The Night Bird's Plea

Chapter 7: Tease

Kotori shook herself free from Tobi's hands shielding her eyes from the surprise, and frowned. In front of her stood not the villains she was anticipating on greeting, but the tallest building in Amegakure. As dark gray and unfeeling as the crying sky above.

"Could Pain have chosen a more lively place to settle down?" she asked, gathering the end of her sleeve and wiping off the smears of rain creating dark blots on her extravagant pastel pink box stuffed to the edges with extra sweets, brought as a gift for the man who adorned his headquarters in one particular garish display of wealth.

On the top floor where the leader's office resided was an ostentatious sculpture of a gilded face painted in stark primaries with an unhinged jaw and warted tongue acting as a red carpet to catch rain. Its metal hand clutched a pipe that spouted steam at random intervals. Truly flamboyant, albeit charming in a way.

Baffling though, why Pain chose to stand out amongst the concrete jungle. A strange decision for a gang.. an organization of the shinobi world's most wanted felons assembling under one roof; but whatever, Kotori was the guest here. Since last night she was preparing to be on best behavior. Namely, going to bed early. That is–two in the morning or so. Acclimating to a normal schedule so she could wake up refreshed. Wanting to get a head start on the day to bake impressive goodies for the leader of a group she worked with occasionally, yet never actually met.

And, perhaps, she wanted the extra time to put towards impressing someone else as well.

"Is my dress okay?"

Coming from around her backside, Tobi occupied the entirety of her vision. Stormy eye raking down the front of her dress. Pinning her on the spot, giving every detail of her body a once over. Penetrating his gaze wherever he pleased, as though he forgot she could see his shadowed eye. Or he lacked the shame to be more subtle, finding some semblance of courage hiding behind that mask of his.

Before they left her kitchen, when she was boxing up the last of the cakes for the Akatsuki, Tobi's actions were anything but bashful. Standing behind her, he reached for her eyes to start his jutsu, but first, dragged his heavy hand over her hip. Lifting the bottom of her dress. Sneaking an eyeful of a glance at her ass like she wouldn't notice. Like she wouldn't speak up and clock him on the spot. Like he wasn't crossing a boundary when they only met days ago.

Except she stayed silent, because the hot flush over her cheeks and the sensual whine threatening to slip out in her next breath shut her up.

Tobi definitely lacked shame. That much was evident when he pressed it against her lower back.

In the present, he accentuated their size difference like he did in her kitchen, bending his looming self to her ear. Rendering her a puddle with his hypnotic words from deep within his diaphragm. "You look gorgeous."

Waves of pleasurable goosebumps rippled across her skin. Every hair woven into her crown of braids attempted to stand on end.

"I bought it when I lived in Iwagakure and never went to the party it was intended for. I know it's a little.. short, but it's the most festive thing I own," she explained away the emerald green velvet dress unlike anything else in her modest closet. It covered her arms more than anything.

Being the sole subject reflecting in his greedy eye proved nerve wracking. She adjusted her weight on her high heels, unaccustomed to getting dolled up in this way. In her antsy rocking, the flounce of her pleated hem swished higher on her thighs. His attention whipped to the reveal.

"I like it," he said, mouth suddenly dry. "You look.. exquisite." He wrenched his eye closed and shook his head, cringing at his short circuiting brain for not producing something better than that. "T-They're.." He released an exasperated sigh and held the door open for her. "They're upstairs. Waiting on us."