There was a unsettling murmur that rocked the platform back and forth.
Deep colors of red and yellow in the Uchiha's voice came rolling down the shell of Ino's ear and down the exposed part of her neck. She shuttered and sighed. Ino turned slightly to look back at Sasuke, who was casually talking to one of the guards, his arms crossed, his posture rigid.
His face was lifeless as usually.
The blonde ninja bit the inside of her cheek thoughtfully and allowed herself the wishful thinking that Sasuke would let her side his mind once and a while. What would it be like in the caverns of his thoughts and senses?
But just as she allowed herself to be whisked away by her own imagination she felt the thick pads of someone's hand on her shoulder.
She jumped slightly, making the podium they sat on above the village tremble.
"A little tense aren't we?" Sasuke pondered.
Ino blinked through her thick eyelashes and strands of hair that had fallen across the front of her face, bewildered.
"I–" She began, but stopped, looking down at her hands shyly.
The customary Ino with her boisterous voice and out there personality seemed to crumple in that moment.
Sasuke's face was highlighted by the setting sky, outlining his cheekbones and giving character to his mysterious eyes. He stood above Ino like a tower, making her feel small, as if she was a measly ant.
The Uchiha settled down next Ino, not too close but enough that she could feel heat radiation off his skin. Ino hiccuped and quickly brushed her hair back.
"The guard said we'll be handling the night shift. So it looks like we'll be out here tell tomorrow morning." He said plainly.
Ino nodded, wide eyed. Each word seemed to spill from his lips and ricochet off her, leaving tiny marks on her pale skin. She could feel the each prick and pinch from his seemingly distant words and it killed her.