Not very often did Naruto close the door softly, usually kicking it closed behind him and it slamming back into the lock. This time he was just too exhausted to even continue walking as he entered his apartment, so he closed it with a slight push against the door and then stayed leaning there, contemplating life or something. It wasn't even that late, only about nine in the evening. But his day had been long.
First he had a class where the professor showed up late for, then he had a meeting with the group to finish their final product for another class, which they had to present later that day. Lots of hurrying while the girls argued again and then went nuts about how it didn't look appealing. As if they had time to make it look amazing! Eventually they got it done right before class started. Though professor then scolded them for not using a USB stick, but using their email. It was forbidden or something, but they had just forgotten theirs. Naruto was sure it had cost them a point and now he didn't get the high grade he was hoping for! Also because someone in their group had screwed up on their part of the assignment and they had all been too stupid to check.
And to make things even worse, work afterwards had been hell. Normally Naruto loved working at his favourite ramen place, but his boss wasn't around this time and his daughter was in charge. Never had Naruto expected her to be such a tyrant when she had the control. Scary… It was also busier than usual for whatever reason and customers had started to complain about the weirdest things. He had made the wrong type of noodles. No… There were two types of noodles and it wasn't difficult to pick one. Naruto had made the one the lady wanted and then afterwards she decided she wanted the other. Now he had to make another portion, coming out of his pay and then had the daughter yell at him for screwing up. He had not gotten it wrong!
So Naruto was happy to be home. There was only one thing that really saddened him at this point and that was that it was this late. Normally there would be some time in between to talk to Sasuke, but he just hadn't had the time for it. He hated it, because he wanted to talk to Sasuke, laugh with him and discus some new story one of them had read. Now he wouldn't have anything to do for the last few hours before going to bed. Not that he was going to stay awake much longer…
With a groan Naruto pushed himself off the door and walked through the kitchen area, dropping all his stuff somewhere on the floor. He would get it tomorrow, maybe. Sliding his hand through his hair, he noticed he really needed to wash it, but showering now felt like a chore. He could do that tomorrow morning. Just like eating, because there was nothing in the fridge. When was the last time he had done groceries? Oh right, when Sasuke had spoken about how he should eat healthier… And now he was blankly staring at the fridge, face freezing off with a permanent goofy smile on his lips. Okay, let's close the fridge door and do something else.
Dragging himself towards his computer he turned it on and then with a sigh sat down in his nice and comfy desk chair, turning around and around until the computer was completely done with starting up and opening all the programs he needed.
It surprised Naruto a little that the first thing he heard was the Skype message sound, because he wasn't expecting anyone to talk to him at this point. It better not be that weird girl he had met during a class. She seemed nice at first, but damn she was clingy and couldn't take a hint…
Opening the Skype screen he was rather surprised who it actually was, but with a smile he clicked Sasuke's name and read the first message send and then the second and third… And so on.
Sasuke: Where the hell are you?
Sasuke: You should be here right now you know?
Sasuke: Of course you don't, because you're not here!
Sasuke: Wait, didn't you need to work or something? Damn, that's annoying. Now I gotta be drunk all on my own. Yes, I drank too much, but I have good reasons. I went to the store, bought something that seemed nice and then added another bottle of something. Then at home I started drinking and that was like three hours ago, so you understand where I'm at right now.
Sasuke: When are you coming home? It's been two hours since I sent that message and now both bottles are empty and I feel lonely. I need to talk to someone and you know it's a big deal, because I dislike people. You should feel special that I want to talk to you right now.
Sasuke: Naruto, this is important! Come home! Screw your job and the money you get from it! You don't need it. Your new job will be talking to me all day long.
And then the last message…
Sasuke: Finally you're here. Sit down and talk to me, now.
Okay, of course Naruto felt very flattered that Sasuke had messaged him when he was drunk. That is one of the biggest compliments one could receive. Even when their brain was at such a point where it couldn't really think anymore, it thought of you. Tried to get in contact with you and admitted things it normally wouldn't. These were one of the kindest things Sasuke had ever said to him. And it made Naruto's heart race a little, reading all the messages again. Something was off though. Sasuke had felt the need to drink for some reason. It wasn't even Friday yet, so Sasuke must have school tomorrow. Even if it was flattering, Naruto worried about Sasuke.
Naruto: Hey, are you doing alright over there?
It took quite some time before Sasuke send his reply. He must be really drunk then. Not that strange after finishing off two bottles all on your own.
Sasuke: Sorry, just fell down from my chair for a bit and the floor was comfortable. But hey, I'm doing great. Parents are great, family is great. Everything is perfect over here.
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Something was seriously off. But now that Sasuke was drunk and talking to him quite freely, so perhaps Naruto could benefit from this. Ask questions and see if he could get more personal and honest answers. This could end quite well for him. Naruto has wanted to know these things about Sasuke for so long already. He had already blabbed about him being an orphan and how he was raised by a weird uncle. Still he had turned out quite alright. It was difficult to tell, but Sasuke had been very supportive and asked the right questions. Naruto wasn't sure if he was just being polite and forcing his niceness, but Naruto appreciated it nonetheless.
Naruto: Are you sure you're alright? I mean you usually don't drink on a Wednesday or are awake at this time. Aren't you tired?
Sasuke: What? You want me to go or something?
And of course he was met with a passive aggressive reply. That was not what Naruto had meant at all, but this was just Sasuke's way of avoiding the real question being asked. He was quite excellent at that anyway. Naruto had found that out long ago. They were talking for a few months now, so Naruto did figure out Sasuke's weird quirks and knew how to respond to them now. It was just the personal barrier he hadn't passed yet. Just like the video chatting barrier. But they were going to that and it was happening soon!
Naruto: No, I am glad you're here. Just looking out for your health here. Sleep is important and you love it. You've told me before. And drinking on a Wednesday doesn't seem very healthy either. Don't you have school tomorrow?
Sasuke: I'm not going to school.
What the hell was happening here! At first Sasuke seemed very free talking about things and now suddenly these short replies! Why was this guy so difficult to deal with? And why did Naruto care so much about him regardless of his temper?
Naruto: Well, if you're not going to school, then I guess it doesn't matter it's this late and that you're drinking.
Sasuke: Exactly.
Naruto: So what have you been up to today?
Sasuke: Oh, you know, the usual. Went to class, got back, saw my family sitting in the living room with these sad looks on their faces and then I just went to the store and got drunk.
This had to been an opening, right? It at least peeked Naruto's curiosity. His family had been sitting in the living room, clearly having some kind of conversation with not that great of an ending. Had Sasuke done something wrong and had they been talking about that? Maybe Sasuke was a bad boy and did more wrong things than Naruto knew right now! Of course when you start thinking that, your mind starts coming up with the weirdest things. Like being addicted to heroin! No, that would be weird… Though he did talk about being in the hospital a while back. Maybe he had taken too much! Okay, perhaps asking was a better strategy.
Naruto: So what had your family been talking about?
This was a safe question, right? And didn't give Sasuke much room to come up with something sarcastic. He could just flat out refuse to respond to that question of course. It stayed quiet for a while after that though and Naruto wondered if Sasuke had just fallen asleep on him. Wouldn't be strange with how drunk he was and keeping the time in mind as well. It was almost four for him now. But then the little writing thing popped up and anxiously Naruto waited on the reply.
Sasuke: I told you about the rush to the hospital, right?
Naruto: Well, you only said you'd been there, but not what the reason was…
Sasuke: Oh well, it was because my brother woke up without being able to see, so we rushed to the hospital and they checked it all out. His vision came back again after a few hours, but he still needed a check-up.
That was quite the shocker and Naruto wasn't sure how to reply to that. Blind for a few hours? That most have been so scary. But what had that to do with why Sasuke was drunk now? That had been more than a month back. Naruto could feel his heart clench in his chest and his eyes had slightly widened. Somewhere in his brain he must come up with some kind of explanation. Thankfully Sasuke continued on his own.
Sasuke: It's actually a condition that runs in the family. Some of us suffer from it and at some point in life lose their eyesight. Itachi was a little early though, so that was quite shocking. The doctor was able to help him out, but it will only be a few years before he'll be fully blind. That was at least the news we got today. We had expected it already, but it was still a wakeup call.
Sasuke: It's just that now that Itachi has the active gene, there is a big chance I have it too. So I need to take a test on Friday and therefore I wanted to get drunk today.
Right now Naruto was just staring at the screen, the blow of this information really hitting him hard. How was he supposed to answer to that? This was even worse. There was a chance Sasuke could go blind in the future, because he had some kind of gene. Naruto had never had to deal with anything like this before. He had never even met someone who was blind! But he needed to be supportive now and show that he would be there for Sasuke. He was a good friend and he cared for Sasuke.
Naruto: I'm sure you'll be fine. Just wait until you get the results back and after that you can think of what's next.
Sasuke: I'm scared, Naruto
Heart racing in his chest Naruto tried to come up with something to say. Admitting he was afraid was big, but Naruto could understand it. This was a very scary situation and he wasn't even sure how he would handle it.
Naruto: I'm here, Sasuke.
...
Characters © Masashi Kishimoto
Let me know what you think!
Does this ending feel a little OOC? I'm not sure... Ah well, thought it was fitting and sweet. Next chapter sexting ^^
