Summary : When Naruto is away for three months, Sasuke realizes that he may just love the blonde. But what happens when Naruto returns, in tow with a boyfriend that is none other than his older brother Itachi? ItaNaru. SasuNaru NaruSasu.

How We Operate :

Chapter 1:

This, Sasuke decided was the worst day of his life. He usually wasn't one to mope and brood too much but this couldn't be helped. After all today had been a special occasion.

Most of the time he never offered to pick up anyone from the airport, never mind how long they'd been away, but Today was different. Today was the day he was going to finally confess to the man he loved. Whom he was sure loved him too. After all he had told Sasuke exactly that every week or so for the past year , that is until he had had gone off to America. And even before leaving he had reminded Sasuke that he would always love him and when he came back, would ask him again.

But Sasuke, being the blind idiot he was, had scoffed, saying that it was just an infatuation and anyway, weren't they just best friends? Why would he want to ruin that for something that would probably just blow up in their faces? Especially when Sasuke was sure he didn't like him in that way.

And for the first few weeks since this man had been away Sasuke had clung to this notion like a shy child does to his mothers dress. He soon found out however that this denial got harder and harder to achieve. Somewhere between the third and fourth week Sasuke Uchiha came to conclusion that he was indeed in love with his best friend. He probably had been for the longest time but he just was too stupid to notice.

So when the three months were over and his best friend had called (after two whole months of no communication) to tell him he would be back on this particular day, he had offered to pick him up, shocking both the object of his affection and the person who usually did the job, pink haired Sakura. Consequently he had found himself standing, ridiculously nervous, at the airport waiting for his first ( and probably only) love to come out of the gates.

Sure enough he when he first caught site of the blonde hair and hideous orange and black shirt his heart had sped up and his hands had sweated but what he didn't expect was the person who followed the blonde out of the airport, a hand very conspicuously on his best friends waist. And just when he thought it couldn't get any worse the person behind the blonde clearly came into view. He would have recognized the long black flowing hair, the painfully familiar face and the confident stride anywhere. Sasuke swore he heard the 'splat' as his heart plummeted through his stomach and spattered all over the dirty pavement..

It had taken all the strength he possessed to force himself to breath. He reminded himself that Uchiha's were never weak and so he had fixed a look of pleasant surprise on his face as the dobe introduced his new boy friend to him, Sasuke's own older brother, Itachi Uchiha. Someone Naruto knew he hated with a passion.

And Itachi had given him that infuriating smirk, both knowing and sly as he chided Sasuke for never introducing him to Naruto before. The fucking traitor! And what made it worse was that that particular line went for both Itachi and Naruto. He had never felt so betrayed in his life.

So that was how he found himself currently driving his car ( you're still driving the Honda, otouto?), listening to how his best friend and brother had met and how they had realised how much they had in common (mainly Sasuke) and how much they had enjoyed their stay in America. Sasuke felt like throttling something, mainly the two people who sat behind.

Somewhere along the way, he came to the conclusion that he should feel more betrayed by his beloved excuse for a brother. Mostly because he was willing to give Naruto the benefit of the doubt. After all, Naruto didn't know how he felt about him. Hell, Sasuke couldn't even blame him. Itachi was hot, hotter than Sasuke at least, and though he was a complete and utter jerk, he hadn't blown off Naruto like Sasuke had.

But his aniki, Sasuke swore he could taste something bitter in his mouth, his aniki knew exactly how Sasuke felt about Naruto. He had spoken to his brother around a month ago at one of those company parties and Itachi had wiggled out the reason why his younger brother was brooding more than usual.

Sasuke hadn't told him about Naruto of course, but he had said enough for Itachi to guess who it was. And his aniki's bemused expression as his younger brother had spluttered an excuse about why he had come to personally pick the blonde up was more than self explanatory. Itachi was his brother after all.

There was a sudden lull in conversation and Sasuke glanced behind, (why the hell was he in front alone, like a fucking chauffer?) barely suppressing a murderous glare. Really public displays of affection were a disgustingly disgusting affair especially when the two involved were Naruto and Itachi.. Oh god, the world really was against him.

'So otouto, how have you been?' Itachi's voice was smooth as silk, teasing and indulgent all at the same time. Itachi made sure that even his tone reminded Sasuke just who was the older and better one between the two of them. Sasuke hated it. oh wait he had already mentioned that, hadn't he? It was a whole moment before he could unlock his jaw.

'Fine' he muttered. He heard his brother chuckle and his hands tightened over the steering wheel.

'What's the matter Sasuke?' It was Naruto, sounding concerned, 'you don't sound too well.'

'I'm fine' Sasuke bit out. He caught his brothers eyes in the rear view mirror and saw him grin. Sasuke gulped, he had always hated that expression of his brothers. That meant Itachi was going to do something he wasn't going to like. Like the time he had stolen money from his mothers purse to buy dirty magazines and then hidden them in Sasuke's closet, where his mother was sure to find them. He still remembered the loud lilting laugh that Itachi had had when his mother had lectured him on the evils of porn and then grounded Sasuke for two months.

So Sasuke wasn't surprised really, when Itachi, making full eye contact with him, turned his head just a little and dipped it into the blonde's neck, making Naruto laugh and try to push him away. The blonde didn't try too hard though and Sasuke watched, mortified and mesmerized at the same time as Itachi sucked and nibbled on tanned flesh. It was like a cheap horror film, Sasuke thought as he tried and failed to look away from the site unfolding behind him.

The only thing that was running through his mind was how he should be the one making Naruto squirm like that¸ not his fucking brother -

' 'ske! LOOK OUT!'

Sasuke woke from his daze in a start to see a bright pair of headlights coming straight for them. He swung his car to the right, barely missing the truck that sped by as he screeched to a halt on the side of the road.

For a moment there was silence as their hearts thudded back to a normal speed, then Itachi smacked him hard on the back of his head.

'Hey!' Sasuke protested, turning behind to glare at this brother. Itachi glared harder,

'if you cant fucking pay attention to the road, then don't drive!'

Sasuke felt screaming 'It your fault this happened anyway!' but he kept silent, knowing it wasn't any use arguing with his brother. He just would drop them both off at Itachi's apartment and then go on a long vacation to forget this disastrous day… to Tibet or something. Yeah, that would be nice. Maybe he would learn something about universal peace and truth and then he wouldn't care if his elder, im-better-than- you-in – anything – you – can- possibly – even- imagine –brother was fucking his best friend and love of his life. He felt his chest constrict painfully.. okay maybe he would still care..

He dimly heard that Naruto was talking again so he sat up and paid attention, ignoring the angry honks of the cars that past by.

'Oh don't be hard on him 'tachi' Naruto voice was deep and calming, just like always. 'He must be tired. After all, its 2 in the morning. Right Sasuke?'

Sasuke nodded, un able to speak because of the horrible pain that he felt as Naruto touched his shoulder in what used to be a comforting gesture. Now it only made Sasuke more tense. Tense and upset because that was all he was going to get. Stupid fucking friendly pats on the back. Because who in their right mind would leave someone like Itachi for him? No one, and he didn't think Naruto would either. Not after Sasuke had ridiculed his feelings like he had.

Sasuke started the car before Itachi could start grumbling again and drove ahead, this time with his eyes studiously fixed on the road, not that the two behind did anything but laugh and talk softly. Maybe that was even worse.

They reached Itachi's apartment in 15 minutes and it was with a bitter smile that he saw them bang the car door behind them, Itachi not even bothering to thank him. Naruto did however, murmuring a low thanks and giving him a small smile, but nothing else. Sasuke couldn't find it in him to react, so he just stared, numb with pain as the two people closest to him started to disappear into Itachi's unaffordable ( at least to normal people) building foyer.

Then the two men stopped, the taller Itachi whispering something into Naruto's ear. Sasuke felt like snarling at the intimate gesture but he couldn't do anything but watch helplessly and Naruto chuckled and whispered something back. Slowly the lean jeans clad blonde turned around and pushed past the revolving glass door to step back outside onto the pavement.

For a moment Sasuke thought he was hallucinating but when Naruto's familiar scarred face became clearer as he came nearer, Sasuke realised he wasn't just imagining it.

'Hey sa'ske, wanna come up?'

'Erm, what?' since when did he talking like a stuttering fool? Pull it together Uchiha!

Naruto looked a little amused and Sasuke scowled, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. Drive away, just drive away, said a desperate voice in his head. He found he couldn't. The blonde was like a magnet he couldn't pull away from.

'I'm worried about you.' Naruto said, bending so he could look at Sasuke's face through the open window, 'You look distracted and I don't think its safe for you to drive back.'

Sasuke breathed in the musky, slightly stale perfumed scent of the blonde and sighed. He couldn't believe it. Was he actually contemplating spending the night at Itachi's? he usually hated to do it even under normal circumstances, but this was even worse. He would get the guest room, while Itachi and Naruto would be in the master bedroom, on the same bed, god knows doing what and -

'Sasuke?'

Sasuke jumped, turning to look at Naruto who was uncharacteristically poker faced.

'I'm quite capable of driving back' he forced out, proud of himself for the slight sneer that entered his words. He would not lose in front of his brother, or Naruto. No way was the blonde going to know just how much he affected him.

And then he felt it. a strong hand on his own left one. Sasuke felt like he'd been burned. He tried to jerk his hand away from the steering wheel, but Naruto persisted, his grip firm and reassuring.

'C'mon, Itachi might not seem it, but he's worried too.'

Sasuke wanted to sneer at that statement, to deny the fact that his brother was worried about such a minor thing but then Naruto gave his hand a slight squeeze and he was lost.

He found himself muttering ' all right'.

Naruto gave him his usual wide grin and said, 'Yosh! I'll help you park.'

Sasuke's heart ached. Oh, how he had missed that smile.. If Naruto only knew how much he cared… would he leave Itachi for him? He scowled at the thought.. fat chance. Itachi would hang on to Naruto just to be cruel, for fun, like he had done on prom night when he had slept with his date, Sakura. Not that Sasuke had liked Sakura.. but Itachi hadn't known that.

He started the car and parked, listening to Naruto's idle chatter and wondering how he seemed so perky after an 18 hour flight. He sighed as he stuffed the car keys in his pocket and cursed Naruto for coming with him. If the blonde hadn't insisted on accompanying him, Sasuke would have fled back to the safety on his own house a long time ago. He had started to regret saying yes as soon as he had given in to the blondes request. How the hell was he going to handle one night with them..alone!? Even Sasuke knew it wasn't healthy.

On top of which, he couldn't believe how casual Naruto was being. His hands itched with the need to hurt something, or someone and Naruto seemed like a good target. How could he act like Itachi was just another boy friend? The blonde knew very well how Sasuke felt about his brother but yet he had still gone ahead and fucking slept with him. Had it been that easy for Naruto to forget the feelings he had had for Sasuke all these years?

Oh god, and now he sounded like a girl. This really really sucked, he thought as he slammed the car door behind him and started to walk towards the apartment.

He was almost bursting with the need grab Naruto by the collar, push him into the wall and demand an explanation but he didn't..After all it was him who had been the total idiot to reject the blonde in the first place. Maybe he deserved this torture.

This revelation just made the whole situation even more depressing and he rubbed his forehead, which was starting to ache. Its only one night, he reasoned, he could make it without killing Itachi or hurting Naruto, he had to –

'Ne Sasuke, how have you been these three months?'

Sasuke glanced at his slightly shorter blonde friend, who was walking beside him with only a few inches between them, almost crowding him into the wall on the right. Sasuke frowned, it almost seemed like Naruto was afraid he was going to run away . Which he would have, Sasuke realised, if it wasn't for the fact that Naruto was with him.

'Fine,' he replied. The need to ask him why was overwhelming but Sasuke forced himself to keep control . Yes he was a bastard but he still had his pride. He was not going to break down and beg Naruto to take him back.

'I-' Naruto began, sounding nervous, 'I'm sorry I didn't call you for so long.'

All I get for not picking up my calls for two months is a fucking sorry?! Sasuke thought, incredulous in his anger. The temptation to hit something increased, but he still managed to say, 'Doesn't matter.' in the worst possible way that an Uchiha could. His Father would have been proud. Huh, take that Uzumaki.

Naruto was silent as he continued walking and Sasuke glanced a little to his left, watching the blonde closely for a reaction. He wasn't so surprised to see Naruto lips lift in a small sad smile.

'It really doesn't matter huh?' Naruto asked, his too casual tone not fooling the Uchiha next to him. He felt a prickle of guilt , knowing he had hurt the blonde but Sasuke found it easy to ignore when he hurt so much himself.

'Not really' Sasuke continued, 'I'm sure you had your… reasons.' Truthfully Sasuke hadn't meant the last word to come out like that. So full of contempt. Even he winced. If only Naruto could know that it wasn't for meant him, but himself. The stupid Uchiha who never realised that the one he loved had always been right in front of him.

There was a tense silence, the painful kind. The kind of silence when an expected apology for a hurtful remark never finds its way to a persons lips. Naruto still waited for it, but it never came and for a moment Sasuke thought that the quiet was oppressive enough to stop either of them from talking any more but he was wrong. Like he was wrong about thinking that the blonde dobe might take longer than three fucking months to get over what he proclaimed was the love of his life. He found it difficult to stop the bitterness.

Naruto walked closer, their shoulders almost touching,

'So you don't even care about what those reasons are?' his voice was soft but it didn't mean they were any less cruel.

Sasuke felt his heart ache. What were they doing to each other? He had never known Naruto to be deliberately this hurtful. He had to know what Sasuke felt. It was obvious since the moment he spotted him and Itachi at the airport. Then why was the blonde doing this? Did he want this to get ugly? What was the dobe gaining out of this? Satisfaction that yes, Sasuke felt terrible that he was fucking his brother?

With his anger slowly recovering from the callous question, Sasuke knew if he wanted to win this twisted game of theirs he would have to stay calm and indifferent.

It was going to be difficult, but he was going to try anyway.

'No' the Uchiha finally ground out, now painfully aware of how close Naruto was. The blue eyes were narrowed and Sasuke desperately sought for the familiar look of fondness and lust that had been directed at him so many times before. But he couldn't make out anything in the twilight. Sasuke found himself losing the battle.

'So you don't even care- ' Naruto paused, giving him a calculated stare. Both of them had stopped walking and were now face to face. Sasuke could hear his heart slowly speeding up as the blonde took a step towards him, neither pair of eyes leaving the other. Sasuke took an instinctive step backward, dismayed to find his back hitting the wall. It only served to increase the feeling of being trapped and Naruto's small grin told him that the blonde knew exactly what he was thinking.

It was almost in slow motion when Naruto leaned in, closing the distance between them in less than a second. Sasuke tensed, prepared for what could be either a fist or a kiss but instead Naruto whispered close to his right ear, in a voice that sent a slight shiver down his spine,

'So you don't even care that I'm fucking your brother?'

If the dobe meant to provoke him, then he had won. Before Sasuke realised it his fist lashed out and hit Naruto squarely in the face. Naruto stumbled a bit backward from the force of the blow but he didn't retaliate. He just massaged his jaw and peered at Sasuke curiously, who looked like he was just about restraining himself from hitting him again.

A triumphant grin reached Naruto's face, 'Itachi was right.' he said, 'You do care.'

Sasuke's anger mushroomed at the mention of his brother's name, 'No I don't.' he spat, enraged that he had been tricked into losing control, 'You know why dobe? Because I know that Itachi is just using you for his sick little game and by the end of it you're just going to be thrown away like the other stupid whores of his.'

Sasuke expected a punch or at least an insult for his last line but again the dobe's reaction confused him.

'Is that what you really think?' Naruto asked with a raised eye brow, his calmness serving only to infuriate the Uchiha more.

'Do you know what else I think?' he said, acid words tumbling from his lips without his consent.

Naruto gave him a little smile, but the hard look in his eyes negated it, 'What else do you think Sasuke?'

'At first I thought that Itachi was using you but then I realised - ' Sasuke paused, his heightened senses aware of the cold from the wall seeping through his shirt and the fire that was directed towards him from the blonde only inches away.

'Realised what?' Naruto asked. It was a challenge to continue and Sasuke embraced it like a martyr does his noose.

Both of them knew what Sasuke was going to say next. He fleetingly wondered what kind of masochists were they to let the conversation spiral into this, but then all rational thought evaded him and the only thing that registered was that the person responsible for his turmoil was standing in front of him and the urge to hurt him was irresistible.

'Then I realised that it was you who's using Itachi.' Sasuke smirked when he saw Naruto face contort with anger. 'Did you find a good replac- ' his words were cut off by a heavy blow to his face. Finally, said a little voice in his head as pain laced his upper body. Before he knew it his limbs were already fighting back, hungry for the contact he craved for.

Both men fell to the pavement in a flurry of kicks and punches, grunts of victory and pain indistinguishable. Sasuke felt vindicated with every fist that connected with flesh and the pain when he felt a rib crack just made it easier to ignore the agony in his heart. They continued like this for a few minutes, neither willing to back down until Sasuke felt a strong grip on his collar, pulling him away from the bleeding blonde .

Furious, he turned and raised his fist on the intruder who dared come between them. He let out a growl of victory when his fist connected with a face. And It was only when he saw the livid features of his older brother that he realised who exactly he had raised his hand on.

The grip on his collar tightened as he was hauled up to meet his brothers almost red eyes. Sasuke struggled to get out of his grip, but his brother's hold made it difficult to breath, especially since his feet were barely scraping the ground. They stared at each other for a whole second, neither saying anything before Itachi snarled,

'Apologise.'

Sasuke didn't know whether Itachi was referring to himself or Naruto but he didn't care. If Itachi thought he was going to say sorry then he could go burn himself in hell. The purpling bruise on Itachi's jaw just made Sasuke smirk, encouraging him to say the two childish words that he would regret only later on.

'Fuck. Off .'

Itachi's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

'Itachi, wait!' Naruto said, scrambling to his feet.

'Shut up.' his brother snapped at the blonde.

'Don't talk to him like that.' Sasuke shot back, realising a moment too late that he had crossed the line.

The last thing Sasuke registered before he blacked out was the blurr of his brothers ringed fist and Naruto's shout of, 'Shit!'

*********

A/N : This started out as an attempt to write a ita/naru/sasu.. unfortunately... no one wanted to share.. sigh.. . the thing is that i wasnt sure whether a threesome would make the situation any better..lol. but i can always change it. so let me know if you want to read a itasasunaru instead of just a narusasu./sasunaru

this is going to be a two shot. ^_^