I'm excited for a new SasuHina Month! All the chapter titles are the prompts for the day.

This fic is dedicated to Katrin, who wanted a Spy!AU.

Since this is a month-long challenge, two things. Firstly, I probably will not be able to respond to all reviews but I SO appreciate them and they keep me motivated. Secondly, the chapters are shorter.

I really hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading!

ooOOoo

Day One: Waiting For You

Sasuke is not new to spycraft, but some of this technology feels like science fiction. He stares in consternation at the blinking lights and small television monitors that fill one of the walls of a work van.

"Is that radar?"

He points to a screen that is black with a glowing green circle and a green line that starts at the center of the display and extends to the perimeter of the circle. The line sweeps the entire radius like a particularly speedy clock hand.

Iruka grins while adjusting his headphones and setting the mouthpiece to rest over his mouth. "Welcome back. Feel like you're drinking out of a fire hose, yet?"

Sasuke accepts the identical set of headphones that Iruka hands over.

"Ah, so that's on purpose?" Sasuke drawls.

Iruka laughs. "It's not often we have agents drop out of our program to become police officers, and then come back."

Iruka has a strange way of emphasizing the words "police officers." It is not a scoff, and it is not judgemental. It feels more like Iruka never strung those two words together before and is having a tough time with the sound of it.

Sasuke prefers Iruka's confusion over the bald judgment he has been getting from other people.

"Tsunade said it never happened before," Sasuke concedes in a murmur.

Iruka flicks open a set of switches and logs into a computer with lightning speed. He tilts his head to the side to indicate he is still listening.

Sasuke continues. "When people leave, it's usually for good."

He does not know why, exactly, he is explaining himself. However, something about the dead hush of the soundproofed vehicle and Iruka's presence has Sasuke confessing all kinds of things today.

Iruka stops typing and turns to look at the other man. His eyes are filmed over with neon green from the display lights and it unsettles Sasuke a little. It gives the impression of some kind of laser beam focused on him.

"Are you happy to be here?" Iruka asks. "Is this what you wanted?"

Sasuke does not even have to think about it. Not when coming back to this organization, to follow a person he could never forget, filled his dreams while working for his father.

"Yes," he replies decisively.

Iruka smiles, big and warm. "Good. Now, time to remind you of what I do. You'll remember this all quickly."

ooOOoo

Iruka is a handler. He works with a few field agents, but he also has the distinction of being Hatake Kakashi's handler. The Kakashi.

Of course, Sasuke knows Kakashi personally. In the past, Kakashi used to be at the Uchiha compound all the time with the other Uchiha black sheep, Obito. And when Kakashi lost both Rin and Obito in a mission gone wrong, Kakashi earned the dark distinction of being the only solo field agent.

Everyone else works in teams of three. Everyone.

Except Kakashi.

Except for this mission, apparently.

Iruka explains things quickly and concisely. "And if I was going to let you talk, I'd let you press this red switch. Then your connection would quash mine and you would be heard over the comms instead of me."

The switch in question is connected to the wire leading to Sasuke's headphones. He presses his thumb over the depressed part of the button.

"But it's taped over, so I can't switch it."

"Exactly," Iruka sniffs. "You're not talking tonight."

At this point, the voice interrupts. "White Fang, comms check."

Iruka turns to his screen and wakes it with a jiggle of his mouse. "Breakwater hears you loud and clear, check."

"I hear you have a ride-along today, Breakwater." Kakashi says. "Hi Rider."

"He says 'hello,'" Iruka asserts before Sasuke can even open his mouth.

"A 'him,' huh?" Kakashi muses. "Is there a team opening for a field agent?"

It is a valid question. All the field teams are led by one woman, with two men subordinates. If Sasuke wants to be a field agent, and he does, he either has to fit into a new graduate's team or he has to wait for an opening.

He knows which team he wants to be in. There is no opening.

There are three quick clicks over the line. Sasuke's refresher course taught him what that means. Another member of the team is attempting to check in.

Iruka says: "Go ahead."

"Team 8 requesting comms check," a woman says.

Her voice is different from what Sasuke remembers. It is still soft, but it belongs to a grown woman and not the shy child from his memories. Sasuke's hand convulses over the switch still between his fingers. He lets it go before he accidentally snaps the tape.

"Comms check approved. Go ahead."

"Blue Lion checking in," she says.

"Green Beetle checking in," a strange man says after a pause.

Another man continues, "Red Hound checking in."

"All team members accounted for. Positive comms check." Iruka says while typing.

He pulls up a map on another screen. On the left, two dots are moving towards a cluster of two other dots. As they get closer, the map slowly zooms in.

"This is White Fang and Blue Lion," Iruka explains, pointing at the dot moving in. "This is Green Beetle and Red Hound. They're already at the target site."

"I have hidden the weapons, as previously discussed," the voice belonging to Green Beetle says.

"White Fang and I are moving into position," Blue Lion says.

"Are you saying we're late?" Kakashi whines.

Blue Lion giggles before saying something else. Sasuke cannot hear it, as he is so distracted by the sound of her laughter. He presses back into his seat, swallowing heavily. It did not occur to him before this, that he could be so taken with just her mirth. He worked so hard to get back here, where he could see and hear her again.

He is so close. Soon, he will be able to see her. For now, today, just hearing Hinata is enough.

ooOOoo

Coming up: The mission takes a turn.