he wanted to apologize in his head. Naruto was praying to whatever gods may be out there that he didn't stick his foot in his mouth, but with his reputation, he had doubts.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Naruto looked left and right at the long corridor with many adjacent rooms. Going right, he started to peek his head in the few unlocked rooms but was unsuccessful in finding Sasuke. So, he walked all the way down to the other side of the hallway, where he started to hear distant voices and followed them until he stopped at the door near the end.

Taking a deep breath, he turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Naruto was immediately met with the dim light that the room supplied, along with two men lying over the king-sized bed in the center of the room. Taking his first step in, the floorboard creaked under his foot. "Um, excuse my intrusion…"

Upon hearing Naruto's voice, Sasuke shot up from his lying position.

"Hey, Sasuke."

Naruto watched Sasuke's surprise turn to anger almost immediately as his eyes rested on Naruto.

 "Get out," he bit harshly.

"Ah, no, wait! Please, I just want to talk," Naruto pleaded, walking further into the room.

"Naruto?" Deidara said to no one in particular, puzzled, as he sat up with Sasuke.

"I don't care if you found the cure to cancer,  out ," Sasuke demanded gruffly, coming to a complete stand and walking towards Naruto and the door.

Naruto realized that this wouldn't be the most effortless endeavor in getting Sasuke to at least talk to him, but Jesus Tap Dancing Christ,  really ?! Was he really going to bring dying people into this?

Walking closer to Sasuke and tempting fate at this point, Naruto noticed that Sasuke's face was all red and puffy. Naruto stopped his movement, and his expression turned to deep concern. Has Sasuke been crying? What exactly happened here to get  that  kind of reaction out of him?

"Sasuke, have you been crying?" Naruto asked gently, unsure why seeing Sasuke in such a state gave him a massive chest ache.

Seeing Sasuke's face turn from anger to fury, Naruto slowly stepped back towards the door before Sasuke stomped past him, shouting. "Mind your own  fucking  business!"

"Wait!" Naruto shouted as he grabbed Sasuke's wrist, only to immediately regret said action upon seeing his face.

"Do the morons of the world find it amusing to treat me like  fucking  ragdoll? Hm, Naruto?" he spat, pivoting his feet to face Naruto, "What, you think because I paid you to  draw   on  me, that you own me now? You can just show up,  unannounced , in my  bedroom , to what? Fuck me? To pretend like you give a  flying fuck  about me, only to completely ignore me again?" he let out a cold laugh as tears started to swell in his eyes.

Naruto's once concern turned to outright panic as he watched Sasuke cry right before him. Holy fuck, what  happened  between him and Deidara to get him on such an edge?! " What ?! No, Sasuke, listen, first off, I would  never  do that. I don't do random fucks, and I sure as hell would never do that with you. Secondly, I want to talk to you because of what I did. I know it was shitty, but I'm here because I want to right a wrong. Sasuke, I don't know you, but  fuck  I want to so bad. Please, just five minutes, that's all I ask."

Sasuke stood as still as a statue, tears coursing down his face, staring at Naruto.

Naruto relinquished his grip on his wrist and waited for him to say  anything . Naruto hoped that he didn't already fuck this up.

Sucking in the air around him, Sasuke wiped his face with his arm, " Shit , I'm nowhere near intoxicated enough for this," he murmured, but it wasn't missed by Naruto, and he smiled at hearing it.

Without saying anything else, Sasuke turned and walked out the door. Not knowing what to do, Naruto turned back to Deidara only to get a shrug in response. Taking the risk, Naruto followed Sasuke out the door.

Tailing Sasuke down the hallway, Naruto was surprised when they passed the opening to the staircase but instead continued all the way down to the other side of the corridor. Where were they going?

Naruto watched as Sasuke pulled out a keyring and inserted an old, rusted key into one of the doors. He then walked in and turned on a lamp that brightened the room just enough.

Following in toe, Naruto observed the room they were now in. It was  breathtaking . Aged wooden bookcases lined all four walls from the floor to the high ceiling, filled with books in many languages. From the ceiling hung a gaudy chandelier that sparkled from the reflected light, and painted on said ceiling were various constellations, only some of which Naruto could recognize. Towards the back of the room sat a massive desk, organized to the tee. However, out of everything in the stunning space, the man with a teared stained face was the most radiant thing in the room.

"Shut the door behind you," Sasuke finally spoke, pouring two glasses of scotch from its decanter.

Naruto complied, happy that Sasuke was the one to speak first. "This room is amazing. Was it already built when you bought the house?"

Sasuke looked up at Naruto with a curious expression before walking over to him and handing him a glass. "This isn't my house."

"Oh, okay, is it an Airbnb then or-"

"Is this seriously what you want to discuss?" Sasuke cut him off, taking a sip of the scotch and moving to sit in one of the chairs near the desk.

Naruto laughed awkwardly. He had almost forgotten how much the bastard hated small talk. "Just trying to make conversation, Sasuke, and let you get your handlings."

"I have my handlings. Never lost them."

Sighing, Naruto moved over to one of the chairs beside Sasuke's. He sipped the scotch, trying not to show how much it burned his throat as it ran down. It was silent between the two for a long minute before Naruto spoke in a cracked voice.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Naruto didn't get a response, so he continued. "I have a hard time believing that it was just me not messaging you that pissed you off so much just now, but I won't push for the real reason, as it's not really my business."

Sasuke scowled and took a big swig of his drink. "Yet you've pushed. You wouldn't have acknowledged it if you didn't think it was your business."

Naruto nodded, "You're right. You're completely right, but I guess that's just who I am," he retorted.

A long stretch of pure quietude rang through the room again.

"You're running up your five minutes with a lot of silence."

Naruto laughed, but it was full of anything but a humorous reaction. Naruto was trying to go through his mental checklist to figure out what he wanted to ask; however, Naruto came up empty and decided to say what was playing on his heartstrings, "I'm attracted to you. I don't know if there is anything else to accompany that attraction, but it is  violently  there," he paused. "I can't say that I like you because, quite frankly, I don't. You're a bastard with the biggest rod stuck up your ass… Regardless, I do  want  to like you. I do, but I have my restraints."

Sasuke had an unreadable appearance, which scared Naruto to death. "You're restraints?" he repeated in a questioning tone after a minute passed.

"Yes, like I said, I want to learn about you and grow like you, but… I've heard  things…"

" Things ?" he repeated again, but with much more venom lacing his tone.

Naruto took a swig of his own drink. "Shikamaru he… Well, multiple people have told me some things about you, but I didn't want to believe any of them until I talked to you because that's not fair to you."

Sasuke's expression turned from stagnant to pissed, and Naruto realized that he just dug himself into one girthy ass hole.

"So you're telling me that you're attracted to me but are hesitant to pursue me because of some fucking  office gossip ?" Sasuke laughed out, irate spewing out of it.

"No, I wouldn't say office gossip! It was more of very persistent… advice."

Sasuke shook his head and drank the remainder of his drink. "Wow, and here I thought that this was going to go well, but I think that was more stupid than- You know what, never mind. Enjoy the party, Naruto," he finished as he stood and went to the door, scotch still in hand.

"Ah,  shit . Sasuke, please wait!” Naruto exasperated, stood to chase after the man once again. However, Sasuke had other ideas.

"No. I have had  enough  of you and haven't even spent more than four hours around you. You can either go downstairs and party like the rest of the  guests , or you can get the fuck out," Sasuke fumed, stopping only to look back at Naruto for a quick glance before storming his way entirely out of the room.

Fuck ! Naruto had not only shoved his foot in his mouth but his whole goodman leg! He had no idea how to fix this, but he still chased after the man anyway, not thinking whether it was a good decision.

"So you're just gonna stand there and tell me that you're not attracted to me too, because you know just as well as I do that that is utter  bullshit !" Naruto screeched from directly outside the door down the hallway where Sasuke was still storming down, not even thinking about what he was saying.

Naruto could hear another cold laugh leave his lips, "That is more than irrelevant now, Naruto," he scoffed just loud enough to where Naruto could still hear, "because if you really think that I'm going to sit there and listen to you shit talk me, then you are even more of a dumbass then I already knew you were," he finished, before striding down the stairs.

That was it; Naruto had lost all chance at trying to reprimand his actions. One fine hole he had dug for himself. A bed made full of nails, if you will. He didn't understand it, but this guy, he… he just brought out something crazy in Naruto, and at this point, it wasn't just a draw towards the guy. It was fucking  infatuation .

Before his brain caught up to his actions, Naruto was chasing after Sasuke  again . Running down the stairs, he spotted his hair almost immediately over by the bar and squeezed through the still-dancing crowd to reach him.

"Sasuke, please, can I just try again? I wasn't thinking, and-"

"You need to leave me the fuck alone, Naruto. I have nothing to say to you, and I'm done listening," he warned, grabbing the drink a very nervous-looking bartender poured for him.

Naruto stood still by the bar, watching him enter through the crowd and walk out the big opening to the pool, where fewer people were. Naruto was going to regret this, that was without a doubt, but he could always blame the alcohol, which in truth, was probably why he was feeling so ballsy in the first place.

Moving through the crowd in the same fashion as he had nearly a dozen times that night, Naruto stalked Sasuke to where he stood near the pool's edge.

"You're not being fair. If you knew what I've been told, you'd understand!" Naruto swore, catching the attention of a few bystanders.

Sasuke took a large drink before looking Naruto dead in the eyes. "You know what, Naruto?  Humor me , what have you been told, huh? What bullshit has been fed to you about me, a fucking  stranger  to you, that has you so damn worked up!" he seethed, with pure, unfiltered rage masking his expression.

"Well shit, I don't know! That fact that you're a druggie. Perhaps the fact that you're a part of a slum ring!? Or maybe it's the older brother being kidnapped by a goddamn  psycho  that put me off so much! Take your pick, Sasuke! Take your  fucking  pick!"

Naruto should have seen it coming, but by the time he heard the glass shatter, his face had already erupted in pain, and he fell to the ground.

"Keep my brother's name out of your  filthy  mouth."

Without thinking, Naruto stood, rage now seeping through his own expression to match Sasuke's. Stepping forward, he tackled Sasuke to the ground and began swinging.

Death gripping his left hand around Sasuke's wrist and bringing up his right arm, he shot it down directly against Sasuke's cheek for the second time. However, his advantage was soon dismantled as Sasuke flipped them over and began taking his own swings.

"Get the fuck off me!" Naruto shouted, wrestling with Sasuke's legs to try and throw him off.

Grunting, Sasuke socked him in the side. "You're the one who tackled me, you fucking  hypocrite !"

"Ah,  fuck !  You  punched  me !" Naruto retorted, finally being able to throw Sasuke off.

Both men stood, but not still for long as they both charged at each other. It was a blur of fast movement and shouted slurs before Naruto could hear shouting on his right side, getting closer and closer, before he felt a pair of hands trying to pull him off of Sasuke.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Naruto?! Let go of him!" Shikamaru ordered, grabbing under Naruto's arms and trying to pull him away.

"Fuck you!" Naruto shouted at Sasuke as he spit in his face.

Sasuke froze before he lost all control. Grabbing onto Naruto's hair, he yanked him away from Shikamaru and began to repeatedly knee him in the stomach and ribs.

Luckily for Naruto, multiple people began stepping in to separate the two.

"Sasuke, stop! You're gonna kill him!" Naruto heard Sakura shout nearby.

Not even being able to register the pain anymore, Naruto leaned forward and bit the fuck out of Sasuke's shoulder.

"Ow,  fuck !" Sasuke screamed.

However, suddenly, Naruto started to feel Sasuke lose his balance at the pain of being bitten. Still being held by Sasuke, both men twisted to the side and tumbled chaotically to the right.

The next thing Naruto knew was that he had water lodged up his nose and couldn't breathe. Initially freaking out because he couldn't open his eyes to see, he began trying to swim to the surface. He emerged soon after, taking a big breath of air and coughing between each breath.

Trying to reach for the pool's edge, he was abruptly pulled back under the water. Attempting to kick at Sasuke, who was raking his nails through Naruto's skin on his legs, which stung like bitch, he heard multiple people jump into the pool.

Feeling hands grab at him and a terrible burning sensation from where Sasuke was digging his nails into him, Naruto let whoever was trying to help him pull him up to the surface. Breaking the water's surface, Naruto and those who sounded like Shikamaru and Gaara began coughing up a storm.

Making out the concrete now supporting him, Naruto laid flat against it, trying to correct his breathing. He could slightly open one of his eyes and saw Sasuke being pulled out of the water, with a lot more fight than Naruto gave.

"Let go of me, Suigetsu!" Sasuke raged, trying to wiggle away from his and the redhead's grasp.

"No, you fucking drunk  psycho ! Stop! You're gonna fall back in!"

Naruto watched as Sasuke finally sat down, and Sakura and Ino came up to Sasuke and Naruto.

"You drunken  idiots . Naruto, when I said you were free to talk to him, this is  not  what I meant," Sakura scolded.

Naruto didn't respond but felt a hard slap to the back of his head. 

"I'm with Pinky over here. What the hell, Naruto? Starting a fight,  seriously ?" Shikamaru groaned.

"I didn't start it, he did!" Naruto reasoned loudly, sounding much more drunk than he had heard in his voice in a long time. Jesus, how much  had  he drunk?

Sasuke scoffed. "I should have called the cops on your ass for harassment and let them deal with your dumb shit."

" Oh , I'm gonna fucking kill-" Naruto cut himself off by trying to crawl over to Sasuke to continue their brawl, only to be stopped by Gaara grabbing him.

"Enough!" the blonde woman interrupted, "Would you guys help them up to one of the rooms so their wounds can be treated?" she asked, exasperated.

The bartender, who apparently was Suigetsu and the redhead, compiled by helping Sasuke up, as did Shikamaru and Gaara with Naruto.

"I swear, you are going to be the death of me, Sasuke," Sakura commented to Sasuke.

Naruto looked around as he was helped up and saw what looked to be hundreds of people watching the unfolding events. His face turned red out of embarrassment from his actions. Why the hell did he  say  those things? God, he really was a fucking moron.

Being escorted upstairs and thrown into a room  with  Sasuke, might he add, they were both sat on the large queen that took up a good sixty percent of the room. It wasn't until then that the adrenaline coursing through Naruto's veins had subsided, and the actual throbbing pain began to reveal itself. His cheeks, nose, ribs, and holy seven-shades-of-liquid-shit his  leg,  a horrible burning sensation  throbbed  at it from Sasuke's  talons  apparently.

Sakura and that blonde soon entered the room after Shikamaru, Gaara, and the other two left. "We're going to run down to Ino's car to grab her emergency kit. Can you two  please  not try to kill each other while we're gone?" Sakura implored, looking quite annoyed.

Sasuke didn't say anything, but Sakura must've gotten a response out of him because she nodded toward him before looking at Naruto with an expression he couldn't quite decipher. 

"Yeah, whatever," he responded, it not really coming out as he imagined, but right now, he was in too much pain to obsess over it.

With the exit of the two women, the room went stagnant for what felt like hours. Neither man made a peep other than the harsh breathing of both of them. Slowly letting himself fall back onto the bed, Naruto hissed at the sharp pain that shot through his leg, the movement pulling on skin that was trying to scab over.

Naruto felt eyes on him, so he turned to face the only other person in the room. He immediately locked eyes with Sasuke from across the bed. Sharing a glance for only a few seconds, the other man looked away. Naruto wasn't sure, but he swore he saw a grimace run over Sasuke's face and a flick of remorse.

Suddenly feeling weight released off the bed, Naruto looked back over to see Sasuke stumbling over to the joint bathroom and flipping on the switch.

Hearing cabinets open and close, as well as something glass hitting the ground, followed by a quiet " shit ," Naruto slowly sat up. What was he doing? Did Sasuke seriously store  alcohol  in the bathrooms of these rooms? If that were the case, Sasuke would be switching from "a good partier" to "a functioning  alcoholic " in Naruto's eyes. He earnestly hoped that wasn't the case.

Sasuke soon exited the bathroom with various medical supplies held in his arms. Naruto followed Sasuke with his gaze, puzzled as he stumbled back over to the bed, throwing all the supplies partially on the bed and partly on the floor.

"Uh, Sasuke?"

Watching Sasuke kneel beside the end of the bed where he sat, Naruto sat up fully and tilted his head down a tad to see what exactly he was doing. "What uh, whatcha doin'?"

"'M gonna treat that," Sasuke began, gesturing to Naruto's leg while with uncoordinated hands trying to open a bottle of peroxide. "It's gonna get infected since you smell like you haven't showered in a week," Sasuke ended with an upturned nose.

Ugh, he  still  smelt like shit? Naruto was going to have a severe talk with Shikamaru when this was all over about not telling him that he  still  smelled rank. Also, why the hell did Shikamaru and Gaara just  abandon  him!? It wasn't like Naruto  really  knew any of these guys. What if Sakura returned with some 6 '3 hunk that would take Naruto away to sell spare parts off of him? Based on what he had heard from Jiraiya, Naruto wouldn't exactly be surprised.

"Funny story about the whole smell thing, actually," Naruto watched Sasuke halt his movements and raise an eyebrow in Naruto's direction. "Well, you see, when me and my friends were all driving here, Shikamaru kept ignoring the directions. So, we went on this whole adventure into the mountains before making it to the highway. Long story short, some skunks were being assholes and not moving off the road, so me, being the nice guy I am, tried to shoo them away, and as I'm sure you can  smell , it didn't go too great."

After the story ended, Naruto heard a snort come out of the other man, making Naruto smile too much.

"You're an idiot," Sasuke jested, moving to grab the few cotton balls off of the bed, as well as the tweezers. "This might sting a bit."

A bit  was the biggest understatement of the night because the minute Sasuke brushed the dampened cotton up against Naruto's leg, he swore he saw the pearly gates. "Holy Sweet Mother of Jesus! Ow!? What the hell, man!"

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke continued cleansing the wounds and area surrounding them. "I warned you, and don't you have tattoos? One primarily on your  face ? I would think you'd be used to external pain. No need to be a crybaby," Sasuke teased with a smirk.

"Okay, look ya' bastard. When I got both of my tattoos, I was extremely drunk. So, my pain tolerance isn't nearly as high as it may seem. Which, as a professional artist, and more specifically, the artist who did your work,  please don't ever do that ," Naruto ended with a groan.

Sasuke grabbed a Q-tip, a fresh pack of triple antibiotics, and a pair of gloves before looking up at Naruto.

"Pussy," he smirked.

"Oo, ouch," Naruto paused, leaning further towards Sasuke. "You're surprisingly funner when you're drunk, you know that?"

Pressing his thumb into one of the scrapes a little too much, Sasuke looked directly at Naruto. "And you're still a dumbass when  you're  drunk."

"Ow, ow, ow… God, you're such a dick," Naruto laughed. "Wasn't Sakura and that blonde supposed to come back with their doctor shit?"

Grabbing gauze and cotton wrap, Sasuke wrapped the wound before pushing all the supplies over and laying beside Naruto on the bed. "I don't know. My head hurts too much to think about it."

Naruto laid back carefully right next to Sasuke and laughed. "Turning into an old fart, Uchiha?"

After hearing a faint chuckle, Naruto felt the sheets shift and looked over to come face to face with Sasuke. It was the same face that Naruto had thought about for the past week, and something told him that the face wasn't going to leave his mind anytime soon.

"I'm sorry…" Sasuke began, his voice barely audible. "I crossed the line, doing that to your leg."

Naruto's expression softened. "I was the one who crossed the line first, so don't apologize. I shouldn't have pushed you like that, and the things I said and  did…  I should be the one to apologize, not you," he finished in a hushed tone.

Sasuke's face was unreadable, but Naruto could tell that both sides had already forgiven everything that had happened earlier. They both said and did some really shitty things.

"Both…" Sasuke whispered.

"Both, what?"

"Earlier, you said  both  of your tattoos… I knew you had the whiskers, but you have another one?"

Letting out a laugh through his nose, Naruto slowly lifted his shirt but winced at the dull pain that pulsed in his side.

Sasuke eyebrows furrowed at the wince, and he looked over Naruto's now exposed torso before spotting what already was a very deep purple bruise splotched on the right side of his ribs.

" Shit…  Naruto, I didn't-"

"Ah, stop fussen. You turn into such a mom when you're drunk. You said you wanted to see my other tat here," Naruto urged as he gestured to his lower navel, where a burnt orange spiral was beautifully drawn out.

Naruto watched Sasuke go from contrition to wonder as his eyes landed on the artwork that Naruto had displayed. Observing Sasuke dart his eyes around the art, Naruto, unexpectantly, felt a warm finger barely graze the top of the spiral.

Sasuke suddenly pulled his hand away and checked his watch before looking back at Naruto. "It's late… You said you rode here with friends?"

"Oh… Um, yeah, I did. Did you just want me to head out or-"

Seeing something cross Sasuke's expression, Naruto had a feeling that wasn't what it was at all.

"No, your side, it's—it needs to be monitored. You could have internal bleeding, and I'm not going to get fired from the hospital because a dumbass like you wouldn't know what to look for and end up dead on some bathroom floor. I'm not going to jail, so you need to stay here… with me."

Naruto let out a hardy laugh but soon clutched at his side from the sharp pain that shot through his ribs. "Ah,  shit…  What, is this your asshole way of saying you want a sleepover,  Sasuke ? I could just go to the actual hospital, ya' know? I'm sure they would love to hear how one of their head pediatricians beat the shit out of some poor helpless damsel in distress," Naruto dramatically ended, throwing his wrist over his forehead.

Sasuke sat up with a very sour look that wasn't missed by Naruto. "If you want to sit at the ER for three hours before you're even seen, be my guest, and Naruto? The only damsel in distress is whoever had the displeasure of seeing the back of your shirt. Real classy," he finished with a scoff before walking over to what must've been his own dresser since he pulled out a fresh set of clothes.

The back of his shirt? What was Sasuke talking about?

"I'm going back downstairs to see who is still here and who I need to kick out, go shower. I have plastic wraps in the bottom drawer. Use one to cover your leg. I'll be back up in twenty minutes," Sasuke informed.

Naruto smirked at Sasuke for already deciding that Naruto would be staying. "Damn, you sober up way too fast. I was having fun with  Mr. Mommy  over here."

"Call me that again, and you'll have a matching bruise on the other side. Go clean your rank ass,  Dobe."  Sasuke threatened as he walked to the door.

Sasuke really needed to watch his word usage. "Clean my ass, huh? Any particular reason you want that area specifically spotless?"

Seeing one of Sasuke's glares come back over his shoulder didn't scare Naruto as much as Sasuke wished it did, especially with the red ears Naruto caught.

"You're disgustingly more talkative when you're tipsy and  vulgar . I didn't even think that was possible," Sasuke finished before walking out the door and shutting it behind himself.

Naruto laughed as he slowly stood off the bed and walked over to the bathroom.

It was true that tonight had not gone as Naruto had envisioned, but quite frankly, he was happy about it. Something happened tonight between him and Sasuke that Naruto couldn't really put his finger on. Something clicked between them just now, even after the appalling things they had said to one another.

Naruto wouldn't try to prodd at Sasuke's personal life anymore. He realized that it was an incredibly inappropriate thing to even consider in the first place after tonight's events. Naruto had zero right to know whatever he wanted about Sasuke for his convenience. Sasuke would tell him if he wanted to, and if he didn't, that was in his own right. Naruto was done listening to what everyone was saying about him and the people Sasuke chose to have in his circle. Naruto could tell that Sasuke had fighting experience based on how rough he ended up. Naruto knew what he was getting into, and he  wanted  it. He wanted Sasuke. Hell, Naruto needed to gain Sasuke's trust way before he began trying to get to know the more private areas of his life. Naruto couldn't believe that he had gone into this whole situation with such a terrible mindset to begin with.

Entering the bathroom and closing the door, Naruto began undressing. Walking to the shower to turn the water on, Naruto spotted something in the mirror's reflection. It was wording written on the lower back of the orange shirt he had worn all night.

Here to Fuck Dick,

Or Ride Pussy

Whichever Moist Part You May Have,

I'm All Here For It

Eyes going wide, Naruto felt his cheeks get warm. " Oh , you are a dead man walking, Shikamaru. A  deadman ."

Chapter Text

October was Sasuke's favorite month of the year. Living in LA, the heat would continuously be in the mid-nineties, well into what was supposed to be autumn. This heat would dissipate in October, and the air would carry a cooled breeze, shaking the colorful leaves down onto the streets and sidewalks. Sometimes, they would even get a rainy day during this month, which were the days Sasuke could appreciate the most. 

There was always something so earthy about the smell of rain. Itachi used to call him insane for thinking that rain had a scent, but it did. Similar to his liking of the supermarket smells, the smell of rain always grounded him. 

Today was one of those days when he would notice the little things around him. A day that he genuinely didn't have anything better to do than to take in the details of his life. The kids that would walk the sidewalks of his neighborhood. Dressed in their uniforms from that private school he'd heard too many coworkers boasting about. Or how there were more muddy leaves on the right side of the street compared to the left. Even how his car seems to be in worse shape since he got it back from the mechanic. He really let his vocabulary fly with the review he wrote on that service.

Days like today have been ever more present in the past two months since the party that Sasuke and Deidara threw. So much had happened that night, and more memories had holes than those that didn't. Sasuke wasn't sure whether that was a blessing or not.

~xXx~

The morning light streaming from the tall window was a light blue. It was a single small ray of light that fit perfectly over Sasuke's eyes like a mask. It was also a signal to Sasuke that it was too early to wake up after a night like last night, or it would be an overcast, gloomy day. Both seemed oddly fitting.

Sitting up, it took only five seconds for a shooting pain to spread throughout Sasuke's head and body. Wincing and holding his hand to his head, he looked around the room to process and remember exactly the situation he had gotten into last night.

He was in his room, well, at least the room he used to sleep in as a kid when his family would come here for vacations. Nothing much had changed, really. Same furniture, same curtains. Same doodles in the wooden bedframe Sasuke used to make with a broken paperclip on the nights he'd have night terrors. Not that anyone except him and his mother knew this; it was their little secret. 

Relaxing himself to hopefully ease the pain in his head that is slowly working its way down his neck, he laid back down. Looking over to the other side of the bed, expecting nothing to be there, he spots a mop of blonde hair tangled up in his white sheets.

Sasuke's eyes widen for a brief moment before returning to their natural state. Right, he let him stay the night. Actually, "allow" wouldn't be the right word, more like insisted. However, the in the same bed part was unnecessary, and Sasuke couldn't recall exactly what led to the sleeping together portion. No, no, correction: not sleeping together together, unless—Did they? No, they couldn't have. Certainly not; Sasuke may have been thoroughly drunk last night, but certainly drunk enough to not remember if he had sex or not.

The events that occurred last night started to play like an old film in Sasuke's brain as he observed a sleeping moron and internally groaned. From what he could remember, he acted like a spoiled and dull-witted teenager. Dancing like he was, stomping around, and getting into a fistfight?? He could not be any more embarrassed of himself. He could only imagine the things his brother would say right about now.

His brother… one memory he'd wish he could forget about last night. Deidara, Sasuke was hoping that he was wrong. That it was the haze of his drug-filled mind planting these seeds of memories. Unfortunately, Sasuke knew better than that.

To start on today, Sasuke didn't know how this morning would go, but it sure as hell would be more civilized. 

Swinging his legs off the bed and the sheets with them, he glanced in the mirror on the wall and immediately regretted it. Sasuke looked like absolute dog shit.

Feeling movement from the other side of the bed, Sasuke looked over his shoulder and was met with deep blue eyes.

"Hey," Naruto murmured with a heavy, raspy morning tone.

"Hey," Sasuke responded.

Keeping his eyes on Naruto, Sasuke watched as he slowly sat up, the sheet falling off his chest, revealing golden tan skin. He also watched as Naruto received the same headache Sasuke had, as he put his hand over his forehead and winced aloud.

"Uh, no chance you have any Advil on hand, do you?" Naruto said with a light chuckle after firming and closing his eyes to block out any possible sunlight.

Standing up completely, Sasuke made his way to the door, realizing he was just as shirtless as Naruto. "There's some in the downstairs bathroom cabinet, I'll bring it with some water."

"Thanks, man."

Sasuke nodded before walking out the door and down the hall to the staircase. He wondered how much Naruto remembers. Based on his reaction to seeing him in the bed with him, Sasuke would guess he remembers more than himself. Hopefully, he'd be keen on sharing.

Reaching the downstairs bathroom and opening the medicine cabinet, Sasuke also put it on the checklist for deep cleaning after seeing a dead brown recluse in the corner of the cabinet. Grabbing what was probably expired Advil with a grimace, he made his way to the bar to grab a couple of leftover water bottles from the cooler behind the barkeep.

He regretted taking a quick glance over the room where the main party was, as it only worsened the headache; he then returned to the bedroom. Walking in, he saw Naruto aggressively tapping his phone screen and swearing up a storm.

"Ah, you piece of shit service!" Naruto grunted.

Sasuke stayed silent and walked over to him. "Here."

Naruto looked up from his phone and eyed the bottles of water and bottle of pills. "Oh, thanks!" Naruto started with his eyes drastically changing from annoyed to at peace as he took a water bottle and the pill bottle, "Hey, so, I'm guessing service is always spotty out here? I can't get anything to send out," Naruto finished with an awkward laugh.

Sasuke looked down at his phone before sitting at the opposite end of the bed with his own water. "I've never had any trouble," Sasuke responded.

Naruto sucked a big breath in before blowing it out. "Haha, of course you haven't. Probably stupid Boost mobile, been wanting to switch for months, just haven't wanted to deal with it."

"Hm," Sasuke hummed before starting again, "So, about last night, I-"

Naruto cut in. "Ah, man, I need to apologize about that. I really shouldn't have come and wrecked the party. I drank something stronger than I realized and just caused a whole thing. Sorry, man. I should've just asked someone for your number so we could talk at the shop again. I'm-" 

Sasuke sneered. "At least from what I remember, I acted unseemingly towards you last night. Of course, that's not to say you didn't act the same way, but I'd prefer for us to call it even and act as adults should from here on out. This whole thing between us is just… childish."

Naruto's face read something Sasuke couldn't quite decipher. "I agree; I haven't acted that way with someone since, shit, 10th grade? Yeah, no need to worry. I'm on the same page with you." Naruto ended with a smile, shooting a thumbs up at Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded before looking down at the bruise on Naruto's ribs. "How's that feeling?" Sasuke asked, trying to conceal any concern laced in his voice, even though his doctor side was slightly annoyed at him for not taking Naruto into the hospital for imaging, just in case.

Naruto huffed, "Honestly, it hurts like a bitch. Feels like the worst bruise in history." he ended with a not-so-convincing laugh. "Did you want some?" Naruto asked, shaking the Advil bottle.

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you feel dizzy? Or lightheaded? Out of breath at all? Any blurred vision?" Sasuke asked back to back while standing up from his end and walking over towards Naruto's side of the bed, completely ignoring Naruto's question.

"Uh, no, no, I don't think so," Naruto started as he watched the other man walk towards him with his eyes focused on Naruto's ribcage. "You think something could be wrong?"

"Lay back down," Sasuke instructed.

"Damn, no dinner first?" Naruto asked jokingly.

Sasuke wasn't impressed and ignored the remark as he pressed two fingers in the little dabs around the bruise.

"Ow! That hurts, you know."

"Naruto, remind me to give you Sakura's card before you leave. I'm going to call in imaging for you on Monday. Call Sakura's direct line as early as possible Monday morning and set a time to come in. I'll let her know ahead of time that I ordered imaging." Sasuke explained while he still examined the bruise.

"Woah woah, dude, you're freaking me out! Am I dying!?" Naruto shouted out while looking down at his ribs.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No, it's just precaution. You're more than likely to be fine. However, under the slim chance that there is something wrong, I don't want to deal with liability by ignoring it and you pressing charges. I'll look over the imaging results myself and clear you."

Sasuke was slightly more concerned than he let on, but he certainly wasn't going to let the blonde know that. He was sure Naruto would be okay, but Sasuke didn't like how the bruise developed overnight. The scratch on his leg looked superficial and nearly halfway healed, so Sasuke paid no mind to that. Some Neosproin and a couple of big band aides, and it would be fine as long as the idiot didn't roll around in the dirt or something.

Naruto gave a dumbfounded look before chuckling, "I wouldn't press charges, maybe." he ended with a smirk. "So… Sasuke, last night—we're good, right?"

Sasuke looked up at Naruto's face, "Yes, Naruto, no need to hold anything about it. Was a bundle of stupid decisions from both sides," he finished before backing away from Naruto and over to a dresser to pull out some fresh clothes. Well, however "fresh," fresh clothes could be after sitting for years untouched. Some of Itachi's old stuff was in here.

Naruto looked contemptuous with that and opened his mouth to say something else before his phone went off. Sasuke looked back slightly to see the blonde's eyebrow furrow and eyes widen as he looked down at his phone. Being far more noisy than usual, Sasuke asked. "Everything okay?"

Naruto stayed silent longer than Sasuke had ever seen the man go silent. Sasuke watched as Naruto hesitantly looked up at Sasuke. The expression painted on his face was alarming. A face once tan and golden to match his pure golden hair was pale and ghastly. His eyes were wide as a deer's, and his breath staggered. Sasuke could almost see his heart beating faster, and his fingers began shaking. "Naruto?" 

"I- um… Thank you for, uh, the medicine. And medical advice. I think it would be best for me to head out. I have a… client soon. So, gotta get cleaned up and yeah–" Naruto stuttered out, and he rushed to his feet, wincing in the process, and headed straight for the door.

"You can shower here–" Sasuke started.

"No need. Thanks again." Naruto spat out at Sasuke before opening the door.

"How are you gonna–" Sasuke started before the door was closed, and Sasuke was left befuddled. "–get home."

Sasuke stood, and for once in his life, his mind was blank and overly confused. What the hell had just happened? He knew he hadn't done anything or said anything to cause whatever that was. Was Sasuke over-examining it? Maybe Naruto didn't realize the time or something? It was a strange turn from someone so desperate to talk last night to quite literally running out the door away from him. Sasuke didn't know, but he figured there was no point in worrying about it. All was done and over, and he doubted he'd see him again. They lived very different lives.

Sasuke didn't plan on contacting Deidara anytime soon either, so there was no way they would run into each other. Sasuke wasn't angry with Deidara; he just needed—space. As Sasuke was coming to realize, he wasn't over his brother's death. He knew he never would be, but Sasuke thought he was farther along in the grief process than he was. Looking back, Sasuke realized he saw Deidara in direct contact with Itachi, almost as if he was Itachi in a weird, twisted way. Which is the exact reason he needed to time away from him. Deidara meant a lot to him; he was a close friend and practically family, but it was unfair to glorify either of them or their relationship like he had been doing. There was a lot Sasuke didn't know, and the longer Itachi was gone, the more apparent that became.

Sasuke grabbed a shirt and sweats from the dresser drawer and put them on when he realized that Naruto left so quickly that he could never give him Sakura's card.

"Damn it," he swore aloud. Naruto better has been truthful about not pressing charges if something is wrong. Sasuke figured he would still schedule the imaging for him and hoped he'd attend the hospital next week. He'd let Sakura know, too, in case Naruto asks for her.

Walking down the staircase, Sasuke figured he'd find something to eat before heading to the bus stop. He honestly couldn't wait for his car to leave the shop already.

~xXx~

Come that following Monday, when Sasuke walked into the hospital, he did as he said he would and scheduled imaging for Naruto under his first and last. He walked to Sakura's desk to tell her what had happened and that he ordered the tests. He could tell she wanted to push for more information, but he turned down any advantages made by her in the area. Sasuke was happy to finally wash his hands of this whole ordeal with the blonde. 

That following Wednesday, Sakura came into his office to tell him that Naruto had stopped by yesterday looking for her and that they had done all the testing. She handed over the file of his information and testing results for Sasuke to review. Sakura told him that based on what she saw, it wasn't anything to worry about and that he'd be healed in no time. She had also tried to ask why he didn't just take care of it himself instead of giving her more work, but Sasuke dodged the question, saying he'd be busy. This was a lie, but he didn't need her butting into something he didn't want stirred back up again.

It had now been a little over a month and a half since this debacle, and Sasuke had not heard, seen, or even thought about Naruto the entire time. It sounds like a dramatization that Sasuke hadn't thought of his tattooist in a month and a half because wouldn't this apply to everyone? However, it was a valid point to make after everything that happened that night at the party and everything that Naruto had somehow found out about him. Sasuke felt it was good that Naruto left in such a hurry that morning; there seemed to be something seriously wrong with the man, and Sasuke was more than happy not to be a part of it.

Looks mean very little to Sasuke in keeping someone around, and as far as Sasuke was concerned, looks were the only thing Naruto had going for him. He started to come off as almost stalkerish, which was certainly something Sasuke had zero patience for.

Returning to the present, Sasuke was driving on the highway on his daily commute to work. He will say that something positive had come out of the party: he had let loose and could return to work with full force.

He hadn't had a day off for a week since that night. Even on the days that Sakura and Ino suggested he should take off, he refused and said there was no need; work was where he wanted to be.

Pulling into his designated parking spot at the back of the hospital, Sasuke grabbed his home-brewed coffee and satchel bag to begin his walk to the entryway of the hospital's pediatrics unit.

Walking past the front desk, he walked the maze-like passage to his office and working area. Sasuke saw Sakura's Mini Copper in the parking lot, so he guessed that she had come in early to get started on yesterday's paperwork. There was a train derailment that ended up flipping a bus. Many surgeries ended up being transferred to Sasuke's specialty, general surgery in pediatrics. Sakura was his head nurse for multiple reasons, but he knew he could always count on her to get the job done, which was the number one reason.

Even though Sasuke's specialty was general surgery, he also practiced as a general pediatrician. Early on in his residency, he learned very quickly that there were a lot of shitty pediatricians. So, Sasuke decided to see patients as regular everyday doctors, not just surgeons. It took time, but he had Itachi's persuasive nature on his side against the hospital board, so there was no genuine issue.

"Hey, doctor!" A friendly travel nurse who had just been placed under Sasuke came up to say. Ten-Ten, he believed her name was.

"Good morning."

She smiled at him before continuing. "An adolescent girl with her mom came in about an hour ago. She's running a 105 and has a terrible rash. I put them in a quarantine room and said you would be in shortly."

"What room?" Sasuke asked as he grabbed his name tag to clip on his floral monster-themed scrubs.

"P-032, the mom came in hysterical, I tried to calm her down, but I'm not sure how long those effects lasted. The girl's file is all updated."

"Thank you," Sasuke said as he walked out of his office past her to make his way to the room.

Approaching the room, Sasuke did his courtesy knock before walking in. Looking at the bed, he saw a small girl, no older than six, curled up in a ball with an older woman, the mom, he assumed, holding her hand.

"Hello, Miss, I'm the head pediatrician here at White Memorial, Dr. Uchiha; it's a pleasure to make acquaintances." Sasuke started as he looked at the woman with tear-stained cheeks before directing his attention to the young girl, "Hi, sweetheart, it doesn't seem you're feeling too well. Could you give me your name?" he asked the young girl to see how responsive she was.

She groaned and wiggled a bit before mumbling out in a raspy voice. "Anastasia."

"Anastasia? What a pretty name." Sasuke commented calmly before directing his attention to the computer screen to see what had been documented.

"Mom, is it?" Sasuke asked the woman.

"Yes," she responded with a strained voice.

"Okay, Mom, how long has this fever been prevalent?"

"It's been in the hundreds for about four days, but I got scared when it went over 105. I have been giving her Tylenol religiously, but it hasn't seemed to help at all. Then she started developing this rash, and I just–" she cut herself off by starting to cry.

Sasuke turned his whole body to face the woman, "Mom, I assure you I will take care of your daughter. In fact, I know exactly what is going on, so there is no need to stress.  I promise she will be back to playing with her barbies in a couple days." he finished with a reassuring smile before returning to the computer.

“Barbies are stupid.”

Sasuke looked at the young girl on the table and smiled. "My apologies. What is your choice of toy?"

She smiled a little before saying. "My little ponies are super way better."

Sasuke stood up to put his stethoscope on and walked towards the girl, "Oh, of course, my little ponies are super way better, you're right." he agreed before putting the stethoscope to her backside. "Can you sit up and take a big, deep breath for me? Pretend you're a vacuum and suck all the air in, okay? Then hold it."

She nodded and did as Sasuke said.

"Good job, now can you pretend to blow out a bunch of birthday candles?" he asked.

She nodded again before releasing all of the air.

"Okay, sweetheart, great job; you can lay back down," he instructed with a reassuring pat on her shoulder.

Looking back at the mother, he explained what was happening as he sat down. "So, your daughter has what we call Scarlet Fever. It says here in the notes that she has strep throat?"

The mother nodded.

"Okay then, yes, so what happened is that when your daughter developed strep throat, the same bacteria that caused that caused this infection. It is very common and completely treatable with antibiotics, which I will prescribe, and some children's Tylenol just so you don't have to waste the Tylenol you have. It wasn't working before because she wasn't taking anything for the infection, so it kept worsening. Does that all make sense?" Sasuke asked.

Sasuke saw the worry slowly dissipate out of the mother's face. "Yes, it does. The last pediatrician I had taken her to said that the strep throat would go away independently and that she should not worry. So hearing this after her condition only got worse is relieving."

Sasuke's insides were fuming. Sasuke got into this inner field to help prevent this malpractice. He hated hearing the treatment a lot of the kids got, especially the ones that come from lower-income families. "Yes, certainly not. I'd recommend not visiting that office again. Are you looking for a primary doctor for Anastasia?" Sasuke asked, refreshing the computer page.

The mother's eyebrows rose, and she smiled pleasantly. "Oh goodness, we've been looking for months, but no one is taking new patients. Whenever something happens, I've had to take her to Urgent Care or an ER. It's the only place my insurance covers for her."

He nodded in understanding. This was something Sasuke saw almost every day. "Well, Ma'am, I am more than willing to take your daughter as a private patient here at Memorial. I have my own receptionist who schedules my private practice appointments. Once I'm finished writing up the prescriptions for you, I'll have Nurse Ten escort you to her to get all the paperwork and such filed for that,"  Sasuke ended with another reassuring smile.

"I appreciate that more than you know," the mother thanked as Sasuke rose from his stool and began to walk to the door.

"I'll be seeing you later, Anastasia, okay? Hopefully, not too soon, though," Sasuke said, and a little smile crept onto her lips as he left the room.

Sasuke began to walk back to his office when he had the luck of running into Ten-Ten on his way there. "I'm finished with P-032; I told them that you'd escort them to Sakura to get her put on my patient's file," he stated matter of factly to the new nurse, and all she did in response was throw a thumbs up and a, "I'll be on it!"

Making it back to his office, Sasuke shut the door behind him and sat at his desk. Powering on his computer and monitor, Sasuke took a large sip of his cold coffee and scowled. He should've taken it in with him to see the little girl.

Sasuke knew he didn't have any scheduled appointments today, so unless something happened in the ER where they needed him or another department, today would likely be a big behind-the-computer day catching up on paperwork with Sakura. Boring, but better than people being hurt and needing him, Sasuke knew better than to complain.

The rest of his morning went by behind the computer, with only a few pop-ins from Sakura and other nurses. Sakura had come by to complain about the receptionist's comment he told that mother and daughter duo. But it was a lot easier to say receptionist than nurse who does two jobs for the pay of one. Sasuke will always be grateful for Sakura; she's a true saint.

Deciding he'd go down to see what outrageously nasty food the cafeteria offered for lunch, Sasuke walked out of his office to the nearest elevator. The elevator let him out just a few halls down from the cafeteria. Sasuke was rarely on this side of the hospital, so he would always see unfamiliar faces walking down these halls.

Reaching for the door that led into the cafeteria, Sasuke stopped at a small child registered in his peripheral vision. Retreating his arm, he turned around and saw what looked to be a small boy curled up in a corner behind a moveable computer. Looking around, Sasuke found zero indication of a parent or nurse in this area. This wasn't an area where patients would be, so Sasuke guessed it would make sense. However, the presence of this young boy made absolutely zero sense. 

The boy had his back pressed against the wall with his legs bent up in his chest, his arms wrapping around them. His head was ducked between his legs, and he almost looked asleep. The young boy was dressed in tiny shorts that looked to be covered in dirt and stains, along with an oversized black-white t-shirt. He had no shoes on, and his feet were caked with mud. His dirty blonde hair stood out starkly against his deep tan skin.

"Excuse me," Sasuke voiced to the young boy as he slowly walked toward him.

The boy jerked his head upwards, eyes darting around as if he couldn't take in his surroundings quick enough. "Stay… b-back!" the small and meek voice of the boy stubbled out.

"Hey, it's okay," Sasuke uttered. "Are your parents around?"

As if the word "parents" sparked the end of the world for the kid, tears began streaming down his face, and his body started shaking. Realizing Sasuke was a step out of his parameters, he pulled out his phone to page Shizune; this was more in her territory.

Sasuke was not a natural with kids if that could come as a surprise to anyone. It took years for him to interact with them as a doctor would without making them cry. He was glad he got past that, given his career choices. Still, a kid with a prominent psychological component messing with them wasn't something Sasuke had the training nor comfortability with handling.

Of course, Sasuke wouldn't leave the boy alone, but he didn't want to put him in any more distress than he was already in, so Sasuke walked out a door that led to an outside seating area that had a direct window where the boy was so he could keep an eye on him. So much for lunch, Sasuke supposed.

Nearly an hour later, with increased irritability in Sasuke, Shizune finally showed up and took the boy under her care. She didn't say precisely what they would do with the kid besides try to find the parents, but Sasuke didn't press. He was sure Sakura would inform him at a later time. Saskura always had information about everything that goes on in the hospital.

The rest of the day moved by relatively slowly; with ninety percent paperwork and a few calls to the ER department for consults, Sasuke was ready to head home. Sakura, Ino, and Sai were supposed to come over for dinner tonight, so Sasuke figured leaving a little earlier than usual would be beneficial so he could prepare and do a little cleaning.

As he walked out of the hospital on his way to his car, he was stopped by someone screaming his name behind him. Well, not someone; Sasuke automatically could tell it was Sakura.

"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted as she jogged up to him, looking fully out of breath.

Turning around, puzzled, Sasuke said nothing but waited until she approached him. Hunching over in front of him, Sakura paused frantically to catch her breath, and Sasuke hoped for her composure.

"You remember… when— oh good heavens, going to the gym is doing nothing for my stamina," she paused again, and Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

"You remember when that kid came in? About two or so months ago, he had come in with the guy with the long hair and had an allergic reaction to the ink. Everyone had an awful feeling about it?" 

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed. Yes, he did remember. He had been following this file closely to see if there were any changes or visits to the hospitals. Of course, they didn't do anything with the case he had sent to CPS of what was new.

"Yes, the one I told you to tell me about if anything happened or something new came up?" Sasuke asked to ensure they were thinking about the same case.

"Yes, the exact one. That boy, the one in the hallway, he was tagged."

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Tagged? The same way the other boy was?"

"No, not exactly. As we already know, the other boy had the numbers on his wrist. It was a stencil, like a tattoo stencil, but no tattooing was done because of the allergic reaction. This boy has the same numbers on his wrist except for the last one, which is three numbers off, but it's an actual tattoo. So our guess was right: that boy who came in before was in the process of being tagged, just as this one already was."

Sasuke fucking knew it, he knew something was going on, and no one seemed to give a flying fuck about it! The hospital won't do anything because, according to them, there was nothing wrong with the situation; a tattoo on a child doesn't fit as reliable evidence of child abuse or trafficking. And CPS, they're no better. Sasuke knows they know what's happening, but because there's no evidence of anything, they legally can't do anything. Sasuke sees it as complete bullshit. Tagging is something so familiar to the trafficking groups in LA, but they refuse to see it.

"Does anyone know of any parents to the boy?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura shook her head. "No, the boy hasn't said more than two words. His appearance isn't on any amber alerts, and he won't even give us his name. As of now, he'll be held here until the hospital can figure out who this kid is. We're hoping his parents or guardians will just come looking."

Sasuke scowled; the system was more screwed than anyone truly could comprehend who wasn't embedded in it. "I need to cancel dinner tonight; apologies, Sakura, we can do it some other time," Saskuse said, not sounding too sorry as he walked towards his car. However, this didn't phase Sakura, and she followed right along.

"If you're going to do something stupid, I'm here to tell you that, babe, everything that can be done is being done, okay?" she said, grabbing Sasuke's shoulder.

"No, Sakura, nothing will be done. You know that, we both do. I'm going where something will get done or where I will have access to information that the people in charge here could only dream about having."

Sakura's eyes showed sympathy for him. "Oh… Sasuke, you haven't been there since before Itachi's…"

"Don't tell me things I already know, Sakura, I'll see you tomorrow," he finished before getting into his car. 

"Be safe, Sasuke," Sakura muttered under her breath before returning to the hospital.

~xXx~

When Sasuke reached the San Bernardino area, it was dark outside, and his car's gas tank flashed red. He pulled next to the curb against what was probably the tallest building in the zip code. The skyscraper exterior was all lined with black glass, without indicating what the building holds inside. His brother was always on for dramatics in architecture. The building used to give Sasuke the creeps when he was younger, and now the energy that surrounded the building felt almost like home like he belonged within the walls.

Sasuke walked up to the door and pulled out the old key he had to search his car for. It's been some time since he used the key his brother generously gave him. Sasuke would visit his law firm often on weekends back in college. The dormitory where he stayed tended to throw obnoxious parties until early in the morning, so he'd come here to escape it.

Walking in the dark lobby, not a thing had changed. The front desk was made entirely out of marble and black-coated metal. The floors mirrored his reflection to a T. Altogether, it was a very minimalistic building but showed its wealth plenty. Just as his brother had. He took the elevator to the ninth floor, where his brother's office used to reside. When he exited the elevator, he was surprised to see a light in his office. Quickly realizing who was in there, he tried to reverse back into the elevator but it was to no avail.

"Sasuke?"

He hoped he could slip in and out without talking to anyone, so Sasuke wasn't too pleased, but what could he do?

"Kisame, been a while," Sasuke commented, walking back away from the elevator and into the office.

"Yeah, it has been—how's work?" Kisame asked, standing up from the desk and walking in front of it, instead opting to lean back on it.

Sasuke nodded. "It's been fine; work is why I'm here."

Kisame smiled and huffed a short laugh. "Straight to the point as always, Sasuke. You Uchiha's are never ones for small talk."

Sasuke smiled calmly at the indirect mention of Itachi. Kisame was a coworker of Itachi at his firm and quite a close one Sasuke would gather. Few people would have access to Itachi's private work files, but Kisame was one of the few on that list. Despite how much he was around the well-built man, Sasuke had never gotten close to him. Back when Sasuke was younger, Kisame rarely talked to him past a polite greeting and acknowledgment. However, as Sasuke got older, the conversations grew along with his age. Sasuke would consider Kisame almost as a distant friend, but being around him, similar to Deidara, always brought memories of his brother, which was something Sasuke was trying to avoid at present.

"Idle chatter causes nothing but unwanted headaches and acquaintances," he bit back at Kisame in his own joking manner he knew the man would pick up on.

Chuckling at the remark, Kisame begins, "So, you said you were here for work reasons?" he asked, sliding behind Itachi's desk from where he was leaning on the side.

"Yes, as I'm sure you're aware, anything said in this room shall not leave this room, but the hospital has been having a pattern of kids coming in with markings."

Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Markings? Are you referencing abuse marks? And can you further explain the pattern?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No, not abuse markings, trafficking markings, and I say pattern because there's something off with it; there have only been two cases of it as of now," Sasuke explains as he sits in the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Kisame sits in thought for a moment. "You're here to know if there's been any similar case, correct? I'd guess in the last ten, fifteen years?"

Sasuke simply nodded.

"Itachi, being the pain in the ass he was— kept every file as a physical copy. We're in the middle of transferring all of them over to digital software, and the ones that have been, nothing of child trafficking has come up. Now, there are about… 2,073 left to file? If my memory serves me right. Of course, you're welcome to search through them. However, they've all become disorganized in this whole process we're going through." Kisame explains exasperated, making it very obvious he was over the said process.

"Hm…" 

Of course, Sasuke didn't want to go through all the files; that would take all night and probably morning, but it was a start. "I understand. I'd still like to go through them. I have the time; they're still on this floor, yes?"

Shaking his head but not surprised at Sasuke's response, Kisame stands up, "Yes, but not in the same room, I'll lead you there."

Both men walk down the hallway into what seems to be an endless darkness until the lights auto-flick on. Kisame leads him into what looks to be an out-of-use conference room, and when the light eventually turns on, they are both faced with boxes on top of boxes and papers scattered everywhere.

"This is…"

Kisame laughed, "Yes, I'm aware. It's a disaster."

Sasuke looked up at Kisame. "Polite way to put it, Kisame," Sasuke said, walking into the room and looking around at the boxes. Some were labeled, others weren't, and some even had multiple things crossed out and others labeled added. Itachi was a lot of things but organized was certainly not one of them. "I'll assume that you won't be staying?"

Kisame sighed. "I sure as hell didn't plan on it, but… it's not like I'm going home to anyone. I'll help you out for a bit."

Sasuke nodded in appreciation. Both men sat at the table nearest the door, grabbed a box each, and began.

~xXx~

Going on six hours, three DoorDash orders, and a significant loss of patience in both men later, and not a dent had been made.

"Sasuke," Kisame started, looking over to him exhausted, "don't you think we should call it quits for tonight? Or should I say morning, given it's nearly three."

Being focused on a file, Sasuke didn't respond for a minute or two. "No, the drive out here is much more troublesome than I remember it being. I need to finish looking through these. You can go home if you want, Kisame, I never meant to keep you."

Kisame stood up and stretched, "Your family is a bunch of demons," he said with a groan from the stretching. "Aren't you tired? You worked a full shift today, didn't you?"

Sasuke waved his hand. "Irrelevant. Do you know of any files Itachi may have been keeping a special eye on or maybe wanted to handle himself?"

Kisame closed his eyes, shook his head in disbelief, and sighed again. "Yes, he did, and those are still in the office. He wouldn't let anyone near them; I haven't even opened them up yet myself. I don't think he'd want you going through them, Sasuke."

Sasuke glared dangerously at him. "I didn't ask what he wanted; I asked what he was keeping an eye on. And if you think you'll be keeping those files from me, you'll be sorely disappointed, Kisame. This building, your job, I have the capability of ending it here and now. You are only the sole partner because Itachi wished it to be so, but if you ever think of crossing a line with me, you'll not only be out of a job, you'll be out of any job in California."

Kisame's eyes held genuine fear in them, not so much because of Sasuke's immediate threat but because of what could happen if he did cross a line with this family. Sasuke wasn't to be messed with, Itachi even more so. But his father, the head of the Uchiha name? Kisame was likely to be dead before he was fired and out of a job. He wondered if this was something Sasuke knew, just how powerful his name holds to people on the outside.

Kisame stepped closer to him. "I would never dream of it, Sasuke; I hold only the highest respect for you and your family."

Sasuke appraised Kisame's face before softening his own expression. "Are you gonna go get the box, or should I?"

Kisame began to walk out the door and waved his arm back at Sasuke before saying, "No, no, I got it."

Minutes later, Kisame returned with a box that looked identical to the ten or so that he'd already gone through tonight, except this one had Itachi's handwriting on the side of it. Sasuke could tell all the other boxes had been put together by other workers in the office, but not this one, this one Itachi handled personally.

Kisame sat the box down in front of Sasuke and sat himself back in his chair.

"I thought you were going to head out?"

Kisame crossed his arms. "Well, that was before this mystery box was brought up. I've been curious about it for quite some time; I'd like to see what files are in it, too."

Sasuke simply nodded before taking the lid off the box and grabbing the first few folders stacked neatly. The first one was a bunch of birth certificates of the Uchiha line. Sasuke guessed it was from when Itachi researched their lineage; however, he never told Sasuke why. 

The following folder was a murder case Sasuke remembered Itachi raving about and how he wished he could get on the case. It pissed his brother off to no end that he had gotten away with murdering his whole family, Itachi, right before he passed, was supposed to do another follow-up on it but never did.

There were a few more similar files, many old cases he was following and studying, and some current ones that we're still going on today. Sasuke remembered him talking about all the cases, so he had a hunching suspicion that this box would be useless, but he continued through it just in case.

Making it all the way to the end of the line of folders and files, Sasuke opened the last file, which seemed to be the biggest. He figured it was another long-going case where he was just collecting information. However, upon opening the folder and reading the first page, Sasuke couldn't have been any more wrong. His eyes widened, and his throat started to close. He could feel his heart skipping to a horrible melody faster and faster the further he read through the file. They were all about him. They were about Sasuke. Every page he skimmed, his name was plastered in nearly every section. What had his brother been hiding from him this whole time…