Prompt from CheeryDanDan

Characters: Sasuke x Naruto / SasuNaru

Naruto-verse, after the war, around the age of 19

Song: Fuckin Perfect Artist: P!nk

Story Rating: T for language

Fuckin Perfect by P!nk

Made a wrong turn once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good'
It didn't slow me down.
Mistaken, always second guessing
Underestimated, look I'm still around

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me

You're so mean (so mean) when you talk (when you talk)
About yourself. You were wrong.
Change the voices (change the voices) in your head (in your head)
Make them like you instead.

So complicated,
Look how we all make it.
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough, I've done all I could think of
Chased down all my demons
I've seen you do the same
(Oh oh)

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me

The whole world's scared, so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and we try, try, try but we try too hard
And it's a waste of my time.
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair
Exchange ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that, why do I do that (why do I do that)?

Oh, pretty, pretty, pretty

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me
(You're perfect, you're perfect)
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me.

…..

It's been nearly two years since Sasuke left the village. Sometimes, Naruto catches himself thinking about him, when he's training with Sakura or helping Kakashi with his hokage duties, he can't help but wonder about the other member of their team. He finds himself wondering what Sasuke is up to, and where his journey for redemption will lead him. Naruto misses him, but doesn't need to worry. He knows that Sasuke will someday return, when he's ready, and there's no use in trying to rush his path to recovery.

Naruto has been quite busy himself, training everyday and taking any mission he can get in order to prepare himself for the role of hokage someday. After the war ended, he became quite a hero within the village, a fact that he still never got used to. Sometimes, Naruto would wander away from the village, in the heart of the woods, just to get away from all the noise of the crowds. He found that he too needed some peaceful time alone, to help him think and reflect on everything that's happened up till now in his life.

He's running through the woods now, feeling the cool air brush back his blonde strands and tickle his whiskered cheeks. It feels good to run from branch to branch, surveying the land below for a good spot to practice his jutsu. He finds a clearing and lands, eager to practice his nine-tailed beast mode far away from curious onlookers in the village.

He and Kurama have become close ever since the war, and it's been very helpful to have Kurama on his side when training. He can tap into the nine tail's chakra easily, and he's still learning how best to harness it. The power is overwhelming, and it's something he wants to get a better handle on.

Naruto begins by meditating and taking in nature energy. He calms his breathing down and sits quietly, taking in all the chakra of the plants and animals around him. And that's when it hits him—that chakra, it's familiar, one that he'll never forget. He jolts up instantly, keenly aware that the source of that chakra is close, barely 15 meters away.

"Sasuke?" he cries out, wondering if he'll even show himself. Why would Sasuke be hiding in these woods? Is he planning on coming back to the village? Naruto's heartbeat is quick, a new source of energy flows within his veins. He's eager, impatient, to see Sasuke.

"Usuratonkachi," that familiar voice mutters out from behind Naruto. He whips around, and his eyes grow wide, a gasp escapes his lips.

"Sasuke!"

"Shh," Sasuke whispers, drawing nearer, "You weren't supposed to see me." He leans casually against a tree, his one hand planted on his hips. Naruto looks him up and down, noting his change in appearance. Sasuke's hair is plastered down with a dark blue band that wraps around his head. He wears a grey overcoat, it's long and reminds Naruto of a poncho. He's a bit taller, and leaner than when Naruto last saw him. His face is just as handsome, with his mismatched eyes and the ghost of a smile on his lips.

"What are you doing here dattebayo?" Naruto asks, walking closer to him.

Sasuke looks down to the ground, "I-I wanted to check in on the village. Everything seems to be okay."

"Yeah, of course things are alright here. Is that really why you came? To check on the village?" Naruto asks skeptically. "Why were you hidden in these woods?"

Sasuke blushes and hides his face, scowling, "Well, I should be off anyways. Like I said, I shouldn't have run into you here."

"Wait!" Naruto desperately cries out and grabs Sasuke's hand. Sasuke doesn't pull away, but looks at him with surprise, "Why are you leaving so soon? Is it really that bad for us to meet here? What were you really doing? Were you spying on me?"

Sasuke looks affronted by all these questions, "I wasn't spying…just…" his voice trails off and he makes a disgruntled sort of noise in his throat.

"I've missed you too Sasuke," Naruto says, candidly. He surprises even himself with admitting it.

"Usuratonkachi. It's not like I would come all this way because I miss you," Sasuke says, eyes averted. He's still allowing Naruto to grasp his hand. Naruto laces their fingers together, carefully, immediately liking the feel of Sasuke's warm hand against his.

"Hehe," Naruto laughs, "I can read right through you. You did miss me."

"Naruto," Sasuke's voice sounds hollow, and he pulls his hand away, "We can't do this. You shouldn't focus your thoughts on me so much. I'm not worth it."

"Huh?" Naruto is genuinely confused for a moment, "What are you talking about?"

"Naruto…you and I…there's no way it could work. I've made a wrong turn more than twice…and now, I've tried to dig my way out of all the bad decisions I've made. I was misplaced and misunderstood my entire life…and you would be better off liking someone else," his voice is cold, and betrays the tears to come. He holds them back, afraid to let go of his pain and emotions in front of Naruto.

"Why are you so mean when you talk about yourself?" Naruto asks, stepping closer to the downcast figure before him. His heart aches, seeing Sasuke like this.

"Because…I was filled with so much hatred. I was a despicable person. Yet you still fought to save me, all those years. And I did horrible things, things that I don't know if I can ever forgive," Sasuke says, still holding back tears.

"But you made it out," Naruto reminds him, "You chased down your demons, I've seen you do it. I've forgiven you long ago, and it's time that you forgive yourself. You need to change the voices in your head and make them like you instead."

Sasuke gives a disbelieving grunt, as though that notion is impossible for him. "I don't know how you do it Naruto. How can you forgive me? I killed my own brother…and there's no taking that back. Itachi is gone, because of me." The tears finally come, leaking hot against Sasuke's cheeks. He curses under his breath and curls his fist up, slamming it against the tree.

Naruto doesn't back away, he simply places one hand on Sasuke's back, allowing him to heave out strangled sobs for a moment. "Itachi loved you, always. He knew what would happen, and he forgave you. I thought this journey you're taking would lead you to that conclusion."

"This path that I walk hasn't been easy. I've been able to reconcile with a lot of my past, but there are still some demons that I can't ignore, and can't forgive. And I want to be here, and be with you Naruto, but I can't allow it. I don't really know why I came here today…I think I wanted to see you, to be reminded of the strength that saved me two years ago."

"The thing that ultimately saved you was yourself," Naruto says, "I did help reach out to you, but you're the one who made the decision to stop your path of vengeance and hatred and begin a new path." Sasuke stares up at Naruto upon hearing these words, as though a light went off in his head. He's never thought of it in that way before now. He's rendered speechless for a moment.

"Sasuke," Naruto gently caresses Sasuke's face and turns it so that Sasuke is forced to look him straight in the eye. He needs Sasuke to understand this, "Please, don't you ever feel like your less than fucking perfect," Sasuke's eyes widen, Naruto almost never curses. The emphasis he placed behind those words ring out into the quiet forest, "if you ever feel like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me."

Sasuke's face is warm from Naruto's touch, and Naruto feels his own cheeks grow hot. They've never been this open, this honest about their feelings for one another before. It's always been there, this feeling of something more than friendship between them, since they were young. Naruto stares longingly at Sasuke's lips, wondering if Sasuke feels the same desires that he does. Sasuke's lips crack into a tiny smirk, and Naruto grins, realizing what Sasuke must be thinking. But before Sasuke can whisper the words "usuratonkachi," Naruto's lips are upon his. The kiss is soft, and tender, and slightly salty tasting from Sasuke's tears. But it's perfect, and both of them feel it – that soaring sensation of their hearts – and the understanding, the crystal clear realization, that their feelings for each other are mutual, and that things will be alright.

They part and there's a tiny moment of awkwardness between them. Their faces are flushed, and there's a silly grin plastered on each face. Sasuke breaks the silence with a chuckle. "What?" Naruto asks.

"You saved me, once again," Sasuke says.

"So you feel better then?" Naruto asks, relieved.

"Yeah. My journey is still far from over, but I realize now that it was a good decision to stop here for a moment. I needed this; this reassurance," Sasuke says.

"I'll always believe in you," Naruto tells him, "And you should believe in yourself too."

Sasuke laughs softly again, "I'm starting to, because of you. Thank you," he places two fingers on Naruto's forehead and pokes him. Naruto staggers back a little from the forehead poke, blushing furiously. He knows exactly what that gesture indicates.

"I'll see you soon Naruto," Sasuke says, backing away quickly into the thicket of trees.

"Okay," Naruto says, still slightly discombobulated after that touch on his forehead, "I'll miss you!" he yells out, into the empty forest. But he can still sense Sasuke's presence, and knows that Sasuke heard him. He can imagine Sasuke's blush and can almost hear the mutter of 'usuratonkachi' under his breath. Naruto smiles wide; all is well.

...

Author's note: Thanks for the prompt CheeryDanDan! And thanks to all you readers for keeping this going for so long, I'm truly grateful! Sorry I haven't had a chance to post a chapter each weekend as I had planned, sometimes life just gets in the way. But I am trying my best to get all the prompts written. P.S.- Currently working on your ShikaTema 1975 song spilihp17, it's just taking a little longer as I want to get it perfect. Anyways, thanks again everyone!