Thank you all for your support!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We All Wear Masks
Chapter 4: Ramen and Ravens
Naruto heard the constant knocking on his apartment door, but he refused to get out of bed. He'd barely been able to sleep yet again, and his insomnia only seemed to be getting worse now that he was out of the hospital.
Eventually, the tapping stopped and he sighed in relief, whoever it was had finally taken the hint and left. He saw a shadow move in the light from his living room window and froze in fear. The figure easily picked the lock and hoped inside, looking around for Naruto.
The blonde calmed some when he recognized the intruder, "what the hell Sasuke" he growled, sitting up in bed. "If I didn't answer the door that means I didn't want to see anyone."
The Uchiha glided over to the bedroom, his body unintentionally blocking the doorway. Naruto felt his heart rate skyrocket from anxiety, his breathing becoming more intense when he felt that his exit was taken from him.
Sasuke saw the change and immediately took a step back and over so that the boy didn't feel trapped. He waited until he sensed the boys panic subside, then spoke "you lied to me yesterday dobe. Now I have to ask you the same questions again."
Naruto climbed out of bed and went to the living room, still wearing the same clothes he had the day before. "I didn't lie you ass, you just didn't ask. Like I said before, I'm not interested in a formal report so there isn't any reason for you to be here."
"That's too bad, I'm under orders to find whoever attacked you so just let me do my job" he replied.
The blonde's stomach growled before he had a chance to give a retort. He hadn't remembered eating since he had left the hospital, and it was becoming more apparent.
Sasuke got an idea from his ex-friends obvious hunger. "If I take you out for ramen will you at least try to talk to me?" he offered. "It's still your favorite, isn't it?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes, his body was definitely needing food, but his mind couldn't care less if he ate. This was especially true in the case of getting treated by the Uchiha. The teen had practically disowned the blonde himself when they were kids and had been a total jerk every time they saw each other since.
Still, the thought of spending time with his crush was appealing, even if his insides twisted in shame. Sasuke was clearly aware that he had been raped now and didn't look at him the way he thought he would. There was no blame, disgust or pity in his charcoal eyes, just the familiar loneliness and desire to prove himself. He nodded carefully, deciding he'd give the Raven a chance.
Naruto and Sasuke sat beside each another as Teuchi made them their food. Neither had spoken since they left the apartment, mostly because they didn't know what to say. The Uchiha wasn't going to have the blonde talk about being assaulted out in public, and the blonde was too unsure of himself to make conversation.
The Raven noticed how Naruto had decided to sit in the farthest seat, the one closest to the wall where he could turn enough to not have his back exposed to the crowd. He felt his chest tighten some at the sight. This was not the outgoing and determined boy that he had remembered, no, this was someone completely different.
It bothered him that one incident had changed the teen so much, but he knew had their places been reversed, he probably would have acted no differently. He licked his lips slightly, "so how have you been?" he asked.
Sasuke mentally scolded himself, "Lame… that was so bad. How do you think he's been?"
Naruto must have seen the micro expression of embarrassment on his face because he started to chuckle and relaxed slightly. "I've been fine teme, what about you?"
The light sound gave Sasuke butterflies, it had been years since he had heard him laugh like that, even if it was small. "Fine" he responded, focusing intently on the bowl the old man had set down in front of him.
The blonde returned his attention to his food as well, even if it had been temporary, his shame had lessened and his hunger had returned. He picked up his chopsticks and started to eat the delicious food, already feeling better now that he'd gotten something in his stomach.
The two arrived back at his apartment, full from eating so much. Eventually, their quiet lunch had turned into a competition to see who could finish more bowls. To the Uchiha's chagrin, the blonde had won.
"Thanks for the food Sasuke" Naruto spoke, his voice soft.
"You're going to get fat if you keep eating like that and don't train" he replied, nodding his head to the unpacked boxes.
"Yeah, ha ha" Naruto laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. He knew what was coming, but couldn't think of anything to say to delay it.
"So, who did it?" the Uchiha asked, his piercing eyes not wavering when the blonde winced.
Naruto started to fidget, wishing that he had gotten to spend a little more time with Sasuke his friend rather than Sasuke his caseworker. "I uh, I don't actually know. I didn't recognize him."
The Raven glared and walked closer to him, knowing it would make the blonde uncomfortable. But the teen was still lying to him, and quite poorly. He wouldn't be made a fool of in front of his brother again.
Naruto backed away with each step forward the Uchiha took, his eyes darting to the door and window before looking back at the advancing teen. He desperately tried to tell himself that this was Sasuke, not Orochimaru and that he wouldn't hurt him. But his heart wouldn't listen, it beat unevenly, causing sweat to form on his temple.
When his back hit the far wall, the little courage he was trying to muster shattered and he tried to run. Sasuke had seen the escape coming and caught him before he could make it to either exit, holding the struggling boy in his arms.
The blonde's mouth was so dry he couldn't even scream. Eventually, his terror caused him to shut down, and his legs went limp, leaving him shaking violently in the elder's grip.
Sasuke felt a small tinge of guilt when the boy stopped fighting back; he'd expected him to make a huge scene that would lead to a sparring match. That would have raised the boy's confidence and worn him out enough to let the Uchiha in. But Naruto's mental state was clearly worse than he had anticipated.
"I'm not going to hurt you dobe, calm down," he said. When that didn't help, he started to awkwardly rub the boys back. He felt something warm and wet on his bicep and realized Naruto had started to cry.
"Please, let go of me…" the blonde whimpered, though he didn't try to move again. Sasuke did as he was asked and released his firm hold, taking a couple steps away.
Naruto crouched down and held himself tightly, thoroughly embarrassed that he'd behaved in such a pitiful way, but he couldn't still his trembling.
Every fiber of the Uchiha's being was screaming at him to try and comfort the obviously distressed teen, to pat him on the back or offer to stay. But he didn't. "I'll come back later this week to take the statement."
His chest tightened painfully as he turned and walked towards the door, his mind spinning in conflict. Seeing Naruto so destroyed shouldn't have bothered him to this extent, nothing ever had before. And yet, the Uchiha couldn't bring himself to watch the break-down any longer; he had to get out of there, he needed to get air.
Sasuke made it outside, his breath still caught in his clamped throat. If it was possible, leaving the blonde behind like that made his insides twist even tighter, causing his stomach to lurch. He heaved up his lunch into the bushes near the complex, but not even that could ease his nausea.
His blurred vision trailed up the building to Naruto's window. For the first time in his life, Sasuke didn't think he could handle the task he'd been given. He shook his head to try to clear it, deciding he would ask Itachi to put someone else on the case if he hadn't already.
The teen found himself at Itachi's bedroom door once again that night, though this time he wasn't confident he had done his duty.
"Come in Sasuke" came his brother's voice.
The young Uchiha walked through the threshold almost clumsily, still reeling from causing Naruto so much distress. "Aniki…I…" he started, the ball in his throat growing larger.
Itachi looked up from his scrolls to examine his little brother; the kid looked like hell. "What's wrong Ototo?" though the elder already knew the answer. It was obvious just how overwhelmed the boy was; it showed in his black eyes and in his tense posture.
"Please assign someone else to this mission. I don't think I am the right person to help him" Sasuke pleaded, doing his best to sound professional.
"No" came his brother's curt response.
That was not what Sasuke had thought he would say. His mouth opened slightly, trying to find the words to express how displeased he was at the decision. "Brother, I'm just making it worse. Send someone like Izumi, she's good with talking to people and-"
"I chose you for a reason Sasuke" Itachi interrupted, going back to his work.
The younger growled and marched over to his sibling's desk, slamming his hands down. "I don't care why you chose me! If you had seen the look he gave me today then you'd understa-"
'poke'
Itachi tapped his fingers on his brother's forehead like he did when Sasuke was a child, effectively silencing the boy again. "If you are this uncomfortable, imagine how Naruto feels. You two were friends once, and that's what he needs the most right now."
The younger boy had nothing to say in return. He pursed his lips tightly and threw his head to the side, pouting.
Itachi gave a soft smile and waved his hand to shoo the younger out of his room, convinced that the boy wouldn't give up yet.
Sasuke grumbled loudly but left, he hated it when Itachi did that to him.
Itachi sighed to himself after his little brother's footsteps were no longer audible. He'd expected there would be some mistakes made; Sasuke was a formidable shinobi but had grown up being heavily influenced by the cold behavior of his clan. As much as this assignment was about Naruto and his healing, the elder Uchiha hoped that it would have a positive influence on his Ototo as well.
He walked from his room and slipped on his shoes at the door. "Mother, I'm going out!" he called back.
The Uchiha jumped through the trees swiftly until he reached his destination. The training grounds were empty, but Itachi knew they wouldn't be for long. A certain silver-haired shinobi frequented this area after getting finished with missions. He'd train there for awhile until the man showed up to avoid suspicion.
Just like he had assumed, Kakashi appeared nearly an hour later, though Itachi didn't pay him much attention at first. He still hadn't been able to gauge the elder man's interest, which only served to fuel his intrigue and attraction.
"It's late for you to be out training Itachi" the bored voice drawled.
The Uchiha hid his smile, "and yet you are here too Kakashi-san."
The copy-nin waved his arms some "you don't have to be so formal, you're my boss now remember?"
Itachi nodded, fully intending on continuing to use the respectful suffix. He liked to see the man look flustered, even if it was fleeting. "Would you like to spar?" he asked, his pulse quickening ever so slightly.
Kakashi nodded and smiled, his eye turning up. He pulled the forehead protector out of the way to reveal his Sharingan while Itachi activated his own.
The two shinobi began their training together, their bodies moving in an intricate dance of shifting muscle and gliding movements. If someone were to watch, they would have thought the men shared a single mind, their graceful movements appearing to be effortless.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Never written a pairing with Kakashi and Itachi… not even sure who I'm going to make uke and seme yet. Maybe you lovely readers can tell me which works best?
Review/Follow/Favorite!