The Konoha AUs- The Konoha Gymnasium
Extra for Takara's Birthday (Part 4)
750 words
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Or Itachi really, as there isn't much actual Naruto stuff here.
Finally the massage I promised. But not as much fluff as I thought I'd write. I might add another section later that's an alternate version of this chapter, where the fluffier, slightly sex bit I intended actually happens. This got derided by something akin to plot and angst. But I tried to get it back to fluff at the end.
"Are you?" She responds with a sleepy smile, turning her head to look at him. He pulls his boxers back on, but leaves the rest of his clothes off.
"It depends; do you have lotion of some kind?"
"Look on the dressers," Takara sighs. He finds two bottles and sniffs them. One smells like citrus and he quickly sets that one down. The next one smells like chocolate and he takes that one, setting it down in easy reach as he straddles her hips.
He starts slowly, easing his hands up and over her back, wide and gentle strokes. Takara sighs, and moans when he starts to focus on her shoulders and the knots there. He might not have the training to do this properly (he briefly wonders what it would take to learn- it could be useful) but he's read enough that he should be able to get her to relax.
He's slow and works his way down, every so often asking her for feedback, if she wants more or if he should back off. She responds sleepily, but never asks him to stop and her the happy sounds she makes encourage him to keep it up.
Until he gets to her lower back and tries to massage the muscles there, when she flinches away from his touch.
"Takara?" He pulls his hands back, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it just aches," she seems a little more awake. He shifts so he's no longer straddling her and encourages her to flip over.
"How long has your back been bugging you?"
"It's fine," she shakes her head. It doesn't stop him from worrying.
"Takara," he begs with his eyes for her to tell him the truth. She looks away.
"A couple months," she admits, "mostly my lower back if I practice too hard." So, always.
"You haven't told anyone."
"I don't want them to pull me," she whispers. He moves to hold her and she leans against him. He understands her fear all too well.
"The minute you're done competing, you speak up," he orders. He wants to drag her to see her coach now, to get someone to check her over now, before she hurts herself worse, but if he tries, he knows she'll pull away. As much as he wants to get her to promise to tell someone if it gets worse, he doesn't.
"Okay," she agrees. He wonders how much pain she's really in.
"What do you need from me?"
"Can you go back to what you were doing? Just maybe a little gentler?"
"Of course," he nods and she moves to stretch back out. He puts his fingers on the two muscles that work to keep her up right and begins rubbing circles with his thumbs, careful to keep his touch gentle and work up to more intense pressure.
By the time he's done with her back though, he can feel the difference. When he'd hugged her right after her meet, she'd been tense. Now however, with the warm bath and massage done, she's finally relaxed.
"You want me to do your legs?" He asks, sitting back.
"Mmm kay," she accepts.
By the time he's finished, she's entirely pliant and barely awake. Itachi pulls away gently, wiping his hands on the towel. He puts the bottle back where he found it, and returns to the bed, prodding his girlfriend.
"Kara," he rumbles, drawing her attention. He knows she wants to sleep, but he needs her to do one thing first.
"Wha?"
"Clothes. Your roommate would probably appreciate you wearing them."
"Mweh," is the response he gets and Itachi laughs. He checks the drawers and finds a pair of underwear and a large t-shirt. He drops them on her head. She reaches out to smack him lightly as she sits up and pulls both garments on. She pushes the towel off the bed and makes her way under the covers. He sits next to her and she shifts to lay her head next to his leg.
"Get some sleep," he tells his girlfriend.
"Thanks."
"Any time," he promises, running his fingers against her scalp. She makes a happy sound and hugs his leg. He chuckles and wonders what she would do if he bought her one of the teddy bears with the Olympic rings on it.
It isn't long until she's asleep and he can extract himself, leaving Takara curled into her pillow. Once free, he dresses quietly and leaves, whispering, "Sweet dreams, Takara. I'm proud of you."
