Pure black nothingness. It was the only visual scene he could determine, the only colour he could experience; ever since birth. He always wondered and pondered and dreamed of what it would be like to see the endless range of shades available in this world; blues and greens and yellows and browns all crammed into one huge spherical shape in which people gazed at every passing moment without a second thought. In which people believed that the astounding gift of sight was a right rather than a privilege. How ungrateful. How utterly wasteful.
Although, he supposed that that was what made every single person human; no one knew the value of what they had until it was cruelly taken from them, only then would they ever truly understand what it meant to be able to see, hear, taste, touch…live. Yet Naruto had never had the pleasure of being able to see. And whilst that did not make him feel as if something was taken from him because he had never known what vision was like to begin with, days like today; on cold and empty and lonely days like today, he wished…prayed so damn hard that he had been born normal, without defect. Without the smouldering veil that concealed the worlds wonders from his eyes.
These thoughts swirled through his mind as he walked down the near enough empty street, guide dog in hand, coat tightly pulled against his form to allow protection from the biting wind. It had been an extremely long day at the company where he worked and all he wanted to do now was enter his warm home, make the sweetest and most calorific hot-chocolate that burned his throat on the way down and curl up in a ball on his bed. It sounded like utter heaven to him. The perfect escape.
Forgetting his problems was an everyday task for the young man; an everyday struggle to flee the dark, endless reality that had unfolded into his life. It was almost an impossible feet and yet to this day Naruto had accomplished it; putting aside at least an hour a day to focus on himself and the things he loved to do or relaxing, rather than dwelling on work or the suffocating despair that forever curled within him.
Sniffling from the icy breeze that cut into his clothed skin like needles, amplified only by the heightened sensitivity of his skin, Naruto wondered why everyone in his life always left him. Alone. Solitary. Unloved. True his parents, Kushina and Minato, would always be there for him, no matter the situation, no matter the issue, no matter how mediocre or how large the problem, they would always comfort him and protect him. Offering him warmth and security and childlike smothering.
However, both of his most precious people in the entire world were not in the same country as he; Naruto had moved to America straight after he graduated and had been offered a job at a small company that translated normally worded books into brail. Kushina and Minato had both stayed in Japan after Naruto's insisting. He did not want them to abandon their lives nor feel obligated to join him due to his disability, he wanted them to be free and happy and have their own experiences as they had allowed him to as a child. But that love, that maternal, pure, family love was not the thing Naruto needed right now.
Right now Naruto needed a lover. Needed someone to chase away the loneliness in his heart. Needed someone to stay by his side. Needed someone who would never even dream of abandoning him. Right now, Naruto needed the type of love that was romanticised in fairy tales and sought after by every living being; the type of love that would leave his soul burning and yearning and begging for more. Whilst he knew such thoughts were ridiculous and almost naïve in their assumption, it did not stop him from dreaming; from wanting.
Sighing quietly to himself as he reached his small house, Naruto slowly lowered his hand to pet his guide dog, Kurama and his fingertips tingled when the soft fur made contact with them; a feeling he was very much used to.
He started in slight surprise when Kurama yapped happily and as he withdrew his hand from his petting to unlock his door, a small smile graced his features, chasing away his dark thoughts for a split second; his guide dog was the only stationary and permanent being in his life, every other lover and friend had left after realizing the extent of the work they needed to put in to help the blind man.
Although Naruto was perfectly content in taking care of himself, it was a different matter when in unfamiliar territory or living with another and he required extra assistance to do so. Many found this an arduous task and came to the conclusion that the blond man was not worth it. It was heart wrenching, soul destroying, absolutely fucking shattering when this happened; to this day Naruto had not become immune to the gut retching pain that consumed him as another loved one left him and walked out of his life permanently. Although, how could anyone become immune to such a reaction? It was only human nature after all.
Warmth surrounded him, embraced him and fought off the chill that had worked through his bones as he walked through his door and closed it softly behind him; taking off Kurama's lead and harness immediately afterwards so the Shiba Inu could curl up against the radiator to conserve heat. Shivers were racking the poor creature's body beneath Naruto's hands, yet he grinned playfully when the dog licked his cheek and in return he flicked Kurama's cold nose.
"Good boy. You did so well today." He said affectionately, giving his head one last pat before rising up and making his way to the small, round coffee table on the left side of his hallway; even though he had memorized the position of household ornaments and furniture and knew exactly which rooms were where, he extended his arms slightly so his hands where in front of him. He really did not wish to bang into anything right now.
Feeling the rounded edge of the table he set his keys down in the dish and then kicked off his shoes, placing them under the table and removing his winter coat, hanging it on the side hook.
Silence echoed through the walls of his small home for a few moments before shuffling sounds reach Naruto's hyper sensitive ears; he felt content in knowing that Kurama was trying to curl up in his spot beside the right kitchen radiator. It was a habit that the guide dog had picked up ever since he had come to live with Naruto, all those years ago. It warmed Naruto's heart knowing that Kurama relied on him just as much as Naruto relied on Kurama, that he was not useless despite the fact he could not see.
Making his way up the set of stairs his fingertips found the banister at the side and traced its edge as he walked, finding comfort and stability in its presents; his clothes felt dirty from a long day in the tiny office and they irritated his skin every moment that passed in which he did not change them. He needed to shower, adjust his attire so it was more comfortable and then make the hot chocolate he had been so desperately craving. And with that final thought, Naruto went ahead and did just that.
With Kurama sat curled up at his side, his consciousness was becoming hazy and the inevitable claws of sleep were curling around his mind; Naruto's head occasionally fell back against his sofa and jolted him out of the auditory dream he had begun to have. However this time it was not his body's automatic reaction to sleep that awoke him from his daze, rather the loud ring of his phone and its vibrations; located to his left on a small coffee table.
The deafening tone startled him and as he jumped, Kurama swiftly raised his head; ready to protect his master, ready to defend the only purpose he had in life. But Naruto felt Kurama's movement and felt around lightly to pat his guide dogs head in order to comfort and relax the tense animal before tracing his fingertips across the tables surface and answering the annoying piece of technology.
"…Hello." Naruto said, his voice still husky with the aftermath of his nap.
"Naruto! How's my favourite employee?" a deep voice boomed on the other end of the line. A small grimace made its way across Naruto's features, instantly awakening him fully as he realized just who was calling him.
"I was fine until you called old man!" Naruto said. "What do you want, anyway?"
An amused chuckle worked its way into his ears.
"Can't I ring up a hardworking, talented young man without having an ulterior motive?" Jiraiya asked, feigned innocence lacing every single word spoken.
"…No." Naruto said bluntly, his expression quickly turned into one of complete exasperation.
A huff.
"Fine fine, I'll get straight to the point." Jiraiya said. "I need you to come in 2 hours early tomorrow because of the work load; don't worry you'll be getting paid for your troubles."
"What!?" Naruto spluttered. "But I finished late today! Can't you get someone else to do it instead of me?"
"Sorry, Kiddo." Jiraiya said. "No can do, everyone else is unavailable, it's around this time of the year where everyone takes holidays. You're the only person I have left to ask to finish the work."
Naruto sighed deeply as he realized that what his boss said was true, most people did take holidays around this time, it was coming up for Christmas and the weather was bitterly cold. Many wished to spend time with their families or escape winters icy claws. Though it did nothing to console him.
Bringing his free hand up to rub his unseeing eyes in frustration, a defeated look spread its way across his face; there was nothing that could be done, Jiraiya had requested his presents and he was obligated to accept. Plus extra money would be a nice reward for the hard work he had been investing in the company lately.
"All right, I'll be there for seven." Naruto said. "I better get a full bonus this time old man! No trying to get around it!"
Not even waiting for Jiraiya to reply to his ranting he clicked one of the brailed buttons on the phone, successfully ending the call, and gently lowered it back onto the coffee table. Naruto knew tomorrow would be a tiresome day, perhaps even more so than today had been and he could not help but dread the long hours he had agreed to work for; his only consolation was that hopefully, his boss would allow him multiple breaks.
With one last sigh and a small pat to Kurama's head, he drifted off into an image deprived sleep.
This is going to be an ItaNaru fic I do believe. Let me know if you enjoyed it or not or if you want me to continue, I'm actually really excited about doing it as I really do like the Itachi and Naruto pairing.
Reviews are always welcome, although I do apologize if it's terrible!
I love you all.