.
12.
destruction
.
When he is with them, he begins to fall apart.
It is a gentle unraveling, a slow spun destruction so soft, so light, that he is never the wiser. But it is there. In Naruto's smile, returned with rolled eyes and a muttered jibe. In the seconds that Sakura's arm brushes his, the touch unpunished and almost familiar. With light and laughs and blooming memories of happiness, the darkness begins to shred and feather into wisps of smoke. And when they smile, wave, remind him tomorrow, tomorrow, we're doing this, there is nothing left but a memory, a guide, a hope of what Sasuke could be.
When they leave, he kills it.
(Until the day the smile, the touch, the love, lights a small true flame, burning bright enough to keep the black away. Then, this Sasuke lives to see the morrow.)
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note: So I made you wait for this ugly baby chapter. Beg pardon.
