Chapter 2 – Try and Try Again

Naruto got a strange sense of Déjà vu standing outside of the hospital once again, hesitant to enter and face the boy that appeared to hate him just by hearing his voice a few times.

He chuckled to himself, he was just going to have to see this as a challenge and he would last more than 10 minutes today, hopefully the full two hours. But maybe he was being a bit too hopeful. Walking in he smiled at the lady at the desk, it was the same one as yesterday so at least he wouldn't have to explain himself again.

She handed him the same slip, and he was relieved to see that his two hours had indeed been filled in, though the nurses no doubt noticed his exit.

He quickly entered Sasuke's corridor with a smile on his face, handing the young man at the small desk his slip and moving down the hall to enter Sasuke's room. He knocked again, but when he got no reply he quietly opened the door a small amount, peering in to see Sasuke asleep on his bed.

The TV had been muted, Jeremy Kyle was on and Naruto almost sniggered at the silent shouts from the pregnant drunks on the show.

Glancing back to Sasuke, who had rolled onto his side, arm hanging off the side of the bed, Naruto stood there for a few moments contemplating whether to wake the boy or let him sleep. If he was mean to begin with, maybe waking him up wouldn't be the best option - But he couldn't stay for 2 hours watching a silent TV.

Shuffling over to the chair he sat down, avoiding the dangling arm and reached for the forgotten remote lying next to Sasuke's head on the bed. Putting the sound on a very low level, he settled into the chair to watch some TV – feeling somewhat peaceful in the room.

After a few minutes of beeps from Jeremy Kyle, when the people on the show had sworn (which happened a lot), he took a closer look at the pale face near to his.

Sasuke looked so much more relaxed when he slept, all of the anger and superiority gone; leaving the Uchiha looking a few years younger than he had before.

Naruto smiled at that fact, but nearly screamed when Sasuke spoke at him. "Who's there?"

"Um, it's me, Naruto, from yesterday... you were sleeping so I just put the TV back on instead of waking you" Sasuke scowled when he heard his voice and sat himself up, feeling around for something.

"Where's the remote?" Naruto went to hand it to him, their hands brushing lightly, causing both boys to tense for a moment. Sasuke turned the TV back up, once again ignoring the blonde for a few minutes, who also sat in silence unsure of what to say.

"Why did you come back, Dobe?" Naruto flinched at the cold tone Sasuke addressed him with; he seriously didn't understand what his problem was.

"Maybe I wanted to see you again, Teme" Sasuke scoffed and Naruto noticed his hands were balled into fists on his lap.

"You said it yourself; you're only here for community service. For the last time, I don't want your help" Naruto could tell that Sasuke was getting angry, which surely couldn't be good for his health.

"Anyone who is a friend of Kakashi's is a friend of mine, and who said I was here to help you? Maybe I just want to get to know you, is that so bad?" Deciding to be bold, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't lash out, he leaned over to grasp Sasuke's fists in his own.

He swore Sasuke hissed at him for a moment and tried to rip his hands out of Naruto's grip, but the blonde was too strong. "Let. Me. Go" Naruto felt a rush of adrenaline in his veins, he forced Sasuke's hand open with his own and forced their palms together. Sasuke turned to what Naruto assumed was to glare at him as he squirmed on the bed.

"No, why are you so angry at me?" Sasuke stopped resisting instead turning into a brick wall and gave Naruto no answer, his hands going slack in the other's.

"Because you don't know me, you don't know what its like to be me. Do you understand how hard it is to not see who you're talking to, see what you're hearing or feeling? Or how it feels to feel constantly threatened because you don't know what's going on around you?" Sasuke was breathing harshly by the end of it, his hands tense again and he managed to get them free and moved to push Naruto away, but only ended up squeezing the muscular shoulders.

"You're right, I don't understand, I'm lucky with my health. But that's why I'm still here Sasuke, help me to understand you, so you have someone to talk to about this" Sasuke's grip on him was almost painful and he ran a hand soothingly up the blind boy's arm up to his face, rubbing small circles on his cheek.

That was the last straw and Sasuke broke down into sobs, his head falling unknowingly into the crook of Naruto's neck who had shuffled closer to the shaking boy.

Tan arms wound around Sasuke's form, embracing him in a warm and soothing hold. "Move over" Sasuke shook lightly, but his sobs had stopped after 15 minutes and he frowned but with a little more encouragement he shifted slightly, so Naruto could sit on the bed next to him, an arm still slung over his shoulder.

"I hate you… Uchiha's aren't supposed to cry" Naruto snorted softly at the comment and snuggled closer, grinning at the scowl on Sasuke's face.

"You know you're warming up to me and sometimes everyone needs to let their emotions out" When he got no comment he tilted his head to look at the boy's face once more and nearly laughed when he saw a small pout on his face.

"What do you look like, Dobe?" That took Naruto off guard and he didn't answer out of shock for a few moments, before he answered.

"I'm about 5'9, with practically yellow hair, all natural though. Um, I have blue eyes, tanned skin and three scars on each cheek – some people say they look like whiskers, so one of my friends calls me kit" Sasuke nodded thoughtfully, no doubt trying to picture what Naruto looked like.

"Is this the same friend that got you into this mess?" Naruto chuckled but agreed with his statement, it was indeed Kiba that called him kit.

The next two hours flew by as if it was only one and the two made idle chit chat, every now and again asking the other questions about themselves.

"Looks like it's time for me to go, Teme" Naruto slid off of the bed, making sure to hand Sasuke the remote so he knew where it was easily.

"Hn" Naruto frowned at the lack of goodbye and grabbed the few things he brought with him, walking towards the door. "Don't come back tomorrow" Naruto froze and turned to Sasuke in disbelief.

"What? Why?! After all of this, you still don't want me here?" Sasuke refused to turn to him, even though he could feel Naruto's glare through the room.

"You're too good for someone like me, with no real future or ambition. Go find someone who would benefit from you" This shocked the blonde even more, he and Kakashi truly believed that Sasuke would benefit from this, even if the stubborn raven couldn't see it himself.

"No!" Sasuke flinched, finally turning his head towards Naruto, who had walked back over into Sasuke's personal bubble. "I will come back tomorrow and the day after that; every day until you are happy. So I'll see you tomorrow, Teme" Their breaths mingled, Naruto was that close, and Sasuke unconsciously licked his lips, drawing Naruto's attention to the pink lips.

With nothing more to be said the blonde left the room, shutting the door softly behind him and left the hospital once again feeling confused as hell.