They talked a bit and laughed some on the way to the hotel. Sasuke volunteered to stay and wait in the lobby as apparently he had a phone call to make. Quickly, Naruto dropped off his headphones, grabbed some cash he'd left on the dresser, switched into a nice sweater since he figured they'd be going out like adults, and was back down to the lobby within 10 minutes. The lobby was darkly lit, large, and furnished with all shapes, sizes, and colors of sofas and chairs. Sasuke was sitting near the fireplace, staring into the crackling flames.

Naruto walked over to him. "Did you make your phone call? You look comfortable."

"Want to sit on my lap?" Sasuke asked.

"You." Naruto squinted at him with a measure of fondness.

"Me," Sasuke replied. "You keep doing that."

"I just feel like..." But, he shook his head. "Where are you takin' me first?"

"Well," said Sasuke, and he got to his feet. Naruto watched while he adjusted his scarf. "I don't know about you, but I haven't eaten. How do you feel about Japanese food?"

Naruto shrugged. "Well, I like sushi?"

"I'll try not to be offended. This isn't exactly a sushi joint."

"I'm up for whatever. I had a late lunch, but I could eat somethin'."

"We could go elsewhere." Sasuke pushed his hair behind an ear again and, for the first time, Naruto noticed a small stud in it.

"No. I wanna go wherever you wanna take me."

"Alright. Have you gotten familiar with the subway yet, or shall we take a cab to midtown?"

"I'm fine with the subway." He patted his back pocket where he kept his wallet. "I have my Metrocard."

"Alright." Sasuke turned and walked, Naruto following behind. "Subway it is."

They made their way to the station, with a little less conversation between them this time. Naruto was busy thinking about how he'd lucked out in meeting someone as cool as Sasuke, who also seemed willing to take him around to places he liked to go. Sasuke passed through the turnstile first, and Naruto, after swiping his card, went through, too. He had no idea where they were headed, so he kept close to Sasuke until they arrived at the platform for an uptown train.

Sasuke turned to him. "Cold?"

Naruto offered a smile. "A little. I shoulda brought a hat."

"I'll buy you one if we go through Times Square. One that says I Heart New York."

Naruto groaned. "Please don't. You already made me feel like I don't fit in here."

Sasuke shrugged. "That's not necessarily such a bad thing, but definitely keep an eye on your wallet."

"I'm so glad you're here to take care of me, Sasuke. What would I have done tonight if I hadn't ran into you?"

"Weep, I'm sure," Sasuke replied with a smirk. "You'd be completely lost."

"God, you are so full of yourself." He laughed, looking away as he kicked a small pebble toward the tracks.

Shortly after, the train arrived, and Sasuke, putting a hand to Naruto's lower back, urged him through the door once it opened. There weren't any open seats, so Sasuke got stuck leaning up against the partition next to the door. He gave Naruto the pole to grab onto as the train jostled. Sasuke shut his eyes and leaned his head back. Naruto, on the other hand, glanced around at the entire car, just observing. Some people had their headphones on or appeared to be reading things on their phone or tablets. One guy was actually reading a book. The next time he glanced over at Sasuke, he caught the other man looking at him. It would've been too loud to talk, so all Naruto did was raise an eyebrow. Sasuke continued to stare at him, so Naruto pulled a face until the other man cracked a smirk.

When they finally reached their stop, Sasuke tugged him closer, and in an amused tone, said, "Come on, loser. This way."

Naruto scrunched his nose at the insult but obeyed. He marched up the steps until they were up on ground level again at the corner of 51st Street. They started walking west.

"So, you didn't tell me why you had such a bad day," Naruto commented as they walked alongside each other on the pavement.

"It's nothing," said Sasuke. "I just got promoted, but I'm working with an entirely different department than before."

"How long have you been working there?"

"About nine months."

Naruto spared him a glance. "You're so young and already bein' promoted. You must be really good at your job, huh?"

"I've been doing it for a while," Sasuke replied, his tone modest, which impressed Naruto. "Not always here, but back in Seattle."

"Seattle's a pretty big music scene, too, right? Why move out here?"

Sasuke sighed. "You ask a lot of questions, Naruto."

"I'm makin' conversation, and I'm..." He stopped himself, though, before finishing his sentence.

"You're what?" Sasuke gazed at him curiously, but another couple was passing them on the other side of the sidewalk, so he grabbed Naruto by the arm to move him out of the way. He let go once they'd gone by.

"Nah, it sounded stupid in my head."

"Alright. I won't force you."

"It's just that," Naruto rubbed at the back of his head. "I'm... kinda curious about you. You're...interesting to me."

"Of course I am," Sasuke said, and, turning to Naruto with an almost blinding smile, gave him a very coy look.

"I'm not fallin' for you if that's what you're thinkin'," Naruto replied tetchily and narrowed his eyes. "I will not be seduced by the likes of you." He pointed a finger at him.

"Who said I was even trying?"

"Oh, right, and I suppose it's just your natural charm and charisma?"

"Could be."

"Tch. I have way more charm than you. I mean, c'mon. My first impression of you was pretty bad."

"What can I say," said Sasuke. "I live to surprise."

Naruto hummed thoughtfully and shoved his hands inside his coat pockets.

"What do you think it says about you?" Sasuke asked. "That someone whose first impression on you was so poor, has now been able to get you to agree to dinner?"

"Low standards?" Naruto answered but to show he was kidding, he nudged Sasuke with an elbow. "What do you like to eat at this place? What's it called anyway?"

"Hagi," Sasuke answered. "It's close to Times Square, but off the beaten path. Not as many tourists as you'd expect in this part of the city. It's a mostly Asian clientele."

"I'll have to rely on what you suggest to try, but I'm open to new things."

"Are you now?"

"You make everything sound like innuendo. Or is that just me?"

"Sometimes people hear what they want to hear," Sasuke replied calmly. "It's up here, under the awning. We have to go downstairs."

When they reached the door, Sasuke opened it for him and let Naruto head down the steps first. There was a door to the right, which he opened, and then they were greeted by a host. It wasn't what he was expecting and yet it was exactly what he'd expected. There were lots of small tables, most of them occupied, and he was the only person there of non-Asian descent. While he was taking everything in, he heard Sasuke communicate to the host in Japanese. Naruto'd studied Spanish in high school but damned if he could remember much beyond the basics.

The young male host guided them to a table, close to the bar, but also in a corner so it almost felt as though they had privacy. Naruto took the seat closest to the wall and Sasuke sat opposite him. It was warm - probably because there were lots of bodies tucked inside such a tight space - so he took off his coat, scarf, and gloves. Sasuke did the same before picking up the menu.

"I'm gonna be able to read this, right?" Naruto asked, reaching for his own menu.

"The descriptions are in English," Sasuke replied, without glancing up.

"That's cool," Naruto said, "That you can speak Japanese so fluently."

"Not as fluent as you might think. I'm a little rusty at it now that I'm not around my brother so much."

"Ah, I see. Did your parents raise you speakin' Japanese?" He glanced up from his menu; Sasuke was frowning.

"A little," was all he volunteered. "If you're not hungry, I'd recommend getting something on the front page. Things like yakitori come in a set. They're similar to appetizers. They do have sushi if you're still inclined, but I think there are better things you could try."

"I'll try whatever you suggest."

"You don't have to be polite around me, Naruto."

At Sasuke's tone, Naruto paused in reading the description of yakitori. "It's not about bein' polite," he said. "I just trust your judgment."

"Have you ever tried sake?" Sasuke asked.

"Hm. I think maybe once in college. A friend brought a bottle to a party."

"We'll have to try some of the good kind. There are lots of varieties, some better than others."

"Sounds good."

An attractive waitress came by their table with a notepad in hand. She asked, in English, what they wanted to drink, but Sasuke answered in Japanese, with Naruto noting the word "sake" somewhere in their communication. Then she was gone.

"She'll be back, so figure out what you want," Sasuke said.

"So bossy," Naruto replied. "Are you used to takin' charge at work? You kinda sound like how I do when I'm workin' with my dad at his boat shop."

"Your dad has a boat shop? That's interesting."

"Is it?" Naruto was still busy trying to pick out what he wanted. Everything sounded good, especially the ramen. The dishes looked small enough that he could order several. "How's this kimchi rice?"

"I really like it," Sasuke answered. "Should we get some?"

"Yeah, I wanna try it."

"You have better taste than I thought."

He pushed the menu to the side now that he knew what he wanted. "So, what's your roommate up to tonight?"

"Date, I think," Sasuke answered. "I'd rather not think about it to be honest."

Naruto laughed. "Why's that?"

"If you knew Deidara, you'd understand."

"Is that his name? And you said he's a friend of your brother's?"

"Yes. They've known each other since before Itachi went to college. Deidara's mother is a fairly well-known interior designer here. He, when my brother met him, lived in Seattle with his father before he got kicked out."

"Why'd he get kicked out?" Naruto leaned forward over the table. "What happened?"

"I guess you'd say his father didn't agree with his son's lifestyle."

"That's lame. So, what, like because he liked to stay up late and watch bad horror movies or somethin' else?"

"Something else," Sasuke answered. He frowned and, clasping his fingers together, began cracking his knuckles.

"Okay."

Their waitress arrived again, dropping off a small bottle of sake and two little ceramic cups. Then, she asked for their order. Sasuke ordered everything he wanted in Japanese, and then, almost at the same time, she and Sasuke looked over at him in anticipation. Naruto flushed a bit, mostly because he knew he was going to butcher most of the names, but he ended up getting the yakitori set Sasuke had mentioned as well as some pork shumai, hamachi kama, and kurubi.

When the waitress disappeared, Sasuke grabbed for Naruto's cup and poured him some sake.

"Thank you," he said and waited for Sasuke to pour his own before picking it up.

"Do you know how to say 'cheers' in Japanese?" Sasuke asked.

"Nope. Teach me?"

"Clink your cup with mine and say 'kampai'."

Naruto lifted his cup, clinked it with Sasuke's, and said, "Kampai."

"I feel like you're my Obi-Wan tonight."

"You're a Star Wars fan?" Sasuke asked.

"Uh, yeah. Huge."

"Jedi or Empire?"

"Empire, duh." Naruto scratched at his cheek. "Hey, Sasuke."

"Yes, Naruto?" He placed both elbows on the table's edge as he held onto his sake with two hands.

"Does this feel like a date to you?"

"Not really."

Naruto didn't know if he should feel offended or not. "Ah."

"Should I have said 'yes'? As I see it, you're the one who asked me out."

"Did I? Hm. I guess you could look at it that way. Except you're the one stuck leadin' me around."

"I assure you this is not a date," Sasuke said, a little too seriously.

"It's not like I was really bein' serious," he mumbled. "I doubt my girlfriend would be happy about that."

Sasuke set his cup on the table. "You have a girlfriend? Where's she?"

"Er, I guess we're kind of on a 'break' right now. That seems to be happenin' a lot lately."

"I'll assume that taking a break wasn't your idea?"

"I dunno." He pushed his sake cup around in a circle. "It seems like... we get on each other's nerves sometimes, but we've known each other for a few years now. We've been datin' for about two of those. It's to be expected, right?"

"I wouldn't know," Sasuke replied, looking off for a moment at another young man coming in through the entrance. "I've not had that many serious relationships."

"Really?"

Sasuke looked back at him, his lips forming a thin line. "Why do you say it like that?"

"Uh. I know I said your personality is kinda off - "

"Wait, when did you say that? What's wrong with my personality?"

"Er, what I meant to say was... despite your bravado, I would've guessed that... whomever... all types of people would be pretty interested in you."

"Whomever?" Sasuke mused. " 'All types of people'? You sound as if you're implying something."

Naruto picked up his cup. "Is there anything for me to imply?"

"If you've got something you want to ask me, go ahead."

"I don't have anything I wanna ask, you ass. I was payin' you a compliment by sayin' I'm surprised you don't have people fallin' all over your feet."

"How so?" Sasuke asked, pushing his bangs out of the way of his eyes, which were always so dark and intense. So perceptive. Naruto knew Sasuke knew exactly what he was getting at, which, ultimately, made him a tad uncomfortable.

"Fine. We'll play it that way. Honestly?"

"I don't know what you mean, Naruto. Honestly. I'm just trying to figure it out."

"Hm. Alright. You're... you know. A good lookin' guy." He ticked off a finger. "You're clearly successful at your job." He ticked off another finger. "You speak other languages. You seem hella smart to me, and... you just have this thing about you that... I dunno how to describe. Like...that cool guy in high school. The rebel who's all smart and witty and has some kick ass classic car and could probably fight a couple of guys at a bar and win on his own. Like Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. Minus the accent."

"You... have quite an imagination," said Sasuke, "I think."

"You know what I mean though, right?"

"I do, but I'm sorry to disappoint you. That was very far from who I was in high school. I wasn't a rebel, and I didn't get into any kind of bar brawl. At least that I can remember. And no one ever paid me to take anyone's older, shrewish sister to prom."

"Heh. My mistake."

"Appearances aren't everything," Sasuke said. He picked up the sake bottle and filled Naruto's cup for him. "I think if you knew me... if you really knew me... you'd find it very difficult to say anything positive."

"What? Why do you say that? You've been nothin' but cool to me this entire time. Except the first five minutes, but, yeah."

"You've caught me on an odd day," Sasuke replied. "I wouldn't do this normally."

"What? Be nice to a stranger?"

"No. I wouldn't. Usually. If someone tried to start up a conversation with me, I would've gotten up and left. After leaving work, I wanted to be alone, to have a drink. What I usually do. Well, - " But, he stopped and, disappointing Naruto, left his sentence unfinished.

Meanwhile, the waitress came by with their various orders, arranging the multiple small plates in an orderly fashion on the table. When they told her they had everything they needed, she disappeared again. The kimchi rice, which had been set in the middle, was the first thing Naruto tried. Carefully and a bit clumsily, he picked up his chopsticks and tried to get as much of the rice on them as he could.

Sasuke only smirked, but didn't say anything about his lack of skill. He, on the other hand, used them adeptly and with a practiced ease that somehow annoyed Naruto greatly.

"How long have you been livin' in New York exactly?" Naruto asked through a mouthful.

"About a year and a half. How's the rice?"

"Really good. I've never tasted anything like this before."

"I'm glad I'm able to assist in a first for you."

"Mm." Naruto grinned and swiped at his mouth with the cuff of his sleeve. "You're a first for me alright."

Sasuke lifted a brow. "How did you and your girlfriend meet?"

"Uh." He poked at his rice as he looked down at the bowl. "I was a sophomore, and she was a grad student. We kinda met at a party and then kept bumping into each other either on campus or downtown, whenever me and some friends would go out. I thought she was cute." He shrugged. "So, one day I bumped into her again and asked her to lunch. Then we started hangin' out a lot, usually to study, and then... it was like suddenly we were a couple. Always spendin' our time with each other, goin' places. We both lost parents at a young age, so we had that in common."

Naruto raised his eyes. Sasuke was staring at him thoughtfully.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"You've lost a parent?"

"Yeah, my mom. I was about 12. Shion was younger when she lost hers."

"I see," said Sasuke. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Ah, thanks." He rubbed the back of his head. "I didn't mean to bring up such a heavy topic. I was just thinkin' that it was sorta nice to be around someone who could understand what it's like to go through that kind of loss. I have some really good friends back in Illinois, but, y'know. There are certain times it really hits you, and you get angry or depressed, and it can come at any time."

"I'm sure."

"What about you?" Naruto asked and picked up one of the chicken yakitori skewers. "Are your parents back in Seattle?"

"I guess you could say that," Sasuke murmured and picked up his sake cup.

Naruto waited for more of an elaboration, but none came.

"I mean, it's not gonna bother me if you talk about your parents just 'cause I mentioned mom. I'm genuinely curious about you is all."

"Naruto." Sasuke set the cup down. "I don't think we know each other well enough for me to talk about personal subjects."

"Oh... okay. Yeah, you're right. Sorry." After that, he felt sort of awkward, so he spent a few minutes chewing on whatever he stuffed in his face.

"Sorry."

Naruto looked up from his plate. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry. It's true we don't know each other, but family is a subject I don't like to talk about."

"Okay. That's fine. I shouldn't have assumed - "

Sasuke sighed. "To be honest, I came here as a means to avoid - " He stopped and looked at Naruto.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want."

"You really need to understand how this is not something I do. Ever." He pointed at Naruto. "You." Then himself. "Me. Talking about myself, my family, my parents."

"We can talk about other stuff. I'm perfectly capable of ramblin'. I've been told so many times, especially by professors."

Sasuke smirked a little and brushed a piece of hair behind his ear. "I can see that. I bet you're a terrible student."

"Hey!" He pointed a chopstick at Sasuke. "How would you know?"

"Just a guess. Here, try my shrimp." Sasuke picked up a piece of shrimp tempura and placed it on Naruto's plate.

"Oh, you figure if I keep eatin' that I'll talk less?"

"It seems you can do both."

"Hmph. Typical New Yorker. So rude."

The other man frowned. "Technically I'm not a New Yorker. Not even 'technically'. I can tell you that the city hasn't changed me much from how I was in Seattle."

Naruto munched down on his fried shrimp. "Really? I thought people from Seattle tended to be more laid back."

"I think people are generally the same in most major cities. There are going to be assholes, and then there are going to be people like you who pick up strangers at bars and force them to give you free tours."

Naruto pulled a face. "Shut up, you love it. You thought you wanted to be all alone tonight, but what you really wanted was company, right? I bet I take your mind off of what a shitty day you had. Babysittin' me gives you somethin' else to focus on."

"Do you ever listen to yourself talk?"

"No," he answered. "Not often."

Sasuke snorted. "You kind of remind me of a friend of mine."

"You have friends?" Naruto poured himself more sake. He eyed Sasuke's and filled his up, as well.

"Very funny. I do. His name is Suigetsu. However, you're a bit better to look at than him."

"Me?" Naruto nearly choked on his chicken. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I was just saying. It doesn't have to mean anything. He's, maybe, a few degrees meaner than you are, as well."

"Oh, so he's cynical like you are? I bet you two get along real well."

"We do," Sasuke answered. "He also knows when to shut up. Most of the time."

Naruto glared at him. "You're one charming bastard, y'know that?"

"'Bastard'?" Sasuke mused. "No one's called me that for a while."

"I'm surprised to hear it."

"Hn. I can't argue with that. My brother Itachi. He," for a brief second, Sasuke smiled at the mention of his sibling, "has a handful of pet names he likes to call me."

"You two must be pretty close, huh?"

"We used to be."

"Not so much anymore?"

"He's busy with work. We don't talk as much as we used to."

"Ah. Well, that's too bad. He's older?"

"Yes, by about five years."

"That's quite a gap."

"Hm. I suppose. You don't have any siblings?"

"Nope. I'm an only child."

Sasuke smiled. "That explains a lot."

"I guess I am kinda spoiled."

"I would say so. After all, here I am spoiling you by taking you around town when my time is so very precious."

"I feel touched by angels already," Naruto replied, pulling at his sleeve until it was at his elbow. "I wanna know more things about you, though. So that I don't ask the wrong thing, why don't you volunteer what's okay for me to know. Or, do you have any good stories?"

"Probably."

"Well?"

"Too explicit for someone of your age."

"My age?" He scrunched his nose. "I'm 21!"

"So you say, but as I mentioned earlier, you could pass for a high schooler."

"You look young, too!" He pointed a chopstick again.

"Where do you want to go after this, Naruto?"

"Don't change the subject!"

"You're like a little kid."

"You are," he mumbled. "Hey, are y'gonna finish that?" He grabbed for another shrimp off of Sasuke's plate.

Sasuke watched him as he scarfed it down.

"Now we're at the eating food off of each other's plate's phase? Soon we'll be picking out china at Macy's."

"Heh. You're hilarious. How about another bar? Or, wait. Y'know where I'd really like to go? How far are we from the Empire State Building?"

Sasuke groaned. "I am not taking you to the Empire State Building."

"Why not?"

"Because it's for tourists."

"Yeah. Duh." Naruto pointed his thumb at his chest. "What do you think I am?"

"I'm not spending money to take you up there."

"Oh, right. It's probably not free is it? How much?"

"Way more than it's worth."

"Hmph. How can you say that? It's gotta have the best view in the city! Besides, obviously I'd pay for you."

Sasuke still looked disgruntled. "It's... embarrassing."

Naruto laughed. "Seriously? Oh man, you are a stuck up city person. Fine. You can go home after this, and I'll go by myself."

"If you go by yourself, you'll just end up getting lost."

"I will not! I have my phone. Or, wait. Actually, I can't remember if I charged it." He reached into his coat pocket. "Crap. It's gonna die soon."

Sasuke shook his head. "Child."

"Shut up, bastard." He shoved his phone back into his coat. "If all else fails, I'll ask someone directions. Like a normal person. Like what people did before smartphones."

"I suppose going with you there is better than going home and finding my roommate fu-" Sasuke cleared his throat. "I mean. My only other option would be going to a bar downtown. I'll consider this one of those charitable moments in my life. I could see you getting mugged if I don't escort you at least that far."

"I'm not as helpless as you make me out to be," Naruto grumbled.

"Do you want to go or not?"

"Yes, I want to go!"

"Then we'll go."

"Yay!" Naruto pounded on the table in his excitement. "Then, afterward, it's only fair we do somethin' you wanna do."

"You're assuming I'll still want to hang out with you after we go?"

"I thought we were spendin' the night together?"

Sasuke smirked. "How very presumptuous. What makes you even think you're my type?"

"I'm everybody's type," Naruto said, leaning over the table. "Hey, Sasuke. Do you have a thing for blond men?"

"I don't think so."

"Yeah, me neither," Naruto joked, laughing at their conversation. "Blond women, maybe."

"I'm not sure if I've ever dated a blond," Sasuke mused. "Now that I think about it. Not that I date."

"No? How come?"

"I don't do relationships."

"You say that like you think they're a disease."

"Sometimes I do."

"Jeez. I bet any potential love interests would find you pleasant to be around." He picked up his glass of water and started to sip.

"Potential love interests? Please. I'm only looking for sex."

Naruto spit his water across the table and started coughing. "Asshole. Warn a guy before you're gonna say somethin' like that."

"You don't enjoy sex?"

"Of course I do! I love sex!"

A few patrons at nearby tables glanced their way.

"I mean, well, yeah," Naruto lowered his voice. "But relationships are great. You can have sex while you're in a relationship. But then you also get bonus stuff, like havin' someone to talk to, someone to have breakfast with, someone who cares about you."

"I have a cat," said Sasuke. "What more do I need? And I prefer the sort of no strings attached relationship that ends when I wake up in the morning and go home."

"Yeesh. Well, to each their own."

"Indeed. Are you about finished?"

"With this conversation or my food?"

"Both. Because if you're about done, we can pay, and I'll take you to the Empire State Building like you've requested."

"Really?"

Sasuke nodded. "Really." He waved their waitress over so that they could get their bill.

Naruto excused himself to go use the restroom, and by the time he got back, the bill was gone.

"Hey, I didn't get to pay yet," Naruto said.

"Don't worry about it." Sasuke was just putting his wallet away.

"You can't pay for my food and drinks!"

"Don't worry about it. I didn't want to wait. If it'll make you feel better, you can pay for the cab."

"Ah, we're gonna take a cab?"

"Sure. I'm not in the mood for the subway."

"Alright. Whatever you want." He went to his chair to get his coat and started to put it on.

Sasuke did the same. Together, they went up the stairs, with Sasuke trailing behind him.

"I haven't hailed a cab here yet, which way should I go?" asked Naruto.

"That way." Sasuke pointed to their left. "Toward 6th Avenue."

"That sake has given me a buzz." Naruto pushed his hands deep into his pockets. It was getting even colder. The wind made the side of his cheek burn when it hit him.

"Makes it easier for me to take advantage of you later."

"You're such a flirt," Naruto said dryly. "Soon I'm gonna start thinkin' you're hittin' on me."

"You wish."

Naruto spared him a glance and then knocked into his shoulder. "Tch. In your dreams. You'd be lucky to have me."

"It could never work, remember? You believe in relationships, and I," Sasuke was staring straight ahead as he deadpanned, "I believe in fucking."

"Oh, I believe in fuckin' alright."

They shared a look, and Sasuke humored him by snickering. Naruto folded his arms behind his head as they continued walking. When they approached the corner of the street, he spotted an empty cab and waved his arm frantically to get it to stop.

"You look like you're having a seizure," Sasuke commented.

"Shut up. It's stoppin', isn't it?"

It did come to a stop in front of them. Naruto opened the door for Sasuke to get in first, and then he got in behind him.

"Empire State Building, please," he told the driver and, sliding up against Sasuke's side, joked, "This is cozy. Y''gonna keep me warm?"

Sasuke turned and glared. "Have you ever heard of personal space?"

"Oh, is that a band you work with?"

Sasuke blinked for a second and then let out a laugh.

"See, I'm funny." Naruto smiled brightly at him.

"Yes. Very clever." Gently, Sasuke put a hand to his shoulder and pushed him to the other side.

"Oh, right. I forgot you probably hate cuddlin', too."

"Naruto."

"Hm?"

"I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

"Wrong idea?"

Sasuke glanced his way. "Like I said. I'm not into blonds."

Naruto chuckled. "Can we still be friends at least?"

"Friends?" Sasuke asked cynically. "Are we friends now?"

"Of course. We're friends in my book."

Sasuke's eyebrow arched. "Are you gay and just didn't tell me?"

"Why," he asked. "Are you?"

"What do you think?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him.

He frowned. "It was just a joke."

"Hm."

"Bah. Even if you were gay, it wouldn't make a difference to me."

"I'm so glad to hear that," Sasuke sneered. "I have definitely been on pins and needles waiting for your permission."

"Wait a sec."

"What."

"So, you...?"

Sasuke nodded. "Me."

"Oh."

"Cool."

"You're going to make a run for it as soon as we're out of this taxi, aren't you?"

"What? Why would I do that?"

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something but then shook his head and glanced out the window. "...Nevermind."

Naruto kept looking at him. "Sasuke."

"Yes?" Sasuke turned to him with a very droll expression.

"You know you're like one of the coolest people I've ever met, right?"

"You must not get out very much."

"Bastard." He reached out his arm and touched his fist to Sasuke's shoulder. "Just you wait. I'm gonna be the one to show you a helluva time. You can't go home until you realize how awesome I am."

"Sounds a bit like kidnapping. I do know martial arts. I could take you easily."

"You'll have to show me later." A yawn slipped out. "Sorry. That sake made me kinda tired."

When Sasuke didn't make any further comments about this new revelation, Naruto started staring out the window, watching the buildings pass. There sure was a lot of traffic. Lots of honking. People here seemed really impatient. Did honking get them there any faster?

Eventually, Naruto found himself sneaking a glance at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye. He was usually pretty good at reading people, but this man... was different. An enigma. Naruto liked that, and was even drawn to it. Something inside him wanted to make Sasuke smile, to show him a good time, to crack him open like an egg.

Not that he was a terribly religious person, but, out of all the people he could've run into tonight, why Sasuke? There must've been a reason.

That, or they were both just really fucking lonely tonight.

The cab driver dropped them off at the entrance to the Empire State Building. Naruto immediately started to walk through the glass doors, but when he turned back, he noticed Sasuke hesitating out on the sidewalk. He pushed the door open again.

"You comin' or what?" Naruto asked.

"Are you really going to make me do this?" Sasuke looked around, almost in paranoid fashion.

"Don't be a fuckin' baby, dude. Is this 'cause you're afraid of heights?"

Sasuke glared. "Hardly."

"Well c'mon then." Naruto beckoned him. "Or I'll go in without you."

"And that would be such a loss?"

"No, probably not for you, but you promised me you'd come, so be a man and keep your promises."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "I think you're exaggerating when you say 'I promised you'."

"Jesus, really?" Naruto stormed out, grabbed Sasuke by the wrist, and dragged him inside. "There, was that so hard?"

Sasuke yanked his arm away. "Do you mind? This jacket is worth more than what you've probably made in your lifetime working drive-thru."

"Oh, shut up." Naruto snorted while following the signs to where they needed to get tickets. "And who says I've ever worked fast food? Jackass."

"Just a guess." Though he complained, Sasuke followed him, but it might've been because being around so many tourists seemed to terrify the other man.

It wasn't especially crowded, which was surprising for a Friday night. There was a roped-off line that they had to wind their way through until they reached the ticket window. There were two options for tickets: go all the way to the top or just the observation deck. Sasuke had been right. It was $30 just for one person to go up onto the observation deck, so he went for that and, as promised, paid for Sasuke's ticket, too. When it printed out, he shoved it at him.

"Does this mean I have to put out?" Sasuke asked in a low voice while Naruto signed the credit card receipt.

"You don't wanna seem easy, do you? At least hold out for the second date," he replied distractedly while crumpling up his copy of the receipt and shoving it into his coat pocket.

"I doubt either one of us is the type to play hard to get," Sasuke murmured as they approached one of the elevators.

Naruto only spared him a look since the elevator doors slid open and a group of 10 crammed themselves into it. For some reason, he wasn't prepared for how fast the elevator moved and after he felt his ears pop, he became a little dizzy.

"You okay?" Sasuke asked.

"M'fine."

Because of the tight fit, they were forced into the corner, with Sasuke right up against his side. He forgot he sometimes had an issue with tight spaces.

"You sure you're okay," Sasuke asked. "You look a little pale."

"Forgot I was claustrophobic," he mumbled and, much to his annoyance, Sasuke chuckled. "I'm glad you're taken such sick pleasure in my pain. Sadist."

Sasuke hummed quietly. "I've been called worse."

"Yeah, I bet."

After what felt like forever, they finally reached the observation deck floor. Naruto shot out of there as soon as he was able only to be greeted by one hell of a view. There was a fairly large indoor area surrounded by glass windows so as not to impede the skyline, which looked out across the city, the Hudson, and the Atlantic Ocean. It was frickin' amazing, though it was bound to be cold as fuck out there. They shuffled their way through the other people already up there and, making sure he was all the way bundled, opened the door leading out to the deck. He thought he heard Sasuke groaning behind him.

"Suck it up," Naruto told him. "This is fuckin' awesome." He ventured toward the ledge, which was totally blocked off (obviously), and it looked as though there was some kind of net surrounding the area below. "Think that'll catch me if I fall off?"

"I don't think it was meant for people," Sasuke answered. "But we can always try and find out?"

"Ha ha." He pulled out his phone and started snapping some shots of all the lit-up buildings in Manhattan. There was also the Brooklyn Bridge over to his right. Planes were flying overhead, too. Then, he thought of something. "Sasuke."

Sasuke was staring hard at something through the bars. "What?"

"Wanna take a picture?"

"Why would I want to do that?"

"'Cause. I mean. We're not gonna see each other again after tonight, right? I wanna take a picture with you."

"I don't do pictures."

Naruto pouted. "Fine. Then I'll take one of just me."

"Good for you."

Even so, when Sasuke was looking the other way, Naruto grabbed a hold of his arm, dragged him over, and snagged a quick picture.

"Naruto," Sasuke growled, pushing him off.

"C'mon. It actually turned out pretty good. See?" He showed Sasuke the photo.

"My hair looks weird," Sasuke muttered and attempted to fix it on his own.

"Huh? It doesn't look weird at all." He reached out to adjust it only to have Sasuke smack his hand away.

"At least take a proper one," Sasuke told him.

"...Really?"

He didn't wait for a response and, instead, slid his arm around Sasuke's shoulders.

"This cool?" He asked.

"So long as you don't try to grope me, it should be okay," Sasuke replied.

"You're awfully presumptuous." He smiled as he took another photo, this time with a more compliant Sasuke. "Better?"

Sasuke took his phone from him and studied it closely. "Your eyes look really blue in this one."

"I know, right?" Naruto waggled his eyebrows. "I'm pretty photogenic if I do say so myself."

"And also very modest." Sasuke shoved the phone against his chest. "Now, do your walk around before we freeze to death out here."

"Fine, fine. If you don't wanna stay with me, you can always go back inside and keep warm."

"I'm fine," Sasuke grumbled. "Just walk."

So, they walked around, with Sasuke sometimes pointing out buildings here and there. The Chrysler Building was about the only one Naruto knew, so it was kind of nice to have someone around with knowledge of the city. When they were facing southward, and he was looking at the building that now stood in place of the Twin Towers, he got a bit emotional. He could see one of the ferries crossing the river.

"Where's that goin' to?" Naruto asked. "New Jersey?"

"Staten Island," Sasuke corrected. "If it wasn't so cold, I'd suggest we ride it."

"How much is it?"

"Free, but it gives you the best view of the Statue of Liberty. It goes back and forth. Each way is about 20 minutes."

"Ah, I'll have to do that before I leave."

They kept moving. He had to admit, it felt as though it were 15 degrees below zero with the wind like this. He tightened his scarf, but seeing that Sasuke's cheeks were turning bright red, he decided that this was enough to satisfy him.

"I'm ready to go in if you are," Naruto said, nudging Sasuke in the arm.

"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked. "You're the one who wanted to come here."

"I know. But you look cold."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I'm fine."

"Okay, well then I'm cold, so I'm ready to go in."

The other man shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"Ugh." Naruto looped his arm with Sasuke's and despite his protests, continued dragging him up the ramp until they were back inside. "Much better. I might be able to feel my face again after 10 minutes."

"Brute," Sasuke said. "I told you not to fuck up my jacket."

"Please, you probably have a thousand jackets back at your place."

"I don't have a thousand jackets," Sasuke argued. "Is that some sort of stab at my sexuality?"

"I thought you didn't wanna talk about your sexuality. You're the one who's been all cryptic about it as if I'd care whether you like to fuck dudes. I mean, you do have a pretty face, so I can see why you might have to beat them off with a stick."

Sasuke stopped ahead of him, so Naruto did, too.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"Are you picking a fight?"

"Am I?" Naruto hunched his shoulders briefly and exhaled. "I thought it sounded more like a compliment?"

"I can't tell. Since everything that comes out of your mouth tends to be idiotic and offensive."

"What? Then why are you followin' me?" He frowned. "If you wanna take off, you can go at any time."

"Did I hit a nerve?" Sasuke's lip curled into a sneer.

"Why? Did I hit one of yours by sayin' a nice thing about your face and wantin' to hang out with you?"

"You don't know anything about me," Sasuke replied coldly.

"Duh, dude. We're strangers. Honestly, what are we fightin' about? I said you had a pretty face, and now you're actin' like I said I like to diddle little kids."

Sasuke's eyebrow lifted.

"I - I don't really do that," Naruto said. "I was just usin' it as an example."

"Let's go." Sasuke turned away from him and began walking toward the elevator.

Naruto jogged after him. "Where are we goin'?"

"To find a place to drink. I need... alcohol. And lots of it."

"Ah, man. But what about the gift shop?" He pushed the button multiple times to call the elevator despite Sasuke glaring at him for doing so.

"You're annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?" Sasuke adjusted the collar of his coat.

"Plenty of people."

Sasuke sighed and looked at Naruto for a while. Naruto ended up breaking into a grin, which led to Sasuke shaking his head.

"Get in, idiot," Sasuke said and shoved him through the door.

"Be gentle," Naruto said. "I got this coat at Old Navy. It's worth at least 50 bucks."

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked once they were inside.

"What's up?" Naruto remained smiling at him.

"By the end of the night... I am going to punch you in the face."

"Well, I'm gonna punch y'back. Just so you know. I used to brawl a lot as a kid."

"I can see that. You've got that look of a hoodlum about you."

"Hm." Naruto leaned against the wall. "We've all got our skeletons."

Sasuke also leaned against the wall and crossed his arms to his chest. "I suppose we do."

They headed to a bar further downtown and closer to Naruto's hotel. It was way more of a dive than he'd expected. He figured Sasuke would be all about the prissy martini bars, but this was way more like the places he went to back home. They'd already been sitting at the bar for the last hour, slinging back shots of everything from Jaeger to Fireball. Naruto had a pretty high tolerance, but after everything they'd had already tonight, he was way beyond the point of buzzed and had to ask for another water. He could tell Sasuke was about the same level of inebriation considering how much he'd opened up over the past half hour. They talked about stupid shit that didn't matter, and he was even able to get more information about his job and roommate out of him.

"So, what's it like livin' with a crossdresser?" Naruto asked, picking up one of the three shot glasses sitting in front of him. It had an odd purple color to it.

"You don't want to know," Sasuke replied and grimaced as he threw back one of his own shots.

"No, I do. I mean, do you ever - "

Sasuke slammed the glass down on the bartop. "No. Don't even finish that sentence."

Naruto grinned. "I was just askin'. I bet you'd look good in a dress." He leaned in, closer than necessary and, playfully, set his hand on Sasuke's knee.

Sasuke glared at the hand but didn't smack it away like he had previously. Naruto moved it so that he could lean with both elbows on top of the bar.

"So, were you for real earlier?" He asked Sasuke. "When you said you didn't like to date?"

"Yes. I was very 'for real'." Sasuke finished the remainder of his shots and Naruto swore there was a tinge of green to his complexion.

"You feelin' okay?"

"I feel amazing actually." He grabbed for Naruto's water and drank about half of it before turning more sideways on the stool. His knees brushed up against Naruto's thigh.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at him. "You look a little drunk, Sasuke."

"You do."

He smiled. "It's weird. When I first met you, you were all cool and intimidatin', and now you're like..."

"Now I'm like...?" Sasuke leaned an elbow on the bar and gave Naruto an oddly smoldering look.

Amused, Naruto started to grin even wider. He had to laugh, and as he did, he slapped Sasuke's upper arm.

"What's so funny?" Sasuke slurred.

"Nothin'. How are y'gonna get home anyway? You're totally tanked. I'll throw you in a cab."

"Shut up, I'm fine."

"Fine, my ass."

"Your ass is fine," Sasuke replied, stealing his water again.

"Okay, now I know you've had too much if you're hittin' on me right now."

"Why? You're attractive. Deal with it."

Naruto, despite himself, felt the warmth building in his cheeks. "I've been dealin' with it my whole life. Obviously."

"Always with the jokes," Sasuke murmured and, seeing that Naruto hadn't finished his last Purple Nurple, stole it from him.

"You can't drink all your bad days away."

"It's been working so far." Sasuke slid the empty glass across the bar. "Alcohol. Sex. It's way better to self-medicate than anything some psychiatrist could ever prescribe."

"I dunno about that." Despite his current state, Naruto felt himself sober up at Sasuke's tone. "Are you sure you don't, y'know, wanna talk about anything? I'm a pretty good listener."

"If I wanted to talk, I wouldn't be doing this." He waved at the bartender, but Naruto grabbed his hand and pulled it back down.

"I think you've had enough."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "You're not my father."

"...I would say not. There's not much resemblance between us."

"No. You're breathing, after all," Sasuke said quietly.

"What?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

"Why don't we have the bartender call you a cab?" Naruto asked. "I'll pay our tab."

"Don't pay for my tab," Sasuke snapped. "I can pay for my own."

"Sheesh. Okay. No need to get pissy. We were havin' a good time."

Sasuke's head dropped a bit, and, underneath his bangs, he spared Naruto another glare.

The bartender came by and dropped off their tab. Naruto tried to find the total - his eyes were a bit blurry - and nearly had a heart attack when he saw how much they'd had to drink.

"Thank God I brought a credit card," he mumbled.

"Give me that." Sasuke swiped the billfold away from him. "Where's my wallet?"

"How should I know?" Naruto asked, trying to grab it back, but as he did, Sasuke deflected his hand and gripped his wrist in some crazy move right out of a Bruce Lee flick.

"Let me pay," said Sasuke. "You're in college, and I have a lot of money."

Naruto almost laughed because Sasuke was so obviously drunk and so deadly serious about paying that all he could do was shrug.

"Okay, if you're loaded, then I won't try to stop you," he said.

Sasuke let go of him and started searching his pockets for his wallet.

"Where the fuck is it?" Sasuke stood up and turned in a circle until Naruto took pity on him. He grabbed Sasuke by the waist, pulled him over, reached into his back pocket - where it had clearly been the entire time - and handed it to the other man.

Sasuke stared at him for a long while.

"You're not gonna kiss me, are you?" Naruto smirked.

Sasuke's gaze narrowed some more, but he didn't have a witty reply at the ready apparently. Instead, he snagged the wallet from Naruto's hand, whipped out a credit card, and shoved it into a billfold.

"I'm gonna hit the toilet before we go, though. Don't forget to ask the bartender to call you a taxi, eh?"

Naruto got up and headed for the restrooms, which were in the back by the two occupied pool tables. He wished they would've had time to play, not that he was especially amazing at it. He went inside the men's room, took care of his business, and, as he was washing his hands, gave himself a once over in the mirror. He looked... stoned. Before he left, he slapped some water on his face. He was thankful they weren't so far from his hotel. As he walked back to the bar, he noticed that Sasuke was no longer where he'd left him. The other man's coat still remained on the stool and his wallet was sitting on top of the bar where anyone could've stolen it.

Naruto glanced at the bartender. "Where'd he go?"

"Said he had to make a call and went outside."

Naruto frowned. "Without his jacket? It's, like, below freezin' out there."

The bartender just shrugged, so Naruto picked up Sasuke's coat and wallet and went outside to look for him. He found Sasuke talking to some other guy, apparently bumming a cigarette off of him.

Naruto went up to the both of them. "Did you forget somethin'?" He held out the wallet and shoved Sasuke's jacket at him. "Didn't you say this thing is expensive? You left it at the bar."

"So?" Sasuke slipped the cigarette between his lips and motioned for the stranger to light it, which he did.

"Pardon us," Naruto said to the other guy and grabbed Sasuke by the elbow in order to drag him away. "I need to put you in a cab."

"Why don't you just go back to your hotel?" Sasuke tried to shove him off.

"'Cause you're in no condition to be left alone?"

"Fuck you. I can take care of myself."

"Uh, yeah. Totally. Which is why you're out here in this weather without a fuckin' coat or gloves or anything. Now would you put this on already?" He spun Sasuke around and tried to force the jacket on him but, without even knowing how it happened, suddenly found himself being slammed up against a brick wall. They were nose to nose almost with Sasuke's forearm pressed against his throat. He couldn't even speak. Naruto saw the man from before start to walk away as if he didn't want to get mixed up in their shit.

"Who do you think you are, huh?" Sasuke growled at him. "You don't know me. You don't know anything. Don't act like you know what's good for me."

Naruto made a sound in his throat. Sasuke pulled his arm away but still had him shoved up against the wall. He looked... honestly, he looked like he was ready to take Naruto's head off.

"Sasuke," he said in a hoarse voice. "It's okay."

"It's not okay!" Sasuke spat. "It's not fucking okay. It's not been okay for a long time!"

"Whatever you say, but I'm not lettin' you out of my sight. Not until I know you've gotten home okay."

"Tch. Home?"

"To your apartment or wherever. You need to sober up or somethin'. Just let me - " He licked his lips. "If you don't wanna go home, come back with me until you've sobered up. Or, you can have the bed. Just... I can't let you walk away in the state you're in."

Sasuke snorted. "Are you trying to save me?"

"No, you asshole," he snapped. "I'm just tryin to do the right fuckin' thing even though, at the moment, all I wanna do is punch you in the face."

"I'd like to see you try."

"Oh, I bet you'd like that."

Suddenly, Sasuke pushed closer and lay a hand flat to the side of Naruto's head. "Do you know what I'd really like? To do. Right now."

"I dunno. Pull your head out of your ass?"

Sasuke smirked. "You think you're pretty cute."

"Totally not what I'm thinkin' right now."

Sasuke leaned in further, their faces close, noses nearly touching.

"No?" Sasuke asked.

"If you think this is in any way makin' you seem like less of an asshole - "

"Shut up, Naruto." Sasuke's gaze flicked back and forth across his face before it dropped to his lips. "You talk too much."

As he began to lean in even closer, Naruto froze, and before he could do anything to prevent it, Sasuke abruptly pushed him to the side just in time to vomit all over his new Converse sneakers.

"Well," said Naruto, watching Sasuke as he continued to vomit like his life depended on it. "Fuck."