Love is War
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Chapter Six
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DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO
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"Stupid… Ugh… What an idiot."
On my way to check in on Gaara, all I could think about was my conversation with the Uchiha and I was so worked up I was literally stomping my way through the halls. I was so angry that I just couldn't forget about it altogether and move on, but damn, that bastard was so infuriating… so… so… I didn't even know what to make of him anymore, not that I ever did, but now I really just needed to get my mind off of him.
I entered the storage room, slamming the door behind me. Gaara turned to look at me in surprise, his face lighting up the instant he saw it was me. I glared at him before taking a look around the room. I couldn't believe that half the tables had already been cleaned of the weapons they'd held. He was almost too fast with his work.
He looked away from me, returning to work by piecing together the gun he was working on with ease. I took my time walking over to him, but in only the thirty seconds it took me to make it to his side, he'd assembled three other guns. I was certain he was just showing off now. He didn't stop working even as I stood there next to me, and he didn't seem as if he was going to say anything either, so I decided to break the silence.
"Still not tired?" I asked, trying to forget all my thoughts and concentrate on Gaara instead. He was pissing me off because he wasn't doing anything to piss me off and distract me.
He shook his head, as he finished with one more gun and went to another. "Not even close."
I rolled my eyes. "You don't want to take a break at least?" It annoyed me that he took on so much work by himself and tried to do it all in one go. He really should be more considerate of himself.
"You want me to take a break?" He asked me, his brow raised as he turned to look at me and yet continued to assemble the gun in his hand without trouble.
"That's not what I said, is it?" I ground out.
"No." He shrugged, a smirk gracing his thin lips. "But, I felt it was insinuated."
"Can I help?" I asked then, deciding to change the subject. Really, I just needed some kind of distraction, no matter what it was.
Gaara dropped the gun in his hand and it clattered on the table. "What?" He gaped at me as if I'd asked something crazy.
"Look, I'm just fucking bored, okay? So, I'm offering to help."
"Of course." He muttered then, but I knew he wouldn't dare to refuse me, he couldn't. I was just being polite about it. "Uh… You could put the guns up that I've put together."
"Got it." I nodded and went to work instantly. It was nice, I was already forgetting about everything else as I concentrated on work, and Gaara's annoying ass.
He was being uncharacteristically quiet, and keeping a distance from me that was unusual, especially considering how he'd been hovering over me earlier, but I wasn't about to comment on his odd behavior. It ended up not lasting long anyway, as soon as we moved to the next table he got closer, handing me a gun each time I came back for one.
"You don't want to talk about it?" He asked after a while, and I gazed up at him in confusion.
"Talk about what?"
He looked away from me, back to the gun in his hand. "Whatever it is that's bothering you."
I stopped working, propping my hands on my hips as I glared at him. "What makes you think something is bothering me?"
He gave me a suggestively look then. "You're helping me… you're looking for a distraction. From something."
Just who the fuck did he think he was- how the hell did he read me so easily? "I don't know what you're talking about." I snapped, going back to work and effectively ending the conversation. At least he was pissing me off though.
Gaara sighed, returning his attention to the many guns left to be pieced together and neither of us spoke again for a while. With both of us concentrating, we were moving through the guns pretty quickly. We were on the last table when I got the urge for a drink. I sighed to myself, deciding to finish the job with Gaara before running off for alcohol.
Glancing over at me briefly, Gaara frowned but looked back to the guns on the table as he went to pick one up, seemingly deep in thought about something. I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to question him about it or not, but then I decided to.
"Something wrong?" I asked quietly as I came back to the table for another gun and he handed me two. I suppose I was slipping, he was moving much faster than me.
"No." He answered, short and to the point. It wasn't like him at all. I wondered if he actually was tired, but then he elaborated. "I was just wondering what's going on with you."
I didn't miss the way he made sure not to look at me as he finished up, making quick work of the last few guns. He helped me secure them in their designated areas before finally looking down at me, seeming much more serious than he usually did.
"All done." Was all he said and I frowned in shock when he turned as if to leave.
Though I hesitated, I couldn't stop myself from stopping him. "You're going to bed?" I asked, not bothering to hide my disappointment at the thought.
I'd wanted to sleep, but I knew it was out of the question for me right now and I could use some company that was far from Uchiha. My words stopped him in his tracks mid-step and he looked over his shoulder at me. "No, I'm not." He told me, then turned around to fully face me, a look of confusion on his face. "But you should."
"Wha-" I glared at him, mouth agape. "Don't you fucking tell me what I should do!"
He laughed then, finally seeming more like himself. "If you don't go to sleep now, you never will."
Knowing he was probably right, and not caring either way, I shrugged. "I'm in the mood for a drink."
"Is that an invitation?" He asked, brow arched curiously.
I pondered this a moment before answering. It wasn't actually an invitation, but I knew everyone else would be sleeping by now and I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. "I guess so."
Head tilting to the side as he watched me, Gaara looked as if I was some sort of enigma. "Well come on, I'd definitely better join you, to keep an eye on you. You're acting strange as fuck."
"Shut up, dumbass." I walked past him, bumping my shoulder against his arm purposefully. He followed me without another word, locking the door behind us once we were out. Only a select few of us had keys to get in the storage room.
Not wanting to be in too small of a space alone with him, I led the way to the bar instead of my study. He walked close behind me, though not too close where I'd need to punch some sense into him though. He was quiet until just before we made it to the bar.
"This is so sweet of you, you know… asking me on a date like this."
I laughed at that, shaking my head through my amusement as I stepped into the bar then. "You're an idiot." I muttered to him just before noticing that the bar wasn't empty at all.
So surprised by the sight of the very Uchiha I was trying desperately to forget sitting there, I stood in the doorway like a complete idiot. His eyes met mine for a brief, intense moment before his eyes shifted behind me.
"Damn." Gaara muttered under his breath, as if he was just as disappointed but obviously for an entire different reason.
Thankfully, him speaking brought me back to reality and I continued into the bar with Gaara hot on my heels. I went behind the bar and grabbed a bottle off the shelf while Gaara got us both a glass and filled them with ice. He was right behind me as I carried the bottle over to where the Uchiha sat. I couldn't very well ignore him with him in the room, so I thought it best if I faced him head on. He could believe it or leave it alone, but I was dead serious with my words to him earlier.
As I sat across the table from him, he watched me and I gave him a smirk. Gaara took it upon himself to open the liquor and pour it for us and while I waited, I watched Sasuke's perfect fingers trace along the rim of his glass while he watched me. The cool look in his eyes was enough to make me shiver. I hated the way I loved how he watched me so intensely.
"Need a top off?" Gaara asked Sasuke, then filled his glass as well when he nodded. By then I'd already drained my glass. I drank enough that I had to really drink to get a buzz and I couldn't remember the last time I was actually drunk, but I felt I needed to be now. "Can't sleep either, huh?"
I didn't know why Gaara seemed to want to strike up a conversation with Sasuke, but I said nothing, having nothing to say, and not wanting to talk at all as I waited for Gaara to refill my glass. He obviously wasn't going to let me do it myself and I wasn't in the mood to argue about it.
"Not tired." Sasuke gave a one shouldered shrug, turning his eyes to Gaara. "Finished for the night?"
Gaara nodded. "Yes, Sakura helped me so it didn't take long at all."
"Ah." Sasuke nodded back, then his obsidian eyes turned to me once more.
Looking away from him quickly, I purposely turned my gaze to Gaara at my side. "If I gave you the list, you'd remember everything we went through, wouldn't you?" I asked him interestedly.
"You know I would." Gaara chuckled. "Why do you ask?"
"After a few drinks, I figured maybe you could help me with my books. If you're serious about not going to sleep."
Brow raising suspiciously, he took a sip of his drink before responding. "I'll have to check and stock some bikes within the next couple hours, but yes, I'll help you. If you just let me read over them myself, it shouldn't take me but a few minutes to get it done."
I gave him my best smile, purposely pretending there was no Uchiha staring at me as I did. "Fuck, you're a lifesaver."
Gaara grinned at the compliment. "If you say so."
Sasuke cleared his throat and reached for the liquor bottle to refill his glass. I was surprised as I glanced at his empty glass. He didn't seem like a quick drinker, not like I was. Not wanting to be thinking about him at all, I quickly thought of anything else to get my mind off him, even if he was around.
"Let's see… Kakashi, Lee, and Genma have a drop tomorrow, right?" I asked thoughtfully, Gaara would know because he'd be loading their bikes, but I wouldn't usually go to him for confirmation.
"Yes, they'll be leaving at noon. Then Neji, Shikamaru, and Naruto will be heading out around two o'clock."
I nodded, trying my best to keep my mind on the jobs to come instead of the Uchiha. "Hopefully Sai will be back on his feet soon. I'm worried he may get an infection, even though Ino's been doctoring his wound… I've got to find us a new medic." With a sigh, I took another swallow of my drink.
"I know a guy." Sasuke said, bringing my attention back to him, which I wasn't happy about.
"Oh?" I asked, feigning indifference as I finished my second glass of liquor.
Sasuke's eyes captured mine and it was just too hard to look away, so I just stared back into those endless black pools. "He's skilled enough for the part. I've been hit a couple times and he'd always come by my home and patch me up. That's how he usually works, so I don't know how he'd feel about a full-time thing, but he'd be worth a shot. I know he's trustworthy."
"Well we want trustworthy- and full time." I told him matter-of-factly as Gaara once again refilled my glass.
"I could bring him in and you could talk to him yourself. Naruto knows the guy too, I'm surprised he hasn't suggested it."
Picking my glass back up, I shrugged. "Whatever. I'll talk to him, but if he turns out to be traitorous, that's your ass."
"I wouldn't even mention it if I thought he'd fuck us over. I've been dealing with the guy for years."
"Fine. Bring him in then."
"Fine. I will."
I glared at the Uchiha, able to tell easily enough that his mood was just as sour as mine. Wondering what was bothering him, but not willing to ask, I forced my eyes down to my glass and then to Gaara at my side. "We should probably check in on Sai either before or after we go through the books."
"I'd say afterwards. I'm sure he's sleeping anyway."
"Right." I sighed. Sai needed to get better as soon as possible, it just didn't feel right knowing he was out of commission. I'd never understand how the Akatsuki could lose members without batting an eye, and recruit new members as if they were just a thing. They weren't a family like we Tasogare and they never would be. The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I was with those Akatsuki bitches.
Suddenly, Gaara's hand rested on my shoulder. My eyes went to his hand and I didn't take to kindly to the touch, but being that I was fully aware of the Uchiha across the table, I chose not to bitch about it.
"Don't worry," Gaara told me with a smile. "Sai will pull through this. He knows we need him too much for him to die on us."
Frowning at his words, I looked down at my drink in my hands. Things weren't even right without Sai working. He was a big part of the family, like Naruto. He wasn't emotional and he took all his jobs so seriously that I'd always respected him. I couldn't be happy until he was back to one hundred percent.
My train of thought was disturbed as I felt the Uchiha's eyes scorching through me. Damn him for not being able to keep those eyes to himself! They haunted me and it was so hard to try and keep my eyes from him. "We should get to work on the books, I don't want to keep you from your other duties."
"Whenever you're ready."
Gaara stood at the same time I did and it was then that I finally chanced a glance at Sasuke, stiffening when I noticed how cold his eyes looked and the way his lips set in a tight line. It was the first time I'd ever seen him angry, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the look on him. There was a hidden meaning in the way those eyes looked to me, but I wasn't about to try and decipher it. Instead, I chose to ignore it and turned to leave with Gaara.
"What's he so worked up about?" Gaara asked with a grumble once we were out of the bar and walking down the hall towards my study.
I shrugged. "Beats me." But I did know.
He was pissed off that I was using Gaara, and actually getting to him. He knew well enough that I didn't like help, and it was easy to tell just how bad Gaara pissed me off, so he could probably tell what I was up to- and he obviously didn't like it.
Maybe he was jealous. I couldn't have been sure about that, but for some reason, the thought gave me a thrill. We made it to my study and I unlocked the door and led the way inside. After closing the door behind us, Gaara took a seat just as I was taking mine. I handed over the books and went about fixing us both a drink while he got to work. Being unable to concentrate right now, I really appreciated Gaara's dedication. He'd always go out of his way to help me, as long as I would accept the help.
Remaining quiet in hopes of not disturbing his work, I sipped my drink and watched him skim over the books. He only glanced at the notes a few times, because he really did actually remember most of what we'd gone through. It was only half an hour later that he finished.
"Everything there?" I asked, eyeing him from across my desk.
"Of course." He smirked, his eyes meeting mine then as he placed the books on my desk. "They know better than to get on your bad side."
"As they should." I nodded, pleased that for now at least, there was nothing else to worry about.
He chuckled at my words. "They've never given you a reason to distrust them, have they?"
"They aren't my family. I don't trust anyone who isn't."
"I know." He smiled lazily and finished off the drink I'd fixed him. "Thanks for the drink, and for helping me… I'd better get to work though."
It was easy to tell he didn't want to go, that he was enjoying this time with me that he wasn't usually granted, but the Uchiha wasn't around and I didn't want to give him any ideas. I couldn't keep him from his work any longer. If the thoughts came back, I'd just have to deal with them.
"Once you've finished, get some sleep." I told him, standing to show him out so I could lock the door behind him. I didn't want anyone walking in on me, like they would if the door wasn't locked. "I mean it."
"Damn, fine. You don't have to force me." He winked at me once he was outside my study and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Yes, I do." Knowing him as soon as he finished, he'd find something else to do just to keep from going to sleep.
"Oh, I almost forgot, don't you want to check in on Sai?"
I frowned, having completely forgotten about it. "I do, but we can wait until you've finished. Come get me when you're done and we'll go see him. Then I can make sure you get to bed."
"Ooh." He smirked suggestively and I slammed the door in his face then.
Damn idiot.
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It was a little over an hour later that I heard a knock on my study's door. I groaned, annoyed that I had to get up from my laid back, propped up position to answer the door. Not going to sleep at all hadn't been a wise decision for me, all I'd been doing was turning up the bottle since Gaara had went to do his work and left me alone and sadly, the more intoxicated I became, the more I thought about that frustrating Uchiha.
Fully expecting Gaara to be there when I opened the door, when I saw it was actually Sasuke instead, I took a step back in surprise. His eyes narrowed on me as he stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. For each step he took closer to me, I took a step back- until I bumped into my desk behind me and had nowhere else to go. With a gulp, I stared up at him as he towered over me, getting so close all I could do was lean back over my desk to try and distance myself from him.
Why I wasn't cursing him the fuck out, I'd never know. I said nothing, only stood there watching him warily as he watched me, not bothering to speak for the longest time. He'd probably still been drinking, he smelled strongly of liquor and seemed to be in a horrible mood. But, I liked that pissed off look in those black pools. I loved the way his jaw clenched, the way his perfect brows knitted together. There was something about it I found too appealing and not a single bone in my body wanted to force him out of my study. No, I wanted to see what was on this Uchiha's mind.
"I know what you're doing." He said, his voice low and velvety. For a moment, I wished he'd never stop speaking to me because that voice of his sent a fire coursing through my veins that had me shuddering with just those few words.
"I don't know what you mean." I argued weakly, my voice barely audible. Damn it, what was my problem?
His dark eyes seemed to see right through me, and damn was that look smoldering. "You're trying to piss me the fuck off." He stated blandly, leaning in next to my ear then. I stiffened when his lips brushed against my ear and a thrill I couldn't have anticipated ran up my spine. "And you're doing a damn good job."
With a sharp intake of breath, I threw my hands against his chest in a feeble attempt to get him to back off. My body was betraying me so easily. His breath on my ear, and the sound of that voice was enough to make me nearly melt against him and it pissed me off to no end to know he could make me feel such a way. But he didn't budge, and I almost groaned at the feel of that hard body against my hands. For some reason, my hands stayed in place and yet I wasn't even trying to push him away anymore.
I felt him smirk against my ear just before his teeth clamped down on my earlobe and tugged lightly. My fingers dug into his vest then, even my legs were starting to go against me as they began trembling. I bit my lip to keep myself from making a peep. What was this feeling, and how… how could he do this to me so effortlessly? Or was he actually trying…
He released my ear and trailed his lips down my neck as if he had every right in the world. My lips parted against my will and I gasped at the feel of it all, still gripping onto him as if to anchor myself to the world. Just feeling that smirk against my neck made me want to bullet through his head, and yet it also made me want to beg him to stay, to never let me go, to do more and never stop.
"Son of a bitch." I growled, clenching my teeth when nipped at my neck and then licked the same spot.
"Don't go giving anyone ideas just to try and stop the inevitable." He told me, finally leaning back to look down at me. I breathed a sigh of relief but I was still visible shaken. That bastard knew exactly what he was doing to me and he was enjoying it. "You can deny it all you want, but you're already mine."
I gawked at him like a baffled idiot as he took a step back, my hands finally dropping to my sides. He didn't give me a chance to respond- as if I could have, before he was gone, leaving me behind with a racing heart and trembling body. There was no denying how shaken I was, and in all the right ways. It was so wrong.
So wrong, but so fucking right. In such shock from the encounter, I could only lift my shaking hands and stare at them in disbelief. Never in my life had I ever felt such a way and I was fucking livid. If there was anything I was certain of, it was that I'd be getting him back for that little stunt. One way or another.
A/N:
Thanks for reading, and to everyone who actually enjoys this story as much as I do, thanks a lot. Reviews or not, it makes me so happy to have such lovely readers.
I'm loving this fic! XD
I even had to draw my own art for it. HAHA.