Warnings: Sex, some violence, curse words. In other words: all the good stuff. :D

Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Naruto, I'm just playing with the characters.

A/N: Welcome to Partners, my first multi-chaptered Naruto fic. The first draft is written and currently stands at 105 000 words, so be prepared for a longer fic. I will post chapters as I finish editing them, maybe once a week, or every other week. (I have a fulltime job, so I can't promise to get it done any faster, but feel free to bug me if I take too long.) Because the fic is already written I can hereby promise that Partners will not be abandoned! Do enjoy, and please leave some feedback. I am already plotting out two sequels, so it would be most helpful.

PARTNERS

Sasuke Uchiha pulled up his usual glare as the elevator dinged to announce his arrival on the fifteenth floor. Stepping out he looked over the open office area before him, daring anyone to approach him as he stalked towards his desk. He would have much rather preferred an office with an actual door he could close and lock and deadbolt shut, but he would have to make at least unit leader before he got that privilege. He gave himself a maximum of two years before the position was his. He just needed the current leader of their unit to get a promotion and then he was going to get that office.

His cockiness didn't come from some misguided idea that he was better than his co-workers; it came with the knowledge that he was better. He was a fucking Uchiha after all.

Sliding gracefully down onto his office chair he swivelled it towards his computer, turning it on and lacing his hands underneath his chin as he waited for the machine to boot up. He had work to do, and unlike most of his co-workers he did not need to spend the first half hour of work hanging around the water cooler to do so.

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he tapped the password to log on to the secure server, bringing up the files he had been working on the previous day. In lieu of any new assignments he went back to the one he always worked on when he had time. The reason he had joined the department in the first place. Not for some silly dream that he could make the world a better place, but as a way to get to the one target he wanted to take down, the target that had set him on this career path in the first place.

A small ding announced an incoming message from someone on the internal messaging system. Seeing how there was only one person with the guts to message Sasuke he knew ignoring the message was not an option. With a sigh he moved the cursor towards the window and maximized it.

Just as he expected the message was from Kakashi Hatake, current leader of Unit Seven, the unit Sasuke was a part of, and the one sentence did not bode well for Sasuke. 'See me in my office' usually meant one of two things. Either he was getting a scolding for chasing off his last partner, or he was getting a scolding for being a bastard to his co-workers. Not that it mattered much; Sasuke was going to ignore the grey-haired man either way. Sasuke was too good in his job to be fired, so people would just have to deal with the fact that he was an asshole. He didn't need to be sociable to be good at his job; all he needed was weapons and information on where to find someone to use said weapons on.

Not bothering to knock on the door he just walked inside, hardly surprised when he found his superior with his legs on the table, erotic novel in hand. Crossing his arms Sasuke waited just inside the room. He knew there was no point in getting Kakashi's attention before he had finished the page. The man was addicted to his dirty novels. How the lazy pervert ever got anything done was anyone's guess, but he was surprisingly capable at his job. Not that Sasuke would ever admit that to the man.

Finally the book vanished into a desktop drawer, and Kakashi swung his legs down on the floor, the one eye not hidden behind an eye patch moving to Sasuke's dark ones. The corner of Kakashi's eye crooked in a smile. His lower face was always covered in a black mask, so it was a good thing his eyes were this expressive or he'd be impossible to read.

"Sasuke. Imagine my surprise when yet another person asked for a new partner, citing their reasons to be that Sasuke Uchiha is intolerable to work with."

Sasuke barely dignified it with an hn. It wasn't his problem his partners were so damned easy to scare off.

"This was the fourth one this year, and we are only five months into it already."

Sasuke shrugged. It wasn't like he was keeping a tally.

"I know you don't like being around other people, but this isn't a one man job. No one is to go out in the field without backup, and you well know why."

Sasuke did know why they always paired up the agents, he just didn't think the reasoning applied to himself. Sure, so they were going up against beings with superhuman powers that wanted nothing more than to kill you, but Sasuke still much preferred to do it alone. The way he saw it having another person around was only a liability. Instead of hunting for the blood drinkers he was supposed to take out he would have to take them out while at the same time trying to keep whatever loser they stuck him with alive.

"Lucky for you we have a new guy joining us today, and seeing how you are the only one without a partner…"

Sasuke couldn't keep his mouth shut another moment. He leaned down on the desk in front of him, boring his eyes into Kakashi's. His fingers curled around the edge of the heavy wood, skin whitening with the strain as he tried to contain the anger that flared in him, taking his frustrations out on the desk. Had it been any flimsier he was sure a piece would have cracked off by now.

"I cannot deal with another partner Kakashi. I can't kill vampires while babysitting. Just let me go out alone, you know I'm good enough."

Kakashi was far from intimidated, he just leaned back in his chair, popped his long legs back up on his desk and dug out his dirty novel again. "He's coming over in about an hour. I would appreciate it if you at least try being civil. If this one doesn't work out I might be forced to put you on desk duty."

Sasuke would have sputtered or screamed out his frustration over the horrible injustice, but he knew Kakashi would just ignore him in favour of his book.

Fuming Sasuke stalked back to his desk. He didn't know if Kakashi took special pleasure in torturing him, but it certainly seemed like it. Another fucking partner… It had only taken him two weeks to get rid of the last one. The pink-haired girl, Sakura something, had started off their partnership fawning over him, and less than two weeks later she hated his guts. Sasuke had a special talent for getting people to hate him. Maybe it was the way he refused to acknowledge them when they said something, or the way he glared at them until they just left, but the result was always the same: everyone found themselves in Kakashi's office, requesting a transfer or a new partner.

Kakashi's threats to stick him on desk duty had him worried though. Sasuke was not about to let that happen. He needed to be out there, to hunt. He'd go mad behind a desk. So somehow he needed to dump his partner without Kakashi getting annoyed with him.

It wasn't going to be easy, but Sasuke was not one to step down from a challenge.

Naruto Uzumaki hitched his shoulder bag higher on his shoulder and tilted his head back, taking in all of the magnificent steel and glass building that would be his home away from home now. He had transferred from the police force after a couple of years as an officer. He had wanted to work in the Department of Paranormal Affairs for as long as he could remember, and finally he had gotten an opportunity, eagerly giving up every part of his old life to move to a new state to start a brand new life as an agent.

Heading towards the entrance he had to consciously make an effort not to skip along. He was extremely excited, and wanted to just run inside, but knew that was probably not going to make a great first impression.

After signing in in the lobby he headed over to the elevators, jumping from foot to foot as he waited for it to arrive at his floor. 15th floor, home of Unit Seven.

Finally the elevator arrived at its destination and the doors slid open. Naruto stepped out, brushing down his shirt as he walked. It was wrinkled and probably should have been ironed, but Naruto didn't exactly own an iron, so it would just have to do. At least his dark trousers were clean, and he'd even remembered to put on a tie.

Naruto looked around the room he had just entered. He had stepped into a small entrance area, a small space that overlooked the rest of the office. There was a kitchen nook to the left, bathrooms to the right, and down a short stair was the bullpen. About ten desks filled the space, most of them had people settled behind computers. His eyes darted across them, knowing that these would be his co-workers

One the other side of the work area Naruto could see the office of the Unit leader. He knew he had to go over there to announce his arrival, but kind of dreaded having to walk right across the work area to do it. He just knew people were going to stare at him. People always did.

Steeling himself he locked his gaze on the doors that marked his target and headed down the three steps. He was going to be working closely with these people, so he could only hope he would be accepted, but experience ensured that he didn't hold his breath.

No one stopped him, or called out after him, but he could feel eyes on him. Sure, that might be normal, to glance up when someone unknown passed your desk, but usually when people looked at him it didn't take them long to decide they should hate him.

Taking a deep breath he lifted his hand and knocked on the door marked with Kakashi Hatake-Unit Leader. He knew Mr. Hatake was informed of his… situation, but that didn't mean the other man was going to approve of it.

Naruto badly wanted to just run out of there. He was suddenly not sure if he had made the right choice by coming here. Sure, it was what he had always wanted, and it wasn't like he had any friends back in the force, but at least there he knew what he was doing.

The door swung open, and Naruto looked up at who he could only presume was Kakashi Hatake. His hair was grey, but his face suggested that he was younger than the colour would indicate, he couldn't be more than thirty-something. His hair, however wild and messy it was, wasn't what really made Naruto stare though. Most of the man's face was hidden from view, an eye patch covering his left eye, and a black fabric mask covering the lower half of his face, hiding everything from his nose to his neck as it disappeared beneath his shirt collar. Naruto's eyes were wide as he stared up at the man, focusing on the one eye not hidden. It was a steely blue-grey colour, and wrinkled up in what Naruto assumed was a smile. He certainly hoped so.

"Naruto Uzumaki, reporting for duty!" Naruto exclaimed when he finally realised what a buffoon he must look like, staring up at his boss. He knew well how it felt to be stared at, and he was not going to be just as bad as everyone else.

"Welcome to Unit Seven," the man said, not an ounce of venom or hatred in his voice. This was a wonderful change from how he was usually greeted, and Naruto was already feeling better. A wide grin spread on his face.

Sasuke walked out of the bathroom, heading back to his desk. Now, some might try and claim that Sasuke wasn't actually human but a robot, but matter of the fact was that he was a human and thusly had certain needs just as much as the other person. Like going to the toilet. Or eating. However much he disliked the latter. Food was so overrated.

Sitting back at his desk he noticed his co-workers whispering around him. Normally he wouldn't care, but seeing how they kept looking up at Kakashi's door Sasuke thought he might have missed something.

Leaning over towards Neji, about the only guy he could deal with amongst his co-workers he asked what was up with everyone.

"New guy arrived." Neji turned back towards his computer. Now, the way the Hyuuga wasn't very talkative was usually why Sasuke didn't hate him, but right now he could have used with just a little more information. He already knew that a new guy was expected today, but he couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

Shrugging he went back to his computer, opening a file and reading through it. He would see the new guy when Kakashi introduced him later on anyways, after all, he was supposed to be Sasuke's new partner. Until Sasuke got rid of him that was.

Ten more minutes passed, Sasuke ignoring the rest of the room in favour of reading through the files that had been sent over from one of the other Units, piecing together old information with new, when someone cleared their throat right behind him.

His hand moved automatically to minimize the files as he turned around, infamous glare already in place.

Kakashi just shook his head, and motioned for someone to come closer. Sasuke looked at the new person walking towards him. The first thing he saw was vibrantly blond hair, and a huge grin. Sasuke instantly knew he was going to hate this person.

The next thing he saw made everyone's reaction suddenly clear. On each of the other man's cheeks there were three distinct scar-like markings, looking very much like whiskers. Unless the man was a fucking idiot and had carved them into his own cheeks those scars meant one thing: His new partner was a shifter.

"Fuck you, Kakashi. You do not intend to place me with a fucking cat?"

Alongside vampires, shifters were one of the biggest groups of preternatural beings out there. Where vampires all were evil demon spawn, shifters were a much more diverse group of beings. Some were completely harmless, some were vicious beasts. Much like your regular human beings, apart from the fact that they could change their bodies to turn into various animals, depending on which species of shifter they were. The most well-known being werewolves of course, but in reality there were about as many types of shifters as there were mammals. They all carried marks that identified them as shifters though, werewolves had sharp fangs even in human form, and whiskers usually meant some kind of cat shifter. Tigers or bobcats or something of the sorts. Annoying buggers almost all of them, moody bastards that slept a lot.

The blond man's jaw fell, his eyes widening in anger as he sputtered. "I'm not a fucking cat!" he yelled, fists gesticulating wildly, showing the volatile nature often associated with shifters. How predictable.

Sasuke didn't dignify him with anything but a wrinkle of his perfectly straight nose.

Truth was that shifters were notoriously bad to work with. Anger them and they started shifting, growing completely out of control. There was a reason there was entire units set aside to control the shifter population. And now Kakashi wanted him to work with one? If he thought working with regular people were babysitting this was about ten times worse.

Kakashi interrupted whatever tirade the blond was about to go off on.

"Sasuke, meet Naruto. He's your new partner. Remember what I told you earlier today." With a very pointed look at Sasuke the man turned and headed back to his office, probably already missing his books. Sasuke only stared at his retreating back, and had the feeling that if he could have seen Kakashi's face right now it would have been set in an evil grin. He seemed to take some kind of perverted pleasure in torturing Sasuke. Not only by giving him a new partner right away, but by giving him like the worst type of partner conceivable.

Turning back to his new partner he crossed his arms, glaring. The blond just glared back, and the sheer nerve of that action made Sasuke even angrier. Who was this guy? Everyone apart from Kakashi shied away from the infamous Uchiha glare.

Blue eyes sparked with annoyance as the blond—Naruto, was that what Kakashi had called him?— likewise folded his arms. Sasuke took the time to take in the appearance of him. His shirt was wrinkled, and one shirt tail wasn't even tucked into his pants. His tie was crooked, and hung loose around his neck, topmost shirt buttons unbuttoned, showing off tan skin. His blond hair was an absolute mess, sticking out in all kinds of directions hair wasn't meant to stick out. Sure, Sasuke's hair wasn't combed back neatly either, bangs hanging loose and back of hair spiked up, but at least he put time into making it a very deliberate hair do! The blond looked mostly like he had just rolled out of bed and gone to work.

It was no secret that Sasuke Uchiha took great pride in his appearance. Expensive leather shoes always polished to a shine. Pants flawless, shirt always pressed, tie firmly knotted around his neck, every single hair perfectly groomed into place. It was hard work being an Uchiha, especially now that he was the last one and needed to show the name the proper respect.

"I'm not a fucking cat you know," the blond said after a few minutes had passed with the two of them staring at one another.

Sasuke shrugged, hardly caring about the species. It wasn't like the blond would be staying for long. He couldn't help but to provoke him though. "So, a mouse then?"

Naruto sputtered, anger flaring in his blue eyes. "I'm a fox dammit!"

Sasuke lifted one dark eyebrow, hardly impressed by the distinction.

Swivelling back to the computer he figured he should just get rid of his new partner as soon possible. Kakashi's threats were more than likely empty, he would not be placed on desk duty, and to be honest he was willing to take the risk if it meant that the grey-haired man was going to stop giving him all these shitty partners.

"Just don't start digging through my garbage, fox." When he heard the tell-tale sounds of Naruto sputtering in anger he allowed one corner of his mouth to tilt up in the hint of a smile. He was going to have fun getting rid of this one.