Title: hi, let's date
Summary: Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Prompt: fake relationship au
Rating: K+

She was there again tonight, like she always was every Tuesday—that pretty pink haired girl who always so easily caught his eye. Sitting at the bar, at very same spot she always took, nursing an all-too-colorful sugary drink; wearing that same sweet smile, and those same too-childish bracelets, her nails always painted in colors and patterns to compliment her choice of dress for the night.

Sasuke would never admit it to anyone, but she was the only ever real reason he kept coming back to this shitty little bar every week. Every Tuesday, she was there, gracing the small tavern with her presence somewhere between eleven fifty five and twenty minutes past midnight, looking a little tired, but always happy to be here. He never really understood why she kept coming back to this place; the music was mediocre at best, drinks obviously overpriced, the ambiance leaving much to be desired—but she always seemed particularly taken with it all anyway.

She was a curious thing to his mind, a sun-bright girl with warm, crinkling eyes that always made him feel so odd inside, so drawn. But somehow, he'd never been able to muster himself to actually try and talk to her, having convinced himself weeks ago that nothing good could ever come out of it anyway.

(after all, when could someone like him–dark and broody, and much too private–possibly hope to keep up with someone as bright as her? their worlds were too different.)

But, he reasoned to himself, he couldn't very well keep staring at her like some fucking creep every week now, could he? He wasn't some kind of stalker. But she was just so—enrapturing. A strange light to his world that he didn't yet feel ready to give up on.

Even if she was made for others other than the likes of him.

His phone buzzed, then, breaking him from thought. Blinking, Sasuke glanced down at the device and frowned, taking it in hand. He didn't usually get texts at this time of night.

I know you're going to kill me no matter what I say, but you need to get out of that bar right now because that crazy clingy chick you went on a date with three months ago just dropped by the apartment and I'm sosososo sorry but somehow she got me to spill where you are and—

His mind blanked, back stiffening abruptly. His fingers tightened around the small Blackberry phone. Fuck—Why did this have to keep happening to him? It was one date. One date, which his father had set him up on for a particularly important event, solely in the hopes that it would make their company look good (she was the daughter of one of their most valued investors, after all), and although he'd done his best to make it very clear that he held no romantic interest in her—in the end, the woman grew completely obsessed with him anyway.

His jaw tightened. He needed to get out of here now.

Naruto, you filthy sack of shit, Sasuke thought, gritting his teeth and downing the rest of his drink in one swift move. He stood up as quickly as he could, throwing a couple of bills on the counter, before whirling into the crowds of people hanging around the bar and starting towards the exit. I'm going to cut your fucking dick off in your sleep.

Just as he'd been strides away from reaching the door, though, a flash of red hair caught his eye. Sasuke tensed instantly, a curse nearly spluttering from his mouth. He turned and trudged towards the bar stools again on instinct, mind spinning in the efforts to rationalize a plan. But then there she was, the pretty little pink haired girl that had been haunting his mind for weeks, sitting there in plain sight. His heart pounded as an idea finally came to mind.

Sasuke swallowed; there wasn't any other choice.

Slipping quickly in the seat beside her own, Sasuke turned towards her and reached out, hand gently grabbing her shoulder; he took care not to let his touch be too invasive. The girl nearly startled out of her seat anyway, mouth opening in protest.

"I need a favor," he said, before any word could leave her lips. His heart pounded like crazy. "I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend for a few minutes so I can get rid of someone."

A blush rose to her cheeks; her mouth parted. For a long, full minute, she did nothing but stare at him, breathless and openly confused.

But just when he heard Karin calling his name with the usual tone of eager adoration, just when he was thinking it was all over—the pretty girl finally leaned in, gripped his chin with one hand, and his shirt with the other, before pressing her mouth to his in a long, warm kiss.

.

.

"Sasukeee! There you are! I've been—Oh."

He was nearly too dazed to hear Karin's words as the pretty girl finally pulled away from him, leaving his eyes half shuttered; her lips had been so soft, so nice, so genuine as they'd pressed up against his. He wanted more, wanted to lean in again—but then she smiled at him, coy and mischievous and stupidly pleased, and it was only then that he seemed to remember the situation at hand.

Refraining the urge to clear his throat, he turned to the red haired girl standing dumbstruck behind them, brows rising in feigned surprise before he narrowed his gaze at her, as if displeased. He tried not to let the obvious traces of hurt in her features affect his resolve.

"Karin," he acknowledged, frowning all the more. "What are you doing here?"

Her mouth parted in reply, hands fiddling uncertainly with her handbag. She glanced between the two of them a few times, and swallowed.

"I just wanted to—" She stopped then, and her brows furrowed more deeply. Something like a scowl took to her lips. "Okay, who—Sasuke, who the hell is she?"

Sasuke heard the girl beside him snort quietly, muttering something rudeness—something that didn't go unheard by Karin, seemingly sending her seething. Before she could even open her mouth to say something, Sasuke sent an admonishing glare her way.

"This," he said, reaching to take his pretend-girlfriend's hand in his own, "is my girlfriend, Karin." He made a show of intertwining their fingers, and was thankful that the pretty girl did not try to resist. "I haven't been returning your calls or your text, because as I've tried telling you many times before, I am not interested. I already belong to someone else."

"But—But the date—"

"—was for an event," Sasuke interjected, sighing. "My father set me up. I already explained that."

Karin seemed to falter at this.

"Now if you'll excuse me, my girlfriend and I would like to be alone for the remaining hours of our date. I'd like it if you could leave us."

Silent, and seemingly crushed, the red haired woman did nothing but nod, muttering a silent apology as she turned, heading towards the exit. Sasuke almost wanted to run a hand over his face when she finally left the bar, relief washing over him.

"Well that was a bit harsh," the pretty girl beside him said, then, her hand still very much held in his grasp.

Freeing her instantly, Sasuke's gaze snatched to her own, a slight blush taking to his cheeks as she grinned at him, green eyes endlessly amused.

"She's—sort of been a nightmare to deal with these past few months," he managed to mutter, brows furrowing deeply.

The pretty girl only leaned on her hand, staring at him like she was quite intrigued. "Yeah, I kinda got that," she said, smiling wider.

Gods, why was she so goddamn adorable? he couldn't help thinking, swallowing tightly.

"And by the way," she went on, then, pulling back to swirl the cherry around in her all-too-brightly colored drink. "For that favor—I think you owe me a date." Still grinning, a blush stained her own cheeks. "Sounds like a fair trade, right?"

Sasuke couldn't believe his luck tonight.

"How about this Friday?"

"Great! Pick me up here at eight." She extended her hand. "And my name's Sakura, by the way."

Sakura, he thought, eyes flickering to her hair. How fitting.

His lips quirked. "Sasuke," he said, shaking her hand. "Nice to actually meet you, Sakura."

Sakura giggled. "Nice to actually meet you, too, Sasuke."

Maybe he could be thankful for Karin's intrusions, just this once.