Summary: Long distance relationships are complex and hard to maintain. Naruto refuses to give into the hype about how they never work, he was going to beat the odds. A series of short moments of having a long distance relationship. NaruSasu/SasuNaru.
Rating: M for future chapters and content.
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
Ages:
Naruto: 19
Sasuke: 21
Beat The Odds
Chapter 1: Telling The Best Friend.
February 8 2007: 5 months together
The snow settled onto the ground like a perfect puzzle. If only life was as easy to fit together as snow seemed to worm its way on the ground. He let his breath ghost over the pane of glass before swallowing the awkward feeling and turned around to face his friend.
"I have someone." He murmured out, cutting her tirade off about how he should get out there and date someone, anyone.
The silence was suffocating and he fidgeted with the sleeve of his sweater. He felt guilty; he should have told her sooner. Much sooner.
"Oh." It slipped like a whisper from pink lips. "Who is it? Why have you never told me?"
Naruto winced at the obvious disappointment at hiding this from her. They had been best friends since their junior year in high school. He thought the answers over in his head and he sighed.
"You don't know them and…" he hesitated and he knew Sakura would pick up on it. "It's complicated."
He knew this was a big deal. This was his first relationship and he was 19 going onto 20 at the end of the year. Was it even a relationship? He frowned, and ran a hand through his messy hair. He knew Sakura was waiting patiently and he wished he knew how to be open about it, but how to do explain to your best friend that you've never physically met your boyfriend?
He turned his eyes to meet her jade ones and decided to man up. He took a deep breath and sat on his desk chair.
"We met…online." He told, his voice small and quiet.
Sakura nodded and smiled, "a lot of people meet online nowadays," she shrugged. "You have to introduce me to her."
Naruto almost flinched but glanced at her with determination. She also didn't know that he was bisexual, in all fairness he didn't know until five months ago either.
"We haven't met yet." He boldly told and smiled, "and I have a boyfriend, not a girlfriend Sakura."
"I always knew you were a little queer," she teased without hesitation, and grinned, "but…" and there was silence. Naruto knew why.
How can you have a boyfriend if you've never met?
He sighed and turned his chair in a circle. "I guess, it's weird to call him my boyfriend right?"
He stopped for a second to catch sight of Sakura who was shaking her head.
"I mean we haven't even met," he bit his lip while his heart was beating rapidly in his chest. He felt guilty saying this about Sasuke – because they were together, even if not physically. "And I guess he really can't be my boyfriend if we-"
"Stop." Sakura frowned, "that's not it." She glanced around the room quickly as though gathering her thoughts. "Just…how do you know he is who he says he is?"
Ah.
Naruto smiled and his heart fluttered. Did that mean she accepted his relationship for what it was?
"We've spoken on camera." He shrugged his shoulders. He got to know Sasuke before his looks were involved and because of that he felt strongly connected to him. They were taking it at a snail's pace and Naruto was comfortable with that and welcomed it.
Sakura seemed pleased with the answer and gave a tender smile. "Does he make you happy?"
Naruto nodded, a light smile gracing his face. "I think he does."
She nodded, "then just because he's not here doesn't make him not your boyfriend." She chuckled lightly once she heard what she had said. "That is, do you know what I mean?"
Naruto mulled that over and sighed, "I do but…can he really be considered my boyfriend when I could be making him up?"
Sakura rolled her eyes, "just because you haven't dated anyone doesn't make you desperate enough to create an imaginary boyfriend."
He puffed out his cheeks but the smile never left. "I guess but…is it weird to call someone your partner when you have never met?" he mused and brushed a stray strand away from his eyes. "I think it is."
"You never pegged me to be someone who wanted to be normal," she scolded lightly and Naruto gave out a breathy chuckle.
"I guess but," he bit his lip. She was taking it well, but what about the others? What if they laughed at him or undermined his relationship.
She stared at him lovingly before sighing and standing up to promptly hit him on the head.
"Ouch! What the hell Sakura!?"
"Stop it." She caught his eye and held it. "Whatever negative thought you're thinking about, stop." She saw his eyes fill with surprise and she smirked. "Everything will be fine, be proud of your relationship with him. Because it is a relationship, you are exclusive right?"
Naruto weakly nodded, a faint pink tinted his cheeks.
"Then he is your boyfriend. Nobody can take that from you," she smiled and gently rubbed the spot she had just smacked mere seconds before.
She stood there, quietly watching how relief shone through bright blue eyes. She wandered back to the bed and got comfortable on it.
"Thanks," he spoke proudly out, "you're always so smart."
"Stop flirting with me, you have a man now." She waggled her eyebrows at him before grinning. "Tell me all about him! What's his name? How old is he? Where is he from? How'd you meet?"
Naruto grinned, showing his white teeth before spinning in his chair again.
"Sasuke, and he's two years older than me. He lives in Chicago." Although far away he was not too far, Canada was just next door to the United States. He grinned and paused a little embarrassed at the next question. "Online game…" he quietly told the world.
"Kinky," she grinned and smirked, dismissing his insecurities. "Does he have siblings? What does he look like?"
Her reply made a smile slip onto his face, which he had no plans of removing. He could not believe her attitude towards it all; she was understanding and his eyes shone with pride for having such an amazing woman as a friend.
It took until 11:00 at night before Sakura was satisfied with her answers and went home.