A/N: Look! LOOK! Aren't I nice? Two updates in three days! My present to you for making y'all wait so long because of my hiatus. :sweatdrop:
Disclaimer- :Throws a temper tantrum due to K. Masashi insisting they're STILL his:
Sasuke sat at the table in the main room of the firehouse, glaring daggers at the wall as he heard Naruto, Izumo and Kotetsu joking around. Naruto still wasn't allowed to go back to work, since his throat wasn't completely healed, but he'd showed up to talk to them before their shift started. He hadn't said anything to Sasuke regarding the journal. This concerned Sasuke, because he hadn't really spoken to the raven at all. He wondered if perhaps he'd overstepped his bounds.
"Well, I better head out." Naruto waved to the others. "Tell Kiba I say 'hey' when he gets in!"
"Bye, Naruto!" Genma waved madly. "I'll miss you!"
"I'm sure you will." Naruto muttered before stepping out of the firehouse.
Sasuke continued to glare at the wall across from him, silently hoping someone would be stupid enough to enter his line of sight so he could find out whether or not he could set someone on fire with his eyes. Unfortunately, everyone in the room knew him too well.
"Morning, all." Kiba exclaimed as he came through the door, Akamaru barking beside him as he ran for Izumo, the other man smiling as he waited to be bowled over by the large dog.
Kiba plopped down beside the glaring Uchiha and raised an eyebrow. He followed the raven's gaze before turning back to look at him.
"You tell that wall, Sasuke. Show it who's boss."
"Fuck you."
"Oh, not very happy, are we?" Kiba put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "What's up, man?"
"I pissed off Naruto a few days ago." Sasuke muttered. "And I think he's still pissed."
"Did he find out you were the one who re-did his house?" Kiba asked with a frown, having been there to hear Naruto holler and scream angrily about not needing anybody's help. The day Naruto found out who it was, Kiba was going to move to Mexico.
"No, I read his journal."
"He has a journal?" Kiba asked, confused. He then frowned. "Wait, you read it?"
"I couldn't help it." Sasuke glared even harder at the wall. "It was too tempting."
"Are you insane?.!" Kiba demanded. "You do not read a man's journal! That's like reading a girl's diary! Bad idea!"
"You would know?" Sasuke demanded.
"Yeah, man! I've had girlfriends!" Kiba reminded him. "Speaking of which, I've got a new one." Kiba smiled to himself as he thought about his cute little girlfriend.
"Let me guess, Hinata Hyuuga."
"Yup." Kiba smiled. "It took some doing, but I managed to convince her cousin to let me date her. She was really happy. I'm her first boyfriend! Her first! We're twenty-six, man!"
"I suppose Naruto had something to do with it."
"Yeah. He reassured Neji that I was a nice guy. And Neji's met me before. He's cool, he thinks I'm cool—and he promised to break my knees if I hurt her, so I guess we're okay." Kiba winced. "Although honestly, I'd be more worried about Hinata breaking my knees."
Sasuke would've smiled, or maybe even laughed, but he was in too much of a bad mood right now to indulge Kiba. The brunette noticed, because he sighed and shifted in his chair, turning it around so he was sitting on it backwards.
"If I told you something about Naruto that you'd really, really, really wanna know, what would you do for me?" Sasuke turned to him and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Define 'really wanna know'."
"No, no, no." Kiba grinned, flashing his unusually sharp canines. "First, what would you do for me?"
Sasuke regarded him for a few minutes before deciding it must be something worth it. So, he thought for a few seconds. "Certificates to eat at the most expensive restaurant in town at least twice a month for the next six months."
"Tell me we've got a deal, and I'll talk." Kiba's grin widened.
"And if it's not worth it?" Sasuke demanded.
"It's worth it." Kiba reassured.
Sasuke stared at him a while longer before holding out his hand.
"Deal."
Kiba shook it before pulling Sasuke closer and whispering to him.
"Naruto is bi." Sasuke froze, shocked.
"Really?" he asked, trying not to sound excited.
"I shit you not, man." Kiba pulled away, standing up.
"Tell Hinata you've become a very rich man."
"I already did." Kiba winked at him before turning around and walking away.
Sasuke returned his gaze to the wall, but instead of melting the paint off with his glare, this one was just a thoughtful gaze. How could he trick Naruto into dating him, now?
Naruto shivered as all the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He spun around and scanned the area, but he saw nothing. Only the cars that belonged to the other Wal-Mart associates. After all, no one else came to Wal-Mart after closing time, so why would he be watched?
"You're paranoid." Naruto shook his head violently. "You're paranoid. Get in your car and go home. Eat some ramen, or something." he muttered to himself as he unlocked his car door and got in. He slammed the door and started the car. The engine sputtered, and died. Naruto cocked an eyebrow before turning his key again. The same thing happened before his 'check engine' light flashed on his dash.
"Oh, you're shitting me." he yelled before slapping his wheel angrily. "Fuck!"
He turned his head as he heard the roar of an engine coming into the parking lot, shielding his eyes as a light flashed right into his face. It took him a second to realize that it was a motorcycle, and the rider was someone he knew.
Sasuke stopped right beside Naruto, pulling his helmet off as he nodded to the blond. Naruto opened his door and got out of his car, wondering if Sasuke was the reason his car wasn't working.
"Hey. Is Wal-Mart closed?" Sasuke asked as he turned to look at the dark store.
"Yeah, about twenty minutes ago." Naruto informed, still suspicious.
"Shit." Sasuke rubbed the back of his head. "Kiba wanted me to get him a new table. I forgot until a few minutes ago."
"We open at seven, if it's that important to you." Naruto shrugged.
"I guess it'll have to be good enough." Sasuke sighed before putting his helmet back on his head.
Naruto bit his bottom lip and forced himself to swallow his pride. As the raven was about to turn his bike around and leave, Naruto stopped him, reaching out to grab his arm.
"Hey, do you think—you can give me a ride?"
Sasuke turned to Naruto, pulling his helmet off again to show the smirk he was sporting. "You? The great Naruto Uzumaki needs a ride from me?"
"Don't rub it in, you bastard." Naruto spat. "A simple 'no' will fucking suffice." Naruto turned to get back into his car when something hit him in the back of the head. "Ow! Jesus Christ!" He spun around to find Sasuke holding a helmet out to him. Now Naruto was really suspicious.
"What? It's not going to bite you." Sasuke shook the helmet.
"How come you had a second one?"
"I drove Kakashi home." Sasuke informed, motioning the bag on his back. "I had the helmet in there because I came here right after dropping him off. Do you want a ride, or not?"
Naruto glared but grabbed the helmet nonetheless. He pulled it on over his head as he spoke.
"How were you planning on getting the table to Kiba with this bike?"
"I wouldn't have enough room in a car, either." Sasuke insisted. "I was going to have it delivered."
"Oh." Naruto turned and slammed his car door, locking it. He put his own bag across his shoulder before climbing on behind Sasuke and staring at his hands. "Uh, I've never been on a motorcycle before."
"Don't worry about it. Just follow my body movements when I turn so I don't lose control of it."
"Okay." Naruto continued to stare at his hands. "Um, where do I put my hands?"
Sasuke just smirked before reaching behind himself and grabbing Naruto's hands in his own. He brought them around his waist before removing his hands from Naruto's and putting them back on the bike. His smirk widened. Phase one, complete.
Sasuke peeled out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, Naruto's arms tightening around his middle. They rode in silence, the wind whipping past their faces as Sasuke accelerated. Naruto couldn't stop a small smile from forming on his face. He'd never been on a motorcycle before, and he'd always wanted to know what it was like. Now, he knew. It was awesome. He was going to have to find a way to make Sasuke give him rides more often.
They reached Naruto's house and Sasuke stopped, waiting for Naruto to get off the bike and give him back his helmet. Naruto pulled it off and handed it to the raven, who took it and put it back in his bag.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Need a ride to the station tomorrow?" Sasuke asked. "Kiba comes to get me every day when he doesn't have to pick Akamaru up from somewhere else, I'm sure we could make a detour."
"Uh, sure." Naruto said, feeling uncomfortable with this new relationship he had with Sasuke. The raven was actually being nice to him. How weird was that?
"I'll see you tomorrow." Sasuke turned his motorcycle before zooming down the street.
Naruto cocked an eyebrow and shrugged before heading for his front door. He went inside and slammed the door behind himself, headed for the kitchen. He threw his stuff on the kitchen table before grabbing the phone and dialling a number.
"Hey, lil'bro!" Kankurou hollered into the phone, causing Naruto to wrench the phone away from his ear. Kankurou was blasting music in his car again, which would probably be why he was yelling. The music stopped a few seconds later. "You called me from the house. I was just coming down to get you."
"Huh?" Naruto asked with a frown. "How did you know I'd need a ride?"
"I saw that weirdo from your other job fiddling with your engine." Naruto's hand tightened around his phone as he grit his teeth. "I figured he was playing a prank on you. How did you get home?"
"The same weirdo drove me home."
There was a long pause.
"Dude, I think he likes you."
"What?.!" Naruto blurted out. "He's just lusting after me, like every other person who's ever wanted me." Sometimes, Naruto hated his blond hair and blue eyes. They got him way too much attention.
"Gaara says he thinks Sasuke wants you." Naruto could hear the smirk in his voice. "Wants a little bang-bang time with you."
"Fuck you, Kankurou." Naruto snapped. "You going to fix my car for me, or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, you ungrateful sibling." Kankurou muttered. "I'll go fix it right now. I'll have Temari drive me by tomorrow for your keys so I can drive it back to your place for you. Leave them in the mailbox."
"You rock. Thanks."
"Not a problem. You are my little brother."
"I don't know, being part of your family would scare the shit out of me, actually." he teased.
Kankurou's comeback was hanging up on him.
Naruto did the same a second later, and his eyes hardened. "That fucking bastard is screwing with my car." he muttered, annoyed. But what if it's true? Naruto thought, rubbing his arms as he suddenly felt cold. I mean, he's cute and all—but he looks just like that other guy. And he looks too much like the guy in my memories. Naruto winced. He also didn't really like the way Sasuke was trying to get with him. Trickery, like at the bar, and then sabotaging his ride? Did this guy have no people skills?.!
"Thanks for the ride, Kiba." Naruto said as he got out of the car.
"Not a problem, man. We have to stick together. We're buddies." Kiba wrapped one arm around Naruto's shoulders and rubbed his knuckles against the blond's skull. Naruto laughed as he tried to push the other man away.
Sasuke got out of the car calmly, slamming the door behind himself and following the other two firefighters into the firehouse. They all walked in to find Genma and Raidou making out on the couch, Kotetsu pouring himself a cup of coffee, and Izumo wrestling a book out of Kakashi's grip.
"It's mine!" Kakashi insisted childishly. "I bought it yesterday!"
"Kakashi, you're too perverted!" Izumo insisted back.
"Weirdoes." Naruto laughed as he shook his head and made his way to the bunk-room. Sasuke followed close behind him.
Naruto opened his locker and pulled his uniform out before shoving his bag inside, followed by his journal. He suddenly felt someone squeeze his ass and let out an undignified squeak before turning around to yell at Genma. His words died in his throat and he sputtered as he found Sasuke behind him, looking quite pleased with himself.
"P-pervert! Get the fuck away!" Naruto pushed him away with one hand. Sasuke stood his ground. "I don't need another Genma! Don't make me sic Gaara on you!"
"Gaara won't hurt me." Sasuke replied easily, unfazed by the threat. "Gaara and I know we're at the same level."
"Then I'll kick the shit out of you! Get away, bastard!" Sasuke had moved closer, and Naruto was quickly running out of space. He was already pressed back against the lockers, and the space between himself and Sasuke was getting smaller and smaller.
"You're not scared of me, are you, Naruto?" He smirked.
"Whoa, sorry!" Naruto's head whipped towards the door, where Kotetsu had turned around. "I didn't know I was interrupting."
"Help me!" The brief interruption had thrown Sasuke off-guard, so Naruto easily pushed him away and bolted towards the door, hiding behind Kotetsu. "He's trying to rape me!"
"Rape?.! Where?.!" Genma ran towards the room and looked inside. He then looked at Naruto. "Aw, you've still got your pants on. Sasuke can't have gone very far."
"Sasuke didn't try to rape him." Kotetsu sighed. "And you have to stop being so perverted, Genma."
"But it's fun." Genma insisted as he bounced towards the coffee machine.
"Like you need more coffee!" Kiba hollered from across the room.
"Hello!" Naruto screamed hysterically. "I almost got raped!"
"No, you didn't. Sasuke was probably trying to get something from his locker, and you were in the way." Kotetsu pulled away from Naruto, heading back for the kitchen table.
"Wha—Sasuke's out to get me, and no one will believe me!" Naruto screamed, frustrated.
Sasuke just grinned to himself in the bunk-room.