Author's note: Apologies for taking so long with this chapter! It turned out to be more difficult to write than expected ^^;
Thanks to the following reviewers: sasunaru1214; Nellana; KitsuneJen; Iraheta 127; solitare1; 666snoopy; Kalos; SehunsBae37
Warnings: Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, people.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Kishimoto owns it.
I hope you'll like this chapter!
Chapter 7: Ignorance
"You're going to the dojo?" Kakashi questioned curiously when he saw Sasuke pulling on his shoes.
"No, to a shop for clothes," Sasuke answered, standing up to grab his jacket.
"You're in need of clothes?" Kakashi asked surprised.
"Why else would one go to a clothing store?" Sasuke retorted and shoved his wallet into his pocket before snatching up his car keys.
"Hm, you mind me tagging along?"
Sasuke shrugged. "Suit yourself."
He waited until Kakashi was done pulling on his shoes and his own jacket before he opened the door and walked outside. The sky looked quite overcast, promising either a severe bout of rain or heavy snow. Hopefully they would already be back by the time the clouds unleashed their burden. He'd rather not be stuck on the road when it started to snow.
Sasuke drove them in companionable silence to the mall; the soft noises of the radio the only sound in the car as Kakashi busied himself with his phone.
It wasn't until Sasuke made his way to the more formal attire that Kakashi put his phone away and spoke up.
"Since when are you interested in formal clothes?"
Sasuke considered not saying anything, because he could already imagine what kind of idiotic crap Kakashi would come up with, but remaining silent wasn't really an option either. Kakashi would just keep pestering him and he didn't want to lose his patience in the middle of the store. Frankly, whichever option he picked, Kakashi was bound to act annoying, so was there really a choice?
Stifling a sigh, Sasuke answered, "I need an outfit for the Winter Ball."
"The Winter Ball? You mean the party your school council is organising?" Kakashi's eyebrows kept climbing up with each word he uttered. "The ball that is in a couple of days? That ball?"
"You know of any other ball?" Sasuke asked irritated and started looking through the available shirts.
Which colour should he go for? White was always a safe bet, but most guys would probably be wearing that and Sasuke didn't want to be one of those clichés. He probably should have asked Naruto what he was going to wear, but whatever, he would find something.
"You're going alone?"
Clearly they were starting the twenty questions part. This was going to be fun.
"Why the hell would I go alone?"
"Stupid question," Kakashi agreed easily. "You're not fond of people to start with, so why would you willingly attend a school ball? You wouldn't, unless you'd be accompanying someone. Spill, who are you taking?"
"You really can't guess?" Sasuke asked sceptically, abandoning the table with light blue and green shirts and walking over to the next one.
Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "I can guess, but I don't want to be presumptuous."
"Since when have you ever not be presumptuous?"
"Rude," the older man said calmly.
Even without looking at him directly, Sasuke was aware of the shrewd look his guardian was favouring him with at the moment as he looked through the collection of black and red shirts displayed in front of him.
"You're going with Naruto-kun then?" Kakashi guessed.
"Yes."
"Did he ask you?"
"No, I asked him."
The silence that fell after his reply, only broken by the incomprehensible lyrics coming from a radio somewhere in the store, had Sasuke becoming suspicious. He looked up, frowning when he saw Kakashi staring at him wide-eyed.
"What?" he snapped annoyed.
"Nothing, I just thought it would take you much longer to realise your feelings!" Kakashi said brightly, clasping his hands together. "It's a relief to hear you aren't that emotionally stunted after all, you really were worrying me, you know!"
"What are you talking about? What feelings?" Sasuke demanded aggravatedly.
Kakashi paused and stared at him a bit longer before he wrinkled his nose. "I know you're not stupid, Sasuke, so you know very damn well what kind of feelings I'm referring to."
Inexplicably Sasuke's cheeks warmed up and he abruptly turned away from the silver haired man, fixing his attention on the shirts instead. "There's nothing between us," he insisted.
"You two share a bed," Kakashi stated flatly. "Quite often if I may add."
"Yes, we're best friends, what's wrong with that?" Sasuke hissed and marched over to the clothing rack with jeans; the items having been sorted from light colour to dark.
"Nothing. But would you share a bed with Gaara? You're friends, after all." Of course Kakashi refused to get the hint. God forbid the man would know when to shut up for once. He was also being ridiculous for no good reason.
"No, that's different," Sasuke replied tersely.
Him and Gaara sharing a bed? The idea alone was already laughable. He appreciated what the red haired Alpha had done for him, but they did not have the kind of friendship that involved sharing a bed. Sasuke had no desire to share one with him. Gaara might offer his bed if Sasuke looked especially miserable and or had no other place to stay at, but even then Sasuke was more likely to be directed towards the couch. He and Gaara weren't as close as he and Naruto were. There was nothing weird about that, but Kakashi seemed hellbent on making it weird.
"Exactly. You get it now? If you wouldn't share a bed with Gaara, then why don't you have a problem sharing one with Naruto-kun?" Kakashi sighed and crossed his arms. "Sasuke, I know you can't be this oblivious. Naruto-kun is obviously different to you and that's ok-"
"Naruto doesn't feel that way," Sasuke cut him off, unwilling to even consider what Kakashi was implying.
Because there was nothing to imply. He and Naruto were best friends. Yes, they often shared a bed, but what was so wrong with that? Just because he wouldn't share one with Gaara didn't mean there was something off with him sharing a bed with Naruto. He trusted Naruto and felt close to him; the nights he spent in Naruto's bed were the rare nights when memories of his family wouldn't plague him. Being with Naruto kept the bad thoughts at bay and made him feel normal in a way he hadn't felt in years. There was nothing wrong with that.
"In spite of what they like to claim about Omega in all those ridiculous porn videos," Kakashi said quietly, unusually solemn, "they don't just let anyone share their bed. Only someone they trust a lot. And truth be told, I'm not sure how many best friends share a bed as often as you two do."
Sasuke's hand clenched around the leg part of a dark dyed jeans. "Why do you always have to make things weird?" he bit out; the rush of his blood loud in his ears.
The sigh Kakashi let out this time was deeper, tinted with a hint of weariness. "I'm not. Believe it or not, I'm being serious here. If this is you being worried about what I'll say, don't be. I literally couldn't care less who you like as long as that person is decent. If that person is Naruto-kun, I'm happy for you. If it is someone else, it's fine. It's all the same to me."
He shifted his feet, rolled his shoulders. "And if this is you not realising yet how you act around Naruto-kun, then might I suggest you do some soul searching? Because I suspect you don't know him nearly as much as you think you do if you truly believe that you taking him to the Winter Ball doesn't mean anything to him."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, staring resolutely at the jeans in front of him.
"As for your outfit," Kakashi continued, switching the topic entirely as he sometimes was wont to do, "I think a red black combo would look nice on you. You'd pull it off well. Perhaps classic black trousers instead of jeans, hm?"
Sasuke said nothing as he turned away from the jeans and started walking to the other side of the shop. Classic combo it was then.
He refused to do some 'soul searching' as Kakashi had put it. There was no reason to consider his feelings when that might lead to him making stupid assumptions. Assumptions that might cost him his friendship with Naruto if he went through with them and ended up being wrong completely. What if he ended up assuming wrongly and making an arse out of himself?
Naruto's friendship mattered too much to him to even try to consider whether there was more to it, so he simply didn't. Naruto was his best friend; that fact was too precious and too hard won to mess with, no matter how much Kakashi insisted he needed to acknowledge his feelings. All the feelings with regards to Naruto that were safe to acknowledge had been acknowledged and that was it. He had been alone for too long, hadn't known this sense of peace in such a long time, to try to mess with what he shared with Naruto now.
There was nothing else to acknowledge. Everything was fine just like it was.
"You're leaving to pick up Naruto-kun?" Kakashi questioned when he poked his head into the hallway, spotting Sasuke sitting down to lace his shoes.
"Yes, I am." Sasuke rose up and shrugged on his coat, picking up his car keys next. A cursory pat against his pockets confirmed he had his phone and wallet with him.
"All right, have fun," Kakashi said cheerfully. "And think about what I told you a few days ago."
A non-sensical hum was his answer before Sasuke closed the front door behind him. It had stopped snowing a few hours ago, leaving the world covered in a thin blanket of white. Kakashi had had the foresight to salt the driveway and their part of the footpath, so Sasuke didn't risk losing his balance as he made his way to his car.
Minato had offered to drive both him and Naruto to the ball when the weather forecast had predicted snow for this evening, but Sasuke had politely rebuked him. He could drive just fine in the snow and Minato had been looking rather tired lately. Sasuke preferred he would get his rest at home instead of driving them around town.
Kushina opened the door before he even had a chance to knock or ring the doorbell and she winked at him when he lowered his hand, beckoning him to get inside.
"Heard your car," she explained and closed the door before stepping towards the stairs and calling out, "Naruto, Sasuke-kun's waiting!"
"Yeah, I'll be right down!" Naruto yelled back from somewhere upstairs.
Sasuke decided to take off his coat for now, as Naruto sometimes had a tendency of running late. They had agreed on an hour, but this wouldn't be the first time Naruto ended up being later because he hadn't checked his clock on time. Sasuke wasn't particularly bothered by his tardiness this time. It was just a ball after all and with classes being done for the semester and a break of two weeks lying in front of them, they could afford taking it easy for now.
"You look really nice," Kushina complimented him, her purple eyes glittered as she took in his ensemble of a red shirt and black trousers.
"Thank you," he smiled, feeling a bit reassured.
He hadn't really thought that Kakashi would lie about what would look good on him, but it was nice to hear a reassurance all the same.
"Naruto?" she called out again when her son didn't immediately appear. She threw Sasuke an apologetic look. "Sorry about that, I swear he started changing on time."
"It's fine," he assured her.
"Yeah, I'm coming!"
This time Naruto did follow through with his answer and he appeared into view, descending the staircase quickly with his hand resting on the banister. Sasuke straightened up slightly when he took in how his Omega friend had dressed himself. The black jeans he wore, were practically painted across his legs, showing off their length in a way that made Sasuke darkly remember why some of those pricks had wanted to ask out Naruto before he had put a stop to that. Naruto's shirt was a very deep blue, which made his already bright eyes pop out even further; a hint of his tanned skin was visible near his collarbone where the first two buttons of the shirt had been left unbuttoned. The shoes he had paired with his outfit were dark blue and must be new ones, because Sasuke couldn't recall having seen Naruto wear those before.
Not even a hint of orange anywhere in the outfit, which surprised Sasuke, but the end result was nevertheless really good. Naruto looked amazing in the blue shirt and the tight black jeans and Sasuke decided there and then that he wouldn't leave him on his own for too long tonight. No doubt some of those douchebags would try their luck once they got a good look at Naruto.
"You look really good," Sasuke informed Naruto sincerely when he reached the bottom of the staircase.
Naruto blushed faintly, which only added even further to his looks. "You too," he grinned, his eyes none too subtly roaming across Sasuke's body. "You're going to make people faint at this rate, bastard."
Easily falling into their banter, Sasuke shot back, smirking, "Really? Maybe I'm not trying hard enough yet, seeing as you didn't faint."
In response Naruto stuck out his tongue.
"All right, boys, I hope you'll have fun!" Kushina grinned and clapped her hands together. Minato came to stand next to her, smiling at the two boys. "Be back before midnight and don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"Kushina, sweetheart, given your rep sheet that might not be a smart thing to say," Minato said amused, hissing through his smiling as she pinched him in his arm, throwing him a warning look.
"Fine, don't do anything your dad wouldn't do then," she huffed and crossed her arms. "That better?"
"Much better," Minato chuckled before turning solemn when he turned to Sasuke and Naruto. "Like your mum said, be back before midnight and don't drink. Neither one of you. I don't want to hear from a colleague that they had to arrest you for driving under influence."
"I can't drive yet," Naruto reminded him finely, making Sasuke snort.
If he thought he was being smart, then Minato didn't share that opinion. The older blond quirked an eyebrow and commented mildly, "Still doesn't mean you're allowed to drink. Consider it showing sympathy with Sasuke-kun."
"Fine, we'll be good, I promise," Naruto told him and pulled on his coat.
Naruto's parents wished them a "Have fun, you two!" and then it was back outside, braving the icy cold as Sasuke and Naruto hurried towards Sasuke's car. As Sasuke drove them to the school, they discussed their classes and the homework they would have to get done on time. Naruto wondered aloud whether or not Neji had killed Inuzuka yet for daring to ask out his cousin. If not killing, then a broken nose seemed rather likely in Inuzuka's future. Neji always had had a weird cousin issue.
As they got closer to the school, however, Naruto's chatter tapered off and he spent a moment slowly breathing in and out for some reason. Sasuke glanced at him curiously, but decided not to comment on it when Naruto kept his gaze fixated outside. Could he be feeling nervous for the ball? Sasuke saw no particular reason why he should be, but Kakashi had pointed out before that his feelings and actions didn't necessarily align with those of others.
With the parking lot being filled to the brim with cars of parents dropping off their son or daughter, Sasuke was forced to park near the back, catching the last available spot. After locking the car, they hurried in the direction of the gym, wanting to be out of the cold as soon as possible. With how biting cold it was, turning their breath into small puffs of white clouds, there was a chance it would start snowing again soon. At least the parking lot appeared decently salted and cleared from snow for the most part.
Their coats were accepted by a teacher who looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but here – Sasuke couldn't blame her – and then the throng of students basically forced them into the gym where they were instantly greeted by the heavy beat of drums. Sasuke didn't recognise the song and he could only gaze around unimpressed as people danced like an idiot to the music underneath the multicoloured lights, dying everyone in pink, purple, blue, green and yellow. The council had placed long tables against the walls, which bore bowls of punch and canned soda dumped in boxes full with ice to keep them cold. Bowls with crisps and plates with thin sandwiches completed it, ensuring everybody's thirst would be quenched and the hunger stilled. Some teachers were mingling near the tables, mostly likely keeping an eye out for anyone stupid enough to try to spike the punch.
When Sasuke glanced at Naruto, the younger boy grinned up at him. His eyes glittered mercilessly when he suggested, "Wanna dance?"
His roar of laughter at Sasuke's less that subtle look at that suggestion was nearly loud enough to drown out the music.
Dancing with Naruto wasn't that bad.
They had whiled away some time at the tables first, eating some of the sandwiches and drinking some soda while Naruto had talked with his friends. Sasuke hadn't been particularly interested in what the others had had to say, but he had been content to stand there and listen to Naruto speak and laugh, making fun of Inuzuka's less than courageous act of picking up his date before her cousin had had the chance to show up.
Sasuke saw Neji lurking around the edge of the dancefloor. If Inuzuka escaped this evening without at least a punch in the face, the guy could count himself extremely lucky.
Never having been a dancer, Sasuke nonetheless let himself be coaxed onto the dancefloor by Naruto after a while. It was obvious that Naruto enjoyed dancing, so Sasuke stayed with him, only breaking his attention off from Naruto during those times a girl would try to get in between them. Just because he was willing to dance with Naruto didn't mean he would extend that same courtesy to anyone else as he made clear to each girl every time. They stamped off, pissed off each time, but he didn't care. It wasn't his fault that they still believed they had a shot with him.
After the sixth time of Sasuke rejecting a girl, Naruto spoke up.
"You know, you don't have to keep dancing with me. You could dance with someone else," he suggested; his hands lying idly on Sasuke's shoulders.
"I'm not interested in them," Sasuke dismissed the idea immediately. He kept his hand resting on Naruto's waist; their bodies automatically moving in tune with the music. "Why, you want to dance with someone else?"
Something dark and ugly spiked up in him at that thought and he shoved it down ruthlessly. Jus because he had asked Naruto to go to the ball with him didn't mean he had some claim of ownership over him. If he wanted to dance with someone else, he could.
Just as long as it wasn't any of those douchebags.
"Not at all!" Naruto was quick to deny, shaking his head several times.
It made Sasuke supress a smile; his hand inching a bit higher up Naruto's waist.
As the colours changed rapidly above them, however, Naruto's face grew pensive and his movements slowed down. Imperceptibly at first until he barely budged anymore, making Sasuke slow down as well.
Bemused he pulled the other one's attention. "Naruto?"
At hearing his voice blue eyes cleared up and Naruto shook his head, smiling sheepishly. "Nothing, I was just thinking …"
He trailed off when the bright lights dimmed all of a sudden, painting everyone with a soft purple glow, mixed with light shades of blue. The pop song disappeared together with the bright lights, making way for a slower, gentler melody accompanied by a soft crooning female voice. A slow dance.
The change was immediate.
Naruto chuckled weakly, removing his arms from Sasuke's shoulders. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Erm, guess this is a dance you might want to …" he started to say, but trailed off when his eyes locked onto Sasuke's.
Something stirred in those deep blue eyes, something that had Sasuke reaching out with his other hand; both of them clamping Naruto's waist right above his hips now. Naruto's body swayed closer until there was barely any distance between them left. This close, not even the thrum of other students could cover up Naruto's scent. It seemed to increase in strength, even though Sasuke was aware that Naruto wasn't anywhere close to his heat yet. The scent was as always hard to ignore and Sasuke's hands tightened involuntarily. His attention was pulled to Naruto's mouth when the Omega licked his lips; the tip of his pink tongue peeking out, wetting his lips and making them shine in the purple lights.
As if hypnotised Sasuke's gaze was drawn towards blue eyes again, which glittered like diamonds now. Amidst the mass of students gently swaying to the slow song, they were they only ones barely moving, forming an island on their own.
The shred of distance still remaining between them was promptly removed when Naruto took the last step towards him. Naruto's waist shifted slightly underneath his touch when the blond lifted his hands and placed his hands carefully, tentatively, on Sasuke's shoulders. His hands were both heavy and light and as he looked up into Sasuke's eyes, the Alpha absurdly was reminded of Kakashi telling him to do some soul searching.
A part of him was aware of the strange nervous glint in Naruto's eyes, but the rest was more focused on the way Naruto's body felt against him; this type of closeness they usually only shared when they were in bed. Naruto felt warm against him, nice and familiar; his scent mixing and wrapping around Sasuke's, turning his mind slightly hazy.
Naruto murmured something, but it was lost in the sudden loud rushing noise of his blood in his ears. The grip around his shoulders turned more firm and Naruto tilted his head slightly; the purple lights turning his face into something otherworldly.
For a moment neither one of them moved; their eyes locked onto each other.
Then something pressed against Sasuke's lips; something slightly wet and chapped and ingrained with Naruto's scent.
Naruto.
Naruto was … kissing him.
Naruto was … kissing him?
His brain short cut, leaving him floundering as he tried to figure out what was happening. Before he could try to think, to attempt to wrap his mind around what was happening, before he could do something, Naruto suddenly stumbled away from him, nearly crashing into a couple behind him. Blue eyes, so bright and glittering just a minute earlier, were now wide with panic and shock; the sight of them turning Sasuke's blood into ice.
"I'm – I'm sorry, I thought that you, I thought that we – I've got to go," Naruto stammered and fled before Sasuke could even open his mouth.
Gone like he hadn't been here to start with.
Fuck.
AN2: They are both idiots. Got to love them.
Please leave your thoughts behind in a review; should you spot any mistakes, please point them out to me.
I hope to see you all back in the next chapter! Please stay safe and take care of yourselves!
Cuddles
Melissa
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