A/N: I was not the only one who thought Sasuke hopped up on painkillers was cute, haha. And there's a wee bit o' citrus ahead (sort of, you'll see).

A Certain Kind of Comfort

Waking turned out to be a monumental feat, hand over fist through inky darkness to the land of the living. When he finally managed to lever open heavy eyelids, he snapped them shut instantly to block out the light stabbing into them. Groaning faintly, he turned his head to the side and rubbed his face in the pillow beneath his head. It wasn't as soft as his own, and the smell was off. Too . . . sterile.

"Sasuke?" said a familiar voice.

A voice he hadn't heard in quite a while, one for whom it was definitely worth risking painful light. He cracked open his eyes, unable to help a small smile. "Iruka. What are you doing here?"

Kakashi's Coordinator, partner, and lover stood up from his chair, smiling warmly as he pressed his lips to Sasuke's forehead. "Well, I was missing that idiot of mine. And of course, I couldn't come see him without dropping in on my favorite kid."

One thing Sasuke loved about this man was how he could express caring and concern without sap or pity. He wanted to sit up and hug him, but there were wires all over, IV tubes, and he was so weak he could barely move. A glance up showed three IV bags, and he had a feeling one was plasma for his hemophilia.

"How long are you staying?" he asked, turning his eyes back to Iruka's face. There was something very comforting about his handsome countenance.

"Oh, just a few days," the older Coordinator replied. "I know you don't like PDA, but brace yourself. I'm gonna give you a hug."

Snorting a faint laugh, Sasuke rallied enough strength to wrap his arms around Iruka's neck and back. "I can survive one."

Iruka squeezed gently before letting go. He glanced at the three IV bags. "How do you feel? Any pain in your hands?"

His tone of voice was normal, as if Sasuke's injury was the result of something normal. He found focusing on his hands weirdly difficult. "Um, they're okay," he said after a moment. "I feel kinda weird."

"Weird how?" Iruka asked, rubbing his fingers on Sasuke's arm above the bandages.

Sasuke closed his eyes. "Sick."

Iruka smiled and squeezed his arm. "It's just the painkillers. You'll feel better when you've eaten. In fact, a nice breakfast should be arriving soon. You feel strong enough to sit up a little?"

"Yeah," Sasuke said, already feeling tired again. He glanced at one of the IV lines. "Can you . . . turn it down?"

He didn't have to explain further. Iruka leaned toward the little control panel beside the monitoring equipment. "Don't like that nice, floating feeling?" he teased, slowing the drip of the morphine.

"Feels like drowning in mud," Sasuke grunted as Iruka levered the top half of the bed up.

Iruka chuckled. "Dramatic as always. Are you cold? This room's a little chilly."

"I'm a little cold," Sasuke admitted, managing to pull the thin blanket up a little higher over his chest. It wasn't easy, he couldn't move his fingers much.

The man turned up the thermostat, then he lowered himself back into the chair by the bed. "It's almost strange to be back here," he mused. "As soon as I graduated, I beat it out of here and didn't look back. I was so eager to join the army. You know, I didn't much like Kakashi when we first met. But I still had this sinking feeling he would become my Controller."

Already fighting nodding off, Sasuke frowned slightly. "Really? Kakashi always said it was practically love at first sight."

Iruka snorted. "Hardly. He was kind of full of himself because he was so strong. You know, with having two forms and all. I'm still not sure why he picked me. I had high grades and decent averages, but I was far from the strongest Coordinator of our year."

Which, Sasuke thought sleepily, was why they complemented each other so well. A strong Controller and a strong Coordinator just tended to clash. A certain blonde popped instantly into his mind, and Sasuke found himself smiling stupidly.

"Ah, but I fell victim to Kakashi's charms eventually," Iruka went on. "Everyone did. He chased me relentlessly for about two months, during which time we both partnered with everyone we could. But we always came back to each other. It was some time in our third month that I knew. He was the one."

"Was that when you became lovers?" Sasuke asked. At least, he thought he did. His lips felt kind of numb.

Iruka chuckled. "No. That came after we finally bonded at the end of our first year. It's a very . . . eye-opening experience, bonding with someone. Linking up during mock combat doesn't begin to compare. Your awareness of your partner is exponentially heightened to the point where you always know what they're feeling. I could find Kakashi blindfolded in a city of a billion people. You share everything with your partner. It's actually very difficult not to fall in love."

Sasuke wanted to ask about that, too, but this time he knew his mouth didn't open.

Another chuckle, softer this time. A warm hand brushed over his forehead and cheek. "Sleep a little longer if you want, Sasuke. I'll be here when you wake."

Staying awake required more effort than Sasuke could muster.

But when he woke again, it was much easier. And less pleasant. His hands ached fiercely, and he momentarily regretted asking Iruka to ease off the painkillers.

"Oh, he's finally awake," Suigetsu's voice said. "Hey sleeping beauty. You tryin' to make me die young from a heart attack?"

Sasuke turned to find Gaara and Suigetsu with him, the former sitting in the chair Iruka had apparently vacated, the latter perched on the edge of the bed. "Where's Iruka?" he asked, stretching a little.

"Aren't we good enough for you?" Suigetsu demanded, right on top of Gaara's,

"In the infirmary office with Kakashi."

The door opened, and Naruto came charging in. "Sasuke! You're finally awake. And looking way more lucid than last night!"

Sasuke looked up as Naruto stopped on the opposite side of the bed from Gaara. He had a very vague memory of seeing Naruto last night, but he could remember nothing specific. For some reason, the blonde had a stupid grin on his face. Well, more stupid than usual.

The recovery room's bathroom door opened, and Neji stalked out, a scowl on his face. "What are you doing here, Uzumaki? Leave."

Leaning back against the pillows, Sasuke closed his eyes. "He might as well stay. This dumb band is keeping us connected." He raised his left wrist a little.

"Hear that, Hyuga?" Naruto said, plopping himself down on the bed and jostling Sasuke. "I can stay. What are you three doing here, anyway? I got special permission from Kakashi-sensei thanks to these bands to miss class."

"What?" Suigetsu whined. "Really? Man, that sucks! How come he likes you so much?"

"Heh, heh," Naruto smirked. "I'm special."

"Yeah, ya are," Suigetsu said with a noisy sigh. "Damn Controllers with your multiple forms."

Sasuke could hear in his friend's voice that he liked Naruto. For some reason, that made him a little happy. Then he frowned. Why does that make me happy? That's stupid.

A warm finger rubbed between his eyebrows and down over the bridge of his nose. "Don't frown, Sasuke," Naruto said. "You'll get wrinkles before you're twenty."

"Fuck, that would be a shame," Suigetsu said. "He's so damn cute. Don't you think, Naruto?"

There was no reply to him for several moments, and Sasuke didn't see a reason to open his eyes while that finger kept rubbing up and down the bridge of his nose. It felt weirdly nice.

"Yeah," came the eventual answer.

Sasuke really, really hoped he wasn't blushing. He finally opened his eyes to give Naruto a weak glare. "We've been over this, dobe."

"What?" Suigetsu cut in. "You've called him cute before, Naruto? What'd I miss?"

"Nothing," Sasuke said, rolling his eyes and turning his head out of reach.

Naruto chuckled. Then jostled Sasuke some more when he moved on the bed. "Iruka-sensei! I'm real glad to see you!"

Iruka appeared into the room (which really, was beginning to feel a little crowded), smiling. "I just saw you this morning, you know. And I thought you were going to bring Sasuke breakfast?"

"Heh," Naruto said, scratching the back of his neck. "I ate it. But! I was here hours ago and Sasuke was sleeping so peaceful I didn't want to wake him up."

Which served to remind Sasuke he was hungry.

"Well, go to the cafeteria and come back with lunch," Iruka instructed.

Sasuke twitched. Lunch? How long was I asleep?

Then Kakashi walked into the room, followed by the Head Director herself. Kakashi made a lazy hand gesture. "All right boys," he said, "come back after classes. Sasuke needs rest."

His three friends gave Kakashi looks best described as mulish before leaving. Each of them squeezed his shoulder on their way out.

"How are you feeling, Sasuke?" Tsunade asked.

Her concern was weird; he didn't know her well at all. Sasuke shrugged, looking up at Kakashi as the man leaned over him and kissed his forehead. Which tickled because of the mask.

"What is it?" Iruka asked, frowning at her. "You look troubled by something."

She folded her arms beneath her ample bosom. "I'm technically retired from the Imperial Army, but my skills and former position are both still respected. So I was notified by ANBU that Itachi has been spotted several times in the last three days. Close to The Academy."

Sasuke didn't really feel up to this yet, and it must have shown on his face. Iruka sat beside him and squeezed Sasuke's shoulder.

"I already know," Kakashi said, and his body language bespoke tension. "What I don't know is why you're telling Sasuke this. He doesn't need the stress."

Tsunade's expression suggested she thought Kakashi was being obtuse. "We've been searching for this man for four years. This is the first time since his disappearance we've even seen him. We both know it's no coincidence. He's looking for something. Someone. This is our chance."

"No," Kakashi said. Flat. Low. Hard.

"I understand your concern -" she began.

"No, I really think you don't," Kakashi cut her off. "No way on this good earth am I allowing you to use him as bait to lure -"

"There would be Shinobi with him every step of the way," Tsunade insisted. "We're fully prepared to risk our lives to -"

"Fine," Kakashi said, "risk your lives. That's your choice. But I will not allow you to risk my kid's life over something so foolhardy and dangerous -"

"You haven't even heard my plan!"

"I don't give a shit about any plan," Kakashi snapped.

The profanity mildly surprised Sasuke. His guardian never cursed.

Iruka finally stirred. "Tsunade-sama," he said quietly, "don't you think Sasuke has been through enough? Kakashi isn't trying to be difficult, but we would both feel better if he never had to see that man again."

It would have been amusing, were the circumstances different, how quickly Tsunade's countenance changed when she regarded Iruka. It softened completely. "I know, I truly understand. But we still have no clear idea what Itachi's motives or objectives are. We didn't four years ago, we don't now. The only thing we know for sure is he wants Sasuke."

"He's just a kid," Kakashi all but growled. "My kid. I will not allow you to use him as bait just so you can get the satisfaction of being the one to capture the most dangerous criminal . . ."

Even as a tiny little boy, Sasuke had hated people talking over his head as if he wasn't there. Lurching upright, he reached for the small glass of water on the bedside table and flung it off as hard as he could. It hurt his hand, and the glass made a satisfyingly loud shattering sound. Three sets of concerned eyes finally landed on him.

Sasuke ignored all but Kakashi. "I'm not five anymore," he said, gazing up into the unmasked eye. "I know you want to protect me, but you can't. I don't want you to. I have to do this, Kakashi. And if you say I can't, then I'll sneak out when you're not looking and go after him anyway."

He'd lied to Kakashi about so many things. In this, at least, he wanted to be totally honest.

Tsunade snorted. "You're a good kid, Sasuke."

Iruka squeezed his knee.

For a long, long time Kakashi stared down at him in stony silence. Then all at once he relented. He heaved a sigh. "If I can't talk you out of it, we're doing this my way or not at all."

Nodding, Sasuke slumped back against the pillows. "Okay." Soft and a little meek.

"First," Kakashi said, "you master your control issues with that band. I'll take it off Naruto and put it on me, instead."

The words sent an odd thrill through Sasuke. He'd never once practiced with his guardian.

"Leave it on Naruto for a few more days," Iruka interjected here. "I've been reading their scores together. They're teaching each other quite a lot."

"I agree," Tsunade said, nodding. "But we shouldn't take too long. We have no way of knowing when Itachi -"

"He'll stick around," Kakashi said, sounding plenty confident. "Now I think we've freaked my kid out enough for one day." He brushed his fingers over Sasuke's forehead. "I'll be back in a few hours. You just rest until then, hm?"

Moments after he and Tsunade left, Naruto returned with a big sandwich and a sliced apple. "I'm back, Iruka-sensei! I saw Kakashi-sensei in the hall. How come you never told me you guys were partners?"

Sasuke gratefully accepted the sandwich.

Iruka chuckled. "Hardly a conversation between an adult and a little kid."

"He has more than one form, huh?" Naruto demanded, jostling Sasuke again as he plopped on the bed. "He's so badass he's gotta have more than one."

"He has two," Iruka confirmed, "though they perform with varying degrees of effectiveness. Perhaps you two would like to have a go with the two of us?"

"No," Sasuke interrupted before Naruto could reply. "Maybe next year."

"Tell me about him!" Naruto demanded like a spoiled toddler.

Smiling, Iruka leaned back in the chair. "Okay."

Their voices wound around him pleasantly while Sasuke finished his sandwich. He contributed nothing, and they seemed to expect nothing. It was comfortable and soothing, and before he knew it he drifted back to sleep.

~o0o~

It took about half an hour, but eventually Sasuke finished falling to sleep. Naruto watched out of the corner of his eye the whole time, feeling ridiculously warm and fuzzy inside. Sasuke looked peaceful and comfy. He wants me here. He wanted me to stay last night, he wanted me to stay today.

"He'll be back to himself tomorrow," Iruka said quietly, sounding amused. "Tell me how you are, Naruto. Your averages are all over the place, just like I knew they'd be."

"I'm great, sensei!" Naruto assured him. "I love it here. I've already learned so much. There are a bunch of great Controllers this year, and some of them have already been helping me with things."

"And your third form?" Iruka asked gently. "Have you practiced with it at all?"

Naruto grimaced, staring down at Sasuke's sleeping face. "Not really. It . . . it kinda scares me. That form is crazy powerful, and I have a hard time controlling myself." He shook himself and beamed Iruka his fox grin. "I wanna get a lot stronger before I tackle it!"

"Are the students and teachers kind to you?" Iruka asked.

"Oh, yeah," Naruto said, nodding. "Sasuke wasn't. Not at first. Fuck, he was an asshole!" He laughed. "But I managed to get him to thaw toward me a little."

Iruka snorted faintly. "He's quite a handful." But there was no mistaking the fondness in his eyes when he looked down at the sleeping raven.

"Ugh, he's real high maintenance," Naruto groaned. "But I decided. He's going to be my Coordinator. We're gonna bond at the end of this year."

Iruka's chocolate brown eyes studied him in surprised silence, then he chuckled. "You sound like Kakashi. Said he knew right away I would be his. Wouldn't give it up. But you're sure? About Sasuke?"

"Yep!"

"Then find a way to make it work," Iruka said. "Remember what I told you all those years ago. You're strong. Stronger than anyone. Other people can't help but acknowledge that strength."

Iruka, Naruto thought with a wide grin, was probably the best person on the planet. He was just the best. Back home, he'd been one of the very few to give Naruto the time of day, one of the very few who didn't blame Naruto for what had happened to his parents.

"Hell yeah!" he enthused. "I'll graduate from here at the top just like you and Kakashi-sensei did, me and Sasuke will join the Shinobi in the Imperial Army, and pretty soon I'll be at the top, then I'll be the next Hokage!"

Iruka shook his head, grinning. "That confidence and faith in yourself is exactly what will see those dreams of yours through."

Naruto sighed happily. "Ne, sensei? What was Sasuke like when he was a kid?"

Blinking, Iruka propped his ankle on his opposite knee. "He was a sweet little boy. Smiled a lot, wanted to please his elders, especially his father. Actually, he was a lot like his mother. It's a pity you never knew Mikoto. She was a warm and loving woman. Even if this sounds selfish, a large part of me is grateful to have met Kakashi just to be part of the Uchiha family. Mikoto was like a sister to me, didn't matter there was no blood relation."

A bolt of sweetly warm loss slivered through Naruto. There seldom were days that passed he didn't think about his own parents, wonder what they would have been like, if his family would have been close, if his parents would have been proud of him.

"Did you know my mom at all?" he asked softly.

Iruka gave him a sad smile. "Kushina? Yeah. I knew her, too. She and Mikoto were friends. Good friends. They went to The Academy together. Roommates. You would have loved her. And she would have loved you. Kushina wanted to be a mother more than anything. Mikoto teased her about it a lot. And you know, she was dead set against having children. But she was the one who never even joined the Imperial Army. She graduated, then got married and maybe six months later was pregnant."

"Itachi," Naruto murmured. "How much older is he than Sasuke?"

"Six years," Iruka replied.

"Fuck, he was only eighteen when he lost his fucking mind and killed his entire family?"

The Coordinator nodded. "Yeah. Just a kid himself."

Naruto shook his head. "Why'd he do it? Was there anything leading up to it that . . . I dunno, shed any light on it? Even after the fact?"

"Not really," Iruka said. "Itachi was a good kid. Obedient, studious, and smarter than anyone his age. Acted like an adult by the time he was twelve. Sasuke loved him to death, followed him everywhere, wanted to be just like his big brother. And Itachi loved Sasuke. In fact . . ." Iruka abruptly shuddered. "Most everyone felt that as he got older, the only thing Itachi loved was Sasuke. He was about thirteen when he started changing. Growing more distant. More cold. When he entered The Academy, he sailed through everything with ease.

"But the thing that shocked us all," he continued, "was that Itachi didn't bond at the end of his first year. Everyone expected him to. Nearly every Coordinator in his year would have killed for the chance to bond with him, but he didn't."

"Why not?" Naruto demanded, frowning. What could possibly possess a Controller that he wouldn't want to bond?

Iruka shook his head. "A question he refused to answer. But it was after that when Fugaku stopped allowing Sasuke to spend so much time with his brother. Said he didn't want Itachi's sudden laziness rubbing off on his son."

Naruto got the distinct impression that was only half the reason for Fugaku's decision. He also got the impression that was all Iruka would say on the matter, so despite his burning curiosity he didn't ask. It felt sorta wrong to be talking about this behind Sasuke's back, so he changed the subject.

"What are Kakashi-sensei's two forms?"

Smiling, Iruka folded his hands over his flat stomach. "His primary form is a long white quarterstaff with chains attached to both ends. He's very proficient with this form, and the chains can lengthen at his will. Since lightning is his best element, it's a deadly combination. His second form is a crossbow with an unusually large guard. The bolts are pure chakra, of course, and he usually uses one of his lightning jutsus for them."

"Which one's your favorite?" Naruto asked, grinning in excitement just thinking about it.

"Well, he prefers the staff," Iruka replied, "but I prefer the crossbow. I've always been more comfortable fighting distance than melee."

"I think Sasuke likes my first form better," Naruto mused. "He actually seems to like being in the thick of things with me. God I love partnering with him. He switches between taijutsu and ninjutsu without a problem. And the Uchiha family ability is impressive as hell. Sharingan? He used it for the first time when we were fighting Kakashi-sensei. Saw right through his genjutsu."

"You fought Kakashi?" Iruka said with a frown. "He sure is a cruel man. Were you able to provide any kind of challenge?"

"Heh, not much," Naruto admitted easily. "That just made it more exciting! I'd love to spar you and Kakashi-sensei, but Sasuke . . . hm. I think he likes to be assured of victory before battling."

Iruka snorted. "Gets that from his father. The Uchihas are planners and strategists."

They talked for a while about Naruto's exploits during his first several weeks at The Academy, and Naruto couldn't stop smiling. I'm glad you're here, Iruka-sensei. Very few people had the ability to make everything seem better just by being around.

~*o0o*~

By the end of the day, even though he'd slept through half of it, Sasuke felt worn out. His emotions crowded right to the surface, a place he didn't like them to be, and every time a nurse came in to check on him he snapped at her until she left. Whoever happened to be sitting with him at the time scolded him, but he couldn't make himself care. He hated infirmaries and didn't want to be in one.

Around seven, Neji and Gaara stopped by his recovery room. Iruka, who'd been by his bedside pretty much all day, smiled when he saw them and stood up.

"Here's the evening shift. Sasuke, I'll see you in the morning, all right? Kakashi and I have a little catching up to do. You've been monopolizing all my attention today."

Sasuke snorted softly, accepting the man's hug before he straightened and left. Neji immediately locked the door and drew the curtain around the bed closed.

"The nurse agreed you'll be fine for the next several hours," he said, setting his pack on the bedside table and extracting his little black case. "I think you've been through enough for a year."

Sasuke watched him stab the needle into the port on his IV drip. Bright green fluid slowly oozed down the line, and Sasuke felt his body tingle in anticipation. It had been a few days now, which might explain why he felt kind of sick.

"I partnered with Sakura today," Gaara said in his quiet voice. "She's an incredibly talented Controller."

"Yeah," Sasuke said, feeling the anticipation heighten when the green fluid reached the IV inserted into Sasuke's inner elbow. His heart gave an excited little flop.

"Suigetsu partnered with Ino and sparred with us," Gaara went on. "I had a difficult time claiming victory."

Slowly, so slowly, the warmth of Poison spread through Sasuke's veins. He'd never experienced such a lazy climb, and the pleasant tingle wormed its way slowly over his skin. Tilting his head back, Sasuke tried to watch the last of the green fluid disappear from the line, tried to listen to Gaara detail his spar with Suigetsu, tried to watch Neji.

His mind just wouldn't focus. His lips parted to softly pant each breath, and the pain in his hands bled away. All the shadowy images of black and red murder faded into multicolored whorls of air every time Neji or Gaara moved. A hand caressed his face, and he instinctively leaned into the touch. His eyes fluttered shut, and he moaned as that blissful tingle traveled from his scalp to his toes.

Lips, butterfly soft, feathered over his own. Prismatic color burst behind his eyelids, forming a landscape of rainbow-hue. His whole body arched up into the contact, suddenly wanting more. So much more. The touch felt familiar and comforting. Safe.

Now those lips were at his ear, chuckling faintly. A warm wash of air over his ear. "Cute."

"Nn, Naa . . ." Sasuke whined. "Touch me."

"Oh, I will. Shh."

Hard and soft at the same time, a mouth landed on his. A tongue shoved inside his mouth, sparking another burst of color. Sasuke whined as strong arms wrapped around him. He wrenched away from the consuming kiss, forcing his eyes open to stare into blue. Summer blue. Summer-sky blue. Warm. Hot.

"Look at you," that enticing mouth purred. "All hot and bothered."

The colors his words stirred up in the air distracted Sasuke, and he watched them float away. He heard another chuckle, then abruptly they were turning him over. Fingers carded through his hair, tightening at the base of his skull but not causing him pain. Another hand traveled over his chest, grazing suddenly sensitive nipples. Yet another pair of hands gripped his thighs and pried them open.

"Na-Naru . . ." Sasuke panted.

"Shit you're cute."

Lips and teeth nibbled lightly around the shell of his ear. Another pair of lips nipped along his shoulders and neck. Somehow a third mouth suckled gently at a nipple while a third planted stinging bites along his hip to his thigh.

"Nnghaa!" he cried out when it reached his half-erect length and swallowed him down.

And yet another mouth nipped across the swell of his ass, hands spreading him to expose him. Planting a soft kiss right to his anus before a long tongue speared inside. Deep, deep inside. It drove all the air from Sasuke's lungs, made colors dance wildly before his eyes. He exploded into a million, prismatic stars.

~o0o~

He didn't want to, but Naruto agreed to leave the infirmary and let Sasuke rest until morning. Swinging by the cafeteria around dinner time, he caught up with Kiba, who was with Sasuke's friend Suigetsu. Of his fellow junkies, this was the one whom Naruto liked the best.

"Hey!" he greeted. "You two been partnering today?"

"Why, we sure did, handsome," Suigetsu said. "Kiba is my favorite. And your second form. I love big guns, what can I say."

Oh, there was a wealth of vulgar comments waiting to be said there. Naruto abstained, grinning as he plopped down beside them.

"Where you been all day?" Kiba demanded. "Haven't seen you or Sasuke once."

Surprised, Naruto looked at him. Apparently no one knows what happened? He glanced at Suigetsu, who seemed in no hurry to say anything about it, so Naruto just shrugged. "Something came up. And Iruka-sensei is here visiting for a few days."

"What? Why didn't you say so!" Kiba exclaimed. "I wouldn't mind saying hello to him."

"Well shit, come by Kakashi-sensei's office tomorrow morning with me," Naruto said. By then, Sasuke would be released as long as there were no complications with his hands. Or his hemophilia. Thinking about his friend having such a dangerous blood disorder actually made Naruto feel a little queasy.

Seriously. He felt a little lightheaded.

Wait.

Wait. He felt strange. Kinda floaty . . . a little tingly . . . and it was suddenly really fucking hard to concentrate. He thought he heard Kiba say something, but he wasn't sure what. He blinked, wondering why there were colors floating around Kiba's head. Closing his eyes, he rubbed them fiercely.

Only, when he closed his eyes, colors swirled around behind his eyelids in a manner rather nauseating.

It took him a good thirty seconds to realize what he was seeing. Or rather, what Sasuke was seeing. Fuck, he's high. That bastard Neji must have given him Poison right in the infirmary. He was experiencing a rather strange afterimage. And it only got stranger when he felt a bolt of something altogether more alarming.

"Uh, I gotta go," he blurted, leaping to his feet and abandoning dinner.

Sprinting out of the cafeteria, Naruto dodged incoming students, making his way steady and as fast as he could to his dorm. He frantically palmed the lock, threw the door open, slammed it, and flung himself down onto his bed. Arousal burned strongly through his veins, and he squeezed the rapidly growing bulge in the front of his pants.

"What the fuck," he breathed, once more closing his eyes and focusing on the distant (but strong) impression of Sasuke.

A wildly colorful landscape sprang up, filled with nonsensical shapes. He saw Sasuke immediately, wrapped up in someone's embrace, naked and glistening with perspiration, legs spread wide open, lips parted and gasping.

No, Naruto amended. Not someone. Himself. He had Sasuke pinned, his hands and mouths all over Sasuke's ivory skin. There were four of him making Sasuke whimper and moan.

"Na-Naru . . ." Sasuke abruptly gasped.

Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist from behind, pressing his lips to Sasuke's ear. "Shit you're cute," he breathed, aware of the actions of all his selves as he let his mouths wander.

Sasuke gave a soft, sweet, and utterly addicting little cry when Naruto took his half-hard erection down his throat, and Naruto hummed in response. The slim body in his arms twitched and writhed. Naruto cupped his perfect, tiny ass and spread him open, staring for a few seconds before thrusting his tongue in as deep as he could.

That was all it took for Sasuke to come hard, stirring up millions of prismatic stars. He went boneless in Naruto's hold. Chuckling, Naruto gathered him close.

"I had no idea you liked me like this," he murmured in Sasuke's ear as the other boy's trembling eased. "Just wait 'til I get my hands on you in real life."

Sasuke didn't reply, wearing only a blissed-out smile. Grinning, Naruto just cuddled him closer and watched the colors dance.