Title: Berated
Author: Naatz
Rating: T
Proofreader: Calendar
Disclaimer: Nothing's gained by writing this.
Words: 5x100500.
Summary: Sasuke returns. First, there's reality. Then, he fantasizes. Sasuke/Naruto, slash.
Notes: Written for the challenge 'Sasuke's Return' in the LJ community naruto100. Bonuses achieved: Crowds, Reactions.
1:
Sasuke's arms are tied behind his back. He is led by a leash by ANBU ninja. His feet are bare, reddening over the boiling sand paths of the town.
His eyes are cast downwards, but from time to time a word thrown about causes him to raise his head and stare. The beat of the cursing, the thrumming of the yells, the rhythm of bodies attempting to touch and hit him – they become routine, in this forced walk.
Around a corner, silence meets them. Sasuke glances up in surprise, and meets Naruto's eyes. Naruto averts his face, then walks away.
2:
Sasuke rubs his arms, scowling. After the sun rises up, he demands shoes. The ANBU refuse; threaten him with the leash. Sasuke concedes.
At least he walks like a free man, willing to face his mistakes, and not a traitor, caught. People in the streets are stunned, and only the occasional swearword finds way outside the crowd. Sasuke holds his chin high.
He spots Naruto right before he goes round a corner. He stops and doesn't shift on his heated feet. He tells Naruto, "I'm back."
Naruto's gaze hardens before he leaves. Sasuke wishes for hope, not the rising despair.
3:
The ANBU offer him shoes. The shoes would aid an escape, but he wants to go back, see how everybody is. He wonders what's happened to his friends, who they've become.
He ends up leading the ANBU through the entrance gates. They know he won't escape. They stop an assassination attempt from happening, so Sasuke is still alive when Naruto stops the second. He tells Sasuke, "Welcome back."
Sasuke grins crookedly. "Thanks."
Naruto hugs him tightly, in the middle of the road. Neither cares about the witnesses around. "I missed you," he whispers into Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke missed him, too.
4:
Sasuke shows up in front of the ANBU captain without warning. "Take me home," he says.
They don't take his shoes, but they tie up his hands. They tell him about the town: Naruto's the Hokage's protégé, Sakura's the best medic-in-training, Kakashi's taken up porn-writing. After lunch, the shackles return to the captain's pocket.
They're all almost friends when they arrive. Sasuke even receives a hat to ward off the sun.
Only Naruto is in the street, waiting, grabbing Sasuke with a hug so tight that there's no breath left.
Naruto laughs ecstatically. "You're back. Welcome home."
Sasuke smiles. "Thanks."
5:
Sasuke walks home long before the Hokage sends people after him. He's sent information about Orochimaru, even hunted Itachi down and killed him.
He tells everything to the Hokage. She listens. She lets him go, free. She welcomes him back, and a little crack in Sasuke's chest heals.
Naruto's new home is his next destination. Sasuke rings the bell and waits, heart racing. They hug and they kiss and they even admit their love in the form of physical contact.
In the morning no words have to be said, but Naruto rolls over, whispering over Sasuke's lips, "I love you."
.end.