Title: Shades
Pairing: Gaa/Neji … and Naru/Sasu (if you squint very and I mean VERY hard.)
Genre: Angst/Romance.
Fair warning, I'm going way off tangent this time, whole different field. I'm shamelessly ripping off 'Shades Of Grey' the title, the actions, some of the plot, and all of the freaking hotness.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or "Shades Of Grey". The honors go to Masashi Kishimoto and E.L. James respectively.
Warning: BDSM, sadism, drugs, alcohol, snark, kink and sex and lots of it. I will not be responsible if little kids get corrupted, just sayin'.
Summary: "I always wonder why some of Kohona's elite like you turn up on this particular side of the tracks…" a dark smoky voice materialized out of the gloom, "but then again you wouldn't believe how much of your kind ends up down here." Those were the first word Neji Hyuuga heard while squinting in the thick darkness. Pity he didn't know those words would change his life.
Chapter Six: One Step Forward
Chapter song: "Teenage Dream" by Katy and cliché but completely fit for this chap. Smh.
And beware I'm slapping y'all with some aspects of my culture which is strictly JamRock.. (aka Jamaican y'all) I'll explain the terms at the end okay. I just wanted some diversity.
This is the beginning of what I like to call the 'Honeymoon phase of dating..'
...
Thursday , 11. 27 a.m.; exam room. Building 3, Kohonagakure Academy.
It was nearly the end of the exam when the door to the room was knocked on. The proctor looked up for a second, laid down his novel, went to answer the door and stepped out.
"Mr. Warner?"
"Yes?" the proctor named Ken Warner answered, "Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm just to inform you that a package had arrived for a Hyuuga Neji and he should collect it when the exam is finished." The aide said handing him a slip.
"Oh, thank you. I'll be sure to tell him."
He reentered the quiet room and said, "Will Hyuuga Neji please stay behind after the exam."
Neji looked up slight concerned but seeing the nonplussed look on the man's face deemed it as non-threatening, nodded and returned his attention to the questions before him.
...
After turning in his essay and filled in bubble sheet, he was handed a white slip and words, "There is a package for you at administration."
Neji's eyebrows furrowed. Who would send him a package at school? Shrugging, he hoisted his satchel strap over his shoulder and made his way to the admin building.
Entering the cold space he approached an aide and said, "I'm Hyuuga Neji, I was told there is a package for me here."
The mousy haired woman behind the desk smiled while getting up and moving to a row of shelves. "Yes, it's here. You only have to sign a release form."
He nodded, still wondering who would send him something at his school he got so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't realize when the woman came back.
"Hyuuga-kun? "
He snapped back to see the aide holding a thick brown wrapped package and a pink slip.
"I'm sorry, yes?"
She handed him the slip, "Please, sign here."
He shifted the satchel and palming a pen he quickly scribbled his name on the dotted line and took up the bundle. "Arigato."
Exiting the room he saw Sasuke, leaning on the opposite wall, arms crossed over his chest and head down.
"Sasuke?"He asked.
The Uchiha just looked up and just silently crossed the hall to an empty room. Neji, just as silently, followed.
Sasuke laid his knapsack on a random desk, turned and faced the quiet Hyuuga and asked, "What is going on? Do not lie to me cousin."
Neji sighed. Sasuke only used that word when he was dead serious. It was true though. They were cousins ...of a sort.
Some generations ago an Uchiha heir had gotten a Hyuuga maiden pregnant and was forced to marry her. Fortunately, what had begun as a blight on both families became a blessing. Not only was the marriage blissful, it lead to the two of the most powerful families in Kohona to monopolize the security industry. The Uchiha, technical geniuses, built the surveillance hardware for security cameras, CC TV's, audible and visual, hi-def scans, tracking devices, etc, while the Hyuuga developed elite cyber security programs. Combined, the two were the top producers of elite standard protection.
Neji placed the package on the desk near Sasuke's bag and sighed. "I met someone."
Sasuke perched on the edge of a desk, "When?"
"When I went to get your medicine."
Eyebrows raised, "Who?"
"His name is Gaara. He saved me from some hoodlums and for repayment I've been going out with him."
Sasuke paused, "….What now?"
"I've been going out with him." Neji repeated with a low mumble.
Black eyes flew open, "Going out... Like… like...in dates?"
Neji squinted, his metaphorical fingers crossed while anticipating Sasuke's scathing remarks "...Yes."
A beat.
"Damn cousin. Never thought you had it in you. "Sasuke said genially." What's his name? "
While secretly reeling in shock that Sasuke hadn't gone completely postal, Neji hesitated, "Can I open my package first?"
A shrug. "Sure, but I still want that name."
"Why," Neji taunted while tugging the package to him and slid his fingers under a flap," so you can background check and cyber stalk him to death? "
"If that's the case, then yes." Sasuke returned. "Open it."
Neji snorted and finished pulling the wrapper off. Before him laid three leather bound books.
On top of them was a note with a huge flowing"G." Clearly it was the Sabaku.
Opening the first one he read, "King Rat" by James Clavell. Skimming down he read the antique font that said, "Edition One, Published 1985"
Grey eyes flew open, his hand started to shake. "... T... They're first editions."
Carefully and with mounting trepidation and anxiety he flipped the second book's cover open fully expecting what he knew was coming next. "Tai-Pan" and the last one, "The Shogun." A trilogy of Japanese fiction.
"... How'd he know? "Neji whispered.
"Know what?" Sasuke asked, eyes narrowed.
"My fascination with historical fiction." Neji answered honestly. "I never told him that."
"Maybe it's just a coincidence." Sasuke said spinning the top book towards him and flipping through the thin vellum pages. "His name Hyuuga. Now."
Still reeling he said. "Sabaku Gaara."
A thump. The book had fallen to the floor. Sasuke's eyes were wide open. "You...met...a...Sabaku?"
The halting words made Neji pause. "Yes, why?"
Sasuke shook his head, a look of complete incredulity on his face. "Give me your phone."
Confused Neji handed over the iPhone and watched intently as Sasuke opened the browser and typed something.
Three seconds later the device was shoved in his face. Neji took in the picture of a man, tall, auburn haired, grey eyes. Under the picture was a name, Sabaku Kazemi.
Neji scrolled down to read: "...embattled Vice President of Sunagakure. .. Convicted for financial embezzling.. a second wife...owner of the Shukaku Sand Solutions products... three children, one girl, two boys...first adopted...second remanded..Last one reported missing."
"He did say that his father disappeared when he was six." Neji said lowly. Then he met Sasuke with a piercing look," What else do you know of them? "
"Sabaku senior was the vice president of Sunagakure and a business partner of my great uncle Obito." Sasuke said, "Bear in mind that all I'm telling you is what I've overheard from my father and Itachi talking. Fifteen or something years ago the man was convicted of fraud and sentenced to life in prison. His three children got split up and his estate and assets were seized."
Neji's head met the wall behind him. "He did say he was an orphan...didn't mention any family."
"How old is he?" Sasuke pressed.
Neji flushed. He was ashamed to admit that he didn't exactly know.
Sasuke's grin was demented. "You're so in enamoured with him you didn't even ask his age."
A quick calculation, "He's twenty one."
Sasuke snorted. "Keep trying Hyuuga. You're not fooling anybody."
Silence. Sasuke poked him in the shoulder, "Despite your mid teen life crisis, you are coming to my debate match tomorrow, right."
"Yeah, sure." Neji agreed while his mind was thinking of how to confront Gaara without coming off as ungrateful.
Seeing his pensive look Sasuke casually asked, "So have you kissed yet?"
Neji spluttered. "W...w...wha-"
Sasuke snorted, "I'll take that as a yes."
A shake of cinnamon hair, "I'm surprised that you haven't raked me over the coals for dating a man."
Sasuke shrugged, "Like Elton John There is nothing wrong with sleeping with your own sex, people should draw the lines at goats."
Neji smiled while getting up and carefully placing the books, in his bag. "I really should give you more credit."
...
"Neji," Sasuke asked with his head cocked upon exiting the room, "What's up with your cousin? "
Neji looked up to see Hinata, arms behind her, blushing but talking to the teen Inuzuka boy. Kiba or something.
Neji shrugged," I wouldn't know."
He curiously watched as Hinata took up her book bag and fished something out of it. It was a bento box which she promptly handed to him, face flaming. Kiba looked shocked for a moment and after scratching the back of his neck for a second took the box from her.
Sasuke grinned and slapped Neji's back, "You might be getting a brother-in-law Hyuuga."
Neji snorted, "Get real Uchiha, like Oji-san would ever consent to her marrying someone from the agricultural sector."
The raven smirked, "Up to now I'd would have said almost the same thing about you."
Neji stamped down on a raging blush. "Shut up, Sasuke."
He was about to turn away when a pale hand stopped him. He twisted his head to meet Sasuke's eyes. The Uchiha leaned in, eyes straight forward and said, "If he hurts you, so help me God, I will fuck him up."
Neji stood still for a moment, not doubting for a moment that Sasuke was deadly serious. "He won't."
Sasuke's lips thinned slightly. Neji knew he was doubtful but mercifully he didn't voice his thoughts. "Let's go."
...
At home Neji carefully put down his book bag on the computer table and just as carefully extracted the three books. Walking to his bed while unbuttoning the top three clasps of his uniform he settled in the downy mattress and held King Rat with tender fingers.
Cracking open to the first page he read... "I'm going to get that bloody bastard if I die in the attempt. Lieutenant Grey was glad that at last he had spoken aloud what had so long been twisting his guts into a knot. The venom in Grey's voice snapped Sergeant Masters out of his reverie. He had been thinking about a bottle of ice-cold Australian beer and a steak with a fried egg on top and his home in Sydney and his wife and the breasts-" (1)
He settled down to read.
It was a knock on his door that reeled Neji back to reality. Unfolding his stiff legs he made his way to the door and answered it. Standing in the corridor was a maid who promptly bowed.
"Neji-kun , Hiashi-sama is requesting your presence in his study."
He blinked, "Thank you Fuu, I'll be there."
Wondering what his uncle wanted with him Neji disrobed, put on a pair of soft house pants and a cool white shirt and made his way to the large study.
Knocking on the door he waited until his uncle gave him the order to enter.
One step into the oak furniture filled room he immediately bowed, "You asked to see me, Oji-san?"
A sigh," Yes nephew and please, stand up."
Neji looked up at his ageing uncle and wondered why his grey eyes were so lifeless. He stepped forward but stopped.
"Uncle," he asked," Is something wrong? "
A wry smile," Yes, there is son, but I'd rather to keep it to myself for the time being. I called you here to discuss your application to the University. Please, sit down."
Neji mentally sighed in relief. "Of course uncle."
"First of all, if you -"
...
Friday night about 9:39 pm
Back in his room Neji turned on his MacBook, opened a browser and typed in:
" 'King Rat', first edition, James Clavell."
On two other pages he did the same thing just switching the names and left them to load.
Getting up he slowly changed in a pair of cotton pajamas and after put away his school materials swiftly braided his hair into one thick rope, then went back to the console and opened the results.
One look at the first words made him hyperventilate.
"James Clavell, King Rat, first edition. Collector's item. Only three in print. Price,. 750,000.00 yen."
He opened the second one.
"Tai-Pan, first edition. Collectors item. Only three in print. 800, 000.00 yen"
By the time he opened the third one his heart was on the verge of jumping through his rib cage.
"The Shogun, first edition. Only three in print. 1.500,000.00 yen"
Neji rushed to the bathroom and ducked his head under the faucet gasping hard. He didn't know what the tumultuous emotions cutting through his mind and body were. All he knew was that he couldn't breathe. His heart was on the verge of revolting. By degrees the freezing water, ironically, helped him to finally get some air in his lungs.
Looking up at the mirror before him he took in his wide trembling eyes and pale wet skin.
How... Why.. What on earth made Gaara do that? His fingers clutched at the porcelain sink just as his head rested against the ice cold mirror.
It was too much. Way too much.
Pushing away from the sink he grabbed his phone and wrote
"Gaara... I can't accept this. If you're feeling guilty about what happened the night please forget it. But this.. It's too much. I just can't. "
Slumping against the bed he breathed. Then his phone rang.
Swiping the screen to answer the call he put it to his ear and was heard this. "Neji. Do not do this. I gave you those because I wanted to."
"Gaa-" He tried.
"No Neji. They're for you. Please take them. I want.. I need you to have them."
Neji released a soft breath. "Gaara...they're too expensive."
"No they're not...not for me."
"Gaara please. I just don't feel comfortable taking them."
A pronounced sigh, "How about this," Gaara proposed softly. "You read them, and I mean ALL of them, and if you feel the same way you can do whatever you want with them. Keep them, donate them to charity or burn them to ashes I don't care… Just promise me that you'll read them."
Up against a wall and a hard place
He capitulated. "Okay.. I'll read them." While thinking, 'burn them to ashes, not likely."
A breath. "Thank you."
"And Gaara please don't do this to me again. I just feel..." he trailed off.
"Like I'm buying favours."
"Or making up for some slight you think you did." Neji whispered. "You've done nothing wrong." 'Except getting me falling for you.'
A sigh from the other end. "I promise."
"Thank you."
"Just keep your half of the deal okay."
"Mmhmm." Neji hummed under the avalanche of exhaustion that descended on him.
A small snort."Goodnight baby."
Click.
Neji blinked, staring at the blank screen. The word... That word...
...
Friday. School Auditorium
With a produced sigh Neji sat down in the aisle seat of the second row in schools large auditorium and silently watched as the room began to fill up.
It was one of those pretentious affairs the Academy hosted under the thin disguise of 'inter school collaboration' when the real reason was to just to show off.
This time they were hosting the National Inter-Secondary Debates preliminaries and the whole senior class was asked to attend.
Eyes slipping closed just for a second Neji's mind replayed the last encounter with Gaara.
How he had defended him from the crazed man. His brows contracted as a niggling thought sprung up in his mind. The words the redhead had said provoked a worried thought;'You even try to approach him again I will fucking kill you.'
Why did it seem like Gaara knew the man?
"Neji-sempai?"
He snapped out of it to behold two of Sasuke's psychopathic stalkers, juniors Haruno Sakura and her best friend /worst enemy Yamanaka Ino. They were always present whenever the Uchiha had an occasion, and seeing as Sasuke was the head of the debate team you could have bet your soul that the two would show up.
He managed to marshal a smile and gestured to them to sit by him. Flanked now by the two who had started twittering incessantly about Sasuke's latest accomplishments.
With a beleaguered sigh Neji tuned them out. His mind going over the events of the night.
It was the feedback from the mike that snapped Neji back to attention.
Standing stiffly on the podium were the two teams, the Kohonagakure Academy one and the one from Kumogakure Municipal High School.
Sasuke, Shikamaru and surprisingly a girl named Tenten made up the first. Neji glanced up at Sasuke. The Uchiha, even clothed in his absurdly starched uniform, locked completely relaxed. Neji didn't doubt that because if there was one thing that Sasuke could do was argue. The teen had the art of complete evisceration with words down to a science.
The topic was: People don't kill people, guns kill people.
Sasuke had glanced at the topic for ten seconds, snorted and spat out three points immediately. Those three points were the basis of the entire debate.
Sasuke, of course, was the opening speaker, calmly and cohesively laying out the parameters of what they were going to discuss. But when it got to his first point Sasuke with a pronounced definitive air crushed it completely, leaving the opposition speaker figuratively quaking in his boots.
'He's going to be a perfect prosecutor.' Neji thought, mentally smiling. They had both decided from age twelve to be lawyers, Sasuke was immediately attracted to the prosecution side of the practice while Neji was more drawn to defense.
...
28 minutes after…
Neji winced. Sasuke, with the rebuttal, was making mincemeat of the other team's argument. The Uchiha didn't even glance at the paper before him, Sasuke was flaying them all by himself. Methodically and systematically destroying every of the opposition's points with a haughty air and a doomsday smirk.
It was no surprise then that Kohona was declared the winner of the match and a smug Sasuke sauntered down the main corridor with a pronounced smirk on his face.
Until; "Man I'm so freakin' bored."
Uzumak Naruto's voice floated over. Sasuke immediately stopped dead, left eye twitching hard.
"What the hell was point of all that? Made no damn sense whatsoever."
Neji couldn't contain his grin. Sasuke looked like he was having a localized aneurysm. If there was one thing that could provoke the Uchiha to wrath it was someone downplaying his achievements.
Neji patiently waited for Sasuke to strike.
And strike he did.
"And I suppose that you have something more mentally challenging to do right idiot, like successfully counting the days of the week in correct order."
The blonde turned, eyes narrowed and fist clenching spasmodically, but his voice was surprisingly calm. "You think you're so clever huh Uchiha, all that talk doesn't mean shit. Meet me in a Dojo and we'll see who's top."
Neji went still, apprehension niggling at his mind. Naruto was the captain of the taekwondo team and the football one too. The blonde was certainly no weakling.
With a pronounced flick of black bangs Sasuke opened his mouth just as his cell phone rang. Cursing, he flicked on the device and deliberately turning his back to the tan teen who then proceeded to talk to Kiba.
Neji shook his head. For all his considerable genius Sasuke was really easy to goad.
He shook his head and walked out just as his phone pinged.
'Remember.' That one word was enough.
He smiled.
..
Saturday morning;
"How do you feel about getting down and dirty?"
'What the hell? ' Neji thought. Before he could reply another message,
"Don't freak out, It's just a paintball match. (Unless you were thinking something else which in happenstance I would really like to oblige) You will get dirty, so pack a change of clothes. Get ready by ten, and FYI, I'm going to monopolize your entire day. "
Neji snorted, got up and rifled through his closet for the small tan duffel bag that he had used years ago to carry a change of clothes when he was in a competitor on a series of tennis matches.
That done he stripped and stepped into the shower. Mind running over his strategy to ask the Sabaku about his family.
...
The paintball range. Lani Kai district, Upstate Kohonagakure. 1:30 pm.
...
" Do I really have to wear this? "Neji asked looking at the thick metal lined camouflage print vest with distaste.
Inside the fitting room Neji, after being forced to change into a pair of soldier boots, (like his hard soled tennis shoes weren't enough) was slapped with a list of rules so long he was tempted to scrap the whole thing entirely.
Rules about proper gun holds, rules about off limits body parts, rules about helmet wear, rules about field limits. He even had to sign a waiver to declare that he was doing this on his own free will and that he wouldn't sue the company for any medical issues that may arise.
Gaara had watched the whole thing with an annoying smirk on his face. Neji was seriously thinking of just storming out of the place.
"And one more thing," the instructor said. "Your hair might be a problem. Do you have any hair ties, cause the paint might get into it. "
Paint... In.. His... Hair...
Deal fucking breaker. Neji immediately turned to the Sabaku opened his mouth and -
"No." Gaara interrupted stonily. "You are not backing out."
" I was only going to suggest we do something else," (that doesn't put my hair in danger)" but now that I think of it..."
"Still. No."
The redhead lightly grabbed Neji by his shoulders, spun him around and scooped up his thick tresses with both hands and clenched the thick mass at the top of his head. Two moves later Neji reached up and felt a tight circle of hair around the rest of it.
Gaara had used a few locks of his own hair to ponytail the rest. "There," he declared, "problem solved. Now hop to it, princess."
Neji turned to the teasing man and leaned in to Gaara's ear. "Call me princess again, I dare you."
The fire that sprung into Gaara's eyes made Neji even more incensed. "What're you going to do...princess?"
Neji casually raised a hand and placed it lightly on the others chest. "This." And pressed hard. Gaara fell to the ground.
"Motherfuck." Gaara cursed on the floor.
Neji waltzed out of the room smirking.
...
"That was a dirty trick little Hyuuga." Gaara said tightly at the starting line.
"Never said I was going to play fair." Neji shrugged nonchalantly while skimming his eyes over his teammates. A group of tourists had come from Iwagakure and were hell bound on trying the range. He was on one team, Gaara was on the other.
The emerald eyes man stepped up to the young teens face, with less than an inch between their eyes. Neji had to fight to not go crossed eyed.
"You're going to pay for that." Gaara husked.
"Bring it. " Neji whispered.
...
37 minutes later..
It all came down to this.
Neji's back pressed tightly against a huge boulder, chest heaving paintball gun cocked against his left shoulder. Looking around through the small glimpses of light sifting through the dense blanket of tree cover, Neji tried to see where Gaara was hiding.
In the last forty minutes he had only managed to successfully land three shots at Gaara while the redhead, like a professional sniper, had landed five shots on Neji.
The first shot made the opal eyed teen extremely grateful for the vest. Those shots stung like hell. Absently rubbing his chest he shook his head. He, only under the pain of water torture, would admit that he was having fun.
Head back meeting the dense stone of the boulder he smiled to himself.
A crunch. Neji snapped up, gun cocked and peering through the spore filled air. Another crunch.
His head snapped over his left shoulder and he dropped to his knees. Looking forward he got a glimpse of a grey boot.
Ones that Gaara was wearing.
Feeling triumphant he shot up and fired. The sound of his shot connected with a metal vest met his ears and be grinned.
Then he lurched forward.
Eyes flew open. He'd been shot in the back.
Catching himself on the nearby tree he turned to watch a smug redhead walking to him. Neji glanced down and snorted to himself. Gaara was now wearing a pair of blue boots.
He chucked the gun at the redhead. "Cheater."
Gaara grinned and backed him up against the tree's trunk. Arms up and elbows caging the Hyuuga in.
"Admit it," Gaara husked, "You owe me."
Neji blinked, "For what?"
"For clocking my pressure points."
A snort, "Okay. I'll admit to that. What do you want?"
In hindsight that was probably the stupidest question Neji had ever asked in his life. The look in Gaara's eyes was enough. Neji eyes lowered to the pale lips before him and then looked back into emerald orbs. Reaching up he tangled his fingers in thick red hair and pulled down. "I'm not sorry."
The kiss that followed made Neji wonder if he was on earth. Sparks ricocheted under his closed eyelids. Warm hands slipped under his shirt at the base of his back to trace over soft skin. Neji gasped which only allowed Gaara to plunder his mouth harder.
Pleasure saturated through his body like molten lava. Somehow his legs parted and the Sabaku pressed against him. Neji grabbed at the redhead's shoulders when he felt the other's prominent erection against his.
Pulling back he whispered, "Gaara..." The others forehead met his.
After a moment Gaara pulled back completely with just a quick kiss on his bruised lips."Let's go." Gaara said softly.
Neji nodded silently.
...
"The what now? " Neji asked, confused, head tilted to the left, right hand trying futilely to stop the wild tendrils of his hair that was slapping his face.
After being paradoxically both exhausted and exhilarated from game Gaara had driven them upstate to a secular tourist town. Neji had stared out the window at the spate of traditional monuments mixed with foreign ones, like a sprawling Greek restaurant near a Shinto shrine or a massive British stone fountain adjacent to a Torii gate. Before he knew it Gaara had pulled up to a spit of sandy beach which held a low rectangular hut like structure.
"What's that?" Neji had asked.
"That," Gaara declared," is our prospective dining hall."
Stepping out, Neji looked up at the wooden sign that was a carving of two large wooden rattles painted in red, gold and green.
" The Calabash? " he carefully pronounced.
Gaara grinned," Yes. Let's go in."
Neji shrugged and ducked under the thatched roof. Inside the empty restaurant was dim, slight smoky but had a clear view of the seaside.
The scrubbed wooden counter, in front of the double doors that Neji assumed led to the kitchen, was deserted. Neji turned to Gaara and opened his mouth when :
"Raasclaat (1)... " a female voice sounded. Neji spun around to face a busty girl with fine twined dreadlocks caught up in a ponytail coming out of the doors and gaping at them.
"Gaara, wha' di hell you been up to?" She asked with a heavy accent.
The redhead smiled, "Just jammin' Clarissa, and speaking of that, we'll have the jammin' special."
The girl, Clarissa apparently, stepped out, grabbed Gaara by his lapels and ran her fingers through his hair. "You use di castor oil I gave you huh."
Neji went tense, something (which he staunchly denied was jealously) in his gut railed up at the sight.
Gaara snorted and softly pulled her hand out of his hair, "Yes missy. Satisfied? "
She stepped back, popped her gum and ran a skeptical eye over Neji, then grinned and faced the redhead.
"You beggin' for trouble again massa (2)."
"That is my official middle name," Gaara retorted. "So, our order?"
The girl shook her head, and pulled a pencil out of her ponytail, "Sirra Riley made him special curry goat. Y'all want any?"
"Hell no," Gaara answered staunchly , "the last time I had that I was treated for acid reflux for three days. You people need to tone down your spices."
She shrugged, "We West Indians, wha' you expect bra?"
Gaara rolled his eyes, "Swap that for the jerked chicken, the buttered sweet potato wedges, festival and the SPP pudding. And for the love of God, hold the scotch bonnet pepper please."
"Pussy." She murmured, "Ya come to a Jamaican restaurant and ya don't want di real thing. Mi lose affa you."
"I'm honored girlie." Gaara snorted slapping the counter. "Make it snappy, yeah."
She snorted and walked back through the double doors muttering to herself.
Neji turned and smiled internally when he felt Gaara's hand resting possessively on the small of his back. Walking to the balcony railing table they pulled up a pair of bar stools and sat.
"So I take it you know her." Neji said not knowing his tone was tinged with a hint of jealously.
Gaara grinned knowingly. "Who, Clarissa, that queen. Yeah, I know her. She is a niece of a past client."
"Speaking of that, " Neji said," What do you do? "
Gaara went still for a moment. If Neji was suspicious he'd had said that Gaara was stalling, but the other dutifully answered, "I'm the lead distribution agent for a holdings company (3)."
"Oh. " Neji realized. That was totally plausible. There were a lot of holdings companies in Kohona."Which one?"
"Anbu Co."he answered genially. "It's a pain though."
Neji relaxed, he had heard of that company. It was one of the largest companies that handled a wide area of business contracts, supplying everything spanning from technical heavy construction equipment to children birthday party supplies.
Neji hesitated for a second but didn't want to have this between them. He blurted out, "Gaara... I know about what happened with your family."
The older man went quiet, lips pressed together for a moment before he sighed. "I figured that you would find out about that sooner or later."
"Why didn't you just tell me?"Neji asked non accusing.
Fingers scrubbed through unruly hair, "I didn't want you to judge me." he said, "People who knew off my father seem to think that I'm just like him...that I'm just as dishonest and crooked."
"Then they are idiots." Neji huffed, "It's not like you're dealing drugs or something."
He was gifted with a inscrutable grin."Why, thank you."
"So," Neji gestured to the inside restaurant. "I'm starting to see that you have a...very eclectic slate of interests."
Gaara shrugged leaning back. "What can I say. I'm always open to new things."
"Speaking of new things, " Neji said," I still can't understand why you gave me those books."
A smirk, "Then continue misunderstanding."
Neji huffed. "You're impossible." then squinted with a sigh. "... But I think I'll keep them."
Gaara's eyes lit up like fireworks. He grasped Neji's hand. "Good."
The sounds of footsteps made them separately. Clarissa, expertly carrying two plates and with a pronounced smirk gently placed their orders on the table with their cutlery wrapped up in napkins.
"Enjoy." She said about to leave when Gaara grabbed her hand.
Tugging her down he whispered something in her ear Neji watched as an unholy glint sprung into her eyes.
"Ya got it." She said and sashayed away.
Neji eyes narrowed, "What exactly are you up to now?"
"You'll see. Go ahead, eat.
Neji sighed, picked up the fork and speared a cube of the meat. Hesitating for a second he popped the food in his mouth and chewed. The barrage of flavors that hit his palate made him moan. Spiced, but savory, bold but delicious. His eyes slipped closed while he unconsciously suckled at the forks tines.
A hand closed right over his own. Neji opened his eyes to see a narrowed eyed Gaara. "Please, for your peace of mind, and my sanity, don't ever do that again."
Neji blushed. "Sorry."
Gaara slowly let go. During the whole meal they talked about diverse topics ranging from his aspirations of being a lawyer to the Gaara's job, to their likes and dislikes, foods, movies, favorite colors, books even people.
"Oh please. " Gaara snorted," Shakespeare was so homo it isn't funny."
Neji grinned and sat back. "How?"
"All those cross dressing acts. Making girls dress as boys is red flag homo. He was a queen at heart, trust me."
Neji dissolved in laughter. "You do have a point."
Gaara smiled just as Clarissa deposited a single plate before them and two glasses filled with a red liquid. In the middle of the plate was a thick and wide piece of pudding topped off with cinnamon and raisins.
"And that is ? " Neji asked.
" That is sweet potato pudding." Gaara said picking up the fork and cutting off a piece. "Try it."
Trusting him Neji leaned over and opened his mouth. Gaara slowly inserted the fork. Neji, without losing his eye lock with the redhead, slid his lips back, teeth clearly scraping the utensil.
Leaning back he chewed and had to seriously stop from moaning also. The treat was hedonistically delicious.
"I take it you approve." Gaara said dryly.
In a wordless move Neji stole the fork from him and dug in. He was halfway through the pudding when he was aware of amused eyes roaming over him.
Placing the fork on the edge of the plate he swallowed embarrassed and looked into Gaara's amused eyes, head tilted and propped up on a fist.
"Oh. Don't stop on my account." he teased.
Neji stepped on his foot under the table. "Jerk. And seeing as I'm at your mercy for my ignorance of the cuisine, what's that?"
Gaara just nudged the glass closest to the Hyuuga a little further. Neji just stared at him eyelids half mast.
A snort, "It's not loaded with roofies, Neji."
"I'll be the judge of that." The opal eyed teen said while lifting the glass and took a sip. Then promptly coughed. "W... What..." a tongue slipped out to swipe over a coated upper lip, "...Alcohol." he pronounced.
"That is a daiquiri," Gaara explained, "Three quarters fruit juice fusion mixed with a quarter of Appleton Jamaican Rum." he said taking a sip of his, then his eyes rolled, "Scrap that, one quarter juice, three rum.. Do you like it though? "
Neji hummed in approval but muttered over the rim, "You're just trying to get me drunk."
A hand flew to a chest while a Cheshire grin crossed the redheads face. "Who me...Never. Drink up though, we've got other places to be."
Neji drained his glass and stood, "Where?"
Gaara grinned while getting up, "No question, I'll tell you no lies."
He then just wrapped a hand around Neji's shoulder and shouted. "Clarissa, we gone."
"Ya, later." was the disembodied answer from beyond the double doors.
"You're not going to pay?
"Nah," Gaara returned, "I'm like emperor here. Street cred like crazy.
"Okay." Neji shrugged while hopping in the Jeep. "Drive me your highness."
"My pleasure."
Twilight in the park was magical. After leaving the restaurant Gaara had driven them to a park in the centre of the down-town city where apparently some local actors were putting on a play. A contemporary remake of the Phantom of the Opera.
It seemed like the man was prepared because he reached over to the back seats and snagged a thick blanket and a pillow. He then hopped out.
Silently Neji followed, arms hugging his torso against the chill. Gaara led them to a thick tree sitting on a slight rise over the stage while tiny fireflies fluttered around. Spreading the blanket on the dewy grass Gaara sat, back flush against the trunk and softly tugged Neji down between his bended knees.
Neji leaning back against Gaara's chest head tilted his face up to look at the stars. He went still as the redheads arms wrapped around his waist. Closing his eyes for a second Neji relaxed and melted onto the hold.
The play started. Time passed. Neji was snickering at the actions of a clearly doctored role of Raoul. He smiled when he felt Gaara's nose buried in his neck.
He lifted a hand to comb through the strands of hair tickling his skin. He went still when lips parted and teeth nipped at a collar bone.
Unconsciously a soft moan slipped from the Hyuuga. Neji's back, braced against Gaara's chest arched slightly just as his own teeth bit into his lower lip. Hot palms settled on a flat stomach just as the actions of the mouth on his neck intensified. Neji couldn't contain his soft breathy moans.
Gaara nipped at his ear. "Fuck. I want you so much."
Neji whimpered, his breath coming out staccato. Fingers trailed up under his shirt to pluck at a puckered nipple. Neji couldn't take it anymore. He spun around and with one move straddled the Sabaku and slammed his lips on the others.
Calluses hands under his shirt were pushing a level of desire he didn't know under his skin and making his head feel light. He was kissing and being kissed hard. Gaara's hands grabbed the Hyuuga's waist and hauled him in so tightly not even air was between them.
Lips were bitten, tongues were suckled. Gaara mouth was demanding. Neji pulled back to breathe. Not deterred Gaara cupped Neji chin, pushing it up giving him access to his throat. His lips glid down the pale trembling throat, kissing, sucking, and nipping, to the small dip at the base of his neck. A hand cupped Neji cheek and a low voice murmured, "Be mine."
That was it. Every halting, apprehensive, misgiving thought disappeared in a flash.
Neji placed his fingertips on Gaara's hand and whispered, "Yes."
...
TBC.
AND REVIEW DAMNIT…
vocab;
'Raasclaat' (1) Jamaican equivalent of 'Holy shit', 'what the fuck', 'I cant believe this' and 'damn'
Massa (2) Mister
Holdings company (3) In my mind this is like a huge storehouse/warehouse.