okay...Now what?
I have absolutely no idea where I'm going. Hopefully to some kind of an end.
Thank you guys so much for all of your support!
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Whore Street
Haku laughed delightedly, his clear voice ringing through the bar. The tall, scarred man next to him raised an eyebrow. His arm was draped around Haku's shoulders. Across from them, Naruto had just finished telling them one of his stupidest jokes. Haku always made him go wacky.
The tall man shifted, leaning forward. "That was one of the worst jokes I've ever heard, kiddo."
Haku swatted his shoulder. "Duh, Master. That's why it's funny."
Zabuza turned his eyes to the lithe, black-haired figure half-draped over his lap. "Oh really, Haku?"
The boy just rolled his eyes, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. "So," he started, turning to Naruto. "What's up with your icicle?"
Naruto just smirked.
Zabuza broke into laughter this time. "Fuck. That I'd ever see Jiraiya's little ice queen find a dude... Strange times."
Haku rolled his eyes again and cast Naruto a smile. "I'm really happy for you, Naruto."
The blonde nodded and watched the couple across from him engage in a lively make-out session, his lips curving into a small smile. They'd just come to the bar, but Naruto decided he didn't want to ruin their contentment just now – harmonious times like this were definitely not the norm in their relationship.
He drained his coffee and stood. "I'll get going, lovebirds."
Haku protested a bit, but Naruto waved it away. "See you."
He turned and left, still catching Zabuza's grateful glance. Grinning, he kicked up a bit of snow as he made his way back to the bus stop. He still had time before work started on the Street, so he took a different line to where a cluster of tall family-blocks bristled into the sky.
Naruto had no idea whether he'd be home – did he work? How did he pay for the place? He had so many questions! -- but took a chance nevertheless, stepping out into the snow and heading through the bare, leafless little park that always accompanied these block clusters. A few others got off the bus with him and dispersed into different directions.
Though Naruto remembered nothing of the way they'd taken last night, he'd taken the bus back this morning and could find his way just fine by now. He scanned the rows of doorbells at the glass entrance doors to Gaara's family-block. Hmmm... one significant detail that he had forgotten to take note of.
What the hell was Gaara's last name?
Of course, when he found it, it was obvious.
He pressed the button next to the taped down slip of paper that had Suna scrawled on it. Huh. Writing. Another thing he couldn't imagine Gaara doing, right up there with talking and cuddling.
After a few minutes of waiting in the cold, he was about to give up and return to the bus stop. Just as he began to turn away, the door buzzed. He pressed it open and walked up the stairs. Nervousness began to prick at him. What if Gaara was angry at him for coming unannounced? This was probably the second time during this whole... thing... that Naruto had done something without the Sandman's permission, the first being the kiss.
He brushed the uneasiness away and continued climbing. If Gaara had a problem, then he had a problem. He couldn't change it now.
The stairwell was silent, though Naruto caught snatches of talking and the sound of virtvids from behind the apartment doors. The cold light of the early afternoon shone mercilessly onto the scuffed and faded linoleum of the steps, the scraped and stained walls. Though Naruto had grown up farther out on the fringes of the City, he'd been born and weaned in one of these family-blocks, and some of his earliest memories were of defacing such stairwells with his crayons, his mother's voice shocked in the background. The remembering made him smile.
He finally reached Gaara's floor. The door stood a crack wide open, and Naruto slid inside. He took off his shoes before calling, "Gaara?"
He didn't get an answer – not that he'd expected one. He stepped to the right side of the corridor, where two doors led to the kitchen and the living room. He glanced into the white-tiled kitchen – a few dirty dishes in the sink, window open and letting cold air stream inside, a newspaper on the countertop – and then into the living room.
Gaara was sitting on his couch – a red, amazingly comfortable thing that faced the rooms' windows –, wearing only jeans. His head was tilted back, one arm stretched along the backrest and the other holding a glass of clear liquid. His eyes were half-closed, and Naruto could feel them on his body as he walked to the couch.
He bent, sniffing at the glass. The familiar sting of vodka rose from it, strong and sharp. "Huh. I never figured you for an alcoholic."
Gaara gave him the almost-grin. Naruto took that as an invitation and sat down next to the redhead.
They sat in comfortable quiet for what felt like forever, the light playing over them. There was no hugging, no touching, but there was an undercurrent of intimacy that made it seem more erotic and emotional than any conversation Naruto had ever had. Gaara sipped slowly of his vodka, his pale, muscular form still as a statue other wise.
Naruto stayed on the couch, knees pulled to his chest, until the light began waning. He stood then, and chuckled softly. "Shit, man... three fucking days. Three fucking days is all it took."
Still laughing, he slipped into his jacket and moved toward the door of the living room. Behind him, he felt the heavy gaze travel over him. He slipped on his shoes, and was reaching for the doorknob when a hand caught his shoulder.
Gaara tangled his fingers into his hair and bared the tawny neck, biting down hard. His other hand slid under Naruto's shirt, scraping over the kanji there. Naruto closed his eyes, his breath quickening as the redhead lapped up his blood.
As usual, it was over too suddenly, and Naruto had to support himself on the door when Gaara released him. The Sandman cast him one last, bottomless look, and then turned away, walking back to the living room.
Naruto waited until his breathing returned to normal, then left.
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all right. I want this to be over. I will force it to be over. Two more chapters, and I will go on strike.
Help...
please review.
