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Sasuke has done this for years. He has guided, protected, and managed stars of all calibers. He doesn’t flinch at the paparazzi, rabid fans, or the most arrogant stars.
And yet Naruto is going to be the death of him.
Sasuke hates his shows.
That may not be technically true. Naruto is electric on stage, powerful and beautiful and adored and adoring in turn, glorious and wonderful and reigning supreme in a way that so few artists can, and watching him from the sidelines every time is a privilege Sasuke’s not likely to take for granted any time soon.
He hates what comes before and what comes after. He hates the anxiety that courses through him as he wonders if Suigetsu has actually properly vetted those with backstage passes or if Sakura really thought through the most recent threats on Naruto’s life without dismissing them too quickly.
He hates worrying that every person who approaches Naruto is someone who wants to hurt him instead of someone who wants to be him (or fuck him, which isn’t much better on some level, but it’s not a threat to his body, so Sasuke will take it).
He hates the heart-rending fear of walking him to and from the car where Kakashi waits, waiting for someone to come out of the one corner they haven’t managed to cover because as much love as Naruto gets, he garners hate too, from people who don’t understand all that he stands for and all that he is.
If Sasuke could, he would hunt them down one by one and take them apart so that they could never threaten him again, but he can’t, and so he walks a half-step behind Naruto and ushers him on as best he can – which is poorly, because Naruto always has to stop to greet the girl who’s hovering at the corner looking too scared to say hi and pet the dog that’s inevitably in the crowd or – or – or –
There’s always something, and Sasuke always worries, but it’s nothing new, and so he tries to calm himself down as they move towards the venue.
Towards is easier. Towards means that there’s a time limit and a goal – because as much as Naruto wants to spend all his time with each individual person who wants to meet him and love him, he doesn’t want to leave his fans waiting, either, when they’ve paid so much to see him, and so it’s easier for Sasuke to rush him in than rush him out.
Out is harder. Naruto will waste his own damn time all he pleases, and Sasuke –
Sasuke is bad at denying Naruto anything, these days. At first, maybe. Maybe he could’ve. He knows he should’ve turned down the contract when Itachi passed it to him, but it was a test, if he could manage someone with this level of following and yet with his career still in its infancy, and Sasuke’s never backed down from a challenge before, and so he’s here, rushing Naruto into a venue the best he can –
And then Naruto’s kneeling on the ground letting a pair of twins who can’t be older than five charge him, and yes, they’re adorable, but for God’s sake.
“Naruto,” Sasuke hisses, trying to smile politely at the mother hovering just behind them, “we have to go.”
“Oh, it’ll just be a minute!” Naruto says. He smiles brilliantly at them, blue eyes flashing. “Okay, girls, can you be real good for your mama? I’ve gotta go do a big show. Is that okay?”
Both girls nod enthusiastically, one bravely darting forward to plant a kiss on Naruto’s cheek, and he laughs. “Okay, it was good to meet you! I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay!” they chorus, and their mother sweeps them away.
Naruto stands and turns to Sasuke, eyes wide and beautiful and smile bright, and Sasuke wishes more than anything that he could take his hand, but he’s Naruto’s manager, not his boyfriend, god, so he scowls instead. “Come on, moron. We’re already going to be late.”
“We are not,” Naruto protests, but he trips along by Sasuke’s side, and Sasuke shoots out a hand to steady him, resting on his hip maybe a beat too long, and he rips it away when he sees the flash of paparazzi. “You don’t – have to let go,” Naruto says suddenly, swaying closer to Sasuke again.
Sasuke stares at him. “What?”
“I –” Naruto bites his lip nervously. “Look, I know it’s not the time, and this is your job and everything, and you’re the best manager I’ve ever had –”
“I’m the only manager you’ve ever had, moron –”
“And I don’t wanna screw it up, but I like you, so I was gonna ask you for coffee but you always get me coffee anyways so I was thinking maybe we could skip that and just start dating?”
This time it’s Sasuke that trips, and he uses it to shove Naruto through the venue door with his shoulder, waving away a wildly amused Karin and pushing Naruto into a corner. “You,” he says stupidly and shakes himself. “You. Want to date me.”
Naruto fidgets, and the smile he flashes Sasuke is the sweet shy one that makes all the candids that his fans take but never the papers because Naruto’s model smile is something else entirely. It’s big and flashy and desirable.
Sasuke likes this one so much better.
He makes a very stupid executive decision and kisses it off Naruto’s lips for one – two – three seconds –
He pulls away, and it’s the hardest thing he’s ever done, but – “We’ve got a show to do,” he whispers against his cheek. “Ino’s going to need to fix your makeup, loser.”
Naruto clutches at him, breathless laughter tumbling from him. “I – yeah, okay, asshole. Is that – that better be a yes, Sasuke, because that was so not fair –”
Sasuke bites back a smile and pulls away enough to see Naruto’s face. He brushes a thumb over the highlight of his cheekbone. “It’s a yes, moron. Go to makeup now. I’ll see you after the show.”
Naruto grins. “Liar. I always see you watching. You’re supposed to be worrying about scheduling, but you make Sakura do that while I sing. You can’t lie to me.”
Sasuke shrugs. He can’t quite find it in himself to be ashamed. “You’re good.”
“I like you so much,” Naruto breathes. “God. I hate you. This was awful timing.”
Sasuke bursts out laughing. “This was your timing, Uzumaki. Come on, let’s find Ino – go, now!”
Naruto does, darting into the hall with his hand outstretched for Sasuke –
Sasuke takes it and follows.
They’ve got a show to do.