Short Note: After this I only have one short chapter written up and that was the planned end of the series. Not sure if it's going to be, but I just thought I'd let you all know :) Maybe I'll keep this series open for any further inspiration I get, who knows. Once again, thank you for all your reviews and continued support!

Stranger Than Fiction

By Socially Suicidal

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Drabble # 8

She never regretted something more than when she told Gaara that she owed him.

Well, apart from some questionable choices made in her college days. But that was both irrelevant concerning her current frustration and a story for an entirely different day.

Sakura grumbled as she tugged down the hem of her short black dress and fussed with the strap of her shoe. She couldn't believe that Gaara had tricked her into coming down to the club with him tonight, to spend some time in his comfort zone, as he had put it in not so many words. She was getting far too accustomed to his monosyllabic ways.

Huffing, the woman stood up straight, deciding that if the insolent strap did not want to comply with her will, so be it. As long as the damn thing didn't fall off, she didn't care.

Staring into the mirror of her vanity, she pushed her pink fringe back momentarily before shaking her head and pulling her bangs back to her face. The pinkette rubbed at her eyeliner and frowned when it didn't do what she had intended. Sighing, she wondered why she was going through such trouble in the first place.

A pounding on her front door followed by a click that signaled the knocker had simply picked her lock and entered her apartment reminded her why. Her eye twitched as she realized he broke in, despite her telling him for the umpteenth time not to do that. It unnerved her, how easily someone could get in despite the expensive lock she had installed on the door. Gaara had just shrugged, mumbling something about it being harder than he made it look. The doctor certainly hoped so.

Shaking her head to clear her muddled thoughts, Sakura surveyed her outfit one last time before exiting her room. Ino's tight black dress ended a little too far up on her thighs for her personal comfort but at least the long sleeves and modest collar made her feel a bit more secure. She picked at one of the two straps of the belt that wound across her waist, crossing over the openings in the dress on either of her hips.

Yeah, she would never own anything like this. Ino had actually given it to her saying it didn't flatter her in the way she needed it to. One look at the rather modest collar and sleeves told her all she needed to about what her friend had meant.

Sakura sighed again, realizing she had been keeping him waiting with her ridiculous fussing and self-consciousness. She sprayed on her perfume as she exited her room, flicking off the lights as she did so.

She then caught sight of Gaara and her steps halted almost immediately. The damn loose strap on her shoe merely sent her tumbling with her sudden stop, or so she reasoned.

A red shirt, barely a shade brighter than his hair, clung to his chest and long thin torso in a way that Sakura had immediately deemed sinful. The wide neckline left a portion of his pale collarbone exposed and the thick chain he wore was short around his neck. The tattoo she knew to be proudly decorating his bicep was covered by the sleeves that reached his elbows. His ripped dark gray jeans hung far too loose on his hips, leaving a short patch of alabaster skin low on his abdomen exposed, a crooked studded belt doing nothing to aid in holding them up fell uselessly from his hip.

Gaara stood expectantly; boot-clad feet planted heavily shoulder width apart. His one hand dug into his pocket while the other held a black jacket casually over his shoulder as his bored jade eyes met hers. Swallowing down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat, Sakura slowly approached him, finding herself more than normally conscience of her shaky steps and feet as she made her way.

His appreciative gaze slid down her form for a moment before he turned toward the door, 'Ready?' the look he gave her from over his shoulder meant. She grabbed her keys and jacket from the counter before nodding to the affirmative.

Sakura strode in front of him to her front door, allowing him a nice view of her swaying tightly clad behind. She waited for him by the door, turning to face him when she realized he remained unmoving in the spot she left him. He waited for her to open the door and walk out before he continued after her, pulling on his jacket as he followed behind her at a good distance.

It couldn't be said Sabaku Gaara was a man to pass up an opportunity.

Sakura had already established that she was definitely not as comfortable in the club scene as Gaara appeared to be. Then again, the redhead worked there, so the predatory look in his usually hunting eyes that seemed to glow under the neon lights only made sense. Right?

It was just… Sakura could swear people were whispering about her. She hadn't heard anything direct as of yet, but she just had that feeling, the odd one of people staring as she walked by.

"What the fuck! Look at that!" Look at what? Sakura's emerald eyes flew around the surrounding area as she waited for Gaara outside of the office door. She tugged at the tips of her hair subconsciously. It was a habit.

"Whoa, she's with him?" He came out of the room and grabbed her wrist in his typical fashion, dragging her along to the bar.

"Looks like someone's tamed the beast!" Sakura ordered drinks for both of them, her wide emerald eyes shifting occasionally to the patrons seating along the bar. They all looked away when she glanced at them. She must have been some type of freak to these regular club-goers.

"What is she doing with that creepy guy?" An unmistakable whisper greeted her ears as Ino placed their drinks in front of them. The blonde bartender blanched, sending her pink headed friend a sympathetic look before moving on to her next patron.

Gaara growled at the man, sending him his most vicious glares as the fear stricken man ceased his eyes from roaming over the form of his pink haired companion. He was proving them right, snarling like an animal and wrapping a crushing arm around her waist before he dragged her from the bar, but he didn't care. She didn't deserve their sneers - she had done nothing but make the mistake of agreeing to come out with him tonight - those were for him and him alone.

Although, there was a tiny, goading voice in the back of his mind that insisted he turn around and pulverize the bastard that dare look at her like a piece of meat. The rational side of him insisted it would only convince her of the truth of the sneering jibe directed at him and it would send her flying in the opposite direction before he could process her turning around. One side quickly won over the other.

The redhead pulled her outside through the lounge and stopped once the door swung shut behind them, leaving them alone in the alleyway they had first met and Sakura slightly breathless from their quick departure. She placed their glasses on a fold-out chair surrounded by cigarette butts and other discarded glasses.

Turning to him, Sakura tried to assess the look in his smoldering jade eyes before slowly approaching him. It was easy to see that the fuming ire that was evident in those eyes was more than of the norm.

His hand had an unlit cigarette and his lighter moving away from his pocket before her left hand stifled the movement and wrapped around his knuckles.

"You're not creepy," the pinkette murmured, the palm of her other hand moving across his cheek tentatively, "You're just… intense, sometimes."

The dry look he gave her prompted her to correct herself.

"Most of the time."

This time he nodded, seemingly in agreement, before placing his hand on her hip and tugging her crudely until her body crashed unceremoniously against his.

His mouth descended roughly on hers soon after.

Yeah, Sakura thought dazedly as his teeth grazed her bottom lip, intense is a good word for it.