This is shonen-ai-ish. Nothing graphic. Unrequited Sasunaru. Established Sasusaku. Kinda depressing.
Naruto stares out at the dark town. It's quiet, the kind of silence that takes your loneliness and turns it into something dark and fearful.
He shivers and pulls his jumpsuit tighter around himself. It was that time of the year where people stayed inside unless forced to go out and frost tinted the windows no matter the time of day. The wind was biting at Naruto's cheeks and ears but he has no wish to go inside.
There, the silence isn't just that, silence, it is somehow real. Real and oppressive, something that made you want to scream or cry or run or … or … something, anything.
So instead he settles for staying outside where the cold could keep the quiet at bay and the fear a shadow behind. Finally, just as he starts to lose the pain in his toes, he turns and walks slowly down the side of the road to the grey apartment building he calls home.
Carefully, so as to not make any noise, Naruto climbs the stairs. Opening the door to his home, Naruto steps inside without any of the usual clumsiness that seems to haunt him. As he shuts the door he casts one forlorn look out it at the sleeping town, envious.
He pulls off his jacket and shoes and pads softly to the kitchen. He opens the fridge and pulls out a can of beer. He walks to the living room, opening his beer on the way. He sits down on the sofa, turns the TV on with the volume turned low, and takes his first sip. Naruto watches the news with no real interest, instead he chooses to remember.
It has been five years since university. Five years since he fell in love with his best friend. Five years that he's never said a word.
It has been four years since Sasuke got married to Sakura. Four years since Naruto felt his heart break in two, even though he knows it is his fault for not doing anything, not saying anything.
It has been three years since Naruto moved away from where they all lived. Three years since Naruto has felt his heart leap and his pulse race.
It has been two years since Naruto has become a godfather. Two years since he was named the guardian in case of emergency for a little boy who looks just like the man he loves.
It has been one year since he has last seen Sasuke, Sakura or their son, Akira. It has been one year since he has seen them or talked to them. One year since he stopped answering their calls, choosing instead to ignore the angry and disappointed messages they left, begging then demanding he talk to them. It has been one year and he still dreams of Sasuke's dark eyes staring at him. It has been five years that he has known he will never have Sasuke and still he dreams of him.
Maybe in another year he will be over him. Maybe it will next year. Maybe the year after that.
But it won't be tonight or tomorrow night. Because he still loves his best friend even now, God forgive him. But he will try. He is tired of the silence throwing his loneliness back in his face and just tired of being alone.
And as he sits there on the coach, a now warm can of beer in his hand, tired tears drip down his face as he watches the news with unseeing eyes. And the silence seems lonelier than ever as he sits there, a broken man crying for everything he's never found.
Please review. Even if just to say you have read it. Or you hate it. Or you don't. I don't care. Just please review.