Naruto gingerly probed the wound on his temple with the tips of his fingers. A piece of surgical tape held the two now scabbed sides together; they moved slightly when Naruto frowned at himself in the mirror. He now had a new dilemma – Neji. How was he going to hide this one? He'd covered the odd bruise with makeup he'd borrowed from friends, but the tape and scab was a whole new matter, not to mention the headache. Reaching to his left, Naruto wrapped his fingers around the handle of a brush which was on top of the toilet cistern in his little bathroom. He dragged the spiked brush through his hair, flattening it a little in an attempt to cover his wound; it did little to hide it, and customers would see it as soon as he bent his head down to talk to them or take a plate. Sighing, he replaced the brush back on the cistern and ruffled his long, pianist's fingers through his yellow hair, returning it to its customary messed look. Returning his gaze to the mirror, he looked past his face to see his living room, visible through the open bathroom door, and onto the clock mounted on the wall. I'll have to leave in an hour or so, he thought, and left the bathroom towards his little kitchen. Picking up the kettle, he popped the lid, filled it a little, and placed it back on the hook before flipping a switch so the kettle would begin to boil. Grabbing a mug, he placed a teabag in the bottom, and poured in the water once it was boiled, adding a little milk before removing the teabag. Turning away, he walked across the room to his ironing board, which was slotted in a corner in view of the television. Flopped over the board was a pair of creased black trousers and a white shirt. Naruto placed his tea on a small table by his armchair, switched on the television, and began to iron his work clothes.

The restaurant buzzed with energy that evening. A film was being shot on Embankment, and the lead actors had come to eat dinner with the director and a few other important people from the set. Naruto was used to meeting and greeting the rich and famous – the restaurant he worked at was rated one of the most elegant and best in the country – it was also one of the most expensive as a result. Nevertheless, this did not deter those privileged enough to afford to dine to come and sample the delights. Naruto pushed the double doors open to the kitchen, his forearms laden with empty plates. He left them by the sink with the dishwasher boy, then, glancing at his watch, signalled to Neji he was taking his break. He undid his waistcoat buttons and stuck a thumb in each trouser pocket, rolling his stiff shoulders. Reaching his locker, he opened it and delved into the coat stuffed in the small space, hunting for the pocket. His fingertips touched cardboard, and he pulled out the little box of cigarettes. Flipping the little lid with his thumb, he pulled out a fag and tapped the base on the front of his locker, before delving into his trouser pockets to find his lighter. He turned towards the doors, attempting to go outside, but instead he came face to face with Shikamaru, who had an unimpressed look on his face. 'Naruto.' He said, firmly. 'You pissed of Neji already today with that,' he pointed at Naruto's taped up wound, 'and you will piss him off even more if you smoke in uniform. You don't want that.' Tapping his foot, Shikamaru held out a palm for the cigarette and lighter. Naruto huffed and plonked the two into it, watching them disappear as he curled his fingers over them and placed them in his pocket.

'I'll get cravings though.' Naruto stated, plopping down on one of the benches in the little cloakroom. 'I go all pale and people ask me if I'm ill.'

'Too bad. I'm saving your life you know,' Shikamaru said, joining him. He rested his elbows on his knees. 'What happened to you at the party the other day then? I only heard bits and bobs.'

Naruto leaned back and rested his head on the metal pole behind him. 'I got too drunk and I fell, and a guy kicked me in the head and knocked me out. Next thing I know I'm in hospital next to a shirtless Sasuke. He said he used his shirt to mop up my blood. Bit scary, huh?' Shikamaru nodded in agreement.

'Head wounds bleed a lot. It sounds like Sasuke took care of you all right though. He's a good mate. Stick with him.'

Naruto laughed. 'I don't think I've ever made a friend by dumping food on them! It's a new first. Anyway, how'd you get on with that blonde bint? You seemed to be enjoying yourself when I saw you dancing with her.'

Shikamaru grinned. 'Well, I pulled. I got her number and we've been texting ever since. I'm meeting her tomorrow.'

'Jammy bastard!' Naruto punched his arm, laughing. 'You're such a player.' Shikamaru shrugged, a smirk playing across his features. The conversation petered off into a comfortable silence, Naruto studying the ceiling tiles above his head, before Shikamaru spoke.

'You know what, Sasuke's hair looks like a duck's arse from the back.' Naruto chuckled and nodded.

'It suits him though, I think.' Still studying the ceiling, Naruto missed Shikamaru's sideways glance, a slight smirk twitching his lips and a dark, knowing eyebrow raised. Glancing down at the leather strapped watch on his wrist, Shikamaru held it out to the blonde sitting to his right. 'Fuck. I was supposed to be back 3 minutes ago.' And with that, Naruto stood and left the cloakroom, buttoning up his waistcoat and pulling on his cuffs.

Alone, Shikamaru shook his head. 'He's always the last one to notice…'

Sasuke sat on the leather sofa in his brother's living room, socked feet resting on the coffee table in front of him. Itachi sat to his left, a can of Diet Coke resting on his thigh. They were watching a violent film – something to do with assassins, but Sasuke wasn't really concentrating – he could feel his eyes becoming heavy, and pushed himself further down into the sofa, to a more comfortable position. He let his eyes droop shut, and zoned out. As he drifted off, his mind turned to Naruto at the party – his scarlet blood soaking his shirt, his yellow hair. He didn't think he had ever seen so much blood; his mind recalled the adrenaline rush he'd felt as he'd picked up the tall man and pushed through the crowd, his head lolling against his chest. His relief when Naruto awoke had unsettled him a little. Whatever. Sasuke mentally shrugged and reposed his mind fully, sighing as he let his body settle into the soft sofa he was seated on. The sound of the television became muffled under the blanket of sleep which wrapped Sasuke up like cotton wool, caressing his weary mind, relaxing his muscles, slowing his heartbeat, until a sharp jab jolted him awake. He growled at Itachi, who had jabbed a toe into his kidney, a grin plastered onto his face, the light of the television playing across his pale features in the darkened room. 'Bastard.' He mumbled. 'I'm going to bed.' Grunting, Sasuke pushed himself up and stumbled towards the spare room in Itachi's flat. His questing fingers traced the wall and found the light switch, and he sat on the end of the double bed, and began to undress, pulling off his socks and unbuttoning his shirt. He removed his trousers before standing in front of the mirror – Sasuke's body was lean, almost slender; he was naturally very pale, with dark hair and eyes, and an angular chin. Turning away, he walked around the edge of the bed, switching off the light as he went, and climbed under the duvet.

Naruto pulled open his little locker, grabbing his coat and fumbling for his pocket. Finding the box of cigarettes, he glanced pleadingly at Shikamaru, who sighed, dipped a hand into his trousers, and pulled out the little orange lighter, handing it to him. Shrugging on his coat, Naruto stepped out into the little alleyway behind the restaurant and lit up; inhaling the hot smoke like it was his lifeblood. The compulsive need to smoke after skipping a period where he normally would disgusted Naruto a little; the cravings, the dependency made him feel weak, however he had to concede. He had to smoke. Shikamaru stepped out a minute or so later, grimacing at the smell of the burning cigarette suspended between Naruto's two fingers. Naruto frowned. 'I am going to quit one of these days.'

'You said that a year ago, and you are still getting through a pack a day.'

Naruto shrugged. 'I haven't got any real reason to stop.'

'What, apart from the fact that it is slowly killing you?'

'Hmm…'

Shikamaru shook his head, exasperated. 'Whatever. Just don't come crawling to me when you cough up a lung and find the entire thing is black.' The two turned a corner down a busier road. Neon lit signs of shops blared at them and reflected on the wet street, enticing in customers from the cold with deals and central heating. Naruto glanced at Shikamaru who was eyeing up a MacDonald's further down the street.

'Didn't you eat before the shift started with the rest of us?'

'Yeah but that was…' he studied his watch. 'Six hours ago.' Shikamaru frowned at Naruto. 'What scares me is that you are never hungry. All of the other staff go and get food after their shifts, even Neji.'

'I don't like late night food though,' Naruto protested, but dutifully followed his friend into the empty fast food restaurant, and ate the small bag of chips and pot of ketchup that Shikamaru thrust to him when they were seated. Finished, he stretched tightly and and grunted when he heard a vertebrae click in his back. Late night shifts like this were always hard, yet the pay was good, and despite Neji's angry nature, he was treated well – though the strict tidiness rules were a pain. He stood to dispose of his and Shikamaru's rubbish, and then the two left the restaurant, separating when they reached the end of the road. Naruto couldn't quite recall how he'd got himself home after that, but the softness of his bed was all too inviting to ignore.

Sasuke turned the ignition keys in his car, and the vehicle stuttered to life. His brother lived further out of London, which was a pain to get to on public transport, but simple and relatively quick by car. Sasuke didn't drive much due to the congestion charges in his area; he preferred to ride the bus to work and walk wherever he could. Petrol was so expensive these days, and being an estate agent in central London meant nothing was too far away from the branch. Sasuke's phone which was resting in the passenger seat buzzed as he joined the queue at some traffic lights ahead. He quickly unlocked it, checking the message before the lights changed and he'd have to pull away.

You busy today?

N

Noticing the lights, Sasuke tossed the phone back on the seat and carried on driving. He reached his house, parked the car in a space further down the street, grabbed his coat and phone, and got out, locking his car as he walked away. Swiping down to unlock his phone, he tapped a reply to Naruto's message with his thumb while he walked.

Not really. Any ideas?

As he was taking off his shoes in the little hallway of his house and placing them on a pine shoe rack, his phone buzzed again, indicating a reply.

You said something about rock climbing at the party. There's a session on at the sports centre near my house in a couple of hours. Wanna go?

Sasuke smirked. He hadn't climbed in a while; it would be a nice change from running which he'd taken up recently. He tapped a short

Alright, coming to your house

Into his phone and hit send, then went to change into something more flexible than jeans and a jumper. He slipped on a pair of light grey tracksuit bottoms and a blue t-shirt, put on a pair of rough, black converse, and set off, grabbing his coat once again, his phone, keys, and oyster, and then left the house, shutting the door with a clunk. Digging around in his coat pocket, he drew out a pair of small earphones, and while waiting at the bus stop, plugged them into his phone and tapped play.

Bit of a transition chapter – sorry!

The next one will begin to jack up the tension between them… *Evil laugh*

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