My cat couldn't jump straight into my lap, so she maneuvered her way in from behind. I feel loved ^_^
For some reason, this keyboard has decided not to acknowledge most of the keys that I press. Hmm... This chapter should be fine though. But it has been a long time since I've had a beta, so, yeah.
Also, I have no idea how long this story will be...
ummm, chapter six?
After that, Uchiha Sasuke had become a regular visitor. He'd arrive, generally before Naruto. He'd make himself comfortable, usually to do homework as Naruto worked. He'd sit there, in that same chair next to the blond, mostly ignoring his presence. Then, after an hour or two, he'd check his phone, gather his things, and leave.
In those times, there wasn't much conversation.
But even so, Naruto's mind was a muddled mess, and every day the tangled mess grew. He could understand Uchiha's reasoning, that much he got. It was his own reactions to Uchiha's presence that made him wonder.
The more time he spent with Uchiha, the more Uchiha filled his thoughts. Whether they were sitting beside each other or whether they were each in their different schools, Uchiha was on his mind. Naruto would find himself sitting in class, chin resting on his palm, wondering about Uchiha. Wondering what he was doing, what he looked like sitting in class, what the girls around him looked like, how close they managed to get to him.
He was a little glad, though he wasn't quite sure he was ready to admit to it, that Uchiha spent his afternoons with Naruto, even if not a word was said. It was still beside Naruto that he sat. Still with Naruto that he chose to be near, for hours, in his free time.
That made Naruto incredibly happy. He was gradually starting to dread the moment Uchiha would check his phone, and announce he had to leave. Naruto didn't want him to leave.
Naruto sighed, sliding further down his seat.
Seriously, what was wrong with him?
"It's a crush? Isn't it?" Haku nii-san had murmured.
"Eh?" Naruto blinked big blue eyes at the older boy.
Haku smiled his sweet smile in response.
Naruto had decided, really without properly thinking about it, to tell Haku nii-san that Uchiha Sasuke continued to fill his thoughts. It hadn't taken any thought on Naruto's part, because it had come up so naturally. Naruto had always had an easy time confiding in Haku nii-san, because Haku always asked just the right questions in just the right subtle way, that Naruto would find himself spilling things he wasn't even aware of until he said them. And he always listened carefully and offered insightful, helpful advice in return.
Really, out of everyone Naruto knew, Haku nii-san was really the only one Naruto could really confide in.
"A… crush?" Naruto turned the strange words over in his head again. The words weren't wholly unfamiliar, but it was Uchiha Sasuke Haku nii-san was saying those words were directed at. And that was the part that didn't quite make sense.
"But, I like Haruno Sakura. Uchiha's a dude." Naruto caught himself. "I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't like dudes."
Haku didn't take it the wrong way, his smile just grew slightly. "Perhaps, you've just never met a guy that suited your tastes. And as for Haruno-san, are you sure you still like her? Are you really, really sure, you ever did?"
"Ah…" Naruto was stumped again. These all seemed like topics that were way over the dense blond's head. Haku nii-san had a habit of doing that, too. Bringing up subjects and topics that couldn't quite properly manifest in the blond's brain. Things that didn't quite gel in his mind.
"There's really nothing wrong with it," Haku continued gently, leaning forward a bit, his dark eyes turning back to the monitors. Naruto's shift was over, and Haku's had started. It was when they were switching off the discussion had begun, and Naruto found himself sitting in the chair beside Haku nii-san Uchiha usually occupied. "Liking someone of your own gender. Love doesn't follow boundaries like that."
"L-love," Naruto repeated, flushing uncontrollably.
"Yes, love." His dark eyes seemed to not be seeing the monitors, and Naruto thought again about the tall, muscular man he had caught sight of with Haku. Was that what love looked like then? The way Haku nii-san looked at the burly, scary looking man? The way Haku nii-san looked right now, thinking of that man?
Naruto wondered. He thought over Haku's questions. Naruto's feelings for Uchiha, if they could be called that, the feelings he always thought he had for Haruno Sakura, the feelings he had known he had never had for any male.
But then, maybe Uchiha was just special?
That seemed to fit, once Naruto considered it. Uchiha was special; he defined special.
Tall and slim and at least slightly fit, from what Naruto could tell. Handsome face, smooth complexion, beautiful endlessly dark eyes, shiny dark hair, thin lips almost always turned downward. It was completely undeniable he was handsome, hot, superbly delicious.
But that wasn't all. Uchiha was also smart and rich, both attested to by his status as an Oto Academy student. Naruto had caught sight of his homework, too, levels above Naruto's own, though they seemed to be the same year in their respective schools. Naruto might not have been the brightest around, but he wasn't a complete failure, especially once he had started working here. But Uchiha seemed to be so high above Naruto's head would spin just looking at the questions Uchiha answered quickly and efficiently, filling out with an even pace in elegant, neatly spaced kanji.
Really, if Naruto had to say, the only area in which Uchiha lacked was his attitude. He couldn't say what had made Uchiha into such a cold bastard, but he supposed someone perfect couldn't very well exist, so Uchiha had to have a fault somewhere. It just turned out to be that he was the definition of 'asshole'.
But even then, Naruto found himself drawn to Uchiha. So he wondered, was it really a crush? Well, Naruto supposed, someone incredible like Uchiha would be someone even another guy would be attracted to.
He remembered a thought he had previously had, a picture of a slim, pretty male in the Oto Academy uniform tugging at Uchiha's sleeve, face flushed as he tried to entice Uchiha into the love hotel with him. Uchiha probably did have male admirers, and somehow, it seemed Naruto had become one of them.
"There's really nothing wrong with it," Haku nii-san said again, voice still gentle. "It happens. Probably more than you think. I hear it's quite common in all-male schools."
Naruto nodded. That would make some sense, but neither Naruto nor Uchiha attended all male schools.
"And if Ucihiha-kun is really so attractive as you say, Naruto-kun, then I wouldn't be surprised if he had quite a few male admirers." Haku had seemingly read Naruto's thoughts, and he jumped, turning startled blue eyes at Haku, whose smile only grew larger. "I'll bet if you asked him, he'd confirm it."
Naruto nodded. Would Uchiha confirm it? Even if it was true, would he admit it? Would he even be aware, or would his male admirers remain silent about it?
And Naruto wondered, what would Uchiha think about having male admirers? He didn't seem to care for his female admirers, but that didn't mean he'd like the male ones any better.
Naruto sighed, feeling really drained all of a sudden.
Haku reached over and patted his head. "It's nothing to worry too much about. Crushes come and go. No matter how strong and true the feelings may be in the moment, they eventually fade away. It's the real feelings that linger."
Naruto nodded. This was all too much, too deep to contemplate so late at night.
Haku's warm smile returned. Again he seemed to read Naruto's thoughts, and he spoke, "It's late. Naruto-kun has school tomorrow. You should head to bed, no?"
Naruto grinned. "You really are a mind-reader, Haku-nii." He laughed, Haku's light laugh joining in. "Right! I'm going to bed then." Naruto stood, pushing the chair in under the desk, and waved as he made his way into the back bedroom.
"Sweet dreams, Naruto-kun," Haku smiled, and Naruto flushed.
It would be a little while longer before he managed to fall asleep, his thoughts still filled with Uchiha Sasuke.