Ignite (Naruto's POV)

In which Naruto finds himself at Sasuke's apartment in the middle of the night yet again, but is it to fight some more, to make up, or to fight some more and THEN make up?!

A/N: Hi guys! I've been hard at work writing like a maniac and I'm almost finished this whole fic! After this update we'll have eight chapters to go, and then the epilogue, for a total of 44 chapters.

Since we're getting close to the ending, things are really heating up. *cough* Literally. So, NSFW warning for this chapter! It's been SO LONG!

I repeat, NSFW incoming!

Naruto was beyond furious and he poured all of his anger into his training. But after three hours and the deaths of several dozen perfectly innocent trees, he was only slightly less angry. Sasuke could go ahead and feel whatever he liked for Konoha, that was his right, but to imply that Naruto didn't belong here either?! That was crossing a line! Konoha was his home, he had been born here, he had trained here, he had given his whole self to keeping this village safe. Didn't he deserve to feel like he belonged, at last?

Sasuke was lashing out. He was obviously hurt, but he had to realise that not everyone believed those stupid flyers. They couldn't! Everyone knew what Sasuke had done in the war, that he'd saved them all, and he'd never asked for any kind of recognition. Yeah, there were a few bad apples in town, a few loud apples voicing their stupid unfounded suspicions. They were just scared of the unknown. To hell with them!

Naruto called up two clones and charged at the tallest tree left in the clearing. "Rasengan!" he cried, and in an instant the tree and its immediate surroundings had been obliterated with a satisfying boom and an explosion of smoke.

The two clones cheered and high-fived each other, looking very pleased with themselves.

"No cheering!" Naruto ordered. "That was nothing! Less than a mini-rasengan! We're gonna do this all night if we have to!"

The clones instantly fell to the ground and started whining like children. Naruto rolled his eyes. Did other people have these problems? His clones were so annoying!

"And what did that tree do to deserve such treatment?" came Sakura's voice, and Naruto whirled around.

"It was in the way," Naruto said with a pout. "All the trees must go."

"You should find something a little sturdier to take your anger out on," Sakura suggested. "A mountain, perhaps."

Yeah, well, maybe Naruto could have blown up a mountain back when he was normal. …a small mountain, anyway. But he doubted he could blow up much of anything in this state.

"It's a good thing you're not at full-strength or the whole forest would be in danger!" Sakura went on with a quick grin.

"Don't be mean," Naruto scowled. "I'm gonna be back to normal in no time, see if I'm not! I've had enough of this, I swear!" He might have been feeling helpless about it all before, but that was done and gone, he was going to smash through this problem and prove himself!

"You're stronger already," Sakura informed him. "You've pushed your limits higher since yesterday."

Naruto's eyes widened and he felt more of his anger fade away. "Really?" he exclaimed. "Really, Sakura-chan? You mean it?"

"I do," she said. "That's the good news. The bad news is that your blood test hasn't revealed anything conclusive yet. I'm running some more though. Some more….obscure tests."

"Oh," Naruto said. And he'd had such high hopes that Sakura would have an answer for him right away. "…but, if I'm improving, I can just keep on improving until I get back to normal, right?"

"Well," Sakura said with a small frown. "Maybe. But practically speaking, if normal for you was one hundred, then this toxin- if that's what it was- has pushed you down to a fifty, and now you've clawed your way back up to fifty-five…"

Naruto's heart sunk. "Okay so that's, um, whatever one hundred minus fifty-five is to go…" Math wasn't exactly his strong point, but that wasn't too much, was it? If he trained really hard, every day? It's not like he had anything else to do. It's not like he'd be hanging out with Sasuke any time soon. He might as well blow up some more trees.

"Now I know you probably just want to push on and train until you pass out," Sakura said, "but you really should be careful. Remember, if you get injured you won't just bounce back like you usually do!"

Naruto frowned. Yeah, he knew that, obviously. He wasn't gonna get hurt, okay?!

"Alright, I'll be careful," he said. "…I'll just train for a little longer."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "One more hour. And I'll stop by your apartment this evening to make sure you're at home resting. Understood?"

…ah. She was going to check on him. But maybe he could just train in his apartment, or maybe go out again after she was gone…yes, he was going to get as much training in today as physically possible!

"Yes, Sakura-chan, I understand," Naruto said, giving her his most earnest, trustworthy look.

She rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder. "Yeah, sure," she said. "I'll see you in a few hours."

As it turned out, after another hour of training Naruto's body was screaming and he was more exhausted than he'd been in a long time. He had to practically crawl back home to his apartment and into the shower, groaning as he let the hot water pour over his aching muscles.

…maybe Sakura knows what she's talking about, Naruto mused to himself as he lay on his bed looking up at the ceiling. He'd planned on getting in another training session after dinner, but maybe…maybe he should rest.

Well, maybe he'd feel differently after a nap. Yes, he'd train more after a nap.

When he woke again it was pitch-black in his room and he was hurting all over. He groaned and rolled onto his side, noticing a slip of paper next to his pillow. Good boy, it read, love Sakura.

He scowled. So he'd rested, big deal. Now that he was awake, he should do some more training…what time was it? Ah. Three in the morning. …well.

He was still feeling exhausted, and he was pretty sure he could fall straight back asleep right now. Mm, but something was pulling at the back of his mind; something had woken him up. What was it? A noise of some kind?

…no, it was…Sasuke.

Naruto pushed himself up and sat on his bed, concentrating hard. What was the bastard doing now? Naruto could feel a regular thrum of chakra sparking in his mind, like someone was beating on a drum, softly but steadily inside his head. It was too strange to ignore.

He sat there for several more minutes and the pattern of the chakra didn't change. What on earth was he doing?! And why couldn't he cut it out? Naruto was trying to sleep here! He wouldn't get any rest with this racket!

He scowled and got up out of bed, and pulled on a reasonably clean shirt. He'd just have to go and give that bastard a piece of his mind, honestly, waking him up in the middle of the night like this- what nerve!

Naruto was still feeling sluggish and sore as he leapt over the rooftops through a fine, misting rain, so it took him a little longer than usual to reach Sasuke's apartment. Long enough for all his fury with that guy to re-ignite. The things he'd said to him! And all Naruto had been doing was trying to help. That's all he ever did, help Sasuke, be concerned about Sasuke. And what did he get in return?! Oh, he was really going to give him a piece of his mind!

…but as soon as he landed on Sasuke's balcony, all that anger melted away in an instant.

There was Sasuke, sitting slumped against the wall of his apartment, looking blank and empty. The last time he'd been here, Sasuke had been furious and on the attack. But now…now he just seemed dead. Naruto crouched on the railing and watched as he continued to send out little mini-chidoris into the night, the blue sparks fizzing in the rain and illuminating his pale face.

Well, that explained the chakra. Sasuke glanced up and did not seem at all surprised to see Naruto crouching there in the dark, like it was perfectly normal for him to show up in the middle of the night.

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. This chidori routine…the jerk had been summoning him!

"You called?" Naruto muttered, a little ticked off to be sent for in this manner.

Sasuke just kept gazing at him, but lowered his hand now after sending off just one more chidori for good measure.

Naruto sighed and landed neatly on the balcony itself, and took a few steps towards his miserable-looking friend. "What's wrong, Sasuke?" he spoke softly, reaching his hands down to help him up.

Sasuke didn't respond, but he also didn't resist when Naruto reached down further and grabbed his wrists, hauling him to his feet anyway.

"Look, I'm sorry that we fought before, but you have to admit that you were being a real A-grade bastard, on purpose!" Naruto said, still gripping Sasuke's wrists hard. He felt like if he let go, Sasuke would just fade away into thin air.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and looked down at the ground. "…yeah," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Naruto blinked. What? He was admitting it?! That had to be the closest thing to an apology he'd ever gotten from this guy! "Ah but, you were upset!" Naruto quickly said back. "I know that, even if you'll deny it! It was a low move for these guys to drop those flyers all over town. They're the ones we should be angry at!"

"...yeah," Sasuke said to that.

Naruto was overwhelmed. This was amazing! Quick, he had to see what else he could get out of him before whatever spell he was under wore off! "Sasuke, are you still sick? You need help with something? I'm here now, so-"

Sasuke twisted his wrists in Naruto's hands and firmly pulled them away from his grasp. He shook his head. "I don't know why I called you," he murmured, still looking down. "I just couldn't…sleep."

Naruto reached out to lay a finger very gently on Sasuke's forehead, just for a moment, and then pulled it back away. "You don't have a fever anymore," he said, "but if you stay out in the rain, you- hey!" he squeaked, when all of a sudden Sasuke stepped closer towards him and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Stop talking," Sasuke ordered, resting his head on Naruto's shoulder.

"What are you doing?!" Naruto exclaimed, his whole body tensing up at the sudden and very unexpected feel of Sasuke wrapped around him.

"Whatever the hell I want to do," Sasuke hissed, very softly, into Naruto's chest. "Got a problem with that?"

"Um," Naruto said. "Well…" Did he have a problem with it?! After all, Sasuke felt very, very nice here in his arms, and he'd come to him willingly, even called Naruto to his apartment, and he wasn't even feverish!

Still, there were probably Anbu watching, so…

"Well," he began again, and Sasuke looked straight at him and glared, probably anticipating what he was about to say. "Well, this is very nice, really, but I'm not sure it's the smartest idea to be-"

And then he was soundly interrupted by Sasuke kissing him hard and cutting him off. All coherent thought flew out of his mind in an instant, and silly ideas about what was smart and what was not faded right away. Naruto gasped the sudden and unexpected kiss, freezing up, but it wasn't long before his body took over from his mind and he took Sasuke's face in his hands and kissed him back.

"Sa-Sasuke!" Naruto gasped when Sasuke pulled away; he was shocked beyond belief. It had been so long since they'd done this! And just out of nowhere like that, what had gotten in to him?! Hadn't they been at each other's throats just a few hours ago?!

"What," Sasuke growled, with a sulky frown. "You said it was up to me. So I can do it whenever I want!"

…okay, he had a point there. Naruto had said it was up to him, though this wasn't exactly how he'd meant it at the time.

"Ah," Naruto said to that. "Yes, true." Suddenly he grinned. Oh, that had felt fantastic! Suddenly all his problems didn't seem nearly so bad. Had he been tired just before now? Sore? Feeling kind-of down? Nope, not anymore! "Yes, but now that you've made the first move…"

Naruto leaned down and quickly pecked Sasuke's cute little nose before attacking his mouth again, this time deepening the kiss and circling his own arms around Sasuke's back to pull him closer. He bit down softly on Sasuke's bottom lip until he gasped and opened his mouth. Naruto grinned against him and ran his tongue over his lips before moving in. How could he have forgotten just how delicious Sasuke tasted?

Sasuke moved to grip Naruto's waist and pushed him back until he hit the railing, and then pressed the whole length of his body tight up against Naruto's. Naruto felt him slip his hands down the back of his pants and he gasped at the sudden feel of Sasuke's cold hands on his bare skin.

"Hey!" he squeaked, pulling back. Sasuke had him properly pinned against the railing and that felt great, but still- "You- mph!"

He was cut off when Sasuke kissed him again, and a tiny voice in Naruto's head wondered why on earth this was happening now. They had both been so angry, Sasuke must be really upset right now, and-

-ah. And what did Sasuke do when he was upset? He looked for a distraction.

Naruto pulled back again and placed a hand on Sasuke's cheek to keep him at bay. "Sasuke," he said, angling his face away when Sasuke tried to capture his mouth again. Naruto ran his fingers along his jaw and felt something inside him ache at the misery in Sasuke's eyes. "What's wrong, really? You can talk to me, you know…"

Sasuke's eyes widened and then narrowed, taking on a dangerous glint. "I don't want to talk," he growled under his breath, pressing against him and rolling his hips forward to show Naruto just what he did want to do.

"Yeah, I know," Naruto said to that, suppressing a whimper at the feel of Sasuke pushing against him like that. Someone had to be the responsible one here. He brought his other hand up to the top of Sasuke's head, gently running his fingers through his silk-like hair. "You just want me to distract you."

"So?" Sasuke scowled, ducking out from Naruto's hands and looking away.

So, well, that wasn't- and they shouldn't just…because tomorrow when they woke up he'd just…

Naruto sighed. As if he'd ever be able to resist this guy, really. And…and he really was upset. He was so tense in Naruto's arms, with a slight tremor running through him. Naruto tucked a hand under Sasuke's jaw and angled his face back up, leaning down to nuzzle his nose. "It's okay, Sasuke," he murmured.

Sasuke tensed even further but gradually, slowly, he relaxed as Naruto pressed light little kisses into his cheeks and along his jawline, and tangled his fingers gently through his hair. "Naruto…" Sasuke whined, his voice low and needy.

"Look how long your hair is getting, Sasuke," Naruto said, moving to his ear and nipping an earlobe. "…I like it..."

Sasuke made a low rumbling noise in his throat and Naruto knew his patience wouldn't hold out much longer. Besides, he was one hundred percent certain there were numerous Anbu agents watching them right now…not that they hadn't seen worse.

So he stepped away and slid open the door, taking Sasuke's hand and pulling him inside and through the kitchen to his bedroom.

Well, here we are again, Naruto thought to himself, staring down at Sasuke's bed, I-

-and then he didn't have any more time to think as Sasuke pushed him down into the bed and seated himself on his hips, pinning his arms to the mattress and kissing him hard.

Yes, this was how Sasuke liked to play. Naruto groaned as Sasuke rolled his hips downwards and bit his bottom lip before moving down to his throat. Except that now in his weakened state, Naruto would bare the evidence of just what Sasuke liked to do to him. He bit back another groan at that thought as Sasuke picked a spot against his throat and bit down.

…but hang on, he was supposed to be in charge here! Wasn't he the one meant to be doing the distracting?! Naruto ran his hands up Sasuke's thighs to his hips and gripped hard, enjoying the feel of Sasuke on top of him for just a moment more before tipping him off and switching their positions.

He grinned down at the look of surprise on Sasuke's face, and leaned over to kiss his forehead. "That's better," he said.

"I was going to really mark you the time," Sasuke pouted, trying to push himself back up to reach Naruto's throat. "Just let me-"

"No," Naruto interrupted, quickly peeling off his shirt and Sasuke's as well before pushing the dark-haired boy back down into the mattress. He felt a rush of white-hot heat rip through him at the sight of Sasuke half-naked below him and he had to take a moment to catch his breath, suddenly feeling dizzy.

Sasuke grinned at that and wriggled a little under him. "What's wrong, dead-last?" he teased, raising his hips just slightly.

Naruto scowled and poked his tongue out in retaliation. "Nothing," he said back. "Just you wait!"

He kissed his way down Sasuke's throat and into the dip below his collarbone, running his tongue along Sasuke's skin and savouring the soft and silky feel that he'd missed for so long. He wasn't sure now how he'd even survived being away from him! He nipped down the centre of his chest, just light enough to not draw blood or leave bruises- he'd had enough of that these past few days. They should try something different for a change!

Sasuke shifted under him and moaned when Naruto finally reached a nipple and drew his tongue around it before sucking it into his mouth with relish, taking his time before moving onto the next one. It had been so long. He didn't want to leave an inch of Sasuke's body untouched.

Even now, though, he could sense Sasuke's impatience, how tightly wound his was, that shiver that went through him every time Naruto moved just a little further south. Too bad, he thought. I have no intention of rushing this.

He ran his hands just lightly down Sasuke's sides and back up again, once, twice, before moving to the top of his pants and gently tugging them down- just an inch, just a little bit. Sasuke immediately brought his own hands down to help out but Naruto swatted them right away. He took his time, running his tongue along the edge of the fabric where it met Sasuke's skin before pulling them down just a little more.

Sasuke let out a frustrated noise. "Naruto," he whined, arching upwards and circling his hips. Well, fine then, Naruto thought; if you insist! He snatched the rest of his pants down and off his legs in a single, smooth movement and Sasuke gasped in surprise.

But Naruto wasn't ready to speed things up completely. He tossed Sasuke's pants off the bed but left his own in place, despite how tight they were beginning to feel. Tonight wasn't about him. He had a job to do; Sasuke wanted to be distracted, so Naruto was damn well going to distract him. Just see if the bastard could think about anything but Naruto for the rest of the night!

Oh, but it felt so good to finally have Sasuke naked and writhing under him for the first time in- in how long? Far, far too long, that was for sure! He wanted to look, to touch, to remember. And so he took another deep, steadying breath before shifting his body down to Sasuke's thighs.

He licked and nipped all the way down his right leg and nuzzled behind his knee, drawing a squeal of protest and another fierce wriggle out of Sasuke. No-one would ever believe that Sasuke Uchiha was ticklish- but you just had to find the right spots! And then, of course, you had to try to not get yourself killed by an angered Uchiha in the process.

Naruto let out a little groan as Sasuke's wriggling brushed up against his groin and he felt Sasuke's own rapidly hardening length. Sasuke was just so gorgeous, and his legs…! Naruto knew better than anyone else just how powerful Sasuke was, how much strength was in these legs, in those tight, defined muscles- Sasuke could kick him right across the earth now if he wanted to! And yet here he was, soft and pliant under him and whining softly as Naruto made his way down to his foot.

He ran his tongue around Sasuke's pretty little ankle and traced a finger across the bottom of his foot, drawing another protest and an almost laugh out of the ticklish boy. Naruto gazed up at him and grinned at the blissed-out expression on the other boy's face. Yes, he was properly distracted alright. He mirrored his actions all the way up Sasuke's other leg to his hips.

Then he lay down on Sasuke's thighs, smirking at how Sasuke had become even harder now, poking right into Naruto's chest- and he hadn't even touched him there yet! He placed a soft but insistent kiss just below his belly-button and looked up to find Sasuke staring down at him intently, his eyes wide and wary and burning. …those eyes. Naruto felt liquid heat pooling in his stomach and he almost lost his resolve to take this slow, to make it all about him.

The longer Naruto lingered there just at the base of his stomach, pressing more kisses into his soft skin, the more Sasuke whimpered and tried to push him lower. Naruto escaped his grasp and draw a whine of protest from Sasuke, but his whine was quickly subsumed by a loud groan when Naruto brought a hand between his thighs and brushed his fingers up Sasuke's hardening length.

"Ah," he cried softly, "yes, please, Naruto…"

Well, since he asked so nicely. Naruto brought his fingers together to circle his cock before rubbing his thumb back and forth across the top in the way he knew that Sasuke liked. Once he had Sasuke panting he moved his head down and ran his tongue from the top to the base in one long, smooth motion.

Sasuke gasped and arched off the bed at this sudden and unexpected action and Naruto moved both his hands to Sasuke's hips to push him back down into the mattress. He took the head of Sasuke's cock in his mouth and sucked hard, pressing his tongue down into the slit and feeling dazed and lightheaded at the salty and familiar taste. It's been too long, please Sasuke, don't ever let me go this long without you again, I'll die!

He felt Sasuke trembling under him and Naruto quickly released him and moved to kiss the inside of his thighs instead. Naruto knew just how sensitive he was, how responsive, and he wanted this to last.

"Naruto…" Sasuke growled, and he grinned into Sasuke's skin. Okay, he would draw it out for as long as Sasuke was willing to not kill him for it.

"Stop moving," Naruto ordered, still having to push him down to keep him from squirming away. "And then I'll give you a treat, okay?"

Sasuke growled again but reluctantly nodded and stopped squirming, though he was still panting and trembling a little.

"Good boy," Naruto crooned, and he slipped his hands between Sasuke's back and the mattress, running them downwards as he moved his mouth back to his cock. He ran his tongue up and down his length a few times, just to placate him for the moment, before circling his tongue around the head again and sucking down.

He pressed his hands in the base of Sasuke's spine and down over his backside, drawing a pleased sound from Sasuke, before running a single finger between his cheeks and circling his entrance.

Sasuke gasped and arched off the bed, looking down at him in surprise, but Naruto moved his hand away before he even knew what had happened. He sucked harder on the top of Sasuke's cock and drew a heated moan from him, and soon had him melting back down into the sheets. His eyes fluttered closed and he tangled his fingers through Naruto's hair, alternating between tugging him up and pushing him back down.

Naruto had been pleased with that reaction so he wasted no time in bringing that finger back down to lightly circle his entrance again. And this time Sasuke moaned and writhed under him, and wrapped his legs around Naruto's upper body and pushed up into him. Naruto grinned. Got you, he thought. Just you wait; you're going to love this.

He pulled away and gazed up at his friend, and when Sasuke realised that Naruto had stopped he opened his eyes and scowled. "What?" he hissed, glaring down at Naruto.

"Do you have any lube?" Naruto asked, and he had to bite back a laugh when Sasuke jolted at that and noticeably tried to move away from him across the bed.

"Naruto!" he exclaimed. "There is no way I'm letting you-"

Naruto really did laugh now at the panicked look on Sasuke's face. He quickly pressed a placating kiss to the base of his stomach. "Don't worry, bastard, your virgin ass is safe from me. I won't do that until you're begging for it!"

Sasuke scowled at that. "Then what-"

"You'll see," Naruto interrupted. "Do you have any or not?"

Sasuke hesitated, but eventually he reached over and rummaged through a drawer, twisting onto his stomach for a moment to do so. The sight of his bare ass had Naruto's breath catching in his throat and his cock throbbing in his pants. Down boy, he ordered himself sternly. He forced all of his attention onto Sasuke, who soon produced a small tube and tossed it down to him.

Naruto was pleasantly surprised. Sasuke actually had lube in his house? In his bedroom? And it was open! Hardly used, but still! Naruto grinned cheekily up at Sasuke, wondering exactly what he'd been using for.

Sasuke blushed and looked away, scowling.

Ah, he's on the defensive now, look at those angry eyes, Naruto thought to himself. He kissed his way back down to Sasuke's cock and only once he had him distracted did he flick open the top of the tube and squeeze some of the smooth sticky liquid over his hand. He brought a finger back down between his cheeks and just lightly circled his entrance once more, with only just enough pressure to be noticeable.

Sasuke quickly tensed up and again and was staring down at him warily as Naruto kissed and nipped up his length. Naruto smiled at him before taking him into his mouth again, bobbing up and down and running his tongue around the head, drawing a little more of him in each time. He soon had a steady rhythm going and Sasuke closed his eyes and fell back down onto the pillows. Good, Naruto thought.

He waited until he had Sasuke moaning and writing once more and then without warning he took the whole of Sasuke's cock in his mouth as he simultaneously slipped his finger inside Sasuke's entrance and pushed all the way in.

Sasuke shrieked and arched upwards, and Naruto thanked the gods he had no discernible gag reflect because Sasuke was really pushing into him here- "Naruto! What are you- ahh!" Sasuke cried out again, as Naruto increased them tempo and pressure on his cock.

He sucked hard and brought his mouth all the way to the top before pushing down once more, all the while moving his finger gently, softly, in and out of him. He glanced up at Sasuke and found him staring down at him in alarm.

Naruto pulled away from his cock but kept his finger in place. He moved his other hand to rub soothing circles into his hip and back. "Does it hurt, Sasuke?" he murmured, glancing up at him in concern. "Do you want me to stop?"

"It doesn't hurt, idiot!" Sasuke scowled. "Like I care about one stupid finger- what are you grinning about?!"

"But does it feel good?" Naruto asked.

"No!" Sasuke declared, and Naruto instantly resumed moving his finger around, exploring. "How could that feel- feel…" and then his word petered off and his eyes widened.

Bingo, Naruto thought, pressing down on that spot hard. Sasuke gasped and bit his lip. "There now," Naruto murmured. "Does that feel good?"

"It- it…"

Naruto laughed under his breath. Yeah, that felt good. "Take it easy, babe, you're all tense here!"

Sasuke made to growl at him again but somehow it came out as a moan.

Naruto moved back to his cock and soon had a nice rhythm established once more, sucking him in and moving his finger back and forth together in time. He soon had Sasuke wilting and whimpering underneath him, his eyes squeezed tightly shut in pleasure, panting hard.

"Mm- mm, Naruto…" he groaned, rolling his hips and pressing up into his mouth. The sound and Sasuke's movements sent jolts of electricity running all the way through Naruto's body and he realised he was panting too, desperately drawing in air as he worked to give Sasuke the most pleasure he'd ever felt.

Naruto sucked harder and pressed his tongue against the underside of his cock, unrelenting now as he felt Sasuke trembling even more under him. Sasuke was tugging his hair and gripping him tighter with his thighs, and Naruto knew he wouldn't last much longer now. That was fine. He'd gotten what he wanted; he'd showed Sasuke yet another way that Naruto could please him.

…and based on his reaction, he was sure that it wouldn't be long before Sasuke let him do it again- and again, and again. God, please let me do this again, he thought.

Sasuke panted and whimpered, and pushed up against him even more; Naruto bore down and sucked him hard, taking him all the way down to his base, relishing the taste of him, the feel of him.

"God, don't stop, Naruto, Naruto…" Sasuke whined, shaking under him. "Mm, yes…"

Naruto hummed happily at his words and sucked harder, and felt Sasuke tangling his fingers through his hair once more and gripping tight. Before long Sasuke cried out and arched his spine up off the bed, and is legs and all his muscles went rigid as he came into Naruto's mouth with a shriek that hit Naruto's ears like a bolt of thunder.

He groaned and kept sucking, drinking him in, as Sasuke bucked and arched under him. "Ah! Yes, yes," Sasuke cried, and Naruto wasn't sure if he'd ever felt this pleased with himself. He was practically vibrating with happiness at the sounds coming out of Sasuke's mouth and the way he twisted and shook as he came.

It took a moment to realize that Sasuke has pushed himself right up off the bed and Naruto quickly moved his hands to his waist to lower him back down to the mattress, twisting out of the death-grip Sasuke's legs had around him as well. He pressed light, feathery kisses up his stomach to his chest and neck and rubbed his hands soothingly into his back before nuzzling into his side, draping an arm over him.

His gazed over at Sasuke in wonder, at his heated checks and parted mouth, and gave him a moment to catch his breath before he leaned over and softly kissed his lips. "That was really nice, Sasuke," he purred, "did you like it?"

"Mm- mm," Sasuke groaned, his eyes fluttering open and returned Naruto's gaze. "It- it wasn't too…"

"-too bad, no, it wasn't," Naruto completed with a grin, stretching up to nudge Sasuke's nose with his own and kiss his chin. Sasuke whined at him and he laughed. "Okay, my turn!" he announced, rolling onto his back and giving Sasuke a look.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Who says you get a turn?!" he exclaimed. "I'm exhausted!"

Naruto just laughed again. "Well, we'll see about that!" he said, sending Sasuke a leer and a cheeky grin, and wondering just how much more distracting Sasuke could take that night.

Eventually, though, they both ran out of energy and as they lay together tangled up in the sheets, Naruto couldn't keep some of those dark thoughts from before away from his mind.

With Sasuke lying drowsy and snuggly against his side, Naruto could almost have said that he was feeling happy and content. ...almost. But it had been a very difficult week, and really, he didn't have all that much confidence that things were going to get better.

"Naruto…" Sasuke murmured, nuzzling into his chest.

"Mm?" Naruto asked. "What is it? You should go to sleep, Sasuke, it's late," he said, running a hand up and down his spine in lazy strokes.

Sasuke sighed softly and shivered at Naruto's touch. "I was sleeping…" he breathed. "But I...I don't want you kissing anyone else..."

"…oh," Naruto said, trying to keep his voice steady even though his heart had just leapt out of his throat. He wondered if Sasuke actually was awake or if he was just talking in his sleep. "So you want me to break up with all my boyfriends? I don't know about that…"

Sasuke bit down into his skin as punishment for that remark, and Naruto jolted. Yep, he was definitely awake! Naruto chuckled and brought his arm around Sasuke's waist, pulling him closer.

"Go to sleep," Naruto said to him, brushing his hair away from his eyes and kissing the tip of his nose.

"...I don't want to stay here…" Sasuke went on, and there was so much pain in his eyes that Naruto felt a stab deep in his chest. Yes, he knew that; he'd known that all along, really. For whatever reason Sasuke had come back to Konoha, it wouldn't be enough to keep him here now.

"I know," Naruto murmured, trying to keep his voice from breaking. He couldn't force Sasuke to stay in Konoha; not when he was so miserable. Not when things like that damn flyer kept happening.

"I tried," Sasuke said, his voice low and weak and exhausted. "I tried, and they just..."

"I know," Naruto repeated. "They're not good to you. You deserve their loyalty."

And so do I, he said to himself; even if I spend the rest of my life as weak as a genin!

Sasuke made an unhappy noise and settled back down on Naruto's chest, saying no more. Maybe that was for the best. This was a problem with no real solution. Naruto could see now how much he'd been asking, how much he'd been demanding, by expecting Sasuke to stay here.

"Sasuke," he spoke, gripping him tight. He knew he'd regret saying this, but he couldn't help it. "Do you think…well, do you think you can stop fighting me now? I can help, you know. Is it...is it so hard to let me in?"

Sasuke shifted and stared up at him, resting his chin on Naruto's chest. "...yes," he said finally. "Uchihas aren't made for this kind of thing."

Naruto sighed. He highly doubted that. Sasuke as just being stubborn, and he was sabotaging his own happiness and Naruto's too. What was he planning to do, just go on as he had been, fighting with Naruto and then summoning him each time he needed a distraction?

"You're an idiot," Naruto declared, resting back on the pillows. Oh well. It's not like they'd get anything sorted tonight. "...go to sleep."

Coming up next: In which there might be things that even Ichiraku's Deluxe Dinner Set can't fix. Special appearance by a certain shabby dino.

A/N: *blush* It's been quite a while since we've had any NarSas action in this fic, I hope it didn't seem too sudden or out of place! An extra-long chapter this time as well, did y'll notice? Was tempted to split it into to but I thought…that would be cruel….

And Sasukins…maybe if you hadn't been so mean to Naruto, you wouldn't have felt so awful…*cough* but then we wouldn't have finally gotten them in bed together so!