My Countdown Starts Now
The sunlight filtered in through the shutters and softly beckoned to the brunette to wake. Lee started to blink awake surprised to see the dirty floor of Naruto's apartment staring back up at him. Currently he was on Naruto's ratty old couch, upside-down and with his head barely an inch from hitting the floor. The boy quickly straightened himself and sat with his legs tucked underneath him.
Looking over he saw Shikamaru asleep on Naruto's equally ratty armchair. The green lover briefly wondered how the other could manage to sleep anywhere, no matter how uncomfortable. From the bedroom he heard the soft snores from his blonde friend.
"Looks like I'm making breakfast," Lee said softly as he got up and stumbled into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and took out five eggs and a packet of bacon with one hand. By now he was an expert around Naruto's kitchen, considering all the times he'd stayed over and ended up being the only one willing to cook.
"Do I smell something besides ramen wafting out of Naruto's kitchen?" Shikamaru asked sleepily peeking his head into the room. Lee smiled, wide awake, and threw the egg shells into the garbage. "Go wake Naru-chan up, the food is almost done," Lee told the lazier brunette.
Shika hummed in reply and trudged over through Naruto's open bedroom door and looked down at the sleeping form of his boyfriend. In his mind he knew that in the reverse situation of this Naruto would have woke him up by jumping on the bed. But Shikamaru was much more evil than that.
He climbed onto the bed and straddled the sleeper. He smirked devilishly as he reached out, thanking whoever was above that Naruto slept like a log. "Wake….UP!" Shika said as he started to run his finger down Naruto's sensitive sides. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAA!" Naruto shrieked waking almost instantly. "HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"No more tickling, time to eat," Shikamaru said as he got off Naruto's bed.
Naruto sat up in bed and scratched the back of his head. "Ramen?"
"No, Lee cooked."
"Oh, so real food. Real food isn't as fun." Shikamaru looked over at him and put his hand on his head.
"Without me and Lee, you'd be lucky to be alive," he said seriously. Naruto laughed happily and swatted his hand away.
"And I thank whatever higher being there is every day that I have you guys," Naruto said with a sincere grin. Shikamaru's eyes softened and he gave the blond a special smile before going back to the kitchen.
"Tonight, tonight," Naruto announced in a sing-song voice as he skipped cheerfully into the kitchen.
"At The BK Lounge," Naruto announced with a grin. Lee sweat dropped and put a plate of food on the table in front of Naruto.
"You watch too much Dane Cook," Shikamaru said before taking a sip of his orange juice.
"Blasphemy! There can never be too much Dane Cook!"
"Phht!! What the- how old is this juice, Naruto?" Shikamaru said and he spat it out into the sink. Naruto stared at the carton and thought hard.
"I actually don't even remember buying that…" Lee thoughtfully picked the carton up and examined it.
"It says best sold by June 18…"
Shikamaru glared over at the blond.
"Since the beginning of summer? No wonder it tastes of fermented fruit," Shikamaru grumbled. Naruto blinked and leaned over to gently grip the brunette's shoulders.
"I have no idea what you just said," he said in all honesty.
He sighed and pulled Naruto forward into a hug. "I didn't think you would."
"Hey!!"
Lee chuckled at his friends and piled the pans into the sink after washing out the gross orange juice spittle. "Hmm, Spittle Shoot…" Lee said aloud thoughtfully.
"What?" the other two asked from between bites of scrambled eggs.
"Nothing…"
"Wait, isn't spittle when you put a bunch of skittles in your mouth, get it all spitty and take them out so the colors all blend together to look really gross?" Naruto asked thoughtfully. "Haha. I used to do that in second grade to freak out all the girls," Naruto snickered.
"No, spittle is the same as saliva or spit," Shikamaru corrected.
"Oh… You know Shika, with you around I'd never need a dictionary."
"Right…"
"Anyway, when are we going over to Kankuro's?" Lee asked, quickly snapping out of his thoughts.
"Four should be good. It gives us enough time to relax before the show even starts," Shikamaru supplied.
"Do you hear that?" Lee suddenly asked.
"Mmm, The Press Corpse… It's your ringtone, Shika," Naruto hummed.
The laziest of the three sighed and got up, moving over to the TV where he'd placed his cell the night before. "It's my mom," he announced before answering it,
"Moshi, moshi. Gah!" Shika jerked he little device away from his ear. Lee and Naruto exchanged a look and continued to watch Shikamaru.
"It's only been two days. –pause- Yeah, but it's not like dad didn't say I could. –pause- Well, that's on him, not me… -pause- I'm not, it's just- No, I would not like to be shipped off to Yumei-nee-san's. –pause- Grounded?! When have I ever been grounded? –pause- Fine, but I have a gig today. –pause- At the very least 10 o'clock. –pause- At most? er… probably midnight. –pause- Fine, fine, don't blow a gasket. –click-" Shikamaru snapped his cell shut and put it down glaring.
"My mom says I've been hanging out with you guys too much and have to spend time at home more. So I'm grounded starting after our gig," he said still glaring at his mobile phone. Naruto walked over and put his hand on his shoulder.
"No, prob, Shika. Does that mean no arcade?" Shika grinned and looked up at the blond. "I have to go straight home from school. She'll probably time me…" Naruto and Lee laughed.
"For once in your life you're early and it doesn't even matter," Kankuro grumbled from the couch as his three bandmates walked in. "Meh, arcade is closed on Sundays," Naruto said carelessly as he fell onto the sofa. Kankuro glared over at him with his arms hugging a maroon pillow under his chin.
"What're you watching?" Lee asked as he leaned in from behind the couch. "A documentary on mummies," Kankuro answered blankly as a virtual model of a tomb flicked onto the screen.
"Ew, documentaries are boring!" Naruto said with his nose scrunched up.
"No, you're just allergic to knowledge. You get a rash every time you have to think," Kankuro said smartly. Naruto growled and bonked the older teen over the head.
"Shut up, asshole. That was just a rumor!" Kankuro snickered and rubbed his head gingerly. Lee and Shikamaru silently exchanged a look and stayed quiet.
"Hi, Gaara-kun," Lee said cheerfully as the younger came downstairs. "Are you going to be at our show tonight?" Lee asked with a genuine smile. Gaara stared at the boy and blinked.
"Okay," Gaara said, grabbing Lee's hand as he said it. Lee looked at his hand curiously and decided to shake it. Kankuro craned his head to see Gaara tighten his hold on the raven one. Lee looked at his in confusion and Kankuro rolled his eyes.
"Let him go, Gaara." Gaara let go and walked silently into the kitchen.
"What was that all about?" Shikamaru asked with his eyebrows raised.
Kankuro shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, but I think Gaara might have a crush on Lee." Naruto gaped and shook the brunette next to him.
"What?!" Kankuro shot an annoyed glance at the blonde and tried to concentrate on his program. "He acts strange around youth-boy there. So what else could it be…"
Shikamaru snorted with his arms crossed. "Maybe Gaara just looks up to him as an older brother. You know, cause of how crappy his real one is."
Kankuro brushed off the slight with the roll of his eyes.
"Please, real older brothers never encourage or are nice to their younger brothers. You guys wouldn't understand, you're all only kids," Kankuro said dismissively.
"Hmm, what would Temari say if she knew?" Naruto asked thoughtfully.
"Knew what?" Temari asked with a soda bottle in her hand. "Gah, when did you get here?" Naruto asked startled and clutching his heart.
"I've been here, I live here," Temari said plainly and slung her arm around Lee's shoulders.
"Oh, nothing," Naruto said and turned to watch mummy brains being pulled out through the nose. Temari narrowed her eyes. "Yea, right. Hey, lazyass what were they talking about?" Temari demanded.
"They think Gaara likes Lee," he said in his usual bored tone.
"Shika!" Naruto protested. Said boy just shrugged.
"So?" Gaara said popping up out of nowhere with a grape soda in hand. Lee looked between the two Sabaku on either side of him, slightly confused.
"So you do, Gaara?" Temari asked in a neutral tone. Gaara just stared blankly and sipped his soda.
"Uh, I'm going to go get a soda, too," Lee announced and quickly went to the kitchen. The small kitchen that he entered had a blue and gray theme going on.
"Oi, Lee, let's make some popcorn," Temari announced as she walked in, grabbing the box of popcorn on top of the refrigerator.
"Okay," Lee chimed as he hoisted himself up onto the kitchen counter. Temari looked over and glared at the over-stacked dishes in the sink.
"Hey! Who's cleaning the dishes?" Temari yelled with her head outside the kitchen door. Her yell was met with silence.
"Damnit. Kankuro, you're doing the dishes." "
What?! Why cant Gaara or you do the dishes?"
"Because I'm the one who cooks and Gaara wouldn't do it even if I told him to."
"It's true," Gaara's calm voice added in.
"What the hell?" Lee grinned from where he sat and suppressed a chuckle.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you, Mr. Lead Singer-sama," Temari asked with a smile. "It's just… I kind of wish I had siblings."
"Trust me, you don't," Temari said with a twitch. Lee chuckled and stopped the microwave so that the popcorn wouldn't burn.
"Kankuro, get your ass in here or I'll take your drumsticks and shove them where the sun don't shine," Temari yelled over her shoulder, simultaneously taking the popcorn out of the microwave. Kankuro finally trudged into the kitchen, grumbling under his breath about the unfairness of it all.
"Yea, yea, so you're gonna whine and stuff. As your older sister I don't have be nice," Temari said mockingly and shoved the popcorn at Lee. Taking the hint, Lee left and reentered the living room, handing the popcorn over to Gaara who had taken Kankuro's spot next to Naruto.
The TV channel was switched to a sitcom about college and frats/sororities. Shikamaru looked less than interested on the armchair near the window, and the two couch potatoes were both staring, absently shoving popcorn into their mouths every so often. They sat there silently for about ten minutes before Kankuro came back with his face set in a sour expression.
"Come on, let's go to my room," the oldest boy said and started to march over to the stairs. Naruto laughed and playfully shoved past the other as Shikamaru and Lee walked over to follow. Kankuro rolled his eyes and started to climb the stairs. Once they got to the second floor they saw Naruto with a strange look on his face looking through the last door on the left.
His eye twitched as they came closer. "Gosh, Kankuro, why do you still have that freaky puppet hanging over your bed?" Naruto asked as he eyed the wooden puppet suspiciously. "Cause I like it, you wimp," Kankuro said as he shoved said wimp into the room. "Plus, it holds good memories, it used to scare Gaara when he was little." The blond promptly fell facedown into the beige carpet, muttering curses as Shikamaru helped him up.
"Bitch," Naruto growled. Kankuro smirked and swiveled around in his roller chair in front of his computer. "Bite me."
"Gladly!"
"Guys," Lee interrupted as he tiredly sat down on the maroon covered bed. "We have a show in a few hours. Now's not the time for a fight."
Shikamaru grunted an agreement and fell backwards onto the bed next to the brunette. "Yea, yea. It'd be easy if we'd just put a muzzle on him like I suggested before," Kankuro said under his breath. Naruto glared over at him and sat with his back facing away from the bed and the puppet's menacing countenance.
"You guys are so immature," Shikamaru sighed as he lethargically stared out the sky window. Lee sweat dropped and looked at his three quiet friends, suddenly wishing to be downstairs again.
"Hey, I'm going to work now. See you guys later," Temari yelled up the stairs. Lee glanced at the Pokemon clock on the bedside table announcing that it was five o'clock. One hour until they had to be there. Two and a half until they had to play.
Suddenly a snort-giggle sneaked past the hand covering Kankuro's mouth. In front of him the computer screen was white with small black words. "Fanfiction," Lee muttered and smiled at the continued sound of stifled laughter.
Outside the sun was glowing orange, playing the perfect atmosphere with the cool autumn breeze. Arcadia Street was lined with small unique shops which made it the most liked street in the whole city, and the most popular place there was the club in the center. Club Shampoo was decorated with a huge pink shampoo bottle on the roof surrounded by plastic rainforest foliage. The door was painted with intricate, exotic flowers surrounding a jaguar. The four be-hoodied boys stopped on the sidewalk in front, staring fondly at the familiar place.
Kankuro smirked and took a penny out of his pocket, carefully putting it tails-up on the sidewalk. "Oi, trying to give someone bad luck, again?" Shikamaru asked accusingly.
"It's the most useful use for a penny. Unless you want to tick a cashier off and bring a whole bunch to pay with," Kankuro said.
"You just want to spread your grumpiness to others, you bitter-teme," Naruto said teasingly, impatiently shoving his boyfriend and the oldest boy toward the club entrance.
"Not true. If I really wanted to make people as unhappy as me I would superglue a quarter to the ground. I just like the thought of cause people some discomfort sometimes," Kankuro commented with a happy smirk.
"Don't worry, we do that enough to the parents of our fans," Naruto snickered as he sent a grin to the buff bouncer who nodded at them as they past through. Lee grinned and hesitated toward the door. Quickly he went back and flipped the penny over, smiling slightly at heads-up penny before running after his friends.
Inside the atmosphere transformed into a smoky urban jungle, where the bar section was lighted just enough. Several columns had vines wrapped around them with brightly colored blooms, the columns sectioned off a few tables to give it a sense of privacy. A small section off the side of the bar was set for nicer tables where simple meals could be served.
Opposite the bar were the dance floor and the stage. The stage was elevated two feet above the dance floor and was being set up with instruments for the band at the moment. The dance floor was spacious and was laid in a black and white checker pattern, perfect for dancing or a large crowd of rock-lovers.
"Right on time," Temari announced as she walked over to them in her black skirt-white blouse uniform. She was holding a clipboard and eying the boys where they stood. "Where's Gaara?" she asked glaring at Kankuro poisonously. "He said he'd come later," Shikamaru came to the sweating Kankuro's rescue.
"Okay. Hoodies off, I have to make sure you're in playing shape," she ordered playfully. They each took off their black hoodies and threw they over at her. She growled under her breath, but stopped as she observed the four. Shika was simply wearing a plain grey shirt and blue camo pants with a blue bandana tied on his right upper arm.
The blonde next to him opted for fit faded jeans with a bright orange belt and a dark purple Kill Hannah t-shirt. Her brother was wearing his usual wifebeater and leather cuffs, this time both black, his trademark shark-tooth necklace and just to shake it up a bit, he decided to wear a pair of tight-fitting brown pants, as opposed to wearing them baggy.
Temari nodded approvingly at the three and waved them off, then turned to Lee. The raven haired boy watched as his friends walked over to the stage without him and he turned to his ex. He looked at her blankly as she chose to circle him like a hawk. He was wearing a red and green striped shirt with long sleeved that trailed over his hands, his pants were tight, red plaid with a lime green belt. A clearly hand-stitched badge on the left corner of his shirt announced 'Merry Christmas, Bitches,' and Temari smiled at Lee's strange fashion sense. "Hmm, its so you, Lee. But I'd add one more thing," Temari said as she grabbed his hand, letting the hoodies fall to the floor.
"Oh, what?" Lee asked innocently and let her drag him away unknowingly to the girl's bathroom. "Temari! What did we say about bringing your boyfriend in here to make out?" a girl's voice said loudly, amusement plain in her voice. "Yea, yea, we broke up, so no worries. Now I have work to do," Temari said dismissively, steering a smirking long haired brunette out of the restroom.
"Ne, Temari-chan, I don't think I should be-"
"Shut up, Lee, and let me work my magic."
"-sigh- Yes, Temari-chan…"
"Wow, what a crowd," the brunette girl from before commented as she stood next to Temari, looking out at the dance floor at the many teenagers staring expectantly at the dimly lit stage.
"Hmm, they just keep getting bigger and bigger, eh?" Temari said with an amused smile. "Pretty soon they'll be getting a label, I bet," the girl said cheerfully.
"I wouldn't doubt it," the blonde replied back.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!! Oh my gosh, look at Lee-kun!!!" The squeal was swallowed by the crowds' cheering as all the members of the band came on stage. Temari grinned and the brunette looked at the lead singer as he confidently stepped in front of everyone.
"Wow, so that's what you were doing. Nice," the girl commented with a distracted tone. There stood the raven haired boy before the crowd, sporting a faux-hawk that added just enough to the boy's look. The other members on stage grinned to themselves and started to fire up their instruments, the cheering giving them a boost of excited energy.
The intro to their first song came fast and sweet, quickly smoothing into the vocals with Lee grabbing the mike aggressively.
Call me a doctor of defense
Maybe I'm a fix (Baby I'm a mess)
A diagnosis you'll forget
Call me baby call me crazy, yeah yeah yeah
Take these pills everyday to kill your apathy for living
Yeah for living, yeah yeah
Lee let the mike rock hazardously as he grabbed for the guitar around his neck and started adding his own to the musical mix. On either side of him Naruto and Shikamaru leaned into their mikes more to help in the refrain.
(This is) This is the sound of your body under fire
(These are) These are my eyes finding you in the dark
We are the voices of an underground choir
Save your breath you won't be heard
Lee looked out into the crowd, eying them with a hard, dark stare that forced the words he sang to take a sort of physical form in the listener's soul. In his trance he felt the music rushing through him and the power from the adrenaline strengthened the emotions that had first formed these lyrics.
I found the villain in your bed
A blanket full of lust (a pillow you can trust)
So is this what you call love?
Call me crazy, listen baby, yeah yeah yeah
Stop sniffing all your cocaine
I'll be your drug for the pain
For all the pain, yeah yeah
A fire lit Lee's eyes and he was everywhere at once, with passion pushing past his lips and all thoughts out of his mind.
(This is) This is the sound of your body under fire
(These are) These are my eyes finding you in the dark
We are the voices of an underground choir
Save your breath you won't be heard
And when you're falling for the stories I said and believe in
Nothing but the truth we wrote on the ceiling
Break out all your bullets it won't be enough for
Stopping all your jail mates from turning into
People on the sun reaching for a loaded gun for you
They will scream your name before I do
(This is) This is the sound of your body under fire
(These are) These are my eyes finding you in the dark
We are the voices of an underground choir
We are the voices of an underground choir
We are the voices of an underground choir
(This is) This is the sound of your body under fire
(These are) These are my eyes finding you in the dark
We are the voices of an underground choir
(This is) This is the sound of your body under fire
(These are) These are my eyes finding you in the dark
We are the voices of an underground choir
Save your breath you won't be heard
The music made him hungry and as the song ended he looked at his friends and nodded, asking, begging, for the next course of the music feast. They were just as hungry and as eager as him.
So here's a question,
I'll hypnotize you,
But will you follow me,
Follow all these footsteps I left behind,
My hands are shaking,
Don't criticize me,
I'm not being in demand,
I could pay for your tears,
It's in my job description,
To tell you how to feel,
This is my ammunition,
I'll fly away with you,
Make make me make you want to sing along,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
Break break me until you realize your favorite song,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
This is your anthem for tonight,
Your contemplating,
What you want from me,
But it's not up to you,
Listen to me what I have to say,
Up against the wall,
With my guard down,
But can you conquer me,
I'm fighting you're not sure and we're not fine,
It's in my job description,
To tell you how to feel,
This is my ammunition,
I'll fly away with you,
Lee smiled playfully at the crowd and danced slightly as he sang.
Make make me make you want to sing along,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
Break break me until you realize your favorite song,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
This is your anthem for tonight,
So here comes a breakdown,
Oh you wish you could,
So here comes a breakdown,
Let's sing it and get down,
So here comes a breakdown,
Let's sing it and get down,
Lee slid to the floor, smiling in bliss as Naruto gave his solo.
Just tell me one more time,
What do you want honey,
Make make me make you want to sing along,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
Break break me until you realize your favorite song,
WOAH OH OH, WOAH OH OH,
This is your anthem for tonight
The night continued much the same with the band being playful with their fans and at times even intense, not once making a mistake.
"Okay, folks, here's a last song," Lee announced, who was immediately received with groans.
"Sorry, guys, Shika-kun needs to be home by eleven thirty." Lee winked and threw an apologetic glance at the bassist.
"Who else has an annoying, mom?" Shikamaru asked into the mike. A bunch of kids laughed and over half the crowd raised their hand.
"I rest my case," Shikamaru said with a smirk and started strumming his bass.
"I Hate Your Eyes!" Lee exclaimed and everyone got quiet as the delicate guitar strums started.
As if your the one to talk
Trying to take what you don't have
Whatever made you so jealous
I'm tired of being quiet
I'm sick of writing the songs that make you think that you're so special
You never really were that special
I'm ready to start this riot
I'm ready to start a new democracy
Or Something like it
One for all and all against you
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
So do it one more time so I can sing this
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
Maybe later we can start one
Start a new relationship
You'll call it friendship, I'll call it a
Second chance for you
Get on your knees and beg to me not to
Call you names, behind your back or
To your face, you're nothing but my crush that went away
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
So do it one more time so I can sing this
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
It's up to you for this
Should we just call it off
I've tried so many times before
It's up to you for this
Should we just call it off
It's up to you for this
'Cause I'm gonna set it off
Come on angel...let's talk this over
Come on angel
Come on angel...let's talk this over
Come on angel
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
So do it one more time so I can sing this
Hey Hey, Wooh oh oh
This makes for the perfect song
Lee grinned under sweat-heavy bangs and shined in the loud reaction to their song. Naruto boldly put his guitar on the stand behind him and took an exaggerated bow, the crowd roared, and Lee waved at them enthusiastically. Kankuro jumped up and pumped his drumsticks into the air, and Shikamaru grinned lazily.
"Night, peeps, see you next time," Naruto yelled over the insistent cheers as he walked off stage. The other three followed after him, but not before Kankuro threw his drumsticks to the crowd. "Oi, you shouldn't of done that, someone could of gotten hit by those," Lee chided Kankuro. "Nah, the kids love that kind of stuff," Kankuro said as he waved off Lee's concern.
"Hey, Lee, how you been?" asked a girl who was waiting for the band as they got off the stage.
"Eh, Kin, what are you doing here?" Lee asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Just to watch the band like everyone else. You guys keep getting more awesome as you go along," the tall girl chirped happily.
"Okay, cut the crap, what do you really want?" Kankuro groused as he stepped in front of the girl's ex. The girl frowned.
"An asshole as usual, Kankuro. I'm just here to give you good confirmation from a fan. Geez…" the girl flicked her hair over her shoulder and rested her hand on her hip.
"How's NAMA, Kin?" Lee asked friendlily, shoving Kankuro's arm out of the way.
"The same as always. Except we all think Orochimaru-sensei has gone crazy, but you know. We always thought he was a bit strange…"
"Ha, and no one listened to me when I said that that snake was a serial pedo on the verge of a rampage. I'm just glad we got out before it happened," Naruto said as he shivered in disgust.
Kin raised her eyebrow. "Not quite that extreme, but we do think he's in a serious need of a lay. And shut up, Kankuro-baka," Kin said quickly before the older boy could open his mouth. Kankuro grunted and drifted off towards where Shika was relaxing away from the conversation.
"Anyway, I should go now. Great show, it was nice to see you in all your glory, Lee-kun," Kin cooed close to Lee's ear and quickly turned with a swish of her long jet black hair. Kankuro snorted as she left.
"What did you ever see in that hoe?" Kankuro grumbled. Lee ignored the insult towards his ex, and sat down tiredly against the wall.
"I'm bushed," Naruto said slumping against Shika. Lee yawned stretched a bit.
"It was long night," Kankuro commented and they all sat silent, listening to the incoherent conversations of the teens out in the club.
"I hope we can get used to this one day. Image doing this everyday for months at a time," Shika said.
Naruto grinned. "Even if it's tiring, it's worth it."
Lee smiled and lightly hit his head against the wall. "Yea…"
A/N: Random little things added in there, just for fun. Mah! It was harder to write than I thought. XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, any of Halifax's songs, Pokemon, or… anything else really.