A/N: I am updating earlier in the day than normal because I am sick and have nothing better do. So I hope you enjoy! Thanks for all the reviews and support!
Warnings: Nothing but angst in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, nor do I profit from this fic - unless you count the warm and fuzzies I get from all the reviews (thanks again).
Sasuke's eyes grew cold and distant as he stared at the blond. Naruto's confession hung heavy and suffocating in the air between them. Somebody needed to speak, to break the silence before it became too overwhelming. Naruto lacked the courage and Sasuke was unable to form a coherent thought.
"Sasuke?" Naruto's voice was weak.
The sound of his name coming from Naruto's treacherous mouth snapped him back to reality, "what the fuck Naruto?"
"Sasuke, I am so sor– " his apology was cut short.
"I believed you when you said I meant something to you," Sasuke shook his head, the look of disbelief still fixed on his features, "you waxed all poetic about getting close to people and forming bonds. I thought you being genuine, but apparently your definition of 'close' is sucking dick."
Naruto inhaled sharply, Sasuke's stinging words penetrated his core, "fuck you!" the pale boy scoffed at the comment, "no...no, that is not fair."
"Not fair? What about you going to your knees for a complete stranger is fair?" Sasuke began to raise his voice.
"Hey, I had no intention of approaching you tonight," Naruto countered, he pointed accusingly at the raven-haired boy, "you – you were the one who had me brought backstage. You were the one who came on to me!"
"Are you fucking serious Naruto?" there was a cold laugh buried under the question.
"I should have left, I know that. But don't act like you didn't have a part to play. This whole thing was your idea," the blond defended.
"So what? Just because somebody hits on you doesn't mean you are obligated to fuck them. I mean, Christ, do you make out with somebody if they hold a door for you?" Sasuke could feel he was losing his temper, that he could no longer filter his anger.
"No, I am just saying that I wouldn't have– " Naruto was cut off again.
"How often do you do this kind of thing? How long do you usually wait until you get into somebodies pants?" Sasuke huffed and rolled his eyes, bitterly he muttered, "great, now I am going to have to get tested."
Naruto bristled, he wouldn't stand for any more snide comments, "FUCK YOU!" he screamed.
"Not likely, but I am sure you can pick somebody up on the corner," the pale boy spat.
Tears began to form in the corners of Naruto's eyes, "get out of my fucking house!"
Sasuke's eyes slitted into a glare that burned through Naruto, he defied the order to a moment before he finally turning to leave. He didn't give the blond a second look as he slammed the door behind him. A few seconds passed and Naruto could hear tires screeching as Sasuke pulled away. Whatever it was that had been keeping Naruto upright, anger or perhaps pride, finally gave way and he collapsed. Tears streaked down his scarred cheeks and he cursed himself and Sasuke until choking sobs took over.
Alone his his cold loft, Sasuke stared out at the city. He couldn't see the stars with the light that radiated from the dense urban landscape, so instead he watched as street lights blinked and changed colors and headlights moved silently down the narrow corridors between highrises.
A sharp knock at the door caused the pale boy to jump. Who the hell? His brow furrowed, it was late and he was exhausted. He moved to the door and opened it with a scowl. Despite Sasuke's irritation, a thin eyebrow was raised at the man's presence.
"I really don't want to talk right now," Sasuke stated dryly.
"I don't give a shit," Suigetsu retorted.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and walked away from the door. He moved gracefully through the living space to the kitchen. Suigetsu followed, stopping next to a black leather chair.
"Water?" Sasuke was being an uncharacteristically attentive host.
Suigetsu nodded and deftly caught the bottle that was thrown in his direction, "so you wanna tell me about this stunt you pulled tonight?"
"No."
"Oh, I am sorry if that sounded like a question, let me rephrase. Tell me just what the fuck you thought you were doing tonight."
Sasuke brought his own bottle to his lips and pulled the cold water into his mouth. A chill spread through his body as he drank, releasing the bottle Sasuke finally spoke, "you should be happy Suigetsu. Karin should finally back off me, you can have her all to yourself."
"You are such a dick," Suigetsu replied, his tone was less cold and more a matter of fact. Shaking his head he continued, "so who was this guy?" Sasuke shrugged in response, "just some fanboy?"
Sasuke shifted his gaze, "yeah."
Suigetsu watched the pale boy with scrutinizing stare as he took another drink of water, "funny, Karin got the impression that you knew each other."
The raven-haired boy huffed and muttered, "I thought I knew him."
There was something strange in Sasuke's tone and Suigetsu realized he was seeing a part of the pale boy that he had never been privy to before. Sasuke was upset – not irritated or annoyed, but hurt. He suddenly wished he had listened to the boy and not engaged him in this conversation.
Suigetsu shifted his weight uncomfortably, he had known Sasuke for years and yet this was uncharted territory, "what happened Sasuke?"
The raven-haired boy moved to the couch, falling gracefully onto the leather cushions. He regarded his platinum-haired companion for a few long minutes before he reluctantly recounted the evening's events. He detailed his devious plan and how it had played out; he explained how he had tricked Naruto into meeting him and baited Karin to discover the whole thing. Sasuke felt his stomach tense with anger as he repeated Naruto's confession, but the pit was replaced with a nervous fluttering when he described all the hurtful things he had said.
Suigetsu sat in quiet contemplation as Sasuke spoke. The dark-haired boy did a spectacular job at hiding the pain in his voice, but Suigetsu had no doubt that it was there – buried under the stoic facade. Suigetsu was torn; he had come over with every intention of telling Sasuke off, but finding him in this unnaturally vulnerable state – he couldn't bring himself to do it. What the bastard had done was conniving and spiteful, but it seemed he was already being punished.
"That blows Sasuke," Suigetsu squinted one eye as the poorly chosen words left him, "I mean... I'm sorry."
Sasuke looked away, he didn't want Suigetsu's pity – he damn sure didn't deserve it. The platinum-haired boy chewed his lip nervously, desperately trying to come up with some words of comfort. He inhaled as if to speak but decided against it. How does one respond in this twisted situation? "Sorry your boyfriend did exactly what you wanted him to do."..."Yeah, Naruto may have cheated on you, but at least you know the guy."
After trying out several responses in his head, Suigetsu finally spoke, "Naruto may have fucked up...but Sasuke, what you did was fucked up too. You lied to him, you cornered him and then after you realized what happened, you ripped him apart."
"A lie of omission is hardly a lie," Sasuke defended with a cold tone.
Suigetsu huffed, "Sasuke, you have to admit your role in all of this – if not to him than at least to yourself."
The pale boy stared at Suigetsu, "are you taking his side?" he asked incredulously, "he cheated on me and you are taking his side?"
"For Christ's sake Sasuke," the platinum-haired boy spat in irritation, "first off, I am not taking sides – I am merely offering an impartial observation. Secondly, and I think this is the most important fact – he didn't actually cheat on you," Sasuke made to argue, but Suigetsu continued, "do you have any idea how absurd this whole thing is? Okay, maybe he thought he was cheating on you – but he said himself that if it weren't for you coming on to him he would have walked out. You can't justify your anger towards Naruto when you were pulling the strings the whole time. I think your fucked up puppet show came back to bite you in the ass."
Sasuke looked at Suigetsu impassively. He has a point. Not that Sasuke would admit that aloud. Exhaustion was wearing the pale boy down. He just wanted to close his eyes and slip away from everything – the pain and anger and confusion. Sasuke offered his thanks and walked Suigetsu to the door.
"Oh and Sasuke," Suigetsu turned as he walked out the door, "When I get back to Karin, I am going to tell her I tore you a new asshole, so try to act pissy the next time we meet – shouldn't be hard for you."
Sasuke shut the door on the smirking boy and moved to his bedroom. Slowly and contemplatively he undressed and slipped under the covers. The bed seemed colder than normal and he shuddered as he rolled onto his side. His consciousness slipped under the comforting emptiness of sleep and Sasuke's body finally, after hours of tension, relaxed.
Naruto trudged to the door late Sunday morning, he turned the knob and stared in confusion when it didn't open. After a moment of processing, Naruto flipped the deadbolt – he had locked the door to ensure no unwelcome guests pestered him while he was recovering from his fight with Sasuke. He pulled the door open and squinted as the bright sun hit his tired eyes.
"I forgot my iPod," Gaara stated blandly as he walked into the house.
Naruto shut the door and shuffled back to the living room, flopping down on the couch. Gaara wandered around the house as he searched unsuccessfully. He returned from the kitchen and scanned the room for Naruto. A shock of yellow hair directed him to the couch.
"Have you seen it Naru– " he stopped when he finally looked at the blond.
Naruto was laying limp on the couch, a distant gaze fixed on the ceiling. His normally vivid blue eyes were dull and bloodshot. His tear stained cheeks were, like the rest of his complexion, pasty. Slowly he shifted his eyes to Gaara and his impassive mask lifted to reveal pain and desperation.
"Fuck, Naruto. What happened?" the red head moved to the couch and brought the blond to his lap as he sat down.
"Sasuke," Naruto's voice cracked.
Gaara stroked the soft blond hair as Naruto told the story of the concert and subsequent fight. He fought back the tears that threatened to break free as he described what he had done and what Sasuke had said. His face was contorted in pain as he spoke, it was an expression so few people had ever seen – Naruto at his most vulnerable, before he was able to plaster on a phony grin or let time soften the hurt.
"Gaara," Naruto reached up and stroked the red head's cheek, he ran his thumb across the pale pink lips, softly he continued "...stay with me."
A/N: One of my better cliffhangers I think.
And now for some shameless self promossion - if you haven't seen it already, I have posted a one shot "Alone in Our Room". It is pretty angsty, so it may not be much of a reprieve from this chapter, but there is a nice lemon prize in it. Check it out and let me know what you think, it is my first SasuNaru and my first time writing in first person/present tense.