Title: The Superhero

Summary: AU. SasuNaru. Sasuke never believed in superheroes. Until one night, one just saved him from certain death. SasuNaru.

Important:

YAOI!

This is a SasuNaru with AU.

A SasuNaru with AU this is.

Chapter 2: Stills

0------------------------0

7:34 AM. A radio abruptly turned on.

"… a nice weather in Konoha! Perfect for those who would like to stroll in parks. "

Naruto flinched at the loud exclamation of his alarm radio. His ears picked up sound instantly and it prodded his sleepy head awake. He pried his eyes open and groggily got up. Nothing still made sense, yet. His feet touched the cold floor and he remembered that he should buy a pair of slippers one day. Naruto rubbed his eyes as he freed himself from his thin blanket and padded towards the bathroom. His blonde hair was sticking up in all directions. He looked everything but fearsome.

As he got inside his bathroom to wash his face, he listened unconsciously to the radio, "…on other news, two of the wanted members of … found by the police last night in an alley just a few blocks away…" Naruto yawned and looked at mirror just in front of him. "… could be the Red Fox. According to Konoha Investigators …" After drying his face, Naruto went back to his room and turned off his radio.

Naruto went to open the door to his balcony and prepared himself for a blast of hundreds of sounds. In the mornings, Naruto would wake up to many sounds because of heightened senses. Years had gone by and eventually, he had gotten used to it. Naruto managed to filter out those closest to his hearing range and just extend it when he needed to. Hearing so many sounds often made Naruto stop sometimes to listen to different conversations, unintentionally of course. Sometimes, he would hear conversations that were helpful with his kind of job. There were times when he would hear other things, such as slight rustle of tress a few meters away, the screams of help a few blocks away …. And other things that he wished he hadn't heard.

How about the sound of the erratic beating of the black-haired boy's heart last night? That was interesting, so was the boy. Naruto had been watching the boy named Sasuke even before he entered the alley. He was impressed for he hasn't seen that level of confidence yet. Sasuke's confidence was not boastful. It was the kind of confidence that would make you tend to rely on him. But it was, really, a little stupid idea to pass through the alley a few hours before dawn.

He stepped outside of his room and into his balcony, his feet touching the cold floor. Naruto leaned against railings and gazed at the morning sky. He was glad he was there before the Uchiha boy got himself painfully beaten up. It was such a shame to mar a fine-looking face like that. The Uchiha's irises were strikingly dark, it was mesmerizing. Its blackness could even match his raven hair. His skin was several shades lighter than Naruto's, and the fox swore that he didn't see any hint of blemish on the pale skin. When Naruto had pinned him against the wall, he was expecting that look of fear on those black eyes. But he saw none. He was everything but scared. Naruto smiled a little as he observed his hands. He remembered how Sasuke's pulse palpitated madly against his palm. He got so close to that boy last night that he could even hear the quiet sound of his intense heartbeat.

Oh yes, and his smell… Naruto shut his eyes. God. Heat rose up to his cheeks.

Naruto shook his head and left his small balcony. Enough. He had to take a bath and leave for his work. After all, wasn't it just yesterday that he got a new job? Right. He had to take down his mind from the clouds, off of a certain black-haired, good-looking boy named Sasu…

Naruto's hand unconsciously jerked up to catch a sharp glass zooming towards the back of his head. "Uzumaki." He heard a voice. He narrowed his eyes and turned to the direction of the source of the voice. He saw a boy with red hair, standing still on his balcony. The boy had his hands folded in front of his chest.

The blonde looked at the glass in his hand. "Gaara! Seriously, you have to stop popping up like that!" Naruto stomped uncharacteristically.

The boy Gaara didn't move an inch. "Why were your cheeks red when I came in here?"

Naruto was caught off guard. He wasn't expecting anyone at all to be around in the first place. So that meant that he was free to blush like hell. "None of your business! What do you want?" It has been a long while since he had last seen Gaara. And Gaara was one of the few people that Naruto had grown up with back when they were very young.

"Why haven't you been reporting back?" Gaara's voice never changed its tone. But Naruto could tell that he was pissed as he stood there with that stoic imitation.

"Why do you want to know? Besides, you already found me." Actually, Naruto felt that he needed some time with himself. That was why he arrived at Konoha a few months ago. The village was a little small but it was very beautiful. But it seemed that the village had an unhealthy distaste for boys who were a little boisterous. So when Naruto arrived here with his loud self, he was immediately frowned upon.

"Did you know how worried Tsunade was?"

"I could imagine. Tell the old hag I'm sorry." Naruto gripped the glass shard tighter in his hand and realized that his skin wasn't being cut. "Didn't you even wonder that I might just be busy or something?"

"You've been busy saving Konoha again?"

"Maybe." Because it was worth saving. No town was ever this beautiful.

"…Naruto…" Gaara slipped into that deeper voice which meant that he could be saying some words of wisdom to Naruto again. Naruto joined Gaara on his little balcony.

"Don't start that lecture again, Gaara. I know your homilies by heart already."

Gaara raised an eyebrow, "I'm not going to lecture you." Naruto sounded too guilty. "I got information from the Sound."

That perked up Naruto's curiosity. He stared at Gaara and waited for him to continue. He leaned back on the railings and watched his friend explain.

"Remember Orochimaru?" Naruto snorted. "Thought so. Well, Tsunade got word that he's on the move, Naruto. And he's heading to Konoha. "

"What did Tsunade say?"

"She said his motives were still not confirmed. But still, Tsunade sent me to warn you." The old hag was really worried about him. Naruto would shake his head but instead, he felt a longing to see his old friends again from the sand.

"So, is that all?" Naruto waited for Gaara to say that that was it. Then Gaara would leave and go back to their old village.

"Don't you think that I also want to know how you're doing?"

With that, Naruto smiled. Even if he always did, this one was a rare smile whose warmth reached his eyes. He playfully smacked Gaara's back and made the red-haired boy almost stumble. "So, what's with the glass weapon?"

"Tried it. I just learned a fire technique."

"I see. Your sand and fire. (1)" Naruto looked back at his hand and saw that the sharp glass had made a cut on his palm.

0------------------------0

Naruto was almost late for his work at the Konoha local coffee house. But fortunately, the nephew of the owner who happened to be there, told Naruto that it was all right. After all, there was still a few seconds before his scheduled time-in. So, technically, he still wasn't late.

Naruto considered this job a very fortunate blessing. His employer was very kind and his co-workers were surprisingly friendly towards him. It was different from what he was used to, having the other people in the village hate him because he was a little obscenely loud or annoying or some reason that he couldn't understand. But these people here, somehow Naruto knew they see him differently than others do.

Neji, a boy about his age, with strikingy beautiful black hair, usually ran the place. The coffee shop where Naruto worked was owned by one of Hyuuga Neji's uncles. The Hyuuga family had a small fortune set aside and part of it, they have invested in the local coffee house in the village. Neji wasn't required to work here but he kept insisting that he would help around when he could. Keep things in order and oftentimes, help the other employees.

Among Naruto's co-workers, he eventually learned to like a few of them. The pink-haired girl, Sakura-chan was really nice although she had a tendency to crash her fists on his head at times. Naruto got the first-hand experience of her fists of bricks (2) when he goofed off once. Then there was this thick-eyebrow guy with weird hair who called himself Rock Lee. Lee-san was fun to be with, but Naruto learned, on his first day, never to talk about youth and fighting spirit when you're with this guy. It was also obvious that Lee-san had this undying love for Sakura-chan.

Yesterday, the four of them, including Neji talked like old friends. Naruto was surprised and touched at the same time for it was just his first day at work. Naruto decided that he might like this new work. Speaking of work, Naruto filled in the orders that were starting to arrive. He checked the lists that Sakura was handing to him. Three orders of Mocha Frappe. That sounded easy enough to make. Any idiot could do that. Naruto, in his dark green apron, grabbed the things he needed for preparation.

He was in the middle of his work and just then, the door opened and Naruto's senses instantly perked up. His nose picked up a delicious scent, more delicious than the mocha frappe he was making. He quickly looked up and searched for the source of this incredibly good smell.

And there he was, the boy named Sasuke. The boy who called the Red Fox, 'bastard'. He walked in, carrying that same confidence that made its impression to Naruto. A bag slung over his shoulder, his hands in his pockets, his eyes not really staring at anyone. Almost everyone was aware that he walked in, because it seemed that he walked with this silent charisma. But none of them dared to call him or greet him. They just stared and admired from afar, just like what Naruto was doing now. He watched as Sasuke headed for one of the corner tables, one of those that people avoid because it was too far.

Sasuke settled himself and without warning, looked up to catch Naruto staring at him.

Naruto felt something wet on his shirt. "Oh shit…" Great. The coffee spilled.

Some super senses, he couldn't even sense that something wet and sticky would spill on him. Grabbing a rag, Naruto hastily wiped the spilled coffee, hoping that nobody saw him. He was wiping the stain from his uniform when somebody stood beside him, "He is something, isn't he?"

Naruto turned around. Sakura-chan was standing beside him, her arms on the counter and was staring dreamily at Sasuke. Naruto replied, "He's okay."

"Sasuke-kun always goes here every Monday and Wednesday mornings." Sakura continued, not really paying attention to what Naruto had said. But she did stare back at Naruto, recognizing that he had replied to her. "He always sits there first, in that corner, then goes here to order for his coffee and leaves after ten minutes." The pink haired girl went back to stare at Sasuke. "I don't know why, but … Oh my god! He's coming over here to order!" Sakura quickly grabbed Naruto and shoved him in front of the counter.

"Eh? Waaa! Wait! Sakura-cha…" The coffee he was making spilled some more as Sakura switched places with him. "What are you doing?"

Sakura pretended to wipe the spilled coffee, "I can't face Sasuke! I lose focus when I'm…EEP!" Sakura looked like she wanted to duck beneath the counter.

Naruto looked at her weirdly. He looked away from Sakura and came face-to-face with a pair of intense black eyes that were staring directly at him. Okay… His eyes were more incredible when you look at them up close and when there was light present. But under the light he looked more serious and more of a bastard, with that smug look on his face and …

…there was that scent again. Sasuke was just an arm away and his scent was filling Naruto's senses. Naruto couldn't take his eyes off Sasuke's.

Until he was brought back to reality when something crashed beside him. He spun around to find Sakura, fainted, on the floor. "Gyaa! Sakura-chan!"

0------------------------0

If it weren't for coffee in the morning, there was no morning to start the day with. After several years of waking up with a killer hangover, Sasuke learned the relief that coffee offered for the severe headache. Since then, even if Sasuke has stopped drinking, he was used to the presence of coffee in his breakfast and starting everything he had to do afterwards.

Today was just like any other. He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder then he would leave his house, about thirty minutes before his time at work. Along the way, he would stop for a few moments to just stare at something that has caught his eye. Then he would take his gaze away and start walking again. Sometimes, he would be seen stopping for a few moments. He would take out a camera from his bag. Sasuke would slouch or kneel down on one knee until he got into a position just right for the shot. When Sasuke was finished, he would tuck his camera inside his bag and continue walking.

He finally arrived at the local coffee shop and Sasuke savored the serenity of the place. It was almost perfect if it weren't for the people who kept staring at him. But with practice and a lot of getting used to, Sasuke learned not to mind it. Really, he didn't care exactly if his good looks could kill. He didn't fancy anyone yet in the first place. Sasuke continued brooding as he entered the coffee shop. He was greeted with the familiar, inviting aroma of coffee. He closed the door behind him and headed for his favorite spot in the corner. He ignored the stares as he took his seat and instead continued his brooding. He adjusted his seat until he found a comfortable position.

Satisfied, he looked up.

Then Sasuke felt a great urge to take out his camera, the one that he kept nicely intact in his bag, and capture this image that he was looking at, for eternity.

If there was something that Sasuke was obsessed about, it was capturing a living beauty and preserving it in his photo stills. Right now, he knew that nobody in Konoha had those kind of eyes and nobody had that same brightness in their hair. True, that there were some things that no photo could do justice to. But when times with the perfect opportunity come along his way, Sasuke would rarely let it pass by. This moment was an exception though. Because no matter how incredible those blue eyes were, no picture could ever capture their intensity.

Maybe it was time to go and order his coffee. He was still watching as the blonde boy behind the counter fumbled about and clumsily spilling more things. Sasuke got off his chair and headed for the counter. He watched as the girl Sakura exchanged places with him. Sasuke continued approaching the blonde boy, like a predator that surely had its prey trapped. The blonde's stunned expression was certainly priceless, he couldn't help but smirk. Sasuke slowly blinked, and captured this image into his mind, to make it stay there forever.

He stopped in front of the counter with the blonde boy on the other side. Then the pink-haired girl just fainted. Sasuke watched as the blonde boy snapped back to reality and rushed to the side of his friend. "Gyaa! Sakura-chan!" It was a good thing another guy with thick eyebrows helped the blonde.

"What happened to Sakura-san?" Fuzzy eyebrows asked worriedly.

"I don't know! She just fainted!" The blonde tried to shake her awake.

Sasuke got that reaction most of the time. She would be fine and would wake up in a few moments. Hopefully, she won't remember that she just fainted in front of Sasuke. It would be embarrassing for the girl.

"Naruto-kun," The thick eyebrow guy called him. Ahh, so 'Naruto' it was. "I'll go take care of Sakura-san, you take our customer's order."

Naruto got up from the floor and gave a worried look at Sakura as she was carried by the thick-eyebrow guy away. "I'm sorry, sir." The boy Naruto took a tray from beneath the counter and looked back at Sasuke. "So, what will you have?" Sasuke just stared. The blonde boy he was looking at was obviously new to this place. Or maybe he had arrived here just yesterday but Sasuke didn't go here during Sundays. Yes, this boy was new here. Sasuke was sure that he wouldn't miss someone like this at all.

"I'll have something new." Every time Sasuke would order here, he would just say 'the usual…' to the person behind the counter and they already knew what to get him. Today, he would take something different. "Do you have any suggestions?" Sasuke blinked slowly again. Sometimes he wished that he could take a picture of things that he was actually seeing. He wished that when he blinked his eyes, it would be like the lenses of his camera. They would shut for a split second and would capture the image.

"I see. Anou saa, I'm also new here you see." Naruto gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head. Expressions that were disarming like these should have been banned long ago. They were giving Sasuke a weird, indescribable sensation. "What are you in the mood for?"

Something hot and sweet, maybe. "I'll just have a hot chocolate and a bagel."

"I see. That's all?"

Of course not. "Yes, that's all."

"Can I have your name?"

Sasuke blinked.

Then the blonde seemed to understand why. "Oh, it's a new gimmick. You see, the owner thought it was cool if they put customers' names on their cups." Sasuke doubted it. "What's your name?" Naruto got a black marker and a cup. His hands were poised to write on the side of the cup, as he waited for Sasuke's reply.

This was familiar. Why should I give it to you? "Sasuke."

The blonde looked like he smirked, but Sasuke chose to ignore it. "Gotcha."

0------------------------0

After a few minutes of uninterrupted Sasuke glimpses, the raven haired boy decided to leave. He slung his bag again on his shoulder and gave Naruto one last look before he pushed open the glass door and headed out.

Naruto sighed. As quickly as the scent has invaded his senses, it was gone the second Sasuke had stepped outside. Naruto grabbed a rag and a tray and went to the table were Sasuke sat a while ago. He got the empty paper cup, the one with Sasuke's name on it and put it on his tray. Then as he wiped the table, he noticed something on the floor. Naruto crouched down to pick it up.

It was a wallet.

Naruto grinned as he opened it and saw Sasuke's ID. Bingo.

0------------------------0

… To be continued.

Notes:

1 Sand + Fire is Glass. :D ne, ne? O.o;

2 Term from Blacksyryn's Sunrise, Sunset. (Nice short story, from Sasuke's and Naruto's POV. Not yaoi, hehe.)