As usual, thankyou a million times to all of you lovely reviewers! This chapter is freakishly long. Sorry about that!! *laughs* It makes up for the fact that I probably won't update for another week though ^^ So from this incident we might establish that Sasuke is perhaps the jealous type (no kidding) and his childish (and deviant!) reaction to Hinata-chin costs him dearly. On the other hand though, he finally admits something important. As the reader I'm sitting on the sidelines and screaming at them to get over themselves and get together, but as the writer I know that all good things come in time ^^ ...
Chapter Eleven
Green Eyed Monster
The tension in the room, the silent expectancy fell squarely on Naruto. The poor guy looked between Hinata and Sasuke completely dumfounded, and though he wanted more than anything to punch that evil smirk off Sasuke's face he couldn't do that in front of Hinata. There was nothing he could do in front of Hinata, and Sasuke knew it. The bastard.
The gleaming black eyes gave nothing away, and Naruto realised he had to speak eventually. He found his voice.
'Hinata,' he muttered, giving in, 'this is…my friend…Sasuke.'
He wasn't sure if giving Sasuke's real name was a good idea or not, but he was in no mood to cover for him.
'He's, uh, not feeling too well so he's, uh, staying here until he…you know, gets better.' He coughed.
'Oh,' said Hinata softly, her dazzling eyes round with wonder.
Sasuke watched this interaction with a kind of reckless enjoyment. A part of his mind was warning him how incredibly stupid it was to reveal his presence to anyone, but he kicked it aside, battered it and buried it. Hinata interested him. The more he looked at her the more he thought her eyes looked very, very familiar. But it couldn't be…
'G-good day,' cried Hinata, bowing suddenly, and Sasuke blinked; taken aback at her politeness. 'It's so very nice to meet you, Mr Sasuke. I hope you feel better soon. I'm so very sorry,' she added, looking back up at Naruto and biting her lip, 'I would never have asked you to stick to that deadline if I had any idea you were taking care of a friend. Please forgive me…'
'No, Hinata, it's my fault,' said Naruto, obviously feeling guilty. 'It's my responsibility...I'm free now if you need to go over anything-' he gestured to the portfolio she'd brought with her.
Sasuke's remote manner began to dissolve into a glare as he realised he was being ignored again. They were so busy with each other it was as though he wasn't in the room.
'Ah, yes, if it's okay?' Hinata's gaze darted from Naruto to Sasuke, and the blonde nodded as cheerfully as he could manage.
'Sure, sure.'
'Do you mind if I stay?' interjected Sasuke, determined to make his presence known, and Naruto scowled warily. 'I've always been interested in fine literature.'
Hinata smiled shyly, her cheeks colouring, and she sat down and retrieved some important looking papers. Naruto perched back onto his seat in a barely concealed rage, and Sasuke shoved some unidentifiable food stuff away with his foot and took a place beside him. Naruto suddenly leaned in and whispered into his ear while Hinata was busy.
'What the hell are you playing at?' he snarled under his breath.
Sasuke smirked again. 'Nothing. I'm genuinely interested.'
Naruto's nostrils flared. 'Are you crazy, or is this just a really cruel and unusual joke?'
Sasuke just smiled infuriatingly.
Naruto was about to snap at him again when Hinata spoke up.
'You have a hickey.'
'Huh?!'
Naruto yelped, jumped about a foot in the fair and slapped his hand to his neck; the purple bruise just visible over the neckline of his t-shirt.
Hinata gaped in confusion at his ridiculously overblown reaction, and then tapped the page in front of her with her finger. 'U-um, a printing error. Here.'
A moment's silence.
'Oh,' sighed Naruto in relief, and stiffened as he felt Sasuke's shoulders shaking in silent laughter beside him. 'That bastard, he's enjoying my misery. I'll get him for this if it's the last thing I do.'
Keeping one hand over his neck, he leaned in and took a form to glance over as Hinata began to discuss the details with him. He was only half paying attention; his thoughts kept drifting back to Sasuke, sitting next to him. 'What is he trying to do to me?' he thought madly. 'After all I've done for him he's trying to make a fool out of me. He better not try anything else.'
His heart pounding under the strain of expectation he drew a sharp intake of breath as he felt a hand land on his knee. It wasn't his hand, and Hinata was too far away; not that she'd ever be that bold. The hand squeezed his knee gently, and he almost choked.
'That…unbelievable…bastard.'
Naruto peered up. Hinata was still chattering obliviously in her soft, breathy tones, her attention focused on pointing out a paragraph that had grammatical errors. He shot a glance sidelong, and to his disgust Sasuke was watching Hinata with an innocent, interested, butter-wouldn't-melt expression. He couldn't believe his audacity…if Hinata looked up…
Thinking fast Naruto lowered the paper in his hands casually so it covered any view of what Sasuke was doing, but that was perhaps the wrong move as it seemed to imply he was giving his ex free run to do whatever he pleased.
Sasuke began to stroke his hand, very slowly, up Naruto's leg, and the blonde stared at him in disbelief before quickly turning back to Hinata. This was totally absurd; shivers were breaking out down his spine and his breath was beginning to catch in his throat at the warm pressure of that hand…he couldn't keep up this façade for long.
Hinata chanced to look up. 'Are you okay?' she asked, concerned at how flushed his face had become, and Naruto nodded.
The first thing out of his mouth was a whimper, which again made Sasuke snuffle silently with laughter, and he desperately cleared his throat and tried again.
'I'm fine Hinata,' he said huskily, trying to maintain sanity while Sasuke's hand continued its journey and found his inner thigh. 'Just…keep…going.'
Sasuke clearly thought this command was directed at him, and did as he was bid. Naruto lowered his head, trembling and hating him. He couldn't do anything to stop it.
Hinata looked at Sasuke, whose well-mannered demeanour hadn't changed a bit, and back to Naruto. 'Um, okay,' she said nervously, returning her attentions to the script, 'I did have concerns over this section, but it can easily be modified…'
'Stop it,' mouthed Naruto, his eyes flashing with anger and helplessness, and Sasuke's lifted an eyebrow coolly.
'Make me,' he mouthed back, and began to caress Naruto's inner leg in a circular motion.
Torn between complete misery and complete ecstasy, Naruto bit his lip so hard he tasted blood and tried to focus on Hinata. His heartbeat was getting faster and his body was beginning react to the impromptu massage. He felt like he was going to lose his mind, like he was getting closer and closer to the edge, and it seemed an eternity before Hinata's voice broke through his fog of thoughts.
'Um, Mr Uzumaki? You really don't look well. Perhaps we should continue this another time.'
Barely coherent enough to speak, Naruto nodded dumbly. He felt Sasuke move like a swift panther from his side, and through his fragmented state he realised with annoyance that he already ached for his touch.
'I'm very sorry, Miss Hinata, was it? I suppose I must've given him something.'
Naruto put his head in his hands and glared at Sasuke through his fingers. He was ushering Hinata to the door and looking like the gentleman he wasn't.
'He's just not feeling himself,' continued Sasuke wickedly, and his choice of words naturally flew over sweet, innocent Hinata's head.
'I see,' she nodded briskly, pursing her lips and wringing her hands. 'Please take care of him for me, Mr Sasuke; he's very valuable to me.'
'To me too,' said Sasuke in a low voice, and Hinata paused at the doorway and looked back.
'I can fix this myself,' she assured Naruto, waving the portfolio and smiling in such a cute way that made his heart ache. 'You…you just get better, okay? I hear the best cure for a fever is lots of bed rest. Please, um, give me a call when you're feeling up to it.'
With one last bow she said it had been lovely to meet Sasuke, and departed. He swung the door shut and pulled a face, his debonair mask slipping.
'What a simpering little ninny,' he remarked coldly. 'Totally your type, dumbass. You never could handle real women.'
Naruto raised his head from his hands, his eyes glowing. The power of speech that returned to him, and he had a few choice words. The pulse throbbing through his veins had become pure fury.
'Don't you ever talk about Hinata like that,' he snapped angrily. 'She took care of me when I was just starting out in this business. She's a sweet, kind girl, and I'll never let you say a bad thing about her.'
'And if I do say a bad thing about her…?'
'Then I'll wipe that smugness off your face with my fist,' yelled Naruto, striding across the room.
The young men stood face to face, breathing deeply, both trying to calm their anger.
'What the hell was that about?' snapped Naruto, and again that maddening smirk pulled up the corner of Sasuke's lips. 'You think that's funny? What the HELL, Sasuke?! If Hinata had seen that-'
'What, are you ashamed of me?'
Naruto gritted his teeth, looking as though he might erupt. 'That has nothing to do with anything! We're not together anymore! You can't start groping me in front of my editor! How can you still be pulling shit like this? You are so FUCKED UP!'
Sasuke's dark eyes flashed and he looked away, licking his lips. 'Seems to me like you enjoyed it,' he returned calmly, putting his hands in the pocket of his jeans.
Hot humiliation swept through Naruto's cheeks, turning them fiery red, and he snorted. 'Are you that jealous that I have a life that you have to try and sabotage it?' he asked in a quieter tone. 'Does it bug you that even without you I made something of myself? That I have a cute girl taking care of me while you spend every night alone, just waiting for your cell phone to ring so you can take your orders like a good little puppy dog and go blow the next guy's brains out?'
Sasuke closed his eyes briefly. It was the only sign he gave that Naruto's words had any effect.
'You're a joke,' he muttered at last, barely audible, and Naruto leaned in.
'What was that?'
'I said you're a joke,' spat Sasuke. 'Pretending you're over our old way of life. Pretending you're over me.'
'I am over you,' said Naruto confidently, but Sasuke shook his head.
'You damn liar. If you're so over me why is it you whimper like a little bitch whenever I touch you?'
He raised his hand and gripped Naruto's chin, jet black embers burning intensely into the cool depths of a blue ocean.
Naruto didn't whimper. Instead he said something under his breath.
'Speak up, dumbass.'
'Teme,' repeated the blonde, and added rapid fire Japanese words that weren't very pleasant.
Sasuke laughed out loud at his audacity, and moved closer. They were but inches from each other now. Moving his left hand to hold Naruto's chin steady, he ran his hands through the spun gold hair, working it at the roots.
Naruto kept his chin up defiantly, not that he had much choice in Sasuke's grip, but his gaze was on the floor. 'What is it you want?' he asked throatily.
'You,' murmured Sasuke, his hot, sweet breath heating Naruto's flushed cheeks. 'God, how I want you. You're all I ever wanted.'
The admission was like a burden being lifted from his shoulders; he was no longer weighed down by sorrow and sin, he was free, happy, and with the only person in the world who made him feel worthwhile. He could have stayed like that forever; pressed against the one he loved with their lips tantalisingly close, forgetting all his troubles and responsibilities, but still he was awaiting an answer; the response, the delicious kiss that meant that Naruto felt the same.
Feeling vulnerable as hell, Sasuke was relieved when he felt his ex lover's hand fall on his hips. His relief didn't last long; and to his shock Naruto began to push him away.
Trembling from the effort Naruto raised his sad blue eyes, glistening with tears, and spoke softly but firmly.
'I don't want you,' he mumbled. 'I don't want you anymore.'
Something deep within Sasuke froze. This wasn't the way things were supposed to happen.
'You're lying,' he protested, but Naruto continued to push him away. He was forced to let go of the soft golden hair and, hurt, he reached out to stroke that childish face. Naruto stepped back quickly, avoiding his touch.
'You need me,' choked Sasuke, determined not to lose at this point. He had to salvage some of his dignity. 'You need me to protect you. Akatsuki is after you-'
'I can take care of myself,' insisted Naruto, wrapping his arms around himself. 'I have contacts. I didn't lose touch with everyone when I left Anbu.' He turned away, his face in shadows. 'If you're well enough to pull stunts like this, you're well enough to take care of yourself from now on. I want you out by tomorrow.'
He walked away and Sasuke panicked. What was the use in pride if you lost everything else?
'Naruto,' he called out hoarsely. 'Dobe.'
Naruto stopped walking. He stood still, his back to Sasuke, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. When he spoke, his voice was raw with emotion and rough as gravel.
'I've moved on,' he said without turning around. 'You should do the same.'
And he walked out and closed the door, leaving Sasuke alone in his silent misery.
