T h r i c e E t e r n a l
by ttt
Italics - Sasuke
Bold - Naruto
xx
~Daedalus~
xx
Every day, he stared out the window, out at the sea.
He stared as the cold winters turned the sky into charcoal gray, casting the tower's stone walls into a maze of lost words, and he stared as the oppressive heat mocked both boys with chaste kisses. Shivering, he woke up, stretched, then walked to the window, blue eyes riveted.
What does he see?
The blinding sun, the cry of freedom, the rolling clouds?
Tell me, please.
The emptiness of air, the poisonous silver waves of the ocean, the search of futility?
Please.
And one day, he tugged his eyes away from the clouds and straight into the figure, the broken, useless figure in the corner, the figure with the dark hair, the smoldering eyes, and the wounds. The blond boy held out a hand and whispered gently.
O k a y. Let me show you.
xx Don't fly so high xx
In the prison, in the island, they looked out at the sea.
They were perfect together, being so assymetrical and quiet as they watched the sea dance with the wind. The taller boy never talked, because he had nothing to say. But the other boy, who always stood besides him, talked and laughed and loved. This tower was a cage, the only one he'd ever seen, but it didn't stop the words, the carelessness, the touches.
Are you a l i v e?
Yes.
Another slight touch, echoless clouds watching, birds flying through freedom... Another day of spiraling descent into the darkness, but then there would be the laughter. A smile from the whiskered face. Freedom in its own way.
If only because of you.
Eternity forever in this little bare room where the wind never blew and the steps faltered. Pieces and bits of memory, but none ever fell into piece. Instead, he collected feathers like broken pieces of glass, listening to the bright words of the boy who carved existence.
An orphan with blond hair, blue eyes. Shunned since birth. Brought to the tower as a boy.
And him?
Black hair. Black eyes. Heir to the throne.
And?
Brought to the tower as a boy.
How long have we been here then?
Silence.
Forever silence.
xx This place is all he's ever known xx
Years pass. Seasons pass.
C o l d. It's so cold.
Bitter winter, furious and biting and stringent, always crowds around the tower's dingy room. No matter how hard they fight to overcome the drenching loneliness, winter always wins.
Except
Except
Heart beating fast, the boy with sky in his eyes approached the bed. The sea said nothing, if only because it was frozen solid, beautiful silence everywhere. The boy was so cold, teeth trembling, eyes wavering, lungs bursting, so he found the heat in that lone bed with the lone occupant.
Can I sleep next to you?
Or I'll die tonight, alone and afraid.
The dark haired boy, so old in his age, felt his heart twist painfully. This cruel punishment. Why had god cursed him with the burden of eternal pain?
But I'm a monster.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
A smile.
So you say.
xx And the wing sings a song that is too perfect for words xx
The seventh year in the tower, they become beautiful.
Birds hear the laughter from the room and squawk in return. The ocean crashes harder against the tower's foundations, trying to topple down their lives, their happiness.
And the sky beckons.
Black hair becomes silk, a tangle of breathtaking sheens and webs, while the gaunt face turns into ivory porcelain. The sun reflects off the waters, making the room brighter and clearer, and the blond hair into a blinding halo.
They watched as clouds fell
and hope cleared the sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Heaven~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heaven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Heaven~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The smaller boy woke up just in time to see the rays trickle into the room and hit the other boy in the room, lying on the bed.
Awe. This is the brand new skylight.
He walked to the window, like he did every day, and he couldn't hold back the tears. There is nothing left, nothing left at all. He looked back to wake his companion, but the other boy wasalready awake, utterly blissful. Safety. Steady.
And when the blond turns towards the window, the dark-haired figure sees it as a ghostly shadow, hovering above his shoulder blades.
Wings.
xx But I've got a plan xx
They stand by the window, makeshift wings made of feathers and wax.
We're free
Not yet
But we are. It doesn't matter if this doesn't work. We're going to be f r e e forever.
..Do you remember the plan?
Fly.
xx You're the only one who means anything to me xx
They fly.
Away from the prison, away from the island. Silver wings fluttering, they scream into the wind with joy and freedom. Finally, they touch the sea with its glittering liquid and the clouds with their sheer veils.
And it's beautiful.
They meet, collide, then fly away, only to come back and yell about forever and eternity.
Hold on tight, don't let go. I won't ever let you fall.
I won't fall.
He knew he had to say it, before they reached the ground, before they stopped transcending the impossible. He had to say it, because there was an urgency in their conversation now, an almost falling grace.
So he stared at the blond, who had never felt the exhilarating wind or seen the sparkling fishes weaving into the blue and green tapestry. He stared at the blond and he knew.
What's wrong?
Nothing. Keep flying, but steer clear of the sun.
The next time I come back, you'll say it. R i g h t ?
Yes.
xx I love you xx
Oh gods
His wings are coming undone at the seams. And yet, he climbs higher still.
Why is this happening to me?
And he climbs, because he can't fall. Not when they are forever, not when forever means freedom. He wants to reach the sun, because he wants to reach for the impossible.
All I wanted was a new life, for us to grow up free.
He's so close. When he grabs just a bit of sun, he'll come back down and show the one he loves. The boy with the dark hair and the perfect eyes and the beautiful words.
And now you took the only one who means anything to me.
Wax, melting, heat.
Fear, panic, desperation.
But heaven is so close.
O Gods!
And he's falling through the air, through the wind's howling songs, through everything. And the sea calls his name.
Except
Before he crashes into the waves, before his wings fail him, he sees Sasuke. Their eyes meet, for once, twice, thrice, and eternity snares them together for one last glimpse.
I will hang up my wings.
Naruto smiles and then there is nothing left.
I will never fly again.
xx But now, we are free forever xx
AN: Three chapters spaced out in three days. Thanks for reading.