unedited, not proofread (11/6/20)

Sakura

"I told you!" Ino's voice is incredibly ecstatic, echoing in the bathroom from my phone placed on the counter. I'm glad it's on speaker because if it wasn't, my eardrum would have definitely filed for a noise complaint.

Relaxing into the bath, I breathe in the bright cherry blossom aroma (a little on the nose, I know, but it's my preferred scent), and lean onto the back of the tub, letting the bath salts do its job. I wish I brought in a glass of white wine. It feels like that kind of night.

After that little stunt in NinjaBucks, the girls and I watched the footage TenTen shot in my office. Not going to lie, it gave me a boost in my ego, but right now, I just feel exhausted. We had to bring it up to Kurenai, then to Tsunade for confirmation before we got to post it. It ended up going live just before I left the office for home. All in all, it's been more exhausting than exciting on my end.

Clearly, the others don't feel the same.

"Did you see the way he checked you out when he walked away?" She laughs. "Damn, you really need to get on that man, bighead."

And here she goes.

"I mean, I totally did this for the sake of you and KWJ, but hey, if you can get some Uchiha action on the side, I say go for it."

I roll my eyes. "Not going to happen. This is still a work thing, remember? And he's still Sasuke Uchiha. He's, like, the poster child for professionalism."

"Yeah, sure. And, as a professional in the romance department, let me tell you, I know a man who's interested when I see it."

I want to retort, but a part of me can't help but want to think she's right. The way he looked when I told him I thought about leaving the project, he seemed more open, less closed off at that moment. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel just a little bit flustered seeing his reaction, or the fact that I liked that he watched me so keenly when I walked away, or that I had the urge to reach out for his hand right before I stood up to leave.

Did I feel guilty? No. But I did feel like this might be something I might end up regretting because if these weird, conflicting thoughts about the man who's, more often than not, the bane of my existence, continues, then I might be in for more than I bargained for, and that doesn't sit quite right with me.

I mean, how can one's perception of a person change so fast? Just the other week, I thought he was nothing but a stuck-up, then the date happened, and my perception changed a bit. Then, the articles came up, and I went back to thinking he's an asshole. This is too much. I'm taking a well-deserved bubble bath to calm down, not to stress about this some more. I really should have brought a glass of wine with me.

"And besides, no one said you two can't have a little fun while doing this project. If anything, it'd be great content for the project."

"There's no way he would ever agree to write about his sex life. I wouldn't either."

"So you admit there's a possibility?"

"I didn't say that."

She makes a frustrated noise, and I hear something clanging in the background from her end.

"What was that?"

"I'm in the middle of trying out that new soup recipe from Akimichi Food Mag. It's supposed to be healthy and filling."

"You? Cooking?"

"Hey, it can happen. Besides, I'm trying out this thing as part of my next article."

"What's it about?" I ask as I rub my arms with the bubbles.

"I'm thinking a piece about men and cooking in relationships."

"Okay, then who's the 'man' that's going to test that out with you?"

"You know I'm more than capable of finding one."

I laugh. That she is. There's a reason she's in her position and why she built a cult following. Speaking of articles, however, I still have mine to finish. It's not one regarding the project, though I still need to get to work on the post-video article. I'm thinking of an article about my go-to gym routine. But there's a slight issue. My gym is closed for tomorrow because of some pipe problem or something, so I'm going to have to find a new gym for the week. I sure as hell am not going to use the apartment building gym. It doesn't have the best machines.

"Did you see the poll, by the way?"

We're back to this?

"94% say he's totally into you. Wonder if he's seen it already."

I'm about to speak, but I hear my doorbell go off, followed by incredibly loud knocking. Speak of the devil.

Sighing, I reluctantly stand and leave the warmth and coziness of my bathtub and tell Ino I have to leave.

The knocking intensifies, and I wonder if this is how he felt that one night I was doing the knocking. I grab one of the robes hanging from the door, not even bothering to dry myself with a towel to get this over with and hurriedly put on my slippers.

Once I reached the front door, it only occurred to me I put on the red silk robe instead of my fluffy bathrobe. Great, this is happening, I guess. I put an arm over my chest, hugging my side as I open the door.

Lo and behold, Sasuke Uchiha stands before me, visibly pissed. How the tables turn. "Didn't this happen before but with me on the other side of the door?" I'm feeling cheeky all of a sudden. I swear, this man brings out a different side of me.

"'Does this man want this woman?' Really, Haruno?"

Haruno… It was Sakura earlier today. Somehow, I feel a pang of disappointment.

"I did say one more game." I really want that drink now. Opening the door wider, I motion for him to come in before I turn and make my way to the kitchen.

"It's a little hypocritical to say you don't want to play games while in the middle of one." I hear him say from behind me as I open my fridge in search of my favorite bottle of white wine.

"It wasn't my idea. Ino put me up to it, and CEO Senju sent her approval." I say popping the cork and grabbing a wine glass from the cabinet above the counter. "Wine?"

"And you agreed?" He says, irritation evident in his tone. "Red."

I smile because, of course, he wants red. "There's a bottle on the island counter. And, yes, I agreed. Because as you said earlier this morning," I turn to take a peak at him. "This is a competition."

I see him let out a frustrated breath. "Corkscrew?"

"Drawer next to the fridge."

"So this is how you want to play this? More games?"

I frown, pouring the wine into the glass. "I did say I'd much rather this be the last one."

"And is this the truth or another ploy?"

Fine, I admit I deserve that jab. Opening the cabinet to grab another wine glass, I hear the telltale pop and turn to see him placing the cork on the island counter. Two glasses in hand, I walk the short distance to the opposite of where he stands, the island counter between us as I stretch to give him the empty glass. "Truth."

He gives me a dubious look.

"Look, this was mostly to get my coworkers off my back for the time being."

"And this has nothing to do with pride?" He asks, pouring himself a drink. He looks up for a second. "I think you need to tighten your robe."

I look down and quickly realize that the tie is coming loose. Feeling self conscious, I wrap it tighter around me, my cheeks warming at the realization that I am, in fact, wearing nothing underneath.

"Okay, pride has something to do with it, yes, but it's been a stressful day, and I'd much prefer this not being the usual for the next month and a half."

He doesn't look convinced. "I have to admit that you were convincing this morning."

A compliment? At a time like this? "Uh, thanks."

"However," he starts. "We have to get a few things in order."

He wants to negotiate? I mean, I'm down, but I thought he'd be angrier. Well, he still looks angry, but not as angry as he looked when I opened the door. This is great for me, though. I'm not in the mood to argue with an angry Uchiha. I'm a morning person, and clearly, the sun is down. I take a long sip of wine.

"What do you have in mind?"

"No more games."

That, I'm definitely for.

"Agreed," I say. "Also, anything that happens in this building stays in this building."

He raises a brow but doesn't comment on it. "Fine."

"Anything else?"

"One question."

I hate that his voice sounds so velvety smooth right now. Must be the alcohol. "What is it?"

"Was there any bit of truth in our conversation at the cafe?"

Okay, unexpected. But that seems to be how the night is going. "What do you mean?"

He takes a sip of his wine before speaking. "I'd like to think of myself as a good judge of character." I scoff. He continues, eyeing me with a glare and ignoring that reaction. "And it looked to me that you do have a side of you that's averse to attention. Why is that?"

"Is it really surprising to you that I don't like being tabloid fodder?"

"You work at HMM."

"As you've mentioned." I roll my eyes. "I also made senior editor at twenty-five. Did you not see all of the drama when me and three other of my coworkers got promoted? I'd rather not relive that."

"Yet here we are."

"I know it's contradicting, since being open is part of my job, but I'd rather do that within my comfort zone."

"But you know this project requires you to step out of that." He takes his glass and walks around the counter to stand next to me, one hand on the counter. "You seem to love negating yourself."

I shrug. "Let's call it curiosity, then."

"Curiosity?"

"Isn't that why you took on this project?" I look at him directly, feeling brave. "To see if the 'ridiculous' woman who lives across from you had a different side?"

"Perhaps." He looks at me from above the rim of his glass, his eyes ablaze. My stomach flips all of a sudden. I'm not a lightweight, but fuck, I blame the alcohol. And the fact that his arms are out in full display. I see that there's no doubt he's a fitness editor, and against my better judgment, I bite the corner of my lip. Curse him and his good looks. He's wearing sweatpants that, to no surprise, are black to match his T-shirt. The shirt hugs his chest, and I wonder if his chest looks as delectable as his arms.

Delectable? Yeah, this is the alcohol talking. Definitely. Or it's Ino getting to me. Or both. Both, let's go with both.

He smirks, and I realize he's noticed my staring. "And did the ridiculous woman take the job for the same reason?"

"Perhaps."

He looks down at my robe again, and I, for some reason, stare at his lips. "It seems you're partial to red."

"Not to the extent of your obsession with greyscale, but yes. In the same way you're partial to red wine."

Was he always this close? And was the AC turned on? I try not to fan myself.

"Anything that happens in the apartment building stays, correct?"

I lick my lips. "Yes."

"Anything else you want to add?"

"Add to what?"

He looks amused. "To our agreement?"

"Oh," I swallow. Get yourself together! "Let's… Let's keep this professional."

"Define professional."

"I," I struggle to find the right words. "You know."

"Details are important, Haruno."

"You're an editor. You know what professional means."

"And obviously, we need to spell out everything to avoid having to do this again."

"Do you hate having to talk to me so much?" It's a stupid question, I know, but I'm trying to distract myself. This is somehow worse than seeing him in nothing but a towel because this time, he's close enough to touch, and I have no clue why I'm not thinking straight. Right. The wine. Of course.

"I'm finding that I don't detest it as much as I used to."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Take it as you will."

Did he always smell this good? Fuck, head out of gutter, self! I'm just tired. Yes, definitely.

His glass is almost empty. Mine's been empty. He takes one last sip, his eyes never straying from mine, and my throat dries. Fuck, what am I thinking?

"Is that all?"

"Nothing in this building gets written in an article?"

"For the third time, yes."

"Good."

Then his lips are on mine.

I'm warm all over. He tastes like red wine, tart, intoxicating. I hear the sound of his glass being placed on the counter and feel the back of his hand on my face before he cups it, somehow moving me closer to him.

My mind is screaming a hundred different things, but they all go ignored as my hand finds the front of his shirt, clasping him to me as though he's the best thing I've ever tasted. He just might be.

He explores my mouth in demanding, drugging kisses, and when his tongue finally slips between my lips, I hear a moan. Mine? His? It doesn't fucking matter.

His tongue circles mine, slipping and sliding in a perfect, seductive rhythm. I shouldn't be doing this, but goddamn is he good. I don't know how long this would have gone on, but a phone rings, and I pull away, the sound breaking me out of the trance.

His hand digs into his pocket, looking irritated at the interruption while I'm just standing still, completely floored at what just happened.

Because what the fuck.

Sasuke Uchiha just kissed me.

And I kissed him back.

And I liked it.

I shouldn't have had the wine.

I just hope my face doesn't match my robe. I've had too much red for tonight.

Note:

lmao im on a roll with this one.

And we getting close i promise, just a bit more ndhfsjdfhsdj

These two really just said fuck it, huh?

Also, thankfully, it looks like FFN has fixed it's issues. In case you missed it, Fade In chapter 16 is now up, as well as two oneshots that occur in the Eternal-verse. Happy reading!