Ink Deep by enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I only use them in my plot for fun.

Pair: Harry Potter/ Neji Hyuga

2. Stepping up the pace

The first time Neji and Harry kissed was like a scene from a movie. They had been out on yet another lunch date when a sudden heavy downpour cleared the streets faster than an order from the Hokage. The nearest spot for them had been Harry's shop. The two men had stumbled inside, shivering from the cold and the dampness of their clothes. They had taken one look at each other and...

''You look like a drowned dog,'' Neji told Harry.

''You look like a drowned cat,'' Harry told Neji at the same time.

Lips quirked and the two men shared a laugh. It was then Harry realised how even more handsome Neji looked when he smiled and the shinobi noticed that he loved the sound of Harry's laugh. Then he took in the sight of Harry all wet, his clothes plastered over his body, showing some well defined muscles underneath. Neji was seldom impulsive and with the green eyed man it was an increasingly reoccurring pattern; impulsiveness. It was also how he could understand walking up to Harry taking the slim artist in his arms, and kissing him in a way he later hoped had not passed as him being desperate. But the moment he had Harry in his arms, his mouth all over his, it just felt right. And as he drew Harry closer and was drawn closer, their cool bodies sharing warmth, tongues sliding against each other, mouths firmly attached.

When they broke apart, chests heaving, mouths swollen and eyes glittering with lust.

'That was...'

'Hn.'

'Well, wow.'

Neji smirked.

'Shut up,' Harry sulked. Then he grabbed the front of Neji's clothes and they were kissing again.

Harry was working on Anko again. The kunoichi had yet to flinch at least once from the moment the needle touched her skin.

''I can barely feel it you know,'' she told him at some point.

''Feel what?'' Harry, ever the clueless guy absently muttered.

''Whatever it is you do so that ink can work with my chakra and blood.''

''Ah,'' Harry mused. ''That's a first really. And?''

''Not going to deny this?'' Anko asked him.

''I suck at lying,'' Harry told her. ''Plus you shinobi can be ruthless. I'm not about to turn on you.''

''But what is it, that thing you can do?''

Harry smiled. ''That's my secret!''

Anko glared him but then she started a conversation about dango. The subject, Harry knew, was not forgotten, merely disregarded, for now.

Ibiki was the first to see the couple, because they were one now and not simply going out on lunch dates or sweet dates (Anko had called them that once). He stumbled upon them near training ground 39. The place was a small nook of trees and flowery bushes. Yamato used it on occasion to train and as a result of his chakra control had become a prime location for couples wanting privacy. And it was a fine spot for some serious snogging in Harry's book, as long as your boss, of sorts did not catch you with your lover.

When Ibiki next saw Neji he asked him about the scene he had stumbled in.

'Harry's mine,' Neji replied.

Ibiki sighed. 'Just be careful.'

Neji nodded and donned his ANBU mask.

Harry hummed as he waited for Neji to show up. He was on his second cup of tea and he had filled his stomach with enough dango to almost make himself sick.

'Harry,' Anko came to his table, her face looking grim. At her elbow hovered some nameless Jōnin. ''Neji came back from a mission. He's in the hospital. He wanted to see you.''

The wizard felt his stomach lurch. He made it to the bathroom before he got sick. Anko followed after him, staying with him until he made himself presentable and gathered his wits. Then she led him to the hospital.

Hinata was not surprised to get called to the hospital. What shocked her was the person she was called in to help. Seeing her cousin so messed up, there was not one inch of him without blood; his or another's she had no idea. She recognized the ANBU garb. He recognized her too, barely.

'Harry,' he whispered before passing out.

Hinata vowed to get the civilian to see her cousin but she would first make sure Neji was in one piece for the meeting.

Harry had not been to a hospital since Ron's bachelor party. They had had to rush the redhead there with a case of an almost alcohol poisoning. Hermione had not been amused to hear of their little adventure but she held back until after their wedding day to speak her mind.

'Harry?'

The wizard turned at the soft voice. 'You're Neji's cousin,' he said, making the visibly exhausted medic grin.

'And you are his boyfriend and he's asked after you. He's currently asleep but I can get you in the room to see him.'

Harry smiled. 'Thank you.'

Neji was used to visitors while he stayed in the hospital. His old genin team all came to visit, Lee, Tenten and Gai all stopped by whenever they could, the males more than once, often accompanied by Naruto.

Hinata came as well, almost daily, even before she decided on a career as a medic Nin.

His uncle Hiashi had come to see him after the Chunin exams but not after that. Usually the man would wait for Neji at the house and greet the young man the moment he stepped into the Hyuga compound. Ever since Neji made Jōnin and then progressed to ANBU he had his own residence inside the compound but Hiashi never missed the chance to greet his only nephew. The Clan Head made small talk, inquired after Neji's health and without fail he would invite Neji over for dinner or lunch, whatever meal was closest for the day.

Neji had never before had a person of romantic interest visit him (fan girls did not count) before Harry. Now, seeing the man dozing with his head on Neji's hospital bed, the Jōnin smiled and vowed to get better soon so that the green eyed man would stop worrying.

Neji was out of the hospital after a week in that place. Every day without fail Harry would stay at his side for as long as he could. Hinata was a big help, turning a blind eye for a number of things. And every day without fail Harry would bring along a different variety of tea and whenever Hinata would declare a wound healed Harry would have a paste ready. It was the only time he ended up in a hospital and had no scars to prove it.

Neji was going home that day. Hinata had cleared him and he was ready to get out of the hospital.

''Harry is on his way,'' Hinata told him after the patented 'You should take it easy for a couple of days' speech.

Neji was startled. ''He is?''

''I invited him to lunch,'' the Hyuga heiress replied. ''And he promised to keep an eye on you so you do not run off to train the moment my back is turned,'' she smugly added. Neji was left speechless.

Harry was uncertain about what he was getting himself into when gentle, sweet Hinata invited him over for lunch to thank him for being there for Neji. He had insisted he had done it because he wanted to but in the end she turned those eyes of hers, so similar to Neji's, on him and his excuses were lost.

Now, standing in front of the gates that led to the Hyuga compound he had the urge to flee. Yet at the slightest change in Neji's breathing he turned. The stubborn man had insisted he was fine walking on his own. Harry had let him but he had been there every time his breathing got short or he wanted a break. Harry pretended being interested in various stands all the while, earning himself fond looks from the stoic ninja who finally allowed himself to sag against the wall of his family's home.

''Just knock on the door Harry.''

The artist blinked. ''Are you certain? Your family...''

''Are ninja and they probably know I'm gay and who you are. Hinata herself invited you...''

''You were almost going to add the 'sama' weren't you?'' Hinata had been trying to make Neji act less formal and more like a family and had even taken to threatening him to get what she wanted. While Neji was at the hospital she had been around Harry and she had liked the green eyed man, drawing him into conversation and forming a tentative friendship with him.

Neji knocked on the door himself and they opened. Harry braced himself.

Hiashi greeted his nephew like he always did. He was a man raised to be a Clan Head. The deaths of his wife and his brother so close together had made him a harder man and the two people who had suffered most were his eldest daughter Hinata and his nephew Neji. He had never apologized for his actions with words; never had and he likely never would. But he had changed his behaviour and actions towards his close family. The more frequent get togethers, the research for the removal of the 'Cursed Bird Seal' from Neji and the rest of the branch members, the retirement of the majority of the old members of the Hyuga Clan Council; those had been tokens to show his attitude had changed. They were received well from Hinata. Neji on the other hand had accepted them silently and obediently as they were of no consequence to him and Hiashi feared it might have been too late to mend that bridge. Those failed match making attempts had been a plan of the Elders (they got booted shortly after) and his daughter had marched up to him, Hiashi, and demanded they stopped. Now, if the rumours were true, Hiashi had a reason other than Neji's dislike for the brides to be to account for the failed matches.

Hiashi met the young man in question and he could readily see why Neji had paid him attention in the first place. He was a handsome man, with uniquely coloured eyes, a constant smile on him and an air of serenity. His personality was probably another. He stood by Neji, not hovering and fussing over him, seemingly realizing Neji's wish to maintain his pride. He was also dressed in quality clothes and if Hiashi's expert eye was correct, they also had a crest on them. Hiashi would focus on that later. For now...

''Welcome home, Neji.''

''Thank you uncle,'' the Jōnin replied.

''Introduce your companion,'' Hiashi prompted.

Neji nodded. ''Uncle, Potter Harry, my significant other. Harry, my Clan Head and uncle, Hyuga Hiashi.''

Harry smiled and offered a short bow towards the older man. ''Thank you for having me in your home.''

Dinner was in three hours and Harry got a short, very short tour of the compound.

''Trees, houses, main house, more trees, training grounds, trees,'' Neji said in a dead pan voice.

''Aren't you a bucket of sunshine,'' Harry muttered. They had stood on a porch and Neji just pointed to each direction. Harry, who did not have 360 degrees of vision, was left staring at a wall.

''My quarters are this way,'' Neji followed and he went back inside.

Harry blinked.

Neji's quarters were part of the main house, separated only by a small garden from it. They consisted of five bedrooms, two common rooms, a bathroom and two separate loos. There was a kitchen and pantry as well, and a first floor on top.

''I do not use it,'' Neji had replied.

''That's a lot of room,'' Harry observed.

''I'm an only son and an orphan. Shinobi don't tend to live long.''

Harry shot him a glare. ''I really need to teach you how to sugar coat things.''

Neji's lips twitched.

Harry looked around. The main sitting room was plain, like some Japanese houses he had seen on the telly while growing up. There were paintings of calligraphy, a couple of bonsai trees and a few sitting mats around a square table. It was like Neji in a way.

''Say, which way is your bedroom?'' he asked looking around.

Neji smirked. ''Follow me.''

Harry's back met the soft mat the moment the door closed behind them. Neji effortlessly slid on top of him, kissing the green eyed man senseless. Harry's toes curled as the kiss continued, demanding and sweet. Apart from a couple of stolen kisses they had not kissed each other for far too long.

''Neji,'' Harry panted.

''I want you,'' Neji told him.

Harry opened his mouth but Neji cut him off. '

''I know what I want,'' the white eyed man told him. ''I don't have many regrets in my life, just the one. You are not going to be number two. We like each other...''

''...a lot.''

''...more than a lot. Why wait? Why lose time we can spend together? I want you Harry. All of you.''

''That better not be because of the brush you had with death,'' Harry softly exhaled.

''It was not the first and it will not be the last,'' Neji told him. ''I simply thought about a few things.''

Harry smiled up at him. He reached with his right hand to pull Neji down for a long wet kiss while his left hand was busy unfastening Neji's upper top and then the belt of his pants. Slowly but surely Harry asserted control. He soon had Neji completely nude and their positions reversed. The long haired man was laid out on the mattress, his hair fanning out around him. Harry was crouched over his lower body, his mouth closed around the ninja's hardened member, slowly bringing him pleasure and ignoring Neji's attempts to make him go faster. The shinobi had his eyes scrunched shut, a rosy flush over his nicely tanned body.

''Ha-Harry...you tease,'' Neji complained. He tried to arch his hips but the artist pulled away, leaving him bereft of attention. The swollen head twitched a bit as the air of the room was much cooler than Harry's mouth.

''Remember what the good medic Nin said?'' Harry teased. ''Better not strain yourself, just let me do the work, hm?'' and he was back to stroking him, using his tongue to lick a trail along Neji's length. The shinobi groaned and surrendered himself to his fate.

Hiashi looked at the clock. His nephew and his guest had been gone for a while now. Dinner would be served in about an hour. He wondered whether Neji was much more tired than he had thought or perhaps worse of. Should he have stayed at the hospital? Hiashi decided to check on Neji. He stood from his desk and left his study.

Neji was mindless with pleasure. Harry had had to threaten him to keep his eyes open while the shinobi was treated to the sight of Harry slowly stripping out of his clothes, inch after inch all of Harry's toned body was revealed and Neji was itching to touch and explore him.

''Not today,'' Harry told him as he crawled over Neji to drop a kiss on the mans lips. ''Do you have any oil or...''

''Closet, to your left.''

Harry kissed him again, a much harder kiss, and stood to get what he needed. Not half a minute later and he was back, his hands all over Neji again.

''I want you to help me here,'' Harry told him in a serious voice. ''If you feel any strain on your wounds...''

''Just finish this,'' Neji told him. ''This is the worst torture.''

Harry smiled. ''Just remember, everything I do to you; you can pay me back at a later date.''

Neji groaned at this. The future promise of more was just too much. He was overly sensitive as it was, with Harry teasing him for nearly half an hour, bringing him before completion and then denying him. Neji's whole body was aching for release and the dull, distant ache of his almost completely healed wounds was the last thing he cared about.

''Just... Please,'' he gasped out.

Harry hummed in agreement.

''Just so you know,'' Neji warned him. ''I don't think I can make it last.''

''Good, that makes two of us,'' Harry told the long haired man.

Hiashi paused outside Neji's house. He had never really bothered to knock before entering the residence but this time he had the niggling thought he ought to start now. He ignored it and entered. There was no one in the sitting room but he could sense his nephew's chakra signature in the direction of the bedroom. He was halfway there when his hearing picked up the noise. It was not very loud so he did not recognize it immediately. He was a couple of feet away from the bedroom door when the sounds became clearer, as did the activity responsible for them. Hiashi, ever grateful he had not activated his Kekkei genkai, retreated as fast as he was able to, his face heated.

Harry's face was strained. He was so damn close. He kept thrusting inside Neji, his movement purposely slow and drawn out. The man under him was moving along with him, arms wrapped around Harry's neck, legs over Harry's shoulders. His impeccable control had long been shattered and he lost himself to the pleasure, demanding more. And he got it.

Afterwards, for a while none of them moved.

''Harry?''

''Hm...?''

''I hope you realize that this calls for payback.''

Harry mumbled something unintelligible, before pulling out of Neji and rolling to rest on his back.

''Are you conscious?'' Neji tried.

Harry pulled Neji over his chest. He kissed Neji's sweaty forehead before mumbling softly, ''Can we stay like this for a while?''

Neji wished they did. He could use a nap. And another round with Harry. ''Dinner,'' he reminded his lover.

Harry groaned. ''I hate you.''

''You can test my oral skills while we wash a bit. We are not exactly presentable,'' Neji commented.

''As far as bribes go, I'm sold,'' Harry sighed before giving Neji a peck on the lips and standing.

Neji glanced up, enjoying the view.

''Which way to the bath?'' Harry asked.

''I've got a private one connected to the room,'' Neji then pointed at the appropriate door and ogled at Harry's backside as the green eyed man set towards that direction.

With a soft sigh and a small wince of discomfort Neji stood to join his lover, willing his activated Kekkei genkai to stop. Harry had really shot all his control to hell and it was a process Neji enjoyed immensely.

Hinata had been exhausted when she finished her shift at the hospital. Her father and sister were seated at the table. The food had not been served yet.

''Father, sister, I'm home.''

Hanabi muttered a 'Welcome home'. Her father nodded.

''Neji and Harry?'' Hinata asked, looking around.

Hiashi's face turned a nice cherry red, making both his daughters stare. The man cleared his throat and refused to look them in the eyes.

''Your cousin... He's showing Harry... Around. Yes, a tour.''

Hinata blinked. There was something more there but she just shrugged and went to clean up.

Neji and Harry showed up ten minutes later looking quite perky and at the same time worn out. Whatever doubts Hinata had, they all cleared up.

For the rest of the night the dinner was a mix of casual and formal. Hiashi addressed everyone around the table but he avoided looking at his nephew and Harry in the face.

At last, after Harry had bid them goodnight, Hinata leaned in to whisper at her cousin.

''I thought I said no strenuous activity,'' Hinata commented.

Neji smirked. ''You also suggested a pleasurable environment and peace of mind.''

''You are incorrigible. I like it,'' the kunoichi remarked.

''Goodnight Hinata.''

''Goodnight Neji.''

End of chapter