Dosu was in the process of re-wrapping his face after taking a shower when the door to the room he shared with his team opened without warning. Dosu, feeling irritated- he'd told Zaku a thousand times to knock before coming in, but the idiot never listened- turned to snap out a sarcastic retort, but stopped cold when he saw who was standing in the threshold.
The elite bodyguards of Orochimaru-sama didn't often venture into the wing of Sound Village which housed the regular soldiers. They resided closer to the throne room, in order to be able to attend on their lord whenever they were needed. Dosu hadn't spoken to any of them personally before except the dark-skinned spider-nin who occasionally walked past the training grounds and offered unwanted critiques to his team. Dosu had barely even seen this one. Rumors persisted as to the role of the pale-haired, painted boy among his comrades. Some said he led the elite cell. The daring, noting his delicate features and slight build, snickered about sexual favors and what Orochimaru-sama did with his bodyguards behind closed doors.
Looking into Sakon's eyes now, Dosu knew that without a question that those rumors were a load of bullshit. Catamites didn't examine you as if trying to think of the best way to kill you without getting any blood on their clothes.
This room was Dosu's domain. The whole wing was far more his territory than the elite's, so even with Sakon's superior rank he should have had the advantage, but with his face exposed and the elite's beauty making him even more aware than usual of his scars, Dosu didn't feel anything but vulnerable. "What are you doing here?"
Sakon frowned and stepped inside, his gaze shifting from Dosu to look around the room, his eyes lingering on the ratty furniture, the dirty floor, the holes in the walls. Dosu restrained the urge to flinch, reminding himself with an effort that whatever the elite's rank now, he probably hadn't any nobler origins than Dosu, rumors of a bloodline limit or not. "This is where you live?"
Sakon's tone was empty of scorn, but Dosu still scowled, making his scars pull painfully. "Yes."
It was a little too late that Dosu registered the insolence in his voice, and as he watched the elite's delicately arched eyebrow raise, Dosu reminded himself that Sakon was well within his rights to kill him on impulse. The benefits of rank.
The weak had to succumb to the strong or die. This was the way of the world, and Dosu didn't want to die here, in his room, but it was with his team in mind that he bowed, his gaze towards the floor. "I apologize for my disrespect. Your presence surprised me, Sakon-sama."
Sakon didn't reply, but just walked over to stand in front of Dosu, close enough to touch. It was pure reflex that when the elite reached out to grasp his lowered head by the chin, Dosu grabbed his wrist. "Please. Don't."
Sakon frowned. Dosu held his breath, but instead of getting angry all the elite did was smirk. "You are interesting." He looked down at his wrist, and Dosu loosened his grip. Sakon turned away, and went back to the door.
Dosu felt the tension begin to leave his shoulders, but at the last moment the elite turned and looked at him again. "Your team is leaving for Konoha tonight to enter the Chuunin Exams. Start getting together your supplies."
Dosu blinked his one good eye. "Ah... thank you."
The elite nodded and moved to go. It was with the last vestiges of his courage that Dosu asked, "Orochimaru-sama sent you to tell me this?"
It was with his back turned that Sakon shook his head. "I came of my own volition." He looked over one shoulder, his smirk still gracing his flawless, beautiful features. It was almost enough to make Dosu feel resentment, that the elite was so perfect when he was so flawed, but he had lived a life too long and too hard to not know that a delicate face could be far more disastrous than one covered in scars. "Your genin cell is weak. But you might have some potential. Maybe."
Then he was gone. Dosu stood a long time in the poor lighting, his face uncovered. His scars burned from the unaccustomed exposure, but Dosu knew it was all in his head, a crutch. If he was ever going to become as strong as the elite, he couldn't allow himself that weakness forever.
