The Eighth floor: Chapter 2.
Sasuke sat in his office, glaring at the phone, his father; Fugaku Uchiha, had just informed him that his department was lacking in workers, and he'd have to hire at least three more, or he'd receive the delightful news that he was getting demoted back to his previous position, and his father would hire a more "capable" man or woman to do the job. Sasuke was going to have to do the one thing he didn't want to do.
The Uchiha leaned over his desk and picked up the phone, dialling a number he didn't even know he remembered.
"Hello, Ino, I have a position for you, if you'd like" Sasuke droned unenthusiastically. He then had to hold the phone away from his ear; her scream was really quite loud. Sasuke glowered into the phone before talking again.
"I already have had someone fill the position you originally wanted, but I can set you up in marketing, if you'd like" he droned once more.
After what seemed like an hour of speaking, (though really only 5 minutes) the Uchiha was able to hang up the phone. Sasuke was glad he had Ino working in a position that wouldn't any of his attention, because damn, that woman had an annoying voice, it was like having another Sakura, and that, he could not handle without shooting himself in the face.
Sasuke sighed angrily in realisation that he had to call at least two more people to make his father happy. God, they better not be women too.
The Uchiha was not having a good day.
Later in the evening, Naruto was typing at his desk, finishing up a few presentations' to present with Sasuke to his father and the board in the following week before their departure to the U.S. His hands caressed pages of the worn thesaurus he had next to him; he was using it to change his boring repetitive words to make it pop more, in hopes of making the presentations looking more enticing
Many minuets had passed before the blonde stood, half sighing and half yawning as he stretched, attempting to rid the tiredness that had overcome his limbs, alas, he had finally finished.
The blonde turned around slightly, only to see that he was the only one left in the office, well, he and Sasuke were the only ones left, and he knew that to be true, because he could see the Uchiha sitting at his desk, scowling into his phone.
'Poor Sasuke, he never gets to relax' the blonde frowned at the thought, when did Sasuke ever get to have fun? He always seemed to be so stern and uptight; he mustn't get to relax much.
The blond looked away from Sasuke and picked up his stuff, organized it into a pile and slid it into his orange shoulder bag that he wore almost all the time. The blond didn't even notice the obsidian orbs that watched him as he left.
"Oh come on, start god-damn-it!" A certain angry blonde's voice could be heard emanating from the ground floor parking lot, a clear amount of anger laced within the words. The blond removed himself from the driver's seat of his recently bought orange mustang, and strode around to the front of the car.
Lifting up the hood, Naruto couldn't see any visible damage, which was good, because the guy he bought it from said it was fine when he bought it two weeks ago; it couldn't be failing already, could it?
Naruto leaned down to check the petrol gauge, only to find it empty, well, didn't he feel like a dumbass. He sighed as he closed the hood and walked back around the car, plonking himself "Gracefully" down into the driver's seat.
Naruto shut his eyes for a moment, trying to come up with a way of getting home; it was too late for public transport, the last train had already come, and he didn't have enough money for a taxi. Blue eyes looked up at the rear view mirror, only to see one Sasuke Uchiha saunter right on out of the elevator, keys to his black Ferrari in hand. What a Lucky bastard.
The blond realised that Sasuke could very well be his only way home. He stepped out of his car, slamming the door rather loudly.
"God damn!" The tanned boy said rather loudly, successfully catching the Uchiha's attention. Sasuke glanced over at Naruto, what was his problem? His eyebrow rose inquisitively. The Uchiha cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Car troubles?" he spoke as he unlocked his car.
"Yeah, I think I have a petrol leak or something, won't start." Smooth.
The raven smirked at the response before walking around to the other side of his car and opening the passenger's seat door.
"Then get in" Sasuke beckoned for Naruto to come over, opening the door up farther.
"What about my car?" Naruto said worriedly. "Get some petrol for it tomorrow" The Uchiha stated matter-of-factly, shrugging as he did so. Naruto smiled and agreed, before skipping happily over to the car and getting inside. Sasuke walked back around the car and slid in the driver's seat. The Uchiha closed the door and turned his head to Naruto.
"Where to?" Sasuke turned his head to Naruto, smiling slightly.
'Sasuke's smiling?' Naruto couldn't help but smile back at Sasuke. He then responded, "Do you know the apartments by the bowling alley?" Naruto grinned at Sasuke; he'd make sure he asked him out or something, tonight.
Sasuke nodded knowingly and buckled himself in before turning the keys in the ignition. "I warn you this will be a very, very, fast ride" The Uchiha smirked before speeding out of the parking lot.
"Sasuke what the fuuuuu-" Was all that could be heard from the car, along with Sasuke's dark velvety laughter.
Outside the car was pitch black as it was around 11:30pm, the stars had grown brighter over the last half hour, they seemed to shine brighter through the rain drops that had recently bathed the outside of the luxurious car. Sasuke sat in the driver's seat, sucking on a cigarette, smiling and tapping along to the soft music that emanated from the stereo. Naruto sat for a while in silence, transfixed by the raindrops that shimmered in the light on the window. He turned his head to Sasuke and caught the Uchiha's smile before it disappeared, the blond grinned.
"Gee Sasuke, I didn't know you could smile" Naruto said jokingly, leaning farther back into his seat in attempt to get more comfortable. Sasuke nodded, still tapping contentedly to the music.
"It's funny" Sasuke spoke, "I'm usually not this laid back, I must feel comfortable around you, I guess" Naruto smiled, so the raven felt comfortable around him, huh? Well that was a good sign.
A good sign indeed.
As they were about to pull into Naruto's street, Sasuke stopped the car, and turned over to look at Naruto. "I was going to go to a bar after I dropped you off, but if you'd like you can come with me and I could maybe…" he paused to think "drop you of after?" He finally suggested a light shade of pink dusting his porcelain cheekbones. Naruto smiled softly and shrugged, "Yeah sure, I'd like that a lot"
Sasuke smirked and took another suck of his cigarette before chucking it out the window.
Naruto was dumbfounded, "You call this a bar? It looks like some swanky businessman joint to me!" The blonde all but yelled in confusion and amazement. The blond boy glanced around the room, it really had surprised him, it really didn't look like an old bar like Sasuke had described. The walls were a tasteful dark blue with a black trim, dark tiles spread across the floor to match. A brightly lit bar lined with foreign alcohol he had never seen before stood in the far corner and over on the other side of the bar, dim lights lit booths for two to four people to sit. And then there was the soft music that played in the background, creating a calm, almostromantic date atmosphere.
"I'm rich, remember?" Sasuke smirked; the blonde man was such a Dobe, why would Sasuke willingly walk into some shitty old bar that smelled of vomit and piss when he could drink in luxury?
"I knew you couldn't be completely normal," Naruto snorted as he slinked off to order some beers.
"How could I be?" Sasuke chuckled as he watched Naruto walk away. Sasuke walked across the room and slid into a booth. He then settled back into his seat as he watched the Blonde man talk and laugh with the bartender, his smile really lit up the room; beautiful.
Sasuke shook his head at the thought; the Dobe wasn't interested in the slightest, he was into the little brat of a secretary Sakura. Sasuke frowned at the thought; those two would make an atrocious couple.
Naruto returned to Sasuke and slid into the seat across from him before passing him a drink. "Man, that bartender is real weird, he kept making weird passes at me, and what is with that mask?" Naruto joked, attempting to break the ice a little bit.
Sasuke smiled, "That's Kakashi, he's worked here for years, he's a pervert, but he's a good guy"
"I see" Naruto nodded, his face becoming serious. "Sasuke" His voice now quiet spoke quietly, it was time to do what he promised Kiba, because if he didn't, Kiba was going to rip his balls off, and he also felt that this would be the only appropriate time to do so.
"Hm?" Sasuke hummed as he looked over at Naruto, 'he's blushing?'
"Th-this is probably going to sound stupid" the blonde stuttered "I was wondering...'' The blonde paused to gulp, ''would you like to uh, maybe, go on a date sometime?" The blondes face was struck with worry.
The raven was shocked; did Naruto really ask him that? Surely he was dreaming… Sasuke started to think about all the things they could do together, and he hadn't even accepted yet!
Speaking of not saying accepting, Naruto was beginning to feel uncomfortable, 'why isn't he answering me?' Naruto let out a worried laugh, ''that's alright if you don't want to, I was just putting the idea out in the open''
Sasuke smirked and responded "Wow dobe, I didn't know you swung that way" he took a swig of his drink, attempting to play cool, "Yeah sure, I'd love to" he rested his hand on Naruto's for a moment in reassurance before pulling it away.
Naruto smiled with relief, realising the room had gone silent, he looked around and the place was empty.
"We're closing boys" Kakashi said as he wiped down the bar counter, gesturing for them to finish up and leave.
Naruto stood, downing the last of his drink, before slapping a few bills down on the counter and sliding his jacket on. Sasuke did the same.
Lips crushed together with bruising force, the two bodies all but practically glued too each-other, making it so warm both of them didn't even notice the cold of the outside world; they were too busy in their warm little bubble. Both males stood outside the Uzumaki house. Naruto clutched onto Sasuke's jacket, all thoughts of liking the pink haired secretary in the back of his mind. ''I don't want you to go'' the blond whined, when had he grown so clingy? And why where they so intimate already when they'd been dating for less than Two hours? Perhaps it was the fact that they'd both been secretly pining after one another for so long, or maybe because they had grown already grown comfortable and accustomed to each other. Naruto didn't care at this moment however, and neither did his Raven haired partner.
''I'm sorry, but I really have to go'' Sasuke mumbled reluctantly, his father had called on the way to Naruto's place, apparently the family had gathered for an "important'' family meeting. Sasuke would skip out on it if he could, but apparently if he didn't go, his father would strip him of his job title. Humph. His father and his threats really bummed him out. Sasuke reluctantly peeled Naruto off him and gave him a final chaste kiss, before stepping away and waving goodbye.
''Aw, well then... See ya at work!'' Naruto waved back to Sasuke enthusiastically. He then earned a chuckle and the word ''Dobe'' in return. The blonde felt good. Really damned good.
He then watched the car drive off into the night, smiling. Black rain clouds rolled over and it started raining, but the boy couldn't help but smile.
''Better get inside then'' he said as he unlocked the door and escaped from the cold.
Dark.
Dark is how Uchiha Sasuke felt at this moment. All happy feelings of his newly acquired boyfriend successfully thrown out the window, for now, that is. "I refuse" Sasuke spat towards his father, who smirked darkly, folding his arms behind his back.
"I'll have you know that you will be travelling to the U.S for those three years, and if you don't, you won't have a place at the company" Sasuke really didn't have anywhere else to go, all his life his father had groomed him to work here, he had no other qualifications and he would not have any money to study anything else, his father simply would not allow it.
"Fine, I'll fucking do it" Sasuke sneered, storming from his father's study, passing his mother who was about to enter the room.
"Sasuke honey your-"
"Save it. I'm leaving" Sasuke cut her off, slamming the front door behind him.
Mikoto; Sasuke's mother, watched her son drive out of the driveway and speed of into the early morning. Was it really that late already?
She ran her thumb over the picture of the blonde boy and her son in what appeared to be Sasuke's car on her son's phone, which he'd forgotten. It appeared that the photo was taken recently too, seeing as Sasuke was wearing the same clothes as she'd just seen him in.
''I wonder who this is.''
Naruto strode into work with a bright smile on his face, a sketchbook for design and a few folders in hand; he walked up to Sakura's desk and stood silently waiting for her to get off the phone.
''Mhm, yep, Mhm, Okay sir I'll get right on that'' Sakura said sweetly into the phone, before hanging up, glaring daggers at Naruto. "Listen Naruto I don't have time to talk to you, nor am I interested in you-'' Naruto just smiled. ''I'm not here to waste my time Sakura, I was just asking if Sasuke has come in yet'' Sakura widened her eyes, what was up with Naruto today? Why did he want to talk to her Sasuke? Their schedules didn't even intertwine today.
"Yeah Sasuke just came in, why do you-"
''Thanks!'' Naruto said, striding away fleetly, having acquired all the information he needed, now not caring about anything else the pinkette girl might have to say. Sakura could only watch dumfounded as Naruto ignored her, then entering into Sasuke's office without knocking.
Sakura frowned, but then a thought dawned on her, and she smiled devilishly. ''He must be quitting or something; Sasuke would never let him continue working here if he burst in like that''
The pinkette shrugged her shoulders and continued on with her work, not bothering to even care about the previous actions of the young blue-eyed man.
''Sasuke~'' Naruto almost sang out.
''Naruto~'' Sasuke sang back, thought you could hardly call it singing, as it was in his usually tired humdrum voice.
''I had a great time last night'' Said the blonde, sitting on the desk in front of Sasuke, smiling. Sasuke smiled warmly back.
"Likewise" And precisely at that moment Sasuke fell somber, realizing he wouldn't be with Naruto for much longer unless they had worked something out, and he worried. What if they couldn't? ''I uh... I have to leave on a business trip soon'' Sasuke said, lowering his head, a small frown plastered to his face.
''How long?'' The blonde asked, mimicking Sasuke's frown.
''Promise not to freak out?" Sasuke said hopefully. Naruto nodded, now worried. ''I have to go for three years, I'll be leaving in two weeks'' Sasuke frowned.
A loud shriek that sounded almost like the word "what" sounded out throughout the office, many workers jumped in surprise before realising it came from Sasuke's office, and that he was probably just firing someone again.
Sakura, now sipping on hot chocolate whilst sitting at her desk working on Sasuke's paper work grinned. Was the blonde being fired now?
'Thank god, I can't stand his personality any longer, he's so lazy and never gets any work done' Sakura thought, then opening her drawers and pulling out a bottle of pink nail polish, she then began to paint her nails, totally ignoring the work she had to do.
''What do mean you have to go for three years? We just started dating!" Naruto said anxiously. Would he lose Sasuke before he really had a chance to even have him?
''Calm down dobe, I'm not going to break up with you, we can figure something out'' Naruto calmed down a little bit, but was still worried. Long distance relationships didn't work for him; he was a clingy, loving kind of guy.
''Well what are we supposed to do?'' Naruto began to frown; he hunched over and placed his head in his palm, pouting cutely (yet manly goddamn it). Suddenly, though it was pretty out of the blue and a huge leap, Sasuke had an idea.
''Come with me'' He said in a monotone voice, shoving his black thick rimmed reading glasses up his perfect porcelain nose.
''What?'' Naruto's eyes widened, what did Sasuke just say?
''Come. With. Me.'' Sasuke pulled Naruto forward into his lap so his face was inches from the blonde's.
''H-How could I?" Naruto asked, stuttering at the closeness.
Sasuke smiled, his lips moving in just an inch loser, so they were almost touching,
''I could transfer you over to the U.S company and we could live together, you could have your own bedroom, if you want …'' Sasuke smirked, Jolting Naruto, making him make a noise similar to that of a frightened mouse "...and it would be free" Naruto blushed, move to the U.S?
It's not like he had anyone here that he knew he'd been living alone most of his life... "Should I?" He pondered.
"Are you sure?'' Naruto asked, trying to pull away to look Sasuke in the eyes.
''Positive'' Sasuke answered, smiling as he leaned in, brushing their lips together. Naruto pushed up to Sasuke so he was no longer awkwardly stood kneeling, and straddled the raven. "Okay then, I will" He beamed before softly brushing his lips up against Sasuke's. The raven haired man rested his hand on Naruto's neck and deepened the kiss, causing the blonde to mewl into the kiss whilst Sasuke slid his other hand around Naruto's back, sliding his fingers into the back of his jeans.
Naruto noticed this and pulled away, "I'm NOT doing this in an office, and certainly not so soon"
''Well, I have to go do some work'' Naruto said, his face graced with an innocent smile, leaving Sasuke dumbfounded. Did Naruto just pull away?
"Oh you are going to pay, dobe" Sasuke smirked evilly and watched Naruto skip happily out of the office.
Naruto walked out of Sasuke's office happily, with a bounce in his step and a thirst for caffeine, since his appointment with the next client wasn't till' this afternoon, he figured he had enough time to make his way down to the local coffee store and get himself and Sasuke a hot beverage.
The happy blonde boy practically skipped through the office and past Sakura. The pinkette was confused, why was the blonde so happy? He got fired, did he not? She then noticed him going towards the elevator instead of going to pack at his office.
"Ahem'' She cleared her throat rather loudly, getting Naruto's attention, ''shouldn't you be packing your things instead of leaving?''
Naruto, being the dense idiot that he sometimes could be, assumed she was talking about the U.S, even though it were not even possible for her to know.
''Oh, Sakura, how did you know about that?'' He said, confused.
"Loser, practically the whole office knows, we could hear you" she snorted, taking a sip of her frappe. Naruto blushed a dark red, ''Oh... really?''
''Well duh Naruto, you were pretty loud" she sighed. Moron.
The blonde boy stared off into space for a moment with a puzzled expression, before returning to reality; ''You're taking it so well for someone who likes Sasuke. Oh well, you're right though, I should really pack soon, anyway off for some coffee, be back soon!" By now, Sakura was very confused, 'What does this have to do with Sasuke?
Naruto stepped into the quaint coffee shop and smiled as the scent of coffee beans hit him instantly, making him feel good and at home, Naruto loved the smell of coffee, it would remind him of when his mother used to make it early in the mornings before she had to go to work, and Naruto would always steal a sip here and there when she wasn't looking. He smiled at the memories, and reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, whilst moving to the counter to make an order.
However, he failed to notice the woman behind him who was clearly there first.
''I don't take kindly to people who push in'' an elegant voice travelled through the air, that almost sounded familiar. The blonde turned around to speak but could only gasp; she looked like an older female Sasuke, elegant, pale and certainly attractive. The strange woman's eyes widened, that was the man on Sasuke's phone from the other day.
''Uhm, sir, are you alright?'' She asked, taking notice of the blondes shocked state.
Naruto shook of his shock and answered her as normally as he could, ''Oh, yes, you just look familiar''
She smiled, this must be him. "Do you... Do you by any chance know a Sasuke Uchiha?'' She asked, her eyebrows rising in question.
Naruto smiled at Sasuke's name, maybe this was his mother? And then it hit him.
This could be Sasuke's mother.
Fuck.
''Ah, yes... why do you ask?'' He asked, now nervous.
The woman began to rummage through her bag until she pulled out a black phone.
''I'm his mother, he left this phone at my home the other night and you're on his wallpaper, so I assumed you must've known him, and could you please give this to him?''
Naruto's heart fluttered, he was Sasuke's wallpaper? Snap out of it, this is no time to fan boy over Uchiha, this is his fucking mother for crying out loud.
''Of course I can'' He smiled brightly, taking the phone from her hand. ''Well, I guess I better order and get out of here; I have to get to work''
Sasuke's mother smiled warmly, "of course, but May I ask your name?''
''Naruto Uzumaki, ma'am!'' He bowed respectfully.
''Pleased to meet you Naruto, I'm Mikoto Uchiha.'' She smiled, looking at Naruto in the eyes ''But May I ask, what is your relationship with my son?'' her tone now a little bit more serious, though still friendly. Naruto froze; did she already know of Sasuke's orientation, if he told her would she freak out? What did he do now? Mikoto sensed Naruto's anxiousness and softened.
''Don't worry, you don't have to tell me, I can already see the answer'' She smiled "you're not very good at hiding things'' She let out a quiet laugh. Naruto relaxed considerably, and smiled back, so his mother did know. He let out a sigh of relief.
''I'll see you again soon, Naruto'' Mikoto said warmly, and she began to walk away, coffee in hand. Naruto hadn't even noticed her receive it.
Naruto said goodbye to Mikoto and made an order, he walked out of the store feeling good, constantly staring at Sasuke's wallpaper.