Don't shoot me... I know I have stories practically sprouting from drain pipes these days but I was outside a few nights ago, sitting on the deck despite the viciously cold weather, a mug of black coffee clutched between by semi-frozen fingers just admiring the moonlight glimmering off the ocean and the glittering lights of the city across the harbour when I came up with this. Before, I'd even gotten back inside to defrost myself, I had the first two chapters already forming in my head and voila!
-Imperfect-
Warnings: AU. Het. Slash (meaning boy with boy in sexual relations.) Language. Violence. Adult situations. Suggestive dialogue. Possible Sex scene/s (FFnet safe only. The unedited explicit version would be postedelsewhere.) I'll see what you guys think about adding this later. As of right now, I'm undecided.
This story is definitely more suited to mature audiences. Un'beta'd!
I have warned you. If you are uncomfortable with any of this, then turn back now.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, written purely to entertain myself and (hopefully) whoever else stumbles upon this and finds it amusing.
Pairings, Top/Bottom: Keeping in mind that this refers to whose man bits go where. It has no bearing whatsoever on who may initiate contact, situations or who chases after whom. We good? Great.
Sasuke/random girls, Naruto-verse-guys/Naruto (These aren't set as of yet.)
Mentions of: Random guys/Naruto/Random guys, Naruto/Random girls
Eventual Sasuke/Naruto.
& Naruto + Sakura (they have a bizarre friendship that most would probably find questionable. You'll see why later.)
サスケxナルト
I
サスケxナルト
"Oi, bastard!" Naruto Uzumaki glared over at his utterly useless companion and let out a low growl when his call went ignored. Yet again. This was growing ridiculous.
He'd been standing there for several minutes now, brown paper bags stuffed with food for him and his jerk of a flatmate balanced precariously in long arms. Truth be told, the blonde could have put the bags down and worked from there, but he was known for making things more difficult for himself. Plus he wanted his flatmate to help him out, damn it. Naruto had gone out and done all the shopping. He was the one who hauled the bags—that were practically overflowing—into their apartment. He was the one that had struggled to get said full bags into said apartment and he was the one having to put everything away. Alone. Again. Although by now, he really shouldn't have been too surprised by this.
Sasuke Uchiha was a lazy arse.
Naruto had no idea how anyone viewed the extremely uptight being as anything but lazy, let alone all the positive epithets that were oh so often flung about whenever his flatmate was concerned.
Sure the guy aced every test he'd ever done; being a genius he didn't need to focus quite as hard as Naruto had to, which in itself wasn't fair. Sasuke worked out at the gym every day—while Naruto barely had the time to go twice a week—plus the other was a notorious playboy and slept with practically anything in a skirt and a big enough cup size, yet still he remained for the most part antisocial.
Life simply wasn't fair. Naruto was cursed. He was so damn sure of it. All he seemed to attract were perverts—women and men alike—with only the few that he himself were genuinely drawn to. Then whoever he was interested in met his flatmate and either fell instantly in love with the overbearing bastard or were out the door like the hounds of hell were out to get them.
Naruto never quite understood the latter reaction but figured that the newbies just didn't have the same immunity he himself possessed when it came to the older teen's death glares. Needless to say, Naruto hadn't gotten laid in a very, very long time.
"Hey, dickwad," he tried again, "you gonna help me with the groceries or what?"
Said dickwad turned eyes darker than midnight and regarded the struggling blond with the usual indifference. "You seem to be doing just fine."
Something in the paper bag moved threateningly and Naruto had to hurriedly readjust his hold, lest there be a disaster of catastrophic proportions—groceries style, with flattened tomatoes spraying their blood everywhere. It had happened before. The carnage was something Naruto was not eager to repeat. Mostly because he was the one to clean it all.
He frowned. "Bastard," he muttered and dumped the groceries on the bench. And it's five – nil to the prick. Again. No problem. A slight setback. The day was still young. This could be fixed.
Setting about putting the food away, Naruto decided on ignoring the other male who had remained unmoving from the breakfast bar and his stack of—what the younger took to be—study materials and notes, head of dark hair falling around his face.
They made the most unlikely pair of roommates. One fair-haired the other dark. Blue eyes to pure obsidian. His golden-peach coloured complexion to Sasuke's fair ivory. The half-blood German brat everyone had loved to hate and heart throb of the school.
It was sad, but things hadn't really changed much. Sasuke was still considered one of the most handsome young men of the country, on equal footing with his older brother, Itachi—which he absolutely hated and Naruto utterly loved, because very few people could best Sasuke in anything—and Naruto, well he was still mistaken as a kid and was always asked for I.D. It didn't help that he was shorter than Sasuke—though not by much, his eyes drew level with Sasuke's chin so about two inches give or take—and generally, not quite as built—again not his fault since he couldn't train non-stop like Sasuke could.
Ahh, the fate's loved irony.
But more than that, their completely clashing personalities. In every way the boys were polar opposites which made the whole concept of them being flatmates let alone friends more than unbelievable and perhaps a tad more than confusing. They were rivals from sixth grade through high school. But despite all their differences both had a certain understanding and tolerance of the other that most people never quite understood.
Kiba had once joked about opposites attracting. Sasuke had bloodied his lip and sat by himself in a corner and brooded. For days. Until Naruto was forced into smacking the other boy upside the head and recruited Sakura Haruno in assisting with Sasuke's issues.
It hadn't been pretty. The resulting war between Naruto's friends and Sasuke's fangirls in the school cafeteria was Epic. Food absolutely everywhere and managing to worm it's way into places Naruto had never imagined was possible. Two weeks later he was still trying to get the casserole surprise out of his hair and ears. No one won and he'd landed himself a detention for a week for being the instigator of the food fight but that same day Sasuke had smirked at the egg roll and ginger dangling from Naruto's golden hair. And all was back to normal.
"The old man called."
Halting his movements, Naruto turned to the other occupant of the room slightly surprised that the other was offering up any kind of conversation starter. Even if it was to simply pass on a message, in that deadpan of his. Often hours could pass without the other saying a word and he'd already spoken over his quota of the hour.
Naruto blinked when he found the other staring at him, looking rather annoyed.
Well, no real change there.
"The old perv?" Naruto asked, just to be certain. There were several 'old men' that may have called while he was out fetching food for himself and the undeserving boy seated across from where he stood.
"He wants you to go in to the club today."
Whatever pleasantness Naruto had almost been feeling melted away in an instant. To be replaced by annoyance at the old coot's nerve. "It's my day off!" He scowled, unhappily and ignored the heavy clunk of a can hitting the bench. "I had plans."
The other boy shrugged, uncaring. Not even the dreaded grunt mangling his windpipe as he spat it out.
Oh shit, speaking of plans. Spinning on his heel, Naruto hurled the rest of the groceries into their rightful places. Not really bothering at all with the canned goods. It would take more than his clumsiness to ruin that, luckily he had put all the vegetables away first. Sakura's gonna kill me if I'm late to lunch with her again!
And Sakura was not someone you wanted angry at you. The girl was freakishly strong and hit harder than most guys Naruto had gotten into fights with in the not too distant past. He would even risk losing a nut in saying that she hit about as hard as Sasuke did and the Uchiha had once broken through concrete. Granted, the slab wasn't that thick and he'd torn up his hand pretty badly because of it but the fact remained; he'd still shattered the concrete in an attempt to hit Naruto. The latter had never been so pleased that he'd dodged that blow. He'd likely be dead otherwise.
"You'll have to make your own dinner!" Naruto yelled, dashing from the kitchen to his bedroom down the hall. There wasn't enough time for him to change his clothing again before he met up with his closest girl friend for their usual lunch dates. "I doubt I'll be able to make anything before I go to work tonight."
Sasuke didn't answer him. No surprises there.
Glancing at the analogue clock on his bedside table, the nineteen year-old swore and grabbed a jacket—it would have to do—before he was tearing toward the kitchen and the small entrance hall just beyond. "And don't burn anything!"
He was out the door before Sasuke could react.
Patting down his pockets to check for both his wallet and car keys were still were he left them—he was notorious for losing both at the worst possible times—Naruto sprang down the hall to the elevator. There he commenced stabbing at the little silver button with an arrow pointing down in an attempt to get the thing to move faster. Never mind that it was extremely high-tech and faster than any other elevator he'd ever had the pleasure of using. Old habits die hard and he was running late. Who cared if he broke the thing? The entire complex cost an arm and both legs anyway, why not use it to his full advantage?
The elevator finally arrived and the blond dodged in. Fortunately, the large lift was completely devoid of all other life forms. He stabbed the down button again and waited—impatiently—for the mirrored box to descend.
サスケxナルト
"You're late."
That pronouncement in that particular tone never boded well for the blond and it echoed around the stark silver and white of the glitzy restaurant as he finally reached his companion.
Naruto cringed. "Sorry, Sakura-chan!"
The girl glanced up, faded rose coloured hair bouncing and pale jade eyes narrowing on him fiercely from where she sat, sipping her beverage. Very likely an alcoholic one. Being a med-student was apparently quite stressful. Being his friend even more so. Naruto couldn't really fault her.
"How do you manage to be late?" she asked, "I got here on time and I don't have a car like you."
"Blame the bastard," Naruto muttered and tugged at his hair, feeling guilty. Sakura was right, he had a car while she was forced to rely on public transportation to get herself around. Not everyone had the luxury of wealthy parents that tried to spoil you rotten, even when you were old enough to leave the proverbial nest.
Sakura turned shrewd eyes his way and smiled slyly; he hated that expression. It reminded him of himself. "But you still love him anyway," she observed.
The blonde groaned low in his throat. Things would have been a lot easier if he didn't. Like, if he'd stayed in love with Sakura.
"I know!" he admitted, feeling generous. His face flushing at the admission. It wasn't like Sakura didn't know how he felt; she'd been the first person he'd gone to when he'd begun to develop the conflicting emotions years ago. "How did you get over him?"
The girl paused, glass almost to her glossy, coral coloured lips. Her brows furrowed as she considered the question. "I just realised one day that I'd never get what I wanted from him," she confessed after a minute. "Of course, it wasn't quite as simple as that but it helped me work through my thoughts and I just..." she shrugged, obviously unsure how to complete the sentence.
Naruto slumped forward onto the table. Face buried in his hands. Well, that didn't really help him now, did it?
"Elbows off," came Sakura's command and Naruto jerked up, just in time for their usual waitress to come along with the menus. A slim, pretty young woman with her chestnut hair pulled up into two buns on either side of her head and warm chocolate-brown eyes.
"Oh hey, Tenten," he greeted with a grin.
"Do I even need to offer you these?" she smiled at them teasingly, waving the menus in her hand. "I know your orders off by heart now."
Sakura smiled up at her. "I'll have the usual, Tenten," she said, not bothering to look at the menu. "And I'll take a mineral water, too. No ice. Thank you."
Tenten bobbed her head, and whipped out a small writing pad and pen then jotted the order down. Though there really was no need. "And you, Naruto?" she asked, pen poised. "Same?"
"Yup!" he beamed. "And two glasses of tomato juice." At this, Sakura's brows arched in question.
Tenten nodded and noted it. "Spiced?"
"A little," Naruto agreed after a moment. "Not too much Tabasco. That shit just burns."
"Alrighties," Tenten confirmed. "So we've got a small vegetable tempura, rice and salad lunch box with a mineral water—no ice—and a large pork-katsu, rice, salad and miso soup lunch box with two glasses of mildly spiced tomato juice. We good?"
"Perfect," Sakura smiled.
"I'll be right back with your drinks," Tenten offered and bounced away
Naruto was immediately placed under the scrutiny of curious jade-green eyes. "What?" he questioned, an unease settling over him as the girl kept staring at him but saying nothing. "I ran out of orange juice half-way through the week and ended up drinking Sasuke's tomato juice," he explained. "It isn't half bad. Now I'm just used to it."
"Uh huh." Now Sakura's countenance was just plain smug.
"Jiraiya has me on tonight," Naruto stated, desperately wanting to change the subject. His hands had already made a mess of his napkin; the linen lotus flower mangled beyond recognition.
Finishing her glass—that Naruto was still highly suspicious of—Sakura frowned and slammed the thing down. God, she was even picking up her mentor, Tsunade's, behaviours. "Tonight was movie night," she complained. It almost came out a whine. "Did he say why you were needed?"
"Sasuke took the message. Surprised he even bothered to get that much," he conceded.
"I'm surprised he bothered to answer the landline," Sakura voiced. "Must be expecting an important call."
That hadn't even crossed Naruto's mind.
"And here we have your mineral water and tomato juice," Tenten beamed as she came back, bearing a tray with the three drinks on top. Placing them on the glossy, black lacquered table, she picked up Sakura's empty glass. "Is there anything else I can get you while you wait?"
Taking a sip of his juice, Naruto shook his head. "I'm good."
"That's fine, thanks."
"Okay." The waitress nodded. "Just holler if you need anything," she said and wandered off, hips swaying to some beat only she could hear, her head bobbing along as she went and if Naruto weren't so enamoured with his bastard roommate, he might have made an honest pass at her. Maybe.
"Ever consider asking Tenten out?"
It was just plain scary how sometimes Sakura seemed to read his mind like that.
"It really isn't hard to notice how her eyes light up when she sees you," Sakura added.
"And if everything goes wrong, we'll need to find a new restaurant to have our lunches at," Naruto reasoned. "I really like here."
"You also really like Ichiraku ramen."
"You don't."
"I could live with having it once a week."
Naruto scoffed. "Yeah, right. You're worse than Sasuke when it comes to eating healthy. 'Do you realise how much salt this contains? Naruto, really,'" he murmured, voice pitched higher in imitation of Sakura's. "'If you keep eating this, Naruto, you won't have to worry about saving for old age; you'll be dead long before.'"
The rose-haired girl looked downright scandalised. "I do not sound like that!"
"You do."
"I did not say that, either."
"You did."
Sakura shot him a glare. Knowing when to leave well enough alone—at least, when it came to the beautiful Sakura Haruno—Naruto shrugged.
"Now back to the Sasuke issue," the Med student went on. "How are your plans coming along?"
With a groan, Naruto's forehead struck the table and stayed there.
"Oh Naruto," the girl sighed. "You'll get over this."
"He doesn't make things easy," the blond muttered, head still pressed to wood. "When I find someone I like he either takes them from me or scares them off."
"Naruto," Sakura spoke softly, her hand resting comfortingly against his shoulder. He glanced up her; she was leaning across the table. Elbows on the table.
Sacrilege!
"If these people were so easily swayed by Sasuke, then they obviously weren't worth your time," she went on, ignorant to his side-rant. "You're worth much more than I think you even realise. You deserve someone who will love you unconditionally. Someone who won't fall for Sasuke or be scared off by him and I think I may know such a person."
The blond slumped back down. "No blind dates."
A frown marred the pretty girl's face. "Fine but I'll bring him by tonight when you're at work. It isn't a blind date if I just drag him along with me."
"How do you even know this guy?" Naruto questioned, feeling suddenly very protective of the girl in front of him. He may not be in love with her anymore, but he did still love her. If differently to the way he had before. She was the closest thing he'd ever had to a sister and would damn well make sure she wasn't hurt in any way.
"He's actually the little brother of an acquaintance I share classes with. Though she's a few years ahead of me."
Naruto nodded along. "And the brother?"
Here, Sakura faltered. "Apparently he's not really a people person. Stays in his office and works all the time. Doesn't really talk all that much... should be right up your alley!"
"Sakura-chan—"
"And he's definitely gay."
The Uzumaki wasn't even sure he wanted to know how she was aware of this guy's sexual preferences if she was only an acquaintance of the boy's sister. Acquaintances didn't usually share such personal information. Certainly nothing like that but it was clear that Sakura had been doing her homework. A subtle warmth flooded through him at the thought.
"All right, bring him with you," Naruto relented. "And Sakura?"
She had released his shoulder and was seated once more. "Hmm?"
"Thanks."
She offered him a smile. "I'll be over after class to help you pick out an outfit," she was quick to inform him. "You're not exactly fashion conscious. Better yet, give me your credit card and I'll go shopping for something for you. I know your sizes and everything."
"Hell no!"
It wasn't that he didn't trust her with his card, he just didn't trust her to simply pick out one decent outfit for him. She'd probably buy him everything that she thought would look good on him and he didn't want a whole new wardrobe.
"When was the last time you updated your clothing, Naruto?" she asked, seriously and Naruto found himself acutely aware that he hadn't really purchased anything new—excluding underwear—since he'd graduated from high school and moved in with Sasuke in their apartment. "Well?"
"Er..."
The pair were thankfully interrupted when Tenten returned bearing their lunch and a bemused expression. "Everything alright?" she queried, uncertainly.
"Let's eat!" Naruto hurriedly shot out and eagerly set about stuffing his mouth with his food as it was set before him. A full mouth was a mouth that couldn't answer questions he felt like ignoring. "Thanms Tmtm!"
"Naruto!" Sakura scolded. "Don't talk with your mouth full!"
I'm not sure about this one. I like it personally, because I've always wanted a story thats more "adult feeling" and to capture that "independance" I guess you could say despite the gang still being teens (19, actually,) and literally on the cusp of adulthood with adult problems and worries. Did I succeed? Perhaps, we'll soon see, huh?
I'm so bad. I really shouldn't be biting off more than I can chew but meh, I've always loved challenges.
So let me know your thoughts? Love it? Hate it? Con-crit, questions, reviews all that over jazz I really appreciate and helps feed my creativity. You've probably already noticed this though, all things considered.
Anyway, back to working on Sanctuary now.
BTW, who should Naruto's other love interest be? I can't decide on who I want to play with as I love all the Naruto boys. They make such wonderful toys.