Sasuke walked the halls of the Asylum. Though nowadays we were supposed to call it a 'Psychiatric Hospital' most of the patients in this particular facility were dangerous. That might explain why his older brother always told him to stay in his office whenever he visited. Though even the most violent of the people in there were either too drugged up to notice him or just left him alone. He even talked to some of the calmer ones. Sometimes he got roped into convoluted card games that rarely followed the same rules twice.
There was someone new today, a boy about his age. His mouth was heavily bandaged so Sasuke couldn't really see what he looked like but he could see burn marks on his temples, just below his shaggy blonde hair. His eyes were hazy and he was looking straight ahead. Sasuke stood in the doorway. "Hello?" he called into the room.
"Don't bother. He doesn't talk to anybody. He's been here since last night. His adoptive father thought he could shock the gay out of him with a little amateur shock Therapy. Needless to say the kid's all but brain dead." Sasori, a man who'd made his parents' corpses into puppets said.
The redhead wasn't dangerous at all. He didn't kill his parents. A gas leak did. He just wasn't ready to let them go. He'd never quite made his way out of the depression. Some days Sasuke found him talking to the walls. Holding up yellowed homework and beaming proudly at what Sasuke could only assume was imagined parental pride. "Thanks Sasori. If you see Itachi will you let him know I'm here?"
"Yeah I'm sure he'll love that you're amongst the lunatics again." Sasori said continuing on his way.
Sasuke checked the room card before walking in. "Naruto? Hey my name's Sasuke. Mind if I keep you company?" When he got the lack of answer he'd expected he pulled up a chair and set his backpack down. Sasuke worked on his homework until Itachi came to fetch him. "See you tomorrow Naruto."
And he did. For the next month Sasuke came almost every day. Some days he'd do homework. Some days he'd draw. Some days he'd tell Naruto about his day. Some days he'd just sit in silence and watch Naruto watch the walls. After the first week the bandages came off and Sasuke saw the three deep gashes on each of his cheeks. Sasuke wondered about the story behind those. From the moment Sasuke had laid eyes on the boy he'd known that he'd want to protect Naruto from all the dangers of the world. Seeing those scars made him want to find the man who'd done it and teach him the truth of pain.
Sasuke placed his hand on the blonde's leg. "I'm sorry Naruto. From now on, I'll always be here for you. I won't let anyone hurt you." Naruto turned to face at Sasuke. Though his eyes were still unfocused Sasuke thought he saw some recognition. "Naruto!?" He asked before the boy started to convulse.
Nurses filled the room pushing Sasuke out as they lowered the bed and began working. Sasuke could do nothing but watch in helpless fear until Itachi came and pulled him into a hug. "It's ok. He'll be ok Sasuke." Itachi murmured to his little brother.