For greatestchange who requested something based on a fanart by saraisalien with fanboy!naruto and singer!sasuke.

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Naruto was tucking his ticket into his back pocket when his roommate, Sai, peeked his head out of the bedroom door.

"Is that a disguise you're wearing?" He asked. "If you're that embarrassed about going to the Avenger concert, then why go at all?"

Naruto scoffed. "I'm not embarrassed."

"You're wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, and hooded sweatshirt when it's 7 p.m. and 65 degrees out."

"Well, the lights in there are so blinding, and it gets really cold in the arena sometimes, so that you stay awake and stuff." Naruto shuffled on his feet while playing with the zipper of his sweatshirt. "Besides, I have to hide my VIP pass so that none of the girls try to steal it."

"You're worried about a couple of girls mugging you? You really are a dickless pansy," Sai offered helpfully, sparing Naruto that usual vapid grin of his.

"Hey." Naruto pointed a finger at him. "I had to go through a lot to win this pass. I'm not gonna take any chances. You've seen the man-strength Sakura is capable of, so I'm sure these girls', worked up from all their hormonal excitement, wouldn't bat an eye about leavin' me unconscious on the ground somewhere if it meant they could go backstage to meet Avenger-sama."

"I can't believe you call another grown man by that name." Sai shook his head in disappointment. "His music isn't even that good, it's all these stupid, over-produced pop - "

"You shut your whore mouth, Sai." Naruto grabbed a pen from off of the table and threw it. It hit Sai in the chest and landed on the floor.

He was used to people trying to shame him for liking Avenger-sama's music, but what they didn't get was that his lyrics could be really subtle. They were about things like love and breaking up and sexy things you can say to a chick to get her in the mood to do it with you. Naruto had even lost his virginity while listening to one of Avenger-sama's songs. Or, well, at least half of it.

"Fine. I wouldn't want to come between you and your boyfriend." He bent over to pick up the pen. "Then again, from what I've read about him in magazines, he may like that kind of thing."

"Hey, those are just rumors started by people who are jealous of his success and popularity. You know, it's not fair you judge him just because he's really attractive - "

"Wait, when did I say he was attractive?"

Naruto huffed and rolled his eyes behind his tinted sunglasses. "You wouldn't understand. It's why you don't get his lyrics. Anyway, I'll be home late, so don't wait up."

"I wasn't planning to," Sai replied. "Just be careful, Naruto. Celebrities aren't always what they seem. I'm sure his PR team does a good job of making him look a lot less douchey than he is in real life."

"Tch. I've read every magazine interview he's ever done and watched all his live TV interviews on YouTube. I could write a biography about the guy. One day you'll see that you're the one in the wrong for judging Avenger-sama without knowing him."

"Okay, well when you come home crying because he shatters the cool image you have of him in your mind, don't come asking me to hold you until you fall asleep."

"Blow me." Naruto picked up his keys from off of the hook next to the door. "I'll send you pictures from the concert."

"Great," said Sai. "Can't wait."

Naruto had already gone through security and was browsing the souvenir table, trying to decide whether he needed another Avenger-sama t-shirt to add to his collection. There was such a long line, though, and he was the only guy here. Thinking he'd wait until the end of the show, he started to leave, but ended up accidentally bumping into a woman standing next to him.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay," she smiled. "I'm so short, I can't even see what's on the table."

"Ah, yeah. It's a little crowded, isn't it?"

"Are you waiting for your girlfriend?" She asked.

"Me?"

"That's really great that you came with her to the concert. I can't even get my boyfriend to do that."

"Oh, well." Naruto scratched the back of his head. "I'm sure if he really listened to Avenger-sa - , I mean, Avenger, then maybe he'd be into it, too?"

"No, I really don't think so," she replied. "He's into hard rock and rap."

Hey, I'm into that, too, he thought.

"Good luck," he said, depressed now. "And enjoy the concert."

"You, too. Have fun with your girlfriend!"

Feeling a little emasculated, Naruto walked away from the table and began heading toward his seat. So even women could be sexist. Why would they just assume the only way a guy would come to this concert would have to be because he's accompanying his girlfriend?

As he handed the usher his ticket and walked in the direction of the floor seating (he wasn't exactly front row, but at least he was in the middle about 10 rows back), girls were holding up posters and chanting Avenger-sama's name. Apparently because he was here by himself, he kept getting funny looks. Naruto squeezed down the aisle and took his seat, barely having enough elbow room to get comfortable. While waiting for the opening group to start, he pulled out his phone and snapped a few shots of the stage to post to his own blog and send to Sai.

Look how close I am!

Sai replied: Wow, maybe he'll notice you from that distance and ask you to come on stage.

Just the thought of that caused Naruto's heart to do a weird triple-beat.

Come on, he typed, I'm not close enough for him to notice me.

It was a joke. With that many hot girls there, why would he look at a loser like you?

Naruto frowned. Asshole. can't you just be happy for me?

Don't forget to throw your panties at him. that'll get his attention.

I don't know why I bother.

Even though he saw Sai was typing something back, he slid his phone into his pocket again. He could at least try to be supportive since Naruto didn't tease him about his creepy hobbies.

The lights dimmed, signalling the show was about to start. Naruto didn't know the opening musicians well. It was some sexy girl group with members who danced around in their underwear, so he figured he could put up with it until it was time for Avenger-sama to come out. He was getting excited, and because of all the bodies packed in here, the venue was starting to feel like an oven. He unzipped his hoodie, removed his ball cap, and set his sunglasses underneath the chair. For a second, he grabbed onto the VIP pass hanging from his neck.

He was trying not to think about how, in only a couple of hours, he might be able to meet the Avenger-sama. What would he be like? He always appeared so cool in all of his interviews. Would he find it strange that Naruto was a big fan even though he was a guy? He just happened to like Avenger-sama and his music. Although, in the back of his mind, Sai's words from earlier kept echoing inside his head. What if Avenger-sama was different in person? Naruto could imagine being a celebrity wasn't all that easy, but, for now, he'd simply be happy if he could get his VIP pass and this CD he brought signed. That would be good enough for him.

When the opening act finished, there was some downtime before Avenger-sama came on stage. The girl group had been alright. They were definitely hot and could dance, but did girls in the audience even like that kind of thing? He knew his friend Sakura was always complaining when other hot chicks were around. Girls could be pretty catty. Even so, Naruto got a few good pictures, which he swiped through while waiting.

"Hey, is that a VIP pass?" The girl next to him asked.

Her announcing that he had a pass caused a few others to look his way, too.

"Yeah," he answered. "I guess it is."

She wasn't very subtle about her envy. "But how did you get it? You're a guy. Do you really even like Avenger?"

"What does me bein' a guy have to do with anything?" He asked.

"You don't have to be rude," she replied. "I was only asking a question."

"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure you just implied guys can't listen to Avenger-sama's - "

"Oh my God. Did you really just call him Avenger-sama? Are you gay or something?"

"Wow, so you're sexist and a homophobe. That's cool."

"Sierra, be q-quiet!" The girl next to her said. "Leave him alone."

"Whatever. Then switch me seats."

Worked for him. Her friend was hella hot, and she didn't seem like a rude bitch. In fact, the two of them struck up a conversation about Avenger after she apologized yet again for her "friend".

"Sorry. She really wanted the VIP pass, but they sold out, and then by the time she heard about the contest - "

"Yeah, that's how I got it," he said. "I had to camp out for about 12 hours in front of the radio station and then they made me eat all kinds of weird shit like fried ants and octopus balls."

"Oh my," she exclaimed. "You really are a fan, aren't you?"

"Yeah. People always give me crap 'cause I'm a guy and I like his songs, but I don't care. I'm Naruto, by the way."

"Hi, Naruto," she said with a shy smile, "I'm Hinata."

"Nice to meet you, Hinata."

The lights dimmed again, and they both exchanged excited smiles before turning their eyes to the stage. Flames burst out from underneath it, and the backdrop changed from a black screen to an ocean with a dark storm in the distance. Whenever lightning struck the water, a thunder-like boom sounded above everyone's heads, and an explosion of shiny silver confetti rained down from the rafters. There were gasps and screams as the lights went dark, and with another crack of thunder, these soft purple lights came on as a platform rose from the center of the stage. On it, stood Avenger-sama, his hair pulled back into a short ponytail and slicked to the side behind one ear. He had on a tight gray t-shirt and black leather pants.

The noise all of these women emitted upon seeing their idol nearly caused him to go deaf. Avenger-sama held up his hand, acknowledging the crowd. As the bass reached epic levels and a guitar riff sliced through all of the high-pitched squeals, the singer dove right into one of Naruto's favorite songs, "I Want the World to Burn". Avenger sang loudly and clearly, every movement of his body mesmerizing in some way that Naruto couldn't explain.

He was feeling giddy, really, as Naruto sang along with everyone else.

I want to watch the world burn
Yeah, I want them all to learn
That what we didn't say back then
Was just the beginning of the end

In what way were we bound?
You said I always let you down

Maybe what I say sounds sinister
But to get my revenge, babe

Yeah, I fucked your sister.

Naruto chuckled, especially since everyone in the concert hall sang the last line together. It was really terrible, but what people didn't understand about Avenger-sama was that he had a really good sense of humor. Okay, well he didn't show it in his interviews, but his lyrics were really funny if you considered he probably didn't take them very seriously. Except "I Want the World to Burn" was a song Avenger-sama wrote when he found out his celebrity girlfriend cheated on him with one of her backup dancers. Whether or not he really nailed her sister was speculation, but it certainly was a subject often debated on various forums he belonged to online.

As the concert went on, Avenger did a lot of Naruto's favorite songs (there weren't many he didn't like), but toward the end, the lights dimmed and, after he returned from off stage wearing a pair of tight black jeans, boots, and a white t-shirt with black lettering on the front. Ah, it looked to be some kind of writing in Japanese. Avenger-sama's father was Japanese and his mother British, so he had very interesting mix of features. Naruto had even bought the CD he released with all Japanese lyrics. He couldn't understand a damn word, but he thought it was pretty cool.

Avenger-sama took a seat on a stool and out came an assistant carrying a guitar. The girls let out a shriek as the singer threw the strap over his shoulder and settled in, strumming the strings while trying to tune up the instrument. Even before Avenger-sama began to sing, Naruto knew which ballad it would be based off the first chord.

"Valley of the End" had been at the top of the charts for about six weeks now. They played it non-stop on the radio, but Naruto never got tired of it. He whipped out his phone and decided to get a few photos. As he was trying to zoom in, he happened to notice that it looked as though Avenger-sama was staring directly at him. But that couldn't be. The lights were really bright on stage, and there were other people nearby him trying to record stuff, too. Yet, as Naruto lowered his cell phone, he swore that, once again, as Avenger-sama sang the lyrics, he was looking solely at him.

What does it have to do with you?

I have my own path to take

My foolish games with you are over
Don't pretend what you did was for my sake

What the heck? His heart was hammering in his chest, and as he held a hand to his cheek, it was burning up.

Hinata suddenly nudged him. "I-is he looking at you, Naruto?"

"No way," he said. "Why would he look at me?"

"I don't know, but I thought for a second that you two might know each other. You're so lucky!"

"Heh."

Nervously, he rubbed the back of his head. When he looked at the stage, Avenger-sama's gaze was focused somewhere up in the balcony, leaving him to feel disappointed. The man's powerful voice filled the room, deep and somber as his fingers played the delicate refrain.

So, we stood here facing off
At the Valley of the End
The words I spoke to you
Were like a bullet in the brain

But how long did you think I'd last
Living life out in the sun?
Those innocent days are are long since past
Our bond is dead and gone

Baby, no matter how you beg or cry
My peace of mind has been denied.
Even if this path leads straight to hell
You'll be the only one remembering
Just how far I fell.

If there was a dry eye by the end of that song, Naruto would be surprised. He wiped furiously at his cheeks. Another thing people didn't appreciate about Avenger-sama was that so many of his songs were written about his personal experiences. Supposedly, the man had struggled with alcohol and depression at some point and had some kind of crazy fight with an ex (fans hadn't been able to determine which ex yet, but everyone had their suspicions). Naruto thought it was about his second girlfriend, Hana, who was a runway model and actress in Japan. Apparently they broke up because Avenger-sama didn't want to move over there to be with her. Other people thought it was about some secret affair that tabloids had hinted of, but Naruto thought it would've been hard for Avenger to date anyone without at least one fan snagging a photo of them together. Not to mention that it involved the rumors his roommate had been talking about earlier, where, uh, Avenger-sama might have been involved with a man at some point. Naruto couldn't picture it, but his favorite musician did have this... androgynous air about him sometimes that even Naruto, um...

Oops. While he'd been daydreaming, everyone else was on their feet applauding since it was the last song of the night. At least until Avenger-sama returned for the encore. Naruto clapped loudly, raising his arms above his head, and even hollering a couple of times. He nudged Hinata in the shoulder, and she smiled back at him. The friend beside her threw him a nasty look, but he grinned at her. He should've waved his damn pass in her face.

Oh, man. The pass! He'd totally forgotten. After the encore, he was going to get to go backstage and meet... Avenger-sama! That realization almost sent him into a panic attack. Naruto took his sweatshirt off and wrapped it around his waist, using the pass to fan his face.

They only had to wait 10 minutes for Avenger-sama to come back on stage, this time wearing the same pair of jeans but also a nice-button up white shirt and a skinny black tie. Naruto could see that he wore a couple of bracelets on one wrist and wondered if they were the ones he'd mentioned in an interview back in May. At the time, the singer had said a friend had given them to him before passing away of some immune disease a few years ago.

Having realized he'd only been able to take a couple of photos, Naruto snuck another few shots and - for a second time - swore Avenger-sama was looking directly at him. Crap. Had he left the flash on or something? It was probably his imagination.

After the last song came to an end, Avenger-sama took his leave to a standing ovation, and Naruto could hardly breathe.

"Have fun backstage," Hinata told him. "I hope you're able to talk to him."

"I think my heart will explode before I even make it that far."

The pretty dark-haired girl giggled. "I think it's really sweet how much you like him!"

"Well. I can relate to a lot of his lyrics, I guess."

She nodded. "Yes. He's a really great writer. I think he's underrated."

"Yeah. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Sure." She waved. "Just be yourself, and you'll be fine."

He offered her a smile, and took in another deep breath. Grabbing all of his things from underneath the chair, he got to his feet. There was a security guy letting people with backstage passes in through a the door next to the stage.

Naruto made his way down the aisle and flashed the pass to the burly man in dark sunglasses. The big man pat Naruto down and checked his pockets.

"No photos and no video," he said gruffly. "Or you'll get the boot."

"Got it," Naruto replied.

The door opened, and it was almost as if Heaven's light had descended upon him. He swore he could even hear trumpets playing. There were scantily-dressed ladies lining the hall, apparently not able to get any further than this without his pass. Some of them smiled at him as if he might be someone important. He rubbed his hands down his jeans; they were super sweaty. Naruto swallowed hard as he walked down the hall, searching for the right door that would allow him access to Avenger-sama's private dressing room, where he was likely already getting swarmed by his most obsessed fans. Naruto hoped he would have the courage to go up the man and tell him how much his music meant to him.

It sounded cliche, but it was true. And if he could get an autograph, that would be even better, but, right now, just being in the same room as him would've made his freaking life.

He was only feet away from the door where everyone else with a pass like his was entering. Crap, he was so nervous that his stomach was starting to hurt. Maybe he should make a dash to the bathroom before going in, but what if the room filled up and they decided not to let anyone else in? He didn't want that to happen, so clutching his stomach, he got into line by a couple of girls in mini skirts, tube tops, and high heels that set them at least a couple of inches taller than him (and he wasn't even that short). Wow, he couldn't even fathom the life that Avenger-sama must lead. He must have women throwing themselves at him all of the time. But, wouldn't that get kind of tedious after a while? No. Probably not for a guy like that. Naruto was sure that if he wanted a serious relationship, Avenger-sama could have one. He'd already had a few and then ended up using the breakups as fodder for some of his best songs. He was like the male version of Adele or Taylor Swift. But, like, dark and edgy. While he waited, Naruto got out his phone before he'd have to put it away again and sent a text to Sai.

I'm 2 seconds away from meeting him

Try not to cum in your pants before you shake his hand

HE'S NOT GAY! you should see all of the hot women waiting to meet him

Really? send a picture

You're such a dick. I'm not talking to you until I get home

Angrily, Naruto powered off his phone so he wouldn't get yelled at for trying to record anything. He'd known Sai for a couple of years now. Naruto would always get so excited about something, and then Sai had to go and piss all over it. Argh! So frustrating.

When he was next to enter the room, he got another patdown from security and, finally, he was inside the dressing room of the Avenger-sama. The room was ridiculously crowded already, with everyone talking so loudly he almost wanted to plug his ears. Some people looked to belong in the industry, some were security, and others might've been roadies. Then there were dozens of the half-dressed groupies. There were a few normal people like him, but most of them looked terrified as they clung to the wall, hoping to go unnoticed. He couldn't immediately find Avenger-sama, but it was a fairly spacious room.

Almost seconds after he grabbed a complimentary water bottle from a cooler, a series of shrieks erupted, and when Naruto lifted his head to see what was wrong, he nearly fainted as he caught a glimpse of Avenger-sama coming in through the back door. The bottle slipped from his hand and hit the ground, bouncing around, and somehow managing to open and spill all over the floor. Someone nearby started to yell at him, but he was so in awe that his body moved on instinct toward the bright light that was Avenger-sama. Girls clamored to touch him, but security created an aisle so that he could take a seat on this leather couch in the corner. He had his hair pulled back again, same jeans as the encore, but a shirt that read: I'm Not Gay, but $20 is $20.

Ha! Wait…

Bodyguards stayed close by, and a woman - a very busty, blond-haired woman - sat next to him while talking on her phone. Naruto recognized her from magazines. That was the singer's agent, Tsunade. He clutched his chest, feeling again like he might hyperventilate, but instead of fleeing for his life, he stayed in line with everybody else trying to get their 15 seconds with the musician. While waiting, he saw that Avenger-sama was allowing autographs and chatting briefly with fans. He looked tired. That must suck to hardly get any break or time to yourself after a two-hour long performance. The line moved painfully slow, but after about 35 minutes of waiting, Naruto was only a person away. He wiped his hands down his pants and suddenly realized he didn't have a pen. Frantically, he looked around for someone to ask, but no one wanted to help!

Shit, and now it was his turn. Yet, while he was panicking, the agent - without missing a beat of her phone conversation - handed Naruto a black marker.

"Wow, thanks," he mouthed to her and grinned when she winked at him.

"Could you stop flirting with my fans," Avenger-sama said to her only to receive the middle finger. "Hey, you with the stupid grin on your face, are you here for her or me?"

Slowly, Naruto turned his head and immediately felt all of the color and brain cells drain from his body.

"U-um..."

Avenger-sama raised an eyebrow while gracefully sweeping his bangs out of his eyes. "Do you have something for me to sign?"

"Oh, uuh..." Crap, he was fucking this all up and he'd been practicing this moment in the mirror for a week now. Quickly, Naruto removed his pass. "This?"

Avenger-sama took it from his hand, their fingers momentarily brushing. Naruto sucked in a sharp breath. His fingers! Ah, those hands wrote those songs he loved. And they were so long and delicate, but he could see calluses, too.

"Do you have a name?" He asked. "Or should I just sign it to the stammering blond idiot?"

"Uh, no. Don't do that." He frowned. "Naruto. My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"Uzumaki? You're Japanese?"

"Heh. You can't tell from the hair, huh? My mom is, Dad was Canadian. I can't speak a damn word of Japanese, though."

"Hm. That's too bad." Avenger-sama eyed him for a long while. "Are you here alone?"

"I am. Why?"

The singer tilted his head in an inquisitive manner. "No girlfriend?"

"No... I came alone." He grinned and pointed. "Nice shirt by the way."

Avenger-sama smirked. "A guy's gotta eat. Isn't that right... Naruto?"

"I have a feeling you could get a lot more than $20."

Oh shit. Did he say that out loud? Naruto clapped a hand over his mouth, his cheeks starting to burn. Avenger-sama looked amused, though.

"You're damn right about that." He smiled at Naruto and handed him his VIP pass back. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Yes, very much so, Avenger-sama, sir," Naruto squeaked.

The singer laughed, and the sound of it - rough and gravely - made Naruto temporarily forget how the process of breathing worked. Was it out and then in, or in and then out -

"What's your favorite song of mine?"

"Valley of the End, I think." He scratched the back of his head. "But I also like Someone Massacred My Family, and I Think It was My Brother. Oh, and There's no Heaven for Heathens."

"Hm, so you like the dark stuff, eh?"

"I like everything," he beamed. "Mostly."

"Oh, there are songs of mine you don't like?" Avenger-sama sat forward, eyeing him like a cat would a mouse.

"Er..."

"Sasuke, you need to keep the line moving," his agent nudged him. "Stop flirting with the cute blond boy, and get going, or else we'll be stuck in here forever."

"Hn." Avenger-sama - who surprisingly did not bat an eye at the woman's words - gave her a smirk.

"Sorry for taking up so much time," said Naruto, finally taking the pass back from the other man, except the singer wouldn't let it go.

"Are you going to be here for a while?"

"What?"

"I wasn't speaking in Japanese, so you should've been able to understand me."

"No, I understood, but I mean - "

"Wait around a little longer, and we might bump into one another later. Especially if you have more than $20 on you."

"Huh - oh..." But Naruto was being pushed along by security to get the line going again.

He held the pass tightly in his hand, playing over that conversation just now. Had he imagined it, or was Avenger-sama... hitting on him?

No way. Just no. In a daze, Naruto walked toward the exit. Or, wait. Maybe Avenger-sama was fucking with him? Was he being mocked for being one of the only few guys at the concert? Was that it? Had he been making fun of Naruto but figured he was too dumb to realize it?

Why that -

Naruto swirled around on his feet and glared at the man now happily flirting with big-chested women who somehow talked him into taking a photo. He stared at the trio, the girls with their hands all over Avenger-sama, and Avenger-sama with his hands on their butts.

That jerk! Naruto had half a mind to go up there and give him a piece of his mind, but...

What was the point? It was just like Sai said. Celebrities were all assholes in person. They did it because they could get away with it. Naruto felt sick to his stomach again, so after one last glance at Avenger... no, Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto headed for the men's restroom, where he knew he'd be completely alone.

After taking a piss and splashing some water on his face for five minutes, Naruto gazed at himself in the mirror. The pass, now marked with Avenger-sama's autograph, dangled from his neck. He stared at the graceful, flowing characters of Avenger-sama's real name. It was hard to believe a guy who wrote such emotional songs could be cold enough to make fun of a fan to his face. What a let down. Naruto ran the sink one more time, almost feeling a chill in this empty mostly-concrete bathroom. Not a single person had entered in the last 15 minutes, but he could hear more shrieking outside.

He wondered how many women would the singer go home with tonight? A few? Five? Ten? Did he enjoy that lifestyle? Did partying in a cliche way like that help fuel what he needed to create his songs? He knew some of the best musicians burnt out quickly, as hot as comets or meteors flying into the Earth's atmosphere. Well, it had been a good run. Now Naruto could take those posters down from his bedroom walls. He clutched the pass, contemplating tossing it into the garbage, but then he was afraid he'd get thrown out for not having it. He'd toss it once he got home.

Naruto unwound his sweatshirt from his waist and slipped it back on. It was so damp and mildewy here in this basement. He opened the restroom door and nearly got run over by a mob of girls heading toward the dressing room. Naruto slipped out, going the opposite way so that he could head for the back lot where he'd parked his car. Thinking about it, he should've asked Hinata for her last name so he might look her up on Snapchat or something. She was a nice girl. Pretty, too. She might listen to him bitch and moan about what a jerk Avenger-sama turned out to be.

Oh, he needed to stop calling him that. Ugh, now he was embarrassed. Naruto slapped both of his cheeks and held them there. Crap. He'd totally called him Avenger-sama to his face. He probably hated that! As Naruto reached the door where he'd come in from, there was another security guard. He was tall and muscular and had some crazy out of control dyed orange hair sticking up all over the place. Naruto snuck by without a word, and then when he tried to open the exit, realized he couldn't. He pushed again, and it still didn't budge.

"That door's locked," the man said helpfully.

"Well, you could've told me that before I tried opening it."

"I could have, but I thought I'd watch you struggle first."

Naruto glared at him. "Tch. Figures. All of you Avenger-sama people sure are assholes, aren't you?"

"Why are you telling me that? You're the one who came backstage to see him."

Naruto sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry I called you an asshole. You're probably just a local rent-a-cop guy that his people hired - "

"Did you have a bad experience with him?"

"Huh?"

"You seem upset. I was only wondering if you had a traumatizing experience meeting Avenger. If you think he's bad, wait until you meet his older brother in person - "

"Wait, you've met Avenger-sama's older brother, Itachi?! He's, like, huge in Japan, isn't he? Doesn't he run the government or something?"

"Not quite," the man said, scratching the side of his round face. "But he can be as scary. You don't want to see him when he's angry. In comparison, Sasuke's like a newborn kitten."

"You call him Sasuke?" Naruto paled. "Do you know him?"

"We run in similar circles."

"Hah. Okay."

"Now, if you're looking for the exit, try the door two down from here and on the right. It should take you out onto the lot." He smiled at Naruto in a very peculiar way.

"Wow, you're a really nice guy, uh - what's your name?"

"Juugo," he replied and, slipping something out from behind his ear, handed it to Naruto. "Here."

"Oh, I don't smoke." Naruto refused the cigarette.

"Then take it for good luck." Juugo took it and placed it above his ear. "Have a good night, kid. Sorry Sasuke came off as an ass. He's actually a good guy. When he wants to be."

"O-oh. Alright. Uh, thanks again for the directions." Naruto waved behind him as he walked to the door mentioned and opened it. Finally outside, he took in a deep breath of fresh air. Someone was having a bonfire not too far off, he guessed. He could smell that wonderful fall smell of burning leaves and crisp air.

While he was staring up at the half moon, he heard a noise behind him that made him jump out of his skin. Naruto turned around, his fists at the ready in case he was about to be mugged by a group of teenage hoodlums.

"Oh," he said, glaring at the other man. "It's you."

"Wow. Your tune's certainly changed since last I saw you. I told you we'd bump into each other again. I guess this is fate."

"Uh huh. Did you come out here to mock me about bein' a guy who also happens to like your music?"

He almost would've been unrecognizable as he was dressed in a coat with a high collar, sunglasses, and ball cap, but Naruto would've known his voice anywhere.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Avenger-sama, as he approached Naruto. He stared and then leaned forward - with a smirk - and stole the cigarette from behind his ear. "I see you ran into my friend Juugo."

"What?"

"These are his brand. Do you smoke?" Avenger-sama took out a lighter from his back pocket and started to light it, but Naruto snatched it away.

"Hey, you can't smoke. You have several concerts left. You don't wanna disappoint your fans by fucking up your voice, do you?"

The singer removed his sunglasses to look him square in the eye.

"Naruto, is it?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm surprised you remember."

"You're... angry with me?"

"Well, yeah. You thought it'd be hilarious to make fun of me. I'm not gay, you know. Just 'cause I like you and your music."

"I didn't say you were," Avenger-sama replied impatiently. "You're being rather judgemental. Is it your small town upbringing? We were getting along fine earlier."

"You celebrities all must think you can get away with treating people like dirt," he snapped, folding his arms to his chest and covering up the pass.

"I think I was pretty nice to you actually. I gave you more time than anyone else in line. Fine then. I'm sorry I waited for you."

Avenger-sama began to walk away, but when Naruto's brain processed his last words, he went after him and grabbed him by the arm.

"Wait..."

Avenger-sama turned to him, glaring at his hand. Naruto swiftly removed it before a dozen security guards tackled him from the shadows like ninja.

"You weren't fuckin' with me earlier? Like, makin' fun of me because I like your songs?"

"Why would I make fun of you for liking my music?" He asked. "Are you an idiot?"

"Er, I am beginning to wonder." Naruto looked off at the sky, rubbing at the back of his head. Had he been wrong? Glancing at the singer again, Naruto's expression became serious. "I'm sorry. I... guess I jumped to conclusions about you. I apologize."

"You wouldn't be the first to assume I was an asshole simply because I'm famous."

"Really?"

"Although, I am an asshole, so I suppose it makes sense." He spared Naruto a smirk.

Naruto grinned. "Must be rough, bein' so rich and havin' hot girls fawn all over you all the time."

"Must be, as evidenced by the fact I'm not inside but, rather, out here with you instead."

Naruto's smile drooped and his heart did a few somersaults inside his chest. Shit, why was a line from a guy working on him? Even if it was Avenger-sama.

"Still not gay?" He asked Naruto. "Not even a little bit? That line usually works on women."

"Ah!" Naruto pointed a finger at him. "You are makin' fun of me! You, bastard!"

"Bastard," Avenger-sama mused. "Let's just start with you calling me by my name."

"A-Avenger... sama?"

"Nope."

"Avenger?"

"Try again, Uzumaki Naruto."

"U-Uchiha...Sasuke?"

"Just Sasuke is fine. I've been out of Japan long enough that honorifics feel strange to me now."

"Right..."

"So," said Sasuke, "Do you think I can have my lighter back? I stole it from my brother, and he'll be very angry with me if I lose it."

"I-Itachi?" Naruto asked. "The Uchiha Itachi?"

"Oh, look at you. You really are a fan if you know my brother's name."

"So, what exactly is it you want from me, Sasuke?"

"I like that." Sasuke smiled devilishly. "How my name sounds from your lips. Say it again?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Do I have to pay you $20 first?"

Sasuke snickered. "I'm keeping a running tab. I'll let you know what you owe by the end of the night."

"End of the night...?" Naruto repeated. "Are we goin' somewhere?"

"Well, that's up to you, isn't it?" Sasuke took his arm and led him out into the lot, careful to keep his cap lowered so no one would recognize him. "You did drive here, right? I'm afraid a limo might be too conspicuous."

"Seriously?" Naruto whispered since he saw a group of fangirls hanging by a convertible about five feet away. He didn't want Avenger-sama to get mobbed because he gave it away.

"It's boring doing all of that publicity crap. You seemed normal, Naruto. No offense. So, I thought you might take me around town. Remind me what it is normal people do."

"Ah, I see. You want to know how us peasants live," Naruto replied.

"I suppose you know where I might be able to score some cocaine?" Sasuke asked.

"WHAT?" Naruto shouted so loud that Sasuke clapped a hand over his mouth.

"I was kidding," Sasuke said in his ear, eliciting a shiver. "It was only a joke."

"It's hard to tell when you're joking," Naruto muttered. "I am rather normal, unfortunately. I'm not sure I'm the best one to show you a good time."

"Oh?" Sasuke dragged him closer, making sure their arms locked tightly. "I think a guy like you can show me a very good time."

While they were driving, Sasuke's phone kept going off. Instead of answering it, though, he stared out the window. Naruto couldn't read his expression because of the sunglasses.

"What song is that?" Naruto asked. "Your ringtone, I mean."

"It's J-rock. You probably haven't heard of him. He used to be the lead guitarist for one of my favorite bands."

"Oh, which one?"

"Tenfuuin," Sasuke answered. "He went solo for a while. I ran into him in LA once."

"You got to meet one of your idols? What was that like?"

Sasuke gave him a smug look. "You ought to know, am I right?"

Naruto laughed. "Guess so. So, what are you in the mood to do? It's not very often I get to give celebrities the official town tour."

"Whatever you usually do is fine."

"Shouldn't you answer your phone? What if there's an emergency?"

"My agent going through menopause is not so much an emergency as a natural disaster," Sasuke muttered and removed the glasses. He set them in one of Naruto's cupholders.

"I thought she was pretty hot. Like a MILF."

"Are you a breast man, Naruto?" Sasuke reached for the radio dial and played with the stations. Ultimately not finding anything he liked, he turned it off again with a huff.

"I can't say I'm picky."

"What about a bar? You have some of those, right?"

"Well, we do, but I'm still 20, and won't people notice you?"

"You're 20?" Sasuke asked. "That works out well for you. I'm 21. Although, it's been a long time since I had to buy another man a drink. Usually it works the other way around."

Naruto chewed at his lip, breaking for a red light. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"I'd rather you didn't."

He nodded. It was becoming pretty apparent that those rumors weren't exactly rumors. That, or Sasuke had an incredibly flirtatious personality.

"We can go to a bar, to a restaurant, or back to my place." He'd offered the last without thinking and, realizing how it sounded, tried to backpedal. "I mean, not like that. Just that, you know, no one would be there. Well, except my roommate, and he's older than me, so there's alcohol. That's not especially exciting for you, I bet."

"I don't mind," said Sasuke, "So long as you're not some kind of serial killer."

"Huh?" Naruto sent him a glare.

"Hey, watch the road." Sasuke poked him in the cheek and forced him to look straight ahead. "Do you know how many people would mourn my loss if I was to die in a car accident?"

"Yeah, I really do. And, weren't you the one waiting for me in the parking lot like some kind of stalker? I was ready to go home and burn my poster of you."

He caught Sasuke's smirk in the brief look he gave to the rearview mirror.

"You have posters of me?" Sasuke asked. "Are you sure you aren't gay?"

"What, like you probably didn't have posters of that guy you liked from Ten-whatsit?"

"Tenfuuin? Of course I did," replied Sasuke, "But, then again, he was really hot."

Definitely... not rumors.

"Before we go to your place, do you mind if we stop at a gas station or a WalMart?"

"Sure," said Naruto. "What do you need?"

"If I don't take care of my throat, I'm going to be hurting tomorrow."

"No problem. There's a place not far from my apartment. Are you really sure this is okay? You don't secretly have bodyguards following me? Like that one guy with the orange hair?"

"Juugo?" Sasuke rolled down the window. "No. I asked him to wait for you. I said a stupid-looking blond kid might come this way and to send him out the other exit."

"Ah, so you were stalking me!"

"Let's just say I, after all this time of being screwed over by various people in my life, I knew the kind of person you were from the instant you opened your mouth."

"Me?" He asked. "What... what kind of person am I exactly?"

Instead of answering, Sasuke gave him a bland look. One that he swore he'd received from Sakura several times over, usually after he said something obvious or dumb.

"I'm a sucker, aren't I? You just wanted to escape. Like one of those Disney movies where the popular celebrity switches places with the nobody loser kid."

"I wasn't going to put it that way at all," Sasuke replied. "You're very overdramatic, Naruto."

"I don't wanna hear that from you." Naruto pulled into a small convenience store only a couple of minutes from his place. "Do you want me to go in for you, your majesty?"

"I'll go in," said Sasuke, "You might not know what I want. I'm picky about what I use."

When he'd finished parking, he turned to Sasuke, and, for the first time, it really hit him that he was sitting here in his car, arguing with one of the biggest, most popular singers in the world right now. They'd been talking so normally that he'd forgotten for a second.

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"Nothing."

"Do you not want to go in?"

"Uh... Yeah, no, I'll go in." He undid his seatbelt. "I think we... uh... needed some milk."

"Good story." Sasuke took off his seatbelt, too, and opened the door. "Come on then. I'll show you just how glamorous a celebrity's life is."

As they walked into the store, Naruto felt all kinds of self-conscious. Not just because he was walking side by side with the Avenger, but because he was paranoid someone would notice despite Sasuke's disguise. Luckily, the place was empty except the middle-aged woman checking out and the male clerk at the cash register.

"You don't happen to have any lemons, do you?" Sasuke asked as he passed Naruto.

"Yeah, maybe. Sai likes them in his water 'cause he's prissy like that."

"Sai?" Sasuke inquired. "Is he your roommate?"

"Yeah. He's gonna shit himself if you're really stoppin' by."

"Why wouldn't I stop by? We've already come this far. I'm going to find some honey."

Sasuke left his side, which made Naruto shift into this weird protective mode where he kept a watch on the front door in case anyone came in, recognized the singer, and threw themselves at him. He felt like he was guarding a national treasure. After a couple of minutes, Sasuke returned with a few items - honey, ginger, and a couple of water bottles.

"I thought you needed milk," he said to Naruto.

"Oh, shit. Yeah. Fuck."

Sasuke went over to the cashier, and Naruto sped to the back of the store to grab a half-gallon of milk. By the time he returned, the singer had already made his purchase.

"I paid for yours, too," he said.

"You didn't have to do that," Naruto mumbled, but Sasuke shrugged.

They left together, Naruto feeling suddenly awkward. Now he wasn't sure why he'd invited Sasuke to his home. How creepy was that? At first, he'd figured it would be better than going to a bar where he knew the man would be mauled by the locals. Now, though, he'd be taking someone who was used to 5-star hotels and private jets to his dump of an apartment.

"You know," he said, unlocking the car for them, "We can go anywhere you want. If you'd rather a bar or a restaurant? Or, we can - "

Sasuke had the door open. "Naruto. Your place is fine. I've been around people all day, so it'll be good to have some privacy for once. Unless you'd rather kick me out and leave me by the side of the road? I can always call Tsunade and have her pick me up."

"No, it's - " He gave an empty nod. "Sorry. It's just I'm not a particularly exciting person, and my place, well - " Naruto scratched the back of his head, "It's not especially fancy."

"I don't want fancy," said Sasuke. "Normal is good. You'll never know how good normal is until you've lived a life like mine."

The singer got into the car and shut the door. Naruto got in after him, set the milk in the backseat, and started the engine.

"Alright, but just to warn you. My roommate..."

How could he explain this tactfully?

"What about him?" Sasuke asked.

"He, uh," Naruto gave him an apologetic look, "Kind of hates your guts."

TBC