Gaara/Naruto Naruto/Gaara. Hi thank you for reading just a little bunny that won't leave me alone. So I thought I'd put up a couple of chapters and see if anyone's interested. I haven't abandoned my other stories it's just this one won't go away so I can concentrate on them. It will be a slow build. Warnings as always boyxboy, adult themes (yes sex and stuff), bad language, violence (most likely), blood and gore, and probably a character death or two. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.
Chapter 1. A New Beginning.
Naruto unlocked the front door to the apartment he shared with his boyfriend. Without even a glance the blond man chucked his keys into the glass fruit bowl on the little table at the side of the door and with a tired sigh started to undo the zip of his coat. The apartment was dark and quiet; Sasuke was either still at the station or in bed. Naruto slowly made his way down the little beige coloured hallway towards the large open plan kitchen/living room. The apartment was a simple set up, a long hallway leading from the front door to the living room/kitchen at the back of the apartment. Four doors were situated at different intervals along the hallway. The first on the right hand side was a closet; the second on the right was his and Sasuke's room. The first door on left was the bathroom followed by the spare room. The main living space like the rest of the house was sparsely decorated. The plain white walls made the house feel cold and the room had no real character in the blonde's opinion. The accessories in the room were all shinny white or black painted modern pieces of furniture. A large black leather L-shaped couch dominated most of the room, heavy black drapes kept the room dark throughout the day. A large TV stood in the corner on top of a large white unit. The few pictures hanging on the walls were just canvases with a pattern of black, white and grey shades. As he passed his and Sasuke's room he glanced through the open door. It was empty. Naruto huffed as he carried on his way to the coffee maker. The kitchen was a decent size with marble counter tops and a breakfast bar separating the living room from the kitchen. The clock on the microwave told the blond man it was just after seven in the evening. After grabbing the cream from the fridge and switching his favourite appliance on the blond propped himself up against the counter.
"I'm sure I'm the only nurse who works these stupid hours." Naruto grumbled to himself.
It had been a gruelling 18 hours in the A&E ward. Naruto leaned against the counter top as he waited for the coffee maker to finish making its weird sounds, which indicated it hadn't been used for a while. It wasn't Naruto didn't enjoy his job as a nurse he did, he loved it even. The problem was when your grandmother ran the damn place. The other staff accused the blond of getting special treatment from the woman. The truth was far from it, the woman practically bullied him into adding an hour or two, or five to his shifts on a regular basis. A tired smile crept onto his face when he heard the front door open and close.
"Naruto, you home?" Sasuke called from the front door noticing his partner's keys in the bowl as the raven placed his own bundle inside the glass.
"Kitchen, coffee, want some?" The tanned blond hollered back.
Sasuke entered the kitchen and stared at the tired blond holding himself up on the counter.
"You look about as bad as I feel." The dark haired male smirked as he crossed the distance to place a simple peck on his boyfriend's lips.
"Long shift. I've only just walked in myself." Naruto replied as he watched the pale skinned dark haired man loosen the top couple of buttons of his shirt.
The raven nodded as he reached up to grab two mugs from the cupboard and set them down. Naruto poured them both a mug of coffee and handed one to his partner. They both added cream and sugar to their likings (Sasuke cream no sugar. Naruto lots of cream and sugar) and sipped at their drinks in silence for a moment before Naruto reached his limit.
"What's got you looking so down?" He asked running a hand threw his spiky blond hair.
"Double homicide." Sasuke mumbled from behind his mug.
The blond raised an eyebrow. "Another? That's like three in as many weeks."
"It's that fucking Akatsuki gang again. They've been terrorising every town, city and state they end up in. Murder, robbing, drugs, human trafficking you name it their doing it on some level. But no one's come anywhere near catching the main members. We only ever manage to snag the underlings. It's like they know exactly where we are and what we're doing before we do. Hell, we don't even know who they really are or how many of them there are." The dark haired man growled.
"I might look at getting a car." Naruto said taking a gulp out of his cup.
Sasuke lowered his mug. "Yep. Konoha's getting as bad as the bigger cities. Crime seems to be winning the war."
Naruto placed his coffee on the side and stepped towards his boyfriend wrapping his tanned arms around Sasuke's pale neck. "It's not and it never will." The blond whispered then tried to place a kiss on the pale mans lips, but Sasuke turned his head.
"Look I'm really tired it's been a long day and you look shattered as well. Can we do this another time?" The raven haired male asked in a low voice.
Naruto stepped back from his partner azure eyes downcast. "Umm...sure...you're probably right. We should get some sleep."
The older male gave a small smile. "I'm gonna jump in the shower."
"Okay..." Naruto whispered but Sasuke was already walking away.
The blond rubbed at his eyes with his finger tips. Five weeks. It has been five weeks since the last time he and Sasuke were intimate. And the blond was ready to pull his hair out and scream in frustration. It never used to be like this, one word, one touch, one look that was all that either of them needed for things to heat up. But now Sasuke felt so cold and distant. Even when the raven haired male kissed or held Naruto it felt wrong, uncomfortable. For the first time in their four year relationship Naruto was beginning to feel something was amiss. Sasuke was always too tired or not in the mood. He'd started going to the local bar after work with the other officers. Was Sasuke cheating on him? With who? Was it someone the blond knew? Was it a friend? The thought gave the blond a headache he wasn't known for his insight and wisdom in this sort of stuff. Naruto would much rather confront a problem head on, but could he be wrong and if he was what would happen? He had chased that obnoxious bastard since high school. Was it really all for nothing? Giving himself a mental shake the blond walked over to the answer machine and pressed the button to listen to the messages left today. He was being stupid he had no proof. Still what man in a happy relationship would go five weeks without sex? Well he himself had Naruto reasoned, but that was only because his partner didn't want any.
A voice from the machine interrupted the blonde's depressing thoughts. "First new message." Followed by a small pause.
"Brat, since your off tomorrow you can come and help Jiraiya get rid of that shit he's got up in the attic. I'm sick of looking at boxes of trinkets he got from his travels. Antiques my arse tourist trash more like. Anyway be here at 9.30 sharp. And that's AM brat." The message finished with a click.
"Second new message."
"Hey Naruto it's me...Kiba, just in case you didn't know. Me and some off the guys are getting together for a few drinks tomorrow night. I left Sakura an invite too. Choji, Ino, Shikamaru, Lee and a couple of others have all said they'd be there. If your off it'd be great if you could come it's been a while. Hit me back dog."
Naruto smiled to himself. That actually sounded like fun. He knew Sasuke wouldn't come even though they were his old friends from school too. The raven always used excuses like "Never really liked him anyway." Or "God she's so annoying." But Naruto had worked hard to earn his friends and had been the one to make the effort to keep everyone in touch. Plus for the last few months Naruto had kind off ditched them to try and spend more quality time with his partner. Fat lot of good that did him. Making the decision to go and help his grandfather at his grandmother's in the morning then meet up with his old circle of friends for a few beers and a general laugh around 7, the blond made his way to his bedroom.
When Naruto entered the master bedroom he let himself flop, face-down onto the mattress, bouncing a few times before slowly and lazily undressing himself while still lying horizontal on the bed. In total it had taken Naruto a good five minutes to wriggle out of his shirt and the t-shirt he'd worn underneath it. The en-suite bathroom door opened and Sasuke stepped out already wearing his black sleeping pants. He eyed the blond struggling to shimmy out of his jeans. With a shake of his head Sasuke walked over to his lover and grabbed the legs of his pants.
"You're so damn lazy." He grunted as he removed the clothing.
"Shut it bastard, I've worked 18 hours. I'm so tired I'm not even tired anymore." Naruto pouted before scrambling under the duvet.
Sasuke snorted but followed Naruto's lead into the slightly cool covers. "That doesn't even make sense idiot."
The blond scrunched his nose up in thought. "Really? Have you never gotten to that point where you're so tired you kinda...I don't know go passed it?"
"Go passed being tired? No I stay tired until my eyes droop and I pass out."
"Your weird."
Sasuke grunted before rolling over and flicking off the lamp on his side of the bed. "Goodnight Naruto."
The blond stared at his partners back for a moment before turning away from him and resting his head on his pillow. A heavy weight settled in the blond mans chest. He felt like he'd lost something important.
"Sasuke. I'm going to help at Tsunade's in the morning and Kiba invited me for a drink tomorrow night. You hadn't planned anything had you?"
"No that's fine have fun." Came the muffled reply.
The blond bit his lip. "Are we okay?"
He felt the bed dip as Sasuke rolled over to face the blond. Naruto stayed facing away from the pale male.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked cautiously.
"I mean us. You seem different. You don't seem to want to be around me anymore." Naruto had started to twist the bed sheet in his fingers.
The raven sat up bringing his knees up and resting an arm on them. "Naruto...I know I haven't been very attentive lately...honestly no were not alright. I was trying to sort through it myself, but I guess if you've noticed it's only fair I tell you. I'm 26 and still a patrol officer. At this rate I'm never going to catch Itachi up. He was a detective at my age." Sasuke paused to take a deep breath before he continued. "I care for you Naruto; I always have and always will. But there's this woman I work with a friend, I've begun to have feelings for her..."
Naruto leapt out of the bed. "You cheating bastard! I knew you were fucking someone else! I'll kick your fucking ass."
Sasuke was just as quick to react and now stood on his side of the room glaring at the enraged blond man. "I haven't fucking cheated! I said I have feelings for her."
"Same difference you want to fuck some woman." Naruto paused.
"It's not like that. I want a family Naruto. A real family like Itachi, wife and kids. I want a normal life this isn't normal."
Naruto felt winded at his lover's words. "Not normal. That's what you think?" He whispered mostly to himself.
The raven haired male scrubbed a hand down his face. "That's not what I meant. Or maybe it is I'm just so damn confused right now. I care for you and I've enjoyed being with you. You know me inside out and I do you. Maybe that's the problem, there's no spark anymore. I know exactly what you're thinking and I'm sure you feel the same."
"No I like the fact that you know me like that." Naruto knew that in the beginning of their relationship there had been some issues. Sasuke hated to show any emotion he classed it as weakness, Naruto on the other hand wore his heart on his sleeve. They were complete opposites in the way they acted and in their general attitude towards people and life. But they were also very similar in the respect they were both dominant people and there was bound to be a few initial problems having two very dominate personalities together. It caused quite a bit of friction between them especially in the bedroom. But they'd got over it and found a way that worked for them both. Over the years Naruto had peeled away at Sasuke's emotional walls and the two had become (in the blonde's eyes at least) soul mates.
"Well I don't. I'm bored. And Karin makes me feel the things I used to feel for you. Its new and exciting." Sasuke hollered back.
The blond took a step back as if physically hit. "Used too. Meaning you don't anymore?"
"I don't know." Sasuke looked at the blond.
Naruto's head was lowered but his fists were clenched. It hurt the raven to see his blond like this, but it wasn't enough anymore. He needed something more. Naruto lifted his azure eyes to meet Sasuke's inky coloured orbs.
"So where does this leave us?" The blond eventually asked.
"I honestly don't know. I think it would be best if we took a break from each other, until we figure it out."
Naruto nodded once then walked towards the wardrobe and pulled a beat up backpack of the top. The blond pulled his clothes off the floor and redressed himself. Without looking at the man behind him the blond started pulling out clothes from the draws and stuffing them in the bag.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked as the blond walked into the little bathroom.
"Packing. There's no point beating around the bush right. You want space, I'll give you space." Naruto replied calmly as he crammed his toothbrush into the already full bag.
"Naruto, its passed 8.30. By the time you get to Tsunade's it'll be past 10."
"I'm not going to the old bags."
"Then where are you going?"
"That's none of your business is it?"
Sasuke growled as he grabbed Naruto's arm as he went to leave the room. "Stop acting like a child. I still care about you."
Naruto kept his eyes hidden behind his fringe. He could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall. The blond really didn't want to leave the home the two of them had made together, but it would be worse to stay if Sasuke was thinking about someone other than him.
"I won't wait for you forever Sasuke. Just remember that." The blond ripped his arm away and grabbed his coat out of the closet. Naruto patted his pockets before realising he'd put his phone down somewhere. Quickly the blond located his phone on the kitchen side and made his way back to the front door where he found Sasuke waiting.
"This is stupid. Come back to bed we can talk about this properly in the morning."
"I think I got it. You find me boring, there's no spark left, your having feelings for some woman you work with. You want me to give you some space while you fuck around with her and decide if she's better than me. Got it."
Sasuke shook his head. "It's not like that. Your over reacting."
"Well since you know me so well you should have seen it coming. After all I love to cause a scene."
The blond wrenched the door open and stomped out. Once he made it to the elevator blue eyes stared sadly at his door. "He hasn't even really tried to stop me." Naruto shook his head. "No he didn't really want to stop me." The blond amended as the doors slid shut and he pressed the button for the first floor. As the doors opened to the lobby the blond pulled out his phone and flicked through the numbers. Who should he call? Ino, Choji, Kiba...the list went on and on he knew he could call anyone of these people. In the end he went back to the number he had first thought of. Sakura. She was his best friend and although Naruto felt a little guilty that he always ran to her when he and Sasuke fell out, he couldn't help but need her right now. Putting his phone to his ear and angrily swiping the tear that had managed to escape away it didn't take long for the pink haired girl to answer.
"Naruto, what's up?"
"Can I crash at yours?"
There was a pause. "Yeah, what happened?"
"Oh you know the usual. Sasuke's board of me. He's been having feelings for some whore he works with. And he needs some space to sort his head out." Naruto tried to joke lightly but it sounded strained even to himself.
"What? Are you serious? A woman."
"Yep, yep and yep. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"I'll leave the door off the latch, let yourself in. Be careful okay." Sakura said softly.
Naruto smiled. "Sure. I'm five minutes away."
"Hurry up." With that the pink haired woman hung up.
With a heavy sigh the blond lifted his head to stare at the sky. It was dark and his breath rose up in wispy little clouds, the end of autumn was near it'd soon be winter. The weather matched the feeling in the blonde's chest, cold. The streets were dark and empty as he made his way to Sakura's apartment four blocks over. Would he and Sasuke get over this hurdle like they had all the others? He really hoped so, but something about this time felt different. There had never been anyone else involved before, just he and Sasuke fighting until one of them stormed out in a fit of anger. Naruto had stormed out tonight a little in anger but mostly he just ached. Nothing felt real like he was trudging through sludge. His limbs felt heavy and his stomach still hadn't lost that winded feeling. He wished he was just dreaming and he'd wake up any moment and find himself still in his bed with his raven haired lover beside him, just like it used to be a few months ago. Those memories seemed so long ago now. He guessed that's all they were now memories of a happy life that he somehow lost and now it was the start of a new beginning weather he wanted it or not.