Warning: There's a bit of violence in this one -- a lot more than usual in the Hammered series. And it's AU. Just so you know. Yaoi. And sexual references -- what else is new?
Dedication: This particular chapter is dedicated to Chibibaby -- I hope this is what you were looking for!
Thank You: Thank you to all of you who have reviewed my previous stories -- and to all of you who will review! Thank you!
A/N: I'm sorry I haven't been typing or posting lately. For those of you who actually read my profile, you'll know why -- school. Bleh! But seeing as how it's holiday break, I figured I'd write a bit. Yeah! I have succeed! Also, I've put up some links (at least I think that's what they are) to a few of my other sites, including my art and some other literary works that aren't included in the section of fandom.
I've also had to help out with a play -- the music, anyway, and sometimes the lights. If was fun, but the songs were annoying, and they stick in your head -- they won't go away! But at least I got to meet a few new people -- oh the insanity that I have seen!
Now, enough of my bluthery! (Is that actually a word?)
Let the story begin!
Naruto walked up the few steps to the office. As he opened the glass double-doors warm air hit him full force in the face – it was a stark contrast to the icy feeling of outside, snow layering the sidewalk and icing the stairs.
At the head desk, sitting behind a computer, busily typing, was Iruka. Naruto waved to him, leaning over the computer to look at what he was doing.
"You haven't seen Sakura around, have you?" he asked, quirking a brow.
Iruka looked at him strangely, his fingers continuing their rigorous task. "No, I haven't. Why?"
Naruto shook his head and sighed, pointing his thumb behind him. "I just saw Lee in the library wearing her sweater. Kiba was commenting on how good it smelled and Shino was… well, Shino was being Shino."
Iruka stood, crossing his arms over his chest. "He was wearing her sweater? Was it that crème-colored agora sweater? Because that's her favorite."
Naruto gave the secretary a strange look. How the hell was he supposed to know if the damnable thing was agora? He was about to voice his thoughts when Iruka began tapping his foot, looking down the hall; Naruto turned to look at his annoyance, only to see his daughter wearing only a black long-sleeved shirt with buckles and straps, a pillow covering her bare lower parts.
He slapped his forehead and gave her the dreaded father look; she just smiled sheepishly and waved her little fingers, walking into the principal's office.
Iruka started to follow her, but was held back. He quickly explained himself. "I'm going in to make sure the pervert doesn't do anything to her."
"He's her godfather – I don't think he'd do anything like that."
Iruka's dark eyes bugged out of his head, and he spluttered, waving his arms wildly about his head. "He's my boss, but do you know what kind of things he does to me!"
Naruto hesitated. "Uh… I'd rather not, thank you."
As Iruka went to keep an eye on his lover – no matter how much he denied it – Naruto made his way back to his classroom. Teaching really hadn't been his choice career, but it paid the bills and supported his small family of two.
He didn't really remember his wife – at all, actually. He barely remembered anything before his daughter, really. Naruto just figured that she hadn't really been worth it if he couldn't recall her, so he just blamed his Ame's sense of fashion on her mother. Besides, it was always fun to point the finger at someone he didn't know.
The day seemed to end quickly for the students – it was the beginning of their Christmas break, after all – but the teachers had to stay for a few hours more. Before the sky even grew dark he was rubbing his eyes for sleep; he moved back into the office before long, just as Iruka was taking his leave.
"Kakashi already locked the doors, so you won't have to worry about that when you go home – he also took Ame with him," he told Naruto, already half way to the door.
Naruto nodded absently, his mind still on the papers he had yet to grade – it was going to be a tiring night – he hadn't even noticed when Iruka left.
He did notice, however, the loud commotion outside. His head shot up, looking at the front doors only to see a dark mass standing tall, an unidentified shape in it's hand – Naruto had the distinct feeling he knew what it was. In it's other hand, dragging on the ground, was Iruka, struggling to get free.
The door was locked, and Naruto wondered what the tall shadow was going to do to get in – that was obviously what it wanted. It pointed one hand at the lock on one of the doors, and with a loud, shocking "bang", shot the doors open.
It continued through, and Naruto wasn't sure what to do. Half way into the office it dropped Iruka, who proceeded to crawl to his desk to hide.
With the lights in the room Naruto could see the figure clearly – as clearly as he could see someone with a cape and a hood covering their face. He stood slowly, keeping his eyes on the one with the gun.
"Can I help you?"
That question turned the attention of the figure, and Naruto finally caught sight of shining black eyes inset of a pale face with strong features – he felt his heart catch, along with his breath. He had seen that face before – he was sure of it. But he didn't have time to ponder as the shadowed man flipped back his hood, dropped his cape and stretched – it felt as though a roar came from him, but all was silent.
Naruto watched him carefully – for it was a him, all male, nothing less – the outline of his muscled chest inside his tightly clinging black shirt, the way his groin bulged against the confines of his dark pants, the cracking of joints as he bent and twisted, the way his Adam's apple defined itself as he tilted his head back…
His imagination went wild, filled with hot, sweaty scenes, amazingly flexible movements, lustful touches, moans filling the air… -- before it became too much for him to handle, he braced himself against the desk, his breath erratic.
He couldn't calm his heartbeat, however, before the man jumped at him – an impossible distance from his standing point. It was surprising, breathtaking, as Naruto was hoisted from the floor, large hands fisted in the collar of his shirt, then thrown across the office into the opposite wall.
Naruto stopped breathing, his mind reeling from the sudden attack. As he lay there, something inside rose, filling his inner being, overwhelming his with immense power – and suddenly he didn't hurt, but was instead standing tall, battling with the strange man of shadow.
Blow after blow they still stood at odds, punch after punch and still bleeding, still standing. Naruto had lost his conscious thought, no longer fighting inside, but outside – outside only.
Naruto shattered through the glass doors into the freezing cold snowy air – but he didn't feel it. All around were parked cars behind the fence that kept people in, kept people out – one had it's lights on, and he recognized it, too. Kakashi's car, which meant he was here with Ame.
He didn't know how, but he knew the strong man, suddenly hovering over him, his gaze the same place Naruto's was, was after Ame – but he wouldn't let that happen, would never let that happen – not while he was still breathing.
Naruto threw the man off of him into the fence – lights flickered, sparked, snow began falling heavier, coating everything around. Iruka had found his way out, standing now by Kakashi and Ame, telling them what had happened, what had led up to this – Naruto urged them on, yelling at them to leave as he once again fought.
After he knew they were a safe distance away, he didn't have to watch the other man so carefully – he let down his guard, just the smallest bit, but that turned out to be a mistake.
Before he knew it, Naruto's back was against icy-cold sidewalk, snow melting, soaking through his shirt, a hard pressed body leaning heavily onto him. Once again thoughts envisioned themselves inside his mind, and he couldn't help but moan, and the shadowed man joined in – that night turned into one he'd never forget.
Ame waited up for her dad, not knowing what had happened at school that night. She'd never seen her dad so violent – she'd almost sworn he was a pacifist, save for the temper every now and then thrown at Iruka or Kakashi, sometimes at one of his fellow teachers – but nothing like what she had seen.
Iruka and Kakashi had already gone off to their rooms – separate, but with an adjoining door between them. They were totally in denial – she couldn't see why they just couldn't face it and be done with it all.
Then again, they were men, and men were meant to be confusing – she could never figure them out – especially figuring out her father – that was a puzzle within itself, she knew.
She watched the snow outside, falling in flakes and drifting lazily. Inside, sitting on the windowsill in the living room, she was bundled up in a warm blanket she'd had for years. In the corner was the tree, flashing bulbs blinking, garland twinkling, ornaments hanging, angels shining – it was a magnificent piece of work, presents beneath prosthetic branches.
When Naruto finally arrived home, he looked the rather worse for wear, but he wasn't complaining – glowing instead, and appearing quite happy with himself. Vaguely she wondered why, but her curiosity soon passed when he handed her a gift.
Ame read the tag: "From the other kataoya, chichi." Well, that was weird. "What does it mean? That you're not my father?"
Naruto flushed, his tanned cheeks turning a frightening shade of red – definitely not caused by the cold. "Uh… N-not exactly. I'm more like… like your… m-mother." He shut his blue eyes – the only thing she seemed to inherit from him other than his wild attitude during his younger years. But she only laughed.
"Right on! Does this mean that my father's a chick?" She was quite eager for someone who just found out her father wasn't who she thought he was.
"No, you're father's… Well, you saw that man I was fighting, right?" At her agreement he continued. "He's your father."
"Cool. So, what's his name?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment. "Sasuke. His name's Sasuke."
Ame's eagerness only grew with more excitement, with the more information she learned. "When do I get to meet him?"
That certainly wasn't the question he was imagining her asking, but he answered it anyway. "Maybe for New Years?"
Upstairs, Iruka and Kakashi were interrupted in their activities by a loud whoop of joy. They looked at each other, shrugged, then continued.
"Maybe on New Years."
A/N: I know it's not what I usually write, but I haven't done a HAMMERED in a while, so I figured I'd do one for the holidays. And I might do another for New Years, but we'll just have to see what my muses hand me.
My muse for this story – I've been planning it for a while, but didn't have any inspiration – was a dream I had just last night. Strange, believe me. But I used it, and I don't know how well exactly it turned out, and I'm hoping it turned out well enough.
As for my dream, these events actually happened – most of them, anyway – but not with anime people, with real people instead. With great detail, too. Even the part with the two guys with abnormal strength fighting, then getting all lovey-dovey – but it didn't get that far before one guy (the normal one, who worked at the office/school) went home to his daughter (but he was married to a woman) and gave her a gift from the other guy saying that she was his daughter. Or something along those lines, anyway.
I'll see what I can do for a New Years ficlet.
Happy Holidays everyone!