She has a way about her that Itachi finds to be reckless.
Both of her best friends are males. Maybe that gives her some false sense of security, some leverage with the opposite sex that she wields when she wants and when it's useful.
Or she's truly ignorant of how men think.
She gets a bit too loose and too flippant around men in general, with too few boundaries and too little sense. Itachi watches her through the colorful hues of dark liquor on the rocks. She's not exactly flirting with the men at her table, but she's smiling and touching and leaning into them when she laughs. He frowns because she doesn't see the way one of them inch a bit closer, throwing his arm around her chair. Or maybe she does and pretends she doesn't just to give them some false hope that she's interested.
On the second inspection, he goes with the latter.
Itachi takes a sip of his drink, eases a hand into his pocket, and tuts to himself.
He's known her for several years off and on because of his brother. Itachi doesn't pay much attention to the people Sasuke brings into the house, especially not the women. Not because they are of the unruly sort but Itachi's job requires that he keep a low profile. So he doesn't mingle for work reasons, leaving his brother to his escapades. But this one isn't like the rest. She comes and goes and hits his brother upside the head sometimes and sleeps on their sofa like she owns the place. Itachi's gone downstairs several times to get coffee only to find two feet half dangling off the armrest, her pink hair a mess, and drool on his couch. No, she's not like the rest because she doesn't fall for his brother's nonsense, always comes with the blond one, and has the audacity to drool on suede.
One of the guys makes their move and Itachi doesn't think she'll go for it. Green eyes sparkle with too much mischievous to be taken in by such a dull approach. She isn't flirting with them but she isn't stopping them from flirting with her, which is worse in his opinion. Sakura bids herself time by saying something that allows her to be excused. She grabs her purse, smiles a pretty smile that leaves behind three finished martinis that never come from her wallet. Itachi reasons she tells them she's going to the bathroom. Like the lust blinded idiots they are, they fall for it, plotting to themselves as she walks away. Itachi snorts quietly, finishes his drink, pays then eases off the stool to catch her outside before she can make an escape.
"Oh my god, don't do that!"
The way Sakura startles when he just barely grazes her elbow gives him some odd satisfaction. At least he now knows she's more aware of her behavior than previously assumed.
"I thought you were one of those guys," her cheeks puff with the cold of winter air and embarrassment. Sakura crosses her arms over the thin straps of a red dress, fitted, split from the knee up on both sides, and gaudily glittery.
It's pretty, he admits to himself. Sakura has the frame for it. But he frowns in disappointment because she wears it on an evening that promises snow. He narrows his eyes.
"That wouldn't please you?" Itachi questions in low tones, purposely standing in such a way that the only thing visible from the door is his back.
Sakura has the nerve to look offended, "Please me? What? Of course not! Those guys are creeps."
"You didn't seem to think so earlier."
"Were you watching me?"
Itachi eases from his thick, custom-made, initial embroidered in the sleeves peacoat. "I could see you from my seat."
Sakura takes his coat with the same familiarity she interacts with the men. Itachi is inclined to give her a pass. They've known each other for several years, mostly in passing but still.
"Then you should've come over sooner," she mutters under her breath, huffing out white mist in the process.
Itachi raises a brow, surprised. "And interrupt?"
Sakura shoots him a glare but it looks somewhat childish coming from someone half-drowned in a coat nearly twice her size. He's seen her look that way at Naruto and Sasuke sometimes. Annoyed, entitled, and a little too spoiled for her good.
His fingers twitch like they haven't in a while but Itachi smoothly pockets them. Not the time. Not the place. Not the person.
"If you saw that then you saw everything else," Sakura's retort feels anger for unknown reasons. He hasn't done anything.
Itachi tilts his head, raises his brow, and wonders who the hell she thinks she's talking to?
"Before or after you let them pay for your third drink? Or perhaps before you started plotting to ditch them?"
She balks, spinning on black heels to look him square in the eye.
"Before, you idiot, when my date never showed and left me in a fucking bar alone. What? Did you think I just came here looking for suckers to pay for my drinks?"
A part of him does, actually. He thinks she's far too good at it for it not to be some pattern of behavior. But, he supposes women can have that effect on stupid men by just existing. This is why he finds her calling him an idiot a bit irritating. Itachi would never.
The door to the bar swings open. Itachi's been keeping an eye on the guys through the frosted window so he knows who's stepping outside. Sakura, on the other hand, squeaks with panic. Then she unceremoniously rushes closer to him, grabs him by the neck, and pulls him down. Itachi has seconds to realize what's happened and seconds more to shiver from cold lips attempting to extract a real kiss from him.
The men behind him curse. Sakura fakes a moan. And because Itachi is much better at this game than she is, he decides to teach her a lesson. Because if you're going to flirt, then flirt with some class. If you're going to kiss a stranger, well, choose someone who isn't fond of playing games and winning. Because Itachi almost always plays for keeps.
A gloved hand skirts over skin-tight glittery material, the other goes straight for the back of her neck. This time when Sakura gasps it's because he yanks her closer and gets a fist full of pink hair, twisting and tugging until her mouth opens wide enough for him to kiss her. Her tongue is much warmer than her lips. Itachi keeps his eyes half-open when his tongue presses and slides and fights and wins, and her shock vibrates in the back of her throat. He watches her eyes snap shut, color rushing into her face, and her body sink. Itachi really wishes the gloves weren't in the way so she could feel the nails against her neck. Not that it changes much or that Sakura isn't damn near consumed. She grabs his shoulder, tugging his shirt, asking for more, trying to keep up. He bites her lip and Sakura's moan sounds a lot more real this time.
"Did she fucking leave?"
"C'mon let's go to another bar. This place is shit."
Itachi listens for them to shuffle away, half focused on Sakura digging her nails into his shirt. When they leave, he stops abruptly. Sakura groans, half-drunk, half-dazed, half dominated. Itachi thinks it is almost perfect. Not that she is almost perfect. She's his brother's friend who drools on his suede couch and never flirts with the men who flirt with her. But his work is nearly perfect, rushed but effective. She watches him with misty green eyes. Itachi detangles himself as if nothing ever happened.
"Erm. Thanks for taking the hint," she smiles shyly and he's half a word away from rolling his eyes at her insinuation, "A little too well, actually. Gotta say you kiss better than your brother."
Itachi blinks, surprised. He never would have guessed they kissed.
A car pulls up and she turns her gaze as it comes to a slow stop where they stand. Her phone buzzes and Itachi has the decency to look away when she finishes it out of the top half of her dress.
"That's my ride," Sakura announces, steps off to the side then stops. "Do you…want this back?"
She gestures at his coat. Itachi considers then speaks.
"Bring it back when you visit Sasuke." Itachi orders.
Sakura nods, "Okay."
It lacks the 'yes sir', but Itachi lets it slide. She isn't really a part of his game but she tried to make him a part of hers. Itachi will be damned if he lets that happen.
"Tomorrow," he adds for good measure.
Sakura nods again, obediently. She waves him off with a smile and painted nails. As the car pulls off, Itachi wonders what kind of man would stand her up.
A/N: I did a thing and it's cursed and I don't know. One minute I was reading a Jujutsu Kaisen ff on AO3 and the next minute, I'm typing this monstrosity. So, um, Merry Christmas? I'm still working on the Vow Of Flowers. She is not abandoned. But you know like, when you get a story itch and you gotta scratch until it stops? Yeah. Okay. I'll see my way out. Bye!
-CeCe ^^