Putting Out the Lantern

It did him no good.

In his mind, Sasuke still hadn't worked out what happened or how it had even worked. But he didn't care. He was off the hook, and that's all that mattered. Yes, he had promised the blonde anything, but that had been a plea in desperation. Once the cops were gone and he managed to get his clothing back on, he was out of there. Without so much as a thank you or backward glance.

Two days later found him in the subway. His worn and dirty sneakers lightly tapped the ground as he waited for the chance to disappear. He was in a not so much used terminal, garbage littered the ground around him and an old lady who was shuffling out at a painfully slow pace. But as soon he was sure she wouldn't see him, he checked to make sure no trains were coming and hopped down onto the tracks, jogging into the tunnel. Random items were kicked aside as he ran, making to the maintanance stairs just before the uptown C-train clattered past. He ducked through a few doors that were supposedly locked and off-limits, and was soon strutting into an abandoned terminal, across a giant painted red spiral on the broken floor.

"Uchiha! Where the hell have you been?!" the loud voice carried through the empty station. A wild looking boy with spikey brown hair and red triangle tattoos on his face stood up out of the small waiting group. Small, not good.

"Mind your own business, Inuzuka," Sasuke reached them, scuffing his shoe on the floor. A girl with obviously dyed bubble-gum pink hair spoke up before Sasuke could even ask.

"Choji and Ino were caught by the police last night in Battery Park."

"Great," he mumbled, leaning against an old payphone.

"Kurenai and Kabuto won't be here, caught up at work. And Gaara just decided not to grace us with his presence," Sakura finished, smoothing out her candy-apple red skirt, fingers catching a frayed string at the bottom. Against the wall stood another spikey haired brunette wearing round sunglasses, even underground, and a boy with a pony-tail who appeared to be snoozing.

"So, since Kurenai's not here, surely someone must have the run-down?"

All eyes swiveled to the boy asleep. Inuzuka rolled his eyes and kicked his legs, "Shika!"

Shikamaru opened his eyes with a frown and glared at his rude friend, but when he noticed Sasuke, he sighed. He stood with a grunt, popping his back and taking his sweet time, "now that we're all here, I suppose I should pass the message. We have to abandon the Avenue of the Americas, at least for now. Ino and Choji managed to finish the marble wall in Battery Park before they were taken into custody. And everyone needs to lie low, especially Sasuke since the police saw him."

Sasuke nodded, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket along with a lighter.

Kiba Inuzuka spoke up, looking at Shikamaru, "any word on the Central Park Monstrosity?"

Shikamaru sighed again, "yes, actually. Kabuto found an artist's signature on the seat of one of the bicycles. It's an orange dot, made by spray paint. After some poking around, he got a name. They call themselves the Orange Underground."

"So someone is challenging us?" Sakura was examining her nails now, frowning at the chipping green polish.

"It would appear that way. The insignia was found on the middle finger of the mural."

"Shitbaggers," Sasuke muttered, taking a drag.

Scratching his neck, Shikamaru continued, "it couldn't have been done with any less than about four or five people, and the bikes were welded together. That means this new crew knows what they are doing, and they had a place to practice considering they constructed that slap in the face overnight."

"So we just run them out of town, no biggie," Kiba put his hands behind his head.

Sasuke scowled, "we can't exactly do that if we're having to lie low. This will be a perfect oppertunity for them to out do us. When they see the Avenue of the Americas unfinished, they'll try to get the upper hand."

"Can't be helped," Shikamaru interrupted before someone broke out yelling, "we'll just have to wait and see if they are as good as the mural in the park. Until we hear something from Kurenai, I suggest you guys just chill."

-----


Walking down the street, Sasuke had to resist putting a hand over his stomach in a childish way of showing he was starving. He hadn't eaten in almost two days. Plus, he had no cash. Pride kept him from the soup kitchens, but a rebellious nature kept him from getting a job. At least, a respectable job. The sun shone annoyingly bright but it wasn't enough to chase away the slight chill in the air brought in by the coming fall. With another weak grumble in his stomach, Sasuke felt the sidewalk wiggle a little. Not good. He needed to eat, or he was going to pass out in the street or some alley, both were an equally bad idea.

He looked up ahead of himself, noticing he was by some apartment buildings. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the blonde from two nights ago, seemingly struggling with holding some grocery bags and getting out his keys. Sasuke was surprised to find that instead of being a pretty boy like he first thought, the blonde was a very beautiful...man. Small and feminine, but definately older than himself. Golden hair barely brushed his shoulders in attractive disarray and tan skin was a little visible due to the loose but somehow still well-fitted, light cean sweater he wore over what Sasuke hoped was nothing. Dark blue jeans hugged his legs and ass like they were made for him and Sasuke was immediately thrown back into the memory of that naked blonde pushing him into the bed and moaning like there was no tomorrow while fake grinding on him before the cops busted in. He hadn't really looked at the blonde before or stop to notice, but he was damn fine.

However, the most attractive thing about him right now was the fact that he was holding food. And his stomach seemed to know it, giving a very enthusiastic growl. "Shush."

Gathering up as much charm as he could manage, Sasuke approached the now quietly cursing blonde, "do you need some help?"

"No, no, I'n fine-" the blonde turned around and his eyes widened, "you!"

"Me."

Blue eyes squinted with the scowl on his lips, "what now? Hiding from the mafia? Or maybe the FBI this time?"

"Um, no, you looked like you could need some help-"

"And what the hell would you care?"

He was definately a feisty one, Sasuke had to take a deep breath to stay calm, 'think food.'

"I have a debt to pay, if I'm not mistaken."

This made the blonde scoff, "like hell you have that much honor, bolting as soon as you could. I half expected it, anyway." He started mumbling to himself, turning around to try and find his keys again. He was very startled when two arms reached around him and gently took the bags out of his hold.

"I believe your keys are in your back pocket," Sasuke said, clearly not ashamed of the fact he had been staring at the blonde's ass. Naruto was speechless for a moment looking over his shoulder at Sasuke. Sasuke wasn't afraid to retrieve the keys himself, but when he reached for them, the blonde turned red and jerked away.

"I g-got it!"

This made Sasuke smirk.


They both made it up to the blonde's apartment, which Sasuke had to admit he liked now that he could see it. It was modern with very tasteful art. He walked in and set the grocery bags down on the kitchen counter.

"Thank you, you may leave now."

Sasuke turned around and leaned back against the counter, "no can do."

"Excuse me?"

"I said I would do anything if you helped me and you did. It was strange, but you did. So I'm going to keep my end of the deal. Anything you want. Handy man, errand boy, personal," Sasuke looked him up and down, "...companion. Anything," Sasuke tried his best again to be charming, but the effect was ruined by his impatient stomach. The noise made the blonde raise an eyebrow.

"I'm going to guess what you spewed was bullshit and that you're just hungry."

"...I am hungry. But I meant what I said. Just because I was hiding from the police, doesn't mean I'm a bad person," Sasuke met the true blue eyes that felt like they could see beneath his skin.

The blonde was quiet for a long time before relaxing a little, "I know."

"If you need time to think about it, I can come back later," Sasuke stood up straight and headed for the front door, but the man's voice stopped him.

"I don't need to think about it. Sit down, I'll make some lunch."


Sasuke ate every crumb of the sandwiches the blonde made, Naruto, as he said his name was. Naruto even ended up making a few more for the apparently starving raven haired boy. He watched with wide eyes, but it tugged at his heart.

When he was finished eating, Sasuke sat back in the tall stool at the breakfast bar. He felt more full than he had in weeks.

"So, Naruto, decide on my payment yet?" 'pleasesaysextoypleasesaysextoy-'

"Yes."

"Care to share?" 'sextoysextoysextoy'

Naruto was cleaning up the mess from making lunch, he chewed his lip in a thoughtful way, "why were the cops after you?"

"Why does it matter?"

"It matters to your payment."

Sasuke sighed, "I'm a graffiti artist."

Naruto stopped what he was doing and gave the boy a skeptical look, "they were after you because of graffiti?"

"It would have been my eighteenth vandelism charge this year," Sasuke smirked.

Naruto raised his eyebrows, "wow. You seem...proud of yourself."

"I'm proud of my art."

"Hm.Even if it's illegal? Don't get me wrong, I don't like cops. But I do believe in having respect for someone else's property. So, as payment, you are not allowed to perform any act of vandelism for two months."

Sasuke almost fell back out of his chair, "excuse me?"

"You said anything."

"Within reason!" He slammed his fist against the countertop. Naruto put a hand on his hip, calm and frighteningly serious.

"You will not raise your voice in this apartment or at me ever again. And it is within reason. Whenever you feel like vandelizing something, I want you to come here instead."

"And why the hell should I do this?"

"I'll feed you, everyday."

This made Sasuke pause, "one month." He was supposed to be laying low after all.

Naruto shook is head. He leaned over the bar towards Sasuke; his small, delicate figure on the counter in a sinfully inviting manner, "it took you two days to come back and make good on your promise, two months should compensate. Be thankful you didn't show up later."

The sweater the blonde had on was a v-neck, so Sasuke was getting a very nice view. Going two months without graffiti sounding fucking horrible. But then again, everyday with this delicious, golden little piece of sweet-jesus-he-wanted-into-his-pants didn't sound bad at all.

It would be difficult explaining this to the rest of the crew, but, "...alright."