I don't own Naruto.
Roommates
The First Meeting
The first time Gaara met Sasuke, things had not been that good. Sasuke and Naruto went to a different high school than the rest of their roommates, because they had the money that was needed to enter said high school and the red-head had chosen to go to another school.
Gaara, Shikamaru and Kiba had only heard about Sasuke before, and Gaara was the first to meet him of the blonde's friends.
Naruto had just started dating the bastard, and therefore Sasuke was all touchy-feely with the blonde. Something that still annoyed Gaara; he disliked seeing his best friend being touched that way under his nose. What Naruto did in the bedroom wasn't Gaara's concern, but still it was annoying to see the blonde being groped like that.
The first time they had met, had been when Gaara was off to get Naruto from Sasuke's place - they still lived at home - and that was when he had met Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi had been a bit frightening, Gaara had to admit. The elder Uchiha brother gave off the impression that he could kill you with a mere glance if he wanted and that he was above the law. And at first, Gaara had thought Itachi was Sasuke.
Itachi had simply shook his head, looking a bit amused - which was, in fact, scarier than the stoic look. He had then went to get Naruto. And the blonde came back with another Uchiha, this one named Sasuke.
Sasuke had asked if this was Naruto's best friend, and when the blonde nodded, he had smirked. Uchiha fucking Sasuke had smirked at him, Sabaku no Gaara.
So Gaara punched him. Sasuke punched back.
UAUAUA
Naruto was talking happily with Tayuya in the conference room on floor twenty-two, that had been reserved for them once again. They were done with everything; their clothes were being shown on Team Hebi's runway in the glamorous building next to the Hebi Building, where all the offices were.
"Anyways, Barbie, I think you should drop the clothes."
Naruto arched a slender brow.
"Who's a pervert now?" Tayuya laughed, pointing at the blonde. "I didn't mean it that way, stupid!"
Naruto rolled his eyes, hating how she always brought his choice of clothing up fifteen or ten minutes before they were leaving, she had done it the last couple of times at least.
"You have a good body, and then you use this ... this!" Tayuya gripped his yellow shirt with a cartoon printed on the chest. "It looks like you've borrowed it from your five-year-old little brother! Who is really fat!"
Naruto looked down. He liked the cartoon, big deal. And what was up with that fat-comment anyways? He glared at the red-haired girl.
"It's like five sizes too big, Barbie," Tayuya sighed. "Tomorrow, which is a Sunday, you will go shopping with me. Bring your boyfriend. I'm sure he don't mind going out with you, I mean you can't see the bruise much now anyways."
Naruto snorted. "No way."
"Who buys your clothes?"
Naruto shrugged.
"..."
"..."
They stared at each other, before they both started giggling, which turned in to laughter in no time. They were interrupted by a knock on the door, as Kabuto stepped in.
"I'm sorry to intrude," he said, correcting his glasses. "Here are the tickets for you and your friends for tonight's show." He gave them an envelope each. "Orochimaru-sama says it will be lovely to see you both tonight." He gave them a small smile before disappearing again.
"Tch, what a freak," Tayuya snorted. "Like a fuckin' lapdog." She opened her envelope. "I'm taking my friends Sakon and Ukon. My sister and her friend are coming too. Who're you taking?"
"Sasuke and my roomies and Hinata."
"Cool! I get to meet them tonight! Awesome! I've been, like, imagining them in my head. Are they hot?"
Naruto sputtered.
UAUAUA
Sasuke looked around. It was a big local, filled with important people. He wasn't nervous being around 'important people', he was surrounded by them wherever he went. He was nervous for Naruto. He had not been allowed to see the blonde's works, and he wondered how this Tayuya-girl had "helped" Naruto.
Shikamaru looked a bit tired, but was discreetly looking at the people around them. They were on the second row, seeing as journalists and some famous people had to sit in the front to see the clothes. Kiba was looking ready to jump up on the catwalk, run a couple of turns and sit down again. Hinata looked shy, as always, but she was very beautiful. Gaara looked stoic, much like Sasuke.
Sasuke could see Sai on the third row, next to an elder man. He scowled, annoyed to see the idiot there. His eyes snapped to the runway as it suddenly was lit up from under the glassfloor and from lights in the high ceiling.
It was warm, smelled perfume, sweat and alcohol. Soft pop music started playing, low as a tall woman and a man entered. The man was pale, his hair long and dark. The woman looked like a model, maybe an actress. He had seen her in the papers, but couldn't place her name.
"Hello," she said in to the microphone. "Welcome to Team Hebi's Christmas Collection, 2008."
She handed the microphone to the man next to her. Even though he was maybe a few inches shorter, he didn't look small or less important. He smirked and started talking. He told them about what they were aiming for, what they were to expect and where to find the emergency exits.
Sasuke wondered why they had the Christmas show only one and a half week away from the actual holiday, but didn't care. Orochimaru and the model walked back on the runway.
There was a moment of murmurs from the audiences, before music started playing - louder and faster this time. A model entered, dressed in a short, red skirt and a black blouse. She was wearing a handcuff around her right wrist, and her fake hair was almost reaching the black winter boots.
A second model entered, this one dressed in a green dress with a brown belt marking her waist. She was wearing beige boots, and the tights she was wearing were red. How she managed to wear a green dress and red tights without looking like a Christmas tree was beyond Sasuke's imagination.
The models passed, all clad in his dobe's designs. Well, most of them anyways. He could see the little red mark on the hem of every skirt, dress and skirt. He felt extremely proud two hours later, when it was time to go home.
They were supposed to wait for Naruto outside the entrance, and so they did. Kiba was jumping off and down to keep warm in the snow, telling them details as if they hadn't been there at all. Hinata was probably the only one listening.
"It's been half an hour," Shikamaru sighed. "It's cold, I'm tired, he's late and I'm going home."
"I'll go get him," Gaara said. The others looked at him. "I'll sneak in, big deal."
The others nodded, and Shikamaru didn't leave. It was just one of his many empty threats about doing stuff.
Gaara pulled the zipper on his jacket higher and walked back toward the building. He stalked fast between the, now empty, chairs. He didn't have to sneak in backstage; he saw Naruto walking quickly toward the exit, the Orochimaru-dude following him.
Gaara let out a low growl and hurried toward the blonde and the elder man. But Orochimaru and Naruto was too far away for him to reach before the man did something.
Orochimaru gripped Naruto's wrist, spinning him around. "What do you think you're going?"
"Home," Naruto answered coldly.
"Oh no, you're coming with me."
"And just why would I want to go with you?" Naruto tried to pull his wrist back, but Orochimaru used his focus to pull him closer.
"You led me on, you fucking slut!" Orochimaru hissed. Naruto struggled. "In the elevator, you freaking' rubbed my dick!"
Gaara's eyes widened, and he realized that he had stopped. Orochimaru yanked in Naruto's golden hair, leaning down to capture soft lips.
"Oi!" Gaara snapped. Orochimaru stepped back, glaring at the red-head, before sparing a glance at Naruto and then walking quickly back into the shadows.
Gaara ran to Naruto, pulling the blonde into a hug. Naruto gripped his shirt, nuzzling into his chest.
"So this is Uchiha Sasuke? I thought he would look like his brother."
They broke apart, looking at a girl with red-hair and brown eyes. She was smirking, staring at Gaara.
"No. This is Sabaku no Gaara, my best friend. Gaara, this is Tayuya."
Gaara and Tayuya nodded toward each other, then Naruto turned to walk to the big entrance.
"Are you guys coming? Tayuya, didn't you want to meet the others?"
"Yes!" Tayuya nodded, running on top of the chairs instead of on the floor, reminding Gaara of something Kiba would do.
They came out, and Naruto was a little startled at the cold wind. Sasuke eyed the red-headed girl suspiciously, while Kiba stared openly.
"Guys, this is Tayuya." Naruto smiled.
"Nice to meet you!" Tayuya smiled, shaking Kiba's and Shikamaru's hands. She grinned at Hinata, and shook her hand too. She stopped at Sasuke. "I just want to say ... I admire you."
They all stared at her quizzically, and Sasuke looked ready to slap some sense into her.
"I would never have been able to do it," she continued.
"What?" Sasuke finally snapped.
Tayuya glanced at Naruto, but she was tackled before she could tell her blonde joke.
UAUAUA
Tayuya was glaring at Naruto, still rubbing her arm, as they all stood outside the restaurant. They had all decided to eat out, and Tayuya had been offered to join them.
"I can't believe you pinched me. What are you, a girl?" She snarled as they slowly walked toward the train station.
"I'm not a girl."
"Wimp."
"Bitch."
"Pussy."
"Hooker."
"Barbie."
"Oh, you damn-"
"What's up with the ugly words, can't you just shut up?" Shikamaru sighed. "Geez, so troublesome."
"Sorry," Naruto muttered. Tayuya just rubbed her arm, even though it didn't hurt anymore.
She glanced at Sasuke, who was staring right ahead and holding Naruto's hand in his, entwining their fingers. She wondered how he could have such a control over all his friends, even though he had yet to say anything to her and the others. He seemed to be the boss, the one the others came to if troubled. Okay, maybe not the Gaara-dude. But even she was a little bit scared of him.
They reached the station, and Naruto's eyes widened when he saw his brother's once best friend there. "Zabu-chan!" He waved.
The man, who Tayuya thought looked much like a handsome murderer, looked up. The man grinned, showing off pointy teeth.
She started wondering just what kind of people Barbie was hanging out with.
She didn't fail notice the way Sasuke possessively sneaked his arm around Naruto's waist, instead of simply just holding hands. She knew the others noticed too, but no one commented it. She guessed they were used to it.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked the brown-haired man.
"I was lucky. I got one of the last tickets to the Christmas show." Zabuza said. "I booked it after dinner with Minato and Kushina."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Naruto slipped out of Sasuke's grip, to hug the tall man. Tayuya smirked at the Uchiha's displeased face.
Zabuza's reply was drenched as a train arrived and they all stepped on, besides Zabuza, who was taking another train. Naruto waved goodbye, and Tayuya noticed that Sasuke immediately put his arm around Naruto's shoulders when they found seats for them all.
She had to really focus to hear what the shy mouse, Hinata, said. She stuttered a bit and talked lowly, which annoyed Tayuya.
She heard a few giggles and she glanced over at Barbie, smirking when she saw him kissing Sasuke's neck.
When she came home later that night, she couldn't help to think that Naruto's roommates were a strange bunch, indeed.
To Be Continued
Next Chapter: Frozen
Naruto finds something. Two days to Christmas.
The bottle he had been drinking out had slid out from the dirty hand and stopped by the ground. Dark golden liquid was slowly streaming out from the bottle, and the etiquette was almost gone.