Breakfast the next morning went well. Yet again, revelations were had, similarities were discovered and opinions changed. Sasuke as a person was changing, and it was all Naruto's doing. By now, three weeks later, on Christmas Eve, no less, they were friends. That is, if you could even label such a distinct and powerful connection. That thread that joined them together, it was stronger- unbreakable. This bond between them was eternal. It didn't matter; friends, soul-friends, soulmates? Whatever they were to each other, they had blurred all the lines, and it felt good to.

Knowing each other so well; it was refreshing. By getting to know Naruto, Sasuke was learning who he was himself. He had never felt clearer about who he was. There was something about Naruto that grounded Sasuke. Meeting up with the blonde had become an addiction. If there was ever a day when an arrangement to see each other could not be made, it passed agonisingly slowly. It was painful, and both men experienced the worst sensation of withdrawal that either had ever encountered. There was a spring to his step, a song in his heart and a smile on his face. Sasuke was happy, and the feeling he felt towards Naruto was definitely mutual. Everything was going smoothly. That is, until Sasuke had one of those annoying epiphanies.

Admittedly, most people enjoyed and appreciated epiphanies. Sasuke, being the emotionally stunted young man that he was, did not. They were the kind of undetectable events that threw everything in your life around, jumbled it up until it was no longer recognisable as what it once was. Especially those that concerned other people. It had been one of the best nights of his life. Two weeks or so after Sasuke had met Naruto, the two of them had been lounging around in Naruto's living room. Drinking a few beers, sharing a few stories and laughing together. It was nearing eleven o'clock at night and Sasuke had the heavy feeling in his chest, the one that constantly reminded him that he'd have to be leaving soon. He would have to return home to his dark, empty house, slump onto the bed and futilely attempt to sleep off the impending loneliness. That was how it went all the other nights. But that night was different;somehow, the cheerful topic of conversation had switched to one much more dark.

Childhood.

They were both orphans; Sasuke having lost his family in a freak accident at a family gathering, save for his older brother, Itachi Uchiha. Naruto had been an orphan from birth, his parents hunted down and killed by dodgy drug dealers who had a bone to pick with Naruto's father. Still, the boys were strong, and somehow they coped. Perhaps meeting each other was part of destiny, because it strengthened who they were- meeting someone so similar to themselves.

The evening's happy atmosphere had crashed when Sasuke was reduced to tears just by talking about his family's past. He had never cried in front of a friend before, and the reaction he received was most definitely not the one he expected. He expected sneers, snide comments and resentment towards him for breaking down like that. Instead, he was swept into Naruto's strong arms as the blonde held onto him, hands fisted in the Uchiha's black shirt. They sat in silence, hearts wrenching and tears slowly soaking the other's shirts. Neither minded, neither moved.

Minutes passed before Sasuke drew away. Peering up into cerulean orbs, he felt his heart stop. The emotions swimming in Naruto's blue eyes were reflections of what he felt boiling inside him. Then, he knew. He was in love with Naruto. There was no lying, or denying. He had never felt this close to someone- had never met anyone who knew him better than he knew himself. All of a sudden, he felt like he wasn't alone anymore.

Being in love is a difficult thing. It always is, for some reason or another. It's a sticky feeling in your chest, constantly spiralling. It seems to suck in every other feeling that lies inside you, covering it in the black tar of powerful emotion. You can't fight it, and you're hopeless against it. That is what Sasuke hated about being in love. He needed, and craved, control. Falling in love was something that he never wanted to do. He knew that once he fell into that hole, it would be almost impossible to get out. The raven could almost laugh at his predicament. Seeking comfort in the arms of a stranger was clearly not the brightest thing he had ever tried to do, because he had ended up walking right into love's deceitful trap.

Naturally, Sasuke had lived in denial for about a week. Every time he saw Naruto (which was every day), the pit in his chest grew deeper and deeper, the sticky feeling increasing. Eventually, he gave up. Fighting against something so powerful was a waste of energy. Instead, he came to accept it as a part of who he was. As a part of him that Naruto helped him discover.

-------------------------------------------------
Christmas was drawing close. The excitement was palpable in the air, buzzing around Naruto and Sasuke as they sat on the very same bench that they sat with each other on, on the first day that they met each other.

"Do you know where you're going in life, Sasuke?" Naruto asked distantly, staring off into space, a vacant look in his eyes.

"Perhaps," Sasuke sighed,playing with a loose thread on his coat. "I suppose I don't. I don't suppose there's much point in knowing anyways."

"Really?" Naruto frowned, the look in his eyes disappearing as he turned to face Sasuke. "You don't know where you want to be in ten years? I want to try my hardest- to achieve my dreams." Naruto smiled, running a tan hand through outrageous blonde spikes.

"Yeah, really. Naruto- you have to succeed. Be a somebody, for all us nobodies who can't." Whispered Sasuke, immediately feeling flushed at the intensity of his words.

"We'll succeed- both of us- together." Was all Naruto said, not directly commenting.

A comfortable silence ensued, both men staring blankly at the people walking in front of them, directly in their line of sight.

"Don't you love Christmas, Sasuke?" Naruto suddenly asked, shattering the silence of the late evening.

"I suppose." Was Sasuke's emotionless and dry reply. Naruto rolled his eyes playfully.

"You're so depressing. Shall I tell you why Christmas is my favourite holiday?" Naruto cheerfully asked, not waiting for an answer (no) before continuing. "It's so beautiful. The colours, the snow, the cold air and the mornings. The way everyone buzzes with excitement, running around like headless chickens, searching for the perfect gift for people. I think it's the best time of the year to just sit back, and watch. To observe. To observe people's lives and the way they live."

"Why do you care about other people's lives?" Sasuke drawled, slouching in his seat on the uncomfortable green bench.

Naruto's brow furrowed. "What, don't you care about other people?"

"I only care about you, myself and my brother." Sasuke replied, closing his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder if I should care at all."

"Oh, bastard. You're so cold." Naruto murmured, a slight sadness to his words.

"No, I just think I'm bad for you." Sasuke's eyes snapped open and his hands flew to cover his mouth. He hadn't meant to blurt such a thing out.

"Excuse me?" Naruto eyed Sasuke carefully, probably wondering what the hell was flying through his friend's mind.

"I just.." Sasuke trailed off, thinking hard about how to phrase his answer. "I feel like I'm forcing myself upon you."

Naruto's reply was immediate.

"Everyone has their own story, Sasuke. I'm choosing to write you into mine." His voice was low, but words soft and true. Sasuke felt something in his heart snap. "Come on, let's go back to my place. It's getting cold out."

His heart beating faster than it ever had before, pounding painfully against his chest, Sasuke allowed himself to be pulled up by Naruto. Together, they walked down winding streets, heading back to Naruto's house. As they walked past countless numbers of closing shops, Sasuke began to sense Naruto's agitation.

"Naruto- are you okay?" He asked, placing a hand on the shorter man's shoulder.

"I'm fine." Naruto blatantly lied, forcing a relaxed smile.

"Hn," and the journey continued in silence.

Then, when they were a block or maybe two away from Naruto's home, the blond grabbed Sasuke by the wrist, halting his footsteps. Fixing Naruto with an intense gaze, Sasuke waited for an explanation.

"Sasuke.. I..." Naruto trailed off, averting his eyes to the floor. "I just have to know something." His eyes snapped back up to Sasuke's. "What are we?"

The question caught Sasuke by surprise, dark brown eyes widening as he frantically searched his friend's face. Admittedly, Sasuke had thought Naruto was gay, or bisexual, at least. They had never discussed sexuality, but it was obvious when one paid attention to the little details. Like when Naruto leaned in extra close to him, as if he were the most fascinating person in the world. The casual touches, legs brushing and playing with Sasuke's hair. A lot of the time, they casually flirted with each other. It was fun and it was stress-relieving. It had originally meant nothing, but ever since Sasuke's little 'epiphany', he found it did start to mean something more.

"Like.. soulmates." Sasuke whispered, and to his surprise, he found he meant it and he did not regret saying it.

In seconds, Naruto leaned forwards and brushed his lips against Sasuke's in a sweet and tender kiss. Kissing Naruto on the cold street corner on Christmas Eve, it just felt right. Their lips melded together, warm and tingling. Twisting his fingers in long blonde hair, Sasuke angled Naruto's head differently, deepening the kiss. The wind blew strongly around them, snowflakes slowly beginning to fall, only to be whipped up by the harsh winds, being sent spiralling to the ground. The night was silent but their heartbeats were loud in their ears.

Pulling back for air, Naruto had the widest grin on his face. Entwining his fingers with Sasuke's, he brought their clasped hands up to his lips before placing a chaste kiss on the back of Sasuke's hand.

"Do you feel it, too?" He whispered, his voice barely audible but carried to Sasuke by the wind.

"Yes."

There was a mutual understanding between them, passed silently by the unbreakable connection that bound them so tightly together. They each knew what the other was asking, when their eyes, shining brightly with excitement, met and the whole world stopped. Laughing heartily, Naruto gripped Sasuke's hand tighter in his own and started running back to his home, tugging Sasuke behind him.
In the soft glow of Christmas lights, their eyes sparkled and their faces were lit up with anticipation. With each passing moment, Sasuke felt his heart being drawn closer to Naruto's. Problems and worries were lost to the wind as they ran together, back to Naruto's apartment.