Stagnant

Sasuke can still remember the first time Naruto thought it would be a great idea to take over Sasuke's ability to decide for himself. It was in a science lab class that they shared during their second year in college. The professor asked the class to break themselves into pairs. Usually, Naruto pairs up with Kiba or Shikamaru while Sasuke ends up being paired with the upperclassman Neji or Sakura – but apparently, not that day… or any other days, thereafter.

Sakura, who is seated on Sasuke's right turned to him, ready to ask whether he wanted to work together as partners for their lab class but before he can answer his assent, Naruto appeared beside him from the other side of the room, an arm readily draped around Sasuke, a smile too bright faced Sakura.

"Sorry sweetheart, but this one's taken"

Sasuke looked at the blond, amused by the fact that Naruto, the blond haired blue eyed idiot who has a huge fuckin' boner for Sakura since day one is turning her away so he could be partners with his bastard best friend of since when he can't remember. Naruto is innocently beaming at Sakura as the girl looked at Naruto suspiciously before sighing.

"Oh, okay…" Sakura sighed again as she turned away to look for another partner.

Sasuke elbowed Naruto on the ribs causing Naruto to withdraw his arms from Sasuke's shoulders and went to straddle the empty chair in front of Sasuke's desk.

"Was that some kind of a payback to her for turning you down?"

"Nope, anything wrong with wanting to work with you?"

Sasuke raised a brow at that knowing fully well that in the past, Naruto almost never wants to partner with him in class because he is such a kill joy. The blond is a firm believer that group projects are composed of 90% goofing off and 10% studying which is why he always works with Kiba who shares the same principle or Shikamaru who sleeps through everything but always ends up having impossibly high grades.

"Besides, it's not like you're ecstatic to work with her" Naruto added.

"What if I am? She actually gets work done, you know"

They both know Sakura is the 'better' partner compared to the blond. She's smart and the professors love her.

"Can you hear yourself? And then what, you'll complain to me that all she ever did was look at you like a fuckin' Greek god?"

Sasuke smirked a bit because it's true. "And you're the expendable slave"

"What? No. I'm definitely Hercules"

Sasuke shook his head with a small smile. Working with Naruto sure is troublesome but he can endure a little touch of idiocy for a reasonable amount of entertainment. And besides, they make a pretty good team.

Looking back, it never bothered Sasuke that Naruto is starting to get a hold of his schedule even though it means sacrificing a bit of his alone time to socialize with Naruto's friends more.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto shouted from their college building entrance. The dark haired boy stopped and looked back to see Naruto running towards him with a big smile on his face.

"Hmm?"

"Where the hell are you going?" Naruto asked incredulous as if going home early from school is a shameless crime

"Home…?"

"Yeahhh… No. You're coming with us"

"Who's us?"

"Them" Naruto gestured behind him where he can see Kiba talking animatedly to some girls, and a group of guys they share some classes with.

Naruto might be Sasuke's best friend but he never thought of forming some sort of bond with the blond's group of friends. Some of them are loud and annoying and he knows his limit for people who are loud and annoying in his life is one. This is especially true with Kiba who keeps on grating on his nerves and the guy never talks to him directly. He told the blond as much and Naruto just laughed telling him to just tune him out if it bothers Sasuke too much to hear Kiba talk.

Naruto always tells him stories about his friends, on how Ino always tells them the latest gossips and Sai's weird fixation on dicks but claiming that he's straight. About Neji's philosophical destiny shit and Shikamaru's secret obsession with Gaara's sister, Temari. Hearing Naruto talk about his friends like that makes him a bit curious but he never tells Naruto about it.

"Why?"

"Because you want to. Now let's go!"

As usual, Naruto draped an arm around him and dragged him towards the group. Sasuke can't help but feel uncomfortable, yet, one reassuring look from Naruto is all it takes to have him trying to get to know the group.

During one of their breaks, Sasuke almost threw a fit when Naruto invited him to lunch at a local diner and Naruto ordered in behalf of him without batting an eyelash or even asking him what he wants. By the time they got around to get a table Naruto hurriedly flagged the waitress as if in a hurry. The menu barely touched the Sasuke's hands when Naruto started talking.

"One Caesar salad, extra tomatoes and a chicken club sandwich, one burger deluxe, heavy on the onions and two lemonades please" Naruto looked at him smugly, looking proud of himself for his amazing display of Sasuke 101.

"What the fuck dobe? Can I at least choose?" Sasuke glared at Naruto.

The blond squinted at Sasuke's face before turning towards the girl adding, "And one large fries" He added with a smile.

Naruto looked at him expectantly. Sasuke passively threw the menu on the table and sat back with arms crossed on his chest. So what if that's what he's going to order anyway? Naruto got that right but it doesn't mean Sasuke will give him the satisfaction of knowing that he's right.

"Don't look so grumpy, grumpy. You want some frozen yogurt for dessert?"

Naruto waggled his eyebrows. Sasuke's eyes twitched in annoyance.

Damn.

This weird but welcome occurrence went on until they were in their senior year. And Sasuke kind of became dependent on Naruto's habit of deciding for both of them. Of course there are times when they engage in fist fights and indefinite cold wars when Naruto goes overboard. In that case, Naruto would stop bothering Sasuke for a week or two but will miraculously bounce back to how he was before the fight. It both relieved and bothered Sasuke that Naruto always takes the liberty to have some sort of reign over his life choices. Sasuke stopped thinking about the mixed emotions he was feeling a long time ago. It was of no use to think about things that'll further complicate his life.

One night, Sasuke had a fight with his older brother Itachi about their parents and he just needs time away from everything that hurts. He went to Naruto's apartment. Yes, it's Naruto's little home away from home but he might as well call it his own since more often than not, he stays there almost every day especially when Itachi is out of town.

Naruto opened the door looking partly confused due to the late hour and rainy weather. But one look at Sasuke's face and the blond is ready to throw his peaceful night of procedural cop show and beer away. Naruto got his jacket, checking his keys and cellphone before locking the door of his apartment.

"We're going home"

The blond said resolutely and while Sasuke began to internally panic.

"Naruto, I went here for a reason and that reason is because I don't want to stay home"

"Not there, baka"

They silently waited for the elevator to open and went to the parking lot where Naruto parked his Honda Jazz. It was a gift by his parents when they graduated from high school some sort of independence gift since he will be staying far away from their town to join Sasuke in college.

The blond was silently humming to himself as he started the ignition and music started to fill the car. It was some sort of a Billiards 100 playlist. Naruto sang through most of the songs even moving to the beat, constantly looking at Sasuke and urging him to sing. Sometimes Sasuke would indulge Naruto when the song is familiar enough for him to sing. He may not be as enthusiastic as the blond's attempt at belting out high notes but he tries.

Naruto's childhood home is a small bungalow located in a subdivision in Konoha just like Sasuke's. In fact, they're neighbors but the house that Sasuke lived in with his parents has long been sold after he graduated from high school when his parents migrated to Wave Country leaving him with his older brother Itachi.

Earlier that night, his parents talked to Itachi about Sasuke's plans after graduation, they want him to move in with them in Wave, something that left Sasuke conflicted. He doesn't want to move in with his parents and leave everything behind... leave Naruto. The idea is making him feel hollow. But the idea that it was his parents asking him to be with them is waking up a longing that he once felt as a child.

A warm hand touched his cold ones. He glanced at Naruto who is looking at the road. It was dark already and light from the street lamps are casting him in an orange glow. It was fascinating. He breathed deeply.

"Usuratonkachi."

The rest of the ride was spent in silence.

The blond squeezed his hand and went to turn off the ignition. They're in front of Naruto's parental house in Konoha. He hadn't realized that he dozed off during the ride.

"I wanted to visit since forever, who knew I just needed a push from you." The blond happily hopped out of the car and opened the front door with his spare key. "Moom! I've got a surprise!" He announced not caring if it's way past everyone's bed time.

Kushina's head popped out from the living room and welcomed them with bounce in her step and a warm embrace. Her long flowy hair is tied up in a ponytail - it kept on bouncing at her back from excitement as she gushed over his two grown up boys. Naruto got his enthusiasm from her that's undeniable

Kushina pushed them towards the kitchen where Minato is heating up some left over dinner. Minato is wearing some sort of white apron with pink frills along the edge. Sasuke can't help but imagine how Naruto would look like when he grows older because damn, Minato looks abnormally handsome in his mid-40's.

"Looking good, both of you" the older blond looked them over and Sasuke can't help but get caught up with the sincere look in Minato's blue eyes. It baffles him that Naruto got that same look in his eyes every time they look at him.

"Don't go falling for my dad, now, you know my mom's still alive right?" Naruto's staged whisper earned him a chuckle from his parents and Sasuke turned into a blushing mess. The dark haired boy backhanded Naruto's chest.

"Shut up"

They ate some left over lasagna from dinner and exchanged stories. Sasuke felt infinitely better as he indulged in a light banter with Naruto when he started making exaggerated accounts of what really happened in his stories. Both Kushina and Minato laughed and told them stories from they were younger as well. It was a bit unnerving that he can easily let his guard down in a family of choice rather than with his own family in blood. They treated Sasuke as family, like another son that they never had. It warms his heart at the same time it aches with longing from when his own parents actually gave a shit about their children.

After their impromptu midnight snack, Naruto and Sasuke volunteered to wash the plates.

Naruto is humming, yet again some pop song from earlier in the car while Sasuke's hands are buried in a basin of soapy water.

"Thank you…" The dark haired boy said, his eyes never leaving the plates he's currently scrubbing free of tomato sauce.

"It's nothing… You looked really spooked a while ago, now you look decent enough" Surprisingly, Naruto's voice is calm. The blond continued to wipe the washed plates and carefully stacked them in the cupboard.

"Hn. Decent huh"

Silence bounced off the kitchen walls, the sloshing water seems to be muted at the sound of stillness and words that are waiting to be said. Sasuke had half a mind not to tell Naruto that his parents are asking him to follow them in Wave. What good would it cause, what difference will it make? He's sure that Naruto will just up and tell him that he's happy for him and go on his merry way and go get himself a new best friend. But it's not fair, after Naruto brought him here and made him forget even just for a few hours. He owes him.

"Mom called... and they want me to follow them to…" Sasuke started and he felt Naruto stiffen beside him. It's funny how perceptive Naruto is of him... or maybe it is to be expected, they've known each other all their lives, it's bound to happen.

"Oh."

Sasuke chanced a glance at Naruto. The crease in his brow, the downward turn of his lips. He was reminded of that time when Naruto found out that Jiraiya, his grandfather died. It was a mixture of disbelief and hurt. It looks so foreign to Sasuke… he hates it.

"I don't want to" Sasuke meant the words to sound nonchalant, something dismissive but it turned out harder, frustration evident in his voice.

"Well… you miss them, right? Maybe they want to see you more often, my parents want to all the time… I mean, see me. Not you… but you too… sometimes"

Sasuke almost laughed at Naruto's attempt to explain. Sasuke knows how Naruto would react, he expected the encouraging words from the blond. But actually hearing it annoyed Sasuke more than the idea of flying to another country.

"They can try but I'm not leaving" It was harsh and his mother would be hurt hearing it coming from his sons mouth but it's the truth.

"Don't be like that, at one point you gotta…" The blond faced Sasuke fully trying to let him see reason that he may be making the biggest mistake of his life. Sasuke scoffed at that line of thought because what does the dobe know? He turned away from Naruto with a shrug.

"Hn."

Naruto should know what that dismissal means, it means that he's tired of listening to whatever you have to say and that he's a stubborn piece of fuck that wants none of your fucking shit no matter how pure your intentions are.

"Okay…" Naruto sighed and lets it go.

Again, silence enveloped them, except for the tinny sound of the utensils being placed in the drawers. Each lost in their own thoughts and neither wanted to break the quiet. Their hands methodically moving like they've done this for a thousand times. Sasuke wiped his hands on a kitchen towel as Naruto placed the last glass inside the cabinet. Sasuke started to walk away from the kitchen when he heard Naruto call his name, it was a soft uncertain sound that it made him stop but not enough to look at the blond.

"For the record, I don't want you to go"

Sasuke tightly closed his eyes feeling a heavy weight on his chest and when Sasuke took a moment too long to answer, Naruto started to panic because one thing you got to know about Sasuke, he has a knack of doing the opposite of what you want and Naruto is half afraid that even though Sasuke said he doesn't want to follow his parents to Wave, he'll change his mind just to spite him.

"Then, I won't go"

Sasuke still has his back facing Naruto but there is a lightness in his tone. Relief washed over Naruto when he combed his damp hands in his hair.

"Besides, who's gonna beat your ass at Mario Kart?" Sasuke smirked as he walked towards Naruto's room, the blond catching up to him.

They spent the rest of the night playing video games, munching on chips and sipping on several bottles of soda. Sasuke's parents forgotten for the time being.

Right after that weekend, Naruto stopped (tried to stop and is still trying to stop himself from) making decisions for Sasuke. It was quite disconcerting for Sasuke to be asked something as mundane as "Do you want to join us?" when usually Naruto will just drag him to every party he wants to attend to. Sometimes, Sasuke declines the invitation and Naruto will look at him with this big blue sad eyes like he just killed a puppy.

Whatever triggered this change of heart in Naruto, Sasuke is sure it has something to do with what happened during that night at the Uzumaki residence. At the forefront, he's a bit relieved that Naruto is trying to be more mature about the dynamics of their friendship but at the back of his mind, a seed of fear is planted carefully taking roots.

NOTES:

I so so so so apologize for the readers who read the first version of this story it was horrible with all the coding and all. I was not able to check that one since I was really in a hurry. I should have checked, I know, I know...:)

Made some minor edits for some grammatical errors.