Drowning One's Sorrows in Coffee
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. You have no idea how much those four words hurt me so. D8
I've had this idea for some time and I finally got it down on 'paper', per se. And it's taken me a hundred years to actually sit down and edit it. So here you go. A fresher, newer, 2009 version of DOSiC.
SasuTen is one of my favorite pairings and I think all of you should write more of it. x3
Inspiration: Chocolate by Snow Patrol (song) & AznAnimeGrl
"Triple whatever. Something coffee. Make it black." A woman. She looked tired. Her brown hair was put up in two, quite messy, buns. Almost drunken panda –like. It didn't quite help that she actually was suffering from another hangover. It had been her first drink in decades, actually, and she was starting to regret it.
She had started to form dark rings under her eyes, although she'd been suffering from a light bout of insomnia for years. It worried the barista, a tall and lanky blonde.
"Aw Tenten… Don't drown your sorrows in coffee, un! Sake is much better~!" A blonde haired main faced her, behind the counter. He had blue eyes and his bangs covering one side of his face. He said the words lightly and playfully, but it pained him really, to see her like that. He knew a hangover when he saw one. His own room mate, Hidan, used to be an alcoholic.
"Pffft." Tenten gave her friend, Deidara, a small smile. "I don't drink, remember?" She tried to lie. But when you've been friends with someone for that long, it's hard to put something over their eyes.
"Fine," Deidara decided not to pressure, especially not today. "Well, it's on the house," He said with a smile and continued hurriedly before she could decline the offer. "One, because you look really stressed out about shit. And two, because it's your birthday, un!" The blonde gave her a wink before he went back into the kitchen to get Tenten's drink.
Tenten didn't really think anyone had remembered. She was 25 today. 25 years of really having no life. She was a college drop out. Actually she was one of those, 'did not go to college, but graduated high school' drop outs. After graduating high school and being accepted into a local college, she just decided that life wasn't worth it. It wasn't depression or anything cynical, per se, but reality had really come down on her. Going to college and supporting both herself and her younger brother would be a difficult task, if possible.
Taking a job at a large laundry and cleaners business, she work diligently, and tried her best not to be pissed off at her boss and costumers. But she was in for it. The business was fairly big, as it had it's stores set up all over Konoha and Japan. It must've been because of that, that her boss, a snobby lady of 43 years, always wore expensive clothing and bad make-up while her employees worked for a little more than minimum wage.
25 and no life. 25 and no job. She'd gotten fired, as she had predicted to herself, and looking through the newspaper she mumbled, "I just had to say it…" Tenten admired and hated her sharp tongue. In a higher corporate setting, it probably could get her a ways up the social ladder, but in a lower class, all it gives you is someone telling you that you were witty and another telling you that you were a bitch.
Sitting down at a chair in the café, she pulled out her notebook, pen, and newspaper. Her chocolate brown eyes shifted through the 'jobs wanted' ads, circling some local jobs that she would go apply for. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Out of habit, she stacked the papers in a neat pile. She wasn't a neat freak, for one. But she couldn't stand having a mess for no reason. She wasn't a procrastinator.
The café was quite famous for its ability to produce some of the best espressos to ice lattes, while still keeping its recipes (and secret ingredients) local. The café was open to both the promising rich business men that lived in the better parts of town to the lowly ghettos where any sweet or bitter coffee was a luxury. It was the few places that welcomed any and all as either customer or employee.
It gave off a homely smell to Tenten. It was still early. No one had arrived here yet. And it felt just right; the cars going around, outside the window and the soft jazz that played inside the café. Tenten would love to work here. But Tenten was a horrid kitchen hand. She would probably ruin their reputation. Besides, Tenten could think up a million excuses to not work here. An annoying habit that often lowered her already falling self-esteem.
"Stop looking so down, un! It's your birthday. Smile a bit!" Deidara set the drink on the table and saw that other customers were waiting by the counter. He left.
Tenten took the mug and saw that Deidara had put a smiley face with cream in her cup. A quickly done smiley face, but a smile, all the same. She took a sip of the bitter drink and it gave her a more content feeling. The caffeine started it's work, waking her up a little more.
The door opened and a fresh, cold, morning breeze fell throughout the café. Three… no four men walked in. A blonde, a brunette, and two with black hair. All giving off some pheromone of the rich.
'Stupid rich people…' Tenten cursed under her breath. She hated those huge corporations that destroyed all hope for all small businesses. They got what they wanted. They never played fair. Those dirty jerks.
They sat down at a small table, a few tables to the right of Tenten. A strong whiff of 'rich jerk' aura wafted over to her table. It was probably all Tenten's thinking, but suddenly the air in the café thickened. She coughed into the sleeve of her maroon turtle neck. She sighed. 'Birthdays smrithdays…' She glanced back at the job ads. Raising and empty cup into her mouth, she frowned.
As if on cue, Deidara appeared at her table. "Want another?"
Tenten smiled. It was nice to have friends that knew her well. She handed him her cup. "I'll leave a big tip." Deidara smiled before taking her cup and once again disappearing behind the counter.
Tenten didn't have that much money in her pocket, but Deidara was too nice of a person to not give one to. Deidara had actually gone to the same high school as her. Although they weren't friends then, Deidara had applied for the same college. Both seemed to have no high hopes of really getting far in life. Friendship bloomed when they had both sat outside the counseling office to talk to a visiting college.
Deidara was open-minded and almost childish at times. He often babbled and swore pleasantly. He was an artist. Flamboyant. He worked with clay. But it was something that wouldn't earn that much money. He leaned toward cooking. However, it was still a dream that he could have his own gallery one day and have his pieces go around the world, going from art museum to art museum. He wanted people as far as America to know his name.
Tenten, at that time, was still unsure of her future. She didn't know what she wanted to major in or whatever. But they both agreed on life and how unfair and how worthless it really was. Having gone through their share of life's horrors and enjoying their share of pity parties. It seemed well enough that they became friends.
And both seemed happy to leave it at that. It was an unspoken rule, but neither wanted to mix romance to break their friendship. Tenten was too busy and rarely thought of love and relationship. Deidara had a thing for his co-worker, and he thanked Kami that he was bisexual.
Deidara brought back her coffee. "It's bad to drink so much early in the morning." He said, implying back to their previous joke of coffee and alcohol.
"Ah. But I'm drowning my sorrows, see?" The brown haired heroine took a gulp of the burning hot coffee. Swallowed and coughed into the crook her arm. Her eyes watered.
"Careful, un. It's hot." Deidara cracked a smile. Tenten was a good friend. Of the few friends he had. In fact, he wished that they could have become friends sooner in life, than when they met in front of that office. While he was often too unwary and optimistic, Tenten did her best to be realistic. They complimented each other in ways.
Deidara heard Sasori call for him behind the counter.
Sasori was another good friend of his. Or, perhaps a friend with benefits in a way. He was hot-tempered and hated to wait. 'Which really made him hot in bed...' Deidara sighed as he ended his thought, deciding between chatting and getting back to work. "Well, Sasori-kun is calling me back. I better go before he starts throwing things, un…" Deidara patted Tenten on the shoulder and Tenten smiled, packing her things up as well.
Tenten waved a good bye, slowly sipping her coffee. She frowned suddenly. There was a disturbance in the force.
Tenten looked up to see the men stand up and get ready to leave. In their nice suits and business like minds, they were headed out the door. Suddenly one stopped at the counter and talked to Deidara and handed him something.
"Here." The voice was more monotone then monotone. And much more sullen and cold than whatever the idea of being sullen and cold was in her dictionary previous to the man speaking. The man's voice seemed to echo around the room.
Tenten blinked for a few seconds, before tucking the papers in her olive green messenger back and slinging it over her shoulder. The men left and Tenten went up to the counter to put her cup back.
"Hey, Tenten-chan, those men left this for you." Deidara handed her a slim piece of paper, that would fit in the palm of her hand. A business card. Tenten looked at the front of it.
Uchiha Corp.
Tenten was going to question something when Deidara said, "And they gave me a huge tip for making sure you got it." Tenten's frown deepened as she turned the card over. On the back, in a fancy scrawl was 'Call me'.
Was he joking? Tenten looked up confused only to see Deidara had read it as well and was just as blank. Tenten gave a light laugh. "Well, I hope he's not looking for a good time."
Deidara chuckled at Tenten's lewdness. He was going to comment back when Sasori called back again. He sighed and waved good-bye as Tenten headed out the door.
Outside was fairly cold. After all, it was November now.
But Tenten was now curious. Why would a big head man like them give her a business card? She got into a sprint that went into a run. It wasn't hard to find their trail; you just had to follow the thick smell of cologne. She obviously dressed fairly baggy today and didn't look as appealing as a street prostitute. And if he did want a one night stand of some sort, he could've been more… subtle. Her eyes searched the street and then she saw them. Or him, per se. He was getting into a nice, sleek black Lexus.
"Stop! Wait! Sir!" Tenten yelled across the street and she saw him look up. Ignoring the traffic, she ran across the street. Tenten wasn't normally that daring but curiosity and caffeine was never quite a good mix. Car horns honked and she swore as the man simply just looked at her and… was that smirk on his face?
Tenten finally got to the other side of the street, amazed that she hadn't be bowled over or something. She placed her hand on the car and sighed, taking deep breaths. Her endurance just wasn't like it used to be. A cold hand picked her own hand off the car and Tenten look up, almost hoping to see blank eyes, like those of dead people, as that was how this person's hand had implied her to see, but instead she saw piercing onyx ones. It was so ironic and she had to stifle laughter. The man looked at her strangely, and then gave something like a glare.
"Um… Sorry, but I only work local." Tenten tried as she might to look back at this man with the same force he looked at her. Which she could not do. Nonetheless, she had no interest with having his card anyhow.
Suddenly the blonde haired man came up from behind this raven-haired demon. This blonde hair made him look a bit foreign and he had strange whisker-like tattoos on the each side of his face. He looked a fox. The neat black suit didn't match him at all. Only the loose, but still docile-colored tie seemed so be the only sign of this… person's true emotions.
"Eh? But this job is local… sort of. And we really want you to take it." He gave a cheeky smile. Tenten didn't know if his words were serious or if they underlined some sort of lewd innuendo.
"Shut up, dobe." He glanced at his... friend? Tenten was really sure. They didn't seem… no, this cold man didn't seem to act that friendly.
"Do you want the job or not." It was statement, really. Not a question.
"I work local, sorry," She repeated. She had her hand outstretched with the card in it.
"Hn." His hand quickly put the card back into his breast pocket.
"Hey!" The blonde took the card back out, seemingly having no idea of personal space. The other man looked irked. He looked with bright blue eyes back at Tenten. "I just said this job was local!
"And you also said 'sort of'." Tenten replied back, digging around her back pocket for her vibrating cell phone.
"Sort of mean it's not a lie," The blonde tried to argue. Tenten looked at the phone screen and read the text. She sighed. She always had the worst timing; in fact, it was almost like the story of her life.
"Take me the airport right now and I'll do the job. Whatever it is." Tenten said quickly, tucking the phone into her back pocket again.
"Excuse me?" Sasuke wanted to make sure he heard that right. This jobless girl was saying she would take the job if he drove her to the airport. Hell. He asked her if she wanted a job. She was definitely in no spot to bargain, let it be with such a small favor.
"You have a speedy car." Tenten said. "You" pointing to the taller of the two men "Will drive me there." She finished pointing to her self and then gesturing to the beyond (the airport). Tenten assumed that the sleek car belonged to the same man that had offered her the business card.
"Please, this is really urgent and if it wasn't for this situation, then I wouldn't bother asking," Tenten tried to plead. "Really."
Silence.
"Please?" She pouted."Eh? Of course Sasuke can do that!" the blonde smiled. His white teeth gleaming. He patted Sasuke on the back. He easily slid into the driver's side of the car and rolled the window down.
"Well, aren't you going to get in?" He said to Tenten. The other man, Sasuke, seemed incredibly annoyed, in disbelief, and finally just seemed to give up. He opened the back door for Tenten but didn't bother to shut it. Instead, he simply went around the front of the car and got in on the front passenger seat.
"Thank you so much!" Tenten genuinely looked pleased.
Sasuke wondered how he didn't have any say in the matter. He glanced at his friend and/or enemy, Naruto Uzumaki. Only he would dare to do something like this, and he had a meeting within the hour as well. Sasuke sighed, because he knew that Naruto was doing him a favor.
The task at hand needed someone like Tenten Ama. The second choice wasn't much better… (there was no second choice, actually, was Sasuke refused to believe that).
Naruto put the car into drive and in a matter of moments they were already on the main highway. Tenten was a bit excited, but even more worried that she'd be late. The airport was quite a ways away, and she didn't want to keep him waiting. Tenten's mouth became a thin line of worry.
She realized her situation right then. He was coming back and if it wasn't for these… people in there nice fancy suits, she would've been jobless and late. Look at that. She gets to go to the airport and get a job. Two birds with one stone.
'Sort of. I bet one of the birds was an endangered species and I get sued by the world or something.' Tenten thought to herself. 'That would suck.' The worst part was that it actually sort of made sense that something like that would happen.
Once again, Reviews please! Comments, random things, flames, I don't care! I love them all! C:
Ah ha! Finally, I edited it! I feel pretty happy about it. And maybe in several years I can look back on this first chapter and edit again because it's not 'very good'. Anyhow.
I really hope you've enjoyed it! The next couple chapters will be edited as well and then, maybe I'll start writing more chapters. I've got the actual story down; just been too lazy to type, sorry.
I got the inspiration and motivation for this story from Pass the Coffee, Hold the Tea!!! It's by AznAnimeGrl; check out her profile! She has a lot of amazing stuff on there!!