Three Words

Chapter 4: Childish Fears

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto or their back stories!

So this is one more chapter to a story I fear is coming to an end too quickly. This due to an incoming flow of new story ideas and an increasing work load taking it's toll. So although I am pouring my heart into this story, in hopes that someone will enjoy it, the end is coming much too soon. So... here it is- the second to last chapter?

It only took three words from Sasuke to make everything feel wrong. His thoughts came to a grinding halt. Naruto had no clue what had happened and no idea what he had done wrong. What he did know was that something strange and fascinating had happened in there! Something just a little different and at the same time all too familiar. He just wanted to understand what was happening to himself. What was happening to his friend? Naruto frowned, creasing his forehead and pushing his lip out, the telltale signs of a pout diffusing across his face.

"Don't, Naruto." Sasuke cringed again. "Just don't."

Naruto inhaled deeply. "The laundry room- I should be the one to fix that."

"Just leave it. Just leave."

Shame from the unconcealed rejection burned the back of his throat and stung his eyes. To be honest, Naruto didn't fully understand why he was having such a strong reaction internally to Sasuke's words. How many times had Sasuke rejected him in the past? You would think he'd be used to it by now. His thoughts ran in circles until another all too horrible thought seized his mind. It had been raining for hours, the thunderstorm was sure to be in full swing. "Sasuke," He said the name breathy, quietly, and Sasuke shook. In anger? Fear? Naruto couldn't tell. "Is there any way I could stay here tonight? My clothes are soaked and it's storming outside. I'll get really sick if I walk home in this. Please?"

Sasuke said nothing.

"Please?" Naruto repeated. Naruto knew Sasuke was his friend; surely he wasn't heartless enough to make him walk home in a storm.

"Guest room. Second door to the right at the top of the stairs. Stay There. Don't touch anything."

His voice hit Naruto's ears harshly, cold and distant, it gave Naruto the sense that he had lost a friend tonight rather than gained one. "Do I have to sleep in these wet clothes?" He grumbled.

"Yes." The sharp answer rebounded from the walls, echoes making it sound harsher than probably intended. But with a shake of the head Sasuke promptly revised, "There should be clothes in the dresser in the guest room." That was the last thing spoken before the inky haired boy stalked out of the room. Naruto heard his footsteps pad up the stairs and disappear. He could honestly say this might be the most awkward situation he'd ever found himself in.

A clash of thunder shook the walls of the house. Naruto leaped about three feet into the air and gave a loud yelp of terror. The long, lonely, terrifying night of a thunderstorm had begun. Sprinting up the stairs and into his designated room, he bounded for the dresser. Quickly, quickly, he chastised himself. He needed to get to the bed and under the covers before the next peal of thunder. Why did the sky punish him this way? Naruto fidgeted with the ancient wooden dresser that looked more like a relic than a functional piece of furniture. Hurry, hurry he kept thinking, prancing from one foot to the other. When the drawer finally unveiled its contents, he groaned internally- that would have opened up much more swiftly if his body would just refrain from shaking.

His mouth dropped in horror. What in the world? There were only boxers in here, he thought, rummaging desperately. What is with this man and boxers? When his fingernails scraped wood Naruto had to admit that the bottom had been reached and he succumbed to defeat picking up a pair. He pulled out blue plaid boxers and hastily changed into them. Without turning the lights off, he dashed to the bed and covered up just in time for the next earth shaking clap of thunder that reverberated through the house. Shaking, a tear slid down his face. He cried because thunder terrified him. He cried because he hated considering himself weak, even in regards to childish fears. He cried because he hated being alone and had gotten his hopes up that this time maybe he wouldn't be.

That hope wilted in his chest. Why had he thought that Sasuke would make this storm any more bearable? Simply because he felt comfortable in Sasuke's presence? Why would he think that would be enough to make a difference? And what was Sasuke's problem, why was he such a bastard? A devilish plan sprang into concoction. With this he settled his mind. He didn't want to be alone this storm. Earthworming himself into the comforter, he took care to assure that all of his body was hidden. It wouldn't even have been possible to see his tiny tan face if you didn't know where to look. Naruto stumbled out of the room, his haste making him noisy. Hobbling down the narrow hallway he crossed the threshold of the stairs and continued, shuffling right up to the door Sasuke had disappeared behind. Or at least the door he was pretty sure Sasuke had vanished to. Should he knock? A good two minutes passed, with nothing but deep thought on Naruto's part until he decided on a course of action. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. If he asked for entrance, Sasuke would undoubtedly say no and the conversation would be short and incredibly awkward. If he just went in he wouldn't have anything awkward to answer to until morning. And with another loud bang from outside the decision set itself in stone and Naruto opened the door and shambled inside, slamming it shut. He hustled over to the king sized bed with the black vine comforter, dropped his own covers, and slid in. For all his efforts at silence his weight still displaced air in the mattress and his leg tapped Sasuke's.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke asked accusingly, eyes squinted. No trace of grogginess cloaked his words, indicating that he had not been asleep.

Damn. Here goes the awkward. Naruto decided the best route was to be quick, blunt, and to the point. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. "Please let me stay? I'm afraid of thunder. I can't be alone like this."

"Get out."

"Please?" Sasuke looked unyielding. "Please, Sasuke? Please?"

With a sigh, he rolled over dramatically. "That's your side, this is my side. Don't cross the line."

Naruto's heart leaped. Finally he wouldn't be sitting alone crying fearfully on a stormy night. He dived under the blankets. The bed shook with another thunder crash. He shivered and scooted closer to the "line" Sasuke had invisibly drawn. And then he scooted over it. Not far over it, but over it. The thunder crashes seemed to be getting farther apart. Did that mean the storm was passing? But, now that he wasn't alone Naruto really didn't care if the storm passed or not. Naruto decided to press his luck by pushing himself farther over the line. And farther. Until he was close enough to touch Sasuke. Close enough to grasp Sasuke's arm or the fabric of his boxers. Close enough to pull the cranky boy to his body and keep Sasuke safe from the thunder while Sasuke kept him safe.

Sasuke grunted. "I can feel you getting closer, loser. Back away." Sasuke's angry voice did absolutely nothing to deter Naruto. If anything it made him to get closer to Sasuke in some crazed attempt to make Sasuke understand.

"But Sasuke, the thunder. You're my birthday buddy!" he whined. "You're supposed to keep me company."

"I feel like it's pointless to mention that it's not your birthday. So I'll just stick to a more valid argument and say that I'm not your birthday- whatever."

Naruto grumbled, "What about storm-buddies? Is that something we can be?"

Sasuke didn't respond. Naruto momentarily questioned whether Sasuke had fallen asleep but came to the conclusion that he was most likely just ignoring him. It was fairly evident by Sasuke's uneven breathing that he was not asleep. But that didn't bother Naruto. He, too, rolled over to face the opposite wall and closed his eyes with a smile. A few more thunder clashes and shivers later he drifted into sleep, with his friend beside him and sweet dreams filling his flaxen head.

His eyes, gummy and sleepy, cracked open with a yawn and he began to stretch when he noticed a pale face not two inches away from his own. Black locks fell down in front of Sasuke's face. He slept rigid straight on his side with just one hand stretched out- close enough to touch. And his lips. His thin lips, so pink against his pale white skin were turned up into an unveiled, innocent sort of smile; the kind of unguarded emotion Naruto didn't think Sasuke was capable of displaying. He was close enough to kiss those lips. But Naruto knew that although many of his ideas were bad, that was the worst one yet. But, the urge would not leave. And Sasuke, asleep with his lips slightly parted, would never really have to know, right? Yeah. That sounded right.

Naruto bridged the tiny gap between their bodies and gently, soft so as not to wake him, pressed his lips to Sasuke's. Barely any pressure at all, he thought. He would definitely get away with this one.

I hope this is going well and that I am pleasing people!

Reviews, suggestions, and support?

The end is nigh! :)