Title – At Night
By – Kaylbunny
Rating – PG, for one swear word
Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto
Notes – For my darling Chrissy Sky, as requested
At night Naruto lies with Sasuke in his arms, making sure that even in sleep he can't leave him. Because that is his biggest fear, that one day his friend and rival will be whisked back into the darkness and forever be lost to the light. It's easier to pretend that everything is okay in the day, when they're surrounded by people and Naruto tries to re-integrate Sasuke back into Konoha and the trust of the villagers. But at night, when they're alone, Naruto has no choice but to face up to facts.
When Sasuke came back it filled Naruto with a relief and happiness so strong that all former grudges were dropped. To have Sasuke back, to hold him close like he'd imagined and then punch him for leaving in the first place was all that mattered. He'd been forced to face up to a lot of truths since their battle at the Valley of the End, like how much bastard actually meant to him. In their time apart he'd felt as though a part of him were missing. He needed Sasuke to function as a whole.
That's why it stung to be forced with the truth that Sasuke left of his own free will. No matter what reasons Sasuke gave or how much they promised to put it behind them the truth was there, mocking them from a curse seal on Sasuke's shoulder that would never fade. He'd put on a smile and a brave face to the rest of Konoha and sometimes even Sasuke, but when they were alone anger and hurt eat up his insides, threatening to bubble over.
To have Sasuke in his arms was a pleasure he'd never known existed, and one he never wanted to give up. He'd fight with every essence of his being to keep Sasuke, the person who brought so much joy and completion to his life. He only hoped that one day he'd be enough to make Sasuke stay.
-
At night Sasuke lies in Naruto's arms, dreaming of what could have been. He stands at the Valley of the End, looking down at Naruto's broken and bloody with new eyes. Itachi stands by his side, crowing in victory at having made his little brother a murderer, and Orochimaru beckons in the distance, waiting with a promise of power and outstretched arms.
It's a very different pair of arms that Sasuke finds himself in when he wakes up and he moves closer to Naruto, accepting the comfort that the blonde gave with his mere presence. When he came back to Konoha he'd never expected to be welcomed back with open arms. Forgiveness wasn't exactly a ninja trait and they had no reason to give it to him either. But of course Naruto was always the exception to the rule.
If he were to be honest, the blonde rejecting him was the thing that Sasuke feared the most. He had every right to punch a couple rasengan through his gut the moment he stepped back into the village, and Sasuke wouldn't have made any move to stop him if he did. Instead he'd been welcomed into Naruto's home and life, feeling whole for the first time, as though he belonged.
To have Naruto wrapped around him was a pleasure he'd never known existed, and one he never wanted to give up. There was nothing Sasuke could do that would ever make up for his betrayal, but he silently pledged to show Naruto that he wasn't going anywhere. He only hoped that one day he'd be enough to make Naruto stay.