Naruto's POV

I'm not sure where I'm going to go as I throw an old pair of jeans on and a plain blue t-shirt, all I know is that I need to leave right now why I still can, I need to leave before I'm dead. I'm feeling so many emotions right now and I don't like it at all, what am I supposed to do with all of these damn feelings anyways? It is not as if I can just turn around and walk out of the front door, it is not as if I can never come back. For now though I just need to be away from this house, I need to be away from him. My body aches and my head is killing me.

I looked into an old mirror that had been placed on my dresser many years ago and frowned deeply. My face looked horrible, something I couldn't cover up with make up as I did any other time he hit me or bruised me somewhere strangers could see. This time there were cuts on my face as well as bruises too dark to hide. My lip was busted on the right side, a short gash on my left cheek bone, several others littering my cheeks and even a few on my neck to match the throbbing teeth marks a little further down where my neck met my shoulder.

I held my hands out and looked at my wrists, bruises that looked like a mix between finger prints and thick lines marred over a few old scars, the rope must have been a lot tighter than I thought, with me thrashing around they were bound to dig into my skin. I sighed and turned away, I felt sick to my stomach and I knew I needed to leave fast, before he came to torture me some more. Luckily, I have a window in my room. I quickly lifted it and made my way out of it, climbing down the tree that was right under it and landing on the ground with soundless feet.

I did the only thing I could do right now, I ran. I ran even though every fiber of my being was pulsing with pain and my mind screamed for me to stop, to stop running and think about what I was doing. I know the punishment for this will be even worse than what I got today but I couldn't stand being there another second. I wasn't sure where I was running too but I quickly found myself running through town, heavy traffic speeding past me one after another.

I stopped at a bench, panting for breath that my lungs were screaming for and felt my pockets to see if I had grabbed my phone during my haste, I did, thank god. It was late in the evening by now, nearly three o'clock and something was bugging me, I had not talked to Sasuke all day. It was just something that came so natural now, talking to Sasuke every day…

Perhaps that's why when I looked around I spotted Kaleidoscope right down the street on the other side, perhaps that's why my heart was beating rapidly and my aches seemed to dull just a tiny bit, yet the tears that were there were still falling freely from my azure eyes. I don't know, I don't know if I know anything anymore but I'm sure I knew when I crossed the street and quickly made my way into the building, hoping and praying to any god there was that Sasuke was still here, still working so I could get to him.

Normal POV

Sakura instantly looked up when the bells above the door chimed loudly; overcasting the muffled music, that Sasuke was playing as he took photographs of Shikamaru Nara and his pregnant wife Temari. If she could say so herself, they made a very cute couple, even though they were polar opposites. She recognized the boy standing in the doorway, panting as if he had just run a marathon. His was looking around franticly, seemingly crying and she was not sure what or who exactly he was looking for but he quickly made that known.

"Sasuke, is he still h-here?" Naruto managed between ragged breaths and choked sobs.

She frowned, bubblegum hair swishing from side to side as she moved around the desk and gently touched Naruto's shoulder, the boy instantly jerking away from her, not bringing his eyes up to meet hers. Her frown deepened at the jerk though, something was obviously making Naruto distraught. "Naruto are you alright? Why don't you take a seat, you don't look too well…"

"I'm fine I just need to see S-Sasuke, is he still here or not?"

"He's-"

"Naruto? What are you doing here, what's wrong?"

Naruto's head briskly snapped up at the sound of Sasuke's voice, his breathing ragged and quick. He couldn't suppress the silent cry that had his shoulders shaking and his face pulled into a tight picture of bitter dismay. Just seeing the raven-haired boy made him feel calmer on the inside even if on the outside he was a nothing more than a weeping mess. Sasuke looked distraught to say in the least. The way his jet-black hair fell into his face and his eyebrows creased into slight confusion mixed with worry and his supple pale lips were brought into a worried frown painted the perfect picture of a distraught teenage boy.

"Naruto you're scaring me!" Sasuke said loudly, nearly running to the blonde in haste to find out what was wrong. Naruto was just standing there, his whole body trembling, with silent tears falling from his crystalline eyes, which weren't blinking, mouth parted ever so slightly with his blonde brows creased. He took ahold of Naruto's wrist gently, trying to get a response; any kind of response but all he got was silence. He released the wrist to bring his hand up to Naruto's face but stopped.

"Naruto you're-" His eyes widened as he stared down at the blood-smeared hand that was his own, looking down at Naruto's hand he could see small droplets of blood dripping from tan fingers to the floor in a slow drip. "Bleeding..."

"Sakura clean this up, now." Sasuke instructed before turning back to Naruto, pushing all his morals aside and picking the blonde up bridal style. He ignored the way Naruto stiffened considerably and the loud cry that was muffled by the way Naruto pressed his face into his neck, a hand coming up to cling to Sasuke's shirt tightly as they moved into his office.

Sasuke's heart was pounding in his chest and his own hands were trembling. He could feel it; he could see it, right in front of his eyes that something was wrong he just didn't know what; why was Naruto now sitting on the bench in his office clinging to his shirt with a tear stricken face and bloody hand. He had noticed small patches here and there that were bloody on his shirt as well, figuring it was just from his hand or wrist he ignored it.

"Naruto what the fuck is going on?" He questioned, desperate for answers.

Naruto shook his head from side to side slowly; his eyes dawned on Sasuke's chest. "I c-can't tell you..."

"You-" Sasuke cut himself off with a snort. "You show up at my work place crying and unresponsive with blood on you and you can't tell me?"

"I'm sorry!" Naruto cried out, "I just needed to see you okay?"

With another snort Sasuke plied Naruto's hand from his shirt and disappeared for a few minutes before coming back with peroxide, napkins, scissors and a roll of bandages and Naruto feared for the worst, Sasuke wanted to treat his wound, Sasuke would see the old scars and fresh wounds even if one of those was done by a tree, he would think Naruto did all of this to himself.

"You don't-"

"Shut up."

Sasuke's POV

I took a seat in the chair that I had pulled up and asked him to remove his jacket. When he didn't comply, I did it myself, as gently as one could while forcefully pulling a hoodie from another person's body. I ignored the objections as I grasped his hand, now seeing where the blood was actually coming from. I saw the scars and I saw the fresh cut and bruises as well as the undefinable mark going around both wrists, a part of me could guess but a part of me didn't want to know.

The room was silent as I cleaned his wounds. His crying had stopped and he just watched quietly as I dressed the wounds in a white bandage and taped it off with some scotch tape, it got the job done. I didn't press the matter about how he had gotten these wounds because deep in my heart I knew something was going on, something much worse than the anorexia that I had discovered upon first meeting him, it was something deeper and something that was none of my business even though a greater part of me wanted to find out so I could stop it, so I could protect him from whoever had done this, even if it was himself.

I had admitted to myself a few days ago that I found Naruto attractive so as I released his hand and looked into electric blue eyes the fluttering in my stomach didn't bother me as much as it would have a few days ago. I wanted him to know that I would be there for him even if he didn't want or need me to be, that I would gladly let him cry on my shoulder if he needed too. I could see so much more than the daunting shades of blue that was his eyes as I looked into them, I could see the pain and hurting he was going through right now, the look of pure desperation. He needed someone right now and I would gladly be that someone.

He did not argue as we made our way outside after telling Sakura that I was leaving for the day and tomorrow if needed. He didn't make one single sound as we got into my car and drove to my house, I knew my parents wouldn't care if I had a guest for tonight or a few days even so we made our way inside and I lent him a shirt to change into and watched as he made himself comfortable in my bed and quickly fell asleep while clinging to one of my pillows.

I let myself wonder briefly, what was going on with Naruto and why I found myself wanting to help him. There weren't many people that I let myself get attached too but as I watched his covered chest rise and fall and looked at his bruised face I knew that I had gotten attached to him, there was no letting him for now. I had found a real friend and wasn't about to let them go, especially after today.

My eyes were drawn away from the sleeping figure when a knock echoed through the room and the door opened to reveal my brother with a smug look on his face. "I brought you some condoms, just in case-"

"Don't." I snapped, giving him a disgusted look as he slipped further into my room.

I watched as his expression changed from smug to serious when he looked at the sleeping boy in my bed. I knew that he knew something was wrong, just by the sight of Naruto. Itachi was a smart man. He turned back to me with a sigh, "Sasuke I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

I followed him out of the room quietly, there weren't many times when I felt like I needed to talk to someone but right now that feeling was overwhelming, so much so that I chose Itachi of all people to talk too.

"I don't." I admitted seriously. "I don't know and that scares me quite a bit... I just know that I can't let him go now, not after today. Even before today I didn't want to let him go."

"Little brother, sometimes we have to make tough decisions. I'm telling you now that I believe you're making the right one, the boy needs someone and even if you don't realize it," Itachi placed a hand on my shoulder gently. "You need someone just as bad."

I watched as he turned and walked away, leaving me to drown in my own thoughts as I made my way back to my bedroom.

Scene Change

"Naruto wake up," Sasuke coached quietly, shaking Naruto's shoulder. "Come on sleepy head, dinner is ready."

Naruto moaned and buried his head further into the soft pillow that smelled so heavenly of Sasuke. After a moment, he cracked and eye open, Sasuke was sitting on the edge of the bed, one hand on Naruto's shoulder, the other in his lap. "Dinner is ready, you can meet my family."

"You're family?"

Naruto tried to sit up and winced when he succeeded. Everything hurt, from his ankles up to his head. He needed a shower and hoped Sasuke wouldn't mind if he took one soon, he needed to wash away the sweat and grime that covered his body from the earlier events. He was afraid to even think about what Muku was doing, how he was reacting to a missing Naruto, though he was sure he had an idea of where he had went. He just hoped Sasuke wouldn't get put in harm's way during all of this. The last thing he wanted was for Sasuke to get hurt or even encounter his guardian at this point.

"Come on, their waiting."

Sasuke had spoken to all three of them earlier about Naruto and made sure no one would say a word about Naruto's appearance or anything remotely personal… He hoped. They had questioned him but he didn't have answers to give them so it left all of them curious. He just wanted Naruto to be comfortable.

He helped the younger boy from the warmth of his bed and stepped up to his walk in closet, pulling Naruto along. Fishing out a pair of black socks, blue jeans and a red t-shirt he handed them to Naruto, "Take a shower and change into this, my bathroom is right there," He pointed to a glass door and watched Naruto hesitantly disappear through it.

SCENCE SKIP

The room was quiet and nothing was heard but the clanks of silverware against plates, it was somewhere between awkward and peaceful. Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had, had a family meal like this. The table was spread with a wide variety of means, vegetables, and breads; he vaguely wondered if this was how Sasuke ate every night. Naruto felt more than a bit self-conscious with everyone's plates being full and his being barely covered with the foods he had chosen. He wasn't hungry at all; he was, but he didn't want to eat, so as everyone chewed silently on his or her food he just picked at his own.

"Is there anything special you would like Naruto? I could have someone cook you something if this is not to your liking, it wouldn't be any trouble dear." Mikoto spoke up, not liking how the already too skinny boy wasn't eating hardly anything.

Naruto felt like a deer caught in headlights, the kind that was inches before their unknowing death. However, he didn't want to be rude so he politely shook his head and forced himself to speak. "No ma'am, this is very good I just don't have much of an appetite at the moment…"

He looked around nervously; Sasuke was looking down at his plate, his face distant and unsure like he had not wanted his mother to say anything about Naruto at all. He was sure that wasn't the case though, surely Sasuke didn't care enough about him to tell his own family to keep quiet about Naruto's eating habits; if he had told them anything at all.

The one Sasuke had told him about a few days ago; Itachi looked like Sasuke's double. If it wasn't for the hair length and dark lines under the older uchiha's eyes than he and Sasuke would look exactly alike, and both sons looked just like their father with their mothers feminine features.

He could finally breathe when Fugaku and Mikoto had big everyone a good night and retreated to some other part of the huge house. That meant dinner was over and he could keep to himself once more. His body ached and he just wanted to sleep. This is why when Sasuke started upstairs and told him to follow he obeyed politely and followed the raved upstairs into his room.

"You can stay in the guest room right across the hall from my room or you can you know…" Sasuke started awkwardly, swiping a hand over his shoulder. "Stay in my room and I could sleep in the guest room, it's no trouble. Where ever you're most comfortable."

Naruto hesitated for several minutes, just looking down at the eggshell carpet with a distant gaze. He didn't want to kick Sasuke out of his own room, that would be rude, but he didn't exactly want to be by himself either… He was having an internal battle with himself. Either he could go stay in the guest room, be by himself all night, and most likely not get any sleep at all or he could suggest that he stay here. In Sasuke's room. With Sasuke. Something deep inside of him was screaming for the second option, telling him that he did not want to be alone, which is exactly why he ran blindly to Sasuke in the first place.

Maybe he could just… However, what if Sasuke decided to do something? What if he- No. Sasuke was not Muku; he would never hurt him like that. Nevertheless, what if he got too close and discovered Naruto's unseen wounds? Maybe a pillow…

"Naruto?"

"I- can we… I mean would you…" Naruto furrowed his brows and grasped his own wrist tightly. What if Sasuke was repulsed by the idea of sharing a bed with Naruto no matter how big the bed is? He sighed, either way he didn't want to be alone right now. "Could we share?"

Sasuke was confused for a moment before it dawned on him that Naruto was asking to share a bed with him. His heart thumped awkwardly in his chest and he ignored it. Naruto was not the type of person to touch and want to be touched so sharing a bed with him; he would have to be careful not to get too close… "A bed?"

Naruto nodded, daring to look up at Sasuke.

"Sure, yeah it's plenty big enough for both of us."

As they changed and were settled under the deep comforter to let sleep wash over them Sasuke spoke once more; "Naruto?"

"Yeah Sasuke?"

"I-I don't know what happened today, and you don't have to tell me but… I'm here for you if you need me."

Naruto smiled, burying his head into the blankets deeper and before he knew what he was saying, the words had slipped past his lips, "Sasuke, will you hold me?"

Sasuke was shocked; nothing inside of him found it weird as he hesitantly scooted closer to Naruto and wrapped an arm around Naruto's own, holding him loosely. They both fell into a deep slumber before they had a chance to say anything more and as they slept, Naruto unknowingly let a small smile grace his features.