Payphone

Title: Payphone

Series: Naruto

Rating: T

Genres: General? Romance, semi-angst

Warnings: None, really.

Verse: AU

DHC: And so this had to be written. I don't own Maroon 5, by the way. I just like their music. Rock on, peeps!

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"If "Happy Ever After" did exist,

I would still be holding you like this

All those fairy tales are full of shit

One more fucking love song, I'll be sick.

Now I'm at a payphone..."

His hand flicked the radio switch off, knuckles on the steering-wheel of the car were turned white as his black eyes flickered around the mostly un-familiar scenery of Amegakure. He sighed heavily, his breath turning steamy from the humidity in the air as he turned a corner only to pull into a dingy diner's parking-lot.

His cell phone went dead ten hours ago, he'd been driving for three days straight, his eyes were partly red from lack of sleep and the tears that would occasionally fall. He'd ran. Again. His lower lip trembled, his paler-than-normal skin were raised in goosebumps from the strange feel of the humidity and rain as he opened the car-door and stepped out, pulling his long hoody-sleeves down over his pale arms, effectively hiding the majority of his skin with the material.

He drew his hood up over his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he slowly made his way across the parking-lot to the door of the family-run cafe. He was still on auto-pilot as he allowed the waitress seat him and take his order for the strongest coffee they dared to make. He couldn't read the words on the menu, his eyes didn't want to focus. He sighed, letting the menu slip from his fingers as he ran a shaky hand through his hair, pushing his hoody down.

His thoughts once again returned towards Konoha and his heart squeezed. He looked out the dim-window out at the rain. What had made him think that driving as far away from the situation as possible would help him any? He let hid anger and fear drive him too easily again. He was startled by the loud, resounding clack of his coffee mug being set down in front of him. He tried to be polite and thank the girl, but all he could manage was the barest of grim-smiles.

He picked up the mug and took a sip. No where near his level of coffee. Not even close. A soft sigh escaped him as his eyes slid closed as a tear tried to escape the corner of his eye, but he swiped it away.

The static-y station of the radio turned to a familiar tune.

"You can't expect me to be fine,

I don't expect you to care

I know I've said it before,

But all of our bridges burned down."

He flinched as he gazed down at the emblem marking the sleeve of his hoody. Itachi... His mind idly wondered how his brother was doing, now that he was gone. He'd been stupid when he's stormed out, but he'd be damned if he ever sucked in his pride enough to confront said brother about the mistake.

"All those fairy tales are full of shit...one more fucking love song, I'll be sick." He mumbled almost bitterly along to the music. He tried to push the thoughts away as he once again picked up the menu, taking another sip of coffee as he once again tried to read the menu as the girl made her rounds again to take orders.

He barely managed to figure out something simple enough, a regular old hamburger with fries and ketchup. He stared at the dismal scene outside while sipping the coffee, trying his hardest to stop the shaking in his fingers because every sip just made him ache harder for the other's coffee. His order arrived a lot longer than he ever thought it would, but time was of little relevance due to the fact that the music of the song seemed to blur on and on.

He ate hurriedly, wishing to be away from this scene already. Standing when finished, he paid for the meal and exited the door out to a downpour of rain on him. He was mid-way to his car when he changed direction, letting his feet drag him where they wished, his eyes transfixed at the object twenty-some-odd yards away.

He walked up to it and took the phone from the hook, digging deep into his pocket and fished out his change and inserted the coins into the machine before dialing a number.

Ring...

One...

Ring...

Two...

Rin-

Thr-

"...Muh?"

His breath caught mid-intake at the sound of the others voice, but he swallowed hard and managed to croak out a weak "Hey..."

"...Hey."

He looked partially upwards as the rain soaked down his bangs and trailed down his cheek and down his jawline before dropping off at his chin. "So...I'm...at a payphone in Ame."

There was silence for a long while and he bit his lip until it was plump and cherry-looking.

"...When are you coming home?"

Home. 'When are you coming home?' The words felt so foreign and odd to him, hearing them from the other, but at the same time...it had never felt so right. "As soon as I hang up." He answered seriously.

"...Then what are you waiting for?" Came the tired, heavy response.

With a sound that seemed similar to a snort, he hung up the phone and turned on his heel, walking back towards his car. He opened the door and slipped in quickly, shutting the door. The purr of his engine ignited and soon, he was back on the road.

His fingers flicked on the radio and switched stations. A small smirk rose to his face as a familiar tune came on.

"I'm at a payphone trying to call home, all of my change, I spent on you..." He sang quietly along with the words.

Three days later, his black car pulled up into a garage and parked. He climbed the stairs of the apartment complex up to the one door and pushed it open. His gaunt, small frame hovered in the entryway.

"I'm...back." He said in a weary voice that belied just how worn thin he was.

A moment barely passed before he was in the rest of the way in the room, door closed, four steps and-

Shikamaru had his arms around him. "You're late." He said in a deadpan voice, the tone hiding just how shaken up he truly had been.

He gave him a thin, but real smile as he heard the not-quite-old tune.

"If "Happy Ever After" did exist,

I would still be holding you like this

All those fairy tales are full of shit

One more fucking love song, I'll be sick."

His dark eyes darkened a little as he leaned in, bringing a shaking hand up to cup the others face.

"...Forgive me," He pleaded in a whisper.

The others hold tightened as they leaned in to catch the other's lips in a kiss, whispering, "Only this time."

Sasuke smiled.

He was home.

"Now I'm at a payphone..."

Owari.

 

Lyrics by Maroon 5 - Payphone.