A/N- EDIT; Hidan's picture is now up on my deviantart as well. :) I'm glad I saved him for last because he was certianly the hardest. Probably because I did him both with his hair gelled back and with it down and casual.
Tell me what you think.
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FOLLOW YOUR ARROW
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Fireworks exploded inside his head.
Volcanoes erupted all around the world.
His ribcage burst open wide with the heat and pressure that filled him so suddenly. His eyes closed themselves, and he was glad, otherwise he thought maybe he would have panic'd when he grew dizzy and his legs buckled beneath him.
Everything was the same, the room and the air and their stance and outward appearance, all remained perfectly still in the suffocating silence of the room, but he paid no mind. As far as Itachi was concerned, he'd suddenly been teleported to a timeless little box filled to the very brim with intangible but overwhelming pleasure.
It finally happened, oh God. He was going to die from happiness alone, not to mention the red-hot blood he was suddenly aware of coursing through every inch of his body.
Kisame was kissing him. Without the pressure to do so, without the uncertainty he'd exibited only moments before. Kissing him with lust, with need, with want, uncontrollable desire.
And everyone told him fairy-tales weren't real.
The seconds dragged on like hours, and yet flew by without notice as they remained there in that stance. He could distantly hear his heart beating, fast and hard and nearly painful.
His lungs burned with the need to breathe, but he didn't think he could inhale even if he wanted to. He was crushed so wonderfully against the much taller man's hard body. His big arms wrapped around him, keeping him standing upright with as little effort as it took to think the actions.
His arms had moved around the man's thick neck at some time, he remembered letting his hands slide gently up the stunning abdominals and chest, appreciating once again the feel of this amazing man before they slipped around there. Kisame had let his own arms move slowly to mirror his other one, cupping the small of Itachi's back and pulling him flush against his body.
Maybe it was stupid, to hold there in such a stance, mouths not moving at all in their impenatrable lock against each other. Bodys stiff and clinging to the other as if a crevice would tear the earth beneath them and swallow one or the other should they ever let go.
There was movement, now, at last. Kisame being the one to snap himself from the euphoria first in favor of falling into a different mindless condition. His hand moving from the much shorter man's back to slide torturously slow up his body, sending invisible sparks flying off from his movement until his fingers tangled in the hair of Itachi's neck.
His mouth began to move against the Uchihas, re-lighting his natural body's action. Sweet oxygen filled his lungs when he finally inhaled through his nose, thick with Kisame's cologne, and then left him just as quickly.
He drew in another breath, as his senses came crashing back to planet Earth and his lungs suddenly burned with the need for air. But pulling back wasn't an option. Breaking away, stopping this trip through Nirvana didn't even make it halfway to crossing his mind.
The hand on the back of his head pulled him closer still, he let his own lips part, distantly hearing a soft moan escape as he sighed. Was that him? He couldn't tell, and he didn't care. Nothing else mattered right now, not one other thing in the entire world could posibley be more important than what was happening to him right now.
The mouth against his growled at the sound, suddenly more demanding. He received a sharp bite to his lower lip, making him gasp not from the sting of pain it brought, but from the zap of electricity it sent racing through him.
A second hand left his back now that he was once again stable on his feet, sliding up much quicker this time to come to a rest just under his jaw, fingers stretching up behind his ear and into his hair.
His own hands wandered, though he wasn't aware of anything but the mouth on his and the quick sucession of breaths he had to keep forcing himself to take, dragging in air like he was on his deathbed each time it was pushed out of him by a pulse of arousal.
He let his tongue adventure beyond the restrains of his lips, running it smoothly across Kisame's bottom one, reveling in how they could be so incredibly soft through their slightly chapped nature, due to their extended time out in the snow. He found the small dip, the small chunk of scar tissue that somehow offered a whole new texture into the situation, and favored it without thinking. So many places to explore, so many secrets to discover about his body, so little time before he simply exploded from the mass of desperate need filling every inch of him.
The chest pressed against his vibrated at the moan elicited from his actions, and in a seconds time he was bombarded by the wonderful taste he remembered now as he was pulled so tightly aginst the man that he thought they might become one, distracted instantly by the thought as a wrestling match between toungue's begun, just as delicious and tantalizing as it had been the last time.
He came gliding back softly into reality a short time after that, after stretching up to his tallest height, pushing to the balls of his feet as much as he could reach, pulling the giant of a man by this heavily toned shoulders down as much as his weak arms could manage, as he realized he was being pushed backward. The back of his knees hit something soft, but the man with his hands pressed tightly around him didn't stop his advancements. He didn't fight it either, he couldn't fight it if he wanted to, so absolutly full with excitement and raging desire.
Against the laws of physics, the kiss deepened even further as he arched his back, pushing and moulding his own body like putty into Kisame's, feeling almost as if he could just wrap himself in the man, become a single sentient being if he could just get closer, as if this wasn't enough. No... it still wasn't enough.
His eyes snapped open more out of instict when he realized he was tipping precariously, about to fall.
He gasped, clasping onto the first thing he could wrap his fingers around, a chunk of fabric, Kisame's shirt. And before he realized what was happening his back was pressed into his mattress with a heavy body on top of him, pinning him down.
His mouth had finally been free'd by this point, and he inhaled deeply the scent of this beautiful creature causing these amazing feelings within him, inadvertantly blinking himself back into awareness.
That was strange... he thought. His eyes were open now, he was sure... Why couldn't he see anything?
"Kisame..." He panted to the man, trailing soft pecks and nips along his jawline and down his throat.
He felt his lids flutter shut again from the new waves of desire this brought on, and moaned out loud when rough hands slipped beneath his shirt, sending off more invisible sparks into the dark room as they moved, slideing up his sidesand up to his chest as if to cup at the breasts that weren't there.
He drew in a sharp breath, forcing his eyes open to the pitch darkness, the action like a slap the the face bringing him roughly out of the dream-like state.
No, wait. This was going too far... it was only supposed to be a kiss.
"Kisame!" He gasped again, forcing his hands in between them and pushing. If he let the man continue he may very well freak out again, and most likely at the worst possible time. God forbid they both be there naked and prepared and he suddenly snapped back to reality and launched into another panic attack.
It didn't budge the large man on top of him, but finally did it's job of distracting him.
"What?" He growled, and lifted slightly, stunning the Uchiha for a moment at how much easier it suddenly was to breathe.
"Did-did you turn off the lights?" He said, trying to regain control of his airflow.
"No I didn't turn the damn lights off." He said roughly, almost like someone woken from a deep sleep. He shifted again, buring his head in the nape of Itachi's neck, nuzzling and then biting sharpley, making Itachi gasp once more as he fought desperatley against himself. He wanted it, Oh God he wanted it. But something was wrong, something he needed to attend to, something that was his responisibility because it was his doing...
"HEY UCHIHA!" Hidan's voice suddenly echoed, seeming to bring down the cold, hard fist of reality fully crashing in on both men. Kisame's head shot up, and though the Uchiha couldn't see, he envisioned the man blinking himself into reality, just as he'd done not too long ago.
"I could use some FUCKING HELP out here!"
Kisame nearly leaped off Itachi, who rolled sideways to avoid a collision and pushed to his feet. He wasted no time in feeling along the wall until he reached the lightswitch, flipping it on and off several times, understanding evading him at first as the dizzying lust and raging sex-based horomones drained from his system.
Kisame's utter silence wasn't noticed as Itachi felt along further for the doorknob. Hidan, that's right. Hidan was here, out in the livingroom, and they were in his bedroom. All that had happened came flooding back to him, filling him with anger instead of a more suitable emotion for such a situation.
"WOULD YOU JUST QUIT BITCHING!? FUCKING HELL YOU OLD GEEZER!" Hidan's muffled shouting came, disrupting his train of thought even further as more recollection pouring into his foggy mind.
That's right, Dr. Hoku was here too... His cheeks burned a little in the darkness at this, more for Kisame than himself. His alarm clock, the only one in the room, wasn't working. He'd no idea how long they'd been back here. Damn, there would be no evading the teasing Hidan was sure to come at him with. It was not too much trouble, really, but if poor Kisame had to suffer through it... well, Hidan would learn to shut his mouth when it came to such matters.
There was a loud thunk and the sound of multiple things falling to the floor.
"OWFUCKSTUPIDFUCKINGTABLEFUCKYOU!"
His hand finally alighted on the cool metal he'd been searching for, and he twisted, wrenching the door open.
"Hidan for God's sake just stay put!" He yelled down the hallway, having gathered that the power must be out around the fourth flick of the lightswitch. He took a quick moment to make sure his hair and clothes were smoothed as he took a few steps out into the hallway. There would be no denying what had happened, most likely, as the two men in his livingroom were far from stupid, especially in the times he almost wished they were. But that didn't mean he had to look the part.
"There you are! Fuck! It's a good thing there wasn't a fire or a fucking earthquake or we'd all be fucked! You can't keep your dick in your pants for one fucking night!? GOD!"
Itachi opened his mouth to tell his roommate to shut the hell up, but instead shouted then as a beam of light burst into existance in his direction, making his eyes feel as if they might just burn from his very sockets.
"Get that thing out of my face!" He snarled, throwing his arm up and spinning around only to slam into a hard body behind him. He almost fell back out into the hall as he bounced off, but was caught by a pair of strong arms.
"Oh... sorry..." Hidan laughed, his voice sounding closer now. "I think the goddamn wind knocked out the power."
"You think?" Kakuzu's voice growled, not far behind Hidan.
Itachi was still for a second, hiding almost like a child against Kisame's torso at the sound of Dr. Hoku's voice. Then he let his eyes open, looking up at Kisame, still holding him. Only there was a giant white blur where his face should have been. He closed them once more, reaching up to rub them as he stepped back from the embrace. Damn it, they were both going to get enough flack already, no reason to encourage it with such actions.
"The door is frozen shut as well, with a good three foot of snow against it." The doctor continued somewhat strained.
The Uchiha sighed inwardly at this, suddenly regretting his decision to try and match the two up. It didn't last but a moment, but he couldn't help the temporary frustration at being interrupted the way he'd been. If he'd just taken the doctor home and outwitted Kisame into letting him into his small house, this same situation might have occurred without all the exhausting altercations. And most importantly of all, without the interruptions.
No... no, that would have been bad, remember? Kisame wasn't thinking correctly, he still had the alchohol in his system, however 'sober' he claimed to be. When it came to matters of the flesh, he'd become an insatiable animal, and Itachi his next meal. If things had continued it likely would have once again destroyed all the work he'd put into building their relationship up, once again from a stupid, insignificant moment of weakness.
Kisame still had yet to say anything, and he looked up to regard the man, still somewhat blinded, though not nearly as bad as it had been previously. The black eyes of the gorgeous being stared softly back down at him, though his expression was blank and hard. The Uchiha wasn't sure what to make of this, but his gut wasn't twisting in dread. With nothing else to go off of, he took this as a good sign and decided to let the matter rest on the sidelines until they had the chance to discuss it again. He offered an apologetic smile before sighing out loud this time.
"Perfect..." He said, the double meaning of this going unnoticed.
"My fuckin' thoughts exactly." Hidan said, following it with a wet sniff and a short clearing of his throat. "You had to go bring these shitters home. I was having a good night ya know!?"
"It's not as if I have any more control over the situation as anyone else, Hidan. It's far too early and I've had far too little sleep to listen to such accusation." Itachi snapped at him, not looking away from Kisame just yet.
Hidan lowered the flashlight a little more, scoffing. "Mrowr. S'not my fault your fuck session was interrupted either."
Itachi whirled around at this with a dark glare, making the albino take a step back before the flashlight was snatched from his hands. "Hidan, you know I hate to be so rude to you, but if you wouldn't mind, shut your damn mouth."
He held the glare for a moment before letting his eyes soften, flicking them over to the man standing a few feet behind him. "The cab must not have shown up either, I'm taking it."
Kakuzu only stared back in reply, and Itachi sighed again. Of course it wouldn't show up, he'd never called for one. But that was his little secret now wasn't it? Had to keep up appearances, after all.
He turned back around to face Kisame. "There's another flashlight in my desk, the third drawer down, would you please fetch it?"
The man nodded silently and turned to do as instructed. Itachi then began making his way to the kitchen, giving his roommate a weary, pleading look as he stepped sideways past him. Really, Hidan was as close as a sibling to him, and on most occasions his reckless teasing did the Uchiha no harm. But right now was one of those rare moments where he simply didn't want to hear it. He had not lied when he'd said he had not gotten nearly enough rest to continue dealing with such things.
"I suppose another apology wouldn't be of much use here, would it Doctor?" He said then, pushing that matter aside as well to attend to the one that would certianly be most difficult, and likely to turn on him as well. God knows he'd tested the poor Doctor's patience enough for one night.
"Not at all." He said back immediatly, having turned to return to the livingroom, walking ahead of the Uchiha. "But it seems there would be no help at all for this situation, anyway." He continued in a tired sigh.
Itachi nodded, looking down at the carpet as he moved. Perhaps he felt a little bit guilty now. He'd meant for this to happen, really... but the ever-so-subtle change in the elder man's demeanor, as well as his slightly slouched posture had him considering that maybe... maybe his meddling could have waited. Yes, the oppurunities had fallen ever-so-gracefully into his hands to be manipulated as he saw fit. But perhaps that was just the thing of it, maybe they'd not needed manipulated at all.
After all, if they were as meant to be together as it seemed to him, maybe he should have just left it alone...
He may be wise beyond his years... but really, he hadn't been here all that long.
Perhaps being bad wasn't so much fun after all.
-o-
Hidan watched them move through the hall, turning to regard Itachi's empty doorway in the absolute lack of light. This was his home too, dammit, and he was going to hold one of the damn flashlights.
He was already in bad spirits. Having Itachi snap at him that way certianly hadn't helped, though in all honesty he couldn't blame the guy. But it wasn't his fault either! Itachi knew when he was upset he had to take it out on other people or risk getting depressed. And there was no way in hell he was going to let any sort of vulnerability show in front of that old asshole again. Not if he could help it!
God, what had he been thinking? That guy wasn't some normal, average, person. He was Satan. How could he have forgotten that? Just because he fell asleep and seemed so... so...
Nope, don't even go there Hidan.
Yeah, that topic was best left discarded. Not after those weird thoughts that had popped into his head.
He almost shuddered. Ugh, what was wrong with him to even think about that guy in anything within a thousand feet close to a sexual thought? He was like fifty! EW!
A light flashed on in Itachi's bedroom, the sphere of it flinging itself across the walls for a moment before he heard a drawer slide gently shut, and in another moment the giant of a man who's name he'd forgotten again stepped into the doorway, pausing for a second when he saw Hidan still waiting there.
He smiled deviously at him and held out his hand. "He got you huh? I warned ya, didn't I, Shark-dick?"
He was regarded again by those creepy eyes, made even more demonic in the shadows cast by the flashlight, before a grin broke onto the man's face. And not a happy grin, it was fucking terrifying, though Hidan would never admit.
"If you only knew what we were talking about in there kid... you wouldn't be so cocky." He spun the flashlight around in his hand masterfully, letting it stop so that the handle was extended out toward the much shorter man in front of him.
Hidan grimaced, snatching it from the guys hand. "Yeah, I don't give a fuck about who wants to put it in who's ass. So spare me." With that he turned to move down the hall, still resisting a shudder as he recalled that crazy smirk.
God, His boss was Satan and Itachi was shacking up with a demon.
The world was going to hell.
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"No, the breaker box's for all the apartments are outside. If we can't get the door open, there's no way to reach them." Itachi was explaining softly to Kakuzu as Hidan came into the kitchen.
"I can call my landlord, but there's only so much he can do in such terrible weather, either. At the very least he might be able to give us some sort of timeframe..."
Hidan rounded the half-wall made by the kitchen counters that made him think the designer of this place was an idiot for not just putting a bar right there, and came to a stop beside Kakuzu, leaning against the counter and massaging his eyes. He did that a lot, Hidan noticed. He wasn't really sure though if it was just some quirk the guy had whenever he was irritated, (which was all the time), or if maybe whatever condition he had that made his eyes red all the time made them hurt too.
He made a face at himself for even thinking of useless shit like that, unnoticed by the other two men, as well as the one that had followed him and now stood beside him with his arms crossed. Damn, it wasn't like he cared whether the old scrooge was in pain or not. In fact he hoped he was! The asshole deserved it anyway!
He tried to sniff again and withdraw the contents leaking from his face, only to find his nose suddenly stuffed completley. He grimaced once more at this. Well damn it all. Now he was going to have to be stuck with these bastards all morning and possibley even the whole day, and be sick on top of it all. It didn't help that his throat felt raw, and his head was starting into a dull ache right behind his eyes, making them feel heavier than usual.
He considered this... he could just go to bed, surely no one would bother him... It was a perfectly legitimate idea, it would pass the time and make him feel better and maybe these idiots would be gone by the time he woke up.
"Anything we can get is better than guesswork.." Kakuzu sighed, dropping his hands and staring at the floor before seeming to sense Hidan's presence, and looking over to glare at him.
Hidan felt his brows involunatarly crease up. Why was he getting dirty looks? He didn't do anything! If anything this whole mess was more Itachi's fault, fucking crashing his car like an idiot. And they said Hidan was the one unfit to drive, he hadn't even had a damn thing to do with it!
"The sun is going to be coming up soon anyway." The scarred guy finally spoke up, looking at his watch and distracting the Doctor's glare. "They'll have city workers out clearing off the streets, we should just work on clearing a way out of the apartment, and the streets should at least be decent enough to call the cab company again."
"Tch, what makes you think they won't blow you off again?" Hidan said sullenly, still studying Kakuzu almost in a pout, even as the man's christmas colored eyes landed again on him.
"Because it's actually during the day and they'll be in normal business hours anyway. They were bogged down yesterday what with all the drunks needing rides and the road conditions." Shark-dick explained "Shit, they may have even gotten here and sat outside waiting for an hour. With that wind as bad as it is we wouldn't have been able to hear them honk. And they didn't give us any specific time to be ready and waiting for them."
Hidan finally pulled his eyes away from those of Kakuzu's to glance at his roommate before moving back to that mermaid-wannabe. They flicked immediatly back over to Itachi though as he noticed the man staring at him with an almost unnoticeable smirk. He didn't stop staring either, knowing Hidan was looking at him. He raised a brow in silent question, and Itachi only closed his eyes and shook his head, smiling slightly more.
"This is your fault, ya'know." He said, turning to the man beside him now after scowling at the Uchiha for his confusing actions.
"My fault? How?"
"Because, you said we were gonna have a fuckin' sleepover. You jinxed us, forgot to knock on wood."
Kisame let out a small huff of a laugh, "You know... you're probably right about that."
"Don't be rediculous." Kakuzu spoke up again. "We're having a serious conversation about how to get out of this mess. We don't need your childish comments about superstitious nonsense, Hidan."
The albino's head snapped back around to scowl at his boss now. His fists clenched at his sides, teeth gritting, chest burning. He was about fucking sick of being treated like this by that guy. The idiot kept giving him mixed messages. Itachi told him to behave himself and mind his manners. He was trying dammit, he was trying to be nice, and all he got in return was pure, concentrated, unfiltered bullshit.
"You know what, you stupid motherfucker!?" He started, eyes going wide then as he noticed Itachi pushing off the counter, making a ready stance as if Hidan were going to attack someone. He was confused by this for only a millisecond, which only feuled his sudden bonfire of anger before he realized what his roommate must think was coming.
Oh damn, that one almost got him too... And still could if he didn't get out of this room before he started ranting against his will again. Damn this faulty brain!
"What?" Kakuzu said, eyes narrowing.
Hidan ground his teeth, trying to force back the searing pain in his chest, the urge to just release control of his body, to claw and swing and bite at the old bastard like he wanted to. The overwhelming desire to see him bleed, to see and touch and even taste his blood.
This isn't you... this is the demons. Right Itachi? That's what you'd say, it's the demons.
His eyes flicked to his best friend at this thought, staring at him unresponsively.
Fuck, dammit. It almost hurt to restrain himself like this.
Fight through it Hidan, no one can help you when you're belligerant. Itachi would say. He had said, just earlier in fact. Damn, he hated his terrible sense of time. It felt like their little talk had been days ago, though really it had been just hours.
What had brought it on anyway? So Kakuzu had insulted him, big deal. He insulted him all the time, everyone did.
God, why did that fucking old shitheadkeep bringing out these infuriatingly confusing reactions in him?
"Nothing. You're right." He forced out, shrugging. "I'm an idiot. I'm not helping. You know what, you grown-ups go ahead and handle this shit. I'm obviously too stupid to understand." He said, surprising himself with the evenness of his voice. He turned and left the room, moving back down the hall after a brief, longing, glance at the loveseat where he always sat.
No, he was going to go to his room, no sense in going to sit on the couch, it may techinically be a different room, but they would still be able to see him, and he would be able to hear them. And he didn't want any more part in all of this. He hadn't done anything wrong this time even, and here he was taking all the heat for it...
Well, not all of it... just what his boss kept unleashing on him.
Fucking asshole. If anything this whole fucking mess was his fault for going out drinking without a ride home in the first place.
Stupid jerk.
He felt a small stab of pain when his roommate didn't come rushing out after him, when no one did. But it was rationalized almost instantly in his mind simply as the fact that they didn't care. He didn't question this thought, not realizing what it was. They probably wanted him gone. All he did was cause trouble anyway right? Every time he opened his mouth he was being told to shut up, that he was a child, or an idiot.
They were probably right anyway. He was an idiot. After all, look at what he'd made of his life when given the responsiblity of taking care of himself.
He stopped outside his door, unable to stop himself from listening to their hushed conversation, despite his unfair anger at everyone in the house. Except Kakuzu, that anger was perfectly justified.
"Doctor..." Itachi's gentle voice said, even softer than normal. "I understand your frustrations, but Hidan is not at fault for any of this. There's no reason to direct your anger at him, he's only trying to help."
"How is shouting at us and making nonsensical accusations helping?"
"He's just as frustrated as the rest of us, and he seems to have developed a cold, if you hadn't noticed. I'm sure he's exhausted, there's no reason to be upset with him."
"Being sick is no excuse to act like a child."
"And being angry is no excuse to act like a bully, Doctor." Itachi said, his voice hard.
Hidan's brows raised in interest, though his depression had yet to fade. Don't defend me Itachi... he's right...
His poor friend, always having to clean up his messes...
"I won't ask you to go in there and apologize like you very well should for that behavior, because I know you won't do it. If anyone's being childish here it's you. I understand that the circumstances aren't favoritable at all, but there's no need to turn on each other like animals. I'm doing my best to manage this but seeing as you are the oldest one here, you should be helping me, not giving me more of a headache."
He heard a whistle after the uchiha finished his chiding, assuming it to be that huge guy, seeing as he couldn't see Kakuzu doing such a thing, especially after getting ripped into like that.
Hidan had always had it in his mind that one of these days, when he got himself back up on his own two feet, he would repay his dear friend for everything he'd done for him. And it had never really occurred to him until this moment that such a hope was impossible.
And instead of depressing him even further, this thought actually made him smile. Their friendship was so much more than little favors they did for each other, lending a room and a roof over their head, providing food and offering money when it ws needed. Those things were all just a side-effect of the real basis of their relationship.
The understood each other, somehow. Both of them being Kindred, tortured souls in this world. Hidan had always been comforted with the fact that he knew Itachi would always have his back... Those days after they'd been seperated that first time, damn, his life had gone down the shitter pretty quick.
Mutual trust, mutual understanding, love. Platonic, but unending love.
He considered this, no longer paying attention to the conversation in the other room, or Itachi's irritated voice going on and on about whatever it was to a silent Kakuzu.
What would happen if he did get back up on his feet, if he moved out and tried to make a second go of governing his own life? Maybe it would be better this time, he'd still have Itachi after all...
But... but Itachi had Shark-dick now...
And Hidan had... no one...
He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, opening the door to his room and stepping inside. Maybe a bit of sleep wouldn't be so bad. His head was starting to get a little crowded, as was his home. Surely with all these people unable to leave, he wouldn't be tortured by lonliness. Even if one of them hated his guts...
He shut the door behind him, staring at his little futon bed in uncertainty. Maybe he should go back out and sit on the couch...
No... not after just walking away like that. They'd think he was an idiot.
But they already thought that... and besides, why did he care what that old asshole thought?
He almost actually wanted to go to sleep, to save himself the frustration of trying to organize these annoying goddamn thoughts in his head, buzzing around like bee's in a beehive. Each of them there for a reason, doing it's job, but as a whole they were nothing but a mazz of noise and perceived confusion.
But... there it was again, that distant little ache in the back of his chest. Like someone tugging on his sleeve, or a ribbon tied around his finger, trying to pass some sort of message on that he was too dense to understand.
He didn't want to sleep, damn the cold, damn the mood swings. Sleeping had not solved his problems before, had no provided escape before, and it wouldn't now. He needed something else. A much better idea occurred to him suddenly anyway. Itachi had said he needed hobbies. So what were a few things he'd always wanted to take up, but never gotten around too?
He'd always wanted a motorcycle. Yeah, he would look like a fucking badass on a motorcycle. He wasn't really a big guy, fit, obviously, but not outstandingly strong. In fact his body was a little more on the lean side, as much as he tried to beef himself up. Having a fucking hog underneath him would solve that problem. No one fucked with bikers. No one in their right minds, at least.
However, seeing as his license was still suspended for another year or so, that was out of the question. Plus, those things were fucking expensive, and making minimum wage at the clinic surely wouldn't pay for it. And also, where the fucking hell would he keep it? Itachi's little porch was only like Six by Five foot, not to mention he was up on the second floor, so there was a goddamn flight of stairs there to totally wipe that thought from his mind...
So no, a motorcycle would simply not work out.
What other things had he wanted to try? What else could he see himself doing?
Something to distract himself with, something that would maybe help him get through these confusing moments, help him channel his anger and depression and confusion into something that wouldn't make him end up in the hospital, or in handcuffs.
Hm... There was that one kinda girly thing... But shit, plenty of guys did it, and make good fucking money if they were good enough too!
He smiled then, from ear to ear.
Yessss, yes, that was it, that was perfect. Oh he could totally see himself doing that...
Hm... but first he had to get some money. And he sure as shit wasn't going to go beg Itachi for any. Which meant he had no choice but to wait until payday. Hmm... oh well... he could do it. He couldn't be patient about it, but he could still do it.
Yeah! Goals! Itachi AND that guy he talked to at ABHC had both told him he needed some of those. Aspirations, things to work toward. Shit, he wouldn't credit that pineapple-headed fuck with anything, but Itachi usually knew what he was talking about. So if Hobbies is what he needed, it was a hobby he would get.
-o-
Kisame watched back and forth in giddy excitement as Itachi gave his old friend a through tongue-lashing. Damn he loved it when Itachi got like this, it was so far beyong entertaining, and having Kakuzu be the target? Oh, it didn't get any sweeter.
He couldn't stop his eyes from roaming the slender man's body, once again leaning back, relaxed against the counter, despite how his voice implied that he wanted to smack the shit out of the oldest of the three. He'd been watching the Uchiha carefully since he first stepped foot into the kitchen, letting his gaze part only momentarily to flick over to Kakuzu when he spoke, or the Kid when he was spoken to. He'd seen the instantaneous shift in Itachi's mood when Kakuzu had snapped at Hidan. He'd seen the almost invisible quick or his lips before that, as the Uchiha studied the two interacting with each other, he'd seen the wordless conversation he'd exchanged with his roommate.
And despite himself, despite the small part of him that was still slightly distrubed about it, he couldn't stop feeling absolutly captivated by the young man. Everything he did, every movement he made, he could see the cogs turning in that brilliant little mind with every shift seen only in his eyes. His chest ached with affection just standing here observing him.
And that kiss...
Wow... that kiss.
Dealbreaker indeed.
There was no denying it now, not one single inch of him even attempted to deny what he knew would inevitabley happen. What had already happened.
Itachi was his. It was already said and done.
He was also overjoyed to be over that torturous confusion. Damn he hated being unsure of himself, he didn't know how people could live like that. Always making guesses, leaps of faith, hoping to god their decisions wouldn't turn around to bite them in the ass. There was nothing more infuriating.
But now, every part of his mind was in agreement once again, he had no doubts, there was no argueing, no confliction between his heart and his head.
He was back. Thank God.
It certianly would be a little bit awkward getting used to having a man, with man genetalia, beneath him like that though. The flatness of his chest really was what had broken him from his animalistic stupor back there in the bedroom, as well as feeling that unexpected hardness pressed against his thigh. It had definitly threw his sex-driven mind off a bit, but that was okay. It was something new, and though that had somewhat disgusted and humiliated him before, he was okay with it now. And if anything, it only excited him more. Something new, not the same old cat and mouse chase...
And damn... that kiss... just... just damn.
"Well, you keep on believeing that little fairytale then, Doctor. But you are in my house, and I expect you to respect my wishes. I've told Hidan to behave, and I'd like you to as well, though I didn't think I'd have to be reduced to reminding you to do so."
"I'm not here by any will of my own, boy."
"I understand that, but if you wish to be treated with respect then you must first treat other's with it." Itachi said, pulling his phone from his pocket. Kisame had to struggle not to burst out laughing at this, and then had to actually slap his hand over his mouth to continue restraining the laughter at the shocked expression on Kakuzu's face.
Oh Itachi, you genious little weasel.
That was one of his old friends favorite sayings, and here it had just been used against him. God, he wanted some popcorn! This was too great!
"I'm going to call my landlord, and then the cab company again, and then I'm going to go check on Hidan. You really should apologize, and be grateful to him as well. I don't now if you noticed but he was about to come unglued again. Frankly I'm torn between pride at his sudden self-restraint and dissapointment that he found the strength to keep himself in check when you so clearly deserved his wrath."
"He is a grown man, Mister Uchiha! I'm not going to apologize for hurting his feelings."
"I'm aware of that. Perhaps I was wrong about you after all." Itachi replied lowly, leaving the comment dangling in the air to be interpreted any way the elder man saw fit, then pushing past both of his guests, pausing only long enough to hand the flashlight to Kisame, seeing as Hidan had taken his with him, before dissapearing without a sound into the darkness of the house.
The two men stood in awkward silence for awhile, Kakuzu scowling at the refridgerator, seemingly in thought, and Kisame still restraining the chuckle that tugged at him.
"Bloody children." Kakuzu grumbled, making his slightly taller friend finally let out a small laugh.
"That... That was kind of hilarious Kakuzu, not gonna lie."
"Shut up, Kisame."
"I told you he was a bitch when you set him off..."
"I said shut up."
"Alright." He said, looking around the kitchen absently. "Eh.. Want more coffee? Sounds good right?" He said, spotting the empty pot. "I don't think he'd care if we made more. It's only a quarter till six anyway."
Kakuzu only grunted in response, and Kisame grinned again, handing the flashlight out to him. "Hold that so I can see hm?"
The older man took it without speaking, and Kisame stepped over to the machine, opening the top to pull out the old filter and grounds. As he turned to look for a trashcan, and spotted Kakuzu still staring distantly, something occurred to him.
He nulled it over in his head as he crouched to open the cabinet under the sink, making a satisfacory noise when he found what he was seeking in it. He tossed in the bundle, shut the cabinet, and then started looking through the cubboards above the coffee pot for more supplies.
Itachi was right about one thing, he realized. Kakuzu didn't care about anyone, Except maybe Kisame himself in some sort of hard-to-see way. Obviously he was fond enough to keep up the friendship. But Kisame realized now that the man didn't have any other friends at all. Not one that he could recall. And before this whole disaster had started, their friendship had been pretty well just a small smouldering thing. A puny little excuse for a friendship, only fed just enough fuel to keep in alive, starving and emaciated, but alive.
That was another thing he could haphazardly thank Itachi for. Kisame didn't have any other friends but for these two men either, and to lose Kakuzu, as hard and unrefined as he was around the edges, would really be a bummer. He hadn't realized how much he missed the old man until they'd both been drunk at the bar, throwing insults and fists at each other just like in the old days. He'd missed his hard truths, his brutal honesty. Itachi was great, and not afraid to tell it like it was. But he was so gentle with his words. Sometimes it was all a man needed to be called an idiot and told to grow a pair, you know?
And it had been nice seeing the guy loosen up, finally. He was still capable of relaxing, being happy. At least he was when they weren't around the kid, or talking about the kid, or thinking about the kid.
He grinned again, filling the back of the machine with water absently.
Yeah, Itachi was definitely right about one thing. Kakuzu certianly had something for that loud-mouth albino. It looked to him like nothing more than searing hatred, but then again he wasn't a mind-reader like the Uchiha. And he certianly couldn't argue with that fact that Kakuzu seemed to have some sort of angry sheild around himself whenever Hidan was around. He may be an ass, but he was usually reasonable. Just now when Itachi had been tearing into him, he'd been completley resilient, refusing to admit that maybe he'd been at least a little out-of-line.
He'd never seen the man be so stubbornly childish...
And this of course could only lead him to the same conclusion as his young friend-er... his young... boyfriend..
Wow that sounded weird, even in his head.
Anyway, now that he could finally see how Itachi was connecting the dots the way he did. He supposed he could only be further on board with this whole plot, especially after that moment he'd had with the Uchiha back in the bedroom.
Really, he felt terrible for poor Kakuzu, not experiencing such an amazing feeling or even a fraction of it in God-only-knows-how-long.
And this could only result in one thing. He had to keep up his end of the bargain whenever possible. And since they were alone here in the kitchen, out of earshot with the kid or Itachi, maybe Kakuzu would open up juuuuust enough for him to get a few chunks out of that hard exterior.
He put the pot back in it's place and pushed the power button, turning around then and leaning back against the counter as the machine bubbled to life.
"Sooo..." He said, trying his damndest to keep his face serious. "Why are you so mad at the kid? Itachi's right, he had nothing to do with this whole mess."
Kakuzu's eyes snapped up to him, his usual glare in place. "Don't you go defending that idiot too. Just because he sticks out his lower lip and pouts doesn't mean you have to jump to his defense. He is a grown man."
"Yeah, you said that already, Kakuzu, old pal." Kisame laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not defending him. I mean, you didn't see me jumping in there before did you?"
Kakuzu only growled.
"Itachi's back in his room and the kid's out of earshot... I was just curious, you know. I mean, you can't tell me you haven't been a little tense since you got around him. What's the deal?"
"I believe I already have given you plenty of explanation as to my feelings toward him."
"Yeah I know, he's loud and annoying and kind of dense. But, I don't think he's that bad. Kind of reminds me of me, ya know? Remember those days?"
"All too clearly. There's no words to describe the relief I felt when you finally grew up."
"Oh come on. You can't tell me I'm all that mature now. I still laugh at fart noises."
"Yes, but at least you're not the one making the sounds anymore."
He sighed, rolling his eyes. How the hell did Itachi do this kind of thing with random strangers all the time? He couldn't even find weak points on a guy he'd known for years and years.
"Well he's still young, you know. He'll get the picture one of these days just like I did."
"You were never that childish, Kisame. When you had a problem you dealt with it like a man."
"So that's the problem? You don't like how he reacts to being insulted?"
"Well he certianly could take it better. Usually he just yells even louder. But now he throws this hissy fit, and everyone comes rushing to his aid like some little boy who hurt himself on the playground. His damn mood swings are exhausting." Kakuzu said, sighing afterward.
Kisame's smirk grew wider at this. Ahah, now they were getting somewhere.
"Kakuzu, buddy..." He said, faking discontent to cover up his entertainment. "C'mon, we both saw all the mental shit he's got wrong with him. I know you haven't dealt with a lot of people like that, but I get headcases coming to me aaalllll the time, looking for work. There's a reason employers don't like to handle them. They're unpredictable, unstable. Doesn't mean they're not still people. If you'd met some of the people I met with the same problems as him, you'd probably see him in a whole new light. He's rediculously normal compared to all the others."
Kakuzu met his eyes, squinting his own in suspicious curiosity.
Inwardly doing a victory dance, Kisame continued. "Usually right off the bat you look at these people and you can just feel that something's not right about them. And some of them are damn good at pretending to be an average person, Kakuzu. Damn good. But it's their eyes, you know. This kid isn't crazy, I don't think. " He said, a little surprised about the conclusions he, himself, was coming too now that he was thinking out loud. "Again, refferring to his file. I did more digging you know, after you gave me that call. The kid's parents died when he was three. Both of them murdered in a breaking and entering while he was sound asleep over in Detroit. He's been passed around like a damn hot potatoe from state to state, foster home to foster home from then until he was eighteen. Most kids that young eventually get adopted, find a permanent home. But he never did. I'm not some master of the human mind-workings like Itachi there, but I can only guess that that was probably a pretty shitty way to grow up. For as normal as he comes off, he didn't have a very normal life."
He stopped now, having exhausted himself with making all those observations. He briefly wondered why all this information was only just now sinking in, but then again he'd only just come across the guy's history before Itachi dropped by for lunch and his mind had been temporarily blown to tiny little pieces.
"I've told you how dear to me Hidan is, Kisame." Itachi's voice rang in his head. It made a little more sense now, Why the Uchiha was so taken by the kid. Aside from their history in highschool, which he'd only ever heard the bare minimum about, Hidan kind of was a unique case.
"I thought you said you weren't defending him." Kakuzu's gruff voice suddenly said, breaking him from his musings.
"I'm not man. You know I'm on your side, I'm just trying to give you a better view of the situation, you know. After all, I don't think I would withstand you and Itachi going at each other again like that. Not without recording it and keeping it for my own entertainment, at least." He said, grinning.
"Hm. Well..." The elder man replied, apparently lost in thought.
Once more Kisame let the corner of his mouth crook up. Hah, he'd gotten through to the guy. Fuck yeah! He could do this manipulative psychoanalyzing stuff too. Just wait until he told Itachi! He'd probably be so proud of him he'd-
"I still refuse to apologize." He concluded, making Kisame nod in response.
"Of course. But you can lay off him, you know. I mean, we are all stuck in here together. Even if we can't get along, we can at least keep the peace." He shrugged a single shoulder as he spoke, arms still crossed. They all needed to get along, and not just for the obvious reasons either. If the Uchiha was forced to keep having his attention drawn away from Kisame, well, then, no more Mister nice Hoshigaki.
Kakuzu grunted, eyes focusing in on the coffee machine as it let out the bubbling reminder that it was nearly done with it's brew. "I know hell has frozen over when you're the voice of reason, Kisame."
"Ouch. That's hurts me Kakuzu."
"Good. Consider yourself my new target."
"Bah, I'm used to it. So let'er rip."
"Brace yourself then, and get out of the way. I need more of that."
"You got it boss." Kisame said, laughing in his head as this comment caused the older man to hesitate in his current action. He made a mental note to have another chat with the kid about things he could say to the grumpy old man, seeing as his advice had been so successful at bugging the shit out of him the first time.
Oh friendship, how wonderfully complicated it was.
This was going to be an interesting day.
A/N-
Hm, I realized I made an error on the last chapter, so to clear things up for anyone confused. Kakuzu is 46 in this fic, not 43. Kisame is 38, and Itachi and Hidan are both 22, With Hidan those two months older.
Bleh, I know it took awhile for this chapter. And by awhile I mean three days instead of the usual two. xD Mostly because it's the weekend and I haven't had any privacey to sit down and get anything done, so instead I've been playing Assassin's creed black flag and getting PISSED OFF because, as with every goddamn movie I watch and game I play and book that I read, my favorite character dies.
I can't tell if this is short or not. But I don't really care anyway, seeing as I'm just letting everything happen as the ideas pop into my head. I told you I was just gonna go with the flow.
So anyway, Thank you everyone for your wonderful and encouraging reviews. I love each and every single one of them, a few of you have me nearly in tears with happiness and a couple others have me in tears from laughter. I wish I could get back to you all personally, and I apologize for not doing so, but as I've said before, I'm always fucking busy as fuck. It's easier just to add a paragraph in here in my author's note.
So, please, pleaaasssee keep them coming. I can't tell you how much I appreciate them.
As usual, forgive all the typos and errors.
Aaaand I'll see you next chapter.