Crave his touch

Danzo watches Hiruzen as he stands surrounded by his three former students, stuck in the middle of some droning speech that it is clear at least two of the youths are not paying attention to.

Danzo can’t blame them, Hiruzen has a way of complicating things by being overly cautious and his speeches seemingly never get to the point.

Danzo should know, he was the man’s team member once.

At least one in the small group of listeners gives the impression of paying attention, or is making a great act of appearing to do so, it’s difficult to tell because those golden eyes are hard to decipher and the facial features are currently blank, void of any revealing expressions.

Like many times before, Danzo can’t help but allow his gaze to linger on the long black hair that hangs like a luxurious curtain down the back of an equally luxurious-looking yukata in purple and yellow that wraps around the slender form.

Orochimaru has a way of catching the eye despite his young age, no doubt because he is born with a natural grace and elegance to him, despite his unconventional looks.

There is something very alluring about him, something that is difficult to pinpoint but that demands attention and evokes partial curiosity but also partial nervousness, and Danzo knows that Orochimaru is Hiruzen’s favourite for more than one reason.

He is the genius among a trio who all possess extreme talent and ability to become legendary.

Hiruzen has high hopes for this particular protégé, probably more so than for the others, even if Jiraiya certainly is a force to be reckoned with and Tsunade’s formidable strength as well as her ancestry speaks of great deeds to come.

Not that Danzo is particularly fond of nepotism or the way she demands respect on account of what family she belongs to, but undeniably she has skills.

And yet, Jiraya and Tsunade appear insignificant next to the third member of their little group.

Maybe it is because Orochimaru is such an outsider compared to the others, something about him makes it seem more impressive when he shows his ability, what he is capable of, but there is also an aura of an ominous nature surrounding his persona, some people shy away from him or look the other way because he neither looks nor acts like anyone else.

At first glance he comes off as someone who is difficult to define, more delicately built than his fellow team members, even Tsunade who is a girl has a physically more robust frame and even if Orochimaru by no means would be considered small, he comes off looking like a waif sometimes, especially when draped in silky robes.

Then there’s the eyes that in the right light could be described as mesmerising but to most people just look eerie, and of course it hardly improves with that extreme paleness, not so much as a blemish in sight, the sun seems to never be able to put some colour on those cheeks.

He definitely looks spooky to those who don’t take the time to observe him properly, but those with a more refined taste and the ability to see his unusual beauty, Orochimaru is beyond tantalising, a vision in white with golden eyes and hair so dark it seems to absorb all the light.

When not dressed for training, he also has a tendency to wear beautifully crafted yukatas and kimonos of purest silk, in colours that compliments his dark hair and pale features, as well as his purple clan marks around the eyes.

The gender fluidity that is a strong feature in the young shinobi is also one of those traits that make Orochimaru so very irresistible.

And to Danzo, there is no one more appetizing in the whole city of Konoha, possibly not anywhere else either.

He has watched Hiruzen with his students on numerous occasions over the years but even from the very beginning, it was Orochimaru that drew his interest the most.

At first, because of his abilities.

It was clear that even as a child he was talented and skilled like few others, and it was easy to see that Hiruzen favoured him from the start, making it even more intriguing to figure out why that was.

Because Hiruzen normally won’t play favourites and yet with this pale boy he obviously made an exception.

Danzo has borne witness to Jiraiya throwing a tantrum because Hiruzen kept harping on about how he should try to be more like Orochimaru, and in a fair world Danzo could perhaps have felt sympathy for Jiraiya as he tried to make a name for himself and hone his own abilities instead of constantly be compared to a fellow student.

But the world isn’t fair, and Danzo least of all, so he never felt sorry for Jiraiya but instead experienced how his interest in Orochimaru grew until the child turned into a young man and awoke an interest of a completely different nature.

Danzo is so lost in his thoughts that he misses the moment the object of his fantasies has caught on to the fact that he is being observed and has turned his head slightly to look at him, those golden eyes piercing the older man with curious scrutiny, as if aware of what Danzo is thinking.

Danzo makes a curt nod in the young shinobi’s direction and decides to make his presence known and approach the group instead of fleeing like his initial instinct was.

Danzo Shimura hasn’t fled in his entire life, and damn if he’s going to start now, just because a beautiful face has managed to catch his attention and put him under a spell unlike any he has ever experienced before.

He is an esteemed member of Konoha after all, a member of the second hokage’s own team and the founder of ROOT and technically Orochimaru is nothing but a young shinobi, however skilled he proves to be.

Intriguing and very very tempting no doubt, but still...

Danzo is his superior.

So he boldly walks towards them, mind determined, features set in stone as they usually are. He has a reputation to maintain and the fear to be laughed at is currently stronger than the desire to make his interest known.

Tsunade is the first to spot him and her raised voice saluting him makes his presence known to the others who also turn to greet Danzo.

He catches Hiruzen throw a quick glance at Orochimaru who has now turned his face back to look at his sensei instead of acknowledging the approaching man’s presence.

Why does it feel like Hiruzen knows what Danzo is thinking?

At least the girl as well as her clumsy teammate seem clueless, and when his eyes connect with Hiruzen, his former team member is nothing but polite and respectful, genuine warmth visible in his eyes as he greets him.

Orochimaru is the last to acknowledge the newcomer, doing so with a slight nod of his head, but with no words.

There is no way to interpret what he is thinking, his features giving nothing away. The dark hair billows slightly around his pale face as it is turned back towards his sensei and that is all the attention he is prepared to give to the person who has interrupted the hokage’s monologue.

Danzo feigns interest in what Hiruzen has been talking to them about but all his senses are directed towards the silent young man in front of him.

He makes sure not to stare, his eyes are trained at the hokage as if his words were jewels made to be caught with eager hands, even if they both know that tension between them exists because Danzo doesn’t agree with Hiruzen’s way of leading the village and isn’t shy to voice that disagreement whenever he can find the right opportunity to drop a needling remark.

But this intrusion isn’t about Hiruzen Sarotobi. There is something completely different that draws his attention.

Danzo doesn’t need to look at Orochimaru to enjoy him.

Just sensing his presence, the discreet waft of his scent and the way his dark tresses billow in the slight breeze, that’s quite enough to give additional fodder to his fantasies.

He drags out the conversation until Jiraiya starts getting jittery, shortly followed by Tsunade as well, both clearly uninterested in a conversation between two middle-aged men, deeply invested in politics that has never appealed to neither young shinobi, however significant they are to a brighter future for their village.

Danzo isn’t sure where Orochimaru stands when it comes to the intricacies of governing a community constantly at the brink of war, but if he is finding the topic dull, like his team members, he is better at hiding it and after a while Danzo makes sure to get on top of the discussion and allows it to settle to his pace.

There is a reason why he makes sure to drag out the conversation despite the clear disinterest visible in the eyes of most of his listeners.

Orochimaru is difficult to catch alone, he seems to be constantly in the presence of either his team members or his former sensei, but Danzo knows how to be patient and also knows how to be longwinded, so if he manages to drag this conversation out to an unbearable length, he will eventually wear the others out, hopefully getting the opportunity to slip a piece of paper to the young shinobi when no one is looking, a piece of paper he has been carrying in his pocket for quite a while, just for an opportunity like this.

Jiraiya is the first to cave in, shortly followed by Tsunade, both mumbling some half-arsed excuse about needing to be elsewhere, clearly lying through their teeth, but to Danzo’s great annoyance, Hiruzen doesn’t seem to be close to surrendering yet and there is a risk Orochimaru will be the next to leave if he doesn’t manage do something about the situation.

The tedium of a droning conversation might very well be enough for him to drop his act and bolt like his team mates just did.

As the hokage seems set on being in an annoyingly amicable mood, with endless patience, and could probably outplay Danzo in his own game, just for the spite of it, as if he suspects what Danzo’s intentions are, another tactic is needed and even if it is slightly embarrassing to resort to such lowly tricks, sometimes needs must to achieve the desired goal.

So in the middle of a particularly rambling tirade, Danzo waves his arms to emphasize his point while taking a small step forward, followed by a stumble that causes him to fall straight into Orochimaru who luckily doesn’t step away to avoid the impact, but who also doesn’t reach his arms out to catch him the way Danzo might have secretly hoped for, hankering for an opportunity to get some physical contact.

Instead it ends up being he who has to reach out and grab a hold of the silken sleeve of the beautiful yukata Orochimaru is wearing, in the commotion getting the chance to slip the note inside the tightly tied obi around Orochimaru’s waist as Danzo’s fingers clutches the firm body in front of him to steady himself.

Danzo is pretty sure the younger man feels his fingers slipping the note to him, but like expected he doesn’t reveal anything, his features remaining blank and expressionless while Hiruzen makes an even bigger fuzz about making sure his former teammate is alright.

Shortly after this incident, the conversation ends, with Danzo excusing himself and walking away, annoyed that Hiruzen seems to be catching wind of his intentions with his favourite student and putting up a resistance about it.

But a part of him is still satisfied that the note has been delivered and an initial contact has been achieved.

A note is just a note, but if Oochimaru follows the instructions written upon it, Danzo can visualise all kinds of great opportunities to get better acquainted with the tantalising young shinobi, both on a physical level but also regarding the many very promising abilities he has showcased so far.

An accomplice like that would be invaluable for a man like Danzo who is always trying to do what’s best for Konoha when the appointed hokage so clearly fails to do what he is selected to accomplish.

Under Danzo’s tutelage Orochimaru could no doubt thrive into something even more amazing than he already is, something Hiruzen could never even dream of, and the mere thought of guiding the beguiling youth with his firm, strict hand, both in bed and in the strategies of the battlefield, makes Danzo salivate with uncharacteristic glee and hopefulness.

As the sun is setting, Orochimaru is lying outstretched across soft white sheets, the lingering rays of daylight shining through the wooden shutters of the window, creating stripes of dark shadows across his pale back while a hand languidly follows the pattern with admiration.

They are both satiated, Orochimaru’s face partially hidden by his thick dark hair while Hiruzen’s skin glistens with a sheen of sweat.

He is usually the one that has to put in the most effort, his stamina being no match in comparison to his younger lover, and his body aches pleasantly on several places, a prize he is more than willing to pay, for the benefit of spending afternoons like this, in bed with his favourite student next to him.

The sex is great even if it is taxing for a man his age to keep up with someone who doesn’t even sweat, certainly doesn’t pant and who is the most flexible person Hiruzen has ever had the honour of inviting into his bed.

But it is all worth it, always has been and although Orochimaru is an enigma who can never be properly read like other people, Hiruzen is pretty sure he enjoys this arrangement just as much and isn’t just doing this for some kind of power trip, taking advantage of Hiruzen’s fondness for him by riding his cock to get the upper hand on the hokage of Konoha.

Hiruzen is well aware of the darkness that simmers in the veins of his most precious student, but he doesn’t like to dwell on it too much.

Instead he settles on keeping a close eye on Orochimaru and his whereabouts but opting to never dig deeper into that nagging feeling of unease that sometimes grasps him when he least expects it, telling him that even a cute little pet can grow fangs dripping with venom if left unattended and free to roam about on its own for too long.

He knows that this is partly why Danzo is so interested, because talent of the dark variety has always appealed to his former teammate, but Hiruzen isn’t blind to the lustful glances either, and he worries sometimes that Orochimaru might be tempted to listen to someone who knows how to formulate a promising future that doesn’t align with what Hiruzen has in mind for the village.

Danzo knows how to spin a god tale after all, and push people’s buttons in accordance with his own agenda.

But for now, this warm, golden afternoon, Hiruzen won’t ruin the moment by trying to preach to his young lover who is close to dozing off next to him, eyes shut, dark long lashes resting softly against a pale smooth cheek partially hidden by strands of inky hair.

To show that he is well aware of what Danzo is up to, that there is a reason Hiruzen was appointed hokage in the first place and that he is a man who knows everything that transpires around him, however insignificant it might seem at first glance, he leans in closer and whispers into Orochimaru’s ear with a husky voice:

“What did Danzo slip you as he pretended to fall earlier?”

Without opening his eyes or even moving a single facial muscle, Orochimaru sleepily replies:

“Just a note, asking me to look him up when convenient for me.”

“And will you?”

The shadow of a smile flitters across Orochimaru’s lips for a second but beyond that, he remains unmoving.

“Why would I trade one middle-aged man for another? He has nothing I want.”

Hiruzen can’t help but feel a stab of hurt at these words even if he knows that Orochimaru is probably teasing him, nothing more.

“He might have something to offer that you would be interested in,” he mumbles and moves his lips from Orochimaru’s ear to his silky hair instead, inhaling the scent while pretending that he isn’t as deep into this arrangement that it will someday break his heart when it will all be over.

“You think?” Orochimaru mumbles and for a second Hiruzen wants to keep him in this bed forever, never let him go, never allow him the chance to stray.

Knowing that he can’t say anything that won’t pique the younger man’s interest even more, Hiruzen hides the sad smile that crosses his lips and places a tender kiss against a pale cheek instead of replying.

He can only hope that Orochimaru will remain his favourite, for a little while longer.