You Wear Insanity Well
Rated: M for mature content and mostly language
Disclaimer: If I owned anything here…well than I probably wouldn't be here…
Summary: "I wouldn't ask this from you unless it was an emergency. Mind you, I still hate you, you bastard, but this isn't about me. Just help me please? Help me save my baby."
Note: I was dead for the last three weeks, but now that it is spring break, I'll try to update more diligently! Thanks guys for holding out and reviewing. This one is for you :)
Note2: Three is the magic number :D
07: Beast You've Made of Me
(I've held it in, but now it seems you've set it running free)
George Bush Center for Intelligence
Langley, Virginia, United States
10:49 UTC
"Reputation be damned Hyuuga, you getter get out of my office now." Anko spat, her brown eyes blazing.
Neji stared her down, his own eyes icy in comparison. "What aren't you telling me about the ITP?" Neji asked. His voice was cool and crisp, every bit as professional as Anko's was angry.
Anko retracted at his question, the fire in her eyes simmering. When she looked back to Neji, her gaze was almost exasperated…and sorry. "Hyuuga…I told-"
"You know something." Neji said, cutting her off. "And I need to know. No more games."
Anko glanced away, sighing. Her short ponytail flopped sadly behind her. When she turned back to Neji, her eyes were set. "Let's take a walk." She suggested.
Rome, Italy
22:47 UTC
He remembered him now. It had been a nice affair, he supposed – Anna's baptism – it wasn't really his thing. Kakashi hadn't paid too much attention that day; perhaps he had been a bit too involved with Make Out Paradise.
Perhaps it had been for a reason.
That also could have been the reason why the elderly lady across the aisle from his; a thick cross hanging from her neck, kept casting him dirty looks. It didn't bother him – Kakashi wasn't all that religious anyway. No, not anymore.
"You silly child, His Lord Jesus Christ would never take me away from you."
"Forgive me, My Lord, for I am about to sin…"
He did remember how happy Asuma looked though, they way he kept casting Kurenai these furtive glances, pride and joy radiating from his face, as if he thought no one could see him doing so. Kakashi saw him. Asuma was so happy, in fact, that a cigarette did not grace his lips the entire day. On the other hand, Kakashi had snuck up twice to receive the blessing of wine and a wafer.
But he did remember him – the boy – Shikamaru Nara. He was confused by the sight of him at first –he was much younger than Asuma and he seemed bored – more lethargic than he thought anyone participating in the baptism should have been. He was a scrawny youth, by Kakashi's standards. His pants and shirt a bit too baggy and out of place on him, his posture slouched, the way the fingers on his right hand kept itching toward his pocket, as if he wanted to grab something. But Kakashi hadn't asked questions, hadn't asked why his friend Asuma had chosen this boy to be Anna's Godfather instead of him. He really didn't mind. He had turned away from the boy then, the image of the cross behind him burning, searing his memory…
Kakashi lifted himself from the couch and padded across his small apartment toward the kitchen for a drink. His television, softly blaring some sort of Italian soap opera; provided the only source of ambient light as Kakashi groped around in the dark to find the bottle of vodka he had last laid out. Sighing, Kakashi's nimble fingers pulled out the first cup he could grab from the sink and poured the clear liquor in. Kakashi wasn't much of a drinker, sure he went out for a beer every now and then with friends, but he hardly ever did it on his own.
This was the second bottle of vodka he had gone through in practically three weeks. He heard as the last drops of liquid splashed in his cup before spinning to his left and deftly tossing the empty bottle in the open trash can. He heard the satisfying crash and the tinkle of the broken bottle. Stepping out of his kitchen, Kakashi shuffled back to the living room, softly setting his cup down – which he found had been a coffee mug with a giant scarecrow face molded onto it (perfect) – and turned up the volume of the TV before kicking his stocking feet up on the spotless coffee table. The TV continued to blare, providing the only source of entertainment in Kakashi's bare apartment.
Everyone around me dies.
The quiet, nasty little thought probed through Kakashi's head and lingered there, almost as if it wanted Kakashi to suffer. Almost violently reaching out for the mug, Kakashi took a giant swig of vodka, not even noticing how it burned a trail down his throat. He was far too used to it by now.
He forced his thoughts back to Anna and Shikamaru, mulling over their situation in his mind.
It was a much healthier thing to do.
Should Shikamaru join the custody battle – and it was within his full rights to do so – Kakashi almost hoped that he would be granted care of Anna. Kakashi had become rather adept at reading people as the years seemed to roll past him. There was just something about the young Nara kid. Sure he had a rather gruff and lazy exterior, but inside, Kakashi could tell that he was kind and had the best intentions at heart. He didn't know Kurenai's parents all that well, and he knew that President Hiruzen could do without another grandchild suddenly popping up in his care, considering his advanced years and the fact that raising children was probably not the older man's forte; his wife having died years before.
"Here's to you, Shikamaru." Said Kakashi quietly, holding up his glass. "Proving that maybe children can make one's life better…"
Tangier, Morocco
01:17 UTC
The air was stifling in their small cramped room, despite the fall season rapidly descending upon them. Green eyes, muted in the darkness, slowly drifted over to the small shabby window. She could almost feel the welcoming breeze that would drift through the opened window panes. Gingerly peeling back the thin sheet covering her, she shifted her weight, wincing upon hearing the bed creak. Her breath caught as the smooth tranquil sound of deep breathing suddenly stopped. She froze, the muscles in her stomach tense, her legs caught in an awkward position mid air. She turned her head softly, hair rustling against the pillows.
His back was tense and rigid; she could see the muscles in his back and neck coiling, like he was ready to spring and pounce. She held her breath, watching as rivets of sweat rolled down his skin, only to dissipate in the white sheets below. Slowly, she extended her slender hand toward him and placed it lightly on his back, letting the pressure reside only in her fingertips. His skin was hot beneath her hand, as if he were burning up with fever. She bit her lip, feeling that it was dry and cracked beneath her teeth. It seemed like eternity, but slowly, the deep breathing resumed, his muscles slowly melting under her hand. She waited a few more moments, her hand on his heated back before pulling away.
Lowering her leg, she slowly and carefully resettled back into her old position, but kept her eyes dutifully on him. He was hiding something from her; it was evident in the way his eyes, usually so clear and blue became clouded and misty whenever he looked at her. They were troubled, as if every time he looked at her, he was imagining something horrible. Usually, his posture was relaxed and carefree, yet as of late, the muscles in his neck and shoulders were rigid as if he were holding them together. His sleeping patterns were often erratic as of late as well, when he normally slept like a baby. She acted like she didn't notice, and perhaps he was naïve enough to believe she didn't.
The stifling heat in the room and the thought of opening the window was all but forgotten as Sakura stared at Naruto's back until she was positive she would burn a hole through his skin. Marcus' words echoed in Sakura's head and her lips pulled into a grimace. She should have just asked him what was wrong, but like a coward, she kept her mouth shut.
Why?
She was afraid, the little nagging voice in the back of her mind told her. Afraid of what Naruto would say to her. Naruto was more than apt at keeping secrets; he had been doing it for most of his life and Sakura was worried that he was lapsing into his old habits again. Sometimes, Naruto's secrets had the habit of being more than destructive.
"Why can't you share your burdens with me?" She murmured, the words escaping lightly from her lips.
Naruto's response was a loud yet comforting snore, his back heaving with the effort.
A light smile graced Sakura's lips and she shut her eyes, shaking her head. Leaning over, she placed a kiss on his back, as light at a whisper before rolling over and shutting her eyes.
Langley, Virginia, United States
11:08 UTC
"It's beyond both of us."
Anko's voice broke through the reserved silence that had accompanied her and Neji ever since they had left the building. Geese squawked in the background and a cool breeze passed between them as they walked silently through the park.
"How deep?" Neji asked.
"I don't know how deep it goes." Anko muttered. "You were supposed to stay safe and blissfully ignorant in France. No one expected you to bring the whole system down." Her tone was rather accusatory, as if she were a mother reprimanding her child, but Neji paid no attention to any of this.
"What are we covering up?"
"They could have had you, you know, back in May. But you were the hero. The children brought in a nice personal interest aspect, they couldn't bring you down after that." Anko said, seemingly ignoring Neji's question as she talked. Her eyes shifted toward the sky, which happened to be a brilliant blue before looking back at Neji. Her eyes were dark. Worried maybe? Angry? Guilty? "You're lucky they could pass the whole thing off as the whim of a mad man. You should have left it alone." Her tone was dark.
"Not when I was that close." Neji snapped. Suddenly, something very dark just occurred to him. His hands clenched together in his pockets. "You were responsible for Paris weren't you?"
Anko stopped, a hand combing through her short hair and Neji stopped along with her. His breath was coming out in short angry puffs in the cold air. She looked over at him and Neji supposed that her eyes were trying to convey some sort of sympathy for him, for his situation. His teeth ground together in anger. He didn't want her sympathy, her pity. "Not me. But you must have known." Anko said softly.
Neji bristled at her statement and he pursed his lips. He must have known. Of course he had known – he had suspected and he would have been an idiot not to, especially when the claims were that he did something he knew he didn't, but what was the good of that if he was powerless to stop it? "Why?"He spat, the word coming out much coarser that he wanted it to.
"You were two weeks into the case." Said Anko. "No one expected the rookie to get in that deep. Even Interpol pulled out years ago…"
"You ruined my life." Neji ground out. It was an ugly little truth that he didn't very much like to admit, but there it was. He wouldn't just let Anko drop the situation like his father and uncle dropped him.
"I thought you liked Paris." Anko said.
"It's beside the point." Neji snapped, taking a step toward her. "My father and uncle refuse to talk to me. My own mother can only deign to call me every two months." His voice sounded harsh and cold, despite the emotional content of his words. He let out an angry breath, fixing Anko with a hardened stare."I can't even bring Ten Ten around anymore because the whole office stares at her like she's some goddamn whore!"
Anko pursed her lips for a moment and for a brief second, she did look truly sorry for him. Then she sighed and shook her head and the look disappeared. "You'll be responsible for running it again if you don't stop. Remember that Hyuuga." She said, before turning and walking away, leaving Neji alone in the park.
Rome, Italy
20:13 UTC
Hinata sat cross-legged on her bed, the white sheets rumpling around her. A light smile on her face, she tucked a loose strand of long dark hair behind her ear as a well manicured hand stoked the picture before her. Sitting on her lap was a rather thick, yet elegantly designed photo album. Turning her head slightly toward the bed side table, the LED display showed that it was past eight at night. Sighing softly, Hinata's pearly eyes glanced toward her cell phone, sitting on the sheets beside her. No phone calls.
She turned back toward the photo album, trying once again to immerse herself in the photos and memories once again. Her father looked so handsome, his dark hair pulled back and his arm around Hinata, pulling his eldest daughter close to him. Hinata loved how his eyes were glowing with love and pride. And then Hanabi, in the next picture, her hair elegantly cascading around her face in gentle waves. Hanabi always was more beautiful than Hinata, even as she stood next to Hinata almost a whole head taller.
Hinata browsed through more photos, fond memories being rekindled in her brain. Everyone looked so beautiful, so happy that Hinata became truly touched. Hinata stopped, her hand settling on one photo. Her breath caught in her throat and a loving smile crossed her face. This had to have been her most favorite photo out of all of them. It was rather unconventional, what she had proposed to do, and Sasuke had refused at first – until Hinata had shoved the piece of cake in his face. Hinata was standing there in the picture, a good natured smile on her face while Sasuke ducked away from her, cake smeared over his mouth and nose.
It was the most beautiful she had ever seen him, with his eyes closed, dark hair swinging in front of his face with one of the most unbound smiles she had ever seen him with. She remembered his laughter, deep and just simply happy.
Casting one last look at the picture, Hinata flipped the page. She used to be afraid of Sasuke back then, the way he could command the attention of an entire of room – no matter its occupants with just one look from his coal black eyes. She hadn't been interested in Sasuke Uchiha back then. He was just like any other boy from a very affluent rich family and she had seen enough of those – there were plenty to go around in her own family. He had a legion of women worshipers – a fan club, if you will – which became an obvious deterrent. She only spoke to him a few times – he swore often – another deterrent.
Then he had left, gone to the States. It was a rather embarrassing time for Sasuke and not one that was discussed often. Life had gone on, predictably as always. Truth be told, Hinata hardly noticed the absence of the youngest Uchiha. When he returned, however, Hinata wondered how she had ever ignored his presence. Something about him had changed; others could only grasp at it, never fully realizing what it was. Kakashi, in the days after Sasuke returning wore a subtle smirk on his face, only hidden because of his irritating mask.
"The prodigal Uchiha returns! Drinks on me tonight!" The loud shout, coupled with the rambunctious round of applause and yells that followed startled Hinata from her lunch of cheese and broccoli. She looked up to see Guy, a wide grin on his tanned face with a muscled arm around Sasuke's shoulders. Instead of the scowl that Hinata would have pictured on Sasuke's face during such a situation, his lips were pulled into a light and good natured smirk. She remembered furrowing her thin eyebrows, trying to make sense of the fact that not only had Guy offered to pay for drinks for the whole office, considering he didn't consume anything that might make his "youthful appearance diminish" but also the fact that Sasuke seemed…different.
Hinata hadn't planned on going – drinking wasn't really her thing – but Kiba had ended up dragging her along anyway, not because he even liked Sasuke or enjoyed his presence, but Kiba was never one to pass up a good time. She had gone, and in-between dodging her drunken co-workers – including Kiba; Guy having long ago stopped paying for drinks and trying to find some place quiet, Hinata found herself next to the once thought of formidable Uchiha.
"Hyuuga." He said, his black eyes shifting over to her. Was that disdain in his voice?
"S-Sasuke." She stuttered, her fingers suddenly twitching erratically. What was wrong with her? "W-We've never b-been prop-perly i-introduced…" God, why weren't those three years of speech therapy classes doing her any justice?
He snorted, turning away and Hinata jumped at the harsh sound. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Your family's company has been the Uchiha's rivals for ages now. I think I know enough about you to constitute an introduction." He replied, taking a sip of his drink.
Hinata felt her cheeks turn hot and she quickly turned away, subconsciously trying to hide her face from him. Why was her self confidence – the confidence that she had worked so hard to build in the years since joining Interpol –crumbling into dust after just speaking with Sasuke Uchiha for a few seconds? "H-How was A-America?" She asked, the insufferable silence bearing to much weight for Hinata to take any longer. She risked looking at him then, even if it was only out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be staring straight ahead.
"Perfect." She thought she heard him whisper, but she couldn't be sure, over the loud noises in the bar.
"A good break," He replied nonchalantly, "But it ended much too soon."
The change was quite baffling to Hinata and to make matters even more complex, she was baffled that she was even baffled by the change in Sasuke Uchiha. She began to see more of him, and not just in the casual, faraway glances that used compose their relationship, but with actual words that Sasuke deigned to speak to her. Of course, she still could not manage a sentence to him with out stuttering, which frustrated her to no end, but she found that their conversations, as short and dismal as they may have been; they were actually quite…nice.
"Don't fuck with me Hatake!" Sasuke's snarl had ripped through the room, sending a long suppressed chill through Hinata that she thought she had gotten rid of. Suppressing a surprised squeak, Hinata stopped short of the closed door she was passing, and with wide doe-like eyes, peered in through the glass pane adjacent to the door.
Sasuke stood with his back to her, although Hinata could tell by the way his hands were balled into fists, rigid by his sides, and the way that his shoulders were squared tensely that he was angry. Kakashi stood across a table from him, hands casually in the pockets of his pants. Although his posture was loose and casual, his face was stern and unforgiving.
"I said to drop it, Uchiha."
Hinata backed away from the door, hands trembling.
"Don't give me that fucking bullshit! I've spent five years on this case; you cannot just drop me from it!"
It was a good thing the office was practically empty considering the late hour, otherwise other co-workers would undoubtedly be swarming around the door – much like Hinata was doing now. Red stained her cheeks as she suddenly felt intrusive and embarrassed by her actions. Yet she stayed beside the door, for reasons that she could not fathom. Sasuke's voice – while riddled with expletives – was obviously angry, yet there was something else hidden there as well. No doubt anyone else would have glossed over the subtle hint of emotion hidden in Sasuke's angry voice, but to Hinata, it was painfully, yet wondrously obvious. Perhaps because she grew up in a household where wearing your heart on your sleeve got you both punished and ridiculed, but maybe it was also because she often spoke with such emotion in her own voice, often enough that she was able to detect the small hint of it in Sasuke's own.
He was desperate, she realized with wonder. Despite being angry and obscene and overall furious with his superior, it also seemed like he was desperately clinging to something that he just could not, would not let go. And that coming from an Uchiha, any Uchiha let alone Sasuke was quite incredible to Hinata.
"I thought that when you took your…break, you understood the terms under which I was dismissing you." Kakashi's voice was calm in the face of Sasuke's explosive temperament.
"I agreed to go, despite your misgivings. Never once did you mention you were kicking me off the case!"
Hinata backpeddled in her mind, trying to recall which case Sasuke was so wound up over. It had to have been the Kyuubi case – it was single handedly one of the biggest profile cases that Interpol was handling to date…and also one that Sasuke inadvertently became the public face of.
"I thought that it would have been obvious…considering the events leading up to my decision."
"You fucking bastard. You have no right to do this to me. After everything that I've done for you, all the time and effort spent…five fucking years, you CANNOT do this! I need to sol – "
"You're an embarrassment."
Hinata reeled back and inwardly flinched at the change in Kakashi's tone. No longer was it calm and placating, instead it had turned harsh and even a tad irritated. Shivering, Hinata pulled way from the wall she had plastered herself to. She didn't want to hear anymore. Somehow, she just couldn't bear it.
Shrinking back toward her desk, Hinata bit her lip before quickly ducking her head as she heard the door slam open and closed before Sasuke's footsteps echoed away from her desk. She didn't look back up until she was sure that he had gone and her cheeks were done burning a fiery red. She was embarrassed, incredibly so for eavesdropping into a conversation that clearly was not meant for others to overhear. But perhaps more than being embarrassed, she was just confused. Confused between the image of Sasuke that she had held in her mind for so long, to the image that the past week had just started to contradict.
Before she realized that her fingers were moving of their own accord, she saw that she had used her security clearance to access the Kyuubi files. Before her conscious could catch up with her and remind her of the implications of her actions, she quickly printed the files out and shoved them into a spare manila folder before gathering her belonging and heading out to her car as fast as her feet could carry her.
The drive to the Uchiha estate hadn't been particularly hard, nor had it been that hard to find considering she had been there once or twice before. As she walked up the large concrete steps, Hinata's palms suddenly started to sweat and the folder nearly slipped from her fingers twice. What if Sasuke wasn't even staying with his parents while he was in town? As she hesitantly approached the door and gave it a quick rap with her knuckles, Hinata realized with a start that she would have to admit to Sasuke that she had been eavesdropping. Her hands started to tremble as she pictured Sasuke's response. No doubt he would explode, his reaction being similar to his response to Kakashi earlier in the evening.
Before Hinata could give it another thought, the door swung open, bathing Hinata in a dim, warm light. An elderly maid, her hair pulled back into a severe bun looked at Hinata expectantly.
"Miss, can I help you with something?"
"S-Si…" Hinata stammered, her cheeks turning pink again. "I-Is S-Sasuke Uchiha t-there?" God, with all the stuttering she was doing already, she wasn't off to a good start.
"One moment, please." The maid said, giving her a polite smile before turning away and disappearing into the house.
Tucking the folder between her legs, Hinata quickly clamped her cold and sweaty hands to her cheeks in effort make the blush from her cheeks disappear. Suddenly, she heard urgent and demanding footsteps pounding across the marble floor followed by the slight clacking of heels. With a squeak, Hinata pulled her hands away from her cheeks and bent to retrieve the folder from between her legs, which unceremoniously fell, scattering papers across the porch. With a gasp, Hinata quickly bent to retrieve them, hands shaking.
"Hyuuga?"
Hinata glanced up, straight into the cold and unsuspecting eyes of Sasuke Uchiha. Her cheeks burned bright and she ducked her head, quickly picking up the last of the papers before hastily shoving them into the folder and straightening up.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest and raising one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Even standing there in a plain grey T-shirt with a navy blue robe on, Hinata didn't understand how he could still be so imposing; yet he was which was why Hinata quickly thrust the folder at him, refusing to meet his gaze.
Sasuke paused for a second, letting confusion and interest mar his features before accepting the folder and turning to dismiss the maid standing behind him. As her footsteps echoed away, Sasuke glanced back to Hinata, whose gaze was still trained on the cement before flipping open the folder. The confusion and slight amusement on his face quickly turned to surprise before his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What are you giving me?" He asked, his voice suddenly harsh which only made Hinata jump.
"I…" Hinata mumbled, resisting the instinct to begin tapping her fingers together.
"You overheard my conversation with Kakashi didn't you?" Sasuke asked, the sound of his voice sending chills down Hinata's spine.
"Y-Yes…" Hinata murmured, her face now burning shamefully.
Sasuke didn't respond, only letting the tension between them grow thicker. "Is this some sort of game to you?" He asked finally, his tone the very definition of terrifying.
Hinata's breath caught in her throat as she attempted to respond. She made an awkward sound, as if something had lodged itself in her throat and she was attempting to cough it loose. She tried to bring her eyes up to meet Sasuke's.
"You know, I don't want to know." Sasuke said finally. He shoved the folder back at Hinata's chest which she caught, stumbling backward a step. "Just get off my porch and go home Hyuuga."
Hinata finally brought her eyes to meet Sasuke's and they were wide with both fright and disbelief. This only earned a scowl from Sasuke who crossed his arms impatiently, waiting for Hinata to leave. Hinata glanced down again.
"I didn't…I don't think that you are an embarrassment." She said softly.
"What?" Sasuke hissed.
Hinata let out a breath, but when she looked up to face Sasuke, her eyes were bold with confidence – something Sasuke had yet to see from her.
"You're passionate about something," She explained, "Something that most people can only accomplish halfway before they give up. I should know…" She murmured quietly. "It…it's good to know that such passion still exists." She added quietly. "Thank you for showing me that."
She gave Sasuke a brief, but warm smile, slowly reaching over to push the folder back into his hands to which he accepted with a dumbfound expression on his face.
It only took a moment, but that moment seemed to last forever as suddenly, Sasuke was no longer standing in the doorway, but instead leaning forward toward Hinata. It seemed like it took an eternity for him to reach her, yet at the same time, he moved too quickly for her to really register what he was doing. His lips touched hers, a gentle but firm pressure before the cool air quickly replaced them.
Hinata opened her eyes, surprised by the fact that she had closed them and she saw Sasuke standing back in his original position in the doorway, as if he had never moved. So out of character was it that Hinata was willing and ready to accept that the whole incident was a product of her wild and clearly out of line imagination. Except Sasuke's pale cheeks were slightly tinted red and his eyes were dark and unreadable, however Hinata thought she saw a hint of both embarrassment and guilt pass over his face. Why on earth would Sasuke Uchiha ever be guilty about something? He seemed far too prideful for that.
"Thanks for the files." He said, holding the folder up briefly. "It was…nice of you."
And with that, he promptly shut the door in Hinata's face. Hinata stood there in shock for a moment, not sure of exactly what happened. Sasuke Uchiha had kissed her – that much seemed for certain. If Hinata was truly being honest with herself that fact that he had wasn't really what surprised her. Sure she hadn't been expecting a kiss, no certainly not from him, but it wasn't what really shocked her. Hinata had been kissed before – she wasn't quite the amateur she appeared to be. Kiba had kissed her often, when they had still been dating. His kisses had always been rough and forceful and he always grinned childishly at her afterward. Hinata had always thought it rather endearing, but now…
Sasuke's kiss had been gentle and soft, something she definitely didn't expect from a man that intimidating. What was it about Sasuke Uchiha that had her continually revising her expectations of him?
Hinata pushed the memories out of her mind, smiling fondly at the thought of them. Of course she hadn't known Sasuke was engaged to Sakura at the time that he kissed her and it was honestly one of her darkest hours when she discovered the truth, but it seemed that everything turned out for the best, didn't it?
Hinata stretched along the length of her bed, reveling in the feel of the silk sheets against her skin when she suddenly jolted to a stop, her eyes going wide and a small gasp escaping her lips. Her heart was suddenly pounding in her rib cage and Hinata drew in her limbs tight to her body. With shaking hands, she slowly touched her skin, the bedspread, the photo album beside her. When she finally felt confident enough that the items that she was touching were real, she let out a slow and relieved breath. For a moment, everything had seemed like it was a dream, and Hinata became unsure if she was really awake or not.
Tangier, Morocco
5:04 UTC
Karim Martin was awakened from his rather blissful sleep by a loud pounding on his front door. Heart accelerating past its normal rate - most likely accompanied by a shot of adrenaline, Karim stumbled out of bed, almost slipping on a magazine laying haphazardly on the floor by his bed and grabbed the nearest weapon he could find before making his way to the door. Bracing himself, he quickly swung the door open before swinging the object at the intruder with all his might. Honestly, who came to make a house call at five in the morning? He didn't have to be at work for another two hours.
Surprise swept through him when the 'intruder' caught the weapon, which happened to be a handled dust pan and deftly pulled it from Karim's hands, pushing his way through the door.
"Really, I wonder how you became a security guard…"
Karim swore in Arabic as he wearily wiping the sleep out of his eyes as he took in the sight of his co-worker standing there, hands casually stuffed into the pockets of his jeans as if he usually made house calls to friends at five in the morning. "Naruto? What the hell, man? It's only like five in the morning…" The younger man complained, his posture sagging in his T-shirt and boxers.
"Listen, I need you to do me a favor." Naruto said, his voice turning serious and he steered Karim toward his couch.
Pushing the younger man down, Naruto crouched beside him. "I got myself into some…trouble." Naruto explained. "Don't bother asking what it is because I'm not going to tell you." Naruto retorted when Karim opened his mouth. Fishing in his back pocket, Naruto brought out both an airline ticket, an ID and a passport.
"Is that an airline ticket?" Karim asked.
"Yeah." Said Naruto, pushing the ticket into his hands. "This is what I need you to do. I want you to go to the airport and check in, only the airline ticket is under my name." Explained Naruto.
"Then how…" Karim protested, his brain already feeling sluggish from the lack of sleep. He probably shouldn't have stayed up so late last night playing Call of Duty.
"That's where this comes in handy." Said Naruto, now handing Karim the ID and passport. "Don't ask." He stressed when Karim opened his mouth. The ID card and passport were both an exact replica of Naruto's own, only they had been replaced with Karim's photo. "I just need you to check in and get through airport security. You don't need to board the plane."
Karim furrowed his eyebrows and glanced down at the items Naruto had given him. "But I don't understand."
Naruto expelled an aggravated sigh. "You're not supposed to fucking understand. I just want you to do it. I can cover for you at work, but will you do it?"
Karim frowned and looked down helplessly at the items once more. "Well…I guess they do look legit enough right? You promise I won't get caught?"
"I promise." Naruto stressed. "Just keep your head down, don't talk to anyone unless it's security. Wear a hat and some sunglasses. If asked your name, tell them mine. Don't use your real name."
Karim sighed and scratched his head, his long fingers running through his curly hair. "Ok fine, I'll do it. But you'll tell me what kind of trouble you're in tomorrow, right?" Karim demanded, looking Naruto dead in his eye.
Naruto's gaze never wavered from Karim's. "Yeah, sure."
McLean, Virginia, United States
18:21 UTC
Neji felt drained, but at best betrayed as he pushed his key into the lock and turned; his door opening with a large click. He stepped into the warm comfort of his house, throwing his keys onto the kitchen counter before quickly stooping to untie his shoes and kick them onto the welcome met that Tenten had set out near the door so mud and water wouldn't be trekked into the house. Normally, he usually wasn't so…undignified, yet oddly enough, Neji couldn't quite bring himself to care.
He glanced wearily around the dark kitchen, half surprised that Tenten hadn't popped out, guns blazing in glory. Passing a hand over his weary face, Neji thought that maybe the emotion he was feeling was irritation. Normally, he tried not to be too marred with emotions. In retrospect, they were a hindrance, capable of diminishing rationale and logic. Whether he thought so because he just happened to be heavily influenced his father and uncle or whether it was one of those ever persistent Hyuuga traits – the ones that were bred for so long that they refused to die out – no one would ever know.
Gathering his senses about him, Neji picked up on the small, subtle undertones of classical music drifting through the house. Frowning, Neji moved silently into the well furnished living room. Seeing no one, he walked around into the dining room. Surprised quickly flitted across his face before it settled into his mask of impassiveness. Tenten was seated calmly at the dining room table, legs crossed and elbows resting on the polished surface of the table as she drank a mug of tea.
"Neji." She said brightly, her brown eyes warm and inviting.
"Tenten." He murmured. He was suddenly reminded that she too had been betrayed, perhaps indirectly, but her reputation had been sullied too, even if only in the eyes of his family. It was enough – usually the smallest of things were. No matter how hard he tried, reputation did matter; it was as much emblazoned into his spirit and being as his views on emotion.
Smiling brightly, Tenten drew her seat back – he winced as it dragged loudly on the wooden floor – and walked over, giving him a kiss on the cheek before she helped him remove his overcoat and scarf from around his neck. Taking them from his hands, she walked over to the closet and hung them up in their proper place. Neji watched her move, his eyebrows slightly creased. When Tenten came home, she usually threw her coat on the sofa where Neji would eventually have to put it away later. She never helped him remove his coat either, figuring he was man enough to do it himself. The question was, what sort of stunt was she trying to pull?
"What are you doing?" He asked when she returned and seated herself at the table once more.
"Doing what a good wife should." She responded lightly.
"And what brought this sudden change?" He asked, slowly moving to join her at the table.
"Your phone call this morning." She responded, before sipping her tea. "I didn't want your friends to be less than impressed with me."
Neji raised an eyebrow.
"Lougung." She said, giving him a smile. "Have you ever considered our house might be under surveillance?" She asked, resorting to her native tongue. It sounded almost guttural to his ears. He hadn't heard it in a while.
Neji sighed, pale eyes slowly roving around the room as he calculated the spots were possible listening devices or camera could have been placed.
Would she do that to him?
Did she even know?
"Did you check?" He asked, his tone perfect despite the disuse.
"Of course. I'm not a bandaan." She said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "But what if I missed some spots?"
The muscles in his shoulders tensed. It was all so intrusive and it made him feel almost angry.
"I'm sorry." He muttered, surprising both himself and his wife with his words.
"What?" Tenten asked, her native tongue so second nature it came out naturally in her surprise.
Neji hadn't told her at the time. He told himself it was 'to protect' her, but he knew, deep down, it was from embarrassment, from anger, from confusion. He couldn't admit what happened.
Why him?
What had he done?
Now he knew, and to make matters more irritating, it wasn't his fault. Yet things had catapulted into this ugly thing, bound to follow Neji wherever he went, wherever she went, tarnishing him. It wasn't his fault, but it ruined him (his reputation, but that's what it's all about, isn't it?).
