'Speak of the Devil' by Sum 41

Sasuke POV

As we stepped onto the beach, I let him down, but prevented him from opening his eyes, begging him-in my own way-not to.

"Aw, fine! Teme," he murmured. I smiled, knowing he wouldn't peek, and lead him cautiously down the sand towards the glowing ferris wheel in the distance. The sounds of the fair were getting louder, and the liittle teen began to get suspicious.

"What's that noise, Sasuke?"

I smirked, "A family's having a barbeque, looks like. We'll go around them."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to a cool place I know of."

He seems to accept that. We walk closer and closer, and finally, we arrive at the carnival's front gate, bright, shining rides and lights everywhere in front of us. I reach over and take him by the shoulder, pulling him closer to me. Then I lean in and put my head on the shoulder, chuckling.

"Open."

I assume he did, because I hear a huge gasp.

He whirls around, tears in his eyes, with a gigantic grin on his face.

I hold up our tickets, smiling.

"Happy Brithday, dobe."

His eyes widen more, if possible, and he rushes me, squeezing me into his tan arms, curling up to my body. I blush faintly, glad that the multi-colored lights hide it, and hug him back.

"Thank you so much, teme! You really did remember!"

I laugh, "Of course I did dobe."

He squeals-it's totaly cute-and twirls-also cute-into the crowded path of the fair.

Leaping after him, I quickly pass the tickets to the vendor and hurry to catch up, grabbing him afround the waist and pulling him to a stop.

He furrows his brows in question, huge eyes gleaming. I sigh and dig out my wallet, passing a twenty to him. He rasies the brows, and I smirk.

"Did you think they'd let you eat, drink, and play for free, dobe?" I chuckle and roll my eyes playfully.

He takes the money, blushing.

"Thanks teme." it's a whisper.

I look down at him and my eyes widen. He's staring at the ground, and is biting his lip. I sigh, smile, and reach over, hugging him gently. His fists curl into my jacket.

"Come on. Let's go have some fun, dobe."

Is it really nessessary to lean out when one is at the top of a ferris wheel?

I don't think I saw that in the rule book. Did someone forget to give me an updated copy, or what the fuck?

My heart is racing and I'm staring up with solemn eyes, panicking inside, as my little idiot holds onto the rails in front of his body, his torso leaning forward into empty space. I think I'm having a heart attack!

My insides are jumbled and my stomach dropped to my toes a few seconds ago when the ride rocked and his basket bounced around. I think the ferris wheel is to test the people watching, not the ones riding. My soda was dripping onto the dusty path that wound through the fair, and the styrofoam cup was crushed in my hand, popcorn bag nearly ripped open by my nails on the other hand. I'd been having a rough time since Naruto went up in the gigantic wheel.

I'm leaning against the wall and dry heaving, as his cart comes down, a mantra going through my head: Get it together, get it together, get it together, get it together...

As the huge wheel stops and he leaps out, I force my mask back on and toss the empty cup and crushed bag away, hitting a fat lady in the head behind me. Unbeknown to myself, she turns and gets up, stalking over to me. Naruto is running to me, and I feel a heavy tap on my shoulder. I glare at the person through my awesome Uchiha powers and the tap comes again. Naruto has reached me now, and is staring at something behind me. I finally give an angry growl and turn.

My eyes went so wide, I'm surprised they didn't pop out and roll across the ground and scare the ants.

I truly am.

She was almost eight times my size, and was scowling down at me, popcorn sticking all over her huge body. Soda drizzled down her floral print dress, which had so many jelly rolls she could've run her own bakery. Her short brown hair was stringy and ugly, and I swear to god she had a lazy eye. She was also glaring at a little girl across the crowded street at the same time as she glared at me. Or maybe she had something against little girls. I don't know.

I might've philosophized a bit more about this, had I not had to duck immediately to avoid the right hook she tossed at me. Okay, I'm usually not scared of things like this, but I nearly dropped flat to the ground on my face to avoid this particular hook. I dragged Naruto with me, and quickly scuttled away.

Her fingers, however fat, had somehow all been outfitted with large, probably fake, jeweled rings. It was amazing, the detail I saw in the few short moments before I ducked away. Spikes. There were spikes on the tips of all four rings.

Who wears spiked rings to a fair? I mean, a beautiful dame, I could see, but there was no way even a blind man would try to harass this woman. Honestly. Anyways, back to the insane amount of hurt I would've experienced had I not ducked, Naruto tugged me away from another hit, and we got up, feet skidding, to sprint away from the enraged lady. Or...the very large flower carnival mirror. As we stumbled around the corner, I smirked, and reached out, grabbing something from a prize vendor. If we were leaving, might as we'll get something for our troubles.

By the time we'd reached the actual beach beyond all the noise, we fell on the sand, side-by-side, and could'nt stop laughing.

"Sasuke-" he gasped, "Haha! Did you see her face?"

I clutched my sides, tears streaming, "Hehe! Yeah! Did you see the way those viens were popping out on her head?"

We stayed like that for a good while, and when the last giggles and chuckles died down, we were still laying there, stretched out on the dark grains of sand, waves lapping gently at the footprints of the day a little ways off, their echoes reaching our ears. I sighed and rubbed the gift I'd stolen for him. I watched the stars, glittering and gleaming overhead. The bright carnival lights didn't obstruct out view, and Naruto repeated my breath. I glanced in the direction I knew him to be in. My hand ached to hold his, but I resisted.

Sadly, I closed my eyes and bit my lip.

"Sasuke?"

I peeked again, and saw a brilliant pair of sky blue eyes contrasting with the sparkling velvet above, shining a light that was all thier own. I barely had the time to hold back a gasp. They blinked, and the mop of sunshine hair directly over them shifted as Naruto cocked his head cutely at me and asked again, "Sasuke?"

I managed to whisper, "Yes?"

"What was today about?"

I smirked and shook my head, squeezing the item again before holding it up for him, the moonlight illuminating it for the first time. The gorgeous eyes over me widened and a smile began to form, only to give way to hesitation and confusing, caution outlining both. He swallowed and remained silent.

I sat up, my eyes never leaving his, and stopped when I was about a foot from his face, a light blush coming to my cheeks, the night hiding it. I grabbed hs hand and put the fox plushie in it, smiling softly and murmuring to him.

"Happy Birthday, dobe."

His face lit up and his fist curled around the little doll.

Suddenly, I was knocked flat into the sand, a warm body pressed into mine. I grunted, as it took my air from me.

"Dobe?"

He was silent, arms firmly wrapped around my middle and his head in my neck.

"Naruto?"

I felt warm splashes on my skin, as his tears soaked through my shirt. I sighed and put my hand on his back, rubbing circles with my thumb.

"Thank you so much, teme."

I didn't say anything, only smiling and holding him tighter.

As we laid there for hours, a few couples went by and I simply enjoyed holding him. I knew he probably knew nothing of my feelings, and I also knew that I was most likely only an extremely close friend to him. But to me...this was more than I could've hoped for. I could breathe him in and keep him close. It was his birthday...but this was a gift to me.

When the horizon had already bid the moon and stars goodbye and it was tinged pink with the sunrise, I sighed, blinking my somehow light lids and sitting up, taking the little blonde in my arms and standing as I picked him up and began to walk back down the long expanse of sand, heading back to our dorm.

We got there a little over two hours later, because I refused to wake him up or rush. The sun was slowly rising, and I sighed as I opened the college front door awkwardly, easily carrying his thin, tanned body up the flights of stairs and over to my room. I kicked on it softly with my foot and waited a few moments before slamming the sole of my heel into it, the huge bang amazingly not waking Naruto up. A couple seconds later, a disgruntled silver slammed it open, a baseball bat in his grip. I grumbled and shoved past him, taking the little blonde over to our bed. Kakashi mumbled something and shut the door.

Naruto woke up, peeping through his golden lashes up at me.

"S'ske?"

I smirked and handed him the small plushie I'd kept in my back pocket. His half-awake eyes widened slightly and he managed to grin and cuddle up to the little toy, patting the space beside him. I smiled gently, and murmured, "I'll be there in a moment. I've still got sand in my hair."

Before he could say anything, "I already got almost all of the sand from yours on the way back." He accepted this silently, looking up at me with half-mast eyes and yawning cutely.

Sighing, I went over to the alarm clock-I'd gotten a new one-and turned it off. Then I walked to the bathroom, holding my head close to the toilet and brushing a small mound of grains from my shaggy mane of raven hair. Done, checking for more, I washed my hands and turned off the lights as I went back into the bedroom. As I came in, I saw Kakashi looking at me strangely.

"What is it?" I finally asked. He just smiled and shook his head, shifting so his back was to me. I shrugged, going over to the bed again. Naruto was trying desperately not to fall asleep, and looked up at me, eyes barely open and smiled softly. He was too cute. I reached over and stroked his ruffled spikes, turned off the last light, and then went over to my side of the bed, getting in. I threw blankets over both of us and closed my eyes.

I nearly gasped but didn't, when I felt his warm little body curling up into my chest. Opening my eyes, I could just barely make out his frame, and smiled, putting my own arms gently around him and tugging him closer. He didn't say anything, probably already asleep. I tucked his golden head under my chin and sighed.

After a few hours of holding him like this, my eyelids were threatening to drop, and I sighed again, closing them.

As I finally drifted off to sleep, I had a thought of bravery. Leaning closer to the little teen in my arms, I kissed his head and buried my face in his hair, murmuring to the sleeping blonde, "I love you."

So? How was it? I know I said I was catching up to HL&S, but I was already almost done with this one, so I figured...oh, who am I kidding? *Sobs*

I'm weak! I couldn't do it~

Review.