Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its associated characters!

Summary: Sasuke is tired. Sasuke is hungry. Sasuke is...well, hunting, now. Vampire AU, SNS, will be explicit. Two years later...it's done! New chapter will be up every day until the fic is finished!

A/N: Awww friends :') I have to admit I would use the daydream of you all looking forward to this every day to motivate myself to get it finished. It still doesn't really feel real, but I am particularly getting all emotional about it today. Thank you all so much for the love! I hope this fic keeps giving you everything you want and more!

Bite Me

Chapter 11: Dinner

"Seriously? Garlic?" Sakura said, turning back to stare as the waitress left.

"It's a new allergy!" Naruto laughed. "I'm suffering enough, okay? I—"

"It's a distraction is what it is," Ino interrupted. "Everybody shut up. So, about this Sasuke…"

Naruto laughed again, shaking his head.

"I'm serious, guys," he said, fiddling with his food. "I'm not gonna get into details. It's personal."

Sakura and Ino shared a look.

"Mmkay," Ino said, sliding out of the booth, "I'm gonna go to the ATM across the street."

Naruto blinked, watching her go, before—

"Naruto," Sakura said softly, reaching across the table to gently hold his wrist, "nothing in your life has so far been personal enough for you to be this quiet about it. Even how you knew Gaara, you eventually—"

"He told me to tell people," Naruto said, shaking his head, "so he wouldn't have to explain it over and over. That's the only—I don't make a habit of spilling whatever people trust me with. You think I go around telling everybody else about you and Ino's sex life?"

Sakura rested her chin on her knuckles with a soft laugh.

"You should. Give everybody else something to strive for, you know."

Naruto swatted at her shoulder, but broke into laughter all the same.

"But seriously, Naruto. I get all that, but you're going to need to give me something other than we're good, everything's fine, blah, blah, blah—"

Naruto huffed out a breath.

"What d'you want me to say? I like him. He's—going through some, um, stuff that makes it hard for him to...be with people. He thinks he should go through it all alone and I'm working on convincing him otherwise. Good?"

Sakura leaned back.

"Much better. Don't turn into his therapist, though, okay? I know you're pretty much everybody else's, but—"

Naruto snorted and waved a hand.

"It's not like that, don't worry. Everything's fine."

"I'm gonna kick your ass if you say that again."

Naruto grinned.

"Everything's fine."

Sakura balled up her napkin and threw it at him. It hit him square between his brows, and Naruto flinched back, laughing—

"Okay, but—I see Ino, real quick—" Sakura beckoned him forwards as she leaned in. "Ring shopping. Next week, best man. I'll text you."

Naruto's jaw dropped. He sucked in a breath, the yell building in his throat—

"I'm back," Ino announced, tapping her fingers on the table. Naruto snapped his mouth shut at Sakura's look. "Is the interrogation over or do I need to stall a bit longer?"

Naruto looked over at Sakura, who swirled her straw around, as if thinking…

"I got what I wanted," she said finally. "For now. But if you and Sasuke start doing some on-again off-again bullshit, we're revisiting this."

Naruto laughed, holding his hands up to concede the point.

"Okay, okay. Deal."

Ramen. Ramen and Naruto's father—two things he very much couldn't hide from, two things he very much would just have to sit down and deal with, god damn it all—

"It's alright, Sasuke," Iruka said, laughing softly, "I'm not angry with you."

Wasn't he? Sasuke couldn't imagine he had any good feelings towards the man who had made his son completely miserable.

"I know Naruto can be...misleading about these things," Iruka continued, and Sasuke blinked. What? No part of this was Naruto's fau—

"You know," Iruka said, turning to scan somewhere along the wall—maybe staring at the blanket Sasuke had stuffed into the window, it was still there, he definitely should have moved it, he— "when I first adopted him, Naruto and I shared a computer."

Sasuke breathed in.

"It was back then, you know. Before they were in everyone's hands all the time."

Iruka looked back, inclining his head as the smile on his face turned just a little less wistful and a little more sad.

"So whenever I went to search for something," he continued, shifting the bowl ever so slightly (it shifted the steam, too, and something about that made Sasuke's nose twinge in painful alarm), "I would see what had been recently searched for. The suggestions, and the history."

Iruka met his eyes.

"How to reverse adoption. Breaking adoption contract. How long until adoption can't be reversed. Things like that."

Sasuke...reeled.

"No," he said, shaking his head, "Naruto—"

"I know," Iruka interrupted gently, "I know. I didn't back then, of course, so I was—terrified. And every time I tried to bring it up with Naruto, he was just the same."

He picked up the still-bound chopsticks, as if to open them. He only ended up circling the package along the edge of the bowl…

"You might find him...preparing for things to end. Or—being both passive and active in this strange dichotomy of ways—like he'll do anything to stop you from leaving, but the moment it might be true, he'll freeze up. Let you go. Like he knows what the truth is and there's no point in fighting it anymore. It's his way of dealing with, what he thinks, is inevitable."

Sasuke felt his heart tremble.

"Of course, he's much different than he was when he was younger," Iruka said, sitting up a bit straighter. "None of this might be the current case at all. I know relationships are complicated."

He finally snapped his chopsticks open.

"Even if it doesn't work out between the two of you, I hope you know you are always welcome back to the studio."

Sasuke breathed in and looked down. That was...not something he had expected.

"Thank you," he said softly, and the conversation went silent.

Which was...not good, really. Sasuke could only fiddle with his own chopsticks for so long, and there was nothing subtle about trying to avoid a big mess of noodles and broth. And he couldn't say no, not with Iruka here and being so kind to him—his words about Naruto still spiralling through his head—

"If you'd like to talk about it," Iruka continued, and Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin, "I'm here. And I know Naruto rather well. I wouldn't mind giving some more specific perspective, if you'd like it."

Damn it. Damn it—as if Sasuke had a choice—

"I don't…it wasn't his fault." Sasuke swallowed, looking down. The least he could do was clear that air. "I'm not used to...being close to people. Trusting them." Trusting myself. "I'm sorry, I…I—"

Sasuke cut himself off, hearing Iruka's soft exhale.

"I understand," he said, shifting the bowl to his right. The one that smelled worse—smelled awful, like it's steam burned the inside of Sasuke's nose— "It's uncomfortable, isn't it? To be so...exposed. Almost as if you're...laying yourself bare. Leaving yourself vulnerable."

Sasuke was more concerned with Naruto's vulnerability, really, but he conceded the point. It was...uncomfortable. Something like terrifying—

"Yes."

"Yes," Iruka agreed, nodding. "But I think there's...if you let yourself go—if you let yourself be loved...something really beautiful could come out of that."

He…

"And I think Naruto could really love you," he said, "if you give him the chance."

It felt like a punch in the gut.

Sasuke resisted the urge to close his eyes, settling for a simple nod. Something hard and painful had squeezed his heart, then, and he had no doubts as to what it was. He was suddenly seized with the urge to—

"I think he could do just fine without me."

He wanted to swallow the words as soon as he spoke them, but Iruka only laughed.

"Now, Sasuke," Iruka said, leaning in with a soft smile, "that's not your choice to make, is it?"

No, it wasn't. And Sasuke was very well acquainted with the choice Naruto had already made. The slightest glimpse of attraction had had him on edge, uncomfortable, flinching away from Sasuke as if alarmed by his own body—and Sasuke understood.

It felt awful—to have your body want one thing, and your heart another. Sasuke knew it very well. And Naruto's heart...no. No. Sasuke had no chance, there.

"No," he said softly. "It's not."

Naruto finally got back to his place by like nine. He'd wanted to be back sooner, but Ino and Sakura...well, dinner was the least he could have done. They'd rushed right to his side the second they'd thought he'd need them—and if Sasuke had actually dumped him, if they'd actually been dating, Naruto knew he would've needed every second of it.

He laughed a little.

What a weird life he was living right now.

He was grateful for it, though. Sakura and Ino were amazing. He grew more thankful for his friends every day. Still, the selfish part of himself was stupidly bummed about it going so late—he didn't know if Sasuke had work today, but the sun was down, so Naruto had probably missed his chance to hang out with him today…

Jesus, listen to him. He'd had all of last night to do just that.

Smiling to himself, he pushed his door open. His lights were off—although Sasuke didn't really need them, but there were...bags on his table? Oh. Maybe Sasuke bought—

His toilet flushed. Loudly, though, as if the door was open…?

Naruto wandered down the hall, flicking the light as he went—

"Ugh…"

"Wh—Sasuke?! Are you okay?"

Sasuke stayed firmly hunched over the toilet, looking exhausted and sick and—oh no—

Sasuke heaved over the bowl again, and Naruto was instantly on his knees, rubbing his back. Could vampires get sick? He didn't—

"Your father," Sasuke said, shoving his hair back, "wanted to have dinner."

Naruto blinked.

And then blinked again.

And then he—

"So you ate stuff you knew would make you sick?! Sasuke—"

"I didn't have a choice!"

"You could have said no!"

"I can't—hold on," Sasuke wavered, clutching at the porcelain to stabilize himself, and Naruto's hands were immediately doing the same, "I couldn't say no, he already hates me enough—"

"He doesn't hate you!"

Sasuke gave him a tired, unfocused look, but it only lasted for a second before the panic replaced it—

He heaved over the edge, and Naruto gently held him steady.

"Ugh," Sasuke groaned, falling back. Naruto did what he could to catch him.

"He doesn't hate you," Naruto said again, and Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Not anymore," Sasuke mumbled, ducking his head. "I told him—" Sasuke swallowed, wiping at his face again as he looked up, "I'm sorry. I told him I was here because we worked things out."

Naruto let out a surprised laugh, gaping at Sasuke—

"Oh my god," Naruto laughed, "I told Ino and Sakura the same thing! Like three hours ago—I panicked—I thought you'd be mad!"

Sasuke snorted.

"Why would I be mad? You're the one who fake broke up with me," Sasuke muttered, closing his eyes again with a soft smile. Still, there was a furrow to his brows that made him look…

"You okay?"

"Everything is spinning," Sasuke said, gripping Naruto and the toilet bowl with equal force, "I…"

He let out a breath.

"Crap," Naruto said, looking around him, "I, um—well I'd offer you some water, but—"

"Don't talk about real food right now."

"Sorry! Sorry, sorry, uh—" Naruto scrambled for anything else he could, uh… "Do you—uh, you want to—like—flush your mouth out?"

Sasuke's eyes opened.

Naruto held his wrist out, vaguely gesturing in Sasuke's direction, and Sasuke—

"You're so stupid…"

—laughed. He gently took a hold of Naruto's wrist, as if considering it, but only pushed it back.

"It's just a thought! I—"

"I wouldn't waste your blood like that," Sasuke said, closing his eyes again.

Naruto's grin widened.

"S'it too good?"

Sasuke's eyes opened, dark and half-lidded.

"You need it to live, stupid."

"Yeah," Naruto said, leaning in, "so do you, stupid. Lemmie get you a pillow so you can lay down."

"Thanks," Sasuke said softly, sitting up further, "...I'm sorry."

Naruto laughed at him.

"Sasuke," he said, shaking his head, "every bit of this is one hundredpercent on me."

Sasuke's eyes grew just a little bit warmer, the smile playing at his lips again.

"I've got this," Naruto told him. "Did you have work tonight? Need me to call anyone?"

"No," Sasuke said softly, "I already called in."

"Okay—gimmie a sec."

Sasuke had...absolutely no business feeling as good as he was. He was sick, he was drenched in sweat and his throat was still burning and he could feel the angry churning in his stomach, a tension building tighter and tighter and—

He dove over the edge as he vomited again. Naruto practically sprinted back to his side, sliding onto his knees, arm back around him…

Damn it.

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

"I'm okay," Sasuke whispered, leaning back into his arms.

"You're full of shit is what you are. I brought a blanket and stuff, too, but…"

"I am incredibly hot and damp," Sasuke finished for him. "You don't have to touch me."

"Too bad," Naruto said, not moving away. "Call it more vampire research. You can sweat?"

Sasuke heaved a sigh. It rippled the water of the toilet bowl.

"My body functions regularly. I keep telling you this."

"That—no, you've got super sweet healing powers and you can see in the fucking dark. And your eyes glow! There's gotta be more, right?"

Sasuke glanced up at him, bemused. Naruto grinned right back down.

"Is this what you meant by too comfortable?"

Naruto's smile faltered, just a touch.

"Yeah," he said, shuffling back to rub the back of his neck, "I mean, um—"

"Good. I don't mind it."

Naruto's eyes snapped up to his. His whole body seemed to straighten as he breathed in—

"Y-yeah?"

Sasuke smiled softly.

"Yes. Idiot."

Naruto ducked his head with a soft, laughing, "asshole!"

Sasuke had never been happier to hear the word.

"So—I can—it's okay to keep calling you Dracula or whatever?"

"At this point," Sasuke said, laughing softly, "I'll be offended if you stop."

He didn't need to look up to see how bright Naruto's smile grew.

"Heh," Naruto giggled, and Sasuke felt a sudden sense of foreboding, "Count Catula."

Sasuke rubbed a hand over his eyes. Naruto laughed harder.

"Fantastic," he said, pushing his hair back, "you've found a new avenue."

"Nospurratu!"

Sasuke grabbed him by the face and shoved him away. Naruto only laughed harder, grabbing at Sasuke's arm to use it to pull himself back up—

He grinned right in Sasuke's face.

"Idiot," Sasuke told that smile.

"You enable this idiot," Naruto said, entirely unfazed, "and you look better. How're you feeling?"

Incredible.

"Fine."

Naruto snorted out another laugh, shaking his head.

"Fine," he mocked. "Good enough that you can keep something down?"

Sasuke's gaze sharpened.

"Yes."

Naruto grinned, leaned back, and slapped the side of his neck.

"Come get the good stuff."

God. This idiot.

Naruto laughed as Sasuke moved forwards, and he realized he must have laughed the word out loud somewhere on his way. He said it again for good measure, one more "stupid," as he pressed his nose just under Naruto's ear—

Naruto's breathless laugh was his only reply, and Sasuke bit down.

It was strange, Sasuke thought, how Naruto tasted just as good every time Sasuke bit into him. No matter if he was starving or already full...no matter how many times he tried it—in fact, it was almost as if the taste grew even more decadent every day...every time, he…

Sasuke pulled back, just to breathe. Just to get his head in order, just to stop the world from spinning around him and stay here, still, with his head pressed to Naruto's skin—

"You okay?" came Naruto's gentle voice, warmth shifting under Sasuke's weight. "I didn't make you sick again, did I?"

Sick with something, maybe. Sasuke certainly felt something starting to plague him.

"I'm alright," he said, ripping himself away for nothing but the pretense of it all. "Do you mind if I use your shower?"

Naruto smiled.

"'Course not. Just don't open your mouth while you're in there, eh?"

Sasuke shoved the laughing blonde away, and the moment was broken.

A/N: That's it for today! I hope you liked it :) I am torn between wanting to keep all the writing coming in the world and desperately wanting to know what you all think when the story is over. But I'll enjoy this while it lasts, and I hope you all will too!

Hope your weeks are going well! See you soon!

Until tomorrow,

- Kinomi