Zero Hour!

(A:N) YAY! Another Sidestory…I know how much you all love these little fits of impatiency (Another word from me) I have. You’ll love this one!!!!!

I’m dedicating this chapter to a dear friend of mine by the name of Russ, who literally saved my life a couple nights ago. Thank you so much for staying with me all night. You deserve a shake. Everyone better thank him…otherwise Zero Hour! Chapter 9 would have never been completed.

Chapter IX: Side Story
Dinner Doesn’t Work

Black slacks. Black, stainless, fresh, breathtaking slacks. You know the kind that have the crease down them that makes it look like you actually ironed them instead of having them in the cleaners?

A button down collared shirt was next. It laid lightly over his chest and hid what he didn’t want the world to see. The buttons were black and his black tie was laying loosely around his neck. He refused to tie it before they got there.

Sasuke rang the doorbell to Naruto’s house and waited. He could hear crashing and curses from inside. Naruto was probably trying to hurry and finish getting dressed. No one answered the door so Sasuke turned the knob and walked in conveniently. He’d had no idea it would have been open but his guess was that Naruto had left it unlocked.

He walked in to see the ironing board in the middle of the living room with two different burnt shirts on the floor. The house seemed steamy, like the shirts that had been on fire had been extinguished with water. Sasuke smirked when he saw the messy house. He couldn’t believe Naruto was going through all this trouble for an awards ceremony.

The blond came running in the living room with another shirt and threw it on the ironing board. He didn’t see Sasuke standing by the door with his arms crossed.

“Okay okay Uzumaki not this shirt, this is your last one.” He gently laid the iron down and started pushing it back and forth. Sasuke held back a laugh as he tipped quietly over to Naruto. He snuck up behind the boy and took a small breath, inhaling the cologne already attached to Naruto’s moist body. His hair was slightly wet and Sasuke guessed he’d just gotten out of the shower.

“Naruto.”

The iron dropped on the board and the shirt began to fry. Naruto wasn’t moving and his back was still to Sasuke. The raven-haired boy waited, listening to Naruto’s uneasy breathing. Finally deciding the iron was becoming a threat, Sasuke moved around Naruto and raised it off the shirt.

“You alright there, Naruto?” Sasuke asked, knowing fairly well that Naruto wasn’t. He laughed a bit and put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder. The blond twitched and stepped away from his touch. He turned around fully blushing and stared. He was currently roaming the house in a bath towel and nothing more. His bare chest was hiding an irregular heart beat and it was probably because now Sasuke was just plan old staring at him.

Naruto gained his composure, he was going to have to play that off. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again, Uchiha! You can’t just waltz in my house like that and do your little Sasuke thing-“ (He made some crazy hand signs) “-and come up behind me and go ‘Naruto’ like you’re some kind of sex God with your despicable voice. What the hell? I thought you were a rapist!” Naruto raised his voice and waved his hands everywhere.

“There are two things wrong with you theory Naruto. First, I don’t have a ‘Sasuke‘ thing, second who would want toy rape you? I heard you’re easy to bed anyway.” Sasuke smirked as the blood rushed to Naruto’s face. The blond was about to put his hands around Sasuke’s throat and choke him when Sasuke’s watched beeped.

“It’s 6:30, Naruto. We’re supposed to be at the dinner at what time, 7:15? Hurry up and stop whining about your ‘precious’ body.” Sasuke shook his head and headed down the hall to Naruto’s room.

At 6:45 Naruto walked back in the living room, ready to give the shirt another try. He stepped in room to see a dangerously good-looking crimson button down shirt hanging from the side of the ironing board, already ironed and creased in just the right spots. A black tie hung over it and on the inside of the hanger, black slacks were neatly part of its elegance.

Naruto’s mouth hung wide open and he looked around the room. Sasuke was nowhere to be seen but his car keys were on the coffee table. Naruto shook his head and quickly threw on the clothes. He walked down the hall-with his shirt still unbuttoned-and turned into his room. Sasuke was sitting in his computer chair with a bloody tissue in his hand.

“You alright?” He startled Sasuke but the boy didn’t really show it. He stood up and put on a small smile.

“I just bit my tongue.” He shrugged. “You ready?” He asked, even though it was as clear as day that Naruto wasn’t.

“You ironed my clothes for me, thanks. And this shirt is really nice. Where’d it come from?” Naruto asked, looking down at the shirt. He moved across the room and fumbled through his closet to find some dress shoes to sport.

“I figured you didn’t have a shirt. I brought that one just in case. You left it over my house a while back, I never returned it, thank God.” Sasuke sat back down in the chair.

“You did all this for me.” Naruto stopped shifting through his closet and looked back at Sasuke. The boy frowned and waved Naruto’s look away.

“Don’t get all girly about it. It’s not like I’m doing it to make you happy. You suck at ironing, and you only have orange and blue shirts. I was not going to a dinner with you wearing orange.” He took a deep breath and exhaled, Naruto wasn’t listening to him. He was just grinning like he’d gotten a puppy for Christmas.

“Hey, where’s Gaara?” Sasuke asked, trying to relieve some of the weirdness in the room. He hadn’t really noticed that Gaara wasn’t around anyway.

“Oh, he’s down in the basement with his freaky self. Apparently they’re having a really good time together since I haven’t seen him since this morning. He won’t let me in so I don’t know what he’s doing, but every so often I hear these weird sounds coming from down there. God I really hope he’s not using my basement as a masturbation chamber. I’d so much rather him be playing Touch the Dick in the bathroom. He needs a boyfriend.” Naruto stopped when he said that. He’d forgotten about the whole, ‘Sasuke and Gaara’ thing. He gulped, now there was an awkward silence in the room.

It was evident that Sasuke was uncomfortable too. He turned around in the chair and wiggled the mouse on the computer. “You’re taking forever.” He leaned back in the chair and went through the files in Naruto’s memory bank.

“I’m coming already.” Naruto pulled his shoes out of the closet and jumped into them. He proceeded to button up his shirt and fix his pants as Sasuke got up and started heading for the living room. ‘Hmph, baka.’

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“Tonight we are congratulating the junior varsity members who made varsity and the and also the applicants who made JV.” The coach cleared his throat. “Please help me in welcoming this year’s team captain for the varsity squad. Hyuuga Neji.”

Everyone stood up and clapped as Neji walked up the podium with a paper in his hand. He unfolded the paper and adjusted the microphone to his size.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other and then to the table Neji has been sitting at. There was no sign of Haku or Itachi and it wasn’t like Neji to go anywhere alone. Apparently the fight at last nights party incident had still left a wedge between Neji and Haku.

“As team captain I have been selected among four other people including coach and
three other teammates from the MVP list last year to choose a coe-captain for this years team. The list was of three students, who are all hard to chose from. In the running we had, last years junior varsity shortstop Aburame Shino, back catcher Akimichi Chouji and JV pitcher Uzumaki Naruto.” Neji looked up at him and turned hazy eyes to Sasuke.

“The process was long and hard. We had great assets to the team with each one of these players but only one spot. I want to welcome the Ninja’s new team coe-captain-

‘Oh hurry the hell up.’ Naruto thought. He was shaking and he was about ready to jump up in his chair and scream.

“-Uzumaki Naruto.”

The room cheered and clapped and stood up. People whistled and chanted his name but Naruto was in too much shock to notice. He remained in his chair, just staring passed the glass on his table. Sasuke nudged him and Naruto snapped out of his daze.

He got up and began walking to the stage, smiling and waving and posing for pictures. He jumped on the stage next to Neji and playfully stuck his tongue out. Neji shuddered but shook his hand and handed him a plaque.

“This doesn’t change the fact that I hate you.” Naruto whispered. Neji ignored that and walked off the stage.

“SPEECH!” Someone yelled out. Naruto scratched the back of his head and tapped the microphone to see if it was on.

“Uh…heh Hello.” His voice echoed through the room. “Well, I won’t stay long but I just wanna say thanks for this opportunity. It uh, really means a lot to me since I’ve been working really hard for this team since day one. This is an honor and a complete shock but I’m taking it with me. I wanna thank my dad who couldn’t make it.” He stuck his thumb up. “Thanks coach, thanks to the team members who voted me in and thanks to uh, my best friend. What’s up! Sasuke! Ha Ha Ha who’s winning now?! Sucker!” Naruto stuck his tongue out again. “Uh…thanks again!” He backed from the mic and jumped off the stage as people began to clap.

“And that was Naruto, you’re new coe-captain.” The coach rolled his eyes and began getting to other matters.

Naruto took his seat and shook his award in Sasuke’s face. The Uchiha ignored him and sipped on his water.

“You make a fool out of yourself too much.” Sasuke leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. Naruto put his plaque down on the table and started rubbing little circles on it.

“Ha Ha but you like it.” Naruto said, looking up at Sasuke for a brief second before he turned to his glass of water and promptly started drinking it down like he’d been in the Sahara for three days.

“I do.”

Naruto immediately spit his water out and all over the table and then the floor. He wiped his mouth as he looked at Sasuke’s cool smile. He was hearing things again so he waved it away.

“Stop with the games you idiot. This is no time for you to be raining on MY parade. You just sit back and do your ‘Sasuke’ thing and I’ll do ‘Naruto‘ better.” Naruto scratched his head for a second. He and Sasuke were sitting next to each other and the Uchiha leaned over.

“Pondering something, Naruto? You look a bit confused.” His whisper into Naruto’s ear was a little too friendly for his standards. Naruto put a hand in Sasuke’s face and pushed him away.

“I don’t know if you’ve been drinking whine but you’re underage, Sasuke.” Naruto said, folding his arms. “If you’re hitting on me that’s N-A-PRO-PRE-IT.” Naruto stated, with a firm nodded. “Plus, you’re taken if I remember correctly. Taken and not gay.” Naruto bit his tongue after that, trying to keep himself from rambling. Gaara always said he talked too much when he was lying.

“Is that right?” Sasuke shrugged. “Are you pretending not to like me anymore because of Gaara? I was just beginning to get used to you following me around everywhere.” He sat straight and ran a hand through his hair. Naruto looked like he was at a loss for words. That was the second time this week Sasuke had said or done something to make him speechless.

He waited for Sasuke to say something but the Uchiha was better at the non-talking game and he outlasted Naruto every time.

“What are you talking about Sasuke? I never liked you.” Naruto laughed it off after having blushed for the 30 seconds after it had been mentioned in the first place. Now it was Sasuke’s turn to pause. He knew he hadn’t read the other day wrong. The day where they had been up against each other. The day they had-

“All this excitement is making me dizzy. I’m going to the bathroom.” Naruto stood up and began to walk away.

“You’re a liar, Naruto.” Sasuke voice was not his normal even tone. He was sounding a bit desperate or even a little shaken by the fact that Naruto wouldn’t admit anything to him. The blond turned around and eyed him. He didn’t know if he should say something back or keep quiet. Sasuke stared harder than he did. Naruto turned around quickly and broke for the door to the hall. Sasuke got up and quietly followed, not wanting to make a scene.

He caught Naruto in the hall, by the hand. The banquet was in a hotel so that meant there were other people around but Sasuke didn’t seem to care about them. He wouldn’t be seeing them at school on Monday.

“What’s wrong with you?” He asked the blond. His voice was still uneasy, but more of a ‘I really wanna know what the hell is going on’ type thing. Naruto just stared at him. His eyes were hiding some type of confusion and Sasuke couldn’t get up the courage to ask why he looked so sad. Naruto gulped, unnoticed by Sasuke, but remained silent.

Sasuke slammed him against the wall. “Don’t play stupid Naruto. I know how you feel about me.” His voice was low and there was a little bit of urgency in it. Naruto had every word he’d ever learned in his life was stuck in the back of his throat. He couldn’t even think of what to say to him. How could he deny something that was true?

“…Naruto.” Sasuke moved closer as if he was acting apologetic for ramming Naruto into the wall so heavily. His heart pounded against his chest. Just like it had the last time they were this close. He wrapped his arms around Naruto’s waist and pulled him close. Naruto didn’t fight this, probably because he had no clue what was going on.

Naruto’s body shook in Sasuke’s grasp. He was one hundred percent sure that he didn’t know what to do. So he just stood there, shaking. This time it was no accident, Sasuke was purposely pressuring his body into the wall. They remained this way for a short time, Sasuke staring in his eyes and Naruto trying to control his breathing.

Sasuke leaned and Naruto froze, he couldn’t imagine what was going to happen next but he didn’t need to. Sasuke’s lips claimed his gently. Naruto felt his body jerked in response until Sasuke tightened his grip. Naruto could do nothing but fall into the kiss and return it.

Their first bond began slowly as Sasuke held his hips firmly and tried not to arch into him. Naruto savored the taste Sasuke was sharing with him. His lips burned but he dare not let Sasuke in his mouth to feed on his tongue. Naruto lost though, Sasuke got the better of him when the Uchiha grinded against his hips. The blond couldn’t hold out anymore, he was either lost in shock or he was just lost. A tear rolled down his face but he wiped it up quickly and torn his lips away from Sasuke.

He pushed the boy away and stared at him. Naruto bit his lips and shook his head as if to ask…why?

“You don’t seem like you wanted that? Isn’t it what you were waiting for?” Sasuke asked stepping back up to him but Naruto stopped him.

“I waited for you. Perhaps I waited too long. I can’t erase what I’ve seen you do with Gaara. Even though I still want you, I can’t have you, Sasuke.” He moved the boy off of him and broke for the door.

“Naruto wait!” Sasuke caught his arm and pulled him back. He wanted to say something, anything to make Naruto understand, but the look in the blonde’s eye made Sasuke let him go.

“It’s been 5 years for me, Sasuke. How long has it been for you.” Naruto asked, knowing he wasn’t going to get the answer he was looking for.

“What?” Sasuke shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Naruto.” He frowned and tried to go over the question again.

“I’ve liked you for 5 whole years. You never paid attention to me before, why now?” Naruto frowned. Holding back the need to break down in a not so manly fit. He wanted to scream and yell and whine about how he’d tried to get Sasuke’s attention, but to no avail. The Uchiha remained silent for a long time. He had nothing to say, either that or he was contemplating.

“You-“ Sasuke turned away and bit his lip, but he had the chance now, he had to take it before he lost it again. “-you always liked Sakura. You boasted about how you liked her so much that it pissed me off. How long have I liked you? To answer your question, a lot longer than you’ve liked me. It’s been affecting me longer than you. I only dated her to get your attention, to make you jealous. It never worked and you only ignore me first. I let go, you’re impossible to catch.”

There was a silence between them. Naruto thought about what Sasuke had just confessed. It didn’t seem real at all, but he could never tell with Sasuke. He joked and was serious at the wrong times.

“So Gaara was talking about me on Friday. He was referring to me when he said, ‘You’ve wanted him for a long time’ wasn’t he? You’ve liked me for so long, why didn’t you just tell me? We could have-“ He cut himself off. “I-I have to go, Sasuke.”

“Naruto…don’t leave.” He took Naruto’s hand and wanted to pull him back but the blond said something that made him let go-

“You left me when you kissed him.” He inhaled. “I can’t do this…Sasuke.” He turned and walked out of the lobby of the hotel. Sasuke stood alone in the hall leading to the lobby. He couldn’t move, he could barely breathe. Naruto had just turned him down, said he couldn’t do this. Sasuke didn’t know what to do. He sighed and leaned against the wall…unaware of the cameraman standing behind the receptionist desk.

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End SideStory-Sorry if there were mistakes…but I revised this pretty damn quick. Tell me if you see any!
(A:N) It’s not as sad as I wanted it to be but I couldn’t think of anything…sorry I took so long posting this….i was watch “UNK The Two Step videos on Youtube with my brother. Fun times! People cannot dance…I don’t know why they try. (Shakes Head)-Anyways…if you didn’t get it…Sasuke didn’t actually bite his tongue earlier…it was a nose bleed from seeing Naruto in a towel…Also wanna mention that this was one of the funniest things I’ve written in awhile. It’s nice to get away from the angst and Naruto helps…he’s so cute. Muah! REVIEWS I WANT-Yoda