I do not own Naruto.

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Stockholm Syndrome

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Hinata sat back on the mattress of Sasuke’s bed, eyes wide as she watched the door. She’d only been out of the room for an hour, barely eaten a bite of food, when she was rushed back in. She could hear people darting around just behind the door, whispering in urgent tones about things she was just out of reach of hearing. She was scared of what was happening, what had caused such a big hype among the Sound Nin. Her mind filled in countless blanks of all ranges, making her stomach upset with nerves.

She wrung her hands anxiously, chewing her lips and the inside of her cheeks to shreds. Suddenly, the doors to the room flung wide open, revealing two Nin trying to prop Sasuke up, who was, seemingly, indignant to the assistance. He stumbled and staggered, barely able to pick up his feet and drag them along. His face showed emotion for the first time, a grimace of pain, breathing sharply through his nose, nostrils flaring wide. Even his cheeks held a dark red flush. His shirt was wide open, exposing his bony, pale chest and red stained bandages wrapped around most of his lower torso.

The two men babbled as Sasuke began to fall forward, and they hurriedly dragged him to the bed. Before they could set him down, he jerked out of their grip and threw himself onto the bed. He gave a sharp exhale when he hit, body going rigid as he attempted to climb onto all fours toward Hinata.

“Go.” He snarled, his voice strained as he attempted to speak through clenched teeth, not bothering to glance back at the two men. His arms wrapped around Hinata as he buried his face in her soft chest and gasped for breath, his face wet with perspiration. The Nin scrambled out without another word, not daring to disobey him. He radiated heat as he clutched her, his arms like a cage, boxing her in. He shuddered a few times, but made no noise other than his heavy breaths. She could merely sit there, totally frozen.

Too terrified to move, it was a very long night. She stayed perfectly still and in place, like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide, quaking like a leaf in the wind. By the time it was pitch black outside and the room was enveloped in darkness, her muscles were aching from the tension, and her bones felt like they might snap from the pressure of supporting her awkward position for such a long period of time.

His arms finally began to slacken, his breathing slowing and deepening noticeably. Carefully, she eased him off of her, and curled into a tight ball, clutching her growling stomach with her hands nervously; afraid the sound could possibly wake him. Silently, Hinata edged away from him, very slowly so not to shift the bed any, and curled into a ball on her side, shutting her eyes and mumbling a quiet little prayer under he breath.

Staring into the darkness for hours, mind as blank as a piece of paper, she didn’t know when she finally fell asleep. Her dreams were vivid, filled with gore and blood, screams and cries. So many faces were familiar, and yet so many weren’t. Men, women and children ran desperately for cover as the slaughter ensued all around them. Bodies strewn everywhere; over the streets, on buildings, being ripped apart like animals. Hinata rushed from person to person, thoughts frantic and unsure of what to do, as helpless as you often are during dreams. One by one, she found her friends dead, their eyes glazed over and gaping wounds still bleeding like red rivers. Their mouths moved silently, mouthing words she didn’t understand, until someone grabbed her from behind and drug her from the mayhem of Konoha.

Jerking awake with wide eyes, on the verge of tears, she clutched herself tight, fighting back a piteous moan that threatened to escape her. She tried her best not to fall asleep again that night, and nearly jumped out of her skin whenever Sasuke rolled onto his side and pressed the palms of his hands awkwardly underneath her shirt and against her skin. Her stomach gave another monstrous growl, twisting with unease at the contact, and Hinata swallowed hard at the bitter taste in her mouth.

Light began to show outside, and Sasuke began to stir. His skin was glazed over in a cool sweat, and he was shivering violently. He reached for Hinata, taking her hand in his and squeezing gently, his eyes capturing and holding hers. His grip was weak, and his skin was sticky and clammy. A humane part of her would have had her getting up and seeking help for the wounded man, but another part forced her to stay in place unless he asked her. She would not willing help an enemy unless ordered. She may not have been brave, but she was not a complete coward, or furthermore, traitor.

He lay on his back for hours, until the gray clouds outside were once again lit with sunlight, like a lamp behind gray paper. His pasty skin seemed splotchy, until buckets of sweat were pouring off of him, the dark circles under his eyes exaggerated. He looked like a corpse, and Hinata thought he might have been dying. He could easily fit the part of a man laying on his deathbed.

Sasuke never did speak a single word, merely held her hand very lightly within his own, The touch seemingly held no meaning, almost as if he was doing it like a trained reaction. Eventually, a few hours later, Kabuto and a few other medic Nins barged in, completely unannounced and uninvited. Despite the lack of feeling on his face, the animosity in his eyes was apparent as he bore holes into the medics face. It was clear if he wasn’t in so much pain, he was liable to rip the other men’s throats out. The gray haired man merely smiled, his dark eyes shining brightly behind her glasses as he held up a previously prepared needle full of seemingly viscous clear fluid. He thumped the glass canister with a finger, which let off a dull ring, pushing on the plunger until a small amount squirted from the tip.

“This should help with the pain, Sasuke.” He said, and strode forward a few steps. Sasuke’s eyes flickered from the needle to Hinata, and he watched her face carefully, expression totally blank, like a doll’s. He pulled her hand close to his face, wide black eyes staring at her, his heated breath brushing her knuckles in short puffs.

Hinata’s eyes didn’t dare divert. He stripped the wound of the bandages, and stuck the needle straight into the muscles of Sasuke’s stomach. His fingers didn’t event twitch, his expression totally unchanging as the medicine was injected into him. Kabuto seemed to take longer than necessary as he squeezed the plunger, and finally withdrew it, wiping the needle clean and handing it to another medic nearby. He none to gently began cleaning the wound, and then went to work re-bandaging it. Then he focused his attention on Hinata.

“You must be hungry, Hyuuga-san?” He asked, arching one eyebrow. Hinata nodded slightly, finally tearing her eyes away from Sasuke. With a quick glance down at the other man, Kabuto’s smile widened a little.

“Then please, do join me for lunch.” He said, and took her hand in his, politely helping her to her feet. She felt something inside of her wrench at his touch, shame spreading throughout her in a sickening motion. With Sasuke, it was horrible enough, but at least his face was blank. Kabuto on the other hand, couldn’t wipe the snide smirk off of his mouth for more than a second. He was intentionally trying to make her feel small and helpless, daring her to pull away from him, acting as though they were friends rather than enemies. He seemed to enjoy the stress as it rolled off her in nearly tangible waves, heating the air around her.

She felt she should pull away from him, show some loyalty and spirit for Konoha, and run. But she did not know what he was capable of, and she was rather sure that he would not bodily harm her. It didn’t seem his style, though she was sure he could pull some strings. He was nearly as important to Orochimaru as Sasuke was. Nearly. There was really nothing to make Orochimaru keep Hinata alive other than Sasuke’s happiness. If she made the wrong move, said the wrong thing, Kabuto could tell Orochimaru, and he could have her tortured or killed with a snap of his fingers. She was not one to insult a person, anyway, not even the lowliest of scum, but caution never hurt.

But maybe it wasn’t just fear that held her in place, maybe it was just her personality; who she was. To insult and scream and fight was not in her, like it was in her sister or her father, or her cousin Neji. To lie down and show her belly, taking whatever was dished out to her, was Hinata’s way. Silently regretting the lack of courage later, after things were all said and done, was her way. Fighting battles she could never possibly win was not what she would do. What she would do was sit and wait, watch and listen.

He took her to a massive dining room and politely pulled her seat out for her, gesturing for her to sit down with an overtly friendly expression on his face. He seated himself in front of her, lacing his fingers together and smiling at her, but still making no attempt at polite conversation. She wasn’t necessarily sure whether it would make things better or not, having her stare at her, or talk to her as well.

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Sorry for the slow, as well as late up-date. Please post suggestions if you have any.