A/N- Hey I hope you all have an excellent weekend! Enjoy some awkward fluff.
Fuck, why does this guy have to be such a fucking weirdo. A good-looking FUCKING weirdo with the dreaded morals and the fucking respect. What's his deal? Doesn't he know, I'm not going to fight him off with a stick. He can afford to be a bit handsy. Anyone else would've.
Gods, what the fuck else do I have to do to get a fucking reaction outta this stump?
He's treating me like some sort of hooker with a heart of gold.
Fucking idiot.
Ino tosses the latex gloves into the trash bin on the way out of the hospital room. She struts confidently down the hall, beside Sai, with the hospital packet tucked under her arm.
"You look…nice by the way, I may have neglected to mention." Sai compliments during their stroll past the front desk. Ino rolls her eyes, not bothering to shoot a glance at him. A nurse waves goodbye to them.
"Take care Mr. Sukurōru, you too young lady."
Ino gives a two-finger salute and sends it off with a half smirk, "Likewise."
Sai, caught slightly off guard simply waves carelessly. "See you around Mrs. Imori."
Once the pair reach the doors, Sai casually shoulders it open, holding it there for Ino to go through first. Ino scoffs at the gesture but stomps over the threshold.
Just what is he trying to pull anyway?
"Is nice the highest honor of praise in your book?" The blonde asks, looking over her shoulder at him. A gust of wind sends her flyaway hairs over her face. Ino rakes her fingers down her lengthy mane of hair, though the wind still manages to tousle her golden—pale locks.
Sai chuckles, and breaths in an exasperated breath. He tosses his head back heavenward and then focuses them back on Ino.
"I think, you're absolutely stunning, although—" Sai trails off, wagging a long index finger at her, as he chewed on his bottom lip.
Ino grins, "Now we're getting somewhere."
"Although I'm certain you know that you are, a woman like you must get reminded every day. What does my opinion matter? We're ns-"
"Ya, ya, nsa. You think all women are clingy and attach too easily. Anyway, don't give a shit about your opinion," Ino replies curtly with her nose high. She slides her fingertips down the hair draped over her shoulder. "You're just too easy to mess with, that's all."
Sai cocks his head to the side like a confused pup and Ino chastises her heart for staggering at the sight. Dark silky hair draped over his forehead, hanging over his left eye and Ino's eyes dart towards the commotion on the opposite side of the street.
"And you're a rotten tease, for now anyway."
For now…
Ino was grateful blonde tresses curtained her face, the itch of a blush began to crawl penetratingly across her cheeks.
Ino pretends to be unphased, the moment Sai reaches into his pocket to procure a key fob. He aims it towards a glimmering black Mercedes in the distance, and prods it with a thumb. The car responds with a robotic chirp, it's rare lights flicker red. The engine roars and then lulls into an idle purr.
The sleek automobile is parked against the curb, beneath an abundance of tree shade, though sunlight still manages to filter through the tree leaf's.
An old couple straggle pass, glancing warily in the rumbling car's direction. Sai chuckles, prompting Ino to stare at him with a raised brow. The brunette man slips a pair of thick-rimmed Ray Ban sunglasses from the pocket of his leather jacket, shakes them loose and slides them up his face. The lenses are so dark, Ino couldn't see where he had been looking. The sun reflected brilliantly off them.
"You think you're so edgy." Ino teased, wiggling her fingers in faux exaggeration. Sai's lips quirk up in a half smile.
"What I think," he emphasizes, 'think', in a soothing low, "is that the sun isn't going to burn its way into my retina. I'm only twenty-three and my eyes are oddly sensitive to light. The gag in high school about me becoming a vampire has finally come to fruition."
Ino can't help but to look at the strange man, she was no closer to figuring out. Good. She didn't want to know him and he wasn't exactly easy to decipher like most men she encountered. None of Sai's actions seem to have an origin. He isn't exactly behaving like a typical sex fiend, though the list he had presented her with screamed with an abundance of proof which begged to differ.
The brunette tosses his leather jacket over his shoulder, it hangs off his index finger as he looks forward—smile lingering on his lips.
He seemed comfortable enough around her, though it's become increasingly clear that if a move was to be made—it would be on her to make it. It isn't usual that she'd have to be the one to take the reins. Sai seemed to be trying to keep up some chivalrous façade but she wasn't an idiot. Ino wasn't a stranger to wearing a mask, feeling dignified beneath the façade but knowing full well that the mask would come off eventually.
Why does he even bother with the niceties?
The exchange was simple: sex for security.
Maybe it's time that she discusses it with him, to get the ball rolling. The hotel she was currently booking charges over one hundred bucks a night and that isn't what she hoped to be doing with her recent earnings. Things were moving much too slow, at this rate—she'd be out on the streets within two days if she relied on a measly three hundred bucks.
VRRRRRRrrrrr!
Her cell vibrates in her back pocket and she sighs, reaching for it blindly. There's a text preview flashing and she prods her passcode in thoughtlessly.
Noriko
Angel, I'm worried sick. This isn't about settling our differences, I know—we'll need more time before you and I can assume our roles as mother/daughter.
It's just, it's been twenty-four hours and you haven't come home. I've been calling all over town, asking about you. No one seems to know where the hell you are and your friends have told me you didn't get the job. Why didn't you mention this last night? How can you afford to be on your own?
Please don't lie to me. Call me. Come home.
Noriko
Is it him again? Has he reached out to you? Is that why you've been acting out lately? Sweetheart, I know I'm no mother of the year but you can confide in me about anything. Even him, if he's come looking for you. Call me.
A gentle shiver crawled down her spine and she felt her heart beat spike. The ominous tone of the text rattled and scrambled her brain. Was this a fucking game to her? How could she even fucking mention that asshole….unless.
No, he can't be. She had to just be making shit up to get me to talk to her.
It's impossible.
Fucking Noriko. The woman would do or say anything to get her way, even if it meant dredging up the past. That much has never changed over the years. Radio silence seemed to make her more paranoid than usual.
The woman really didn't want to be miserable alone.
She has to go and lump me into her bullshit as well. Seriously.
The text seemed to jump around on the screen, as she reread the last text message her mother had sent, specifically: Has he reached out to you?
Why the fuck would he? How could he? The bastard was incarcerated…has been for four years now.
She doubts he had the resources to find her in prison, or the motivation. Sure, he might've hated her fuckin guts, a lot of fucking people did. Why the hell was she even thinking about this? For four years she hadn't wasted a thought on any of her ex's—especially not him.
He was gone. Tucked away in some god forsaken place like the fucking douche he turned out to be. If there was a snowballs chance in hell of him getting out—he certainly wouldn't contact Ino. Not that he could, no one from her old life knew where she and her mother had run off to. Not even her closest friend. If there's one thing the Yamanaka women know how to do, it's run. Run and run some more.
A lot had changed in four years, she wasn't the frail little teen she was back then, desperate for attention and some form of acceptance. Hanging from the arms of men twice her age because her boyfriend wanted to build an empire off her back.
Sure, she wasn't that much better off now then she was back then but at least she had found some self-worth. It doesn't count for much but she has wised up. No other jackass would ever take advantage of her and exploit her weaknesses ever again. Never.
"You ok? You haven't complained in two minutes, that's grounds for questioning."
Ino blinks up from her phone and realizes she's stopped short of the Mercedes. Just standing there like a bewildered idiot on the pavement. Sai slips around to the passenger side and opens the door for her with a wry smile. The car jingles, indicating that the door is open.
The blonde fights down a swallow, their eyes meet—her boot clad feet dragging her forward, edging the street, towards the door. Cars zipped pass intermittently—ruffling Sai's loose T. His back is towards the chaos of the street but she can see the faint reflection of herself in the lens of his sunglasses.
"I'm perfect, Gremlin," She purrs tauntingly at him, purposefully sliding her fingers over his knuckles once she reaches the door. They're only a few inches away from each other. Ino really wants to close the distance between them and give him a small taste of what he's been missing. His own fault for not being more assertive with someone like her.
She lets out a breath in his face, letting her eyes slip to his lips than drag back up to his visor eyes. Her lips slightly agape in lust. If Sai felt enticed by the teasing he certainly doesn't give it away. His fingers clinch at the door and for a split second Ino can imagine him slamming the door shut on her. Possibly fed up by her mixed signals.
The blonde only sighs in resignation, flicks her hair and drags her fingers down the doors interior as she lowers herself into the diamond-stitched leather seat. Sai looks down at her face, well she thinks he does—but those damned sunglasses. He waits for her to settle into her seat before nudging the car door shut and stumbling around towards the hood of the car. He pauses at the windshield, peering at a dark streak across it. He licks his thumb and scrubs at the mark on the pane.
She pockets her cellphone, dead set on putting her mother's bullshit to back compartment of her brain. It's nothing. It's just another one of her stupid schemes, to get me back.
She just can't stand to see me happy, she never could. She never will.
The driver seat door came open and Sai plopped down in the seat, booted feet still on the pavement. Ino placed her head against the headrest and watched him settle into the front seat. The AC had been cranked and furious, breathing a wafer-like scent down her nostrils. The rich smell of fresh leather also set the crisp atmosphere. Her skin tingled as the air attempted to put out the heated irritation the sun had ignited.
"I like this," Ino compliments with detectable reluctance, twisting her head around to evaluate the car. "It's flashy and just as stylish as me, wouldn't have pegged you for a car-guy."
She extends a hand to graze the lacquered marble surrounding the car stereo with her fingertips. It's cool and smooth to the touch.
"Eh, I'm more of a motorcycle enthusiast. I only break this thing out on special occasions; mostly when the weathers shit or I've got company I want to impress. Other than that, she stays in the garage."
"Do you have buyer's remorse? After squandering money on shit you don't even care about."
Sai only shrugs one shoulder, "Not really, I'm using it now. For your sake."
"What's your side hustle? There's no way you can just afford this shit by doodling over pores."
"What?" Sai asks incredulously. "Tattooing is my only job. Some of my clients are just overly generous and wealthy, I make most of my cut when I'm double booked for the day. I practically live at work but I don't care. Other than Beast, I've nothing to go home to. I'd rather be bleeding people alive."
"Sadistic bastard." Ino comments playfully and as an afterthought, "Beast?"
"My furry friend. The cat."
"Oh, your obsession with pussy."
Ino could hear the laughter in Sai's voice when he replies after a beat of silence, "Ya, well, if I haven't scared you off by now—Beast probably will. Most cats have very hostile—strong personalities, owning a cat isn't for most guys. Never thought I'd own such a stuck-up creature but, as it turns out, I'm not too shabby at it."
"Is the little fucker declawed? I swear to god, if it scratches me, I'm scratching back."
Sai waved his hand as if to deny something, "He'd never approach you, he's like me, we lurk until we feel comfortable."
"Creeps."
"Studious. Creatures of habit." Sai enunciated each word with a slight nod of his head.
"The very definition of being a creep." Ino reiterates maliciously.
Sai simply shook his head in faux defeat.
"Too bad I don't have a license, would totally jack you for the ride."
"Grand theft auto, yet another one of the great talents you neglected to mention on your profile of absolute truth. Wait, what? You don't have a license? Are you of this Earth? How do you get around?" Sai asks mockingly, assigning one of the air vents to him, prodding the shifter with a digit. Ino watches a bead of sweat trickle sinfully down a deep column of his throat and vanish under the neckline of his T-shirt. She has never envied sweat more.
She savored the warmth pooling in the pit of her stomach, like she had swallowed scolding hot gold.
He licks at his lips and huffs in relief, relishing the cool air that ruffled his shirt and hair. Gods, this was the wrong time to be getting worked up. Her blouse was sticking to her spine thanks to the humid weather.
"Like any poor person does, asshole: the bus, the subway, an Uber or a taxi. Preferably the Uber, riding a bus is like asking to get staph."
"Well why don't you? Have one…a license?" Sai looks over at her, yanking the door shut and silencing the car's repetitive jingle. Ino stares at the gauges, there's a persistently blinking orange icon.
"I just never felt like I'd have anything to drive so—what the fucks the point? I come from a long line of assholes who have never owned a car, much less drive one."
Sai doesn't respond for a moment frantically intent on something else. Ino watches him shove up an armrest and dig inside a hidden compartment, fumbling around for something. He withdraws a mini bottle of hand sanitizer and shakes a glob into his palm.
Ok…germaphobe.
She had taken note of his obsessive-compulsive disorder the first night she had met him, when he practically scrubbed that disinfected goop into his bones. Now, he was at it again. Somewhat of a ritual from the looks of it.
If he thought touching a windshield was unsanitary, what the hell would they have to do before the sex? And this guy tattoos people?
She almost chuckled at the thought of Sai spraying disinfected on every customer that entered his place of work. The guy probably even had a cloth at the ready, unable to fight off the impulse to clean his hands and his victims bleeding wounds.
"Not even a permit, at the very least?"
Ino shook her head indigently, "Nope," She pops the 'p'. "I know it's supposed to be some enormous milestone of society but fuck society. Besides, plenty of lives have been spared without me being behind the wheel and mowing down my enemies."
Sai chuckles, tossing the tube back into the armrest and then closing it. He crashes backward into the driver's seat. His legs fall apart as he places a forearm onto his unruly head of hair.
"Sounds like, you're afraid."
"Pfft," Ino scoffs. "Did you hear nothing I just said, asshole. My lifestyle of poverty thwarted me the luxury."
"I hear you, it just sounds like an excuse. Unfortunately, my upbringing wasn't glamorous either but even I obtained a license." Sai replies smugly. "I assure you, it's not as intimidating as it looks."
Ino rolls her eyes and crossed one leg over the other, "Shut up and drive, you promised me nourishment."
As it turns out, Gekkos was no match for the lunch hour. Rather than endure the thirty-minute wait to be seated, Ino (irritably) relinquished the choice of where they dined to Sai.
Sai seemed to have a place in mind, and hastily peeled into the street like hell on wheels. Ino stealthily snuck on her seatbelt, after protesting against it just fifteen minutes earlier. She eyeballed Sai as he lounged in the driver's seat, stuck behind a red light.
A radio host spoke very monotonously about political affairs. Sai lowered the volume but Ino could still hear the guy on the radio clearing his throat, as he maintained his somber disposition.
"Have you always lived in Konoha?" Sai suddenly asks, staring out the windshield.
"Yep, born—raised. We moved for a little while but my mom got pulled back in. You?"
Sai shook his head warily, scratching at his stubble, "A refugee from Suna, although I'm pretty sure that isn't my birth place either. I just sort of ended up here, when I was six. No traceable lineage, drafted into the system but I managed to get adopted."
"Damn Gremlin," Ino interjects, twisting the ring on her middle finger with her thumb. "That t'um, that's pretty tragic."
Sai only shrugs, "Could be worse, I could…. not have a license."
Ino scowls, opening her mouth to scold him but her phone vibrates in her lap.
VVVVVVVVVVVVRRRRrrrr
Karui(ignore)
Can we talk? Are you free.
Me
No and No.
Karui(ignore)
I deserve that. : (. Howev, this is important.
Me
Is it life threatening?
Karui(ignore)
Ino…Omoi just got released from jail.
Me
Ffs…that mother fucker..
Karui(ignore)
Ya, so, how about that talk?
Me
No, u know what? I'm done with this shit.
I've been done for years.
No one is dragging me bck. Not even u Karu.
Fuck off.
I'm far away, he isn't a threat to me any longer.
We split long before his downfall.
None of it falls on my shoulders.
He's ur goddamn brother.
Fuck off!
Karui(ignore)
Just...watch your back. Be careful.
Me
Go fuck urself karu.