Thank you for the kind words left by the reviewers, and thank you for everyone who has taken the time to read this story.

Xxxxx

Sasuke lay prone on Naruto's bed as the darkness shrouded him. He didn't want nor did he need the comfort of the lamp in the corner. He'd shut it off as soon as he'd re-entered.

The duvet, sheets, pillows all smelt of Naruto and at first he'd felt his lip curl in distaste as he lay rigid and uncomfortable. But as time slowly passed his body released the tightly coiled tension he so stubbornly held on to and his face had relaxed, allowing the scent to willingly invade his system, slowly becoming invisible. To slowly provide a semblance of surprisingly welcome security in its familiarity, despite their constant clashing. He had grit his teeth at the thought. Why was he surprised anymore?

"Sasuke?" Just as consciousness was finally deserting him he heard a soft feminine whisper that had him pulled jarringly back to full wakefulness. But he held still, not giving himself away, expecting that the intruder would leave.

He kept his breathing even as the moments ticked by.

"Sasuke?" He heard his name hissed this time, light accompanying it as the door was pushed open wide. "Are you awake?"

Sasuke frustratingly deduced that entertaining her might get her to leave quicker, his foul mood, an unwelcome guest, trickling over from earlier.

He grunted and pushed himself up. He glanced at her with dark eyes as he planted his feet flat on the carpet whilst Sakura came in fully and pushed the door shut with accidental force, plunging them into darkness. He felt the shift in the air as she jumped.

"Oops." She muttered softly. Sasuke listened as she dug at her clothes before she giggled in triumph as the lamp from her phone shone brightly in his direction. He winced and brought his hand up to shield his eyes from the light but it quickly moved away as Sakura searched for the light switch.

"Don't." He ordered as her hand hovered on the switch, the bright light swinging back in his direction, Sakura huffing.

"Why not?" She asked, quickly followed by a eureka gasp of mischievous wonder as she came swiftly towards the bed. Sasuke felt her leg hit the side of the divan roughly and she cursed before falling down next to him, shifting close into his side as she absentmindedly rubbed her bruised shin with her free hand.

Sasuke leant away as she flung her phone behind her onto the duvet, the light stretching uselessly up towards the ceiling as he felt her breath ghost over his cheek, Sakura leaning in close. He frowned at her proximity.

"Sakura-"

"Don't be shy." She cajoled sweetly as his face contorted at the reek of wine from her words.

"I wouldn't know how." He stated blandly as he placed a hand on her shoulder and gently but firmly pushed her away. She resisted, her hand coming up to grasp his tightly, moving it off and into the small space left between them. He pulled back on his hand and she quickly brought her left over to secure her grip on him.

She swayed dangerously, smacking her lips together in her drunkenness.

"Yes you would, you're being shy right now, you wouldn't even let me turn the light on."

"Sakura, let go of my hand." His tone was irritable. Her grip loosened slightly at the harshness of his tone before tightening anew, Sakura bouncing their hands together tightly.

"Stop being so shy, it's only me." Sasuke could hear the coy smile present in her words.

"I'm not being shy Sakura, I want you to let go of my hand. I want to sleep."

Sasuke heard her sharp intake of breath as she squeezed his hand.

"Together?" She whispered, her tone sordid and dripping with something Sasuke couldn't put his finger on.

"No." He voiced sternly. "If you're tired then go home."

"I don't want to leave you, not now, not after everything." She whispered. She dropped his hand and swiftly encircled her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself tightly into his side as she lifted her face towards his. Alarmed, Sasuke angled away from her, an awkward hand on her waist as he pulled away towards the head of the bed.

She always seemed to lose the knowledge of her own strength after a drink.

Sakura brought a hand up into his hair and brought his face down to meet hers, her glossy lips planting a deep kiss onto the side of his mouth.

His eyes drew unimaginably wide as he shoved her away, her grip suddenly weak. She bounced back lightly on the bed with a shaky intake of breath.

"Sasuke it's okay-"

"What the fuck are you thinking?" He asked sharply as he snatched up her phone and shone the light in her direction.

He took in the sight of her, her clothes skewed and her normally tidy hair ruffled and messy. Green eyes squinted in his direction, the light bright in her eyes, but her inebriation starkly evident. She brought a hand up to shield her eyes.

"I know how you feel about me Sasuke, you don't have to hide it any more, why should we?" She slurred, reclined on an elbow.

Sasuke looked on in confusion.

"You like me." She stated.

"You're a…" Sasuke searched for the most appropriate word before finally settling with; "friend."

"See!" She voiced loudly, Sasuke narrowing his eyes. "Why did you hesitate? I'm more than a friend, I can see it now, it all makes sense, how you've been treating me. I saw how you reacted."

Her words caused him to halt as he tried to recollect the situation she was referring to. "Reacted when?"

"When Naruto touched me." Sasuke felt his blood freeze in his veins as her words filled the room, seeming to echo continuously. So she'd noticed. Of course she'd interpret it this way. Sakura pushed herself up fully as he failed to answer. "You were jealous; I saw it in your face. I'm sorry, I should have noticed it sooner. But it's okay. We can start now. We can be together from now." She smiled with drunken confidence as she looked in his general direction, unable to see his face passed the light.

Sasuke was grateful for it.

He knew how she felt about him, of course. He'd always known, but he'd taken care to consistently make sure that Sakura never got the impression that he reciprocated her feelings.

"Sakura, no." She laughed lightly.

"What do you mean, 'no'?"

He had to put this to bed once and for all.

"We're friends, and that's all we'll ever be. You saw what you wanted to see." He said harshly.

Sakura's smile faltered. "No, I… I saw it, definitely-" She squinted, "Let me turn the light on." She made to get up but Sasuke loosely grasped her wrist, the contact stopping her as she glanced between his hand and the general direction of his face.

"We've got no reason to like each other."

"We don't need a reason, Sasuke, love just is." She voiced desperately as her eyes danced about in alarm. "I know what I saw-"

It was Sasuke's turn to laugh, the man unable to help himself, needing to divert her thoughts. "You saw what you wanted to see." He reaffirmed, "You always do." She grew ridged at his words before snatching the phone from his hands quickly.

"I'm not stupid I know what I saw…" She said, but she already sounded unsure. She fumbled with the device and shut the light off, but the dimmer light from the screen illuminated her face, anguish and embarrassment causing her shoulders to shake as she staved off tears. She glanced at him through a curtain of pink hair. "Please, Sasuke. Don't do this." She pleaded as her lower lip trembled.

He'd had enough of this. One last nail in the coffin.

"You did this to yourself."

Xxxxx

Naruto laughed with the intensity only alcohol could fuel, slapping Kiba between the shoulder blades as the brunet's own laughter wracked his body, spit flying from his open mouth. Ino giggled lightly between them as she sipped from her glass.

"So so Ino, babe, do you think they look bad?" Kiba finally barked as he wiped tears of amusement from his eyes. Ino looked him up and down.

"Do what look bad?" She asked cunningly with an amused smile, a light lift of one side of her full lips as she took another sip of her drink.

Kiba waved his hands at himself. "My tattoos." He indicated before shoving Naruto, who'd snorted and started laughing again. Ino failed to hold back a simmer of amusement herself as she let her silence stretch on.

"… They don't look bad." She finally quipped, enjoying the splutter of indignation from the brunet.

"What was that!"

She lifted her shoulders with a feigned look of innocence, not-so-secretly enjoying riling the man up. "I'm just saying they aren't the worst I've seen, you know?"

"You know?" Naruto echoed, snickering gleefully when Kiba cuffed him lightly on the shoulder.

"Like I'm going to take your word for it Naruto." Naruto shrugged.

"Take Ino's instead." The blond answered, glancing at the woman to his side. Kiba's gaze followed his.

Ino had her phone held in her spare hand and her eyes were wide, unblinking as she stared at the screen.

"What's up? You okay?" Kiba asked dubiously as her shock turned to an intense glare.

"Shit." She muttered before glancing between the two men. "I have to go."

"What?" Kiba exclaimed loudly. "What? No, babe, stay, everyone's having a great time." He gestured outwards with his drink. Naruto looked at her with a steady gaze, no humour present.

"What's happened?" Naruto asked. Ino knocked back her drink and briefly held his gaze whilst ignoring Kiba's spluttering.

"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough." She said vaguely as she placed her empty glass on the kitchen table. As she spun around to leave the room Kiba grabbed her hand, halting her.

She turned misty eyes onto him. "What?"

"Uh…"

"Call me." She directed as she slid her hand out of his grasp and sauntered towards the kitchen exit. Kiba watched her for a moment before something clicked in his head.

"Oi! You didn't even give me your number!" He shouted loudly.

She glanced back, a hand on the door frame. "If you want it that bad you'll find it." She said with a sultry smile before being engulfed by the crowd.

Kiba stood still for a moment as he gazed forlorn at the spot she'd just occupied, then he spun and faced Naruto, pouting.

"Jesus there's my chance of getting any gone for tonight."

"You were never getting that tonight." Naruto said with a childish snort and shake of his head. "Wonder why she left so quickly." He pondered, intrigued.

"Who cares, probably some ridiculous girl problem." Kiba said with an irritated shrug, his eyebrows drawn down. The brunet put on his best feminine voice, the sound coming out raspy and ridiculously high pitched as he spoke; "Oh noooo, so sad, some guy said something remotely off-ish and now I'll have to moan about it for hours with my friend, booo hoo hooooo." He huffed and shook his head. "Give me a break."

Naruto raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Wow, try not to be too salty."

"What, it's alright for you, you've got Hinata." Kiba complained as he leant against the fridge.

"She's not just something to sleep with." Naruto said haughtily at his friend. The brunet picked up on the mildly hostile tone from the blond.

"Chill dude, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean you've got this gorgeous, long haired, sweet, gentle-" Naruto coughed dramatically as he raised an eyebrow at his friend's excessive compliments. Kiba cleared his throat, the alcohol having loosened his tongue. "You've got someone and I don't. 'Course I'm salty." He finally concluded.

Naruto sighed, his eyelids heavy from the alcohol as he ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe not after tonight."

"Huh?"

"She left."

"Really." Kiba stated evenly, watching his friend as intently as he could. Naruto noticed the brunet's fingers twitch and then settle as he nodded, his face schooled.

"You guys'll sort it out, you're made for each other." Kiba offered moments later, a bizarre grin on his face. "Forget about it, get drunk with me."

Naruto's faced mirrored the brunets as he grinned, unaware, pulling the vodka bottle over to them as he wiggled his eyebrows. "You've still got your hand." Naruto said, picking up on an earlier part of their conversation.

Kiba took a gulp of his beer and brought his right hand up to study it, turning it over and sighing. "Guess it's just you and me tonight buddy." He said sadly.

"We can get some nail varnish and you can pretend it's someone else." Naruto offered with a snicker.

"What, the female Incredible Hulk?" He said, indicating the size of his hand. "No thanks."

Xxxxx

Sasuke resisted the urge to growl when he heard Naruto's front door slam again, cementing the notion that he wasn't going to be sleeping any time soon. Groping for his phone he brought it towards him and checked the time. It had been a couple of hours since Sakura had left.

Still dressed in his clothes but minus his shoes he pushed himself up and pocketed his phone before crossing the room and opening the door, peering out.

The hallway was in disarray, devoid of bodies but littered with bottles and glasses. The main light was off but the front room light lit it well enough, the scene in there looking much the same as the hallway did. He ventured out of Naruto's room with a frown plastered in distaste on his face.

As he entered the living room his noted that it too didn't have any people present. Apart from one. One very wasted person. One blue eyed blond, in fact.

Naruto lay sprawled out between his coffee table and sofa looking a little worse for wear.

I could just leave him there. Sasuke thought mildly, debating.

"Oi." Voiced the blond as he lifted his cheek off of the carpet. A line of drool dripped from his mouth to his chin and he glared in Sasuke's general direction. Sasuke raised an unamused eyebrow as he crossed his arms. "This is my house, get out, party is hella over." Naruto slurred whilst waving his arm about before wiping it haphazardly across his mouth, mopping up the drool.

"So now you're kicking me out." Sasuke said neutrally. Naruto squinted in the light.

"Sas'ke? That you?"

"Unfortunately." Was the dry response.

"Man." The blond said, laughing as he pushed himself up onto all fours. "That was a great-" He stopped mid-sentence, eyes wide as his cheeks bulged before he emptied the contents of his stomach onto the carpet. He heaved uncomfortably, groaning as Sasuke glared from his spot near the door. Naruto glanced at the dark haired man with a grin.

"'Least I won't have a hangover tomorrow, now."

"You're already this drunk, it's too late for being sick to save you. At all." Sasuke walked towards him and gazed down superiorly. "The best you can hope for is that you remember to put a glass of water and painkillers next to your bed for the morning."

Naruto pushed himself up so he could lean on the sofa, as far from the sick as he could be without actually moving. He ran a hand through his hair.

"You don't have to sweet talk me." He said with a lazy smile. Sasuke felt his glare intensify.

"Get to bed."

"Can't, Sas'ke's sleeping in there."

"You'd prefer the bath." Sasuke stated coldly. Naruto frowned and shook his head quickly, no. "Then get up."

"Yessir." The blond affirmed with a quick nod as he twisted his body and placed his hand straight into the pile of puke. Sasuke let out a frustrated sigh as he dropped his arms and rounded on the blond who was gradually pulling himself up, smearing sick on the sofa. "This is fucking classy." Naruto said with a laugh as his head tipped back and he waved his hand up for Sasuke to see. "Lookit this. It's sick."

"Hn. And it's all over a moron." Sasuke muttered as he grabbed Naruto's upper arm and up-righted him fully.

"Ohhhhh," Naruto voiced in wonder as he got his feet under him. "You mean me. Well, screw you, you fucking bastard." The blond stated with a huge smile on his face. He stumbled sideways on uncoordinated feet and planted his sock covered foot into the puddle of puke, sliding sideways in the slick fluid. He let out a deep wail of helplessness as he tipped backwards and stumbled only to feel his back collide with a torso and pale arms catch him under his own. Naruto looked up to see dark eyes glaring down at him, framed in dark hair.

"My hero." Naruto breathed with a drunken grin.

"Don't get used to it. Keep your disgusting hand away from me." Sasuke instructed with a scowl as he helped bring the blond on to his feet. He slung Naruto's clean hand up and around his own shoulder before securing his own around Naruto's waist, supporting the other's weight as they headed to the bathroom. I guess I'm helping you after all.

The blond hummed as they trudged across the carpet, his head lolling to the side and resting on Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke tightened his grip as the blond sagged against him, promising himself that he would erase the feel of Naruto's warm body against his from his mind as soon as realistically possible.

When Naruto stumbled for the third time Sasuke felt his patience wear thin.

"Oi, are your eyes closed?" He demanded as he glanced at the blond. Naruto blinked open dilated baby blue eyes quickly.

"No." He said defensively. "…not any more anyway." He added defiantly.

Sasuke resisted closing his own in exasperation. They eventually made it to the bathroom, Sasuke pushing the door open and unravelling himself from the blond, pushing him into the tiled room.

"Wash your hands and brush your teeth."

"No point." Naruto answered as he wavered on unsteady feet, a tanned hand coming to his mouth.

"Wha-"

"It's round two…!" The blond declared as he propelled himself forward. He dropped to his knees with a loud bang and hugged the toilet rim as he retched.

Sasuke grimaced. "At least you made it to the toilet this time."

"See…" Naruto said, waving his index finger with his head still firmly down the toilet. "There's a silver lining in everything."

Sasuke watched as Naruto puked until there was only bile left. Naruto's t-shirt had ridden up his back and exposed a small sliver of golden skin, not a tan line in sight. Sasuke looked away stubbornly.

"Finished?" He questioned as he watched Naruto unlatch himself from the toilet and lean back against the bath.

The blond groaned pathetically. "I hope so."

"Then wash your hands, brush your teeth."

"No no. I can't move, not yet." He moaned miserably. "This is all Kiba's fault." He deduced with an angry frown.

Sasuke watched the man from his position in the doorway. He didn't owe Naruto anything, he could just leave him here, have the bed for himself. He wasn't very good at sharing anyway. And at least now he knew that there was no one else left to slam the front door.

Sasuke made to turn around and leave.

"Ahh, oi where're you going?" Sasuke glanced back at the disaster on the bathroom floor.

"To bed, where else."

"What, you're gonna leave me here?" Naruto questioned, his voice high in disbelief. "Come on, don't leave me."

Sasuke locked eyes with baby blue and saw the same beaten look he'd seen earlier, before the blond frowned and closed his eyes, waving a limp hand in Sasuke's direction. The expression wiped clean. That was quick. Almost practised.

"Or go, whatever, doesn't matter to me." Naruto stated flippantly. He dragged the bath mat closer and lowered himself on to his side. "I'll sleep here."

After an internal struggle Sasuke entered the bathroom and roughly righted the blond again, his back resting once more against the bath. The blond had a questioning frown on his face.

"You've got sick on your face." Sasuke stated blandly.

"Gee, dunno how that got there." Naruto said before snorting and laughing. Sasuke ignored him and turned, grabbing a sponge from the sink and wetting it before rubbing some soap across the surface. Once satisfied he knelt next to the blond and took the wrist of the blond's soiled hand into his own, working the sponge over his tanned fingers.

Naruto's hands were a similar size to his own, but tanned, with short bitten nails.

Naruto looked up quizzically. "What're you doing?" He asked, flexing his fingers around Sasuke's unknowingly as his eyes attempted to focus on smouldering black. Sasuke pointedly ignored his gaze.

"What's it look like." He voiced irritably as he worked, disconnecting himself from his thoughts.

"Sponge bath." Naruto said with a snicker. "People pay a lot of money for these, I've heard."

"This is more like you're in a nursing home and you've pissed off your care assistant." Sasuke answered, finally catching Naruto's gaze as he looked up.

He'd always read blue eye's described as calming oceans or cloudless skies. As something cool and serene.

But not Naruto's. They were like the hottest flame, so intense they burned a hole straight through any façade, straight through to the very heart and soul, if given enough time.

Sasuke slapped the sponge onto Naruto's cheek, causing blue eyes to snap shut with a hiss from their owner. The pale man wiped Naruto's face roughly, the other moaning as his blond hair was pushed back.

"You don't need to be so rough." Naruto snapped as he shook his head. Sasuke grunted and stood up to rinse the sponge before kneeling again to wipe the soap residue off of the blond. Naruto sat still and let him do it, frowning with closed eyes as Sasuke wiped his face. Once satisfied Sasuke flung the sponge back into the sink and brought his eyes back to the blond.

He reached forward with long tentative fingers and brushed damp blond locks off Naruto's tanned forehead, unable to help himself. His skin was warm.

Naruto moaned lightly and Sasuke yanked his hand away, causing Naruto to frown.

"No give those back, they're like fucking ice and I'm on fire, jesus." Naruto groaned, peeling one eye open to glare unsuccessfully at the other.

"It's just the alcohol." Sasuke said as he twisted round and sat down next to the blond, a short distance between them. Naruto flung his head to the side and studied Sasuke's profile.

"Why are you even helping me?"

"Because pathetic self-pity is only amusing for so long." Sasuke said dryly.

"So you're not mad anymore?" Naruto questioned. "I thought I pissed you off. I actually do feel bad. I was just so pissed about the situation with Hinata, it kinda spilled over to you."

Sasuke turned his head to Naruto. "I really don't care." He voiced neutrally. Naruto snorted.

"Oh sure, that's why you stormed off to bed."

"You never shut up."

"Yeah I do. When I'm sleeping." Naruto quipped.

"Go to sleep then."

"I want to know that you're not mad at me anymore first." The blond voiced stubbornly, pouting slightly. "I know you're a good guy really, behind all that."

"I'm not mad, but I will be if you don't stop spouting bullshit." You don't know what I've done.

"God sake. You're so unfriendly. Can't you just relax? For five minutes?" Naruto asked, exasperated.

Sasuke mused silently to himself for a moment, letting Naruto's gaze burn into his face. "I could. But where's the fun in that." He finally answered with a smirk as he met Naruto's eyes. He watched as Naruto swallowed, his mouth slack as he looked at the dark haired man.

"Holy. Shit."

"What?" Sasuke asked with a scowl.

"Holy shit!" Naruto said again as he brought his fist down onto the bathroom floor, creating a bang.

"What?" Sasuke demanded again, irritable.

"Shit! Shit! You bastard!"

"Naruto what the fuck-"

"Man, you're so lucky! If we could just work on your shitty attitude you would be made. Shit."

Sasuke relaxed slightly but kept his narrowed gaze on Naruto. Naruto sighed as he brought his lazy smile back round to Sasuke, a sadness touching the edges.

"But it's not as easy as that, huh?" He questioned. "Everyone always thinks it's so easy, 'till it happens to them."

"…until what happens?" Sasuke asked, unable to help himself.

"Something out of your control."

"Is this about your girlfriend?" Unimpressed, Sasuke lifted an eyebrow at the blond.

Naruto blew a childish raspberry as his forehead creased.

"No. That's easy in comparison."

"Idiot, you're not making sense." Naruto shrugged and closed his eyes as he leant his head back against the bath tub. "In comparison to what?"

"Death." Naruto breathed out in a long exhale.

Sasuke's eyes drew wide as he studied the blond, thoughts whipping around his head and forming a hurricane of confusion and intrigue. Death?

"Naruto…" Why are you determined to help me?

The blond let out a loud snore.

Xxxxx

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Comments are always welcome, thank you for your kind support 3

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