chuunin_archive | [fic] Force of Habit (one shot)

Title: Force of Habit
Author: blackwind_drago
Fandom: Naruto
Characters: Chouji/Ino
Rating: T (for language and suggestive themes)
Words: 299
Summary: It just keeps happening, even though she doesn't mean it to.

Originally posted on fanfic_bakeoff using the prompt: Willful

Ino could hear the tunes playing on the clock-radio.

...Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger...

“Goddamn, Cranberries,” Ino muttered into her pillow. There was a groan behind her before the bed creaked as someone moved. The kunoichi felt an arm snake around her waist and hot breath on her neck

Not again, how drunk was I? Ino unwilfully pulled herself away from her bed mate and the warmth. She padded silently, gathering her littered clothes from the floor and putting them back on. I swear this is the last time... Ino promised herself.

As she wrestled with her shirt, a voice broke the morning silence. “What’s the rush?”

Fuck. “I thought you were sleeping, Chouji.”

Ino glanced at her lover in her one-night stand. His face was painfully neutral, but she could still see the hurt in his eyes.

“Obviously, not. Do you want breakfast?”

Dammit. “I have to get to work, otherwise I would.”

A snort of disbelief. “Do you want to have dinner later then?”

Ino shook her head as she grabbed her shoes and headed for the bedroom door. “Can’t, busy.”

She heard Chouji sigh before rolling with his back to her. Ino hung in the door, hesitant to leave. She felt like she needed to apologize. For doing this to him, and for keep doing this to him. She knew how he felt about her, and her she was taking advantage every time she was drunk, or needy, or lonely, or just plain scared.

“I’ll see you around, I guess,” she offered, the apology dying. The moment was gone. Not like he would believe it anyways. She left, hearing the song on the radio haunting her...

...do you have to let it linger...