Day 5 Prompt: "Forehead touches" and "Fingertips to lips"
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
Sasuke is in his mid-twenties and somehow, asking a woman to drinks has sent him into a spiral as if he were a stupid teenager gathering to courage to ask a girl to homecoming. Except that Sasuke never went to those stupid dances as a teenager, and he was woefully inept at forming relationship connections himself. People always came to him, for better or worse. He never had to reach out, never had to initiate plans, never had to really make much of an effort. And now that he thinks a little more deeply about it, he realizes that kind of makes him an asshole.
He was lying when he told Hinata he was inviting a friend, too, but if there's time to make a change, it might as well be now.
Drinks at Bellwood tonight at 8
It's about as much as Sasuke knows how to do. He pulls down the thread of texts with Naruto to scan through, sees how he initiates plans. Naruto's always been better at being social, he's the extrovert of the two of them. Sasuke always just let Naruto take the lead on things like this, he liked it that way. Sasuke can figure out the logistics of a plan that Naruto comes up with, and Naruto can handle all the people interactions. Naruto sometimes tells him he's like a lizard person with how painstaking it is for him to socialize.
Then he comes to a very irritating realization.
When he invited Hinata out, he gave her absolutely zero details. Didn't get her number, didn't tell her where or when. Just told her to join him in getting drinks, as if she was a damn psychic.
Who the hell does that?
Frantically, Sasuke pulls up his mobile browser to type in her name. When nothing pops up except Dr. Hyūga, who he knows is not Hinata and is probably her father or grandfather, he keeps scrolling, hoping he'll find Hinata somewhere there. But it's futile, Naruto already did his scoping out for her earlier and found nothing, there is no reason for him to find her personal phone number in the midst of Google searches.
Sasuke sighs, deeply. He feels like an idiot.
His phone vibrates and he scowls. He pulls it up, angry face and all, until he sees a new number lighting up his notification screen. It's not his area code, but he can already tell who it is because it starts with "Is this Sasuke Uchiha? I'm sorry, I…"
Pulls open the text for the rest, actually feeling a slight swell of excitement in his chest. He's not sure he likes how it feels to be so on edge.
Is this Sasuke Uchiha? I'm sorry, I forgot to give you my number.
He smirks slightly when his phone buzzes again.
Oops! This is Hinata Hyūga, by the way.
Relief washes over Sasuke. Wonders for a moment whether to insist it was his own fault, but decides if she wants to take the blame for their predicament, he can let her.
No problem. We're going to Bellwood at 8. Do you know it?
Sasuke doesn't usually sit by his phone, anxiously awaiting texts back, but here he is. He doesn't even lock his phone, just holds it up to his face, staring intently at it. He briefly thinks about the time he overheard Sakura and Kiba bickering, and something to the effect of 'Of course she didn't text you back! You didn't even wait five seconds before responding, you look desperate.'
He frowns, unsure of why this particular memory is making it to the front of his mind now. Why should he care whether he looks desperate to the Hyūga? It's not like he's asking her on a date. His phone buzzes and he's pleased to see she doesn't play those silly games like he's heard.
This one?
A screenshot of the bar accompanies her text and he smiles, texting confirmation. Within seconds, she finalizes their conversation.
I will see you then! ?
He clicks off his phone and leans back with a content look on his face.
Who knew taking the lead in social situations could feel so good?
Seeing her during that stupid fire alarm triggered something in Sasuke. He later found out that it was pulled by a couple of degenerate teens (his worst enemy) who probably had nothing better to do. Sasuke firmly believes the schooling system is flawed in the worst way possible, so he's never surprised to see teenagers causing chaos during school hours. But the fact it had triggered such an extreme reaction in Hinata stirred something close to anger in him. He recognized the signs of anxiety right away: the way she looked lost and confused, her face being even paler than he had seen before, the way she wrung her hands together. Something compelled him to help her, and once they were safely out of the building, he actually felt good about the way he helped her.
Then they hit knuckles and he felt genuine amusement. Amusement and excitement, because even though he said, so crassly, that it wasn't cute, damnit if Sasuke didn't actually think it was kind of cute. It made his cheeks sore from how much he smiled afterward. Even Shikamaru made a comment about sighting his rare smile. It was how Sasuke knew he was making the right call to befriend her. The way she responded with joy despite clearly being out of her element. The way she yelled her responses was endearing to him, somehow. Because he could tell it wasn't intentional, but it was just for him.
It was all very…cute. Even if Sasuke said it was not. It was.
Between then and getting to the bar, Naruto texted him back (nearly an hour later, to Sasuke's annoyance) and then picked him up because Sasuke doesn't believe in driving if he doesn't have to. On the way there, with amusement, Naruto questions him about 'the girl you asked me to find out more about' and Sasuke promptly told him to keep his mouth shut for the rest of the night, especially if it came to that.
When he gets there, Shikamaru and Lee are already there, and he's only momentarily surprised to see Sakura and Kiba, too. It's Lee's celebration, he probably invited anyone who would listen, including the building security. He'll be surprised if Hinata hadn't received an invite at some point just for being in the vicinity of Lee.
They situate themselves at an all too loud table, Lee enthusiastically greeting them and Sasuke makes quick work of getting alcohol in his system. He's not much of a drinker, so after just two shots he's already relaxing, feels the warmth in his stomach, and his muscles loosen. Just in time for the Hyūga in question to make her entrance.
"Hey." Naruto nudges Sasuke as if he isn't already looking in the exact direction he's about to point out to him. "That the girl you were asking me to find out more about?"
Sasuke bites the inside of his cheek, realizing he should probably have explained more of this situation to Naruto before now. He glances over his shoulder at Naruto, who's giving him a curious look, then back at Hinata, who is scanning the bar. With a sigh, he stands up and raises a hand to wave. When she doesn't spot him, he raises the other arm and swings them in big motions, catching the attention of everyone at the table. Finally, her eyes find him and she smiles big. It makes him smile a little, too.
Then he looks back at Naruto again, whose curious look has turned mischievous.
"She's cute," he says in this whispered sing-songy voice and Sasuke resists the urge to give him a kidney jab.
"Hello!" Hinata sounds breathless as she approaches, looking like she's trying her best to get the greeting out. Sasuke starts to greet her back, but his group of friends and coworkers have already converged on her.
"Shikamaru?!" The woman with her gapes, pushes past the others to throw an arm around him. Sasuke raises his eyebrows, looking back at Hinata who shares the look.
It's more chaotic than Sasuke was expecting as people excitedly begin introducing themselves to Hinata, Naruto being the first because he already knows her name. Sasuke tries not to let the irritation on his face be so evident because this is how social gatherings work. Of course, they were going to want to meet Sasuke's 'new friend' as the people around him put it.
"Fancy seeing you here, Hinata!" Sakura's the next one to sink her claws in as one of the only people that actually knows her. "Did Lee rope you into coming, too?"
"Lee?" Hinata asks, scrunching up her eyebrows as she looks at Sasuke. Sakura tilts her head.
"I invited her."
Kiba whistles behind Sakura, who shoots him an irritated look, despite her own look of mild shock as well.
"Well!" Sakura claps her hands, then turns to Kiba and shoves her palms into his chest to escort him away. "We'll leave you two alone, then."
Finally, Hinata turns to him after essentially being passed around by his excited coworkers and Naruto, looking a little frazzled and out of her element. Sasuke realizes that her friend has essentially left her to talk Shikamaru's ear off and he quickly reaches over to pull a bar stool for her. It's instinctual, a habit his mom hammered into him and his brother (and Shisui), so it even comes out in a place like a bar. She relaxes a bit, gives him a smile, and climbs up into the seat, which is fairly tall for her stature.
Now here's the hard part. Making conversation that isn't about insurance or eyecare. They sit in awkward silence for longer than could possibly be normal until Lee places a glass filled to the brim with a green-tinted liquid.
"Here you are!" Lee says a little too loudly, grinning at her. She inspects it. "Since you didn't know what to order, I picked something for you! It is a Tokyo Tea, it's very sweet!"
"Oh," Hinata responds, smiling meagerly up at him, "I like sweet. Thank you…er—Lee, yes?"
"No problem! All drinks are on me tonight!" Lee thumbs towards himself then turns to Sasuke. "Are you—"
"I'm good, Lee," Sasuke cuts him off, and Lee doesn't even bat an eye before he nods, endlessly happy to please. Sasuke looks towards Ino again while Hinata turns the glass in front of her, evidently not brave enough to take a drink yet. He taps the table. "Sorry your friend ditched you."
Hinata looks toward Ino and gives a strained smile. "Ino's very social. And it seems she knows your coworker. Or friend?"
"Poor girl," he comments instinctually offhand. She tilts her head. "He's not the most fun to be around."
Hearing himself say those words aloud is ironic. Sasuke would also, without hesitation, say he's the least fun to be around. At least Shikamaru has smart things to say, quotes Greek mythology casually. Sasuke thinks it makes him look stuck up, but at least he's not boring. Sasuke thinks of himself as very boring.
"She seems to like him," she replies, and she finally, slowly leans down to take a sip from the radioactive-looking drink. Knowing what's in a Tokyo Tea, he wonders if Lee realizes how much alcohol is in the damn thing. When her face immediately scrunches up as the liquid hits her tongue, he can't keep back a little laugh. "Oooh! Oooh!"
"Yeah, uh—I dunno what Lee was thinking." Sasuke shakes his head.
"I don't normally do this," Hinata says, "and when I do, Ino usually orders something for me that I can't taste alcohol in."
Deciding to take the initiative, because Sasuke prefers those fruity drinks, too, he gets up to order her something more palatable. He doesn't even say anything when he leaves her there, leaving Hinata looking mildly confused. It's a Wednesday, so it's not so busy, and he returns in minutes with two drinks he gladly puts on Lee's tab. Tells her they're Pina Colada's and promptly takes the Tokyo Tea, puts it in front of Naruto who can drink like a fish. Naruto gives him a thumbs up and he turns back to Hinata, who, even more hesitantly than last time, leans in to sip it. Relief washes over her face as she takes a longer sip now.
"Coconut is one of my favorites," she chirps, sweetly. He looks at her, actually enjoying the look of delight on her face. She nods her head a bit in the direction of Naruto. "He's your friend, right?"
His shoulders stiffen but he nods, slightly. "He is."
My best friend, in fact.
Sasuke's unsure whether Naruto is going to behave well enough tonight for him to admit that out loud, so he doesn't.
"He's very friendly." She giggles, softly and he feels the tips of his ears tingle. Strange. He leans forward on his elbows and sips another inch from his drink.
"Your friend…seems friendly, too."
Hinata bites her lips together, stares at her straw for a moment before nodding. "She is. She makes friends wherever she goes. A social butterfly, you could say."
Sasuke snickers, looking back down at his drink. "Guess we have the same taste in friends."
"You would say Naruto is, too?"
Sasuke rubs at the bridge of his nose before taking another sip and, with a little extra boost of confidence from the alcohol, he decides to tell her a little tale about a time when Naruto should have humiliated himself in front of himself, Shikamaru, and several of their other friends. Clarifies that Shikamaru went to high school with them. A day Sasuke carved into his memory because it still makes him laugh to this day. The governor was scheduled to visit their little high school; it was a big event that everyone knew was happening, but Naruto had missed the memo (as he so often does).
"So basically, he practically yelled 'who's the old guy?' and of course, the governor heard." Hinata gasps, covering her mouth but he can see her eyes wrinkled in a smile. "We were ready for him to be laid into, but the old man laughed, thought it was funny. Go figure. Ended up taking Naruto on a walk, genuinely interested in him. Naruto came back bragging he was 'buds' with the governor, now."
Hinata covers her face with both her hands, giggling into them and Sasuke feels kind of proud that he's a good enough storyteller to garner that type of reaction. Tries not to think that she's faking it, perhaps she's just easily amused.
But the little reaction has thoroughly sunk its hooks into Sasuke, and he feels his body getting closer to hers, excited to hear her return tale about Ino. Before she can continue, he stops her briefly to get them a new round of drinks when he sees hers empty. He returns with two new ones, only to frown at Lee trying to find someone to play quarters with him. Naruto and Ino have already agreed and Lee is insisting at least four are needed to play, and excitedly asks Hinata.
"I don't think she—"
"Yes!" Ino interrupts Sasuke's attempt at defense when she looks up in surprise. "Hinata! Yeeees please~"
"M-me?" He hears the hesitancy in her voice and stutter and feels a weight in his gut. "I don't really—"
"It's easy." Ino's already grabbing her by the shoulders to guide her to the designated table and Sasuke watches warily.
Then, a scene unfolds before his very eyes. Hinata doing absolutely terribly at the game and having to take shots left and right. She does it with a more stoic face than he imagined; she's taking it like a champ. But then the tides turn. He has no idea how she does it – maybe it was just from the practice, but suddenly, she's sinking quarters into the glass like some sort of professional. She sinks three in a row, then four, then five, and only when Ino shoves at her shoulder does she miss the sixth. Sasuke feels the need to defend her, for whatever reason, but Hinata just laughs and accepts the loss. Briefly, he wonders if she was conning them with her poor show earlier, but for somee reason, he can sort of tell she's not the type of person to do that.
He admires the way her face turns bright pink and all her teeth show with her laugh and smile. Periodically, she looks at him for affirmation and he does a little shrug of his shoulder and nod of his head, approval of her antics that he had no idea her capable of. He doesn't even realize he's leaning on his hand staring at her until Sakura mumbles something about clueless men. Still, he stays there, watching Lee amp her up with every win, his entirely too enthusiastic, yet still genuine demeanor shining through as he gets drunker and drunker.
Soon, Hinata has all of them beat to hell and Lee declares it's her game. Ino cheers, Naruto claps, and Sasuke just smiles. He thinks it's kind of endearing how she waves a hand in front of her face as if to wave away their compliments.
Wait…is she cute?
Given no time to think about it, Hinata laughs so loudly, it's almost scratchy and seems like it's from the gut. For some reason, he kind of likes it. She slams her shot glass down and covers her mouth, covering all of that bubbly laughter from inside of her.
"And because Hinata is the winner—" Lee cuts in, slurring his words and swaying, "I will order our wings, on my tab!"
Sasuke thinks Lee was going to order food for the group no matter who the winner was, even himself.
Hinata settles next to him and by this point, Sasuke's ordered several drinks to keep in pace for Hinata's drunk. She asks him if he saw her out there and he drunkenly agrees that she outdid the rest somehow, and she bursts into sloppy giggles and he can't help but chuckle, too.
Then the wings come out all the while Lee is shouting about how good the house sauce is, and suddenly, Sasuke feels his mouth stuffed with a wing covered in said sauce, courtesy of Lee. He sputters and pulls his hand up, feels his mouth burning a little bit, but is numbed by the alcohol in his system. Lee laughs, loudly, telling him the spicier the better, and Sasuke frantically searches for water. Hinata helps him, albeit with a bouncy, happy manner that doesn't take his pain too seriously, and pushes him her water.
He sips it frantically, cooling his burning mouth, until he feels napkins against his mouth. Fully ready to shove the hand away, he looks up but then sees a sweeter sight than he anticipated. It's Hinata, giggling bubbly and light as she clumsily tries to wipe at his lips with her napkin. And he freezes, letting her work her thumb, covered by a napkin, across his bottom lip. Her thumb tugs it to the side until it pops back, then she repeats the actions on his top lip, and she finishes by saying, "There we go!"
Sasuke smiles, and it's wider than he can control because something about her thumb on his lips has him grinning like an idiot. And in the state he's in, he can't even question it.
It's about the time the night comes to an end when even Kiba declares his intent to leave. Since Hinata returned to him, Sasuke's been engaged in conversation with her about anything and everything: hobbies like video games and backpacking and just escapism. Even if Hinata was a little bit apprehensive about the idea of making camp in a far away, off-the-radar place, they still agreed that being under the sun, moon, and stars is probably the most peaceful a human being can be.
Throughout their conversation, Sasuke can kind of tell that Hinata's eager to learn. She's not the best at initiating conversation, but when it's going, she's very curious about his knowledge and opinions. Sasuke's happy to provide them if she's willing to listen. And listen she does, with what looks like wonder in her eyes when he describes his interest in the theory of quantum entanglement and how it relates to teleportation.
It's around the time Kiba, Sakura, and Shikamaru excuse themselves home that they begin discussing how they'll get home. Hinata reveals she's driving herself and Sasuke gives her a concerned look.
At the same moment, Ino comes around Hinata's shoulder and tells her she will get an Uber for them, then skips outside. Sasuke decides he'll wait with her. As they make their way outside of the bar, he's watching his own feet to make sure he doesn't fall. In doing so, he sees the tips of her left foot's toes catch on her right ankle and with better physical instincts than Sasuke thought himself capable of this inebriated, he lurches forward to catch her. He brings her closer, closer than he intends, until her forehead is pressed against his and he lets out a sudden breath. He most certainly was not the one who initiated that contact.
The way her forehead connects with his makes him think of his brother, the way he'd tap his forehead. It was his quick and easy response to telling Sasuke to bug off when he asked him to come play video games or help him with a project. It's not entirely welcome, but he doesn't hate it, because it's different from her. He's got his arms around her and her forehead is warm and…wet. He's just now realizing it's drizzling.
"S-Sorry—" she squeaks out.
"Why?" he responds.
Silence passes over them, heavy breaths as he holds her in his arms, still pressed together.
Hinata is the first one to say something.
"I didn't…I'm sorry – I fell."
"It's fine—it's fine!"
Realizing he should really stop holding her up after successfully catching her, Sasuke pulls them back upright and lets her go. He does not miss the way she doesn't let go of him, her hands secure around his jacket sleeves. He doesn't even pretend to dislike it. Her head pulls back from his and she looks sheepishly up at him.
When they hear Ino's loud voice coming closer toward them, they instinctively part with a quick step away from one another. Sasuke scratches the back of his neck while Hinata rubs at her cold nose.
"Heeey—you, handsome emo boy!"
Sasuke resists the urge to scrunch his nose at the insult, leaning away from the alcohol-ridden woman, hoping in vain he won't have to placate her for the Hyūga—
"Ino!" Hinata stays in the sassiest voice he's ever heard from her and Sasuke leans back, impressed. "Please!"
"Awww~" Ino sings, falling back onto her butt. Before the argument can get any further, a car pulls up with its passenger window down, asking for an Ino. Ino perks up, climbing to her feet clumsy – "thas us!"
Sasuke watches as Hinata grabs Ino's elbow, looking almost…irritated as she pulls a phone up to her face. She squints as she reads the text.
"What is your name?" Hinata asks, suspiciously.
"Yuji," the man responds, immediately, and Hinata relaxes.
Sasuke processes what is happening in front of him.
"Good, I see the car matches…" Hinata is far more observant than he realizes as she scans the make and model and license plate of the driver compared to Ino's phone, before releasing her into the back seat. He listens as Hinata, much louder than she has been the entire time, says, "good, good! Just double checking that my boyfriend can see my location!"
Sasuke feels like his hair's been blown back by the declaration, watching the interaction with wide eyes.
Then, he realizes it's intentional.
A sinking feeling hits his gut. He realizes, as a man, what's happening. Hinata is making sure the driver knows that Ino has people who are watching after her, and he can see how hard it is on her when her hands shake. It took everything in her to project that confidence, Sasuke can see it.
Without taking more than just a moment to think it over, Sasuke steps forward.
"Why don't I just come home with you?"
Hinata's halfway in the car when she looks over her shoulder with wide eyes, clearly processing the proposal. He leans forward expectantly, pulling the car door open a little wider to encourage her to get in. She whispers, quietly, "Are you sure?"
"Let's go."
With that, they pile into the backseat, Ino with her head lolling to the side, near ready to pass out herself. Sasuke tries his best to push his whole body into the inside of the car door to not press into Hinata, who is doing the opposite and pressing her whole body into Ino.
Hinata leans forwards, and sheepishly asks if they can go to a certain location first that Sasuke assumes is where Ino lives. She settles back and looks up at him through her eyelashes and he tries at a comforting smile, fearing it looks something like a grimace. But she smiles back and it puts both of them at ease.
"She always go all out like this?" Sasuke asks, quietly, the awkward air painful for both of them.
It's not the first time he's taken a rideshare, he's done it plenty, but he's usually either by himself or with Naruto, who has no problem conversating loudly without regard for the driver—or really, ends up in a full-blown conversation with the driver themselves if they're chatty enough. No, Hinata is more like him, not keen to disturb peaceful silence, so she leans in towards him slightly to tell him "Not always…I think it was having another friend there…Shika…"
"Shikamaru."
"Yes, Shikamaru. Made her keener to…going all out." She uses one hand to air quote with a soft giggle. He swears he feels her breath against his chin.
He bobs his head, letting silence sit between them as they respectively stare out opposite windows. Sasuke tries not to think about how close their pinkies are to each other. Looks up after about ten minutes when the car slows near a curb, and sees Ino's dead asleep. He gets out first to allow Hinata out as well, and without asking, helps her unload Ino and drag her up the stairs to her second-story apartment. He watches her dig into Ino's purse for her keys, and once they're inside, he helps her take her to bed.
Sasuke goes to the door to wait, expecting her to return shortly, but instead, she rushes into the kitchen to fill up a glass of water and rummage through the drawers for a pill bottle. He smiles slightly, impressed with her thoughtfulness to set her friend up for success in the morning. She disappears momentarily before jogging back up to him, hanging her keys next to the door and making sure to lock it.
"I wish there was a way to deadbolt it…" Hinata mumbles as she pulls the door shut. Sasuke follows her down, back to the car, and now they have a slightly more comfortable ride to wherever she lives. Now, curiosity gathers in his mind, wondering where the Hyūga lives.
About 5 more minutes, and they're entering a neighborhood Sasuke actually recognizes. It's where Shisui's apartment is, and low and behold, the car comes to a stop in front of that exact apartment complex. It's not the most high-end place, but it's nothing to sneeze at, either. Hinata looks at him, unsurely, but he just gets out and tries to get to her door before she opens it, but she's already letting herself out. She thanks the driver, who promptly drives off, and again, her look of concern returns.
"I-I'm sorry, I should have told him to wait so he can take you home, too."
"Would've ruined the act." He shrugs, projecting indifference. "I'm fine walking, anyway."
"Are you sure? Do…you live close by?"
"Kinda." He's not sure how much he wants to tell her, yet, so opts for vague answers. She nods, slightly, and he nudges his head. "I can walk you to your door…if you trust me, I guess."
She takes a moment to look back, staring at the building for a bit, before turning back to him with a small smile. "I think I can."
"Swell."
Sasuke wants to smack himself in the face as the phrase leaves him. It's not something he'd ever say, why would it fall out of his mouth right now? But she just smiles and starts walking to the building, and he silently follows her, trying not to mull over it too much. They reach the elevator, get to the third floor, then a door, and even though Sasuke's not trying to look creepy, he burns the number into his brain.
308
She stops in front of it, clasps her hands together, and he bites the inside of his cheek.
"Well, night," he tries at some sort of normal goodbye, and she nods, still smiling. Gets out her key, lets herself in. Stops in the doorway and turns to look at him, and he feels planted to the ground. He's wondering what she's going to do, sees her arms swinging a little bit, almost opening…like for a hug, but…
"Be safe," she says, quietly, looking him in the eye, "and please…text me when you get home?"
Sasuke feels like his mouth dries up with her words, processing them. Then, slowly, he nods, watching her smile big again and then give a little wave, the soft click of the door following shortly after.
He heaves a much-needed breath. That genuine concern for his well-being, one that wasn't attached to whether he was dating, or found a good job, or whether he was doing deep breathing techniques…the one that was just for his health and safety, that he is okay, was unfamiliar. But it made his chest feel tight, his cheeks tingle a little because he's smiling big, now, too, with her gone.
He treks up to the next level of the apartment and pulls out his keys. They're full of everyone's spare key because Sasuke is the only one reliable that most people know to never lose it, and slots in Shisui's spare.
Locks up behind him, like Hinata did, and passes out on Shisui's couch. But not before texting her he's safe.