This is set in a time when Sasuke and Naruto have been dating for less than a year, however I have aged them up to sixteen. The vague time in relation to the series is before Sasuke leaves the village to join Orochimaru, he and Naruto get together, and although I won't tell that story here, he is basically prevented from leaving by their union. Tsunade is the Hokage, Naruto having found her, and many things have probably happened since, but like I said, focussing on this story, not that. Enjoy!
Chapter 1 - 22nd of December
"SOOO HEEREEE IIIT IIIIIIIS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBOOODYYY'S HAVIN FUUUUN!" Sasuke pulled a pillow over his head as Naruto belted out the lyrics along with the TV. He'd got up every morning with the same enthusiasm; making mulled apple juice, eating mince pies, watching terrible holiday TV, and decorating the house. Sasuke groaned as his boyfriend's voice completely lost the tune, but carried on with the same determination.
"NARUTO." Sasuke yelled, sitting up, and rubbing his face with the heels of his hands.
"SASUKE! YOU'RE AWAKE!" Naruto called from downstairs, and he heard the blonde making his way up the stairs.
"Ugh…couldn't you at least turn the music down if you're coming up here?" Sasuke asked, receiving a grin from Naruto.
"But the house has to sound like Christmas!" The blonde seemed so excited, Sasuke couldn't be mad at him, but that wouldn't stop him being grumpy.
"I told you before, I don't like Christmas."
"That's because you haven't had anyone to celebrate it with for…" Naruto appeared to think hard, no doubt trying to count, "…too many years." The blonde looked so serious that Sasuke couldn't help a small smile tug at his cheeks. "Besides…" Naruto pulled puppy eyes, which were surprisingly effective for a sixteen year old. "This is my first proper Christmas." Sasuke glared at him, knowing full well this was emotional blackmail. It's still working though. The raven thought to himself, sighing, and rubbing his forehead with one hand.
"Alright, you win. I'll come down and make eggnog in a minute." Naruto cheered, and disappeared back downstairs, leaving Sasuke to try and wake himself up.
Early in December, Naruto had been going on about Christmas, and presents, and traditions, and a lot of really bizarre ideas. As they'd been talking, they'd gone past a stall that sold roasted chestnuts, and eggnog. Naruto had bounced over to the stall, nearly taking Sasuke's arm out of its socket, and bought a bag of chestnuts on the spot. He'd wanted eggnog as well, but it had been alcoholic. His disappointment had been clearly visible, so Sasuke had agreed to make him non-alcoholic eggnog when they got home. It was something Sasuke soon came to regret, because then Naruto asked for it every morning. The one morning he'd trusted the blonde with the recipe, and left him alone to do it in the kitchen, he had somehow burnt it. Apparently he didn't read the instructions properly, and thought 'stir' said 'simmer'. Sasuke, after that incident, had said he would make the drink himself each morning, whilst Naruto looked on like a dog that had made a mess. Which, if the raven thought about it, he pretty much was.
"LOOK TO THE FUTURE NOW, IT'S ONLY JUST-" Sasuke cringed as Naruto's voice cracked, and grabbed a warm fleece jumper, pulling it on above his winter pyjama trousers as he went downstairs.
"Please…if I make eggnog, can we have half an hour, just, half an hour, with no Christmas songs?" Sasuke pleaded, making Naruto pout.
"But it's only a few days until Christmas…"
"I know, trust me, I know. It is in fact three days, as you remind me every day how long we have until Christmas." Sasuke glared at the blonde, who grinned nonetheless.
"Your murder stare doesn't work on me teme." He stuck his tongue out at the raven. "And I'll give you twenty minutes, that's the maximum."
"Fine." Sasuke grumbled. I'll take whatever reprieve I can bloody get. He thought to himself, but even Sasuke's inner Grinch couldn't stand up to Naruto in his festive spirit, and soon the Christmas songs were jingling through the house again.
"Hey! Sasuke?" Naruto said, pausing in a terrible rendition of 'I wish it could be Christmas every day'.
"Hm?" The raven looked up from a cookbook. Despite all his objections and scrooge appearance, he was actually determined to make this the best Christmas ever for Naruto. The blonde had experienced too many sad ones, this one would, if Sasuke had any say in it, be perfect.
"Do you have a stocking?" Sasuke frowned. He wasn't sure he did, or at least not that he'd seen since his family died. He paused on that line of thought, realising that the loss of them felt less…sharp, less painful, since Naruto had moved into his life. A small smile warmed his lips, and he looked back at the blonde.
"Not that I know the location of. We should go to town and get a pair." Naruto grinned in relief, seeming happy both that he wasn't the only one lacking one, and that Sasuke seemed fine with getting them.
"Alright! Shopping trip!" Naruto beamed, running to the hallway to pull on boots and a jacket.
"Naru…oh for, NARUTO." Sasuke yelled, and the blonde leant around the doorframe questioningly, still fighting a boot. "You're in pyjamas. And as much as you don't object to pyjama shopping, it's cold out, and I'm not having you make yourself ill." Plus I morally object to going into the village in pyjamas. Sasuke thought to himself, but refrained from saying aloud.
Fifteen minutes later, and Naruto was bouncing by the front door, fully dressed now, and impatient for Sasuke to be ready.
"C'moooonnn!" He whined, hopping from one foot to the other as Sasuke finished writing a list.
"Unlike you, I don't intend to do several trips out today. We're getting everything we need in one go."
"But we got the turkey, it's sitting in your freezer. And you have a surplus of bacon, Brussels sprouts, carrots and potatoes."
"…" Sasuke gave Naruto a withering look. "We need to get other ingredients that require more…freshness to them."
"Ugh, fine." Naruto sighed dramatically.
Sasuke got up and slipped his coat and boots on, having got changed faster than Naruto, who was now beaming and flung the door open the minute Sasuke was ready, running out and looping around the grounds of the Uchiha residence, enjoying his first 'walk' of the day.
The pair of them wandered through the village, the chill air bringing out a redness on their cheeks. Naruto grinned and rubbed his gloves together, chuckling slightly.
"What are you plotting?" Sasuke asked suspiciously, looking sideways at the blonde.
"Oh, nothing." Naruto said happily, putting his hands in his pockets and looking up at the cloudy sky. "I really hope it snows though."
"It probably will." Sasuke said, looking up. "The greyness…it suggests clouds heavy with rain, and the air must be cold enough for snow."
Naruto gave a stupid grin, and walked sideways, bumping into Sasuke.
"We could make snow angels." He sang, and Sasuke gave him a glare.
"I'm not making a snow angel."
"Oh come on!" Naruto objected. "I never had anyone to make one with!"
"No. I'm not making a bloody angel. I don't do religion." Naruto glared back at him and fell silent for a while, appearing to be thinking.
"I mean…technically they'd be gay snow angels…so not really religiously valid…"
"No." Sasuke said resolutely, before smirking. "Besides, who says angels weren't gay? They weren't perfect beings, one fucking fell and became the devil, and apparently gay people go to hell, so there was at least one gay…" He trailed off, looking at Naruto's unimpressed face. "…what?"
"If you're going to lecture me about religion, you can make a snow angel." Naruto crossed his arms. Sasuke sent him an icy stare, but the blonde remained resolute.
"Fine." Sasuke caved, scowling ahead, not exactly resenting, but finding it frustrating that Naruto could persuade him so easily. "But we're doing it in the estate, not out here."
"Yes!" Naruto cheered, punching the air. "Come on, you're being slow." He took Sasuke's gloved hand in his own, and dragged the raven after him, running towards the main street, where few people were dotted about, most having already done their preparations and so opting not to go out in the bitter cold.
The pair browsed the stalls in the market, Sasuke selecting some fresh herbs, and looking through the meats for something special as a side dish. Naruto looked around, fidgeting as his boyfriend asked about the quality of the sausages. He really wanted to buy his stocking, but also had an ulterior motive for going shopping. Looking across the street, he spotted it. There was a stall selling wreaths, holly, poinsettia, and, nestled in the middle, mistletoe. He grinned, the stall had run out every day. Finally he would get some.
"I'll be right back!" He said briefly to Sasuke, who nodded distractedly, not really paying attention to where the blonde was going.
"Hi!" Naruto said, beaming at the shop owner, a middle aged woman. "Can I get some of the mistletoe?" The woman had been rummaging through her boxes, and cheerfully replied.
"Ah, of course, young love blossoming at christ…" She trailed off as she stood up, eyes settling on Naruto. "Oh, you." Her tone was cold and unwelcoming.
"Yeah, me." Naruto said, grinning up at her, determined not to let her get to him right now.
"I'm not sure I have any." She replied, wearing a sour expression.
"Sure you do, right here." He said pointing.
"I'm afraid I can't-"
"Hey, you're that Uzumaki kid aren't you?" Came a voice, and Naruto looked behind her, where a young boy stood.
"Yeah?" He replied uncertainly.
"Yui, don't…" The woman began in a warning tone, but the teenager came around the stall and slung an arm over Naruto's shoulders.
"It's alright, Naruto and I are going to go for a little walk." He said, smiling maliciously.
"I have to be somewhere…" Naruto said, a small panic fluttering in his chest.
"Don't worry, it won't take long." The boy said, steering the blonde through the street and round a corner. Someone had followed them, someone familiar. Naruto turned to see a grey haired boy, older than him, with that all too familiar, all too unsettling smile on his face, standing behind them, blocking his escape. Kabuto walked over to Naruto, looking at the boy with an arm around the blonde.
"Yui, thank you. You have been most…helpful."
"You said you'd do it." The boy said, looking at Kabuto.
"I did, but unfortunately you forget that I need you for this." The grey haired boy closed the gap between them, reaching out, and Naruto yanked free of the other boy, who tried to grab him but missed.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto spat, backing away out of range.
"I'm doing what I always do, making a living." Kabuto replied, reaching into a pocket. Suddenly a blade had pierced Naruto's shoulder, making him yelp. Cursing, he pulled out a kunai, he hadn't even seen the bastard move.
"Naruto, I really think you should consider hearing what I have to say." He said calmly, adjusting his glasses. Another blade flew out and stabbed Naruto in the leg, making him stumble.
"Like I'd listen to a spy." Naruto said, turning to run, only to find himself face to face with Kabuto. Fucking clones. Naruto thought, darting backwards as the clone tried to tackle him. "I'm not about to listen to you!" Naruto yelled, dodging and rolling, ignoring his injured leg. "You just work for people like Orochimaru, who want to take down the village."
"All I want to do is make a name for myself." Kabuto said, his original body walking towards Naruto as the blonde parried blows with the clone. "And I have found a perfect way to do it." He advanced, pulling out a strange looking blade, one Naruto didn't recognise, but one that gave off a dark aura. "I won't bore you with the details, but…let's just say that this blade isn't something you can heal from in your own…peculiar way." Naruto paled, he didn't like the sound of that. "I'm not here for fun, I'm here for science." The other boy, Yui, lunged at Naruto, tackling him to the ground, the clone pinning Naruto's arms down above his head.
"What are you-" Naruto began, fear making his voice quake, but then his jacket and top were roughly pulled up, and the blade sliced through his chest, sending blinding pain through him as it felt like acid burning across his skin. He cried out, blood trailing down his side, and puddling in the dirt beside him.
"Now for the ultimate test." Kabuto smirked, and placed a hand over Naruto, performing a healing jitsu.
Nothing happened.
The skin didn't even become less painful, the blood still running down his side.
"Wonderful." Kabuto smiled, looking at the skin in admiration.
"You said you'd do it." Yui growled, tightly holding onto Naruto's legs.
"Fine." Kabuto sighed. "Just demean my skills and turn them into nothing more than a bullying tactic." He reached out again and started carving into Naruto's flesh, making the boy cry out, only to bite back the noise in fear that Sasuke would hear him. He didn't want this scene to be what Sasuke saw 3 days before Christmas. "There." Kabuto said bluntly, standing up, his clone vanishing as he hid the blade. "I will expect the rest of my payment within the next few days." The grey haired boy stood up and walked away, Yui struggling to his feet, wearing a vicious sneer.
"Try and escape your identity now. Even your boyfriend won't want to look at you." He spat, turning to leave as well. Whereas Kabuto had seemed to fade into the darkness, this ninja merely walked back the way he'd come, sporting a bruise on one cheek from where Naruto had caught him.
The blonde rolled over, and struggled to his knees, pulling up his slightly bloody clothes to see the damage. There was a deep gash across his chest, just above his tattoo, and above it was the word 'fag'. Naruto felt shame and despair rise up through him, covering the wounds with his clothes, and clutching his chest. The words weren't bleeding as much as the other wound, shallower as they were, but they still hurt, as did the gash. But that paled in comparison to how Naruto felt. Several realisations came to him at once, one: he couldn't let Sasuke find out, he would blame himself for the slur cut into Naruto's flesh. Two: He couldn't tell Tsunade, Christmas had to be preserved, and there was no way the hokage would let them celebrate in peace if she knew the threat in the air. Three: He had to get somewhere to someone he could trust, someone who would patch him up as much as was possible, but without anyone finding out. He cursed under his breath, not noticing someone running towards him.
"Naruto, Naruto!" Came a fearful voice, and the blonde turned up to meet to anxious onyx eyes. "I'm sorry, I was distracted, some of the villagers cornered you again didn't they?" Sasuke said, guilt showing on his face.
"It's fine." Naruto said, forcing a smile that was clearly fake. "I just…I think I should go to Sakura's house to rest."
"No! I need to take you back to the estate and treat your wounds!" Sasuke objected, looking shocked.
"Sakura's house is closer. Besides…we still haven't got stockings." Naruto let his sadness about that fact show through his mask, and Sasuke looked on anxiously, before nodding.
"If you're sure." Naruto felt a pang of guilt, Sasuke would see it as him not being able to protect his boyfriend, so much so that said boyfriend had to go to someone else. But Naruto promised himself that he would make it up to Sasuke. He just had to cover this up, and fast.
"Yeah, just…walk me there." Sasuke nodded, and helped Naruto to his feet. The pair walked round the corner, and through the street, ignoring the stares they got from various villagers. They ended up at Sakura's house faster than they expected, her house only round the corner from the market. They rang the bell, Naruto leaning heavily on Sasuke, who was looking around impatiently.
A pink haired girl opened the door, her bored face lighting up with a smile as she saw the raven.
"Sasuke!" She beamed, about to give Naruto a slightly resentful look, which vanished the moment she took in the bloodstains and bruises. "For the love of…Naruto what happened?" She asked, looking concerned, but unable to keep the slight admonishing edge from her voice.
"I got in a fight again." Naruto grinned bashfully, only to cringe in pain.
"Come on, I'll take you to my room. Sasuke, get the-" she was interrupted by Naruto before she could finish.
"No! I mean, no, Sasuke needs to finish shopping."
"Look, I said I would go get the stockings, and I will, but do you really expect me to just leave you here when you're like this?" Sasuke said, anger and fear fighting for dominance.
"Sasuke, you have to go though." Naruto said, panicking.
"Naruto, you have no right to just send him away!" Sakura objected, frowning at him.
"But…but…" Naruto looked back and forth between them, tears forming in his eyes.
"…do stockings really mean this much to you?" Sasuke asked in exasperation. Not trusting himself to speak, Naruto just nodded. "Fine. But I'm coming straight back here, and checking on you the second I have them." Naruto nodded again, letting Sasuke pass him over to Sakura, who held his weight surprisingly well, and ushered him into the house, exchanging a look with the raven before he left the front door, shutting it behind himself. Naruto sagged in Sakura's arms, tears escaping his control, and rolling down his cheeks.
"Hey, Naruto, it's okay!" Sakura said, leading him to the kitchen where he slid down to the floor. "Sasuke is getting you a stocking." She hushed, trying to reassure him.
"No…that's…that's not…" Naruto looked away, feeling like his happy Christmas was about to slip through his fingers.
"…what are you talking about?" Sakura knelt down, making him look her in the eyes.
"…this…" Naruto said, slowly lifting his top and revealing the word and gash. There was a sharp intake of breath as Sakura saw it, and then she scrambled up, as if to leave, but Naruto grabbed her arm, pulling her back down. "No! Please don't go!" He cried.
"Naruto. You have to tell Sasuke!" She exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief.
"No, he'll blame himself. I just…I just need Christmas. I'll tell him after that! Please, you were the only one I could think of who would keep it a secret." He said, starting to sob.
"…then at least Tsunade should-"
"No! She'll keep me under lock and key and Christmas will be ruined!"
"Naruto you fucking little idiot!" Sakura shouted, looking furious. "Christmas is not important enough to risk you like this. You're in trouble, you need healing magic, and I'm not about to let you hide this away like nothing's wrong."
"Please…" Naruto begged. "It will heal, you know it will." He lied. "I just need Christmas to go well. I just…I've never…" Sakura's expression softened.
"Naruto…" She said gently, reaching out and touching the cuts, making him flinch slightly. "…fine. I'll keep it a secret. But only until after Christmas. I don't care if it's healed by then. Though by the looks of it, and thinking about how quickly you'll heal…the…the slur…should be gone by Christmas. But I'm going to need to clean the wounds."
"Okay." He whimpered, and let Sakura get to work. Soon she had applied medicine to his various cuts and bruises, which were already healing themselves, and had started using steri-strips to close the gash, bandaging it up along with the word written on his chest. Naruto finally relaxed when she'd finished, and let her pull his tops down again over the dressings.
"I really don't like keeping this from Sasuke." She said resentfully. "You really are a jerk sometimes." He smiled at her, knowing she only insulted him because she cared.
"I know. I'm sorry." They sat there in silence for a while as she put away her supplies. As she was clearing up, the doorbell rang again.
"That's probably Sasuke." She said, looking at Naruto, whose face had an uncertain expression on it. "It's fine." She sighed. "I said I wouldn't tell. But I bloody well expect you to after Christmas." He smiled up at her, and she left to open the front door, leading Sasuke back into the kitchen.
"Sasuke!" Naruto said, beaming, and scrambling up to greet him with a hug, before yelping slightly as his wounds stung at such enthusiastic contact.
"Baka." Sasuke said, holding Naruto at arms length so that he could examine him. "Remember that you're injured. And I would like to tell you that I'm not leaving you when you're like that again." His expression softened. "I bought stockings though." He pulled out one candy cane striped one, and a red one with a Christmas tree sewn onto it.
"OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH!" Naruto babbled, taking them both and staring joyfully at them. "They're so perfect!" He said, going to hug Sasuke again, ignoring the stabs of pain this time, and letting the raven squeeze him back.
"Come on baka, let's get you home." Sasuke said gently, thanking Sakura, and leaving.
The sun was still up, only just, but still there nonetheless, and yet he already felt exhausted, and welcomed the sight of the gates to his estate, greeting his staff, and going to his little house at the side of the garden.
"Lets get you undressed." He said, smiling at Naruto as they returned to the safety that was indoors.
"It's fine, I can do it myself." Naruto said, about to go to the bedroom.
"I want to check you over myself though." Sasuke said, before smirking and leaning over Naruto's shoulder. "Besides, I'm all hot and bothered now." He began to nibble the blonde's neck, wrapping his arms around that strong torso, but was surprised when his boyfriend yelped and leapt away.
"Um…I…I need a bit of a nap…" Naruto stammered, looking anywhere except at Sasuke, trying not to touch his painful chest, so instead rubbing at his neck distractedly. Sasuke however, misunderstood, and looked away, feeling sadness flow through him. Naruto doesn't blame me…I know he doesn't…but I wasn't there to protect him. I still can't…stop this happening. Of course he doesn't want to be around me right now. He felt a scowl slipping onto his face, feeling angry at himself, but turned so that Naruto didn't see it and think it was aimed at him.
"Fine. I'll…be in the living room." He said curtly, biting his lip and leaving Naruto standing in the corridor, missing the eyes shining with guilt and tears that adorned the blonde's face.
"Okay." Naruto whispered, going upstairs and shutting himself in their bedroom, lying on the bed, letting himself cry silently, and only able to think one thing over and over again.
This isn't what Christmas is meant to be like.