I'll be trying to update regularly. I, sadly, do not own any of the characters.

Xxxxx

Naruto pulled his orange gloves off and shoved them into his jacket pocket as he strode across the lobby of his apartment building, heading for the elevator. It was late afternoon and the sun shone prettily around the foyer as he joined the small group waiting for the lift to arrive. A small 'ding' announced it's arrival. The small congregation parted to allow the occupants of the lift to exit. Naruto lifted his head and felt his happy mood dissipate slightly as his neighbour strode passed, his dark gaze apparently not registering Naruto. Naruto reached out his hand and snagged the other man's sleeve, walking with him a few feet before pulling him to a stop. The action earned him a glare.

"Let go."

"You were really fucking rude yesterday." Naruto stated angrily, letting his arm drop down to his side. His voice was low. He heard the elevator announce that the doors were shutting but he paid it no attention.

"Is that how you treat other people?"

"Only the annoying ones." His voice was dull and apathetic as he shifted his weight. Naruto bristled and the other man checked his watch. He grunted.

"I've got somewhere to be."

"Don't have time to be a decent human being? That much is plainly obvious, don't worry." Naruto spun on his heel and stomped back over to the call buttons, requesting the elevator again as he fumed to himself. Sasuke watched him go, scrutinising the back of the blonds head. He heard a faint buzzing, so he turned his back and pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket, answering the call with a swipe of his thumb.

Naruto heard the other muttering softly into his phone,voice deliberately lowered. Somehow this only angered Naruto further.

After hitting the disconnect button Sasuke headed for the exit, glancing over his shoulder to where Naruto had stood moments before. The blond was gone but Sasuke slowed down, eyes on the orange glove that was in stark contrast to the grey flooring. He walked over and retrieved it, placing it in his own pocket before exiting the building.

Xxxx

Sasuke sat along the wooden bench, tomato juice sat untouched in front of him. His gaze wandered over the menu, ceasing when he felt a light hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry I'm late." Sasuke nodded his head in acknowledgement as the slim girl rounded the long table to sit opposite him. Sakura huffed as she shrugged herself out of her scarf and coat, placing them beside her on the bench. She flicked her hair impatiently out of her face, tucking it behind an ear.

"Have you been here long?" She queried, pulling a menu towards her but her eyes staying fixed on the man in question.

"No."

"Long enough to get a drink." The pink haired girl teased, glancing over the menu. Sasuke ignored her, opting to sip his drink instead.

"How have you been?" She asked, green eyes wary, not straying from the man before her.

"Fine. Normal." Sasuke stated, meeting her gaze. Sakura sighed at the strained conversation and signalled the waiter.

Xxxx

"That's an unusual colour choice for you, Sasuke." Sakura stated as they strode down to the tube station. She reached across and plucked the orange glove from the stoic man's pocket.

Sasuke glanced at it and shrugged. "I was feeling adventurous." He muttered, taking it back from her. She hesitated slightly at the change in tone.

"Oh really? Last time you were feeling adventurous we ended up puking on the bonnet of a Peugeot in South East London." Sasuke smiled at the memory and Sakura felt her cheeks tinge pink at the sight of it. She laughed and pretend the cause for her rosy cheeks was the icy wind.

She felt sad at the memory. Although it was a fond one, it was also very old. It had been a long time since they had done anything like that together.

"You want me to honestly believe you bought one orange glove?" She persisted as they dodged the London pedestrians, Sakura gluing herself to Sasuke's side as best she could without actually attaching herself.

"Someone from my apartment building dropped it."

"You gonna give it back?" She asked, glancing at him with intrigue.

He looked at her. "What else am I going to do with it?"

She shrugged. "It's just unlike you, that's all." Sasuke frowned slightly at her wording. "I'm surprised you even picked it up. Whose is it?" She demanded, a note of jealousy in here voice. Sasuke stopped as they reached the steps leading to the tube station, Sakura coming to an awkward halt.

"You should stop saying that Sakura, it's really irritating." Sasuke stated, motioning towards the steps.

"You don't normally involve yourself with strangers. I didn't mean anything by it-" She started, but he waved a hand as he turned on his heel. "Look, has Itachi been around?" She asked quickly, snagging hold of his jacket sleeve. She'd been holding the question in all night, and now this was the only moment left. Appropriate or not. He turned quickly with a glare.

"Why?"

"Because I need to know. Has he?" He stepped forward, silently seething.

"It's not your concern. Let go of my coat."

"It is my concern. Sasuke your my friend, would you please just-" She was flustered, embarrassed as Sasuke used his free hand to unravel her fist from his sleeve. "I never know where I stand with you any more. I just want to help, to connect with you." Her mouth fell open as she searched his face. He let the silence continue, then broke it.

"He's keeping his distance." Sasuke lied, looking down at her. She bit her lip, looking up at him and then glancing down at the floor. He dropped her hand and she pulled it towards her as he walked away.

He resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, not wanting to give Sakura a reason to continue their previous conversation. Itachi was an issue he would sort in his own time.

He though of his new neighbour as he walked, his right hand pressed up against the obnoxious glove in his pocket. He enjoyed riling the other up. The few times they'd spoken had caused Sasuke to pay attention and get involved, interactions that normally he would have dismissed with most other people. He enjoyed the attention, even though it was negative.

He shook his head at the thought. He was better off severing any future contact. He'd give the glove back anonymously, and that would be that.

Xxxx

Naruto stood in his bathroom in front of the sink, brushing his teeth. He bared his teeth and brushed them haphazardly, watching himself in the mirror above the basin. He lowered his head and spat the foam into the sink, rinsing the toothbrush and letting out a satisfied breath. Just as he launched the toothbrush back into the glass on the counter, he heard his letterbox crash back on itself.

He glanced at his watch and noted it was gone 11 o'clock at night. He arched an eyebrow and padded out into the hallway, eyebrows disappearing into his hairline as he saw the orange glove laying on the carpet.

He bent down to pick it up, puzzled. He flicked the latch and pulled his front door open, peaking out. He was just in time to see his stoic neighbours door swing shut, the latch click into place. Naruto frowned, coming back inside and shutting his own front door. He glanced down at the glove and his face relaxed. He smiled, chuckling to himself. He threw the glove onto the table in the hall and snatched up his hoodie, shrugging it on over his t-shirt and grabbing his keys.

He left his apartment, striding down the hall the short distance to his neighbour's door. He drew in a breath and knocked a couple of times, holding his ground. He waited a few moments and shrugged, about to head back to his own flat, when the door clicked open. Naruto arched an eyebrow, body already turned to walk away.

"What do you want." Came the smooth voice of the dark haired man. He stood in the doorway, relaxed and calm, hand holding the door ajar.

"Ermm," Naruto grinned and turned, giving the man his full attention. "Just wanted to say thanks! For finding my glove. I knew you weren't a total dick."

"If I wanted you to thank me I would have knocked on your door." He replied, frowning slightly.

"Well I saved you the trouble, didn't I?" Naruto commented, crossing his arms. "Do you have a smartass remark for everything?"

"Mostly." Sasuke smirked slightly to himself, enjoying their banter.

Naruto chose to ignore that particularly comment. "How did you know it was mine?"

Sasuke purposefully looked Naruto up and down, indicating the bright orange t-shirt he was wearing. "Not many people have such a strong dedication to that particular shade of orange. Plus your other one was dangling out of your pocket in the foyer earlier."

"Right." Naruto pursed his lips slightly, not appreciating the dark haired man's tone. "Well, thanks anyway." He said, rolling his eyes and turning on his heel to head back to his own apartment.

"Hey." Naruto faltered, turning his head to regard the other man warily.

"What?" He asked, uneasy, expecting another snide remark.

"How is it?" Sasuke asked grudgingly, shocking himself as he spoke.

Naruto looked puzzled. "How is what?"

"Your hand." Sasuke clarified, eyes narrowed on the blond before him.

Naruto's eyes widened and he snickered playfully, hands coming up behind his head. Sasuke grimaced slightly, his own eyes widening a fraction.

"I'll live." He held his left hand out briefly, showing Sasuke the shiny pink skin. "What's your name?" Naruto's voice was playful.

"Sasuke." Was the quick answer, dark eyes shifting from Naruto's hand to his face.

"Sasukeeee." Naruto dragged out the name. He swiped his thumb across his nose. "I'm having a house warming – flat warming, actually – party thing on Saturday. You should come." He headed back to his own door, inserting his key and proceeding inside without waiting for an answer. "Should be fun. Sleep tight Sasuke!"

Sasuke stood in his doorway a moment before retreating inside and pushing it shut. He fumed silently to himself.

"He's wary of you. It's not surprising Sasuke, you were unnecessarily rude to him yesterday." Itachi commented from the entrance to the bedroom. Sasuke grit his teeth and stalked passed him, ignoring his presence. Itachi followed him through to the lounge, sitting in the chair as Sasuke made himself comfortable on the couch.

"You should go to the party."

"I don't need you to analyse or eavesdrop on every social encounter I have." Sasuke snapped, leaning his head on the back of the couch.

Itachi studied Sasuke and smiled slightly.

"You want to go."

"I don't." He remained still, eyes gently closed, lips barely moving.

"Then why didn't you tell him that?"

"Because he didn't give me a chance to." He levelled a lazy glare at the other, an eyebrow raised. It earned him a chuckle. Sasuke's glare intensified.

"I hope he drops a glove everyday." Itachi commented, "If it means getting a reaction from you."

"I think you're reading too much into this. Why are you still here?"

"You'll miss me when I'm gone, Sasuke." Was the despondent reply. Sasuke ran a hand over his face and felt a steady tremor run through it, his pale hand knocking gently against his nose as he held it there. He didn't need to open his eyes to know Itachi had left.

Xxxxx

Sasuke stood outside Naruto's door, carrier bag clutched in his left hand. He raised his right hand to knock, his knuckles poised a couple of inches from the wood of the door, before his hand dropped to his side and he glared.

"You mind not glaring a hole in my front door?" Came a bright voice. Sasuke heard the elevator doors shut and watched as the blond approached him, tanned hands rummaging through his coat pockets. He pulled out his front door key and Sasuke took a few steps back.

"I just wanted to give you this." Sasuke motioned the bag, holding it out for Naruto to take. Naruto looked wary.

"What is it?" He asked, a blond eyebrow raised.

"It's for your hand, the scald." Naruto took it, opening it and gazing inside. "It still looks sore." He said, motioning towards it.

"What're you, my mum?" Naruto scoffed, opening his door. Sasuke didn't appreciate the comparison, his hands finding their way into his trouser pockets.

"No, but seems you need one." Sasuke countered, eyes narrow and hostile. Naruto grit his teeth and faced him, hand holding the bag out towards Sasuke.

"You don't know me so I'll let that one go." Baby blue eyes momentarily filled with hurt, before being replaced with mild anger. "Is this your way of making friends? 'Cause it sucks." Sasuke ignored the proffered bag, gaze fixed on Naruto. Naruto let his hand drop and sighed, pursing his lips. He turned and looked at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye. "Wanna come in or..?"

Sasuke shrugged, Naruto taking that as a yes. He stepped over the threshold, Sasuke a few steps behind. Naruto dumped his belongings in the hallway, toeing off his trainers and kicking them to the side. "You can put your shoes anywhere." Naruto muttered, waving a hand and meandering down to his living room.

"Do I need to even bother taking them off." Sasuke uttered, raising an eyebrow at the dishevelled hallway. Quick as a flash Naruto's head poked around the door frame, expression irritated.

"I'm messy, not an animal." Naruto commented, before disappearing again.

"Hn." Sasuke grimaced slightly, taking off his shoes and placing them neatly by the wall before following the blond. He entered the living space and heard Naruto put the kettle on in the kitchen. The room was bare, beige walls devoid of decoration and half opened boxes littered about the place. The television was set up, a games console displayed before it. The couch looked new and stiff, a few shades darker than the walls. Sasuke wandered around the room, gazing down into the boxes, noting photographs and other odd bits.

"You're quite nosy." Naruto said, leaning against the edge of the doorway, arms crossed. Sasuke turned round to face him, a framed photo in his hand.

"This your dad?" He asked, gaze flickering back to the photo.

"Biologically? No. Might as well have been though." Naruto came over to Sasuke, taking the photo from his hands and placing it back in the box. Sasuke frowned.

"Tea? Or coffee?" Naruto asked, ignoring the other.

"Tea is fine." Sasuke stated. Naruto nodded, rolling his eyes and meandering back to the kitchen. Naruto returned a few moments later, drinks in hand.

"It's hot." Naruto said, tongue sticking out as he handed Sasuke one of the mugs, shaking his hand once the dark haired man accepted it.

"I'd hope so." Was the snide reply. Naruto turned his nose up, eyeing Sasuke.

"Bastard." Naruto put his mug down on the floor, the contents untouched. "So did you invite yourself round just to be an ass-hole or what?"

"Actually, you invited me in."

"You wanted me to, it was written all over your face. Plus you were loitering outside my front door like a lost puppy." Naruto snorted, resting back on the couch, legs wide. "Am I in trouble now?"

Sasuke felt the corners of his mouth turn upwards without permission. He leant forward to place his cup on the floor, his hair coming forward and hiding his expression. When he sat upright he was scowling slightly.

"You really are a moron." He stated, crossing his legs. Naruto spluttered.

"What the hell? I'm not a moron, you bastard."

Sasuke frowned at Naruto's choice of words, watching Naruto glare at him. Naruto glanced down, something catching his attention, his face relaxing. "Your hands shaking." He said, pointing at Sasuke's lap. Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction, hands clenching into fists to stop the tremors.

"It's nothing." He insisted, averting his gaze.

"Seriously, you should get that checked out, are you on-." Naruto leant towards Sasuke, his fingertips grazing the back of the others hand. Sasuke knocked the tanned hand away roughly. Naruto leant back, a shocked expression on his face.

"Jesus, calm the fuck down."

"Don't act so familiar." Was the snide remark. He stood up roughly, pulling his jacket around him. "Thanks for the tea." He muttered under his breath, leaving the room.

"Sasuke!" Naruto called, leaning forward on the couch. A moment later he heard his door slam, wincing at the brutality of it. He looked as Sasuke's untouched tea and pouted childishly.

"What a dick."

xxxx

Naruto sat at his couch, bowl of cereal in his lap as he flicked through the television channels. A silver spoon dangled from his lips, his corn flakes getting soggy in the bowl. He made a disgruntled noise at screen, unable to find anything interesting to watch so he finished off the cereal quickly, placing it on the sparse coffee table.

He lounged backwards, swinging his feet up just before he heard loud a few loud thumps outside in the main hallway. Naruto grabbed the remote, pressing the mute button and listening intently.

A muffled, undeniably female voice gave a loud shout followed by some more loud thumps.

With a confused look on his face Naruto pulled himself up lazily, strolling to his door to peek out, eyes squinted. He watched with growing concern, his presence not even being registered by the other.

"He's probably not in, you know." Naruto commented loudly, calling the attention of the frantic girl down the hall. She was crouched slightly, peering through Sasuke's letterbox. Her head whipped round, short pink locks flying prettily around her face. Naruto's eyes widened. "Ermm, he's normally at work around this time?" He ventured, pointing at Sasuke's door.

"He's not at work!" The woman said, turning away from him and continuing her onslaught on the wooden door.

"Well maybe he's just not home?" Naruto queried, hooking the latch on his door and wandering into the hallway. He slowly approached Sasuke's door, hands behind his head.

"He's not answering his phone, texts or calls." She muttered, eyes glassy with unshed tears. She turned to Naruto. "Are you his friend?" Her hands were placed on the door as she gazed at him.

"Not really..." Naruto sighed, scratching his head. "We've spoken a few times. He's a bit of a bastard."

"Don't talk about him like that!" She spat the words out, causing Naruto to drop his hands, an astonished look on his face.

"Ahh I'm sorry." He said sheepishly, trying to calm her down. "We've just had a couple of... run ins? He's not easy to get along with."

"Well when did you last see him? He doesn't normally bother with anyone at all." She emphasised the last word, eyes narrowed with determination at the blond. Naruto blinked at her.

"Well he came over a couple of days ago. Had a hissy fit and left after about fifteen minutes." Naruto mused. "Haven't seen him since." He finished, scratching his nose as he thought.

"Oh God, please." She redoubled her efforts, banging loudly on the door.

"What's going on?" Naruto asked, blue eyes filled with concern. He grabbed hold of her wrists, stopping her from her onslaught. She gulped back tears, eyes squeezed shut as she was spun round to face him.

"You have to help me get in there!" She said desperately, changing tactic.

"Why?" Naruto asked, forehead wrinkled with bemusement.

"I think he's taken something!" She wrenched her hands out of Naruto's grip, glaring up at him. "Okay? He could have taken something, I can't stand the thought of it! How can I help him if he's hurt himself? Or worse." She sobbed slightly, bringing her hands up to her face. Realisation dawned on Naruto, his eyes faraway as he remembered Sasuke's shaking hands and the way he reacted when he'd brought it up.

"Oh shit." He uttered the words, turning quickly to face his neighbour's door.

"Sasuke!" He shouted, hammering loudly on the door, the door shaking violently from it. "Sasuke, you bastard! Open this fucking door!" He grit his teeth, glaring wildly as he continued. Was this his fault? His heart sped up at the thought, guilt rushing through him and amping his adrenaline.

Sakura looked on bewildered, green eyes wide as the tears dried on her cheeks. No one else appeared in the corridor, the majority out at school or work. Naruto glanced behind him, moving backwards and charging at the door with his shoulder, gritting his teeth against the effort. Once, twice, the door not budging. He growled, careening forward and jolting the door causing it to open, prevented from opening fully due to the chain. Sakura yelped at the noise, jumping backwards slightly before rushing forward to peer through the gap.

"Sasuke? Sasuke!" She shouted, unable to see anything. "What now?" She demanded, Naruto already rushing down the hall in his socks.

"Hang on!" He countered, disappearing inside his apartment. Sakura waited impatiently, peering uselessly through the small opening. She bit her lip, praying in her head.

"Please be okay." She mumbled, Naruto appearing beside her.

"Bolt cutters." He explained, holding up the robust tool. He slipped the end of them over the chain, squeezing down. His arms shook with the effort just as the chain snapped, the door falling open. Sakura pushed passed him desperately and skidded down the hallway, disappearing into the living room. Naruto was close behind her, stopping at the entrance as he watched Sakura.

Sasuke was on the sofa, an arm dangled over the side. His eyes were shut as Sakura shook him by the shoulders, eliciting no response from the dark haired man. Naruto came over slowly, grabbing his phone from his pocket and beginning to dial. Sakura's head snapped up, standing and grabbing the phone from his grasp angrily.

"What're you doing?" He asked incredulously, "He needs an ambulance!"

"No!" She countered stubbornly, shoving his phone into her coat pocket. "I can help him."

"Are you crazy?! He's whacked out!" Naruto emphasised his point by poking the pale man's cheek, his head lolling to the side with no resistance. "He needs professionals!" Naruto argued hotly, arms gesticulated wildly.

"I said no! I can't do that to him." She dropped down beside him again, palm on his chest whilst she checked for a pulse with her other hand. "Look, he's breathing, he has a pulse, I can deal with this." She looked up at him stubbornly. "I've done it before." She glared before returning her gaze downwards. "Sort out the door." She demanded, "We can't have anyone wandering in here."

Xxxxx

Thanks for reading! If you're enjoying it or have any comments I'd love to hear them! I have a good idea for plot and the rest of the story line but any input/plot bunnies you guys have would be greatly received. (: