Salt Spray Off Crashing Waves
Sweat gathered on his neck under the unrelenting heat of the California sun, and Sasuke was missing the rain. He was used to overcast skies, a persistent grey that teetered between the silence of gathering clouds and urgent, heavy downpour. The stillness of the interims between rainfall were certainly more convenient, but they carried a tension. They left the air thick with humidity, clinging to his skin and suffocating him. The clouds always felt heavy, bearing down with the weight of withheld anger.
Until they gave in, and the rainfall would cut through the atmosphere. The onslaught so heavy it hardly felt like drops so much as streams, barely able hold themselves together as they fell from the sky, hitting his skin with an almost gentle splash. The scent of grass and dirt would rise up to his nose, clean and unmarred by the once thick moisture that surrounded him.
Yes, it soaked into his hair and clothes. But it was material now, gathering in puddles on the ground and sliding down his face. The cool air eased the tension in his shoulders and his jaw. He would let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
There were no clouds today, not here. If the bright light of the sun hadn’t been striking his eyes and forcing Sasuke to squint, he would be able to see an endless expanse of blue above him.
Someone else might look to the sky and revel in the joy of a day unburdened by the threat of inclement weather. But as it was, Sasuke scowled with the reminder that this area was prone to drought.
He was feeling the tension from his clenched jaw carry into his shoulders, the sting in his eyes from the punishing gaze of the sun and jet-lagged sleep, and the frustration of seeing long, manicured lawns and stone pathways that he still needed to cross to get to his events.
Sasuke understood that campus visits were a practical part of choosing a doctoral program. They gave you the chance to meet the professors, ask questions to current graduate students, note any concerning details that a website would never mention, even decide whether the mundane specificity of the location was something you could bear for the next half decade or so until you finally received your doctorate.
But Sasuke didn’t care about these details. He knew what he wanted to study and he knew the people worth talking to on the subject. The rest was obligatory bullshit until he pushed his way through and was publishing his books and articles, teaching classes where he maintained real standards so students weren’t left running around perpetuating ignorance because some professors preferred to coddle stupidity.
He couldn’t help but recoil from the pseudo-grandeur of the campus that surrounded him. Pristine stone and tiled roofs, no signs of age to chip or discolor them. Every facade uniform in its mission-revival style, working to replicate the look of architecture that once had a history. Completely missing the point with its refusal to decay. Baudrillard’s simulacra swirled around in Sasuke’s head, reminding him of the power of romantic facades that bury painful histories.
Ironic for a place that would pay him to write and think. But the university was a contradiction he tolerated so that he might one day do as he pleased. Tenure sounded like the best route to being left to his own devices that he could imagine.
With droplets of sweat sliding down his cheek, he eventually found his way to a building in the corner of a large courtyard. He shoved the grandiose doors with a huff, hearing a small eep as he nearly ran into someone.
“Woah, you know these aren’t one-way, right? You almost broke my nose—and I gotta look presentable today!”
Another person would have been embarrassed, apologetic, polite. Sasuke sneered, registering a young man with wild blond hair slightly shorter than himself. If the blond hadn’t been standing in front of him, Sasuke would have been content to walk right by him. “And I have places to be. Get out of my way.”
With that, the friendly face—just a moment ago, gently startled with wide, blue eyes—shifted into offended disbelief. His voice spat out with an edge. “And who the fuck are you?”
“None of your damn business.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, blowing a strand of his bangs out of his line of sight as he shoved past the blond, conceding to moving around him enough so that only their shoulders made impact. From the corner of his eye, Sasuke could see the man stumble back. But he didn’t turn to check for any other damage, for another word, to spare the man another thought.
“Asshole!”
The voice trailed behind him, carrying a frustrated huff. What Sasuke didn’t see was the way the young man clenched his fists and waddled about in place, straining with the effort to keep from running up and punching him in the face.
Sasuke was early. This was fairly typical for him, although he still felt the urge to internally accuse everyone else of wasting his time. He was in a stiff, wooden chair—too cheap for a place this expensive—arms crossed and glancing around to take in the room as the stuffiness of his sweat dried off. A few staff workers in black uniform wandered in and out as platters of oeur d’oeuvres were brought in, a table set up to serve tea and coffee. The walls were lined with tall, dark wooden bookshelves, light filtering in from a large window on the back wall. The black iron that lined and paneled it reminded him of a greenhouse. A few leather, cushioned chairs and small side tables were arranged closer to the window, reminding him that this room might generally look more studious on other days.
At the center of the room were the wooden chairs Sasuke had the displeasure of sitting in. They awaited their audience in a neat arrangement of rows, facing a podium and a large screen. Rather than a projector, it was a glossy monitor that certainly boasted a high resolution. As he shifted a bit in his seat, Sasuke remembered that there were certain places where the university spared no expense.
The ceiling at least was lined with dark wood, thick beams cutting across to support the slope of the roof. A chandelier of black wrought iron hung down, feeling a bit more aged than the exterior of the building. Sasuke’s eyes followed the lines of the grain and knots in the wood, once tall trees that stood for centuries now straining to hold the weight of the roof over his head, sliced and exposed. The planks weren’t quite as pristine or evenly lined up as he expected, shifting over time from the fractured earth having forced them into a slightly off arrangement. Metal bolts showed some rust, the plaster of the walls where support beams slotted in evinced patches where the earth had tried to wiggle them loose.
Ah, yes—this is an earthquake zone. Drought and earthquakes. Very welcoming.
People were wandering into the room now. The hum of conversation started, eager and excited. Some lingered by the food and beverages, laughter and confidence that told Sasuke these were most likely graduate students here to indulge in the catering. Others wandered into seats, few enough that Sasuke still had a free seat on either side of him. He spotted a man with silver hair and circular glasses walk in, glance at him, then continue on his way. Sasuke was already prepared with a disinterested gaze, satisfied that the man seemed sufficiently dissuaded from speaking to him. Sasuke had just patience enough to sit here and wait, not to exchange pleasantries with a bored graduate student.
Eventually the room filled, people still chatting about their days, the weather, their dog, an endless drivel that encouraged Sasuke to close his eyes and hope that whoever was supposed to start talking would get to the podium and shut them up. He took in a deep breath, already feeling tired knowing the busy schedule the department had prepared for him and the other admitted students. Maybe he should find a place to sit under a tree and nap instead…
As his mind wandered to the pleasant possibilities of a shady spot away from meetings and conversation, a woman’s voice rose above the others. “Welcome, everyone, to the Department of Comparative Literature. I hope you’re feeling settled after some certainly long trips. We’re looking forward to getting to know our admitted students, and convincing you all to join us in the autumn.” She wasn’t overly cheery, a blonde woman with a serious face that shifted into a cocky smirk by the end of her greeting. She stood with her hands on her hips, leveling a gaze around the room, making eye contact with a few in particular, Sasuke included. “I’m Professor Tsunade Senju, current chair of the department. Please, come and introduce yourself when you get the chance today.”
As she continued to describe the plan for the two-day visit—two short fucking days where Sasuke would not get over his jet lag—Sasuke closed his eyes. He had a hard-copy itinerary for a reason, didn’t need this run through to know where he should be and when. He wasn’t intending on working with Tsunade either; he doubted she had anything worthwhile to say. Although, he could appreciate her tempered sense of enthusiasm, no big smiles or bullshit. She wasn’t putting on a show.
Her even voice continued as she introduced another professor, Hatake Kakashi, who unenthusiastically described some basics about the program, resources in the department and the university. He had a slow, lazy way of speaking, almost disinterested. Sasuke was familiar: they had spoken before when he was looking for mentors in—
“Are you fucking kidding me?!”
Sasuke’s eyes snapped open, drawn to the entryway by the sound of a door slamming and a whining shout. He quickly found the source of the disruption: a blond young man with his hand still stretched out in front of him, palm flat and left empty from the door that gave way to his anger. He looked a bit too pretty for the aggression he was bringing to the room: he wore an orange linen button-up, light-wash jeans with tears on the knees that didn’t look like he bought them that way, hair in messy spikes, his lips set into a snarl, bright blue eyes with glimmering shades that reminded Sasuke of the ocean, looking stormy with an angry glare—
That was directed right at Sasuke.
As their eyes met, Sasuke raised an eyebrow. A sense of amusement lifted his lips into a smirk. The blond’s lips pursed in petty frustration.
“Naruto! Sit down this instant or leave the room.” Tsunade punctuated her reproach by slamming a fist into the wall, the monitor shaking with the force of her annoyance.
“Baa-chan! I can’t sit next to this jerk who thinks he owns the place.” The blond—Naruto—flailed his arms clumsily, struggling to find a proper place to put his energy.
Tsunade’s glare intensified, the composure she had for the first outburst gone. She growled through gritted teeth. “It’s Professor Senju to you today. Get out of the room, or god, help you, I will tear you apart!”
“I can’t take his shit sitting down, baa-chan!”
Sasuke cleared his throat. The room turned to him; he looked into frustrated blue eyes. “Do I know you?”
Confusion clouded Naruto’s eyes for a moment until he settled back into his petulant frown. His fists clenched, he stomped around, huffing forcefully. “Do you know me?! I’m the guy whose nose you almost broke when you were rushing to get here—apparently. And too early at that. That’s pretty stupid if you ask me!”
A scowl marred Sasuke’s expression. “I didn’t show up late and make a scene. Sit down, usuratonkachi.”
Somehow, anger crackled more electric in Naruto’s body. “Japanese isn’t one of my languages, but I understand that!”
“Do you want something from me?” Sasuke’s voice betrayed him, irritation woven into his words.
“Do I?!”
Another punch to the wall. Tsunade roared. “Naruto!”
Sasuke’s eyes remained locked with Naruto’s; he worked to resist the urge to get up and—what? He’s not sure, but the pointed glare had his body feeling tense, his jaw clenched, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. As Sasuke’s frustration grew, an arrogant smile played on Naruto’s lips. Sasuke muttered under his breath. “Idiot—”
A shock of white intercepted Sasuke’s gaze: long, messy white hair that ran down the back of a man who was approaching Naruto. Without speaking, he made his way through the door, grabbed Naruto’s upper arm, and began to haul him away from the room. The relaxed attitude seemed contradicted by the tension that ran through his arm and into his shoulders, firm against Naruto’s flailing and whines. “Ero sennin! Let me go! I have stuff to handle!”
“Ero sennin…?” Sasuke mumbled to himself as Naruto’s complaints echoed down the hall. The room seemed to shuffle with the awkward air that settled around them. Tsunade let out a strained huff, palm to her forehead and eyes cast down as she worked to gather her composure. “Ignore that.” She looked to Kakashi, where he sat with a bit of an amused curve to his one visible eye. The other was hidden by an eye patch. “Please continue, Professor Hatake.”
Sasuke could hear a light chuckle from Kakashi before the even drawl of his voice filled the room again. Sasuke felt the words like static on his skin, muted one layer by his disinterest and yet further by lingering frustration. His eyes remained trained on the empty doorway, left open after Naruto’s tantrum. A scowl had settled on his face.
Regardless of how long Sasuke strained his gaze, clarity of thought evaded him. A persistent tension ran through his body, the memory of the challenge in those vibrant blue eyes still stinging on his skin. He didn’t quite have words either; just a sense of urgency to follow through and not leave Naruto with his haughty, mocking smirk. The curve of those lips struggled against Sasuke’s finely cultivated obstinacy. The need to remain firmly where he was locked his body into place, a headache growing at his temples and soreness creeping through his shoulders. Perhaps he was waiting, in case the blond fought his way back. Sasuke wouldn’t be caught unawares again…
A round of applause; Sasuke jumped a bit and blinked back into awareness. The room shuffled into the disarray of departure. The event was over. While Sasuke hadn’t intended to pay attention, he didn’t normally find himself quite so unaware of the people around him.
With a roll of his eyes (perhaps more for himself than anyone else), Sasuke gathered his things and left the room. Anywhere would be better than here, and he certainly wasn’t interested in small talk.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful, which Sasuke preferred. Or so he told himself whenever he failed to meet the angry blond at the other events or even just in passing while navigating the campus. His shoulders remained stiff with anticipation for those tumultuous blue eyes to suddenly catch him as he turned a corner or entered a room. He couldn’t imagine the storm passing so soon, and Sasuke would be damned if he’d relent to the turbulence of those waves.
Halfway through the second day of the visit, Sasuke found himself relaxing a bit more. The sun was still beating down on him with the lack of restraint allowed by a cloudless sky, and the events still failed to entertain him enough to fight off the jet lag that pulled him towards sleep. But a tedious visit was what he had prepared for. The hum of irritation following him throughout was manageable.
So when he found himself lying on the bed of his hotel room, sweat drying after his walk back from the last formal gathering, Sasuke was feeling more agreeable than he expected. His mind had woken up despite the busyness of the day and its back and forth. He tended to prefer the way night settled after the day, anyway. A chill would slip into the air as the sun retreated past the horizon, nudging him into a quiet curiosity for the world cast in darkness. Sometimes the gentle, pale light of the moon would catch his eye, and the temptation to feel the soft touch of its gaze urged him to wander aimlessly outdoors.
The moon was waning that night. It couldn’t cast much of a glow on the pristine campus or the pastiche architecture of the downtown. But a restless energy had settled into Sasuke’s bones. He fancied a drink, maybe, or some people watching at the bar where current graduate students and admitted students were invited to relax. The department was paying for it; Sasuke could allow himself to wander amongst them.
Sasuke brought himself to tidy up a bit, change out of his day-worn clothes and straighten out his slightly wind-swept hair. The change from day to night was never too drastic for him; he favored deeper hues and leaned towards indigos and navy blue. He tucked an indigo-dyed button up into slim-fitting, dark-wash denim. His leather boots were simple with an elegant pointed toe and short heel. He contemplated his black leather jacket, but was wary of the day’s stuffiness following him into the evening. He could bear the cold better than the heat.
He let the momentum of his curiosity carry him onto the street. A breeze rushed through the light weave of his shirt; a shiver washed over him. He would need to remember how the dry air abandoned warmth as soon as the sun left, no thick humidity to carry the memory of the day’s heat late into the evening. The weather here was a capricious character, eager to rattle Sasuke’s nerves and bring emotion teeming to the surface of his skin, the lines of his face. He huffed through the shiver and kept an easy pace, eyes roving around the sidewalk and building fronts.
There weren’t many people out on the streets, it was still relatively early. The stores and restaurants had glossy fronts, looking newly renovated and stylized. The signs and posters had a clean aesthetic, bright colors and bold type that begged to be noticed. The scent of tobacco and weed mixed in the air, a burnt smell making Sasuke’s nose twitch in irritation. He avoided the occasional curious gaze that traveled over the long line of his body, eventually seeking his eyes. He let their gawking fall behind him, unfazed by attention he was used to but never wanted. He let their bodies shy away as he continued unperturbed on his path, not flinching away from the people he was supposed to be sharing the sidewalk with.
As Sasuke turned corners and crossed streets, he occasionally looked up at the sky. A cloudless expanse of black hovered above, stars hidden and smothered by the haze of light coming from the city below. The sliver of moon teased like a coy smile, the shadows a cheeky veil. Something sung in Sasuke’s blood, an electric buzz that brightened his eyes.
Eventually, he found himself at the glass and wrought iron doors of the bar, a mix of neon lights and muffled bassy rock pouring onto the streets. As he walked in, Sasuke could see sleek booths with tufted leather cushions, some tucked away like intimate alcoves, others open beds of indulgence. He spotted a group where laughter was already ringing out, warm and carefree. A woman with pink hair threw her head back as mirth bubbled easily from her lips, one hand wrapped around a half-empty highball glass. She looked confident in the way she met the gazes of the people around her, resting her hand on someone’s arm or leg with affable simplicity. An air of familiarity hovered around them, no sign that some had only just met over the course of the two-day visit.
Sasuke made his way to the bar, settling into a stool at a remove from the other groups. He didn’t bother to look at a menu, ordering scotch on the rocks. Once the bartender nodded and slid the glass in front of him, Sasuke spun it a bit in his hands. He closed his eyes to catch the strong peaty smell, one he’d grown to favor in his whiskeys during his years in the UK. He brought the glass to his lips, taking a patient sip. The smokiness mixed with notes of vanilla, going from warm to burning as it slid down his throat. The alcohol radiated heat like a gentle flame in his chest as he worked through his glass, slowly replacing the chill that had seeped into his skin during his walk.
The chatter in the bar was pleasant white noise, making Sasuke feels less like he had dragged himself across an ocean and a continent to get there and more like a weeknight at a London bar. He mostly worked and played alone, preferring to observe the follies of others to getting involved. There was quiet amusement to be had knowing that those who gave of themselves easily were often swept into mercurial tides. Sasuke made note of these fumbles, a private smirk bolstering his moods as he carved his own path forward. He wouldn’t trust his ambitions in the careless hands of others.
As the music thrummed in the air, Sasuke enjoyed his drink. He swirled the last drops of scotch a bit before bringing the glass to his lips. He felt someone approach, the stool beside him pulled out with a groan against the floor. He didn’t turn as a woman took the seat beside him.
“You’re the guy Naruto almost fought, no?” Amusement ran through her voice, a smile in the low tone.
Sasuke turned his head just enough to get a better view of who spoke to him. She had short ash blonde hair, curtain bangs framed her face and grazed her cheek. Her head was tilted as she leaned it into the palm of her hand, her body turned to Sasuke as she appraised him.
He scoffed. “Sure.”
She chuckled. “I’m Temari. You’re Sasuke Uchiha, right?”
“That’s better.” He turned a bit more to Temari, head titled lazily back.
“So how’d you like the visit? Will we be seeing you in the fall?” She studied his face. “I hope Naruto didn’t scare you off. Or Tsunade with her temper.”
“As if I’d let something like that change my mind.” Sasuke rolled his eyes. He didn’t feel eager for conversation, but Temari seemed reasonable. He let the silence rise between them.
“Good. You didn’t look like you scared easily.” Her eyes went to his empty glass. “Can I buy you a drink?” Her eyes had a playful glow.
“Isn’t the department paying for it?” His voice was flat, unimpressed.
Temari shrugged. “Makes it easier to offer.”
“I think I can manage it on my own.” His eyes searched for the bartender, wondering if Temari was working her way to asking something else. He ordered another scotch.
She piped in with her own order of a negroni, then turned back to Sasuke. “Why don’t you join some of us at the booth? I’m sure some of your cohort will be fun to meet. It seems we’re keeping most of you.”
Sasuke took a courteous pause to pretend to consider the offer. “I’m fine here, thanks. There’s no shortage of time in a doctoral program. I’m sure I’ll meet them.”
Temari snorted. “That’s for sure.”
The bartender came back with their drinks. Sasuke didn’t look at the man; Temari thanked him with a small smile. She raised her glass to Sasuke, searching for his eyes. “Cheers.”
Her glass waited for his, lingering despite Sasuke’s distinct lack of engagement. He raised his glass for a polite tap against hers, then took his first sip.
“The eye contact was for good luck, you know.” She smiled wickedly. “You might need it.”
“I don’t need luck.” Sasuke turned away quickly, recoiling from her teasing.
Temari laughed as she started to walk off. “Whatever you say.”
Luck wasn’t what Sasuke needed. It was patience that was in short supply as the night wore on. After Temari left, the other students at the bar seemed to fancy Sasuke approachable. Without needing to say a word or even look at the bartender, he found his glass was always filled. Rather than a glass, it seemed to have turned into a well. More of the amber spirit was always available for Sasuke to put to his lips. The others that came to gawk and chat seemed to seek favor or something else equally idiotic by the gesture of simply asking the bartender to serve Sasuke again. A fairly unimpressive gesture under normal circumstances, particularly stupid when they weren’t paying for it. Frustration running through his skin and the buzz of voices hovering around him brought Sasuke to grind his teeth, his arm reaching reflexively for the perpetually full glass in attempts to dispel the steady stream of nervous energy that ran through his body. He resisted the need to fidget under their gazes by focusing on sipping with a carefully composed nonchalance. Their eyes fixed to his face and body almost stung, a type of greedy scrutiny he had felt throughout his life and sought to fend off.
An immaterial quality began to flutter through Sasuke as he forgot to mind his drinking. The peaty burn of the whiskey calmed to a warm embrace, no longer going down like smoke scratching his throat. His eyelids felt light, his head floating above his shoulders, limbs weightless with the springiness of alcoholic ease. It became easier to look past the eager faces and let their words bounce off him. His fingers tapped to the low, resonant rhythm of bass that vibrated through the building and into his bones. A certain impatience began to stir in him, a need to step away from his seat at the bar where he was feeling like an exhibit with the people vying for his attention.
At some point, Sasuke’s eyes roved languidly over to his glass. The whiskey glowed under the low lights of the bar. Full again. He pushed away from the bar with an exasperated sigh and a roll of his eyes, not noticing the way the woman in front him of was tripping over her tongue at Sasuke’s final display of inarguable disinterest. The stuffiness of the crowd was cut through by a light breeze that floated by, brushing across his heated cheeks. Eyes closed, enjoying the relief of movement, he set to walking towards the door.
“You!”
A growl cut through the air, another body suddenly close with their hot breath hitting Sasuke’s face. His eyes flew open as their chests collided, the other person firm on their feet while Sasuke stumbled a step back. Sasuke caught himself, face quickly setting into a firm glare. The scowl on his face cut deep into his features. Through the haze of alcohol and disgruntled surprise, Sasuke caught those stormy blue eyes again.
Naruto trembled with barely contained energy, hands opening and closing into fists, nearly bouncing with a rage that would be threatening if there wasn’t something childishly impatient about it.
“What is wrong with you?” Sasuke felt every word drag out of his lips, struggling against a maelstrom pulling him in. He felt clumsier on his feet than he would like, legs working to stay in place against the shifting of a restless sea.
“You’re wrong with me!—Or you’re the issue! Walking around like you own the place, and ugh!” Naruto threw his hands up, the strong sweep of his arms sending a rush of air onto Sasuke with how close they stood to each other.
Something helpless seemed set into the angry lines of the blond’s body. Sasuke eyed the clumsy, flailing anger with some curiosity. His body relaxed a bit as he looked down his nose and smirked. “I didn’t realize you were watching me, usuratonkachi.”
Naruto let out an angry huff, a fresh wave of agitation rippling through him. “I’m not watching you! No one has shut up about you since you got here.” He leaned in closer. “Like you’re so fucking pretty or smart.”
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow. “It’s not my business what they’re saying. Or you, really.”
Two hands grabbed Sasuke’s shirt, jostling him on his feet. Naruto’s face came close enough again for the forceful huffs of his breath to hit Sasuke’s skin. “I’m making you my business. Don’t fucking ignore me.”
Sasuke’s eyes narrowed; he wouldn’t flinch. He scanned the blond’s tense face, turbulent seas raging in his eyes. “You have my attention.”
And the blond didn’t seem to know what to do with it. His eyes narrowed, he leaned closer, the tip of his nose brushing against Sasuke’s. “I—”
Sasuke tilted his head to the side, a challenge gleaming in his eyes as he leaned forward just a bit more.
He kissed the blond. A touch of their lips that only lasted a moment, but Sasuke’s mouth remained just above Naruto’s. His eyes had only closed briefly but looked out now from impossibly close to those blue waters. He could feel the blood rising to Naruto’s face, a flush of red blooming across his cheeks. A flash of surprise struck like lightning through the storm in the blond’s eyes. Wide and round as they worked to refocus on Sasuke’s face, the anger was gone. His eyes fluttered as if to try and gather himself through sight alone.
“I think we both have better things to do tonight.” Sasuke’s voice slipped out like a soft breath, the words just above a whisper. They hung around Naruto’s lips, a microclimate thick like clouds clinging close to his skin.
Sasuke reached for the hands clinging to his shirt. He shook them off with little resistance and stepped back. The memory of Naruto’s nose tickling his and the soft feel of his lips followed him even as the atmosphere of their mingled breathes collapsed. He brushed off his shirt, straightened it a bit, walked around the blond and strode out of the bar into the cool air of the night.
A content smirk curved his lips. Sasuke wouldn’t admit he was entertained. But he felt an electric energy sing just under his skin through to the next morning as he boarded his flight home.
Maybe the trip wasn’t completely worthless.