.
Moving Memories
4: Master Sundama's Suite
~ (^.^) (^.^) ~
"Hey, Kiba. I see you're still willing to talk to me, even though Sasuke despises me more than ever," Naruto said half playfully and half grudgingly into the phone as he rummaged around his mess of a bedroom for a clean pair of jeans.
He truly wished to befriend Sasuke, despite the man's lack of even the most basic etiquette. Naruto constantly felt like he was mere inches away from breaking through a fragile wall, and yet he could be totally wrong. There could be layers upon layers of impenetrable stone between them still. But Naruto felt drawn to Sasuke nonetheless.
He had been getting along really well with Kiba and Gaara though. The atmosphere was natural between them. Well, Gaara was a bit of a stretch sometimes. But, to be honest, even that felt natural. It felt like Naruto could be his whole self in their company, and he felt like it was the same for them too, no matter how unappealing each of their whole selves could sometimes be.
Sasuke, on the other hand, felt no comfort in Naruto's company whatsoever. He'd, apparently, decided to look the other way about the whole painting ordeal when it came to Kiba, but he refused to give up his cold shoulder for Naruto so easily. Naruto just could't find the right time to tell Sasuke what had transpired between himself and Sai, not when Sasue was so busy wanting nothing to do with the blond. Naruto wanted to at least graduate to actual verbal responses from Sasuke as opposed to simple stares and unintelligable noises before he approached such a serious topic. It just wouldn't do to try to tell Sasuke something so serious when the man coulnd't even have a conversation with him.
After all, Naruto's intention was to talk this through with Sasuke, at the very least so that he could be cathartic for Sasuke and hopefully offer the man something good alongside the bad news. But if Sasuke refused to talk, then all Naruto would be doing was digging himself a grave by saying anything about his situation with Sai. Sasuke eventually found out though. And when he did, he just stopped showing up around Naruto at all. Then Naruto began to think that maybe he'd been acting selfishly by witholding the information.
Even though he thought he would have been digging his own grave by telling Sasuke before the man was ready to have a real conversation with him, maybe the outcome that came was just as bad. Either way, Naruto felt like a dead man. Maybe not telling Sasuke was more about Naruto wanting to put it off than it was about Naruto wanting to do something good for Sasuke's sake. Did Naruto really think that waiting for Sasuke to get more comfortable conversing with him would influence the man's response? He coulnd't be sure, because Naruto still knew so little about Sasuke, but the blond was willing to bet that Sasuke would have reacted this way no matter what. Ignoring Naruto seemed to come naturally to him.
Sasuke had quietly tolerated Naruto's presence in his space for the first couple of days after knowing. Perhaps he'd been waiting for Naruto to say something himself. Sai had been the one to tell him first. The bastard was shameless, after all. Kiba was next, and at that point Sasuke simply refused to be in Naruto's presence. It'd been that way for a couple of weeks now.
"Yeah, well, the drama queen still despises me too," Kiba pointed out. "I'm in no less hot water today than I was yesterday."
"I thought Sasuke forgave you for the whole painting thing," Naruto replied.
"Yeah," Kiba sighed. "Well, he's mad about other things. That's Sasuke. Always seems to have something to be mad about."
Naruto snorted. "And you tried to tell me he could be fun the first day we met. I'm afraid I have to call shenanigans on that, Kiba," he said in good humor, though there was an undeniable air of truth about the statement.
Kiba laughed lightly, but it was clear to Naruto that his friend hadn't been amused by the statement.
"I'm only joking," Naruto assured.
"No, no. I know," Kiba replied, jolting out of his own thoughts. "It's true, Sasuke isn't taking any steps to prove me right. But you know, it's just... it's just so complicated with him." There was a slight pause before Kiba added, "I wish I could explain."
Naruto and Kiba had formed a pretty good bond so far. It came naturally. Naruto felt comfortable enough to be nosy, but he chose not to, mostly because he knew it would get him nowhere. Kiba was pretty wary of what he did and did not let slip, and when it came to Sasuke he was pretty much airtight. Everyone was.
"Well, what's up?" Naruto asked. "To what do I owe this call?"
"Right," Kiba said, perking up. "I was hoping you'd come to our place tonight."
"Sure. Beats the alternative," Naruto consented. Although, he had been rather excited to execute his plans for the night, but he figured he could do it any night really.
"And what was that?" asked Kiba.
"I was just gonna go down to Akatsake and see if I couldn't get a word with Itachi," Naruto answered casually, but he was thrown off by the heavy silence that followed his words. After a long moment, Naruto stopped searching for pants and thought that Kiba hung up. He was just about to speak when Kiba finally spoke.
"Naruto, you can't do that," Kiba said softly, yet so firmly. "Don't go to Akatsake alone. Itachi's alright, but he's just one guy. Even if it is his bar, you're outnumbered and you'll just..." Kiba trailed off, thinking better of what he was saying, and sighed. Another deep silence fell between the two.
"What're you talking about?" Naruto finally prompted. "What could possibly happen to me? I thought everyone at Akatsake was pretty cool."
He wasn't at all taken aback by Kiba's abrupt change in attitude. For the past couple of weeks, Kiba would be telling Naruto to not walk down a certain street or to stay away from a certain group. He had been suddenly very keen to warn Naruto about a lot of things, especially about wandering around alone. Naruto, therefore, wasn't surprised at all that Kiba's ominous warnings extended to Itachi's underground bar which sat in an alley of an abandoned and run-down neighborhood. Though not shocked, Naruto was still curious and inclined to question. Kiba never really gave much of an answer for his constant worrying, and Naruto had never really demanded one.
"Just trust me," Kiba said slowly, as if weighing every syllable. "It's fine if you wanna go, but not without me or Gaara, or preferably both of us."
"But why?" Naruto persisted, feeling like a teenager being set a ludicrous curfew.
He meekly questioned Kiba's strange warnings and instructions on how to travel the city over the past couple weeks, but Kiba was steadfastly vague in his replies, if not downright dismissive. And Naruto had never been demanding. He'd just sort of let it go without too much thought. But now he really wanted to know.
Of course, Kiba still didn't answer. Instead, he meekly asked, "Are you angry with me?"
"No," Naruto sighed, resigning to defeat. "You've just been so weird about this kinda stuff and you won't tell me why. This place doesn't have any more rapists and killers than any other city. I checked," said Naruto. Then, thinking better of his lie, he admitted, "Well, I haven't really checked. Is that what the issue is though? Are there a lot of rapists and killers out there?"
"You could say that," Kiba agreed pensively. "I'm sorry if I'm treating you like a kid all the time. I just worry about your safety. That's just how I am."
"Eh, yeah, I understand," Naruto grumbled. Kiba did have that kind of warm, caring soul. "It's just agitating, y'know. It's like your protecting this secret from me, and I don't like it." He paused, allowing space for an emotional response to come on strongly and then begin to wane before speaking. When his lips parted again, the tone of his voice was more pained than intended. "I don't like it at all."
Kiba could sense the misery in Naruto's voice, and he didn't like thinking that he'd caused it. He knew it to likely be a combination of many things, but Kiba's behavior was the catalyst. He wanted more than ever to be forthright with Naruto.
"Look," Kiba began softly, knowing this sign of solidarity was important to Naruto in the moment, "the crowd at Akatsake clings to a tradition that's really hard for me to explain. I just don't want you to fall prey to it without someone there to watch your back. They're not used to someone coming in and not taking part. I shoulda thought that over before bringing you there in the first place," Kiba admitted.
He took in a breath that sounded like the beginning of a continuance, but Naruto could hear the familiar voice of Gaara interrupting. And it sounded like Gaara was scolding Kiba too. Kiba huffed and Naruto smiled. That sounded a lot more like Kiba's personality than this constant, worrisome nagging about safety and shit. Naruto ignored Gaara's unwanted interjections and pressed on with the subject of Akatsake. Now that Kiba had elaborated on the topic on his own, Naruto was really interested.
"But I thought I'd already fallen prey to Akatsake's tradition?" Naruto asked curiously as he remembered the kiss Sai had planted on him without his permission. The way that they all talked about it then, the tradition was kissing the newcomers and watching them squirm. Naruto thought it an odd tradition, but it was a gay bar. Wasn't it?
Kiba seemed to struggle in the silence before answering. "Well, there are a couple of different traditions there," he said nervously. Naruto faintly heard Gaara hissing in the background and wrinkled his nose up in disappointment. "Just promise you'll come tonight," Kiba said. "I'll explain myself more when you get here."
Naruto had grown to consider Gaara as Kiba's keeper. As Naruto and Kiba's friendship grew, lines of communication opened up between them and they found themselves sharing personal things without so much as a hint at hesitation. It was just so easy for them to talk to each other, and it was clear to Naruto that Kiba wanted to be more open about certain things. But he couldn't, not with Gaara's eyes always flashing warnings. And it was so confusing to Naruto, because the first day they'd met Naruto distinctly remembered them as more of an equal pair. There were times not only when Gaara would have to keep Kiba's tongue in line, but for the reverse had happened too. Now, however, the atmosphere had shifted completely. It was as if Kiba was always on the verge of saying the wrong thing, and Gaara was ever-vigilant of that fact.
Naruto had pressed lightly on what exactly it was that Kiba was so worried would happen to Naruto. At first, Kiba was a sealed door. He'd spit out warnings and then ignore every single question Naruto would ask. He'd answer only with, 'promise you'll do it' or 'promise you'll stay away'. It was always 'promise this' and 'promise that'. It was never 'this is why' or 'here's an actual answer, Naruto'. As Kiba's tongue got looser, though, Gaara's glares got meaner, it seemed. And Naruto only got more curious.
Why couldn't Naruto walk down certain streets? Why couldn't Naruto go to Akatsake alone? Why couldn't Naruto even go to campus alone? Kiba and Gaara made every trip to the university with him as they prepared to start the school year. Why couldn't Naruto ever go to Kiba's or Gaara's places? This question brought Naruto back to the present. Kiba had just invited him over! For once, Naruto was allowed at his place! And as a bonus, Kiba was promising more answers.
"Naruto!" Kiba's voice cut in impatiently. "Promise me."
There were those words again: 'promise me'. Naruto sneered quietly. It was beginning to sound like another invitation into another secret that Kiba wouldn't talk about, or else Gaara would shut him up too quickly for Naruto to get any useful information. Gaara and Kiba seemed to be extremely secretive. Yet, Naruto had grown to trust them implicitly. That trust was wavering though. Naruto wasn't necessarily beginning to distrust them. It was more like they weren't trusting him, and he was beginning to get tired of these head games. He thought that the relationship he was building with Kiba was worth so much more than what it was currently being treated as.
"Well, yeah. I'll be there," Naruto agreed.
He felt still more curious about Akatsake as he agreed and a part of him wanted to be reckless and go, but the smarter part of him said to listen to Kiba. If the whole problem was just that this city was full of more rapists and murderers than any other place, Kiba would know that better than Naruto, wouldn't he? Annoying as Kiba's urge to protect could be, Naruto shouldn't be so stupid as to ignore it completely. Plus, he had some thoughts and feelings he wanted to express to Kiba and Gaara both, so maybe it was a good thing that they meet up.
"You said our place," Naruto pointed out. "You have a roommate?"
"Gaara," Kiba said brightly. "We live together."
"Oh, I shoulda guessed," Naruto chuckled, his good mood returning to him. That was, of course, until he heard Gaara talking feverishly in the background again in the very way that Naruto hated him doing. Why was he always in Naruto's conversations with Kiba? He was so controlling.
"We'll send the cab for you," Kiba said brightly. "Don't worry. It's on us."
"You really don't—" Naruto began, but Kiba interrupted him cheerily.
"It'll be around at seven. Text me your address. Gaara says hey! Talk to you later!" With that, Kiba hung up.
Naruto removed the phone from his ear and stared at it for a long moment. Kiba wasn't acting any stranger than usual, but Naruto was feeling much more curious and frustrated by it this time.
Gaara was a very peculiar guy. On one hand, he was quite unpleasant to be around at times. He was a lot like Sasuke in that sense. Sometimes, he was very dark and uninviting. Then again, other times, he would be really cheerful and fun. That was the part of Gaara that Naruto enjoyed, the part that so perfectly fed off of Kiba. It was like they could become waves of energy together, always countering each other and dulling any rough edges the other might have. But when Gaara was in a mood, it was all Kiba could do to keep the atmosphere from becoming so thick that it was suffocating.
In any mood, one thing Gaara always did was monitor Kiba like a hawk. He watched every single thing that Kiba did and said, and this behavior seemed to intensify the longer that Naruto had grown to know them. At first, Kiba and Gaara seemed to be in easy balance, but then things began to teeter and Naruto was seeing them flop between extremes far more often.
They went everywhere together, moving as if they were one singular unit, and Naruto found this to be strange too. Gaara was oddly overprotective of Kiba. At Akatsake, no one would even dare look at Kiba the wrong way. People would talk to Kiba but it was just until they couldn't stand Gaara's gaze any longer. Even if they seemed to be a perfectly friendly person, Gaara didn't appear to like anyone getting near Kiba. But, again, the especially strange part of it all was that this behavior had arisen between the time of Naruto meeting them and now. The first few days, Gaara was perfectly at ease. Now, however, he was anything but. Kiba didn't even seem to notice, or else he just didn't mind.
When they went to places other than Akatsake, Gaara tended to get even stiffer and more uneasy. He'd always be looking around at other people as if they were criminals. Sometimes, he'd pull Kiba really close to him and hold him so tightly that Naruto thought Kiba should be wincing in pain. If Naruto thought about it, Gaara could be really protective of him too. Not in the same overbearing and insane way that he was with Kiba, but protective nonetheless. If anyone got too close to Naruto, Gaara would tense up and watch their every move.
Naruto had just been pawning it off as Gaara's personality—he just must be a protective guy—but now Naruto was wondering if it didn't have something to do with this big, secretive thing they refused to tell him about. Naruto decided that it was best to brush it all off though. After all, Kiba and Gaara had lived here much longer than Naruto had. They were probably just trying to keep Naruto out of trouble. Why wouldn't Naruto be thankful for that? He had truly made some great friends here. Plus, he could make a mental list and bring it up at their place tonight.
~ (^.^) (^.^) ~
The cab driver arrived precisely at seven and Naruto rushed out of his apartment with his shoes in hand. The driver smiled as Naruto got inside, but Naruto could tell that he wasn't actually happy at all. He started driving off before Naruto even closed the door completely. The man would get paid extra the more time he took, so he should be apt to meander, but he seemed awfully keen to be rid of Naruto. Naruto took no offense though. He just put on his shoes and then texted Kiba to let him know that he was on his way. He made sure to mention that he was seated in the nicely paid for cab, assuring that the brunet had no reason to fret because he had followed all directions.
As he stared at the buildings whizzing by, Naruto bobbed his head mindlessly along to the beat of the song playing on the radio, totally ignorant of the driver's constant glances back at him through the rear view mirror. They, eventually, drove into a nicer part of the city where all the buildings were sleek and modern. Naturally, Naruto thought they were only passing through, but the driver slowed down to a stop in front of tall, iron gates. If they were going through gates, then they probably weren't just passing through. For some reason, Naruto just hadn't expected to arrive somewhere so fancy.
The driver cracked his window just enough so that the man in the booth could see the driver's eyes and said, "602 Smarmy."
The man in the booth surveyed the driver carefully and asked for identification. Naruto didn't pay further attention to the exchange though, so he missed the peculiarity of it all. He was, instead, transfixed on the buildings beyond the gate. Eventually, the gate was opening and the cab was driving quickly past the threshold. The cab, finally, came to a stop in front of a tall building several stories high. Naruto stared at it incredulously for a long moment.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" he asked uncertainly, still staring out the window.
"Yeah," the driver said gruffly, as if eager for Naruto to simply get out.
"I don't suppose you can tell me how much it cost, can you?" Naruto asked, turning and smiling at the driver.
The driver grimaced slightly and he stared at Naruto's mouth until Naruto's grin faltered. The driver looked back up at Naruto's eyes uncertainly, failing to answer. Naruto decided that the driver hadn't heard him properly, so he opened his mouth to ask his question again. He wanted to repay Kiba and Gaara for sending him the cab. As he made to speak, he leaned closer to the driver. The man cringed in response. His eyes shut tight and he leaned into his steering wheel to recreate as much of the space that Naruto was closing as he could.
Thoroughly taken aback by the action, Naruto stopped his attempt at communication immediately and simply stared at the man warily. As strange as the man seemed to think Naruto was, Naruto found the man's behavior really strange himself. Eager to get away and figuring the driver was just a crack addict or something, Naruto simply exited the cab quickly. As soon as he closed the door, the cab was speeding off.
Naruto watched the car for a few moments before a slight shiver down his spine commanded his attention. It seemed a few degrees colder here than it had been at his place, but Naruto hadn't brought a jacket. Hopefully it didn't get too cold when he headed home tonight. He turned and looked up at the many stories of the building before him. A man dressed in a red uniform was standing at the door.
"Come now," the young man beckoned. "You don't wanna be stuck out here all alone after dark."
Naruto smiled weakly and nodded, though he wasn't sure why he was agreeing. What would be so bad about being outside alone after dark? Did everyone think this city was wrought with criminals? Because they were acting as such, even within the confines of this gated community. As he passed through the door being held open for him, Naruto thought he heard the door man actually sniff him. He glanced behind himself and regarded the smiling man uncertainly, though he looked innocent enough.
"You'd be Naruto, I guess," the man said softly. His voice didn't sound like someone creepy enough to sniff a stranger, but the creepiest of stalkers could be the most unassuming.
Naruto nodded his head in affirmation.
"It'll be floor twenty then," the man informed. "Private elevator one for you."
Naruto cocked his head curiously at the words. "Private elevator?" he questioned, looking at the four elevators in the lobby in confusion.
"Mhm," the man hummed in confirmation as he gestured to an area at the back of the lobby behind the desk that sat in the middle. "Elevator one takes you to suites one through four," the man informed as he walked to the hidden area behind the desk. Naruto followed reluctantly and the man pointed to the right down a long corridor. "Elevator two," the man began as he pointed to the left down the corridor, "takes you to suites five through eight. Those you should hardly be bothered with. The Master Sundama expecting you is this way," the man said softly.
"Master Sundama?" Naruto questioned emphatically, unable to fight the urge to snort with laughter. "Who's that?"
"I believe you'll know him as Gaara."
"Ah..." Naruto nodded and continued to snicker to himself as he was led to the elevator.
The moment His escort pushed the up button, the elevator doors flung open, and Naruto was very glad that they had too. He was eager to be away from this guy. He was giving Naruto the creeps.
"Until we meet again," the doorman crooned sweetly, and his eyes seemed to glow as he spoke.
Once the doors slid shut to hide the creepy smile that slunk across the door man's lips, Naruto let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. He absent-mindedly pondered about the fact that Gaara was actually 'Master Sundama'. Just why was Gaara 'Master Sundama'? Neither he nor Kiba had mentioned anything about that type of thing. Either Gaara was some sort of royalty, or he was filthy rich. Well, he did live in a suite at the top of a giant building in a gated community. He was definitely packing some cash. Naruto's thoughts were deterred, though, as the elevator doors slipped open and he took in the view of the suite in awe.
He moved slowly into the expansive room. To his left was the living room area, in the middle of which sat the biggest tv Naruto had ever seen against an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that were, oddly enough, tinted so black that you could barely make out the lights beyond as fuzzy blurs. To his immediate left, he saw what looked like a huge cabinet sitting behind a bar. To his immediate right was the kitchen area with an island big enough to fit ten people, at least. On his right beyond the kitchen was what he assumed to be a bathroom. There was also, of course, an upper level protruding about halfway across the space toward Naruto, supported by three columns along the room.
Naruto looked up to see the back of a redhead rummaging through books in a built-in bookcase on the upper level. Naruto thought to call out to Gaara and announce his arrival, but before he could open his mouth he saw Kiba's familiar face beaming and rushing out of the door on the right half of the upper level.
"Naruto!" Kiba exclaimed happily as he bustled down the hall to descend a spiral staircase on the right. "You're here! You're fine! No injuries, right?" Kiba added uncertainly as he reached the lower level and gestured for Naruto to come in.
"Uh… no," Naruto said, followed by a chuckle. "I'm alright."
"What do you wanna drink?" Gaara asked stiffly as he walked along the upper level to the staircase on the left side. "We've got anything you can think of." Naruto stared at him for a moment, wondering what to thank for Gaara's sour mood. Then Naruto turned his attention to the bar he had taken notice of when he first came in.
Automatically, he said, "Oh, no, it's fine."
When Gaara reached the bottom of the staircase, he gazed at Naruto as if he were bored. "Drop the pleasantries. What do you want?" he asked again, looking very unhappy.
Kiba glared disapprovingly at Gaara, but Gaara didn't seem to care.
"I really don't know," Naruto said, conflicted as he followed Kiba to sit down at the bar. When Naruto and Kiba found their destined seats, Naruto gaped at the vast amount of alcohol stored in the cabinets behind the bar. Gaara smiled for the first time with pride for his alcoholic collection and Naruto said decidedly, "I'll just have what you have." Gaara's smile widened.
"Scotch," he said appreciatively. Then, he seemed to catch wind of Kiba's deepening disapproval and questioned it straight on. "Are you glowering at me because I'm drinking or because I'm not drinking one of those girly, fruity drinks you prefer?"
Kiba huffed loudly. "If it's good, it's good! Who cares if it puts hairs on your chest or not? I like my chest hairless, for your information."
Gaara chuckled lightly and replied, "Yes, I am aware. I, however, like my chest hairy."
"In the proverbial sense," Kiba corrected quickly. "I'll wax you in your sleep if you don't take care of it yourself," Kiba threatened.
"I know you will," Gaara agreed lightly.
Naruto smiled. It was nice to be in the presence of their back and forth again, and it was nice to see the dark cloud over Gaara's head wavering too. Just as quickly as Gaara's eyes lit up, though, they darkened again. The little bickering they'd just shared seemed to remind Gaara of something, and he looked as if he wanted to jump across the bar and punch Kiba.
Gaara retrieved a bottle of scotch from the giant cabinet and pulled two glasses from underneath the bar. Kiba promptly snatched one glass up and threw it across the room into the kitchen. It shattered against the edge of the kitchen island loudly and Naruto jumped. He whirled around to look at Kiba, but to his surprise there was no trace of anger there. Kiba was actually smirking smugly. Gaara moved to get another glass, but Kiba interrupted him with a warning.
"I'll just throw that one too," Kiba said.
Gaara paused, half reaching beneath the bar. "You gonna break em all?" he questioned dully, as if this happened often.
"We can buy more, can't we?" Kiba said, raising a brow that was daring Gaara to pull out another glass. Gaara straightened up and rolled his eyes, but they were devoid of resentment and full of amusement.
"Seems I won't be having a drink with you, Naruto," Gaara said, turning to regard the confused blond.
"No, you won't, Master Sundama," Kiba jested and Naruto couldn't help but laugh, partly out of nerves and partly out of honest amusement.
To Naruto's surprise, Gaara laughed as well. His laugh was warm and honest, signaling another rise of his good spirit. Would it last longer than ten seconds this time? Naruto couldn't help but find this whole situation odd. Kiba was throwing glasses and, yet, everyone was laughing it off merrily.
"I'd rather not drink alone," Naruto said finally.
"Okay," Kiba said, shrugging. He smiled and then chucked the remaining glass into the kitchen too. It broke against the fridge and Naruto stared after it with renewed concern, but he smiled when he saw two happy faces regarding him.
"Wanna do one?" Kiba asked excitedly, as if throwing glasses around their suite was all just fun and games. Naruto shrugged indifferently, although he really wanted to. Kiba held out an expectant hand and Gaara supplied him with a fresh glass. Kiba handed it to Naruto and nodded his approval.
"Chuck it," Kiba urged.
Naruto hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether he should do it or not. But then he chose to embrace the atmosphere and be sporadic too. The glass flew the length of the apartment and broke against the wall above the stove. Naruto stared at the spot where the glass had vanished and likened it to his own life for a fleeting moment. Everything that he had ever loved had vanished. First, his mother had died. Then, his father. Next, he'd lost his home. Lastly, he'd lost his godfather. What did he have left?
Kiba placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and Naruto turned to see Kiba's understanding eyes scrunched up with a smile. How could Kiba understand? He couldn't, but he did. Naruto glanced at Gaara, who was managing to smile softly too, so Naruto smiled back and decided that things were perfectly fine. At the very least, he had these two. He had two very new, very important people to him, people that he loved spending time with. This was what he was left with, and he felt immeasurably better at the thought.
"Let's all have a scotch!" Kiba said cheerily.
Gaara looked hesitant but pulled out three glasses regardless. The entire time he poured them out, he kept a skeptical brow raised at Kiba, as if expecting him to throw the filled glasses across the room too. Now it was Kiba who wanted a drink and Gaara who was silently protesting. Naruto found this abrupt change in roles comforting. It was far more like their dynamic to be in this kind of ebb and flow, and Naruto was not sad to see the controlling part of Gaara dissipate. He raised his glass with a bright smile and sipped at his scotch, only slightly appreciating the burn it provided. It became clear that he was not a scotch lover. Gaara's sipping was clearly reverent, but Kiba downed his glass in a couple of skilled gulps. He took notice of the lingering grimace on Naruto's face and laughed at the blond.
"Don't like it?" Kiba asked. Naruto shrugged his shoulders, but he could tell that his face was screaming 'not at all'. "I've got it," Kiba said as he seized Naruto's glass and downed it just as quickly as he had downed his own.
Gaara stared for a long moment at Kiba and Naruto thought that they were sharing the same astonishment until Gaara burst out in laughter. While Gaara was busy laughing, Kiba nicked his drink too and downed it in a gulp. When Gaara realized what Kiba had done, he laughed even harder. Naruto was enjoying the return of Gaara's good attitude.
"Damn alcoholic," Gaara said between chuckles.
"Eh, it takes the edge off," Kiba said, shrugging. "You know, being a—" Gaara's laughter ceased abruptly and he made a hissing noise to silence Kiba mid-sentence.
"Three glasses of scotch make you careless," Gaara snapped, glaring threateningly at Kiba.
Naruto expected Kiba to retort quickly or else huff, but he did neither. This was the return of the strange dynamic that Naruto did not like. Kiba, first, looked absolutely regretful of what he was beginning to say. Then, he grew meek and apologetic as he shifted uncomfortably beneath Gaara's glare. Naruto wasn't surprised at Kiba's sudden submissiveness after catching a glimpse of Gaara's glower either. There was a definite hardness in Gaara's eyes and, yet, something Naruto would liken to guilt or regret sitting just behind. This was, clearly, not their typical bickering. They had stumbled upon some very serious subject and Naruto felt as if he was intruding on a private moment.
He began to wonder, however, about Gaara. A thought occurred to him. Kiba looked like a wounded animal cowering. Gaara's attitude was always changing at the drop of a dime. He was always watching Kiba's every movement. He was vigilant of what Kiba was saying. He was always clutching to Kiba as if he were going to disappear into thin air. Naruto couldn't help but wonder if Gaara… maybe Gaara was abusive. Just as Naruto was wondering these terrible thoughts, the elevator dinged and he was glad for something else to look at. As annoying as Gaara's ever-shifting attitude could be and as unnerving as his glare on Kiba was right now, Naruto didn't want to think Gaara was capable of something like that. He was a good guy. Naruto knew he was, and he didn't want to think otherwise.
Naruto turned expectantly toward the elevator doors for his savior and out strode a tall, slender Sasuke. Not a savior at all. He glided across the room without regarding anyone at all. He tossed his belongings over the back of the couch and then turned smoothly to walk toward the trio at the bar. Still, he didn't seem to really see anyone there at all. He moved behind Gaara and leaned back against the bar, looking lazily for something to drink. He seemed to be concentrating very hard on something else, something not in this room. When Naruto looked to Kiba and Gaara, both of their faces were filled with apprehension and Naruto got the idea that Sasuke didn't quite notice that Naruto was there, nor were they expecting Sasuke to show up in the first place. Dread slowly welled up inside of Naruto.
"Sai invited me out," Sasuke sighed, folding his arms over his chest as he simply stared into the liquor cabinet.
Gaara loathed Sai. He probably hated Sai even more than before now that Sasuke was still with him, even after he had kissed Naruto. Kiba looked as if he wanted to interrupt Sasuke, but he couldn't muster up the courage to do so. Perhaps he expected Sasuke would figure it out on his own. Gaara had seemingly forgotten all about Naruto in favor of focusing on Sasuke's words though.
"He's still going out and hunting," Sasuke continued.
"That bastard," Gaara snarled.
"I know," Sasuke agreed.
"You were going out with him just a couple weeks ago, weren't you?" Gaara snapped, and Naruto was shocked at the ferocity with which he spoke.
Sasuke glanced sideways at Gaara before pushing away from the bar and beginning a more active search for liquor. "I was, but it was momentary," he replied calmly.
Kiba glanced at Naruto anxiously, and Naruto got the stark impression that he shouldn't be hearing this. He probably wouldn't be hearing it if Sasuke had noticed him, but knowing that only made Naruto want to be in on it even more. He'd keep quiet as long as neither Kiba nor Gaara gave him away. Hell, he'd become a damn ghost if he had to. It seemed like the only way to learn anything around these people.
If he could be thankful for anything in this moment, it was that Sasuke was so self-absorbed that he couldn't be bothered to notice anyone he didn't choose to, and also that people rarely felt bold enough to tell Sasuke something he didn't wanna hear. And Naruto would guess that Sasuke didn't wanna know Naruto was there. Otherwise, Kiba would've said something. Gaara, on the other hand, seemed just as self-absorbed as Sasuke. Whatever was beginning to transpire between those two was too important to let go just yet.
"Sai persuaded him, Gaara. You understand how that can happen," Kiba said warily. When Gaara turned to Kiba, clearly enraged by what he'd just said, Kiba went on quickly, "I just meant that—"
"I know what you meant!" Gaara snapped at Kiba, who flinched and tightened his lips in an attempt at self-restraint. "And one hunt is all it takes," Gaara added angrily, now speaking to Sasuke's back. "It changes you. You'll never be the same. Why do you think our parents raised us on supplements? Once you start—"
"Gaara!" Kiba interjected quickly, being the only one who cared about Naruto's presence and attempting to stop the conversation in its tracks. He glanced nervously at Naruto again. Gaara continued with something much less incriminating, something Naruto couldn't discern so easily. "I've tried to stop you, Sasuke," Gaara said quietly. "Our parents wouldn't've wanted that life for us."
"You shouldn't be scolding me about my life, Gaara. What would father say about yours?" Sasuke taunted, never stopping his rummaging as he searched through the liquor. "You shrug off blame by calling your relationship civilized. It's all the same. We're all leeches in the end."
Naruto stared precariously at Kiba, whose face was riddled with anxiety. What in the world could they be talking about? Naruto decided at once that Gaara was, indeed, abusive. That must have been what Sasuke meant. Gaara was feeding off of Kiba's fear or something. Maybe Gaara and Sasuke were part of some secret sadist club that hunted down their prey at night and Sai was in on it too. That must be it. Maybe they were the rapists and murderers that Kiba was always covertly warning Naruto to avoid. The scenario seemed absurd, but it was the only thing he could come up with to make any sense of the conversation unfolding before him. The long, tense silence that allowed Naruto to make up this crazy theory while Kiba looked afraid to talk, Sasuke continued to rummage, and Gaara looked stunned and enraged was finally broken by Gaara's loud voice.
"It's not the same as hunting!" Gaara proclaimed. "I…" Gaara looked over at Kiba and his eyes were full of guilt. Naruto sensed that this was the topic that Kiba had been bordering on talking about earlier when Gaara glared him threateningly into silence. "I've never…" Gaara began, but he couldn't find the words.
"You've never what?" Sasuke said, turning his head to level Gaara with a daring stare.
"Think about how devastated your father would be to hear you've been…" Gaara paused before going on more confidently. "What would they say if they knew you were leeching?"
"You tell me. You would know firsthand, wouldn't you?" Sasuke said calmly. His tone of voice was casual but it was, clearly, meant to be insulting.
"Yes," Gaara hissed, "I would know. That's why I'm bothered to warn—"
"Warn yourself," Sasuke interrupted. "Don't act like you've got some experience I don't, Gaara. You're barely older than me and none the wiser either. I think I understand perfectly well. I've been on far more hunts than you."
"You proud of that?" Gaara snarled.
"Please!" Sasuke scoffed, rolling his eyes away and returning to his search for an apparantly very special bottle of liquor. "You've got your own hunt going every single day."
"It was one very bad call that I couldn't—" Gaara began hotly.
"You said it yourself, one hunt is all it takes," Sasuke interjected coolly, snapping his head back to Gaara.
"Yes, well, I don't deny that but Kiba has… Kiba is… Kiba consents," Gaara said weakly, as if he didn't truly believe his words to be a valid enough excuse.
"Prey is prey, Gaara," Sasuke said plainly. "Just because I ran around with Sai to get it doesn't mean having a feeder isn't just as bad."
"We've never stood for that!" Gaara argued crossly without hesitation. "We've never stood for hunts! Maybe Kiba was a mistake, okay?" Gaara exclaimed, and Kiba looked absolutely offended by the words. Gaara, however, plowed on, ignorant of Kiba's pained expression. "Maybe I never should've done it, any of it, but I did! And now I can't stop! That's why I tried to stop you from ever running with Sai's crowd! He's a fiend! They don't wanna stop!"
Sasuke didn't seem affected by Gaara's emotion. He simply sighed, as if bored, and returned once again to his search. "All I'm saying is not to chastise me for something you do yourself. You say it's more civilized than what Sai does but it's all the same. The only difference is that Kiba says yes," Sasuke said flatly. "Both our parents would rather cut off our heads than accept our lifestyles. Nonetheless, you're just as corrupted as me."
"Except the pursuit doesn't thrill me," Gaara retorted quietly. "I quelled the monster. I have no desire to—"
Sasuke seemed to be able to predict the next words and he interrupted Gaara promptly. "Where's the fucking scotch," he said loudly, pushing a bottle of liquor so forcefully that it toppled out of the cabinet.
Naruto stood from his chair quickly and reached over the bar in an automatic movement to catch the bottle, even though he knew he wouldn't actually be able to save it. To Naruto's great surprise, though, Sasuke kicked his foot up behind him and nudged the bottle perfectly back up over his shoulder and into his waiting hand.
How could anyone have such good reflexes? He didn't even look at the bottle but caught it and replaced it effortlessly. Both Kiba and Gaara seemed to notice Naruto's existence again, thought Kiba never really forgot, and they were watching him nervously. Gaara, at least, seemed to finally decide that Naruto wasn't supposed to be hearing these things, but neither of them knew just what to do. Kiba looked desperately to Gaara for direction, and Gaara looked down at the scotch. Before he could think of anything smarter to say, Gaara said the first thing that came to his mind.
"The scotch is on the counter," he said slowly, answering Sasuke's question.
Sasuke began to turn around and Naruto swore everything fell into slow motion. This was it. This was the moment that Sasuke would see Naruto's face, and then Naruto couldn't be sure what would happen next. The blond swallowed a thick lump in his throat as Sasuke reached his hand toward the bottle on the bar, stopping abruptly to stare at Naruto. Naruto stared right back and all the questions running through his mind were momentarily lost. He was entranced by the dark eyes boring into him, eyes that he couldn't read at all. He couldn't tell if Sasuke was furious, or confused, or shocked, or scared. For all Naruto knew, Sasuke could be elated. After a short while of Sasuke simply staring at Naruto, Gaara staring at Sasuke, and Kiba staring at Gaara, Sasuke broke the silence.
"I'm going," Sasuke said softly, apparently using all of his might to speak. He, then, turned and began to walk back to his things.
Naruto was suddenly full of life again. "W-Wait!" Naruto said, getting to his feet and starting after Sasuke, who was now putting on his coat. Sasuke didn't respond, so Naruto continued. "I… What's a feeder?" he blurted out. It was the first question that came to mind.
Sasuke's muscles visibly tensed and his upper lip twitched. "Nothing," he said very quietly and moved toward the elevator.
In a dramatic fit, Naruto ran ahead and flung himself in front of the doors.
Sasuke snorted at Naruto. "Move," he commanded.
"No," Naruto refuted quickly. "What's so special about Akatsake?" Naruto pressed on, his earlier questions posed to Kiba coming into the fray. "What, are you guys in some sadist gang or something?"
Sasuke's lip twitched again. "Sure," he said dully, "whatever you say. Move."
"No!" Naruto said defiantly.
"Why?" Sasuke asked, his patience clearly waning as he pushed the button to summon the elevator.
"I wanna talk to you," Naruto answered immediately.
"No. Now, move!" Sasuke yelled.
Naruto's pulse came to him quicker at the unexpected outrage. This only seemed to anger Sasuke even further.
"N-No," Naruto replied, unwilling to give up.
The doors to the elevator slid open and Sasuke pushed Naruto hard in the chest. Naruto crumpled onto the floor in pain as his soul seemingly fled his body. Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the front of his shirt and dragged him out of the elevator. He spared a dark glance to Kiba and Gaara, who only watched on in astonishment, and dropped Naruto a few feet from the elevator doors. He walked back into the elevator and slammed his fist against the lobby button, disappearing out of sight.
To be continued...
Author Note: It was hard for me to make Gaara & Kiba's suite practical, and I was trying to figure out how the windows would work. This is what I decided. I'm not an architect. This shit works for me as is lol Check the links section on my main profile page for the links to the layout for their apartment (top floor, bottom floor, and building lobby).