Sasuke watches intently as a pretty, pink tongue licks a dash of salt off a moistened hand. A shot glass is placed against her lips, and the clear liquid is downed in a single gulp. If he hadn't known better, he would've had a hard time believing her claim that she never drank tequila before tonight. But he is well acquainted with this shy, innocent girl. They've known each other since they were toddlers, as their mothers were friends and they grew up in the same neighborhood. He knows her well enough to know that she doesn't lie and never drank, at least that's what he remembers from their high-school years.
He counts the empty shot glasses.
One, two, three. The fourth glass leaving her lips slams against the wooden countertop. A dainty index finger signals the bartender for another shot.
He isn't one to babysit, but he feels responsible for her current binge drinking.
"You've had enough," Sasuke picks up the fifth, untouched drink that the bartender had just served.
Frowning with her gaze downward, she reminds him, "Wasn't this your idea? You told me I would feel better if I drank my sorrows away." Hinata pauses for a moment, fingers circling the rim of the empty glass, "Guess what? I still feel awful."
He swivels on the bar stool in an attempt to dodge her as she tries to reach for the shot glass, "You're twisting my words. I said one drink will ease some of your tensions."
Hinata giggles when the shot glass tips forward from the hasty rotation, spilling a quarter of the contents onto Sasuke's denim jeans.
"Serves you right," she mutters but with no real hostility behind her tone.
Sasuke frowns at the mess he made.
"You look like you wet yourself," Hinata tries to suppress her laughter by covering her mouth.
feigning annoyance, Sasuke responds to her juvenile reaction, "Good to know that you're easily amused by the misfortune of others",
"Whatever. Are you going to finish that or continue serving it to your crotch?" Hinata quips, much to Sasuke's surprise. It seems alcohol brought out her snarky side. But as entertaining as it was, he didn't want to be held responsible for the drunk aftermath.
He finishes the spilled drink, grimacing at the aftertaste. He wanted to get fucked up, but not from alcohol, however, he wasn't one to waste liquor he paid for.
He ignores her pouting when he places the empty glass onto the counter. He then fishes his cell out of his pocket to let his friends know that he was ready to leave. As he is waiting to pay for their tab, from the corner of the eye he notices Hinata staring forlornly in the direction of the dance floor. He leans in a few inches, where he is close enough for her to hear him over the music, "Don't waste your time on someone who would rather be with someone else."
Tears once again begin to pool in her lilac eyes.
She shakes her head in disagreement, "Maybe it's not as it seems."
Women and the excuses they made to rationalize their emotions, "I think everyone here and everyone who knows Naruto, is aware that he wants the pink demon. I for one, don't get it but-," He's cut off by a rough slap on his back.
"Yo, let's bounce," Jugo nods his head in Hinata's direction, "Is the sad elf with you?"
Sasuke shrugs his shoulders, "Kinda."
Suigetsu arrives a few moments later. He extends his hand toward Hinata, "Suigestu." Hinata shyly accepts the friendly gesture and introduces herself.
"This fucker making you cry?" Suigetsu moves a little closer. Hinata quickly wipes away the moisture from under her eyes.
"I can help you forget your sorrows. Wanna come to my after party." Sasuke elbows his drunk friend. There is no way he was going to allow this drunkard around a woman who was in no state of mind to defend herself. "Fuck off, Suigetsu. I'll meet up after I get her home."
Suigetsu smiles deviously, "Have fun, lil elf." He winks suggestive at Hinata, who flushes under his leering gaze.
After the tab at the bar is paid, Sasuke reverts his attention to Hinata, "Let's go." He nudges her elbow to follow. She does as is told, hands on the walls to help her from tipping over.
"Where are we going?" Hinata questions while waiting patiently for Sasuke to retrieve his coat.
"Home."
"To Konoha?"
"No." It's at least a two hour drive to their suburbs, he had no intention or reason to make that drive tonight. He nudges her again to exit the building, "Are you staying on campus?"
She nods her head, slightly confused.
"Care to share where exactly?"
"Ummm across there," she points to the brightly lit library in the distance.
"You stay in the library?" He asks impatiently.
"No, that's my dorm." She says with confidence.
He sighs in annoyance, he tries a different approach, "Did you come to the bar with a friend?"
"Yep, with Karui." Sasuke wishes he asked this question earlier, as he might have been able to leave the bar with his friends rather than have a near one-sided conversation with a very drunk woman. But at least now he could easily pawn her off on Karui, whoever she was.
"Let's go find her."
"We can't. She left with Santa." His hopes of being free are dashed put the window. "And she isn't responding to my texts." Hinata shoves the brightly lit phone in Sasuke's face, "See!"
Momentarily blinded, he grabs the phone from her grasp.
He exits the text logs and swipes open her contact list. He scrolls down until he reaches the desired contact.
Hinata hears the faint sound of an outgoing call, "Who are you calling?"
"Come on," Sasuke ignores her question and moved forward.
Hinata staggers forward, tripping over her own feet. He moves quickly enough to catch her at the waist before she falls face forward onto the sidewalk. Unfortunately, Hinata's cellphone slips out of his palm during the dash forward.
"Graceful as ever," he mutters while holding her steady, "you good?"
She nods her head in return, "Thanks for saving me."
Once she seems somewhat stable, he picks up the shattered phone and tucks into his jacket pocket. His hand then goes back to her waist as he guides her forward.
Sasuke ignores the amused looks of the drunk college students exiting the bar.
After a short distance of walking, that took way longer than it should have, they reach his car in the parking lot. Hinata winces under the bright fluorescent lights as her eyes adjust to the new surroundings. Her eyes widen comically upon seeing the sleek car, "Is this yours?"
He opens the passenger door and instructs her to "get in."
Clumsily she climbs in, "How could you afford this?" She palms the sleek interior.
"Drug money," he responds with a blank stare. He is unable to contain a chuckle at her aghast expression. She was still innocent and naive as he remembers her.
"But Itachi-nii and Mikoto-san would be heartbroken," she says sullenly.
"I'm kidding, Hyuga. I'm rich and so are you." Sasuks slips into the driver's seat. He leans over to buckle her seatbelt then buckles himself in.
"I'm not. I can barely afford food some days." Hinata laments.
Sasuke shifts the gear and exits the parking lot, "Hiashi still being Hiashi?" Sasuke knew the ins and outs of being the bane of a disappointed parent's life.
"Get a job." He says, even though he never dreamed of working while in school.
"Chichiue would never allow it."
"Guilt Neji into paying your bills." If her older cousin still fawned on her like he did when they were teens, Sasuke was sure he was probably already begging to take care of her.
"I would never. Neji works hard for his money. I couldn't." She pauses, placing her hand on her chin. Sasuke wonders if she is willing to give his suggestion a try. "Wait, is this Itachi-nii's car?" She shoves him slightly, "You're such a liar. You're as poor as I am. You're just a fancy mooch."
"I'm driving. No shoving." He can't help but to smile at the joy radiating off her face from learning of their shared financial predicament.
Hinata settles back into her seat and peers out the window, "Where are we going?"
"You won't tell me where you live, so I'm taking you to Neji's. He lives in my building."
"You mean Itachi's building?" Hinata snickers. Her joviality quickly dies down several minutes later as Sasuke exits the freeway and drives within the city landscape, "No. Take me back. I can't let Neji-nii see me like this." She looks down at her skimpy outfit in panic.
"Too bad. We're here." He drives down the ramp into the basement of a residential building.
"Please, Sasuke. I promise I'll find my way back to my dorm, or sleep in the library."
He exits the car but she remains rooted, "Dressed like that? No. Get out."
Reluctantly she climbs out and silently follows him inside.
Outside a gray nondescript door, Sasuke waits for the owner to respond to his knocking.
"He's probably home in Konona," Hinata whispers, hiding herself from the peephole. Sasuke reasons she is probably right, since he also didn't respond to the call he made from Hinata's phone.
"Fuck." Sasuke groans. It was too late for this shit. He just wanted to get high and forget his problems for one night. Now that possibility was out the door, "Come on."
Two floors up, Sasuke opens the door, inviting Hinata into a two-bedroom condo.
"You can sleep in the guestroom. It's down the hall to your right." Sasuke heads over to the open concept kitchen to hand her a bottle of water.
She chugs it down quickly. After she is finished, she lightly burps and covers her face in embarrassment, "I'm such a mess."
"Sasuke?"
"Hn?"
"I feel sick." She clutches her stomach and Sasuke immediately panics, dreading what's about to follow.
He acts quickly, dragging her down the hallway. He doesn't have enough time to lift the toilet lid, as she vomits into the bathtub. His stomach grows queasy at the stench but he remains in the washroom holding her hair as she pukes up bile. At least it would be easy to wash away.
He steps out the washroom to grab her a towel and a change of clothes. When he returns he finds her asleep on the floor. He stoops down next to her, "Wake up, Hinata." She pushes his hand away, seemingly content on the cold, tiled floor. The scent of liquor and vomit fills the room. He's tempted to keep her filthy body in that part of his home, but pity and guilt gets the best of him. He hauls her up, gently lifting her into his arms. He drapes her in a bathrobe before he dumps her onto his bed. Hopeful that the thick cotton would soak up the lingering traces of vomit and prevent it from making contact with luxurious bed.
After he's tucked her under the bedspread, she reaches out to grab his wrist.
"Why doesn't he want me, Sasuke?"
He should be annoyed by her weakness, but in the dark, under the thick covers, Hinata looks frail and vulnerable. She's just a young woman looking for the one thing her father failed to offer. A longing he is familiar with, but one he fights against. He should tell her to chin up and not give a fuck, but instead he says, "Because he's stupid." And he means it, Naruto with all his fuck ups, is lucky to have someone as genuine as Hinata to care for him. Naruto is just too dumb to realize her worth.
Another short chapter. Next chapter will probably have a bit more drama. Would love your feedback!
