Realization- A Naruto Oneshot by (ME!)
"Damn it Naruto! Keep your eyes open!"
Sasuke bent down to clumsily shake Naruto. Clenching onto his blood drenched shoulders he tried to keep Naruto awake. His hand betrayed him as it shook in anxiety and fear. Fear of what? Sasuke wasn't so sure.
It was unsightly. The blood on Naruto's jumpsuit. It seemed to belong there, blending in with the orange. The blood on his contorted face. It sucked and drained the life out of Naruto. So pale, so...
No. He couldn't possibly be dying. Naruto can't just die like this. He couldn't possibly be dying right?
"I've already sent a signal for backup! They're coming. Just hang on. Hang on. Naruto! Just hang on," Sasuke coaxed, but his uncertainty evident.
His throat felt as if it was on fire, shocked by his own voice. How it came out latched and quivering. How it seemed so weak and useless. He tried to steady his breathing. Slowly. In and out. Naruto's chest, rising, in and out, slower and slower.
No! Shaking. Eyes fluttered open. Blue eyes. Once filled with life and determination now held only emptiness and pain. Half lidded, as if a tremendous weight pushed down on it. Blue met obsidian. A look of concern.
"Hey. Sasuke...you alright?"
Naruto's voice seemed so foreign. Quiet and unnerving. How could he be concerned about someone else? How could he, in this kind of situation? How?
Salty and warm. Sasuke didn't realize he was crying until Naruto reached up to wipe the tears with his thumb. His arm fell limply. All his energy drained from that one gesture. Breathing became ragged. Loud, yet silent. Silent and deadly.
More shaking. Gentler. His heart ached with fear. Fear of losing someone dear to him. The reason Sasuke pushes Naruto away. Too afraid to open a place for him in his tired heart. Only to lose him to his worst enemy. Death.
That reason was now taking Naruto away. He didn't want to believe it. He didn't dare believe it.
"I'm fine. They're coming. You'll be better in no time."
Naruto looked up. His breathing quieter. So much quieter. He smiled. Blood on his rosy lips. Blood on his teeth. Sasuke scowled. How dare it contaminate his face. Eyes, slowly closing.
"No! Naruto! Keep your eyes open." More shaking.
"W-why? I'm tired. Sasuke. So tired," he whispered.
"You can't die Naruto!" Sasuke forced out. "You can't die..."
Naruto stared at Sasuke. His blue eyes penetrating his soul. So beautiful, yet unpleasant.
Coughing. Blood.
"Thanks Sasuke...for caring." Voice so quiet Sasuke almost didn't here it. Silence.
No! Panic. Regret. An ecstasy of shaking. But eyes didn't open. No reassurance. Chest didn't rise. Mouth slightly parted. Blood. Blood everywhere.
Pulling Naruto up into an embrace. Hands shaking. Tears, now cold and sticky on his face. Cheeks against each other. Ice and fire. Breathing slow, but rushed.
He realized. After years and years of not being able to let go, he finally realized that it wasn't because they were rivals, or because Naruto was just so damn determined, it was because whether Sasuke liked it or not, his blonde teammate had already engraved a part of himself into his heart.
No matter how hard Sasuke tried to push him away. No matter how much Sasuke had denied it. They were best friends, and best friends are supposed to be friends forever. But it was too late. Too late to acknowledge and embrace the fact. Too late to enjoy their time together. Too late…
Forever didn't last long.
A/N: Yes, I'm quite evil, but don't kill me :(. If the sentences seem awkward and weird for you (hopefully they aren't), plz note that it was purposely written short to quicken the pace of the story (although it's already really short ,). Anyway, thanks for reading :D