Edit: November 13, 2005: Betad Version Up.
Disclaimer: So, because Kisame is such a wonderful…'person'… I now have a right kidney, albeit a shark-man's right kidney. The doctor said it will work just fine and if I'm going to lose any more organs I should aim to lose my appendix; apparently it's the least needed. So, here goes nothing…I own nothing! (Loses left kneecap)
…er…
(Collapses)
Medic!
Summary: There's a fine line between Rival and Friend and an even finer line between Friend and Lover. Sasuke refuses to cross any of these lines with Naruto, but fate seems to have it in for him. School fic NaruSasu
Warnings: Slash/Shounen Ai/Yaoi, occasional swearing and knowing me some eventual angst. I promise I'll try to make this my first humour fic! WISH ME LUCK!
Crossing the Line
Preview:
"Great, now we just need the skies to open up and release typhoon worthy rains upon us, because I figure this day can't get any worse." I don't notice the car that pulls up until I hear his voice and see his victorious smirk.
"Little brother, it seems that you've missed your bus…how… tragic…"
Murphy and his fucking law are now officially on the top of my 'to kill' list.
Chapter 7: Commitment?
Naruto and I are both sitting on his couch awkwardly.
"Itachi's not that bad…" Naruto attempts, pathetically trying to keep the horrified look from his face.
"And Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei aren't dating." I respond sarcastically.
"They're what?" Naruto glances at me and raises an eyebrow.
"Dating. They always come into Itachi's bar together and do…stuff…" I supply rather awkwardly as the thought of Naruto and I doing…stuff…pops into my head. I really need to kill my libido.
"No kidding!" He exclaims, staring at me with his mouth wide open.
"They're Itachi's favorite customers." I shrug before noting the return of the all too familiar discomfort we just managed to breach…
"Itachi's not that bad…"
oOoFlashbackoOo
The corners of Itachi's lips are lifted about a tenth of a millimeter as he watches Naruto in his rearview mirror. I'm sitting in the seat behind my pig-headed brother with my arms crossed over my chest and my best 'I'm not pouting, I'm just pissed' face firmly in place. Naruto is sitting beside me, awkwardly fiddling with his fingers while trying to ignore Itachi and answer his insistent questions at the same time.
"So…Naruto," The name rolls off Itachi's disgusting tongue and I can tell he's savoring the taste, "Have you ever considered working at a bar…?" Naruto glances at me the way he has after every question and I shrug, fully aware that Itachi wants Naruto as more than a bartender.
"Uh, not really. I can't make drinks." His truthful innocence is cute; I'd even be smirking if Itachi weren't in the car with us.
"Oh, I'm sorry, perhaps I was unclear," Itachi chuckles softly, his 'flirty giggle', "I didn't mean as a bartender, I meant as an exotic dancer." He raises one delicately sculpted eyebrow (the narcissistic ninny) smoothly and awaits Naruto's response. I can almost hear his boner growing.
Pervert.
After a moment of silence on Naruto's behalf, I glance at the blonde from the corner of my eye… and lo and behold, he's catatonic… again.
"Damnit Itachi! You made him go brain-dead again!"
oOoEnd FlashbackoOo
"Other than me, Itachi's probably the most functional member of our family." I state wryly, glancing at Naruto and standing, "You have any beverages?" It takes a moment for him to process my question, but he eventually jumps up, nodding.
"Yeah I do." He leads me around the couch and to his kitchen, which just so happen to be the same room. His apartment is small. I like it. It doesn't feel empty.
"So what do you want? I have…water…water with ice…and water with green dye in it to make you think it's not water." He pulls his head from the fridge with a grin, "Psychological mind games," he explains and commences doing weird movements with his hands that I assume are supposed to be 'psychedelic' before leaning against the fridge door to await my response.
"I'll have whatever you're having." I smirk at his disappointed face and move out of his way as he closes the fridge and goes to retrieve two cups.
"You're no fun." Naruto mutters turning the cold-water tap on, running it over his finger until it's cold enough to be satisfactory, and slipping the cups under the jet stream of clear liquid. Once the cups are full, he hands one to me and keeps one for himself.
"Your beverage." He says smirking. I raise an eyebrow, maneuver my way through the piles of unwashed laundry and random manga, and flop onto his couch.
"Thank you…" I'm glancing at him warily as he follows my example and relocates to the sofa as well.
"Hey Sasuke?" He's eyeing me seriously, but the mocking twinkle in his eye sets me on edge.
"Yes…" I'm suspiciously leaning away from him now.
"Who the heck says beverage!" He cries out unexpectedly with a laugh. I glower at him and do anything but pout, insulted; just because I have better grammar than him gives him no reason to make fun of me.
'He's just jealous of my superior language skills,' I decide resentfully.
"It's not that funny." I place my drink on the table and lean back with my arms crossed, prepared to stay silent until Naruto grows up, even if it takes all evening.
"So you say." He counters, abandoning his own cup to the coffee table. Realizing that I'm giving him the silent treatment, Naruto inclines towards me with an apologetic smirk and pokes me in the stomach. "Quit pouting." He requests in a playful tone.
I'm about to object to his insinuation that I would pout, but the retort dies on my lips when I look up at him.
Naruto is staring at me and biting his lip irresolutely. It feels as if he's asking me for permission for something…
…His hand is still lingering on my stomach…
I raise an eyebrow and uncross my arms, confused.
I hear the sound of a deep breath being drawn and before I realize what is happening, Naruto has lowered his head to my stomach and is laying on me; actually, laying down on me! I'm torn between ripping him to shreds and wrapping my arms around him.
Once again, why do we have libidos? They're out to ruin our lives!
Being the manipulative Uchiha that I am, I decide to use this moment of naturalness to my advantage and begin gently rubbing his back.
'Denial,' a little part of my mind accuses, but it is quickly smothered by my pride. I'm using him for ulterior motives, not rubbing his back because I feel some semblance of affection towards him…
"Naruto?" I ask softly, continuing the soothing circles with my hand.
"Hm?" The sensation of his eyebrow rising tickles my stomach and I smirk, quelling the tiny laugh in my throat.
"Why's Gaara mad at you about our convenient 'relationship'?"
His muscles tense beneath my hand as I expected them to, but he doesn't pull away, or move for that matter, he only exhales a slow, purposeful breath.
"We've been best friends for a long time, Sasuke. I guess he feels…betrayed." Naruto buries his face deeper into the folds of my shirt and I feel a hint of anger swell as he refers to Gaara as his best friend.
"If he were your best friend he'd be happy for you." I say coolly, not betraying the urge I have to kill Gaara in the most gruesome fashion possible.
"That's an idealist's world, Sasuke." Naruto sighs. I glance down at him quizzically, since when was he so full of wisdom and jaded perceptions?
"Is Gaara homophobic?" I continue, not doubting that Gaara is close-minded.
"Nah, he's gay." I'm shocked at this admission. "We went out a few years ago in ninth grade for a month or so. We were confused about our feelings of friendship and thought they might be something more, we went back to being friends without a hitch…" The unspoken 'or so I thought' lingers in the air and I find myself trying to keep my jaw from dropping.
"You and Gaara went out?" My voice sounds incredulous, even to my own ears.
"Yeah." Naruto remains nonchalant even as I ask him highly personal questions…he trusts me?
"You okay?" He questions, adjusting his head so he can see me. I shrug.
"Sure." I lie.
I'm actually freaking out right now.
Naruto and I haven't been friends very long. He should not be lying on my stomach talking about his love life. He should not trust me with this stuff and I should definitely not be rubbing his back.
Oblivious to my commands my hand continues rubbing.
Damnit!
Without any consideration for the relaxed blonde on my lap, I jump off the couch, tossing him to the floor and grab my bag from its position against the side of the sofa.
"Um…Ireallyneedtogohome…I mean…I shouldn't…I can't be her- stay." I rush out, slinging my knapsack onto my back and hurrying to the door. The hurt look on Naruto's face almost makes me want to stay and kiss him and-
"I have to leave." I finish, scolding myself for looking so vulnerable. Firmly, I slide an apathetic look to my face, hoping he didn't notice my slip.
"Oh…um…sure…" He rubs the back of his head awkwardly and stares at the floor a moment before glancing back up at me and dropping his hand to his side, defeated, "I'll see you tomorrow?" He's asking but he's really pleading and I don't want to go but I can't stay because I shouldn't be doing…that with him and I can't be doing that with him. Relationships mean commitment, commitment means trust and trust…I shudder and leave.
It's only after I've securely closed the door behind me that I realize I never answered his question.
I stop dead.
"Oh god, he thinks I hate him."
(Crickets) Er…sorry? Don't worry, Sasuke just has a little commitment phobia mixed with denial. Besides, they can't get together yet! They've only been friends for four days! (is trying VERY hard to make this believable and NOT rushed) Sorry guys, I may give fluff but no relationship until the timing is right. I don't cave to peer pressure so don't try! I LOVE YOU ALL FOR READING!
POOF
toodles
TJ
word up.
Thanks to all the Reviewers! I love you all to pieces! (Hands out Shikamaru Plushies) For everyone that was all gunghoe for the Interlude, woe not be you! ('woe not be you'? WTF?) This is a double post!
Nissie
Shadow Kitsune67
Kitsune
Fractured Dreams
KC Evans
The Ersaj Chronicles
Aki
Azamiko
demon-flying
Timothy the paperclip (I heart the name XD)
viciouscallisto
Fei-sama
Drumming-Femme (double thanks!)
Gingitsune
shimomizu (Naruto is kind of seme...I don't do lemons, but if I did, Sasuke would be seme. However, Naruto's the one doing the pursuing in this fic so I figured until stuff starts happening asuke would be the ever resistant uke)