E4 202 First Seed

Naruto grunted as a particularly violent lurch brought him back to consciousness. The black around the edges of his tunneled vision faded slowly, revealing a frost laden path through the thick forest. They were still in Skyrim. He breathed his relief deeply, smelling pine and dirt and other men. At that moment he found himself acutely aware of just how much the wagon was jostling its passengers, and almost felt nauseous.

Almost.

"Are you gonna be sick, boy?"

Naruto looked up at the man who spoke. He was another Nord, with blond braided hair, royal blue armor, and coarse rope binding his hands together before him. Naruto glanced down at his own hands to find them in a similar state.

'Shit.'

Naruto shook his head to answer the other man, "No, I'm fine."

"Hn. You are alive."

Naruto looked to the voice on his left, seeing the same handsome man with jet black hair from before. He smiled in spite of himself. "Couldn't get rid of me that easy."

And despite his stoic face, Naruto got the impression that the other man was glad to have an ali, and Naruto couldn't blame him; He didn't appear to be a Skyrim native.

He looked around at the motley crew of captives in the cart and the soldiers guiding them. The guard's armor was distinctly imperial, but clearly new; He'd never seen them before. Morale must have been low or conflict evident for new armor to be crafted.

The man across from him looked like one of military as well, but his uniform was much different than the guards and was unlike any armor Naruto had encountered. Other than being blue and filthy, it was a military cut with a bear's head woven into the chest.

"You've been unconscious sense they found me," Said the Nord. "We were caught trying to cross the border into Skyrim, except for those two thieves over there."

Naruto looked where he had gestured, assuming the thieves were the khajiit and a dirty, brown haired man. Beside them was a man in elegant finery, gagged at the mouth.

The khajiit hissed and the dark haired one glared. "Damn you Stormcloaks, if they hadn't been looking for you-"

"Shut up back there!" The guard leading the wagon.

'Stormcloaks?' His eyes flicked to the blue armor before him.

The Nord glared at the thief until the guard in back of the carriage chimed in.

"What'dya want to do with those folk, Stormcloak? You know who they are?"

He turned to Naruto. "From your armor I'd say...well, I'll be, are you thieves guild? You rascals!"

Naruto cast a glance at his ally, who was glaring at the soldier in back.

He sneered sadistically, "These boys are with the Dark Brotherhood."

At the mention of the black guild the Nord's mouth parted in a stunned silence, his brow wrinkled in suspicion. He glanced at the elegantly dressed man, who flicked his eyes toward the two men in distaste.

"No..that guild isn't real. A fairytale for the necromancers..."

"Real enough to murder and dismember six people. We found them in a pool of blood, you Stormcloak scum. So why don't you-"

"Enough." The deep voice from his handsome companion commanded. "Where are you taking us?"

The soldier screwed up his face as if he were about to shout again when a quiet voice interrupted.

"I know where we're going."

It was the Nord again, his eyes cast down the road. "Were going to Helgen. When I was just a boy...these Imperial walls used to make me feel so safe."

"And now they will hold you prisoner?" Naruto inquired, not understanding the sadness in his tone.

The nord laughed a bitter, harsh laugh. "Prisoner? Son, if that guard is right that you are in the dark brotherhood, and if I am right that sitting there next to your friend is the leader of our rebellion, we would be lucky to survive long enough to see chains."

Naruto eyed the man in finery, memorizing his face. He knew of no rebellion in his homeland, yet everything about this man and the way he was being handled suggested he was running an established uprising. It nudged at the back of his mind that something was wrong.

"So, where are you boys from?"

Naruto shared a glance with the stranger beside him. He spoke first. "I am from Skyrim. Why?"

"Because," he said, any warmth gone from his demeanor. "A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."

The dark haired thief began to pray loudly to the Nine.

"I told you to shut up back there!"

The crowd of captives fell silent. Jostled steadily by the squeaking cart, they avoided eye contact. Unconsciously Naruto allowed his body to shift closer to his Imperial companion, who looked over at him with surprise. When he noticed, Naruto merely shrugged lightly.

They pulled up to a gate and were let in by more soldiers, diligently looking down on the prisoners with disdain from their posts. One by one they were loaded out of the cart, Naruto and his stranger last. As they made move to step forward, a hard gloved hand was placed against Naruto's chest.

"Stay back. You filth go last."

Naruto glared, but the apprehension in his gut was far more worrying than the insult of this stranger.

Still, a man had pride.

"Unless we can think of something," His companion breathed, barely moving his lips while an authoritative looking Dark Elf took down the names of prisoners. "We will not being seeing tomorrow's sunrise."

"Can we run?"

"Do you think we'll get farther than he will?" Sasuke nodded slightly towards the Khajiit, nervously stepping forward.

"What do you mean-"

The Khajiit bolted.

"STOP HIM!" The commander shouted, and the Khajiit was shot dead in less than four paces.

Naruto turned his gaze from the corpse. "Ah. No. I don't suppose there is much hope."

The Dark Elf suddenly had her attention on them. "Who are they?" She barked.

The guards that had guided them exchanged a quick look before one spoke up. "These men are charged with the murder of five citizens, and association with black magic."

"To the chopping block." The Elf ordered without hesitation.

"Yes, commander."

Roughly they shoved the prisoners towards the executioner's blade. The remaining thief was brought forward first, pushed to his knees.

All who were present knew what was going to happen next. It was an unavoidable truth, but inevitability did not stop the tension from building thickly and stifling the air.

Naruto's heart thumped painfully in his chest as he fought down panic, but he could not figure his way out of the city.

A sound in the distance rang in his ear, like a mighty roar from miles away. No one else seemed to react to the sound, and Naruto thought he was the only one to hear it, til a soldier standing near him asked in a whisper, "What was that?"

"A bear?"

"QUIET," Shouted the Dark Elf, looking put out. "Continue."

Naruto's head was filled with the image of how large a bear it would take to make that sound.

The executioner waited at the chopping block while an old priest came to bless the condemned. She said the prayers sadly, slowly.

"Do you have any last words?" She concluded.

The thief said something Naruto couldn't hear. The priest touched his shoulder before stepping back and far away from the blade. Naruto saw her clutch her robes tighter and turn her head away.

The executioner stepped forward, the axe resting against his broad shoulder. He shrugged it down and readied his stance, eyes not on the man before him, but on the Dark Elf. She gave him a curt nod, and with a single swift and powerful motion, brought the blade down upon the man who had dignity not to scream. A thud of steel against wood was the only sound, the jerking body went still.

The form beside him was pushed forward. "You next," Growled their guard.

Naruto watched, helpless as his companion was led to the block before the other body had been dragged away. The pale man threw a look over his shoulder to Naruto, his face a grimace not of desperation, but regret.

The same ritual was repeated, tensions even higher as the soldiers grew impatient. It seemed the entire town of Helgen was surrounding them.

Naruto saw his breath making quick puffs of fog in the cold air. He had to do something.

The roar sounded again, louder. There was a titter of nervous whispers.

"Any final words?" The priest asked him.

His only ally grunted. "This is not a death of honor."

She nodded, stepping away once more.

Naruto's heart raced. Time was running out. He scanned the crowd for something, anything-

"FIRE!" Naruto screamed, pointing at a hovel with smoke trickling out of the roof. Everyone looked away from the scene and Naruto sprinted forward, crashing his body into the executioner, who stumbled and fell at the unexpected blow. Naruto ran forward, anticipating the pain of several dozen arrows and urged the other man off the chopping block as screams rang all around them. Before he knew what was happening, two strong arms lifted him off his feet and slammed him into the ground several meters away. The man he had just saved came crashing down on top of him.

Naruto groaned, eyes shut against the pain of his landing. "Dammit, what was that for?"

"RUN!" His companion shouted without a trace of composure, scrambling off of him. Naruto was yanked to his feet and pushed again, this time behind a shack where he stayed rooted with shock at the panicked outburst from the stoic man.

This time when he heard the roar, it was deafening. Naruto covered his ears as a great gust of wind battered the shack, bending it. The wind burned with an intense heat, Naruto crumpled down against the bowing building. The tremendous sound was tearing his mind apart.

When it finally ceased Naruto opened his watering eyes to a set of monstrous wings overtaking the sky and blocking out the sun. He watched in awe as a massive head swung around, its beady black eyes surveying the carnage it had wrought. Through the halo of smoke, it turned on them.

"DRAGON!" Naruto shouted, grabbing the man beside him and sprinting for all his worth at the alleyway.

Heat blasted behind them, propelling them forward. A tail whipped at them, rocking the earth. They tumbled just out of reach.

Coughing through the haze of smoke, Naruto searched for an escape. He seized the wrist of the other man and made to run, but he jerked the arm back.

"What!" Naruto shouted.

"Where are you going?" He coughed.

"Literally anywhere but here!" Naruto called over the screams and splintering wood.

"No! How do I know I can-" He was interrupted by another angry roar. "TRUST YOU?"

"We're obviously stuck together until we figure this out, Jackass! Now come on!" Naruto could feel his face flushed with anger and fear.

The pale man licked his lips, frowning in obvious hesitation. Twenty feet down the rockwall beside them a huge clawed paw crunched the stones into rubble. He winced and shut his eyes against the dust. "I don't even know your name!" He heard the other man shout over the chaos.

"It's not like I know yours either!" Naruto shouted back. Like it mattered! This guy was unreal!

The dark haired man eyed him with rapid suspicion, and Naruto guess he was close to losing his cool. Clearly he was not the trusting type. But then, who in the Dark Brotherhood would be?

Knowing time was short Naruto conceded. "My name is Naruto!"

The other man made a face that showed exactly how much he disliked this situation. "Sasuke."

Naruto's breath caught in the suddenly stifling heat. "Great, can we go now!?"

The man, Sasuke, glared but grabbed Naruto's wrist and jerked him out into the chaos.

They ran together across the smouldering debris, Sasuke pulling them towards a tall tower. Naruto tried tugging his arm back but the other man held tight. "We'll be crushed if we go in there!"

Sasuke spared him an explanation but kept pushing forward. "There should be a dungeon below ground, and there may be passages that lead out of the town gates!"

They dodged chunks of burning rubble and screaming citizens in their mad dash. The dragon swooped overhead, the ferocious beating of its wings was almost enough to knock them to the ground. It roared viciously in the chaos, and storm clouds sprouted out of nothingness above their heads. Rain began to fall in fat droplets, soaking them instantly. With the second roar came lightning, striking homes that hadn't already been demolished by the whipping tail and slashing claws.

Together they burst through the thick doors and landed on the hard stone ground as they clattered shut behind them, sealing out the sound of screams and wreckage, leaving them with nothing but their harried breaths echoing in the silence of the empty chamber.

Adrenaline thundered through his system as Naruto lay on his back, fist curling around his empty weapons pouch. The way the leather crumpled between his fingers did nothing to ease his anxiety.

"...so that was a dragon." Sasuke said after a while.

"Yeah..."

"I didn't know there were dragons in Skyrim..."

"There aren't." Naruto replied grimly as he finally picked himself up. "Let's get our bearings. Did you have a plan?"

The other man stood, regarding him with suspicion. "If I did, who said it would involve you."

Patience thin, Naruto glared at him. "There is a dragon out there. A fucking fire breathing, skull crushing, skin melting dragon. Are you telling me you want to be on your own right now?"

"Are you expecting me to trust a Dark Brotherhood member?"

Naruto never got the chance to respond as two guards came bursting into the room from a small door off to the right of where they stood arguing.

Recognizing the Imperial armor from before, Naruto wasted no time. He dodged the sword that was thrust towards his middle and kicked it out of his hands. The soldier drew out a dagger and lunged, knocking them both to the ground. They wrestled till Naruto got the advantage and pushed the knife into the exposed throat. He looked up to see Sasuke panting, the other soldier lying beside him.

He jumped to his feet and rubbed his bound wrists awkwardly against the dagger till he was free. He did the same for Sasuke.

"What do you use?" He asked the pale man.

"Bow and arrow. Long sword."

"Here," Naruto tossed the Imperial sword handle first to Sasuke, who caught it easily.

Sasuke grunted and kicked a small axe his way.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked when Naruto began removing the guard's clothing.

"Armor is armor. Hurry up."

Sasuke grunted again and did the same, quickly dawning the dark red uniform and boots.

"Alright, we'll head through here. We should find a way out, right?" Naruto questioned, fixing his helmet.

"Yes. If not, we can find provisions and wait out the attack. Though, I really don't know why you expect me to trust you."

Naruto let out a frustrated breath. "This isn't exactly a normal situation. We're brothers in the guild, you've already saved my life and I've saved yours."

"I didn't save your life, I completed my mission!" Sasuke bit.

"Then I saved your life and now you owe me! Do you want me to hire you? What do you expect?"

Sasuke remained quiet, till a rumble above them seemed to make up his mind. "Let's just get out of here."

The ceiling continued to shake, dispelling dust and debris. Naruto pried the steel door loose.

Naruto nodded and started at a jogging pace out the door. "Stay by my side." He commanded.

The dark haired man picked up the pace. "Are you afraid I'll stab you in the back."

"No." Naruto answered flatly.

"Perhaps you should be."

Naruto gave him a hard look. "If you tried to betray me I'd kill you before you could point that sword."

Sasuke smirked.

Fucking sadist.

Naruto off all his worries at the moment, Sasuke's betrayal was the least on his mind. Although, he found it difficult to place why.

The rest of the dungeon was empty, and they were quickly able to find their escape. Just before they were able to exit, an idea struck Naruto and he insisted they double back.

"What is back here that we need, Naruto? We have armor and weapons already, we need to leave!"

"Hold on," He demanded as he began rummaging through the dungeon chests. Finally, he found what he was looking for. "Ah ha!"

Sasuke frowned at the blue armor Naruto was so proudly holding. "We already have armor, idiot. And better armor, by the look of it."

"Yeah, well, I don't know if you've noticed but there's kind of a war going on right now."

Sasuke's glare intensified. "I was a little more concerned about the dragon than whatever rebellion is happening! How is that going to help us!"

"Because jackass," Naruto replied haughtily as he shimmied out of the Imperial armor and into the Stormcloak uniform. "If we get caught by the Imperials, you tell them I'm your prisoner. If we get caught by the Stormcloaks, you are my prisoner."

Sasuke scoffed, but took the armor anyway. It was better armor.

"Then what happens when we are separated?" Sasuke asked as they climbed out of the tunnel.

"There's a few options..we could ditch them before we even get to the camp, or I could spring you free when...why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing, just realizing how an idiot like you could have made it into the Dark Brotherhood."

Naruto glared at him. "Asshole."

"Crybaby."

"I'm the crybaby? You can't stop whining about -mmmff!"

Naruto was cut off by Sasuke's hand clamping down on his lips and hips colliding with his, knocking them both onto the ground.

"Shh!" Sasuke hissed.

Naruto fought the urge to throw the other man off of him, but was glad he didn't the second he heard that same distant bellow. The dragon, apparently finished destroying Helegen, was circling the skies not far from where they lay. It continued circling, letting out more monstrous cries before flying off to the south.

Naruto had been so focused on the beast that it wasn't until it was long out of sight that he noticed Sasuke still lay completely covering him. His pale, handsome face was inches from Naruto's own and the warm hand was still holding his mouth. He could feel his heartbeat start to quicken, and so nudged the hand off of his face.

"What are you doing?"

Sasuke held still a moment longer, his eyes staring intensely into Naruto's. Dark eyes that seemed so much softer when they were not marred by a scowl. He was an infuriating, cold bastard, but when he wasn't speaking, Naruto had to admit he was attractive. Sasuke then pushed off of him and gracefully got to his feet.

"Nothing. We should keep moving."

Naruto stood beside him, choosing not to push any questions. "Alright. There should be a town North of here. We should make it there before sundown if we hurry."

Sasuke nodded, and they set off again.

As Naruto looked around him he couldn't help but feel as though something was off. Skyrim was his home; the icy winds and the smell of frozen earth were...different. The trees seemed taller, the road more worn, and the sounds of the forest were not those he was accustomed to.

Despite his apprehension, the roads still held true and soon they were indeed close to the town of Riverrun. Naruto stepped off the path a few paces to collect what he recognized as purple mountain flower.

"What are you doing?" It was Sasuke's turn to ask.

"This flower," He grunted as he uprooted the plant, "Should give us energy for tomorrow. You can brew it in tea."

"Are you an alchemist, then?"

"Not really, I know a bit about plants native to the region and less about poisons."

Sasuke made a sound almost like he was impressed, and Naruto was about to ask when movement farther up the path made caught their attention.

A guard in the blue armor of the Stormcloaks was running toward them.

"Stop right there!"

A lesser man would have flinched at the cutting, authoritative voice. Naruto and Sasuke halted, though Naruto pushed the other man to stand slightly behind him.

"Let me lead," He breathed.

"Why have you come here?" The guard demanded. "Why do you bring an Imperial?"

"He is my prisoner, we-"

The guard cut him off and raised his weapon, his face twisting with grave intensity. "If you want to keep your tongue boy, you had best use it not to lie to me. We do not take prisoners here! Where have you come from, and why are you here!"

Naruto rounded his shoulders, acting as though the threat had broken his facade. "We are travelers come from Helgen, where the dragon attacked. We are new to this region, and thought it safest to travel with armor."

The guard immediately lowered his weapon. "You escaped the dragon? Were there any other survivors?"

Naruto shook his head, "We do not know. You saw the dragon?"

"The dragon flew right over us, thank the gods it did not stop." The soldier looked disheartened. "Very well. You must come with me then. And you," He pointed at Sasuke, "Put this on if you are to walk through our town."

Sasuke easily caught the blue chest piece that the guard had produced and quickly swapped it for his current.

Together they followed the Nord through the gates and into the village. They passed a blacksmith, another Nord who did not pause in his work but nodded to the soldier. Several women and men tried to get close enough to ask questions but their guide did not allow time for talk, something Naruto was grateful for.

He led them to an inn, where he seemed to be keeping post, and led them inside. He marched them to the bar where a tall, busty Nord was wiping down the counter.

"What is it, Ralof?"

"Tsunade, these boys survived the dragon attack in Helgen."

The intimidating woman stopped immediately, her long pigtails that had been gently moving against her shoulders stilled.

"Thank you, Ralof. Return to your post." He left them, and Tsunade gestured that they sit.

They sat, though it was a while before she spoke again. Fixed under her steady gaze, Naruto fidgeted with his armor.

"Survivors?"

"We don't know." Sasuke answered her.

She too seemed disheartened by the news. "Casualties?"

"Many."

The blonde woman sighed. "Tell me the story from the beginning. Who are you, and what were you doing in Helgen?"

He was ready. "I am Naruto, and this is my companion Sasuke. We are travelers, we had just arrive at the village when the dragon attacked."

Tsunade regarded them carefully. "Which way did it come from?"

"It came from the North, ma'am."

Naruto thought he heard Sasuke snort, and kicked him lightly in the shin under the bar.

Her eyes narrowed. "Where did it go to?"

"Back to the North."

Tsunade took another breath, leaning back away from the counter. "Very well...thank you for your information, it is valuable to the realm. I have more to ask, but you should rest for now. And count yourselves lucky." She stepped around the bar, placing a key before them. "I have one room left, over there. You can take it for the night, no charge."

"Thank you, Tsunade." Naruto inclined his head.

"Thank you." Sasuke said quietly.

She waved a hand. "Rest tonight. We will speak again tomorrow."

Naruto nodded. Together, they departed for their room, where Sasuke dropped his facade of the exhausted traveler and let his irritation loose.

"What's your problem?"

"Naruto, why did you save me from the executioner."

Naruto rubbed his tired eyes. "I don't know, Sasuke."

"Bullshit!" He rounded on him. "Why did you save me? What do you know?"

"Hey," Naruto shoved him back a pace, "Get out of my face!"

But Sasuke just stepped right back into his bubble. "I'll get out of your face when you tell me what's going on!"

"You say that like I know any more than you do!" Naruto snarled, shoving him again.

"Why did you save me? What purpose did that serve!" He was shouting.

Naruto was breathing hard, he rarely got this worked up but he couldn't help it. After everything he'd gone through today, a fight was just what he wanted.

He laughed harshly, "Like I need a reason to do the right thing!?"

"Don't act noble," Sasuke spat, "You're just as dirty as me, murderer."

Naruto grabbed him by the front of his shirt and shouted in his face. "I don't know how they do things in the Imperial City, but here in Skyrim the black sacrament his hardly performed against a SAINT!"

Before any further moves could be made, there was a harsh knock and the door swung open, revealing their hostess. She towered in the doorway, presence ominous. The boys stood frozen, paused in their fight.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," She said in a tone that clearly said otherwise, "I'll need to speak with you."

Sasuke came to his senses first, shoving Naruto off of him. "You can't just barge in here-"

Tsunade shut the door behind her firmly and marched up to him. Her courteous demeanor from before was gone. "This is my tavern, I'll do what I want. I will have no fightin' in my quarters, and if I were you, I wouldn't be attractin' any more attention than you've already got. You haven't been here an hour!"

Naruto could see that Sasuke wanted to say more, but bit his tongue. Wise, in his opinion, because he had a feeling she wasn't talking about the dragon sighting...

The blonde woman snapped her fingers at the small table. "Sit." She commanded.

Naruto sat, feeling anxious. He had no idea what her intentions were, but if she had already placed them as outsiders there was a chance she was a liability.

She came to stand in front of them both, much like a teacher giving a reprimand.

"Boys, I am not stupid. I know you aren't just travelers, and I know what they were doing at Helgen today."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, trying to read his charge, but his face remained impassive.

"We were-"

Tsunade held up a hand. "Shut it. I know that neither of you are Stormcloaks. But the Imperial army has been running things like a dictator so I will say I don't care why they were trying to kill you. I need you to do something for me."

Naruto's eyebrows knitted together. What could she need outsiders to do that the town wouldn't do for her. "What is it?"

"I want you to go to Whiterun and tell the Jarl what you saw today. Make up whatever you want about why you were there, just tell him he will need to prepare and send provisions to us."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you tell him yourself."

"I must stay here, where I am needed. Protecting this town from riff-raff like you two." She glared right back at him, "If you refuse me I am sure the Imperials would welcome you back with open arms."

"How will we get to Whiterun?" Naruto interjected before Sasuke could continue arguing.

Tsunade produced a pouch, and tossed it at the table where it landed with the clank of gold coins. "Take this to the Riverwood Trader, buy a map. I would get some weapons too." When they both looked at her in mild confusion she smirked. "Ice wolves."

She stood there a moment longer, looking at them like she was having a difficult time making up her mind. Finally, she produced a small scroll and laid it beside the bag of coin. "When you get to Whiterun, go to War Maiden's. Show her that, and trade your weapons in for better ones. Do this for me, and I won't sound the alarm on you two." She put her hands on her hips. "Do you agree?"

Naruto turned to see Sasuke already looking at him, begrudging question in his eyes. Naruto nodded once. "Yes, Tsunade."

Her posture relaxed some, and she smiled. "Good. I don't wanna hear another peep from this room tonight, or the deal is off, okay?"

This time, Sasuke nodded.

As her hand reached for the doorknob to leave them in peace, Naruto spoke up. "Tsunade?"

She turned.

"Share some of it with us tonight and when I go to Whiterun, I won't tell the Yarl what's happening in your basement."

To his surprise, Tsunade's smile didn't falter, but grew. "Brat. Get it yourself."

When she left the room, Sasuke was looking at him with surprise.

"What?" Naruto feigned ignorance, pleased to be showing up the arrogant bastard again.

Sasuke frowned. "You know what."

Naruto shrugged but couldn't keep the smirk from his face.

His frown turned to a glare, but Naruto was already becoming used to those. Finally, Sasuke let out a frustrated breath. "What is she making in the basement?"

Naruto leaned back in his chair, feeling confident. "She's making illegal mead down there, can't you smell it?"

He narrowed his eyes. "How do you know it's illegal?"

"Its obvious she doesn't want anyone down there, the way her barkeep was so 'casually' blocking the basement." Naruto said with a grin.

Sasuke sighed, frustrated that he even asked.

"Well, you heard her, I'm gonna go grab us some mead." Naruto rose to leave but stopped at the sound of Sasuke's voice.

"Don't you think this is strange?"

Naruto scratched his cheek. "What do you mean? The dragon, or the crazy granny out there?"

"Both. All of this. Where are we?"

Naruto shrugged, feeling his chest tighten once again. "I don't know, Sasuke. We're in Skyrim, but…" He shook his head. He didn't want to let Sasuke know just how much different this world was than his own.

He expected Sasuke to press his questions again, but to his surprise, he did not. Sasuke merely looked at him with a strange expression.

"How are you so calm?" He finally asked.

Pleased Sasuke wasn't picking up on his inner anxiety, he reached again for the doorknob. "Mead helps."

He closed the door on Sasuke and passed behind Tsunade's bar, exchanging small smiles. He stepped down into the basement and, just as he suspected, a home brewing operation. He grabbed two bottles and returned to his room, where Sasuke was still sitting.

Naruto handed him a bottle and opened up his own, savoring the subtle taste of maple.

"I don't know why the fuck you thought I knew more than you about what's happening." Naruto said calmly. He wasn't as tense as he had been all day; their shouting match seemed to get out some of his nervous energy out.

"Hn."

In silence, they sipped the mead.

"I think we may have a problem," Sasuke stated after the moment had stretched on.

Naruto felt his heart rate increase. Were they being followed? He cast a glance out the window and tried to keep his voice calm. "What's that?"

Sasuke looked at him like it was obvious. "There's only one bed."

Naruto closed his eyes to resist the urge to strangle him. "How is that a problem?"

"Hn. I am not sleeping with you."

"Alright, prude. Enjoy the floor."

Sasuke scowled. "Fine."

"Hey, I was kidding. You don't want to sleep down there." Naruto scrunched up his nose. This guy couldn't be serious. "Look, you think it was cold today, it gets freezing at night."

Sasuke snorted, which made Naruto frown again.

"I'm being serious."

But Sasuke just downed the rest of his beer, yanked down the spare blanket and lay at the wall opposite the bed.

It was Naruto's turn to snort at the other man's pointless defiance. He finished his drink, blew out the last candle and climbed into the bed, alone.


A/N: Hey guess who edited.