Naruto sat in his room, looking out the window as maids shuffled around the room. They removed Itachis things, cleaned the room, changed linens and brought in Sasukes things. Naruto fidgeted with his hands, still angry but also nervous, could he go through this all again? Could he fix things in 3 days? How could he hide his anger and try to be a great 'wife' with what just happened?
Naruto then heard a knock on the door frame, the maids were gone but his door was still open. He turned and saw Sasuke standing in the doorway, looking sheepish.
"Hey." Naruto said, unsure of what to do, so he just looked at the Uchiha.
"Hey." Sasuke said back, entering the room and moving to the bed, taking a seat.
Naruto looked at Sasuke, studying him, seeing Sasuke thinking, their eyes not meeting. Naruto sighed and looked back out the window, thinking back to before they arrived. How he sat in this spot, wondered what would happen, and how naive he had been. It felt like months had passed since then, not two weeks.
"I'm sorry... For Itachi." Sasuke said, pulling Naruto back to the room. Naruto looked at Sasuke, who was looking at the floor.
"You aren't him. I said that before. You don't have to apologize for someone else." Naruto replied, finding his words to be more bitter than intended.
"This still... It crossed a new line." Sasuke said, now meeting the blondes eyes. "I'm sorry."
Naruto looked away and back out the window, not ready to accept the apology. Feeling like nothing could fix it, especially not Sasuke, who didn't even commit the acts against him.
"So, you are coming in to clean up after him? Take his leftovers? Then what? You keep me around to help you take him down? My hate for him will help fuel your mission?" Naruto asked, letting the bitter feelings rise and be out in the open, hot tears streaming again. "I won't lie to you, I can't be your bride. If you expect me to be like I was with Itachi, you're wrong. I don't even think I can put the kingdom before me anymore. There is no more 'me' to give."
"Naruto it's not like that. I don't- I..." Sasuke started and Naruto could hear the Uchiha approach him, but didn't turn, still looking anywhere but him. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to be like you were with him. I want you to be like how you are with me. I'm not trying to keep you as a pawn. I just... Want you. I don't want to see you lose yourself because of him. Like I have."
Naruto felt Sasukes presence close by him, he felt the tears getting stronger, wanting to believe the brunette but too jaded.
"I want you to succeed for your kingdom. I will help you keep them safe." Sasuke said and rubbed the blondes cheek, wiping away tears. Naruto very weakly pushed his hand away, not wanting to be touched, feeling too raw.
"I can't... I can't believe you. I want you. But I don't know you. I thought I did but..." Naruto said in between sobs, looking at the Uchiha, feeling broken. Sasuke nodded and Naruto looked down, trying to curl in on himself. He heard Sasukes footsteps leave the room and Naruto cried openly, feeling too much of every emotion.
But not long after he heard a knock on his door, Naruto just yelled to not come in to the door but heard it open anyways. He looked up, angry for not being listened to but stopped, seeing blue hair and white eyes.
"Hinata!" Naruto cried out and ran to his sister, falling into her arms and sobbing. They slowly lowered to the ground and Naruto told Hinata all that had happened as she gently rubbed on his back and ran her fingers through his hair.
"I'm so sorry. If I would've known- if anyone knew- we would've stopped this. You are so important, if you crumble, so does our kingdom. You always put it before you, but you forget, it's a part of you as well. You must respect yourself to respect the kingdom." Hinata said softly and Naruto heard the regret in her voice.
"I can't, I have to keep them safe. I can't just have both." Naruto replied weakly.
"You can. If this other Uchiha is the same, the deal is off. Our people will fight for you. Against any army." Hinata reassured, and made Naruto look at her to make sure he got her point.
"He's not... But I don't think he'll understand. He's had what he's wanted his whole life. I don't think, even if he is now, that he will be happy here." Naruto said, laying his head back down on Hinatas lap.
"You can't decide that for other people Naruto. He fought his father for you. Maybe he wants something in you." Hinata offered.
"I don't know..." Naruto said and yawned, his body exhausted from all the emotions that had wrecked his body all day.
"Lay down, you need rest. There is nothing we can fix now except your exhaustion." Hinata said, tapping on her brother's back, trying to get him up. Naruto grumped but got up and moved to the bed, sleep already taking over him.
"He called for me, you know? He knows you, at least, from your talks." Hinata said as she brushed at Naruto's hair. The blonde woke slightly to take in this information but didn't know what to say, instead he nodded and drifted off to sleep.