Lunch break
Orochimaru stares at Sasuke.
"You want me to do what?"
"I want you to teach me how to become a better actor."
Orochimaru smiles and he wraps the bathrobe around himself, voice deepening into a husky purr.
"Why Sasuke, you'd be joining my side."
Sasuke frowns. Orochimaru is trying to warn him. It seems like he isn't interested enough.
"It would annoy Itachi."
Orochimaru doesn't even pause.
"Done."
…
Scene four
"This boy, " Orochimaru hisses, eyes alight with a manic fervour, "will be my future!"
Kabuto scowls and looks to the floor, avoiding looking at the pale skinned boy dressed in a paler robe. The Uchiha is arrogant, insolent, and the smug smile resting on his lips makes him want to rearrange the Uchiha's body parts.
End scene.
Very visibly, the actors relax and begin talking, Orochimaru leaving with Sasuke in tow. Kabuto however, is glaring pure poison.
The director stays quiet. He signals to the cameraman to stop filming, and he frowns, not knowing what has changed.
For once, he realises, nothing has gone wrong.
…
Scene five
"Sasuke has betrayed Konoha. He is now a missing nin."
Kakashi looks grave as he relays the news to Sakura and Naruto, but it is difficult to tell with the mask over his face. But the news doesn't really surprise, because Sakura has known long before, and Naruto is still recovering from his battle injuries.
But still, it's some comfort, to say it aloud and confirm the facts. Because somehow, although it still hurts, it makes it much easier to believe.
…
End.
There are whispers following him everywhere and Sasuke's brow creases with irritation. The five metre radius is still around him, only now, it isn't his glare that's keeping people out. Orochimaru stands next to him, cold and pale as he places a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. They are changing out of costume, and Sasuke decides to leave the blue Uchiha top on and covers the fan on the back with a jumper.
The hairs on the back of his neck are standing on end.
"Are you okay, Sasuke?" His name is stretched out, syllables lingering on Orochimaru's tongue.
Freak. Sasuke thinks. But he doesn't say it aloud.
"I'm fine." It doesn't seem to be enough. "I get cold easily."
"You are extremely thin."
Orochimaru eyes him for a second, and it makes Sasuke feel oddly uncomfortable. He is reminded of a snake and a rodent.
But any feeling instantly evaporates as he sees Itachi on the other side of the cloakroom.
This will be worth it. Sasuke chants, mentally. Even if I have to go through this.
…
Itachi is in the cloakroom, and he starts to undress, changing into a pair of casual jeans and a jacket. The Akatsuki usually keep to themselves, but Kisame nudges him with an elbow (whilst wiping the blue off his face) and nods to the opposite corner where he sees Orochimaru standing a little too close to Sasuke for comfort.
"What do you think?"
"I don't care." Itachi says. "What my brother does with his spare time is not my business."
"I just thought I'd tell you. " Kisame remarks. "You know, just in case you did."
He does not reply.
"But Sasuke's been following him everywhere since lunch. I think he has a crush."
Itachi twitches.
"I assure you, Sasuke is not capable of a crush." He hesitates on the last word, as if he isn't too sure on the meaning. "I think he has, at last, resorted to his most drastic measure."
"What, sleeping with Orochimaru?" Kisame asks, slightly disbelievingly.
"Well, at least not yet."
…
Sasuke sees Itachi hiding behind the corner of a building a mile away. He scowls, and then he turns around, cursing. His apartment is quite near work, but walking still takes half an hour, and the weather is always deliberately unhelpful. It is raining.
It is also Itachi's fault that he doesn't have a car anymore.
So, it's understandable, that when Itachi suddenly appears in front of him and opens his mouth to say something, that Sasuke tries to slam a fist into his stomach. Only, it never quite gets there, because Itachi is better.
The grinding of molars is heard.
"What, " Sasuke snaps, "do you want?"
"Nothing." Itachi replies, tone almost sing song, insufferable smirk resting on his lips.
"Then move." Sasuke tries to shove his way past his brother, only to find himself unable to move the older man. It only irritates him even further. "Go, away." Sasuke tries, again.
"...What exactly do you see in Orochimaru?"
The question floors Sasuke for a while, but he quickly recovers, anger snapping within his eyes.
"He doesn't molest me, for a start. He's also a better actor than you; perhaps I'll actually learn something."
"I see."
The suspiciously bland tone makes Sasuke look at him for one, long moment.
Itachi cannot resist anymore.
"You see, it's common knowledge that Orochimaru used to be a porn star." He grins and the unfamiliar expression twists his face into something for one horrible moment. "So that thing about him not molesting you? Don't count on it."
Itachi leaves Sasuke standing in the street, feeling much better about himself as a person.
He is almost inclined to whistle.
tbc