Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hybrid Host Club ❯ Chapter 6

Hybrid Host Club

Part 6: Are You Challenging Me? (74)

Sasuke was furious and he had every right to be. He shot a dark fulminating glower at the man sitting behind the ticket desk that was refusing to sell him a ticket for the hybrid he'd brought in. In Sasuke's mind it wasn't even what the paunched, balding man said; it was the sneer in his tone when he said hybrid and the way he looked down his nose at the blond haired fox behind him.

Sasuke straightened, frown firmly in place as he levelled a dark glare at the man before him, he was mildly pleased by the flinch that the nasty little cretin displayed but it didn't pacify the anger that stirred inside his gut like a molten bed of lava waiting to explode. But, instead of giving the prejudiced man a good tongue lashing as he deserved Sasuke grew calm, the mask of indifference that had helped him survive and flourish in the business world falling easily into place. Sasuke didn't even waiver when he saw, from the corner of his eye, how the fox's face closed off in response, the tips of his ears just visible from under that god awful hat drooping on either side of his head.

Sasuke voice was sharp, cutting through the murmur of voices with knifelike precision, "Get Tatsuya-san, now."

Naruto watched with regret as Sasuke's face closed off, the anger he'd seen flashing in dark eyes stirred something hot and confusing inside his own body because it had looked, for a time at least, as though Sasuke would fight the little pricks decision. But as the Teme's face had grown hard and cold, Naruto had felt like ice water had dripped down his spine and settled in his belly. Why had he even thought that Sasuke would stand up for him? Naruto didn't understand it, but he had hoped and been disappointed - again.

Naruto sighed, turning from the two men to look around, knowing it would likely be his only chance to see the inside of the gallery. They were stood in the foyer, the ceilings high and vaulted, made of thick glass that he knew were housed in solar panelled frames. The frame's were thick but they didn't obscure the light that brought the inside of the gallery to life, the open space and bright natural light making it feel like he was outside. The solar panelling supplied renewable energy to the building alongside the wind turbines housed on the roof at the back of the gallery. Naruto could see the storm boiling up overhead, clouds darkening and shifting with the wind. The rain would look and sound truly amazing from under that thick sheet of glass and again he sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat, he wouldn't get to see it, to hear it thunder overhead.

Apparently, life just wasn't meant to be that easy.

Sasuke could feel the heat of the blond's eyes leave him and he felt the need to turn, to reassure the other man that he would fix this. But Sasuke didn't, he needed to focus. He had a bone to pick with the man that ran this place. The man behind the desk frowned, lips twisting before he lifted the phone placed behind the raised counter top to his ear and dialled the man in question. When he looked up triumphantly Sasuke heard someone call out from behind him, "Uchiha-san!"

The clerks face dropped.

Sasuke's lips twitched in amusement as the male behind the desk flinched and looked him over once again. He pivoted around, ignoring the desk clerk to face the man that curated the gallery for the Uchiha's. "Tatsuya-san, it is a pleasure to see you again."

The man walked forward, smaller than him by a good six or seven inches and a little wider set; head a mop of dark black curls, frameless glasses resting on the bridge of his nose and a warm smile tilting his lips. When the man was closer he reached out a hand in greeting, "Sasuke-san, it is a pleasure to have you visiting. It has been far too long."

Sasuke forgot the belligerent man manning the desk behind him for a moment, he was truly happy to see Tatsuya. He was one of the few honest men left in business in this accursed city. He was always open and generous with his time and thoughts, "It is good to be here. Though," Sasuke's face smoothed over as he spoke again, "unfortunately we are having a few - issues."

Naruto watched as Sasuke greeted the dark haired man, the moment Sasuke's palmed touched this Tatsuya's he felt his tail puff out, his shoulders growing tight with tension, his lips twisting into a frown, ears going back on either side of his head. Naruto wasn't sure what the burrowing emotion was, it set his stomach churning and put his hackles up. The man himself appeared normal, inoffensive and much older than he or Sasuke, but there was something that just didn't sit right with him.

Naruto drew a little closer, listening to the conversation between the two, his body settling a little once their hands parted and the pair turned to look at the man behind the desk. Naruto glowered at the fat little man, hair scraped over his bare palate to hide the pale skin beneath, his round little body shoved in hard to the lip of the desk as he glared daggers at the Sasuke.

Naruto's lip lifted, sharp canines exposed for a moment as a deep rumble filled his belly and he started, eyes going wide as he lifted a hand to his stomach, feeling the deep vibrations from within. His eyes widened further, shock making his mouth hang open before slamming shut to keep the sound inside his body. What the hell was wrong with him? Naruto turned away quickly to hide his discomfort, but kept an ear cocked under his canvas hat to listen to what was being said behind him.

Sasuke spoke quietly and concisely to the curator, keeping his voice low in hopes that the Dobe wouldn't hear him. "Tatsuya-san, is it true that hybrids aren't allowed in the gallery?"

Tatsuya looked decidedly uncomfortable under Sasuke's gaze, his hands coming up to grasp at each other tightly, nails digging into his skin to make pale crescents. Sasuke watched the other man sigh, his shoulders dropping as his gaze came up, an unhappy look written across his face and in his eyes, "Unfortunately yes, Sasuke-san, though I protested it vehemently."

Sasuke's brows furrowed as he watched this normally happy and light-hearted man darken in sadness and concern, "Then why is it that they aren't allowed, Tatsuya-san? You are the curator here."

Tatsuya shifted on his feet before drawing a little closer to Sasuke, eyes going hard and angry, "I am, but the funding for this place comes from - certain parties - and they dislike having to share."

Sasuke's eyes darkened his distaste clear on his lips as they turned down at the corners. He knew Uchiha Enterprises funded the majority share for this venture and he knew neither he nor Itachi would have made such an order - which left only one person. Sasuke didn't speak his name, didn't want the Dobe to overhear him and know that his family were to blame for keeping hybrid's from the cultural experience all people should enjoy.

Sasuke took that burden on himself, something else for him to be angry with his father about. The man was a prejudiced prick and he hated him for it. Sasuke turned to look down at Tatsuya-san, decision made swiftly, "You will make this gallery available to anyone who wishes to enter - am I understood, Tatsuya-san?"

Naruto was surprised enough to turn around and stare at Sasuke with undisguised surprise.

Sasuke could do that? He really could do that? Change the rules just like that?

Naruto understood that the Uchiha family were a formidable business conglomerate, but he had never seen Itachi behave the way Sasuke just had. Demanding something be changed that had an effect on so many things, and for a moment Naruto was happy, a flash of warmth and pleasure shooting hard and fast through his body. Before realisation dawned, just what might happen to this beautiful place if Sasuke's demands were challenged by the power in this city?

He went to move forward, to protest, but he was stopped by the smile that tilted Tatsuya-san's lips and the soft acknowledgment, "Of course, Sasuke-san."

Naruto was shocked when the smaller man turned to him and there was a genuine smile tilting his lips as he spoke, "I would like to humbly welcome our first hybrid guest who is of age, to the gallery since she was built and open for all to enter her doors." Naruto didn't know how to react to that, he stood frozen in place, gaze locked on the smaller man approaching him, hand outstretched and waiting.

Sasuke came up beside the curator and eyed the quiet blond who was staring at Tatsuya-san with uncertainty and trepidation. He turned enough that he could nudge the blond haired man in the side with his elbow, whispering, "You are supposed to shake it, Dobe." Sasuke hoped that the light jibe would shock the fox into movement and he wasn't disappointed.

"I know that, Teme." Sasuke chuckled and watched as the fox glared up at him from under the camouflage coloured hat, lips twisted in annoyance before he quickly turned back to look at the curator. When the fox gave Tatsuya-san a warm smile, their hands grasping and shaking firmly, Sasuke felt his gut clench, his eyes narrowing in on the smile tilting the Dobe's lips and feeling annoyance and an edge of jealousy sliding insidiously into his mind. He'd never received that smile from him and he was freely giving it away to someone he didn't know! Sasuke shoved the feelings aside, childish feelings that he wouldn't entertain.

Instead Sasuke watched as the blond thanked the curator and Tatsuya-san went about the business of getting them all registered in, hands stamped so they could go outside and re-enter later. They thanked him and Sasuke promised to visit at another time, which had earned him a petulant look from the blond. Sasuke wanted to smile at what he knew the blond was thinking, if he had his way the fox would be coming with him many times in the future.

They spent hours wandering around the brightly lit halls of the gallery. Naruto stopping and admiring hundreds of different pieces from sculpture, to oil's, to video's. But they also studied the designs of each space, each aspect of the building as they wended their way through. Naruto almost forgot that the Teme was following him around. Sasuke had been silent since they'd started the tour of the gallery and Naruto didn't really mind that. He chatted endlessly, not to fill the silence, but because he felt like Sasuke was listening. He spoke about the different pieces, about what he liked and thought could be changed about the building they were in, and Sasuke - Sasuke just listened.

Sasuke silence wasn't an uncomfortable thing. If anything Naruto felt like the Uchiha's attention was solely focused on him. The few times he'd snuck a peak at the silent man expecting to see him looking around instead of at him, he'd found dark eyes watching him, a tiny smile curling the corner of pale lips. Naruto couldn't help the flush of heat in his cheeks any more than he could stop his body from warming under the attention, his tail swishing back and forth beneath its confines; his ears tilting back to make sure Sasuke was keeping up with him, hearing the scuff of those expensive leather loafers on the marble floors.

Sasuke couldn't help but enjoy the trip around the gallery. Though his thoughts had initially been focused on his anger at his father, during the course of the walk around the various exhibits he couldn't help but get drawn in by the Dobe. The way he moved excitedly around, he was almost childlike in his enthusiasm. But it was also his knowledge and critique of the artwork and the architecture that made the journey around the exhibit a true delight. It was a rare thing to find someone as enthusiastic about design, be it paintings or architecture as he himself was.

Though Sasuke never voiced it, choosing to remain quiet but appreciative and attentive.

Sasuke had loved designing this place and from what the blond haired man was saying he was clearly picking up on everything that Sasuke had tried to incorporate, but also on the things he would have liked to do with the place if given more time and funding. The dark cloud that had been hovering over him when they had arrived had eased away, leaving him feeling happier than he had in months, though when he looked down at his watch he couldn't help giving a resigned sigh.

They needed to get going. It was already one o'clock and there was somewhere they needed to be before a certain time. He'd already let them over run. Sasuke looked up to see the Dobe staring at one particular piece and stepped closer, eyes tracing the lines and lighting of the image that had captured the fox's attention.

Naruto's gaze shifted from the familiar piece, it had been one of his favourites, looking at Sasuke now that he was stood beside him. Naruto could see in the slight widening of dark eyes, the softening of that stern lower lip, it was an almost tender expression warming Sasuke's face and Naruto knew that Sasuke felt it too. "It was one of my favourites."

Sasuke turned to look at the fox, seeing the soft expression that was currently staring back at him and he felt his heart squeeze firmly in his chest, butterflies exploding in his belly, "You know this piece?"

Naruto nodded in the affirmative, smile tilting his lips as he looked back up at the image of a very young blond haired man looking out an open window at a play set outside filled with children, "Yep. Sai, did it."

Sasuke's brow furrowed, trying to connect the name to the artist, "But the paintings listed as being done by a Simon Black."

Naruto chuckled at the name, finding amusement in it because he and Sai had come up with the name when they were children, "Ahhh, that's his pseudonym, don't tell him I told you that, ne." Naruto's smile dulled a little, pride still clear in his body but the admission still hurt. "You see, Sai - he's like me."

Sasuke watched the way the Dobe's body stiffened his easy going attitude freezing for a second as if waiting for something. Sasuke realised what that something was. As realisation dawned Sasuke understood what the fox was saying and he felt true comprehension blossom.

The fox was expecting Sasuke to demand that these images be taken down - because they were painted by a hybrid. Instead he sighed and looked at the fox, "Ah."

Naruto's hand came up to rub at his nape, hand knocking his hat forward a bit and shadowing his face as he spoke, "Indeed. You know what that means don't you, Teme?"

Sasuke watched the fox, his tail no longer swishing back and forth but remaining tight to his body, tucked in, his ears tucked under that hat still and no longer flickering back to listen for him. He felt sadness creeping in at the dejection clearly written in every line of the blond's body. But Sasuke refused to shy away from him, "Yes, Dobe. But it is not how I want it to be."

Naruto looked up at the dark haired man before him, seeing a flicker of another person overlaid over him and feeling something warm stir inside his chest Maybe they weren't so different, "You're more like him than I thought you know."

Sasuke was puzzled by the fox's words, who was he like?

Sasuke couldn't help but ask, wanting to know who exactly he was being compared to. He had spent most of his life being compared to Itachi and he had resented it for many years until he'd realised that he was different. Itachi was a child prodigy, a genius. Sasuke wasn't, but he had excelled in his chosen fields just as his brother had. Unfortunately, they had been things a certain parent didn't appreciate and undermined him for at every opportunity.

So no, Sasuke didn't like being compared to others, he was his own person, "Like who exactly?"

Naruto chuckled nervously, hand rubbing at his nape again and knocking his hat forward. Naruto looked at the ground fixedly, not sure what to say and then he knocked his hat a little too hard, and watching with wide eyes as it tumbled from his head landing with a soft whump on the marble floor.

Naruto quickly snatched the floppy thing back up off the pristine marble floor and plonked it back on his unruly blond hair. He felt decidedly uncomfortably without it. His ears open to the air and to peoples gaze. Naruto attempted to divert Sasuke's attention back to something else, "Oh, uhhh. No one, forget it. Anyway, you were looking at your watch - was there somewhere you needed to be?"

Sasuke could see those bright blue eyes darkening, the fox's brow furrowing and he wanted so desperately to reach out, to touch, too reassure. But he had to rely on words instead not trusting his hand's to touch in reassurance and not stroke with want. "There is somewhere we need to be, yes."

Naruto looked up at the Uchiha sceptically brow's furrowed, "Oh? Where are we going?"

Sasuke wanted to pull the blond back from his thoughts, to bring some emotion, any emotion that wasn't this back to the fore, "Somewhere."

Naruto went to protest, "But…"

Sasuke looked into dark sapphire eyes and spoke, "You'll see."

Naruto's brows dipped down in a frown, he wanted to stay here. He wanted to explore this place as he'd dreamed of since he'd been a child, "Can't we…"

Sasuke finished the Dobe's words, knowing the blond would want that. Unfortunately, he needed to do something else, much as he wanted to stay here with the fox. Sasuke was pretty certain that if he didn't go now, then he'd get stuck doing something he really couldn't stand and would end up in an argument with someone he really didn't want to talk to. "Stay here? No."

Naruto growled low, irritation setting his teeth on edge, "Teme."

Sasuke let his lips twitch the smallest degree, an almost smile as he spoke smugly, "Did you forget? You can come here whenever you want now?"

Sasuke watched in amusement as a rather sheepish look appeared on the irritated man's face, waiting and being rewarded when a hand reached to rub at his nape again. Sasuke noted and catalogued the tell tale sign of nervousness and embarrassment for future use.

Naruto felt silly for a minute there, after everything Sasuke had done that morning to allow him entry, he'd forgotten in his annoyance with the Uchiha, "Ahhh, yeah."

Sasuke turned, talking back over his shoulder at the blond haired man still gazing at the floor, "Come on then."

Naruto looked up to see Sasuke's broad back retreating, that round pert ass hugged by tight pinstripe black trousers shifting under the fabric teasingly, a blush coloured his face as he growled under his breath, "Pushy, Teme.”

Sasuke didn't turn, his gaze fixed ahead as he felt Naruto's eyes trailing across his back and ass. The hairs all along his back stood on end at the roving gaze; it felt as though the fox was touching his skin, sending goose pimples out over the flesh.

Sasuke didn't dare turn around to look back at the fox, he knew his expression would frighten the skittish fox away, which was exactly what Sasuke didn't want. Instead he offered a little half shrug, knowing it would bunch and pull certain muscles into relief as he gave a quiet, "Hn."

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They spent an hour travelling in the car, heading out of the city and into the suburban sprawl surrounding it. The fox hadn't spoken much, but the quiet in the vehicle was comfortable, contemplative. Sasuke assumed that the fox was thinking about the gallery, likely planning what he would do next time he visited and that made him feel oddly happy. Sasuke had given the blond haired man a gift, and it felt - nice.

Naruto didn't say much as they moved through the hundreds of streets that surrounded the city, instead settling himself into the worn leather chair, hat dropping to rest on his lap as his hands rubbed at the bases of his ears to make them feel comfortable again after being pressed flat for so long.

Though Naruto felt uncomfortable without the hat in public, it always made his ears ache when he'd had it on for a long time. He felt comfortable enough here to take it off. Once he'd finished his firm circular massaging strokes his hands fell to his lap, eyes losing focus as his mind wandered back to the bright, open gallery and all her contents. He couldn't wait for his next day off. Naruto didn't realise he was smiling softly at the though.

Sasuke made the next turn onto a long curving street lined with large houses, gardens bordered with tall iron gates and walls. When he'd reached the top of the road he turned in, reaching down and pressing a buzzer attached to his keys. Sasuke slowed to a crawl, allowing the black wrought iron gate to swing slowly open. He drove slowly forward, eyes roaming the gravelled driveway searchingly. A dark scowl settled over Sasuke's features when he caught site of a shiny, dark grey Mercedes sitting nonchalantly in the otherwise empty driveway. Sasuke had half a mind to turn back around and leave, he had wanted to avoid this scenario but it seemed he wasn't going to be that lucky.

Naruto came out of his thoughts as they had crossed the line between the outside and the long winding gravel driveway. His eyes tracked the iron edifice as it swung open, gaze quickly shifting around as they drove forward. Naruto took in the grand house beyond, three stories of what he'd guess was at least ten bed rooms, the white and black panelling was familiar in its architectural design, he'd seen it before. The roof was old style tiling with a wooden fretwork painted black around the trim. "Tudor?" Naruto guessed aloud.

Sasuke turned to the blond taking in the curious expression and the slightly scrunched up nose, a look of puzzlement on his features. "Yes - Tudor." Sasuke confirmed. He looked up at his family home with a mix of trepidation and familiarity. He didn't come here often for good reason, that reason had been evident as soon as he'd laid eyes on the car parked in the round turning circle at the end of the beech lined driveway.

Sasuke heard the fox shifting beside him and looked over just as the blond spoke, "So, where are we exactly?

Naruto's gaze moved from the building to the man sat beside him, eyeing Sasuke with interest. The man was ridged in his seat, eyes looking fixedly out the front window before turning to him when he queried their whereabouts. Naruto could feel the tension pouring off Sasuke and it was starting to make him twitch uncomfortably in his chair, causing the worn leather to creak a little around him. Naruto watched as dark eyes turned on him, almost looking through him, those dark eyebrows dipped in a frown. "Home."

Naruto wasn't sure what to say to that. Sasuke wasn't behaving like this was his home; in fact he'd never seen anyone appear so unhappy about being somewhere they claimed as their own. The scowl on Sasuke's face, the rigid set of his spine - all denoted extreme discomfort or displeasure in Naruto's eyes.

Naruto frowned as he looked at the Uchiha, why were they here?

What was the reason for coming here in the first place?

And whose car was sitting in Sasuke's driveway that made Sasuke look like he wanted to reverse his direction and return the way they'd come?

All these thoughts chased through Naruto's head as Sasuke pulled his car up beside the clearly new silver Mercedes. They both unclipped their seatbelt's, opened the car's door's with the old fashioned pull handle's, slid from their seats and out of the vehicle into a cool breeze scented with moisture and decomposing leaves.

Naruto looked back and forth between the two cars and decided that there was something distinctly of about this other vehicle, it felt cold. Too new, to clean too - empty. He couldn't explain it, but though Sasuke's car was a hunk of junk on four wheels, he liked it far more than this cold silver one. He jumped slightly when Sasuke brushed a hand across his t-shirt clad shoulder, not having heard him approach.

Sasuke's hand brushed orange cotton and he felt the fox's warmth radiating from his skin underneath. He withdrew the hand slowly, eyes shifting from startled blue to the dark green painted front door. "Come on, Dobe." Sasuke wanted to get this over with as quickly and cleanly as possible. He just hoped his Father would behave in front of the blond haired hybrid, though Sasuke wouldn't hold his breath.

Sasuke paused in his stride for a moment, contemplating whether to leave said man in the car instead, going in to collect whatever he needed and leaving again on his own and not arousing suspicion. He could weather his Father's words, he done it all his life and knew they would never change, but he didn't want to inflict them on someone else.

Naruto followed Sasuke towards the front door, pausing when the other man did, hand going to reach out to press against Sasuke's back, bracing or just needing to touch he wasn't sure. Sasuke emotion's seemed to be catching, he felt jittery and concern drew his brows down in a frown. Something was really bothering Sasuke and it bothered him that he actually cared what it was. Sasuke had been nothing but over confident, firm, in control - but right now he was on edge in really disconcerting way and Naruto didn't like it at all.

It sent Naruto's instinct's clamouring in a cacophony of sound, making the hair's on his nape stand on end. He'd known the annoying Teme for a few weeks now; Sasuke seemed set on constantly riling him up but now… Naruto sighed; now, he couldn't help but feel concern fill his mind, question's ricocheting back and forth without end or answer. That tense feeling in Naruto's gut was back with a vengeance and it only added to the confusion. He called out quietly, "Teme?"

Sasuke went to turn when he heard someone open the front door, that familiar creak of old iron hinge's that desperately needed oiling reminding him of his childhood. The sound filled the air of the otherwise quiet driveway as the door opened wider.

Naruto's gaze slipped from Sasuke to the gratingly loud groan emanating from up ahead. He could see from where he stood that the front door was now open, the dark green heavy wooden door was swinging inwards, revealing a small slice of creamy white wallpaper and the ebony coloured doorframe. He drew up behind Sasuke instinctively, he didn't even realise what he had done until he was so close to Sasuke's back that he could feel Sasuke's warmth and practically taste and scent something spicy that seemed to emanate from Sasuke.

Sasuke watched with almost horrified fascination as the door opened wider. He felt the blond haired man come up behind him, the heat of his body radiating straight through Sasuke's clothes and to his skin, sending electrifying tingles all across the flesh of his back and thighs. His mind scrambled for a moment at the unfamiliar sensations. But he quickly wrestled them back under control, as much as Sasuke would love to explore the feelings being pulled from his body, facing off against his Father would require all his attention. Sasuke didn't notice how he stepped slightly away and in front of the fox, one hand coming up in front of him as if to fend someone off. Sasuke's other hand gesturing for the fox to remain behind him, somewhat hidden by his taller and slightly broader frame. The gesture was completely unconscious.

Naruto didn't speak, didn't move, eyes fixed on the doorway his head tipped slightly to the side so he could see around Sasuke. Naruto's eyes widened at the person that stepped forward, calling for the man in front of him, "Sasuke?"