Enjoy!
The Long Way Home
Part 4
Morio's Escape
Chapter 1/3
It was still a couple of hours before curfew when Naruto and Sasuke found themselves outside an indiscriminate building staring at boarded up windows and a decrepit looking sign informing them that this was or perhaps used to be a bar called simply 'Morio's Escape'.
"Interesting sense of humor," Sasuke noted dryly.
It had taken a lot of subtle snooping and a few threats of violence on Sasuke's part to even find the whereabouts of this place. Amaya hadn't ever met Morio himself and had only dealt with an aide called Sen and even then, by written correspondence only.
"Ne Sasuke, this place looks abandoned. Are you sure about this?"
"The people I questioned weren't lying. Well at least not by the second time I asked the question. Besides, he's a smuggler," Sasuke continued. "Do you really think he's going to advertise his business?"
"Well, you can call me stupid if you like, but he did put his name on the sign. Isn't that advertising?"
"Stupid, you have to know the name first. From what I can tell finding that name out is difficult enough. I suppose it's lucky Amaya did so much research for us first. Getting the name would have been the hard part. And it would have to look run down and neglected because bars are not strictly legal here, remember?"
"But Sasuke."
Sasuke ignored him after that and approached the worn looking door at the front of the building. The building itself opened onto a dark alley way presumably so people could keep their comings and goings secret. There wasn't a lot of light around after it got dark but as he followed Sasuke he could make out a little slot at around head height. When Sasuke knocked a complicated series of knocks, the slot opened to blackness.
"Business?" The darkness asked gruffly.
"We're here to see Sen," Sasuke replied coolly.
Naruto wondered why Sasuke hadn't just asked for Morio himself. He supposed Sasuke was thinking that asking for the boss might seem a little presumptuous.
The darkness regarded them silently for a moment while Sasuke glared back.
"If Sen sent for you he would have told me to expect you."
Well at least they were in the right place. Whoever was standing in the darkness on the other side of the door was pretty stupid for admitting that, even Naruto could see that.
"How else would we know where to find him?" Naruto countered.
The darkness contemplated this for a moment longer.
"What is your business with Sen?"
"Why does anyone come here?" Naruto asked pointedly.
Sasuke turned his head slightly and gave Naruto his best 'shut the hell up' look but Naruto ignored him. All this cloak and dagger stuff was making him nervous. Sasuke might feel at home dealing with the criminal underground, but he was not. If nothing else he hated the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to happen.
"You're customers for the club then?" The darkness asked curiously.
"Paying customers," Sasuke emphasized clearly.
The panel slid closed abruptly and just as Naruto began to figure that they had just lost their chance to get in, the whole door creaked open. Sasuke slipped inside without hesitation but Naruto was a little less eager to step into the darkness after him. But he did so after only a few moments hesitation and the door bumped closed after them. They were left standing in the darkness for about half a minute before another door opened opposite the one they had entered and light flooded into the dark little entryway as well as sound. It was music of a sort, deep and throbbing and unlike anything Naruto had heard before. As he followed Sasuke in through this new door the sound intensified and strange light hit his eyes. The effect was created by an odd mixture of light coming from an even number of white lights to red that resulted in a rather unpleasant mix of reds and pinks.
He had only walked a few steps inside when the door behind him closed and he distractedly walked right into the back of Sasuke who seemed to have stopped dead in his tracks.
"Sasuke what-?"
But as soon as Naruto stepped around Sasuke to see what was the matter he saw what had stopped Sasuke and his own question died on his lips.
"I think we now know why this place is so secretive," Sasuke mused.
The entire lack of women might have been a dead giveaway. The sight of a bar full of half naked men might have been another. The fact that quite a lot of those men seemed perhaps a shade over affectionate with each other just about told the whole story. Or so he thought.
"It's a brothel," Sasuke stated rather calmly.
"How the fuck do you know that?" Naruto asked getting over his initial surprise.
"Notice there is a distinct difference in clothing between what I assume are the workers versus the patrons. Plus a certain subservience too. I think we can assume that the men wearing the sheer white pants are in uniform."
Sasuke had a point but Naruto wasn't quite up to noticing the clothing status of the men in the bar yet. He was a little too fixated instead on what they were doing. There was nothing overtly sexual in the way they touched each other but the extent of touching was something Naruto had not been witness to before between men and women let alone men and men. it took some digesting.
"Let's find somewhere less conspicuous," Sasuke suggested.
Naruto tried not to stare as he followed Sasuke over to the bar. Sasuke sat on a bar stool as cool as can be and proceeded to look like he belonged there. That was one thing Naruto could openly admire about Sasuke, no matter where he was, no matter what the circumstance, Sasuke could act like he belonged almost anywhere if he so chose. It probably had a lot to do with his massive ego and great sense of self-entitlement, but Naruto wished in that moment he could mimic the behavior. Instead he sat on the stool beside Sasuke and watched his face bathed in a dusky shade of red and tried like hell not to look anywhere else.
"I don't get it," Naruto began, "Our weapons smuggler runs a brothel?"
Sasuke shrugged. "Why not? This entire bar is extremely illegal, breaking at least a dozen laws I remember reading about. Morio is obviously not afraid of breaking a few laws when smuggling so why not this too? It probably makes him more money than smuggling when you think about it. If you are a man who is not interested in women there are no outlets for your preferences anywhere in this country, apart from underground places like this, you would pay a lot of money for the services available in a place like this. Well at least it gives me a greater understanding about what Amaya might have meant about those who are politically persecuted. I had started to think she meant less 'specialized' criminals of the state."
"Well, I am a criminal as far as this country is concerned. You saw the posters Sachio put up."
A couple of days after Naruto's fight with Sachio, Sachio had apparently claimed that Naruto had sabotaged him, poisoning him before their fight. Of course it wasn't true but Sachio's ego had apparently taken a bitter hit and he wasn't about to let the world know he had been beaten so easily.
Luckily Amaya had left town the morning after the fight so she hadn't been drawn into it, but Sachio practically owned the town and apparently if he said Naruto had won nefariously, the local guardsmen had to act. Posters with Naruto's face had been plastered around town making the entire town a no-go zone for Naruto apart from after dark. Amaya hadn't been joking when she had said Sachio was a vindictive bastard.
"Yes but I think in light of new developments it has more to do with persecution because of sexual preferences. Not because you've been an overreacting moron with a hero complex."
Naruto frowned at Sasuke. "You can't blame me for Sachio. And anyway, what does your intelligent new insight get us?" Naruto asked sarcastically.
"Nothing really. And I can blame you for Sachio. Actually I thought it was pretty clear that I did."
"Bite me asshole."
"Well I suppose that would be one way to use this new insight, as you call it, to our own benefit."
"What? By biting me?"
"Only if you like the rough stuff," Sasuke said smirking.
Naruto spent a good few moments frowning at Sasuke before he simply gave up.
"I don't get it."
"Figures. I just meant we're guys. If Morio offers discounts to guys who like other guys we could always make him think we fit the bill."
Naruto couldn't help but laugh at that one. "Funny Sasuke. I doubt you could fake being friends with me for more than ten minutes let alone being in love with me. You almost had a stroke when I kissed your cheek."
"I didn't say we had to be in love with each other."
"Uh huh, sure. And what if Morio wants proof you're into guys? I really doubt he's gonna take your word for it. Heaps of people probably lie to get a cheap trip over the border." Apparently this hadn't occurred to Sasuke to judge by the ensuing scowl.
"I can fake it," Sasuke stated confidently.
"I doubt you could fake closeness with anyone, guy or girl."
"And you know me so well, huh?"
"Better than you think," Naruto replied honestly.
"Don't be so sure, dobe."
"Okay, prove it. Go feel someone up, I'm sure we've got enough money to spare on a grope or two."
"I'm not wasting money, we might need it."
"Just admit that I'm right."
"Hell hasn't frozen over yet. Besides, if he wants proof, then I will consider proving something. Until then I suggest we just play it by ear."
They spent a few moments longer at the bar trying to look inconspicuous while Naruto failed utterly.
He also managed to fail to keep his eyes either glued to his hands or on Sasuke. But he couldn't help looking around himself at the other patrons. Sasuke didn't try to hide his wandering eyes but Naruto was pretty sure his look of interest was faked, or if it wasn't he wasn't interested in the near naked flesh around him. Sasuke seemed to be searching for something and Naruto decided not to interrupt him. Instead his own eyes wandered and let his brain slide into several different states of confusion and weirdness.
He wasn't so naive, he understood that not every man was interested in women. He figured his curiosity had more to do with never having been in a brothel before regardless of whom it catered to.
The men in white pants walked around confidently, smiling at the patrons sometimes very seductively. All of them were good-looking men too. One in particular caught him looking and winked at him, which caused Naruto to go red and look away fast. Luckily for him just about everyone in the bar looked red under these lights.
He watched a few men lead patrons through a door near the back where he supposed the real fun was going on and frowned a little. He had only really been ribbing Sasuke before stating that Morio was going to want proof that they were really into this kind of thing but he was only just now beginning to realize how right he might have been. Sasuke might seem confident but Naruto wasn't so sure. About him or Sasuke. Sasuke looked like he was going to hit you if you touched his arm where as Naruto's current list of sexual accomplishments was decidedly blank. Plus what would it even be like to kiss a guy?
His frown deepened when he further realized he already knew the answer to this. Well if you could call mishaps of years past kisses anyway. He really wished he could see the funny in the fact that here they were worried they might have to kiss a guy to prove themselves when they'd already had practice with each other no less. But he was a little too nervous to really be amused.
"I think that might be Sen or another of Morio's aides," Sasuke told him gesturing casually.
Naruto watched the man Sasuke had indicated talk to one of the employees, write something down in a notepad before moving off to talk to someone else. He sure looked like someone who worked here though not in the same way the men in the white pants did.
"We should probably get this over with," Naruto said. "What's the plan?"
"Plan?"
"Well sure, we want the discount right?"
"Let's try just telling him first, if that doesn't work out we might have to either come clean or take it further depending on the reception he gives us."
"Just how far do you want to take this?" Naruto asked a shade nervously.
"As far as we need to," Sasuke replied in a determined tone. "We need to leave this country, the sooner the better."
Naruto followed Sasuke when he hopped off his bar stool and approached the worker he'd singled out.
"Are you Sen? I need to talk to Morio," Sasuke stated plainly, stopping in front of the aide just after he'd finished with another worker.
The aide looked surprised for a second before looking Sasuke over for a few moments more before his eyes flicked over to Naruto as well.
"Looking for work?"
Naruto almost bit his tongue at that question but it didn't seem to faze Sasuke in the least thankfully.
"No. Looking for transport."
The man frowned. "Morio is a busy man. I can try and make an appointment for next-"
"It's an emergency," Sasuke interrupted rudely.
But if the man took offense he didn't show it. Instead he looked at them both again.
"Are you two together?"
It was asked in such a way that even Naruto realized the man wasn't just asking whether they were traveling together. He wanted to know if they were together, together.
"Yes."
Well Naruto supposed that was one way to deal with it. What better proof than the say so of your supposed boyfriend or whatever? Well it beat having to kiss someone he guessed.
"Your names? And don't lie, it's only a formality anyway, but it's best not to start the relationship with a lie. It looks unwilling and I'll know if you do."
Naruto was sure Sasuke could have told the man their names were Spot and Rover with a straight face but apparently Sasuke was willing to share if it helped their situation.
"Sasuke. This is Naruto."
"Follow me please."
They were taken to some couches towards the back of the club where a neatly groomed man with dark brown hair and a casual air and smile was talking to an employee. Sen made them wait till the conversation was over before taking them over and introducing the pair and gesturing for them to take a seat.
After Sen relayed Sasuke's request to Morio the man smiled knowingly and sat back in his seat.
"I suppose you heard about our special rates for people in your situation?"
Sasuke nodded. "We need to get over the border. You came recommended by someone for people in our situation."
Morio looked for all the world like a man who hadn't believed them from the moment they had sat down opposite him. Sasuke would have been blind not to see the unbelieving expression and Naruto wondered if this meant they should continue the farce or come clean and hope telling the truth would win them pity points.
"Sen tells me you two are together. But looking at you now I find it hard to believe you two even like each other let alone fuck each other."
It took Naruto's brain more than a moment to turn itself back on and was probably helped along by Sasuke roughly pinching his side where Morio couldn't see.
It was probably nervousness more than anything that made him do it, but he put on a big smile and threw his arm around Sasuke's neck drawing him closer rather aggressively.
"Are you kidding me, in private we can barely keep our hands off each other."
It was like he could hear Sasuke's desperate want to roll his eyes in the soft sigh Naruto heard but he didn't know what else to do but just keep grinning.
"Uh huh," Morio replied obviously unconvinced. "That's strange because to look at you two I would say that you, Naruto, are about a second away from a heart attack which is a good thing because Sasuke looks like he wants nothing more than to kill you for touching him anyway.
"Fine," Sasuke admitted removing Naruto's arm apparently deciding on the truth tactic instead, "We aren't escaping persecution but we do need to get over the border."
So much for Sasuke's bravado at proving himself. Naruto had barely touched him and he'd flaked. Of course Sasuke might also realize that trying to convince someone who knew you were lying would probably not endear yourself to that person much either. But no matter, seeing Sasuke's determination falter so quickly was almost worth it for the ribbing material later.
Morio smiled at them. "Well, talk."
"We don't have papers either," Sasuke told him clearly not enjoying the sharing or admitting how much they needed the help.
"Then how ever did you two get into this country?"
"We'd like to know that too," Naruto muttered before Sasuke pinched him again. "Ow."
"It doesn't matter how we got in. We want to get out."
"How much do you have?"
"A hundred or so den."
"Well to make the crossing, you two are about five thousand den short and that's being generous. You could always come back when you've scraped together the money."
"We can't wander around the countryside," Naruto put in.
"Why?" Morio asked curiously.
But Naruto didn't need Sasuke's pinch to tell him to shut up this time. If they told Morio that Naruto was a wanted criminal he might decide they were worth more to him by turning them in. Risky business for a man like Morio to have anything to do with the government, but perhaps worth it for the bounty.
"We need to get home," Sasuke told him. "We don't have the time."
"Well boys, then I don't know what I can do for you. I've never ferried someone across the border for such little money before."
"There's always Jannison," Morio's aide said, speaking up for the first time since introducing the pair to Morio.
Naruto might not know what the hell Jannison was but the name did give Morio pause and watch both of them speculatively for a moment.
"Well maybe," he said eventually. "But I doubt you two will like it."
"What is it?" Sasuke asked before Naruto could.
"Not a what, a who. And his preferences...well they are getting hard to fill these days."
"He's a client," Sasuke guessed.
Naruto went pale. Did Morio want one or the other of them to whore themselves to some stranger just so they could get across the border?
"Forget it," Naruto said decisively getting to his feet. "Neither of us are fucking some weird client of yours to make up the money."
"I didn't say anything about fucking and whatever you did wouldn't be with him because he'd much rather watch. Never fear, I wouldn't want to stress your straightness," Morio told them both with an odd kind of smug smile.
"Watch what exactly?" Sasuke asked leaning forward.
Naruto wanted to yell at him, what the fuck did Sasuke think he was doing? There was no way either of them were doing anything like this, no matter what. This was way more than just kissing someone.
"He's very specific, he likes to watch inexperienced men and he likes it even more if it seems... reluctant."
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Naruto exclaimed wishing Sasuke would just get up so they could get the hell out of here already.
"So?" Sasuke asked.
"So my boys can't hide their experience. They are frankly terrible actors and ones Jannison has seen on multiple occasions anyway. For months now he has been requesting new boys to play out his fantasy with ever increasing amounts of money offered but there is little I can do in a society like this."
"You said no sex?" Sasuke clarified.
"No sex. A blow job or hand job on the star actor will suffice."
Sasuke nodded. "I'll do it."
No wonder Morio thought Naruto looked close to heart failure because he was pretty sure his heart had just stopped entirely. Sasuke seemed determined to get out of this country but this was just too much.
"Tempting," Morio mused. "You are lovely to look at Sasuke, but I can't imagine you would act the innocent boy well enough. Your eyes are too hard. No, this invitation was mainly for Naruto."
And now he'd stopped breathing too.
"Sasuke please get up so we can leave," Naruto pleaded tightly.
Sasuke did get up after finally looking up to see the expression on Naruto's face. But the silent pensive look on Sasuke's face was still unsettling.
"Think on it," Morio encouraged. "Of course if it would smooth things over I can always cast you both if Naruto is going to be shy about play acting with a professional. You want to pretend you are both that close to each other after all, well, here's your chance."
It was about this point that Sasuke had to lead Naruto out of the club with a hand on his arm because Naruto's brain had just shut down as well.
When they got out into the warmer though clearer air outside the club Naruto sucked in a deep breath of air and willed his heart to restart.
"Well, so much for that," Naruto commented forcing a lighter tone.
Sasuke however looked thoughtful as he stared up at the sign of the club.
Naruto frowned. "I'm only going to tell you this once Sasuke, I'm not going to get molested by some stranger while another one watches and strokes his hard on. Actually I never thought that would be something I'd have to tell anyone in my entire life, ever."
"We can't get over the border by ourselves."
"We're ninja Sasuke, of course we can!"
"We aren't ninja at the moment, not really."
"We can still fight."
"Not an army."
"Sasuke, no!" He'd meant that to sound firmer and without that note of pleading he'd unwittingly used.
Sasuke sighed. "I don't know what else we're going to do. Maybe we can talk him into using me after all."
"For fucks sake, no!" Well that was firm enough.
"Why not, what do you care?"
"I just do, okay."
"Men and women do this job every day to feed their families and earn a living, it's not shameful or bad if you've chosen to do it of your own free will. Besides, I don't get what the big deal is, it's just for show."
"You of all people can't be trying to talk me into this," Naruto said unbelievingly. "You couldn't even go two seconds in there after all that confidence about tricking him without giving us away."
"So you can think of another option? The more we stay here the more risky it gets. Plus it's not like you have to do anything to someone else, they'll be doing it to you. And there's no sex involved."
"You think it makes it better cause I'm not going to be..."
"Penetrated?" Sasuke offered and it was then that Naruto noticed Sasuke was actually trying very hard not to smile. It was subtle but the amusement was there. Trust Sasuke to actually look amused for once over such an embarrassing thing.
"This isn't funny teme!" Naruto told him trying to sound severe and not to smile at Sasuke's expression. It was too odd though to see Sasuke so amused and the tension from inside the club made him feel like either hitting something or laughing just to ease his emotions.
They watched each other for a moment longer each one trying to keep a straight face before Naruto gave in and started laughing. It might have been a little hysterical sounding on Naruto's part but he was still a little freaked out. however, the tension break did him wonders and when he looked at Sasuke again he saw Sasuke actually smiling.
"You wouldn't be talking about it if it was some girl that was going to be jerking you off," Sasuke told him.
"Yes, I would," Naruto replied before thinking. But it was true, it didn't really matter to him who was going to be doing whatever to him just that it was happening. Guy or girl, it made little difference, it was still going to be uncomfortable and forced.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, whatever, we should get out of town, the curfew is about to begin."
TBC
