Naruto paced in their living room as the sun beamed in the large windows from high in the sky. It was already eleven. It wasn't often that Naruto woke before Sasuke, but his anticipation over the events that would occur today kept him up almost all night. He let Sasuke sleep undisturbed, knowing that Sasuke needed whatever rest he could afford.

The first week after he moved in with Sasuke, Naruto spent almost every waking moment with either his friends or his lover. After two years on the other side of the world, moments spent doing anything else felt wasteful.

He learned a few new things about Sasuke after living with him for a month. The first thing Sasuke usually did when he woke was to knit his brows and wiggle his toes for just a few seconds. He had a lot of nightmares. He used facial moisturizer every night as well as mid-day when the weather was dry, cold, or windy. Otherwise, Sasuke told him, his nose might peel.

He sat out on his balcony at least once every day. Sometimes he painted. Sometimes he smoked a cigarette, much to Naruto's chagrin, or sipped on red wine. So far up from the ground, the sounds of urban life were dulled. When Sasuke went to the balcony, Naruto felt compelled to join him. He savored every minute with Sasuke and loved upon him gluttonously, knowing no moderation or satiation.

Finally, one day when he followed Sasuke out to the balcony, Sasuke said, "I'd like some time to myself now."

Even as his stomach dropped, he felt foolish for taking this so personally. After living alone for so long, Sasuke would inevitably need space. So why did these words make him feel so horrible? Why did he feel like he was nothing but a hassle and a burden to Sasuke?

"Oh, of course," Naruto said, laughing nervously. "I can leave the house if you want. We need bread."

"That's not necessary," Sasuke replied. "I'll be back in soon."

Naruto tempered himself as best he could. Sasuke's presence beside him was a silent comfort. Sasuke never seemed to be taken off guard, always so self-assured and calm. The sole exception was those nights when Sasuke whimpered in his sleep or startled awake in a cold sweat. Sasuke would always look so shaken for the seconds it took for him to remember his surroundings.

Naruto didn't press Sasuke as to what his nightmares were about, and Sasuke did the same for him. Sasuke could talk about them if and when he pleased. Naruto preferred to leave his nightmares unexplained, as putting them into words legitimized it and brought them to his mind's forefront. It made them harder to forget. Often, they'd wake each other up. Knowing neither wanted to explain, they'd simply hold each other until one or both of them fell back to sleep.

Sasuke mentioned long ago that these nightmares became a significant issue around the age of twelve, which was also when his mother passed. Given that this event also escalated his father's abusive behavior, Naruto was almost positive that his childhood trauma was to blame. It made Naruto livid to think of such horrible things happening to Sasuke, especially at such a young age.

When Naruto remembered horrible things, he just had to focus on counting the feathers tattooed on Sasuke's shoulders. When he felt like crying, Sasuke would wrap his arms around Naruto's torso and curl his body around him. When he had panic attacks, Sasuke was there to ground him. He was so good at it. Naruto assumed Sasuke spoke from experience.

Whatever time he was apart from Sasuke he filled with friends, TV, video games, and binging videos on this new site by the name of Youtube. At first, his friends always seemed to have time for him, but he felt disconnected from others in a way that was difficult to express. Even Sasuke and Sakura were not immune to this. His past lurched behind him. Every day, he struggled with its invisible remnants. His false smiles still fooled so many, but they never fooled Sasuke.

Despite how much he'd shared with Sasuke, there was a lingering fear in his mind that Sasuke didn't know the real him - at least not completely. How could he without bearing witness to the things he'd done? He remembered Sasuke making these same claims about himself when they first met. He understood Sasuke's feelings now in a way that eluded him at the time.

Eventually, he got sick of TV. As his friends all worked full-time, they couldn't keep up their former pace. Playing Ally naturally wasn't possible now, and he couldn't in all honesty be certain that it ever would be. His guitar was something that had soothed him in facing past struggles, and he missed losing himself as he played. Whether he looked at it as a reminder of what he'd lost or a symbol of hope and purpose depended on the day.

He loved the sound of Sasuke playing the piano. He'd only heard Sasuke play a handful of times before his deployment. It hadn't been nearly enough to understand the full extent of Sasuke's talent and range. Before, the only time he saw Sasuke play was when he played for him. Now, he heard Sasuke practice, learn new styles, and make mistakes. Sasuke hated messing up, but damn did he ever learn fast.

As much as he cherished this music, there was this ugly part of him that felt jealous. Both of them had worked for years to master their instruments. They were on even footing. When he heard Sasuke play, he wished he could grab Ally and strum her at that very moment. But he couldn't for a very long time, if ever. Sasuke would continue to improve while he stagnated. Sasuke could even play Ally now, but he had yet to do so in front of him.

Yet the largest part of him felt warm upon hearing Sasuke's music, like he wasn't alone. He watched Sasuke play far more than Sasuke would ever expect. He loved the way Sasuke looked down at the keys, the way he might close his eyes for just a couple seconds. He loved how the volume and tempo waxed and waned so fluidly. Sasuke looked happy. Naruto missed feeling like that. He wondered what sorts of music they would produce together if he learned to play again.

Before long, Sasuke threw himself back into work. Seventy-hour work weeks were not out of the norm now. Yet it wasn't just a matter of time spent; it was physical work. Working long hours meant a lot of strain on Sasuke's arms, shoulders, and neck. Sasuke never complained, though he would knead at his hand and wrist when he thought that Naruto wasn't looking.

Things had never been like this before for Sasuke. He cancelled on hundreds of people while he stayed with Naruto, and his schedule was already packed for the year. It made Naruto feel more like dead weight than he usually did. Even knowing that he was the reason Sasuke was working these hours to begin with, he couldn't help but feel frustrated with Sasuke sometimes. Naruto respected Sasuke's professionalism, but he too often put that above his own wellbeing.

So, what could he do with his time, when even getting out of bed sometimes felt futile? Naruto frequented a fitness room on the first floor whenever he could find the motivation. The hardest part was leaving the apartment, but after he finished his run and weight sets, he found himself rejuvenated.

At the very least, Naruto's body was nearly back to full strength. People didn't handle him as tenderly. He could run for an hour and break into a sprint. He felt proud of himself when he realized that he'd regained enough muscle to fit the clothes he wore before he was deployed.

As superficial as it may be, his muscled reflection made him feel like he at least had some control over his future. He forgot what it was like to feel even remotely good about his body. He focused especially on rebuilding his left arm's strength, as it was now tasked with compensating for his right.

Yet this was such a small step. When exactly was he going to really accomplish something? His life in the service was so regimented. Meals were at set times. Each day had its cycle. In the hospital, the only thing expected of him was to get better. It was a brief interlude on his way back to his old life. But now what was there? Why should he get out of bed in the morning? More puzzling yet, how could doing so have ever been so easy for him?

So he looked forward to his appointment with his school's academic counselor with too many emotions for him to decipher. He was excited to be moving on with his life while being scared to fail. He chided himself for being useless, but he also felt guilty for pursuing happiness. What right did he have to find self-realization when Neji had all his prospects taken from him? He was thankful to Sasuke for reminding him that Neji would've wanted Naruto to find precisely that.

He wanted Sasuke to go to this appointment with him. He knew that if he asked, Sasuke would go, even though it meant cancelling on a customer. Sasuke went to such great lengths to avoid this, so Naruto couldn't find it in himself to ask. At the time, it hadn't seemed like a big deal, so he didn't bother to line it up with Sasuke's schedule. Besides, he thought, Sasuke needed space. However, now that it was quickly approaching, the conflicting emotions within him crashed together like a storm-born wave against a cliff.

He was simply meeting with a college academic counselor to chart out the classes he'd require to finally become a teacher. He'd fought in wars. He'd seen people die. How could this rattle him so much? How could he have become so soft so quickly?

You can do this. You'll come home, and you'll become a teacher. Those little shits will be so lucky to have you.

Sasuke spoke these words just weeks before he was deployed, and Naruto doubted that Sasuke remembered them. Naruto had yet to tell Sasuke how much they meant to him, how much they drove him to survive, no matter how grim the circumstances.

You're going to help people. Just like you helped me.

Sasuke opened the bedroom door and stretched his neck, almost as if lured out by Naruto's thoughts. He wore naught but his boxer briefs. These particular ones always made Sasuke's ass look like a dream.

"G'mornin, Snookums!" Naruto said with a grin.

He was good at faking, but Sasuke was inconveniently observant. He approached Sasuke, only for him to evade with a yawn and make a beeline for the kitchen.

"Coffee."

Naruto knew better than to take this personally, as pre-coffee Sasuke could well pass for a zombie on most mornings. During their first date, Sasuke told him that he relied on coffee, but the extent was lost on him until now. As soon as the machine started brewing, Sasuke leaned against the wall and waited. It was almost physically painful not to engage him. He found himself wanting to support Sasuke, as the possibility of him falling asleep standing up seemed quite real.

Sasuke tilted his head back and closed his eyes, inadvertently accentuating his collarbone and chest as he let out a deep exhale. Naruto caught himself licking his bottom lip. Why did Sasuke always have to be shirtless? Naruto wondered if it was even remotely possible to get over how stunning Sasuke was. Every now and again, he moved in a way that captivated Naruto so that all he could do was stare.

At last, the coffee finished brewing. He opened his eyes, looking at Naruto while he took another sip of coffee.

"Mind if I join you?" Naruto said with a smile.

"Sure," Sasuke said. "Just don't expect much in the way of conversation. I have a headache."

Naruto picked a mug out of the kitchen cupboard before pouring himself a cup. He didn't particularly need coffee, but drinking one with Sasuke sounded nice. Sasuke sat at the table and sipped his black coffee. Meanwhile, Naruto put a heaping tablespoon of sugar into his coffee and searched the fridge for half and half.

"P-precious coffeeee," Naruto moaned.

"Mn," Sasuke said with a sleepy smirk. "Yours is more like a latte by the time you're done with it."

"It's still coffee," Naruto said, as he took a seat next to Sasuke.

They both sipped at their drinks, Naruto constantly quelling the urge to talk. Sasuke refilled his cup.

"So, uh…" Naruto began, finally relenting. "What are you gonna be doing at work today?"

Sasuke drank more of his coffee before responding.

"First thing is working six hours or so on a sleeve. Guy sits well," Sasuke mumbled, his voice just a bit slurred with exhaustion. "Then I got a big stomach piece, which is gonna take me the rest of the day."

"Ah…" Naruto said. "When do you think you'll come home?"

"I'unno."

It was difficult for him not to press Sasuke for more details; he felt like a dog awaiting its owner's return. He found himself pathetic for that. Naruto cast a concerned gaze over at Sasuke as he drank his coffee. Neither of them slept very well the night before.

"What's the stomach piece of?"

"A floral tattoo I designed for someone. It'll look amazing when it's done, but I'm not looking forward to it."

Naruto tilted his head.

"Why not?"

"Stomach tattoos can be rough, especially for large customers. The skin there naturally has a lot of give. I stand a lot and sometimes need to use a good amount of force to stretch the skin."

Naruto frowned. He'd never put much thought into what tattoos would be most uncomfortable to do. He'd been more preoccupied with how comfortable they would be to receive.

"That sounds kind of uncomfortable."

"A few hours of that does a number on me."

He imagined it was Sasuke's back, neck, and arms taking the full force of it, as they normally did. He noticed Sasuke grab his right shoulder as he stretched out his neck and knit his brows.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

"I must've slept on it wrong."

"Here," Naruto said, standing up and walking behind Sasuke. He grabbed the flesh with his uninjured hand, only for Sasuke to hiss as his entire body tensed. The area really was tender, but Sasuke was too proud to admit it.

"Sorry. Here, take a breath in, exhale, and then relax."

Sasuke inhaled deeply through his nose, holding his breath for just a couple seconds before exhaling through his mouth. Naruto grasped the skin with a gentle squeeze, feeling the knot deep in Sasuke's shoulder. Ever so slowly, the muscles began to relax.

"Mn, that's good," Sasuke nearly purred.

He gave Sasuke's shoulder a slight shake, as Sasuke tilted his head away to stretch the skin. Naruto stared down his chest, his line of sight ending at Sasuke's boxers. Naruto swallowed hard, pressing his thighs together as he felt his nether regions go hot.

"My massages will get a lot better once Righty's back in action."

"A little closer to my spine."

Naruto moved just a bit closer to the crook of Sasuke's neck. He loved how Sasuke's hair trailed off at his nape. The knot continued up to his spine.

"Wow, the whole cord is tensed up," Naruto said, pressing his thumb into it. "It's rock hard."

He felt the damage done to Sasuke's clavicle and shoulder blade when he did this. The bone was ever so slightly warped. His scar tissue offered extra resistance as Naruto kneaded his flesh.

"I know."

For the next several minutes, Naruto gave Sasuke the best shoulder massage he was capable of. While clearly exhausted, the light smile on Sasuke's face gave away his enjoyment. Sasuke emitted a sleepy moan, so quiet that had his ear not been so close to Sasuke's mouth, he would have never heard it.

He rested his hand on Sasuke's shoulder now, mentally placing a bet as to when Sasuke would move. Several seconds later, Sasuke leaned his head back, peering into Naruto's eyes with his lips parted. They were such a soft shade of pink.

Naruto moved out a pace and leaned over, planting a soft kiss there. Neither of them moved, breathing in and out together as their eyes met. Sasuke's lips parted, as did his. Sasuke's tongue ventured inside of Naruto's mouth, and Naruto took the opportunity to slip his tongue into Sasuke's. He raked his bangs with his fingers, placing it behind his ear. Such a sharp jawline. Sasuke could've been a model.

"Mnn," Naruto hummed softly, his tongue wrapping around Sasuke's tongue. He flicked his tongue over Sasuke's tongue stud; it was so fun to play with it. Their kiss temporarily broke, which gave Naruto a chance to catch his breath.

"Mn, you like playing with that so much. Why don't you get your own?"

Naruto proposed to get his nipples pierced a few weeks ago after a strong dose of liquid courage. Even when Sasuke and Naruto were hardly more than artist and customer, Sasuke was bold enough to suggest that these piercings would particularly suit him.

Ever since then, Naruto fantasized about it. He tried to imagine what it would feel like for Sasuke to lick over it, tapping his tongue stud against the metal balls emerging on either side of his nipples. Sasuke really seemed to like it when Naruto tugged on his. But then Sasuke told him that they take from six months to a year to heal. There was no rush, Sasuke assured him.

He'd planned on getting his tongue pierced as well. He loved playing with Sasuke's, so it seemed like a no brainer.

"Maybe," Naruto said with a coy smile. "Would you like it?"

"Mhm," Sasuke answered briefly before kissing Naruto again.

"I really want to fuck you right now, but I'm struggling just to keep my eyes open," Sasuke admitted.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh. He loved how blunt Sasuke could be, and honestly, it made him feel sexy. Being horny but too tired to fuck wasn't a rare problem for them.

"Coffee," Naruto said, grabbing Sasuke's coffee and bringing it to Sasuke's lips.

"By the time I'm ready to go, you'll need to leave for your appointment."

"Nooo," Naruto said as he faked a sob. "It's not fair."

Sasuke tugged at Naruto's collar, bringing his face back down to him as he placed a kiss on his lips.

"To be continued."

Naruto grumbled before returning to his seat and glancing at his mug. He had about half a cup left.

"I guess now would be the time to get my tongue pierced, huh?" Naruto said. "How long did it take for you to speak normally after you got yours done?"

"Less than a week. It was a long time ago."

"Yeah…" Naruto said. "So before school for sure! Or maybe winter break?"

His body had changed a lot over the past three months. For once, these changes were under his control. Sasuke finished his second coffee. He was looking a bit more energetic.

"But next is gonna be our tattoos," Naruto said with a huge smile, pointing at the area where Sasuke would mark him after the cast was removed.

"Seems like you've got a lot of plans. Making up for lost time?"

"Yeah!" Naruto said. "I mean, I guess? I wanna get my nipples done, my tongue… And I gotta get my back fixed too, of course. Maybe a sleeve? I dunno."

If the smile on Sasuke's lips was any indication, he liked what he heard.

"Looks like my work is cut out for me," Sasuke smirked.

"Ah…" Naruto paused. "Oh! It doesn't have to be soon! Catch up on your work first."

Right, Sasuke had just been talking about how busy he was. He didn't want to overwhelm him. A piercing was nothing, but sizable pieces like his back or a sleeve were quite the investment.

"That's not what I was thinking, dumbass."

Naruto decided that this was enough coffee for him. He didn't want to be jittery at his appointment, after all. He was nervous enough as is.

"Hey, uh…" Naruto said, staring at the table. "When you're done with your shift, do you mind if I meet you at the Grip?"

Sasuke tilted his head.

"I'm really not looking forward to this appointment, to be honest," Naruto finally admitted. "But if I know something fun is waiting for me tonight, it won't be so bad."

"You think getting stabbed in the tongue is fun?"

Naruto nearly choked on his coffee. How had Sasuke read him so well?

"I dunno. I just…"

Sasuke shook his head with the hint of a chuckle.

"I get it."

Naruto nodded, unsure of what to say.

"Think it over. If you're still in the mood tonight, come in. Fair?"

Maybe this appointment wouldn't be so bad after all. He had something to look forward to now.

"Fair."

By the time Naruto was actually taken into the counselor's office for his appointment, he was a ball of nerves. He knew that he'd stand out, but he hadn't expected how strange he'd feel walking around campus. He was glad he didn't still have that light beard; it would've only made him look older. Everyone was so young, and he could bench press most of them if he had a functional right arm.

Given that his classes would primarily be general education, he'd likely have plenty of eighteen and nineteen year-olds in his class. He wore his Nirvana T-shirt, which fit just a bit snugly. A young man paid him a compliment; Naruto assumed that he was a student. A senior, maybe? Naruto hadn't expected such a small thing to make him feel better.

His appointment with his academic counselor was far simpler than he'd imagined. He'd be starting June term. If he studied full-time through the summers and passed all his classes, he'd finish by the end of 2008.

This wasn't news to him. He knew that the standard track for getting his bachelor's was four years, so he was glad he could expedite it by half a year by working through the summers. Yet it sounded so far away. He was only deployed for two years, but it felt like a century. This was almost double the time.

This was a new era in his life. By the time he taught, he'd be in his thirties. He wished he could strut into his thirties like Sasuke was about to this summer, wildly successful and mentally strong, but he highly doubted it. At that age, he'd still be in college. He really was late to the game, wasn't he?

Moving to Manhattan on his eighteenth was a stupid decision. He couldn't blame himself for hating the small Texan town he was forced to call home; it wasn't easy for men to love men there. He was sick of the group home. Yet he had no reason to move here other than the allure of bright lights and a city pace. Rent was a fortune, and the winters were a bitch.

He could've lived somewhere cheap and gone to community college for a couple years, working to pay the bills and his tuition. Then he could've transferred to a four-year. He'd already be a teacher by now, and he would've never fought in the military. He could be living a normal life. Yet he couldn't fully regret his decision. If he hadn't moved here, he would've never met Sasuke.

Regardless, he felt pathetic during his appointment. The student right before him looked like he might not've even hit eighteen yet. There was this shocked look on the counselor's face when he first saw Naruto, but it disappeared in an instant. Naruto supposed he couldn't blame him. He stood out for a number of reasons.

Upon returning to their apartment, he lay in bed to ruminate. Even if the path was long, he could see his goal now. He was taking the first steps. He wanted to be to his students what Iruka was to him. He knew that he'd have to put up with some bullshit, much like the tantrums he'd throw at that age.

Growing up, he was corralled from school to school. He gave up on school when he started junior high. No matter how much he tried, his report card was a disaster. It was hard for him to sit still in class. Everything just seemed so boring, and no matter how he tried to concentrate, it was nearly impossible to focus. His body was begging for freedom; he'd much rather be outside.

He could never keep up with the other kids when they read, either. He got bullied whenever the teachers forced him to read aloud, traipsing through the words with all the dexterity of a drunkard. Once, the instant the teacher left the room, the kid sitting next to him said, "Damn, you really are dumb as dirt, aren't you?" His classmates laughed. He did everything he could after that day not to read in front of others, but it was often unavoidable.

He was either stupid, lazy, or both, they told him. If he was stupid, that was just his lot in life. If he was lazy, it was on him for not trying harder. After all, everyone else was keeping up. It was the most convenient scenario for them, as it required nothing on their parts. Besides, Naruto never stayed in one place for long. He'd become someone else's problem sooner or later, they figured.

He tried telling his teachers that the material in class didn't stick. He told them that when he read, it looked like the letters swapped. The same happened with long numbers in his math classes. They told him to stop making excuses.

If people were going to call him stupid and lazy no matter what he did, why try to change their minds? If his grades were going to suck no matter how hard he tried, why bother trying at all?

Iruka, his English teacher, convinced the school board to provide testing for Naruto, which resulted in him being diagnosed with dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It was ironic given that of all of his teachers, Naruto was the hardest on Iruka. He hid a pin-up of a naked woman on Iruka's projector scroll for him to unroll it in front of the entire class. One April Fool's, Naruto told Iruka that he was planning the prank of the century only for him to do nothing, just to mess with him.

One way or another, Iruka always gave him a reaction. Naruto never wanted to go home. The family he had in Texas were a bunch of judgmental, homophobic, and abusive assholes. After that family got sick of him, they sent him to a local group home. He didn't like it there much either, but at least there were other kids.

A writing club met in Iruka's classroom for two hours after school every day. Despite never writing a thing for them, Iruka let Naruto stay undisturbed. Iruka made him care about learning again. He certainly wasn't the best student in their class, and he left before he graduated. But he passed the high school equivalency exam his first time. It wouldn't have been possible without Iruka's help.

He was surprised when Iruka told him that he also lost his parents at a young age. Much like Naruto, he misbehaved in school, playing the class clown in hopes of easing his loneliness. But he had a teacher that never gave up on him. It changed his life, and this was why he decided to teach high school. Naruto had moved through life so aimlessly, knowing no consistency and having no aspirations. It was at that moment that Naruto finally saw his goal.

If he could believe in even one kid that everyone else gave up on, everything he went through would be worth it. It fulfilled him, and he couldn't stomach the idea of all that suffering being for nothing. It wasn't damage for the sake of damage; it had a purpose. He wanted to work in a rough area and wasn't afraid of a challenge. He knew he'd understand these kids in ways the other adults didn't.

Still, 2008…

He'd think about this later, he decided. He had a couple months before classes began. He wondered if he should be getting the syllabus and reading ahead. He had to put in more effort than most. If he had any chance of being successful, he'd have to be disciplined. He lacked this quality throughout his youth, but two years spent in a warzone gave him more than his fair share.

A sprint got his endorphins running, his earbuds blasting "Reptilia," his favorite song by The Strokes. He hated the way sweat would accumulate in his cast and itch. It was a good sign, as it meant his nerves were waking up. That didn't make it any less annoying, however. He couldn't wait to get that hunk of plaster sawed off in a few days. He was beyond over it.

He gingerly bathed, avoiding his cast, and then hunkered down playing Halo 2. Only when the landline rang did Naruto notice that the sun had already set. Naruto grinned as he read the call ID.

"Heeey."

Naruto knew his smile made its way into his voice.

"Hey."

"You done with work now?"

"Finally," Sasuke huffed. "How did everything go?"

Naruto shrugged.

"Fine. End of 2008, she said. Earliest."

"Alright. About what we were expecting."

"Yeah…"

But he didn't want to go into that. Besides, it had been a stressful day for Sasuke. He didn't want to dump all his issues on him.

"Something on your mind?"

It wasn't anything he hadn't confided in Sasuke before. They'd talked through it multiple times; there was no fixing the issue.

"Yeah," Naruto said, "And I'd really rather it not be."

"You need a distraction? I can help with that."

Naruto wished he could see the expression on Sasuke's face as a few seconds of silence lapsed. He didn't know if he was imagining how seductive Sasuke's tone of voice was.

"I haven't changed my mind."

"Can't say I'm surprised," Sasuke smirked. "I'm ready for you. Come over."

It was tough not to take that out of context. Despite the fog he found himself in, a frisson of excitement birthed a smile on his lips. He walked to the shop with long, brisk steps, that dopey smile on his face the whole way over. Even open gawking from strangers wouldn't have been enough to quell his eagerness. He finally arrived at the shop, tilting his head back as he looked up at its sign. Damn, this was nostalgic. He knocked on the door

The door soon opened, and he realized how much he'd missed Sasuke instant he saw his face. They'd only been apart for hours, but he couldn't help himself.

"Wow!"

Naruto walked past Sasuke, taking in his surroundings. There were a few new paintings and posters, but the general vibe was the same. He'd always remember this place. It was where he spent many hours getting his first and only tattoo, but more importantly, it was where he fell in love with Sasuke.

"Nice to see you too."

Right, he'd walked right past Sasuke without saying a word to him.

"Oh yeah," Naruto said with a nervous laugh. "Sorry, it's just been forever since I've been here. I got distracted."

Naruto returned to Sasuke, placing an apologetic peck on his lips.

"Is it how you remember it?"

"Totally," Naruto said, walking up to the counter.

He noticed a stack of business cards with a logo of a snake wrapping around a skeleton's hand.

"You never told me you have a logo now!" Naruto said, waving his arm.

"We have a logo now," Sasuke replied. "Better?"

Naruto took one of the business cards reading "Uchiha Sasuke." Each artist had their own. He held it in his hand, rubbing his thumb over the embossed print.

"Oh, these are fancy. You got the raised print and everything! Nice, thick paper."

He placed his wallet on the countertop, opening it up and placing the card in it with a grin. Accessing his wallet with only his nondominant hand wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but he was used to it by now.

"You are way too easily impressed."

"No, you're just stuck up," Naruto said, sticking his tongue out at Sasuke.

A few seconds of silence passed.

"I really missed this place," Naruto said with a content sigh.

"I missed having you here."

Naruto skipped a beat, the inner part of his brows going upwards as he blinked. He loved it when Sasuke said stuff like this, however rare it was.

"Anyhow," Sasuke added before Naruto could tease him. "Take a seat."

Naruto didn't need to be told which one. He recognized Sasuke's station in a heartbeat. He practically skipped across the room and collapsed into the chair.

"Ahhh, Mr. Chair! Such sweet memories with Mr. Chair!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Can you please stop referring to my chair that way?"

"You're right. What was I thinking?" Naruto sighed, shaking his head. "Way too formal."

Sasuke was entirely unamused.

"I can't believe I never named your chair! Especially considering how long I spent in it…"

Sasuke pinched at the bridge of his nose, emitting a long, frustrated sigh.

"Remember that time when you pierced my ears on our first date?" Naruto said, unable to contain his enthusiasm. He tapped the arm of the chair. "Then you sucked me off in this very chair."

"That happened? I forgot all about it."

Sasuke's flat expression almost made Naruto question if he was being serious, but he couldn't miss that dry sarcasm in Sasuke's tone. He laughed.

"You give good head. If I had any doubts before, I was like, 'This guy is sort of a jerk, but damn can he suck a dick.'"

"You aren't wrong," Sasuke said as he cocked his head to the side.

Sasuke made Naruto laugh yet again. It was crazy how easy it was for Sasuke to do that.

"Speaking of…"

Naruto cast an expectant glance up at Sasuke. He couldn't wait to hear what Sasuke was going to say next; he was sure he'd like it.

"For two weeks after this, we can't kiss. For three months, you can't suck me off."

Could it have been possible to be more dead wrong?

"Three months?" Naruto said, his eyes wide. "And I can't kiss you for two weeks either? Are you serious?"

Sasuke shrugged.

"I'm not the one who decides how long these things take to heal."

"Sorry, but you're seriously deluded if you think I'm not gonna suck you off for three whole months. Can't just I use a condom?"

Sasuke sighed, "Oral sex is the greatest risk of infection. Condoms do reduce the risk, though. "

"Besides, I'm a really fast healer. You know this!"

Naruto had gotten on his feet far sooner than the doctors anticipated. Sasuke took in a deep sigh.

"I've had enough piercings myself to know when they're really healed. Even after the discomfort's gone away, you're not necessarily in the clear. Maybe it won't be that long, but I'll make that call for you."

He supposed it was fair, given that this was Sasuke's profession. He didn't like the bossy way he said it though. Naruto furrowed his brows, staring down at his lap as he pouted.

"Fine," Naruto said. "Then I guess I should do this while I still have the chance."

Sasuke looked at him with surprise for just a second until he took Sasuke's shirt in his fist, pulling him down on top of him. He could tell by the look on Sasuke's face that he didn't expect Naruto to be able to knock him off his feet.

"I'm getting stronger," he said as Sasuke lay against him, his face just a hand's width from Naruto's. "Try to keep up."

Yet he was shocked when Sasuke yanked a fistful of Naruto's hair, causing his chest to arch up as his head went back. He was half-ashamed to admit that it was making him hard. He loved how rough Sasuke dared to be. His body wasn't so fragile anymore, and he was tired of people treating him as if it were.

As the lump under his throat protruded, Sasuke quickly ran his tongue against it, both flesh and metal. He took a deep swallow, knowing that the way the lump in his throat moved would be a dead giveaway to Sasuke. He almost felt as though he were being hunted.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Sasuke smirked, pulling Naruto's face into his by his hair.

They kissed deeply, competing to see who would be the first to make the other moan. Their tongues lashed against each other. The slight discomfort in the back of Naruto's neck only aroused him, gave him the feeling of being controlled and owned by Sasuke.

Naruto lifted Sasuke farther up on the chair, bending his knee upward as Sasuke sat in his lap. As they kissed, Naruto reached forward and grasped at the waist of Sasuke's jeans. Before Sasuke could resist, a telltale moan gave him away. Naruto wouldn't let Sasuke call all the shots.

Sasuke channeled his desire into their kiss, biting Naruto's bottom lip and pulling. The pain caused him to emit a whimper and a moan. Sasuke kissed down his neck as he kept Naruto's head fastened to the chair with his left hand. This wasn't fair, Naruto thought to himself. Sasuke had two hands to work with. Yet it was hard to complain about much of anything when Sasuke looked at him so desiringly.

Meanwhile, Naruto placed his palm over Sasuke's crotch, feeling a budding erection that matched his own. Sasuke unbuttoned Naruto's shirt with his right hand, sucking at the skin below his collarbone and leaving a dark purple stain behind. He loved the sight of it. He loved being reminded of Sasuke every time he saw his body.

He wanted more than just seeing his back in a mirror's reflection. He wanted to see Sasuke's traces on him as often as possible. In a matter of days, in this same chair, they'd leave permanent marks on each other. Neither of them would be able to look at their wrists without remembering their connection.

Naruto undid Sasuke's button, guiding his pants down around his ass. Sasuke mimicked the behavior and unbuttoned Naruto. Rather awkwardly, Naruto was able to wiggle his pants about halfway down his ass. The lump in both of their undergarments was unmistakable. Sasuke was the first to reach into Naruto's drawers, pulling out his ruddy cock from its confines. Its perkiness betrayed all of the desperation he felt.

Naruto followed suit, guiding Sasuke's cock out of his clothing. Their sexes were so close to each other that should either move just slightly, they'd touch. Sasuke gave Naruto his hungriest kiss yet before parting, licking his hand, and guiding Naruto's cock against his. Naruto moaned the instant he felt the contact of Sasuke's hot and sensitive flesh against his.

"Yes…" Naruto breathed out, looking down and burning the sight into his mind. Sasuke's cock was almost as hard as his. He felt Sasuke's piercing against the tip of his cock; it was a barbell that ran through Sasuke's head horizontally and emerged on either side of his head. It wasn't a new piercing, but it was new to Naruto; Sasuke had flawlessly kept the secret while Naruto was abroad. He wasn't sure why that aroused him so much.

As Sasuke pumped, he sucked at the crook of Naruto's neck, leaving yet another dark hickey behind him. He was glad. He'd remember how he felt tomorrow when he saw his reflection in the mirror. He loved it when Sasuke littered his body with those dark wine-colored marks and didn't stop when it hurt.

"God, yes…" Naruto purred. "I love feeling you against me."

Naruto wouldn't bother to hide how blissed he was, only now realizing that he'd closed his eyes for the last few seconds. Sasuke kept his pace as they shared another deep kiss. He felt himself already nearing the brink, and it was humiliating. He had to stop this. After all, he hadn't accomplished his goal.

"Sasuke…" he said, breaking away from their kiss.

"Mn?"

"Remember that time I sucked you off on your piano bench?"

Sasuke hitched for a moment. It was their second date, after Sasuke played the piano for him. He lay on Sasuke's bench, his head just falling off of it and leaning completely back. Sasuke stood, thrusting into his mouth. He was able to take Sasuke back so deeply this way. Sasuke bit his soft lower lip, his eyes catching Naruto's.

"Recline the chair."

Yet the last thing Sasuke looked like he wanted to do was stop doing what he was doing.

"It'll be worth it."

"I believe you," Sasuke said with a half smile.

Once the chair was reclined, Sasuke quickly adopted the correct position. Naruto moved to his stomach, resting on one hip so that his erection wasn't forced against the chair. His head went just past the edge of the chair. He grasped his hand around the base of Sasuke's cock, watching as it gave a needy twitch. He now ran his tongue along its underside, hardening his tongue slightly as it glided against the two petite barbells there.

He licked the head of Sasuke's cock in the most lewd way possible, flicking his tongue against the metal ball that emerged at Sasuke's slit. He sprinkled kisses along Sasuke's shaft.

"Stop teasing me," Sasuke muttered.

"Mmm?" Naruto said, holding Sasuke's cock up to his mouth and licking from base to tip. "But I'm having fun, and you taste so good."

He couldn't deny that his own body begged for release as well. He'd leave this unmentioned.

"Naruto…"

"I need to hear you say it."

Sasuke licked his bottom lip. His chest was flushed red.

"I want to cum in your mouth, Naru," Sasuke said with a devilish look in his eye. "Suck me."

That was all Naruto needed to hear. With a pleased smirk, he took Sasuke back as far into his throat as he could in this position, bobbing back and forth. When Naruto moved in toward Sasuke's body, Sasuke matched Naruto with the slight thrust of his hips inward. When Sasuke moved back, so did he.

Using his tongue as a suction against the back of his mouth, he gave Sasuke one hard suck. The resulting moan was music to his ears.

"I'm going to move onto my back," Naruto said. "I want you to keep thrusting, like you're fucking my mouth."

"You really are desperate, aren't you?"

"Of course," Naruto said. "I need to memorize your taste if I'm going to be without for so long."

Naruto rolled onto his back, his head leaning off the table. Sasuke again guided his cock into Naruto's mouth and began to thrust back, shallow. Naruto moaned against it, rubbing his hand over his shirt and toying with his nipple. He looked forward to getting it pierced.

Sasuke quickly took over for him, pulling Naruto's shirt up so that his chest was left to the open air. Sasuke licked his fingertip, which was wet and cool, as it tapped against Naruto's nipple. It quickly became hard, and he felt precum ooze from his slit.

"Leaking already?"

Naruto was sure he must be blushing a deep red.

"I can't wait to lick it up."

Naruto moaned, the vibrations going over Sasuke's cock. It was a gesture of encouragement, which Sasuke easily interpreted. He grunted as he thrust deeper into Naruto's mouth; Naruto could sense Sasuke starting to lose control. He moved faster, emitting a low moan that fueled Naruto on.

"That's it…" Sasuke panted. "Almost…"

His pace was frenzied now, and Naruto had the first tastes of Sasuke's cum as the slightest bit escaped. It was salty and just slightly bitter. Naruto wished that he could see Sasuke's face at this moment.

"I'm… Now…"

Naruto was glad for the warning, deeply swallowing as Sasuke shot his load into Naruto's mouth and finally released a sinful moan. Naruto loved the taste of him, taking a subsequent but smaller spurt of Sasuke's was a loud plop as Sasuke's cock fell from his mouth. Naruto rolled onto his side so that his face could be upright, giving Sasuke's sex one final lick.

"Fuck, Naru…" Sasuke purred, his pleasure bleeding through his tone.

He leaned over and gave Naruto a deep kiss.

"Do you taste yourself on me?" Naruto said as their kiss parted for just a few seconds.

"Yes," Sasuke said. "But I'd much rather be tasting you."

Naruto moved to his side completely, and Sasuke quickly knelt in front of him. He licked the precum right off from his tip, never breaking eye contact with Naruto as he did so. He tapped his tongue stud over Naruto's slit, just how he liked it. Whimpering, Naruto curled his toes.

Sasuke took his time, making a show of making out with Naruto's cock as he held eye contact with Naruto. Naruto again was feeling as though he were Sasuke's prey, and it made his cock stiffen and his hair stand on end. He was already so worked up after sucking Sasuke off.

Sasuke sucked at Naruto's inner thigh, leaving another dark mark behind with a loud plop. He felt the temptation to moan, and he didn't stop himself. It was hungry and shameless. He wanted Sasuke to know that he enjoyed this. Naruto was beginning to wonder if Sasuke liked giving these to Naruto as much as he liked receiving them.

"Please…" Naruto panted. "Don't make me beg."

Sasuke smirked, holding the base of Naruto's cock in his hand. He placed a kiss on its tip. Naruto felt as though he'd burst.

"I won't make you beg," Sasuke said, his voice slightly husky. "But you need to tell me what you want."

He slowly took Naruto back into his throat and bobbed a few times. Naruto's entire body tensed as he moaned.

"Please, make me cum in your mouth."

Sasuke fondled Naruto's balls with his right hand as he supported the base of Naruto's erection with his left. He leaned forward, taking Naruto into his mouth and sucking as he pulled away. Naruto's cock sprung.

"Oh god…" Naruto breathed out.

"Is that how you like it?"

"S-Sasu… Don't stop."

Sasuke continued again, picking up the pace. Naruto had already been on the brink. It wouldn't take much more.

"I'm gonna cum!"

Naruto loved how deep Sasuke's moan was. Naruto's entire body was red, heat especially concentrated around his stomach, ass, and cock. He unloaded into Sasuke's mouth, and Sasuke gladly swallowed. Waves of pleasure washed over Naruto until he was completely finished.

Naruto sat up on the chair's edge. They exchanged one more lazy kiss until they both parted. Naruto looked around them; they really hadn't made too much of a mess. It was shocking.

"Wow," Naruto said, smiling and still in a daze.

He was lost to pleasure and love.

"Mn," Sasuke muttered, their foreheads resting together.

They cleaned up what little mess they had left. Sasuke put the chair back in its upright position, meticulously checking it for fluids. Naruto pulled up his pants but left his shirt unbuttoned. He liked the sight of his hickey, and he'd stopped feeling self-conscious about the scars on his right side around Sasuke. Granted, he wasn't ready to go out shirtless, but he knew Sasuke was fond of his scars. Besides, after all the work he put into rebuilding his muscles, could he really be blamed for wanting to show off a little?

"Bet you didn't expect this to come full circle when you sucked me off two years ago," Naruto said with a devilish grin.

"Can't say I did."

"It's like...blow job karma or something."

Sasuke let out a long, frustrated sigh, which only baited him. Really, Sasuke should be accustomed to this sort of behavior by now.

"It's the never-ending cycle of fellatio, Sasuke. It's a beautiful part of life."

Sasuke simply pointed to the sink. He'd already set out a cup of mouthwash for Naruto.

"Just swig that mouthwash and shut up."

"In the ciiircle of dicks," Naruto sang as he made his way over to the mouthwash. "It's the wheel of-"

Naruto stopped midsong, swigging the spearmint mouthwash. Sure, he was profaning a childhood classic, but The Lion King was just convenient material right now.

"Keep swigging that for either 30 seconds or until you're ready to stop singing, whichever of the two is longer."

"Mn!" Naruto protested through his closed lips.

Finally he finished, making his way back over to Sasuke's chair. Sasuke already had a small plastic case, filled with tongue studs.

"Pick."

Naruto sorted through the different jewelry, finally deciding on a brilliant blue opal tongue stud. As the light approached it from different directions, Naruto could see turquoise, green, and purple opalescent specks.

"What do you think?"

"I like it," Sasuke said with a light smile. "It suits you."

"Heh," Naruto said with a wide grin. "Okay, go for it!"

Naruto immediately stuck his tongue out. He was riding on Sasuke's compliment to calm his nerves. Getting a needle shoved through his tongue was a bit unsettling.

"Put your tongue back in your mouth, dumbass."

"But how're you gonna…"

"Let me get the clamp and needle ready first."

Sasuke only took a minute to get his supplies ready, though it seemed like a century to Naruto. His heart was beating hard, and he didn't know if it was primarily due to the excitement or nervousness. And he had to admit that as he watched Sasuke prepare himself, he felt a little smitten. The endorphins from their earlier ministrations hadn't left his body either.

"Okay, now."

Naruto stuck his tongue out, and Sasuke grasped it with his tongs, flipping his tongue over so that he could see its underside. This had to be one of the most awkward positions he could be in, Naruto thought to himself.

Sasuke placed a purple dot on Naruto's tongue, offering him the mirror. Naruto gave the thumbs up sign, trying his best not to drool. His palms were sweaty, and he swung his shins back and forth underneath the seat. Sasuke took a hollow needle from its package, the tip a sharp V.

"On three. Breathe in for one and two, and exhale for three."

"Ah," Naruto confirmed as best he could with his tongue so far out of his mouth.

"One."

He appreciated Sasuke's instructions, finding the deep inhale calming. He closed his eyes for a moment, his eyelids twitching in nervousness. He'd only had his ears pierced; this was totally new to him.

"Two."

He inadvertently gripped Sasuke's forearm, squeezing tight. He hadn't meant to do this. Sasuke was charitable enough to leave it unaddressed.

"And three."

Naruto exhaled, soon after feeling a stab in his tongue. He could've sworn he heard a crunch, and he grabbed Sasuke's forearm tighter. It wasn't as bad as he expected. It was a very odd feeling that he couldn't put his finger on, the entire area burning now. Sasuke made quick work of putting the jewelry in, and his tongue finally returned to his mouth.

"Wow," Naruto said with a sheepish laugh.

The bar felt so out of place in his mouth. He supposed he'd get used to it. He wished he could play with it, but the area was far too sore.

"This bar's long to accommodate for swelling. In a few weeks-"

Naruto moved forward, placing a peck on Sasuke's lips. Sasuke arched a pierced brow at him.

"Sorry," Naruto said. "You jus' looked kissable."

Talking was already becoming a challenge.

"C'mon, dumbass," Sasuke said, placing a kiss on his forehead. "Let's go home."

Even after staying with him for a month, hearing Sasuke refer to his apartment as their home still made him smile.

"Yup," Naruto replied with none of his typical loquaciousness. "Home."