Naruto woke reluctantly to the sound of his bedside alarm. Frowning, he grumbled and rolled over, unearthing his arm from the duvet and swinging it over to slap a flattened palm on the button, stopping the beeping abruptly. Groaning, he scrunched up his face and rubbed his tired eyes with a fist, before pushing himself up and sliding his legs over the side of the bed. He wriggled his toes into the soft rag rug beneath his feet, pulling the duvet over his shoulders like a cape, before getting up and stumbling groggily towards his little bathroom across the room, the duvet still draped over him. The door creaked as he pushed it open and stumbled to the sink, the bathroom mat crumpling a little as he stepped across it. He looked up into the mirror bolted above the basin and grimaced at what he saw. His was pale, his face a little greasy from sleep, and his eyes were slightly puffy. Letting the duvet fall to the floor, he lifted the knob of the tap and splashed his face with cold water, hissing at the shock. Drying his face on a pink towel hung over the radiator, he turned on the spot and leant over the bath to turn on the shower, before picking up his duvet by a corner and sauntering back into his studio style basement room, dragging it lazily behind him. He flung the duvet on the bed and began to undress, taking his Beatles Yellow Submarine t-shirt and long linen pyjama trousers off and leaving them in a crumpled heap. Turning on his heel, he walked back into the now steaming bathroom and shut the door.

The kettle on the stove whistled loudly and steam shot out of the spout. Sasuke lifted it off the fire and turned off the gas. Walking across his simple white laminate kitchen, he opened a cupboard and pulled out a heavy blue striped mug, placing it on the crumb spattered wooden chopping board next to the stove. Opening another cupboard, he pulled out a china teapot detailed with pictures of geishas and lifted the lid. He spooned tea leaves into the teapot and poured hot water into it, watching as the tea leaves swirled about in the hot liquid. Sasuke preferred to use tea leaves. Though they were more expensive, he found it quite relaxing to go through the familiar processes; he thought they tasted better, too. Opening a drawer, he fished out a little metal strainer and placed it over the mug, before taking it and the teapot into his lounge. Placing both on his dark polished coffee table, he reached between the squashy red sofa cushions and located the remote, before flopping down onto it and turning on his small flat screen television. He flicked through the channels before settling on BBC Breakfast; the two hosts were interviewing a chatty singer with a lot of tattoos about her newest album. Suitably mundane for the morning, he thought, drawing his knees up onto the sofa and leaning over to his coffee table. He lifted the lid of the teapot and inspected the colour of the water – satisfied; he poured the tea through the strainer into the mug, the little sieve catching the now black tea leaves. Lifting the strainer, he tapped the tea leaves back into the teapot and stood. Returning to the kitchen, he bent down and pulled open the fridge, taking the little plastic bottle of milk with a green top out. He stood and pushed the door shut with his foot, before threading a finger through the handle on the milk and sauntering back into the living room. He tugged slightly upwards on the waistband of his blue-grey pyjama bottom trousers, only the fronts of his bare feet visible below the crumpled material, before returning to the sofa and proceeding to pour a splash of milk into his tea. Sinking further into the sofa, he sipped at the hot liquid.

Sasuke's phone vibrated, moving a little across the table as it did so. He picked it up and swiped down on the screen, reading the text he had just received. He smirked slightly at the words.

I am sorry to bother you, but yesterday evening you didn't leave me an address to drop off your suit jacket. If you wouldn't mind, can you give me your home address and postcode?

Once again, I am extremely sorry for what happened.
Thanks,
Naruto Uzumaki (The Waiter)

Sasuke flipped his phone sideways and typed a quick reply. Tapping the send button, he spun the phone off into the sofa and scratched his bare chest. Rising, he switched off the television and walked towards his bedroom to get dressed.

The rain pattered against the window as Naruto pulled on his jumper. He stood in front of the full length mirror and inspected his outfit, before reaching over to the windowsill and grabbing a jar of hair putty, opening it and running a little through his blonde hair, forming his customary fluffed spikes. Unlike his smart waiter outfit (now hung up in the wardrobe) his casual style was very indie; he had a silver cartilage stud in his left ear, and favoured oversized jumpers and skinny jeans. Today's outfit was very much in this style – he was wearing faded black skinny jeans, an orange and red fairisle jumper that reached his thighs, and some battered brown dress shoes. Taking the soiled dinner jacket he had hung on a coat hanger in his wardrobe, he folded it up and placed it into a carrier bag, before shrugging on a dark blue duffel coat with black faux leather panels on the shoulders. He did the jacket all the way up, threading all of the toggles, before wandering his studio flat for essential items: keys, phone, and wallet. Placing the items into the deep pockets in the duffel coat, he grabbed a large black golfing umbrella with a wooden handle and stepped out of the front door into the typical London weather – rain. Pushing open the umbrella, Naruto was presented with a blue sky he had painted on the underside of the material – it had cracked a little on the folds, but made him smile anyway. The pattering of the rain against the pongee fabric became his soundtrack as he walked towards the dry cleaners on his local high street corner, the carrier bag swinging with his step, his fingers becoming cold and damp from the fine rain.

The little bell above the door rung as Naruto pushed the glass door inwards, entering the little dry cleaners. A petite young Chinese girl was standing at the counter, looking slightly bored, doodling on the back of a disguarded receipt with a cracked blue biro. She looked up and smiled, swiping the doodle off the countertop. Naruto pulled out the soiled jacket and gave to her, his mind wandering slightly as he stared at the rows of large washing machines and tumble dryers with little money slots. His attention was brought back to the girl when she told him the price of the clean; he paid, requesting that it be cleaned by the end of today, then fishing out a few extra coins for the express charge. She handed him a little pink slip with the time of collection, and he turned, leaving the shop and re-opening his umbrella. His phone chimed in his pocket – flipping the lid, he read the text from Shikamaru.

Yo. Wanna get some breakfast in Maccy D's?

Naruto quickly tapped the buttons of his phone to reply.

Yeah. See you in 15.

He pushed the pink slip of paper and the phone into his coat pocket and set off, turning in the opposite direction of his house. The rain increased in intensity, pattering loudly against the umbrella as he traipsed the grey high street. Reaching the bus stop, he stood under the shelter and put down his umbrella. He peered at the busy bus timetable, before glancing at his leather watch. 5 minutes. Delving into his pocket once more, he pulled out a single cigarette and his lighter and lit up, inhaling the hot smoke into his lungs. He blew out the grey substance into the rain and took another drag; leaning against the clear plastic wall of the bus shelter, he waited. A few minutes later, the bus turned the corner; stubbing out the half smoked fag, Naruto stuck an arm out to hail it, before stepping on the bus and swiping his oyster. He climbed to the upper level and seated himself on a well-worn seat, staring out of the window at the grey, rain spattered morning passing him by, his umbrella between his knees.

Shikamaru was waiting for him outside the fast food restaurant, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets. He smiled at him as Naruto approached. 'Hey mate.'

'Hi Shika. You alright?' Naruto raised a hand in greeting, flashing a lopsided grin at his friend. Shikamaru's hair was tied back in a stubby ponytail, covered by the hood of his heavy black trench coat with large wooden buttons. He had left his jacket open, revealing a simple denim shirt and beige chinos. A pair of plain black Doc Martens bedecked his feet. He pushed himself off the wall and they both entered, each pushing one swinging door. Walking up to the still virtually empty counter, Naruto stared at the bright breakfast menus above the employee's heads. Hearing Shikamaru order and still undecided, he simply echoed his friend, adding a small latte to the bill. He fished out money from his ever thinning wallet, paid, and seated himself by the window with his food, opening the wrapper and turning his nose up slightly at what he was presented with. Looking up at Shikamaru, he frowned.

'What the hell is this?' he poked at his food.

'McMuffin.' Shikamaru opened his, peeling off the melted cheese. 'Though why the hell they put cheese in it I'll never know.' Naruto grimaced at the sight of Shikamaru dissecting his breakfast.

'I think I'll just have porridge thanks.'

'Suit yourself!' Shikamaru took a great bite out of the muffin. 'Mmh.'

Naruto pushed his disguarded food towards Shikamaru, before getting up and returning to the counter to buy a pot of plain instant porridge, no syrup. Returning to the table, he took a sip of his latte and looked out of the rain speckled window, watching a group of girls pass by, chatting animatedly. Shikamaru's poke roused him from his reverie. 'This is why you are so thin. Eat that.' He gestured towards Naruto's disguarded porridge. Smirking slightly, Naruto pulled the cardboard bowl towards him and took a bite. 'You should really try to be healthier, Naruto. You smoke and don't eat enough. There is a reason why you are too pale you know.' Naruto waved a hand at him.

'I just forget. It's not like I don't want to eat.'

'I don't want to have to remind you all the time, bastard.'

Naruto chuckled. 'Who else would do it? The epic bromance continues!' Shikamaru flicked a bit of bread at him. Huffing, Naruto spooned more porridge into his mouth.

Aaand here's another chapter for you to enjoy :)

This chapter is a bit Naruto heavy I know, so the next one will feature more Sasuke :P

I know I am glamourising smoking here, and I would just like to note that smoking is NOT cool; it stinks, it's expensive, and has no medical benefit at all. I don't smoke, and never will. I'm going to make Naruto quit anyway later.

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