o.O.o.O
infectiO+n
Uchiha Sasuke X Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto X Uchiha Sasuke bias. Shounen-ai and yaoi—don't like, don't read, don't cry.
darkenedmoonlightflame
[Alternate Universe. Yaoi. Vampirism. "Once he's touched you, the infection—the madness, too—spreads, spreads…" (Uchiha Sasuke is a psychotic boy hung up on the past, cursed with a rare disease that forces upon him sudden cravings for blood. Uzumaki Naruto is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And now, regrettably, it seems that Sasuke has taken an interest in him…) [SasuNaruSasu.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and do not claim to. However, everything else, AKA: the writing, (most of) the (nearly-cliché) plot, et cetera, IS MINE.
(A/N: A new twist on the traditional Vampire!Sasuke-or-Naruto tale. Desperately needed a pick-me-up and couldn't resist. About time to start up the less-than-fashionably-late fireworks anyway. Comments and tea are delicious. Contribute, please? First to guess the title reference gets… a doodle? A drabble? (open to suggestions)
(So, presenting, infectiO+n, part one, which is incredibly short and a prologue… So yeah. Enjoy, hmm?)
infectiO+n
part
1/x
Lurking at the edge of consciousness, Sasuke can barely hear the music. Old, soft, classic. Piano and voice, combined and entwined into Elegance itself. His eyes are closed, his dark eyelashes quite stunning and a flattering contrast to his alabaster skin. Unruly tendrils of obsidian hair have spread out across the bleached bedspread; the vague pre-morning sunlight intrudes and highlights them into a state of bluish-gray. His jaw is refined, lips thin, both set into a disapproving, striking line.
The dusty record player—he had insisted on it, throwing a fit until the new staff gave in—in the corner falters, skips a note, and plays on.
In the garden, the white flowers—hyacinth, if he recalls correctly—have begun to wither: it's getting to be late fall. Outside, the doctors, computers, chemicals: he hates their presence. Inside, Sasuke can no longer see them—they've learned a bit since his last 'mutiny'—but simply feeling their presence is enough to stretch his tolerance to unacceptable levels. When the woman comes in, today, he doesn't even move.
"Something the matter, Sasuke-sama?"
No reply, and she just grins meekly and clutches at herself protectively, arms crossed and lingering awkwardly in the silence he's grown to love. The crackling of static in the backdrop of the concerto doesn't cover up the sound of her pencil slipping off of her clipboard. Embarrassed or not—because it's impossible for Sasuke to tell from such a lousy angle—she retrieves it and snaps it back into place.
"Not really," The brunette drawls at last. "Not really." She doesn't seem to mind the repetition, instead tucking back and twirling a strand of dark, purplish-black hair. At last she frowns, decisive. Her sterilized, colorless clothes are rumpled, hanging off of her frame. No trace remains of the bright lavenders and wild plum shades she favors so dearly. There are prominent circles beneath her eyes, too, flaws everywhere on her porcelain skin. She hasn't been getting much sleep, Sasuke surmises. He's known this typical, agreeably-unperturbed woman for the equivalent of five years, and she has never once looked so disheveled, torn.
Sasuke is wary. 'What is it? What's going on?' He'd ask, callously of course—except for the fact that an Uchiha doesn't deign to ask such silly questions.
The nurse is troubled. If this were a good day, Sasuke would be smiling wickedly at her uncertainty. But it's not, and so he broods and lunges upward, struggling to support himself against the cold steel rails. The makeshift medical wing groans and rattles alarmingly, the ceiling thrumming thunderously as the monorail above zooms by. "Anou…" She begins, only to be interrupted.
"Spit it out, Shizune-san." The prodigy's tone is venomous, his gaze scathing. She flinches, but not because of his tactlessness. He's said her name, and that makes it harder to imagine that he isn't human. That he isn't just an ordinary person, caught in something far too large. "I'm waiting."
Taking a deep breath, she steels herself to the point of indifference, promising not to care at all when he starts yelling and screaming. To her, it's just one of the inevitable possibilities. Biting her lip, she announces hesitantly, "We're transferring you to a better hospital. In the city. Bigger, you know."
There is no response, but the cassette-radio in the backdrop surges upward into a crescendo.
Nonetheless, she hopes he will understand, and will catch the dark undertones she speaks of.
From his sudden detachment, she knows he does. Matter-of-factly, he's already begun to calculate the risks of fully exploiting such an opportunity.
Sasuke's mouth is down-turned into a grimace, and his voice is constrained and odd as he orders for her to leave. He's distracted, musing and pondering out equations in a world of his own. It's something she wouldn't be able to comprehend, she's absolutely sure of. That's not her place, really, and this world is always reminding her of it.
So instead of wishing him 'good luck', she wordlessly obeys, purposefully neglecting to lock the door. Her dark eyes are half-lidded as she walks slowly down the dim and shabby corridor, guilt-ridden and sad beneath the mechanically-florescent afterglow. She tries to whisper the twenty-third paragraph of the fifteenth article of Hospice Experimentation Conditions-Phrases-Fundamental Rules to herself. It's part of her job qualification to have it memorized.
But for now it's difficult to concentrate on the technicalities, and unconvincing anyhow. Shizune is perfectly aware that even with the best of luck and some serious stratagem, it's likely that Sasuke will be dead, very soon. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe it's not.
"Be careful," She murmurs into the empty space before her, her voice just ever-so-much-louder than her melancholic footsteps.
The next day, Wing Twenty-Seven, Division Four, Sector B (Room Ninety, Patient: Uchiha Sasuke) is empty.
a+o-b+b-o+a-
Traffic. Sitting here in the pouring rain, hand propping his chin up, elbow resting on the dashboard, leaning forward carelessly, Naruto can think of many other places he'd rather be. His fingers tap out a faint, repetitive pattern on the steering wheel as he sighs again, letting his thoughts drift. Beside him, a tired voice acrimoniously calls out, "Mendokusee…"
Angling his head a bit to face the dark-haired boy, Naruto grins. "Hello to you, too."
The other merely groans. "It's too damn early in the morning for this, Naruto."
"Midday, Shika." The blond's smile widens, his motions quickening.
A noncommittal grunt answers him, before, "Whatever you do, don't tell me you're bored. I'll be watching the clouds go by…" Shikamaru's train of thought is interrupted by an abrasive blast of sound from their metropolitan surroundings. Jolted awake, he straightens sulkily and curiously peers into the side mirror. It's just An Impatient Tailgater, he notices. As usual. This time of day, this kind of week, and this big of a jam all lead up to a perfectly-abnormal boldness in the city's population. 'Hmm…'
It isn't polite—or typical—to honk at an ambulance. Especially one with two young, overworked members of the infamous graveyard shift unit. "Look, can't we just… you know, turn on the sirens and… skip the dilemma? It'd, unfortunately, be an effort but…"
Naruto makes a face, replying, "Unfortunately? No. Boss, remember. Inspection, remember."
Shikamaru settles back with a heavy whine, futilely fighting to adjust the too-murderous seatbelt and relax. Naruto is back to drumming, and once again, it's another busy Monday afternoon. In the back, shuffling about and humming to himself, there is another man, rolling and unrolling medical tape to the beat. He's of an average height, and slim. Naruto shoots a glance back over his shoulder, biting his lip.
It's been a really, really bad day.
Sai smiles back at him. "Where's that feisty attitude gone off to now, Naruto-chan?"
"…"
"Take a left at the next exit."
The familiar, nearly-soothing rhythms halt. If there's one thing that the blond hates, it's backseat drivers. He'll endure the nicknames, but he definitely doesn't like taking orders, much less following random directions given by some sadistic fool. Behind him, the other boy chuckles and presses in closer, closer… Winding his arms around the seat and crossing them neatly around Naruto. Twitching ensues, as Shikamaru rolls his eyes, yawns, and turns away.
"Wake me up when you've gone and crashed us all. And don't go forgetting: it's a routine check. Nothing to get fired over, okay? What a bother…"
Naruto doesn't nod. He's too busy fighting the urge to gnaw Sai's arm off.
"Well?" The following silence is condescending and breathless, crackling with unspoken animosity. The blue-eyed boy forces himself to slow down, calm down, only look straight ahead, just go steady and avoid any extra contact with the guy…! The tall, obnoxious doctor leans in closer, running a hand through Naruto's spiky hair before rather unexpectedly jabbing the blond's forehead. The car swerves a little, and soon enough Naruto is on the receiving end of shrieked obscenities.
"Damn it, damn it, damn-it-damn-it…! Hands to yourself, Sai! Get off!"
"I'll take you up on that some other time, dearest Nar—"
The system at his hip crackles to life. He pulls back to listen. "Hey, hey, anybody there? This is Medical Unit One, transmission commandant Haruno Sakura, to Uzumaki Naruto-chan. Anybody there?"
The eldest of the trio sighs, and brings the radio close to his lips. "Sai here. Naruto-chan, you say? Hold." Casting an affectionate, triumphant smirk at the blushing blond, he removes the ear-piece and tosses it over, dismissive and nonchalant. Naruto scrambles to catch it; devilishly, the brunette closes the space and mercilessly pinches at his whiskered cheeks. "Kyaaa, kyaaa, kyaaa, Naruto-chan! So uke! Hot sex in the copier room, three o'clock? Coffee's on me!"
"NO!!! Jeez, you're such a pervert." Growling way back in his throat, Naruto glares and slaps the hands away. "We don't even have a copier room! And it's –kun!" He protests, under his breath.
"Eyes on the road, Naruto." Shikamaru mumbles, and instantly the hyperactive teen whirls around to correct his erratic pathway. "Che."
Lopsided and teetering at the edge of the seat, the transceiver blares: "Hello? Hello, Boss? You there?"
"This is Naruto, Sakura-chan. What can I help you with?"
"Ara. There's been a fire. Address is 7245 West Ougigata. A big mansion—you can't miss it."
"Isn't that for one of the other departments to handle?"
There is a momentary pause, before the transmission resumes, soft and disjointed. "It was… it was a really big one, Naruto, Shikamaru, Boss."
"…Alright. Be over soon. Love ya, over and out."
"Shut up! Cut the bullshit and hurry it up. Over and out."
The static dies, the sirens switch on, and soon enough the signs are blurring past. Naruto's grip tightens on the wheel, his knuckles bone white, his mouth drawn and shoulder muscles tense. He's utterly focused now, weaving in and out constantly, dexterously. It's morphed into something foreign and soothing, the familiar motions of switching on his turn signal, dodging vehicles of all sizes, trying his best to keep an eye out the motorcyclists and flashy 'stuntmen'. Gradually, he relaxes, breathing deeply, and it's as if he's the only one left in the ambulance.
Then Shikamaru kindly points out, "Missed the exit."
The road beneath him seems to rush by, blurrier than before. Naruto's flooring the pedals again, isn't he?
Perkily, Sai interjects, laughing brightly and reorganizing the standard hanging IV sets in the corner: "It was a left. Told you so."
Oh, yes. A bad Monday, indeed.
(A/N: Yes, I'm aware that this chapter basically speaks of nothing. Sorry for that. Next chapter (which will be much longer, if I can have it so), the action finally begins. And be patient with me: I know absolute zero about hospital systems and fire departments… But I'll try my best to seem knowledgeable, okay?
On a side note, how was Pervert!Sai? (grins) And no, this will not be SaiNaruSai. He's just a rather… hands-on kind of guy.
(Preference Question: Short updates, probably quicker? Or longer updates, slow downtime?)
Notes:
a—Trademark phrase of Shikamaru: mendokusee (how troublesome).
b—Past tense is less definitive. Sorry for the bother, just seemed to suit the angst-dabbled mood a bit better. And now we're stuck.
c—Themes? Obokuri Eeumi (Asazaki Ikue) and Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
Important Japanese References:
-san—suffix to a name (meaning Mr., Ms., Mrs.)
-chan—suffix to a name, primarily for girls (indicates affection, fondness, friendship, et cetera)
-kun—suffix to a name, primarily for boys (indicates closeness, comradeship, et cetera)
Ougigata—this is not an actual place, and if real, it's used fictionally ('translation': fan shape)
Reviews:
None. Six, please?
A boy, a fire. A medical anomaly. Disastrous arrangements. Love bites. Anything and everything to worsen his day.
Look forward to this and (hopefully) more in the next installment,
Part 2
I can hardly believe it. I'm DONE? (I feel like I'm forgetting something.)
Nonetheless, I'm posting this immediately so I can go back to crazy and hectic updating! YES!
Ja ne,
o.O.o.O darkenedmoonlightflame O.o.O.o
And company. My adorably annoying muses. 'Kotsu-san and the Sess-sei.
(P.S. Thanks, once last time…!)
Chapter Finished: 5.9.07
Post: …?
Spell Check: Yes.
EDIT COUNT? Zero.
