Chapter 17 – Midterms
Naruto fidgets anxiously, casting quick darts of attention to the boy walking in front of him. He did something stupid today. Something that, if he gathers up the courage, is just going to get worse. In all reality, he should put a stop to it now. Sure, he bought the thing, but there's no law saying you have to give a gift just because you already got it.
Right?
It really shouldn't be too much of an issue to give the guy a present. Had Sasuke not bought the herbs and pots for him their first time out? A tiny thing that fits in the palm of your hands should hardly be an issue.
"Dobe, are you staying the night or going home?" An irate raven is staring at the distracted blonde, a pale hand wrapped around the doorknob to the Uchiha residence.
Naruto looks up from his musings, blinking owlishly as he takes in the question. "I actually get a choice?"
"I didn't ask just to waste my time." Sasuke rolls his eyes, a scowl already forming. Before he can open his mouth to take the offer back, the blonde quickly interrupts.
"Staying!" He smiles widely, pleased to see the hard expression melt away into a lax, neutral one.
"Fine." He twists the handle and pushes the door open, talking over his shoulder. "We have more homework to catch you up on."
"Sasuke." Naruto whines, grudgingly coming up behind. "I don't wanna. We already did a shit ton of work last night."
"And it barely got you to current."
The blonde groans, knowing he's not going to win this argument. This is his punishment for getting involved with Sasuke. If only he wasn't one of the top students at Kasai.
"Alright. I won't argue. But," Naruto holds up a finger, "I choose which assignments really need done."
Sasuke rolls his eyes but doesn't disagree. "And what would that be, dobe?"
"None of them." The blonde smiles cheekily, bouncing right past Sasuke and into the dining room, heading for the kitchen.
"We're doing all of them, after dinner."
Naruto laughs richly, smiling over his shoulder to the raven barely paying attention to him. "We'll see."
Sasuke quietly stays at the dining table while Naruto bustles around the kitchen, already at home in the large space. The blonde sneaks a glance into the adjoining room to see the raven with that red book in his hands, studiously going at it.
The inconspicuous book makes him think back to the brother he met today. Itachi wasn't half as terrifying as Naruto was expecting. In fact, he probably could have had a decent conversation with the man, if not for Sasuke interrupting. That teme was determined to keep the talking to a minimum.
The biggest surprise though, was how similar in appearance the brothers are. Whatever Naruto was expecting, it wasn't a mirror image. It's scary how alike they resemble each other. Their personalities are entirely different, though, so that counts for something.
"Hey, Sasuke, why don't you like to hang out with your brother? He seems cool to me." Naruto continues his food prep as he waits for an answer, focusing on carefully dicing only the vegetables, and not his fingers.
"Because you don't know him."
Naruto rolls his eyes and sends a glare off towards the dining room before returning to his task. "And who's fault is that?" It's not like the blonde hasn't tried asking about the man. Sasuke just shuts him down immediately when the topic is broached. "He really doesn't seem like a bad person."
"Dobe," Naruto hears Sasuke sigh exasperatedly. "Leave it. The part of my life that involves you and the part that involves him are going to remain separate."
A pang of grief runs through Naruto's body, clenching everything up for a heart-stopping, panicked moment. He wasn't expecting Sasuke to say anything like that, much less prepared for the physical response that would follow such words. Forcing himself to breathe past the lump in his throat and carry on, Naruto falls silent.
Why is he so surprised? Naruto scoffs quietly to himself, trying to shake it off. Sasuke never said anything about being out to his family. Hell, Naruto's not even out to Jiraiya. Is this really so different?
Yes, Naruto's mind whispers sulkily, because if he wanted to meet Jiraiya and know about him, you wouldn't hesitate.
Naruto grimaces, wishing away the thoughts and the statement that brought them about. Instead, his mind drifts to the subtle presence in his front pocket, as if to further prove that it was a mistake to buy such a thing for the Uchiha. What even was the point? The motivation?
Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto sees a slight movement, and then a figure in the archway to the kitchen. The blonde refuses to look up even as he's spoken to. "What are you making?"
Naruto shrugs. "You had the stuff to make fajitas." He does his best to continue ignoring Sasuke, but the boy has such a dominating presence, it's difficult not to naturally draw his eyes to the brooding figure.
"Dobe."
With great effort, Naruto studiously ignores the insulting pet name, opting instead to move all the diced vegetables into a skillet along with the sizzling beef.
Sasuke pushes away from the doorframe, coming to lean against the island counter and watch Naruto's movements. "Naruto, look at me."
The blonde sighs in annoyance, setting aside his current task and turning around partially to face the raven. "What?" His eyes reach Sasuke's, causing his stomach to do another flop.
"I only meant that my brother does not get to be privy to my personal affairs. I don't like him to know about my life. I didn't mean that you're a secret."
Naruto sniffs dramatically. "You could have said it like that in the first place." He hates to admit it, but the moment Sasuke came over and made the effort to clear things up, the blonde had already forgiven him.
Giving a signature eyeroll, Sasuke reaches a hand out to wrap around the blonde's waist, pulling him away from the stove and into an embrace.
"Teme," Naruto reproaches, "the food's gonna burn."
"I don't care." Proving his point, Sasuke trails his grip down the blonde's sides, casually running a path up and down while he leans in to nip at Naruto's neck.
The blonde grins and gives in without a fight, leaning back so he catches the raven's lips in a kiss. Alright, so, maybe Sasuke isn't quite so hard to deal with as he leads himself to believe, Naruto thinks smugly. After all, he does seem to be into a bit of affectionate gratification.
This simple thought decides it for the blonde. He pulls back, reaching a hand down to the front pocket of his jeans. "Hey, teme, I have something for you." He wraps his hand around the thin chain, pulling the small present into the open.
He dangles the imperfectly-cut, black quartz crystal in between them, watching it as it lazily spins at the end of the chain. He could have chosen one of the smooth, finely pointed crystals. But that just didn't fit Sasuke. And then his attention fell on the one behind it. No larger than the inside of his palm, the obsidian jewel has chipped and jagged edges, while others are in pristine condition. One side of the bottom tip is hewed, while the other four are clean and even.
"It's smooth in some places, and rough in others. But the whole thing is gorgeous, and the flaws are easily overlooked due to that. It reminds me of you." Naruto looks up from the crystal in his palm, smiling lightly at Sasuke. "You're pretty rough to get to know, because you don't want people to see the things you try to hide. But you're also pretty smooth in how you manage to get things done, and I'd be lying if I said you weren't the best thing I've ever laid eyes on."
The blonde flashes an impish grin that turns into a laugh at the rolls of eyes Sasuke shoots him. "Anyways, this is a gift for you, okay?" Naruto dangles the necklace in front of the raven, who watches it swing for a moment before softly wrapping his fingers around the slender crystal. "I don't expect you to wear it or anything." Naruto shrugs his shoulders. "I just couldn't help buying it for you."
As Sasuke continues to stare down at the gem, the blonde's nerves get the better of him as he watches the emotions – or lack thereof – on the boy's face. This was obviously a mistake, as he knew it would be. Why does he have such a knack for doing things that will push the skittish raven into a fight or flight mode?
Naruto makes to take the necklace back, but Sasuke pulls his hand away, sliding the necklace into his pocket. "Finish cooking, dobe, or it's going to burn."
With a half-hearted glare, Naruto turns back to his food. "That didn't bother you earlier." He grumbles under his breath, narrowing his eyes at the smug boy standing next to the island.
No matter how often he thinks about it, he cannot wrap his head around the situation they've found themselves in. Sure, he gets the friends-with-benefits concept – that's easy enough. And he gets that maybe he did always have a hidden sexual tendency towards men – the only girl he ever liked was obviously never going to return the sentiment, and some part of Naruto knew that. But how did it manage to be Sasuke that brings this all out? He's the last person anyone would have expected to pull all Naruto's secret desires out. Well, okay, the pretentious bastard has a fan-club that would beg to differ, but still. It's the Uchiha Brat. Why does he have to be sexually attracted to him?
And that is all Naruto wants to admit it is. Sexual desires. Because anything more than that will get him hurt – something he told Sasuke not to concern himself with, but is becoming increasingly more likely to take place.
Of course, he likes the teme. That's obvious. But it doesn't have to be more than that, right?
Right, he confirms to himself with a quick nod of his head. He's just letting things get a little crazy. Hormones are a hell of a thing. Maybe if they just go ahead and –
Naruto cuts himself off mid-thought with a blush and a skittish glance towards the raven, who's made his way back to the dining room. Oh, no. He's not going there. That line of thought will lead to dangerous things. The blonde hasn't even decided yet if he really does want to go all the way with this, let alone suddenly start thinking it might be the best option to just 'get it out of his system'.
Then again, they've come this far. What would it really hurt if they did have sex? I mean, it's gonna happen sometime another, whether with Sasuke or someone else. And he does like Sasuke, so it's not like there's nothing there…
Oh lord, what is he getting himself into?
The rest of the weekend passed in a blur of lazing about Sasuke's house until the raven finally sent Naruto on his way, where he just changed to lazing about his own house. It was one of the rare weekends where he didn't work, and so had nothing to do – not even any homework, as Sasuke had forced him to finish all that nonsense on Friday.
After the joy of a chill weekend, the blonde was not prepared for going back to the daily routine of school. Which is why he currently finds himself sitting in his jeep thirty minutes before the first bell, fighting to pull himself from his seat.
Monday's are truly the worst.
What he'd really like to be doing right now is curled up in his bed, snuggled underneath lots of blankets and not a care in the world. A certain raven-haired boy could also be tossed into that equation as a nice addition to the fantasy. Being wrapped around Sasuke is undeniably becoming a favorite pastime of the blondes, or having his mouth wrapped around a certain anatomy…
A sharp tap on his window startles him, causing him to involuntarily jump and blush at his train of thought, as if it had been broadcasted for the world to see. He quickly tilts his head to see who'd be bothering him instead of heading off to class, only to be greeted with a glare by the very boy he had been daydreaming about.
Hesitating, Naruto rolls down the window, dropping his gaze embarrassedly to his lap. He berates himself for being nervous – he was only thinking about the very things they've already done together. Truth or not, it doesn't help the blonde to calm down.
"What's up?" He mumbles out quickly, still not wanting to look directly up at him.
He can hear the impatience in the raven's voice, though it no longer frustrates him as it did before. Sasuke always has a tone like you're wasting his time, no matter the situation. Naruto finally came to the conclusion that it stems from being so proud and no longer lets it get to him – well, usually, anyways. "Are you coming in?"
Risking the bright blush on his cheeks being seen, Naruto peeks up at his friend, taking in the boy once more. Maybe it's due to the unexpectedly chilly morning, but Sasuke has a hazy flush gracing his cheeks, making him look even paler than usual, almost ethereal in the snow-white tone overshadowed with red. The black of his coat only furthers the contrast. Naruto stares for a moment before replying, much to his discomfiture. "I was planning on it."
"Then let's go." Without waiting for Naruto to respond, Sasuke steps away from the jeep and continues his trek to the main doors, albeit a bit slow and obviously giving the blonde time to catch up with him.
Naruto rolls the window back up and shuts the jeep off before stepping out into the chilly March air, doing a short jog to catch up to the impatient Uchiha. "Why are you here late?"
Sasuke scowls and replies tightly. "I slept late."
"Damn, didn't know you could even do that." Naruto cracks a small grin, tilting his head towards the raven in time to catch a familiar eye-roll.
"Finals are this week." Sasuke looks straight ahead as he says this, but when Naruto glances over, he can see the tension in the boy's face.
"Yeah, so?" Naruto squints and raises an eyebrow at the statement, not really sure where Sasuke is going with this.
Sasuke gives a small huff of annoyance before turning a glare on the boy. "I was reviewing all night."
Naruto barks out a surprised laugh, shaking his head. "You stayed up all night to study for something you're definitely going to pass?"
"While I do have confidence in my intelligence, there is no guarantee that I will pass with full marks in my class."
Naruto groans, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "Teme, you don't have to pass with full marks. Just a passing grade."
Sasuke looks damn near disgusted with the blonde when he turns an offended glare onto him this time. "Do you not know me at all by now?"
Touché, Naruto thinks with a grin. In some ways, he doesn't know the first thing about the raven. And in other ways, Naruto knows all he needs to. It's a fine line he's been walking for a few months now, and one he'll be happy to keep following.
Social Psychology as a lecture rather than a questionnaire does not seem to be in the cards. Of course, this being taught by Kakashi-sensei should have been the first give-away; the man seldom does lectures in any of his classes, leaving the students with the ability to work things out for themselves and ask questions if they need to.
After everyone begrudgingly shuffles into the last class of the day that usually is not required participation, Kakashi launches into the discussion – or better phrased, interrogation.
"So, what have you learned over the last two months?" Kakashi-sensei's eyes scan the room, hunting for any student foolish enough to meet his gaze. When no one offers an answer, he sighs histrionically and picks up the attendance sheet. "Alright, we'll do this the hard way."
He looks the list over for his first victim and impassively calls out a name. "Ita Naio, what is the definition of social psychology?"
A shy blonde girl in the back of the class looks up discreetly, answering the question quickly and quietly, so as to get it over with and move on. "It's the study of social norms and cultures and how it affects us on a mental level."
Kakashi nods slightly. "Why is this topic important?" He looks the paper over again. "Fukui Haru."
"Um, because it helps us understand how society impacts our thoughts, actions, and beliefs."
And so on it goes. Kakashi asks a question, and whichever unlucky student he calls on drones out an answer. Sometimes the questions turn into a debate, but usually it's fairly straight-forward. Naruto's attention comes and goes, only focusing in when Kakashi calls on him or someone close to him speaks. Particularly when the raven sitting behind him gives a straight-to-the-point answer or piece of his opinion.
In the past, it would have ticked Naruto off to listen to Sasuke answer anything, no matter what his reply might be. The simple fact that he spoke would be enough. That's all it took to get the blonde going.
But now? Now he hangs on to every word that slides from the raven's mouth, turning it over in his mind and adding it to the bits and pieces of things that he knows about Uchiha Sasuke. Which, admittedly, is quite a bit at this point. More than he ever thought he'd know about the boy.
Sasuke spends far too much time studying – and forcing people in his company to study as well. Not only is he naturally gifted in the way of academics, but he also applies himself to each of his classes. He tends to overdo things, but he sees it as exceeding expectations and not overkill.
He loves coffee, dislikes sweets, and lives for Italian food. He doesn't like any carbonated drinks except for lime-flavors, and will always choose water when given the choice. His favorite color is navy blue, but he prefers black since it matches anything – particularly more black. There's a piano sitting in a back room at his house that he can play fluently, though he's only let Naruto listen to him play once – this last weekend, actually.
He'll read any book you put in front of him, but he'd prefer it to be a "classic". Not that Naruto has any idea what constitutes a classic, other than all that boring stuff from Literature class. He has a surprisingly eclectic taste in music, but sticks primarily to indie and classic rock, especially the British sort. He's good at sports but couldn't care less, only being on the baseball team to further his high school resume.
And those are just the little, everyday things that Naruto has picked up or gleaned from their time together. There are more important things he knows – things he's learned from this Social Psychology project – but the small things are what make Sasuke. Not his religion, or political stance, or his ethnic background. It's the things that form his habits and opinions and make him have that damn-quick and bitingly snarky attitude that used to piss Naruto off, but now makes him grin and want to kiss the bastard.
Somewhere along the way from the day this project started to sitting in this seat now, the blonde realizes, all the things that had pushed him away from Sasuke in the past, all the things he used as reasons to hate the boy, are now the reasons that he's falling for the raven.
Falling for –
Oh, God.
With that realization, Naruto's breath catches in his throat and he feels like he just landed on his back, all the air leaving his lungs and his eyes going wide with the shocking awareness of his feelings. During these last few months, he hasn't just come to tolerate Sasuke. No, it couldn't be anything simple like that. Somewhere, somehow, he fell in love with that asshole.
Naruto refrains from groaning his woes out to the entire class, and settles for laying his head down on his desk, a pounding headache building rapidly. For the second time in a few days, Naruto finds himself asking the question, what in the world has he gotten himself into? And more importantly, is there any way to get out before Sasuke realizes and bails himself?
Naruto chooses to push the entire ordeal from his mind rather than dwell on the newfound emotions. Nothing good can come from being head-over-heels for Sasuke. Besides, what's love, anyways? Other than extra-strong like. There's no reason to make a big deal about this.
None at all.
Everything will be fine, so long as the blonde keeps his mouth shut and carries on like usual. Which is exactly what he's going to do. He's not going to draw attention to his feelings, and let Sasuke keep on thinking that he's still on the same page.
Unfortunately, Naruto has skipped a few chapters ahead, much to his dismay.
"What's got you down this time?" Kiba sets his tray down with a clatter, plopping into a seat with a groan. "I'm sick of these review classes already."
Taking his chance to ignore the first question and hone in on the second comment, Naruto jumps on the I-hate-midterms bandwagon.
The two best friends bicker over their lunches for a few minutes before the arrival of the others, joking and insulting each other's ability to focus or study.
So lost in the conversation, Naruto doesn't pay attention to the three boys making their way to the table, nor the handsome raven that takes a seat to his left.
"I don't see how midterms are useful in the first place. They just make people panic and stress out, you know?" Naruto shakes his head in dismay at the whole education system. "I think every day should be a "learn as you please" day."
"You would be learning nothing in that scenario, dobe."
Naruto throws a playful sneer at the raven sitting to his side; one that quickly morphs into a blush when the blonde realizes who's at his side. He glances back up for a moment, letting a smile creep onto his face at the subtle roll of eyes Sasuke shoots him.
Trying to act natural and go with the flow, Naruto picks up his ranting once more. "And you know they know that this is just torture. That's why they give up Spring Break immediately after." Naruto points his fork across the table at Kiba. "Don't let them fool you. They enjoy their torture. Sadist!"
"You're an idiot." Is the dual response from Kiba and Sasuke. The blonde huffs, returning to his ramen and ignoring his friends as he slurps down some more noodles. Well, ignore as best as he can. He's strongly aware of the solid presence close to his side. Aware in a way that makes him both pleased and nervous. It's still not very often that Sasuke eats lunch with him, and the proximity in which he chose to sit had him flushing a pretty shade of red when he first came to the table. A flush he's afraid still remains lightly coloring his cheeks. Dear lord, is he really going to be able to hide his growing feelings for Sasuke from the boy himself?
It doesn't seem very likely.
"I don't mind midterms, but they do stress me out." Choji mumbles in-between large bites. "And I have no de-stress break plans. Other than eating." A grin from Choji at his own expense has everyone else smiling and laughing along, and the conversation turns to the groups lackluster vacation plans.
"Naruto and I are gonna spend the entire time training." Kiba says matter-of-factly, despite Naruto's snort of indignance.
"Like hell we are. I wanna savor my time away from this place for a week. We can practice any time. We can only go on Spring Break once a year."
Before Kiba can argue this point, Temari diverts the attention to herself by leaning forward and waving her hand lazily, immediately having all eyes on her. The blonde girl is much like Sasuke in regard to her manner, prone to observing rather than interacting. Seeing her do anything that breaks her routine could make anyone take a second glance.
"If you don't have anything to do for break and a bit of money, I can swing some rooms at my family's retreat."
This peaks Naruto's attention right up. "What kind of retreat?"
"It's kind of all-encompassing. The resort it built on a natural hot spring, so we have various spring-soaks and baths. There's also a spa on the premises. And it's located in the middle of the woods, so there's hiking and other outdoor activities." Temari shrugs her shoulders. A weekend usually cost around eighty dollars a person, but I can get my parents to book rooms for thirty if you're interested."
"Naruto's eyes grow wide and he quickly flips his attention to Sasuke. He wants to ask if that would be any interest of his, but isn't sure if he ought to bring it up in front of everyone. It's not a topic they've spoken about amidst their time together. Whatever Sasuke's plans for the small vacation are, Naruto has never tried to learn them. He just assumed the two would find themselves together.
"I could go for that." Kiba says thoughtfully. He slaps a hand down on the table and proceeds to point a finger at Naruto. "We can go hiking and trailing and use it as a new practice regimen."
Naruto grins, shaking his head in agreement. "I'm cool with that." The blonde nudges the raven at his side, raising inquisitive and hopeful eyes to Sasuke. He might be playing with fire by wanting to spend a few days at a retreat with him, but to hell with common sense.
Sasuke rolls his eyes but gives a small nod of approval, much to Naruto's shining joy.
Choji also agrees to the small trip, and Naruto can tell by watching that Shikamaru has already been roped into the ordeal, whether or not he actually wants to go.
Naruto is thankful for the impromptu offer. He hasn't allowed himself to dwell on the topic – not even thinking about it during the chaos of this semester, his job, and whatever is going on in his personal life. He previously had no plans and nothing to look forward to, except lounging around the house for a week, alone. Jiraiya is still gone and the only other company he'd have would be at Java's. Not a bad thing, but the usual. And Naruto wants something away from the usual. Something different and new and refreshing.
Having Sasuke at his side during Spring Break is a massive bonus on top of the plans. He won't be flat-out admitting t to the boy himself any time soon, but being near him both calms and excites Naruto, leaving him wound up just enough to be giddy but not tight enough to snap. It's as if being in Sasuke's presence works some sort of magic on him. A strange magic that only the raven has ever been able to influence over him.
Of course, with his current knowledge on what he's feeling for said raven, he knows what that "strange magic" is now. If Naruto had known that this is what truly falling for someone feels like, he never would have wasted his time chasing Sakura around.
Steering his attention back to the conversation at hand, he picks up during a discussion about what the resort is like. Apparently, it's huge, with many different buildings of various size and class. There's a rather large, natural, and untouched spring a fair walk away from the resort that feeds into a river, and many marked trail paths through the thick forest. All in all, Naruto thinks he'll enjoy his time there, away from the hassle of academia.
A few more scattered and casual conversations take place before Temari turns her attention to Sasuke, asking him a direct question. "Do you think we'll be ready for the cultural festival on Friday?"
Naruto attention snaps up at the question, lost on the topic. Confusion sinks into his expression, furthered by Sasuke's response.
"It's only half-thought out, but it will have to do. Those girls are insistent and annoying, and I will not devote any more time to their plans."
Temari laughs, low and none-too-humorously. "I've been telling you all year, let me have a go at them. I can whip them into shape."
Shikamaru casts his eyes to the ceiling as he mutters a "troublesome" under his breath, but Temari's devilish grin doesn't falter. "They need to learn some manners about working in a group. Well," Temari adds as an afterthought, "Sakura more than Ino."
By this point, Naruto is as lost as lost can be. He shifts his attention between the blonde girl and his raven, but comes up with no answers on his own. Clearing his throat, he tries not to sound as confused as he feels. "What's going on?"
Temari flicks her attention to him, answering before anyone else can. "The cultural festival is on Friday, after mid-terms."
"Since when? I'm just now hearing about it."
"That's because you don't listen to people." Kiba grins across the table. "Too busy being off in your own world."
"Well, forgive me for having more important things to focus on."
"You're just a space case, got nothin' to do with focus."
"Back to the point", Naruto says bitingly, "what's up with this cultural fair?"
This time, Sasuke speaks up. "It's been planned for months, though the actual work put into it has been less than stellar. There's three main sections to it. A food court, a media display, and an arts production. Forms were sent out earlier in the year, inviting people to join in the preparation."
Oh, that. Naruto remembers that form. He had considered and planned to join in a drama production of some sort – hard saying now – but he took it with him to Java's after school and ended up getting cake batter all over it. He figured that was as much a sign as he was going to get that he shouldn't do it.
"And it's this week?" Jeez, you'd think he would remember something being said, but zilch is coming to mind. He really has to get better at that "paying attention to what other people are saying" thing.
Oh well.
"You're coming, aren't you?" Kiba mumbles through a mouthful of food. He swallows and glares at the blonde. "Hinata is performing in the play as some sort of courage-test for herself, and you're gonna go see it with me."
Naruto laughs and shakes his head. Of course, Hinata would do something like that. She's always trying to prove herself as sociable. It doesn't tend to work when she starts stuttering and tripping over her own words, but hey. It's the effort that counts.
"I'll go see the play with you. It'll be fun to watch them all make fools of themselves."
"Yeah, you just keep that opinion to yourself. No matter how Hinata does, you tell her she was amazing at the end of it, got it?"
"Yes, sir." Naruto mock salutes the mutt. "I wouldn't dream of making her feel bad."
Kiba nods in sincere gratification. "She's been working hard, so she deserves lots of praise."
"Will you go too, teme?" Turning another hopeful smile to Sasuke, the blonde can't help but wonder if the raven would do the same if he had chosen to be in the play. Would Sasuke go there and support him no matter what? Even if he didn't enjoy it or care in the slightest?
A part of Naruto – and not even the too hopeful part – believes that Sasuke would. He wouldn't have to be asked, and he would offer him praise in his own way. Because while Sasuke can be an absolute asshole, he's an attentive asshole.
Narrowing his eyes in a slight glare, Sasuke answers with a short "we'll see." Under the table, however, the raven's knee bumps into Naruto's, the weight of its presence and the comfort it brings a sharp negation of the words spoken blankly just moments earlier.
Yeah, Naruto thinks sunnily, Sasuke would be there.
By the time Thursday afternoon rolls around, Naruto is wishing he could go back to review classes. That would be better than the hell he's finding himself in now. Every semester, he has to do midterms. He knows this. Yet, somehow, he manages to block out the pain they bring and completely forget what he's in for the next time around.
Why does he do this to himself? He should have studied more. The pounding headache in his skull isn't going to dissipate any time soon, he knows that much. Though, studying probably wouldn't have been able to save him, anyways.
Naruto sets his books down before sliding into the seat across from Sasuke, casting a tired smile over to the raven that's ignoring him. By fluke or chance, the boys manage to meet up in the library after each test without planning it. Sasuke is always there first, of course. He finishes his midterms with no problems, Naruto thinks exasperatedly. If only he could borrow a small portion of the raven's intelligence…
Said raven doesn't even bother to look up from his book to greet Naruto, eyes staying studiously on the book in front of him. All week he's been reading that massive book that Itachi gave him, completely ignoring the rest of the world. It must be good, though Naruto can't imagine trying to get through anything that thick.
"What is that book, teme? I can't see a title on the cover." It's one of those really old-style books that have no cover art, just a solid faded red binding. Naruto is sure he wouldn't know what it is, anyways. Books make good paperweights, and that's about it.
"Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky." Perhaps Sasuke can feel the blank stare being aimed at him upon voicing this answer, because he turns his apathetic attention to the blonde. "It's beneficial for my major."
It seems like this is all the explanation Naruto is going to get. Sasuke turns back to the book like it's the only existence he cares for.
Really, that wouldn't surprise Naruto if it were true.
It peaks the blonde's interest, however, as to why Sasuke is so interested in criminology. He remembers the raven saying he wanted to major in Criminal Psychology and Forensics, but he never gave a reason why this was of interest. Looking at Sasuke, you wouldn't peg him as the type that wants to spend his days analyzing crime scenes.
Causing them, maybe.
"Sasuke, why does all this crime stuff interest you so much?" Naruto's inquisitiveness earns him no response, not even when he pouts at being ignored. This does nothing but peak his interest more. "There's gotta be a reason. It's not something people just have a talent for, like cooking or writing. And even my interest in cooking and owning a restaurant stems from my lack of a secure family life." Damn, Naruto has to give himself points on coming up with that last line of thought. And yet he still gets no response.
Naruto huffs loudly. "You never share anything about yourself, teme. And here I am, being 100 percent upfront with you about –"
"If I tell you, will you cease your incessant noise?" Sasuke's sharp voice cuts the blonde off." To his benefit, Naruto gives a silent, quick jerk of his head in the affirmative.
"You cannot make a scene out of it. I am only telling you so you'll shut up. Do you understand?" Sasuke's searching eyes wait for another quick nod before sighing in irritation.
"I told you during one of our assignments that my family was involved in a murder, yes?"
"Well, yeah, but I don't –"
"Quiet, dobe." Sasuke cuts him off before continuing. "When I was ten, someone broke into our house. The police suspected it was likely meant to be a burglary, but nothing of value was taken, according to them." The raven spits the words out like they burn his mouth, his mouth twisting into a sneer.
"My father must have come to investigate before they could get far, as he was found on the living room floor, one bullet directly to the brain. My mother was still in bed, where they found she had been shot twice. To this day, it remains unsolved because the crime scene technicians butchered the forensic process of gathering data."
The words couldn't have hit Naruto any harder had he been standing in the way of an oncoming train. Many things fall into place in the blonde's mind, concerning information he received prior that didn't quite add up to him. Everything makes a lot more sense, given that horrible knowledge. "I didn't know – didn't imagine anything like that." He lets out a deep breath, trying to stabilize his own thoughts. "I'm sorry I asked and made you talk through that."
Frankly, he's too stunned to even begin to process the entire story. Part of him is angry that he wasn't told this when he let Sasuke in on his own past. The more rational side of him understands the need to not talk about it. Everyone protects themselves from trauma differently.
Hell, the blonde can barely get himself to speak of his childhood and being bullied. If he had gone through a situation like his parents being murdered right in the middle of his childhood, you can bet like hell Naruto would never speak of it.
Naruto can't even fathom what it's been like for Sasuke. While it's true the blonde's parents are gone, he never had them in the first place. To lose them at ten years old… Naruto's heartstrings are pulled in every which direction for his friend. He's probably isolated himself from people since that time.
"Sasuke," Naruto tries to start, but he's not sure what conversation to pursue here. What is allowed to be said? What would Sasuke even want to hear at this time? Naruto personally hates talking about his parents too openly; it leads to pity and uncertain glances, like somehow it changes you from a normal person into a freak to have lost your mom and dad.
In the past, not having parents was a large part of his being an outcast. The teachers and parents at his elementary school treated him different for being an orphan. Children pick up on those things, and not knowing any better but to be led by example, they too shunned the blonde's existence. At least, when they weren't picking fights with him.
"Leave it be, Naruto. You're supposed to stop talking now."
And so he does. If there's anything Naruto can do now, it's respect Sasuke's wishes.
He reaches a hand across the table and gives what he hopes is a reassuring squeeze to the raven's wrist before sinking back in his own seat. Picking up his Japanese textbook, he tries to regain some semblance of control over his raging emotions, though he sincerely doubts it will do any good.
So, instead of pretending to study, he lets the second-hand hurt of his love's secret pain to wash over him as he stares blankly at the Japanese characters swimming on the page in front of him.
Whether either of the boys notice the silent tears spill down Naruto's cheeks, neither speak of it.
Naruto is fuming.
He doesn't really have a reason why, he just is. It's probably a culmination of all the weeks stress and revelations weighing down on the blonde, threatening to snap his weary patience. Midterms, break coming up, Sasuke and all that entails, and these girls.
Oh, these damned girls.
Every time Naruto catches a glance at his raven, there's some chick hanging next to his arm, looking at him with hopeful eyes. They all have to know he's going to shoot them down – Sasuke never gives a second glance to any of the girls, for reasons that few people know. They don't even bother to learn anything about him before they start their pursuit, and yet they still hound him.
Yeah, that's probably why he's so frustrated this Friday. And also why, when Naruto catches Sasuke leaning against the wall outside the library with a girl unwavering in her pursuit next to him, his temper snaps. The closer he gets to the pair, the more he hears of the usual one-sided, flirtatious banter. Sasuke is trying to tell the girl off through his stoicism, but she's stubbornly not taking it.
"Hey," Naruto says casually when Sasuke's eyes land on him, a slight nod coming from the raven in answer. The blonde's eyes sidle over to the girl, narrowing into a venomous glare at the brunette brat, who backs off from Sasuke as the blonde approaches.
"Well, like I was saying, Sasuke, I would love –"
"Take a hint, okay? You're not wanted." Shock fills the girls face at the unusually biting words from Naruto, but she doesn't push her luck further. When she turns tail and scampers down the hall, Naruto lets out a frustration sigh and runs a hand rightly through his hair. "How do you put up with them, teme?"
Sasuke raises a finely arched eyebrow at the blonde's antics, though he doesn't seem offended. "I'm used to it, dobe." Sasuke reaches a hand out to Naruto's hip, looping a finger through a belt loop and pulling the blonde closer. "Are you jealous of her?"
Naruto blushes at the lack of distance between them and all the thoughts that come swimming up to the forefront of his mind, but he doesn't make a move to regain any distance. "Hardly, teme." The blonde answers truthfully. "I'm not going to be jealous when you're obviously not interested, but it's annoying to see them all over you, ya know?"
Sasuke rolls his eyes, but gives a small squeeze to Naruto's hip. "A few months ago, you would have been angry about me getting the attention for different reasons." The raven lets go of his hold on the blonde, turning to enter the library. It appears that will be the end of the conversation; when Sasuke speaks next, he's all business. "Do you need to study for the last final?"
Naruto rolls his eyes but doesn't push it. The difference in his emotions from a few months ago to now aren't something he wants to get into, anyways. "Yeah." The blonde doesn't put up any fuss as Sasuke launches into tutor mode.
The familiarity of this situation, as opposed to the foreign thoughts he's been dealing with help ease Naruto's growing confusion. Even though the emotions are all new to Naruto, it doesn't really change anything. Sasuke is still Sasuke, the project is the same, nothing has exploded, and the world has yet to shift due to Naruto falling for the stoic asshole.
The more he learns about Sasuke and his past, the more he can't help but care for the boy. Sure, he's got his bad points and his attitude, just as always. But the history behind those defenses helps to explain it.
At least in Naruto's opinion. Which, let's face, is the only one that matters.
Sasuke rolls his eyes for the umpteenth time. "Just remember what we've gone over. There's minimal exact or correct answers on a psychology exam. It's mostly going to be question pertaining to your views, just like we've been doing."
Yeah, and did this boy forget that he's the one who supplies the majority of answers during their sessions? Naruto is definitely screwed on this midterm; he just knows it.
Taking a deep breath and giving Sasuke a subtle smile, he starts to tell the raven thank you for helping him study all afternoon, but is cut off by a high-pitched, screeching voice.
"Sasuke! I totally forgot we have this class together! Has it been going well for you?" Sakura flounces over to the seat next to Sasuke, sitting down like they're the best of friends.
The raven, to his credit, manages to keep his face impassive as he tilts his head in her direction, barely sparing a glance at the girl. "I've been enjoying myself." The raven pointedly turns his attention back to Naruto, the innuendo hanging heavy in the air. Naruto rapidly begins to blush, casting his eyes downwards and becoming deeply absorbed by the grain pattern of Sasuke's desk.
Unfortunately, Sakura also catches the hidden meaning – at least, she seems to note that something is going on that she's not privy to. This doesn't keep her from running her mouth further, however. "Well, I daresay you'd have more fun with me."
"And you'd be sickeningly wrong." This time, the look Sasuke levels at the pinkette is none too kind. "I suggest you quit now, Sakura. You're playing far out of your league."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sakura tries to keep her face from contorting into a nasty snarl, but she's failing miserably. For once, the bite from Sasuke's words seem to have sunk home.
"I've told you before. You have nothing on Naruto."
Oh, damn. The blonde in question is sure his face is on fire now. When in the world did Sasuke and Sakura have a conversation about him? And why would they? From what Naruto can tell, Sasuke does his best to limit his interactions with this girl, so how would they have ever found the time to talk about… Well, this.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say something is going on between you two." Sakura turns her glare to Naruto. If looks could convey a message, the pinkette would quite clearly be telling Naruto she'd like to do nothing more than strange the life out of him. "What did you do, Naruto? Throw yourself at him the moment you were alone?"
Naruto glares dubiously at the malicious brat, clenching his hand into a shaking fist. "You have no right –"
A deep and angry voice rings out from the front of the class at the same time, overlapping with Naruto's. "The fuck, Sakura –"
"Everyone needs to stop!"
Three voices speak out in unison at the accusation, though it's the last that silences everyone into heated glares. Ino steps forward from the doorway, hands raised in a placating gesture towards Kiba and Naruto.
Surprised to see his best friend standing in the room and looking ready to rip Sakura's head off, Naruto remains quiet rather than defending his honor.
Since Sakura first took her seat, Ino had been standing in the doorway to the class, where the pinkette asked her to wait upon spotting Sasuke in the room. It wasn't long before Kiba came and took a stance next to her, watching the scene unfold with narrowed eyes.
Ino takes a deep breath and glances between the four angry faces in the room. While Sasuke didn't say anything at Sakura's words, the venomous expression he carries is all that needs to be said. He would rip her to pieces if he had the chance. "We're all very stressed out from midterms and need to just calm down. There's no need to be going at each other's throats."
"There's no need for her to be such a bitch just because she's in over her head." Kiba snarls, keeping his attention pinpointed on the pinkette.
"What the hell do you now, Kiba?" Sakura raises her voice at the brunette, hands on her hips in an attempt to appear confident.
"More than your dumbass." Kiba returns, not having to pretend to be confident through his anger. If only this little brat really knew.
"What did you –"
"That's enough, now. Let's all take our seats and be quiet. Unless you want me to start handing out detentions." All words cease as the eyes of the students turn to Kakashi. He casually strolls into the room, not bothering to even glance up from Icha Icha as he addresses the irate group of students.
Ino takes the moment of ashamed silence to try to pull Sakura away, who stubbornly refuses to move from her seat beside Sasuke. With a sigh and an apologetic frown to Naruto, Ino takes the seat behind her friend, as Kiba has already moved to sit beside the blonde boy, placing himself in front of the pinkette. The silent threat to Sakura to even try anything screaming from the rigidity of the mutt's stature.
Doing his best to pretend that none of this has phased him, Naruto rolls his eyes at Sasuke and sends Sakura another glare before turning to face forward. He keeps silent as the class begins to fill up, not wanting to start another scene. His animosity towards the pinkette has yet to diminish, but the frightfully small part of Naruto's brain that works on logic tells him now is not the time to push the situation.
He doesn't need to draw any more attention to himself than necessary. Shit, it's bad enough that Sakura seems to be catching onto whatever is going on between the boys. Naruto can only imagine what the rumor-mill will be saying by the time they get back from spring break.
But, that's a worry for another day. One that needs to be pushed down and locked up until this last exam has been finished. While the ache to yell at Sakura and make her understand that this - whatever this is – is whole-heartedly mutual and nothing to do with "throwing himself" at anybody, passing this stupid exam and graduating is slightly higher up on his list of priorities.
He won't have to see or deal with the girl ever again if he can just get that far.
"Alright. This is the last test you have to take before you're sent on your way for a vacation. What do you say we just get it over with?" Kakashi lazily picks up a stack of papers from the edge of his desk and moves around the room, handing them out amongst the class.
Naruto nervously waits for his own to be placed in front of him. He can't help but run his mind over all the various ways he can bomb this test. He's certainly not going to have the answers.
Why didn't he pay more attention during the assignments, instead of ogling the raven? He really has to get his priorities straight.
"You're free to begin." Kakashi sets the last exam on Naruto's desk, giving the boy a crinkled smile before returning to his own desk and that pervy book.
With anxiety rearing its ugly head in the pit of his stomach, Naruto drags his gaze to the test and hesitantly reads through some of the questions. He immediately eases. They're similar to what is asked on the assignments, and as Sasuke assured him, they seem to be open-ended. Saying a silent prayer, Naruto sets to work.
All is good and well for the first half of the exam, but then Naruto's hair begins to stand on end. He shivers, wondering if a sudden breeze somehow slipped through the room, despite the windows being closed. The more the blonde tries to ignore it, the stronger the unease presents itself.
He's just about to throw his pencil down and figure out what the hell is going on, when he feels a hand snake along his side. Long finger ghost across the fabric of his shirt and press lightly into his ribs.
Startled, Naruto jerks forward before quickly swiveling around to case a wide-eyed, incredulous frown at Sasuke. "What the hell, teme?" Naruto whispers fiercely. "You better have a damn good –"
"Naruto, I know I'm lenient, but this is an exam. Please face forward and don't turn around again."
"But, sensei! I was –" Naruto is cut off once again by the subtle grazing of fingers against his side, clamping his mouth shut and refusing to lean into the familiar touch, despite how much he wants to. This is so not the place.
And, come on! That stupid ero-sensei must be able to see that Sasuke's arm is oh-so-strangely stretched forward across his desk and towards the blonde. It figures a man who walks around reading perverted books all day wouldn't be of any help.
Has Sasuke lost his damned mind, though? They're in the middle of class! Taking a required exam. This is not the time to be giving the poor little blonde a heart attack.
Grudgingly, Naruto turns back to his test and wills himself to ignore the pressure of those fingertips wreaking havoc with his nerves. Concentrating on the test is damn near impossible at this point.
That Uchiha better hope he doesn't fail because of this.
Naruto rushes through the rest of the exam as best as he can while still answering all the questions to the fullest. Relief washes through him as he pencils in the last word, nearly bolting from his chair to hand the exam in to Kakashi.
The silver-haired pervert nods in acknowledgement and waves lazily to a tray with similar tests sitting in it, before dismissing the blonde for the afternoon. Doing his best to not glare at the useless teacher, Naruto drops the test into the growing pile and turns to leave.
Only to catch sight of Sasuke casually strolling up to the desk to turn his exam in as well.
Please.
As if that irritating genius didn't finish his test well before this. He just wanted to torture the blonde some more and stay till Naruto finished and ended the torment.
Well, the blonde certainly isn't going to hang around for him to pick up a new way to be irritating. Turning on his heels and all but bolting from the room, Naruto heads straight for his locker, shoving his books haphazardly into the confined space before slamming the door shut, and quickly making his way for the staircase.
If Sasuke wants to continue being a pain, he's gonna have to work for it.
Things do not go according to Naruto's plan.
Sasuke did take the time to find him wondering the grounds, marveling at various stands the cultural festival put up, but other than that, nothing. No apology, no excuse for why he would draw attention to them, and certainly no remorse.
Well, he might have a bit of remorse about the tangent it's sent Naruto off into.
"I mean, honestly, what were you thinking?!" Naruto fumes. "The entire class saw that and heard the commotion. Sakura definitely saw." He winces. "She's gonna kill me. Really," he says rather pointedly, "it's you she should kill. But we both know she'll come after me first."
Sasuke has the audacity to simply shrug his shoulders. "I was getting tired of her staring at me, and glaring at you. Decided to give her something to look at."
"What you did was give her a target to beat to a pulp later. Namely, me."
"You'll be fine, dobe."
"You know, you've been pretty docile this week. What's up?"
Sasuke raises an eyebrow, looking more amused than agitated. "Docile? Do you know the meaning of the word?"
"I do." Naruto huffs in annoyance at the stab to his vocabulary. "It means your being nice – too nice."
The raven ignores him. Flat out ignores him. Naruto isn't sure which is worse; having Sasuke be strangely nice to him and not being an arrogant – well, not too much so – brat towards him, or that frustrating as hell silence that just screams 'I don't deem that worth any recognition or comment'.
The blatant brush-off simply serves to rile the blonde up further, who begins to prepare for another heated argument – as one-sided as it is.
He doesn't get the chance, as Sasuke grabs his hand and squeezes it, shifting Naruto's dumbfounded attention into silence. "Dobe, quit worrying about it. Whatever happens, happens. It doesn't matter what she or anyone else thinks. We're doing what we want to, and that's all that matters."
"Well, yeah…" Naruto tries lamely to come up with a response to that. "She's still gonna kill me."
"I won't let her. What would I do without you?" Whether it's the subtle tease to Sasuke's voice or the tilting of his lips in a smirk that only Naruto ever gets to see, something makes the blonde's heart melt right then and there.
And just like that, all argument goes out the window. Naruto may be stubborn, but it'll be a cold day in hell before he ruins a moment where Sasuke admits – albeit teasingly – that he likes to have him around.
It's not till much later when Naruto is sitting in his jeep waiting for it to warm up, after they've visited every stand in the courtyard and attended the play with Kiba, does Naruto realize that they went about the entire afternoon with hands clasped for the whole school to see.
From the moment that Sasuke clasped their hands together to get Naruto to stop talking, to the walk back to their vehicles after the play, they never let go for more than a few seconds. Hell, even when Sasuke gave the blonde a quite chaste goodnight kiss as he left him beside the jeep, he didn't pull his hand away until he was moving away to return to his own vehicle.
Surprisingly, Naruto can't seem to care. He smiles at his cupped hands that he keeps breathing into as a vain attempt to stop them from freezing, remembering the weight and warmth of Sasuke's palm pressed against his own.
The ease in which he accepts and becomes familiar with all aspects of the raven slightly terrifies the blonde, but not in a "we have to get out of this" way. It's more of a… "Oh my God, how can this be real? Things like this only happen in dreams".
Which, of course, when it comes to Sasuke, Naruto's dreams are never as amazing as the real thing. Something about the raven just can't be replicated in his subconscious. There's too much to the Uchiha for a dream to ever do him justice.
Naruto sighs and leans his head back against his seat. He really, truly, no doubt about it, is falling for that guy, isn't he?
It doesn't cause the same panic in him that it did upon first realization, but it certainly doesn't sit well with him. For no reason other than the fact it can't end well. The one thing that Sasuke has made it blatantly clear that will push them apart, Naruto does not have the ability to stop.
How do you tell yourself to not fall in love with somebody? How do you put a stop to the whirlwind of emotions playing havoc on your heart every time they come around? And how do you tell yourself that the ease and compatibility with said person does not warrant a second glance?
Naruto has no idea, but he does know this. If he wants to keep Sasuke around, he's going to have to find a way.