soul_logs | [Closed]

Characters: Hyuuga Neji and Rock Lee

Location: Lee's apartment, J11 in Casualty Communal

Rating: PG-13 for awkward nudity and boy talk

Time: March 15, evening

Description: Neji comes over while Lee is in the shower and find something peculiar...

Running two jobs on top of training was hard work, but just the right amount of activity to keep Rock Lee from going insane with boredom. The City was interesting in some ways, but lacked the constant activity that came with living in Konoha. And without his full strength to put to test in training, regular training had become somewhat tedious.

His job as a bouncer provided him with greater stimulation, in more ways than one. Being around the girls at the strip club wasn't as easy as Lee had initially anticipated. He had decent self-control at work, but at home he was allowed time to relax and think about less than appropriate things at his own leisure. There was nothing wrong with that. As a growing young man, he had a right to buy his own magazines and use them however he wanted! But he wasn't the type to read and tell. Nor was he the type to leave anything out when he expected company, but tonight Lee had expected to just have the small apartment to himself.

His room left in an expected amount of disarray from a teenage boy, Lee had decided to take a hop in the shower before settling down for bed. He was in the middle of washing his hair when he felt the familiar spark of another soul enter his apartment. Neji. Lee didn't think anything of it, however, and continued at his regular pace as he washed, sure that the other shinobi wouldn't mind waiting a moment before Lee was ready to come out and talk.

That some of his magazines had been left out at the foot of his bed hardly crossed his mind.

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He spent his time looking through the magazine while as his mind occupied itself with what he'd do and say when Lee came back out. He settled on a casual approach, glancing up as Lee walked toward him and let the magazine fall closed, dropping it on the coffee table and leaned back.

"I won't tell him, but I don't see why you're afraid of him knowing. He's always encouraged your pursuit of Sakura."

"Eh-heh, yes," Lee chuckled lightly, taking a place on the couch near Neji. "But I do not think he would approve of my looking at these." He gestured towards the fallen magazine. "It is not quite as, um, innocent as courting a lady out in the open."

Lee leaned an elbow on his knee, then casually propped his chin into the raised hand as he gazed over at Neji. While his arms and chest were still bare from the shower, the heat that could not be denied on his face kept him warm enough.

"So... did you like it?"

Neji huffed amusement and thought about correcting Lee, but he quickly decided that he did not want to extol the reasons of why Gai had absolutely no right to judge. There was no real reason for Gai to know anyway.

"It's interesting," he admitted eventually. "You have decent taste, after all."

Lee is somehow... pleased to know Neji finds his interests to be in good taste. A little smile quirks at the corner of his lips.

"I take it that this compares well with your own collection?"

Color threatened to surface again, and Neji glanced away. "I don't.. really own one."

Lee physically jerks back at that. "You do not..."

How was that even possible? Maybe Neji didn't need it, Lee's mind reminded him. Neji did have the byakugan. Perhaps he didn't have to rely on magazines... But no. Neji was not a voyeur. He was an upstanding young man and respected others' privacy. But for him to be so deprived...

Lee scratched at the back of his neck. There was no not-awkward way to say this. "... If you would like, you may borrow--" but with Neji living with three young women, that wouldn't be possible, "--that is, you may come over and look at my collection whenever you would like."

Neji's fingers curled into his palms, jaw clenching for a moment. It wasn't a big deal, he told himself, even as he fought to contain the rush of sudden self-consciousness.

"It's fine," he managed after a moment in a trite tone that didn't encourage further discussion. "It's not important."

Lee knew better than to just let be. Neji was saying one thing, but he probably wanted something else.

"If you say so... but do know you are free to peruse my collection any time you wish." He wouldn't push the issue, but the offer was there in case Neji ever decided he was curious again.

Lee reached his arms out before him in a stretched, threading the fingers together and pulling his arms taunt until his elbows, shoulders and wrists all popped from the strain. "Now then, what did you come over to talk about?"

He nodded shortly and lapsed into a short silence as he watched Lee stretch.

"Nothing," he confessed after a minute, unable to think of any valid-sounding reason now that they were moving past one of the most awkward talks they've had. "My shift on the Watch just ended and I'm stationed in this district.."

Lee nodded, smiling and then relaxed his stretch. "So you stopped by for a visit! Wonderful!"

Lee stood, moving to his kitchenette. "Would you like tea or a small snack? I am sorry I did not offer earlier."

Neji shrugged off the apology, considering how distracted both of them had been for mannerisms.

"Tea would be fine. Lavender, if you still have any."

"Coming right up!" He was running rather low, but he could pick up more the day after. Maybe he would stock a little more than usual, since Neji was likely going to be coming more regularly.

As he puttered around the kitchen, getting water boiling and measuring out the tea, Lee spoke over his shoulder. "So, how was work today?"

[ooc: aaaand we can probably end it here if you'd like. :3 ]

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