Well,you know what? I think I am on a roll these days.
Just a short chapter.
Kiba's statement was followed with a silence so long and painful, that Kiba held his breath; it seemed like Naruto had stopped breathing entirely from where he was in youngest Uchiha's embrace, he didn't turn to dare turn behind and see Itachi's reaction as he could feel the grip of his hand on his shoulder tightening painfully.
Kakashi who was on the verge of leaving the room paused and considered Kiba with a judgmental stare before asking,"The scene of the first attack on you and Naruto-kun?"
It seemed really stupid when guy said in that taunting voice.
"Yeah."
"Are you stupid?"The man demanded and Kiba glared at him.
"No, I have a job!"Kiba growled,"My manager had accepted my leave request but that has run out, I have to go back or they'll sack me. I can't stay here!"
"You know we don't mind you staying here right?"Itachi said softly and Kiba smiled at him apologetically.
"Thank's 'Tachi but I can't stay 'ere no more, I-I feel awkward. I can't impose on my best friend's boyfriend's family!" Kiba exclaimed,"It's weird, I like our apartment, I mean I like you and Mikoto-san, not to mention your house is absolutely lovely but, I like my home, it's cozy, I saved up for that place, it's my home, how can I let something keep me out of my own home and for how long? I can't stay here forever, I can't commute to my work from 'ere."
Itachi was silent and so was everyone else, so Kiba continued,"My leaves run out today, I have to go back tomorrow, I apologise for causing ya' guys problems but I have to get back to work, I don't know what my mom will do if I can't send her the monthly check. I know it sounds stupid, it probably is, but I have responsibilities. Living off strangers I barely know, I can-t do that, I hate owing people."
"You don't owe us anything."Sasuke told him firmly and Kiba sighed,"You are important us."
Sasuke looked down at Naruto's still form in his arms before glancing at Itachi who looks absolutely stricken, his face was paler than usual and his expression showed that he was looking for reasons to make Kiba stay with them, he was making a case.
"Look, even I do decide to stay with you guys,"Kiba said carefully,"I still have to go to work, there is no way I can commute from here to work, that's like a waste of four hours, in addition to my nine hour shift, I'll go crazy!"
"Okay, we'll move back." Naruto said decisively and stood up, leaving Sasuke stunned,"Let me pack my stuff and we'll leave tomorrow, you can drop me at the apartment-"
"We haven't agreed to that." Sasuke growled because it was stupid, deadlast and dumbass were never a good combination.
"Agreed to that-? What? Do you think just because we are dating you control me now?"Naruto demanded.
"I am sure he didn't-"
"Yes."Sasuke barked,"Now you are mine, whatever decision you make not only affects you, it effects me too. How dare you take the issue of your life so lightly?"
"So, you want me to let Kiba, go there alone?"Naruto gasped at the thought horrified and Sasuke scoffed.
"Of course not, you idiot."
"What did you call me you bastard?"
"Oh stop please for the love of God."Kakashi groaned,"One stupid problem at a time."
"There is no problem. If Kiba is going then I am going."
"Kiba isn't going anywhere."Itachi speaks for the first time since Kiba mentioned his departure and the his resolute voice make everyone shut up, even Kiba's protests die in his throat,"There should be another way, if you go back to your apartment then you're just asking yourself to be killed, they will not spare you Kiba, I am sure even your mother would understand and would want you alive instead of the money you give her."
"But-" Kiba's protests are cut off when Itachi grabs both of his shoulders and the coldness of his eyes is something that Kiba had only seen in the eyes of the Uchiha's father, never had Kiba seen Itachi look so cold and expressionless and have that look be directed at him.
"We have eighteen hours before you have to go to work, we'll work something out,"Itachi goes on and Sasuke watches him with narrowed eyes, he doesn't like the look in Itachi's eyes, he gets up cautious, it's his expression just before Itachi looses his marbles and snaps, he had seen it only once before, just after Deidara's death, he had eradicated the gang responsible for his death, and although his father had been proud and delighted of Itachi's accomplishments , Sasuke and his mother had worried for his state of mind. But it had never happened again, Itachi had become detached but he never reacted to any situation or fight the same way he had then.
Until now.
Kiba seems to have some sort of animal instinct too it seemed because his shoulders slump and he nods, defeated, fight won but not the battle,"We can provide your mother with money."
Kiba opens his mouth but freezes as Itachi places a finger on his lips,"You can pay me back little by little. I am just...loaning you the money, it's a family business."Itachi says with a charming smirk that Kiba did not trust.
"I don't know."Kiba wasn't sure he should be borrowing money from a loan shark, sure Itachi was his friend but everything seems to be so relaxed, he wasn't used to this kind of lifestyle, this sort of laziness, everything he had, he had worked hard for, even this mediocre job that does, he had worked hard to gain. This seems too good to be true.
"Please?" Itachi asked tilting his head to side and regarding Kiba with wildly intense eyes, Kiba swallowed damn the attractive devil, the guy certainly knew how to work his looks and plain looking folks like Kiba had no ammunation, even though he had lived with Naruto half his life, who had angel like features.
"Okay, okay...I'll talk to my boss, explain the situation, but I swear if he sacks me, I'll blame you."
"I'll take the responsibility happily."Itachi says smiling and Kiba nods, still dubious but not seeing any other option, it seemed liked he had a very persistent friend in Itachi, Kiba doubted if could deny the guy anything, he bets nobody could deny that face anything.
"Oh good that's settled then,"A new voice interrupts and Kiba hides behind the Uchiha eldest with the speed of light, there standing and looking like the million dollars he was worth was Uchiha Fugaku,"And a good decision too, I might add; I have absolutely zero tolerance for stupid decisions you see."
"How did you-"
"He was listening at the door."Mikoto said looking disappointed, wondering what circumstances led her to marry such a child? Oh, right she married for looks.
The man just smiled like a bloodthirsty shark and narrowed his eyes on Kiba who was practically piggybacking on Itachi, who just shook his head,"Father, it's alright. He's not going anywhere."
His father looks a bit disappointed,"I didn't even get to try my methods to keep him here. I am being denied of my rightful fun with him as an in-law. I had plans, important fun plans, Itachi."
"Keep your plans to yourself Father,"Itachi sighed tired,"There is no need for them, you were probably going to scare and threaten him, I will not allow you to that."
"Awww,"Fugaku replied mock disappointed, Itachi gritted his teeth at his overly dramatic father,"No one respects me here, I am practically a doormat."
"What?" Sasuke hisses in disbelief,"No really, fucking what?"
"I am such a nice guy,"Fugaku continues, obvious to Sasuke's hysterical demands of 'what?' and Naruto soothing his boyfriend,"I am a pushover, well not anymore. No more nice guy."
Kiba's jaw had dropped in the meanwhile while Itachi and Mikoto sigh at the theatrics of the head of Uchiha household.
"I will be the strict ruthless Uchiha clan leader my father wanted me to be, he was right you know? He said I was a weakling and m son's would disrespect me, if I didn't assert my dominance over them, I am simply too soft."
Sasuke seems to be suffering from a nervous breakdown in the light of his father's delusions, Naruto was a bit worried for the mental health of the youngest Uchiha, no scratch that he was worried about the well being of all Uchihas in this house. Mikoto rolled her eyes at her husband and his love for theatrics. Itachi meanwhile ignored his father while considering all his options before asking,"Are there no other leaves you can apply for?"
"Well I have totally used up my paid time off, I have some other protected leaves that will let me keep my job but not get me paid." Kiba explained I can apply for those for a few months, but my little sister is doing her schooling and even though my mom works too, it's hard for her to manage house bills with my sister's schooling in that school, my sister is smart but like not scholarship getting smart, but she works really hard, me and my mum have high hopes for her, ya' know?"
Kiba rubbed his face with his hand miserably and bit embarrassed of spilling out his worries to a room full of people he hardly knows, but they are worried about him, he understands, so they should know why his job and money is important to him.
"Why not work in the 'Club Heram' with Naruto?" Sasuke asked,"the pay is really good I believe and you will be with Naruto all the time, I'd feel better if both of you are together keeping each other safe, I can send some of my bodyguard with you as well."
Kiba snorted,"Me? Working there? Com'on that's a place that hires very handsome or extremely pretty guys, admit it I am neither."
The whole room frowned, it wasn't a self-deprecating statement nor was it something Kiba had said to be contradicted on, he had said it so casually like it was one of the facts of the life. Naruto meanwhile looked a mix of sad and frustrated,like it's something he's heard a thousand times but could never seem to be able to do anything about it.
"Besides, I-I can't I don't have the charming skills that Naruto has,"Kiba continued awkwardly,"Believe me, it wouldn't work, I am foul mouthed, laugh too loud, 'm a complete slob won't be able to-"
'You're so disgusting and pathetic, you will never be able to find someone who will be to love you for you.'
It was true, after saying that girlfriend left and any relationship after her he wasn't able to keep and finally he gave up, he will never be able to find someone and now he's too scared to, he'll embarrass Naruto at his work place and then loose Naruto too. He was just too embarrassing, he was good enough to be someone's friend but he'll never have someone romantically interested in him if he didn't change himself, but he didn't want to, if he changed himself he might be able to get someone to love him, but will he able to love himself? No.
"Who told you that?" Kiba jumped at the furious voice of Uchiha Itachi and turned to him, his eyes were red and menacing,"who told you all those things? Why do you say it like it's a fact?"
"It is a fact." Kiba said unconsciously and avoided Itachi's eyes and turned and saw that all Uchihas looked their own version of furious, Sasuke hands hand tightened on Naruto and he seems to be taking calm breathes, Mikoto had stiffen where she stood her nostrils flaring, Fugaku, the psycho was smiling but his fist were clenched and his expression was stiff, like he was controlling himself.
"You are the most loyal, strong, kind and courageous man I've ever met,"Itachi told him and Kiba's wide eyes turned to him, Itachi took his right hand in both of his,"I feel fortunate to have met you and unfortunate of not have met you sooner. Naruto-kun wouldn't have been alive if you weren't there, you are important to him. And to us, you and Naruto have filled our lives with color and-"
"And they say they're just friends,"Fugaku mutters,"this is all very extremely homosexual, especially coming from Itachi, I mean it's like saying-'
"Fugaku,"Mikoto sighs at her husbands ill-timed humor, ruing his son's moment,"Shut up."
"No respect."
Thanks for reading !