Promises
Cephied Variable
He promised Kakashi. Heck, he'd promised Sakura (and god knows she might have loved him more than he did)- he'd fight Sasuke seriously this time. If he's going to kill you, Naruto, don't hold back this time because Sasuke, he's not the same. And you might not believe it Naruto, but he could kill you and it would all be worth nothing.
Naruto tries his best to remember these promises, but it's hard when Sasuke dodges his blow, spits and makes some vicious, empty threat: "I'll kill you Naruto, if you keep coming after me like this I'll really do it this time."
And Naruto throws another punch and says: "You never could." because Sasuke looks so young and ridiculous when he says things he doesn't mean like he means them.
"You wish..." Sasuke rasps and snatches Naruto's hand out of the air. They stare at each other for a still moment, and Sasuke jams a kunai into the blonde's palm. Naruto bites down a howl of pain and winces as Sasuke presses their bloody hands together.
At first their fingers intwine slowly, gently, but then Sasuke's gripping him so hard his nails are digging into Naruto's knuckles, "We're the same. That's it- the only damn explaination. Blood and bone down to the fucking soul, why the hell else can't I kill you!?" Sasuke's teeth chatter. Naruto is shivering.
Naruto also would have said: "Why the hell else do I need you so much?"
Sasuke's blood runs down his skin, but Naruto's wound is already healing. He wraps a shaky arm around Sasuke's waist and Sasuke pushes shuddering lips against his face and they fall together, a mess of wounds and blades and inexplicable passion. Trying to pretend that this is nothing like love, nothing like sex. This is absolution- when the warrior can look in his opponent's eyes and understand him so completely that words are not needed- yeah, it's that kind of clarity. Nothing romantic, no deep seated, repressed desires.
The clumsy, almost accidental brush of Naruto's mouth against Sasuke's curse seal almost drags out a moan. Instead, he bites his tongue until it bleeds and all their kisses taste sloppy and tinny.