Scars.
He'd never seen anything so gorgeous. Yet there were so many flaws. The pale expanse that was laid out beside was marked and Naruto thought that each and every flaw was in essence, perfect.
The major scars were cuts along his back. Scars that were scattered like webs made from spiders along his back. Made from kunai, from swords, make from him.
He regretted those days. The days when he would actually get close to winning, his blood soaking the earth. Those were the days of war, when his life was not complete without turmoil.
The days that he realized how they were so similar.
Alone, yet many people around.
Frightened, but wouldn't show it.
Yearning for success, doing anything to get it.
Abandoned, purposely or not.
Noble blood, but unsure of how.
Loved, but not by others.
Naruto's tan hands grazed over the skin. He could feel the rough patched of skin where wounds had not left scars, but had marred the skin in a different way.
His eyes looked closer, seeing the subtle differences in color of his skin. The majority of the marks were small, circular marks. Nothing more than a few millimeters in diameter. Made from points pressing into the skin. Made from needles made to harm. Made from senbon made for him.
He questioned that day. What had caused his savior to do such? Why was another's life risked for his hated life?
Was it then he realized the truth?
That they were the only people for each other, to not feel alone?
That they were both scared of death, frightened by their pasts?
That they both had to get better, to succeed in their goals?
That they both were living in themselves, secretly crying out for love?
That they had blood unlike any other running through their veins, that they would eventually need it to push forward?
That they did indeed have love, for each other?
Those were the oldest scars. The scars that brought tears to his eyes, wondering how they had gotten there? And how had they gotten through their hell? But Naruto enjoyed the more recent scars upon the skin.
They were tiny, crescent shaped marks, not deep enough to break the skin, to draw blood, but deep enough to leave marks.
As his fingers danced along the shoulder blades where these marks lay, he felt the muscles twitch from his touch. His own aqua eyes glanced up to meet hazy obsidian.
The pale body twisted, facing a pale chest towards him with a groan. "Naruto?"
The words fell perfectly from between plump, kissed lips that had been abused prior to this moment.
Laying back down, Naruto's hands wound themselves in the raven hair, pulling the other's head towards his own chest with a whisper of sweet nothings. "Just go to back to sleep."
Pale arms, strong and muscular like his own wound around his waist, the other's body snuggling deeper against his own with a content rumble from his chest. "Okay, love you." The other man mumbled, his eyes drifting shut once more.
Naruto tucked the raven's head underneath his chin, his arms holding the pale body to his own.
"Love you too, Sasuke."
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto.