Back in Rome, at the Haruno villa, Hinata avoided Sasuke like he had caught the plague.
It wasn't her best work, but it would have to do until she could figure out whatever the hell was going on. Besides, it's not like she had been granted very much clarity, or kindness, or peace of mind––after they kissed in Aosta Valley, amongst the Dolomites, in the clouds, Sasuke returned to his suite shared with his cheating fiancée like nothing had happened between them.
If it wasn't for the searching looks exchanged between them in elevators, the soft touches passed when entering or exiting a room, and the hot, intensive eye contact they made when they thought others weren't looking, Hinata would've thought she was making it all up.
Her anxiety was at an all time high. She had never been in such a situation before, and it was driving her up a fucking wall. The road trip back to Rome had been fine, but she had to sit in the backseat, squished against Ino and the door as she watched Sakura lay her head of pink, adulterating hair on Sasuke's shoulder as Naruto regaled them with tales of his most favorite fist-fights.
And it––surprisingly––made Hinata want to seethe with an ironic sort of anger. It was ironic in many ways; or maybe hypocritical was a better word. All Hinata knew was that she was fucking uncomfortable.
"How was snowboarding?" Sakura had asked, as they were first leaving the resort a day after said snowboarding had occurred.
"Great," Hinata answered tightly. Even Ino sent her a searching look. She tried ease next. "Uchiha-san is a pretty good teacher. I'm s-so lucky."
That didn't seem like the response Sakura necessarily wanted from her future husband's assistant, but it was one she accepted once Sasuke added: "Hinata was a natural until she decided to try the kicker."
"No way," Naruto exclaimed and once again, all of his energy in the car became focused on Hinata. "As a beginner? You've got to tell me about that, Hinata-chan!"
So maybe, it was that Hinata actually hated Uchiha, Sasuke. But of course, that wasn't true, because when they got out of the car, he helped her with her luggage, and their pinkies touched over the handle, and her knees went weak. He seemed to be trying to communicate something with his eyes as this happened, but she quickly walked away before she could figure it out, and collapsed into the bed of her small brown room. She was safe there.
She was the most safe when she was alone with her thoughts. She had made up her mind: Kissing Sasuke was a mistake. She would apologize and state that they would keep it professional from here on out.
And of course…that would work in theory, if Hinata was a normal person and not a special agent. And even more unfortunate, Neji's voice echoed in her head like a strike of lighting during an otherwise, uncloudy day: "Have you tried seduction?"
In hindsight, she should be proud of herself––if only the feelings didn't feel so real. So, she resolved herself to ignoring him, ignoring the signals, ignoring his email request to meet about the Kaguya case (besides, she couldn't tell if that was genuine, or guise) and settled into a deep sleep in her room.
The next day, she saw Sasuke at breakfast. He poured her a glass of orange juice and set it in her hands. He quietly told her that he managed to save the last pastry for her (she had woken up late––nightmares) and he asked if she'd seen his email. She practically ran out of the room once Sakura slid beside him, placing sliced tomatoes onto his plate.
Now, Hinata was climbing the stairs of the Colosseum with Ino––blissfully far away from the Haruno Manor and all the confusions that lived inside of it. Ino was excitedly snapping pics with her phone as they peered down into the center, where the gladiators used to fight.
"Whatever you're doing, keep doing it," Ino said as she leaned her body over the railing to get a better view of the hole, where the fighting men would come out. "It's obvious Sasuke likes something about you. Shikamaru said––"
Ino cut herself off suddenly, biting her lip.
"Shikamaru said what?" Hinata asked, watching her friend. Shikamaru had been skeptical of Hinata's presence that drunken night when Sasuke wanted to talk about his father and their plans. Shikamaru wrapped up the conversation as Ino came in––she wasn't involved––so what would Shikamaru possibly have to say to Ino about it?
Perhaps Hinata was looking too deeply into it. Ino straightened up, smiling endearingly at Hinata, "He just said that Sasuke seems like he's in a better mood, having you as his assistant."
Something irritating tugged at the corner of Hinata's mind, but she let it go, whatever it was. Perhaps she was just being paranoid, but she felt like Ino was keeping something from her. The tingling feeling didn't go away, even as Hinata attempted to rationalize with herself. It was difficult to hold too many lies in her head at once, now she was becoming suspicious of her only friend.
She lifted her chin to the sun, letting her face grow warm as tourists moved around them to get closer to the ledge. The Italian sun was hot and enduring at this part of the afternoon. She and Ino had escaped from the Haruno Manor straight after breakfast. Everyone seemed to have something to do: Sakura, a trip to her favorite designer's villa; Naruto, race car driving; Itachi and Izumi, a tour of the Vatican; Sai remained home; Shisui was too mysterious to tell; and Sasuke…well, Hinata had been too nervous to ask Sasuke anything.
"Sakura wants me to go wedding dress shopping with her later," Ino rolled her eyes as she took Hinata's arm in hers, pulling her forward as they descended another level of the Colosseum. "I don't know why me. She should've brought one of her girlfriends from school along for the trip."
"Or Izumi," Hinata mentioned, just to mention something. Hearing "Sakura" and "wedding dress" in the same sentence made her queasy with what she knew.
"Pfft, Izumi would hate that. It's a wonder the two even breathe the same air," Ino said disparagingly, holding tightly to Hinata's arm as she wobbled in her platform sandals down the aged stairs.
When they reached the next floor, Hinata peered at Ino through the curtain of her hair, wondering if she should share what she had seen. But before she could make a decision, Ino was dipping her head close to her, and speaking in a serious, low voice.
"Be careful of Sai, he's suspicious of you. I've been watching him watch you all week," she said, her voice making Hinata's ear vibrate. "I've had no communication with B6. Overseas is too much of a barrier––too risky, but I do know that you need to go with Sasuke to whatever it is they're planning."
Hinata clutched the railing, her knuckles going white as Dove pressed against her frontal lobe, awakened. "The lawyer convention? I think that's a cover up."
"I think so too," Ino confirmed. "We need to find out what they're really here for."
"Okay," Hinata nodded, then frowned. She had no idea how she would get that information out of Sasuke…they weren't there yet. But…they could be. It was her fault, really, she had been avoiding him for the last 24 hours. Dammit, she cursed at herself. She was jeopardizing the mission with her own cursed feelings.
She shouldn't even have feelings!
She and Ino continued along, arm-and-arm as Hinata carefully chose her words next, tasting them on her mouth, before saying them aloud, "So…have you talked to B6 before coming here? Have you heard from Hanabi?"
Being here, she had probably missed Hanabi's rendezvous at Hizashi's home in Osaka, and it crushed Hinata to think about. She'd been keeping those thoughts at the back of her mind, but now, being here, she was reminded of her sister's childhood love of the Roman Empire––Hanabi would pretend to be a demigod whenever they played in the grass behind the Hyuga Manor. She proclaimed to be Minerva, born from Jupiter's head, fully grown. Hiashi was Jupiter, of course.
"You mean Swan?" Ino frowned, looking at Hinata strangely. "No. Why would I have heard from her?"
"No reason," Hinata muttered, feeling stupid as she blinked up at the sun. It was so bright, her eyes stung. They watered.
Tears.
-:-
"Ino," Shikamaru drawled, looking annoyed as the woman leafed through various leather bags. They were in an open-air market, nameless in a crowd of a hundred. "Why are you asking me such annoying questions? You know I can't tell you that."
"I need to know what I'm––what we're––up against, if I'm going to plan," she said, fingering a beautiful brown bag, soft as a baby's tummy, with little golden clasps. "Hinata's doing good, I think––"
"Your definition of good, and my definition are very different," Shikamaru grunted, watching the top of her head as she pressed her fingertips against the stitched lining inside the bag. "Your job is to get Hinata on our side, nothing else. You shouldn't need any additional information to do that."
Ino ignored him. She lifted the bag to the seller, smiling widely as she asked, "Quanto, signora?"
The woman replied fifty euros. Shikamaru pulled out a cigarette, sighing. "Ino––"
"Give me a second, would you?" She huffed as she dug in her pocket for loose euros, before handing them to the salt-and-peppered woman. She and the woman exchanged an exasperated look as the woman accepted the money, muttering: "Uomini."
Smiling, Ino replied, "Si lo sai. Grazie, Signora, buonanotte."
"You're showing off," Shikamaru grumbled as they turned to a new vendor. This one was selling rings. Ino's eyes widened at the sight of them.
"You know what I'm trained for," Ino responded seriously. "And I want to be on your side, you just need to give me the tools to do it. Sasuke and Hinata are very obviously attracted to each other––and Hinata is keeping something from me. I don't know what, but the two of them were sneaking off in the Dolomites. Remember when they were both gone during the bonfire?"
"And so were Naruto and Sakura," Shikamaru shrugged, unaffected.
"Yes, and I have my own theories about that as well," Ino said, pointing at a gold ring with an opal stone in the center. She peered over her shoulder as if trying to see if anyone was listening. "But Hinata and Sasuke have been working well together, I think it would only benefit us to have Hinata go with him to whatever thing you guys have planned. Plus––I know Sasuke has told Hinata something. Right?"
Shikamaru seemed to chew on this until he finally nodded in confirmation, blowing the smoke from his cigarette to the left of Ino's ear. He leaned down, his right elbow on the table, to look closer at the iron thumb rings. Ino bristled when she felt his shoulder against his––but he didn't stop there, he grabbed her around the waist with his left arm, bringing her body closer as he pointed at one with little rubies set in the center.
"Hey––!" Ino protested, getting ready to shove him away. Despite sleeping together for over five days, she still wasn't used to playing this part with him. Though it was fun sometimes and reminiscent of the time they met what felt like years ago––Ino didn't want to cross any lines. She needed things to be separated for her own sanity…and her own heart.
"Quiet down," Shikamaru demanded, in her ear. "Sai is here. A few yards back. He's been acting weird all week."
"Then he's doing his job well," Ino agreed. Still, she snuggled up beside him, ignoring her rapid beating heart, as his thumb rubbed familiar circles into her back. How easy it was for him to do this––to fall into a role––like it was nothing. His hand dipped under her crop-top mistakenly, and Ino sent him a scathing look. "We'll have to finish this conversation later, then. I want that ring."
Shikamaru looked to where she was pointing, the opal one on the gold band, and raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And, you're going to get it for me. Your treat. Signora," Ino cried to the attendant in perfect Italian, letting her head of blonde hair fall onto Shikamaru's shoulder as she squeezed his arm. She could feel Sai's eyes on her back.
Shikamaru sighed again and took out his wallet from his back pocket. He didn't even look bothered when Ino kissed his cheek.
There. She'd done her job.
-:-
"Something is troubling you," Itachi told him as he held a punching bag in front of his chest. Sasuke, shirtless and sweating, unleashed a string of strong punches, each connecting with the bag in swift movements. Itachi even lost his footing for a second.
"That's not why we're here," Sasuke evaded, as he ducked and weaved, his back muscles rippling as he sent another few combinations to the bag. Itachi sighed and released the bag before Sasuke could stop his right-hook, and when he hit it the bag went spinning wildly between their bodies.
They were in the gym at the Haruno Villa. It was nearing dark, and they could smell the scent of fresh tomatoes and basil drifting down the hallway. Sasuke sighed as he wiped a towel across his face––they'd been at it for hours.
Itachi, too, was sweating as he went to sit heavily on the bench. Sasuke sat beside him, and the brothers drank water in silence until Itachi finally attempted to break the ice.
"I'm your older brother," he said placidly, "It's normal for me to ask a question about your well being, despite that not being the topic at hand."
"You're just nosy," Sasuke rebutted. "And you just want to make sure you're still the perfect son."
"That's a pessimistic view," Itachi said thoughtfully, standing to grab a towel from across the room. "You're so dramatic, younger brother, you should write plays."
"Don't piss me off."
"Ah, trouble with Sakura, then?" Itachi questioned knowingly. How he had gotten there, Sasuke would never know. The man was too keen for his own good.
"That's an understatement," Sasuke said, huffing. He, too, stood, and made his way towards his brother, grabbing a new towel to wipe off some of the sweat. "And that's all I'll say on the matter."
"If you ever want any marriage advice––"
"Why the fuck would I take that from you?"
"Touche."
They stood in silence for several minutes while Sasuke seethed. He felt so tight and pent-up that steam was practically rising off the top of his head. He'd barely had a chance to be furious about Sakura and Naruto, pushing the feelings so deeply inside him that he thought he might explode. The only graceful light in the situation has been Hinata––how she made him feel, her soft looks, their brief touches––and Sasuke's plot for revenge.
He wanted everything up in flames. He couldn't believe that Naruto had betrayed him––he didn't even know how long it had been going on. Every time he thought of it, something inside of him broke. Earlier this morning, he'd been doing work at the kitchen table, and snapped a pencil in half. Then, he snapped another one. Sakura was there and had the nerve to ask if he was okay––after talking about wedding dress shopping.
Sasuke felt himself exhale, but his fury was quite unchecked, and his fingers flexed as if to punch something again. Despite it all, he still felt the duty he had to his family, his father, the Syndicate rest heavily on his shoulders. If the Uchiha were going to be great––greater, still––he'd have to marry the Haruno woman, wouldn't he? That was how it worked out. That's what Fugaku needed to be done.
Sasuke never thought he'd marry for love anyway. He thought that was a waste of time, and no matter what Mikoto thought, he had always known this part of his life would be like this. It made sense.
So…while he was on vacation––temporarily banished, even––he might as well have some fun, right? Some fun…some revenge? Anything to make him feel alive before he went back to his life of duty and debauchery.
It was only fair.
Itachi was watching him like a hawk as he cycled through all of these emotions, and through it all, Sasuke remained the good, well-behaved new Sasuke he had grown to be. When he smiled at Itachi, Itachi frowned back.
"You're clearly unhinged," Itachi said shortly, shaking his head. "I don't know what's going on but––"
"Like I said," Sasuke retorted, "You have your own shit to figure out. You and Shisui are both wandering around like lost puppies, and now you want to talk about this?"
"So you have it?" Itachi pressed, his eyes flickering up from where he was unwrapping the bandages from around his hands. He pretended to be disinterested and looked back down.
"Obviously," Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. He went to his bag beside the door and pulled out a manila folder, thick with paper. Before coming to Italy, Itachi had asked Sakura to do some "casual" digging into Konoha's Military Police database. He was looking to read the interview transcripts from the psychological evaluation Shisui had to undergo before returning to the field to take his new position as Chief.
Itachi had thought better of asking Shisui what had happened himself. That's the problem with us Uchihas, Sasuke thought wickedly as Itachi took the document slowly like it was live ammunition. Never doing things the right way.
Whatever. Wasn't his problem. He didn't even know what Itachi was looking for.
"It looks normal to me, by the way," Sasuke said as he shoved his tank top back over his body. He was looking forward to a shower. "Why do you want it?"
"You read it?" Itachi said, looking up swiftly from the first page. At Sasuke's nod, Itachi's face tightened. "Doing some research. Shisui has been acting odd lately. And…well, I do think it's strange Father sent Shisui back after he vowed not to, don't you?"
"I don't really know what happened," Sasuke shrugged––again, not wanting to be involved. All he knew was that Shisui had run into some trouble with some colleagues while on shift, and it landed him a couple of days in the hospital. He quit the force and asked Fugaku to work at the Boroughs full time. Fugaku, gracious, and quite fond of Shisui, agreed easily. Shisui had been a great asset to the Syndicate through his work with KWP, but not so much that Fugaku would jeopardize his safety and comfort.
Until recently. Shisui suddenly went back full time, and was being sworn into a Chief position in a month, around the time the election would happen. All that made sense to Sasuke; Chief Uchiha and Councilman Uchiha––Itachi––would help shape the city under Fugaku's commanding hand.
"You don't want to know," Itachi said darkly, his eyes suddenly flashing dangerously––so dark, they almost looked red against the light. "I just need to make sure Shisui is safe there. We have a lot of men at KWP, but not everyone is trustworthy these days. It's odd that Father would go back on a promise."
"Stranger things have happened," Sasuke said, turning to the door, shoulders burning from his workout. "I mean––look where we're at right now. Temporarily banished. Baby Shower shot up. An ally murdered. You've got a big debate in four days. I think we need Uchihas wherever we can get them. Father made the right move putting Shisui back with KMP––an even better one, knowing that Shisui would succeed and ride the ranks."
"That's what I thought too," Itachi said, face darkening still, his jaw set and hard. "But now…I don't know. I'm going to read this over. If I find anything interesting, I'll let you know."
"Sure," Sasuke said, stepping out of the gym. That was another thing he didn't want to think about amongst the mountain of things he didn't want to think about. As he was stepping into the living room, however, he came across something he definitely did want to think about.
Hinata was rubbing her eyes tiredly as she trudged to her bedroom door, a big tote bag––"Museo Nazionale Romano" it read in bold red letters across the front––slung across her back, full of bulging objects. Gifts? For who? He wondered.
"Busy day?" He asked, falling in step beside her, though his Master's bedroom was behind them.
She jumped when she saw him, her eyes widening. It was no secret that she'd been avoiding him since they shared a kiss a day or so ago.
"Uh––yeah," she replied uneasily. "J-just some tourist attractions with Ino. Lots of sightseeing."
"See anything worth mentioning?" Sasuke said, trying to get something––anything––out of her. She was giving him nothing, and all he wanted to do was remember how soft her mouth was. Sakura and Naruto be damned.
"The Trevi Fountain is just like the movies," she said, stepping away as he got closer. They reached the mouth of her small, brown bedroom, and she clutched the arms of her new tote bag uneasily. "Only more crowded. I would still recommend it if you haven't been."
He wouldn't tell her if he'd had. He'd do it all again if he could. "Did you make a wish?"
She turned and nudged the door open, her face carefully hidden by her hair as she stepped within the shadows of the room. "Of course. I'd like to believe in magic, sometimes."
They stood there for a moment. Sasuke––expecting her to say more; Hinata––expecting him to stop her, to say anything, to make her remember that their kiss was something more than a dream.
But Sasuke said nothing, and Hinata blinked tiredly, her hands closing around the door.
"Will you be out for dinner?" Sasuke finally said, feeling like he was missing something, but not quite sure what it was. His stomach turned.
"If I don't sleep through it," she said quietly, her face falling for some reason Sasuke could not understand. "If––if you'll excuse me, Uchiha-san, I'm quite tired."
"Oh," Sasuke said––fumbling for once in his life. The return to the honorific was a shock to his whole system. He even jumped when the door clicked shut in front of him. "Um. Good night."
Someone whistled behind him. He whirled around to see Sai there, a demonic sort of imitation of a smile sitting on his pale face.
"Wow," he said flatly. "That was rough."
AN: UPDATE - Rating changed form T to M; sincere thanks to the reviewer who brought this to my attention.
annnnnd to those confused about the abrupt shift dynamic between our lady and lord of the hour...I think a little lust and sexual tension can get you a long way, especially once a trauma bond has been established. lust...not quite love, yet.
much love to you all! See you next week!