He's met Tayuya before.

Honestly she's a little scary.

He sat next to her, on the couch. She was watching some adult cartoon shit. But now she's watching him.

Not the way Hinata does. Hinata watches him because she loves him, and she wants him to be okay.

Tayuya looks at him like she's scanning for a gap in his armour, to stab him.

They're sharing the couch. It's ratty and it feels too small and puts her in a closer proximity that he is comfortable with. Especially with the other people in the apartment starting to trickle out, little by little.

He doesn't want to be left alone with her.

She's drinking, straight from a bottle of mint Burnett's like a psychopath. It's around noon.

"You're the one that's in love with Sasuke's girlfriend, right?" She asks bluntly.

"Nah," He picks a loose thread on the couch arm, trying not to look at her.

"Not much fun trying to fuck someone that doesn't want you?"

Naruto grimaces. She's right though, that's not particularly a fun past time.

"Drink?"

"Um, it's like only like twelve-thir-"

"Don't be a pussy."

He breathes in through his nose. "Alright."

He hasn't drank in a long time. It reacts badly with his medication. It reacts badly with his brain chemistry. It's a bad idea.

The drink burns his throat. He wishes it wasn't mint flavored. Or even vodka. He wishes he was just at home.

Fuck, he doesn't want to be here.

He takes another drink.

"So, what? You just got over Whore-uno, after all that?"

"All what?" He can hear the slur.

"The drama."

"'S-no drama." He promises. Scouts honor. He's holding the three fingers.

He was never a Boy Scout. They do sell good popcorn though.

He's getting pretty hungry.

"Pink hair not your fancy?"

"No, no pink hair's cute. It's just-"

Tayuya catches his eye and now he knows he's really fucked. She's got the look, the cat with the canary. She's playing him into a game that he doesn't know he was involved in.

It's just - what? He found someone better. He found someone that actually loves him. Who makes his life better.

"She's a work right now."

"Who?"

"My girl. My girlfriend. She's working." He tries to swallow but his thoughts are swirling.

"While the mice are away, the cats will play."

Naruto paused. "I don't think that's how that saying goes - agh."

She jumped on him.