It's not like anything is too different. He sees Sasuke in school just like any other day, alone or with his weird posse of Juugo, Karin, and Suigetsu, but he doesn't talk to him. He glances the few times they intersect, long, heavy glances, one-sided. When school is over they don't speak or even look at one another, to the point where Naruto thinks he's imagined everything - he gets a sharp pang of doubt in his chest. Until Thursday again, of all the days, when Sasuke comes over and they play.
He could cringe and shrivel at the word, but there's no other way to explain it. They play (he can't wait to admit that to someone) and then he tries to keep his distance. Sasuke doesn't need help in that department, the boy leaves early, but they don't fight. They argue, and it feels as if inch by inch something crazy is happening, something is moving alive, but the Uzumaki doesn't have the hindsight to see what.
Because Naruto - he can't believe his luck, he can't fathom how stupid, and he can't help but notice how much longer the aftercare out of all things, gets. He touches Sasuke, Sasuke touches him… if he's pleased, Naruto learns he makes a hum low in pitch and grates the sound of his name. A huff of a laugh like he's making a mockery – or surprised every time, dark lashes fluttering closed at the suddenly gentle touch. Aftercare. Sasuke lets him have this, keep this close to his heart and forever in the back of his mind.
And then it's over. Until next week. 5'oclock after school at his place and Naruto gets why Sasuke would refuse to go to the grounds. He doesn't know how long this partnership-not-relationship of theirs will last but he hopes it does for a long time. He can only hope he doesn't fuck this up.
Naruto comes home from school and he expects the house to be empty.
"You're still here?" he exclaims and his dad winces visibly. Sometimes he really does need to invest in a mouth filter.
Jiraiya sits at the kitchen table with a pen in his hand. His white hair is free from its usual ponytail relaxed, yet he smiles grimly.
"Ah, latent animosity, though I think you get that from your father."
Naruto snorts and throws his backpack to the floor. The table and couch are overflowing with stuff. "You mean 'you'?"
"Hah! I'm where you get all your smarts and charm!" He points a pen at him.
"Sure, old man, I'll believe it when I see it," he says with a small smile. This is nice, he thinks, and he's actually really glad his pops is still here. The man is usually waiting for him after a long day of school, and the act is refreshing. Naruto likes that much more than finding the house empty and dead silent. It gets kinda boring alone.
Though then again, it's only been a few weeks but even that in itself is a record. Jiraiya tends to leave right about now, Naruto knows from experience. But he doesn't want to get too comfortable with this. It's kind of stupid he knows, and it won't last but he doesn't want to tell his dad what Iruka has told him. Not just yet.
"I've got good news, kiddo, you'll hopefully like this." His interest piqued, Naruto listens with a focused ear as he putters about his kitchen cupboards for ramen. He hears as Jiraiya puts his things away and closes his laptop with a click.
"I've met with some editors and well, I'm finally getting my old writing job back." Naruto turns to the only other person in his kitchen, and visually greets a wide-toothed grin. Jiraiya, he sits wide in his seat, arms lax against the height of the chair, proud of his statement. There's written notes and papers all over the table, his laptop is in use… Jiraiya nods minutely and Naruto's eyes widen.
"Seriously?" His dad hums. "And that means…"
"You'll be seeing a lot more of me from now on! How's that for a souvenir?"
Naruto's heart thumps harder. His lips twitch to a smile and he gives up keeping it down from his face. His cheeks hurt with the stretch but they mirror the look on his dad's. "You're kidding!" He begins to laugh.
"Of course I believed that readers would realize my greatness and want more after my death-"
Naruto grins.
"But earlier is good too." Jiraiya wiggles gray, furry eyebrows in joke, and it looks absolutely ridiculous. His enthusiasm is infectious though, Naruto can admit that. It is good, great even, and his mouth slips as he focuses on his ramen.
Then again. He admits the timing is inappropriate but the only thing he can think of is Sasuke. Not that he isn't happy.
"Ah, don't flatter yourself, I'm still upset you didn't get actual souvenirs… I always wanted something from Suna." Naruto averts his eyes and onto the pot on the stove. He needs to watch this water boil.
"Well, I was thinking that maybe this summer we could go there? Maybe you'd want to visit Gaara?"
Naruto tenses. He wishes it would warm faster so that he could stuff his mouth shut already. Instead, quickly he responds. "Sure, yeah," and he turns up the temperature.
"And maybe we can visit Tsunade aft-"
"About that," Naruto starts and he's officially tired of hiding. He was never any good at it. Not because he couldn't stick to a lie and laugh things off but rather he'd lose his willpower way too soon. Plus, it is kinda stupid. He'll eventually find out the hard way. "I wanted to tell you something."
"Yes?" Jiraiya is patient and earnest in voice as he always is, and never judging. Leaning further in his seat focused attention on him, he never forces him to say anything. Just waits when he's ready. He's smiling. That's his favorite part about his dad except now it only makes him feel guilty. Like he has to apologize or something, for not passing the year. But this isn't something Naruto can apologize for and move on; this isn't something he can easily solve.
Kind of like Sasuke.
"I'm not graduating this year," he says and now he's not so hungry anymore. Naruto turns off the burner.
Jiraiya is silent, too silent for a moment and it makes his stomach roll uneasily. Naruto's sorry for being a mood-killer, but it's not like he could keep it a secret for long. He forces himself to wait for a response. "I know," his uncle says simply.
Naruto whips his head to face him. "What?"
"Iruka called me a month ago, since I couldn't make it to any teacher conferences."
Dammit. "You knew this whole time?" And to think he tried to go weeks without saying anything…
"I know, it was wrong of me to have played you for a fool. I didn't want to force you if you were uncomfortable," Jiraiya scratches a cheek with a finger, his tone subdued. "I was actually waiting for a chance for us to talk."
Naruto pauses. He guesses that's fair. It's been a long time since he's seen his dad and their last interaction. And Naruto, he was only too used to being alone, he'd forgotten how it was like before. Back when Jiraiya was always here. Because his dad was always ready to listen to whatever he had to say, and Naruto was always open to tell…
Now, however. "Okay," Naruto says hesitantly and cautions closer. He stands at the opposite end of the table close to the kitchen exit. They have only one chair. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I just wanted to say that I'm here for you – and that I apologize if my absences had anything to do with-"
"No!" Naruto shouts, hands out as if to stop the conversation air itself. He surprises the both of them. "I mean, what the hell?"
"Well, it'd be understandable-"
"Dad, that's not… it was probably going to happen like this anyway," Naruto flounders and his hands grip the table cloth, twisting the fabric ends.
"Alright."
"Okay."
Naruto bites his inner cheek. "-is that all?"
"Well, is it?" Jiraiya asks with an eyebrow raised. Naruto nods wildly. It's silent for a moment. Jiraiya, he stares at him waiting for him to spill his thoughts. That trick used to work back when he was a kid, but now Naruto knows better. All he has to do is just don't look away…
"Oh-kay!" His dad says and the abrupt volume jolts him out of his skin. Naruto, his heart thunders in his chest, heavy and painful because holy shit, that was loud. "It's just, it's kind of nice to see you're doing okay, especially with that Uchiha kid."
His body goes cold. Naruto stills.
"What was his name again, 'Satoshi', 'Sasore', 'Sa-'"
"Sasuke."
"Yeah, him," Jiraiya strokes his chin slowly, contemplating, and the motion makes him wary. He always does that before saying something big. "I knew him when he was a baby, though I knew his brother more."
Naruto gulps. This is…
"So, I didn't know you gotten back to being friends, huh?"
"We're not-!" Naruto freezes mid-speak while images flash through his mind. He doesn't know what he'd call him because he wants to be friends, always did and always will but… what they do isn't particularly 'friendly'. "Sasuke's only sort of my friend," he settles though his mind runs frantic. A lie if he ever knew it.
"It's complicated."
Only too true. Jiraiya gives him a considering stare, watching closely his face for the tell-tale giveaways he'd always catch before. Naruto doesn't have any now. It is true.
"Well, I just thought you should know that it's fine to introduce me. I always catch him leaving though I remember those Uchihas being busy things," Jiraiya chuckles and shakes his head of the memories. Naruto sighs in relief. "But I seriously want to learn more about you, I'm ashamed that-"
"Dad!"
"I guess memories got to me. Did you know your mother was friends with his?" Naruto's eyes widen. Jiraiya nods knowingly with a smile. "Mm, they were close and it's amazing to see that you two are much the same." Naruto quickly looks away. "Plus, I imagine he's a refreshing break from Kiba, you know, that kid's dog chased me the other day-"
Naruto responds on rote. "The dog just wants to love you."
"If it was any smaller I'd gladly let him – especially for pretty girls on the street!" Naruto laughs with force.
"It's been a full month. Congratulations!"
"Oh, shut up, Kiba."
"It's a record. We should celebrate: 'I haven't fought-argued-or-talked about Uchiha Sasuke for the month of November'." Kiba spreads his hands, visualizing the banner.
"You just brought it up."
"I did because now I'm curious. What did you do?"
Naruto pulls the body under him closer, moves heavy arms across his shoulders. It's awkward, it's close, it smells like salty sweat and the teenage musk he gets when he sniffs his fingers. It's heady. The room is hot and this time he didn't turn on the heater. His mouth is flooded with spit, and his tongue swipes at cracked lips. Sasuke's eyes remain closed, chest breathing in and out, and his arms tighten.
"Sasuke."
"Mm."
"Do you… would you..." Just say it! "You wanna sleep over?"
The face before him frowns darkly. "Fuck no. No sex."
"I didn't mean it like that!" Naruto shakes his head frantically, and the movement makes Sasuke twitch and grumble. He promptly stops. "I meant just for a little while. You know, so you can cool down."
"Mmm," Sasuke hums from the chest and shuffles closer. His skin is sticky warm. Naruto's heart pounds and he holds his breath.
"Bed. Blanket. Two."
He moves.
When Sasuke wakes up, he finds himself under a heavy body.
It's Naruto, whose snoring open mouth drools against the pillow beneath his neck. The blonde's breath – loud, raspy, annoying – ruffles his hair with every exhale, hot and wet against the nape of his neck. It makes Sasuke feel a little grossed, if only because he's sweaty under these blankets, sticky-dirty under an orange comforter. It smells of morning breath and worse, of Naruto, and Sasuke can't believe he actually agreed to this. Naruto's clothed leg is between his, his knee bent much too high. Sasuke pushes against the hard thigh down and out because that's too close for comfort, the drag between his legs goes slow. He picks up and transfers the heavy tan arm laying across him, returning the limb to its owner. He untangles himself from the blankets.
Dressing in the clothes from yesterday, Sasuke puts on his shirt, shoes, and jacket and gathers his backpack. Naruto stirs in the rustling, when he bends to grab his phone and check the time. It's 5:37am. A Friday. Sasuke calculates that he has plenty time to head home for a shower and dress in new clothes, a quick breakfast, and make it back in time to school. He'll cut into Kakashi's homeroom if he has to. But no matter what he needs to leave. When Sasuke glances a peek at the snuffling teen in bed, who moves into his left-over warm spot grinning something in his dream stupidly, he grits his teeth. He's overstayed his welcome long enough.
Sasuke is nearly out the door when he realizes someone else is here.
"Naruto?" A voice calls out to him, older, cracked and deep. The Uchiha turns around, surprise etched along his face though it's still too dark to tell. Maybe he should've asked Naruto explicitly but he had thought no one else lived here…
He's going to kill that dumbass.
"Uh, no," Sasuke responds rather than running away. He's embarrassed beyond all belief. Shuffling the backpack on his shoulder, he forces his feet to stay rooted. Some modicum of respect, and shock and running would definitely make this worse.
"Then who the hell… Hold on, let me turn on the light."
Crap.
Sasuke hears the floorboards creak, as what he presumes to be a heavy body move across the living room to get at the light switch. It's slow going, it's morning, he's caught and he hasn't a clue how to explain. He's no thief, but still. There isn't a viable reason why he's here – been here all night. Or better yet, why he's leaving.
The light catches, blinding his eyes in a flood of white. He blinks, he recovers, and Sasuke finds himself staring at a tall man wearing a sleeping kimono with fuzzy slippers. White long hair hangs cranky and wild, and the man scratches at his scalp. With a yawn he leans from across the room and squints at him, completely unfazed by what is a stranger in his house.
"Uchiha?"
"Yes?" Sasuke hesitates, he doesn't know this man but apparently the man knows him. "I mean, yes."
"Oh, Sasuke, sorry, I couldn't recognize you for a moment." He scratches at his belly through the slit of his kimono and scrunches his face in confusion. "Why are you here? Did Naruto… he didn't tell me he was inviting a friend. Are you leaving?"
Sasuke shuffles uncomfortably under the elder's gaze. He chooses to answer the last question. "Yeah."
"It is…" The huge man glances at his wrist, "-close to six in the morning, where are you going at this time? School doesn't start until eight for you guys, right?" With a concerned frown, he moves closer. Sasuke cringes visibly. Responsible adults. "I don't know if you know Kiba, but I'm sure he'd give you a ride to school too, Sasuke." The Uchiha remains silent, his eyes fixed away from the man before him.
"Unless you were headed elsewhere?"
Sasuke nods. "Home."
"Naruto could spare a pair of jeans and a shirt?" When the man reads his grimaced expression, he coughs awkwardly. "I guess not. Can I take you home?"
Dark eyes widen. The Uchiha wasn't expecting another live-in, but neither had he expected to be offered a ride on such short early-morning notice. He wants to leave before Naruto wakes up, however…
"Who are you?"
"Oh!" He barks in response and Sasuke startles. "Sorry, my manners. My name is Jiraiya. I'm Naruto's dad." He holds his hand out for a shake. Sasuke shakes the hand, quickly before slipping his palm back in his pocket. He nods mutely.
"Alright, just give me a few minutes."
Jiraiya putters about only to get his keys and wallet, apparently choosing to remain dressed in his pajamas. He leads him to the car with a grin when Sasuke lets his face twist in disapproval.
"You think this is bad, at least it's early for no one to see my hairy old man legs," he laughs with a boom, one that jolts the teen. "Warn Mikoto would you?"
Sasuke freezes. When he swipes at his phone his heart still, he sees what he didn't earlier in Naruto's room. 6 missed calls. 13 unread messages. His voice box is full, Sasuke notes belatedly, as he peruses who has been contacting him. Only his mom, dad, and brother and two calls from Karin, but he never answers to her anyway.
"Hn," he says as he shuts off the screen with a click.
Sasuke walks into his house and the first thing he sees is his mom, sleeping on the family couch. She's isolated, the furniture against the far wall, closest to the stairs. It's the ideal vantage point to face the front door, and the back door from within the kitchen. He's silent as he creeps past her, her slim form underneath a single blanket, her pillow being the palm of her hand. Sasuke watches intently for any sign of movement and once satisfied, he moves to climb up to his room.
"You're late."
Motherfuck- Sasuke whips his head around suddenly near offing himself, only to face his older brother.
"Itachi."
His brother gestures flippantly, purple nails glint in the muted kitchen light. "As you can see from the couch, Mom has been waiting for you to come home last night."
Apparently, so have you. Only creepier. "So?" He narrows his eyes.
Itachi responds calmly. "So, I feel the need to ask: where were you?"
"That's none of your business."
"Actually it is." Sasuke scoffs loudly. "Especially since this isn't the first night you've come home late. Where's Naruto?"
Sasuke grinds his teeth, instantly giving himself away. Itachi's doesn't hold himself back, always been one to move in for the kill. And he always makes the uncomfortably right guesses. He's referring to not long ago, when Naruto had to pull him in by the shoulder, help him into his house because his legs still wouldn't work.
Sasuke had hoped that that was a one-time deal and that his family forgot. Of course Itachi would never let things go. It's his genius, always right, perfect older brother.
Sasuke scowls darkly. "That was a month past. Nothing happened."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"I said 'none of your business'."
"Did you and Naruto have a fight?"
He could laugh. "No."
"Then why do you come home hurt?" Itachi asks, and for the first, satisfying time, he sounds earnestly confused.
Sasuke turns away. It's not that he doesn't want to placate his brother, his family, and their (arguably, he's been independent for so long) valid worries. Assure to them that he's not hurting himself or doing drugs, gangs or whatever crazy idea they've come up with. He's just… he can't explain it. He couldn't stop looking forward to every Thursday if he tried. Sasuke needs this, needs to get this kind of thing and it's not bad, it's not wrong, it's not sick, it doesn't need to be fixed-
What he thinks is too hard to breathe, hurts his brain and his hands where his fists are clenched. Too much to explain. There's isn't any viable reason why… so he doesn't bother.
Sasuke shuffles his backpack that's on his shoulder and moves to turn away from his brother, from his sleeping mother. "I have school," he says.
"Sasuke-!" He's already gone to his room.
