Disclaimer: You all know this part; it's mostly out of courtesy. I don't own Naruto and I am ever grateful to Kishimoto for creating it. He's a cool dude.

Couples: Naruto/Sasuke (Sub: Neji/Gaara.)

Rated: M (as in Mature, yaoi, boyxboy smex etc.)

Please note: In this story they do not practise the use of condoms. Thankfully, they are fictional characters and so need not worry about sexually transmitted diseases, you, little children, do have to worry. So please practice safe sex.


AN: Behind lies the crescendo, ahead the climax and aftermath (oh, I can't even put into words how much pun is intended). Have fun and don't forget to review, kiddies.


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Part: 2

By: Daughterofdespair


Twenty agonising confession-free minutes had passed since they reached the festival. It was a pretty sight; red and yellow lanterns lit up streets lined with stands selling masks, food and candyfloss. Booths with fortune-wheels and games were cuddled between the shops and the city was filled with people in traditional clothing sporting joyful expressions on their faces. Children darted through the masses laughing loudly at the imagined freedom of the evening and at the street-corners stood mimes, musicians and performers.

Sasuke had difficulty enjoying it; guilt and nerves weighing him down like heavy lead weights on his shoulders. Gaara hovered at the edge of the group, silently observing his surroundings with an expression of feigned boredom. His attentive gaze gave him away, though probably only to Sasuke. The redhead had barely raised any objection against going to the festival, something which during normal circumstances would have alerted Sasuke to some sort of scheme, since the young redhead loathed this type of event and avoided everything similar with skilled precision. Now he was too caught up in his own chaotic situation, however, to consciously notice the signs or ponder Gaara's objective.

When they reached one of the market-squares the group of youths stopped at a stand selling colourful masks, Ino and Sakura giggling and 'ooh'-ing about the different designs. Sasuke stared ahead, sweating despite the ice which seemed to subsist in his veins. He would have to tell them soon. When they left the stand he would call for the attention of the group and tell them all he needed to say something and then just –come clean. Yes, that would be a suitable gameplan, he just had to take the plunge. Caught up in his erratic feelings he didn't notice when Sakura eagerly nudged Ino in the side.

"I thought you said they wouldn't be here until later!" She whispered excitedly. Sasuke froze at the words. Ino turned to look in the direction Sakura was indicating with her head, confused.

"What? Oh, it's them!" She grinned widely and waved. "They're early!" Sasuke's head snapped to the side searching the crowd in desperate hope… maybe it was someone else… maybe…

The familiar group of people making their way across to them, Sai in front, crushed every hope of redemption. Ino waltzed forwards, giving Sai a kiss in greeting while the remainder of the two cliques stood a few metres apart, studying one another. Sasuke tried to sink into the ground and disappear –but to no avail. Soon he caught sight of brilliantly blonde hair at the back of the group. Naruto's eyes were searching the crowd, but soon he would turn around and… The blonde fixated on Sasuke, his face splitting up in a huge grin. Through his paralysed terror, he Sasuke marvelled over the fact that despite everything going on that smile still sent jitters through his stomach.

"Naruto!" Sakura's happy voice exclaimed beside him. The blonde's gaze shifted marginally as he took in the pink-haired girl.

"Sakura-chan", he greeted pleasantly, walking towards them both. By now the rest of the group –including Ino and Sai had stopped to watch the interaction. Naruto's friends all looked slightly confused at seeing Sasuke there, and the Uchiha was actually surprised that none of them had said something yet. Perhaps his look of utter despair was a give-away to stay silent. To his other side he could hear a quiet, muffled snort. Gaara, though still scanning the crowd, obviously found his situation entertaining.

'Traitorous little bastard…', Sasuke thought vehemently. Naruto had reached them now and he couldn't help but look up into his stormy blue eyes, praying that some sort of understanding would pass between them. Sakura opened her mouth to say something just as Naruto slid his arms around Sasuke's waist and swooped down to kiss him.

It struck him then, that no matter how bad things would be when the kiss ended Naruto's kisses would always be a blissful moment of peace. He reflexively wound his fingers through his boyfriend's blonde hair and kissed him back, pouring all of his miserable feelings into the now frantic lip lock. He heard Kiba wolf-whistle in the background, but the sound was muted and disfigured. He was in his own personal world, a bubble of peace where only he and Naruto existed. They broke apart, and the blonde smiled down at him.

"Hey babe", he said casually. Sasuke could feel the icy tension prickle against his skin as Naruto stepped back. "You never told me you were friends with Ino-chan and Sakura-chan", he continued good-naturedly, "what are the odds, huh?" Sasuke swallowed harshly. The world was turning mute. He could feel Ino and Sakura's glares piercing his skull, Naruto's expression slowly turning confused at the strained stillness of their little gathering and Sasuke's tense stance.

"Sasuke!" The two girls exclaimed in unison.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked worriedly.

"Troublesome", Shikamaru muttered somewhere behind him. Sasuke's tongue felt twice its normal size and his limbs were screaming with adrenalin, desperately urging him to flee.

'Shitshitshitshit! Oh well…', he thought sardonically, 'can't get worse.' Naturally, one should not anger the gods with such wishful statements. The moment the thought wormed into his head he felt a hand close around his upper-arm and glanced to the left to see Gaara's eyes fixed on the crowd, gleaming with purpose. Before Sasuke could fully open his mouth to try and question this, the redhead spun him around, murmured:

"Help me out for a sec" and crashed his lips against Sasuke's.

'Oh lord of all that is fucking fair –why? Why, why, why, why, why, whyyyyyy?', his mind screeched helplessly. The kiss lasted few seconds before Gaara pulled away, smirking triumphantly.

"Well", he said casually, "I'm off to buy some lemonade." He turned and stalked in the direction he had been staring previously, and finally the candy stick in Sasuke's brain broke and he was fully functional once more.

"The hell you are!" He growled. "Get. Back. Here. Now." His anger fuelled his ability to move and allowed him to focus on Gaara rather than his angry friends or furious, disappointed boyfriend. Gaara turned back, looking extraordinarily bored by Sasuke's roaring temper.

"All is fair…", he said casually, before turning to face Naruto, who looked much like he didn't know whom he should kill, "It was a ruse. No need to overreact." Sasuke felt like crying. Gaara's amazing ability to be absolutely socially inept was rearing its ugly head and he had to take the fall. As if Naruto would even understand what the redhead was saying. Apparently satisfied with having disarmed the situation Gaara wandered off into the crowd towards what Sasuke assumed to be Hyuuga Neji…

…And left him with an infuriated Naruto, two scandalised teenage girls and the round-up group of Shikamaru, Chouji, Kiba, Sai, Tenten, Shino and Lee.

"Care to explain this, Sasuke?" Sakura said venomously at his side. Naruto crossed his arms and stared at the young Uchiha with the coldest eyes Sasuke had ever seen.

"Yes", his boyfriend said, "I'm rather curious myself." His tone was quiet, but trembling with barely-controlled emotion. Sasuke blanched under the staring eyes.

"I… uh…"

'Fuckety fuck. Mayday! Body not working again.' So this was what it felt like being trapped in one's own net. Suddenly there was a comforting pressure as a dainty hand was laid on his shoulder.

"Calm down, guys. Obviously there has been a lot of misunderstandings here", Tenten voice was soothing and seemed to have a calming effect on the company, albeit a small one. "Sasuke?" She questioned.

"Yes?" He managed to produce, focusing solely on talking to the young woman who seemed to be on his side.

"One thing at a time." She said, smiling encouragingly. Sasuke nodded, taking a deep breath. He was an Uchiha goddamnit! He could handle himself anywhere! Chilling calm, unlike anything he had felt the last week coursed through him. He recognised it well –he had lived with it for seventeen years –and though the emotional mayhem of the last weeks seemed to have exiled it he welcomed it like a lost son. Control. He was finally in control. Suddenly the task ahead of him appeared almost too easy, and certainly within his ability. Lifting Tenten's hand off his shoulder he straightened his back and turned to look at Sakura and Ino. Shikamaru and Chouji had moved slightly to stand beside the girls, though their expressions were hardly expectant.

"Ino, Sakura, Chouji, Shikamaru", he addressed them, "this is my boyfriend of two months –Naruto", he indicated to the fuming blonde. "Naruto", he continued, "these are my friends from school." Having managed the introductions he continued, talking mostly to his friends: "I'm sorry I haven't told you earlier and I honestly have no excuse." He then looked straight at Naruto. "Listen, I'm not even going to pretend that I can understand what level of insanity Gaara is on, but at least I'm sure he's in love with some bloke named Hyuuga and that unspeakably disgusting moment right now was a ploy to make him jealous." The chill in Naruto's eyes wavered a bit, but apparently Sasuke's speech had not appeased him enough.

"Am I supposed to believe that he would just-", Naruto began, taking a step closer to the Uchiha. He was interrupted, however, by the least expected available person.

"Hyuuga Neji?" Lee shouted, eyes wide and sparkling, drawing everyone's attention, "could it be that that youthful young man is Neji's great love?" Naruto stared at his friend, apparently thrown off track by the outburst.

"Don't be stupid Lee", he argued, "there's no way Neji could ever fall in love, he's way too much of a stuck-up prick." Sasuke smirked, suddenly wondering whether Neji and Gaara's first round of sex had simply been the effect of too much pent up frustration regarding the each counterparts personality. It certainly wouldn't surprise him.

"Actually", Sasuke commented quietly, "his name was Hyuuga Neji, a psychologist." Naruto spun around to stare at him in horror.

"Those two…", he said meekly. Lee's face split into a grin.

"How wonderful!" He exclaimed. "Our groups seem to be bound by fate, do they not? Such marvellous-", he was quickly silenced when Tenten clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Look", she said, "We'll be over by the food-stands. You can join us after you've sorted this out!" With a firm grip on Lee she ushered Kiba and Shino across the square. Chouji trailed after them, soon followed by Shikamaru who stayed long enough to give Sasuke a look which clearly stated: 'Fix it.' Now left with the two girls and Naruto, the Uchiha was feeling increasingly anxious.

"Naruto", Ino said quietly, "could you give us a moment alone?" She looked straight at her fellow blonde who nodded curtly and walked off to one of the stands further down the road they'd come from. Silence reigned over the three remaining teens.

"Why?" It was Sakura who spoke. Sasuke looked into her green eyes, silently inquiring what she meant. "Why didn't you tell us? Even when Ino and I had met Sai and Naruto… you let us go on and on about it. You let me talk about your… your boyfriend like that. Do you even like him? Do you even…", she ranted on, obviously a victim to a lot of emotions. Sasuke reached out put a hand on her shoulder, much like Tenten had done for him.

"I don't know", he admitted, "in the beginning I wasn't sure it would last and then… then it was just easier keeping things the way they were…", he hated himself for not having a better explanation. Ino snorted.

"Well you managed to surprise us all right…", she said haughtily. Sasuke grimaced apologetically.

"I was going to tell you before they arrived today, but then they were early…"

"And why not before tonight?" Ino countered. Sasuke sighed.

"Sakura", he said, looking at the pink-haired girl again, "you rarely show much interest in anyone since…"

"You", Ino filled in unabashedly.

"Yes. Since me. And to tell you the news that a guy you actually liked was my boyfriend…"

"So you would have kept it a secret for ever?" Sakura asked incredulously. "Break up with him so I could have him?" Her gaze told him that she had no comprehension for the madness he was spouting.

"No!" Sasuke replied, surprised at his own outburst. "Sorry Sakura, but no way in hell." He stepped back from the girl. Ino and Sakura glanced at each-other for a brief moment and then their eyes lit up like the lanterns overhead and they threw themselves at him, hugging him tight enough to constrict his breathing and shrieking incomprehensible gibberish. Sasuke was in a state of shock. If there was one thing his intellect would never understand it was the bi-polar temperament of women. They finally let him go, grinning at him.

"We are really angry with you for lying", Ino stated happily.

"And though your concern is sort of sweet I don't need a babysitter", Sakura chimed in with a gleeful clap of her hands.

"But", Ino continued, "it's just too cute!" Sakura giggled. Sasuke felt like a damp towel just landed on his shoulders. He had completely forgotten why he had chosen to keep the girls in the dark to begin with…

"This is great", Sakura said to her best friend, "two of the hottest guys we know –dating!"

"In love!" Ino confirmed joyfully. Sasuke arched an eyebrow.

"Hn", he replied.

"Oh don't deny it", Ino told him, swatting his shoulder with her palm, "you're so in love!"

"And you better make up with him", Sakura chided in mock-anger, "off you go", she shooed him in Naruto's direction.

"But don't think our little talk is over, Uchiha", Ino told him as he stepped back; "we'll talk about your inability to share emotions tomorrow."

"And Sasuke…", Sakura's jovial tone subsided a bit and her expression relapsed into sincere solemnity, "in the future… trust us won't you?" With that they left towards the others and Sasuke reluctantly started searching for his boyfriend. He really hoped this mess wasn't huge enough to keep Naruto angry…

He found the blonde further down the street. When Naruto saw him he nodded towards one of the alleyways which served to connect the wide street with the road by the canal and Sasuke followed him through it. It was less crowded by the waterway since the festival kept to the main roads, and not as many people would disturb them. A family of three ambled past as they crossed the uneven cobblestones. When they reached the canal Naruto leaned on the fence meant to keep people from falling in and Sasuke sidled up beside him. They stood in silence for some time while Sasuke was figuring out what to say. In the end, Naruto spoke first:

"Why didn't you tell your friends about me?" He asked quietly, and Sasuke could clearly hear the numerous questions hidden within the inquiry: 'are you ashamed of me? …Are you ashamed of them? Are you not serious about this relationship? …Are you…' Sasuke felt the answer tumble off his tongue before he even knew what he was saying:

"I wanted to keep you for myself", Naruto glanced at him, "I wanted to keep my perfect little world as far from reality as possible", he stared ahead, "and", he added as an afterthought, "I didn't have the energy to put up with Sakura and Ino's squealing." Naruto snorted; was that a good sign?

"You're weird", he replied, "when I met you I wanted to introduce you to everyone so that you could be a part of every aspect of my life." Naruto's hand came up to play with the Sasuke's hair. "Why wouldn't you want that?" Once more the answer seemed to fall out of him without his consent. Like the truth could not be stopped by any human means.

"You and I are different", he replied, enjoying the feeling of strong fingers fiddling with his hair, "You are a point of gravity to which everyone is drawn. You are… completely free of restrictions or self-loathing." He almost cringed at the last word, but he wanted to continue, he needed to show Naruto his true self. Or at least part of it. "My world is a dull, lifeless place which I have endured on pure principle. My brother and I don't get along no matter how much I want us to, I haven't had a real talk with my parents for over a year, not since the hospital-merger, and my friends are more chanced than chosen. The only part of that life that actually intrigues me is Gaara…" Naruto, who until that moment had been listening raptly, tensed. "Gaara", Sasuke persisted, "who is mentally insane enough to provide some entertainment." Without warning, Naruto pulled him into a hug, burying his nose in Sasuke's raven locks.

"You're not allowed to call me an idiot anymore", he mumbled into the younger man's tresses, "You have wonderful friends who obviously care about you, a family who's still together and a ridiculously bright future ahead of you. How could that be dull?" Sasuke burrowed his face in Naruto's shirt, inhaling the scent of his lover.

"It is", he said, his words coming out muffled through the fabric, "compared to you at least." He felt his boyfriend chuckle and freed himself enough to look up into laughing blue eyes.

"My life is boring compared to you, too, Sasuke. You and I are just too damn interesting." Naruto said merrily, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "But", he continued, suddenly grave, "what did you mean about self-loathing?" Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek.

'Fuck.'

"I-", he turned to stare at his lover's shirt again, "it's a family tradition to inspire self-hating, I think. They never say anything, never demand anything but… less than perfect is not an option. Unfortunately for me; Itachi is perfect whereas I'm not." Naruto scoffed.

"Number one in your school isn't good enough?" Sasuke glared at his boyfriend's chest.

"I don't expect you to understand", he replied quietly. "And…", he fell silent. He had been on the verge of divulging too much. Far too much.

"And what?" Naruto asked.

"Nothing."

"Spill it, S'uke." There was a warning in Naruto's voice. Sasuke took a deep breath.

"Why did you choose me?" The question came unbidden and he felt his insides burn with shame because of it. His lover was quiet for some time.

"Sasuke", he finally said, his voice calm, "are you a fucking moron?" Sasuke's head snapped back.

"You're the moron, idiot", he growled, "you can't even aim a ball in the right direction, for fucks sake." He stared defiantly up at Naruto who just smiled slightly down at him.

"Truth is… uh…", he began, the sheepish smile Sasuke had come to know all too well forming on his face –it was the same smile he had worn when he accidentally drenched the younger man's homework in ramen.

"Yes?" Sasuke inquired icily. The blonde looked like a resigned puppy.

"That day", Naruto began carefully, "sort of… didn't happen the way you think." Sasuke arched an eyebrow at him, taking a step backwards out of his boyfriend's arms so he could easier pierce him with his gaze, "I sort of aimed at you…" Sasuke eyes snapped wide open, mouth preparing to start a frontal assault when the blonde waved his hands furiously in a placating gesture. "I didn't mean to hit you!" He explained frantically. "I just wanted a reason to talk to you, and I thought if the ball landed at your feet you would pick it up and…" Naruto looked panicked.

Sasuke couldn't help it: he snorted. Then he started chuckling and in the end he was laughing so he could barely stand. The heightened tension of the last week made the statement so much funnier than it actually was.

"You…", he gasped, trying to control himself, "hit me with a ball… on purpose?" Naruto's miserable face only made him laugh even harder, all the pent-up stress residing in him dissipating. When he had finally gathered himself and could stand straight again he looked at his boyfriend, a humorous smirk on his face. "Any particular reason?"

"I told you", Naruto pouted, "I wanted a reason to talk to you and I… well… you know me! My mind doesn't work right under pressure!" Sasuke's tilted his head to the side quizzically.

"Why would you want to talk to me?" He asked. That had been way before they had any affiliation to one another. The blonde looked at him incredulously.

"Why?" He replied emptily. "Because I wanted to ask you out, obviously." Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"You hadn't even talked to me… and frankly, when you did I wasn't exactly nice…", he mused, "so why would you insist? I thought you were feeling guilty for hitting me in the head…" Naruto looked like he had just fallen down the rabbit-hole.

"B-but you…", he stuttered, "you can't possibly be…"

"Be what?" Sasuke asked testily.

"Look, I don't… you can't… you seriously don't know?" Naruto finished his incomprehensible speech. Sasuke sighed.

"Know what?" Naruto shook his head, looking decidedly lost.

"S'uke", he said, "I love you." Sasuke felt a pang of warmth in his chest, enveloping him as the words settled into his consciousness. Naruto loved him. Loved him. He was so immersed in the sensation of safety and euphoric contentment that he nearly didn't catch the remainder of the blonde's speech. Naruto seemed to realise his faraway thoughts, for his lips, parted to continue speaking closed and he bent down to press them against Sasuke's mouth.

"I love you." The blonde said, more firmly this time. "I think I might have loved you from the moment you kidnapped my football, but… I never thought you were this dense." Though his frustrated irritation had dispersed at Naruto's words it returned along with his indignation at being called dense. Sasuke was getting tired of not comprehending what the blonde was on about.

"Since I'm apparently dense", he hissed the word out, as if it was poisonous "feel like elaborating?" Naruto ran a hand through his blonde strands, looking as exasperated as Sasuke was feeling.

"S'uke", he looked seriously at the young Uchiha, "what made you ask me why I chose you?" Sasuke's eye twitched at the change of subject.

"Isn't that obvious?" He replied, his irritation making the truth spill out all the easier. "You're social, optimistic and have so much charisma it's cascading out of your ears. You're surrounded by people wherever you go, you're incredibly nice –not to mention you're ridiculously good-looking." Sasuke glared at him. "In short, why would you choose someone like me?"

And then Naruto laughed. And laughed. He laughed until Sasuke got mad enough to punch him in the stomach. Then he doubled over, wheezing, but at least he stopped laughing.

"Sorry", he gasped, "I just", he smiled at his lover as he struggled to right himself, "the irony…" Sasuke glared. Naruto smiled indulgently. "I've had similar thoughts myself; see… why you would choose to date someone like me…" Sasuke's anger ebbed away.

"What?" He snapped. The blonde looked up at the sky, a fond smile on his lips.

"Well, I'm not a genius, and my family is not super-smart and educated", he began, "my friends are mostly morons and I'm kinda immature…", Sasuke looked at him expectantly, but the man didn't continue.

"Your point?" He asked. Naruto met his gaze.

"Well, that made me feel sort of unworthy…", he trailed off. Sasuke scoffed.

"Idiot. Why would that matter?" Naruto smirked at him.

"My point precisely." And then it hit home. Sasuke chuckled.

"So we're both idiots…", he concluded reluctantly, "though that still doesn't answer my original question: why would you aim a ball at me?" Naruto regained his odd expression from previously.

"You really have no idea, do you?" He asked. Sasuke shook his head. "S'uke", Naruto spoke softly, "have no one ever told you how to use a mirror?"

"What?" Sasuke questioned in disbelief.

"Well, they're flat surfaces that-", Naruto began.

"I know what a mirror is!" Sasuke interrupted. "Though I fail to see their importance right now." Naruto sighed tiredly.

"Sasuke, has it ever struck you that people look a lot at you? Or that you get a lot of love-confessions at school?" Sasuke frowned.

"I don't see how that's relevant, either. Besides, I don't pay that much attention to other people." Naruto stepped forward and cradled Sasuke's head in his hands.

"S'uke, what I'm trying to tell you is that you're unbelievably beautiful." Sasuke froze, overcome by a sudden sense of disorientation. Numerous memories of confessions, glances and strange behaviour flowed through his mind. He stepped back from his lover.

"Don't be stupid", he found himself saying, his voice distant to his own ears, "it is true that people have always shown a certain amount of interest in me but that is due to my heritage and status rather than my looks." He shook his head resignedly. "Look, Naruto, it's not like I'm saying that I'm ugly, but I'm hardly special. My brother-"

"You know", Naruto interrupted, "you talk an awful lot about your brother." Sasuke opened his mouth to reply that in fact everyone else talked an awful lot about his brother, wherein lay the problem, but he didn't get the chance before Naruto continued: "I don't know who or what caused you to have this kind of fixation on him, or why he has caused such an inferiority complex in you but I never really thought that it blinded you to the truth." Sasuke glowered at him. It was hardly news to him –he had come to grips with his fixation years ago when Gaara forced him to confront it –but Naruto was missing the point entirely. Growing up in the Uchiha household Sasuke had always been the second, less-successful, less attractive brother whereas his brother had been the perfect, intelligent, handsome one. In fact, if he hadn't been so sure that Itachi's despicable personality would make the blonde physically ill he would have been terrified at the prospect of letting them meet at all, worried that Naruto would fall for his brother. And that it would then proceed to show that Itachi, too, was Narutosexual and the two of them would live happily ever after.

Because honestly, who wouldn't want Naruto?

"Can we drop this?" Sasuke finally asked, sighing. He certainly wasn't up for discussing his looks with someone as biased as his boyfriend.

"No." Naruto replied instantly. "Y'know, Orochimaru said something about this but I never thought he was serious." Sasuke sent his lover an incredulous look.

"When have Orochimaru ever not been serious? And said something about what?" His head was starting to hurt from only understanding half of the conversation. Was this how stupid people felt all the time?

"He told me you had no understanding of your own value", Naruto clarified, "and that your ignorance had left more heartbreaks in your wake than you will ever come to comprehend…", he paused before adding, almost reluctantly: "he also said that the only person he had ever met who seems immune to you is Gaara."

Sasuke began forming a reply about how absolutely preposterous the idea of Orochimaru saying such a thing was when an old memory simmered to the surface of his thoughts, calling for attention.

'"He's fifteen minutes late, what makes you think he'll show up?"

"I have yet to meet a man who wouldn't"'

The implications of the reply suddenly seemed very clear, albeit very unbelievable, to him. It would be a lie to suggest that Sasuke suffered from low self-esteem, but his sense of self-worth had always had its roots in tangible matters such as intelligence or ability. He had based most of it upon the few areas in which his brother was lacking: loyalty, friendship and a more pleasant personality. In looks particularly he had simply ignored any compliments, disregarding them as baseless lies or attempts to get into his good graces. This mostly because looks and charm were Itachi's key assets apart from intelligence. He was tall, handsome and generally had women swarming around him at any given moment. In comparison Sasuke's shorter statue and softer features were nothing extraordinary.

Then again, most aspects of Sasuke were nothing extraordinary in comparison to Itachi. Perhaps his looks were actually another one of those things which was exceptional to the general public and quite normal in the Uchiha household?

"So what you're saying", he began slowly, "is that you hit me in the head with a ball because you thought I was 'beautiful'?" The entirety of the statement sounded even more ridiculous out in the open than in his head, and he unwillingly found the corners of his mouth quirking upwards. Naruto's lips formed a lopsided grin.

"Something like that", the blonde replied, "though I have to say: I'm kind of glad I hit you that day." Sasuke raised his eyebrows in a mixture of resignation and disapproval.

"How nice for you", he remarked coldly. Naruto, as always, was unperturbed by his irritation and grinned, pulling him into another hug.

"Don't be like that, ne?" He paused and Sasuke slid his arms around his boyfriend's waist and laid his head to rest in the crook of Naruto's neck. "Hey…", the blonde said quietly against his hair, "how come this talk started with me being angry and ended with me apologising?" Sasuke snorted.

"You didn't apologise." He answered.

"As good as", Naruto complained, "when you got here I was so angry because…" the abrupt silence alerted Sasuke to the change of mood.

"Because?" He prodded. His lover took a step back so they could look at one another. His face was sporting an expression of half-hearted anger.

"Gaara kissed you!" Naruto bristled. Sasuke sighed, had he forgotten that until now?

"That he did", he replied evenly, "I already explained it, remember? He did it to piss off Hyuuga and I most certainly didn't agree to it." Naruto still looked peeved. "Why is it bothering you so much?" The blonde chewed on his lip, obviously annoyed still.

"I… you two are really close…", he began, "…and… I just… I know you're not now but… maybe before…" Sasuke chuckled.

"How long has this been bothering you? Besides, you're really close with Kiba aren't you?" He said calmly. The blonde grimaced at the mentioning of the brunette. "But since you're asking: no. We've never been anywhere close to that. Quite frankly, we're far too alike. And I'm not attracted to him at all." He added the last part for good measure, since Naruto looked like he needed to hear it. The blonde looked relieved, though still slightly uncertain.

"'Course… sorry I brought it up, I'm just worried someone will come and snatch you away", Naruto mumbled. Sasuke felt something warm well up in his chest, warming him inside out and heating his skin.

"Stupid", he told his lover, "I never had that kind of interest in anyone until I met you." He had never told anyone before –not even Naruto –about that. But at that very moment he felt it was necessary to say it.

The look in Naruto's eyes proved to him that he had been right to do so.


All things considered the festival turned out splendidly. They met up with their friends briefly but decided to spend most of the remaining evening alone. In the wake of the dramatic collision they needed it; besides, Sasuke refused to fuel Sakura and Ino's fire by letting them see how soft he was around the blonde. Not yet at least.

Naruto pulled him off to ride what seemed to be every attraction he could find. They had such an impressive make-out session on the Ferris wheel that they entirely forgot to enjoy the view –even more memorable was the fact that they didn't even realise that they had reached the end of the ride until the guy who handled opening the doors coughed pointedly and they broke it off only to see the queue outside shuffling uncomfortably.

They left the Ferris wheel feeling especially giddy.

At midnight they had found their friends at the pier and joined them –under a heavy rain of innuendo and snide comments about their absence –to watch the fireworks. The group was more or less intoxicated, Sai was hugging Ino from behind and Shikamaru was nowhere to be seen. Kiba had conjured up his one true love –Hinata –from somewhere and it seemed like he had finally had some luck in courting her. Lee was –for once –rather upset when they arrived:

"Naruto!" He wailed at the blonde, who grimaced. Lee was a particularly annoying drunk. "Neji-san refused to talk to me earlier!" He looked downtrodden as he added: "He was rather rude actually…"

When they had steered Lee's thoughts away from either suicide or finding and confronting Neji, the group found places to stand by the wide stairs leading up from the docks. The fireworks were amazing: a play with blazing flames of colour acting out the roles as the crowd 'ooh'ed and 'aah'ed in chorus.

Sasuke stood, looking up at the painted sparks that showered the dark skies. His friends were gathered around him, his boyfriend holding his hand.

'Perhaps… this is what people refer to when they talk of unforgettable moments.'

Naruto bent down to kiss him.

'Yes. I should think it is.'


The door slammed shut behind them, Naruto's strong hands buried in Sasuke's raven locks as the blonde planted feverish kisses along his neck, chanting under his breath:

"I love you I love you Iloveyou…"

Sasuke moaned at the teeth grazing his heated skin, bucking up against his lover and revelling in the feeling of friction assaulting his cock and the pleasured groan escaping Naruto.

Quickly. Quickly. His mind insisted. He steered his lover from the wall in the hallway, the two of them nearly toppling over when they reached the open doorway to the kitchen.

"Fuck… S'uke", Naruto moaned pulling the younger man's hips closer to grind their groins together. Sasuke bit his lip to muffle the whine threatening to flee from his throat. His lover made a move to steer their stumbling feet towards the bedroom.

"No… ah", Sasuke breathed as rough fingers slid underneath his shirt and brushed over his stiff nipples, "just… do it here…", he panted, gripping the back of Naruto's shirt desperately. Blue eyes locked with his own obsidian ones as his lover pulled his head back to look at him, hands still wandering across the smaller man's abdomen. Arousal swirled in cyan depths, making their normally bright colour darken into deep blue.

He didn't have to ask twice.

Without warning the Uchiha found himself hoisted up and pushed onto the kitchen counter in the small room, hands returning to explore his body with renewed energy. He let his own soft hands slide underneath Naruto's shirt and crashed their lips together. Passion and need coursed through him, his legs moving to clasp around his lovers waist, bringing their clothed members together in a frantic search for release.

Full lips left his own and a whine of loss and complaint made it out before he could stop it. Naruto grinned at him. Not his usual, happy and slightly foolish grin but an animalistic one, exuding dominance and sex. Gods how he loved it when Naruto got like this.

"Impatient, hm, S'uke?" His lover husked. Sliding his hands down he gripped Sasuke's arse and lifted him down. "Lose the clothes." He ordered, letting go of the younger man and reaching out to search through the bottles by the stove. Sasuke was happy to oblige –his arousal strained against his jeans and he felt as if another second without Naruto inside him would leave him pleading for death. He fumbled with the buttons and had finally managed to slip out of his shirt and pants when Naruto returned, a bottle of cooking oil firmly gripped in his fist. Sasuke wasted to time letting his boxers fall to the floor and reached out to help his lover rid himself of the constrictive fabrics. Naruto's jeans open at last he hooked his fingers in the drawstring of the blonde's orange boxers and pulled frantically.

"Off", the word left him as a disfigured growl. His lover chuckled darkly, and Sasuke felt strong hands grip his hips and flip him to face the counter. Hot breath on his ear sent shivers skittering through him as he felt his Naruto's hands descend on his arse, spreading the supple cheeks apart.

"I am gonna fuck you so hard that all you will remember when I'm done is my name." Naruto told him, nipping his ear as he moaned at the words. A jolt of giddy pleasure and expectations coursed through Sasuke at the promise. He felt the reassuring warmth of his lover's chest disappear from his back but was stopped in the motion of turning his head to peer over his shoulder by the sensation of a warm, hot wetness trailing along his spine. He whimpered, his hands clawing at the plastic counter as Naruto's tongue made a path down his back, the hot saliva quickly turned cold in the air but he really couldn't care less. His every limb was on fire with sensation, his erection painfully pressed against the cabinet door.

His boyfriend's tongue dipped past the small of his back and slid downwards, wetting the way towards the twitching rim. Languidly, his lover circled the opening time and again before Sasuke cracked and let go of the desperate moan which had been building a block in his air-pipe. Without warning the slick muscle drove into him, leaving him writhing and panting as his lover's tongue explored his insides.

"Nhhhg… Naruto-", he moaned, "hurry… the fuck up!" He bit out as Naruto lapped at his entrance with wide licks. The tongue retreated.

"If you insist." His lover purred and an oil-slicked finger plunged into Sasuke.

"Ahhh… Fuck..", the raven breathed at the sudden intrusion. Another finger joined the first, stretching him with the efficiency garnered through diligent training. Sasuke felt a third finger enter, the three digits probing, searching- and then he screamed in pleasure as jolts of ecstasy erupted from his prostate. It felt so fucking good.

"There, huh?" he heard Naruto mumble, a hint of pride mingled into the dangerous allure of the voice behind him. The fingers drew back momentarily, only to be thrust back in, ramming into the bundle of nerves that made Sasuke see white. Naruto finger-fucked him viciously, sending stings of incomprehensible moan-mingled words over his lips. He fought to keep his legs from giving out while the digits inside him crooked to gain better access, making mind-numbing scratching motions against his prostate.

"Nnnghh.. Naruto… need you…", he managed to voice with much difficulty. His lover growled in agreement.

"'bout time too… can't wait any longer", the blonde's voice was strained, struggling to keep his desire in check. The fingers disappeared. Sasuke widened his stance and prepared himself for what he knew was coming, trembling in anticipation of the main event.

And then Naruto was inside him, rough hands gripping his slim hips. In one swift push he found himself utterly full and deliciously unsatisfied, his straining erection neglected of its needed release. He braced himself against the counter-top, his fingers curling around the edge while his lover pulled back and thrust back in with all the more force.

It was hard, rough and unforgiving. The stress, the frustration, the emotional mayhem of the day; it all needed to be relieved from their bodies. Naruto crashed into him, attacking his prostate again and again. Moans, groans and the smell of sweat and sex permeated the air.

"Fuck", the blonde growled as they neared their release, both teetering dangerously near the edge. Suddenly, Sasuke found himself empty, denied the throbbing flesh of his lovers cock as he was twisted around to face the blonde.

"Wha-", he managed to procure before two hands slid from his hips to his arse and he was lifted off the floor. Reflexively he wrapped his slim legs around the man again while Naruto carried him the few short steps across the kitchen to the only bare wall in the room. Within seconds Sasuke was once more impaled by his lover, his back now pressed against the cold stony surface of the wall. Naruto thrust upwards ferociously, his gaze dark with untamed lust; never leaving Sasuke's flushed features. The younger man wound his arms around his boyfriend's muscly neck, buried nimble fingers in blonde locks and tugged harshly. They were both reaching their climax, bodies slick with sweat and the precome leaking from Sasuke's member, muscles working tirelessly against one another. The Uchiha shivered from the dual pleasure of his lover pounding into him coupled with the friction assaulting his cock, trapped between their bodies.

"Mmm… S'uke", Naruto moaned, burying his head in Sasuke's neck. The younger man's fingers tightened painfully around the yellow tresses.

"Naru… to…", he panted, "…coming… Naruto!"

The world exploded into ecstasy and white spots flickered at the edge of his sight. He felt himself tighten around Naruto and the spray of hot warmth inside him coupled with the grunting of his name into his neck and the teeth sinking into his flesh, marking him, told him his lover too had crashed into oblivion.

They stayed perfectly still for a few moments, harsh breathing slowly evening out. Finally, Naruto slipped out of him and pulled him along to the bathroom. The fatigue of thorough satisfaction hit him in the shower, and his lover carried him to the bedroom and proceeded to make love to him. Slow and precious and divine. They needed that too, needed to physically manifest their feelings for one another. The silence of deep night was heavy around them when they finally collapsed, side by side.


Sasuke's eyelids wearily opened to reveal sleep muddled black eyes. A strong tan arm lay around his waist, keeping him close to the warm comforting body behind him. A feeling of safety and contentment nested in his chest as Naruto's scent enveloped him. Confusion nagged at his consciousness; the room was still save for the sleeping blonde's breathing, darkness making it hard to see the contours of the furniture.

'What time is it?'

His muscles were heavy with fatigue and his lower back stung uncomfortably as he squirmed around to view the alarm on the bedside table.

04:42

The hell?

Annoyed at himself, he tried to figure out why he had woken in the crack of dawn, mere hours after mind-blowing sex like some kind of masochistic insomniac. Insomniac. Sasuke groaned inwardly. Gaara.

'Fuck me sideways with a rusty kitchen-knife', he thought vehemently, slipping out of bed with outmost care to not rouse his lover, 'on second thought, don't. That would be terribly uncomfortable.'

He padded silently across the room, gathered a clean change of clothes from the small stash of garments he had left over the course of the past weeks, crept out of the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He showered quickly though the hot water made him consider staying under the spray for another hour at least and then climb back into bed with his boyfriend, but as tempting as the thought was he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to sleep now anyhow, and he was quite certain the redhead was waiting for him.

When Sasuke and Gaara were about ten years old the two of them had been through a rough patch with their respective families. Sasuke had several spectacular rows with his parents and Gaara… well, he was handling being ostracised quite badly and was letting his frustrations out through his fists. One particular night Sasuke found himself unable to sleep. His father had yelled at him at dinner, telling him he was a shame for the Uchiha name. He had cried silently for hours and his mind and body was numb with exhaustion but try as he may he could not bring his eyes to stay shut.

Five in the morning or so had found the youngest Uchiha sneaking out of his house for a walk. He loved the early hours of the day; the ultimate time for contemplation when all was quiet and all slept, be they youngsters or elderlies. When the morning mist lay thick and cold and the first, probing light of dawn coloured the world in grey and silver. He had ventured to the park nearby, where he and Gaara often met. When he reached it, he found that the redhead had been struck by the same impulse as him, and sat silently by an old tree, deep in thought.

Since then it had become an unspoken tradition for the two of them. Whenever they fought, or something drastic occurred in their lives, they would meet up at the park at five. His body was so well-versed in the routine that it awoke on its own in perfect time for him to rise, pull on some clothes and walk the short distance to their meeting place.

Usually, in any case. Problem was: Sasuke was not asleep in his room at home, and the mere thought of leaving the apartment without showering the reminders of last night off made him shiver in discomfort.

Showered and dressed he dug Naruto's spare key from the empty jar in the kitchen cabinet, wrote a quick note for the blonde and left for the bus, a slight limp in his gait to enlighten the quiet world of his ministrations the previous night. His few companions on the journey through Konoha were early workers, or else night-shifters going home. They all held in common their blessed silence, however, as if the people who moved through the city at this time were all part of the same secret alliance, in which conduct was decided by strict rules. Sasuke found that he loved it, the comfortable stillness, and decided to himself that once he graduated from University he would join their brotherhood and become one of them.

When he arrived at the park it was nearly half past five, though he would be damned if Gaara complained. Prick.

He found the redhead on one of the swings, looking every bit as exhausted as Sasuke felt. He looked up when the Uchiha drew near, face expressionless as always.

"You're late." He informed. Sasuke glared at him and he smirked. "I'll assume things worked out between the two of you then?" He asked while Sasuke sat down on the swing next to him.

"No thanks to you", the Uchiha answered icily. They both stared out into the mist.

"Yeah… sorry." The word was grunted out, as if the lack of usage had made it rusty. Sasuke felt a sarcastic smile tug at the corner of his lips; he would venture he was the only one to ever receive an apology from the redhead, definitely the only one upon whom he had bestowed several. Still, Gaara was, along with numerous Uchihas, one of the few people who found making apologies harder than Sasuke himself.

"Mm", he hummed lowly, "so?" Aqua eyes fixed on him as his best friend's head turned to face him. A moment of silence passed –then a smirk formed on the redheads face.

"We're back at sex", he said, "I won the battle." Sasuke breathed deeply.

"Who'll win the war?" He questioned.

"That remains to be seen." They both returned their gazes to the swirling fog. The realisation that Gaara considered Neji an equal opponent in mind games set him slightly on edge. What sort of man had his friend managed to unearth? Glancing at the redhead, he saw the ghost of a smile on the other's lips, a sadistic gleam playing in green-blue eyes.

'Who the hell am I worrying about?', he found himself thinking exasperatedly, 'since when have Gaara ever not been able to handle himself? I should be worrying for that Hyuuga.'

"Good luck then", he told his friend, "not that you'll need it." Gaara nodded.

"We good then?" he asked. It was a confirmation of what they already knew, but the importance of it did not pass unnoticed by the Uchiha. This was the part of his best friend only he knew –and, perhaps, in the future Hyuuga Neji as well.

"Yes." He paused. "Though if you drag me into your scheming without consent again I will castrate you", he vowed venomously.

"Understood." Gaara countered and glanced at his watch. It was nearly six. "Otogakure?"

Sasuke nodded.


The coffee shop didn't actually open until seven o'clock, but Orochimaru was always there an hour early to set things up and rarely minded letting them in. They each cradled their cups, revelling in the contrast the warmth did against the chill they had left outside. The silence in the room was broken only by the sporadic noise caused by Orochimaru piling cups or bringing out supplies. The two teens were both staring ahead, lost in thoughts entirely their own. The memories of the previous night flooded Sasuke's brain, overwhelming him. Too much had happened for him to process it all at once.

"I love you S'uke"

He felt his face heating at the memory, a squirmy yet entirely pleasant feeling growing in his chest. The rest of their lengthy conversation rushed past him and his mind stumbled awkwardly on the specific subject which had brought about Naruto's confession. Immersed in a pensive state he decided to ask for an outsider's opinion.

"Gaara", he addressed his best friend. The redhead had never lied to him, besides Sasuke found it unlikely that the psychopathic teen would find reason in lying to avoid hurting another's feelings.

"Hm?" Gaara replied absently, sipping his coffee.

"Am I good looking?" Aqua eyes sharpened in an instant, focusing on the raven.

"So Naruto finally realised it, huh?" Sasuke cocked an eyebrow at his friend.

"Elaborate?" The redhead sighed.

"People generally believe that the people they meet and form relations to –friendship or love –are inhumanly perfect." He said. "In the beginning they are blinded into thinking their new… acquaintance is without faults or flaws. It seems Naruto finally accepted your mortality." Sasuke blinked.

"What exactly are you insinuating?" He asked carefully.

"All people have defects." Gaara deadpanned. "Your main defect happens to carry the name Uchiha Itachi." Sasuke scowled. The redhead was getting too close to the subjects of the previous day for him to feel comfortable.

"It's too early for you to complain about my brother-complex." He muttered sourly.

"That's precisely it", Gaara said, ignoring his unease completely, "your brother-complex. It may be that people were comparing the two of you when you were younger, but fact is, Sasuke, that the only one who still thinks of you as Itachi's lesser little brother is you." The Uchiha narrowed his eyes; Gaara was overstepping some serious boundaries here. Silence reigned once more when the redhead's tirade ended. Sasuke simmered with fury and he knew that had it been anyone but Gaara, they would have received a fist to the face by now.

He was contemplating telling his best friend this when the redhead spoke again in a monotone voice:

"And as for your question, Sasuke-chan", the Uchiha recognised the suffix as a reminder of how girly his query had been, "you're so fucking gorgeous that it annoys me to look at you." Sasuke felt his mind do an odd sort of lurch, seventeen years of inferiority complex rearing its ugly head to contradict the statement. And yet fact remained that Gaara never lied to him. Unbiased, analytical Gaara who was never wrong.

"That…", he began uncertainly.

"Take it from someone who's been rendered invisible by it for most of his life", Gaara interrupted. There was a slight edge of bitterness in his friend's flat voice, nearly non-existent, but enough to alarm the young Uchiha. Gaara, if anyone, did not suffer from low self-esteem…

'At least not out loud…', Sasuke mused. He realised that it would go over very badly if he tried being considerate about this, so he opted instead for the route which had always seemed the easiest for the two of them. Blunt, straightforward rudeness.

"Do I detect jealousy, Gaara-chan?" He therefore countered, staring into the depths of his coffee. "You know I could never be as pretty as you." The redhead glared at his obvious baiting.

"Shut up", he growled, "I certainly wouldn't be envious of the likes of you." Sasuke snorted.

"Thank god for that. I don't think I could stomach you suddenly turning into a snivelling self-centred whiner." His best friend smirked evilly.

"Quite right. It's enough that one of us is." Sasuke shot him a dirty look. Opening his mouth to reply scathingly, but silenced himself when Orochimaru's soft voice entered the conversation.

"Boys", the barkeep said quietly, "not that I do not enjoy your company… as a matter of fact you remind me of myself at your age", his eyes misted over in reminiscence for a moment before continuing: "intelligent, wrathful, twisted and entirely confounded by the ways of social interaction." Sasuke could feel the twin of his own glare emanating from his friend, but Orochimaru was entirely unperturbed by the vicious sharpness of the youths' glowers. "But in all honesty", he went on, looking over at them with amusement, "you did not think that I would let you linger around for hours drinking free coffee without profiting from it? I do have some business sense." Sasuke felt his glare slip into a blank look and knew that Gaara's frown had done the same.

"What?" The redhead said quietly, a near whisper in the room.

"When the two of you are in here my revenue triples", Orochimaru explained, ever so calmly, "groups of young girls, solitary young boys, pristine business men…", he trailed off, "and as interesting as you homework surely is I find it hard to believe that it can hold the attention of so many people for hours on end." The implications of the statement hit Sasuke like a punch in the gut.

"Orochimaru", he said, his voice dangerously low, "have you been pimping us out for customers?" The older man shrugged.

"I am merely suggesting that while you are just now coming to grips with whatever allure you possess, others have not been quite as slow on the uptake." Gaara made a noise like a strangled cat.

"Unbelievable", Sasuke muttered. Orochimaru smiled slightly.

"The two of you are fascinating specimen in that way…", his misty voice was pensive, "Sasuke-kun, thinking highly of yourself does not make you your brother." He pinned the dark-haired boy with an unusually sharp look. "And Gaara-san", he transferred his gaze to the redhead, "being human and letting emotions rule over mind every once in a while does not make you weak." The teenagers stayed quiet, contemplating this.

"Well", said Gaara finally, letting a mouthful of coffee past his lips, "as much as the advice is appreciated. Don't think we'll forget about you pimping us out." Sasuke sniggered, the weariness from a long morning and far too little sleep loosening his stoic appearance. Orochimaru hummed lowly. They sat in peaceful stillness for a long time, each of them lost in the abyss of their own mind.

"Things have changed, hasn't they?" Sasuke asked at last, a rhetorical question. Things had changed. The miserably bored lone wolves had taken the plunge into life with a voraciousness which left him stunned.

"Yeah…", Gaara replied absently. Orochimaru smiled.

"For the better, I think", said the barkeep, "I am… glad you have both found men worthy of your love." Sasuke was about to argue that he wasn't so sure Neji was worthy when the insinuation of the words stuck him.

'Love?', he thought.

"I love you S'uke."

He glanced at his friend and saw a nearly-there smile play in the corners of aqua eyes. Gaara looked… content. Happy even. As if the weights that had dragged him into the bottomless pit all his life had been lifted and he was free to soar up towards the sun.

'Love.' He decided with a small smile of his own.


It was nearly eight o'clock when he reached the door of Naruto's apartment, unlocking it and slipping inside. He toed of his shoes, taking in the hush of early morning the and lack of movement in the small space. The sun was climbing steadily upwards in the sky, its rays filtering through the windows and colouring the room with an ethereal yellow light. He trotted into the small kitchen, disposing the brown paper bag in his hand onto the counter. Half an hour earlier, Orochimaru had slipped one bag each to the leaving youths and mumbled in a lofty voice:

"Breakfast is the best apology for leaving a still-sleeping lover"

Sasuke vaguely entertained the idea that the odd man had his and Gaara's lives surveyed through hidden cameras. He was starting to heartily agree with his boyfriend that the kind of insight the man possessed was not normal.

He looked up as he heard the bathroom door open and close, and was greeted by the sight of Naruto, fresh from the shower and clad only in midnight-blue boxers as he towelled his blonde tresses. Sasuke refrained from licking his lips and had to remind himself of the soreness of his lower back lest he fall into temptation at the sight of the muscled chest, decorated by small droplets of water sliding down tan skin.

"There you are", said his lover gruffly, but there was neither accusation nor anger in his voice, "what are you up to, disappearing like that?" an adorable pout formed on Naruto's features and Sasuke had to struggle to make his lips form a smirk instead of a fond smile.

"I left you a note.", he pointed out. Naruto's eyebrows rose, amusement replacing the pout on his face. He reached out and grabbed a flimsy paper from the countertop which Sasuke immediately recognised as the message he had jotted down that very morning.

"You call this a note?" Naruto asked, his mouth twitching as he struggled not to smile. Sasuke glanced at the paper, one eyebrow raised.

I'll be back.

S

"Yes?" He replied. His lover snorted, unable to bottle his mirth up anymore.

"'I'll be back?' Really S'uke?" White teeth flashed as the grin formed on his face. "Is this your way of telling me you're a robot, sent from the future by my older self?" Sasuke scoffed.

"And what would my purpose here be?" He asked, rummaging through the paper bag.

"Weelll…", Naruto said thoughtfully, pursing his lips, "perhaps my sexual frustration would have destroyed the world and you were sent to prevent it?" Sasuke looked up at his lover incredulously.

"And I was chosen for this mission of selfless sacrifice?" He replied sarcastically, pulling two large coffee-cups out of the bag. Naruto pouted again.

"You make it sound like a chore! Perhaps you won the lottery in the future or something and- coffee!" The blonde ended his rant to grasp for the cup. "You are officially the best boyfriend ever." He purred happily, taking a sip.

"Hn. Whatever, idiot." Sasuke murmured, amused. Blue eyes widened.

"This is Orochimaru's coffee", Naruto decided, "you went all the way to Otogakure?" A split second went by as Sasuke contemplated hiding the truth from his lover.

"Yes", he replied finally, "I had to talk to Gaara." The temperature in the kitchen dropped slightly.

"Oh?" Naruto said, his tone strained. "And what did he say?" Sasuke sighed, rubbing the base of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"Naruto", he said calmly, "Gaara has gotten himself into enough issues without having your wrath hanging over him as well. Trust me; he wouldn't have done something that drastic if he had any other options." He looked up at his boyfriend. "I actually think he's really in love." Naruto grimaced.

"How anyone could fall in love with Neji, I'll never know", he muttered. Sasuke watched him curiously.

"How do you know him anyway?" His lover shrugged, taking another sip of coffee and leaning languidly against the counter.

"He used to go to my Uni", he explained, "and he's friends with Lee and Tenten –how they put up with him I'll never know –thank goodness he's graduated though, I can't stand him. We used to fight all the time. Arrogant, stuck-up pompous prick", he groused.

"Oh really?" Sasuke said lightly. "So no double-dates then?" Naruto looked so horrified for a second that the Uchiha laughed at him. "I guess not."

"Don't scare me like that", his lover said breathlessly. "Gods S'uke, give me a heart attack, would you?" Sasuke snorted.

"If it makes you feel better", he told his boyfriend, "my terms for reconciliation with Gaara were that if he ever does something like that again I'll cut his dick off." Naruto's expression morphed into another grin and he strode across the small kitchen to give Sasuke a swift kiss.

"Now that is why you're my boyfriend", he said happily. Sasuke watched carefully as his lover walked back to the counter to ruffle through the bag and see what else was in there. His coffee was clasped in his hand, his back resting on the counter right next to the stove as he studied his lover. He thought about what had been said at Otogakure, and what had been said and done the previous night. Naruto was in the process of excavating two muffins and some bagels from the bag, his back facing the Uchiha when the younger man spoke. It was a phenomenon similar to the one he had experienced by the canal; words bubbled and swirled within him and he was powerless to keep them from spilling out.

"Naruto." He said quietly, eyes fixed on blonde locks.

"Hm… yeah, babe?" Naruto replied, still searching the bag for remaining treats.

"I love you." All action ceased at the other end of the kitchen as the taller man stilled. Slowly he turned; blue eyes wide as they searched out the younger man's features.

And then Sasuke's coffee was taken from his hand and placed on the stove and he found himself lifted off the ground, strong arms encircling him while Naruto claimed his lips. The kiss was tender at first, growing passionate and wild with emotion when he slipped his hands into blonde tresses. When they broke apart, panting heavily, he found azure orbs mere centimetres from his own black ones.

"Bedroom", Naruto whispered huskily. Sasuke smirked.

"Breakfast", he replied smoothly, freeing himself from his lovers embrace and walking over to grab one of the bagels. Tan arms snuck around his waist and pulled him into a firm chest.

"Nuh-uh", Naruto told him, "you can't say something like that and expect to get away without long, hot, amazing sex." Sasuke could feel his own body responding to the words alone. He sighed, leaning back against his lover.

"Why do I put up with you?" He asked in mock irritation.

"Because you love me", Naruto answered impishly.

"Tch."

"And now, I'm going to have my wicked way with you. And you won't stop me", the blonde purred, trailing kisses along Sasuke's neck.

"Mmmhmm… and why wouldn't I?" The younger asked; his eyelids shut while he savoured the feeling of a wicked tongue and teeth on his skin.

"Because you left me alone in bed to go see the guy who kissed you last night", Naruto answered, biting down on pale flesh to underline his annoyance.

"Hn. Good try", Sasuke snorted, "the Uchihas invented guilt-trips. It won't work." The blonde growled against his skin, rough hands slipping under the Uchiha's shirt to caress his chest.

"Then", Naruto said, making Sasuke's breath hitch as he brushed across one pert nipple, "because I'm devilishly good in bed."

"Hah", the dark-haired boy groaned, "not better than coffee and a blueberry muffin." He managed to grind out while Naruto's hand slipped down and teased the skin below his navel.

"Hmm… well, then it must be because", Naruto whispered, "you love me." Obsidian eyes snapping open, Sasuke spun around and placed his hands on his lover's shoulders, squeezing tightly and staring into a lust-filled ocean gaze. A smile grazed his young face.

"That would be why." He mumbled, crashing their lips together.


BTW- If you think the focus on looks/attraction/self-esteem-issues is a little over the top… they're 17. Have you ever been seventeen? Yeah. That's why they act like that.

A/N: So. In a few days I will be leaving home for six months to study in another country. I doubt I'll be able to post there, and though I'll bring my computer I can't say if I'll have the opportunity to write. This fic is my going away present to you all, and I can only hope that you've enjoyed it, and that I'll have another fic or two for you when I return. Until then, stay nerdy and creative.

And as always, review please.

/DoD