"Go, go! Com'n guys, you know you can do this!" Naruto screamed wildly, waving his hand in the air as he yelled. He was leaning over the short chain link fence that separated him and all the boys out running on the track field and Sasuke feared he might fall over into that field and get trampled in his efforts to urge everyone on, but he didn't move from his spot on the huge picnic blanket they'd laid out on the grassy ground, knowing Naruto would only pout if he held him back.
He didn't even know why he had let Naruto talk him into coming to the school's sports day at all. He never did anything but read anyways, and he could be happily sitting at home in obvliviation. But Naruto insisted, and sadly, whatever Naruto insisted, he found himself doing, even going to their all boys catholic schools sports day.
Naruto paused cheering for a few minutes to talk to those who had just finished the most recent race. "Hey Neji." He said quietly as the panting boy walked towards his direction. Neji saw him, and immediately straightened, leaning over the fence to flirt. "Great win." Naruto continued.
"Yeah, I know. Just scoring points for my team you know?" Neji smiled, trailing small circles on Naruto's tanned arm, which was hanging idly over the fence. Naruto grinned, beautiful blue eyes widening joyfully. "I didn't know you were such a team player!" he exclaimed.
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me babe." Neji said smoothly, now tracing his hand over Naruto's bare upper arm.
Naruto nodded and kissed Neji softly, a kiss for winning of course, as he gave all the other runners. But Neji still looked extremely smug as he trotted across the field to the tent where all the other runners were sitting and revitalizing.
Naruto went to sit back down by Sasuke on their blanket, ignoring all the other people surrounding them on their own blankets, all the other school kids that had opted not to run and were instead casually watching and talking, and laying his head in Sasuke's lap.
"You know," Sasuke drawled, not looking up from his book. "If you keep coming unto me like that, people are going to think we're together."
"Let them think." Naruto grinned, burying his face further into Sasuke's lap. "They can't keep me away from my favorite place."
Sasuke chuckled. "You'd better be careful with Neji too. Don't tell me you didn't notice his flirting with you. The ol' boyfriend wouldn't be too pleased with that."
Naruto stretched his arms on either side of him and Sasuke couldn't resist running his fingers through the silky blond hair on his head, but he only did it once.
There was a line between him and Naruto in their friendship, a line he wasn't willing to cross. Now 16, Naruto had grown into some sort of perfect boyfriend, someone who everyone, girls and boys, wanted. Once 'weird looking', he'd grown into his face and his hair and his eyes and his smile, giving him a stunning too-beautiful face.
Sasuke grew annoyed with the train of boyfriends and he got even more annoyed that Naruto often got called a slut because of this train of boyfriend, not only because the reason Naruto had had so many was because he'd been used, dumped and picked back up again so many times, not for any other reason.
"Oh screw him. He's too jealous for his own good." Naruto said good-naturedly. Sasuke laughed along with him, he couldn't help it. They'd been living with each other since they had turned 16; since Iruka had made the suggestion that the two orphans of the village move in with each other to keep each other company, and he hadn't realized how much Naruto was compatible with him, and how much friendship they could have had all along.
They were so alike, yet different, taking there parents deaths in two different ways, Naruto, sensitive and sweet, ready to fall into the arms of anyone who gave him the slightest bit of attention (thus why he had had so many boyfriends) and Sasuke, angry and suspicious of his older brother, who, right after their parents deaths had run off to take over the business which he'd always wanted to rule. Funny. Sasuke was sure he'd murdered them, but nothing had been proven.
"If he's so jealous, why are you with him?" Sasuke asked for the third time in the day. "He loves me." Was Naruto's heartfelt answer.
Sasuke sighed. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times Naruto. He doesn't…" but he cut himself off upon seeing Naruto's saddened face.
He gave Naruto's shoulder a quick squeeze. Cold, heartless asshole that he was, hurting Naruto was something that he never wanted to do. "Just joking, you're so sensitive." He said softly. Naruto smiled up at him. "Because you always spoil me." He teased. There was a silence then, that awkward silence that always came when they got a bit too close, and Sasuke continued stroking back the blond's hair, keeping him from getting upset, depressed, thinking about his parents, lonely, anything that could hurt.
"Oh look!" Naruto exclaimed. "Gaara won the race!" And he ran over to the fence to give the gothic boy his prize, who though 'totally straight', blushed a becoming crimson when Naruto's lips came into contact with his. Naruto was good like that. Sasuke rolled his eyes and went back to his book. It was better not to make anything weird and just remain friends, and so he never made any moves, and he never flirted.
Sasuke stood at the kitchen counter chopping tomatoes. If anyone saw him they would probably find it rather comical that the schools number one emo was in an apron making dinner, so he didn't let anyone see him like this. Naruto, of course, had, but he had long ago established that Naruto was different, and he had exceptions. At least it was black…
Naruto had gone out with Conrad, his American boyfriend, after sports day had finished and so he was alone, the way he liked it. But of course, nothing good lasted forever. Naruto pushed open the swinging doors between the dining room and kitchen and moved to sit on the counter beside where Sasuke was busying himself over the stove.
"Hey uke." He grinned, teasingly, snatching up a juicy red tomato that Sasuke hadn't used. Sasuke felt himself go slightly red. "I told you never to call me that." He hissed through gritted teeth, chopping and flinging the tomatoes into the pot with much more vigor than before, making the knife give off an angry scraping sound as it slid across the cutting board.
Naruto crossed and uncrossed his legs. "Strange your name has uke in it and you're 'straight'. Your girlfriends notice that?"
"Naruto, I told you already that I don't take kindly to being referred to as the guy who takes it up the ass." Sasuke said calmly. "So stop it. And I only have one girlfriend."
"Sure, sure. I'll stop." Naruto smiled adorably, taking a huge bite out of the tomato. What he knew was that Sasuke had a short temper. What he didn't know that he had never seen it. If anyone else had called Sasuke that they would currently be being chocked to death. But Naruto had always been different.
"So…your date finished rather quickly. What, you got bored of each other that fast?" Sasuke said carefully, trying to keep the snap out of his voice.
"No way man. Conrad is outside right now. You've got enough dinner for three, right?" Naruto said.
"He's where?"
"Outside…"
Sasuke sighed. "Yeah whatever, I've got enough. You've never brought one of your guys home before. Kind of surprising."
For a few minutes Naruto was quiet, thoughtfully playing with the zipper on the front of his blue blazer, running his hand up and down his faded jeans. Sasuke took a while to admire Naruto's slender body before looking away. It was sick to check out his gay room-mate when he was the one that was straight. Still, perfect haired, drop-dead gorgeous, winning personality, Naruto, had always been an exception.
"I think this one might be different." Naruto said softly, looking up at Sasuke, and for a second Sasuke could see all the hurt Naruto had been put though as he chased boy after boy to find the right one, never finding the right one, always ending up getting hurt, reflecting in his eyes. No one else could see it. To anyone else Naruto was perfectly fine. But he new Naruto on a level no one else understood, just like Naruto knew him. Not many people understood that, but the ones who did were awed every time they saw that naru/ sasu connection in action.
"You sure you want to think that? You've only been going out for all of three weeks." Sasuke said dryly.
Naruto swallowed, this time visibly hurt and Sasuke cursed himself for doing it again. "…I'm not sure…I was never sure before so I suppose…I just wish…" Naruto fingered his necklace between his thumb and forefingers looking at the wooden floors they'd been able to afford thanks to Itachi's generous deposit that had to be given to Sasuke every month till he was old enough to join in the business himself. Make that, very generous.
"Take it slow, that's all I'm saying. Don't get your hopes up…like before?" Sasuke tried to make his voice more gentle, though he'd only been living with Naruto for a couple of months, and haven't completely gotten the gruff tone he usually had out of his system.
Naruto continued looking at the ground, swinging his legs and clutching to the countertop with both hands. "Yeah…" he said, sliding his body off the desk.
"Hey," Sasuke said, removing his apron and giving Naruto a gentle hug from behind, burying his face into Naruto's shoulder, not intimate, not too close, but friendly, comforting. "You'll find your guy."
Naruto grinned, the light back in his eyes. "Hurry up, I'm starving." He said cheekily, taking another bite out of his tomato before walking out the doors. Sasuke watched him. He wouldn't admit to anyone, not even to himself how much he cared about Naruto, how attached he'd gotten. It wouldn't be…cold enough.
Finally the food was ready and he brought it out, setting it unto the table that had already been laid, no doubt by Naruto and Conrad, with a lot of 'accidental' hand brushing in the process. He rolled his eyes at the thought.
He was sitting across from Conrad, with Naruto between them, and while the other boy took his time to swirl the pasta around his fork exactly five times, he inspected him. Definitely not your stereotypical gay, more like your stereotypical straight if you thought about it.
He had loop earrings in both ears and Sasuke supposed he could be considered beautiful, with his sharp features and vibrant red hair, but Sasuke much preferred Naruto's cute features, sunshine features to his dark, nightly ones. Too bad he wasn't gay.
"So," he said, going into over-protective big brother mode. "You guys done it yet?"
Naruto who was used to these questions by now, only rolled his eyes, but Conrad paled significantly, which looked hard with his skin being nearly white anyways. Naruto seemed to have a thing for emos.
"Umm…isn't that a bit personal?" he said weakly.
"Last time I checked I was a person." Sasuke said coolly.
"No." Naruto said, shaking his head. "We haven't gone there…yet."
Conrad went from white to red. "You…you want to go there? Am I going too fast?"
"Yes." Said Sasuke at the same time that Naruto said "No."
Naruto glared at Sasuke. "No, you're not going too fast Conrad. You're perfect."
"Sure he is." Sasuke said suspiciously, sprinkling some grated parmesan cheese unto his pasta.
Conrad seemed lost for words. "Were you two, you know…ever in a…"he said, sensing something close between them.
"HELL NO!" Sasuke and Naruto yelled at the same time. "Never."
Conrad looked a bit too pleased for Sasuke's liking, which was the only reason that Sasuke slid his hand under the table to rest lightly on Naruto's knee. "You never know though, right?"
Naruto looked confused. Conrad stopped smiling. Sasuke felt pleased with himself…
…Till, from the kitchen where he had begun washing up, he saw Conrad pull Naruto's tiny body up for a kiss at the doorway, both arms wrapped securely around him, one at the waist and one clutching the silky mass of hair on his head. He couldn't tear his eyes off them, not even when the kiss intensified, and Conrad's tongue began darting out to capture Naruto's, who's back automatically arched in response. They went like that for a while and Sasuke was shocked to see it was Naruto's hand that slid up his boyfriends shirt, pressing him into the wall. Conrad lifted one of Naruto's legs off the ground, pulling him closer, and Sasuke began wondering if they were just going to do there first time right there at the front door, what with Naruto emitting soft moans and little pants, making it hard for him to even look at the task at hand long enough to turn off the running faucet.
Naruto pulled away first, though his hand still remained under Conrad's shirt, only kept there by Conrad's hand. Conrad gazed at him with a look that said 'you sure you're not ready for what I want?'
Naruto gave a flirtatious smile, but let his hand slide off of Conrad. "Bye." He said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"How does it feel to have half a gallon of Conrad's saliva in your mouth?" Sasuke said dryly, trying to keep his voice flat and emotionless.
Naruto picked up a dishcloth and began drying the plates as Sasuke passed them to him. "Oh, ha ha." He said, still sounding slightly aroused. "You're just jealous cause the only dates you ever get are those of the opposite sex. I feel your pain."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Cant believe you'd make out like that right in front of me."
"Didn't ask you to watch." Naruto said, looking flushed. Sasuke looked at him closely. He looked a bit too flushed. "You okay?" Sasuke said, reaching out and pressing the back of his hand to Naruto's face. "Oh man, you're burning up."
"Probably because I'm still aroused." Naruto slurred.
"No. You have a fever." Sasuke said. "Go to bed now."
"Sasuke…" Naruto whispered.
"Naruto." Sasuke tilted up the other boys chin gently. "I know you really want to major in journalism for college. How are you going to that if you're sick during exams?"
Naruto sighed. "You're like…you're like…"
"A mom?" Sasuke said teasingly, though the look on Naruto's face showed he was anything but in a teasing mood. "Yeah…" he whispered, moving forward and hugging Sasuke's waist. Sasuke felt angry at himself for bringing it up. He held Naruto tightly to show how much he cared, for he never said it.
"Goodnight." He said.
Naruto gave him a smile over his shoulder as he walked to the bedroom they shared, even though they could never decide on which tv show to watch while they were both in the same room, and there was another bedroom in the apartment. They told everyone they knew that the reason they shared was because they wanted to have a room for guests (even though they rarely got any). Sasuke knew the real reason. Naruto hated being alone and he knew he was the only one that would always be there for him, even after he'd been dumped (again) by a guy who didn't understand him.
'This guy better be right for him.' Sasuke thought, finishing the dishes. 'Shit, if he isn't, this would've been the 10th guy for the year.'
He sighed. Why couldn't Naruto be like him? Sunken into a hole, never leaving it, never relying on anyone else. The phone rang.
"Hello?" He said, using his shoulder to hold unto the phone as he straightened the shiny magnets on the refrigerator.
"Hi Sasuke!" The oh so annoying voice of Sakura said. He would've never decided to date the girl if someone had had a knife to his balls, ready to cut it off if he didn't, but this was all Naruto's doing. The boy still had a soft spot for Sakura.
"Just try her Sasuke. I bet you'll love her." He'd prodded, not liking to see Sakura upset. Only Naruto could've gotten him to do that.
"Hn." He said into the phone, not bothering with a decent greeting.
"So, I was wondering if you wanted to go to a movie later today?" She asked happily.
Sasuke glanced at his watch. "It's like, 8:00." He said dully.
"We can go to a late movie. You know, those that start at like 10 and stuff? Romantic isn't it?"
"Sorry…I have to wake up early tomorrow to teach math." Sasuke said. "And plus, Naruto's feeling kind of sick. I don't want to leave him."
Sakura sounded severely disappointed, but it didn't affect Sasuke. "Ok, maybe Saturday then." She said.
"Bye." Sasuke said quickly, hanging up. He didn't know how much more of this girl he was going to be able to handle.
He walked down the hallway to his and Naruto's bedroom. The boy was knocked out, sprawled on the bed, fast asleep and still in his clothes. Sasuke smirked. 'Yeah right, didn't feel sick, did you?' He thought affectionately, picking up Naruto's limp body and carrying him to the bathroom. Naruto didn't even stir.
He stripped him and changed him into more comfortable clothes, then brought him back to the bed. "Shh," he whispered, stroking Naruto's hair back. "With all the boyfriends you have that aren't there for you when you need them the most, just know I'll be here for you. Don't forget."
TBC …
