Title :: Drinking
Pairings/Characters :: Sarutobi Asuma x Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji
Theme :: #92 - Chamomile/"Patience"
Rating :: T
Disclaimer :: Don't own any of it.
Comments :: Sucky title, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Thank you for the lovely reviews, and I shall continue to update when I can. =)
Drinking
Theme #92: Chamomile - "Patience"
by
Se-chan
"C'mon! How much do you wanna bet?"
Ino, half standing, palms face-down against the tabletop where she had slammed them moments before, challenged him from across the table. Her face was flushed, eyes alight with pompous outrage. "Well? How much?"
"I think you may have had one too many, Ino." Asuma said, shooting a half glance at Chouji and Shikamaru, both snoozing on the couch. More like several too many.
"Don't make excuses! You don't think I could take her, but I know I can. Name your price!"
"Ino." Asuma sighed, making a calming gesture as the decibels again began to rise. The way her mouth opened in almost comical indignity was admittedly quite cute, but his head was hurting and it was getting late. Thankfully, with a look of utmost scorn she relented, closing her mouth to pout furiously. This was an expression that only Ino could pull off. She scowled at him angrily, her perfectly pink bottom lip stuck out in petulance. Combined with her flushed cheeks and bright-eyed indignation, the overall effect was absolutely adorable.
Asuma mentally slapped himself. Forget Ino: what he really needed to go to bed and sleep off the past four hours of drinking and it's resulting insanity. He stood, suppressing the urge to yawn, and instead navigated around the table to his sulking ex-pupil.
"Come on, Ino. You know I have absolute confidence in your abilities, but right now I think it's time to get some rest."
"I am perfectly capable of getting up on my own, thank you!" she said derisively, shaking him off and taking a pointed step forwards, whereupon she promptly fell into him. "I'm fine," she said with an admirable attempt at dignity, "just getting my bearings."
Chuckling, he lead her past her sleeping teammates and across the room. "You can have my bed. I'll sleep on the other couch" he said, indicating to the futon in the room beyond. Shikamaru let out a large snore, causing Ino to grimace.
"If you can. He's louder than Ton-Ton in heat."
Asuma blinked, trying to digest this new analogy. On second thoughts, he didn't think he really wanted to. Ino, however, was looking up at him, a curious expression in her lapis eyes.
"So," she said, lips curling into a luscious smile, "You have absolute confidence in my 'abilities', do you?" She trailed a finger seductively up his chest, bringing her hand up to rest on his shoulder and moving closer.
"Ino-" he began warningly, only to be cut off by her lips.
He stood stock still, mind momentarily wiped with shock. He was acutely aware of how soft her mouth was against his, how gentle her fingers were in his hair, how delicious her body felt against his own. She tasted of apples.
Coming to himself, he firmly but gently pulled her off. "Ino", he said, for what felt like the millionth time since the night began, but this time his voice was laced with exhaustion and... something else he didn't want to admit to himself. He held her at arm's length and gave her a little shake. "Look at me."
She did, and his heart ached at the hurt in her eyes. "Ino, you're drunk. You need to get some rest, and everything will feel better in the morning."
She stared at him for a long moment, and then sighed, her eyes half closing as her body relaxed in his hands. He got her into bed and tucked the blankets in around her. She was already asleep.
He looked at her, wishing with all his heart that he could take her up on her offer. But she was drunk, and she should be sober, and she was young, and he was old, and she was his ex-student, and he was her ex-teacher. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead gently.
Maybe one day, he thought to himself as he closed the door behind him. Once she'd matured perhaps a little more. He could, after all, be patient.
END