I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama- Part I
Who: Naruto & Neji
What: What was supposed to be a casual night between friends. :(
When: Last December 'o8. And we're sticking to that.
Warning: I vaguely recall somewhere it saying that this would end in fire... huh. Anywho. This was written like... a year and a half ago? And quickly finished up. So. STANDARDS ARE WAY HIGHER NOWADAYS. DON'T JUDGE US. Part II
He was driving too fast in areas he knew he could allow himself the indulgence, his BMW gliding through streets that narrowed down as he reached downtown. As usual, sunglasses were drawn over Neji's eyes, a force of habit even if he felt absolutely indifferent to staring people by now. The corner of his mouth twitched in annoyance; he was tired from the flight and had actually lowered himself to getting some coffee in a paper cup. Too hot coffee. His tongue and throat stung now. For all subtlety in which his irritation showed, the engine gave a more obvious roar, and after the last few meters, he braked. At this rate, he would need new wheels soon. Much obliged, Starbucks. The screeching of said wheels should have been enough to announce his presence, so he gave Naruto a minute before getting out of the car.
Be it sheer luck, Naruto was in that sort of mood that meant getting ready on time and not having to rush through his tiny apartment to get out the door. No, the obvious bemusement in Neji's tone hinted that he had to be a good boy in the other's presence or fear the pain of a long walk home/sever beating with long, black hair, or anything else that the Hyuuga could whip out at a moments notice. The evening wasn't about the blond anyway, more focused on getting his friend to relax and settle back down to his happy, stoic self. One of which was buying Naruto dinner and the blond was going to mooch it for all it was worth.
Just one last scrub at his teeth with his index finger in the mirror- And perfect. He hiked up his jacket and tossed it over his shoulders, keys jingling in his hand before stuffing them in his pocket after locking his door. Needless to say he could feel Neji's wrath before even nearing the car, his grin beaming brightly as he jarred the door and slid his way casually inside.
"So. Flowers and butterflies. Huh?" He buckled himself in. "Y'sure you didn't just motocross right over the damn things getting over here?"
"I didn't slow down to check," He mused icily, feeling even his level of wits drop. How pathetic. He knew why he preferred tea. Lowering himself back into the driver's seat, he took off his glasses to examine the blond, feeling himself take comfort in his presence for now as his shoulders and eyebrow grew more lax. Having not seen him since July, Neji could have been more surprised. "Did you grow a little, or is the seat adjusted wrong?"
"Didn't know you took so much time checking me out, Neji. Got too tired of lookn' at yourself in the mirror?" Naruto mused, adjusting himself in the seat and then sitting upright enough to show his exact height. Maybe he had gained an inch or two since their last visit, having not noticed because of how busy he was recently. Despite his cocky response, there was a happy light to his eyes when he replied. Something that hadn't happened very much recently. Funny how one of the more quiet friends he had was the reason for that light feeling in his chest. "You ain't too shabby yourself either. You're coming into your womanly figure quite nicely."
"I have some leftover coffee that would go well with your additional height." By way of suggestion, he returned his attention to his baby, always a soothing matter, and restarted the engine. His irritation was merely a surface matter now, even if his mood lift was blurred out by the jet lag creeping up his back. Not that Naruto needed to know that, and was going to, as a matter of fact, if he continued to break out the insufferable gender confusion jibes again. "Should I even bother to inquire about your dinner choice?"
The night was about Neji. All about Neji. It was Naruto's job as a friend to make the night all about Neji.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Naruto knitted his eyebrows and bit back any further snarky comments. He wasn't dull in the head enough to not notice the subtle need to keep quiet for the evening. Not so much as mute as it was to keep his personality at a calm volume. So with a twitch of his head and slight force, Naruto cleared his throat and looked straight ahead, eyes narrowed. "Dunno, Neji. I'm thinking I want whatever you want. Sounds good, right?"
Lacking sunglasses, his blink, even if focused on the street, was obvious. Expression clearing up once again, he threw the other a glance, focused back on the street, one eyebrow slowly rising - alas, if all it took to get his friend to turn this considerate was to leave to Europe for two months, he should join with his peers for the winter collection. Unfortunately, school would probably not have that, and neither would his body. Eight precious pound, lost forever to insalata mista perpetuale. Eventually, he decided to refrain from commenting on the obvious effort of selflessness, and let an indulgent smirk take over his features. "It does."
"Figures." Was the slow answer, having missed Neji's facial expression and reaction, but relaxing nonetheless. It wasn't that he was a selfish sort of guy. Not at all. Naruto just had a way with not noticing what was going on around him with his friends or outside world, thinking first of himself with small issues like places to go or things to eat, and then considering his friends' opinions on the matter. Right now he was happy to know that he had done good and that was enough to satiate himself for now. Having the Hyuuga gone for over a month had been strenuous at best anyway and Naruto wasn't at all willing to have the night end unpleasantly. As quiet as the man's presence was, it was almost uncomfortable for it to be gone for so long.
"You got a lot to make up to me, man. What was I supposed to tell your little fan club if you left for much longer? I could have been mauled and you wouldn't have given a damn!"
He took the direction uptown, one hand at the steering wheel and the other reaching for his coffee, faintly hoping it had finally cooled down enough to be potable. "I'll try to think of a way." Trusting that he'd left enough of an air that indicated he was not done yet, he took his time in drinking a generous sip. "Although you accuse me of that last matter with no grounds to prove anything."
"I got to have a reason to accuse you of being a jackass? I thought shit like that was implied..." With his fate set before him, Naruto had no other choice but to simply sit back and enjoy the ride. And he did just that, letting the hum of the car be the soundtrack for the trip. Really had been far too long. If nothing else Naruto missed the car just as much as Neji, but he wasn't about to go blabbing silly things like that out of nowhere. Instead, he took the manly route and went in to snatch that warm styrofoam cup away, looking rather cheeky in the process. "'Course I could just send them to your address, right? Be the nice sorta guy and tip 'em off about your fancy cell number."
"I've started to take a disliking to moving, though, as you would certainly consider in your calculations. Especially now that I have settled so well, having cleared all disputes with the landlady, renovating, not to mention the charming lack of spiders nests." Neji pulled into a parking lot next to what looked like lounge-Asia restaurant fusion. Thrumming a little beat with the tips of his fingers on the wheel, he added in an almost mournful tone, "I would really resent leaving that."
The cup was at his lips when that slight change in Neji's demeanor peaked his senses, eyebrows furrowing as he glanced at the other. He stopped, thought, then closed his eyes as he sipped the bitter liquid, not speaking until it had slid down his throat. "You know what I'm thinking...?" His voice broke the silence before it could really begin, eyes trained on the building in front of them. "I'm thinking I would kick your ass if you ever went and left just like that."
"That is, given you could find me. Hypothetically speaking, of course, as I have no such intentions." Neji didn't need to add that he couldn't. That silly side job did not mean remotely enough to him to cause him to take such actions. He took Naruto's words and rolled them over twice, three times in his head before deciding to leave them mostly uninterpreted. No further commentary following, he slid out of the car.
"Don't go using your stupid college thesis bullshit on me, Neji. You know I can do anything when I put my mind to it." He could very well care less about the 'but's' and 'if''s' of the situation. Point was that thinking of one of his closest friends leaving made his chest feel all constricted and painful. Like he couldn't breath. It was always best to push it out of memory or simply act like it wasn't there, and if it was then he could easily defeat it. Seeing as their was no response to his query, Naruto let the point drop and stepped out of the car as well, making his way towards the door. Sometime during that pass, his attitude had been absorbed back into the deep, shady recesses of his brain and left to simmer, instead opting to reach and open the door for the Hyuuga instead.
"Ladies first."
Neji, who had deemed the matter unworthy of further commenting, if not only to prevent the conversation from taking on a too sentimental note, refrained from sneered jibes or glares. As the one unwilling to further go into increasingly irritated detail about that and why he would not leave the idiot, he'd have to swallow the usual fudging about his obvious femininity. Considering how it was nothing new, it did a barely sufficient job on soothing the Hyuuga about how at least he had evaded further awkward situations.
Pass he did, chin up just slightly and not sparing him a glance, and entered the dimly lighted lounge. "Just two," a mouthed reply to the questioning look of the nearest waiter, accompanied by two long, outstretched fingers for visual underlining.
Naruto could only look as perfectly smug and happy as he usually did when things went his way. Neji hadn't fought off his horrible teasing and he could appreciate the silence for what it was worth. It meant that he wasn't going to get hit for his bad behavior, but since when had the Hyuuga ever caused a stir in public? He admired the view instead whilst there was peace, taking his time to look over the people in the building and letting his eyes adjust to the dimly lit atmosphere. Any other guy might say this place was romantic...
Scratching at the back of his neck in an act of impatience, Naruto nudged Neji in the shoulder before walking ahead where the waiter lead them. "Fancy place they got going here. Didn't think you'd be pulling out all the stops for me, honey."
"I would like to believe I have neglected you for long enough," Was the seemingly noncommittal reply. They were eventually offered a small booth at the sidelines, window-view to the street included, his usual. Whether it was to have an eye on his precious car or to make the two-men-booth feel less stuffy was left to debate; nonetheless it seemed as though it was just another well-calculated move of the Hyuuga. If you knew how to interpret into his actions. If not, then this was just another comfortable table in a simplistic restaurant.. lounge... thing. Place.
"Neglected is a strong word ain't it?" Naruto asked curiously, a confused look drawn on his face as he gave his friend a close inspection. Sure, Neji was a nice guy when you rubbed him the right way. Sometimes kinda warm and generous when he felt the need. But someone so upfront with their thoughts always made Naruto a bit squeamish. With it being the Hyuuga of all people made it all the more weird. So instead of confronting the issue, Naruto brushed aside and shook his head, quickly taking his seat instead of trying to laugh it off. The window view was a nice touch, though. Just distracting enough to get his mind off of the seemingly innocent nature of the other this evening.
Maybe traveling really had taken it's toll. "-I mean... I get more time out of your day than most people. Gotta feel lucky for something..."
"Most people are not as insistent about me treating them to dinner." Partially, Neji was quite aware that not even a handful of friends keeping his wallet thin would break him off the generosity habit. No matter how much or little money he spent, the time he spared for it did not feel sufficient, what with him going missing for weeks, or months.
Not one to let his conscience take over and show too much, he guilelessly handed Naruto the menu. "You never quite got around to telling me how you have been faring."
Ignoring the snub, Naruto snatched the menu away and hid away behind it. The less he saw of Neji the more he would be able to get back his normal train of thought. Leave it to the jackass to go and screw around with his average way of thinking- And to pick a restaurant who could pick apart Naruto's monthly wages bit by bit if he were handling the bill. Which would lead to Naruto tilting the menu down before the dollar signs burned his retina and forced him back into the conversation.
"Nosy one ain't you... Don't you got anything better to do than to worry about all of that?" He sounded almost embarrassed, the resolve of the issue written all over his face."I... got it taken care of. I figured a way around it and all so you don't gotta keep asking."
Contrary to his slight exhaustion, Neji had the nerve to smile, mostly amused, fully to himself, if only to spare the blond the thought that he was not enjoying a private joke. It did not rest long on his features, giving way to a crooked corner of the mouth, and a furrowed eyebrow. "And now the details, as you seem to resent my concern so much." Despite his obvious authority, it sounded oddly like a suggestion.
That smile wasn't supposed to be there. At least not without some heavy lubrication of the more toxic forms of alcohol. Honestly, Naruto didn't mind his friend's more... relaxed behavior. It was just more upfront than usual and came far too easily this time around. Usually it took more coaxing and joking around on the blond's part to get Neji so, well, happy. Though the subject of his current money issues erased more than a bit of his concerns, leading him to build up the casual barrier he usually did when it came to conversing over his weaknesses...
"It doesn't have a damn thing to do with resenting. It's just not that big of a deal. So I drop a few classes to pick up the slack at work. It's just enough to get by and that's all I need..."
As presumed, the response drained him of most of his good mood, merely happy to escape Armani Hell, and kicked him back into I Told You So-gear. He had been expecting something along those lines, though, and while he was suddenly entirely unamused, he did not look inclined towards discussing the problem at length. He should have made due with some more coffee, had he wanted to revert entirely to his usual self.
Did not hurt to spare Uzumaki once or twice a year.
Uzumaki who had dropped classes, the ape.
"Your current rent?"
Like Neji's shift in emotion was that hard to figure out. Seriously, Naruto could feel the waves of regret and the beginnings of Hyuuga's more serious migraines from all the way across the table. He just couldn't see the big picture here and why everyone made such a big deal over these things. Just because he lost a few credits didn't mean that he was never going to get them in the future. But times were rough and he needed that job. The only one that hired him with full time and paid him as much as they did what with him just starting. He wasn't about the kick a gift horse in the mouth...
Funny. Seeing as he seemed to do that a lot when it came to his friend's more than obvious push to help. Leave it to Naruto to be the most oblivious person on the planet when it really mattered.
Already digging for his wallet to whip out his id for a sturdy glass of whatever sort of alcohol they served in a fancy place like this, Naruto kept his eyes downcast. "About sixty-thousand ¥ a month. Utilities not included." He left out the part that it was hard to get a place anywhere else because of his line of credit. Those 'I told you so' eyes were already doing enough damage.
For a lack of a better indulgence, Neji followed his example and reached for his coat pocket. Maybe he was going to need this more than he'd like to believe. Remaining silent while he retrieved his wallet, unfastening a shed with one hand, he kept his eyes on Naruto for a full five seconds before deciding that he had no reason to reconsider.
Along with his ID came something small and heavy enough to be flicked across the table. "Refuse to make use of it, and I will be sorely tempted to have a copy made to bash it into your thick skull," He murmured idly, scrutinizing his photo on the card. Resuming seriousness, he cast his attention back on the blond. "There is a spare room. Take your own furniture, if it aids in making you feel better about it."
A rejection on the offer would clearly not be accepted once more.
It wasn't that he had denied Neji's help in the first place. Naruto was just far too oblivious to tell what was going on right in front of his face. Unless it was hard and made a nice clink as it skipped across a marble table-
No, he pretty much got the idea then. Blue eyes turned up and away from the waitress walking towards their table to glance at the silver key instead, keeping his attention to that and letting it slowly process. During that time his expression turned from confused to reluctant... to simply stubborn and confused again. "You can't expect me to just take this. No use threatening me, Hyuuga. It's not that simple. I can't put you out like that..."
The waitress came, he flashed his id, and pointed to that pretty crystal glass of bourbon on the top shelf. If Neji's eyes could tell a story... Naruto knew he was in for it tonight. And hadn't it been meant to be a calming evening? "I can handle this. I don't see why you're making such a big deal."
"The one making a big deal is you." His tone lost some of his sharpness, wordlessly in agreement about not ruining the mood. But Neji would not allow him to drop the matter before it was headed where he wanted it. "You know that it will cause me no fiscal harm. No more than it does to drive downtown and fetch you for dinner twice a week, with the current gas prices," He allowed to slip into the conversation. It was a point. Having taken the liberty to make the waitress stand by the table for a moment, he finally lifted his own ID to her between two fingers. "The same, and a glass of water."
"I thought something was made bigger when you didn't drop. The. Subject." The ping to their daily routine had taken a bit of bite out of Naruto's previous attitude, causing him to slump and lean back in the plush chair he had been seated in. This really was a horrible environment to cause a stir in anyway. Dim lights, pretty scenery... If Naruto didn't know any better he would have pined this as some sort of date. Or at least a mock sequence of one... But this was Neji. Hyuuga Neji. Things like that didn't happen with him and a date of all things, well... He just didn't see the guy in that light. Like there was some horrible force field that made sexual advances towards the other impossible both physically and mentally.
Pocketing his id with a huff, Naruto deterred from his inner, and mostly childlike, rage, and focused once more on those empty eyes staring back at him. "So... how long do I got to move my shit before you get the entire police force at my place to 'escort' me out?"
His tone indicated that he knew fully well that he was being increasingly generous. "A week, give or take a few days." He needed to find a helping hand in moving his piano up the stairs, where he was already picturing it, now that its room was taken. Or maybe a suitable machine. With a breath rather than a sigh, he leaned back, straightening against the cushions of his chair. This.. could have been more difficult. Naruto certainly was sparing his nerves today.
Neji managed to resist, barely, giving Naruto the advice of not looking at the prices, already aware of his own choice.
-Only because Naruto had spent a good deal of the last week dealing with assholes and extra shifts at work. He was at his limit and just wasn't up to the normal stubbornness he would have been shoving out at this point. When the drinks came, it took all but a second for his hand to wrap around the glass and the icy rim to reach his lips. Yes, that did just the right kick to his nerves and had his mind back on track. Just a little alcohol to cool off the badly set mindset he had had recently never hurt...
"Ain't you a gentleman! Going out of your way to get the best men to kick me out of my home. What fairy has crawled up your ass and laid pixie dust eggs- The Hell is this, Neji?! I can't get anything off of a menu like this! What're you thinking?"
"Just pretend the comma is a digit in front." He diligently picked his glass of water to drink, for now ignoring his own bourbon. "I'll have Menu D," Was added as an afterthought to the patient waitress, and to further take the conversation topic away from the pixie dust eggs up his rectum. How Naruto always managed to lead their talk to his rear, he did not know - did not want to think about, in all honesty. No, his mind was occupied, blissfully so, with the prospect miso soup, some sushi, and fish soba. Having just returned from Italy, this was long overdue; he'd rather not think again about his attempts at finding a decent Asian restaurant in Milan.
With no other choice and a waitress now beginning to get far more impatient than was worth her time and pay, Naruto quickly pointed to a random list on the menu before handing it back to her. Hopefully it was something at least halfway decent for what Neji was paying for it. There a kick to the rear in store for the other as soon as the left the restaurant, only in fear of breaking something if he were to do so inside. "Don't you got better things to do than to waste your money like this? Maybe if you stashed it away you wouldn't have to leave so fucking much. You ever think about that...?"
That struck a chord within the Hyuuga, albeit one that came with a strong self-defense. After all, Neji rarely spent so much money on himself, car excluded. "And what makes you think I'm not stashing away the majority?" He allowed himself a sip of liquor to go with his self-reassurance, refraining from picking on whether Naruto had honestly missed him merely because it was below the belt. Also for himself. Neji wouldn't deny that if tables were turned.
Good modeling was ridiculously well-paid, and he was not going to complain about its inappropriateness. Savoring the thick liquid for a moment, he remembered his paycheck for Milan. Definitely out of place, but there, on his account. He swallowed. "I've already made plans of reducing walks after this."
"Y'never know. It's not like I'm gonna go digging around for your paycheck, Hyuuga. I got no real interest in how much money you make." And this was him being honest. All out there with his feelings on the table. If Neji couldn't see it for what it was worth then he could just royally stick it. Naruto missed his friends. Some more than others. Neji was one of those some and he should damn well treat the title with respect. But the guy could be such a piece of work sometimes...
This time when he brought the glass to his lips it lingered before he suddenly shot it back and downed the rest of the glass. Alcohol was never a good way to solve your issues, but in a high class place like this where the majority used either satiation or money Naruto saw it fit. That and the booth was still too small for any real kicking and shoving. His loss... "I'm just thinking you got to have a good reason to be leaving all the time. If it ain't the money then what reason do you have? Running away from something?"
Neji frowned briefly to himself, silent as a fatigued look passed his features in the span of few seconds. At a loss of other things to do, he followed Naruto's example and finished his glass. The food would arrive shortly, anyway; he could trust himself drinking on an empty stomach for a few minutes. "I wouldn't be sitting here if I were running away from anything," He then brusquely stated. And that was the case, wasn't it? He could have left the country when he had left his family. Shove a last piece of distance between himself and his would-be worries, but also leaving those behind that had steadied his back regardless of whether he had been a bastard or not. And Naruto... Shouldn't throw with assumptions like that. They made him think more about certain matters than was entirely healthy.
But Naruto was never really interested in Neji's background. Sure, he knew about the other man's bad past and he knew that most of the Hyuuga name was made up of some of the hugest assholes he had ever had the disinterest in knowing about. Meanwhile, he was still good friends with the guy and could ignore all of that, doing him a personal favor by never bringing up Neji's past. In some way the same was done for him as well by never conversing over his own intrepid past. Fuck it all he needed another drink...
"Fine. You're sitting here with me. But you still gotta have a reason. It's not like you're in need of cash, man..." He waved his hand towards the bartender, signaling for another glass. Tall. On ice. It was so nice not to be behind the counter for once. Being the one waited on was a nice change of pace. They just needed to keep the drinks coming so that he could get a nice haze. By now it was nothing but a dull buzz."Go ahead and inform me then. Seeing as m'so wrong. Is it all the attention? I thought you hated having everyone throwing themselves at you."
Mild irritation flitted over Neji's features. "You know how I live. I do that entirely off of my own account, and my inheritance only goes to school fees." Even if it meant never spending his father's money at all, he would not throw it out for cars or clothes. It wasn't used for dinners with his friends, either. Such as this. He could hardly claim he had to work hard for it, and so he did not count every penny at the end of the month. "I actually like my work. It's hard to throw yourself at me when I'm behind a camera lense or on a runway." Still slightly miffed, but recovering, he added, "You know that there were no problems when I did not travel as much, Naruto. I'm not blind, and I am working on it. If you think I'd rather spend my evening listening to Lagerfeld or Coco Chanel than watch you stuff your mouth with ramen, I'll consider the money I spend on said ramen a waste. And only then."
"I never said that you did! I don't even know those bastards...", he so declared, clueless to whom those fancy names belonged. To be honest he knew very little of Neji's line of work, only given bits and pieces of information when the other saw fit. And he was fine with this, never truly interested in fashion to begin with and happy to keep it that way. He never once thought that ignoring that part of his friend's life meant that they would drift apart. Maybe Neji didn't see it for what it was, but Naruto felt it. He didn't like fighting against time to be with Neji and maybe it was just petty jealousy. But Naruto wasn't at all ready to admit that. "You'll figure out that you like that stupid stuff at some point. This place will be too boring for you and-..."
And there's the alcohol. Right on time and quickly thanked for and pressed to his lips to shut him up.
His eyebrow arched high, only sign of the deeply personal offense he was taking to that would-be prediction. Before the waitress could saunter off again, he motioned her back with two fingers. "I'll have a mojito." And dismissed her. Neji was hard-pressed to not keep a hold of his annoyance and sulk for the rest of the evening; the desire to not ruin their time together prompting his order. Certainly, he would have been able to calm down without a drink, but he would have been brooding on the inside. He gave himself three seconds before picking up the topic. "Since when have I been known to have boredom issues?"
He took a moment to let those words sit, settle, before tossing them out and having a laugh at himself. "Guess you're right. You ain't the type to go looking for one. Why else would I have to go and hunt you down, right? You wouldn't have any excitement without me!" And there it was. A smile back on his face that seemed so familiar and distanced to anyone that truly knew him, fears hidden away and thoughts drowned in the smooth liquid at the bottom of his glass. He wasn't in the right place right now to be pushing that stuff on anyone anyway... "But in case you do. You can't ignore that it might happen."
"I'd like to believe I've had this occupation for long enough to know that it won't happen." Neji didn't really buy that smile, but at least they were headed towards settling the topic. Resting his chin in his palm, he watched the bartender get to work on his drink. "..But yes," He slowly added. "You always have a surprise in, at least, to keep me on my toes." Whether it was good or not, meaningful or ridiculous. He was going to take them all as he had started taking them when Naruto had nearly broken his jaw proving the point that changed his life.
... Going sentimental, again. It was about time his glass was brought to him.
"Shit changes." Was the lone and final thought. Naruto trusted Neji much more than he did select others, but when it came to things like this it never faltered to follow the same path. Things happened in life that would pull someone he cared for dearly away. It was a dreary line of thinking. He knew this. But it was the way of thinking he had grown up with and found comfort in knowing about it's presence. And that comfort made it possible for him to forget about the formidable and carry on with the evening as it should be.
He let out a warm laugh, obviously amused by the memory. A hand reached up to knock lightly against the man's slender jaw, then used his fingers to get a good touch in, examining. "Kept you around didn't it? You gotta get a daily surprise or what good would I be to keep around?"
Neji's shoulders tensed a little, but it was an improvement from a time when he would not let anyone touch him at all. One eyebrow arched, he inclined his head as if to aid in Naruto's examination, or simply draw his attention away from his face in case he slipped and ended up showing his inherent awkwardness. No, it was probably the better choice to arch his neck like that. The response was sneered. "I hope I didn't just jinx anything."
"Eh? You can do that?"
Naruto's laugh lingered on this time, mood brightening and dropping his hand after seeing what he wanted to see. The guy still had the most feminine face out there, good for confusing the people out there that were into that sort of thing. Neji had a good, deep voice, though. Something that shouldn't confuse anyone at all if they took a moment to let it process. Meanwhile, the other's discomfort was left unacknowledged by Naruto's oblivious nature. Drink number three was ordered. "I thought everything was perfect in Hyuuga-verse. You telling me that some of the walls are chipped?"
The waitress taking order number three luckily also brought Neji's drink number two. He picked it up briefly post-recovery to take a cooling gulp, ice, lime and mint giving him an instantaneous false impression of a clearer mind. "Not everything goes according to plan, as much as my family would treasure that." A small smirk curled the corner of his mouth that could be mistaken for bitterness, but actually was grim amusement; as if Naruto didn't know that. As if he hadn't been the first break in Neji's own routine. "Don't tell me you're surprised."
"Your family doesn't know shit. What's fun about perfect anyway, huh? If you always expect everything to go right..." His thumb marked some nonsensical path up the side of his glass, the moisture collecting and budding close to the heat of his hand. "-Then you'll never have fun 'cause it'll be predictable..." The thought sit, eyes drifting from his drink, then to that awful smirk, his vision narrowing and taking far more time than he would have liked to examine the Hyuuga's mouth. "So I'm glad you're as fucked up as the rest of us. Is what I'm trying to say..."
The expression drained from his face at Naruto's choice of wording, but it was something he had grown used to. There were other statements that he could take offense at, and they had just escaped a conversation topic that very well made him. "You've rarely flattered me like this," He retorted flatly, pale eyes creeping to their corners as he noticed the waitress approaching with their order. A blessing. Maybe he could dare continue his drinking now, at least.
"I figure you deserve it after that trip you had. You were gone longer than usual." He could feel the side effects of his alcohol consumption, a blissful glow overcasting his eyes and a warm sort of comforting tingle underneath his skin. Naruto knew he wasn't close to being finished anytime soon and took comfort in knowing that Neji would take care of him, his own drinking aside. The smell of food was what caught him off guard, turning his attention away from Neji for only a moment when the plates were set down before them- Udon. Tempura udon. He could live with that. "And I may have even missed you. Just a little bit..."
Take care of him, alright. His large couch was already set up for drying out, just in case he would get a little too tipsy to drive Naruto home instead of taking the short route to his own place. The slight burn of rum on his tongue was a too nice change to ignore, so the latter outcome was getting more predictable. Putting down his glass barely after he'd stifled a dry chuckle on a sip, he straightened to let the waitress put down his bowl and plate. "Missed me a little in three months." He didn't seem piqued, though, and refrained from trying to coax more from his tipsy friend. Instead, he started on his miso soup.
He wasn't at all expecting to go home anyway. Not when bourbon came into play. Actually, when any alcohol at all was brought into picture, Naruto was all too willing to depend on his partner at that moment in time to take care of him. Of course he had been skipped out on before, so even if things didn't go according to plan he would be able to manage on his own. Or at least fork out for a cab. "A little bit more than a lot..." , he finally added, grabbing a pair of nearby chopsticks to stab at the contents of his bowl. Not too bad for a place that probably charged for the ancient porcelain the noodles were put in. "You're the only guy I know that'll have time for me 'sides wasting it on school."
Neji looked up from his bowl in mild interest as he was provided with more information than he had worked towards, but quickly blamed the alcohol for the elaborativeness of his friend. And ironically, he spoke of time, when Neji just up and left the country for a couple of months. Sometimes he genuinely wondered whether he deserved the credit he was given. But he wouldn't be Hyuuga Neji if he didn't work towards meeting and exceeding expectations, and he accepted that Milan had been a one time mistake and would well be accounted for. "Nh, you grow on people with taste." Tongue already loosened, he had to notice with a pang of gruff embarrassment in his chest. Well, if he was lucky, Naruto wouldn't pick up on the compliment and tease him while it was easy to do so.
... Neji rarely trusted his luck.
A moment passed where Neji's words entered his groggy mind and settled warmly, leaving Naruto to glance up when they registered, a horribly flustered smile tugging at his lips. "-And a required taste I am, right?" Neji hadn't needed to say that. The guy could have just let it be and Naruto could have continued sulking for a good five minutes before dropping the subject entirely. But that was nice. Really, very nice to hear... He scooted closer then, the round seat making it comfortably easy to slide around without causing much of a fuss. The other was radiating a sort of warmth right now that was so tempting. And Naruto liked warm.
When close enough, he pulled his bowl over closer as well, acting as if nothing happened before puncturing a fried shrimp with his chopsticks. Unfortunately for Neji it would seem that the alcohol had taken on a dozing effect, the more childish side of Naruto's mind put to rest for the night. "I don't think it too shabby y'know..." , a laugh, "That I grow on people like I do. I just don't wanna be one of those ugly moss things y'see on those planet shows. That stick to the tree- fungus? I don't wanna be someone's fungus. 'Cause then what fun will they have? They'd have to lug me around with them and have everyone point and stare.... And what kinda life could you have when that happens?"
... There could definitely have been a worse reaction than that. Keeping interested eyes on the scooting and then Naruto's expression during the little fungus-talk, he allowed himself to drain the rest of his glass. Once done, he put it near the other empty glasses for the waitress to pick up, and with leisure, crossed his legs. "I doubt that's going to happen to you soon." He'd seen fungus types, to make use of Naruto's words. Several of them had tried to take advantage of his patience in Italy, and while they were hardly comparable to what Naruto was to him, he could never see him with that attitude.
Well, he wouldn't be surprised if more alcohol meant even less distance between them. He could allow that. There had been enough distance in form of several countries and a tidbit of ocean for a while. That accounted for some compensation. Neji was the generous type, after all. Not that it wasn't relevant to his own interests.
That made him smile. Neji was always good at that sort of thing right? Despite the guy's quiet disability he really was nice to talk to and just the right thing to set you straight when you really need it. Naruto needed it and clung to it. "That's alright for now. I don't want to make anyone unhappy. Or stress 'em out. 'Cause what fun is that anyway..." , he spoke more to himself, considering a- what was it... fourth or fifth drink by now? He had to slow down or he'd be a total soaked sponge by the time they left this fancy place. He didn't want to put that burden on Neji.
Then again the guy was paying. He lifted his finger for the fourth/fifth... maybe sixth. "So I'll move in with you. And I'll do what you want me to do because it'll make you happy." The bowl was much more fun to look at now, chopsticks stirring the expensive broth slowly. "But it's your funeral."
Neji, meanwhile, indulged in his soba for a moment while his tipsy friend babbled about consequences hardly worth mentioning. As though he didn't know what he was in for. He replied, accordingly unimpressed, with a hum in his throat while going through his memory of the cocktail menu. " 's long as you leave composing my epitaph to Tenten or Sakura." One daiquiri.. or two would be last - he knew his limits (and the approximate sum of his bill), and this was as far as he would push them when he had to get them home safely. Naruto, and his precious car. He would rather sleep in the convertible than call for a cab and leave the Z4 in this part of town all night. But with his blond company there, it would get rather stuffy-- Doing a 180 degrees turn in his thoughts, he frowned in bemusement. Neji didn't have to justify that he was not getting batshit smashed tonight. Or any other night. No matter the tempting atmosphere.
But there was still time.
A wonderful cloudy film took over Naruto's vision, the edges far fuzzier than they were a drink or so ago. Leave it to his body to take it's time to let the alcohol slowly absorb. It was a calming feeling, though. The bourbon was just what he needed to get him to relax and just enjoy his time, making it far easier to be agreeable like Neji apparently wanted him to be. "What do they have to say...?" , he asked curiously, his glass back on the table and sitting back casually in the booth. His body had shifted closer once again at some point, warmth coming off the closest body so nicely- he wanted in on some of that...
Then his world was absorbed back into his skull instead of living so externally, a bit of logic still packed away. A warm body was more than tempting. Anyone was tempting- And it was Hyuuga. So that was enough for him to push aside the usual side effects of his sinful drinking, for the most part anyway, and gave him the strength he needed to give a casual tug on his sleeve instead. "Ne... go on and talk, Neji! Saying big words like that make no sense to me right now. You gotta speak slowly... Epitaph..." A snort. "You should talk more anyway. Y'got a pretty voice."
With the heat currently invading his personal space, Neji took some of his self-restraint to not readjust his collar; usually the one with the tendency for cold hands and other limbs, he had dressed accordingly, and was welcomed with the stifling results now. Why Naruto, who seemed plenty warm, himself, was seeking out his close company now, he'd rather not think about. The compliment sent a flush over his neck, but didn't noticeably reach his face-- the alcohol had already settled some color, there.
A slow smirk ghosting over his features, he discarded his chopsticks without wondering when his appetite had been replaced by the increasing haze settling over him. It couldn't be too hard to handle that one. "It's a gravestone inscription, Naruto," He obliged to the blond's request, mildly cynical and very happily allowing his tongue to roll over the words extra-slow, voice dipping down a few notes at the name. Drawling almost as obviously as when he had been called by Sakura after six- or, had it been.. ten, something-- drinks in Spain. All things considered, he might be able to work around that, or even with it.
There was an insatiable need for heat when it was offered so freely. Naruto enjoyed sunny days because he could lay out and simply take it in, winter days because he need not try hard to keep warm. His body was so awkward in the weirdest ways and he had learned to endure. During risqué activities he would become overheated, blinded by the force of the warmth around him so much so that it was hard to control his actions. Weird thing body temperature was. Tempting him to curl those fingers in Neji's sleeve instead of tugging childishly. He shifted closer, his chest fitted nicely against a toned bicep.
"Yeah..." An answer without a reason behind it, his tone huskier than it really should have been in this sort of setting. Where the elderly enjoyed the high life not too far away and well dressed waitresses waited on everyone around them. The candlelight danced on their table, flickering back and forth and making that numbing haze so damn irresistible... He pressed his face against what could have been the softest material he had ever felt and breathed deep, his grip tightening. "Gravestone...? But you're not going anywhere..."
Neji almost found himself distracted by the way he was suddenly too aware of the breath he took too slowly, a reflex. And maybe, the fact that the slight tension in his shoulders was amiss when it should have accompanied the close contact. Almost. Instead, he scrutinized the other, eyelids growing heavier, and decided to refrain from pointing out that Naruto was the one who had declared their flatmateship-to-be his funeral. Decided, in fact, that the daiquiri would have to wait until next time. Noticed out of the corner of his eye that one waitress was watching, and decided, at last, that it would be prudent for the semi-drunk to take the fully drunk home; whether it was to pursue this admittedly interesting situation elsewhere, or get him to sleep and out of his sleeve, it was the only thing he refused to decide.
"I'm going, alright. To take care of the bill." The waitress, caught as she noticed his eye contact and a small gesture while he mused to Naruto, and scurried off. If the other was fine with staying huddled up to him like this, he wasn't going to push him away for when she would return. He had no reason to, and several against.
Of course Naruto had very little reason to move. Here he was offered a warm, comfortable shoulder for which to press his face into. A nice shoulder it was, scented like Neji with a soft air of soap and probably some other girly cologne that he picked up during his trips in Paris or Italy. He could still feel the presence of others wandering around him and going about their business. But with his eyes closed it meant near to nothing. It was dark behind those heavy lids and he could only concentrate on the buzz and hum of business without fully taking his mind off of that soft cloth and full muscle underneath his nose. And upon close inspection that same warmth was all over, taunting him and causing his fingers to flex and travel further down, resting on the bend of Neji's elbow and tightening there.
It felt nice. Skin against the tips of his fingers and a pulse that promised life under pretty, light skin. He could open his eyes halfway then, the light in the restaurant not helping in his fight to stay awake. Damned if he thought anything promising about the man next to him. There were the usual impure thoughts that followed after his blood alcohol level reach the above legal limit. When said thoughts were being directed towards Neji of all people and when Naruto wasn't exactly fighting them off- Well... 'Fuck. I'm wasted...'
The Hyuuga was disturbingly aware of finger pads on his pulse point, one of many whose location he knew more than well no matter his state of intoxication. In response, while he was waiting and unable to distract himself, he found himself caught up in watching his drunk friend's demeanor. No, it was more than overdue they leave before Naruto was given the opportunity to embarrass either of them with whatever must have been going on in his hazed mind - Neji refused to give it a lot of thought, subconscious helpfully supplying mental images to replace it. Once his imagination had celebrated its revival, estimated after his second Mojito, it had been becoming a challenging task to repress it.
Fortunately, after long minutes, there was the waitress. And there was Naruto, still clinging and partially draped over him, but fortunately, he only needed one hand to pay. Not even waiting for the change, he gave the other a considerably subtle nudge. "We're leaving."
What: What was supposed to be a casual night between friends. :(
When: Last December 'o8. And we're sticking to that.
Warning: I vaguely recall somewhere it saying that this would end in fire... huh. Anywho. This was written like... a year and a half ago? And quickly finished up. So. STANDARDS ARE WAY HIGHER NOWADAYS. DON'T JUDGE US. Part II
He was driving too fast in areas he knew he could allow himself the indulgence, his BMW gliding through streets that narrowed down as he reached downtown. As usual, sunglasses were drawn over Neji's eyes, a force of habit even if he felt absolutely indifferent to staring people by now. The corner of his mouth twitched in annoyance; he was tired from the flight and had actually lowered himself to getting some coffee in a paper cup. Too hot coffee. His tongue and throat stung now. For all subtlety in which his irritation showed, the engine gave a more obvious roar, and after the last few meters, he braked. At this rate, he would need new wheels soon. Much obliged, Starbucks. The screeching of said wheels should have been enough to announce his presence, so he gave Naruto a minute before getting out of the car.
Be it sheer luck, Naruto was in that sort of mood that meant getting ready on time and not having to rush through his tiny apartment to get out the door. No, the obvious bemusement in Neji's tone hinted that he had to be a good boy in the other's presence or fear the pain of a long walk home/sever beating with long, black hair, or anything else that the Hyuuga could whip out at a moments notice. The evening wasn't about the blond anyway, more focused on getting his friend to relax and settle back down to his happy, stoic self. One of which was buying Naruto dinner and the blond was going to mooch it for all it was worth.
Just one last scrub at his teeth with his index finger in the mirror- And perfect. He hiked up his jacket and tossed it over his shoulders, keys jingling in his hand before stuffing them in his pocket after locking his door. Needless to say he could feel Neji's wrath before even nearing the car, his grin beaming brightly as he jarred the door and slid his way casually inside.
"So. Flowers and butterflies. Huh?" He buckled himself in. "Y'sure you didn't just motocross right over the damn things getting over here?"
"I didn't slow down to check," He mused icily, feeling even his level of wits drop. How pathetic. He knew why he preferred tea. Lowering himself back into the driver's seat, he took off his glasses to examine the blond, feeling himself take comfort in his presence for now as his shoulders and eyebrow grew more lax. Having not seen him since July, Neji could have been more surprised. "Did you grow a little, or is the seat adjusted wrong?"
"Didn't know you took so much time checking me out, Neji. Got too tired of lookn' at yourself in the mirror?" Naruto mused, adjusting himself in the seat and then sitting upright enough to show his exact height. Maybe he had gained an inch or two since their last visit, having not noticed because of how busy he was recently. Despite his cocky response, there was a happy light to his eyes when he replied. Something that hadn't happened very much recently. Funny how one of the more quiet friends he had was the reason for that light feeling in his chest. "You ain't too shabby yourself either. You're coming into your womanly figure quite nicely."
"I have some leftover coffee that would go well with your additional height." By way of suggestion, he returned his attention to his baby, always a soothing matter, and restarted the engine. His irritation was merely a surface matter now, even if his mood lift was blurred out by the jet lag creeping up his back. Not that Naruto needed to know that, and was going to, as a matter of fact, if he continued to break out the insufferable gender confusion jibes again. "Should I even bother to inquire about your dinner choice?"
The night was about Neji. All about Neji. It was Naruto's job as a friend to make the night all about Neji.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Naruto knitted his eyebrows and bit back any further snarky comments. He wasn't dull in the head enough to not notice the subtle need to keep quiet for the evening. Not so much as mute as it was to keep his personality at a calm volume. So with a twitch of his head and slight force, Naruto cleared his throat and looked straight ahead, eyes narrowed. "Dunno, Neji. I'm thinking I want whatever you want. Sounds good, right?"
Lacking sunglasses, his blink, even if focused on the street, was obvious. Expression clearing up once again, he threw the other a glance, focused back on the street, one eyebrow slowly rising - alas, if all it took to get his friend to turn this considerate was to leave to Europe for two months, he should join with his peers for the winter collection. Unfortunately, school would probably not have that, and neither would his body. Eight precious pound, lost forever to insalata mista perpetuale. Eventually, he decided to refrain from commenting on the obvious effort of selflessness, and let an indulgent smirk take over his features. "It does."
"Figures." Was the slow answer, having missed Neji's facial expression and reaction, but relaxing nonetheless. It wasn't that he was a selfish sort of guy. Not at all. Naruto just had a way with not noticing what was going on around him with his friends or outside world, thinking first of himself with small issues like places to go or things to eat, and then considering his friends' opinions on the matter. Right now he was happy to know that he had done good and that was enough to satiate himself for now. Having the Hyuuga gone for over a month had been strenuous at best anyway and Naruto wasn't at all willing to have the night end unpleasantly. As quiet as the man's presence was, it was almost uncomfortable for it to be gone for so long.
"You got a lot to make up to me, man. What was I supposed to tell your little fan club if you left for much longer? I could have been mauled and you wouldn't have given a damn!"
He took the direction uptown, one hand at the steering wheel and the other reaching for his coffee, faintly hoping it had finally cooled down enough to be potable. "I'll try to think of a way." Trusting that he'd left enough of an air that indicated he was not done yet, he took his time in drinking a generous sip. "Although you accuse me of that last matter with no grounds to prove anything."
"I got to have a reason to accuse you of being a jackass? I thought shit like that was implied..." With his fate set before him, Naruto had no other choice but to simply sit back and enjoy the ride. And he did just that, letting the hum of the car be the soundtrack for the trip. Really had been far too long. If nothing else Naruto missed the car just as much as Neji, but he wasn't about to go blabbing silly things like that out of nowhere. Instead, he took the manly route and went in to snatch that warm styrofoam cup away, looking rather cheeky in the process. "'Course I could just send them to your address, right? Be the nice sorta guy and tip 'em off about your fancy cell number."
"I've started to take a disliking to moving, though, as you would certainly consider in your calculations. Especially now that I have settled so well, having cleared all disputes with the landlady, renovating, not to mention the charming lack of spiders nests." Neji pulled into a parking lot next to what looked like lounge-Asia restaurant fusion. Thrumming a little beat with the tips of his fingers on the wheel, he added in an almost mournful tone, "I would really resent leaving that."
The cup was at his lips when that slight change in Neji's demeanor peaked his senses, eyebrows furrowing as he glanced at the other. He stopped, thought, then closed his eyes as he sipped the bitter liquid, not speaking until it had slid down his throat. "You know what I'm thinking...?" His voice broke the silence before it could really begin, eyes trained on the building in front of them. "I'm thinking I would kick your ass if you ever went and left just like that."
"That is, given you could find me. Hypothetically speaking, of course, as I have no such intentions." Neji didn't need to add that he couldn't. That silly side job did not mean remotely enough to him to cause him to take such actions. He took Naruto's words and rolled them over twice, three times in his head before deciding to leave them mostly uninterpreted. No further commentary following, he slid out of the car.
"Don't go using your stupid college thesis bullshit on me, Neji. You know I can do anything when I put my mind to it." He could very well care less about the 'but's' and 'if''s' of the situation. Point was that thinking of one of his closest friends leaving made his chest feel all constricted and painful. Like he couldn't breath. It was always best to push it out of memory or simply act like it wasn't there, and if it was then he could easily defeat it. Seeing as their was no response to his query, Naruto let the point drop and stepped out of the car as well, making his way towards the door. Sometime during that pass, his attitude had been absorbed back into the deep, shady recesses of his brain and left to simmer, instead opting to reach and open the door for the Hyuuga instead.
"Ladies first."
Neji, who had deemed the matter unworthy of further commenting, if not only to prevent the conversation from taking on a too sentimental note, refrained from sneered jibes or glares. As the one unwilling to further go into increasingly irritated detail about that and why he would not leave the idiot, he'd have to swallow the usual fudging about his obvious femininity. Considering how it was nothing new, it did a barely sufficient job on soothing the Hyuuga about how at least he had evaded further awkward situations.
Pass he did, chin up just slightly and not sparing him a glance, and entered the dimly lighted lounge. "Just two," a mouthed reply to the questioning look of the nearest waiter, accompanied by two long, outstretched fingers for visual underlining.
Naruto could only look as perfectly smug and happy as he usually did when things went his way. Neji hadn't fought off his horrible teasing and he could appreciate the silence for what it was worth. It meant that he wasn't going to get hit for his bad behavior, but since when had the Hyuuga ever caused a stir in public? He admired the view instead whilst there was peace, taking his time to look over the people in the building and letting his eyes adjust to the dimly lit atmosphere. Any other guy might say this place was romantic...
Scratching at the back of his neck in an act of impatience, Naruto nudged Neji in the shoulder before walking ahead where the waiter lead them. "Fancy place they got going here. Didn't think you'd be pulling out all the stops for me, honey."
"I would like to believe I have neglected you for long enough," Was the seemingly noncommittal reply. They were eventually offered a small booth at the sidelines, window-view to the street included, his usual. Whether it was to have an eye on his precious car or to make the two-men-booth feel less stuffy was left to debate; nonetheless it seemed as though it was just another well-calculated move of the Hyuuga. If you knew how to interpret into his actions. If not, then this was just another comfortable table in a simplistic restaurant.. lounge... thing. Place.
"Neglected is a strong word ain't it?" Naruto asked curiously, a confused look drawn on his face as he gave his friend a close inspection. Sure, Neji was a nice guy when you rubbed him the right way. Sometimes kinda warm and generous when he felt the need. But someone so upfront with their thoughts always made Naruto a bit squeamish. With it being the Hyuuga of all people made it all the more weird. So instead of confronting the issue, Naruto brushed aside and shook his head, quickly taking his seat instead of trying to laugh it off. The window view was a nice touch, though. Just distracting enough to get his mind off of the seemingly innocent nature of the other this evening.
Maybe traveling really had taken it's toll. "-I mean... I get more time out of your day than most people. Gotta feel lucky for something..."
"Most people are not as insistent about me treating them to dinner." Partially, Neji was quite aware that not even a handful of friends keeping his wallet thin would break him off the generosity habit. No matter how much or little money he spent, the time he spared for it did not feel sufficient, what with him going missing for weeks, or months.
Not one to let his conscience take over and show too much, he guilelessly handed Naruto the menu. "You never quite got around to telling me how you have been faring."
Ignoring the snub, Naruto snatched the menu away and hid away behind it. The less he saw of Neji the more he would be able to get back his normal train of thought. Leave it to the jackass to go and screw around with his average way of thinking- And to pick a restaurant who could pick apart Naruto's monthly wages bit by bit if he were handling the bill. Which would lead to Naruto tilting the menu down before the dollar signs burned his retina and forced him back into the conversation.
"Nosy one ain't you... Don't you got anything better to do than to worry about all of that?" He sounded almost embarrassed, the resolve of the issue written all over his face."I... got it taken care of. I figured a way around it and all so you don't gotta keep asking."
Contrary to his slight exhaustion, Neji had the nerve to smile, mostly amused, fully to himself, if only to spare the blond the thought that he was not enjoying a private joke. It did not rest long on his features, giving way to a crooked corner of the mouth, and a furrowed eyebrow. "And now the details, as you seem to resent my concern so much." Despite his obvious authority, it sounded oddly like a suggestion.
That smile wasn't supposed to be there. At least not without some heavy lubrication of the more toxic forms of alcohol. Honestly, Naruto didn't mind his friend's more... relaxed behavior. It was just more upfront than usual and came far too easily this time around. Usually it took more coaxing and joking around on the blond's part to get Neji so, well, happy. Though the subject of his current money issues erased more than a bit of his concerns, leading him to build up the casual barrier he usually did when it came to conversing over his weaknesses...
"It doesn't have a damn thing to do with resenting. It's just not that big of a deal. So I drop a few classes to pick up the slack at work. It's just enough to get by and that's all I need..."
As presumed, the response drained him of most of his good mood, merely happy to escape Armani Hell, and kicked him back into I Told You So-gear. He had been expecting something along those lines, though, and while he was suddenly entirely unamused, he did not look inclined towards discussing the problem at length. He should have made due with some more coffee, had he wanted to revert entirely to his usual self.
Did not hurt to spare Uzumaki once or twice a year.
Uzumaki who had dropped classes, the ape.
"Your current rent?"
Like Neji's shift in emotion was that hard to figure out. Seriously, Naruto could feel the waves of regret and the beginnings of Hyuuga's more serious migraines from all the way across the table. He just couldn't see the big picture here and why everyone made such a big deal over these things. Just because he lost a few credits didn't mean that he was never going to get them in the future. But times were rough and he needed that job. The only one that hired him with full time and paid him as much as they did what with him just starting. He wasn't about the kick a gift horse in the mouth...
Funny. Seeing as he seemed to do that a lot when it came to his friend's more than obvious push to help. Leave it to Naruto to be the most oblivious person on the planet when it really mattered.
Already digging for his wallet to whip out his id for a sturdy glass of whatever sort of alcohol they served in a fancy place like this, Naruto kept his eyes downcast. "About sixty-thousand ¥ a month. Utilities not included." He left out the part that it was hard to get a place anywhere else because of his line of credit. Those 'I told you so' eyes were already doing enough damage.
For a lack of a better indulgence, Neji followed his example and reached for his coat pocket. Maybe he was going to need this more than he'd like to believe. Remaining silent while he retrieved his wallet, unfastening a shed with one hand, he kept his eyes on Naruto for a full five seconds before deciding that he had no reason to reconsider.
Along with his ID came something small and heavy enough to be flicked across the table. "Refuse to make use of it, and I will be sorely tempted to have a copy made to bash it into your thick skull," He murmured idly, scrutinizing his photo on the card. Resuming seriousness, he cast his attention back on the blond. "There is a spare room. Take your own furniture, if it aids in making you feel better about it."
A rejection on the offer would clearly not be accepted once more.
It wasn't that he had denied Neji's help in the first place. Naruto was just far too oblivious to tell what was going on right in front of his face. Unless it was hard and made a nice clink as it skipped across a marble table-
No, he pretty much got the idea then. Blue eyes turned up and away from the waitress walking towards their table to glance at the silver key instead, keeping his attention to that and letting it slowly process. During that time his expression turned from confused to reluctant... to simply stubborn and confused again. "You can't expect me to just take this. No use threatening me, Hyuuga. It's not that simple. I can't put you out like that..."
The waitress came, he flashed his id, and pointed to that pretty crystal glass of bourbon on the top shelf. If Neji's eyes could tell a story... Naruto knew he was in for it tonight. And hadn't it been meant to be a calming evening? "I can handle this. I don't see why you're making such a big deal."
"The one making a big deal is you." His tone lost some of his sharpness, wordlessly in agreement about not ruining the mood. But Neji would not allow him to drop the matter before it was headed where he wanted it. "You know that it will cause me no fiscal harm. No more than it does to drive downtown and fetch you for dinner twice a week, with the current gas prices," He allowed to slip into the conversation. It was a point. Having taken the liberty to make the waitress stand by the table for a moment, he finally lifted his own ID to her between two fingers. "The same, and a glass of water."
"I thought something was made bigger when you didn't drop. The. Subject." The ping to their daily routine had taken a bit of bite out of Naruto's previous attitude, causing him to slump and lean back in the plush chair he had been seated in. This really was a horrible environment to cause a stir in anyway. Dim lights, pretty scenery... If Naruto didn't know any better he would have pined this as some sort of date. Or at least a mock sequence of one... But this was Neji. Hyuuga Neji. Things like that didn't happen with him and a date of all things, well... He just didn't see the guy in that light. Like there was some horrible force field that made sexual advances towards the other impossible both physically and mentally.
Pocketing his id with a huff, Naruto deterred from his inner, and mostly childlike, rage, and focused once more on those empty eyes staring back at him. "So... how long do I got to move my shit before you get the entire police force at my place to 'escort' me out?"
His tone indicated that he knew fully well that he was being increasingly generous. "A week, give or take a few days." He needed to find a helping hand in moving his piano up the stairs, where he was already picturing it, now that its room was taken. Or maybe a suitable machine. With a breath rather than a sigh, he leaned back, straightening against the cushions of his chair. This.. could have been more difficult. Naruto certainly was sparing his nerves today.
Neji managed to resist, barely, giving Naruto the advice of not looking at the prices, already aware of his own choice.
-Only because Naruto had spent a good deal of the last week dealing with assholes and extra shifts at work. He was at his limit and just wasn't up to the normal stubbornness he would have been shoving out at this point. When the drinks came, it took all but a second for his hand to wrap around the glass and the icy rim to reach his lips. Yes, that did just the right kick to his nerves and had his mind back on track. Just a little alcohol to cool off the badly set mindset he had had recently never hurt...
"Ain't you a gentleman! Going out of your way to get the best men to kick me out of my home. What fairy has crawled up your ass and laid pixie dust eggs- The Hell is this, Neji?! I can't get anything off of a menu like this! What're you thinking?"
"Just pretend the comma is a digit in front." He diligently picked his glass of water to drink, for now ignoring his own bourbon. "I'll have Menu D," Was added as an afterthought to the patient waitress, and to further take the conversation topic away from the pixie dust eggs up his rectum. How Naruto always managed to lead their talk to his rear, he did not know - did not want to think about, in all honesty. No, his mind was occupied, blissfully so, with the prospect miso soup, some sushi, and fish soba. Having just returned from Italy, this was long overdue; he'd rather not think again about his attempts at finding a decent Asian restaurant in Milan.
With no other choice and a waitress now beginning to get far more impatient than was worth her time and pay, Naruto quickly pointed to a random list on the menu before handing it back to her. Hopefully it was something at least halfway decent for what Neji was paying for it. There a kick to the rear in store for the other as soon as the left the restaurant, only in fear of breaking something if he were to do so inside. "Don't you got better things to do than to waste your money like this? Maybe if you stashed it away you wouldn't have to leave so fucking much. You ever think about that...?"
That struck a chord within the Hyuuga, albeit one that came with a strong self-defense. After all, Neji rarely spent so much money on himself, car excluded. "And what makes you think I'm not stashing away the majority?" He allowed himself a sip of liquor to go with his self-reassurance, refraining from picking on whether Naruto had honestly missed him merely because it was below the belt. Also for himself. Neji wouldn't deny that if tables were turned.
Good modeling was ridiculously well-paid, and he was not going to complain about its inappropriateness. Savoring the thick liquid for a moment, he remembered his paycheck for Milan. Definitely out of place, but there, on his account. He swallowed. "I've already made plans of reducing walks after this."
"Y'never know. It's not like I'm gonna go digging around for your paycheck, Hyuuga. I got no real interest in how much money you make." And this was him being honest. All out there with his feelings on the table. If Neji couldn't see it for what it was worth then he could just royally stick it. Naruto missed his friends. Some more than others. Neji was one of those some and he should damn well treat the title with respect. But the guy could be such a piece of work sometimes...
This time when he brought the glass to his lips it lingered before he suddenly shot it back and downed the rest of the glass. Alcohol was never a good way to solve your issues, but in a high class place like this where the majority used either satiation or money Naruto saw it fit. That and the booth was still too small for any real kicking and shoving. His loss... "I'm just thinking you got to have a good reason to be leaving all the time. If it ain't the money then what reason do you have? Running away from something?"
Neji frowned briefly to himself, silent as a fatigued look passed his features in the span of few seconds. At a loss of other things to do, he followed Naruto's example and finished his glass. The food would arrive shortly, anyway; he could trust himself drinking on an empty stomach for a few minutes. "I wouldn't be sitting here if I were running away from anything," He then brusquely stated. And that was the case, wasn't it? He could have left the country when he had left his family. Shove a last piece of distance between himself and his would-be worries, but also leaving those behind that had steadied his back regardless of whether he had been a bastard or not. And Naruto... Shouldn't throw with assumptions like that. They made him think more about certain matters than was entirely healthy.
But Naruto was never really interested in Neji's background. Sure, he knew about the other man's bad past and he knew that most of the Hyuuga name was made up of some of the hugest assholes he had ever had the disinterest in knowing about. Meanwhile, he was still good friends with the guy and could ignore all of that, doing him a personal favor by never bringing up Neji's past. In some way the same was done for him as well by never conversing over his own intrepid past. Fuck it all he needed another drink...
"Fine. You're sitting here with me. But you still gotta have a reason. It's not like you're in need of cash, man..." He waved his hand towards the bartender, signaling for another glass. Tall. On ice. It was so nice not to be behind the counter for once. Being the one waited on was a nice change of pace. They just needed to keep the drinks coming so that he could get a nice haze. By now it was nothing but a dull buzz."Go ahead and inform me then. Seeing as m'so wrong. Is it all the attention? I thought you hated having everyone throwing themselves at you."
Mild irritation flitted over Neji's features. "You know how I live. I do that entirely off of my own account, and my inheritance only goes to school fees." Even if it meant never spending his father's money at all, he would not throw it out for cars or clothes. It wasn't used for dinners with his friends, either. Such as this. He could hardly claim he had to work hard for it, and so he did not count every penny at the end of the month. "I actually like my work. It's hard to throw yourself at me when I'm behind a camera lense or on a runway." Still slightly miffed, but recovering, he added, "You know that there were no problems when I did not travel as much, Naruto. I'm not blind, and I am working on it. If you think I'd rather spend my evening listening to Lagerfeld or Coco Chanel than watch you stuff your mouth with ramen, I'll consider the money I spend on said ramen a waste. And only then."
"I never said that you did! I don't even know those bastards...", he so declared, clueless to whom those fancy names belonged. To be honest he knew very little of Neji's line of work, only given bits and pieces of information when the other saw fit. And he was fine with this, never truly interested in fashion to begin with and happy to keep it that way. He never once thought that ignoring that part of his friend's life meant that they would drift apart. Maybe Neji didn't see it for what it was, but Naruto felt it. He didn't like fighting against time to be with Neji and maybe it was just petty jealousy. But Naruto wasn't at all ready to admit that. "You'll figure out that you like that stupid stuff at some point. This place will be too boring for you and-..."
And there's the alcohol. Right on time and quickly thanked for and pressed to his lips to shut him up.
His eyebrow arched high, only sign of the deeply personal offense he was taking to that would-be prediction. Before the waitress could saunter off again, he motioned her back with two fingers. "I'll have a mojito." And dismissed her. Neji was hard-pressed to not keep a hold of his annoyance and sulk for the rest of the evening; the desire to not ruin their time together prompting his order. Certainly, he would have been able to calm down without a drink, but he would have been brooding on the inside. He gave himself three seconds before picking up the topic. "Since when have I been known to have boredom issues?"
He took a moment to let those words sit, settle, before tossing them out and having a laugh at himself. "Guess you're right. You ain't the type to go looking for one. Why else would I have to go and hunt you down, right? You wouldn't have any excitement without me!" And there it was. A smile back on his face that seemed so familiar and distanced to anyone that truly knew him, fears hidden away and thoughts drowned in the smooth liquid at the bottom of his glass. He wasn't in the right place right now to be pushing that stuff on anyone anyway... "But in case you do. You can't ignore that it might happen."
"I'd like to believe I've had this occupation for long enough to know that it won't happen." Neji didn't really buy that smile, but at least they were headed towards settling the topic. Resting his chin in his palm, he watched the bartender get to work on his drink. "..But yes," He slowly added. "You always have a surprise in, at least, to keep me on my toes." Whether it was good or not, meaningful or ridiculous. He was going to take them all as he had started taking them when Naruto had nearly broken his jaw proving the point that changed his life.
... Going sentimental, again. It was about time his glass was brought to him.
"Shit changes." Was the lone and final thought. Naruto trusted Neji much more than he did select others, but when it came to things like this it never faltered to follow the same path. Things happened in life that would pull someone he cared for dearly away. It was a dreary line of thinking. He knew this. But it was the way of thinking he had grown up with and found comfort in knowing about it's presence. And that comfort made it possible for him to forget about the formidable and carry on with the evening as it should be.
He let out a warm laugh, obviously amused by the memory. A hand reached up to knock lightly against the man's slender jaw, then used his fingers to get a good touch in, examining. "Kept you around didn't it? You gotta get a daily surprise or what good would I be to keep around?"
Neji's shoulders tensed a little, but it was an improvement from a time when he would not let anyone touch him at all. One eyebrow arched, he inclined his head as if to aid in Naruto's examination, or simply draw his attention away from his face in case he slipped and ended up showing his inherent awkwardness. No, it was probably the better choice to arch his neck like that. The response was sneered. "I hope I didn't just jinx anything."
"Eh? You can do that?"
Naruto's laugh lingered on this time, mood brightening and dropping his hand after seeing what he wanted to see. The guy still had the most feminine face out there, good for confusing the people out there that were into that sort of thing. Neji had a good, deep voice, though. Something that shouldn't confuse anyone at all if they took a moment to let it process. Meanwhile, the other's discomfort was left unacknowledged by Naruto's oblivious nature. Drink number three was ordered. "I thought everything was perfect in Hyuuga-verse. You telling me that some of the walls are chipped?"
The waitress taking order number three luckily also brought Neji's drink number two. He picked it up briefly post-recovery to take a cooling gulp, ice, lime and mint giving him an instantaneous false impression of a clearer mind. "Not everything goes according to plan, as much as my family would treasure that." A small smirk curled the corner of his mouth that could be mistaken for bitterness, but actually was grim amusement; as if Naruto didn't know that. As if he hadn't been the first break in Neji's own routine. "Don't tell me you're surprised."
"Your family doesn't know shit. What's fun about perfect anyway, huh? If you always expect everything to go right..." His thumb marked some nonsensical path up the side of his glass, the moisture collecting and budding close to the heat of his hand. "-Then you'll never have fun 'cause it'll be predictable..." The thought sit, eyes drifting from his drink, then to that awful smirk, his vision narrowing and taking far more time than he would have liked to examine the Hyuuga's mouth. "So I'm glad you're as fucked up as the rest of us. Is what I'm trying to say..."
The expression drained from his face at Naruto's choice of wording, but it was something he had grown used to. There were other statements that he could take offense at, and they had just escaped a conversation topic that very well made him. "You've rarely flattered me like this," He retorted flatly, pale eyes creeping to their corners as he noticed the waitress approaching with their order. A blessing. Maybe he could dare continue his drinking now, at least.
"I figure you deserve it after that trip you had. You were gone longer than usual." He could feel the side effects of his alcohol consumption, a blissful glow overcasting his eyes and a warm sort of comforting tingle underneath his skin. Naruto knew he wasn't close to being finished anytime soon and took comfort in knowing that Neji would take care of him, his own drinking aside. The smell of food was what caught him off guard, turning his attention away from Neji for only a moment when the plates were set down before them- Udon. Tempura udon. He could live with that. "And I may have even missed you. Just a little bit..."
Take care of him, alright. His large couch was already set up for drying out, just in case he would get a little too tipsy to drive Naruto home instead of taking the short route to his own place. The slight burn of rum on his tongue was a too nice change to ignore, so the latter outcome was getting more predictable. Putting down his glass barely after he'd stifled a dry chuckle on a sip, he straightened to let the waitress put down his bowl and plate. "Missed me a little in three months." He didn't seem piqued, though, and refrained from trying to coax more from his tipsy friend. Instead, he started on his miso soup.
He wasn't at all expecting to go home anyway. Not when bourbon came into play. Actually, when any alcohol at all was brought into picture, Naruto was all too willing to depend on his partner at that moment in time to take care of him. Of course he had been skipped out on before, so even if things didn't go according to plan he would be able to manage on his own. Or at least fork out for a cab. "A little bit more than a lot..." , he finally added, grabbing a pair of nearby chopsticks to stab at the contents of his bowl. Not too bad for a place that probably charged for the ancient porcelain the noodles were put in. "You're the only guy I know that'll have time for me 'sides wasting it on school."
Neji looked up from his bowl in mild interest as he was provided with more information than he had worked towards, but quickly blamed the alcohol for the elaborativeness of his friend. And ironically, he spoke of time, when Neji just up and left the country for a couple of months. Sometimes he genuinely wondered whether he deserved the credit he was given. But he wouldn't be Hyuuga Neji if he didn't work towards meeting and exceeding expectations, and he accepted that Milan had been a one time mistake and would well be accounted for. "Nh, you grow on people with taste." Tongue already loosened, he had to notice with a pang of gruff embarrassment in his chest. Well, if he was lucky, Naruto wouldn't pick up on the compliment and tease him while it was easy to do so.
... Neji rarely trusted his luck.
A moment passed where Neji's words entered his groggy mind and settled warmly, leaving Naruto to glance up when they registered, a horribly flustered smile tugging at his lips. "-And a required taste I am, right?" Neji hadn't needed to say that. The guy could have just let it be and Naruto could have continued sulking for a good five minutes before dropping the subject entirely. But that was nice. Really, very nice to hear... He scooted closer then, the round seat making it comfortably easy to slide around without causing much of a fuss. The other was radiating a sort of warmth right now that was so tempting. And Naruto liked warm.
When close enough, he pulled his bowl over closer as well, acting as if nothing happened before puncturing a fried shrimp with his chopsticks. Unfortunately for Neji it would seem that the alcohol had taken on a dozing effect, the more childish side of Naruto's mind put to rest for the night. "I don't think it too shabby y'know..." , a laugh, "That I grow on people like I do. I just don't wanna be one of those ugly moss things y'see on those planet shows. That stick to the tree- fungus? I don't wanna be someone's fungus. 'Cause then what fun will they have? They'd have to lug me around with them and have everyone point and stare.... And what kinda life could you have when that happens?"
... There could definitely have been a worse reaction than that. Keeping interested eyes on the scooting and then Naruto's expression during the little fungus-talk, he allowed himself to drain the rest of his glass. Once done, he put it near the other empty glasses for the waitress to pick up, and with leisure, crossed his legs. "I doubt that's going to happen to you soon." He'd seen fungus types, to make use of Naruto's words. Several of them had tried to take advantage of his patience in Italy, and while they were hardly comparable to what Naruto was to him, he could never see him with that attitude.
Well, he wouldn't be surprised if more alcohol meant even less distance between them. He could allow that. There had been enough distance in form of several countries and a tidbit of ocean for a while. That accounted for some compensation. Neji was the generous type, after all. Not that it wasn't relevant to his own interests.
That made him smile. Neji was always good at that sort of thing right? Despite the guy's quiet disability he really was nice to talk to and just the right thing to set you straight when you really need it. Naruto needed it and clung to it. "That's alright for now. I don't want to make anyone unhappy. Or stress 'em out. 'Cause what fun is that anyway..." , he spoke more to himself, considering a- what was it... fourth or fifth drink by now? He had to slow down or he'd be a total soaked sponge by the time they left this fancy place. He didn't want to put that burden on Neji.
Then again the guy was paying. He lifted his finger for the fourth/fifth... maybe sixth. "So I'll move in with you. And I'll do what you want me to do because it'll make you happy." The bowl was much more fun to look at now, chopsticks stirring the expensive broth slowly. "But it's your funeral."
Neji, meanwhile, indulged in his soba for a moment while his tipsy friend babbled about consequences hardly worth mentioning. As though he didn't know what he was in for. He replied, accordingly unimpressed, with a hum in his throat while going through his memory of the cocktail menu. " 's long as you leave composing my epitaph to Tenten or Sakura." One daiquiri.. or two would be last - he knew his limits (and the approximate sum of his bill), and this was as far as he would push them when he had to get them home safely. Naruto, and his precious car. He would rather sleep in the convertible than call for a cab and leave the Z4 in this part of town all night. But with his blond company there, it would get rather stuffy-- Doing a 180 degrees turn in his thoughts, he frowned in bemusement. Neji didn't have to justify that he was not getting batshit smashed tonight. Or any other night. No matter the tempting atmosphere.
But there was still time.
A wonderful cloudy film took over Naruto's vision, the edges far fuzzier than they were a drink or so ago. Leave it to his body to take it's time to let the alcohol slowly absorb. It was a calming feeling, though. The bourbon was just what he needed to get him to relax and just enjoy his time, making it far easier to be agreeable like Neji apparently wanted him to be. "What do they have to say...?" , he asked curiously, his glass back on the table and sitting back casually in the booth. His body had shifted closer once again at some point, warmth coming off the closest body so nicely- he wanted in on some of that...
Then his world was absorbed back into his skull instead of living so externally, a bit of logic still packed away. A warm body was more than tempting. Anyone was tempting- And it was Hyuuga. So that was enough for him to push aside the usual side effects of his sinful drinking, for the most part anyway, and gave him the strength he needed to give a casual tug on his sleeve instead. "Ne... go on and talk, Neji! Saying big words like that make no sense to me right now. You gotta speak slowly... Epitaph..." A snort. "You should talk more anyway. Y'got a pretty voice."
With the heat currently invading his personal space, Neji took some of his self-restraint to not readjust his collar; usually the one with the tendency for cold hands and other limbs, he had dressed accordingly, and was welcomed with the stifling results now. Why Naruto, who seemed plenty warm, himself, was seeking out his close company now, he'd rather not think about. The compliment sent a flush over his neck, but didn't noticeably reach his face-- the alcohol had already settled some color, there.
A slow smirk ghosting over his features, he discarded his chopsticks without wondering when his appetite had been replaced by the increasing haze settling over him. It couldn't be too hard to handle that one. "It's a gravestone inscription, Naruto," He obliged to the blond's request, mildly cynical and very happily allowing his tongue to roll over the words extra-slow, voice dipping down a few notes at the name. Drawling almost as obviously as when he had been called by Sakura after six- or, had it been.. ten, something-- drinks in Spain. All things considered, he might be able to work around that, or even with it.
There was an insatiable need for heat when it was offered so freely. Naruto enjoyed sunny days because he could lay out and simply take it in, winter days because he need not try hard to keep warm. His body was so awkward in the weirdest ways and he had learned to endure. During risqué activities he would become overheated, blinded by the force of the warmth around him so much so that it was hard to control his actions. Weird thing body temperature was. Tempting him to curl those fingers in Neji's sleeve instead of tugging childishly. He shifted closer, his chest fitted nicely against a toned bicep.
"Yeah..." An answer without a reason behind it, his tone huskier than it really should have been in this sort of setting. Where the elderly enjoyed the high life not too far away and well dressed waitresses waited on everyone around them. The candlelight danced on their table, flickering back and forth and making that numbing haze so damn irresistible... He pressed his face against what could have been the softest material he had ever felt and breathed deep, his grip tightening. "Gravestone...? But you're not going anywhere..."
Neji almost found himself distracted by the way he was suddenly too aware of the breath he took too slowly, a reflex. And maybe, the fact that the slight tension in his shoulders was amiss when it should have accompanied the close contact. Almost. Instead, he scrutinized the other, eyelids growing heavier, and decided to refrain from pointing out that Naruto was the one who had declared their flatmateship-to-be his funeral. Decided, in fact, that the daiquiri would have to wait until next time. Noticed out of the corner of his eye that one waitress was watching, and decided, at last, that it would be prudent for the semi-drunk to take the fully drunk home; whether it was to pursue this admittedly interesting situation elsewhere, or get him to sleep and out of his sleeve, it was the only thing he refused to decide.
"I'm going, alright. To take care of the bill." The waitress, caught as she noticed his eye contact and a small gesture while he mused to Naruto, and scurried off. If the other was fine with staying huddled up to him like this, he wasn't going to push him away for when she would return. He had no reason to, and several against.
Of course Naruto had very little reason to move. Here he was offered a warm, comfortable shoulder for which to press his face into. A nice shoulder it was, scented like Neji with a soft air of soap and probably some other girly cologne that he picked up during his trips in Paris or Italy. He could still feel the presence of others wandering around him and going about their business. But with his eyes closed it meant near to nothing. It was dark behind those heavy lids and he could only concentrate on the buzz and hum of business without fully taking his mind off of that soft cloth and full muscle underneath his nose. And upon close inspection that same warmth was all over, taunting him and causing his fingers to flex and travel further down, resting on the bend of Neji's elbow and tightening there.
It felt nice. Skin against the tips of his fingers and a pulse that promised life under pretty, light skin. He could open his eyes halfway then, the light in the restaurant not helping in his fight to stay awake. Damned if he thought anything promising about the man next to him. There were the usual impure thoughts that followed after his blood alcohol level reach the above legal limit. When said thoughts were being directed towards Neji of all people and when Naruto wasn't exactly fighting them off- Well... 'Fuck. I'm wasted...'
The Hyuuga was disturbingly aware of finger pads on his pulse point, one of many whose location he knew more than well no matter his state of intoxication. In response, while he was waiting and unable to distract himself, he found himself caught up in watching his drunk friend's demeanor. No, it was more than overdue they leave before Naruto was given the opportunity to embarrass either of them with whatever must have been going on in his hazed mind - Neji refused to give it a lot of thought, subconscious helpfully supplying mental images to replace it. Once his imagination had celebrated its revival, estimated after his second Mojito, it had been becoming a challenging task to repress it.
Fortunately, after long minutes, there was the waitress. And there was Naruto, still clinging and partially draped over him, but fortunately, he only needed one hand to pay. Not even waiting for the change, he gave the other a considerably subtle nudge. "We're leaving."